We're going to start writing some things here for you to enjoy!

Setting the right list price for a home is a mystery for many sellers.

How do you begin to determine what buyers are likely to pay for your property? After all, no two homes are exactly alike. Yet, setting the right price is crucial. You need to avoid the two price “tipping points” that, if crossed, can cause you a lot of problems.

The first tipping point is a price that’s low enough for buyers to begin thinking something is wrong. They wonder, “Why is your price so low? What are you not telling us about your property?” But that’s not even the worst problem with this tipping point. If you do get offers at that low price, you’ll have a bigger issue – leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

The other tipping point is setting your price so high it discourages buyers from giving your listing a second look. When your price is that high, you’ll get few enquiries and even fewer people coming to see your property. Of course, you can lower your price later, if necessary. But experience shows that reduced prices make potential buyers skeptical. Most sellers who price high in the hopes of getting a windfall actually end up selling for much less than they would have if they had priced their properties correctly in the first place.

So what’s the right price to list your property?

The answer is somewhere in between those two tipping points. Call today for help determining the right price for your property.

How to Deal with a Low-Ball Offer

If you take care to price your home correctly — that is, at a price that is in line with what similar properties in the area have sold for recently — then you have a good chance of selling it at or near your asking price. That doesn’t mean you won’t get a low-ball offer. You might. So what do you do when that happens?

First, understand that the buyer may not necessarily be trying to steal away your home at a bargain-basement price. He might simply be mistaken about its true market value. Of course, he might also be coming in at a low price in the hopes he’ll get lucky. You will never actually know the buyer’s motives. So it would be a mistake to get angry or dismiss the offer out-of-hand.

That low-ball offer might end up being the beginning of a negotiation that results in you selling your home at a good price.

Your first step is to work with your REALTOR® to determine:

• How serious the buyer is.

• How qualified the buyer is. (For example, does he have a preapproved mortgage?)

• How amenable the buyer is to a counter-offer that reflects the true market value of your home.

• What that counter-offer should be.

This isn’t an easy process. It takes knowledge and experience to get it right. That’s why working with a good REALTOR® is essential.

Looking for a REALTOR® who is an expert at this stuff? Call today.

Easy-to Miss Home Security Tips for Your Vacation

If you’re relaxing on a Caribbean beach, or enjoying a bus tour through historic Paris, the last thing you want to worry about is your home. Most people know the basics of keeping a home secure while away. Here are some additional tips that are easy to miss:

Tell your kids not to boast about your fabulous vacation plans, especially on social media. The fewer who know that the house will be empty, the better.

Ask a neighbour to pick up any mail and flyers dropped at your doorstep. But don’t rely on that alone. Also call the newspaper and post office to temporarily halt delivery.

You can buy timers to automatically turn lights on and off. However, most will stop working if the power goes out and restart with the incorrect time when the power comes back on. That’s why you should keep at least a couple of lights turned on continuously, and not connected to timers.

If you’re leaving in the evening, or before dawn, don’t forget to open the blinds. Closed blinds during the day are a dead giveaway that the owners are away.

Finally, experts recommend creating a home security checklist, so you don’t forget anything. That will give you peace-of-mind.

If you have any questions on buying or selling your home please do not hesitate to call!
 

What home buyers love to see

Buyers are more likely to make an offer on your home if they see a lot of things they love about it. So what do buyers love to see?

One of the main things they like to see is a lot of space. Of course, you can't change the size of your rooms, but there is a lot you can do to make small spaces in your home seem more spacious.

Buyers also love to see a clean and uncluttered home. Think of how inviting a hotel room looks at first glance, with everything neat and organized. Of course, your home isn't a hotel, but the more neat and attractive you can make each room, the better.

One thing buyers don't love to see is potential maintenance issues. So as much as possible, get things fixed or updated.

In fact, the more "finished" and "move in ready" your home looks, the more likely a buyer is to make an offer.

Don't forget the surrounding neighbourhood either. A buyer may not take the time to explore the area, so be sure to make a list of the most appealing features. You might want to take a picture of the brand new playground just down the street or print off a local map showing nearby shopping, theatre and other points of interest.

It's not about creating a false impression. Rather, it's about making your home look its best and drawing attention to its most enticing features.

Want more home selling tips? Call today. Cindy can be reached at 780-975-3918, Monte can be reached at 780-952-8541

The importance of reading and understanding an offer.

When you make or receive an offer to buy a property, it's important that you read and understand every clause. It is especially important to understand any conditions or any changes that are made to the standard offer.

An offer may contain several types of conditions. The most common are "conditional upon arranging financing" and "conditional upon passing a professional home inspection." However, there may be other conditions as well.

You should be aware of – and fully understand – all of them.

In addition, the wording of an offer may change during the back and forth negotiations that often happen. Aside from changes to the price, other clauses may be added, removed or reworded as well.

A good agent will always ask you to initial changes. This is done primarily to ensure you know and approve of what you're signing.

A recent newspaper article tells the story of a buyer-seller legal dispute that resulted in a six-figure judgement against the seller. This was due, in part, to a lack of understanding of one of the clauses in the agreement.

                                             You don't want that to happen to you.

Take the time to carefully review and understand an offer.

Want to make sure everything goes smoothly with your next move? Call
today.

Pack your memories away

Items that remind us of special people, events, milestones and interests are an important part of what makes a home a home. Pictures on the fireplace mantle, for example, showcase family and friends that are important to us.  You might also have trophies, certificates, greeting cards, and other mementoes on display in key places.
Of course, all of those things add warmth and meaning to your home.  However, if you're preparing your home for sale, it's a good idea to pack those memories away - at least until you've sold your property and moved to your new home.

Why?

Because those pleasant mementoes that mean so much to you may actually turn off potential buyers.  You see, when buyers view your property, you want them to be able to clearly picture themselves and their families living there. That's difficult to do if everywhere they look they see reminders that this is your home!  So, to help sell your home quickly, make it look great, but not personalized.

Think of the showroom displays you see set up in furniture stores. Those displays are most appealing when they enable you to easily picture yourself, with that furniture, in your home. You probably wouldn't feel that way if it looked like the furniture belonged to someone else.
Of course, buyers will know you currently live in your home. But helping them imagine themselves living there will help you sell your property faster – and possibly for a better price.

Need more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call Today!

Be Sure to Plan for the “Pet Issue”

If you have pets, you probably adore them. They're part of the family! Monte and I both have pets so we understand where you are coming from.  But  when you're preparing your home for sale, you need to think about how  you're going to deal with the "pet issue".

Some potential buyers who view your property may love pets as much as  you do. However, others may be turned off by the tell-tale signs of pet  ownership – such as kitty litter, dander, and smells.  So be sure to make a plan for how you’re going to deal with your pets.  It's a good idea to keep pets out of the house during viewings. Even if your  dog or cat is friendly, some buyers will be uncomfortable around them. So,  you'll need to decide where your pets will go when buyers view your  property. Consider a local kennel or "pet day camp".

"Can't I just take my dog out for a walk?"

you might be asking. You could;  however, you may not always be available to do that during a viewing. So have alternate plans available.  You should also consider how you will deal with pet dander and everyday pet odours. You're probably used to them. Unfortunately, some buyers will be turned off or even be allergic. So, in addition to cleaning your home before a viewing -- especially in those areas where pets spend time like a favourite cushion or scratching post – consider using specialty air sprays available on the market that will neutralize pet odours.

Finally, it's a good idea to advise buyers that they're viewing a home with pets. That way, they'll be more forgiving if they catch a whiff of cat dander.

Need more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call Monte or Cindy today!

(And just a quick view of MAX)

CREA - the Canadian Real Estate Association has released a new 2014 forecast.  The housing market still looks strong, and all though we had a quiet start to the year, the year to date numbers are pretty well as forecasted in January.  All areas of the country performing well and Alberta is seeing some real growth.

Click on the link below to see the article.

http://crea.ca/crea-updates-resale-housing-forecast-7