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        <title>Calgary Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/2018-12/</link>
        <description>Justin Havre's Calgary Real Estate Blog brings you the latest market news and property listings, as well as tips for buying or selling a home.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-selling-how-to-show-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-selling-how-to-show-your-home.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Home Selling: How to Show Your Home</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





You have a beautiful home, and you know it will sell quickly if you can just get people in to see it. There are many steps to selling a house, but here are ways you can make showings easier on your real estate agent and prospective buyers.


Should I Stage My Home?


What is home staging and how important is it? The way that sellers stage a home sends a clear message to buyers. That message could be, &quot;I love my home so much that I don't really want someone else to buy it,&quot; or &quot;I am going to let you decide if this home is right for you.&quot; Most experts will tell you that the latter is the better choice. You do not have to make a vast number of improvements just so buyers will be interested, but it will be worth it to you financially to put the home in the best, cleanest order you can. If you're wondering how to stage a home for sale, aim to make each room seem as if it came out of someone else's home, with as little personalization as possible. This way, home buyers are not distracted by your design, and can rather imagine themselves living in the space.


When Is the Best Time for Showings?


Buyers often want to look at homes in their off hours, which means that sellers' best time for showings is evenings and weekends, rather than in the middle of the day on weekdays. However, sellers do have some control over the timing. Tell the seller estate agent of the best times for showings, and they will make an attempt to conform to those requirements. Be honest about the times you are available, so that you can have the home ready for any showing that is on the schedule. Keep your home in show-ready condition as much as you can, so that you only have to do spot-cleaning and picking up if you get a short notice of a showing.


Should I Schedule an Open House?


Experts have mixed views about the benefit of an open house. Some people argue that an open house is a great way to start off your home selling ambitions with a bang, not a whimper. Others claim that open houses are just a good way for people to come in and rifle through your belongings. Do open houses sell homes? Ask your real estate agent for real estate advice about the wisdom of an open house in your area and season. An open house might bring a bigger draw of potential buyers, especially if selling in your neighbourhood is slow at the moment.


Should I Stay at Home for My Showings?


One of the many questions that homeowners ask when the time comes to have a showing is whether or not they should be present at the showing. This is up to the homeowners. Being present during a home showing means that the home owner is present to answer questions that buyers may ask.


However, sometimes buyers feel awkward at showings where owners are present. Owners who decide to stay in the house during showings must work hard not to have an overbearing presence around buyers. 


How Do I Address Safety Issues?


Anytime you plan to have virtual strangers coming in to your home (especially if you are not going to be there during the showing), you must address all matters of safety. If selling a home in winter, be sure to attend to the driveway and all walkways to confirm that they are free of ice and any tripping hazards. Inside the home, alert the seller agent to any aspects that could be dangerous to the unaware, such as a low stair or doorway. Take steps to protect the home, as well. Keep all medications in a container that can be removed during showings, and avoid leaving small, valuable items in plain sight.


Selling a home can be an exhilarating prospect, but only if the seller is prepared to show it. By taking advantage of home staging and ideal showing times, a seller can guide more buyers to their home and increase the likelihood of selling the home sooner, at a higher price.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 14 Dec 2018 09:08:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-pricing.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-pricing.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>How Much Money Do You Expect to Make When You Sell Your Home?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





If you're like many Calgarians, you're expecting to make a lot when you sell your home. A poll released by BMO and conducted by Pollara shows that 33 of the residential home owners here in the city believe that their home is worth twice as much now than it was at the time of purchase.


The survey also shows that 32 of Canadians think that their home is worth double the amount they first invested into it. The results were also high in major cities across the country. In Montréal, 48 of those polled believe that their home is worth twice the amount while 43 of the residents in Vancouver and 42 of the home owners in Toronto believe the same thing.


Nationally, average Canadian homeowners are expecting to see a 62 ROI on the sale of their homes. They believe that their properties could sell for an average price of $369,968, which would translate into a $141,686 profit before fees and commissions are paid.


According to the report, Canadian prices for home sales have gone up 153 since 1994 and 78 since 2004. In Calgary, home owners are expecting to see a 47 ROI when they sell their properties. The average price that a Calgary home owner paid for a home was $308,541 while the expected sale price is $452,769. In Alberta, the average purchase price was $260,642 and the expected sale price is $403,287.


According to the BMO report figures above, the expected return on investment on a Calgary home is $144,228. The ROI for an Alberta home is $142,645.


Owning a home is one of the best investments that you can make in your lifetime. It's something that you can enjoy while at the same time watching it increase in value. It's a place where memories can be formed and where a family can grow.


For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.


What Do Buyers Want To Pay For Your Home?


If you’re selling your home, you’ll have a very personal perspective on what it‘s worth. You’ll remember all the hours you put into making the backyard flower garden beautiful, or the work you put into renovating the basement, or the money you spent on installing new hardwood floors in the living room and hallways. It’s natural to want these improvements factored into the asking price.


However, potential buyers don’t have that same perspective. Although they may appreciate the improvements made to the home, buyers will only be interested in paying current market value for your property. That’s the price for which comparable homes with comparable features are currently selling in your area.


Buyers don’t see all the hours you spent on improvements and renovations. What they see, instead, are the final features: the hardwood floors, the freshly painted bedrooms, the sparkling new master ensuite. Features like these will certainly help sell your home faster and for the best price—but that price will likely be close to the current market value.


Now, it’s tempting to try to set a list price high above the current market value in the hopes that some buyer will appreciate all the time and money put into the property. But that strategy rarely, if ever, works. In most cases, pricing your home higher than comparable properties on the market only discourages potential buyers from viewing it: buyers expect to pay market price.


The good news is that the current market value of your home may be a lot higher than you think. The only way to know for sure is to have an experienced REALTOR® look at it and provide you with an estimate.






The FATAL Pricing Mistake Home Sellers Make


Price is the MOST important factor to consider when selling. So when pricing a home, should you list competitively, or should you speculate a bit and see if you will catch the “big fish”? Let’s take a look at both options.


What would happen if the real estate market suddenly shifted in favor of sellers, and you priced your home off comparable properties in your area that were now outdated (pricing it too low)? Well… in this case, you would likely have an offer on your home within a couple days and within 98-100 of your list price. You may even get competing offers and receive more than the original asking price. Your sale is now done and you can forget about it. You may have gotten $5,000 - $10,000 more in 30-60 days, but that is only a “may.”


What if you decide to speculate a bit and you list for a modest $10,000-$15,000 over the determined market value (assuming an average price of $400,000 for the sake of scale)? Either the stars will align and the perfect person, who is looking for a house like yours, will completely ignore the rest of the homes on the market and decide to pay more for your property out of pure bliss and emotion. Or it will sit for a while. No one knows how long for sure, but you will likely consider a price reduction before 30-45 days. If the market is moving up, then your home may sell in a few months when the market catches it, but what if it doesn’t?


When considering a home to purchase, buyers don’t look at price alone. They always want to know how long a property has been on the market. If it has been sitting, they want to know why, and automatically assume that something is wrong. Furthermore, when they first view a home and decide it is not for them (could be price, layout, etc.) even a price reduction rarely entices them to take a second look if they already feel that they don’t like the home. Finally, if you are forced to price reduce, this can be a slippery slope. After waiting for 30 days in a slower market, you will not be the only person who has reduced their price.


You will still likely be overpriced, as everyone who was priced ok originally, but is also now the victim of the slow market, is now lower priced than they were before (chasing the market down). You may now actually get less than you would have if it was originally priced lower, due to the stigma of your home and potential market fluctuations. It is now 90 days or more later. If you already bought another home, this can be a very stressful experience (two mortgage payments).


In the example of pricing too low, you sold very quick, got on with your goals and if the market went up, you hopefully bought again to take advantage of the increase. Yes, you may have left a few thousand dollars on the table. If you priced your house too high, you had to price reduce, you may have extra carrying costs (two mortgages), your home now has a stigma and if the market went up, you probably missed out buying again to take advantage of the increase. In fact, if the market went down (in the first example you had already sold), then you will have to keep reducing until it becomes more appealing than the other homes in the community.


The key to pricing a home is to look at your goals and assess how soon you would like it to sell. If you would like to sell quickly, then price your home 1-2 percent below market value to cushion yourself from fluctuations and to get on with your goals. At market value, you should expect to sell in the average selling time (depends on your market). But when you are overpriced, no one wins. It is like passing up a guaranteed cash pay out in a lottery to go for the big prize. You just might get it…. but at what cost, if you don’t?


Want to find out the current market value of your home? Give us a call today at 403-217-0003 or contact us through this website.


For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 11 Dec 2018 10:43:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-sale-marketing.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-sale-marketing.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>How to Market Your Home Sale for Better Offers</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Most people know that marketing is folded into practically everything they see. From toothpaste ads to funny Facebook posts, companies all over the country are trying to make their mark whenever and wherever they can. But not everyone knows that they can use marketing tricks to sell their home the same way they might sell their used clothes on eBay. Sellers can boost their offers by making their home just a little more appealing to the right people.


For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.


The First Public Appearance


The first public appearance of a home starts when a seller officially lists it on the market. This is the time for sellers to decide if their home is a high-end fantasy or a discounted dream. Believe it or not, both scenarios can work to a seller's advantage. If the home is priced on the high end for the neighborhood, it gives sellers a chance to point out all the upgrades they've done that make the home so valuable. Now is a good time to brag about those new granite countertops or the rain shower head they had installed. If the home is listed on the low end, it can hook the interest of two serious buyers, resulting in a bidding war that moves the price up, up, and away.


Finding Social Media


Social media can be a great way for sellers to find buyers that may not have seen the sign on the lawn or the listing on the MLS. Plus, custom social media groups give home buyers a means to narrow down their search far more than a real estate booklet ever could. For example, people may form a group just for buyers interested in a specific block of the neighborhood. Sellers can also get lucky by advertising to people looking on behalf of a home buyer.


So if an elderly Panorama new home buyer is searching in a seller's area, the seller can connect via social media with a friend who is also looking for potential properties. Finally, social media groups give social media groups a way to spot which demographics are looking for homes. If a seller notices that most buyers on social media are young families, they can redesign the second bedroom to be a nursery and the third bedroom to be a playroom.


Glossy Advertisements


The human brain reacts to high-quality images and graphics instinctively compared to their low-budget counterparts:




Staging: From rustic to French country, sellers can stage their home however they like to attract the most attention. Splurging on quality furniture and decorations will not only make the home look more appealing during open houses, but it can also produce better images for any other advertising efforts a seller may make.


Graphics: Photos and videos are there to help the buyer picture themselves in the home before they even step foot inside it. The cozy fireplace, gourmet kitchenware, and cashmere throw may seem over the top, but they're legitimate ways to form emotional bonds between property and person.


Virtual reality: VR tours are the latest in home marketing, allowing customers to 'walk' around inside a home and experience its many features. Sellers with luxury homes should consider this as a potential option because it tends to attract serious buyers.




Real Estate Agents


The right real estate agent can put a seller's marketing campaign together in a way they never could have on their own. A seller who wants to market their home without any help may not even know where to start. Agents know how to tailor a marketing strategy so that it really resonates with buyers.


Finding the right professional help is important not just for the practical questions of marketing a home for better offers, but also the legal implications as well. For example, if the seller is hiring a drone to capture aerial footage of the home, they have to be careful they don't overstep their neighborhood restrictions about when and where they can film. The right agent can ensure that all marketing is done within the letter of the law.


Real estate agents also know the most about who is buying the homes in a neighborhood. From MLS pricing to staging, knowing the demographics is a huge step in marketing. They may even be prepared to design a whole website for the home if they think it will help a seller get more for it.


A home is a huge investment in a person's life, so it deserves some attention when it comes time to sell it. The truth is that the right marketing can be the difference between selling a home at the top or the bottom of the market.


For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 10 Dec 2018 08:21:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/what-should-you-do-when-your-home-isnt-selling.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/what-should-you-do-when-your-home-isnt-selling.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>What Should You Do When Your Home Isn't Selling?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





You have put your home on the market a few months ago and it just hasn't captivated a buyer yet. You have done everything you can do to make it marketable but there's something keeping it from selling.


What to Do When Your Home Won’t Sell


Not necessarily either of them. Dropping the price may not be the right thing to do. It may not be the price that is keeping the buyers away. It may be something completely different.


A lot of home sellers automatically assume that a high price is the reason that their home isn't selling. This is data that is only based on an assumption and before you go ahead and make any changes regarding the selling of your property you should first find out what it is that needs to be changed.


Identify the Problem With Your Home Listing


Here are some of the questions you should be asking yourself when you find that your home is sitting on the market for longer than expected:




Are the market conditions in your neighborhood tougher than what you'd find in other parts of Calgary?


Are you working with the right agent?


Does your home reflect the current home sale price listings in your community?


Is there a problem with the presentation of the home?


Could there be something not right with the marketing or advertising of your property?




If your home has been sitting on the listings for quite a while it's time to have an open talk with your real estate agent. Find out what properties have been sold in your area during the last couple of months and compare these sales to yours in terms of pricing and home features.


What to Do If Your Home Listing Expires Without Selling


Selling a home can be stressful, especially if you're doing it on your own or dealing with an inexperienced realtor. Sometimes, your home won't sell and it can be attributed to a number of reasons from the wrong pricing to a poor listing or one of many other choices.


If you tried to sell your home without any lucky, don't think you cannot re-list the home. With the right realtor and the right information, you can create a better listing and give your home a chance to be sold this time around. Here are a couple things you can do to make it easier to sell your home.


Staging


One of the major things homeowners forget to do or just neglect, when listing their home, is the staging process. This is very important and can help homebuyers see the potential of your home. They will actually be able to picture themselves living in the home, if it's staged correctly.


It's best to remove any unnecessary furniture or weathered furniture. This will help to show off the size of the home. You will want to leave up family pictures and any art, as long as it doesn't clutter the place. Neutral colours are best for the walls and will help to make your home a bit of a blank slate for the new homeowner.


Use an Experienced Real Estate Agent


It seems like common sense, but many homeowners forget how helpful an experienced Realtor can be. Since this person actually deals with real estate on a day-to-day basis, they are your go-to expert for all things related to buying or selling a home. If you didn't do this the first time around, make sure you do this time.


An expired listing isn't the end of the world. You can still sell your home and get the price you desire, if you choose an experienced real estate agent and use their advice the second time around.


In many cases all that may be required to stir up more interest in your home is a more aggressive marketing campaign. Dropping the price should be the last thing on your list when all of the other avenues have been explored. Usually the decision to sell your home at a certain price was based on current market conditions, which means that lowering the price won’t automatically lead to a fast sale.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 04 Dec 2018 17:38:00 -0700</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-siding-renovation.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-siding-renovation.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Choosing Siding? What You Need To Know</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Different kinds of siding perform in different ways. When the time comes to choose a siding, knowing the pros and cons of each siding type can help homeowners decide which type of siding is right for them. This siding guide will discuss some of the most popular options and talk about how to proceed after making a choice.


Know the Options


Siding comes in a range of styles. Some types of siding are longer lasting and more durable than others. Here's what you need to know.


Vinyl Siding


Vinyl siding is one of the most popular types of siding available today. It is popular because it's easy to install, easy to maintain, attractive, comes in a range of colors and is relatively pest-resistant. Unlike wood and some other types of siding, it never needs to be painted. Eventually, vinyl siding will fade and may crack. However, good vinyl siding will last several decades if it's properly maintained.


Brick Veneer


Brick veneer has the look of old fashioned brick, but it's much thinner and non-load bearing. Because it's so thin, water penetrates it very easily. For this reason, homes with brick veneer siding must be properly wrapped with a building envelope to protect the wood structure underneath.


Tuscany homeowners in Calgary who install brick veneer must take care to ensure that the contractor installing the brick veneer is experienced and knowledgeable about the material. If the brick is not installed properly, the home may experience serious moisture problems.


One of the great advantages of brick veneer is that it will last a lifetime, if properly installed and maintained. Homeowners like brick veneer because it needs little maintenance aside from occasional tuck pointing.


Wood Siding


Wood siding is a classic building material. With proper maintenance, it is long lasting and attractive. However, wood siding needs to be repainted regularly and can be vulnerable to wood eating pests. If wood siding is not painted as often as needed, it may begin to rot.


Homeowners with historic homes often prefer wood siding because of its authentic beauty. Some homeowners with historic properties will make the transition to vinyl siding to reduce necessary maintenance.


Aluminum Siding


Aluminum siding is durable and eco-friendly, so some homeowners prefer aluminum siding over vinyl. This fully recyclable material has the look of wood without the maintenance of wood. However, aluminum can develop a chalky residue on the siding over a long period of time. Aluminum is also easy to dent and not as easy to repair.


Pick Your Siding


When choosing siding, homeowners must consider a variety of factors including their own ability to maintain the siding, their budget and the look of the siding. It helps to visit show rooms and touch samples before making a final decision. Meeting with contractors to discuss installation can also help make the choice easier.


Get a Contractor


Finding a good contractor is the most important part of performing any home improvement, most siding jobs are not typical DIY projects. However, finding a good contractor can be a challenge. When looking for a contractor, homeowners are encouraged to check references, meet with each contractor in person and get quotes before making a final selection.


Working with a good contractor can help ensure that the home's siding will add value to the property. For more information about how you can get new siding installed on your home, start contacting reputable contractors in your area.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:14:00 -0700</pubDate>
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