Saugeen Shores Real Estate Buzz

Well, here we are; once again it is that time of year when Port Elgin rolls out the welcoming mat to all of our visiting friends, family and tourists that come to town to marvel at the pumpkins, ohhh and ahhh at the cars, take in the wonderful craft show (where you can see the wonderful art of Peter Sheeler http://www.petersheeler.com and just have a great time with the family.  I remember the first Pumkinfest way back when and am in awe in how it has grown.  I take my hat off to the organizers and all of the many helpers that put in many, many hours in order to make this a good weekend for all.  So why not join in the fun this weekend and have a good one!  For more info go tohttp://www.pumpkinfest.org/

I just wanted to take a minute and thank Abby Bolton and her helpers for her perseverance in getting this dog park off the ground.  I know that we enjoy it, our doggies enjoy it and, from what I have heard, several people enjoy the chance to get there with their dogs.  It is nice to see them running, playing and interacting with the others.  If you would like more info about this park, google “Saugeen shores dog park” your dogs will love you for it!

I received this great little newsletter the other day from one of our local mortgage brokers and there is an article that I would like to pass on to you.  I thought that it would be quite relevant with the way our gas prices keep fluctuating.  I hear more often than not, that people are quite concerned about where this is all going.    So here goes…just a few tips that you may never have considered:

• Choose ‘regular’ gasoline.  Most cars do not require more expensive ‘premium’ gas but be sure to check your owner’s manual.
• Fill up at the station with the lowest price.  Today’s gasolines provide very similar performance.  While brand-name gas can be more expensive than ‘no name’ brands, there really is not much difference.
• Adopt new travel practices.  Perhaps you could take the bus to work, carpool, cycle or even get a little exercise by taking to the feet.  Sharing a ride not only doubles your fuel economy but it also cuts your commuting costs in half.
• Explore telecommuting.  If your company will allow, perhaps you could work from home 1 or 2 days per week.  You could also try shoppping and banking on your computer.
• Slow Down.  Try not to waste fuel by driving at high speeds, making fast starts and changing speed.
• Reduce air conditioner use. (YIKES!!) Turn off the A/C whenever possible and open the windows or use flow-through ventilation.
• Avoid idling.  Your engine does not usually need to be warmed up.  Also, if you are stopping for more than a minute or so, stop the car! (Commom sense)
• Maintain your vehicle.  Make sure your air filter is clean, keep the tires properly inflated and get your wheel alignmnet checked.

So there you have it; a few little hints to  help you cut down on your gas consumption.

On another note, if you would like to receive this newsletter, I am sure that you could give Jim a call; he would be more than happy chat with you.  Of course, if it is a mortgage that you are looking for, I am sure that he can help you out in that resepct as well.   http://www.mortgageintelligence.ca/jimcook

“Why does the Buyer want a home inspection on my property? Everything has been working well for me!” I can tell you as a Realtor, just about every Offer that I write or every Offer that I present has a home inspection clause in it. It not only protects the Buyer but it may protect the Seller in the long run…

A home inspector is usually hired by the Buyer to go over his/her purchase with a fine tooth comb. The inspection covers a wide variety of items that may cost the Buyer substantial money down the road if they have not been cared for. It is one thing to go into an agreement knowing about the defects in a property but if this info is not known to the Seller and, therefore not known to the Buyer, the end result could be costly.

Any time that I have had a Buyer do an inspection, I try to impress upon them that we are looking for major concerns such as roof issues, water issues, electrical pluming and/or foundation issues. We all are aware that every house, including new builds, have things that have to be looked after; however, the larger things can add up to a lot of expense.

A Buyer will usually accompany the home inspector during the inspection so that they can get first hand advice on how to deal with a problem. A good inspector will give them different options of how to remedy it.

There are 3 ways that a Buyer may deal with the inspection’s outcome. They may want to negotiate a better price so that they will be able to make the repairs, they may want the Seller to do the repairs or they may just choose to walk away from the deal if they cannot come to an acceptable conclusion with the Seller.

In our present Buyer’s market, it would be wise for a Seller to perhaps have a pre-inspection completed so that they know for sure what is going on in their home so that there will not be any surprises when the Buyer has their own inspection.

So…in the end, though everything may have been working well for you in your home over the past many years, the Buyers today have such a selection of properties to choose that their expectations are high when it comes to value for their money!