Found 13 blog entries tagged as tips.

Narrowing down a large list into 5 items can be difficult, but I wanted to really magnify the main mistakes I've witnessed over my two decades of selling and marketing real estate. Here are my top 5, along with a detailed description:   1] They hire the wrong professional.  We can feel obligated to use an Agent that we know, a relative or a referral from a friend. Albeit, I love referrals from past clients, I always try to jump on a phone call or zoom with that potential new customer to explain what I can do for them, my experience and set expectations. I don't take anything for granted and always still try to earn the opportunity for new business. If you are looking for a real estate professional with a particular set of skills, a specialty…

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You’ve already heard of smartphones and smart cars but the next major player in smart technology is smart homes. Below are some of the gadgets that were featured at the biggest tech show of the year, CES 2015.

Bosch’s Home Connect App allows users to use their smartphones to check the status of their dishwasher cycle, or to program temperature and time settings in their oven, and users can even receive photos from their smart fridges interior, so you know what to buy at the store! However this amazing app is not yet offered in Canada, bummer.

 

QardioBase by Qardio is a wireless smart scale that tracks your weight with emojis, and with the slogan “start your day with a smile” it would be hard not to.

 

Petcube camera lets you stay connected…

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Tough question! Most people would immeditely say 'no'. But, looking around the market, there are becoming more and more options around this size. Why? Well, as I address in a previous blog helping out condo dwellers with space issues, to gain entry into certain desirable areas, sometimes you gotta go small! But is small really all that bad? It forces you to purge more often, riding yourself of unused items. It creates a minimalistic lifestyle, one free of the 'stuff' we tend to collect over the years. It also demands smart and stylish design. Finally, it's easier on the wallet! Hey, I'm starting to see a lot of plusses here.  

So let's examine what 500 or even sub 500 sqft looks like these days, from some of the most popular, upcoming condo…

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A few months back I posted the DO NOT's of buying Real Estate, so I figured it's time to aid and come to the rescue of those selling! Selling a home can be a stressful time. Let's ease that tension and get you going on the right path by knowing the wrongs. Here are a few tips on what not to do, when selling real estate:

- Don't make it hard for buyers to access your property. Clean, shovel snow, and are you saying no to a lot of showings?

- Don't make a hard sell on your very own property. When a prospective buyer has an appointment, leave! Don't make an awkward situation for them.

- Don't think the 'waiting until Spring' moto is always best. Do you really want all that competition? Consider times when inventory levels are down.

- Don't…

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It seems we're always focused on the do's in life. And why wouldn't we? Positivity is king, and such a powerful tool in a healthy and flourishing lifestyle. But let's take a moment and focus on the do not's, as they can be just as important. Here are a few tips on what not to do, when purchasing real estate:

- Don't buy because it looks nice furnished. It might be set up in a way to wow you, but when it is vacant and empty on move-in day, will you still love it?

- Don't buy without researching the neighborhood or building. What's the history and reputation of the area? In due time, what is getting built next door?

- Don't buy thinking an auction/foreclosure is always a great deal. Typically a very risky play, fancy yourself a gambler?

-…

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Yes, we’ve all heard of the various ‘Keep Calm’ commercialization slogans over the past 10 years. And are we getting tired of them? Perhaps, but this is one mantra I used this summer during one of the busiest events in the world in hopes to gain some promotion and have a little fun at the same time. I’ll give you three guesses on what that busy Calgary event was, and two don’t count … Stampede, yes, of course!

Being in sales and devoted to creative marketing, I figured what better occasion to have some fun with it than the good ole Calgary Stampede? I mean, the tally at the gate to the grounds was over one million with a day to go during the 10 day city wide celebration. The motto was this: Keep Calm and Buy Condos, i.e. select a specialist such as…

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Condos in Calgary are getting more functional, fashionable and modern. People’s lives are becoming more minimalistic. However, construction costs and price of homes tend to rise with time. So what does this mean? Small, boutique style condos are becoming popular due to their affordability.

Upcoming Calgary condo developments seem to be introducing smaller floor plans to appeal to individuals looking to enter the market sooner. Here are a few examples of condo designers making the most of out of a small situation:

STEPS [Bridgeland] units start at 344 sqft [nope, not a misprint]

Drake [Connaught] units start at 398 sqft

6th And Tenth [Connaught] units start at 449 sqft

Mark on 10th [Connaught] units start at 452 sqft

To answer your…

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‘Market Value’ is definitely a description synonymous with Real Estate. Vendors are always curious and eager to determine what the ‘Market Value’ of their product is. My best depiction of ‘Market Value’ would be the amount a purchaser is willing to pay or exchange for merchandise based upon the current supply and demand trends. So it would be safe to say the customers/purchasers have a fairly firm grasp on defining ‘Market Value’? Pretty tough to disagree. I like to say, a product is only worth what someone will pay for it. This statement definitely applies to Real Estate. In Calgary’s Real Estate market, or pretty much any market for that matter, property prices are affected and determined by supply and demand. A lot of listings on the market, the…

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Condominium ownership is a very new alternative to traditional property ownership. The ability for a group of people to each own their own units, but share common expenses, and still live in harmony, has created some huge benefits for buyers. However, if you didn’t know at least some of the benefits, then you likely wouldn’t be considering purchasing a condo in the first place, so we will put the discussion of benefits aside for now…

The items that most of our clients want to know about are the red flags. What items should you look a little more into before purchasing a condo in a particular building, complex or development? What things may be the warning signs of existing, past or future problems?

PLEASE NOTE: These items are only red flags.…

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