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        <title>Calgary Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/tags/calgary-home-selling-tips/</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>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/keeping-your-children-safe-when-selling-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/keeping-your-children-safe-when-selling-your-home.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Keeping Your Children Safe When Selling your Home</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 


Something that a lot of people don't take into account when they are selling their homes is their children's safety. You are going to be having a lot of strangers walking through your home in the next few weeks or months and your children's safety should always be a top concern.


Here are some tips that you should follow to keep your children safe when you are selling your home.


Make Sure Buyers Have a Real Estate Agent


If somebody walks up to your home and knocks on your door for a viewing, let them know that you want to talk to their real estate agent first. You can ask for their agent's number while they wait and you can give them a call. This will let you know whether they are really a person in the market for a new home. If you still feel uncomfortable about letting this person into your home, tell them to make an appointment with your real estate agent first and come back later.


Remove Photos of Children From the Home


Take down any pictures you have of your children. Your real estate agent will take pictures of your rooms and you don't want any of these photos being shown on the Internet.


Don't Leave Your Children's Schedules Out During Viewings


Don't leave any schedules out that show where your children will be at certain times. Any schedules should be taken down, in fact, so that strangers don't find out when you will be in the home and when you are going to be out.


Take Children Out of the House When Showings Are Scheduled


Take children out of the house when showings are scheduled. You never know who may have arranged to come by for a real estate viewing. These individuals do not need to have access to your children when they come to the house. Even if you will be there, having strangers see your children in their home environment can be uncomfortable for everyone involved. Additionally, even if there is nothing amiss, it does not do anything to help sell your home and it may make it more some buyers uncomfortable to have additional people in the home when they are trying to view the house.


It doesn't really take much to protect your children when you are selling your home and you'll feel so much better if you implement these suggestions. It's always best not to leave anything to chance.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 28 Jun 2019 16:15:00 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/sell-your-calgary-home-by-targeting-the-right-market.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/sell-your-calgary-home-by-targeting-the-right-market.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Sell Your Calgary Home by Targeting the Right Market</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





The fastest way to find buyers when selling your home is by figuring out who would want it. There are target markets for anything that is being sold in today's society and the same is true for real estate. When you find your target market and connect with them you will have more interested buyers because they want what you have to offer.


You aren't going to try to sell a one bedroom condo to a family with four children. Likewise, you probably won't end up selling a large estate house to a retired senior. You can narrow down what your target market is by looking at the location of your property, its size and the demographic factors of the community.


What Different Demographics Can You Target?


There are some areas in Calgary that attract families. There are other areas that attract single business people or young couples. Some parts of town draw in seniors. There are a lot of different factors that will affect the target market and who you need to advertise to when you are selling your home. Your real estate agent will know all about this and can tell you what type of people will be looking at your home.


Exceptions to the Marketing Rule


Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and you will have different types of people and families looking at your home. This does not mean that you should be directly advertising to these other people since they will be the exceptions for the most part.


Using a Real Estate Agent to Calculate Your Marketing Strategy


Your real estate agent knows how to advertise and market to different sections of the population. They also know what type of buyers would be interested in your home based on the items mentioned above. It is important that you understand why they are marketing your house a certain way so that you feel comfortable with the advertising.


Why You Should Always Hire a Real Estate Agent to Market For You


When selling your home, real estate agents can help you reach, or even exceed your goals, by using their skills and expertise to net the best price for your house. They will dial in your marketing program to ensure that you target the right market every step of the way. They use their talents to assist with preparing your home for the market and setting competitive pricing.


When people express interest in your home, you can trust your agent will use their negotiation skills to your benefit. They will help maximize your bids and their values to ensure you can sell your home fast at a price you are happy to get. They will handle all your contract needs to ensure the title transfer process goes smoothly and to plan.


Throughout this process, your agent will lead the way, helping you make the best decisions and apply the provided strategies correctly. They will ensure you understand the steps to successfully marketing your properties and the terms of the agreements presented during the bidding process. If you want to move through these steps with confidence, you should hire a real estate agent to help you out.  


Sell Your Home With an Effective Marketing Strategy Today


This is your house that is being sold, and you have the right to question everything along the way. If you ever have any questions you should consult with your agent and do it pleasantly. Ninety-nine percent of the time your agent has a specific marketing strategy in place and one percent of the time he may have made a mistake. As long as communication is done respectfully by both sides you can expect a quicker sale when selling your home by targeting the right market.


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

 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 31 May 2019 13:34:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/buying-and-selling-homes-with-a-dark-past.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/buying-and-selling-homes-with-a-dark-past.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Buying and Selling Homes with a Dark Past</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Recently, a home in Calgary went on the market that had a dark past associated with it. The home is the one where multiple murders occurred this year. Across Canada every year, many homes get listed where violent attacks have occurred. In the industry, these homes are referred to as &quot;stigmatized properties&quot;.


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

The Laws Regarding Stigmatized Properties


In the United States, there is a law in most states requiring sellers to make a full disclosure about a murder or a suicide that has occurred on the property within the last 3 years. In Canada, Québec is the only province in the country that has a disclosure law for murder. Throughout the rest of Canada, including Alberta, a real estate agent has no legal obligation to let a buyer know that the property has a dark past.


How Real Estate Agents Handle Stigmatized Property Disclosures


There is, however, an integrity code that a real estate agent has to abide to. If a buyer asks about a dark past regarding a home, the agent has 2 ways they can answer.




They can state the truth that the murder happened there.


If the seller has decided to not disclose the information, the agent will let the potential buyer know that they'll have to perform his own research.




Warning Signs of Stigmatized Properties


When buyers are searching for a home, they may be concerned that they will not be able to find out from the seller if a home is considered stigmatized. If you're searching for a home and would like to avoid the purchase of a stigmatized property, here are a few warning signs to look out for:






The listing has an indication that the agent must be called to learn about seller disclosures.


The listing agent may even use language to describe the property &quot;as is&quot;, or &quot;cash transactions only&quot;, which can indicate a property that has been tough to sell.


If the listing has been on the market for longer than any other comparable property, you could be dealing with a property that is stigmatized.






If a property looks too good to be true, it might be a property that has a sketchy past. Of course, this is no guarantee that something dark has happened in a home, and the only way to find out for sure is to speak with the agent about it. Due to their integrity obligation, agents can't wait until the last minute to share stigmas with potential buyers, and must share this information as soon as possible to give the buyer a chance to avoid purchasing the property.


The Fate of Famous Stigmatized Properties


In some cases, where the properties have become notorious sites of a murder, the building needs to be torn down. This was the case with the Paul Bernardo home in St. Catherine's, Ontario, O.J. Simpson's house, the buildings at Robert Pickton's pig farm in Coquitlam, and others.


What Qualifies a Property as Stigmatized?


When it comes to homeowners that have peacefully passed away in their own places, it doesn't seem to be a big deal to most people. Violent deaths, however, attach a negative stigma to a home and make it much harder to sell.


The best way to find out about a home's past if you are concerned about it is to check with the neighbours. They will be able to give you a heads up about a home that may carry a dark past with it.


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

 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 17 May 2019 11:34:00 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/top-reasons-why-homeowners-may-need-to-sell-a-home-quickly.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/top-reasons-why-homeowners-may-need-to-sell-a-home-quickly.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Top Reasons Why Homeowners May Need To Sell a Home Quickly</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





When you're looking through listings of homes for sale you may see a few mentioning that the owner is highly motivated to sell. There are quite a few reasons to sell a home fast, and here are the top seven reasons sellers come to this decision.


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

1. Difficulty Selling the Property


Properties can be difficult to sell for a number of reasons. Quite often there is something dramatically wrong with the house making it undesirable such as foundation problems or serious structural concerns. Another reason could be that the asking price of the home may be too high, so sellers reduce the price in hopes of selling fast.


2. The Mortgage or Taxes are in Arrears


The homeowner may be behind on his payments and have to sell fast. In order to avoid foreclosure and wrecked credit, selling quickly can be a viable solution. Furthermore, if the property taxes are going into arrears, this can cost homeowners everything so a fast sell can prevent a huge financial loss.


3. Having a Financial Crisis


A homeowner may have lost his job and suddenly becomes unable to meet mortgage or tax payment requirements. They may need money to finance a medical expense or to pay for higher education for a child. The faster this seller can find a buyer, the faster he can resolve his personal financial crisis.


4. Home Inheritance


A deceased relative may leave his home as an inheritance. If the home is left to more than one child then the home is usually sold and the money from the sale is divided between the siblings. However, homes that are gifted to a sole recipient may not be needed or desired, so it only makes sense to sell fast in these situations.


5. A Job Transfer


A move to a different town for employment reasons can lead a homeowner into desperation. The person selling probably already has accommodations set up in the new town and won't want to pay to maintain two properties at the same time. In other circumstances, a homeowner may need the proceeds from the sale to settle into a new location.


6. Filing For a Divorce


A divorce case may require both spouses to equally split the assets, and the home might be one of those assets. This could include selling the property so the proceeds can be divided as a part of the final settlement, and usually it needs to be done quickly.


7. An Unoccupied Home


An idle home provides no value to the owner and can become a liability. There may still be a mortgage to pay and property taxes are an annual given that owners simply don't way to pay anymore. Home insurance costs go up and the house is more likely to be vandalized if it is left sitting empty for too long.


As you can see, there are many reasons an owner may want to sell fast, so don't let reduced prices or statements of ‘eager to sell' scare you off from the property of your dreams.


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

 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 10 May 2019 19:56:00 -0600</pubDate>
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<item>
    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-staging-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-staging-your-home.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>What Are the Benefits of Staging Your Home?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





There are many things a home seller can do to make their home more appealing to Canadian buyers. And when it comes to home selling, some sellers empty out the property entirely while others use part or all of their current furnishings to entice a buyer to make an offer. However, most real estate professionals believe that staging is the best way to make the emotional connection a buyer needs to truly desire the property. And whether a seller is selling in a competitive housing market or just wants to make as much money on the sale as possible, good home staging can help. The good news is that staging doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive to set a property apart from its competition.


The Benefits of Staging Your Home 


When you stage your home it is like giving your place a whole makeover. Quite often your live- in furniture will be removed and replaced with other pieces that will make your home more spacious. Walls can be painted neutral colors and aesthetic pieces can be placed around the home in strategic areas.


It's estimated that staging your home can often raise the asking price by 6 to 15. It's a way of appealing to the emotions of a home buyer to make the home more appealing to the eye. The aesthetics are what people will see first when they enter your home and this is what will lead to a faster sale. It's a way of showing buyers the space that's available in the home without a lot of clutter and unwanted furniture in the way.


Staging brings a potential buyer all the more closer to a final vision of what their furniture could look like in the home. When you can place a vision in front of a buyer, it's easier to secure a sale. This is especially true when it comes to luxury homes and houses that have a higher price tag than average.


Sometimes home staging is all it takes to sell a home that has been sitting on the market for too long. In some cases it is the make-break point that leads to a quick sale when there is no logical reason for the home to be lingering on the listings from one month to the next.


Home staging isn’t meant only for the higher-end home either. If you have a home that isn't selling quickly and you know it needs a facelift, staging may be a wise investment. If you don't have the budget to afford this service, you could also consider hiring a home stager for a consultation only. The cost of staging your home can be anywhere from $200-$300 and may be exactly what you need to see a faster sale.





Ways to Visually Create More Space


Many people think of adding square footage to create more space. But that doesn't have to be the case. You can make your home appear bigger without going through the hassle of renovating and remodelling. With just a few home modifications, it is possible to make more from less. And remember, often what the eye needs is the illusion of spaciousness not actually more space.


Here's how to create the illusion of space without adding square footage.


Think diagonal views.


Think back to geometry and how the hypotenuse of the triangle was the longest of the three sides. Apply that to the sightlines within your small-house design. Your house will appear much bigger than it actually is if you are able to stand at one corner of the house and look to the far corner without any obstructions. Also, if you have a room that will be tiled, place the tiles on a diagonal. It makes the space seem larger visually, pushing the walls out.


Think like a sailor


Sailboats usually have no wasted space and that's what you should aim for. Look for opportunities for built-ins, such as building bookshelves in staircases, unique space-saving cabinets, drawers under beds, etc.


Use lighting to open up space and add interest


In creating the feeling of more space, it is important to give your house an airy feel. Use simple window dressings to bring in natural light and steal space from the outdoors and give it to the interior of the house.


If possible, use recessed spot lights as they are both visually appealing and have a low profile that is perfect for a small space.


Play with the furniture


Try to move furniture away from the walls if the space allows. It will give a feeling of more openness when a sofa isn't butted against a wall. If you're buying new pieces, try to purchase items that are on legs versus feet. The higher a piece sits from the floor, the more visual space is present. Also, armless furniture pieces give an illusion of extra space so consider an armless sofa or slipper chairs.


Accessorize


The bigger a piece of artwork is, the bigger the feeling of a space. A wall filled with many small pictures seems cluttered and less dynamic versus a wall with a large piece of art, which makes a bold statement. Also, &quot;lighten up&quot; your corners by using lights and plants. It will look stunning at night, casting shadows on the ceilings and giving an illusion of more space.


Use mirrors to reflect light


When using mirrors in a space, make sure that whatever the mirror is reflecting it is pleasing to the eye, or at least doubles the amount of light let into the space. In addition to mirrors, use other materials that reflect light and space (stainless steel, chrome, etc.). A glass table with stainless steel legs will allow light to bounce off it.


Colour your world


The colour of a room’s walls has the power to create a mood and affect the room’s appearance. Use just one or two colours per room for visual simplicity that expands a space. Also keep in mind that white, neutral or pale colours best reflect light, visually &quot;pushing back&quot; walls. Cool blue and green hues will make a space seem larger and airier. Warm reds and yellows cozy a room and can make it appear smaller.


Let there be height


Use at least one tall element in a room to draw the eye upward, towards the ceiling. Not only does this maximize the vertical space in the room, but it also draws the eye up to the less crowded ceiling space above.


Minimize the amount of furniture you have in each room


It is both wise and essential to select furniture and accessories that perform multiple tasks. The smaller your space, the more this applies, especially with furniture. Storage is an obvious second job for many pieces of furniture.


Every room has good proportions which make its space flexible enough to create any environment you wish. Compromises in decorating, colour techniques, furniture arranging and lighting considerations can all contribute to the illusion of space. By following some of the tips above, you can create a visually larger room.


Staging the Home’s Exterior With Curb Appeal


The home exterior is important to ensure that buyers get the right first impression of your home when they come for a showing. Your garden should be growing, the trees should be full, your lawn should be green and lush and on most days the sun is shining on all of this beauty. Home staging can be done on both the exterior and the interior to make your home stand out from the rest of the crowd. 


A staged home can sell 78 faster than other homes that haven't been staged so follow these tips to make your house look super


Keep up with the lawn maintenance


Think about the curb appeal that you want to present. A little lawn maintenance goes a long way when you're presenting your home in the summer. At any time a buyer may be driving by your home and you’ll want him to see it at its absolute best. Keep the lawn mowed, trim your hedges and prune your trees





Make sure your house number is visible


Make sure that your home is easy to find by potential buyers. Look at your home numbers in both the daytime and in the evening. Are they easy to read? If not, it’s very simple to replace them and doesn’t cost a lot. You don't want anyone to have a hard time finding your home. It can be frustrating if someone is trying to look for your home and can’t see the numbers. The last thing you'll want to deal with is a potential buyer that is frustrated before he even enters your home.


Keep your porch and deck clean and tidy


Declutter your deck and your porch if you have to and do any necessary repairs. Many potential buyers will be paying special attention to the places where they can spend some time outdoors when they're looking at your home during the summer months. You can also stage your deck by adding summery pillows to your patio furniture


Other Landscaping Considerations


Proper staging begins the moment the property comes in sight of the buyer. This is commonly called, &quot;curb appeal&quot;. Here are a few steps to take to make that first impression that much more impressive:




Repave the driveway


Use lighting kits for the walkway


Repaint the trim or outside of the home


Keep the lawn nicely mowed


Add colorful plants


Clean or repaint the front door




Sellers can even politely ask their neighbors to spruce up their own front yards so the buyers know they're in a nice neighborhood. (Or sellers can offer to do the extra work themselves for their neighbors.)


Appeal to Other Senses as Part of Your Home Staging Process

Are you planning on selling your Calgary home? Bake some hot-from-the-oven fresh cookies or bread to see the offers arrive in droves. Marketing research has shown that smells can influence our buying behavior and turn on impulsive decision making.

This sense of smell phenomenon is based on research rather than myth. One study showed that the smell of cookies baking made women purchase more clothing. In another study a mall pumped a sweet citrus fragrance through the air and sales rose from $55 all the way up to $90 per customer. The smell of your home plays a distinct role in the house sale and if you're smart you'll use this knowledge to your advantage.


Would you like to go a step further? Market your home by sound as well. Studies have shown that major chords somehow encourage people to buy more than music in a minor chord. Choose some music to play that includes a lot of these major chords the next time someone makes an appointment to see your home. Of course, you won't want to play the music too loudly. You'll just want to have some quiet background music playing in the home as the smell of cookies makes its way from room to room.


Bake cookies or bread


You know that feeling  you get when you walk into a bakery and smell the delicious odours that are coming from the baked goods? Super cozy. You can achieve this in your home by simply doing some quick baking. Put on a quick batch of cookies or make a loaf of bread to make your home smell like a bakery and to tantalize the senses of the potential buyers that are in for a viewing. When the oven is on, make sure that all the doors to the various rooms in the house are left wide open so that the smell can make its way into all these rooms as well.


Neutralize pet odors


There are products on the market that are all-natural and will leave an extremely pleasant smell behind while lifting up the pet odours that have made their way into your carpet or upholstery. Look for specialized products for pets that contain papaya enzymes in your local pet supply store. While you can purchase commercial products at the grocery store, these are more chemical in nature and often only mask the smell without getting rid of it completely. Plus, they can leave behind a strong chemical smell that many home viewers may find overwhelming. Stick to the natural products and your home will smell great


Light scented candles


Put out your best smelling candles and light them up for a mild air-freshening aroma. Scented candles work a lot better than canned air fresheners and they're available in a multitude of different scents. You can even purchase candles that smell like homemade bread or chocolate chip cookies are baking in the oven.


While you are making your home look as good as it can be, don't forget to make it smell great as well. There may be some lingering odours in your home that you have become used to but others will notice when they come to see your home.


If you're trying to sell your Calgary home, one of the things that will make it more appealing is getting it to smell fantastic. When a person first walks into your house, townhome or condo he'll be using all of his five senses to assess it. Studies have shown that smell can be one of the first senses that gets activated in many people before the other senses start to kick in.


Turning Your Home into a Hot Commodity


It can be quite a mystery for a person that is selling property for the first time to really understand what it's all about. Basically, it is a selling game and you need to get into the spirit to do it right.


Your home to you is not exactly the same as what others are seeing. You may not be viewing the home as it actually is and may be looking at it from the viewpoint of the memories it contains. Potential buyers are not going to see the same picture since to them it is a house and only that.


You are going to have to get into their head space to find out for yourself what they are seeing. You will have to put all of your memories aside and look at it as a true observer. If this is too hard for you to do you will have to get a friend or neighbour to help you out.


There may be a lot of faults in your home that you can't really see for yourself but you can be sure that others will. There is a new game being played and to do it right you need to become a player yourself. Look at your home as a commodity. Would other people be interested in owning this property for sale? Why?


Highlight the focal points of the home and add some extra touches to make it look its best. Tell your real estate agent what you think the best features are and he will tell you what he thinks. Together you can make a wonderful team and get the property off the market quickly and into a buyer's hands.


Consider the Buyer Perspective


Home buyers want to think about their own visions while touring the home, so keep the color palette as neutral as possible. Sellers want buyers to be inspired by their staging finesse, not necessarily to copy it piece by piece. Fill up closets about two thirds of the way to showcase how much space a buyer will have to store their things. Sellers should also keep in mind who's most likely to tour the home before deciding whether to turn their third bedroom into a home office or a nursery. As a result, home sellers should also consider removing family or personal photos and personal items or collections.


Home staging may not be an exact science, but there are ways that Auburn Bay home sellers can use the above tips to generate more interest in the home. The more impressed a buyer is when they first walk through the doors, the more motivated they'll be to make an offer the seller can't refuse.





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    <pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:08:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/finding-a-truly-professional-calgary-real-estate-agent.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/finding-a-truly-professional-calgary-real-estate-agent.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>How to Choose a Professional Calgary Real Estate Agent</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





When you are in the market to buy or sell your home you'll need to find a truly professional Calgary real estate agent that you can work with. This is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will probably ever make in your life and you need someone experienced and dedicated by your side. There is only one type of real estate agent that you need and that is a true professional.


What to Know About Selecting a Professional Real Estate Agent


You see, a lot of real estate agents only work part-time and are not dedicated to their career. They look at it as a way to make extra money on the side and don't have a lot of time to devote to your needs. Only by working with a professional agent will you receive the time and the energy that you deserve to sell your house.


What Makes a Professional Real Estate Agent


A true professional will have an unbreakable attitude that remains positive even at the worst of times. When everything seems to be crumbling down in pieces, they look for the opportunity in these pieces and then work on them. If anything should happen during your home sale that looks like a problem, a pro will show you how to resolve it and turn it into something better.


A truly dedicated agent in the field will have great communication and everything about him will appear professional. Their office will be well kept, they will be well groomed and will go out of their way to give you the time needed to answer your questions. You should never feel rushed or feel like you are being a bother when you are talking to your real estate agent.


As well, your agent will look at your home as something unique and will market it based on its own merits. It will not be lumped together with other homes on the market. It will be treated as a separate entity from the others and all of the best features will be marked and noted on the listings.


What to Expect From Your Real Estate Agent


A committed real estate agent stays up to date in all real estate matters and has an effective follow-up system in place with potential buyers and sellers. They are an organized real estate machine that is in the top of their class and willing to put every effort forward into getting your house sold, or finding you the right one, as fast as possible.


Questions to Ask Your Real Estate Agent


Whether you’re buying or selling a home, it’s important to find a real estate agent who meshes well with you and has the experience necessary to meet your needs in a real estate transaction. If you've never hired a real estate agent here in Calgary before here are some of the most important questions that should be asked.


1. What Type of Experience Do You Have?


Find out how long this real estate agent has been in business and the type of training they have that makes him more qualified than other agents in the field. An experienced agent can bring more experience and better negotiation tactics to the table when it's time to do business.


2. Learn More About Their Marketing Plan


Simply ask the real estate agent what type of marketing plan they are going to use to sell your home. A great agent will have an immediate response ready for this question and will be able to list off several marketing strategies they’ve used in the past with great success.


If you are planning a purchase, ask about the home search plan and how this real estate agent can find you a home you want in the least amount of time.


3. Discuss the Fees Involved


It’s important to find out exactly how much commission you’ll have to pay for your sale and it's always good to get this question out in the open and dealt with right away. Real estate agents work hard to earn their commissions and aren't afraid to discuss this matter with you open and honestly.


You can also ask for a rough estimate of the other types of fees and charges you’d be expected to pay as a home seller. As a buyer, you won't have to pay a real estate commission but you should learn more about the expected costs involved in your upcoming home purchase.


4. Are Referrals Available?



Find out if the agent has a list of professionals that they can recommend to help you with the buying and/or selling of your new home. These may include financial advisors, legal representation, home inspectors, home stagers, home building contractors, mortgage specialists, handymen etc. This will save you a lot of time and trouble since you won't have to shop around for these types of service professionals while you're actively shopping for a new home.


Don't be afraid to ask questions when you're working with a real estate agent. You'll want to be dealing with one that has the time available to really listen to what you have to say and is ready and committed to work with you right to the end to help you reach your real estate goals efficiently and quickly.


Types of Real Estate Agents


If you've become confused about some terminology that's used in the real estate world, you're not alone. For this reason, we have assembled a list of the different types of real estate agents and what they do.


Buyer's Agent


This is the agent that is going to help you buy a home. Both you and the agent will sign an agreement authorizing him to help you find your dream home while at the same time keeping all of your personal information confidential.


Seller's Agent


This agent is working for the seller. A potential buyer can approach the real estate agent that is helping the seller and ask any questions. All questions asked must be answered truthfully and fairly by the agent.





Dual Agent


When a seller and a buyer are represented by one agent, they are called a dual agent. They must work for both the buyer and the seller and has separate agreements with each one.


Working with a dual agent can become confusing. While the seller is looking for the highest price, the buyer is trying to get the best deal possible. The agent is supposed to be the intermediary that works on making both parties happy.


In most cases you're better off working with a buyer’s agent or a seller's agent when it's time to purchase or sell a home. While there are times when a dual agent can work out fine, usually you'll be best represented by your own agent to secure the home deal. They’ll be able to pull out their best negotiating tactics and work on your behalf exclusively. This keeps things simple - which is exactly how you want them to be when you're about to purchase what will probably be the largest asset you own.


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