Keep your Calgary Home Safe & Secure

Home security often comes up at this time of the year. Calgary has a balanced budget again! But Residential and Rural Real Estate homeowner’s still have to be aware of security for the winter months.

Door locks and alarms especially, but there is also a lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in.

A good way to deter the burglar is your outside lighting. Your home doesn't need to light up like a Christmas Tree but your exterior lighting should illuminate your land around the home enough to be a deter anyone up to no good in the area. Last winter I bought 2 solar lights off Amazon for $39.99 cdn and they have been excellent (except for the dog not liking them when they suddenly come on!)

Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your home. There have been police reports of burglars accessing garages that have been left up, some people leave their keys in the car, so it is an ideal opportunity to steal it.

One of the best things you can do is to walk around your property and see if you can spot any areas where someone could hide. Can they get in behind your garden shed, a large garden shrub or next to a parked car. Make sure any of these areas are well lit or have solar lights on them. Pay particular attention to lighting around your exterior doors, especially the back door and the man door to the garage, which is always a favourite with burglars.

Some experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night. There also some very good Neighborhood-watch online communities that send out information of people up to no good in your area - well worth checking out! 

Our favourite lights are installed with motion detectors, which can be very effective in the areas we mentioned before. These sensor driven lights turn on or brighten when someone comes onto that part of your property. Most thieves will run as soon as they see a bright light go on.

If you have a spare key that you want kept outside “Just in Case” make sure it is hidden in a good spot but easy to access (and easy to find in thick snow!). Here is a smart place to hide your spare key!

Or why not go to Home Depot and buy a builders lock box for any access “emergency”. Don’t just put the key under the front door mat or plant pot, the experienced thief can fast track his way in, especially if he spots a member of the family reaching down to pick up what he suspects is a key.

So keep safe and warm till next time. 403-850-0669

Direct : 403-850-0669   |   info@CalgaryDreamHomes.com

1)  What is today’s Real Estate Market Like?

We are currently in a Seller’s Market with limited inventory.(February 2022) One of the big indicators that show the state of the market is the average days a property has been on the market, and at the moment it is not long. Another example which we show to the seller on our Market Consultation is the number of closed transactions year-over-year for any given month, average list prices, and what they Sold for.

2)  What should I do to get the home ready?

We did a Blog before this one covering this. But it is all about the first impression and always giving your home its best shot. Curb appeal when the potential buyer drives past or before they reach the front door is important. So make sure there is no outside mess, and in summer cut the grass and weed-wack the garden edges.  Remove all clutter. Remember - if you don’t need it – put it away. Fix any small paint jobs or broken tiles, they want to see that you looked after the home.

3)  In this Market what is your home worth?

In our Market Consultation we show you our Marketing plan, with market comparables, actives and solds in your area we present a full CMA price range of where the price of your home sits. We adjust it by upgrades and condition and we arrive at the competitive price your home should be listed at.

4)  Is the City Assessment an indication of market price?

No not really, there are many homes that are sold for more than assessed value and many sold for less. The assessed value is used by the City to determine your yearly tax rate. However, some buyers believe that if a home is listed over assessed value, it is overpriced. If it’s below they don’t mention it!

5)  At the Market Consultation, what is in the CMA?

The Camparative Market Analysis gives us a snapshot of the current market and we take “comparable” solds in your area within the past 6 months and current “comparable” Actives to see what your listing competition looks like. Comparables means square footage, number of bedrooms & bathrooms, developed or not basement, walkout vs. basement, roof age, lot features, kitchen upgrades, style of home, windows condition, and flooring type.

6)  Is it the right time to sell?

If a home is well priced and in good condition will always sell quickly in most markets. Seasons ofcourse are important, it could take longer to sell in the snow covered winter months. Selling in the fall is sometimes good, and buyers need in before schools start. But also February or March can be good if it is mild weather, before most sellers wait for the grass to green to list in the spring, and you can have a lot less competition to sell against.

Call today to book a market consultation, we will be happy to go over everything in detail, including our Marketing Strategy to get your home Sold!

E: info@CalgaryDreamHomes.com  Direct: 403-850-0669

If you’re putting your Calgary home on the market, there’s a good chance you’d sell it quickly in the current market —and preferably over asking price. We are in a Seller’s Market, but before you get too far into the process of selling your home, take a look at some of the most important things to do first!

Fix the broken stuff

If you want to sell your house quickly and at the best price , you’re going to have to make it shine. All those small repairs that you kept putting back - need to be done. It is time to give your house maximum TLC! This will include: repainting your baseboards, tightening the cabinet hinges, and re-caulking and cleaning the tiles in the kitchen or bathroom.

Fix up your curb appeal

If the potential buyer drives past your home – and most of them will before they take a closer look! You want their mindset to be “I can see us living there.” Doing some minor work to the exterior can greatly improve your home’s first impression – it can be as simple as making sure the outside is well-kept, tidy and inviting. If its summer cut the grass and weed-wack all the garden edges.

Fix and locate your documents

Locate all your utility bills (Direct Energy etc), and brochures if you still have them for appliances. Take a proactive approach by gathering all your service records so you’ll know ahead of time if something needs to be serviced before listing your home. The buyer will want to know about maintenance schedules, which companies you used to do the maintenance etc.

Finally - Take Pictures

Take some photos on your iphone, because the home you’re about to sell holds a lot of memories. If your kids grew up in the home you will wish you’d kept a few pictures to remind you of this period of your life!