One of the greatest challenges most real estate agents find is the rising costs and expectations of sellers on listing agents and their marketing programs. It’s becoming increasingly costly to be in the real estate business and more and more expensive to obtain new prospects, obtain repeat and referral business, enhance your image and market your sellers homes. Statistics show it takes on average 2 years and 7 months to be remembered. So how do you break through before you become broke? I always like to begin with what are you selling? What is the message you are wanting to get out? I believe your message in Real Estate marketing is… Why you? Why your company? Why now? Here's 20 Ways to Get Your Marketing Message Out Cost Effectively Pick up the phone and talk to 5 current or past clien... 09/21/2013

Following the weekend festivities at the Roncesvalles Village Festival we headed home in a soft rain. It was cool and drizzling like an October evening feels.  The SUV had been parked all day,  It was dark so I didn't notice the flat tire. The low pressure warning had been on for a few days. I ignored it. The vehicle felt funny, awkward, not rolling the same.  I stepped out and walked around. Circle Check...  FLAT. Found a PetroCanada near the condo, PAID a dollar for the free air and tried to pump it up. The sound was as loud going in as going out.  There was real serious leak. I drove it back to the Condo to have a look in a dry well lit garage.  At least, it would be warm and dry, where I could simply change the tire. The wheel well contains a tire that needs to be dropped.  OK, Sna... 09/16/2013

How are your children going to look for a house? They Google it   They google everything http://tackk.com/l5va7j 09/10/2013

Why Should you be Scared? Why should you be afraid of Special Assessments? We have that covered!   You can indeed get coverage for Special Assessments in a Condominium 1) You are covered; If through the Title Insurance it was OMITTED from the Status Certificate  2) You are covered; Through your Home Insurance Coverage     II.  SPECIAL ASSESSMENT INSURANCEA unit owner can also obtain insurance coverage specifically for special assessments. This coverage will benefit a unit owner in circumstances where a condominium corporation suffers an insured loss, the insurance proceeds are inadequate to cover the costs, and the corporation levies a special assessment for the difference. This would only occur in very unusual circumstances.A real life example involves a condominium corporation that i... 09/10/2013

The Newspapers and media are telling you, how things have changed, you can do everything by yourself and all the information is there...  on the internet   but....   I know where to look up what I need; If I don't know from experience. I provide a needed buffer or filter between other agents and builder's agents for puffery and embellishment. I am your wingman. Realtors have specific neighbourhood knowledge. I don't serve the entire GTA from Oshawa to Milton, nor would I dream of going with you to Peterborough. I work a radius of a half hour from 427 and the QEW. Since, I work a smaller area, I generally have seen and know what has sold and for how much as a barometer of value. This permits me to evaluate asking to sale prices based on improvements and square footage. Similarly, even C... 09/08/2013

Mark Weisleder makes an excellent point in his recent email (August 26th, 2013) about the cascading effect of one purchaser's financing not coming through and the Seller's purchased another home and then could not close. This follows on the heels of another conversation I had with Stan Gelman about a bank withdrawing the Financing because the house did not appraise for the agreed Selling Price.  We can debate the details, but a BANK issues a Commitment to Finance based on certain conditions being met; in this case appraisal was only one. Since the property did not appraise the Financing was withdrawn and a DOMINO effect ensued for NON closing transactions. Due to the growing possibility of buyers being declined their financing at the last minute, sellers need some protection in the eve... 09/07/2013

Real Estate Relocation to Toronto, Canadahttp://tackk.com/792z2d 09/05/2013

My brother Larry who lives in Toronto asked me to post this. He is a vounteer at the library. The Toronto Tool Library is expanding with a second location in the east-end - but they need your help to make it happen!  They have just launched a crowdfund campaign to complete renovations and set-up the new Tool Library & Makerspace for success. To open the doors this fall, They need to fund raise $16,000 in the next 26 days!  There are many ways to help: Purchase a membership now to save money, get great rewards like event tickets, 3D prints and t-shirts or share this video! Click Here to Watch the Video!    The new location at 1803 Danforth will be an expanded resource library alongside a Makerspace workshop. The Makerspace will be a community hub with 24/7 secure access for members, a fu... 09/04/2013

Close To  Financial DistrictEntertainment DistrictRogers CentreCN Tower Water Front, walkable distance to lake shore Harbour View Estate, Move In this season And Enjoy Floor To CeilingClose to Front street, spadina at Bremner and Navy Warft CrtFor more details, pictures and more mls condos, please visit and browse always at:http://www.greatgtahomes.com/Navy-wharf-crt-toronto.. 09/03/2013

Staging luxury homes in Toronto and Vaughan we specialize in working with professional photographers that capture a property in a way that the listing photos stand out in a sea of homes that are all truly phenomenal. Toronto is home to some of the best builders in the nation.  Attention to detail using only the finest materials and experienced trades are the hallmarks of the homes that are built to meet the high standards that are expected by the luxury home purchaser. Using clear, distinct and unusual angles are what make our properties stand apart from the usual fare that a buyer would see online. When listing a luxury home you want the buyer to be able to experience the visual of living in a spectacular setting. Overseas investors and local buyers are drawn to our work and to the pro... 09/01/2013

Home staging in the luxury market in Toronto I am always looking for new ways to stage a dining room table. Some of you may remember David Peterson using a white horse about 12" high.That one inspired me to go out and buy one of those. It was innovative and quite striking. In this dining room I decided to use a blue Vespa sitting beside the dining table in a penthouse which overlooked Toronto Harbour and Airport. The blue of the Vespa picked up on the water of Lake Ontario. Technically not on the table, but definitely a way for a buyer to remember how cool this condo  was. I did put green apples in an architecturally designed polished chrome wire fruit bowl on the table. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. When you want your listing to stand out in a sea of condo listings in the Tor... 08/31/2013

I know you know the value of an Experienced Real Estate Agent. Thats why you're looking to work with a Professional. But as you know, I've only got so much time in a day,I'd have to rush through this job.And to be honest, I don't like to rushBecause I like to deliver my best work.If your budget is a problem, I can offer to do something else in that price point, but at this price for what you're asking,I am unable to do it.I hope you understand.I only have room for 10 clients each month to ensure that I can do my best work for each and every client.   So contact me today to start the conversation.  http://bit.Ly/CallDavid 08/31/2013

  Looking to buy  a 3 bedroom home in Bathurst Manor or  Wilson Heights, Toronto Ontario Aug 19, 2013   There are currently 22, 3 bedroom homes for sale in  Bathurst manor/Wilson Heights Toronto, Ontario.   The asking price: $789,000.0 to $1,099,000.   Average # bathrooms: 2.6                           Bathurst Manor:      11 Wilson Heights:       11   Semi-detached:        1 Att/Row/Townhouse: 1 Detached:               20 Style: Bungalow:    17 Bungaloft:     1 1 1/2 storey: 1 2 storey:       2 Backsplit 4:   1         These homes are selling quickly, if you are interested in tracking Bathurst Manor or Wilson Heights you'll want to be notified as soon as homes become available on the Toronto Ontario MLS system often. Even better, give us a call and we'll set up an on-going search espec... 08/19/2013

Looking to buy  a four bedroom home in Cedarvale Toronto Ontario Aug 19, 2013 There are currently 4, four bedroom homes for sale in  Forest Hill Toronto, Ontario. The asking price: $989,000.0 to $1,499,000. Average # bathrooms: 3.8                       Cedarvale: Detached Homes: 3 Semi-detached:1     Style 2 storey:3 3 storey:1 These homes are selling quickly, if you are interested in tracking the Cedarvale, Toronto, you'll want to be notified as soon as homes become available on the Toronto Ontario MLS system often. Even better, give us a call and we'll set up an on-going search especially for you.   We serve the Toronto and Greater Toronto areas as well. If there is a home in Toronto or the GTA you would like to see, please give us a call - we would be pleased to set up a showing at ... 08/19/2013

Looking to buy  a four bedroom home in Forest Hill Toronto Ontario Aug 19, 2013 There are currently 18, four bedroom homes for sale in  Forest Hill Toronto, Ontario. The asking price: $1,239,000.0 to $6,350,000. Average # bathrooms: 4.5 The locations/Communities are as follows: Forest Hill Upper Village: 3 Forest Hill Lower Village: 15 Detached Homes Style 2 storey:14 2 1/2 story 3 3 storey:1 These homes are selling quickly, if you are interested in tracking the Forest Hill, Toronto, you'll want to be notified as soon as homes become available on the Toronto Ontario MLS system often. Even better, give us a call and we'll set up an on-going search especially for you.   We serve the Toronto and Greater Toronto areas as well. If there is a home in Toronto or the GTA you would like to see, ... 08/19/2013

Looking to buy  a four bedroom home in Downtown Toronto Ontario There are currently 12, four bedroom homes for sale in Downtown Toronto, Ontario. The asking price: $525,000.0 to $1,799,000. The locations/Communities are as follows:   Community Bay Street Corridor 1 Cabbagetown-South St. James Town 2 Dufferin Grove 3 Little Portugal 1 Palmerston-Little Italy 1 Trinity-Bellwoods 2 University 2     Type Att/Row/Twnhouse 1 Detached 5 Semi-Detached 6 Style 2-Storey 9 3-Storey 3   These homes are selling quickly, if you are interested in tracking the downtown core in any of these this neighbourhoods, you'll want to be notified as soon as homes become available on the Toronto Ontario MLS system often. Even better, give us a call and we'll set up an on-going search especially for you.     And i... 08/19/2013

Home staging in Toronto and Vaughan we are asked this question at least once per week by sellers. The seller invested in a larger home to take advantage of rising home prices in our area and just never got around to buying furniture to fill the house. The only problem with this line of thinking is that buyers cannot imagine how they would fit their dining room set in a particular home. Buyers are quite often out of town or the country in our area. They rely heavily on the listing photos as their first impression in regards to whether the house will suit their needs. We suggest that the seller invest in renting furniture for the dining room so that buyers are not left scratching their head and passing on putting a property on their "must see list" and click through to the next listing. M... 08/18/2013

Inarguably, the summer of 2013 has been a wet one in Toronto. While our seemingly endless downpours make for happy ducks, the same cannot be said for houses. The extreme storms witnessed this season have left many with wet basements, and worse. Here are some great tips posted by Thea Scrimger at Carson Dunlop Inspections for preventative measures homeowners can take to ensure they are prepared for the next bout of heavy rainfalls, there are some items that are beyond control:-   Many of the areas more dramatically affected by this summer’s storms were neighborhoods where the sewer systems became overloaded, taxed beyond their capacity. When this happens, excess water from the sewers has no choice but to fill up the pipes connecting the sewers under the street to the drains in the house.... 08/06/2013

Home Staging in Toronto our company has to come up with solutions for small spaces. Working with investors we don't always have the opportunity to speak with them at the planning stages so that these types of concerns are addressed during the build process. When we were called in to stage this property we found that the builder has only left just under 5 feet between the exterior wall and the edge of the island. How he asked, were we going to make this look like useable space to buyers and keep them from going to the next listing as this kitchen looked way too small to be used. We actually were able to stage it with 3 counter height stools at the island and 2 bar height stools at the table. Voila! Seating for 5 in a very narrow kitchen. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. Now buyers... 08/04/2013

Roberto Alomar Photo Cred Spokeo.com  We all want those plum commissions for sales of $700k to 800 thousand dollars. While out door knocking, I happened upon a nice fellow who did want to sell his Etobicoke townhouse.    I had the grande tour; made some housekeeping and staging suggestions and prepared for the big question.    How much is your commission rate?   I responded with a variety of options to select what might be suitable; The Plus, Premium and Prestige Commission Programs.  Was there another property involved? Was there a purchase on the other side? Was there another "end" somewhere to soften the commission concession.   No matter how I responded I seemed to frustrate the seller. Then he said ...   "You can't hit a home run with every deal."   We all talk about justifying ou... 08/01/2013