Legislating Common Sense: More Tidbits from the New Quebec Real Estate Brokerage Act

The new Real Estate Brokerage Act came into effect here in Quebec on May 1, 2010.  I’ve written about this previously, but in July, I attended my mandatory training on the new laws and learned a few more tidbits.

1. What’s the name of that dude who showed up at our Christmas party the year we had a Michael Jackson moonwalk contest?

This will come as a shock and as a dreadful burden to many real estate agency executive officers but….hold onto your seats now…you will now be required to keep a list (ghack!) of brokers working for your real estate agency, complete with their full names! 

Shocking and time-consuming, I know.  Better get another assistant, ‘cause it’s time to blow the dust off those files and try to remember who works for you.

2. Put your shoulder pads and big hair away…or it’s off with your head!

If a real estate broker (formerly called an agent) is going to use a picture of themselves in their advertising, the picture must not be more than 5 years old. 

Ha! 

We have a little over a year to implement this last one.  Better book my hair appointment now if I want to continue selling Montreal West Island real estate : )

I guess sometimes there’s a need to legislate common sense.  Better than legislating absurdity!

No Comments

Tanya Nouwens, September 3rd 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Real Estate

Sometimes, you need to sell your house to find your home.

I met with a wonderful client today to discuss selling her home and what my analysis showed its market value to be.  She lives here in Kirkland, Quebec.  She called me after getting one of my nifty postcards, saying it was unlike any other she had seen from a real estate agent (mission accomplished!). 

As we spoke, it became clear that she had outgrown her home.  The things that had appealed to her when she bought it — big home, quiet neighbourhood, away from the action, young families around — now imprisoned her, in a way.  Her days of raising little ones were over.  Her grown daughter had a life of her own.  She herself had developed interests and hobbies that weren’t there when she bought her home some 20 years ago.  She wanted more action around her, cafés and people and shopping and the water.  She wants Pointe Claire Village, that much is clear.

But she and her husband had lovingly — and expensively — updated parts of their home over the years.  And she was hoping to get that money back when it came time to sell.

It got me to thinking that, sometimes, you need to throw what seems like common sense, as well as the opinions of others, and what you may have been led to believe is the “right” thing to do RIGHT OUT THE WINDOW and do what’s good for you. 

Six years ago, my husband was painting the garage of our home when my girlfriend called and said, “Hey, I know you’re not looking at all, but my next door neighbour’s house is going on the market.  Why don’t you just come and see it?”  Me to my hubby: “Sweetheart, we’re not going to buy it, obviously, but let’s just go have a look to make her happy.”

So we did.

And we’ve lived there ever since.

We weren’t planning to move.  But the allure of the quality of life this place could offer…which our then-home could not…was so appealing: quiet cul-de-sac within a cul-de-sac, no traffic, loads of kids the same age as ours playing outside, friendly neighbours who actually chatted with each other outside, zoning for a great school, close to parks and the bicycle path, easy access to the highway – just to name a few.

Lady skipper on boatSo we took the plunge.

Despite the increased cost — which we could afford, in the end.

Despite the hassle — I’m NEVER moving again.

Despite the contravention of common wisdom that says you should stay in a house for many, many years – which we chose to rebel against, and took major flak for.

Despite the resistance we encountered from people who said, “Why wouldn’t you be happy where you are?” — Because we knew we could be happier where we were not!

Sometimes, you’ve gotta make the decision that’s right for you, the one that will warm your heart, that will bring out the best in you (or maybe just bring out other parts of you that have not yet blossomed), that will help you lead the kind of life that soothes your soul, wraps around your shoulders like a comfortable blanket on the beach in front of a bonfire at night, and says to you, “You’re home.” 

What feels like home changes over the course of our lives, as our lives change.  And sometimes, you need to sell your house to find your home. 

2 Comments

Tanya Nouwens, July 16th 2010 | Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Real Estate

1986 Called: They Want Their Shoulder Pads Back

There’s a home in my Montreal West Island neighbourhood that’s been for sale for a long time, and I think I know why.  It’s the same problem that kept another home in the area from selling for more than a year.  And the problem relates to the unfortunate decision that some homeowners make to not update their home as time goes by. 

Or maybe it’s not even a conscious decision to not update their home.  It’s probably more of a mindset that they like their home the way it is, so it never really occurs to them to change any of the finishes or renovate the kitchen or bathrooms.

This alone is not unusual.  We’ve all seen lots of homes that haven’t been updated.  As a Montreal West Island real estate agent, I see this all the time.

The problem comes when the home is REALLY BIG.

Then, the task of updating also becomes REALLY BIG — an enormous, all-consuming task that can turn many potential buyers off.

In a smaller home, a buyer can usually fathom having to update a bathroom at some point.  But in a home with three complete baths that haven’t seen anything more recent than 1986?  That poses a HUGE psychological block.

If you’re the owner of one of these larger homes, do yourself a favour and commit to gradually updating over time, from time to time.  Then, when it comes time to sell, even if the whole house has not been updated, the job of doing that won’t seem so daunting to a prospective buyer.

And if you’re one of those people who hasn’t kept up with the times in your home’s flooring, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, etc., then please price your property accordingly. 

And when you feel like saying to your Montreal real estate agent, “But our home is so much BIGGER than the other homes on the street,” please understand why that may not carry as much weight as you would like it to. 

1 Comment

Tanya Nouwens, May 25th 2010 | Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Real Estate