So you are about to list your Calgary home and you think you have it right. We have given you our advice and some complimentary staging options, then you start to second guess, what the potential buyers will like or dislike this or that!. But this is where you have to relax because part of our service is to take away anxiety, and selling your home should not be stressful.

They are viewing because it is in their price range.

So usually they are ok with the price range or they would not see the value in your home and their realtor would not be showing it to them. Remember first impressions, the home has to have good curb appeal, grass cut and weed wacked, front door and entrance washed down and sparkling clean.

Is the Front Door Clean

If they have a negative at the front door, such as lack of TLC - it will follow them through the home and everything they look at! Blinds up for showings, remember it’s show time! Light and space is what most buyers like, and you already de-cluttered didn’t you?

Tick the Boxes:

They begin the walk-through and hopefully start to tick the boxes. Flooring, appliances, open concept. The floors look good and the job you did on cleaning the house is paying off. Nobody likes someone else’s dirt.

Projects:

Most people don’t mind one maybe two projects especially if they are cosmetic, but don’t have the “they can fix it attitude” because you are setting yourself up for a low ball offer.

Organised:

Features that help keep them organised are important to many Calgary home buyers. Having a laundry room where they can keep laundry out of sight in a separate room is good. In a recent survey 90% of those surveyed said it was a huge plus. An astounding 57% said they would be unlikely to buy a home without it.

Entertaining

They will picture their family and friends visiting, have they got the space, is there some outdoor living,  where is the BBQ going to be set up..

Efficiency:

A top priority for many buyers is the energy efficiency of the home, insulation, how are the windows, have the furnaces been maintained, and a bonus is if the home is energy-star rated.

Location:

Will the home work for them as the kids grow up, school location, travel time to work (check busy times of the day), is it close to the LRT, where is little Johnnies hockey club compared to the home location. These points you have to consider and can be a big plus or minus.

Storage

Ninety percent of buyers are looking for a linen closet in their bathrooms to help keep towels and toiletries organised. Is there a walk-in pantry off the kitchen, considered  desirable by 85% of respondents. 

The Garage

Garage space for storage of bikes, lawn care and sports equipment is high on a buyers wish list.  And the big one - will the cars/truck fit!

When buying or selling a home there are many features to consider of being the  "Top of Mind" of home buyers. 

Text/Call:  Stewart:  403-850-0669 E: Info@CalgaryDreamHomes.com

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The space is great but there are a couple of other things to keep in mind. Also you have to consider possible drawbacks associated with living further away from the City and amenities. If you have teenagers, consider. 

Remember it is a trade-off for the Country Life, You don't want to end up being an Uber for your teenagers, and when they learn to drive, make sure the roads around your acreage are well lit in the winter months. It has to be said that during a snowy winter both Municipalities are really good at clearing roads, especially on School Routes.  

Here are 7 things to consider when buying a rural property, so you can weigh the costs and benefits of investing in the countryside before you move forward. 

1. Logistics

Always consider the logistics for everyone in the family. Mom and dads work location for sure. But also schools and colleges if you have children. Consider the pick up and drop offs for Hockey, Rugby etc, after school and before they learn to drive. They grow up, so it won't be forever, but it needs to be considered.

2. Road Access

Year-round road access and maintenance are things to pay attention to when investing in a rural property. Especially in the winter months with our snowfalls, but both Rural Rocky View County and Foothills County are excellent at clearing the roads, and school routes take priority. 

3. Garbage Collection 

Garbage pick-up is no big deal on a rural property, most owners use a twice monthly pick up company and leave the bags on a scheduled day at the end of the drive. You also have the option to take it to the refuse dump yourself. Maybe burn it yourself in the yard, and in older homes you may have kitchen compactors, which come in very useful.   

4. Water Supply

Your water source is important,  you may be on a water coop or have your own water well, which will need to be serviced annually. Osmosis filters can be added to main supplies also, and in some cases you may be lucky enough to be connected to municipal water source. 

5. Septic Systems

Sewage and water waste in the country are much different than in a suburb or city. If you are building you will have the added cost of putting your own in. This may be a holding tank or tank and field, remember to chose a septic system big enough for your house and the subsequent amount of occupants.  

6. Energy Lines

Power lines and backup energy are things to ponder when looking at a rural property, but in Calgary and Area not many places have them above ground, power services here are pretty good, but you can still consider a power generator if the power lines get damaged given that you’ll be one of the last areas served for repairs.   

7. Your Neighbours

Your neighbours may be a fair distance away compared to the city. Look hard though at how they keep their property, what animals if any, they may have. Always be aware of your boundary lines and understand your property rights. 

Acreage living is certainly a different lifestyle, it does not work for everyone. But if you dream of the peace, quiet and relaxation, this could be perfect for you.

Sometimes finding the right rural property can take longer to find. You may consider a 2 acre property surrounded by similar sized homes a bit closer to the city, or go our further to get a bigger acreage.

Rural acreages can be a different buying process, but as always, we are here to help.

Questions Direct : Stewart 403-850-0669

1) Price Your Home Right!

Your home must be priced at market value for Calgary, your community and street. This is the most important tip of all. Price it to high and your home will sit on the market and become an old listing. Buyers then become suspicious and think there is something wrong with the property. We have a responsibility as licensed Realtors to prepare you a detailed Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This will give you the market value price range of your home, based on relevant and Comparable Active and Sold homes in your community.

2) Choose An Experienced Listing Realtor

Get the job done in the quickest time with the best conditions and price. Make sure you have all the information. Let us give you the full picture based on what is happening in your community, and what you can expect. This includes price range, days on market and advice on preparing to sell.

3) Prepare The Home to Sell And Compete with Other Listings

Properties that sell quickly are well prepared, from de-cluttering to the cleaning. Follow our tips of getting the home ready. Make sure the outside is looking good to, when buyers are thinking of particular homes, they drive-by them and image themselves in the area. They can also dismiss them without even going in!

4) Online Marketing Can Go Two Ways

In today’s world of Internet Home searches and with 92% of buyers looking online. The online presence has to be good. Creb provide the facility for 50 MLS photos and additional remarks. When we list Rural properties we also include Aerial Drone Photographs, to make sure the potential buyer can see the surrounding land as well. But remember, buyers today are looking at your home online alongside many others, so it has to grab them and make them look further in depth

5) Professional Photographs & Glossy Brochures.

It goes without saying that the photographs of your home have to be first class. Gone are the days (well nearly!) when Realtors would take photos on their phone with the toilet seat up, and all the clutter around. Standards are high and you will no doubt be competing with a similar home down the road, so it has to have the best shot. That goes for brochures to! If a potential buyer has looked at a lot of homes, let them have a glossy brochure to take away so they can remember what they liked about yours.

6) Property Repairs.

Make sure repairs & maintenance jobs are done before the home is listed. Such as ceiling stains, loose door handles and railings, painting touch ups. As a potential buyers walks through your home, they have your “list Price” in their mind. But as they walk around they are looking at “jobs” that need doing. Most buyers don’t mind “a project” to do, but not too many! Remember that a job that needs doing is not too expensive for a seller to do, but twice as expensive when the buyer is viewing it.

7) Negotiating with Buyers.

When an Offer comes in ensure you look at all offers and you are reasonable and negotiate in “good faith”. Be sensible when Home inspection comes back with issues that the seller should have sorted out. Price reduction may be necessary to close the deal if there are repair issues, such as roof repairs!

8) Showing Your Home

Preparing to show your home and allow us to take appointments can be stressful, but our policy is always “day before notice” especially with Rural bigger homes. So the trick is to always keep the home part ready to show, so you only have to do a quick tidy, especially if you are going to work. Curtains back – blinds open, make sure the home has lots of lights. If you are only out for the period of the showing- make sure you leave lights on in darker rooms.

9) Make Sure your Out And Remove Pets For Showings

Pets should be removed for all showings, maybe if you have a smaller dog, pop them in a cage in the garage. Some buyers won’t even enter a home if they know there is a dog around. . Buyers are put off property very quickly when pets are in the house. The Seller ideally should not be at home, people will discuss and stay longer if there is no one at home.

10) Make Sure There Are No Odours!

Especially cigarette smells, pet smells, spicy food smells and basement smells. If it is not the middle of winter- open the windows and let some air in. Those Plug-in air fresheners can to ok but nothing too heavy and not too many of them.

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https://youtu.be/E5P86hbsOFA?si=J614f5uvwHwS3J9n

Stewart talks to Assad Naeem from BMO

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qX_iqT-imDE

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