If you’ve read the news, you know that Calgary is currently in a buyer’s market. With just shy of 8,000 listings on the market, that’s more than six months of inventory. There isn’t a single silver bullet that will guarantee your place stands out among the other 8,000 listings in the eyes of buyers, but I can steer you in the direction of a few things that have helped many many sellers in the past.

1)      It is so important to price your home properly from the beginning. I know what many sellers think. Let’s just float it a little high and see if anyone bites. Don’t do it. Particularly in Calgary’s current buyer’s market. If it’s priced significantly over market, buyers are going to ignore it and look at the properties that are more reasonable. Sure, you can reduce it later, but now you’ve lost that “new listing” buzz. You don’t want your property ignored when it’s a new listing. That’s when you should expect the most showings. Don’t miss out because you’ve priced yourself out of the market as a trial balloon.

2)      The little things. I said this in an earlier blog, make sure the little things are taken care of. Burnt out light bulbs need to be replaced. Taps that drip and leak need to be fixed. Paint needs to be touched up… which actually brings me to my next item.

3)      Interior painting. Harrison Bowker is an Edmonton-based real estate appraisal company that publishes a Home Renovation Value Guide every year. The Guide explains the return on investment a home owner can expect from the different types of home renovations (interior, exterior, mechanical, etc.). Every year, almost without fail, the home renovation that generates the greatest ROI is interior painting. Having your home freshly painted before selling helps, but make sure the work is professionally done. If you want a copy of the Harrison Bowker report, send me an email at nscollard@cirrealty.ca and I’ll send it to you right away.

Thinking about selling? Simply have questions about the process or things you can do to get ready for selling? Give me a call, 403-796-9317.

I've been a buyer three times. Each time, I learned more about the process - and more about my real estate wants and needs. Now that I'm a licensed real estate agent, I want to pass along some of the things I learned along the way....

5) If you don't know something or don't understand something - ask! Ask your agent, ask your lawyer, ask the property inspector. Make sure you understand everything you're signing and make sure you get answers to your questions. Real estate agents know their clients don't have the traning, background, and experience that they do - and that's why you hire us. And if it's a question we can't answer, a good real estate agent is going to help you find someone who can.

4) Think about the things that matter to you and can't be changed, and those that matter to you that can be changed. For example, location. You've probably heard the saying "location, location, location." The reason it's such a huge consideration is because it can't be changed. The house is where the house is. If you absolutely don't want to live on that street or in that neighbourhood, it likely doesn't matter how nice the house is. On the other hand, try not to be immediately turned off by the bad flowered wallpaper, the colour of paint in the kitchen, or the seller's furniture. It may take a bit of time and/or money to do so, but these are the items that can be changed and shouldn't be deal breakers. 

3) There will always be another house. I bought my first place in early 2006, as Calgary's market was really taking off. That was after losing out on two places because of multiple offers. I remember sitting outside of one of them around midnight, mid-February, in my agent's car and finding out I didn't get it. I mourned each of the places I didn't get to buy. I thought I'd never find a place, but you know something, I did. And I loved it.

2) There are little things wrong with every property - and it's no one's fault. After you find a place and move in, something is probably going to go wrong or break or stop working. In almost all cases it's not that the seller hid something from you, your agent didn't do a good job, or the home inspector was incompetent. These things happen and it's no one's fault. This is home ownership. There will be expenses you didn't plan on. It's one of the reasons you don't want to max out your budget when you buy; make sure you have some money for home maintenance and repairs.

1) And finally, don't pay more than you're willing to pay. See point 3) above. There will always be another place. Buying property is a very emotional experience, but it's also important to not get so caught up in emotions that you find yourself in an uncomfortable financial situation. That's a key area where your real estate agent can help. Your agent is going to help you stay within the budget you give them. And, if your budget isn't high enough for what you want to buy or where you want to buy it, your agent will talk about your options then too. It may mean waiting a bit to save a larger down payment or it may mean that you have to do without some of your "nice-to-have" features, but what it should never mean is you spending more than you can or more than you're comfortable with.

If you think you're ready to buy - give me a call. I can guide you through the process from start to finish. I'll answer your questions, be respectful of your budget, and help you focus on the things that matter.

If you've been watching Calgary's real estate market for any length of time, you've likely noticed how up and down it can be. 

In the 14 years I've worked in Alberta's real estate industry, I've been asked over and over again - is it a good time to buy/sell? You can review the stats ad nauseum, trying to predict what day, week, or month is going to maximize your selling profits or minimize how much you spend on a new property, but the fact is, the best time to buy/sell is when it makes the most sense for you and your real estate needs. There are strategies for buying and selling in both "up" and "down" markets.

I can remember the second property I bought, my family was expanding and we needed a bigger place. This was 2007 when Calgary's real estate market was "up." If we had waited a year or two, might we have spent less on purchasing that same property? Sure, maybe. But we bought then because it was the right time for our family and the market value of that property was what we were willing to pay for it.

Fast forward 10 years, I decided it was time to sell that property, only this time, the market was no longer "up." What did that mean for my selling experience? Well, it meant that it took a little longer to sell than I would have liked, but at the same time, because of those market conditions, it provided me with an opportunity to buy a larger, detached home for less money than I would have if the market was up. Likewise, I had greater negotiating power as a buyer because it was a buyer's market. There are buying and selling strategies that work regardless of the market conditions.

If you're thinking about buying or selling in Calgary, give me a call or send me an email, and let's talk about the strategies that will give you real estate success.

After just shy of 14 years working for Alberta’s real estate regulatory body, the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA), I’ve joined the industry as a licensed real estate agent, a REALTOR®, in Alberta. After all of those years sharing information for consumers about buying and selling, and writing practice tips for real estate agents across the province as RECA’s Communications Manager, I believe a better way to help consumers is to work directly with them as they buy and sell property in the Calgary area.

One of the most important decisions I’ve had to make is what brokerage to join. I’m pleased to announce that I’ve signed on with CIR Realty. CIR Realty has been an independent Calgary real estate brokerage since 1983. They are innovative and forward-thinking, and they have an incredible suite of products and services their agents can offer consumers. I cannot think of a better place to begin the next phase of my real estate career.

In the coming days, weeks, and months – if you think about buying or selling, please give me a call. If nothing else, I would appreciate the opportunity to compete for your business. I am confident I can demonstrate how the 14 years I spent working with RECA has positioned me to expertly serve buyers and sellers across Calgary, with all types of residential properties.

Likewise, if you have any real estate-related questions or simply want to catch up or talk a bit about Calgary real estate, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Natalie Scollard, REALTOR®

CIR Realty

Cell: 403-796-9317

Office: 403-294-1500