Real Estate Blog - Tips

Preparing for an Emergency

Calgary is a great city for so many reasons. The people here are hardworking and kind, and the city itself is clean and welcoming. Most importantly--especially to those of us in the real estate industry--the location is incredible. After all, you know what they say: location is everything.

Nestled right between the prairies and the mountains, Calgary is ideal if you like beautiful views and experiencing all four seasons. Another perk of this city's location is that it remains relatively untouched by natural disasters. It is too close to the mountains to get tornadoes, and too far from the sea to get hurricanes. It is not significantly affected by earthquakes, and is not in a hot bed for forest fires. Albeit a little too much snow some winters, Calgary…

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Why Your Listing May Not Be Selling

Congratulations! You have made the huge decision to put your property on the market. Like so many other Calgarians with homes for sale, you may be feeling the pressure of selling your home during this buyer's market. Conditions do not make selling a home easy right now, which can be frustrating as a homeowner ready for the next step.

While the amount of time a home spends on the market can be heavily influenced by the market, there are a number of reasons why your home may not be selling as quickly as it could. Typically the solution is simple, so here are some things to evaluate:

The Price || Sometimes the asking price for your home is not appropriate given the location or market conditions. If your home is priced significantly higher or lower,…

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Open House Tips & Tricks

The time is nigh! You have signed on with your amazing Realtor (Ken Richter is wonderful, isn’t he?), you have a big ‘FOR SALE’ sign on the front lawn, and the day of your open house is coming quickly. Your house may be beautiful just the way it is, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it some extra attention. You need to make an amazing impression on all open house attendees, after all.

First things first, do some touch-ups! Paint over the chips on the walls, fix the loose banister railing, replace that burnt-out light bulb—just generally mend all scrapes and bruises that need fixing. While some people enjoy a project, most are not interested in buying your fix-er-up.

Do some home staging! Put away all the things that make your home unique to…

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Monthly Household Tip 2

Fall has arrived in Calgary! Now’s the time to check your windows for drafts and leaks. Improperly maintained windows can be a big burden on your heating bill. Taking care of them not only helps reduce energy costs, but will keep you and your family warm and comfortable through the winter months ahead.

A quick and easy way is to hold a lighted match to their edges on a blustery day. If it blows out and the smoke flutters, it’s time to stock up on new weather stripping! Be proactive…you won’t regret it!

Check back with Team Ken Richter in the months ahead for more household tips!

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Condo Gardening

Even if you live in a condo doesn’t mean you have to give up gardening. But it does mean you have some unique considerations when it comes to exercising your green thumb.

For starters, be sure to read the governing documents to see what restrictions you might face: there may be limits as to how much weight you can have on your balcony, certain kinds of plantings that may be prohibited (due to their attractiveness to pests), and/or you might not be allowed to affix anything to your balcony, such as hanging baskets and planter boxes.

You’ll have to carefully consider your choice of plants given your unit’s location. If you have a north-facing balcony, or one that’s simply steeped in shade due to a large overhang, you aren’t likely to have much success…

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Why Good Homes Stay On The Market

A property that doesn’t generate as much interest and sell as quickly as expected isn’t necessarily one that’s flawed. There are several reasons why perfectly good homes linger on the market. Below are some of the most common.

•It’s overpriced. This is the top reason why quality properties don’t sell more quickly. Buyers tend to assume, rightly or wrongly, that a seller whose home is priced above fair market value isn’t serious about selling or open to negotiating. As such, buyers may feel they’d be wasting their time by even making an offer.

•It doesn’t show well. A home may have excellent “bone structure”, be fairly priced, and boast a great location, but if it doesn’t perform well at showings, it won’t sell quickly. What makes for a poor…

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Preparing Yourself to Sell Your Home

Selling your home can be exciting and scary. It means the end of one chapter of your life and the beginning of another. Team Ken Richter has a few tips for you to get you through selling your home, so you can begin the new chapter of your life with no regrets!

Detach yourself emotionally: Buying real estate is an emotional decision, but the opposite needs to be true for selling real estate. Emotions can get in the way of selling your property. The more attached you are, the harder it will be to convince a potential buyer to see themselves as the new homeowner. Try to get used to the idea that the home will no longer be yours. Think of it as a product to be sold. Visit every room and say “good-bye.” Visualize yourself handing over the keys.

First…

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