Michael Poczynek

How is your property like a $30 steak?

You’re at the local farmers’ market looking for some quality steaks to serve for dinner. You want to impress your guests, and the price is not an issue. You aren’t leaving the market without hundreds of dollars worth of beef.

There are two local beef vendors to choose from. You ask to see the best steak each of them has to offer.

The first farmer puts on a pair of gloves, reaches into the display case and carefully pulls out a perfectly marbled filet mignon wrapped in butcher paper.

The second farmer has filet mignon to show you, too. He reaches into a faded old beer cooler and pulls out a black garbage bag. Do you stick around to see what those steaks look like?

Chances are, you’ve returned to the first farmer who understands the importance of packaging.

The presentation is essential whether you’re dealing with steak or PEI Real Estate.

If you’re considering selling your property in Prince Edward Island, I want you to call me. Not only do I have serious buyers ready to buy now, but I am going to market your property so that it’s irresistible to buyers.

Would you rather be the steak wrapped in butcher paper and twine or the one in a garbage bag?

There is more to selling a property than sticking a “For Sale” sign in your yard and placing it on MLS®.

Selling PEI properties is not easy. (Neither is selling $30 steaks.) If your property isn’t appropriately packaged for sale, chances are, it will be on the market for longer than it should be, and if it sells, it won’t be for top dollar.

It would be best if you had an aggressive marketing plan, and your property needs to be packaged right for your audience.

Anyone can list a property, but it takes a seasoned marketing and advertising professional to sell it.

TIMEFRAME

New Build: Nationally, the average timeline to build a home has more than doubled over the past 20 years from 9 to 21 months. And rising costs have led some builders to raise prices or cancel contracts—extending the timeline even further. We can help minimize surprises by negotiating better terms and advising you about the potential risks involved.

Existing Home: You can typically move into a resale home on your closing date. While closing on an existing home can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, it's almost always faster than building a new one.

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LOCATION

New Build: Canada is undergoing a major residential construction boom. Rural and smaller urban communities have been the first to benefit—primarily because the single-detached homes in those areas take less time to build. If you opt for a new single-family home, you could be facing a long commute and ongoing construction for some time.

Existing Home: An existing home is more likely to be located close to town in a neighbourhood with mature trees, established schools, and a deeply-rooted community. As a result, you may find the neighbourhood's trajectory to be more predictable than an up-and-coming area.

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MAINTENANCE

New Build: When you build a home, everything is brand new. Therefore, you can expect less required maintenance and repairs in the beginning. However, some home builders have reputations for shoddy construction, which can lead to unexpected issues down the road. We can help you identify the quality builders in our area.

Existing Home: While an older home is more likely to need repairs, there are ways to prepare for these expenditures. We always recommend that our buyers hire a certified home inspector, whether they buy a new or existing home. Once we have the inspector's report, we can negotiate with the seller on your behalf for reasonable repairs or concessions.

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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

New Build: If energy efficiency is a top priority, a new home with a low EnerGuide Rating may be a good choice. Natural Resources Canada administers the EnerGuide label and measures a home's energy performance against a benchmark.

Existing Home: A basic tenant of sustainable living is: reduce, reuse, and recycle. And since a resale home already exists, it automatically comes with a lower carbon footprint. Research has also shown that remodelling or retrofitting an older home is often greener than building one from scratch.

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DESIGN

New Build: Builders tend to put a lot of emphasis on visual details and follow the latest design trends. However, some buyers complain of a cookie-cutter feel, as new homes are often built with a similar aesthetic. We can help you negotiate custom features and upgrades to personalize the space and make it feel like your own.

Existing Home: While some buyers prefer an older home's traditional look and character, others crave something more modern. If that's the case, we can help you find a resale home that leaves enough room in your budget to renovate it to your liking.

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WHICHEVER PATH YOU CHOOSE, WE CAN HELP

We are knowledgeable about both the new construction and resale home options in our area, and we can help you make an informed decision, negotiate a fair price, and avoid mistakes that can cost you time and money. And in many cases, our homebuyer guidance and expertise are available at no cost to you. So give us a call today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation—and let's start searching for your next home!

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