Let me rephrase that.
There is nothing worse than the feeling of forgetting to do something you really should have done.
That slowly dawning realization when you look at the date and your brain finally wakes up to the fact that there was something about today.
Something you had to do today.
It really is an awful feeling. The realization that something you had planned can no longer happen because you forgot to do an important step.
You start thinking about the consequences of forgetting about it. The calls you have to make, the apologies, the costs and effort to have it happen at a later date.
Just awful.
In real estate, I think it’s fair to say that planning ahead is crucial.
If I’m helping a client sell a home, there are a number of steps that need to take place before the listing goes up on MLS. Some of them have to be done by me, some of them have to be done by my clients. I often involve outside people like photographers, printing companies, property management companies, contractors, repairmen – and all of them work best when they have some notice.
On the buying side, there are also lots things that have to be planned in advance. In a seller’s market like we have in many parts of the GTA right now, that often means selling a home before buying one. Some steps to buy can take place before it is sold, others have to wait until the sale is firm and a bunch of them have to be juggled at the same time as the sale.
The more I plan with my clients in advance, the easier, quicker and cheaper it is to make things happen.
One example of this is the Moving Checklist I developed. There are lots to do when you are moving and failing to do something far enough in advance, like booking a mover or an elevator, or changing your address, can create significant headaches moving forward.
Click on the image below to have the PDF open up for printing or downloading.
I have found that last minute solutions tend to be more expensive than pre-planned steps and while they are sometimes unavoidable, it is great to plan in advance.
After a few encounters with agents who weren’t very prepared, I’ve also started being pro-active in my dealings with the other side’s agent, helping to make sure that they are moving things along before it becomes a problem that affects my client.
If you or someone you like are looking to buy, sell or invest in real estate and you want the experience to go smoothly, please get in touch with me. I’d love to be responsible for what comes next.
Regards,
Jeff
SHELTERING ROOF
The roof plays a primal role in our lives. If the roof is hidden, if its presence cannot be felt around the building, or if it cannot be used, then people will lack a fundamental sense of shelter.
In Canada, shelter from the elements is particularly important. Whether it is a hot day in July with the sun beating down on you, or a cold day in January with the wind chilling you, shelter matters. When a building has a roof that ends at the wall or shortly thereafter, the building feels inward facing. If it has a sheltering roof, the same building would feel welcoming and open.