For those who have purchased their first home, they may have thought that the process of buying their home was one of the most difficult that they have ever done. However, selling your first home can pose its own stresses and be an issue. There are tons of mistakes that can happen when selling your first home that can come back to haunt you later. For example, if you sell your home at a lower rate than what you should, you may lose money in the deal. Other people may find that they made a mistake in selling their first home too soon before they had found a new home to move into. The mistakes that can be made are endless.

However, for those who are selling their first home, knowing what mistakes that are out there, can help you to avoid these later!

Mistake 1: Selling Your Home Before You Are Truly Ready

There are several people who simply put their home on the market before they are ready. If you are not ready to do this, you are not going to be happy with any offers that you may get. In addition, you may unconsciously sabotage the deal when any buyer shows an interest. Be sure to sit down and talk with the family about selling a home and be sure that you are in the right mindset.

Mistake 2: Entering the Housing Marketing Blindly

Is the market low right now or high? If you have no idea of what is going on the real estate market, then you have no business putting your home up on the market just yet. You need to know what is going on, so you have expectations that are realistic. Know what type of area that you are living in- whether this is in high demand or you can expect to sit on your listing for a while.

Mistake 3: Going at This Sale “By-Owner”

Many people think that they can make more profit if they sell the home themselves. However, for those who are first time sellers, going at this on your own could be a huge issue. You may find it impossible to get the home sold and you may have no idea what you should be doing to get your home seen by as many people as possible. It is always best to work with a professional who knows what they are doing.

Mistake 4: Hiring the Wrong Realtor®

When you are looking for a Realtor®, be sure that you trust your gut instincts. Too many times first time home sellers go with the realtor that looks great on paper yet is not a fit for them. Do not forget to trust your feelings. Find the right realtor!

Mistake 5: Hiring a Realtor® as a Personal Favour

Too many first time sellers are bullied or coerced into choosing a realtor that the family may know or someone who is a close friend. Remember, when it comes to working in real estate, you cannot let your personal feelings about someone be the main reason that you choose them. You want to choose the realtor that is going to be looking at your best interest and who has the knowledge to get your home sold.

Mistake 6: Over Customizing the Home

One of the biggest tips that you hear when selling a home is that you should try to make changes in your home that are going to make it more appealing to the buyers. However, over customizing a home is just as bad as trying to sell a home that needs a ton of work. Remember, when it comes to customization of your home, what you put into the renovation does not mean that this is going to increase your asking price of the home. Be sure to stick to those customizations that will pay off in the long run, do not overdo it and end up losing a ton of money when the house is sold.

Mistake 7: Pricing Based on Profit

Pricing a home is a tricky decision. You want to get more out of your home than you owe since you want to make some profit. However, you should never price your home on what type of profit that you want to make. Remember that buyers often do not pay the asking price that you list. You need to look at homes that have sold in the area that are comparable to what you have and make your price based on this information.

Mistake 8: Letting your Emotions Rule your Thinking

It can be easy to let your emotions get the best of you. Your home is where you have had some great memories and events. However, remember that buyers are not going to buy based on your sentimental attachment to the home. Our home is a commodity that is for sale, nothing more.

Mistake 9: Not Disclosing the Problems or History of the Home

Never keep the history of a home a secret. This can come back and hurt you later. Be sure to be open and honest about any major repairs that have been made in the home so that potential buyers can see your honesty up front.

Mistake 10: Trying to Sell Your Home Before the Home is Ready

You may be eager to sell your home, but is the home ready? Too many people put their homes on the market when they have not cleaned the home, decluttered or the like. This can make it harder to sell. And when your home is not ready for the market, you may have it sitting on the market for several months before you get it sold. The market is competitive, and you need to make sure that your home is sticking out to potential buyers, do not put this on the market before you are ready.

Remember, working with a real estate agent can help you to avoid many of the mistakes that first-time sellers make! Contact us today to help you get started out right selling your home …

The term “bare land condo” may be unfamiliar to you, so first let’s break the two definitions down, as defined by the Condominium Property Act.

Conventional Condos are what come to mind when most people think of a condominium. It’s an apartment-style structure where each unit is the private domain of its owner. The boundaries of the unit are the walls, floors and ceiling, and the owner claims the area within these boundaries. Outside of that individual unit, the entire building is considered “common property,” owned by the owners of all the units. Real Property Reports are usually not drawn up for conventional condos. Instead, a Condominium Plan serves as a survey of the entire complex of condominiums. While the owner of a unit is responsible for the interior boundaries of his/her unit, he/she also share the common responsibility for the entire complex, along with other unit owners. Bare Land Condominiums are actually defined by the size of the lot the building is situated on.

A bare land condo, like freehold land, is identified by a Real Property Report from a surveyor, which will include the structure, landscaping, yard and garage. Like a conventional condo, areas outside of the free-standing structure are common property owned by all unit owners. In other words, a bare land condo isn’t much different from a house or duplex, since the real property includes the entire lot and not just the structure itself. In fact, a single-family house can be considered a bare land condominium.

As part of an entire condominium community, restrictions will apply to a bare land condominium; an owner doesn’t have carte blanche to do whatever he/she might want with the property. Bare land condominiums do have the advantage of enhanced privacy, however, and usually have lower condo association fees. In addition, builders can build units on an on-demand basis rather than having to wait until the entire complex is near completion before any units can be sold.

Condominiums offer a real attraction for many property owners, especially busy professionals who may not have the time to commit to yard work, maintenance, repair work and everything else that goes along with owning a conventional home.

If you’re living in Calgary and considering putting down roots with a real estate purchase, why not consider a condominium? Check out our website for comprehensive listings, news and ideas on condominium life in the greater Calgary area.

So, it is time to move onwards and upwards in life and move house! Moving is a dynamic process that involves much more than a simple transaction. From marketing to proper evaluations and inspections, it is advisable to use the services of an experienced professional Realtor® to make sure everything goes smoothly.

The following challenges are what a professional can help you avoid when selling your home:

Time Spent on Potential Buyers

Selling a home by yourself will be a significant time commitment that should not be underestimated. Perhaps the greatest commitment to your time will be in scheduling and hosting viewings of your property. Are you ready and able to pick up the phone every time you have an inquiry? Are you able to sift out the simply curious from real potential buyers to avoid unnecessary viewings? Realtors® are experienced in asking the kind of qualifying questions that sort out the wheat from the chaff. And how many evenings, weekends, and weekday hours are you able to give up to show interested parties your home? You’ll then have to pro-actively follow up on interest after viewings.

Marketing and Valuation

As well as the time involved in doing your own marketing, there are also practical considerations around how successfully you will get the information out there. Yes, you can list your property on various websites and specialist portals that Realtors® use. However, Realtors® also have extended networks of active potential buyers that they will reach out to with information on your property, a channel you will almost certainly not have access to.

You would have to be confident that realistically you could value your property correctly if you chose to put your home on the market yourself. Things you may be oblivious to can be widely considered as flaws by potential buyers. A professional Realtor® has the experience to point those out and suggest small changes which will make your property more attractive.

Negotiating

Realtors® are both objective and experienced, having negotiated hundreds or thousands of real estate transactions. They know how to spot the signs a potential buyer has formed an emotional attachment towards your property and how to leverage that to your benefit. They also know how to spot signs of nervousness that might pose a threat to the eventual sale and how best to allay such fears. They won’t make compromises because they have been charmed by a prospective buyer, or behave irrationally because they don’t like them on a personal level.

Avoiding Getting Sued

This is a genuine concern that owners operating without a Realtor® must be acutely aware of. There is a lot of paperwork involved in the sale of a property. Getting it wrong can at best delay the sale and at worst lead to putting yourself in danger of legal proceedings. Seller’s disclosure is a particular concern. What can be considered a defect, hazard, or nuisance varies depending on where you live. Realtors® know exactly what is required of the seller. If a mistake is made, then they have insurance, ensuring that a seller does not personally suffer.

A home inspection, while not required in all areas, should be an indispensable part of your home buying or selling process. It is worth the cost up front to save you money and headaches down the road.

What a Home Inspection Entails

A home inspector will provide a thorough inspection of the home’s interior and exterior to alert you to any damage that may cause potential problems in the future. He or she will look at the house as a whole and evaluate how the different components work together and affect each other. The inspector will identify any areas that need repairs or are unsafe and advise you on what your next steps should be.

Benefits for a Home Buyer

When you are purchasing a home, you want to know that it is going to be safe for you and your family for many years to come. Obviously, you don’t want to buy a home that is rotting from the inside out. A home inspector can alert you to issues that are minor right now but could potentially become much more serious in the future. Purchasing a home is a major decision. The results of the inspection may lead you to reconsider buying a particular house if it is likely to have a lot of problems in the future. It can protect you from huge unexpected expenses.

Benefits for a Home Seller

If you are the one selling the home, it is a good idea to request a home inspection prior to listing your home on the market. Potential buyers of your home are likely to have an inspection done, and you don’t want there to be any surprises. If there are issues with the house, buyers may rescind their offers or make offers only on the condition that you repair the problems before they finalize the purchase. It is better if you know about any problems in advance. An inspection gives you the opportunity to make sure the house is in its best possible condition when buyers start coming to look at it. This will streamline the purchasing process and make potential buyers feel much more confident that your home is the right choice for them.

INSIGHTFUL and proper representation is key when buying and selling property. Scot Rose has over 15 years of full time, full-service real estate experience. The Team will give you results that show how experience and coordination of vital services can make a difference to YOU! We have the Experience, we have the Plan, and we make the Results happen! Get in touch to have the Team help YOU buy or sell your Calgary home today!

How to Assess Whether or Not You Need One

Home warranties are used to protect new owners from the costs associated with unforeseen repairs in their new house or condo. Like most costs associated with buying a new home, a warranty is one people don’t discuss until afterwards and is one nobody can agree on whether or not it’s necessary. There are benefits and drawbacks to buying a home warranty, for both buyers and sellers, and the decision changes drastically based on circumstances.

Peace of Mind When Buying an Older  Home

Old homes may be less expensive than new homes, but older homes will also have older appliances and foundations. Every warranty company and plan is different, but these are the things a home warranty will protect against. The cost of replacing all the appliances in a home is something that most people could never afford right after paying for the house, so the idea of a significantly cheaper warranty helps them rest easy at night knowing they are covered if something breaks down.

Don’t Expect Complete Repairs

While a home warranty looks good on the surface, especially considering how expensive brand new appliances can be, there are catches. Some people are shocked to learn that when their appliance breaks they will only be receiving a repair and not a new machine. Every company has different criteria for what warrants a new appliance, but in most cases they will do whatever they can to get the old appliance back in running order so that they won’t have to pay for a new one.

Warranties are not Just for Buyers

Home warranties are also available to sellers to cover any unexpected costs associated with the sale. Everything may appear like it’s going smoothly, but sometimes sales fall through at the last possible second or the closing is delayed for unforeseen circumstances. A home warranty can cover the seller for all the costs associated with this disaster, including legal fees, accommodations, moving and storage as well as bank, mortgage and interest payments.

Some Homes Will Have A Warranty Included

In order to make their home stand out and be more attractive to potential buyers, some sellers will make a deal with a warranty company to include the coverage in the cost of the home. Additionally, some REALTORS® may include the cost of warranty as a bonus when the home closes. Before shopping around with different insurers, all buyers should double check that the cost of the warranty isn’t already being covered by another party. This is especially true for new homes.

If the idea of home warranties has you confused and you really aren’t sure whether or not you need one, it will be best to speak with a professional real estate agent. We can tell you more about home warranties and why they may be right, or wrong, for your new home. Every situation is different and if you provide us with more information we can help you decide whether or not a home warranty is right for you. 

Giving a Smaller Home a More Roomy Feel

Smaller rooms can create a decorating challenge for homeowners. While some may be dealing with a space that is smaller overall – such as a condo or apartment – others may have just a couple of smaller rooms that look and feel cramped. While enlarging these rooms may not be an option, there may be a few upgrades to consider that can give these rooms a more spacious and open feel.

Light Paint Colours

Dark colours can add dramatic flair to a room, and they certainly will make a bold statement. However, they also can create the feeling that the room is smaller than it is. It is best to paint with light paint colours on the walls or even to choose a lighter colour for the ceiling. In addition to these colours, a lighter floor colour can also add the feeling of depth to space. If the use of bolder, brighter hues is preferred, consider adding a pattern in combination with lighter colours to the ceiling. Another idea is to use stripes with alternating darker and lighter hues on the walls to create the illusion of space.

Shelving Installed Close to the Ceiling

Storage space is often a concern with smaller rooms, and cabinets and bookshelves can take up valuable floor space in any room. A smart idea for smaller rooms is to install shelving or even cabinetry closer to the ceiling. This can enable the space below it to be kept open or to be used for other purposes, such as for other furnishings that must be kept on the floor.

Recessed or Flush Lighting

Lighting is an important element in any room, and brighter lighting can make a space look larger in many situations. Darker shadows cast about a room can make the space feel closed off. More than that, overhead lights that hang down, such as pendants or chandeliers, can create a visual illusion that makes the room feel smaller than it is.

To achieve the goal of casting light throughout the room more evenly while removing these hanging light fixtures from the space, install recessed or flush lights into the ceiling. These can be combined with small table lamps if necessary to brighten up any areas that may still be dark or shadowy. Avoid tall, imposing lamps when decorating a smaller room.

Decorating a smaller room is rarely easy to do, and there are many things that homeowners can do when decorating that actually may make a smaller room appear to be even smaller. These are a few tips that can be followed to make the space appear to be more roomy and spacious, but there are also other ideas for decorating as well as built-in upgrades to consider. Ideally, the fully decorated room will be stylish and functional as well as appear to be spacious.

With proper research and planning, a homeowner can achieve the desired results. Be sure to continue to read my blog for more great ideas and insight on how to maximize your home. When looking to sell, trust me to get the job done and get started with a FREE home evaluation today!