1. First understand your clients standards for ‘satisfaction’

In Seth’s Blog (Jan 30/2012), Seth Godin suggests the best explanation of client satisfaction is the equation: What they’re hoping for – minus – What they get. Successful companies don’t settle for just ‘satisfied’. They want the client to have a ‘WOW’ experience.

2. Delight and surprise them – don’t ‘manage expectations’

The ability to delight and surprise is at the core of every beloved brand, product or service. Shady promises or hype will undercut the relationship before it even has a chance to take hold. Of course you have to make promises to earn attention and get a contract signed. The mistake is when you put more effort into the audition than you do into the performance. Don’t under-promise. Promise a lot! Deliver even more.

3. Silent Disappointment -not complaint- is the sound of your client going elsewhere

What happens too often is that salespeople or marketers exaggerate what’s promised – and then fail to deliver it. That results in disappointment. (and loss of trust, referrals and repeat business) Unfortunately, many clients will quietly suffer through the experience without mentioning it – to you.

4. Memory is more important than Reality

Apparently there’s research that shows what people remember is often different – and far more important than what they actually experience. So what do clients remember about their business relationship with you? The peak of the experience (bad or good) and, the last part of the experience.

5. Provide your Client with a Peak Experience that goes way beyond Expectations

Regardless of your product or process, the best way to maximize client satisfaction is to amplify the positive peak experience and make sure it happens near the end of the service you provide. And yes, I know, that’s more easily said than done.

How does this work in your business?

Quit selling for a minute and put yourself in your clients shoes. Where do they experience frustration or disappointment? What’s their ‘peak experience’ in the process? What powerful memories will they store and share? If you don’t know the answers, ask your clients. In fact, you should ask them anyway. They’re just waiting for a chance to tell you.

What my clients said

My ‘Client – First’ Business Philosophy

Number of Sales (all Toronto MLS Districts)

While December 2011 sales for the entire Toronto Real Estate Board reached 4,718 – an increase of 10% over last year, the real story is the total number of sales for 2011. For all Toronto MLS districts, there were a total of 89,347 sales, – up 4% compared to 2010, making 2011 the second best year on record. For easy access to the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Market Watch Newsletter – or custom content on East End Toronto Real Estate, subscribe to my monthly Toronto Real Estate Statistics Reports.

Average Prices (all TREB districts)

• The average selling price of a GTA home on the MLS system in December 2011 was $451,436 – an increase of about 4% over December 2010 prices. The average sale price for all of 2011 was $465,412 an 8% increase over the 2010 average.
• The average number of Days on the Market for December 2011 was 32 compared to 37 days in December 2010.
• Average sales to listings (% S – A) ratio was 37% , about the same as December 2010. December was unusually active and in many cases, was still a Sellers Market.

Toronto Real Estate Statistics (not the entire GTA) for December 2011

My personal focus is on the East End Toronto Real Estate Market, better known as districts E01, E02, and E03. I think we still need to look at the entire GTA Real Estate Market statistics to get a broader idea of overall trends.

How East End Toronto Real Estate Markets Compare to the Rest of the GTA

E01 District Greenwood-Coxwell, South Riverdale, Blake Jones, North Riverdale

Use this link to search Active Leslieville Real Estate Listings

E02 District – The Beaches, Woodbine Corridor, and the south part of East Danforth

Use this Link to search Active Toronto Beaches Real Estate Listings

E03 District – Playter Estates-Danforth, Broadview North, Danforth Village-East York, Danforth, Woodbine-Lumsden, (part of ) East-End Danforth, Crescent Town

Use this link to Search Active Danforth Village Real Estate Listings

Use this link to Search Active Toronto Riverdale Listings

This Toronto Real Estate Statistics Post Will Change Based On Your Responses

I sift through a mountain of raw data every month to deliver answers to your most important questions. Leave a comment or question below if you think this post should change. This post is for you and I’d like it to be as relevant to your needs as possible. (Click here to subscribe to blog posts and monthly statistical updates)

For the full Toronto Real Estate Market Statistics report, December 2011, see below for the ‘Slide-Share’ presentation. Use arrows to enlarge document and scroll through the presentation.

Too many decorations are distracting

Buyers may take advantage of slower work schedules and vacations to visit your open house. But how do you strike the right balance between cozy and crammed when your home is filled with presents and decorations?

You can still celebrate the season in style. Just keep your home tidy and sparingly decorated. Buyers are looking for just the right amount of sparkle and in this case ‘less is more’.

Buyers expect some decorations

Just remember they’re trying to envision how they would spend their day-to-day lives in the home year round. So keep the holiday decorations to the right level. The goal is to bring out the home’s natural and architectural charm.

For selling your home over the holidays, follow these 10 tips

1. Don’t put up too many outside lights: A home will dazzle more if lights are kept to a tasteful minimum. Sellers should opt for white lights instead of multi-coloured flashing bulbs to provide a more neutral glow to a home.
2. Remember to clear the snow:  Snow can look beautiful on trees, but driveways and walkways should be cleared as soon as the flakes fall.  If you’re selling your home over the holidays, make sure Buyers can move freely across all the outdoor paths and patios around your home.
3. Put some life back in your landscape: Give Buyers a chance to imagine the potential in your garden. Frost-resistant plants like flowering kale or miniature trees allow Sellers to liven up walkways and still let the Buyers imagine their vision of the outdoor spaces.
4. Keep it cozy. Everyone appreciates a warm, cozy home – especially in the winter. So if you’re selling your home over the holidays, set the thermostat at a comfy temperature for the whole day, since some thermostats have low temperature pre-sets during the day when no one is at home. If it’s possible, have the fireplace and candles lit, and then disappear for the showing.
5. Engage the senses: Simmering a pot of cider with cinnamon during open houses or before showings will create a warm and festive feeling. It couldn’t hurt to serve some to your open house guests.
6. Have someone else check for lingering odours. We all grow accustomed to the usual scents in our homes. And when homes are sealed-up to save heat, some pet odours or cooking smells can become pretty intense. Open a window, put on the fans, and get some fresh air in the home before showings. No smell is the best smell.
7. Selling your home over the holidays means Buyers get to see only the ‘winter version’ of your property. Display your home’s seasonal bests: Photos of the home’s back and front yards, gardens and patios in spring and summer will show potential buyers what they’re missing. You love it. So will they.
8. Smaller is better! When selling your home over the holidays, a smaller Christmas tree, with minimal decorations, will create the appearance of more space. A huge tree, on the other hand, will make the room look smaller, and busy decorations can intensify clutter.
9. Pretend it’s Christmas Eve and hide the presents. It’s so important to cut back on clutter when selling your home over the holidays. Your carefully chosen, hand-picked, perfectly wrapped gifts could very well be a distraction during showings.
10. Yes, you can have too many decorations: Remember, when selling your home over the holidays, less is always more. Whimsical ornaments can be great accents during the holidays, but be mindful not to go overboard.

If you’d like more tips for selling your home, have a look at:

Part 1: Top 10 Small Bathroom Staging Ideas and Part 2: Top 10 Small Bathroom Staging Ideas

Great ideas for Landscaping Small Yards

Number of Sales (all Toronto MLS Districts)

In November 2011 the Toronto Real Estate Board reported 7,092 sales across the GTA for all Toronto MLS districts, , an increase of 11% over November 2010.  For easy access to the Toronto Real Estate Board’s Market Watch Newsletter – or custom content on East End Toronto Real Estate, subscribe to my monthly Toronto Real Estate Statistics Reports.

Average Prices (all TREB districts)

• The average selling price of a GTA home on the MLS system in November 2011 was $480,421 – an increase of nearly 10% over the November 2010 prices.
• The average number of Days on the Market was 29 compared to 34 days in November 2010.
• Average sales to listings (% S – A) ratio was 45.6% , a big increase from the 34.8% in November 2010. Clearly November was very much a Sellers Market.

Toronto Real Estate Statistics (not the entire GTA) for November 2011

My personal focus is on the East End Toronto Real Estate Market, better known as districts E01, E02, and E03. I think we still need to look at the entire GTA Real Estate Market statistics to get a broader idea of overall trends.

How East End Toronto Real Estate Markets Compare to the Rest of the GTA

E01 District Greenwood-Coxwell, South Riverdale, Blake Jones, North Riverdale

Use this link to search Active Leslieville Real Estate Listings

E02 District – The Beaches, Woodbine Corridor, and the south part of East Danforth

Use this Link to search Active Toronto Beaches Real Estate Listings

E03 District – Playter Estates-Danforth, Broadview North, Danforth Village-East York, Danforth, Woodbine-Lumsden, (part of ) East-End Danforth, Crescent Town

Use this link to Search Active Danforth Village Real Estate Listings

Use this link to Search Active Toronto Riverdale Listings

This Toronto Real Estate Statistics Post Will Change Based On Your Responses

I sift through a mountain of raw data every month to deliver answers to your most important questions. Leave a comment or question below if you think this post should change.  This post is for you and I’d like it to be as relevant to your needs as possible. (Click here to subscribe to blog posts and monthly statistical updates)

For the full Toronto Real Estate Market Statistics report, November 2011, see below for the ‘Slide-Share’ presentation. Use arrows to enlarge document and scroll through the presentation.

Packing Gift Hampers at Centre 55

Do you remember John Lennon’s “Happy Christmas” song from years ago? “So this is Christmas, And what have you done, Another year over, a new one just begun”. It’s one of my favourite tunes this time of year.

Sooner or later, it makes me think about how fortunate we are to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. We watch our kids’ eyes light up when they open their presents. Later on we all share a great dinner and conversation.

Of course not everyone’s so fortunate. In every community there are people struggling during the holidays.

.

Share A Christmas @ Beaches Centre 55

In recent years it’s become a Christmas tradition for our family, to contribute to our community’s Centre 55 Share a Christmas program, instead of splashing out on a large holiday party with our clients and friends.

Last year we sponsored a local family – a mom with two children. The mother was on social assistance while she went back to school for upgrading courses. There was no money for ‘extras’.

We shopped and wrapped gifts (from Santa) and some warm winter clothes (‘from Mom’) that we picked specially for the 10 year old girl and 12 year old boy. Centre 55 told us what to buy for the food hamper so they’d have everything they needed for a festive meal.

When we delivered it, the mom thanked us – a lot – for the food and gifts, but mostly for making Christmas ‘special’ for her kids that year. There were tears in her eyes as we left.

It was a touching experience for all of us, but most of all for our sons, who’ve never experienced poverty or needed charity. I’ll never forget the conversations we had with them afterwards.

Why I’m Sharing Our ‘Christmas Story’ With You

Every year I run into friends who really wanted to donate to a Christmas program or volunteer but they’ve just left it too late. Or they’re caught up in their own Christmas pressures and just don’t ‘find the time’. If that’s you, here’s your reminder. There’s still plenty of time to call your local church or charity.

Next, I wanted to show how easy it is to do. You can give back to your community with time or money or both. It doesn’t have to be a lifelong commitment. For instance, we’ll be packing Christmas hampers at Centre 55 with our kids for a couple hours next weekend.

Then there’s the concept that we create the kind of community we want to live in. Safe, vibrant neighbourhoods don’t just happen. We create them in a hundred different ways. One way is to show compassion and support to those who need it most.

Finally, helping others enriches our own lives. You already know that if you volunteer somewhere. If not, I encourage you to try it. And what better time than now?

Please consider making the following community programs a little brighter this holiday season:

Toronto Beaches Community Centre 55 (416) 691-1113

Woodgreen Community Centres (Leslieville, Riverdale, Danforth):  (416) 645-6000

I hope this finds you in good spirits and in good health. From my family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best for 2012.

CBC News recently covered the story of a B.C. home buyer who had an independent home inspection before buying his home. The home inspection contract states that it is a visual inspection and the Home Inspector can not identify hidden defects or do ‘destructive’ testing to search for problems.

The Home Inspection Report did not indicate any problem with water damage.

In addition, the Seller provided a Disclosure Statement that said there were no water problems in the house. But only a month after moving in, the basement sprung a major leak. Estimated cost of repairs – about $50,000.

Buyers Deserve Better Protection Than the Rule of ‘Buyer Beware’

The Seller was a renovator/developer who apparently bought the home to fix up and flip. He knew there were water problems in the basement, which he later said he had repaired by putting in a new drainage system.

When the house was later listed for sale, the prior water damage was not reported on the Property Disclosure Statement. The Listing Agent said the Seller insisted it was fixed and told the Agent not to disclose it on the listing. The Seller said just the opposite: that the Agent declared it unnecessary to report since it was no longer a defect.

The Rules are NOT Clear – Or Consistent

Every province has rules about disclosing major hidden defects – IF they are dangerous. The rules in B.C. say that when a problem has been fixed, it’s no longer an issue.

But what happens when a problem doesn’t stay ‘fixed’? Usually it’s the Buyer who’s out of pocket – or there’s a costly lawsuit. There’s little chance that you’ll recover 100% of your court costs and out of pocket expenses – even if your law suit is successful.

So How Do You Protect Yourself if The Seller Isn’t Truthful?

In Ontario, we call known defects that are hidden from view or occur intermittently, ‘latent defects’. The very definition of a ‘latent defect’ means that in some cases, even a professional home inspection won’t find it. (Home inspectors are prohibited from damaging walls to look inside.)

Just the same, the only way to protect yourself is to hire your own home inspector. In the course of a typical 3 hour home inspection, they’ll often find tell-tale signs that arouse suspicion. Follow up on those suspicions by asking the Seller direct questions, and where necessary, request written permission to do further tests. If the Seller is unwilling to cooperate, maybe you should find another home.

What’s Next?

Find out how to protect yourself when buying your first home. Download our FREE First Time Buyers Guide.

Search ALL Toronto Real Estate Listings, or use predefined searches for The Beaches, Leslieville, Riverdale, or Danforth Village.

Subscribe to East End Toronto Homes Blog

Return to East End Toronto Homes – Home Page

Number of Sales (all Toronto MLS Districts)

The Toronto Real Estate Board reported 7,642 sales across all Toronto MLS districts in the GTA, in October 2011, an increase of 17.5% over October 2010 – an annualized number of 97,100 sales. At that rate, the  2011 year could be the 2nd-best year ever for number of sales reported by the Toronto Real Estate Board. For easy access to this data you can subscribe to my monthly Toronto Real Estate Statistics Reports.

Average Prices (all TREB districts)

• The average selling price of an MLS listed home in the GTA in October 2011 was $465,369 – an 8 per cent increase over the October 2010 prices.
• The average number of Days on the Market was 26 compared to 27 days in September.
• Average sales to listings (% S – A) ratio was 43.7% , a slight increase from the 40.7% in Septmeber. This is still an unusually high ratio of sales to active listings for the entire GTA market and means that for the most part, October was still a Sellers market.

From now on I’ll report on ’416′ statistics as well as the combined GTA numbers.

Toronto Real Estate Statistics (not the entire GTA) for August 2011

I like to provide the entire GTA Real Estate Market statistics because they present a good idea of overall trends. But the area is so large that it creates a distorted picture of the local ‘micro-markets’. My personal focus is on the East End Toronto Real Estate Market, better known as districts E01, E02, and E03.

How East End Toronto Real Estate Markets Compare to the Rest of the GTA

E01 District Greenwood-Coxwell, South Riverdale, Blake Jones, North Riverdale

Use this link to search Active Leslieville Real Estate Listings

E02 District – The Beaches, Woodbine Corridor, and the south part of East Danforth

Use this Link to search Active Toronto Beaches Real Estate Listings

E03 District – Playter Estates-Danforth, Broadview North, Danforth Village-East York, Danforth, Woodbine-Lumsden, (part of ) East-End Danforth, Crescent Town

Use this link to Search Active Danforth Village Real Estate Listings

Use this link to Search Active Toronto Riverdale Listings

This Toronto Real Estate Statistics Post Will Change Based On Your Responses

I sift through a mountain of raw data every month to deliver answers to your most important questions. Leave a comment or question below to let me know how you think this post should change. If you’d like to receive this post on Facebook once a month just use this link to like East End Toronto Homes.

For the full Toronto Real Estate Market Statistics report, October 2011, see below for the ‘Slide-Share’ presentation. Use arrows to enlarge document and scroll through the presentation.

A: Because record numbers of Torontonians are moving to Winnipeg!

So I’ve invited Bo Kauffmann, an experienced and well respected Winnipeg Realtor, (and former Winnipeg Police Officer) to write a guest blog to give us the highlights on moving to Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Real Estate market. Bo’s experience in both careers will help you find the right home, in the right neighbourhood, at the best price.

Moving to Winnipeg: Guest post by Bo Kauffmann, RE/MAX Performance Realty

Credit to adam79's photostream on flickr

Are you one of the many Torontonians considering moving to Winnipeg?  Or perhaps your company has already decided that the move is necessary? When you see what an exciting and evolving city Winnipeg is, I know you’re going to be pleasantly surprised!

Yes, we’re rich in history. Our beautiful Forks, where the Red River and Assiniboine River meet, has been a meeting place for early aboriginal peoples for at least 6,000 years – and more recently for early European settlers and fur traders. Our Exchange District – Winnipegs  old ‘Warehouse District’, is rich in heritage architecture and is often used as a film location portraying the US midwest.

We’re also a modern city. Today’s Winnipeg hosts our new NHL Winnipeg Jets in a new arena and flies out of our new international airport. And of course we’re proud of our cultural attractions such as the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Winnipeg Ballet.Winnipeg is also home to the culturally significant Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

As much as we love our local culture, sports and entertainment, newcomers moving to Winnipeg tell us that it’s the Winnipeg Real estate prices that first impressed them. In fact, after employment opportunities, Winnipeg house prices and the quality of life were the most important considerations when considering moving to Winnipeg.

Winnipeg’s Diverse Neighbourhoods

Winnipeg has such a variety of interesting and attractive neighbourhoods, there’s sure to be one for your lifestyle and budget. From the historic River Heights with its 100 yr old character homes, to the new and exciting suburbs such as Bridgewater Forest and Sage Creek, there’s a community for everyone. As for Condos, the Winnipeg Real Estate Market has hundreds of condo projects and new ones are popping up all the time. Read on for a glimpse of what to expect when you’re moving to Winnipeg.

River Heights and River Heights North

Elm-shaded streets and 100 year old Character Homes are trade marks of River Heights and the even more upscale River Heights North.  If creaky, hardwood floors, hot-water radiator heat and tudor/victorian style homes are for you, check out these areas when moving to Winnipeg.  Prices start around $250,000 but be prepared to spend $400K or more for larger, updated homes.

Lindenwoods

Started around the 1980′s, Lindenwoods and the newer Linden Ridge are established, upscale neighbourhoods featuring larger homes on larger lots, starting around the 300K up to the 700-800K ranges.  (“Larger” properties in Winnipeg would be 60-70ft wide properties, by approx. 100 to 125ft deep)

Royalwoods

Started in the early to mid 1990′s, located in Winnipegs popular south end, this area features newer upscale homes priced from 300K to 800K.

Condominiums

If you’re in the market for a condo, Winnipeg has literally hundreds of condo projects, new and old.  You can find smaller condos for as little as $150,000, while new construction in the downtown and the Exchange District will run from $250,000 and up.  For something special, check out condos along Wellington Crescent, backing onto the Assiniboine River.  Prices vary widely, generally from around $250,000 up to over 1 Million dollars.

Winnipegs Quality of Life

Winnipeggers have always said they value the quality of life here. Annual surveys show that Winnipeggers appreciate the size and pace of the city and find it easy to get around.

• They feel a strong sense of community, and feel surrounded by friendly, caring people.
• They cherish the city’s amenities, and believe there’s a rich variety of things to do.
• They are strongly attached to their neighbourhoods.
• They feel that with a relatively low cost of living, Winnipeg is a good place to raise a family.
• Many see Winnipeg as a cosmopolitan city with a healthy environment, world class artistic and cultural facilities, and a rich heritage.

Winnipeg’s Diverse Economy and Employment

Winnipeg is characterized as having the most diverse economy in Canada according to the Conference Board of Canada. Winnipeg scores a 96 out of  100 with the average Canadian city scoring only an 89! As a result, the city has avoided the ‘boom and bust’ economy of some cities, while generating sustained growth. In fact, Statistics Canada reported that in June 2011, Winnipeg outperformed most major cities in Canada with a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of only 5.6 per cent!

If you’re planing on moving to Winnipeg, start by contacting me and lets get a search started for your perfect home or condo.

Here is my contact info:

Bo Kauffmann  (204) 333-2202      e-mail: boknowshomes@gmail.com

Web: WinnipegHomeFinder Blog: Winnipeg’s Real Estate Blog

Selling a Home in Toronto

If you’ll need to sell your Toronto Home, get in touch with Toronto Real Estate Agent John Helfrich for a FREE Home Evaluation

The opinions that follow are my own. I’ve read the Toronto Air Quality report which Golder Associates produced at the request of Toronto Health, dated July 2011, but I haven’t followed up with them to verify my conclusions. If you’d like to reach your own conclusions, I’ve included the City of Toronto report with maps and charts at the end of this post.

Toronto Air Quality – and Quality of Life

1. Don’t worry, it’s not that bad. “For 26 of the 30 pollutants modelled, the predicted ambient concentrations of the individual pollutants were below Ontario’s Ambient Air Quality Criteria (AAQCs)”. Translation? The levels of these 26 chemicals are so low, they won’t make us sick.

2. These are the 4 trouble-makers:
o nitrogen oxides;
o fine particulate matter;
o PAHs (polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons) as represented by B[a]P (benzo[a]pyrene); and
o benzene.

3. Most of the pollutants in our air, some 64%, come from outside our local Toronto area, with 39% originating in the US and 25% coming from elsewhere in Ontario. There isn’t a whole lot you can do about that.

4. Of the remaining pollutants, most are a result of our own Toronto traffic. As you might have guessed,  the closer you live to the Don Valley Parkway (especially around the Gardiner) the more you’ll see the effects of pollution on Toronto Air Quality.

5. There aren’t nearly as many industrial polluters in South Riverdale, Leslieville, or The Beaches area as there were 10 or 20 years ago. Even so, the ‘new’ or remaining sources create a ‘chronic background exposure level’ or ‘acute exposure level’ for certain pollutants. Translation? There’s one particular ‘dirty’ plant in the Portlands. No, I don’t know who they are, but the report says, “Changes that have taken place in one of the industrial facilities in the area since this study was done suggest that this facility has reduced its emissions of particulate matter.”

How does the Toronto Air Quality Report affect resale demand or prices in the Toronto Real Estate Market?

Right now, it doesn’t. Leslieville Homes and Condos are selling like hotcakes. And the West Don Lands development, the future site of the Pan-Am Athletes Village (to become 2,100 new Toronto Condos) is  coming along at a ferocious pace. It’s right at the intersection of the Don Valley Parkway and The Gardiner Expressway.

But if you’re making a decision about where to buy Toronto Real Estate based on air quality, the maps that follow show Toronto Air Quality is better in The Beaches, then Riverdale, with Leslieville at the bottom of the list.

Air Quality is just one (very important) issue to consider when buying a Toronto Home. To help you choose the best neighbourhood, have a look at our Community Info pages below. If you’re new to Toronto Real Estate you really should have a look at our First Time Buyers Guide or  How To Buy a Home In Toronto for The Best Price.

What’s next?

Scroll to the bottom for the full Toronto Air Quality Study for Homes in The Beaches – Leslieville – Danforth Village – Riverdale

If you’re new to the neighbourhood, you can find Toronto Real Estate and Community info – or search Toronto homes for sale, in the following communities:

The Toronto Beaches

• Toronto Beaches Real Estate and Community Info
• Toronto Beaches Real Estate Listings – Toronto MLS Listings

Leslieville

• Toronto Leslieville Real Estate and Community Info
• Toronto Leslieville Real Estate Listings Toronto MLS Listings

Toronto Riverdale

• Toronto Riverdale Real Estate and Community Info
• Toronto Riverdale Real Estate Listings – Toronto MLS Listings

Danforth Village

• Toronto Danforth Village Real Estate and Community Info
• Toronto Danforth Village Real Estate Listings – Toronto MLS Listings

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