Save $$$ When Buying Your Next Home! The Importance of Residential Permits.

Residential Permits

Save yourself thousands of dollars when buying your next home!

I recently represented a purchaser who bought a cute little house in Winnipeg.  The home had recently been completely redone on the interior, including some updated electrical.  We had asked for a property disclosure statement, which disclosed that the electrical wiring had been updated without the seller taking out a City of Winnipeg permit.

Now, in this situation, what would you do?  Your options are to either walk away from the property as the property disclosure statement is not satisfactory to you, accept the property disclosure statement and sign off on it, or make an amendment to the offer conditions.

I talked with my client about all of these options.  She decided to move ahead with my suggestion on making an amendment request to her offer, which stated that the seller was to issue a City of Winnipeg permit, have the electrical inspected and provide a closed permit, prior to possession.

This was, of course, in the best interest of the purchaser.  If she were to have removed all conditions and moved into this property, at any given time the City could have knocked on her door and asked to inspect the electrical. If any deficiencies were found with the wiring, she would have had to be responsible for correcting it.  Not to mention, she would have to take out a permit as well.  The City does not care if the prior owner said it was done correctly or not, and this would have put her at risk for the cost of repairs if any were needed.  Also, her now knowing about this, would have negated her title insurance regarding the wiring, so she would not have been able to have been covered this way either.

Now, this did make the road to a final offer a bit bumpier than anticipated or wanted.  We did have to move possession back by a week, in order to give the seller enough time to complete the conditions.  When the City went in to inspect the property, they did find deficiencies that resulted in the seller having to get their electrician back in to the property.  We are not aware of what those deficiencies were, however, after the final inspection the City approved the wiring and the condition was satisfied.  Now she can move into her new home knowing that the electrical in her home is safe and that she won't have to incur any unexpected cost in the future to have it done properly.

This could have also cost my client thousands of dollars if she were to have moved forward with the purchase, without this condition.

It is so very important to make sure that you protect yourself in your home sale or purchase.  It is equally important that you take out a City of Winnipeg Residential permit for any updates you do to your home, whether you are thinking about selling in the future or not.  They do have staff that monitor the home listings, and they will come knock on your door and request an inspection on any work that may have been done that you did not pull a permit for. That is their job. It is our job as home owners to make sure that when we do any renovations to our properties, that we take out a permit if required. 

It is my job to make sure that you are protected when purchasing a home that this has already been taken care of for you.

I also want to point out that we shouldn't assume that our electrician pulled a permit if we have hired someone to do updates in our homes.  While almost all of the electrical companies out there offer this as part of their service, arranging for the permit to be taken out on your property, it is something to remember to verify with them prior to hiring them or having them start the job.  If it is not included in their quote, ask them about it.

You can find all the information that you need about when you would require a City of Winnipeg permit on their website, (link below),  and to do residential searches to see if a there has been any permits taken out on a specific property.

City of Winnipeg Residential Permits Online

If you have any questions regarding this post, please feel free to ask.  If you have specific questions for the City of Winnipeg Residential Permit Department you can dial 311 and an operator will connect you to the right department.


Tina August, Royal LePage Top Producers Real Estate, 6-1549 St. Mary's Road, Winnipeg, MB, R2M 5G9 204-989-6900.

Your Dream-My Mission

What is Land Transfer Tax in Manitoba?

One of the most frequently asked questions I am asked by my home buyers is 'what is Land Transfer Tax?"

In short, Land Transfer Tax is a home buyers tax levied by the Provincial Government, applied to every property that you purchase.  The below link will take you to the Property Registry website, which explains Land Transfer Tax in more detail and also gives you a calculator to give you an approximate amount that your land transfer tax would be if you purchased a home.  For example, if you purchase a home for $200,000.00, the land transfer tax amount would be $1650.00.

Find out how much you would pay for Land Transfer Tax here

For more information on Land Transfer Tax, and any other associated fees with buying a home in Winnipeg or surrounding areas, contact me today.  Tina August, Royal LePage Top Producers.  204-989-6900 or tinaLaugust@gmail.com. #manitobalandtransfertax #homebuying #knowbeforeyoubuy #tinaaugust #tinaaugustrealestate

Headspace

I am a huge fan of Tom Ferry, an energetic, charismatic Real Estate Business Coach.  Last week I was reading his blog, trying to catch up on the ones I have missed, when I came across his list of '5 Things I am Loving Right Now."  On that list was www.headspace.com.  An on line meditation app.

I know life gets busy, and as adults our days and evenings are usually swamped with things to do.  I also know that our minds are always full of thoughts.  The average person has over 60,000 thoughts per day.  60,000!!  Our brains just don't shut off.  Unless we teach them how. 

That's why I suggest that you take a couple minutes out of your day and download this app.  Read about the science behind meditation and the benefits it will give you, emotionally, physically and mentally. (Or check it out here... https://www.headspace.com/science )Then, schedule in ten minutes a day to just take a time out and do something for yourself. 

Start off slow, and teach yourself how to meditate. From there, grow your practise and extend that time to however long you want. You will thank yourself for doing so.  Meditation has now earned itself a spot on my own list of 5 Things I am Loving Right Now, and I am sure it will end up on yours as well.

Click here to check it out. Enjoy!

#meditation

#taketimeforyou

Are you ready to buy up?

No matter how much you love your current property, you may be dreaming of the day you can buy up into a better home in a better neighbourhood.  Is that day today, or, is it a few years down the road?  Here’s a quick way to make that assessment.

First, make a list of all the practical reasons why it might be time to move up. Those reasons might include features such as: more bedrooms, proximity to work and school, a larger backyard with trees, nearby parks and walking paths and better access to things you enjoy like theatre.

Next, make a list of the emotional reasons for making such a move. Those reasons might include memorable get-togethers with friends on a more spacious deck, an easier and less stressful commute to work, more family time with the kids and enjoyable Saturday golf at a nearby course.

Finally, take a financial snapshot to determine if you can afford to move up. You’ll need to get a good idea of what your current property will sell for in today’s market, average price of homes in your desired neighbourhood, and how much mortgage you’ll need. 

Once you have all that down on paper, you’ll have a clear picture of your readiness. If the practical and emotional reasons for buying up are compelling, and you can afford to make the move, then you have your answer.  The time is now! By the way, if you need help in making this determination – especially figuring out what your home will likely sell for, call today.

Tina August, Royal LePage Top Producers, 204-989-6900 or email me at tinalaugust@gmail.com.

Knock, Knock! How to Protect Yourself from Door-to Door Scams!

 

It’s early in the evening and there’s a knock on the door. You answer and are greeted by an official-looking man who claims he needs to see your utility bill to confirm you’re getting your energy rebate.  Do you let him in?  While he may be legitimate, he may also be using deception to sell you something you don’t want.

Here are some suggestions for finding out:

• Ask for a business card. Then, check if it has an address, phone number and website. If the salesperson refuses or just shows you his ID card (which anyone can fake), that’s a red flag.
• Ask for the name of his employer. Sometimes salespeople will say they “represent the phone company”. That doesn’t mean they actually work for it.
• Ask if you can call his company to confirm details before buying. If he refuses, or says the office is closed, shut the door.
• Ask if you can consider the offer and call the office the next day to place your order. 
• If you’re really suspicious, ask him to come back later. Then, call the non-emergency police number. Police are aware of common scams in the area.

Most importantly, use your common sense. Door-to-door salespeople can be pretty persuasive, but if something doesn’t seem right to you, trust your gut. Say, “No thanks.” Of course, if everything checks out with the salesperson, and the offer is a good one, consider taking advantage of it.

Tina August, REALTOR(r), Royal LePage Top Producers, 204-989-6900.  Helping Winnipeg and surrounding areas with all of their Real Estate needs.

#scams #protectyourself

This year I will be sponsoring the Rescue Haven Adoption Center at the Winnipeg Pet Show, with the lovely Amanda Agostino.  In the spirit of this event, I would like to talk about selling your home when you have pets.  When you are preparing your home for the market, you will likely have a list of things you would like to do to the home before presenting it to potential home buyers.  When you focus on those things that need to be done, sometimes it is easy to forget or think about what you will do when the time comes to start showings and you have a pet.  As a pet owner,  myself, our furry friends are very important to us.  It is important to remember that the selling process will be stressful for our fluffy family members, and also present some extra challenges during the selling process.  Be prepared and make this transition as easy as possible, for you, your pets and your future home purchaser.

Below are some great tips on how to prepare your home before listing.

1.)  Do a deep cleaning:  While most people will do a thorough cleaning, when you have pets it is important to remember those hard to see and easy to forget spots,  Make sure to remember to vacuum or sweep behind all furniture, under area rugs, and inside all the closets. Pet hair and dust can accumulate in all of these areas easily. You may even want to consider having your furnace ducts cleaned.  By doing this, it will help to remove any pet odours in the home.

If cleaning is not your thing, consider hiring a professional company to assist you.  Make sure you let them know that you will want the above things done.  If you would like some referrals for some great cleaning companies in Winnipeg, just let me know.

2.)  Clean up your pet belongings:  Pets or not, it is always a great idea to de-clutter your home.  This is one of the most inexpensive ways to prepare your home for sale. When you have pets, remember to clean up items like the following:  cat towers, toys, blankets, beds, and especially cat litter boxes.  You don't have to remove these items from the home, just make sure they are off to the side and there is no risk that someone will step on a squeaky dog toy, or pass a full cat litter box. Consider putting the pet food and water dishes under the sink for showings, the toys and blankets in a little storage box, and PLEASE, make sure that if the cat litter box can't be removed that it is clean and empty. If you have hamsters or rabbits, ensure that their enclosures are clean and fresh as well.

3.)  Clean up the exterior of your home:  The exterior of your home is usually the first thing a purchaser will see, whether they see your home on line, or they drive by. It is always important that this space be clean, and presentable.  But if you have animals, it is even more important to remember that you need to clean up after your pet.  If your furry buddy uses the back yard as its bathroom, remove all evidence of this.  The LAST thing you want is for potential buyers to step in a pile of you know what.

It's also common for animals that have access to the outdoors to dig. Make sure all holes are filled in. If the grass is damaged in the areas that they use, consider levelling it out and putting in some sod.  During the home selling process, it will be important that your animals doesn't have free reign in the yard to dig up all your hard work.  Make sure you supervise your animals while they are in this area afterwards.

4.) Repair any interior damage:  Your home is their home too, and floors usually take a bit of a beating when you have animals.  Make sure that floors are in good condition.  If they are full of scratches, you may want to consider replacing them, if that is in your budget.  If not, be prepared for potential purchasers to take into consideration that they will have to be the ones that do so.  If your pet has chewed on any furniture, walls, etc, make sure that these areas are fixed as well. Check and replace and torn or ripped window screens, lower trim work, cabinet doors etc.

5.)  Don't restrict showings because of your pets!:  Our Real Estate market in Winnipeg is strong, and if your home is properly represented, and priced, the average days on market isn't anything crazy long.  One of the worst things a seller can do, after the home is listed, is to restrict the times showings are allowed, due to their animals.  The primary reason why restricting the times your home can be shown can be detrimental is due to the fact that a buyer will not stop their home search because they cannot get into your home.  You will miss opportunities by doing this.  BE PREPARED.  Make sure you have a plan of action for your pets during the showing part of the process.  Either arrange alternative arrangements for your pets during the day, when you are at work, or make sure you will be able to go home and take them out for a walk or car ride.  You can also consider a kennel, or day care services for your pet.

6.)  Secure your pets:  If you are unable, or unwilling to do the above, please make sure that you restrict your animals to a kennel or crate in the home,  Don't give them free access to roam the home while showings are happening.  Many people have a fear of animals, and/or would be uncomfortable around someone elses pets.   Also, you risk your pets escaping the house, or even worse, hurting a potential buyer, Realtor, or themselves.  Believe me, I have shown many homes that have remarks such as, please don't let the cat/dog out!  Well, if they get out, it's not fun chasing it around the neighbourhood, and unlikely they will listen to a stranger telling them to come back.  Imagine how horrible it would be getting a call at work saying Fido got out during a showing.

7.)  Final thoughts:  Selling a home with pets does add extra challenges to the process, but that doesn't mean that it has to be a stressful experience.  Follow the above suggestions, and I promise you, it will be smooth sailing for you, your furry family member and the many people that will be coming through your home.

For all of your Real Estate questions or needs, feel free to contact me anytime.  Tina August, REALTOR(r), Royal LePage Top Producers. 204-989-6900.