Richard Silver’s Downtown Toronto Blog

With the market going through a Downturn, it is natural that Sellers would be thinking about selling privately to maximize their profit. This is a tough market and you have to be primed to sell, so here are some suggestions that might help:

1) Make sure that everything in you house, construction-wise is perfect or close to it. 99% of homes in this market will be inspected for flaws, so you need a knowledgeable 3rd party to go through your home to make sure it will pass a home inspection. You might even want to hire a pre-selling Home Inspection by a certified Home Inspector. (Read on …)

I am a creature of habit. I get up very early, exercise, respond to emails and head to Johnnie Jet Fuel’s for a (you’ll get it the way I make it!) Latte’.

The early morning music can be a bit too stimulating so I often find myself standing outside and watching the new construction at the south-west corner of Aberdeen and Parliament. Most mornings I end up shaking my head. Sorry, but I don’t get it! (Read on …)

For many Sellers the thought of having someone traipsing through your home with all its keepsakes and memories sends shivers down their spines.

However, take a deep breath and keep a few things in mind; First, this is the house you are leaving. Secondly, all the keepsakes should be away from the Buyers eyes in an attempt to de-personalize your home and make it appealing to the widest spectrum of Buyers in the marketplace. (Read on …)

Almost 30 years ago, I began my Realtor career at an office which Bosley Real Estate owns at 169 Danforth Avenue. In those days it was Terry Martel Real Estate, and my first few years were cutting my teeth in Prime Riverdale and Leslieville, although we called it Cabbagetown II at the time, a tribute to the number of Victorian Houses found south of Gerrard.. (Read on …)

There is a mystique about Rosedale. Just responding “Rosedale” when people ask where you live is tantamount to admitting that you are enormously wealthy, have never worked a day in your life or care for anyone but yourself… You must be anti-anything that smacks of social consciousness.. Rosedale is the media darling in Canada when it comes to discussing the “privileged”. (Read on …)

A few days ago I contacted someone who I’ve always had a lot of respect for…she has been a REALTOR, Manager and teacher for 30 years (or more???) and like me she relishes in change…it does not get her down but she relishes in a challenge. She has been a very successful coach as well as developing the web site format that I presently use. It is very consumer centric and REALTOR friendly. (Read on …)

Everyday someone walks up to me with a hound-dog face and wants to know if I am OK and how I am dealing with the Toronto’s Real Estate market today.

They must think I am crazy or lying because I often say that I am loving it! It’s true however! I’m coming out: I like CHANGE!

I like a downturn because it makes you more creative. It makes you reassess all that you do and try to find the benefit for clients and business.

It makes me look at my technology and systems and drop the ones that don’t work and streamline the ones that do or…look at new technology. (Read on …)

Back in 2002 I had an international award winning web site that was recognized by the Realtors in a US magazine as one of the top ten sites, however, I was surpassed on the search engine Google by a newcomer who had been in my marketplace for one year (I had been over 22 years). After doing some soul searching and speaking to some great tech minds, I came across Bruce Lamb of Avalanche Networks. (Read on …)

Last year sadly I had to sell my father’s condo out west. I knew a few Realtors from the area but as executor of my Dad’s estate, I felt it was my fiduciary duty to keep arms length from the transaction, so I did what I suggest most sellers do…. (Read on …)

There are some great opportunities in the Toronto Home Market right now. Here is a great thought from my favourite Mortgage Broker, David Smith of Oriana Financial. (Read on …)