Spreading a Little Christmas Cheer

We recently decided as a team to dress ourselves for the holiday's as elves. Check out our moves ;)
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/E1EtdSBtX0YNOcv4

Merry Christmas!
-Ashley Ross
sales representative

It's that time of year again when many business are inundated with orders, customers and simply too much to do, we are too, but it is self inflicted. As many of you may know the real estate market slows down during the winter months, especially December and January, so why are we so busy you ask? This holiday season our team has decided to bake tarts for our clients. We have started our baking mission last week and are about 1/3 done! Our goal is to bake 150 DOZEN tarts or 1800 tarts! We are making butter tarts, apple tarts with almond icing and last but not least mince meat tarts. It has been a fun process and I have learned to make very pretty "show tarts" as Jane likes to call them. Presentation is everything in the culinary world right? We hope our clients enjoy their sweet treats and for all of you that didn't receive tarts, sell your house in 2010 and we'll be sure to be stopping by next December with some homemade goodies! Happy Holidays!

-Ashley Ross
sales representative

Last week I got to do something new, I helped a client buy a home from a builder. It was really a great experience. I had never worked with a builder's offer before. Although it is different than the offers I am used to working with, it wasn't as hard as I had anticipated. I also felt confident knowing that we were working with a reputable builder in town. With some assistance in explaining a few details on the offer from my broker Pat we were able to make a deal. The really impressive part of it all happens next, the house will be built in 3 short months, impressive! I'm very excited to see the finished product, going from literally the ground up. I will keep you posted on the progress.
-Ashley Ross
sales representative

An oldie, but a goodie!

I made this video about eight months ago and wanted to post it again incase you missed it the first time.

Where does all your money go?
It is a common belief that realtors make too much money per sale, so I thought I'd make a short video to demonstrate where your money is actually going. Hopefully this can give some insight to what that 5% commission pays for, believe me, it's not just the realtor.
Ashley Ross, sales representative

Lately it seems like something new and exciting is happening to our team every week. And do we have news for you Peterborough. Our team has something we would like to reveal to all of you bloggers. Something we have never tried before, something we find pretty funny and something our relatives are even surprised we did...


Are you ready for it?



We are the new white trash of Peterborough! Check us out next time you're walking down George St. and hopefully we can help you check out some properties sometime soon!

-Ashley Ross
sales representative

Make Your Voice Heard!

As many of you know, and if not I am going to tell you now, the Ontario Government plans to harmonize the sales tax. What that means is Canadians will have to pay 8% more on many services and items such as gasoline, hair cuts, hotel rooms, veterinary services, car services, plumbing, renovations, legal services and of course that tax will be on the commission for real estate services. This is paid by the seller upon the sale of the property.

During a time when Canadians can not afford this, over 300,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost, the Liberals promised not to raise taxes and did not mention in their campaign anything about this harmonized sales tax. If you do not want to see many of your services go up 8% sign this online petition and make your voice heard

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/no-to-harmonized-sales-tax/sign.html

I for one do not see the implementation of this harmonized sales tax harmonious for Canadians.
-Ashley Ross
sales representative

Summer in the City

As the summer comes to an end I thought I would share some of my favourite places and things to see in Peterborough.

First we have The Festival of Lights. This is a not for profit organization that puts on free concerts for the public every Wednesday and Saturday night for 10 weeks. Oh and don't forget about Canada Day. There is always a concert with fireworks that night too. This years concert line up included David Cassidy, 54-40, The Proclaimers, The Lovin' Spoonful, The Stampeders and many more. This event all goes down at Del Crary Park on Little Lake in Peterborough. Check out this photo that I took of the stage after one of the shows.



And sometimes after the shows the artists will come out to meet the fans and sign autographs. Here I am with some of the staff of the Festival of Lights meeting The Proclaimers who came all the way from Scotland to perform for Peterborough.



I stumbled upon this next photo one night after dinner when I went for a walk down near Beavermead Park. It was perfect timing. As soon as I got down to the water's edge the Liftlock Cruise was coming down through the locks. Peterborough is famous for it's lock system. It's really a neat way to travel.



That same evening I enjoyed sitting and watching the ducks swim and enjoy Little Lake.




My mom also introduced me to this next beach near Buckhorn-- Sandy beach. It is so beautiful I couldn't believe my eyes when she took me there. It was so shallow and the water so blue. It was one of the best beach days I have ever had!



Last, but not least one of my favourite sights in Peterborough is my sign popping up on lawns across the city :) Hopefully, I will be visiting your front lawn soon. Enjoy the rest of your summer bloggers I hope it was fun filled with all the great places to go in Peterborough.




-Ashley Ross
sales representative

Here's to the next 40 years!

Today I am writing on more of a personal level than professional. Last Sunday marked a big day for my two business partners also my parents; it was their 40th wedding anniversary. We had family down from as far as Alberta to help celebrate this milestone in their life. They have not only managed to stay happily married for 40 years, but have also become realtors together and created a successful business together. They truly are an inspiring couple. After 40 years of marriage I think it’s fair to say these two don’t give up, work hard and know how to respect and appreciate people, just what you want in a realtor ;) Happy anniversary mom and dad and here’s to the next 40 years!
Ashley Ross
-sales representative

What Can I Afford?

Thinking of buying your first home? Planning on expanding your family and need a bigger home? Here is a quick way to start making sense of your situation and get a better idea of what you can afford. We do recommend sitting down with a professional mortgage specialist to better educate yourself on your financial situation. But if you are just curious check out this website we hope you find it helpful.

http://calc.tdcanadatrust.com/HMCIA/Input

We also are in contact with a number of great mortgage specialists and would be happy to direct you to them.
Ashley Ross
-sales representative

We Are Moving!

Hello Bloggers,
Just wanted to let you all know that if you are checking for our ads in the newspaper we have switched from the Peterborough Examiner to Peterborough This Week. Look for us this Friday in the real estate section of Peterborough This Week to see what's new and where our open houses will be! Hope to see you around town.
-Ashley Ross
sales representative

Exciting Times

Last week marked an exciting day. It was when the first deal that I was apart of from start to finish closed. Mind you other deals we have done have closed since I have started, but this was the first home I assisted in listing. I also went through the home inspection with Paul Galvin, made brochures for, did several open houses at, found the buyer at one of the open houses, negotiated on their behalf and finalized the deal. I was really in tune with this listing and loved the clients we got to work with. This couple has now moved on to another province and all last week we were hoping their move went smoothly. We wish them all the best out east.

Other exciting news, we have joined the Twitter phenomenon. If you would like to follow us and see how the three of us work together our user name is Ring_A_Ross hope to be tweeting with you.
Sales Representative
Ashley Ross

Summertime!

Summertime is most people’s favourite time of year. Time to vacation, relax and let your hair down in the sunshine, unless you’re in the real estate business. While for many professionals this is the off season, in real estate we are go go go! The reason the summer is so hot (pun intended) is people want to move before school starts up again; people have time to look at properties during the day time since they may have time off and just have more time to look around and see what’s on the market. Often sellers go on vacation so it is much easier to arrange showings and open houses. And finally, it is much nicer to look at property when you can actually see it and it’s not under 4 feet 0f snow. If you’re thinking of listing your property we advise you to do it sooner than later. Buyers are out there; believe me I met about seven of them last Sunday and most of them want their new home before September hits. Speaking of that, I must be off. Time to start searching for suitable properties for those buyers. Enjoy the summer and HAPPY CANADA DAY!
-Ashley Ross
sales representative

A Few of my Favourite Things

I get asked a lot how I like my new career in real estate and there are the obvious ups and downs such as unpredictable hours and income, but then again I can make my own hours to a degree and I do enjoy the work I am doing. I must say that my favourite part is doing the open houses every weekend. I think I enjoy this part the most because I get to meet new people every week and learn from each person that walks through the door. I learn how to deal with different personalities, what they think of the house and even everyday things like what’s new and exciting in the Peterborough area since I do have a tendency to start chatting away.

I’ve heard from some people in the business that they dislike doing open houses because lets face it, they are on the weekend, but I really don’t feel like its work when I do them. It’s always exciting to see how many people are going to come, how the weather, location, price and time on market affect the number of groups at an open house. It’s interesting to see how the different elements really do affect the life of a house on the market. But my FAVOURITE thing about being a sales representative is when I do an open house and find the buyer. It’s gratifying to know that the time, preparation and handouts are not gone to waste and I really have helped sell my client’s home.
-Ashley Ross
Sales Representative

Jane Ross' Experience As A Client

I know how you feel. Moving is stressful. Listing your house is stressful. Knowing what the right thing to do is hard.

When we listed our house in another city 6 years ago I was nearly finished the educational program to become a real estate representative. I can tell you from my own experience as a client the importance of listening to the sales rep that you have hired to list your property. True, you know your property better than anyone and you like it as well. But, your sales rep knows real estate, the market conditions and the process better than you. I was about to find out.

First of all, after calling to set up the listing appointment that evening we were called right back by the rep to say that another rep had a client who was looking for just what we had and would we allow them to come through that afternoon with their rep. No problem. Glad to know that we had a desirable property. In fact so desirable they called during the listing meeting to see what the price was and they were working on an offer. No wonder I thought that I knew what I was doing!

When our representative talked about the price he said that he thought our house would sell for $275,000. I didn’t think that was enough. I had not done any comparables with listings or solds but I just had this feeling that the price should be $299,900. Our agent listed at $299,900 and told the other agent on the phone that evening and she said that she would be over with the offer shortly.

The offer was for $285,000. I was thrilled. However, the closing date was much sooner than what we wanted. Due to circumstances with our family we could not accommodate that early closing and no solutions were viable. The offer died.

That was the first week of March. Our next offer was presented the first week of September. It was a long summer, keeping the house presentable and accommodating showings with short notice as well as having open houses. The offer was conditional upon the sale of the buyer’s property and was accepted. Two days later another offer came. It was better than the first offer with dollars and closing times but the first offer had 48 hours to remove conditions. And it did. Their house sold in 1 day. The selling price for our house was $275,000.

What did I learn? I learned that the professionals have reasons for what they say and do. Listen to what they advise. I also learned that being flexible was a necessary part of making a deal. I now know that we could have accommodated the time line with a little more imagination and looked after family business at the same time. I also learned that the picture can change in a matter of minutes and that it can change again. The 2 offers within 2 days after 6 months on the market proved that.

The move was completed and everything has long settled. But, I remember. I know how you feel. Moving is stressful and listing your house is stressful. But, getting it right with the help of your sales rep is crucial to the fastest and best resolution to selling what you own and love.
-Jane Ross
sales representative

You Can't Push Things!

You can't push things. When I sit down to write these blogs sometimes I wonder what I should discuss. I get writer's block on occasion and I will walk away from it because I've learned, for me anyway, you can't push things. I believe that's true about all things in life, including selling real estate.

We are taught as agents to get the listing, pull out the pen, sign the dotted line, but truly you can't push people. Well maybe you can, but we don't like to. This week I visited with a potential client who is still dealing with cleaning out the home of a deceased relative.

We discussed to list that day or wait. We decided to not add more stress to their plate by rushing them to get the home ready or have the home on the market before it was ready to be shown. Rather, we decided to give them some time to get organized so they feel comfortable with the situation...we didn't push them.
Some agents (not all) may say that was a poor move on our behalf because another agent could come in and take the listing, but I'd rather do my job the way I see fit, without adding pressure and stress to clients. Now that's not to say that when I do meet people yes I offer my business card, professional help and the tools and skills I have, but I'm not pushy, there is a fine line between informing people and aggravating them. I think it is better to make a client feel comfortable, give professional advice and hope that they remember that if they do end up having a conversation with another sales representative.

I know that I am newer at this selling real estate gig, but I don't think that really matters when you’re debating how to treat clients. I just treat them as I'd want to be treated; it's as easy as that! I suppose that's why the saying is patience is a virtue.

-Ashley Ross
sales representative

Confessions of a Peterborough Realtor

I wanted to write this evening about something a little different, not mortgages, green homes or tips on buying or selling, I wanted to write about the experience I had when we sold our family home six years ago.

When I was four years old I remember my parents taking my sisters and I to see the new big dream home we were going to live in. It still had fake deer that the current owners had put in the garden for decoration and I thought that was the BEST THING EVER. To my dismay the fake deer were gone when we moved in, but I still loved our new home. As we all grew older the basement was finished, the backyard spruced up and every room was up to date with the latest interior decor trends. Just when it seemed every part of our home couldn’t get any better my parents broke the news, we were moving. Us kids had all grown up, almost all moved out and my parents needed a change in scenery. I hoped they would redo the living room again, but they insisted the house was too big and our time in Sarnia had come to an end.

The day the real estate agent put his sign up on the lawn I thought it was the ugliest landmark on the street and refused to accept that our time on Errol Road was coming to an end. Our house did sell as all homes eventually do and boxes we had to pack. It was hard on us all, but we had to say goodbye to our home of fifteen years. I hated every moment of selling our home, but you know what, I’m glad I went through it. I believe it has made me a better realtor. I’ve been working with clients who know a new home is needed for their situation, but are having a difficult time selling and saying goodbye to their home and I really do sympathise with these clients. I understand how hard a move can be on a family. Usually when people are moving it’s during a time of change, and change can be stressful.

Hopefully your getting ready to move because your moving into your first home, your a newlywed or expecting another baby, but there are changes in life that require a new home that aren’t so welcomed. Our goal is to help make your transition in life easier and not make you feel like someone we are just making money off of. So, if you’re about to make a move that is stressing you out, call us, we know it can be hard and want to help you. We won’t even get mad if your kid runs over the for sale sign with their bike, I’d be a hypocrite if I did.
-Ashley Ross
sales representative

A Sneak Peek!

SORRY I"M SOLD!

Preparing For An Open House

Hello Bloggers,
Here are some helpful tips when getting ready for your next open house! Enjoy!

Want to Live in a Green House?

Have you been inspired by the recent trend of living an eco-friendly life? Do you want to take it one step further, why not make your home an eco-friendly one? Good news is Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Mortgage Loan Insurance enables approved lenders to offer borrowers (you) more affordable financing choices when buying an energy efficient home or improving your current home with items such as energy efficient furnaces, roofs, and windows.

Features include a 10% refund of the CMHC mortgage loan insurance premium and extended amortization periods without surcharge. Which means you can use 10% of the cost of your mortgage to either put toward building an energy efficient home or making improvements to your current home. This offer also includes competitive interest rates and is available across Canada.

I’d also like to give you some tips on a smaller scale that you can implement in your household to help make your home the green one you’ve been wanting. Change your light bulbs to the energy saving ones which use on average 80% less energy compared to a standard light bulb. Turn off your electronic devices at the wall, live digitally and you can save some trees by cutting out the paper, use electric blankets instead of space heaters, these small changes can make a big impact not only on our environment, but also on your wallet.
This information is also available on CMHC's website
-Ashley Ross
Sales Representative

The Importance of Pricing Right

We listed a home on Wednesday and by Friday morning there was an offer on the house. People may argue we priced the house too low, and we assert that we did our job right! Now I know the age old saying “to assume is to make an ass out of you and me”, but I feel its okay to assume when a home is listed the owner is looking to sell.
When we do list your home there are two routes we can take 1) we list your house for the market value by comparing it to similar homes in the area that have SOLD. The key to this statement is the ones that have sold. Anyone can put any price on a house/property, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to sell, therefore we look at SOLD homes/properties when coming up with a price for your home/property. Or 2) we can go with an inflated price set out by the client, have open houses, have lots of people through, have showings, have it in the paper and have no offers. Then after a few weeks we lower the price with your approval and slowly the price keeps coming down, making the selling process dragged out and you start to resent your realtor. One thing clients and potential clients must know is that even if you have an odd property, or your home is dated, needs some improvements, there is nothing that price can’t fix.
The reason it is crucial to start off with a proper listing price is once a buyer views a home that is well priced, they are excited and willing to make a good offer on it before anyone else gets to see the property. The seller is then in the position of only having their home on the market for a short period of time and is in the stronger negotiating position. Consequently, the buyer will usually pay top price to ensure the deal before anyone else gets in to see it.
For those who price their home way too high miss their market entirely and actually sell other homes that are in that price range, because those homes offer more space, improvements, etc. and people see there is more value in the properly priced home, and the over priced home just helped make a sale. This is not to say that an overprice home will not receive any offers, but it will take some time, people do become suspicious if a home has been on the market for months, and their offer will not be as high because they the buyers now have the advantage in the negotiating process.
Therefore our advice as professionals in this business is listen to your realtor: This is what they do for a living, they know the market, they aren’t emotionally attached to the home and know how to price it properly, that is of course only if you want to sell it in a reasonable amount of time.
Many people who are thinking of pricing their house should know the market, the graph located above will help you understand the extent of the diminished prices due to the recession. Prices are down from last year at this time, take a look and remember this graph when you and your realtor (hopefully us) decide on a listing price.
Happy Blogging!
-Ashley Ross, sales representative

Questions, Comments, Concerns? Ask a Professional...US!

It’s been a busy few weeks I apologize for the lack of activity on the blog; I just finished my real property law course. It was a very interesting course, I learned a lot about what to do in various and sometimes unique situations when dealing with real estate transactions and the law. Who owns what and when, ways to get out of a deal, or hold someone to it, and what happens when the Government wants to expropriate your land, well now I can tell you! I took the exam today and felt it went really well.
That’s one of the many things I am enjoying about my career in real estate, everyday I learn something new, meet someone new, brainstorm new marketing ideas or see something new. If you have any new ideas for me to try out in any aspect could be marketing ideas, new topics for articles, any videos you want to see (although I do have a few upcoming ones that I think you’ll get a kick out of) or any questions pertaining to real estate, I’d love to hear what you want to know more about. Until we meet again bloggers, keep on surfing!

What Are Our Clients REALLY Saying?

I can say we are hardworkers, I can say we'll try our best to get you top dollar, I can even say I know all there is to know about Peterborough's current real estate market, but I'd rather you hear what past clients have said...

Donna and Clint Van Gorder writes, "The Ross' went beyond our expectations. We felt very comfortable and trusted them completely, like family. I can not think of any improvements to be honest, our agents were wonderful and caring!"

Robert and Mary McMahon write, "Very satisfied with service. Agents stayed on top of sale and also provided options on other properties even at long distances."

K. Jeans writes, "Very thorough knowledge of today's real estate market and concerned for the buyer's situation as to suitable accommodations."

Lee and Rick Peters write, "John and Jane listened very well. They worked hard not only to sell our home, but also to find the home of our future"

F. Woodbeck writes, "John and Jane very friendly and efficient, highly recommend."

Now I hope you can see that word on the street is our clients are satisfied customers, hope to be working with you soon!
-Ashley Ross, sales representative

Where Does All Your Money Go?

It is a common belief that realtors make too much money per sale, so I thought I'd make a short video to demonstrate where your money is actually going. Hopefully this can give some insight to what that 5% commission pays for, believe me, it's not just the realtor.
Ashley Ross, sales representative

Flying By The Seat of My Pants and Loving It!

This week was an exciting one, we had not one, but two offers to prepare. One was accepted, and the other on a different property was signed back which could not be accepted by our client. The clients with the second offer that inevitably did not work out for them were disappointed but, they did appreciate our attempt and were thankful that they were able to see just how fast the process of buying a house can be. We were looking at the house at 3pm and by 5:15pm presenting an offer on behalf of the client. The job of a real estate agent truly is one where you fly by the seat of your pants, which I find very exciting. Seeing how fast offers take shape proves that it is important to have a competent, capable realtor working on your behalf. Decisions often need to be made quickly and the more experience and practice one has, the easier it is to confidently represent your client.
Ashley Ross, sales representative

5 Quick Tips for Buyers

Check out this short video to learn a few quick tips when looking at potential homes. If you need someone to show you a few we'd be happy to help. Happy house hunting!

-Ashley and Jane Ross

Tips on Preparing for an Open House

You have just listed your home and are having an open house this weekend...what do you do now? With our clients we try to make the open house process as painless as possible. We do ask the owners to leave the premises for a few hours while we host the open house, since many buyers feel more comfortable knowing that the owner isn’t within earshot range. We try to help you prepare for the open house by providing a list of typical things to do such as cutting the grass, snow removal, cleaning, we point out minor repairs, and put away any money and jewellery, and we strongly suggest no smoking in the house while it is listed. We do know how to get ride of this smoke odour from a house, but once removed it is best to smoke outside. We advise clients to de-clutter their house and to start packing personal pictures so the prospective buyers can see themselves living in your home.

There are professional home stagers that can be hired to present your house in a most appealing way. The cost of home staging does vary depending on the volume of work that needs to be done. We can provide a list of names and phone numbers for our clients if they wish to go that route.

If we have just listed your home a few days before the open house we will take invitations to your neighbours, providing you don’t mind, and invite them and any friends or family who may want to live in your neighbourhood to come to the open house. We will post signs on your lawn, and of course advertise in the newspapers and online. Now that potential buyers know your house is ready to be viewed, the open house can begin. At your open house we will provide potential buyers with brochures of your home that we have created, mortgage information, the home inspection and the listing information.

Once the open house has come to a close, we will turn off the lights, and lock up for you and of course leave you a note to let you know how many people came through and if there was any serious interest. We know how anxious most sellers are to know how the open house went and that immediate feedback is a must, we won’t keep you hanging. If you have any questions or concerns always feel free to call us at 705 742 4234.
-Ashley, Jane and John Ross,
Sales Representatives Bowes and Cocks Limited, Brokerage Peterborough

They're Oldies, but Goldies

Jane and John Ross have both achieved the prestigious award of Gold Level sales representatives from Bowes and Cocks Limited Brokerage for a high level of sales volume and performance in 2008. Jane and John were 2 of the top 20 sales representatives in the company in 2008. Jane and John provide excellent services and achieved a volume of sales that exceeded the four million dollar mark. We wish to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to our wonderful employers at Bowes and Cocks Limited Brokerage. We firstly believe that Bowes and Cocks is not only the oldest real estate company in Peterborough, but is by far the best. We are very proud to be a part of this team of excellence and are looking forward to another golden year.
-Ashley, Jane and John Ross, sales representatives

You Get What You Pay For

As my first month at Bowes and Cocks Brokerage is coming to an end I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed each and everyday. Every morning I would wake up knowing that I would learn something new and interesting. Everyone at the office was welcoming, willing to help out and seem like genuine people, perhaps that is why the Peterborough office is number one within the company and had a sales volume growth of 27% last year, a large percentage that no other company in the Peterborough area can claim as you can see in the sales volume graph of 2008 located above. Each week when I attend the meetings and get to know my fellow sales representatives and learn from their experiences and knowledge, I am thankful that I have found a great brokerage to work for. One topic of discussion lately has been that other sales representatives in the area have dropped their commission rate to 3.75%.
A commission rate drop to 3.75% means that the seller would be saving $1200 per $100,000 of the sale price which sounds great, but do not be fooled by this simple equation there is more to it. A fellow agent in the office made a good point he said, “If the listing agent is so willing to give away his/her money, what makes you think he/she isn’t so willing to give away your money”. Although you may believe you’re saving a few thousand on commission, the listing agent may lack negotiation skills therefore loose you much more money in the end with a low sale price than the few thousand on commission you saved, this is something that has happened in the Peterborough area recently.

Another great point brought up by a very successful woman in the office is that it doesn’t make sense that the listing agent who is working for you, knows the most about your home, your property, advertises your home and is hosting open houses would make less on the sale of your home, than if he/she were to assist a buyer in buying a home down the street where he/she would make the average 5% split giving him/her 2.5% commission whereas with the sale of your home only earning 1.875% after splitting 3.75%. It just doesn’t make sense.

Ideally one should pay a sales representative from a reputable brokerage, someone who has a great track record and can help you with one stop shopping when searching for professionals such as home inspectors, lawyers, and mortgage specialists. Isn’t the age old saying you get what you pay for? What makes you think this is any different? If the amount of money a sales representative is going to earn on your home is less than average, wouldn’t it seem logical that their advertising costs would be less than average and your home may end up being on the market for a longer period of time without much exposure inevitably becoming stale and taking a longer period of time to sell.

The point I’m trying to drive home is do your homework, research the person and the company you are hiring to assist you in buying or selling you a home. Look in your neighbourhood, see for yourself who’s signs are up and who’s have sold, ask your friends and family who they would recommend, do not rely simply on a commission rate, because you don’t want this transaction to be the one that you are saying, I got what I paid for.
-Ashley Ross, sales representative

We'll Give You a FREE Home Inspection

What do we do differently? Well let me tell you! We strongly believe that a consumer should know what they are buying. Imagine you enter a store looking to buy a pricy item and when you ask the sales clerk if this particular product is a quality item he/she simply responds, I’m not sure, I don’t know much about it. Do you think you’re going to buy it? Probably not. We so strongly believe that consumers should not encounter any surprises that when you list your house with us we will reimburse you the full amount of a home inspection, a value of $250-$350 once we have sold your house. This allows prospective buyers to fully understand what they are agreeing to, and isn’t this the way it should be? This also will prevent the potential of writing up an offer, getting excited about the potential sale, and then the disappointment when home inspection doesn’t check out to the buyer’s satisfaction. Although not every home is perfect, as long as the buyer understands the true condition of the house then that is all that matters. We believe that this just helps move the process along more efficiently and with less disappointment.

As for clients who do not have a house to sell, but want us to assist them in finding the perfect home for them, you also get to reap the rewards of a free home inspection. Once you the buyer have narrowed your choice down to one house, we will reimburse you for a home inspection for that property once you have purchased a house with us.

For those of you who may not know exactly what the home inspection entails, let us enlighten you. The home inspection report covers the following areas roofing, electrical, structure, insulation and ventilation, exterior, heating and cooling, plumbing, interior, and a summary of any potential major defects. We pay Paul Galvin to do our home inspections. He is extremely experienced, very thorough and we trust his opinion.

Buyers greatly appreciated not having to pay for a home inspection, but they certainly have the right to do so if they have any concerns. Sellers appreciate getting to see a complete professional report on their house. This allows them the opportunity to make repairs or adjust their asking price.
The home inspection report is a very effective tool in sales and it truly is an effort to disclose the true condition of the seller’s house and minimize any liability.

This is tool we have been using for several years to make buying and selling easier for our clients, a service few others in the area provide.
-Ashley and John Ross, sales representatives

Who's Benefitting the Most from Today's Market?

As many of us know today’s economy is facing troubled times, but where is the silver lining? In real estate the silver lining seems to be gravitating towards first time buyers. If you’re looking to buy a starting home, NOW is the time to do it! There are many homes listed for very affordable prices. Buyers only need 5% for a down payment and mortgage rates from banks are low...really low. We encourage you to talk to a mortgage specialist to find out your ability based on your particular circumstance. With first time buyers not having to sell a home before buying, it puts them in an opportune position. Kick your January blue’s and get excited; let’s buy your first home!

But for the rest of you don’t fret there is also a glimpse of that silver lining for you too as long as you are buying and selling in the same market. With the media focusing attention on the negatives of the current market situation one thing that is not heard quite so frequently is this simple fact that, yes the market is down, therefore if you’re selling your home you’re not going to get as much as you would have a year ago, but if you’re buying a house, guess what, you’re also buying for less. As a result, selling your home for less than you may have a year ago isn’t going to pose the financial crisis often depicted in today’s media.

To everyone else taking the time to read about our current market situation, here are my thoughts...I honestly believe that the more gloom we hear on the television and radio about job losses and a possible depression, does just that, depresses us. I don’t think I’d be able to convince you to turn off CNN, stop subscribing to newspapers, and plug your ears every time you walk by someone discussing today’s troubled times, but what I will say to you is try to stay positive. The real estate market is not as dead as everyone perceives, yes it is slow, but this is always the slow time of year in real estate. Before negative media casts the worst predictions for 2009, remember what Winston Churchill said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference” take his advice and make 2009 everything you’d hoped for.
-Ashley Ross, sales representative

Buying in Peterborough and Surrounding Area

As a team of professional Realtors and with personal experience in both local and long distance buying we can assist you with your search and purchase. We will e-mail or mail you listings that meet your criteria and gladly research any that interest you. Appointments will be set up at your convenience and opportune time. Upon viewing each house that you have selected we will provide a report that gives you a sales history and selection of comparables to help you put an offer together with us. Our advice and negotiating strategies are available to buyers as part of the service offered to get you the house of your dreams at the price that is right with the best terms possible.
-Jane Ross, sales representative

It's a New Year and a new deal!

If you’re planning on buying or selling a home this year, let us help. Finding a realtor can be unsettling, especially if you have never worked with one before. So let us start helping you by allowing you to read a few of the testimonials past clients have written about us.

1) Quite possibly no need for improvement, nothing but a great experience. It was my pleasure dealing with Bowes and Cocks and thanks so much John and Jane couldn’t have done it without you.
Matthieu Girard

2) John and Jane are a pleasure to do business with.
Carl and Connie Plumton

3) John and Jane are excellent agents. They are very hard working and worked extra hard to get my dream home. Thanks John and Jane!
Mabel Graham

4) Our representatives worked especially hard and were available at any time.
Barbara Wilson

5) We were pleased and surprised how quickly our cottage was sold.
Marguerite Popko

6) John and Jane were just excellent in all ways!
Davina and Art Lumsden


We hope these testimonials reflect our flexibility, hard work, integrity and sincere interest when buying or selling your home.
-Jane Ross, sales representative