Calgary Real Estate Update

2011 Christmas Display contest winner

2011-12-15T08:52:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to 79 Hidden Valley Pk NW for placing an amazing display on. The 3 judges did have a hard time deciding between you and 11130 Hidden Valley Dr NW. I hope you spend your $2500 wisely ;-) .

Thank you to everyone who participated in this years event. Every year the lights are becoming more and more elaborate. I am proud to say I live in a community with such great Christmas and community spirit.

Now for pictures of the winners, notable mentions and a map if you want to drive around and view them for yourself.

NOTABLE MENTIONS:

126 Hidden Ranch Cres NW

88 Hidden Spring Close NW

197 Hidden Spring Circle NW

11130 Hidden Valley Dr NW - this one has lights dancing to music and a Santa Claus getting jiggy with it on the garage roof.

132 Hidden Ranch Rd. NW
150 Hidden Ranch Hill NW
50 Hidden Spring Green NW

185 Hidden Creek Heights NW
82 Hidden Creek Point NW
54 Hidden Ranch Blvd. NW
147 Hidden Ranch Pl NW
6 Hidden Ridge Bay

Also, 91 Hidden Way NW, 10058 Hidden Valley Dr NW, 67 Hidden Pk NW, 175 Hidden Cresent NW, 316 Hidden Hills Place NW, 190 & 194 & 198 Hidden Valley Villas NW

THE WINNER!!!!

79 Hidden Valley Pk. NW

We look forward to all the lights again next year. Contest date for judging next year is on Wednesday December 19, 2012 if you want to start preparing now.

I hope all the residence of Hidden Valley/Hanson Ranch have a outstanding Christmas and a very happy new year!!
View Larger Map

Win a weekend get away for two in Banff, Alberta!!

2011-01-26T10:54:00.000-08:00

Robyn Moser & Associates wants you to win a weekend for two in Banff Alberta!!

As the weather warms up have some fun taking photos while showing off your Robyn Moser & Associates logo! Get friends and family to join you for more entries! The grand prize is a weekend get away for two to beautiful Banff Alberta. Remember, the more entries you have the better your odds are of winning!

Bring out your creativity for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card for submitting the most creative photo, as judged by Robyn Moser & Associates.

Encourage your friends and family to join the Robyn Moser & Associates fan page on facebook for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card by having your photo receive the most "likes".

All you need to do is take photos of yourself with the Robyn Moser & Associates logo in a public place and submit the photos to Robyn Moser & Associates via email to teammoser@shaw.ca

You are allowed to submit one photo per day, but are awarded entries as follows:

1) photo of yourself + logo = 1 entry

2) photo of yourself + 5 others + logo = 2 entries

3) photo of yourself + 10 others + logo = 3 entries

4) photo of yourself + a famous person + logo = 5 entries

5) photo of Robyn Moser & Associates logo on a jumbtron = 50 entries

6) photo of Robyn Moser & Associates logo on tv = 25 entries

You can also receive bonus entries on the above as follows:

1) Taken outside of Alberta = 2 entries

2) Taken outside of Canada = 5 entries

3) Taken at an International Landmark = 10 entries

We will begin accepting entries on March 1, 2011 up to and including March 31, 2011.

So, get out your camera, Robyn Moser & Associates re-usable shopping bag and/or hoodie and start snapping your photos!

If you do not have anything, please contact us at the office 403-730-2403 and we would be happy to provide you with our logo!

Have fun!

SPRING FEVER

Official Rules

1. You do not need to be a past, present, or future client of Robyn Moser & Associates.

2. Entries will be accepted, beginning March 1, 2011 up and to including March 31, 2011.

3. Judging will take place on April 1, 2011.

4. Winner will be notified by April 8, 2011.

5. Grand prize of a weekend getaway package for two in Banff, Albertawill be drawn from the entries received.

6. $100 Visa gift certificate will be awarded for the most creative photo as judged by Robyn Moser & Associates.

7. $50 Visa gift certificate will be awarded for the photo with the most “likes” on the Robyn Moser & Associates Facebook fanpage as voted by members of the fanpage.

8. You are only allowed one submission photo per day.

9. Robyn Moser & Associates employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

10. Odds of winning are dependant on number of entries received.

11. Every photo must have the Robyn Moser & Associates Logo visable.

12. All photos must be taken in a public place

13. Photos that are digitally altered or enhanced in any way will not be accepted as entries.

14. Entries will be awarded as follows:

a) photo of yourself + logo = 1 entry

b) photo of yourself + 5 others + logo = 2 entries

c) photo of yourself + 10 others + logo = 3 entries

d) photo of yourself + a famous person + logo= 5 entries

e) photo of Robyn Moser & Associates logo on a

jumbotron = 50 entries

f) photo of Robyn Moser & Associates logo on tv = 25

entries.

15. In addition to the above, bonus entries will be awarded as follows:

a) taken outside of Alberta = 2 entries

b) taken outside of Canada = 5 entries

c) taken at an international landmark = 10 entries

16. Each submission must be noticeably different.

17. Entries must agree to have their submitted photo posted on the Robyn Moser & Associates website, the Robyn Moser & Associates Real Estate Blog, Robyn Moser & Associates facebook fanpage and in the Hidden Valley & Kincora community newsletters.

18. Robyn Moser & Associates has the right to refuse any entries that they may deem inappropriate.

19. Photos are to be submitted via email to teammoser@shaw.ca

20. Prizes must be accepted as awarded.

GOOD LUCK!

2011-01-18T09:20:00.000-08:00

What may come in 2011

The key to market recovery in 2011 will be permanent job creation sufficient to stimulate in-migration. With little pent up0 demand from renters, recovery in the first half of the year will be more modest, picking up pace in the later half. Recovery of sales will come to single family homes closer to the downtown core, followed by condos and single family homes in the outlying towns.

Affordability will be key to market expansion and price increases are not likely until the latter half of 2011, when inventories have eased and demand has recovered. With interest rates not expected to increase, there is little urgency for buyers to move into the market in the first half of the year. Nonetheless, 2011 will offer buyers unprecedented affordability, low interest rates and a large selection of inventory.

For the first time since 2008, oil patch employees are expecting bonuses and profit share at the end of March 2011, which may translate into a flurry of demand in the mid priced homes. This confidence in the oil patch and improvements in the overall global economy may trigger sales of larger and higher priced homes, prior to an overall rebound in the more average-priced property.

This will put upward pressure on average prices, but actual price appreciation will require a resurgence of sales in the entry level homes to fuel a sustainable recovery and create a more balanced market. On the upside, better than expected employment numbers in central Canadamay prompt an early boost to interest rates and this may spur buyers who are waiting on the sidelines to jump back into the housing market earlier than anticipated.

RE Update - December 20

2010-12-20T14:50:00.000-08:00

R.E. Update: 5034 homes for sale in metro Calgary. 1187 sold in last 30 days. 4.24 absorption rate. Mrkt conditions-Buyers (but not for long)

Winner of the 2010 Lights Display Contest

2010-12-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

83 & 87 Hidden Hills Road NW

140 Hidden Creek Park NW

88 Hidden Spring Close NW

151 Hidden Ranch Cres NW

311 Hidden Vale Place NW

42 Hidden Valley Garden NW

21 Hidden Ridge Bay NW

228 Hidden Close NW

108 Hidden Vale Circle NW

The entire culdesac of Hidden Ridge Place NW

The east leg of Hidden Cres NW

Finally, I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to our judges who volunteered their time to judge our contest:
Leah Armstrong - Mortgage Broker

Debbie Rogers - Relocation Counselor

Rob Campbell - Commercial Realtor

Dana Campbell - Boss of Rob Campbell

Great job Hidden Valley and Hanson Ranch! Can't wait for 2011!!!

2010 Client Christmas Brunch

2010-12-15T12:40:00.000-08:00

A huge thank you to everyone who came out to our Christmas Brunch last weekend! We all had so much fun with a balloon sculpter, a magician, Dan the One Elf Band, and of course, Santa! Here are some pictures from our event.

Calgary Real Estate Update

2010-12-06T09:37:00.000-08:00

5621 homes for sale in metro Calgary. 1134 sold in the last 30 days. 4.91 months worth of inventory (absorption rate). Market conditions: Buyers market. This has dropped drastically in the last week. This is great news and signs our market is getting better. Yippee.

Home Maintenance Schedule

2010-11-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

2010-11-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

Regular Maintenance is the Key

Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment in your home. Whether you take care of a few tasks at a time or several all at once, it is important to get into the habit of doing them. Establish a routine for yourself, and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later.

By following the information noted here, you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live.

Seasonal Home Maintenance

Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months. Over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof.

While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year-round:

Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.

Timing of the seasons varies not only from one area of Canada to another but also from year to year in a given area. For this reason, we have not identified the months for each season. The maintenance schedule presented here is, instead, a general guide for you to follow. The actual timing is left for you to decide, and you may want to further divide the list of items for each season into months.

Fall

Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace, and every year for an oil furnace, or as recommended by the manufacturer.
If you have central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted in the furnace plenum is draining properly and is clean.
Lubricate circulating pump on hot water heating system.
Bleed air from hot water radiators.
Disconnect the power to the furnace and examine the forced-air furnace fan belt, if installed, for wear, looseness or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup.
Check chimneys for obstructions such as nests.
Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust.
Remove the grilles on forced-air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
Turn ON gas furnace pilot light (if your furnace has one), set the thermostat to “heat” and test the furnace for proper operation by raising the thermostat setting until the furnace starts to operate. Once you have confirmed proper operation, return the thermostat to the desired setting.
Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
Check to see that the ductwork leading to and from the heat recovery ventilator is in good shape, the joints are tightly sealed (aluminum tape or mastic) and any duct insulation and plastic duct wrap is free of tears and holes.
If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean the filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.
Check to see that bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods are operating properly. If possible, confirm that you are getting good airflow by observing the outside vent hood (the exterior damper should be held open by the airflow). See the About Your House fact sheet CMHC Garbage Bag Airflow Test for a simple way to estimate the airflow.
Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
Clean portable humidifier, if one is used.
Check sump pump and line to ensure proper operation, and to ascertain that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks.
Replace window screens with storm windows.
Remove interior insect screens from windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass and to allow more free solar energy into your home.
Ensure windows and skylights close tightly; repair or replace weatherstripping, as needed.
Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Replace door weatherstripping if required.
If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.
Cover outside of air-conditioning units and shut off power.
Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not drain into your basement.
Clean leaves from eavestroughs and roof, and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.
Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close interior valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the hose bib (exterior faucet), unless your house has frost-proof hose bibs.
Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.
If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied before the spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.
Winterize landscaping, for example, store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect young trees or bushes for winter.

Winter

Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, drain off a dishpan full of water from the clean-out valve at the bottom of your hot water tank to control sediment and maintain efficiency.
Clean humidifier two or three times during the winter season.
Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
Vacuum fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning.
Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers, and empty and clean drip trays.
Check pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers; recharge or replace if necessary.
Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware, and lighting around outside of house; ensure family has good security habits.
Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels — for example, condensation on your windows, which can cause significant damage over time and pose serious health problems — and take corrective action if necessary. Refer to the About Your House fact sheet Measuring Humidity in Your Home.
Check all faucets for signs of dripping and change washers as needed. Faucets requiring frequent replacement of washers may be in need of repair.
If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
Clean drains in dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs and shower stalls.
Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they are working and to prevent them from seizing.
Examine windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air leaks. If found, make a note to repair or replace in the spring.
Examine attic for frost accumulation. Check roof for ice dams or icicles. If there is excessive frost or staining of the underside of the roof, or ice dams on the roof surface, consult the About Your House fact sheet Attic Venting, Attic Moisture and Ice Dams for advice.
Keep snow clear of gas meters, gas appliance vents, exhaust vents and basement windows.
Monitor outdoor vents, gas meters and chimneys for ice and snow buildup. Consult with an appropriate contractor or your gas utility for information on how to safely deal with any ice problems you may discover.
Check electrical cords, plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety; if worn, or if plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately.

Spring

After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck. Caution: This test may release hot water that can cause burns.
Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.
Have fireplace or wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.
Shut down, drain and clean furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.
Switch on power to air conditioning and check system. Have it serviced every two or three years.
Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, if applicable.
Check dehumidifier and drain — clean if necessary.
Turn OFF gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.
Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.
Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.
Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens. Check screens first and repair or replace if needed.
Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed.
Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required.
Ensure sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in. Ensure discharge pipe is connected and allows water to drain away from the foundation.
Re-level any exterior steps or decks that moved as a result of frost or settling.
Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats and squirrels.
Check eavestroughs and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.
Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.
Repair and paint fences as necessary — allow wood fences to dry adequately before tackling this task.
Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.

Summer

Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to maintain relative humidity below 60 per cent.
Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.
Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping and, if necessary, take corrective action; for example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.
Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.
If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, for example, a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.
Deep clean carpets and rugs.
Vacuum bathroom fan grille.
Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer, and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.
Check security of all guardrails and handrails.
Check smooth functioning of all windows, and lubricate as required.
Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes of older houses, and replace if needed.
Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.
Lubricate door hinges, and tighten screws as needed.
Check for and replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house. See the About Your House fact sheet Attached Garages and Indoor Air Quality for more information on preventing garage-to-house air transfer.
Lubricate garage door hardware, and ensure it is operating properly.
Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, and ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.
Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter your house, and make sure there is no water leakage into the house along the electrical conduit. Check for overhanging tree branches that may need to be removed.
Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.
Remove any plants that contact — and roots that penetrate — the siding or brick.
From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.
Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.
Repair driveway and walkways as needed.
Repair any damaged steps

Calgary Real Estate Update

2010-11-29T12:04:00.000-08:00

6153 homes for sale in Metro Calgary. 1169 sold in the last 30 days. 5.23 months worth of inventory. Market conditions:buyers market

Steady market forecast for 2011 - Calgary Sun

2010-11-22T09:09:00.000-08:00

Calgary’s new home builders can expect the market to be ‘steady as she goes’ through to the end of next year, says Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. in its latest housing market outlook for the city.

The level of construction this year is well ahead of last year — with more starts to the end of August than in all of last year, says the report, authored by Richard Cho, senior market analyst for Calgary.

Cho forecasts starts will reach 9,100 this year, declining slightly to 8,900, due to a decrease in multi-family starts next year, as a “response to an elevated inventory of complete and unsold (multi-family) units.”

Look for 3,200 multi starts this year and 2,800 next year, with semi-detached and townhome starts dominating, says Cho.

In the singles sector, Cho says this year should end with 5,900 starts, rising to 6,100 next year.

“In 2011, new construction will increase at a modest rate as the economy gradually improves, supporting growth in employment and net migration,” says Cho.

“New home construction will initially be held back by an elevated level of active listings in the competing resale market that are expected to persist into the first quarter of 2011.

“However, activity (in the new homes’ market) will pick up in the latter half of the year as the market becomes more balanced and the economy gains more traction.”

That traction depends on job growth and net migration, which have been weak this year, says Cho.

“With job creation in the Calgary CMA slow to pickup at the beginning of the year, annual employment for 2010 is forecast to decline 0.2% from a year earlier … despite the modest gains expected in the second half of the year,” he says, adding the negative job growth of 2009 and 2010 should reverse itself next year.

“Job grow th is expe cte d to gradually strengthen into 2011 as economic activity improves. Changes to the royalty framework and sustained energy prices are expected to attract more investment and support employment growth. In 2011, employment is forecast to rise 1.8%.”

While Alberta continues to attract new residents, the number of newcomers was down 35% on a year-over-year basis in the first half of 2010, with Cho forecasting an increase next year.

“As the labour market strengthens, net migration is expected to rise in Alberta and the Calgary CMA is anticipated to reflect those same trends,” he says.

“Net migration for the Calgary CMA is forecast to rise from 14,000 in 2010 to 15,000 in 2011.”

After falling 7.3% in 2009 from 2008, new home prices are on the rebound.

“The New House Price Index in July 2010 was up 2.7% from the previous year,” says Cho.

“Although the index has levelled recently, the gains achieved earlier in the year will help the NHPI finish up 1.8% from 2009. In 2011, the pace of growth will be more modest with the NHPI rising 0.9%.”

Calgary Real Estate Update

2010-11-22T09:03:00.001-08:00

6329 homes for sale in metro Calgary. 1210 sold within the last 30 days. 5.23 months worth of inventory. Market conditions: buyer market.

Calgary Real Estate Update

2010-11-15T15:23:00.001-08:00

6479 homes for sale in metro Calgary. 1224 sold in last 30 days. 5.29 mnths of inventory. Market conditions: buyers market.

15 year trend

2010-11-13T07:22:00.000-08:00

In this graph there is the average sale price in Calgary for Jan and Feb from 2001 to 2010. The blue line is showing the actual prices the black line is showing the trending. If you follow the trending it shows our home prices are actually below where the should be. I can explain it further in case you have someone... telling you prices are going to fall drastically this graph shows different.

Now, I am not saying we are not going to see price still go up an down in seasonal highs and low. Just that I think we are out of our recession or bubble. I think real estate wise we are in a great spot in Calgary.

Disclaimer*** I lack the ability to predict the future though.
See More

October 2010 market conditions

2010-11-12T14:16:00.000-08:00

Calgary, November 1, 2010 – Home sales in the
city of Calgary were down month-over-month
in October 2010, showing signs that buyers
still remain cautious, despite signs of economic
recovery. Year-over-year sales continued to
trend lower in the month of October, according to
figures released today by the Calgary Real Estate
Board (CREB ®).
The number of single family home sales in the
month of October 2010 shrank by 7 per cent at
888, compared with September 2010, when sales
were 958. The number of condominium sales for
the month of October 2010 was 310. This was a
decrease of 15 per cent from the 366 condominium
transactions recorded in September 2010.
Year-over-year, the number of single family homes
sold in October 2010 in the city of Calgary were
down 31 per cent. In October 2009, single family
home sales totalled 1,285. Condominium sales
saw a decrease of 48 per cent from the same time
a year ago. In October 2009, condominium sales
were 601.
“Buyers remain cautious, perhaps waiting to feel
a little more confidence in Calgary’s economic
growth and their own job security,” says Diane
Scott, president of CREB ®.
“We believe economic recovery will build
momentum into 2011 as the outlook for oil and
gas and other sectors continues to improve. This,
coupled with low interest rates and improved
affordability, should eventually help to stimulate
Calgary’s housing market,” adds Scott.
The average price of a single family home in the
city of Calgary in October 2010 was $444,744,
showing a 3 per cent decrease from September
2010, when the average price was $460,278, and a
4 per cent decrease from October 2009, when the
average price was $462,465. The average price of
a condominium in the city of Calgary in October
2010 was $287,793, showing a 1 per cent increase
from September 2010, when the average price was
$284,028 and no significant change over last year,
when the average price was $289,155. Average
price information can be useful in establishing
trends over time, but does not indicate actual
prices in centres comprised of widely divergent
neighbourhoods, or account for price differentials
between geographical areas.
The median price of a single family home in the
city of Calgary for October 2010 was $387,900,
showing a 1 per cent decrease from September
2010 when the median price was $390,000. This
was a 5 per cent decrease from October 2009, when
the median price was $410,000. The median price
of a condominium in October 2010 was $255,000,
showing a 4 per cent decrease from September
Cal gary Buyers ’ Remai n Ca utio us
Sales of million dollar plus homes a bright spot in 2010 market
2010, when the median price was $265,000, and
a 3 per cent decrease from October 2009, when it
was $263,500.
All city of Calgary MLS® statistics include
properties listed and sold only within Calgary’s
city limits. The median price is the price that is
midway between the least expensive and most
expensive home sold in an area during a given
period of time. During that time, half the buyers
bought homes that cost more than the median price
and half bought homes for less than the median
price.
“Our average price is being buoyed by more
sales in the million dollar plus category. Despite
a slowdown in certain market segments, homes
sold in the city of Calgary at one million dollars or
more have actually seen an increase of more than
15 per cent when compared to the same time one
year ago. This boost in sales is, indeed, a bright
spot in our current market,” says Scott.
Single family listings in the city of Calgary added
for the month of October 2010 totalled 1,765, a
decrease of 22 per cent from September 2010
when 2,252 new listings were added, and showing
a decrease of 3 per cent from October 2009, when
1,819 new listings came to the market.
Condominium new listings in the city of Calgary
added for October 2010 were 721, down 22 per
cent from September 2010, when the MLS® saw
921 condo listings coming to the market. This is a
decrease of 16 per cent from October 2009, when
new condominium listings added were 859.
“We are seeing some decline in the number of new
listings coming on to the market. A continuing
decline in supply will help bring the market into
balance,” says Scott.
“We believe we will see a tempering of our
inventory levels, as some sellers offer marginal
reductions in prices, or others choose to pull their
home off the market for a period of time,” notes
Scott. “Homeowners should consider speaking
with their REALTOR® about their current
marketing strategy—there are always options in
every market.”
“Overall, we’re cautiously optimistic that
Calgary’s economic recovery will pick up as we
move into 2011—but in-migration will be needed
to fuel a sustained recovery in Calgary’s housing
market,” says Scott.

Calgary Real Estate Update

2010-11-08T14:42:00.000-08:00

6513 homes for sale in metro Calgary. 1216 homes sold in the last 30 days. 5.3 months worth of inventory. Market conditions: Buyers market. Based on these numbers, 18% of the current unsold inventory will sell over the next 30 days.

4th Annual Robyn Moser & Associates Christmas Lights Display Contest

2010-10-01T09:55:00.000-07:00

Well it's October! Time to get out the Halloween decorations and get ready for all the little Trick or Treaters out on the 31st! But...it's never to early to start thinking about how you are going to be the winner of $1500 in the 4th Annual Robyn Moser & Associates Christmas Lights Display Contest! That's right! $1500!! We have upped the ante this year, so don't miss out! Dig out the Christmas lights and dust off the inflatable Santas!! And don't worry...your efforts won't go unnoticed! All you have to do to be entered is decorate your house and have your lights on during the judging period. The contest is running on Wednesday December 15, from 5 to 9pm. Don't miss out on your chance to win the grand prize!!!

Official Rules of the Annual Christmas Lights Display Contest
1. Entry must be a residency of Hidden Valley or Hanson Ranch.
2. No registration is necessary.
3. All Hidden Valley and Hanson Ranch residences are eligible to win. You do not need to be a past, present, or future client of Robyn Moser & Associates.
4. Single family, detached, attached, condominiums, townhouses, and any other multi-family residences are all eligible. Places of business are not eligible.
5. Robyn Moser & Associates employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.
6. Anyone caught destroying or vandalizing any displays will be immediately disqualified, as well as their residence and anyone residing with them.
7. Robyn Moser & Associates employees are not eligible to judge the contest.
8. Judges will not receive any monetary payment for their participation, and their names are to be posted at a later date.
9. Judging will take place on Wednesday December 15, 2010 between 5:00pm and 9:00pm.
10. Lights must be turned on during judging period to qualify.
11. One prize of $1500 will be awarded.
12. Odds of winning are dependant on number of entries received.
13. No resident may win the prize two years consecutively.
14. Winner will be notified immediately following the judging.
15. Winner must agree to display a sign on their front lawn declaring them as the winner for a period of three weeks from December 15, 2010.
16. Winner must agree to have their address and a photo of the house posted on the Robyn Moser & Associates website, the Robyn Moser & Associates Real Estate Blog, and in the Hidden Valley community newsletter.
17. Prize must be accepted as awarded.

GOOD LUCK!

Winner of the 2009 Hidden Valley Christmas Display Contest

2009-12-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

A huge thank you to all the residents of Hidden Valley and Hanson Ranch who participated in the Lights Display Contest this year! Its always such a treat to see the creativity and effort that goes into these houses...Congratulations to all of you just for showing your community pride!

As with all contests though, there can only be one winner! The judges always have such a difficult choice to make. This year, our prize was awarded to 2938 Hidden Ranch Way NW. What an amazing display of lights, and our judges were impressed by the "lights to music" and "Santa's sleigh". The home owner told us that it took 80 hours of programming to get the lights to dance to music! That certainly is something to be proud of...not to mention the home owners have expressed that they will be using some of the prize money to help out a local charity this Christmas season.

As in the past, we do have some honorable mentions again:

50 Hidden Spring Green NW
The entire street of Hidden Ridge Bay NW
434 Hidden Valley Grove NW
108 Hidden Vale Close NW
104 Hidden Creek Park NW
90 Hidden Creek Park NW
25 Hidden Circle NW
50 Hidden Ranch Blvd NW
75 Hidden Hills Way NW

Finally, I'd like to say a HUGE thank you to our judges who volunteer their time to judge our contest:
Jari Love - fitness guru, http://www.jarilove.com/
Ray Love - fitness guru, owner of Fitness Plus Gym
Jodi Hughes - CJAY 92 morning show co-host
Fuzzy - THE VIBE 98.5 morning show co-host

As well, a tremendous thanks to l'assartho-limo for driving our judges around in style!

Great job Hidden Valley and Hanson Ranch! Looking forward to 2010!!!

Robyn Moser & Associates 3rd Annual Christmas Lights Display Contest

2009-11-10T12:35:00.000-08:00

Well it's November! Time to put away the Halloween decorations and get out the Christmas lights and inflatable Santas!! And don't worry...your efforts won't go unnoticed! Robyn Moser & Associates is running the 3rd Annual Christmas Lights Display Contest! All you have to do to be entered is decorate your house and have your lights on during the judging period. The contest is running on Thursday December 10, from 5 to 9pm. Don't miss out on your chance to win $1000!!!

Official Rules of the Annual Christmas Lights Display Contest

1. Entry must be a residency of Hidden Valley or Hanson Ranch.

2. No registration is necessary.

3. All Hidden Valley and Hanson Ranch residences are eligible to win. You do not need to be a past, present, or future client of Robyn Moser & Associates.

4. Single family, detached, attached, condominiums, townhouses, and any other multi-family residences are all eligible. Places of business are not eligible.

5. Robyn Moser & Associates employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

6. Anyone caught destroying or vandalizing any displays will be immediately disqualified, as well as their residence and anyone residing with them.

7. Robyn Moser & Associates employees are not eligible to judge the contest.

8. Judges will not receive any monetary payment for their participation, and their names are to be posted at a later date.

9. Judging will take place on Thursday December 10, 2009 between 5:00pm and 9:00pm.

10. Lights must be turned on during judging period to qualify.

11. One prize of $1000 will be awarded.

12. Odds of winning are dependant on number of entries received.

13. No resident may win the prize two years consecutively.

14. Winner will be notified immediately following the judging.

15. Winner must agree to display a sign on their front lawn declaring them as the winner for a period of three weeks from December 10, 2009.

16. Winner must agree to have their address and a photo of the house posted on the Robyn Moser & Associates website, the Robyn Moser & Associates Real Estate Blog, and in the Hidden Valley community newsletter.

17. Prize must be accepted as awarded.

GOOD LUCK!

Official Rules of the 2nd Annual Robyn Moser & Associates Christmas Lights Display Contest

2008-11-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Well it's November! Time to put away the Halloween decorations and get out the Christmas lights and inflatable Santas!! And don't worry...your efforts won't go unnoticed!

Robyn Moser & Associates is running the 2nd Annual Christmas Lights Display Contest! All you have to do to be entered is decorate your house and have your lights on during the judging period. The contest is running on Saturday December 13, from 5 to 9pm. Don't miss out on your chance to win $1000!!!

Official Rules of the Annual Christmas Lights Display Contest
1. Entry must be a residency of Hidden Valley or Hanson Ranch.

2. No registration is necessary.

3. All Hidden Valley and Hanson Ranch residences are eligible to win. You do not need to be a past, present, or future client of Robyn Moser & Associates.

4. Single family, detached, attached, condominiums, townhouses, and any other multi-family residences are all eligible. Places of business are not eligible.

5. Robyn Moser & Associates employees and their immediate families are not eligible to participate.

6. Anyone caught destroying or vandalizing any displays will be immediately disqualified, as well as their residence and anyone residing with them.

7. Robyn Moser & Associates employees are not eligible to judge the contest.

8. Judges will not receive any monetary payment for their participation, and their names are to be posted at a later date.

9. Judging will take place on Saturday December 13, 2008 between 5:00pm and 9:00pm.

10. Lights must be turned on during judging period to qualify.

11. One prize of $1000 will be awarded.

12. Odds of winning are dependant on number of entries received.

13. Winner will be notified immediately following the judging.

14. Winner must agree to display a sign on their front lawn declaring them as the winner for a period of three weeks from December 13, 2008.

15. Winner must agree to have their address and a photo of the house posted on the Robyn Moser & Associates website, the Robyn Moser & Associates Real Estate Blog, and in the Hidden Valley community newsletter.

16. Prize must be accepted as awarded.

Reduce Greenhouse Gases by Composting

2008-07-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

More now than ever, people are becoming recycling savvy as we all try to reduce our carbon footprint. Part of this recycling program includes composting.

By composting food and yard material, we reduce the greenhouse gases that are released into the environment. But, composting has further benefits aside from reducing waste in landfills. Composting can improve soil quality which can be used for your home garden.

Composted soil improves plant and root growth and reduces the rate that nutrients are released, while improving the water holding capacity. This means watering your garden less often.

Composted material can be used for flower beds, tree planting, vegetable gardens and mulch.

Although it seems that composting is a pretty basic job, there is one thing to remember and that's to ensure that the compost bin has a balanced diet. The reason being is that microorganisms break down organic materials and they need to do so in the most efficient manner possible, which means having the right levels of carbon and nitrogen.

To make sure you have the right carbon (brown) and nitrogen (green) mix, make sure you add equal amounts of weight. With too much brown material in your bin, you'll find it takes longer to break down. With too much green, you will have an odour. Also, make sure the bin sits in a sunny location that's convenient and accessible throughout the year.

Always make sure to turn the soil before placing the compost in the bin. Then, cover the floor with a layer of small branches for air flow and drainage.

Putting a thin layer of topsoil down will add composting microorganisms to the bin. Nitrogen fertilizer is also useful to breakdown high carbon materials.

Below are some guidelines of what can and cannot be composted.

To compost:
• Food: Apples and peels, artichoke leaves, asparagus bottoms, berries, bananas and peels, beans, beet tops, broccoli stalks, brussel sprouts, buckwheat hulls, cabbage stalks and outer leaves, carrot tops, carrot scrapings, celery tops, citrus rinds, coffee grounds, corn cobs (chopped), cucumber, egg shells (crushed), grapes, grapefruit, lettuce, lemon, melon, oats, onions, pears, pineapple, potato, pumpkin, squash, tea, tomatoes, turnip, zucchini
• Other: Algae, Apple pomace (cider press waste), Bird cage cleaning, Blood meal, Bone meal, Corn stalks, Cotton rags, Feathers, Felt waste, Flowers, Garden wastes, Grape plant waste, Granite dust, Grass, Hair, Hay, Hops, Leather waste & dust, Leaf mold, Leaves ,Manure, Muck, Peanut hulls, Peat Moss, Pine needles, Rope, Sawdust, Seaweed, Soil, Straw, String, Weeds, Wood, Ash, Wool, Rags

Not to compost:
• Meat, bones, fish scraps (attracts dogs, cats, insects and rodents, takes a long time to break down)
• Oil, fatty material, dairy products (oils and greases take a long time to break down and affect the breakdown of other materials. Also, attracts insects)
• Pet litter (may contain disease organisms harmful to humans)
• Diseased plants (the heat of a home compost pile may not kill the diseased organisms or any insects or eggs infecting a plant)
• Dishwater (most dishwashing soaps contain perfumes and greases)
• Barbeque ashes/coals (highly resistant to decomposition and contains excessive amounts of sulphur)

Source: Clean Calgary Association

Becoming Savvy with Your Water Conservation

2008-05-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

You may not know this, but we have a limited water supply in Calgary, especially with a booming economy and an ever-increasing population. These increases lead to many things, especially that of being taxing on the Bow and Elbow Rivers.

Summer months bring with it bugs, flowers and an increase of water usage at about 50%. We want our lawn to look lush and our plants to look green so we always make sure that they get the right amount of water.

This is where The City of Calgary is stepping in. By educating the residents of Calgary on wise water usage, a ton of water can be saved.

"Fill a Frisbee. Free a River" is a Calgary campaign to help homeowners be practical when using water outdoors.

"Watering the lawn is the main reason why Calgary’s water use increases so dramatically during the summer," said Kate Murray, public program coordinator for the city's Water Services. "Your lawn only needs one inch of water over the week to stay healthy and that includes rainfall."

The whole Frisbee Idea is to place a Frisbee upside down on the grass where the sprinklers will be able to reach it. Once the sprinkler is turned on, begin timing to see how long it takes to fill the Frisbee. The quantity in the full Frisbee is an indication of how long the sprinkler should be on for over a week.

Another tip is to water in the morning when the heat hasn't reached its peak.

Alternatively, you can also use a sprinkler timer, setting it before you leave the house in the morning.

You can also let nature take its course and collect rain water by placing a rain barrel under the downspout of the eave. Plants enjoy natural water better than treated water, anyway.

When mowing, make sure to cut the lawn no shorter than three inches high. By doing this, you give the lawn a chance to shade its own roots from the sun.

Using water wisely puts less strain on our rivers and our water treatment facilities. All around, it's a better alternative for our environment.

You can learn more at www.calgary.ca/waterservices or by calling 3-1-1.

Calming Market: An Advantage to the Homebuyer

2008-05-12T12:28:00.000-07:00

Buyers are in luck: the Calgary Real Estate Board just released figures indicating that MLS listings in Calgary are taking twice as long to sell this year than they did last year.

Because of increased listings, buyers have more to choose from. Buyers can take their time and get the perfect home that they want.

In April, Calgary had a total of 3,377 new listings. This was an 8.9% increase from the same time period last year. Compared to the month of March, there was a decrease, coming in at 3.3%.

For metro condo listings, there was an increase of 29% since last year. This is 1493 condos compared to 1157 for the same time period in 2007. However, this showed a decrease in March to 4.4%, 1561 condos.

The big factor that those who are selling their home need to pay attention to is to ensure they price their homes accordingly. It's also good to note that homes should be well staged and everything in good working order to entice buyers.

A single family home price in metro Calgary showed stability in April at $474,564, indicating very little change (0.1%) from the same month last year, that's when the average price was $474,250. For a condominium, the average price for April 2007 was $329,429, showing a slight decrease in April 2008 of 5.1% to $312,586.

Today's Canadian Home Buyers are Younger

2008-04-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

A CIBC mortgage poll conducted by Decima Research indicates that those people who are buying homes are between 18 and 34 years old; a number that has tripled since 2000.

Due to affordable financing, owning a home has become a reality for those people in the 18 to 34 age group, according to Paul Mims, Vice President of CIBC Mortgages and Lending. This makes sense because the amount of monthly mortgage payments compared to that of rent is pretty much the same.

Interestingly enough, a 48 year old was the average age to buy a home in the 1990s, while age 41 was the average age for the year 2000.

The average mortgage size has increased by 26% to $120,000 in the 2000 compared to 1990s where the average mortgage size was $95,000. It might be good to note that Alberta home buyers carry, on average, the largest mortgage at $170,000.

Condominium purchases have also increased, nearly doubling since the 1990s. This is a 5% increase from the previous decade, while single family detached home purchases decreased, only accounting for 66% of home purchases since 2000, compared to 74% in the 1990s.

Purchase Plus Improvement Mortgages

2008-03-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Buying a home is one thing. Buying an older home that needs renovating is another. Who wants to live with dated cupboards, shag carpet or drafty windows?

Fortunately, there is an easy answer to this quandary. It's called Purchase Plus Improvement Mortgage and it can save a buyer numerous headaches and stress.

Essentially, Purchase Plus Improvement Mortgage is a program designed for buyers who buy a home, want to do upgrades and roll the price of the upgrades into the mortgage balance.

With this program, the buyer is able to do upgrades around the home, or build a garage immediately after moving in. Thus, instantly increasing the value of the home.

Under this program, borrowers have to qualify using full income disclosure. The funds for the the renovation are released at the time of completion. Funds can also be released in four payments during the renovation project.

For more information on this little known program, contact your mortgage broker or financial institution.

Feng Shui Your Bedroom

2008-03-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

On average, one third of your life is spent in your bedroom. I think it is practically impossible to waste money on creating the perfect bedroom because it affects you more than any other room in your house.

If your love life seems stale or is nonexistent, if your health could use some improvement or if you are looking for a new or different outlook on life, these simple bedroom tips might work for you:
Change as much as you can about your bedroom furnishings, wall color and accessories, keeping in mind that this room is only about passion, rest and self-nurturing. Try to get a good balance of the five elements as well as honoring the shapes and colors of the house your bedroom falls within.

If you are looking for a major change, then stretch yourself and make major decor changes within the bedroom. In other words, don't buy the same old comfort zone stuff that will get you into the same old love- and health-life situations!

Buy a wooden bed if you have the choice. Metal beds can conduct electricity, which can be a health concern. Try not to place anything electrical near your bed, and do not use electric blankets (even if they are plugged in but not turned on they can be harmful!), heating pads or massage pads.

Check the lighting level to see if it is not too harsh (yang) or too dim (yin). Listen for distracting sounds and try to alleviate or remove them.

Avoid large living plants in the bedroom.

Avoid large mirrors in the room if you are not sleeping well.

Avoid sharp metal within the bedroom (knives, axes, swords, guns, scissors, etc.).

Create a headboard for the bed and place it against the most solid wall in the room. If your bed is in line with a doorway, hang a crystal between the bed and that area.

By Karen Rauch Carter/ http://home.ivillage.com/decorating/fengshui/0,,p8db,00.html

Going Green: Using Reusable Products

2008-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

Any products are designed to be used more than once. Reusable products and containers often result in less waste. This helps reduce the cost of managing solid waste and often conserves materials and resources. (Remember, reusable containers for food must be carefully cleaned to ensure proper hygiene.)

A sturdy mug or cup can be washed and used time and again. Many people bring their own mugs to work, meetings, and conferences. Sturdy and washable utensils and tableware can be used at home and for picnics, outdoor parties, and potlucks.

At work, see if "recharged" cartridges for laser printers, copiers, and fax machines are available. They not only reduce waste, but also typically save money.

Cloth napkins, sponges, or dishcloths can be used around the house. These can be washed over and over again.

Look for items that are available in refillable containers. For example, some bottles and jugs for beverages and detergents are made to be refilled and reused, either by the consumer or the manufacturer.

When possible, use rechargeable batteries to help reduce garbage and keep toxic metals found in some batteries out of the waste stream. Another alternative is to look for batteries with reduced toxic metals.

When using single-use items, remember to take only what is needed. For example, take only one napkin or ketchup packet if more are not needed.

Remember, if your goal is to reduce solid waste, think about reusables!

Source: Solidwastedistrict.com

Three Big Myths About Getting Organized

2008-02-04T10:43:00.000-08:00

Making changes that improve your life requires motivation and perseverance. And when getting organized, it also involves recognizing the things that cause disorganization in the first place, understanding your personal style, and choosing the correct systems to implement moving forward. Here are three myths surrounding the notion of getting organized.

Myth #1: All I have to do is buy organizing product to get organized.

Reality: Don’t stop here. Not only do you need to buy organizing product, you have to use them! And continue to use them. Oftentimes products are purchased but don’t get used because the buyer didn’t ask these simple questions first.

What is causing my disorganization?

What type of products will help me create a system or enhance my current system?

Does this product match my style?

Should I sort and purge before using my new product?

The most common mistake people make in purchasing products is waiting too long to buy the product or replacement products. If you wait until the piles of paper have become unmanageable, you have endured a lot of unnecessary stress. The second most common mistake is buying something that does not match your personal style. For example, if you like to create file labels on the run, consider label systems or tabs you can easily write on. If you prefer a more finished look, select an electronic or computer-based labeling system.

Myth #2: Only handle it once (O.H.I.O.)

Reality: While this often-heard rule applies to items such as junk mail, it definitely doesn’t apply to on-going projects. Let’s face it. Some papers have to be handled more than once but “filing by piling” isn’t an efficient alternative either.In order to avoid misplacing papers and spending time rifling through a stack, sort your papers into 6-8 categories. Then place each category into its own file folder, hanging file or project jacket, taking time to label each. Doing so will allow you to locate an item faster and avoid losing an important document.

Myth #3 Once I get organized, I’ll be organized the rest of my life.

Reality: Leading an organized life is a process. For some people, the actual cleaning and organizing of an area is one thing; maintaining it is another. Once a space gets organized it becomes functional and will be enjoyed and, therefore, used more often. This is a good thing. Learning to maintain an area doesn’t have to be sheer drudgery. Devote a few minutes at the end of your day to “visit” your recently organized area to assure that items are getting returned to their proper places.

As with any new habit, allow yourself the time to adjust to a new way of doing things. Getting and staying organized is on-going but allows for more peace and less stress in your day-to-day life.

By Audrey Thomas, CPO®A.k.a. Organized Audrey

New Year's Goals

2008-01-09T08:42:00.000-08:00

It's the new year and most of us are well on our way to keeping up with our New Year's Resolutions....or are we? We all know that resolutions rarely work, so what is a person to do when change is needed?

Make a New Year's Goal. A New Year's Goal is so much different than a New Year's resolution for many different reasons.

A goal will:

Keep you focused on what outcome you want to achieve.
Slowly move you along each stage of achievement.
Give you an opportunity to restructure what isn't working during the goal process.
Give you a sense of accomplishment.

However, a resolution is when you resolve to do something. This never works because:

Resolutions don't have a process.
Resolutions resonate an 'All or Nothing' attitude.
There's no structure when executing them.
We tend to beat ourselves up when we fall off the wagon, stumble or take one step back.

With a goal, you take the necessary steps needed to reach the outcome you want to achieve.

How does the process work?

Begin by writing down all the goals you would like to achieve for 2008. Go ahead, think big if you want. Why not?

Next, you can give your goals a deadline. Be kind to yourself. If you have several goals on the go, stagger your deadlines so you can focus on a couple at a time. For instance, if you want to lose weight and stop smoking, but you also want to go on a trip to Greece and buy a new car, determine what is doable. Slowly stop smoking, and the money you save can go into a savings account for your trip and new car.

Next, decide what else needs to be done to achieve your goal. If it means buying a gym membership, eating healthier, limiting your intake of specialty coffees, buying a book on how to quit smoking, outlining the budget of your Greece Trip, or getting a feel for the type of car you'd like to buy, then do it.

Finally, get started. Start your process and keep focused. If you have a setback, just start again.

With a little focus and determination, you will see some amazing changes by next year. Then you'll be ready to implement your next set of New Year's Goals.

Happy New Year!

Tips for Halloween Safety

2007-10-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

Parents:
Be sure your little ghouls and goblins are accompanied by an adult, either following on foot or by car
Inspect their loot when they get home - BEFORE they unwrap a single piece
Fresh fruit and apples should be sliced before eaten or thrown out for extra safety
If you can't accompany your own children, insist they stay close to home and that they follow older children who ARE accompanied by parents or adults
Make sure they carry a flashlight with them
Insist they walk on sidewalks and stay in lighted areas at all times
All children's costumes should be flame-retardant and in bright colors
All swords, knives or other "weapon-related" accessories should be made of flexible material
Give your children a definite time they should return home

Children:
Have fun!
Never accept a ride from a stranger
Carry a cool flashlight so you can see where you're going
Make sure your costume doesn't drag on the ground, to prevent you from tripping and falling
Always walk on sidewalks under street lights and don't cross the road between parked cars
Be polite to people who answer their doors
Be cautious around pets you don't know
It's a good idea to take your mask off when walking down the street so you can see where you're going

Homeowners:
Clear your yard of debris and large flower pots that children could trip over
Use battery-powered Jack-O-Lanterns where possible
If you use candles to light pumpkins, place them far enough away so costumes won't brush against them
Secure paper or cloth yard decorations so they won't be near candle flames
If you have to leave, back out of your driveway slowly
Keep pets inside, if possible. Both for the child's safety as well as the pets'

Happy Halloween!

Fall Yard Chores

2007-09-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Fall yard clean-up starts with the gutters, which requires setting up a ladder to reach them. Remember to always have someone holding the bottom of the ladder and don't try to stretch that extra two or three feet. Get down and move the ladder! For those who don't like ladders, there are a couple of options. First, you can have gutter guards installed to keep leaves out. Second, there are leaf blower extensions that can reach up into the gutter and blow leaves out. Either way, you'll need to be sure that the joints where the gutter meets the downspouts are cleaned out. Once they are clean, take a hose and pour some water into your gutters and watch where it goes. Do you need extensions to direct the water away from your foundation and prevent leaks? When diverting water, be sure to avoid driveway and walkways, which could ice over and become hazards in the winter.

A Lawn Winter
Leaf cleanup is a necessary but never-ending battle. Leaves left scattered for the winter will smother the lawn. Don't worry, however, about getting every last leaf out of the plant beds. As they breakdown, leaves can help insulate plants and provide them with valuable nutrients. As for what do to with all the leaves you've raked, remember to recycle them in your own compost pile or at a town recycling center. If you are using the leaves on your own compost pile, either grind them up or run them over with a lawn mower to speed decomposition. To move large piles of leaves, I recommend piling them onto a tarp and dragging them to their destination?be it compost pile or trash bag.

Once the leaves are collected, cut your lawn one last time before the winter, trimming it as short as possible to prevent matting, disease and rodent damage. When you are done mowing, run the lawn mower itself until it runs out of gas. Gas left to sit in the tank over the winter will gum up the carburetor so it won't run as well next spring. Also, change the oil, grease the engine and pull and inspect the spark plug. Before you replace it, place several drops of five-weight oil in the hole and pull the start cord several times to lubricate the engine so it won't rust. In the spring, you'll only have to add gas, sharpen the blades and start mowing again.

Early in November, I like to fertilize the lawn with a high phosphorus mixture to promote root growth over the winter, so the grass will green up sooner come spring. Fall is also a great time to fertilize trees and shrubs. I don't recommend pruning ornamental trees and shrubs, as they can contract dieback and suffer from winter desiccation—although I will admit to pruning my holly trees right before Christmas.

Perennial Favorites
You perennials will need to be cut back as they fade. While you are at it, scratch some super phosphate fertilizer into the soil around them. In the garden, remove leftover vegetation and put it in the compost pile. Then rake lime and fertilizer into the soil bed and sow a cover crop of winter rye.

Snow Business
Now's the time to get your snowblower up and running. Nothing's more frustrating than having your snowblower not start when the first snow storm hits. If you're a snow shoveler, double check that your shovels are where you left them and in working order. They have a funny habit of disappearing over the year.

Drip Patrol
If you have an irrigation system, be sure that it is cleared of water so it won't freeze up and damage pipes. If you don't, drain your hoses by laying them on a downward slope and pulling them slowly toward you, coiling as you go. Once they're coiled, tie and store them in your garage or shed. Then head to the basement to shut off the water to your outdoor spigots. On the pipe, in between the shut-off and the spigot, you'll find a weep valve that you can open and drain into a bucket. These steps will prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.

For The Birds
One of the fall activities I enjoy most is setting up my bird feeders. After all my fall yard chores are done, there is nothing better than sitting back with a hot cup of coffee and watching the birds fly by.

Summer Lawn Care Tips

2007-07-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Summer Lawn Care

Grow a healthy lawn with little effort and maintenance. Use these tips to use water wisely.

Water 1 inch over the Week.
Your lawn needs only 2.5 centimetres (1 inch) of water over the week to stay healthy. To measure this amount of water, use a rain gauge or a Frisbee; place it on your lawn while you are watering and watch it fill up. Watering your lawn the recommended amount will encourage the roots of lawn to go deeperlooking for water and help it survive the extreme conditions of summer. Too much watering creates a shallow root system that makes your lawn dependent on frequent watering. Overwatering can cause thatch build up or lawn disease and uses our precious tap water.

Be Weather Wise.
If it has already rained 1 inch in the week, don't water. Your lawn loves the water from the sky more than tap water. Check out the Calgary lawn and garden forecast at The Weather Network or Environment Canada

Water your Lawn in the Morning.
The morning is cool and there is little or no wind. Watering during the heat of the day will just allow the water to evaporate.

Aim your Sprinkler.
Don't water the driveway and sidewalk.

Let the Lawn Grow.
When you mow your lawn, leave the lawn at least 7.5 centimetres (3 inches) long. The longer grass will protect the roots from the sun and will help retain moisture in the soil. Longer roots will develop and the longer grass may even crowd out weeds.

Grasscycling.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn to increase organic matter in the lawn, discourage weeds, and retain moisture. Grasscycling returns nutrients to the soil. These grass clippings provide free fertilizer to help your lawn grow greener. It's easy to grasscycle with your mower. Keep the mower blade sharp and mow when the grass is dry. Clippings left on the lawn will break down easily.

Let the Air in.
Aerating allows air, water, and fertilizer to reach the roots. Leave the small round cores of soil that are cut out of the ground. Rake or mow over these pieces to break them up. The micro-organisms in the cores will help to decompose thatch and allow your lawn to absorb more moisture.

Limit Lawns.
Consider replacing your grass with low water-use plants and ground covers. You will save water and time because low water-use landscaping requires less maintenance. For more information see our Water Wise Gardening Brochure (1,200 KB) and Low Water-Use Plants List.

Be Careful with Chemicals.
Rainwater carries pesticides and fertilizers off our lawns in to the storm sewer catch basin. Since Calgary's stormwater drains into the river untreated, this is one chemical cocktail the river can do without.

Ask for Advice.
When in doubt, consult a gardening book or talk to your local garden-centre expert for how-to info on seeding, fertilizer and disease treatment and prevention.
Prepare for Winter. Before the temperature drops, drain your hoses, empty your rain barrel, and store them appropriately to prevent cracking and freezing.

No Money Down Mortgages

2007-05-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

Yes there is a mortgage company in Canada that will allow you to finance 100% of a property's value. No strings attached; no money down required! The only costs required to purchase your next home are: an appraisal and legal fees; you may be closer to home ownership than you think!

Here is a breakdown on how you can be approved for this great product:
You must have a good credit: Nothing worse than one month late payment on any credit cards in the last two years. No late payments on any loans or mortgages. No Bankruptcies in the last 7 years and no orderly debt payment

2 years in the same line of work and minimum 6 months with a new company
That’s it! If you are having trouble saving for a down payment then this mortgage may be for you. You can also use this mortgage for debt consolidation; imagine having the ability to refinance your property up to 100%. You can use the extra funds for investments, revenue property purchases and even a well-deserved vacation.

12 Tips for Perfect Packing

2007-05-08T12:13:00.000-07:00

Make a list.Write everything down! You'll thank yourself later. Before you pack even one box, create a simple record keeping system. Create a computer-printed list of numbers with a space to write the contents. Or have a spiral-bound notebook for the job. You'll place a number on EVERY box you pack and list the contents on your list. Don't put the list down unless it's in a place you'll call Packing Central. This is where you'll find your labels, marking pens, box tape, and other supplies.
Have plenty of supplies.-- you'll need LOTS of boxes--probably more boxes than you think, and having enough boxes will make your life easier! (If you buy your boxes from a moving company, you can always return unused boxes for a refund. If you got them free from the grocery, just toss any leftovers.) Have about 10 boxes set aside to use for last minute items on moving day, such as bedding, clothing, and cleaning supplies. You'll need strong plastic packing tape to close up the boxes securely. Use unprinted newsprint (newspaper can stain your items) or packing paper or bubble wrap to wrap and cushion household good. Again, you'll need lots more supplies than you think, so get extra so the packing can go smoothly. Return any unused supplies after the truck is packed.
Utilize wardrobe boxes.These tall boxes are perfect for bulky, lightweight items such as comforters, pillows, and blankets, as well as clothes that need to remain hanging. Call your mover to ask the width of the wardrobe boxes they'll be bringing. Then measure the clothes in your closets (including coat closets) to see how many wardrobe boxes you'll need. You can also use them for closet storage boxes, shoe boxes, and other bulky items such as fabric bolts, large baskets, or gift wrap tubes.
Don't make the boxes too heavy to lift, however. One mover told the story of someone who put a bowling ball in a wardrobe box! When the box was lifted off the truck the bottom gave way, sending the bowling ball on a wild ride down the ramp, across the street to the gutter, then down a hill where it finally came to rest in a roadside ditch. (Is that a strike or a spare?)
Strategize wardrobe box use.Moving companies will be happy to deliver boxes ahead of your moving day. Or if you're doing the move yourself, get things organized as early as possible. A few days before your move, fill some sturdy handled shopping bags with bulky closet items such as shoes, sweaters, belts, and jeans. On moving day, fill the bottom of the wardrobe boxes with some of the shopping bags, then add your hanging clothing. Pack hanging items tightly so things won't move around and fall off of hangers. Finally, cover the shoulders of your clothes (a dry cleaning bag works well), then add a few purses or sweaters on top. You'll have fewer boxes, and closet items remain together. Also, the shopping bags will make it easier to retrieve your belongings from the bottoms of a tall wardrobe box.
Color coordinate.Designate a color for each room in the new home, such as yellow for kitchen, orange for dining room, etc. Apply colored stickers on the box near the box number. In your new home. Put a matching sticker on the door to each room. The movers will know where to put everything when they arrive at the desitination. It's also helpful to post a big sign on the wall in the room where you want boxes stacked, ("Boxes here please") to keep them out of furniture and traffic areas.
Keep things together.Insist on keeping things together when you or the movers are packing boxes. Keep bookends with books, light bulbs with lamps, and extension cords with appliances. Small, loose parts can be attached to the item they belong to with tape or placed in small envelopes -- to keep picture hooks with pictures, shelf brackets with a bookcase, a special wrench and bolts with the wall unit. Keep larger corresponding items (such as a cable TV cord) in Ziplock bags, and tape these to the underside or back of the item. As a backup, have a "Parts Box" open on the kitchen counter and fill it with cables, cords, parts, pieces, brackets, or nails that are removed from any items of furniture. Keep this box with you, or mark it well with a rainbow of colored stickers so it can be easily located on move-in day.
Pack ahead.Anything you can pack ahead will save you time on moving day. If it's summer, get your winter clothes out of the way. You don't really need 5 radios or TV's around your house for the last few days there. Box up your shampoo and extra toothpaste and live out of a travel cosmetic case for the last week or two. Pare down cooking utensils and food supplies to bare essentials. Wastebaskets can also be packed (put things in them!) while you switch to using plastic grocery bags (hang them on a cabinet door or door handle to collect trash.)
Consolidate cleaning supplies.If you must clean your old place after moving out, put together a kit of basic cleaning supplies and rags. Clean anything possible ahead of time (the inside of kitchen cupboards, the oven, windows, etc.), and if possible, vacuum each room as movers empty it.
Use your luggage.Fill luggage and duffle bags with clothing, sheets, towels, and paper goods. Even for local moves you'll be able to quickly spot your navy suitcase holding your favorite sweaters, whereas "Box #189" might remain elusive for days.
Safeguard valued items.It's a good idea to keep valuable possessions, such as silverware, collections, or antiques, with you. If you have a long move and no room in your car, bury the items in a box titled "Misc. from kitchen pantry". Either way, check your homeowner's insurance to see how you are covered during the move, and if you need additional insurance from the mover. Also, find out what paperwork (receipts, appraisals, and photos) you might need to file a claim in case of loss.
Keep important papers with you.Your list of "important" papers might include: birth certificates, school records, mover estimates, new job contacts, utility company numbers, recent bank records, current bills, phone lists, closing papers, realtor info, maps, and more. Don't leave these with the mover. Keep them with you!
Personal boxes.Use brightly colored storage tote boxes, one for each person. Let each family member fill theirs with items they'll want 'right away' in the new home -- a set of sheets, a towel, a couple of extension cords, a phone, nightlights, address book, pens and paper, keys, kleenex, and travel cosmetic case, and so on.

Spring-Time Lawn Care

2007-04-04T14:47:00.000-07:00

First the bad news: if you neglect spring lawn care (and related concerns pertaining to your mower), you could end up paying for it the rest of the year. Now the good news: spring lawn care doesn't entail nearly the amount of work that you'll have to invest in mowing alone throughout the summer months.
In fact, most of you will need to implement only about half of the following ten tips for spring lawn care, depending upon your own unique circumstances. Furthermore, I point out in a few instances below that the task in question is better performed as part of your fall lawn care, if you can wait that long.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #1: Raking

Raking will be your first task of spring lawn care. Okay, I can hear the groans coming from all lands near and far, wherever grassy carpets are cultivated: "But we already raked leaves in the fall!" Sorry, but raking is for more than just removing leaves: it's for controlling thatch, too.

A thatch build-up of more than 1/2 inch is considered excessive.

Thatch is the reason why I recommend that, when you rake leaves in the fall, you make the effort to rake deeply. Don't just skim the surface, so as to remove the leaves. A deep raking will remove thatch, too, allowing you to kill two birds with one stone. Even if you followed this advice in fall, I still recommend a spring raking: it will remove grass blades that died over the winter -- dead blades that are just waiting to become thatch!

But there's often another good reason for a spring raking. As you survey your lawn in spring, see if there are any matted patches, in which the grass blades are all stuck together. This can be caused by a disease known as "snow mold." New grass may have difficulty penetrating these matted patches. But a light raking will be sufficient to solve this problem.

Just when you should perform any of these spring lawn care tasks will depend upon the climate of your own region. But Mother Nature provides palpable cues in some cases. For instance, when you're pretty sure the snow season (if you have one) is over in your region, begin raking. Applying preemergent herbicides (see Tip #6) should be done sometime between the time the local forsythia bushes stop blooming and the time the local lilac bushes begin blooming.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #2: Aeration

If your lawn is subjected to high levels of traffic year after year, it may eventually start to show signs of decline. In such cases, your lawn is probably suffering from compaction. For instance, the presence of moss plants signals compaction (among other things).

Lawn aeration is the remedy for compaction. Lawn aerators can be rented at your local rental center. But unless your compaction problem is severe, many experts recommend postponing lawn aeration until fall.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #3: Liming

Besides compaction, the presence of moss plants also signals acidity. But grass likes a neutral soil pH. You can solve this problem by liming your soil.

But first send a soil sample to your local county extension to determine the extent of your soil's acidity. The county extension will also be able to advise you on how much lime per square foot you'll need. Apply the lime using a lawn spreader.

But if your lawn has been doing fine and shows no signs of suffering from acidity, don't apply lime. Liming is only a corrective measure, not a preventive measure. A soil that is too alkaline will also cause your lawn problems, so too much lime is as bad as not enough.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #4: Overseeding

Is your lawn riddled with bare patches due to dog spots, heavy traffic or neglect? If so, you may need to apply grass seed to fill in those bare patches. This solution is known as "overseeding lawns". Apply a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer when you overseed. Five weeks after the grass germinates, apply a quick-release nitrogen fertilizer.

However, spring isn't the very best time for overseeding lawns. Fall is the preferred time, when the new grass won't have to compete with crabgrass (see Page 2), which is killed off by autumn frosts. So postpone overseeding until fall, unless your situation is dire.

Spring Lawn Care Tip #5: Fertilizing

Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost and mulching mowers. But for those who prefer chemical fertilizers, Scotts provides a lawn fertelizing schedule. Many experts, however, recommend a lighter feeding in spring and a heavier one in fall for cool-season for grasses. Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems.

In addition to the above tasks of spring lawn care, don't forget weed control and making sure your mower is ready for the mowing season.

Weed Prevention a Major Element of Spring Grass Care

For those who prefer weed-free lawns, spring grass care is as much about weed prevention as it is about fostering healthy lawn growth. Novices to spring grass care are often surprised to learn that not all lawn weeds are battled in the same manner. Depending upon whether a weed is an annual or a perennial, you will use a preemergent herbicide or a postemergent herbicide against it.

Spring Grass Care Tip #6: Applying Preemergent Herbicides

If you know that you have a problem with the annual weed, crabgrass, then fertilization in spring should go hand in hand with the application of preemergent herbicides. As their name suggests, preemergent herbicides address weed control not "after the fact," but before their seedlings can even emerge. Preemergent herbicides accomplish this by forming something of a "shield" that inhibits seed germination.

Don't undertake the core aeration task discussed above after applying preemergent herbicides: to do so would be to "puncture" this shield, thereby decreasing its effectiveness.
Crabgrass begins its assault on lawns in spring, when its seeds germinate. In fact, my suggestion on Page 1 that overseeding be carried out in autumn, rather than spring, is based in part on the threat posed by a spring crabgrass invasion. "So why not just begin by killing the crabgrass first with a preemergent herbicide?" perhaps you ask. Well, the trouble is that most preemergent herbicides work against not only weed seeds, but grass seeds, as well!

You can appreciate the dilemma here. Overseeding is incompatible with the application of most preemergent herbicides. Yet, faced with competition from crabgrass in spring, you may find it difficult to establish your new grass. So while it's still possible to overseed in spring, it's simply easier to do so in fall. There will be no competition from crabgrass then, because the fall frosts kill off crabgrass.

If you must overseed in the spring, look for a product called, "Tupersan." Unlike other preemergent herbicides, Tupersan will not damage germinating lawn grass seed. But if you're committed to staying away from chemicals altogether in your spring grass care, postpone overseeding till fall.

Spring Grass Care Tip #7: Applying Postemergent Herbicides -- Or Pulling Weeds

Keep an eye out for the emergence of the perennial weed, dandelion during the spring season, unless you find the presence of their cheerful yellow flowers in your lawn desirable. At the very least, you'll want to snap off their flower stems before they produce seed. If you're more ambitious, you can dig them out by the roots. Spraying dandelion weeds with postemergent herbicides is more effective in fall than in spring. If you do choose to spray, select an herbicide for broadleaf weeds.

If you prefer weed control without cemicals and have consistently practiced organic landscaping, you can harvest these "weeds" as dandelion greens and eat them!

Besides proper spring grass care, there's more you need to do to get ready for a summer filled with lawn mowing. Don't neglect preparations concerning the lawn mower itself From Tuneups to Lawn Mowing Tips

But your preparation for the summer lawn mowing season doesn't end with the spring grass care covered above. No other power equipment is as intimately associated with and essential to landscaping as is the lawn mower. You need to have a lawn mower that will consistently get the job done without any hassles throughout the lawn mowing season. And you should also know how to use the lawn mower to your best advantage. Consequently, the final three of my ten tips focus on caring for, selecting and using lawn mowers.

Tip #8: Tuning Up Existing Lawn Mowers

Mowing the lawn all summer can be tiring enough, right? Why make it more difficult on yourself by putting up with a lawn mower that doesn't start up immediately? When a lawn mower is stubborn about starting up, that can be a sign that it needs a tuneup.
Although it’s often possible to get by without one, it is recommended that you have a lawn mower tuneup each year. Don't put it off till summer or pay someone else to do it. Learn how to tune up a lawn mower yourself.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

2007-03-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

Next on the agenda for many of us will be Spring Cleaning. It will be time to open the windows, air out the house, shake out the rugs, and do those tasks we do once a year to make our homes fresh and clean.

Spring cleaning does not have to be expensive. It is a lot of work, but doesn't involved a lot of money. You can make all your own cleaning solutions using just a few ingredients.
Some people use nothing but ammonia. You can use it to clean wall, windows, floors, the sinks and tile.

You can use vinegar to remove mold, grime, mildew and grease.

You can use bleach to sterilize, but NEVER mix it with ammonia, or toxic fumes will result.
A checklist is a handy item to have for your spring cleaning. Cleaning has never been my forte either, but this year I am determined to get my house sparkling clean.

We are all limited in the amount of time, and energy that we have. I am compiling a list of chores to do. I won't have to think about it when I am ready. I will just run through the list. If I run out of steam, I will quit and take it up later.

If I have forgotten anything, or anyone has some tips that may help, (other than finding someone else to do it) please send them to me. I will post the link to this article on the website and keep updating the article with new ideas and tips. The checklist will be there, ready for you to print when you are ready.

With that in mind, here is the start of this list. I hope that some of you find it handy.
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Start at the Top

Begin at the ceiling getting rid of cobwebs. Attach a cardboard tube to your vacuum hose to reach, or use a long stick with a piece of felt wrapped around it. Be sure and look up in the tops of closets. Ceiling vents also collect a lot of dust. You may have to remove them to get it all.

Mouldings and Woodwork

Dust moldings, including above the doorways. If you have wood wrapped windows, get the tops of those moldings also. You will also find dust on the top of picture frames, the blades on ceiling fans, and above cupboards.

If the wood trim and wooden interior doors are in bad shape in your home, you can often restore them by the use of Liquid Gold. If you have wooden sills under your windows, it is a good idea to wax them once a year to prevent water damage. Use a paste wax.

Walls and Windows

Wash down your walls. Start at the bottom to avoid streaks.

Most people don’t have the energy to rub down all their walls. If you do, great. If not, just clean them where they need it themost, which will probably be your children’s rooms, and areas around light switches and doorknobs.

For crayon marks, try heating the crayon with a blow dryer to soften the marks before you try and get them off.

Clean the windows. Your windows will stay cleaner if you also clean the screens. You can take them down and spray with the garden hose, or you can dust with a paintbrush.
Clean skylights.
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Kitchens

Wipe down and disinfect cupboards. If you want to change the shelf paper, think about using wallpaper. Buy one roll and you have enough to do your whole kitchen at an economical price. Be sure and buy the pre-pasted glue type. After immersing in the water to activate the paste, let it sit the required time before you use it. Many people get in a rush, and forget you need to let the paper sit for a few minutes for the glue to activate.

Clean the refrigerator. Take out the drawers, and wipe down every part of it. Pull it out and clean behind it. Wipe down the outside, and vacuum the coils.

Clean small appliances, including the can opener, which often collects germs.

Clean the stove, oven and microwave. Replace the burner pads if necessary. Set a pan of ammonia in the oven overnight to loosen grime and then wipe clean in the morning. Heat a little ammonia in the microwave to clean and freshen.

To freshen the drain, pour 1/2 cup baking soda, and then 1/2 cup vinegar down the drain. Wait 5 minutes, and then rinse with hot water.
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Bathrooms
Clean the caulking. If it is dry and brittle, replace it. Water is the biggest enemy to your home. It is incredible the amount of damage it can do (and where it can go) if not controlled. Make sure water is not leaking anywhere.
If your bathroom has an odor you can’t get rid of, liquid has probably run under the toilet or flooring. You may be able to get rid of the smell by taking up the toilet and cleaning the flooring. If it is bad, you will not get rid of the smell until you take up the flooring and replace it. You may also have to replace some of the sub flooring if water has reached it and rot has set in.
Clean or replace the shower curtain. The shower curtain can go in the washing machine with a little bleach. Put it in the sun to dry.
Clean under the cupboards.
Freshen drains same as the kitchen.
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Utility Room
Check washer for scum buildup and remove. Run a wash cycle with bleach, and rinse with vinegar.
Check dryer exhaust to be sure there is no lint buildup.
Clean and freshen basins and drains.
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Linens and Upholstery
Shake out linens and rugs, or beat with a broom, and hang in the sun to freshen.
Take sofa cushions outside and beat with a broom to remove dust.
Vacuum or clean drapes.
Clean upholstery or spot clean stains. To remove stains, try shaving cream, or hair spray.
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Floors
Sweep floors, mop and vacuum. When you vacuum, get under the bed, and move furniture to reach areas otherwise neglected.
You can freshen your carpet by sprinkling it with a mixture of baking soda and cornstarch. Use about 1 cup per room. Leave on for 30 minutes, and then vacuum.
Remove any floor vents and vacuum or pick up the trash that has fallen into them. ______________________________________________________
Misc
Clean blinds and dust pleated lampshades with a soft paint brush. If the blinds are very grimy, put them in the bathtub to soak, or take outside and lay on the grass and clean, remembering to turn the handle and do both sides.
Clean and sterilize trash cans.
Clean the telephones, computer pad, and doorknobs.
Clean the dust off silk flowers by shaking in a bag with salt, or buy one of the commercial spray cleaners.
Take fresh plants outside and hose off dust and trim dead leaves.
Carefully dust light bulbs.
To wax your furniture, you can make your own polish by mixing 3 parts olive oil with 1 part either vinegar or lemon juice.
Check the fireplace flu for cretonne buildup, or have professionally cleaned.
Turn the mattresses and change the batteries in your smoke alarms if you are not on another schedule for those tasks.

Make your Garage Sale Sell!

2007-03-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

What a way to spend a weekend, selling your good junk for real cash! Just put it out, set down and wait for the customers to give you their money...
Seriously, now. If you've ever had one garage sale, you probably look forward to the next with a mixture of dread and excitement. It's great to get rid of the clutter, and especially great if you can exchange it for some cold cash - but it's a lot of work! There is no way around it.
You can get tired, cold or hot according to the weather, hungry, thirsty and impatient in the space of a few hours... then the hours, which seemed perfectly acceptable when you wrote the ad, can drag on and on and on...
So the first rule of order is to make yourself comfortable. Cook ahead of time or plan on having sandwiches. Plan on sharing time "on the floor" with someone else. Never have a garage sale alone. You'll need someone else to take over while you eat or answer the phone or change into warmer or cooler clothing, but you will also need to take breaks without having to do anything.
Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes, have your favorite drink on hand and get a good book going for those times when no one is around but you can't leave. Turn off the cellphone and minimize interruptions when there are people around. Pay attention to your buyers, but don't follow them around or make comments about what they are looking at unless asked and don't make them feel as if they're being watched. Make it your goal to make them feel comfortable. Small talk is great, but don't talk so much that you detract from the business at hand. Give them room and time to browse.
If you want a successful garage sale, timing seems to be more important than anything. Watch your area to see what day of the week most garage sales are held and plan on having it near the first of the month when a lot of people have more money to spend. Fridays seem to be good for that reason, too.
Ten cents on the dollar is the going rate in most places, but adjust that according to the amount of wear, popularity and style of the item. Consider whether it can be a collector's item. Watch for store hawks - people who buy at garage sales for the purpose of reselling in a second hand or antique shop. If you want to sell to them, it's ok, but be cautious in cutting deals for them as they usually really know how to get a good bargain - at your expense. Be extra cautious early in the day when you still have opportunity to sell at a better price.
Don't be afraid to haggle, but know your limits. If you're in it to just get rid of things, you might as well haul it all down to the Salvation Army, but if you get too greedy, you won't sell anything at all.
Advertise your most interesting items, put up plenty of signs, make sure your sale is easy to see once the shopper gets close.
Relax and smile. Smile and relax. You'll sell a lot more with the right attitude than with all the planning you can do.
When all is said and done, take your loot to the bank on the way to the ice cream parlor. You deserve a small treat for actually going through with it.

How to Operate a Successful Garage Sale

2007-03-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

First, set a date and time when you can devote your full time to this sale, for gathering up various articles as well as being able to attend the sale full time.

Second, plan just what you're going to put in this sale, if you are going to have the sale alone, or with two to five more families.

Third, have plenty of change on hand - both silver and paper money.

Now, get down to business. Garage sales are work - a lot of hard work, but the returns more than justify the effort. Whether it's advertised as Patio, Carport, Yard, Porch, or Garage-a-Rama, people will come and buy. Clean out your closets and ANYTHING that is useless to you or you don't want - put it in the sale. Don't throw anything away. People will buy just about anything. You'd be surprised. What is one person's trash is another's GOLDMINE!

Of course you need to advertise. Be specific, concise and honest. State place, date, hours. If you have a large amount of clothing, specify some of the sizes, particularly if you have quite a few in different sizes.

Antiques go over big regardless of state of repair or condition. Give good descriptive details to save disappointments.

Capitalize on the season. Feature luggage at going-away to school or vacation time or toys near Christmas. Include fads.

Today, bottles of all kinds are in demand. Big bottles, little bottles, Jim Beam, Avon, Kara Brooks, Wheaton/Nuline, old medicine, Mrs. Butterworth, miniature - all kinds, old fruit jars, and insulators. Some additional items that we find to be in big demand: baseball cards, lawn mowers, camping articles, guns, tools, coins, old books, comic books (old and new), aprons, old-fashioned bonnets, salt and pepper shakers, needlework, jewelry and dishes.

Doll clothing and accessories are always in demand and especially for Barbie and Ken or teen dolls. Toys go over big at any time. Dolls and stuffed toys make a hit with the kiddies and they, in turn, will finally persuade their mothers to buy something. Children are very persuasive!Have a large quantity of items to sell, a big variety. And don't be afraid to drag out those outgrown items, old dishes, two-of-a-kind items you don't really need and generally "clean house". You'll find the money in your pocket is better than all the clutter in the house.

Homemade items are very popular. If someone in your household sews, then sew up aprons, doll clothes, dolls, stuffed toys from scraps of material lying around. You'll make use of those scraps taking up space and make money too! Fresh produce such as tomatoes, green beans, corn, fruits, etc. will also sell, if you should have a garden overflowing.String up a clothesline to display any clothing you may have. Remember, clothing for all ages, men or women, is always in great demand. Children's clothing goes over best and especially about the time for school to start in the fall.

Set up card tables or ping-pong tables to display small merchandise. Place tables in a manner that will leave room for shoppers to browse without feeling crowded. Display your wares attractively. Be sure they are clean, usable, and priced temptingly.

People are looking for bargains. Don't disappoint them. Remember that what you sell is something you don't want anyway, so whatever you get is gravy.

Take advantage of the space under the tables if you need more display room. You will be amazed how buyers spot the smallest item under the table. Colorful table covers draw a lot of attention to your items.

You will save yourself a lot of time answering questions if you show a price on all merchandise. Use a heavy black felt marking pen for lettering. If more families go in with you, identify your price tags with a code such as G 75 cents or M 25 cents. The letters designate, perhaps, the first letter of the last name of the family who contributed items to sell.

Keep all the tags and at the end of the sale, divide the tags according to code and total the sales. You may not come out right to the penny on sales and change you had on hand as anyone can make errors in making change for a customer.

Be sure you have electrical outlets nearby to plug in toasters, blenders, electric skillets, irons, hair dryers, electric razors, etc., to show people that your articles do work. If you have to use an extension cord, make sure it is in excellent condition and preferably a heavy duty one.

If you have any fragile, rare or expensive items such as crystal, cut glass or jewelry, be sure they are displayed on a sturdy table and up high out of reach of kiddies. They are curious and you might be too busy to watch them.

Drinking glasses, dishes, cups will sell faster if you price them in sets of 6 for $1.00 instead of 15 cents each. Paperback books, magazines, records and items that have titles will sell more readily if they are marked separately. If they want them collectively, they'll ask you. Then bundle them all up and sell them. Sell everything!

Advertising. Run an ad in your daily newspaper. If you run your ad one day only, have it in the Thursday paper. You might like to run the ad two days to appear in both the Thursday and Friday editions. If your sale runs through Saturday, your sale is about over before the paper hits the street on Saturday. Therefore, 2-day advertising is usually adequate unless your sale is continued late Saturday night and through Sunday.

However, whatever you decide to advertise - BE READY! Be ready to meet any customer as soon as the paper hits the street, because some will come before the sale and before you even get ready to start the next day! In addition to placing an ad in the paper, place signs at points where people will see them. Some laundromats have bulletin boards on which you can place notices. Advertise all you can. Work word-of-mouth all you can. If employed, place signs on your company's bulletin boards. Use the WEB to advertise your garage sale too.

The best days for your Garage Sale are Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sundays are usually a waste of time unless you're staying at home all day doing nothing anyway.

At the end of your sale you will have met a lot of nice, friendly people. If you want to continue selling items you might have left, you can let people know and have future sales all lined up. A circular already prepared and passed out to each customer will help insure future sales. You should have made money, some new acquaintances, and a weary but happy body!HAPPY SELLING AND GOOD LUCK!

Things To Know When Buying Rental Properties

2007-02-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

Stocks and bonds aren't the only money-making investment in town. Consider rental property if you're prepared for extensive research, a fair amount of financial commitment and, depending on how you set things up, a significant role in maintaining the property.

Instructions
STEP 1: Assess your financial requirements and goals. Do you need a steady stream of income from your rental or do you plan on selling it for a profit in a couple of years? If it's the latter, look for lower priced property that you can fix up as you rent it out.

STEP 2: Consider being a resident landlord by purchasing a multiunit property and living in one apartment. In many cases, the income from the other unit(s) will cover your mortgage payment, allowing you to effectively live for free. Being on-site has other advantages, including ensuring that the property is well-maintained.

STEP 3: Decide if you want to do maintenance yourself. If you have the skills, equipment and temperament to deal with upset tenants and a backed up toilet at 2 a.m., fine. If you plan on hiring a property manager, add about 5 percent of gross income into your calculations.

STEP 4: Choose the kind of property you want. Single-family houses are generally less expensive than apartment complexes because of pure size, but generate less income. Apartments, on the other hand, can require more upkeep.

STEP 5: Get preapproved for a mortgage. Financing investment property is different from residential property in that it requires a much larger down payment.

STEP 6: Start shopping: Call us to set you up on our auto-notification system

STEP 7: Choose property where people want to live, close to shops, parks and decent schools, and in a well-kept neighborhood. There's nothing worse than owning a rental property without any renters. In addition, check out any restrictions on renting with the home owners association, which, if there is one, can have a say in any rental agreements.

STEP 8: Consider what improvements, if any, you may be willing to make. Buying a fixer-upper will be less expensive than a property in pristine condition, but you can go broke bringing a property up to rentable condition. Before you buy, get cost estimates for all necessary fixes.

STEP 9: Have the property inspected. You may also want to ask your realtor to get a fair market value.

STEP 10: Search past records for vacancy rates over the last five to ten years as well as at present. If the building is occupied, find out how long the tenants have lived at the property. Long-term residents are valuable, but may also have been signed on at a lower rental rate.

STEP 11: Plan on spending time and money advertising for and interviewing potential renters. Have a contingency plan in place if a unit remains vacant for a few months.

STEP 12: Determine what a competitive rental rate is for your property by asking rental agents what they would expect to charge, by reviewing area apartment listings, and by personally visiting units available in the neighborhood.

STEP 13: Run the numbers. Make certain that whatever income you derive covers your costs of owning the property, plus a profit.

STEP 14: Work with an attorney to draw up and review any necessary papers relevant to the purchase. STEP 15: Negotiate the terms of the sale. Some sellers may be willing to pick up a share of closing costs and other expenses. The eventual price will also be affected by prevailing market conditions--keep these in mind when negotiating.

What To Look For

Income produced meets financial goals
Suitable property
Appealing location
Vacancy rates
Neighborhood rental rates
Overall Tips & Warnings

Check to see whether the value of other area properties have increased or decreased in the past five years. Try to buy in an area that's on the way up.
Pay attention to when improvements were made to a property, which aids in the estimate of the building's value. Recent renovations are worth more than upgrades done a decade or more ago.

Be on the lookout for any hazards common to older properties, such as asbestos, lead-based paint and electrical systems that are not up to code. Budget in reconciling these problems.

Some cities offer low interest financing to property owners needing to make renovations. Look into such programs if you know you'll need to have the property painted, windows replaced or similar exterior repairs made.

Discuss any tax benefits with a tax specialist. There may be local tax incentives for renovating your property as well as advantageous approaches to declaring your expenses.

How to make a proper real estate offer

2007-01-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

Making An Offer

Considerations Before Submitting An Offer

After some serious time commitments looking at many properties, you finally found that perfect piece of real estate – it looks good, its optimally suited for your needs, and its within your price range. Now it’s time to negotiate a deal by making an offer to the seller.

Although this seemingly easy task can be as straightforward as submitting a price, we advise that you should fully investigate the many factors into making a fair and effective offer. There are a few questions you should ask yourself in determining the value of your offer:

What is the going price of similar pieces of real estate in the area?

Often the most important determining factor in making your offer is what the market value is for that piece of property. The market value of a property is determined by defining the most probable price that a property would bring if it were to go on sale. This can be quantified by enlisting the services of an appraisal or by examining the sale price of similar pieces of property in that area. This is where perusing the multiple listing service (MLS) or real estate classifieds can be useful for assessing market value. If you have a real estate agent helping you with the transaction, they would provide invaluable advice of what a realistic offer should be. Agents should have access to all the local sales figures, and should be able to give you an estimate so that you can compare it to the property price you’re looking at.

If your real estate agent does not have access to the local sales figures, it may be beneficial to hire a professional real estate appraiser and to visit Land Title offices. Land title records are an accessible source of information on comparable sales of the property. Many buyers are proactive enough by using the land title records even before comparing prices seen in real estate listings.

Is the property in good conditions, or will you have to invest more money into fixing it up?

It is of paramount importance that you closely investigate the condition thoroughly, scrutinizing every detail before you make an offer. After all, this may be your biggest investment ever, so you want to be absolutely sure you’re getting what you pay for with no surprises. Does the home need a new roof? New plumbing? Although a fixer-upper home may have a lot of potential, and can be considerably cheaper in price, you must ask yourself: will I be able to meet the financial challenges and live with the mess and inconvenience while the home is being brought up to your expectations?

In the majority of cases, the seller will have already made sure that all aspects of the house is adequately repaired. After all, it is in their best interest to have their property in the best condition for sale in order to generate the most value. If you want to be meticulously careful, than you (or your real estate agent) can acquire the services of a property and home inspector. An inspection will give you a better idea on the general condition of the property, and also any aspects of the property that may require future repair. An inspection will tell you all you need to know about any possible future repairs as well as what you should demand and expect from a house, which may influence your offer.

No matter how thorough you have been in examining the conditions of the property, you can never be absolutely sure of any potential problems that may cross your path. Therefore, when you buy or sell a home, you must fill out, or request, a property condition disclosure form. This form is design to protect the buyer from any hidden surprises that may end up damaging the property, and it also protects the seller from any long-term liability after the sale of the property.

How long has the property been on the real estate market?

During your research into market value, you may discover that the property you’re interested in have been on the market for relatively long time compared to other properties in the same area. This immediately begs the question - Why?

While this may be indicative of a slow local real estate activity, it may also belie a bigger problem. For example, you may discover that the property has a major defect. Whatever it is, you should always be suspicious of why. Use your real estate agent to objectively investigate any potential reasons.

How much competition is there for the property?

Any significant factor that will affect your offer is the amount of competition for the property. You can expect competition if the property is located in a desirable neighborhood, town or city, or even province. For example, real estate on water front is highly sought after so naturally there is a lot of competition for properties there. Consequently, you have to ask yourself – How bad do I want it? It is a delicate balance not to bid too highly, but high enough where you may are not underbidding compared to other prospective buyers. Again, the advice of your real estate agent will be invaluable here.

Submitting An Offer Proposal

Oral promises are not legally enforceable when it comes to the sale of real estate. Therefore, you need to enter into a written contract, which starts with your written proposal. When you make your offer don’t worry about making an offer that is lower than ninety eight percent of the actual asking price. You should remember that too low of an offer might be rejected immediately and may even insult the seller, but a reasonable offer should generate at least a counter-offer from the seller. The counter-offer may be very close to your offer.

You can easily obtain standardized forms for contracts and proposals that ensure that you don’t miss any steps involved in the proposal process. In most instances, the real estate agent that is brokering the deal will handle many of these duties, but it is always best to know what you are doing.

The purchase offer proposal you submit, if accepted as it stands, will become a binding sales contract (also known as a purchase agreement, earnest money agreement or deposit receipt). It is therefore important that it contains all the items that will serve as a "blueprint for the final sale." These purchase offer items include such things as:

- Address and sometimes a legal description of the property

- Sale price

- Terms -- for example, all cash or subject to your obtaining a mortgage for a given amount

- Seller's promise to provide clear title (ownership)

- Target date for closing (the actual sale)

- Amount of initial deposit accompanying the offer, and how it's to be returned to you if the conditions fail -- or kept as damages if you later back out for no good reason

- Method by which real estate taxes, rents, are to be adjusted (prorated) between buyer and seller

- Provisions about who will pay for title insurance, survey, and the like

- Other requirements specific to your province, which might include a chance for attorney review of the contract, disclosure of specific environmental hazards or other province-specific clauses

- A provision that the buyer may make a last-minute walk-through inspection of the property just before the closing

- A time limit (preferably short) after which the offer will expire

- Contingencies (if applicable). The two most common are the buyer obtaining specific financing from a lending institution and a satisfactory report by a home inspector within a specified period of time.

Negotiations and Counter offers

When you have submitted an offer that wasn’t satisfactory, the seller may simply reject your offer, or send back a counter-offer. This is where negotiations generally begin.

It is imperative that you have negotiation strategy should the need arise to negotiate a price. Remember, this may likely represent the largest investment in your life and ineffective negotiations can mean the difference between thousands of dollars! You may be in a good bargaining position if you arrive at the negotiating table armed with the following:

- You’re willing to pay cash for all or the majority of the purchase

- You have a pre-approved mortgage

- Your purchase is not contingent on the sale of your existing property

These qualities are extremely attractive to the seller, especially in a buyer’s market, and they may be more willing to be flexible in their negotiations. Under these circumstances, you may be able to negotiate some discount from the listed price, particularly if the seller wants to sell the property fast.

On the other hand if the property is in a "hot" seller's market, then the seller may have the upper hand since there will usually be competing offers for their property. You may want to offer the list price (or more) to beat out other offers. This is where you negotiation strategy becomes more important, which should be planned out in advance. It is also beneficial to find out as much about the seller’s situation – Are they looking to sell the property as fast as they can? Remember that every month a property remains unsold represents considerable extra expense for the seller. Is the property vacant now? If so, then the seller is most likely grudgingly paying for two mortgages. Was there a recent divorce? Nobody wants to prolong the painful ordeal of a divorce. Is the property an estate of a deceased individual? Nobody wants to prolong the painful ordeal of a death. All these factors can be used as leverage during the negotiation procedure.

Knowing this you can be creative in your negations, giving a little – taking a letter. For instance, you could negotiate a lower price for the property if you offer a shorter closing period. If the sellers give you a counter-offer with the condition of a 30-day close ask that the price be lowered and accept the condition. For example, if a house is listed for $400,000, you might offer to pay that amount with a 150-day close, or $394,000 with a 30-day close.

Providing the right offer is one of the most critical decisions in real estate. Be sure that you’re adequately prepared. Know what you’re willing to pay for the property, and be firm in not going over that. A trusty real estate agent is extremely valuable during the negotiating process, an agent with extensive experience should be able to predict what will happen, and will adequately advise you.

Why a 360 Degree Virtual Tour is a Must

2007-01-01T13:57:00.000-08:00

Sell easier and faster

Virtual tours can help you sell a property quickly and easily by giving the property a maximum amount of exposure. Rather than just seeing a floor plan or a sketch of the home, you can see full colour, 360° views of properties, 24-hours a day, seven days a week. It's as if you were actually standing there. This will help people make decisions more quickly, conveniently, and confidently.

We all know the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words” so in comparison “A virtual tour is worth ten thousand words.” Virtual tours provide consumers with a complete view rather than segments that leave questions and uncertainties in their minds.

Virtual tours allow you to move easily between different rooms or places and obtain an overall picture of the property. Hotspots guide the visitor through doors into other rooms, down different streets or around corners - places that a single picture only alludes to.

Save time

A buyer or renter saves time by viewing the property's virtual tour. No more blind inspections wasting valuable time. With a virtual tour a buyer can take a look at properties from the comfort and convenience of their own home and at his/her own time. A real interest in an on-site inspection is built with the virtual tour. Virtual tours are ideal for buyers who live out of the area. It enables them to make a more informed decision about whether to view a property or not.

Integrate easily into any website

Virtual tours integrate easily and seamlessly onto any website.

Viewing virtual tours is simple and easy - there are no extra plug-ins, downloads, or installations. Our virtual tours use Java.

Friends’ and family’s opinions

The prospective buyer can get friends or family's opinion on a property simply by forwarding an email of the virtual tour or an internet link to your website. Friends and family do influence the buyer’s purchasing decision. A friend might even see the virtual tour themselves and pass the details on to the buyer!

Continuous access, refresh the memory

The property is virtually "open" for inspection 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to potential buyers anywhere. Maximum exposure means a maximum chance of sale. Buyers can inspect and re-inspect properties at will without an agent present. This means less hassle for the agent and seller, less people coming through the house, less time wasted.

Increase your level of service, gain a competitive edge

Virtual Tours are currently being used by leading commercial, residential & private estate agents, attracting more visitors to their properties and showing them the sense of the space and true character of a property while providing an enjoyable and memorable experience from the comfort of home.

Weed out the lookers and attract buyers. Properties with virtual tours on the internet have been proven to increase visitors, driving sales and attracting more vendors to your door.

This technology increases your agency's level of service. You position yourself at the cutting edge of the industry. Home sellers have a choice of agents, so setting yourself apart from your competition is critical to your success. Stay ahead of your competition. Only a few agents are offering this new technology to their clients.

Avoid unnecessary people looking around properties

Avoid the hassles of hosting strangers in the vendors’ home unless they have seen the property and know they are interested.

Clean once, show constantly!

With our online virtual tours, fewer people will be disrupting you by viewing the property since they can preview it online.

Realtor vs. For sale by owner

2007-01-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

"Why do we need a real estate agent? After all, an agent will charge thousands of dollars to sell even an average home, and that commission comes right off the top! Heck, with the Internet and all, we can do practically everything that an agent would do, so why should we pay out all that money?"
Many home sellers have similar thoughts, and because so much money is at stake, these questions deserve some serious thought.

In today's world, the sale of real property is not just a marketing exercise; there are many legal issues involved which can create liability in the sellers. Of all the things you want and expect from selling your home, a lawsuit is probably not one of them.

Unfortunately, residential transactions have seen an alarming increase in the number of claims and lawsuits. Of these claims, the majority are filed against sellers, by their buyers. Home sellers who think they can "go it alone" might want to seriously ponder the observations of a lawyer who has defended many sellers and real estate agents against claims made by "the Buyers from Hell."

In most states, the process by which title to real property is transferred is rather complicated, and the typical home seller is not familiar with the many legal issues that can and do arise, even in a fairly simple transaction. Important decisions must be made concerning contract terms, escrow matters, transfer of title, apportionment of costs and any number of other matters. Also, bear in mind that a simple missing word, or a mistake in grammar can create a dispute which, in turn, can give rise to a lawsuit. Aside from the problem of drafting the contract language itself, sellers can face other dangers as well. For example, did you know:

that buyers who look for "FSBOs" usually offer 6-10% below the price of comparable properties because they know you are not paying a commission?

that there are substantial risks involved when a seller agrees to "carry back" a note from the buyer; risks that can cost you thousands of dollars?

that your good credit rating can be ruined by your buyer's default, many months, or even years, after that buyer "assumes" your loan?

that a clever buyer can stay in possession of your property for many months after he defaults on the contract, and in effect "live for free" at your expense?

that most buyer complaints involve alleged damages of less than $10,000, yet you could be forced to spend thousands in attorney's fees to defend such a claim?

that alleged failure to disclose such things as previous repairs, insects, exact lot lines, and the presence of certain types of mold/fungus in the property are the source of many lawsuits against sellers?

In short, a lawsuit can ruin your whole day! Even if you know that the buyer's claims are completely bogus, it can take many months and many thousands of dollars to prove that you are "innocent." What's worse, you have no "malpractice" insurance to pay these bills; you will have to write all the checks yourself. And, of course, you could lose ... and losing a case like this can be disastrous. You and the buyer have a contractual relationship, and sellers who lose such suits can find themselves having to pay not only the amount of damages awarded to the buyer, as well as their own attorney, but they may also be ordered to pay the fees of the attorney who sued them!

Experienced, professional real estate agents understand these kinds of risks, and they can help you to minimize them in a variety of ways. They devote many hours to training and educational programs which emphasize risk reduction, and protecting their clients' interests.
Now, there are any number of reasons why your buyers may decide to take action against you (sometimes, they just don't feel like making the payments any more). However, most of these complaints allege problems with the condition of the property, and/or representations made to them about the property or the transaction. An experienced agent knows how to reduce the risk of these types of complaints, by including effective "AS IS" and other clauses in the contract language, and by providing for such things as a professional home inspection, and a home warranty.

When a problem arises in the transaction, an experienced agent can move swiftly to "nip it in the bud." Their thorough understanding of the myriad facets of modern transactions can help them to identify the real problem, and to either solve it themselves, or by calling upon resources that the typical seller simply does not have access to.

There is no escaping it: the best way to deal with a complaint is to prevent it in the first place. The organized real estate community has spent a lot of time thinking about how to reduce the likelihood of claims, and has responded to this threat in a number of ways. For example, the standard contract forms that most agents use are chock full of language which can help protect you, and reduce your exposure to claims and litigation.

Of course, I don't mean to scare you with all this! But hey, it is a jungle out there. Indeed, I've only touched on a few of the pitfalls of selling your home on your own. Take it from someone who knows: selling your home without professional help is very risky business indeed. Yes, it costs money to employ a real estate agent, but if you find the right one, you will likely be able to sell your property faster, while at the same time reducing the chances that your buyer will come back to haunt you.

10 Biggest Selling Myths

2007-01-01T13:38:00.000-08:00

Selling a house can be a bit like raising a child - everyone gives you advice that may or may not be true for you. Here are ten myths uncovered:

1. Myth: You should always price your home high and gradually lower it if it doesn’t sell.
Truth: Pricing too high can be as bad as pricing too low.

You may think by listing high you can always accept a lower offer, but if you do, you’ll miss the buyers looking in the price range where your home should be. Offers may not even come in, because interested buyers are scared off by the price and won’t bother to look. By the time the listing price is corrected, you will have lost a large group of potential buyers. Your real estate agent will offer you a comparable market analysis. This is a document that compares your home to other similar homes in your area, with the goal of helping you to accurately assess your home’s true market value.

2. Myth: Minor repairs can wait until later. There are more important things to be done.
Truth: Minor repairs make your house more marketable, allowing you to maximize your return (or minimize loss) on the sale.

By and large, buyers are looking for an inviting home in move-in condition. Buyers who are willing to tackle the repairs after moving in automatically subtract the cost of needed fix-ups from the price they offer. You save nothing by putting off these items, and you may likely slow the sale of your home.

3. Myth: Once potential buyers see the inside of your home, curb appeal won’t matter.
Truth: Buyers probably won’t make it to the inside of the home if the outside of your home does not appeal to them.

Many buyers drive by a home before deciding whether or not to look inside. Your home’s exterior will have less than a minute to make a good first impression. Spruce up the lawn, trim shrubs and trees, and weed the garden. Clear the walkways and driveways of leaves and other debris. Repair gutters and eaves, touch up the exterior paint and repair or resurface cracked driveways and sidewalks. Place potted flowers out front, hang a wreath on the door and put out a pleasing welcome mat for added curb appeal.

4. Myth: Once potential buyers fall in love with the exterior look of your home, you put interior improvements on the back burner.
Truth: Buyers have no qualms about walking right out the front door within 60 seconds if the house doesn’t look like it could be theirs.

Remember that most buyers are looking for an inviting home in move-in condition. Spending a few thousand dollars for the right work on your home before you sell it, usually translates into a higher selling price and shorter marketing time. Your real estate agent will consult with you about the repairs and replacements that will benefit you most.

5. Myth: Your home must be every homebuyer’s dream home.
Truth: If you get carried away with repairs and replacements to your home, you may end up over-improving the house.

At some point, improvements that you make to your home can exceed what is customary for comparable homes in your area. For instance, there may not be another swimming pool in your entire subdivision. After spending $20,000 to install an in-ground swimming pool that you hope will lure buyers, you may find that it only raises the market value of your home by $10,000 because there are no other comparable properties to support the market value of the pool. As a rule of thumb, if your improvements push your home’s value higher than 20% above average neighboring home values, don’t expect to recoup the entire amount of improvements. Your real estate agent can advise you as to the scope of projects you might consider in preparing your house for sale.

6. Myth: Buyers are never swayed by sellers that offer creative financing options.
Truth: By offering flexibility in financing options, you may lure more prospective buyers.

You might consider offering seller financing, paying some of the buyer’s closing costs, including a one-year home warranty, or other buyer incentives. Your real estate agent, who has professional knowledge of local market activity, can help you decide what incentives, if any, to offer.

7. Myth: You are better off selling your home on your own, thus saving the commission you would have paid to a real estate agent.
Truth: Statistically, many sellers who attempt to sell their homes on their own cannot complete the sale without the service of a professional real estate agent.

Sellers who sell their home without a real estate agent often net less from the sale than sellers who use one. You visit a doctor when you’re sick and take your car to a mechanic when it needs repairs. It makes sense to contact a real estate professional when you are preparing to sell your biggest asset!

8. Myth: Good sellers should be available to guide prospective buyers through the home, giving the whole process a more personal touch.
Truth: Prospective buyers will feel more like the house could be theirs if the current owners are not there.

The presence of homeowners during a viewing can make buyers feel like they are intruding. They need to be able to visualize your house as their home, which can be difficult to do when they are acutely aware that it is still your home. Your real estate agent will be happy to look out for your home during open houses or showings.

9. Myth: Successful sellers insist that the terms of the sale happen their way or no way.
Truth: If you approach the sale of your home as the buyer’s adversary, you risk losing a perfectly solid buyer for no good reason.

Both you and the buyer have the same goal: for you to sell your home and for the buyer to buy it. Work with your real estate agent to approach negotiations positively and with a win-win frame of mind.

10. Myth: When you receive an offer, you should make the buyer wait. This gives you a better negotiating position.
Truth: You should reply immediately to an offer!

When a buyer makes an offer, that buyer is, at that moment in time, ready to buy your home. Moods can change, and you don’t want to lose the sale because you stalled in replying.

The Importance of Pre-qualifying for a Mortgage

2006-12-26T10:28:00.000-08:00

Making the right choice when it comes to purchasing a home is a matter of good planning. There is so much to learn, especially on your first purchase, that it's essential to surround yourself with qualified professionals throughout the process. Even with the help of qualified professionals, you’ll need to understand, in a general sense, how the process works. Our hope is that this article we be a very helpful introduction to the process of buying a home and qualifying for a mortgage.

Affordability and Financing

The question of ‘How much can we afford?’ is largely answered by comparing your income to expenses in two different formulas:

Your gross income to your future mortgage payments, heating costs, strata fees and property taxes, commonly called the Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDS Ratio)

The three previous expenses plus all other debt servicing costs that you regularly pay on a monthly basis. This formula is commonly called the Total Debt Service Ratio (TDS). The TDS Ratio often includes the payments you make on credit card debt, automobile loans, existing lines of credit and student loans as well as other similar loans.

The current maximum ratios for individuals and couples with a 5% to 25% down payment are 35% for GDS and 42% for TDS. In English, this means that lenders will allow you to use a maximum of 35% of your total pre-tax or gross income to pay for your mortgage payments, property taxes and heating costs. And a maximum of 42% of your total pre-tax or gross income for these payments plus all other debt servicing cost you may have –see previous paragraph for examples.

By using these ratios I can help you select a price range for your new home that you are going to be comfortable with and let you know what the maximum mortgage that you will qualify for. This will save you time , money and disappointments you may incur by looking at homes over your price range.

Why get pre qualified?

There are 3 good reasons to get pre qualified;

It saves you time from looking at homes outside your price range.
We can get you an interest rate locked in for up to 120 days. This protects you from any rate increases that can happen after you have written and offer but before you close on the purchase. This could save you thousands of dollars in interest.
It makes your offer more appealing to a seller, if they know you are a qualified buyer. This means they will look at your offer more seriously which can even result in a lower purchase price.

This pre-qualifying stage is also a good time to find out about the differences between conventional mortgages and high ratio insured mortgages. Ask about assistance for first time the federal government's "RSP Homebuyer's Plan" letting you use funds from your RSP to purchase a home and the option of using a gifted down payment to help you qualify.

Applying For Your Mortgage - A Checklist

A copy of the accepted Offer To Purchase, MLS print out, Strata Documents and the land survey.
A current salary letter from your employer.
Self-employed individuals need financial statements for the past three years as well as personal income tax returns.
Confirmation where your down payment came from (i.e. bank statements or a gift letter).

If you are buying a home to be constructed you will need a copy of the building plans and specifications, the land survey, plus your agreement with the builder.
With these documents in hand, I can move quickly to secure an unconditional mortgage approval once you’ve found the perfect home.

Making House Hunting Fun

By taking care of your mortgage needs first you can focus your attention on the details of the home you are buying.

Take the guesswork out of shopping for a home by taking advantage of all the professional resources available to guide you through the many choices available when purchasing your first home.

Mortgage Life Insurance
You should look at some type of life insurance, disability and critical illness insurance, especially where two incomes are involved. Just like fire insurance, you will sleep better knowing that you are covered for those curve balls that life throws at us.

Prepayment Privileges

I could go on at length about the various features of each mortgage type but in the interest of time, our best advice is to contact me with the questions you are most concerned about. I know the pre-payment privileges of the various financial institutions on the system. These let you pay down your mortgage faster. Also be aware that the longer the amortization period (the time it takes to pay off a mortgage), the more interest you will end up paying. Amortization periods range from five to forty years.

Accelerated mortgage payments such as Bi-weekly payments divide the monthly payment in half and make them payable every 2 weeks. This means you will make 26 half payments a year or 13 full payments a year. This extra 2 half payments can reduce your mortgage from 25 years down to 17 years.

Some clients find having a payment every 2 weeks hard to budget for as there will be 2 months in every year that have 3 half payments in it. This extra payment can through your bank account balance out of whack if you are not very careful and not following which months have the extra payments.

You can accomplish the same goal by just increasing your monthly payment by 10% and making 12 monthly payments a year.

Monthly Vs Accelerated Bi Weekly Payments

Payment Schedule Amount # of Payments Yearly Total
Monthly $1000 x 12 = $12,000
Monthly + 10% $1,100 x 12 = $13,200
Bi Weekly $462 x 26 = $12,000
Accelerated Bi Weekly $500 x 26 = $13,000

Portable and Assumable

Another option to consider is portability. If later, you decide to sell your home and buy another, you should be able to take your mortgage with you or transfer it to the buyer of your home without penalty. This can turn out to be a major advantage if your mortgage rate is below current market rates.

Selecting the Right Mortgage

The basic choices to look at in selecting a mortgage include:

Conventional or high ratio mortgages
Term length
Closed or open mortgages
Fixed rate vs. variable rate

A conventional mortgage is a loan for less than 75% of the appraised value or purchase price of the property, whichever is less. A high ratio mortgage is usually for more than 75% of the appraised value or purchase price. This type of mortgage is often referred to as an NHA mortgage because it is granted under the provisions of the National Housing Act and must, by law, be insured through CMHC, GE or a private insurer for which the borrower pays the insurance premium, application, legal and property appraisal fees.

The term you select is important. Short term mortgages can be appropriate if you believe interest rates will drop come renewal time, but in many of these circumstances, they are inferior to a variable rate mortgage. Long term mortgages are suitable if you feel rates will rise in the next few years, they also provide you with the security of knowing what your payments are for a long term. This can be especially important for first time homebuyers. The key is to choose a mortgage that fits your tolerance to risk.

A closed mortgage usually offers a lower interest rate than an open one of the same term, but the open mortgage lets you pay off as much as you want, any time, without penalty. This is a feature many consumers pay for and do not use. The pre payment options that come with most closed mortgages are usually sufficient.

You can choose a fixed or variable interest rate. A fixed rate mortgage allows you to budget precisely for whatever term you select anywhere from six months to 25 years. A variable rate fluctuates with the market and allows you to follow the rates as they drop. These mortgages are very useful in a falling interest rate market.

The Next Step

Call us!!

The Benefits of Getting a Professional Home Inspection

2006-12-24T22:18:00.000-08:00

What is a professional home inspection?

Professional home inspections are an important factor for everyone seeking or planning to buy or sell a home. A home may appear be in very good condition but if we go through the things that can’t be seen with the eye we may find issues that need to be addressed. The need of a professional home inspection is increasing day by day because of increasing litigation due to unknown or undisclosed defects.

A normal individual is not supposed to be an expert in all these technical details. This leads for the need of a professional home inspector who will inspect the home. A typical home inspection will take several hours to complete.

There are many advantages or benefits to hiring a professional home inspector, some of these benefits are:

Benefits for the buyers

1) With a professional home inspection a buyer can calculate the most realistic price of the property he is going to buy. However, in most cases, the inspection is done after negotiating the price. The home inspection results can be used in negotiating repairs or if the repairs are extensive a buyer may want to back out of the transaction if the contract allows it. The buyers can compare the features and drawbacks with the similar properties available in the same condition.

2) Ridding the buyer from the stress of legal or documentary formalities as the inspector will provide a written report.

3) A Buyer can better guess the possible lifetime of the structure; this will enable him in planning the prospective use of this structure.

4) A buyer can better understand the impact of any unknown natural disaster on the home structure.

5) This could also save hundreds of dollars by making the buyer aware of repairs needed at the surface, fitting, flooring or roof of the structure as well as electrical and plumbing.

6) It satisfies a buyer by familiarizing them with all the maintenance and repair details, well in advance.

Benefits for the sellers

1) A professional home inspection gives the sellers a better idea about the current condition of their property. This is most important in cases where seller has not lived in the house and isn’t very familiar with it. Such as rental property, inherited property, etc.

2) With the better understanding of the main features of the home seller can bargain more confidently about the pricing by making any necessary repairs prior to putting the house on the market.

3) Gives you confidence of well-trained, professional helping hands with you.

These benefits of a professional home inspection make this service very popular among buyers and sellers. I suggest working with an inspector who is a member of CAHPI, Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors. A professional inspection, in the Calgary, AB area, will cost about $350 + GST but it’s money well spent by a buyer.

Staging: Is it worth it?

2006-12-24T22:02:00.000-08:00

The main benefit of hiring a professional to stage your home is that they will look at your surroundings with an experienced, tasteful and objective eye. They won't be attached to grandmother's antique table, nor will they have the same affinity you may have for that pink bathroom. They will be able to come in and tell you which items should be removed, what should be added and how best to feature your home.

While home staging may seem like an unnecessary expense, there probably isn't a single house that couldn't benefit from a bit of carefully manipulated staging-even if it's a simple matter of re-organizing, freshening up and removing clutter. And often, suggestions and changes from professionals can amount to significant increases in the bottom line profit when selling your home.

Home staging pricing for a simple consultation run from $200 to $400, yet for extensive staging work on larger homes, be prepared for pricing to run up to $6,000. However, according to www.StagedHomes.com, a leader in home staging services, statistics show an average of a 3% minimum increase in final sales price on homes that had been staged, versus those who had not. On a $300,000 home, that's a $9,000 increase-and well worth the home staging fees.

For more information on how best to showcase your home for sale, visit a home staging professional or your local realtor. Many realtors will even offer home staging services as part of their listing package, so be sure to ask if that's something they offer, or if they can recommend someone in the industry. If you're willing to put out a bit of money up front, you just might find that the benefits from staging your home can greatly outweigh home staging costs.