Working with Ericka Hardy
When Buying Real Estate....

I am happy to answer all of your real estate questions and will be available anytime you need me (including evenings and weekends). I can be reached on my cell at 519-270-7177 or at the office at 519-376-9210 ext 115.

I am an expert when it comes to the home purchasing process and can advise you of your legal and financial options as well as recommend lawyers, home inspectors and mortgage specialists. I can give you information on local real estate values, taxes, utility costs, services and amenities. I am an experienced negotiator and will draft and present your offers and explain any counter offers.

I do not earn an hourly wage. I am paid a commission (usually by the seller) when I sell a house. For this reason, it is important for you to decide which real estate agent you will be working with fairly early on in the purchasing process. You may want to spend some time with me to determine whether or not you like working with me but it is then important to make a decision and stick with one agent. That way the agent that works hard for you will be paid for their time.

Feel free to attend open houses hosted by other agents but when you walk in tell them that you are already working with another agent. If you decide you want to make an offer, please give me a call and I will put one together immediately.

If you see a sign or an advertisement by another agent and you would like to know more about it or have a look at the house, give me a call and I will get answers to all of your questions about the listing and/or set up an appointment to see it. I am able to get information about and show you any houses listed on the MLS.

If you see a house listed privately but would still like to work with me as your agent, give me the details and I will see if I am able to negotiate a commission from the seller. In the case of a private sale where the seller is not willing to pay a commission, another alternative is for you to pay me a pre-arranged fee for acting on your behalf.

I hope this answers some of your questions. If I have missed anything, please do not hesitate to ask!

And/Or Selling Real Estate....

I am happy to answer all of your real estate questions and will be available anytime you need me (including evenings and weekends). I can be reached on my cell at 519-270-7177 or at the office at 519-376-9210 ext 115.

The first step in this process is for us to get together at your house so that I can have a look around, take measurements and ask questions.

I will require the following documents if you have them:

Plan of Survey	A survey of your property that outlines the lot size and location of buildings as well as details of encroachments from neighbouring properties.
Property Tax Receipts	Most listing agreements require that the current annual property tax assessments be shown.
Deed or Title Search	This document is a legal description of your property and the proof that you own it.
Other Documentation	In some instances, it may help the sale of your property if you can provide prospective buyers with information such as annual heating, electrical, and water expenses, as well as any recent home improvements costs.

I will then spend some time putting together a comparative market analysis for you in order to establish a suggested list price for your home. To do this I will research historical files to determine the sale prices of similar homes that have sold in the past year or two. These sales represent what buyers have been willing to pay. I will then adjust the sale prices to reflect any increases the market has experienced or any differences between those houses and your own. I will also find out what is currently for sale in your area and in the same general price range as these are the houses that potential buyers will be comparing to yours.

On our second appointment I will provide you with a copy of the market analysis. It will include copies of those listings that I used as comparables and also those that are currently for sale. We will discuss this information in great detail and settle on a suitable listing price.

The first formal step in marketing your property is for you to enter into a Listing Agreement, which is a contract that commits Royal LePage Water's Edge to actively market your home for a specified period of time. It also commits you to a pre-established marketing fee that will be paid upon the successful sale and closing of your home.

All marketing costs are at my expense. This includes:

• lawn and open house signs
• photographs of the inside and outside of your home
• regular advertisements in the newspaper and on 3 popular sites on the Internet
• promotion of your home to 23 other Royal LePage Water's Edge Real Estate colleagues and other real estate companies.

Open Houses

Royal LePage agent open house (usually on the next Tues.)
MLS open house (usually on the next Thurs.)
Public open house advertised in the Sun Times (usually within 2 wks of listing and at least once a month afterwards - **if desired)

Updates

You will always know what actions are being taken to sell your home. I will provide you with regular updates on the progress and any feedback from showings. I will keep you informed on the changing market conditions and on what other homes are selling for.

Offers

I will deliver and present all offers to you personally and explain all your options and make sure you understand everything. It is important to evaluate the conditions and terms of the offer in addition to the price offered.

Please contact me if I can help you buy or sell a house!!

Ericka Hardy
Sales Representative,
Royal LePage Water's Edge
(519)270-7177 (cell)
(519)376-9210 ext. 115 (office)
hardy@bmts.com

I hope this answers some of your questions. If I have missed anything, please do not hesitate to ask!