2024 Sellers Guide

Muskoka

Our MISSION:

We are dedicated to providing prompt service and personal care to every client. With a focus on teamwork and passion for the industry, we work with you throughout the buying/selling process.

Over our 30 years in the Real Estate industry, we are constantly looking to further our knowledge in order to stay at the forefront of trending technologies, education, design and marketing strategies for you.

Working with our team ensures that you have access to the most accurate and upto-date information on local property sales, market conditions (median and average sales prices, average days on the market and ratios of list-to-sold prices) and much more

Here at The Greater Muskoka Group, we pride ourselves on our abundance of intimate knowledge of Muskoka and the surrounding area that we share with our clients. From school districts to outdoor adventure opportunities, we are exceptionally well informed about the smallest details of each community and their neighbourhoods.

Sue Morrison

Founder/Sales Representative Sue@GreaterMuskoka.ca

7057834404

TEAM Our

Sue Morrison

Sue Morrison has been providing local real estate expertise in Muskoka since 1993 She is an accredited Seniors Specialist, in addition to having the honour of being named to the RE/MAX Chairman's Club, Titan Club, Diamond Club, and ranked #1 Individual Agent company-wide in 2023.

Dedicated and hardworking, Sue is passionate about helping clients find their dream property, whether a first home, investment property, or scenic lakeside cottage She makes a point of getting to know each client, often developing long-term relationships in the process. With her strong work ethic and vast knowledge of Northern Muskoka district’s lakes, back roads, and small towns, Sue is ideally qualified to find a property that is the right fit for each client.

Along with a genuine commitment to her clients, Sue is deeply involved in charitable giving and community involvement She is personally involved in Hospice Huntsville, the Children’s Miracle Network, the Breast Cancer Society, the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Community Living Huntsville, and the local food bank, among other endeavors When she isn’t working Sue loves spending quality time with family, friends, and her 3 dogs You can find her snowmobiling in the winter, boating in the summer, and taking joy rides in her Jeep no matter the season.

Ashley Bamlett

As a lifelong cottager, Ashley discovered her passion for real estate while pouring over cottage listings in The Muskokan as a teenager She began investing in real estate with her husband in 2012. This, combined with an almost 15 year career in sales, has brought her to where she is today She works tirelessly to find buyers the perfect home or cottage for their needs at the right price for their budget.

When she isn’t working or spending quality time with her husband Cam and two children, you’ll find her visiting friends, taking road trips, or sharing her love for horses at the barn with her daughter

What To Expect From Ashley:

A Trusted Advisor: Buying or selling a home is one of the most important decisions in most people’s lives Ashley takes special pride in making the process as smooth and transparent as possible.

Experience: When choosing an agent, it’s important to connect with someone who has done what you are planning to do. Ashley has experience as a cottager, landlord, short-term rental host, investor, you name it! She is eager to share her experiences and connections to make your transition to your new home seamless.

A Responsive and Proactive Agent who is always available, promptly returns phone calls, believes there are no dumb questions, and doesn’t quit until her clients are satisfied

Sonia Patterson

CLIENT CARE SPECIALIST

Sonia Patterson has had the pleasure of raising her family in the beautiful Almaguin area. During this time, she developed a deep understanding of the Northern Muskoka market and cultivated a strong network of connections In addition to her Almaguin Poodles business, Sonia is one of the newest members of Sue Morrison’s real estate team, where she contributes her expertise and skills in administration as our client care specialist

Outside of her professional and community engagements, Sonia enjoys a variety of outdoor activities. She loves boating, ATVing, and skiing, finding joy and relaxation in the great outdoors These hobbies allow her to connect with nature and create lasting memories with her family and friends

Emma-Grace Joiner

In the spring of 2023, we introduced Emma-Grace to our team Emma-Grace was born and raised in Huntsville and has just graduated top of her class at Canadore College for Graphic Design. Emma has an exceptional eye for detail and design, she specializes in branding, editorial/print design, motion graphics, videography and photography

As a creative problem solver, Emma is passionate about developing innovative strategies that resonate with target audiences and drive engagement. Emma enjoys staying up-to-date with the latest marketing trends and technologies and is always looking for new ways to improve her skills and stay ahead of the curve.

QUESTIONS Frequently Asked

PROCESS USUALLY TAKE?

There are many factors which affect market conditions, but our listings generally sell between 10-70 days.

CAN I BE PRESENT DURING SHOWINGS OR OPEN HOUSES?

It's recommended that you leave the property while buyers are viewing your home to allow them the space to privately ask their realtor questions about the property. Your agent can handle all communication so you don't have to worry about a thing!

SELLER MARKET?

A seller's market happens when there's a shortage in supply of properties for sale. A buyer's market occurs when there are more homes for sale than buyers.

IS THERE A "BEST" TIME OF YEAR TO LIST YOUR HOME?

There isn't, but factors such as the property type, whether it's waterfront, winterized, etc., and current trends in the market are taken into consideration when choosing the best time to list.

HAPPY CAMPERS

We used Sue to sell our Home/Resort and could not have asked for a better experience Sue's knowledge and expertise of the market and her attention to detail, made the whole experience easy. Sue is so pleasant to work with and really looked out for us.

We strongly recommend Sue as your realtor. We will certainly work with her again should the need arise.

Charlene & Mike

We have been working with Sue since 2017 She has taken the time to get to know us, and has our best interest at heart Greater Muskoka Group is always very timely and accommodating , and it is obvious how knowledgable Sue is about the area and the market.

Melanie H

Sue was an absolute joy to work with when purchasing our forever home. She was flexible with her schedule and last minute requests. Always made us feel that she was in our corner, prompt with communication, we always felt that we could reach out to ask questions and if she didn’t know an answer she would find out for us.

We highly recommend Sue for any Muskoka home need

Shannon C

What a great experience from start to finish. We referred Sue one of our amazing clients who gave raving feedback on their experience, which ultimately makes my experience so wonderful. It's so important to know your clients are in good hands, and that is what we get each time we send on of our clients to Sue.

Highly recommend from a referral agent, to client looking to make a move. You're in great hands when working with Sue and the team. Thank you once again for looking after our clients!

SELL? Time to

Sounds like you’re gearing up to list!

At Greater Muskoka Group we understand that this wasn't an easy decision, and we’re willing to do everything we can to make this a stress-free process while putting your best foot forward. Our dedication to finding our clients the most eligible buyer, coupled with 30+ years of real estate experience is what makes us the best in the business.

When it comes to selling your property, it's important to get the best price possible. Pricing correctly for the market, reviewing offers, negotiating the sale, and handling the administration of documents can be complicated and confusing. Our experienced and knowledgeable team is prepared for this.

Let us walk you through the steps of this exciting process.

ListingInformation CHECKLIST

For Your Home/Cottage:

Copy of survey

Copy of front door key

Most recent tax bill

Age of your home

Average cost of utilities (Hydro, Gas, Water)

Items you want to exclude from sale

Receipts & warranties for any recent home improvements

List of any easements or right of ways

Title insurance policy

Latest home appraisal For

Maintenance Fees

Building key pass

Status certificate (if available)

List of building by-laws & restrictions

Parking spot & locker numbers

Rental agreements

Recent utility bill

Recent tax bill

Market Value: HOW IT'S DETERMINED

The MARKET VALUE of your property in NOT based on:

What you have invested in your property

What you need to get out of it

What you want for it

What the bank appraised it at

How long you or your family has owned it

How much your property is insured for

How much your neighbours house went for

How much houses in your desired neighbourhood are going for

TRUE MARKET VALUE of your Home is based on:

Todays Market

Todays Competition

Financing Conditions

Economic Conditions

Political Conditions

The buyers perception of your

homes condition

Location, location, location!

TRUE MARKET VALUE of your Cottage is based on:

Todays Market

Todays Competition

Financing Conditions

The buyers perception of your cottages condition

Water Frontage

Exclusivity of waterbody

Location, location, location!

APPROACH APPROACH Assess

HOW WE GO ABOUT SELLING YOUR PROPERTY FROM BEGINNING TO END.

We'll give your property a good once over and make a list of everything we think needs to be addressed before listing. This can include small & large renovations, landscaping, deep cleaning, and updates that could potentially bring in a better return.

Prepare

Once we've agreed on the tasks that need to be done, we'll get to work on getting your property ready for sale. This usually includes decluttering, small repairs and storing personal items to make it as buyer-friendly as possible.

Sell!

Once your property is in tip-top shape, we're ready to hit the market. Our unique selling strategy includes social media marketing, virtual walkthroughs and print marketing that reach audiences far and wide.

START

You'll meet the team & have your first meeting with Sue to discuss all the aspects of your potential listing, then create a game plan curated for your needs

SET THE PRICE

We will review comparable listings together and arrive at a price you feel comfortable with.

MARKETING

Before your listing goes live, we make sure to promote sneak peaks online in order to generate buzz

REVIEW OFFERS

We will negotiate on your behalf and review all offers with you, making sure you are 100% satisfied with your option.

COMMUNICATION

Communicate and send documents to your solicitor

CLOSING DAY

Organize key exchange with buyers & agents

LET'S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE STEPS TO SELLING YOUR PROPERTY.

Make repairs if necessary, and give your home or cottage a thorough cleaning so it shows well 1 2

3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

GET IT READY

PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional photos are crucial to show your listing online We have a great photographer who captures photo/video, floor plans, & drone footage in order to make your property look its best!

SHOWINGS

This is often the hardest part, as your property has to remain presentable and in tip top shape every day

CONDITIONS

In the case of there being any conditions in offers such as inspections, water sample, etc, We'll work to get them completed

SOLD!

A sold sign is put up, and we post your property one last time on all our social media channels.

MARKETING The

We employ many marketing methods to get your listing seen by more agents and potential buyers, more quickly Some of these methods include our website, social media, print material, and the RE/MAX website which connects you to the global market through a revolutionary global listing site.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY

95% of home/cottage searches start online. 98% of those buyers judge whether or not to see a property in person based on the photos they find. Your property needs to look it's best in order to appeal to the widest audience possible We shoot a range of content in order to promote your listing, including drone photography, video tours, and floor plans.

We use this content to create brochures, social posts, Reels & the MLS listing for your property We also potentially use this content for further marketing such as local mailout flyers, Postcards & our digital billboard.

WE HAVE A UNIQUE MARKETING SYSTEM THAT TAKES ALL OF YOUR PROPERTY'S NEEDS INTO CONSIDERATION

DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY

VIDEO TOURS

FLOOR PLANS

E-NEWSLETTER

Once a month, depending on the market the greater Muskoka group sends out our newsletter to an audience of around 800 of our closest friends, clients, agents and formal contacts who love to see our listings Engaging with our audience through the newsletter allows us to maintain strong connections and foster a sense of community We are always thrilled to hear back from our readers, whether they are sharing their thoughts on a particular property or just saying hello

SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is a crucial step to getting your home sold. People on the internet have short attention spans, with the rise of TikTok they are getting increasingly shorter all the time This makes it that much easier to lose potential buyers scrolling by.

To counteract this, we post high quality content almost everyday in order to stop potential buyers in their tracks Between our Facebook & Instagram pages we have over 5,000 loyal followers, which means your home gets in front of more eyes

REGIONAL PRINT MARKETING

Although the majority of buyers start their house hunt online, high-quality print materials add incredible value to the buyer experience We feel that our brochures, feature sheets, flyers , etc shows care and attention to details to the process and allows buyers to feel the value in their hands.

When it comes to advertising your property, we make sure your hood is informed first so they can spread the word to their families and friends. Our flyers & Postcards are sent to approximately 2,000 households in the Northern Muskoka region, depending on where your property is located We also promote our listings in local publications such as newspapers and magazines

Lake Front BROCHURES Property

PROPERTY BROCHURES ARE CREATED, PRINTED AND DISPLAYED IN YOUR HOME TO SHOWCASE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR PROPERTY, PROVIDING POTENTIAL BUYERS WITH A TAKE-HOME REFERENCE

Residential

PROPERTY BROCHURES ARE CREATED, PRINTED AND DISPLAYED IN YOUR HOME TO SHOWCASE THE BEST FEATURES OF YOUR PROPERTY, PROVIDING POTENTIAL BUYERS WITH A TAKE-HOME REFERENCE

Condminum

STAGING Let'sTalk

We assess your staging needs during our first meeting and provide insight on any improvements that may help you get top dollar for your home, with full staging available. From the smallest accessory touch, to a bed with fresh linens, every detail makes a difference. We also offer complimentary cleaning if required

DIGITAL STAGING

If physical staging cannot be done, we will send out images for digital staging so that potential buyers can still get a feel for the space A study by the Real Estate Staging Association, showed that staged homes spend 73% less time on the market than their un-staged counterparts

Pre-Showing CHECKLIST

DECLUTTER

Donate or sell unwanted items

Rent storage if needed

Put away kids & pet toys

Organize closets

Organize bookshelves

Clean stairwells and hallways

DEPERSONALIZE

Pack up family photos, knick-knacks, collectables & awards

Paint bold coloured rooms neutral

Remove valuables & store in a safe place

SETTING THE VIBE

Have warm scented candles or wax melts

Light fireplace (Winter time)

Curtains open for more natural light

Turn on all lights

Play quiet background music

Be absent for your showing

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

Oil squeaky doors & drawers

Tighten door knobs & cabinet handles

Replace burnt out light bulbs

Clean & repair window wells/windows

Replace broken tiles

Fill, sand & paint any holes in walls

CURB APPEAL

Cut lawns

Trim shrubs & tree branches

Weed and edge gardens & walkways

Clear walkways & driveways of any leaves or other debris

Repair/clean out gutters & eaves

Wash exterior siding & windows

Freshen up front door/garage door paint

Plant flowers or place planters

STAGING Tips for Keep It Neutral

Sticking to neutral colours throughout the interior ensures that it appeals to all types of buyers. Applying a fresh coat of white paint to your walls can brighten up the space. Pack away any decorations that could shift focus away from the important features in your home or cottage.

Deep Clean

When selling your property, you want buyers to see that you've taken good care of it. Decluttering and cleaning every room of the house is recommended, especially when it comes to appliances and bathrooms.

Fresh Accents

Making sure your home/cottage smells fresh and clean is an important part of showing preparation! Whether you want to light a candle, bake some cookies, or spray some air freshener, keep it light and inviting!

OUR TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY FOR SHOWINGS.

Personal items should be packed away to maintain your privacy and diminish any distractions. When viewing your home or cottage, buyers need to envision themselves in the space. Family photos, toiletries, clothes, and any other highly personal items take focus away from the property.

Update Fixtures

Making small improvements such as replacing light fixtures, handles, and knobs can go a long way in updating your home/cottage. Pick neutral, simple pieces that will appeal to a wide audience.

Stay Organized Depersonalize

The hardest part of selling your home is keeping it clean in between showings. Pack away anything you don't need on a daily basis and put systems in place to make sure all of your belongings have a designated space to be stored.

COMMUNITY

THE WAYS WE GIVE BACK.

At the Greater Muskoka Group, we value the importance of giving back to our community.

We're so fortunate to have the ability to donate to such worthwhile causes in our community, and we thank our amazing clients for their continued support. We couldn't do it without you!

Here are the charities we've donated to this past year:

REALTORS FOR INCLUSION

Ensuring our community receives proper healthcare treatment through funding for new equipment and technology not covered by the government.

A local fundraising initiative for Realtors to donate a portion of their sales, where funds will be used to provide disabled individuals in our community with housing supports.

Donating to the Hospice Huntsville allows us to help provide end of life services and programs for our community members, as over 60% of their budget depends on donations.

In 2022, RE/MAX raised more than $1.3 M for SickKids primarily through the Miracle Home Program, events that agents hosted and/or executed and generous gifts made to SickKids. We were thanked for the invaluable role we played in the fight against the greatest challenges in child health and for our contributions to the SickKids VS Limits Campaign Us and all the Top 30 fundraising agents and brokerages are a huge part of the campigns success last year As a result, we have been given a recognition badge for being a TOP 30 fundraiser.

THE BUZZ DIGITAL MAGAZINE

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