Arriving in Toronto as a result of a job transfer can be a daunting experience especially if relocating from a smaller city than Toronto with a population of nearly 6 million people.  Apart from the new job responsibilities, there is the task of familiarizing oneself with the new environment, finding a doctor, dentist and schools for the kids, and of course, new accommodations.  Some that arrive seek rental accommodation at first as a means of quickly settling in while they then take their time to educate themselves on the various areas of the city where they might like to own.  Others meanwhile make a dedicated visit well in advance with the purpose of identifying the right home to buy and have any renovations/improvements completed by the time the make the final move to Toronto. Either way, our goal is to ensure the Buyer is confident in their eventual home buying decision.

So how do we accomplish this?  Here is an overview of the process you can expect when working with us:

1. We recognize that a job transfer brings about a number of major changes and decisions that spouses must make together, particularly in purchasing a home.  We provide a unique set of tools for both spouses to complete in order to help you in making those decisions:
   1. A questionnaire that helps to reveal and clarify the attributes of the neighbourhood they want to live in and that reflects their lifestyle as well as both spouses’ ideal “must haves” and “like to haves” in the home’s features.
   2. A Kolbe™ assessment which identifies each spouse’s instinctive approach to decision making and taking action, which helps you understand both your similar and different approaches to taking action.
2.  At the earliest possible opportunity when the Buyer is in Toronto, we conduct a customized tour of Toronto highlighting the various neighbourhoods that meet the Buyer’s lifestyle and selecting the two best suited ones;
3. We select homes that fit the Buyer’s parameters for these two neighbourhoods and view them in advance of the Buyer so that the final list is highly refined and time is not wasted looking at properties that clearly don’t have key desired features and elements.  We view as many homes as necessary until such time that at least two have been identified by the Buyer as acceptable to them.  The reason is that should the negotiations with the first not be successful, we quickly have a back up which minimizes lost time. The other benefit is that knowing we have a back up property takes some of the pressure off the Buyer when negotiating so that they don’t feel they have to compromise;
4. We prepare and administer all paperwork including the Offer;
5. We negotiate the home purchase price and conditions and represent the Buyer’s best interests;
6. We make recommendations on related service providers instrumental to the transaction such as real estate lawyers, home inspectors and key trades for example.

Following this proven process allows for the most efficient use of the Buyer’s time while helping to organize the Buyer’s thoughts and minimize their stress.

Job relocations or assignments are often temporary and the transferee expects to return to their home whether it is after 6 months or 6 years.  The question inevitably rises as to whether to sell the home or rent it out in the meantime.  In some cases, the transferee may even own other property such as a cottage or small residential investment property that would otherwise have been managed by the transferee and the transferee’s absence poses a problem.

One solution is to sell everything, but that may not be viable especially if the job assignment is a temporary one.  Even it the relocation is for a few years, the costs associated with selling and then buying property back again can potentially offset any financial benefits from the relocation to begin with.  And then there is the legitimate concern, especially in a city as Toronto with rising prices, if the transferee sells now, will they ever be able to buy back in?

The practical and logical solution is to have the home and any other property professionally managed while the transferee is away.

Apart from being a real estate broker, I am also a real estate investor and personally own a mix of residential properties ranging from bungalows, townhouses to tri- and four-plexes.  This gives me a first hand account of the challenges and critical points in managing these properties such as:

• Maintenance - from routine upkeep to emergency calls;
• Tenants - liaising with tenant in transferee’s absence, handling any vacancies (showing the property to prospective tenants, handling applications, screening and performing credit checks, signing of lease);
• Rents – depositing monthly rentals into transferee’s bank account and issuing immediate late notices if rent not paid on time;
• Utilities - paying utilities, realty taxes, insurance and any other bills;
• I provide the transferee a single source of contact for the care and continued ownership and seemless operation of their home and vacation/investment property while they are away.  In addition, they receive a monthly update usually by the 7th of every month of any and all significant activities pertaining to their property. Even through the transferee may be thousands of kilometers away, they will feel confident and secure that someone is actively looking after not just their real estate, but what will be their home again when they eventually return.

The services provided can be tailored according to the transferee’s specific requirements.  Call me to arrange a visit of your property and detailed discussion of services and fees.