A Lively Source of Real Estate & Community News
January/February 2002
Don’t Like Closing-Day Surprises? Be specific about chattels in your Offer
E
verything about the house you just toured is perfect. The location is great, the layout is ideal and the square footage is more than adequate. There's a builtin hot tub on the back deck and a charming weathervane on the roof. You're ready to race back to RE/MAX to type up an offer. Whoa! Slow down... Walk through the house again but this time make a list with your realtor of items you feel should be part of the purchase price. If the hand-crafted barn-board shelves above the bar catch your eye, point them out so they can be included. Just because you regard an item as a permanent fixture doesn’t necessarily mean the Seller does. Take Nothing for Granted Never assume that the Seller plans to leave any item behind. The weathervane could be a sentimental gift. And though it may seem odd that a Seller would go to the trouble and expense of removing a built-in hot tub, I've seen it happen. If the property is listed with a professional real estate company, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sheet should include items that are included with the house. That's a starting point for your list. The most common large items usually included with the sale of a home are the dishwasher, fridge, stove and sometimes the washer and dryer. Keep in mind that if something isn’t listed as a chattel (an item the Seller is including with the house) then you risk offending the Seller if you ask for too much. Sweat the Small Stuff But how about the large mirror you saw above the fireplace mantel—or even the mantel itself? I had a listing last year where there was a fake but very real-looking fireplace in the living room. It was listed on the MLS as
an exclusion but it was still written into the first offer we received. Needless to say the fireplace was removed from the offer and was shipped east with the Seller’s belongings when she closed her deal. Other items to consider adding to the offer: Outdoor storage buildings Window treatments (be specific—there’s a difference between blinds and curtains!) Garage door openers Portable air conditioning units Chandeliers and other light fixtures Ceiling fans You might also list items you want to make sure the Seller removes, such as an unused oil storage tank, a stack of tires or an old brokendown car. You are basing your offer on the house as it sits with these items. If you discover that any item will not remain you may wish to reconsider the price. Where to Put It There may be space for your list within the offer of purchase. If not, make the list on a separate sheet of paper and attach it as a Schedule to the offer, where it must be signed by all parties. Check It Out Before Closing Take your list along for a final walk-through just before closing. If an item is missing, you'll have more clout to get it back or negotiate a price reduction if you bring it to everyone's attention before the papers are signed. Though most Sellers are honest, you should never rely on an oral agreement regarding any aspect of a real estate transaction. The Offer of Purchase and Sale should state clearly what stays and what goes. No one likes closing day surprises—especially your Realtor! ~Bruce
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Compiled for happy clients by:
Bruce Johnson Sales Representative
Mary Johnson Assistant RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc.
1263 Mosley St., Box 490 Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0 email: brucejohnson@remax.net
www.thehomehunt.com Tel: 705-429-4500 Fax: 705-429-4019
MLS Statistics for Georgian Triangle for: January 2002 2002 2001 Listings
Average Sale Price
Sales
Listings
Sales
Average Sale Price
Area
Month
YTD
Month
YTD
Month
12 Month
Month
YTD
Month
YTD
Month
12 Month
Clearview
18
18
13
13
$243,346
$190,039
30
30
11
11
$131,764
$160,845
Collingwood
38
38
23
23
$152,811
$152,887
34
34
16
16
$155,938
$152,812
Town of the Blue Mtns
22
22
5
5
$252,100
$249,678
28
28
4
4
$191,250
$233,297
Tiny Township
3
3
2
2
$85,500
$116,400
0
0
1
1
$95,000
$107,163
Wasaga Beach
55
55
28
28
$151,511
$153,541
41
41
18
18
$155,722
$137,429
Frequently Called Numbers Ambulance Office: (705) 429-4655 Arena: 429-3321 By-Law Department: 429-2511 Chamber of Commerce: 429-2247 Fire Department Office: 429-5281 Hydro Office: 429-2517 Library: 429-5481 Municipal Office: 429-3844 O.P.P. (Police): 911 (emergency only) Provincial Park Office: 429-2516 Public Works Department: 429-2540
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The “WOW” Trivia Contest Win A Thursday Night Dinner For Two at: Goodies Cafe
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e-mail Bruce at: brucejohnson@remax.net
of Wasaga Beach Inc.
Bruce Johnson,
Sales Representative
True North INSTALLATIONS Ceramic Wall & Floor Tile Installations Slate Tumbled Stone & Tile By Design Mike Chapman Tel: (705) 429-7237 Mobile: (705)725-2294
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Vale y p ap
! Day s ’ e ntin
BRIAN GREASLEY, B.Sc., LL.B. Barrister and Solicitor 33 Ste. Marie St. P.O. Box 490 Collingwood, ON L9Y 4B2 (705) 445-9300
1263 Mosley St. Riverbend Plaza Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0 (705) 429-5199
Your Family’s Full Service Lawyer
TIMLOCK CONSTRUCTION W.D. Redick & Associates Inc.
John Redick Sales Representative 47 Ste. Marie St. Collingwood, ON L9Y 3J9 Bus: (705) 445-0301 Fax: (705) 445-1400
587 River Road West Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0 Bus: (705) 429-7600 Fax: (705) 429-7610
Al Timlock Box 186 Wasaga Beach, ON (705) 429-6870 “Building Fine Homes in Wasaga Beach Since 1964”
930 River Road West, Suite 5 Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0
MOVING, MAINTENANCE & PROPERTY CARE We do it all for You! Moving & Storage Yard Maintenance Home & Trailer Washing Snow Removal Loads of topsoil/gravel
DAN BROWN: (705) 429-4323 Toll-Free Pager: (416) 550-2960
Medical, Surgical & Dental Facilities For Your Pet
Nottawasaga Chiropractic Dr. Mardi Charlton B. Sc., D.C., Dip. Acu. Chiropractor, Acupuncturist Ph. (705) 429-5073 Fax: (705) 429-8168
Call Michelle or Steve 65 Cedar Pointe Dr., Suite 105 Barrie, ON L4N 9R3
1-800-396-POST -Certified Inspectors -Full E & O insurance -Reports given on site
Dr. Kelly Volmers, D.V.M. 91 RIVER RD. WEST, WASAGA BEACH ON L0L 2P0 (705) 322-3459 The advertisers herein are owned and operated independently. The Publisher cannot and does not guarantee or assume any liability for the services advertised.
ALL-BRICK HOME NEAR BEACH
FOR LOG HOME LOVERS
LOVELY HOME ON ACORN
2-storey home near the Beaches in Sunward Estates has 1,360 sq.ft. finished on each level. Ideal for 2 families—2 kitchens, 2 wood-burning fireplaces, huge 114’ x 185’ landscaped lot, circular driveway and a huge covered concrete balcony. Offered at $179,900.
This remarkable scandinavian `scribecut` construction is tucked into a heavily treed hill in a golf course community. Over 3,000 sq.ft. of `jaw-drop` wonder, stone fireplace, cathedral ceilings, full basement, 2 car garage. Must be seen. Offered at $344,900.
Very well kept 1,005 sq.ft. home (1,700 sq.ft. finished) on Acorn Crescent. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, breakfast nook, central a/c and air cleaner, huge shed and a lovely lot in a newer area of fine homes. Offered at $154,900.
BEACHFRONT LOT!
TRULY A REMARKABLE HOME!
Waterfront lot in Wasaga’s west end. Stone breakwall in place and water/ sewer/ gas at the lot line. There are mature trees, shrubs and perennial flowers and you are close to both Collingwood & Wasaga. This is your chance to own Wasaga beachfront property. Offered at $149,900.
2,000 sq.ft. of main floor beauty & a 1,562 sq.ft. in-law suite downstairs. Countless upgrades: 2 fireplaces, 40 oz. carpeting, 9’ ceilings, c/air & an inside entry to a dbl-car garage with a finished family room above. Perfect for a family living with elderly relatives. Offered at $219,900.
NEW HOME ON SMALLMAN
GEORGIAN GLEN MODULAR
YEAR-ROUND NEAR BEACH
This 1,163 sq.ft. custom-built home features a double-car garage with an inside entry, gas f/p, eat-in kitchen & municipal services—all on a large pieshaped cul-de-sac lot. Fully insured with ONHWP & GST included with rebate assigned to builder. Offered at $159,900.
950 sq.ft. modular home in Georgian Glen Estates. Features include a large living room with a gas f/p, 2 spacious bedrooms, single-car garage, 2 sheds, screened porch & a private parkette next door. $383 monthly land lease includes taxes, water & sewer. Offered at $54,900.
Cute home or cottage very close to sandy beach. 650 sq.ft. on main floor and nearly 500 sq.ft. in fully finished basement. Master bdrm and family room both have new gas fireplaces. Also, 2 bathrooms & frontage on 2 streets. Offered at $89,900.
Y
More English Language Puzzlers...
ou have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, where you fill in a form by filling it out and an alarm goes off by going on. How can overlook and oversee be opposites, while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled or ruly? Also, there is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger. Neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads—which aren't sweet—are meat. Quicksand can work slowly and boxing rings are square. A guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. Why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers
don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index, 2 indices? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? People recite at a play and play at a recital. People ship by truck and send cargo by ship. People have noses that run and feet that smell? How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc. Independently Owned and Operated
Bruce Johnson, Sales Representative 1263 Mosley Street (Box 490) Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0 www.thehomehunt.com
(705) 429-4500
Use Bruce’s new automated property locator The HomeHunter© to find your next home. To sign up for free, e-mail Bruce today at:
brucejohnson@remax.net
Published by Bruce Johnson, Sales Representative, RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc. Not intended to solicit properties currently listed.