Real Estate Blog - real estate

How to Prepare Your Home for Listing Photos

Listing a home for sale in Calgary, Alberta is an art. It is not as simple as sticking a photo and a price on the internet. Instead, it is about sharing a property in its absolute best light, and marketing it to find the perfect buyer at the perfect price.

Here at Team Ken Richter we provide a complimentary Comparative Market Analysis in order to best situate your home before taking on the listing. Evaluating this report together allows us to determine a great price, the right entry time, and any work that needs to be done ahead of time. Once you have decided to work with us, one of the first things we will do is take photos of your property.

This is one of the most underrated, but important steps in the process. A buyer's first impression of…

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How to Rent Right

Are you looking to rent? We have some tips for you!

1). Make a list of non-negotiables and stick to it. Decide before hand what you are willing to spend each month on rent and utilities in order to narrow down your search, only look at places that are pet friendly if that is something you need, if you do not like basement suites, add that to your list, etc! Be flexible, but stick to what you absolutely will not negotiate on and don’t waste your time searching for places that do not fit that criteria.

2). Location is the most important part of whatever space it is you decide to rent. For most people, location is the make-or-break feature of any potential space. Narrow your search into looking only for places by a bus stop, near your place of work…

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Getting Open House Ready

When you purchased your home you inevitably went to see the property. What was your first impression like? Chances are the home felt welcoming, clean and well maintained. While you may have been amazed at the property owner’s cleanliness and organization, they likely spent a lot of time preparing the space so it would be ready for you. Similar to how we clean our homes before visitors arrive, homeowners do the same before an open house. After all, it is about putting your best foot forward.

A lot of things are noticeably done to make a home more appealing to potential buyers. However, there are also a number of not-so-obvious things that need to happen in order for a home to be ready to be showed off. When you are selling your home, make sure you can…

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Taking Home Sweet Home on the Road

There are many benefits that come with owning a home. It diversifies your investment portfolio, puts a roof over your head, allows you to gain equity and so much more. One of the downsides? It keeps you tethered to one spot; unless you are Captain Richard Deane, the Superintendent of Fort Calgary. Captain Deane didn't let anything stop him from moving the Deane House in 1926 across the Elbow river to where it sits today. They used logs to literally roll the house across the river!

All this being said, rolling a house across a river is not for everyone. So instead, why don't you roll up with a house on wheels: a Recreational Vehicle (RV). Many people are turning to RVs as a way to own a home that they can take with them on the road! Popular blogger…

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Happy Summer Solstice!

Happy Summer Solstice, Calgary!

What is summer solstice? This year it falls on Sunday, June 20th. It marks the official start of the summer. National Geographic writes, "solstices occur because Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted about 23.4 degrees relative to Earth's orbit around the sun. This tilt is what drives our planet's seasons, as the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get unequal amounts of sunlight over the course of a year. From March to September, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted more toward the sun, driving its spring and summer. From September to March, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away, so it feels autumn and winter. The Southern Hemisphere's seasons are reversed."

Throughout history different places and cultures have marked the…

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Relocating Tips

Relocating is very exciting!

It means you get to start a new adventure in a new place. Did you know that on average people relocate once every five years? No matter what the circumstances are behind your relocation, we are here to help make the process go as smoothly as possible:

1). Make sure all of your closing and move-in documents are taken care of. This is why having a real estate professional on your side is such a big asset. We can walk you through exactly what you need and what to do as you say goodbye to your old home and welcome your new one. 

2). Have your affairs in order. This means making sure all your mail will get forwarded to your new property, that things like electricity, heat and internet are all set up, that any licences…

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Mortgage 101

Owning a home is no small feat. Why? Because they are a major financial investment. One of the main things to understand about owning a property is that you will likely start paying a mortgage.

So, what is a mortgage? A mortgage is the money you pay a creditor over time in exchange for them lending you all of that money upfront to pay for your property of choice. Essentially, it is a loan you take out to finance the purchase of a property. Depending on your unique situation, the creditor (typically a bank) will determine how much money they are comfortable lending you based on things like your job, credit score, assets, etc.. Finding out how much money the bank is willing to give you usually directly determines how much money you can spend on a…

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To Rent or To Buy

People are faced with two options when it comes to home sweet home: buying or renting. For some the choice is easy: they can either afford to purchase a property or they can’t so they choose to rent instead. However, in some cases people are on the cusp of either signing a new long-term lease or making a down payment on a home and beginning to pay a mortgage. What are the pros and cons to each decision? Read on so you can make an informed decision about something that will have a massive impact on your future (no pressure)!

Pros to Buying Your Own Property:

• You get to start building up good credit by making monthly mortgage payments.

• You are investing in something long-term that one day you can sell to get your money back (plus…

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Are You Ready For An Investment Property?

Welcome to the world of investment properties!

An investment property can be a property you use yourself (such as a vacation home), a property you lease to others (such as renters or a business), or a property that you fix up and flip for an immediate return. Whatever you plan on using your investment property for, consider the following:

• Purchasing an investment property is a major decision, so don't rush it! Take the time to think critically about if an investment property is right for you, what kind of investment property is right for you, and, when you find a property, if it is the best investment property for you. There is absolutely no need to rush! Take your time so that you can be 100% (or at least 99%) confident in your end decision.…

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Open House Etiquette

Attending an Open House is such a fun part of the buying experience. We've all seen homes and wondered what they look like on the inside. This is your chance to do just that! Open House's are the absolute best way to find out if a home is for you. Virtual tours and pictures can give you an introduction to the home, but there's nothing quite like walking the halls and experiencing it firsthand. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to get a feel for the neighbourhood. 

At an Open House you are in the power seat. After all, the seller wants to woo you so that you submit a good offer! However, you still need to be respectful of the space and the fact that you are entering a stranger's home. There is a certain set of etiquette one should follow during an…

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