Real Estate Blog - Selling

Questions To Ask Your Real Estate Professional When Selling

When you’re choosing a real estate professional, you need to make sure your partnering with someone you trust to help you navigate the biggest sale of your life. There are hundreds of real estate professionals, but only an elite few who will be a good match for you. When you’re trying to make a decision on who should join your home selling team, here are some questions to ask the candidates:

1). How many sales have you closed yearly for the past five years? Like we said, there are tons of real estate professionals out there; but not all of them have a track record that you can count on. Looking at their stats from the past five years will help you see how they’ve performed in a multitude of markets. Here at Team Ken Richter, we are proud to…

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Why 'We Buy Homes' Systems Don't Work

We know you have seen the ads. Billboards proclaim 'WE WILL BUY YOUR HOME!' or 'Home Not Selling? Let us Buy!' These renegade real estate companies promise that if your home does not sell within a set number of days, they will buy it from you. It sounds like a good deal, but it really does not benefit you unless it is absolutely essential you be rid of your property right away. Here is why:

Typically the contracts for these deals state that the company will list your home for an agreed upon price for an agreed upon time. If your home does not sell within that amount of time, they will buy it from you for a different price. As previously mentioned, if it is crucial that you sell your home in the next sixty days these types of deals can be a last…

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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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First Time Sellers

Selling a home for the first time is a big decision! And many of you are planning to sell, because the Calgary market is hot!

Perhaps you are ready to upgrade or downsize, or are simply just wanting something new. We understand that selling a home is just as big of a financial decision as buying it was, and an emotional one. You've made memories in this house, and as the saying goes, parting can be such sweet sorrow. It may also feel overwhelming, and you may be unsure of where to start. Don't worry; Team Ken Richter is here to support you from start to finish!

The first thing to do is connect with us. You can call Ken Richter directly at 403-630-6363, or email directly at Ken@KenRichter.com. One of the first things we will do is provide you…

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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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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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Finding The Right Retirement Home

Making the decision to find a retirement home can be difficult financially and emotionally. The reason? For most this means moving away from a home they have had for many years.

One local Calgarian described how difficult it was to make the decision to sell the home she had lived in with her late husband for over thirty years. They had made so many memories in that house, and poured their whole hearts into it. She noted that while leaving was hard, the transition gave her freedom to move into the next stage of life, onto the next adventure. Now she lives in a condo near her grandkids that has given her the financial and physical freedom to travel and spend more quality time with her family. She said the decision to find a retirement home was…

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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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Most Desirable Home Features

When it comes to finding a new home, most buyers put together a wish list. This wish list has two sections: need to have and want to have. For example, for some people a pool in the backyard is a need to have. For others, it would only be a want to have. Different buyers have different needs. These needs are based on preference and what is required for each buyer’s particular lifestyle.

Some people are extremely picky when it comes to what they want out of a new home. Others are more relaxed. Either way, there are a number of home features that can make a property more desirable to potential buyers. The list below is not universal; like we said, everyone is different and will want and need different things out of their home. However, this list is a…

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The 5 Year Rule

Congratulations on your new home! The closing negotiations are finished, the keys are yours, the boxes are unpacked, and your name is now proudly displayed on the mailbox. Buying a home is a major milestone in a person's life, we are so happy for you. You have worked hard to get to this moment, so make sure you celebrate. If you worked with us, thank you for being one of our valued clients! We look forward to a long-lasting professional relationship with you.

As you get more settled on your new turf, you are going to start feeling one of two ways. First, you may understand, potentially for the first time ever, the age-old adage of 'home sweet home.' You will be able to breathe easy knowing this is where you have landed, looking forward to many, many…

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