When selling your home, it’s important to make it as convenient as possible for potential buyers to view. The market can move pretty fast these days, and you don’t want home shoppers and their agents to move onto other opportunities simply because they can’t get in to see yours.

When potential buyers visit, they often feel like intruders. It’s awkward for them – and often for you as well – if you are at home. So, if possible, take your family to the park – especially if you have pets – visit a friend or family member, or opt for an outing at a local coffee shop or bookstore during scheduled viewing times.

Another great strategy is to plan viewings around your schedule – at times when you’re out of the house anyway. For instance, if you take your kids to soccer on Saturday afternoons, make your property available for viewing then.

With a little planning, you can maximize the number of viewings, with minimal inconvenience to you and your family.

This will greatly increase your chances of selling sooner, and for the best price.

One of the most effective ways to ensure ease of access is to put a lock box near your front door. This allows agents to show your property as soon as they hear from interested homebuyers, which enables them to strike while the iron’s hot.

Without a lock box, an appointment would have to be scheduled. The delay could stifle buyer momentum. Worse yet, many home shoppers may skip your property in favour of others they can see right away.

We can have a discussion to set rules regarding when and under what circumstances agents may enter your home for viewing. For instance, Monday through Friday from 10am until 3pm and Saturdays from 11am until 3pm.

As always, if you want to talk about selling your home, your answers are just a phone call or e-mail away!

We all know that marriage isn’t always forever. And when a separation occurs, a home is often involved. Since most couples have a joint mortgage – one where both names are on the mortgage and title of the home – when separation or divorce proceedings occur, many wonder what will happen with the home.

When the marriage comes to an end, there are two obvious options concerning the home: 1) sell the property and split the proceeds according to your agreement and go your separate ways; or 2) one person buys the other party out of the mortgage and the title of the property.

The first option is a straight-forward transaction where you put the house up for sale, sell and split the proceeds. The second option, however, is slightly more complicated.

The decision between the options is a personal one borne out of the specific circumstances of the parties involved. Perhaps there are young kids involved that need to stay in the house, the market is down and there will be a loss on the property that neither party can afford, one party can afford to buy the other party out, etc.

Once the decision is made, how do you go about buying the other person out of a mortgage?  Well, essentially, you are refinancing your mortgage using a single income (the person who is buying the other party out of the house) and

qualification, versus the original purchase, which was based on joint income and qualification. 

If you are the one buying your partner out, the first step is to ensure that you can afford the mortgage payments. This is imperative because the lender will ask for proof that you are capable of covering the mortgage in order for you to apply on your own. In addition to covering the mortgage amount, you will have to come up with whatever dollar amount you have agreed on to buy the other partner out. This may come out of the equity in your home if it’s sufficient.

In essence, if you can afford the mortgage on your own, the most common means of buying out your partner post-separation and transferring title out of the joint name and into your name, is to refinance.

If you are not in a financial position to buy your ex-partner out of the house, and you agree to both stay on title and have payment arrangements, there is one warning to be taken very seriously. Just because one person is responsible for the payments (even with a court order), if the mortgage goes into default, both parties on the mortgage will be affected.

The most important piece of advice when dealing with a mortgage during a separation is to become informed. Know your options, talk to professionals about your options, and make an informed decision regarding your home and mortgage.