When it comes to offers on your home and considering which of two or more competing offers to accept for your home, there is no doubt that price plays a huge role! After all, if Offer #1 is $10,000 higher than Offer #2, that’s an enticing difference that puts thousands of extra dollars in your pocket. However, price isn’t the only thing you should think about when comparing multiple offers. There are other factors you need to consider as well.

For example, what conditions are in the offers? If Offer #1 is conditional upon the buyer selling his/her current property for a specific amount, then what if that doesn’t happen? You could end up with an offer that dies and be forced to chase down the previous buyers that were interested in hopes that they haven't bought already!In these circumstance, accepting the lower offer may be your best move.

There’s also financing to consider. Are the buyers fully approved? If you get an offer where the ability of the buyer to get financing is in doubt, that’s a huge red flag.

The closing date is another important factor. Offer #1 might propose a closing date that’s perfect for you, while Offer #2 is four weeks later or possibly they want a really quick close and that may not work best for you. If you’ve already purchased another home, you might require a month of bridge financing if you accept Offer #2. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but the costs and additional hassle are factors you would want to consider.

Assessing competing offers is where I come in!  Fortunately, as your REALTOR®, I will guide you toward making the right decision.  If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling a home, I'd be happy to help!

 As this was our first time selling a home, Leanne made us feel very comfortable throughout the whole process and was always so kind, patient, and very knowledgable.

 She was a dream to work with from start to finish and even got us more than we had anticipated for our home!  We will definitely be recomending her services to anyone we know selling a home in British Columbia!

C Burris  August 29, 2016

When is the best time to meet with a REALTOR® like me?

Chances are, you would say, “When I’m thinking of buying or selling a home.” You’d be right, of course! However, there are many other good reasons to meet with me. Here are just a few:

• You want a professional opinion as to the current value of your property, so you know what it would likely sell for in today’s market.

• You notice a home listed for sale in a desirable neighbourhood, and you’re interested in learning more — even if you’re unsure you want to make a move.

• You’re thinking of moving within the next couple of years, and you want to find a REALTOR® like me, that you can get to know and trust.

• You want some recommendations for preparing your home for sale ahead of time and especially determining what repairs and other work needs to be done and recommended proven and reputable contractors!

• You want an honest assessment as to the state of the local market, and the best time for you to buy or sell.

• You have real estate-related questions and you want to talk to an expert who knows the local market well and can provide you with answers.

• You have family that is considering buying or selling, or downsizing and you or they need some help with where to start!!!

As you can see, there’s a lot of value you can get from talking to me as your REALTOR®. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have, so please feel free to contact me!

You’ve seen fire extinguishers in commercial environments, such as schools, stores and workplaces. Does it make sense to have one in your home?

According to the experts, absolutely YES!! In fact, a fire extinguisher can quickly put out a blaze that would otherwise quickly grow out of control. There are several types of fire extinguishers that are made especially for residential use. That means they put out the most common fires that occur in the home (Class A, B & K fires), and they are easy to handle and use. Since most residential fires happen in the kitchen, that’s the best place to keep your extinguisher.

You should also make sure everyone in your household knows where it is and how to use it. This seems like a silly thing to say, but many people purchase a fire extnguisher but don't explain how to use it or where it's kept to their spouse, kids or teens!  

Keep in mind that a home fire extinguisher is meant for small fires that are easy to put out, such as a pan of vegetable oil igniting on the stove.  However, there are different types of fire extinguishers for different fires!  YES, many people do not know this - check this out!

If you find you can’t control the blaze within a few seconds with the extinguisher, get everyone out of the home and call the fire department immediately!

Also, NEVER attempt to fight a major fire yourself. Leave that to the professionals!

Lets talk about Depreciation Reports!  

First, I just want to say that I love these reports!  They give a buyer an excellent idea of what is going on in the strata complex and the anticipated maintenance, repair and replacement costs projected over 30 years!

Depreciation reports came into effect December 14, 2011.  Strata Corporations need to obtain these reports every 3 years unless they hold an annual meeting and 3/4 of the owners vote to waive the report, or unless there is 4 or fewer strata lots.  Once a strata corporation obtains a report they have 3 years to obtain a new report.

This Depreciation Report includes a number of different parts to help the Strata Corporation manage their complex, and to help owners understand the true long term cost of ownership. The Depreciation Report includes:

- an inventory of the common property components;

- an opinion of budgets for CRF (Contingency Reserv Funds) projects related to these components;

- an estimated time frame for when we expect those repair/replacement costs to occur;

- the cycle at which we expect those costs to reoccur; and

- funding scenarios to help the Strata decide on how they are going to fund the CRF projects.

Every year the Strata Council puts together a budget that lays out contributions to your Contingency Reserve Fund and your Operating Fund. These two contributions are typically what make up your maintenance fees.

The Strata Property Act defines the CRF as a fund for common expenses that usually occur less often than once a year or that do not usually occur, relating to the common property or common assets of the Strata Corporation.

Before Depreciation Reports were required, many Stratas were not following a long term repair and renewal plan, resulting in poorly maintained buildings. Without such a plan, many Owners did not fully understand the true cost of repairing and maintaining a building.

Stratas were making minimum CRF contributions towards the repair of the complex, and as the buildings aged, owners were facing large special levies as there were insufficient funds in the CRF to cover the cost of these expenditures.

Depreciation Reports cover the CRF related expenditures (e.g., replacing windows, replacing roofs, etc.), and not the day-to-day expenditures that are dealt with through the Operating Fund (e.g., janitorial cleaning, common area hydro fees, common property insurance fees, etc.).  Most reports give buyers a very clear idea of how the strata is running and what the upcoming expenses are.

These reports have really identified that many, if not most strata complexes are underfunded!  

When I work with a client that is buying into a strata complex, no matter how well the complex is maintained, I always recommend opening an extra bank account for "upcoming levies" and saving money each month.  Owning a condo, townhome or bareland strata home is no different than owning a house.  There WILL be upcoming work such as roof, siding, decks, gutters and home interior (common property) upgrades that will be needed and you won't be caught off guard having to come up with the money, if you're prepared.....

For decades, Alberta's identity was completely intertwined with its oil industry.  The same thing could happen to B.C. and its real estate market, if the latest economic data from Statistics Canada is anything to go by.

Read this Huffington Post Article for insight on this possibility!

Next to a major kitchen renovation, replacing appliances is the most expensive way to upgrade the space. So if you’re purchasing a new refrigerator, stove or dishwasher in order to make your home more attractive to buyers, you want to make wise purchasing decisions. The most important consideration is how the appliances will look in the kitchen. Ideally, they should match in colour and style. They should also be the right size for the space. The last thing you want is a fridge that’s so large it dominates the room, or a stove that’s a completely different style and looks out-of-place. Appearance is important, but so are the features. Buyers viewing your home will scrutinize the appliances. They’ll notice if the fridge has a cold water and ice dispenser. They’ll ask if the dishwasher has noise-reduction features. Double ovens and quick-heating burners (which are now available on electric stoves) will also get a buyer’s attention. Power consumption is also a big issue these days. Increasingly, buyers are interested in the energy efficient features of a home — appliances included. So, as your REALTOR® I would point out appliances with energy-saving features, such as a dishwasher with a slow-run cycle that saves power. Kitchen appliances may seem minor compared to the overall appeal of your property, but they do make a difference. Purchase wisely!

Imagine if you dreamed of owning a special limited edition vehicle. What would you do to ensure that your dream vehicle would someday be parked in your driveway — with your name on the ownership papers? You would probably start by doing some research. You’d find out how much that vehicle would cost, what features are available, and so forth. You would likely visit a local dealership and take a test drive if a model is available on site. You would keep an eye on the market for any that come up and let the dealer know you’re looking for just that car. If you did, then, some day, you’d probably be the proud owner of the limited edition car of your dreams. What does this have to do with real estate? Well, you can take the same approach when there’s a neighbourhood you’d love to live in someday. You can target it, learn what homes typically cost in that area, and keep your eye on that market in case a property becomes available that meets your criteria. By focusing on a specific neighbourhood, you increase your chances of someday living there, simply because you’re focusing on it. Of course, neighbourhood targeting isn’t as simple as aiming to own a specific car someday. That’s why you need a great REALTOR® who can keep an eye on that neighbourhood on your behalf and alert you to opportunities that become available. Then, when there is a listing that’s a good fit, you can decide whether or not to make a move. Is there a dream neighbourhood you’d like to live in some day? Call today to start making it happen

Comedian George Carlin’s most memorable routine was, “A place for my stuff.” In it, he talked about dealing with the increasing quantity of items we accumulate throughout life. George was funny. The problem is not. Here are some low-cost ideas for quickly creating storage space for your stuff. • Attach a cloth pouch or thin plastic basket to the inside of cupboard doors. This is a great way to store Tupperware lids, cosmetics, etc. • Install hooks inside the foyer closet for loose items such as hats and scarfs. • Use egg cartons to make effective storage inserts in drawers. • Fashion stores often put purchases in stiff, high-quality boxes. Placed on their sides, these make effective storage compartments. (Especially shoeboxes.) • Consider using suitcases for out-of-season clothing. In addition to storage, they also provide protection. • Never throw out an old wine rack. There are numerous ways these can be used for storage. (Example: for tools.) By thinking creatively, you can probably come up with many other simple ideas for creating more storage. The reward is a home that looks neater and more spacious.

There are few things more beautiful than cut flowers in a vase. They instantly brighten any room. That is, of course, until they wilt and die. So how do you make cut flowers last as long as possible?

Here are some ideas:

• Cut the bottom of the stems before you put the flowers in the vase. An angled cut is best as this will enable the flower to draw in more water.

• Add a fertilizer to the water. Most flower shops include a pouch with the order. Follow the directions carefully. Don’t use too much.

• Make sure the vase is high enough to support the flowers. Too much strain on the stems will cause the flowers to die sooner.

• After a couple of days, re-snip the stems. This will add an additional day or two to the life of the flowers.

• Flowers last longer if you put them in the fridge (in water) overnight. That’s why florists store cut flowers in cool rooms. Finally, watch the water level and top off as required. Older cut flowers will die quickly when starved of water — even for just a couple of hours.

Do you ever wonder how most people find the homes they eventually buy? You might imagine them driving by a “For Sale” sign or seeing a home for sale in the newspaper and then calling to enquire.

Of course, many buyers find out about listed properties that way. But, according to research by the National Association of Realtors, there are many other — sometimes surprising — ways buyers find their next dream home. For example: • 88% of buyers find a home with the help of a real estate agent. • 90% of buyers search online as part of the home buying process. (Such as viewing a property’s profile on the agent’s website.) • 69% of buyers searching for a home using Google, use a specific local term, such as “Whitby-south homes for sale”. • 29-46% of buyers attend an Open House as part of their home hunting activities.

Overall, the research shows that buyers are using a multitude of ways — combining online and offline methods — to find homes. What does all this mean to you? If means that if you’re preparing your home for sale, you need to ensure your marketing plan takes into account all the ways buyers are finding properties — so you can be sure that they will find yours. Looking for a REALTOR® who knows how to market your home for maximum exposure? Call today.