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Get What You Paid For

buying real estate

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Get What You Paid For

You’ve successfully purchased your dream home, congratulations!  The house has every feature you ever dreamed of, a lawn that would make most golf courses envious and a pool fit for a Michael Phelps –fast forward to move-in day– you get the keys and show up at the house to find a mess.  There’s a jungle of a lawn with grass up to your knees, a pool full of green water and a sweltering hot and humid home with dings in the walls and scrapes on the floor.

Surprises like this are not uncommon but they are completely avoidable.  Here are a couple of tips to ensure that the house you purchase is the house you get:

Include Clauses When Buying a House

While including clauses in your offer doesn’t mean the seller will abide by them, it may help in providing you with some degree of recourse if they don’t. Clauses to consider including in your offer would be those addressing the seller maintaining the property in a condition similar to that viewed at the time of purchase.  Specify things such as maintaining temperatures and relative humidity levels inside the home –extreme temperature and humidity fluctuations will damage building materials such as hardwood floors and stairs.  Specify that the lawn and gardens are to be maintained as well and that no garbage or personal belongings are to be left behind.

Revisit Your New House Before Closing

This one is crucial.  We always include a minimum of two visits with offers.  These visits can be used for a number of things, from showing off the property to the rest of the family to taking measurements for window coverings and having contractors provide estimates on renovations you’d like to do.  Most importantly, these visits are your opportunity to walk through the house to ensure that it is in the same condition as it was when you purchased it.  We always recommend completing one of the visits very close to the completion date and taking lots of photos during all visits to ensure you have a reference point if there’s ever a concern.

I recall one time when buyers revisited a house and found a minor leak that had just started. They brought it to our attention and we were able to get the water shut off and the problem remedied immediately.  Had this of been left much longer, it would have been a much bigger issue.  Also, if the property is vacant or you plan on having work done and want companies to provide quotes, it would be a good idea to try and negotiate more than two visits in the deal –you may want to ask your real estate agent about this clause and how including specific details about who is allowed to attend the appointments and for how long the visits can be very important.  Some homeowners won’t want more than you and your real estate agent visiting and therefore specifying those details can prevent problems later on.

Keep all of this in mind when you buy your next house, especially vacant homes, where nobody is visiting on a regular basis.  If you have questions about moving and want some advice, feel free to contact us with questions anytime.

Check out this clip on our IG about this topic:

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Open House Terms & Privacy Agreement

for KT Open Houses

  1.  

1. Visitor Etiquette: All visitors are required to maintain a respectful and safe environment in our client’s property by adhering to the following etiquette guidelines unless otherwise directed by a representative of The KT Team:

  • Footwear: Please remove footwear upon entry to help preserve the property’s cleanliness.
  • Washroom Facilities: Visitors are kindly asked to refrain from using washroom facilities.
  • Personal Belongings and Furniture: For privacy and safety, please avoid touching personal belongings or opening furniture not part of the sale. Examples include dressers, media consoles, and most free-standing furniture.
  • Food and Beverages: Outside food and beverages are prohibited while touring the property.
  • Furniture: To respect our client’s space, please avoid sitting or lying on any furniture.
  • Pets: Pets are not allowed within the property.
  • Children: Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring children follow these guidelines.

2. Visitor Tracking and Safety: To ensure the safety of our clients’ property and personal belongings and the security of our real estate agents, all visitors are required to provide accurate and complete contact information. This information is used to track attendees and ensure accountability.

3. Digital Communications and Follow-Up: By providing your contact information, you consent to receive digital communications from our real estate team, including information about this property, future open houses, and other relevant real estate opportunities. These communications may include marketing or promotional messages, and we aim to keep them relevant to your interests.

4. Opting Out: You may opt out of receiving digital communications at any time by contacting us directly at the contact points below or following the unsubscribe link provided in messages. Opting out will remove you from future marketing communications, although we may retain your contact information for internal records related to visitor tracking.

KT Realty
229 – 336 Bronte Street South
Milton ON L9T 7W6
info@kormendytrott.com
1 (800) 617-0090

4. Prospecting and Sales Activity: Our real estate team may use your information for prospecting and follow-up purposes. We ensure these communications are conducted respectfully and aim to provide opportunities aligned with your interests.

5. Privacy and Data Protection: We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Your details will not be shared with third parties, except as required by law or for purposes directly related to the safety of open house events.

6. Acknowledgment: By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms and conditions. You agree to adhere to any additional requests or instructions the real estate agents provide to maintain a safe and secure environment during your visit.