Real Estate Agents: any that you can recommend?

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Hey,

Not sure if this is the best place to ask, but thought I'd give it a try...


I'm wanting to upgrade to a bigger place (either another hard loft condo or maybe a small commercial/residential building in downtown TO), and was wondering if anyone can recommend a *good* real estate agent.


I know, they're probably a rare breed. But, I'm hoping to find someone who will actually go a bit beyond the minimum required. My previous real estate agent was ok, but he could have done much better in terms of actually knowing the pros/cons of each unit we saw. Long story short, I ended up buying a unit that has very poor soundproofing (can hear my neighour's cough, talk, walk, have sex, play music, etc)--something I had specifically told my agent that I didn't want. The building I'm in is great and in a great location, though, but still...


Anyway, all I want is an agent who can tell me, with some degree of certainty, that the next place I buy has adequate sound proofing (concrete floors and walls), isn't surrounded by 20- to 30-something party people, has very few renters over owners, and isn't going to decrease in value. Is that too much to expect from an agent?


Thanks for any suggestions!
 
Be very careful with listening to peoples comments re: soundproof/high end construction. The first term is impossible, the second is pure marketing. I deal with this crap almost daily and very very few builders build anything more than required by OBC (even builders that project themselves as special/better). Your best bet is probably to knock of the neighbours doors and see what they think. Many people never publicly complain about noise becasue they don't want to depress the value of their unit, they just sell and hope for better luck next time. To identify buildings with noise problems, look for high turnover rates/lots of units for sale. It's not a definitive solution, but if you find a building where turnover is low, chances are good the walls are decent, most people won't tolerate listening to their neighbours for long.

Conversion lofts can be some of the worst for sound transmission between units. Even if they installed concrete walls, many times they are full of penetrations for legacy systems (ie. conduit for power/alarm running straight through the concrete wall). I'm not saying it can't be done properly, but for most lofts, just assume the you will hear your neighbours and be happy if you don't. The next version of the OBC is heading towards actual testing of the walls after construction, we'll see if it makes it in or gets cut by special interest groups.
 
While acoustically treating a room is certainly not cheap, it isn't the most expensive thing to do either--especially if you own.

Putty-packs for the outlets, new drywall with the green-glue for absorbtion, and a big 'decorative' rug hung on a 'hot-zone' will do wonders for minimizing noise that exists for the straight walls of an apartment.

Food for thought.
 
BMWWW said:
While acoustically treating a room is certainly not cheap, it isn't the most expensive thing to do either--especially if you own.

Putty-packs for the outlets, new drywall with the green-glue for absorbtion, and a big 'decorative' rug hung on a 'hot-zone' will do wonders for minimizing noise that exists for the straight walls of an apartment.
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Thanks for the suggestion! Yeah, I was looking into soundproofing a few years ago. But, in the end, I didn't, b/c I would have needed to cover up my ceiling with a suspended one. My ceiling has exposed wood planks, so didn't want to cover that up. And, most of my really loud, party neighbours have moved (thank effin god). I've gotten used to it (and now don't hesitate to call the concierge and PM to complain about noise), so my only real reason for moving is getting a bigger pad.

If I moved to another place, and there were noise issues, then I might do the soundproofing. But, if I can avoid problems to begin with, then that would be ideal.
 
GreyGhost said:
Be very careful with listening to peoples comments re: soundproof/high end construction. The first term is impossible, the second is pure marketing. I deal with this crap almost daily and very very few builders build anything more than required by OBC (even builders that project themselves as special/better). Your best bet is probably to knock of the neighbours doors and see what they think.

Conversion lofts can be some of the worst for sound transmission between units. Even if they installed concrete walls, many times they are full of penetrations for legacy systems (ie. conduit for power/alarm running straight through the concrete wall). I'm not saying it can't be done properly, but for most lofts, just assume the you will hear your neighbours and be happy if you don't.
Click to expand...


All great points and suggestions!

The Board @ my current place (a conversion) had the walls tested. And, the walls are up to "code", which doesn't speak well for the current building standards, as you pointed out.

I actually came across a conversion that supposedly has concrete walls (instead of the usual drywall). But, as you said, concrete doesn't guarantee that I won't hear my neighours, and I'll be sure to knock on some doors to get their take before making an offer.

If all else fails (in terms of the condo route), then my plan B is to buy a small, freestanding mixed use building. Of course, then, I'd be on my own, so wouldn't have to worry about neighbours (at least inside the same building). I could go the detached home route, but would rather live in a place that has an industrial feel to it.
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