an exclusion but it was still written into the first offer we received. Needless to say the fireplace was removed from the offer and was shipped east with the Seller’s belongings when she closed her deal.

Other items to consider adding to the offer:

Outdoor storage buildings

Window treatments (be specific—there’s a difference between blinds and curtains!)

Garage door openers

Portable air conditioning units

Chandeliers and other light fixtures

Ceiling fans You might also list items you want to make sure the Seller removes, such as an unused oil storage tank, a stack of tires or an old broken-down car. You are basing your offer on the house as it sits with these items. If you discover that any item will not remain you may wish to reconsider the price.

Where to Put It

There may be space for your list within the offer of purchase. If not, make the list on a separate sheet of paper and attach it as a Schedule to the offer, where it must be signed by all parties.

Check It Out Before Closing

Take your list along for a final walk-through just before closing.

If an item is missing, you'll have more clout to get it back or negotiate a price reduction if you

bring it to everyone's attention before the papers are signed. Though most Sellers are honest, you should never rely on an oral agreement

regarding any aspect of a real estate transaction. The Offer of

Purchase and Sale should state clearly what stays and what goes. No one likes closing day surprises—especially your Realtor!

B ruce has the

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Compiled for happy clients by:

Bruce Johnson Sales Representative

Mary Johnson Assistant

RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc.

1263 Mosley St., Box 490 Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0

email: brucejohnson@remax.net

www.thehomehunt.com Tel: 705-429-4500 Fax: 705-429-4019

A Lively Source of Real Estate & Community News January/February 2002

E verything about the house you just toured is perfect. The location is great, the layout is ideal and the square

footage is more than adequate. There's a built-in hot tub on the back deck and a charming weathervane on the roof. You're ready to race back to RE/MAX to type up an offer.

Whoa! Slow down...

Walk through the house again but this time make a list with your realtor of items you feel should be part of the purchase price. If the hand-crafted barn-board shelves above the bar catch your eye, point them out so they can be included. Just because you regard an item as a permanent fixture doesn’t necessarily mean the Seller does.

Take Nothing for Granted

Never assume that the Seller plans to leave any item behind. The weathervane could be a sentimental gift. And though it may seem odd that a Seller would go to the trouble and expense of removing a built-in hot tub, I've seen it happen. If the property is listed with a professional real estate company, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) sheet should include items that are included with the house. That's a starting point for your list. The most common large items usually included with the sale of a home are the dishwasher, fridge, stove and sometimes the washer and dryer. Keep in mind that if something isn’t listed as a chattel (an item the Seller is including with the house) then you risk offending the Seller if you ask for too much.

Sweat the Small Stuff

But how about the large mirror you saw above the fireplace mantel—or even the mantel itself? I had a listing last year where there was a fake but very real-looking fireplace in the living room. It was listed on the MLS as

~Bruce

Be specific about chattels in your Offer

The

HomeHunter©

Is HERE!

Don’t Like Closing-Day Surprises?

Frequently Called Numbers

Ambulance Office: (705) 429-4655 Arena: 429-3321 By-Law Department: 429-2511 Chamber of Commerce: 429-2247 Fire Department Office: 429-5281 Hydro Office: 429-2517 Library: 429-5481 Municipal Office: 429-3844 O.P.P. (Police): 911 (emergency only) Provincial Park Office: 429-2516 Public Works Department: 429-2540

MLS Statistics for Georgian Triangle for: January 2002

2002 2001

Listings Sales Average Sale

Price Listings Sales Average Sale Price

Area Month YTD Month YTD Month 12

Month Month YTD Month YTD Month 12 Month

Clearview 18 18 13 13 $243,346 $190,039 30 30 11 11 $131,764 $160,845

Collingwood 38 38 23 23 $152,811 $152,887 34 34 16 16 $155,938 $152,812

Town of the Blue Mtns

22 22 5 5 $252,100 $249,678 28 28 4 4 $191,250 $233,297

Tiny Township

3 3 2 2 $85,500 $116,400 0 0 1 1 $95,000 $107,163

Wasaga Beach

55 55 28 28 $151,511 $153,541 41 41 18 18 $155,722 $137,429

The “WOW” Trivia Contest

Win A Thursday Night Dinner For Two at:

“What is the name of Bruce’s newest

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Call Bruce at 705-429-4500 to win!

Congratulations to last month’s winner:

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Goodies Cafe

Our Service Pledge

As product and service providers we are 100% committed to a level of excellence that will make

you say “WOW” and keep you coming back. We

are aware that if we don’t exceed your expectations the first time and every time, you may be just a “satisfied customer”....and that’s not enough. Our desire is to have you so satisfied as clients that you will make a point of referring us to your friends, family and business associates.

The HomeHunter©

e-mail Bruce at: brucejohnson@remax.net

...because it’s a jungle out there!

Hunting For A Home? Why Not Use...

Dr. Kelly Volmers, D.V.M.

91 RIVER RD. WEST, WASAGA BEACH ON L0L 2P0 (705) 322-3459

Medical, Surgical & Dental Facilities For Your Pet

33 Ste. Marie St. 1263 Mosley St. P.O. Box 490 Riverbend Plaza Collingwood, ON Wasaga Beach, ON L9Y 4B2 L0L 2P0 (705) 445-9300 (705) 429-5199

MOVING, MAINTENANCE & PROPERTY CARE

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Your Family’s Full Service Lawyer

Bruce Johnson, Sales Representative

930 River Road West, Suite 5 Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0

Ph. (705) 429-5073 Fax: (705) 429-8168

Nottawasaga Chiropractic

TIMLOCK CONSTRUCTION

Al Timlock Box 186

Wasaga Beach, ON (705) 429-6870

“Building Fine Homes in Wasaga Beach Since 1964”

The advertisers herein are owned and operated independently. The Publisher cannot and does not guarantee or assume any liability for the services advertised.

Call Michelle or Steve 65 Cedar Pointe Dr., Suite 105

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1-800-396-POST -Certified Inspectors -Full E & O insurance -Reports given on site

Ceramic Wall & Floor Tile Installations

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INSTALLATIONS True North

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John Redick Sales Representative

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

of Wasaga Beach Inc.

BRIAN GREASLEY, B.Sc., LL.B. Barrister and Solicitor

Published by Bruce Johnson, Sales Representative, RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc. Not intended to solicit properties currently listed.

RE/MAX of Wasaga Beach Inc. Independently Owned and Operated

Bruce Johnson, Sales Representative

1263 Mosley Street (Box 490) Wasaga Beach, ON L0L 2P0 www.thehomehunt.com

(705) 429-4500

More English Language Puzzlers...

Y ou have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, where

you fill in a form by filling it out and an alarm goes off by

going on. How can overlook and oversee be opposites,

while quite a lot and quite a few are alike? Have you ever run into someone who was combobulated, gruntled or ruly?

Also, there is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger.

Neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French

fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads—which aren't sweet—are meat.

Quicksand can work slowly and boxing rings are square.

A guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

Why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers

don't groce and hammers don't ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth,

beeth?

One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? One index,

2 indices? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all

but one of them, what do you call it?

If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian

eat?

People recite at a play and play at a recital. People ship by truck and send cargo by ship.

People have noses that run and feet that smell?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same,

while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

ALL-BRICK HOME NEAR BEACH 2-storey home near the Beaches in Sunward Estates has 1,360 sq.ft. finished on each level. Ideal for 2 families—2 kitchens, 2 wood-burning fireplaces, huge 114’ x 185’ landscaped lot, circular driveway and a huge covered concrete balcony. Offered at $179,900.

FOR LOG HOME LOVERS This remarkable scandinavian `scribe-cut` construction is tucked into a heavily treed hill in a golf course community. Over 3,000 sq.ft. of `jaw-drop` wonder, stone fireplace, cathedral ceilings, full basement, 2 car garage. Must be seen. Offered at $344,900.

LOVELY HOME ON ACORN Very well kept 1,005 sq.ft. home (1,700 sq.ft. finished) on Acorn Crescent. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, breakfast nook, central a/c and air cleaner, huge shed and a lovely lot in a newer area of fine homes. Offered at $154,900.

BEACHFRONT LOT! Waterfront lot in Wasaga’s west end. Stone breakwall in place and water/ sewer/ gas at the lot line. There are mature trees, shrubs and perennial flowers and you are close to both Collingwood & Wasaga. This is your chance to own Wasaga beachfront property. Offered at $149,900.

TRULY A REMARKABLE HOME!2,000 sq.ft. of main floor beauty & a 1,562 sq.ft. in-law suite downstairs. Countless upgrades: 2 fireplaces, 40 oz. carpeting, 9’ ceilings, c/air & an inside entry to a dbl-car garage with a finished family room above. Perfect for a family living with elderly relatives. Offered at $219,900.

NEW HOME ON SMALLMAN This 1,163 sq.ft. custom-built home features a double-car garage with an inside entry, gas f/p, eat-in kitchen & municipal services—all on a large pie-shaped cul-de-sac lot. Fully insured with ONHWP & GST included with rebate assigned to builder. Offered at $159,900.

GEORGIAN GLEN MODULAR 950 sq.ft. modular home in Georgian Glen Estates. Features include a large living room with a gas f/p, 2 spacious bedrooms, single-car garage, 2 sheds, screened porch & a private parkette next door. $383 monthly land lease includes taxes, water & sewer. Offered at $54,900.

YEAR-ROUND NEAR BEACH Cute home or cottage very close to sandy beach. 650 sq.ft. on main floor and nearly 500 sq.ft. in fully finished basement. Master bdrm and family room both have new gas fireplaces. Also, 2 bathrooms & frontage on 2 streets. Offered at $89,900.

Use Bruce’s new automated property

locator The HomeHunter©

to find your next home. To sign up for free, e-mail Bruce today at:

brucejohnson@remax.net