BUYERS BUYERS PRESENTAT PRESE BUYERS PRESENTATION SELLERS guide
TABLE OF CONTENTS 5-9 our team 10 buyers information 13 the right agents 14 mortgage information 16 online experience 18 moving checklist 21 buyer’s preparation 22 the offer 25 home inspection 26 royal lepage 29 conclusion 30 testimonials
KELOWNA, BRITISH COLUMBIA THE ORCHARD CITY
03 04
SHANE VOTH REAL ESTATE AGENT & TEAM LEADER Shane Voth began his journey in Real Estate over 15 years ago when he was actually building homes. He has spent the majority of his life in the Home Industry, from a tradesperson working on new construction homes to managing his own construction company the one constant has always been Real Estate. His passion for home ownership led him to a career as a Mortgage Broker where he gained an insightful knowledge of the Real Estate transaction and how it affects both buyers and sellers . Having a solid background on how a home is built along with the financial knowledge of how to afford it is an integral part of his business. “Finding the right home is important but so is finding one that fits the budget of your lifestyle .” The Greater Okanagan Group was founded on a principle that we are all connected and that once your sale is complete you don’t just become a past client but rather a part of the GOG family. Many people will try to tell you that they can make the sale of your home simple. The truth is Real Estate transactions are complicated and knowing this we can prepare together so that our relationship is stronger after the sale than the day we began. C: 250.826.3859 E: shane@greaterokanagangroup.com
NEVER SETTLE.
Always Be Great!
MEET TASHA TASHA GERRARD Over 5 years as a business owner Tasha developed into a skilled negotiator who is devoted to delivering outstanding client service with a personal touch. You can be sure you got the best price for your home when working with an agent like Tasha who works hard to negotiate on your behalf. Clients choose to work with Tasha for her honest and consistent work ethic that they can rely upon to always get the job done. She is a great communicator and makes sure her clients are fully educated and confident throughout the buying or selling process. Tasha epitomizes integrity, energy, and communication in every detail of your real estate transaction, making the process seamless and as stress free as possible. She is highly committed to her real estate education, having been mentored and coached by several of the most highly acclaimed real estate coaches in North America. During her spare time, Tasha enjoys taking her dog Alan to one of Kelowna’s many beautiful dog parks. She also runs agility courses with her dog in South East Kelowna- if you aren’t sure what this is ask her, she would love to talk about it with you! During the summer Tasha enjoys time at the beach and hikes through the Crawford hills and Knox mountain. She also enjoys spending quality time with her family and in-laws, practicing yoga, and lifting weights at the gym. Tasha has always been very involved with the community from volunteer work with the homeless to Mama’s for Mama’s charity work she can always be found giving back. Tasha looks forward to creating her own Charity organization one day aimed at helping young parents. C: 250.470.2160 E: tasha@greaterokanagangroup.com
MEET DYLLON DYLLON PIETZ Dyllon is a proud father, husband, and passionate real estate professional with the Greater Okanagan Group. In his free time, he enjoys Crossfit and spending time with family and friends. Dyllon comes from a strong and successful hospitality background. He was preferred by many regulars due to his bright personality and quick recollection of each individual client’s personal favourites. Dyllon believes in providing not just a service, but an unforgettable experience. He prides himself on the exceptional customer service he provides to his clients during the journey to their dream home. His goal is not just to assist his clients with a single deal, but to create life-long relationships and connections that continue on after the buying/selling process is over. P: 250.300.4220 E: dyllon@greaterokanagangroup.com
MEET WESLEY WESLEY SCHNITZLER I have a passion for the business and helping people achieve their real estate dreams. I am excited to build new relationships with colleagues and clients alike. I have spent many years in the customer service industry and am eager to transfer that to real estate to help people feel comfortable and excited about possibly the biggest transaction of their lives. I pride myself on finding out what your goals and intentions are and helping you stay focused on meeting them. I want to make sure my clients are 100% satisfied while building a friendship with them throughout this process. I love to travel with my wife and play hockey throughout the winter season. I have a new son who keeps me motivated to strive towards my goals and help you achieve yours. C: 250.808.3057 E: wesley@greaterokanagangroup.com
EXCEPTIONAL AGENTS
Every once in awhile something new comes along that creates attention and shakes up the scene. It’s a movement, a change, a new direction of what’s to come. The Greater Okanagan Group is a real estate team of motivated & trained specialists, who are here to over serve you at the highest level possible. From the first phone call, email, and personal meeting, you’ll realize that this is not your average real estate team. More like a family. A family that treats each member as an equal. Listening, learning, teaching, and growing with every step. We are proud and excited to meet you. Now let’s get you moving! From exceptional communication, to exceptional marketing, to exceptional service; our agents strive to be exceptional and never settle.
SELLING INFORMATION STEPS TO SELLING A HOME.... You have decided to sell your home. You’re anxious to start the process, but you really want to make sure you have the right person working to sell your home for all it’s worth. Before anything else, it is a good idea to sit down with an experienced agent and clarify your motivations and draw up a basic time frame and detailed outline of the selling process. But first, there are a few questions you may need to ask yourself before listing your home. WHY SELL? Why do you want to sell your property? Do you plan on simply moving to a larger home or property, or do you plan on moving to another neighborhood, school district, city or province? You might think your reasons are obvious, but you would do well to consider the implications of each option for your lifestyle, opportunities, and finances. Being clear about your intentions for selling will make it easier for the agent to determine the most appropriate option for your specified financial, lifestyle, and real estate goals. WHEN SHOULD I SELL? You should immediately establish your time frame for selling. For many sellers, it is an urgent matter, and for others, not so much. Obviously, serious sellers would like to sell as quickly as possible and for the most amount possible, however, it is good to know what the most affective plan of action is before listing your home. If you need to sell quickly, we can speed up the process by giving you a complete market analysis and action plan to obtain all of your goals. If there is no pressing need to sell immediately, you can sit down with an Greater Okanagan Group Agent to thoroughly review the current market conditions and find the most favorable time to for you to sell.
MARKETING PART I When you’re ready to take the next step toward selling your home, we’re here to help. Our comprehensive marketing plan will get your home seen by thousands of motivated buyers. Our goal is to ensure the best qualities of your home get the maximum exposure to qualified buyers. THE RIGHT PRICE We’ll quickly put together a custom marketing plan with an effective price. A well priced home often generates competing offers and drives up the final sale value. Our market analysis takes into account the most actively searched prices and home values throughout your area, including expired listings and properties still on the market. THE RIGHT EXPOSURE In marketing your home, we also develop a listing that emphasizes its unique and sellable aspects. We then put your home in front of buyers, establishing it on the local MLS as well as broader ones, new listings sheets, and real estate publications. Our nation-wide network of professional real estate contacts and buyers will also have the opportunity to check out your listing. EFFECTIVE INTERNET MARKETING In addition, we’ll use the Internet and our innovative website to make your listing highly visible. With more than 80% of buyers checking the web first when looking for a home, this is a part of your marketing strategy that you can’t afford to miss. THE BEST DEAL When we list your home, we do so at no additional cost. When you start to get offers, we can represent you during the emotionally charged negotiating process and ensure that you get the best price, and favorable closing terms that are clearly spelled out. As your professional aides, we also oversee all paperwork related to the sale.
MARKETING PART II Advertising is important. Exposure is key. Having the right products not only helps define your home, but also help highlight the great qualities of your home. However, great qualities cannot be highlighted in poor products. They go hand-in-hand. Our premium marketing products meet and exceed the expectations of a luxury property for sale in the Kelowna real estate market. These products include: YARD SIGNS: A great way to advertise the availability of your home to people with an interest in your neighborhood or those who are becoming acquainted with your community. A yard sign is the #1 way to show your home is for sale. The Greater Okanagan Group yard sign is one of the most trusted real estate symbols in Canada. Royal LePage Real Estate Associates are known for their high quality service and advice. When home buyers see that sign in your yard, they understand that you’re working with a trusted brand and that you are marketing for maximum exposure. BROKER TOURS & OPEN HOUSES: The broker tour opens up your home to agents from other various firms. It is a great, most effective, and most convenient way to expose the great qualities of your home that may be otherwise missed and for other agents to bring their buyers in to see your property. We help show off your home by bringing the best out in your home. SALES BROCHURES & FACT SHEETS: We are committed to marketing your home with high quality materials that represents the time and effort you have taken in obtaining and maintaining your home. VIRTUAL TOURS & WEBSITES: Creating a digital experience for home buyers on the local, national, and international market with personalized property specific websites. Property websites are one of the innovative ways the Greater Okanagan Group market your property to its fullest. We believe it is important to use the resourceful tools necessary to give your home the exposure it needs and ultimately sell your property.
ONLINE EXPOSURE ONLINE TOOLS & FACTS. The Greater Okanagan Group use the Internet and an innovative website to make all listings highly visible. With more than 90% of buyers checking the web first when looking for a home, thome, the Internet and Social Media are essential tools we use throughout this process. Below shows that 99% of people search for a home using three main search engines. We make sure to be as visible as possible on these platforms to make sure you are as visible as possible.
81% 12% 6% ROYALLEPAGEKELOWNA.COM Royal LePage Kelowna is committed to provide you the best possible real estate experience. The Greater Okanagan Group is associated with Royal LePage Kelowna. Come browse the Kelowna MLS® listings for your new executive home with a lake view, affordable family home, condo or townhouse, commercial space, or any kind of real estate in between. Our professional REALTORS® are ready to save you time, money and stress with our proven real estate buying and selling process. “Helping you is what we do!”
HOME EVALUATION OUR SALES APPROACH “WHAT WILL MY HOUSE SELL FOR IN TODAY’S MARKET?” Kelowna has a very dynamic real estate market. Prices can change due to local, regional, national and international economic conditions, net migration to the city, political sentiment and of course inventory levels determined by supply and demand. You need to have real estate professionals like The Greater Okanagan Group to give you a comprehensive look at properties that have sold in your neighbourhood in the recent past. This is critical! There are many factors that determine what your home is worth in today’s market including: - area above grade and total number of bedrooms - recent renovations, upgrades and/or updating - basement development with a bedroom and/or a suite plus walkout - number of garage parking stalls - location in the community: quiet or busy street, cul-de-sac, across from a park or green space, views, proximity to neighbours, etc. Another important factor is the opinion of value. Properties priced too high will sit on the market and become “shop worn.” Ideally, the property should be priced at Comparable Market Value. Studies continue to show that a property listed at 15% over market value has a 20% probability of sale; 10% over market value has a 30% probability of sale; 5% over market value has a 50% probability of sale. Properties priced at market value have a 95% probability of sale. The method most often used in evaluating single family homes is the Comparable Method. A property is worth what the buyer is willing to pay for it and this is determined by the basic laws of supply and demand. These two factors are evaluated by comparing the home with similar homes that have sold within the market area, with appropriate consideration given to location, amenities lot size, condition, and financing terms. LET THE GREATER OKANAGAN GROUP HELP YOU NAVIGATE THROUGH THE HOME VALUATION PROCESS.
HOME PREPARATION You can do many things to increase the appeal of your property and to create a lasting impact on potential buyers. WHAT TO DO TO PREPARE: The following are a couple of factors to keep in mind when listing your property for sale: 1. CURB APPEAL: Keeping your landscape pristine, and adding creative touches to your yard, such as colorful annuals, will create an immediate impact on passers-by and potential buyers. 2. PROPERTY REPAIRS: Simple upgrades such as window repairs, polishing the doorknobs, and a fresh coat of paint in the most frequently used rooms will instantly brighten up the property. 3. CLEANLINESS AND STAGING: Keep your property uncluttered, sweet-smelling and well-lit from top-to-bottom. Pay attention to details: put away the kitty litter, place a vase of fresh flowers near the entryway, pop a batch of cinnamon rolls in the oven, have your carpets cleaned. Your agent will scan the property before it is listed for sale to see how you can improve the staging of your property. 4. LEGAL PROCEDURES AND INSPECTIONS: We are very familiar with the legal procedures involved in disclosures and are ready to help you develop a thorough disclosure statement beneficial to both you and the buyer, as well as suggest home improvement measures before placing your property on the market (such as termite and pest inspections). 5. SHOWTIME: Presenting your property to potential buyers is a job that we will take care of for you. Buyers feel more comfortable discussing the property with the agent, if you are not there. Moreover, a Greater Okanagan Group associate will know what information will be most useful in representing your interests when speaking with prospective buyers.
CLOSING PART 1 ACCEPTING THE OFFER THE PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT “The higher the price, the better the offer.” Do not let yourself be fooled by this popular misconception. Price is not always the determining factor when accepting an offer for several important reasons: the initial offer is usually not final, and there are a number of terms and conditions that may influence the final outcome of a price. You can trust our professionals to help you thoroughly evaluate every proposal without compromising your marketing position. NEGOTIATING THE RIGHT WAY We take the ethical responsibility of fairly negotiating contractual terms very seriously. It is our job to find a win-win agreement that is beneficial to all parties involved. You may even have to deal with multiple offers before ratifying the one you judge to be the most suitable for you – and as your agents, we will guarantee a thorough and objective assessment of each offer to help you make the right choice. THE INITIAL AGREEMENT AND DEPOSIT An effective agreement is a legal arrangement between a potential purchaser and the property’s seller. Laws vary, but in order to be a legally, binding agreement, the agreement may require consideration. This consideration (initial and additional deposit) is to be held in trust pending the fulfillment of conditions or contingencies in the effective agreement. KEEP WRITTEN RECORDS OF EVERYTHING For the sake of clarity, it will be extremely useful to transcribe all verbal agreements including counter-offers and addendums, and convert them to written agreements to be signed by both parties. We will assist you in drafting all the paperwork for your sale and make sure that you have copies of everything. STICK TO THE SCHEDULE Now that you have chosen your offer, you and the buyer will be given a timeline to mark every stage in the process of closing the real estate contract. Meeting the requirements on time ensures a smoother flow of negotiations and also ensures that each party involved is not in breach of their agreements. During the process we will keep you constantly updated so you will always be prepared for the next step.
CLOSING PART 2 SECURING THE DEAL THE PRICE IS NOT ALWAYS RIGHT Ready to close the deal? Maybe not. Sometimes unforeseeable issues arise just prior to closing the sale. Hopefully, with negotiation, most of these have a workable solution. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. But don’t panic. Another buyer might still be found who is willing to accept the house as is. Imagine that your prospective buyers are a couple with young children. They envision your unused attic as the perfect playroom for the kids but, before closing the deal, they request an inspection to see if it’s safe and also if they will be able to install a skylight to provide natural light to the new space. This inspection reveals that under the shingles that are in good condition is a roof that will only last another year or two. The prospective buyers immediately balk, not wanting to incur the time and cost of replacing the roof. Their plans were to move in and only have to spend time and money renovating the attic. The additional cost of the new roof, they say, is just too much. At this point, you sit down with the prospective buyers and calmly discuss the situation and how it can be solved to the benefit of all. First, you agree to get another professional opinion on what really needs to be done. Inspectors are only human, and are not infallible. Once the extent of the damage is agreed upon, you can jointly decide what to do about it. While the buyers hadn’t planned on that expense, you show them that instead of a limited roof life that they would get with most existing homes, they’ll have a new worry-free roof that won’t cost them in repairs for the next decade or so. Since the roof wasn’t in as good shape as you had thought, you agree to lower the purchase price to help offset the cost of the new roof. By negotiating calmly and looking at all possibilities, what could have been a “deal breaker” can be turned into a win-win situation for both the buying and selling parties. In other cases, the most workable agreement for both parties might be for the deal to be called off. The seller can always find another buyer and the buyer can always find another home. To protect yourself against last minute “buyer’s remorse,” make sure the purchase contract anticipates and closes as many loopholes as possible after all known defects have been fully disclosed.
ROYAL LEPAGE - SINCE 1913 SINCE 1913, ROYAL LEPAGE HAS BEEN HELPING CANADIANS BUY AND SELL THEIR HOMES AND SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES. To us, real estate is as much a passion as it is a business. That’s why we have continually led the industry in offering high quality real estate services. When our founder A. E. LePage founded the company he was a pioneer whose innovation and belief in customer service transformed real estate in Canada. It is this spirit that has inspired many industry firsts, from offering virtual tours to launching a website. A. E. LePage was also a founding member of the Toronto Real Estate Board, and the company has always set the highest quality standards in the industry. Because of the critical role our agents play in our success, we always strive to provide them with the latest tools and technologies. We offer them strong support with timely information and market data they need plus state-of-the-art marketing tools, professional development and in-person training. This way, you can feel confident that any agent bearing the Royal LePage name will stand for expertise and service you can count on. With over 16,000 agents in more than 600 locations from coast-to-coast, no matter whether you live in a big city or in the country, you’ll find a Royal LePage agent ready and equipped to help you. Not only is Royal LePage dedicated to our agents and clients, we also care deeply about the communities in which our agents live and work. We are the only real estate company with its own branded charity; The Shelter Foundation dedicated to funding women’s shelters and violence prevention and education programs across Canada. Helping You Is What We Do is something that we live and breathe at every level. It’s as true today as it was 100 years ago. And we’re proud to say this philosophy will continue to drive us forward in the years and decades to come.
HOME ADVICE INSPECTION CLOSING ASK FOR A FREE HOME EVALUATION A well-priced home will generate lots of interest and sell quicker. There’s even a chance of receiving multiple offers resulting in a higher final sale price. Our free market analysis takes into account the most actively searched prices and comparable homes in your community so that you have a detailed evaluation of what your home is worth in today’s real estate market. SELL YOUR HOME WITH A PROFESSIONAL Our proven and successful marketing plan is designed to create results and get your home SOLD - fast! A vast understanding of the market and years of experience in innovative marketing only accelerates the selling process through our marketing plan. CONTACT A PROFESSIONAL Contact us anytime you need to know what’s really going on in the market. If you have questions, then we’ll have the answer! When you’re ready to take the next step toward selling your home, we’re here to help. We’ll make sure your listing gets the best exposure and reaches the right buyer— whether they’re in another province, located in another country, or right in your neighbourhood. WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Seller’s often make the mistake of wanting to price their homes high at the start, with the assumption that they can always reduce the price to a more realistic level later on. However, interest peaks when your home is fresh to the market and often declines as time goes on. THE DETAILS, THE DIFFERENCE Doing the little things in order to prepare your home for sale could be the difference between quickly selling your home and having to wait longer than expected. An experienced agent understands what little things truly matter and that the difference is in the details. OUR PROMISE Our dedicated and knowledgeable team is committed to giving you unparalleled service with in-depth market insight and expertise for all Okanagan communities. Whether it’s luxury homes, new homes, lofts, inner-city townhomes or new condos, we’ll help guide you through every step of the process and promise you a top notch real estate experience!
TESTIMONIALS We were originally referred to Shane as he was well-known in the community for being a successful real estate investor. What we learned from Shane far exceeded any expectations we had. He not only guided us through the entire legal process of real estate investing but he also helped us develop a complex strategic investment plan that we continue to follow to this day. We now have 6 rental properties and earn more cash flow passively then with both our full-time jobs combined. We are financially secure and cannot thank Shane enough for all he has done for us. - BRIGITTE & DEREK “Shane Voth made house shopping/buying and selling so easy and stress free!! He was incredibly organized, honest and efficient with every step of the process. As a first time home buyer, it was very intimidating to me but I never once felt worried - he’s incredible!! Highly recommend him for any real estate needs!! Thanks for finding us our dream home!” - KATIE I’ve been with Shane for a few years and will never deviate! He’s personal, professional, detail-oriented, effective and keeps your needs above his. He and his team work tirelessly at doing their best and I highly recommend them and their services.” - SCOTT My wife and I had the pleasure of working with Shane and his team on the purchase and sale of our first home, and the purchase of our new home. Shane always went out of his way to make sure that he understood our requirements, and was critical in walking us through both the purchasing and selling process. He has a great sense of humour and upbeat personality which makes the entire buying and selling process run smoothly. I would highly recommend Shane and The Greater Okanagan Group for your real estate needs. - ADRIAN & AMY Shane is definitely the person to go to for all your real estate needs. He is a hard worker and ready to go to any length to help out. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a trustworthy agent. His knowledge will get the job done. - MOHAMMED
K E L O W N A
#1 – 1890 Cooper Road, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8B7 Each office independently owned and operated
250.826.3859 greaterokanagangroup@gmail.com www.greaterokanagangroup.com