On the heels of working with a young first home buyer Joey, i'd like to thank Brian and Sharon for the referral. Very much appreciated   So this leads me to writing this blog........advise for first time home buyers.

1. FInd the right agent - Once you are pre-approved for financing, find a local agent that has expertise in your local area. Do your homework, and don't just pick anybody. If an agent has been referred, google them to find out more information. This is a major decision, and you want someone that is experienced, has a great reputation, and who will help you through one of the bigget decisions of your life. I'm not biased, but Darcy Joubert might be a good choice for you.....

2. Narrow the search - At first you will not really know what you're looking for. You might think you do, but you probably don't. Have a look at a variety of homes within your price range initially, then narrow down the search. Once you've narrowed the search to new, older/mature, condo etc, then it's only a matter of time before you find the right home for you.

3. Don't expect perfection - There is no perfect home!!!!!! No matter what your price point, you will never find a perfect home. Keep that in mind. So once you realize that, you will learn what you can live with, and what you can live without (must haves/like to haves)......

4. Think long term investment - Whether you realize it or not, you are making a financial investment. So, you must consider the house you choose as an investment. Think long term.........for example, will the house sell easliy in 5 years when I need/want to sell? Does it have only one bedroom on the main floor (might eliminate some buyers with young children). Is the house fully finished/ Is there any room to improve the property? Those are just a couple things to consider. It is a huge investment, and you need to protect that investment. 

Well that's it for now, thanks for stopping by, and we'll see you again next time. 

Hone in on the details

Here i need you to review the major rooms/areas of the home that buyers will pay particular interest to. THese areas include 1. curb appeal, 2. kitchen, 3. bathrooms (in particular the ensuite), 4. master bedroom, 5. backyard, and lastly the furnace/utility room.

1. Curb appeal - Love at first sight! Make sure that the exterior is clean, including front door (maybe fresh coat of paint), trim is painted nicely, and there aren't any dirty finger prints all over the front door. The lawn should be nicely manicured, and flower beds have been weeded.

2. Kitchen - This is where the house is sold/left for the next potential buyer. You can't really change the floor plan and cabinetry in the kitchen (short of total renovation), but you can control how it appears. We want nothing left on the counter tops. Clutter will be the demise of your kitchen. If the buyer suspects there is not enough counter space....next house. Counter tops should be as bare as possible. Wipe out the insides of your cainets. Yes, buyers will look inside and if the dust bunnies hop out.....not good. Kitchen appliances. Gotta love stainless steel.....except the finger prints, dog nose prints, and last nights left overs stuck to the door handle. Make those appliances SHINE! In the dining room, you may even want to set out a very charming dinner set, and add a splash of color for a awarm feeling.

3. Master ensuite - Clean, counter tops barren, maybe a coupe bath towels folded and laid out (resembling a fine hotel).  Pluming fixtures should be spotless. 

4. Master bedroom - Clean, clothes put neatly away. The bed should be made and if you have accent pillows/blankets, use them in a fashionable way. Your room may have "your odor" and you dont even know it. Recommend airing out the bedroom (keep window slightly open).

5. Backyard - This is where the buyer will picture the kids playing, enjoying summer evenings, weekend coffee or family bar-b-ques. If you have a dog PLEASE CLEAN UP THE FECES. There is no more of a turn off!!!! Like the front yard, manicure with fresh cut grass, weeded, repair broken fence (paint if it is a very tired fence). Clear out all the kids toys.

6. Utility room - make sure it is clean, wipe down tanks, change furnace filter. Make sure it looks presentable. Calcium build up in your humidier? Clean it!

Thanks for stopping by this week. Next week is step four to staging your next open house. Until then, have a great week and get started on staging for your next open house!

With the absolute tragic events unfolding as a result of the wildfires in and around Fort McMurray, and lets not forget the community around Slave Lake as well, the people of Alberta and surrounding areas are forging together the human spirit. I am proud to be a member of the Fort Saskatchewan community where friends and families are opening their homes, resdients driving supplies to abandoned people on highway 63, opening supply centres (Fort Legion), pet facilities opening their doors to allow safe havens for pets, hotels providing safe accommodations .....and the list goes on and on.  Whether it be by donation, act of kindness or volunteer service, the residents of Fort Saskatchwan are embodying the the human spirit, and proving why this is the greatest place to live! Our hearts go out to each of those affected by the wildfires......

Step 2: Tackle big picture projects

1. Clean - This is pretty self explanatory. But just like when you sell a vehicle and shine and polish that vehicle, you should do the same for your home.  Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. A sparkling clean home will get a higher offer in a shorter amount of time.

2. De-clutter and depersonalize - This goes hand and hand with cleaning. For example, closets, counter tops, and most areas should be free of clutter.  Clutter will make the home feel as though there is not enough space. Depersonalizing is also important. Purchasing a home can often be an emotional decision. If buyers see collections of pictures and memories strewn about the home, they may subconsciously not want to pull your family from the home. 

3. Fix whats broken - To a certain extent. Make sure all light fixtures are working, doors are all opening and closing properly, plumbing fixtures are not leaking etc.

4. Painting - If your walls have visual collections of the kids finest hockey moments, touch up any knicks and wall damage. Do the repair and touch up with paint. If your home still has the original paint colour from 1970, a fresh coat of paint will brighten the home, be relatively inexpensive and could garner an offer sooner than later.

As usual, if you have any comments or questions, don't hesitate to contact me. See you again next Tuesday for step 3.

Congratulations to Mr. Schultz on winning the patio furniture set as donated by Royal Lepage Noralta real estate. He's a lucky man that Mr. Schultz!

So begins our 4 steps to staging for an open house. Every Tuesday for the next month, visit the blog for real information.

Step 1: Plan and Prioritize

1) Let go emotionally - The moment you put your house up for sale, it becomes a product. Start referring to it as a property, and not your home. You want it to be someone else's home.

2) What do buyers want? Buyers are looking for three things: 1. An emotional connection to the home 2. Value for their money and 3. Move in ready conditions. For example, it is very difficult for a buyer to become emotionally attached to a property if your family photos are in every room of the house. 

3) Identify your target audience - Think about the neighorhood you live in. Is it young and hip? Are the homes upgraded with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops? If so, you should be as well. Are you in an older area where homes haven't been renovated since 1978? If so, your buyer will likely be someone that appreciates older homes, and doesnt require stainless steel or granite countertops. 

As usual, if you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me. See you next Tuesday!

I'll be at the Dow Centennial Center between 5:00pm - 7:00pm (Royal Lepage Noralta booth) and we're giving away a fantastic patio furniture set!  Come say hi, and see what the buzz in Fort Saskatchewan is all about!