Selling Your Home? Declutter It. These 5 Tips are a Must!

Selling Your Home? Declutter It.  These 5 Tips are a Must!

Roll up your sleeves

It’s time to put in a little elbow grease and get your house ready for the market. Declutter. The buyers want to see your house, not your mess. Go through every room, scrutinizing every item. Tidy up, repair, clean and revitalized. Don’t forget your basement, crawlspace and garage. Remember the disposal of hazardous materials such as paint, engine oil and batteries will require special attention. Delegate the work to other family members accordingly.

Buyers Buy Space in Real Estate

If you are able to show more space, whether it be living or storage space, more buyers will be interested in your house. It is easier said than done especially if you and your family are still living in it. Try a little harder to pack up items and organize shelves and clear floor areas.

The Kitchen is Not Just for the Ladies.

Space in the kitchen is important to all family members, now, more so than ever. It’s all about the kitchen and that ‘we can move in anytime’ feeling. Try to make your kitchen sleek-yet-functional. Move less-oft used items out of the way for example some countertop appliances.

Tips to Save Money

Shedding excess baggage before a move makes sense. Declutter experts agree that families in most homes could get rid of about 30% of the contents and never miss it. Imagine if you got rid of thousands of pounds of clutter. Then you don’t have to pay to move it. A garage sale is a good idea. Then trash, return, donate or put into storage any items just lying around.

Pay attention to Curb Appeal

Go outside and look at the front of your home. Access both the front and back yards. Observe with critical eyes as though you are the buyer and how they might see it. Remember the front door. Replace the house numbers if they look old and tired. Place them where easily visible from the road.

For more tips on how to get your house ready for sale, give Chris a call #403-680-4479

Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/

Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

 

Ladies! Single? New Ways to Go House Hunting

Well Done Ladies!

Ladies! Single? New Ways to Go House Hunting

Congratulations Ladies!

Perhaps, despite being single, you have finally decided to buy your own home to fulfill that life-long dream – Well done Ladies!

Why? Think Investment

Your first choice may be a good buy but not be your perfect dream home. It at least gets you into the market. Remember that your first home is just a stepping stone. Think condo. Once you have lived in it for a while and see condo prices continue to rise in Calgary as they are, you may then be ready to upgrade and buy a single-family house.

First the Money

Getting a pre-approved for a mortgage before you start is crucial when house hunting. You don’t want to fall in love with a house that's not within reach. Have you reached the ‘Money Wall’? Try family and friends for loans. This is a great strategy. Agree on an interest rate that's lower than what you'd pay a bank but slightly higher than what they could receive from similar investments.

Women Want Security

Think security. You don’t want to be afraid if you are walking home alone and putting the key to the lock at the front door. Make sure the parking area is safe so that you don’t worry about coming and going. Don't lose sleep. Pick a condo unit on the top floor of the building for example to minimize the chance of a balcony break-in.

What Else Women Want

Women want more than more pretty pictures of stainless steel fridges and sweeping granite counter tops. If the contractor plans are still in the works, ask about including noise-muffling walls to drown out upstairs laundry machines. What about the possibility of storage hidden in the bathroom walls for reading materials and feminine products?  Ask for amenities such as mud rooms, ‘drop zones’ for groceries and walk-in pantries.

Be well-informed

When it comes to real estate single women need to do a lot more due diligence. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions until you understand the process. Your Real Estate agent will be happy to answer any questions you may have. In Calgary give Chris a call at 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

Buy the Best in Calgary



$100 Dollar Burger Photo by Vagabond Brewery

Buy the Best in Calgary

$100 Dollar Hamburger Wow! Calgary

There’s a pub in Canada’s oil capital that offers a high-end burger. It sells for a whopping $100.00. The patty is made with 16 oz. high quality wagyu beef. Then it’s topped with black truffle cheese, duck confit, red onion jam, foie gras, heirloom tomato and lettuce and is served on a French-style brioche bun.

Is This Just Razzle Dazzle?

Yes. Lee Borshowa, the owner of Vagabond Brewery says, “We want to be in your face, have some fun with it. You can’t put a price on a good time.” Obviously for Calgary, the fun is for deep-pocketed eaters.

Pricy Plate

This pricy plate can be found at 1129 Olympic Way S.E. “It’s worth every penny,” says bar manager, Paul Spooner. “Basically the idea was to just have the craziest burger that you could possibly imagine,” he said and added, “This is Calgary, people have lots of money. We sell lots of them.” The burger is a creation of Chef Dale Neisz.

Prices for a Cup of Coffee Growing at a Staggering Rate

While not as high priced as a coffee in the city of Vancouver at a staggering $15 per 8-oz cup, one Calgary Cafe offers what is considered an excellent-expensive cup. Analog Coffee at 17th Ave has good service and for some, “the best cup of coffee in Calgary”.  Analog offers two bean choices. You can opt for the Fratello which is the most expensive by a few cents more but has a nice creamy, good mouth feel.

Got Money to Burn?

La Chaumiere is as good as it gets. You can easily go over the top spending here. A bottle of Bordeaux can run as high as $3,600. But this is a restaurant for the couple who are looking for a treat.
Don't forget the credit card.

This exclusive French restaurant on 17th Avenue, exemplifies French cuisine at its finest. The portions are reportedly ultra-expensive, ultra-small, and ultra-delicious.

Want to live in Calgary and buy the best, call Chris 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

 

5 Projects That Lower Your Home’s Value
Beware Calgary!
If you are thinking of selling your home in the near future you will rarely see a return on investment from these home improvement projects.
Be Wary of Decorating
If you’re planning on selling in the next five years, you need to think about what’s going to appeal to a broad section of buyers. If you love the idea of a pink bedroom and you plan to stay in your home for a long time then by all means do whatever makes you happy but if resell value matters keep it neutral.
Coloured Trim and Textured Walls a Turn-off
You may think that painting the trim a different colour like pink, is okay. You may imagine that any potential homebuyer could easily paint over them. Think twice because many people would rather paint over walls than over trim any day. If there is a textured wall or a mural theme like in a child’s room it may be very difficult to remove. A potential buyer may envision hours of peeling wallpaper and then sanding.
Watch out for Hot tubs!
Inheriting someone else’s hot tub is usually a turn-off.  Many potential buyers find them to be a little gross. Once a hot tub is installed, it’s not that easy to remove from a deck or backyard.
Converting a Bedroom or a Garage Not the Way to Go
Converting bedrooms into other spaces is something many homeowners do but if potential homebuyers see a listing for a four-bedroom house then they don’t want a surprise at the open house.
Don’t remove the closet to create more space in a room or change it into a small computer room or an office. Closet space is often high on the priority list and fewer closets can disappoint a would-be buyer. Also turning a garage into a home gym might seem a great idea at the time but not be so appealing to a prospective buyer.
Don’t Try To Keep Up with the Joneses
It is tempting for some homeowners to over-improve their home so it outshines all others in the neighbourhood. It may be hard for the agent to get the asking price if it is disproportionate to others on the same street. Over-doing landscaping comes under this category. Latent home buyers may envision high maintenance and might be inclined to walk away.
If you have questions call Chris at: 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

Experience Counts

Single Women Buy Houses

Five Reasons Single Women are Buying Homes
Twice the Rate of Single Men
Record numbers of single women are buying homes.  Twice as many unmarried women are buying homes than single men, according to a study from the Joint Center for Housing (Harvard University). As women delay marriage, they are steadily taking charge of their own finances.  They are increasingly recognizing that home ownership is often more affordable than renting.
Studies are Revealing
Based on a 2011 report from the American National Association of Realtors, it is believed that close to 20% of homebuyers in North America are single women, making them the second largest home buying demographic after married couples. Looking for ways to invest in their future women find that investing in real estate increases their financial security in a lasting way.
The Market is Wide Open
Women have a strong desire to own their own home. Call it the nesting instinct or a need for security. Women buyers are varied in age and demographics. They are not people that you can stereotype. They can be divorced, never married, separated, with children or without or grandmothers. They can afford to live alone or with friends.
Hard to Pin Down
Although it is hard to pin down the type of home most women are looking for, there are some common elements. Some surveys have uncovered familiar themes such as two or more bedrooms, close to downtown and not out in suburbia, a condo with a well-run homeowner association and also a home in a community with gated access. Of course close to good schools, fitness centres and shopping is high on the list.
The Door is Wide Open
With women’s financial situation growing in credibility, banks are ready to talk. For the current generation of single women who now have a strong desire to feather their nests they have the opportunity and the means to finally do so. Now is the best time to buy a house.
Why not give Chris a call at 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

Big Concerns for Proposed Calgary Mall
Too Big and Too Massive
Too big and too massive are some of the adjectives used by residents of the nearby communities of Crestmont and Valley Ridge, to describe a proposed commercial development known as Bingham Crossing. While Calgary is considered a shopper’s haven, plans for more retail development, this time to the west fringe of Calgary, are in the works once again. The company responsible for the new mall, Rencor Development argues that the proposal would include high quality shops and significant seniors’ housing.
Like Shopping on Steroids
A resident of the Crestmont community, Janet Shygera, has commented regarding the proposed site, “I’m concerned about the size of this. It’s going to be like having shopping on steroids.”
Reduced somewhat by the developer, Rencor, the proposed size of 62 acres on a parcel of land of more than 300 acres appears to be going ahead. The British Columbia-based developer states that the new centre will be a unique, pedestrian-friendly destination unlike any other in Calgary.
Could be Devastating
John Panagakos, owner of Van Gogh’s Bar and Grill in Valley Ridge has expressed his concern, “The reason we survive here is because we have this local market to ourselves.” He added, “If there’s a big mall, it will devastate us.”
NIMBY’s Legitimate Concern
Although being called, NIMBY’s by some, residents remain opposed to something they fear will generate more traffic in their neighbourhood and that is a concern due to a rarity of access points. Some say that the traffic access point at Crestmont Boulevard for traffic headed east on the Trans-Canada and Valley Ridge Boulevard for traffic headed west just isn’t large enough. It could create bottlenecks in the community.
Just Too Big for One Entrance
“This is just too big for just one entrance,” said Dave McCarrel, director of planning for Valley Ridge. “This thing is supposed to be even bigger than Market Mall, and Market Mall has seven access points.”
Area Councillor, Ward Sutherland says that he will work with the city and the province to reconfigure interchanges as needed.
Wonder if you should sell or buy and when? Give Chris a call 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

Best Time to Buy Houses in Calgary

Going Up Again

Real Estate for Calgary has continued to gain momentum for another year. According to a recent CREB Report, Calgary’s housing market is showing the best year-over-year price growth in the country.
Calgary Booming!
From a year ago, the MLS Home Price Index has indicated that Calgary prices in December were up almost nine per cent and when compared to the aggregate across the country’s major markets of 4.31 per cent, Calgary’s housing market is better.
Calgary’s Mayor Worried
In January, Calgary’s Mayor Naheed Nenshi began a keynote speech to a group of area realtors by saying that Calgary is facing a housing crisis. This is in part due to the flood of 2013 and loss of homes and rental units.
Buy Now.
Calgary leads the nation with a 6.5 per cent hike in prices for repeat home sales. Why wait any longer, the best time to buy is now!
Last December, the Calgary Real Estate Association reported that MLS sales were up nine per cent from last year to 1,464 transactions. With a housing crisis and a booming market, this could explain why the average sale price rose by 4.7 per cent to $439,389.
Good News for Calgary.
As Calgary’s economy grows stronger more jobs are created.  More people are naturally drawn to the area. This is all good news.
If you are a potential buyer who has been holding off, expecting house prices to drop and you continue to wait you could be disappointed.  A bargain may be harder to find but not impossible. Don’t wait too long.
Sellers Market
Having stated the obvious it is also worth noting that it is a good time for Calgary home sellers.  Things are looking much better for you. Your job may be even more secure and you are perhaps thinking of upgrading. In this stronger economy your may find a bargain before home prices climb.
Whether you are looking to buy or sell give Chris Ashby a call for the best deal. 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/

5 Things Real Estate Agents Will Do for Free!

5 Things Real Estate Agents Will Do for Free!

Experience Counts

Neighborhood Profile
As a client of a Real Estate Agent feel free to ask about the neighbours that you can expect to live in the vicinity of a home you are interested in. With an in-depth analysis of the neighborhood you can decide if the mix is right for you. Is it primarily an older area with retirees or one with lots of kids?  Buyers can find more details about current schools, parks, clinics, shopping, and golf courses in the area by asking their Real Estate Agent.
Contacts for Local Services
Many Real Estate Agents have tips for finding other businesses in the area. They can provide contact information for example to reputable movers, contractors, utility providers and cable companies nearby.  This will help you settle into your new home faster.
Home Staging Ideas
First impressions are important in selling your home. Real Estate agents have tips for dos and don’ts. They may even recommend an agency that provides home staging as part of their expertise.
Property Evaluation
Most Real Estate Agents will conduct an in-depth analysis of your property’s value using the data from the Agency’s records for recent sales in the area to determine its worth. Property values can go up and down in surprisingly short periods of time. Only an experienced Real Estate Agent has this reliable data at their finger tips.
Advice – Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions!First-time home buyers especially need help with the initial process. There is the need to find a lawyer and as well as a mortgage lender.  There are questions for the long term such as whether a home will keep its value. An experienced Real Estate Agent can provide a buyer with the local market knowledge needed to make an informed decision.
Call Chris! 403-680-4479
Visit: http://www.liveinokotoks.com/
Visit: www.yourhomeinalberta.com/