The Luttmer Team are firm believers in the importance of high quality media marketing when it comes to buying and selling real estate in todays media conscious world.  Jamie and Jody’s videos have helped sellers achieve great terms in the sale of their property and have given buyers the ability to get detailed, relevant information from the comfort of their own home or on their smart phone.  Check out just a few of The Luttmer Teams videos in the links below. 

http://www.m360d.ca/vidy.php?a=jalu114

http://m360d.ca/yc/?a=jalu120#video

http://m360d.ca/yc/?a=jalu119#video

http://m360d.ca/yc/?a=jalu117#video

While there are a variety of housing ownership interests, the most common include the following:

Freehold – A freehold interest (also known as a fee simple) is the more precise term for what we ordinarily refer to as “ownership” of a home. The owner of the freehold interest has full use and control of the land and the buildings on it, subject to any rights of the Crown, local land-use bylaws, and any other restrictions in place at the time of purchase.

Strata Title – The strata title form of ownership is designed to provide exclusive use and ownership of a specific housing unit (the strata lot) which is contained in a larger property (the strata project), plus shared use and ownership of the common areas such as halls, grounds, garages, elevators, etc. This type of ownership is used for duplexes, apartment blocks, townhouse complexes, warehouses, and many other types of buildings. In additiion, some single family home developments may be part of a bare-land strata development. Because ownership of the common space is shared, the owners also share financial responsibility for its maintenance.

Leasehold – In some cases, you might purchase the right to use a residential property for a long, but limited, period of time. The owner of this right of use has a type of ownership called a leasehold interest. This type of ownership is used most often for townhouses or apartments built on city-owned land. It is also used occasionally for single detached homes on farm land, on First Nation reserves, and for apartments where the owner of the freehold interest of an entire apartment block sells leasehold interests in individual apartment units to other “owners.” Leasehold interests are frequently set for periods of 99 years, but regardless of the length of the original term, you will only be able to purchase the remaining portion. Of course, the shorter the remaining portion, the less you, or the person who eventually purchases from you, will be willing to pay for the leasehold interest.

Cooperative – In the cooperative form of ownership, each owner owns a share in a company or cooperative association which, in turn, owns a property containing a number of housing units. Each shareholder is assigned one particular unit in which to reside.

Have any questions about home ownership?  Contact Jamie.  jamie@luttmer.ca 604-760-6448

The laws around the professional relationship you have with your REALTOR® are laid out in both common and statute law. In British Columbia these laws are defined in the common law of “Agency” and Provincial Statute law in the Real Estate Services Act.

If you have been involved in a real estate transaction in which the real estate licensee or brokerage may have acted improperly, I always recommend calling the Managing Broker to try and resolve it that way first. Failing that, you may wish to contact the Real Estate Council to find out about filing a complaint.

Examples of matters that the Real Estate Council will investigate:
Mishandling of deposits
Concealing property defects
Misrepresentation
Unauthorized signing of documents
Unwritten guarantees to resell a property used as an inducement to do business
Secret commissions
Professional misconduct including incompetence and conduct unbecoming of a licensee.

Real Estate Council of BC Website: http://www.recbc.ca

Not that long ago a REALTOR® relied on the consumer to come to them for information.  That information was the exclusive domain of various real estate boards, organizations and the REALTOR®’s.  Today, as a consumer, looking to buy or sell a home, you have at your fingertips all the information I have as a real estate professional and yet, more people today, are using the service of REALTOR®,s than did in the past.  Here’s why.

Selling your home is a complex process that can be stressful and time-consuming. An experienced Realtor has the knowledge, skills, and connections to help you through the process every step of the way. Consider the following benefits of working with a: REALTOR®   

Professional Experience:

With knowledge and training in marketing strategy, negotiation tactics, and the workings of the current real estate market, a REALTOR® will be able to guide you through the steps of the home-selling process and be able to explain exactly what to expect. S/he will make you aware of your rights and responsibilities, work with you to strategize the best moves according to your own goals, discuss financing options, and point you in the direction of other specialized professionals who will aid you in different stages of the process.

Best Price:

A REALTOR® has their fingers on the pulse of the current real estate market, and will know what comparable properties in your area are selling for. They have the resources and knowledge to establish the best asking price and to attract the highest selling price. With access to their company’s professional marketing resources and connections, they will ensure potential buyers are immediately made aware of your home and market the property to sell as quickly as possible and for the most money.

“Showcasing” Experience:

Your REALTOR® will know the importance of a property’s first impression. S/he will have experienced first-hand, for example, the impact a property’s “drive-up appeal” has on the rest of a potential Buyer’s experience of your home. Your Realtor will be able to offer you tips and information on how to get your home in the best selling shape possible, in order to sell your property quickly and for top dollar.

Access to Qualified Buyers:

REALTOR®’s save time and effort by dealing only with qualified buyers. They have access to a pool of pre-screened and pre-qualified buyers who are serious about buying a home in your neighbourhood. Realtors work hard to develop this base of qualified buyers which will become an invaluable resource for you.

Negotiation Skills:

REALTOR®’s serve many functions, but perhaps the most important is their role as primary negotiator on your behalf. Your REALTOR® realizes your goal is to sell your home as quickly as possible, and for the most money possible, and will work closely with you during the negotiation process to facilitate this goal. REALTOR®’s bring to the process the knowledge

Before you start scraping paint or planting shrubs and flowers, wash the dirt, mildew and general grunge off the outside of your house.  Washing a house can add $10,000 to $15,000 to the sale price of your house.

A bucket of soapy water and a long handled brush can remove  the dust and dirt that have splashed onto your wood, vinyl, metal, stucco and brick.  Power washers can be rented for about $75 a day and can reaveal the true colour of your flagstone walkways.

Wash your windows inside and out, swipe the cobwebs off from your eaves, and hose down the downspouts.  Clean your garage doors.  If you can't spray off the dirt scrub it off with some trisodium phosphate disolved in water, available at hardware and home improvement centre.

If you and your spouse have a good sense of humour, you can make your house sparkle in a few weekends.  If neither of you can take a joke, get a friend to help or hire someone to do it.