Q: I’m looking at selling next year and wondered if you have any advice on how to choose the best agent to sell my home? Steve H.A: What a great question – especially to ask a real estate agent! We cover this off pretty thoroughly in our book ‘SOLD, How to Sell Your Home for the Best Price’, so I’m sending you a copy. For everyone else reading this here is a bit of a summary.Before you choose your agent think about what is most importan…
Read More →Q: I’ve just bought at auction and I settle in another three weeks. The property is tenanted but will be vacant at settlement. What safeguards do I have that it will be in good condition when I settle? Gary W. As a purchaser you are entitled to a ‘pre-settlement inspection’. What this means is that you can insist on the agent showing you through the property a day or two prior to settlement. Strictly speaking you can only insist on the prope…
Read More →Q: I put an offer on a property last week but was told that my offer was rejected in favour of one through another agent. Isn’t there some process to protect the buyer when two offers are received at the same time? Peter T. This is what we call a multi offer, and the REINZ recommends a process to be followed in these cases. All offers should be presented to the seller at the same time so they can compare them and choose only ONE to either ne…
Read More →"P" Test Q: I’m looking to buy a rental/investment property and the builder who did the inspection suggested getting a “P” test done. Should I be doing this? Alister B. Unfortunately a house could have been used as a P-Lab or have had P users as tenants without the owner, or you as the prospective purchaser, having any inkling. After 6 months of a house being used as a lab there may be no may be no distinguishable smell at all, but it coul…
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