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Like
you, I too have a dream!
Mine
is of a writer's Dachau in the country: a low-ceilinged living room
lined with books, snowflakes hitting the mullioned windows while the
fire crackles in the stone fireplace and I enjoy a classic novel and
a glass of wine, or port (although I have no idea what port is.)
Maybe a summertime walk through the wildflowers in my private yard
before I take breakfast on my sun-drenched back-patio. Did I mention
there will be no mosquitoes?
As
with most dreams, the alarm-clock rings, and we wake up to our own
lumpy-bed realities.
When
I start adding on all of the other features that I want in my
Dachau, it comes up with a price-tag about $300,000 more than I can
afford to buy! |
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If
you have an unlimited budget and can buy the country
cottage of your dreams, you are my once-in-a-lifetime dream
client! I share your passion and understand what you're looking for! Call
me now!
If
you are like the rest of us regular people, I still share your
passion, and your pain!
I
hate being the one to sit down with a cottage buyer and saying, 'You
might have to compromise a bit on your expectations in this price range.'
It's
a tough job, but I'm glad that I'm there to do it with empathy and
compassion, rather than laughing in your face as many of my
colleagues would do. |
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The
biggest obstacle to buying a country cottage today is availability. |
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I
work in a large geographic area. The kind of affordable properties
that you and I are thinking of are most often found in Innisfil
Township, south of Barrie.
Maybe,
to be more realistic, I should say that the bare bones of them are
found there.
The
sad truth is, unless you hit the market at the right time and the
right place, at the same time that a seller does, you have to MAKE
your country cottage.
If
you're only looking for a finished cottage, I'll watch the MLS
listings every day and get you into the new listings as soon as
you're available.
But,
it you're able to design and build, that creates a huge opportunity.
You
KNOW what buyers like you are looking for. If you're an
entrepreneur, you can create cottages; make some money buying,
renovating and reselling.
I
get into more details about renovating for profit on my
FAQ page. |
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Most
of the issues of concern in a buying an older country cottage are
also covered on my Buying
An Older Home page.
Cottage
properties tend to be on crawlspaces. Having the earth that close to
the building can cause problems.
Proper
ventilation is essential to keeping the undersurface of the
crawlspace dry. If the cottage has a musty smell, move on. It's
usually a sign of mildew and mold in the floor structure. Mold is
often a criteria for denial of insurance coverage. |
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Cottage
properties are usually in the country (go figure) and there are
surveys, wells, septic systems, capitalization charges and other
issues that your Realtor needs to be aware of and provide advice on.
If
I'm your Realtor, I'll do everything I can to make sure that you're
buying a house that has no hidden problems. I will make sure that you
use a competent Home Inspector, that you know what needs to be done
aside from the cosmetic work, and that you know what it will cost.
I'll
help you find or create that country-place that you've been dreaming of.
Get
in touch now, and lets work our magic together! |
For
more detailed information on renovating for profit, home
inspections, and other buyer's question, see my
Frequently Asked Questions page. |
