Friday, December 28, 2012

5 Things you need to know before selling your Home

You are planning on selling probably your single biggest asset and perhaps moving up or moving into something manageable, either way, you want to get the most for your house. 

1. First of all you need to know what is your house worth. 
2. Declutter - I am sure you have lots that you have accumulated over the years that you can get rid off. Perhaps a garage sale
3. A REALTOR - Do yourself a favour and choose a REALTOR who does it, perhaps full time, for a living. Guaranteed REALTORs sell more houses than you ever will and the commission is worth it. For every $1000 that a REALTOR will get extra for your house, you get to keep $950 and the REALTOR only takes $50. Even that is split in to two (for the listing and the selling REALTOR). 
4. Depersonalize your home - It is simple to do. It should look like a hotel room.
5. Motivation - Do you really need to sell or want to sell? If yes, then do everything accordingly including pricing it at the optimum price.

Jagdeep Singh, B. Arch.
Real Estate Broker
Direct Tel: 647-287-4644
Direct Fax: 866-450-9199

Formally educated as an Architect, Jagdeep Singh is Toronto REALTOR™ consulting on both resale real estate and new developments. Powerful Local Focus on Real Estate with a Global Perspective™
This post is for information purposes only. Though effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the reader is advised to verify the information independently. This post may contain contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The reader is not allowed to reproduce it in any medium without the author’s prior written permission. Jagdeep Singh is a broker with Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., brokerage (416) 798-7133 which is independently owned and operated. This message is not intended to solicit parties currently under contract.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

5 Tips to Hiring a Contractor

1. Check credentials and complaints.
2. Be thorough with references.
3. Beware of low bidders.
4. Get everything in writing.
5. Don't pay too soon.


Jagdeep Singh, B. Arch.
Real Estate Broker
Direct Tel: 647-287-4644
Direct Fax: 866-450-9199

Formally educated as an Architect, Jagdeep Singh is Toronto REALTOR™ consulting on both resale real estate and new developments. Powerful Local Focus on Real Estate with a Global Perspective™
This post is for information purposes only. Though effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the reader is advised to verify the information independently. This post may contain contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The reader is not allowed to reproduce it in any medium without the author’s prior written permission. Jagdeep Singh is a broker with Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., brokerage (416) 798-7133 which is independently owned and operated. This message is not intended to solicit parties currently under contract.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Positive Thinking

Aren't we all guilty of misusing and abusing the single most important asset we will ever have? Our mind can be defined as “the human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory and imagination.”

If you need a simpler and more practical definition, it is “the faculty of thinking, reasoning, and applying knowledge.” Why, then, is it the most abused and misused asset man possesses?

One of the most enlightening and inspiring books I have ever read is “As a man thinketh” by James Allen. In this book he compares the mind to a garden. He says: “A man’s mind may be likened to a garden, which may be intelligently cultivated or allowed to run wild; but whether cultivated or neglected, it must and will bring forth. If no useful seeds are put into it, then an abundance of useless weed-seeds will fall therein, and will continue to produce their kind.”

Whatever is planted in that garden is what will be reaped. Just as you cannot plant corn and reap oranges, so you cannot plant destructive thoughts and reap a happy and successful life. If you plant positive thoughts you will reap positive results. Plant negative thoughts and you will reap negative results. Neglect to plant anything at all and the weeds will inevitably take over.

Positive thinking - it's all in Your Control

There is a reason why a lot of people don’t believe in positive thinking. It is simply that they do not want to face the fact that their lives are totally in their own hands. Believing in positive thinking would mean that they cannot blame their lack of education, their parents, teacher or spouse for their failures.

It is much easier to think there is some force out there called “destiny” that is just against you and takes pleasure in seeing you suffer. We would be so much better off if we didn't have anyone else to blame. 

Choose your response

I am not saying that bad things don’t happen in life. Sometimes they do happen. However, your response to what happens to you, whether good or bad, is your choice. Here is my favourite equation: E X R = O where E is Event, R is Reaction and O is Outcome. Event is something we can't always control. We can however control the R, which is our reaction. And by applying the appropriate R factor, we become in control of the outcome. It really is that simple. 

Positive thinking: Feed your Mind Right

Your mind will work just as hard to make you fail as it will to make you succeed. It does not discriminate between good seed and bad seed. That should be great news. The amount of effort it takes to fail is the same amount of effort it takes to succeed as far as the mind is concerned. It is your responsibility to provide it with the right seeds of thought.

How do you change your negative thoughts into positive thoughts? It has taken years, if not decades for some of us to develop the negative thought patterns that we may have. So it would be absolutely impractical to expect to change these thought patterns overnight. Like the gardener who takes tender care of his garden, slowly weeding out the unwanted plants and giving care and nurturing to the desired plants, we must get rid of the negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones.

We cannot simply decide that you will stop thinking negatively. The mind cannot be a vacuum. Something has to be there. So we have to start thinking positive. It should be a process of replacement of the negative with the positive.

The Power of Association

By far the best way to change your mind set is to associate with other great minds. The saying “show me your friends and I will show you your future” is right on the spot! The company you keep says a lot about who you are and how you think. If you do not have company worth keeping, do not lose heart. This is, after all, the information age. Through books, music, movies and the internet you can have access to the greatest minds that ever lived. Reading in particular has great potential to break the chains on your mind and expand it to greater dimensions.

Take every opportunity you have to read inspiring, uplifting and motivational books that will slowly but surely help you to create a beautiful garden in your mind and weed out the suffocating thoughts that so easily control our lives.

Guard your mind jealously. Stay away from any form of negativity. This includes “good” friends that are a danger to your thinking. You don’t have to read everything in the paper about murder, death and suffering! Don’t join the pity party about how “the economy is tough and you are just barely managing.” Stay positive in all circumstances.

Enjoy the holidays, eat healthy, exercise and stay positive. 


Jagdeep Singh, B. Arch.
Real Estate Broker
Direct Tel: 647-287-4644
Direct Fax: 866-450-9199

Formally educated as an Architect, Jagdeep Singh is Toronto REALTOR™ consulting on both resale real estate and new developments. Powerful Local Focus on Real Estate with a Global Perspective™
This post is for information purposes only. Though effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the reader is advised to verify the information independently. This post may contain contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The reader is not allowed to reproduce it in any medium without the author’s prior written permission. Jagdeep Singh is a broker with Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., brokerage (416) 798-7133 which is independently owned and operated. This message is not intended to solicit parties currently under contract.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Quick Tips on Managing Credit

Here are some tips on managing your credit. This is important because, whether you are selling, buying or even renting, credit is an important part of your life. 

  • Check your credit files at least every one to two years to ensure the information is correct. Send a written request to one or both of the two major credit bureaus in Canada: Equifax Canada Inc. or TransUnion Canada Inc.
  • If you question an item on the file, the credit bureau will investigate on your behalf.
  • If an error is found, the credit bureau must correct it. The consumer should present official receipts to the bureau when updating balances.
  • The credit bureau will send copies of the updated file to credit grantors upon request.
  • The credit bureau itself does not refuse loan applications. Financial institutions (i.e. banks and other credit grantors) follow their own systems for deciding whether or not to grant credit.
  • If credit is refused, the consumer is directed to a credit bureau to review the information that contributed to the decision.
Jagdeep Singh, B. Arch.
Real Estate Broker
Direct Tel: 647-287-4644
Direct Fax: 866-450-9199

Formally educated as an Architect, Jagdeep Singh is Toronto REALTOR™ consulting on both resale real estate and new developments. Powerful Local Focus on Real Estate with a Global Perspective™
This post is for information purposes only. Though effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the reader is advised to verify the information independently. This post may contain contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The reader is not allowed to reproduce it in any medium without the author’s prior written permission. Jagdeep Singh is a broker with Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., brokerage (416) 798-7133 which is independently owned and operated. This message is not intended to solicit parties currently under contract.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

7 Steps to Buying Real Estate

Whether it is your first or your fifth time, buying real estate is a big decision. Not only because it may be the single largest financial transaction that you will ever do, but also because how the outcomes of that decision will impact the rest of your life and that of your loved ones. Your REALTOR can help you navigate the complexities of selling or buying a property. A REALTOR can anticipate, understand and help you make informed financial decisions. 


Here are the 7 steps to buying real estate. Understand that a REALTOR can help you with all of these. We are trained to do this and most of us do this full time. This is what we do. 


Assess Financial Readiness

Assess your current financial situation including your present household budget and your annual income to determine how much you can qualify for a mortgage.

Consider Mortgage Options

Do not be afraid to negotiate interest rates and mortgage terms with different lenders. As your REALTOR, we can help you do that too. Lenders are offering you a product and talking to more than one lender helps you make an informed decision. Only talking though. Please do yourself a favour and don't go applying everywhere. 


Mortgage Default Insurance

When you buy a home with less than a 20% down payment, the mortgage needs to be insured against default. This type of insurance protects the mortgage lender in case you are not able to make your mortgage payments. It does not protect you.


Research Government Programs

The federal government has assistance programs to help homebuyers. Research government program requirements to see if you are eligible. Government programs can change over time. For the most up-to-date information, refer to Service Canada’s website: www.servicecanada.gc.ca.


Finding the Right Property

Finding your perfect property does not have to be a long process. Based on your needs and goals, your REALTOR® will help identify the right type of property for you. Please make sure that you are brutally honest about what you want. It's like going to a doctor's office. Incorrect description of symptoms (in this case your current situation and goals) will result in misdiagnosis (buying the wrong property under wrong terms) and harm you. Check out www.howrealtorshelp.ca to see how your REALTOR® can make the home buying process easier for you!


Making an Offer

Once you finally find what you need, don't wait or second guess yourself. Just do it.


Closing and Related Costs

Closing costs are the legal, administrative and disbursement fees associated with buying a home. Understanding these fees will help you budget more accurately. Remember these are additional costs over and above the price of the home.


In closing, a properly planned out process with the right professionals will net you more in the long run. Don't lose sight of the big picture and try to do it by yourself. Mostly, it doesn't work out. It's like going to Las Vegas. Once in a while someone will hit the jackpot but the majority will always lose. That is why Las Vegas is still here. You don't have to go at it alone. Get professional help. Get a REALTOR.


Jagdeep Singh, B. Arch.

Real Estate Broker

Direct Tel: 647-287-4644

Direct Fax: 866-450-9199

www.JagdeepSingh.ca

 

Formally educated as an Architect, Jagdeep Singh is Toronto REALTOR™ consulting on both resale real estate and new developments. Powerful Local Focus on Real Estate with a Global Perspective™

This post is for information purposes only. Though effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the contents, the reader is advised to verify the information independently. This post may contain contain information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The reader is not allowed to reproduce it in any medium without the author’s prior written permission. Jagdeep Singh is a broker with Century 21 Heritage Group Ltd., brokerage (416) 798-7133 which is independently owned and operated. This message is not intended to solicit parties currently under contract.


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