Sonia's Real Estate Blog

Up until not so long ago, kitchen spaces were pretty unglamorous areas that were tucked away right at the back of the house. Meals used to be prepared there, and all the dishwashing was done there too. Homeowners didn’t really pay too much attention to the aesthetics of their kitchens. It was just a utilitarian space that didn’t garner too much attention when it came to design or décor.

Today, smart technology has overtaken the kitchen design landscape. And it isn’t just advanced appliances and gadgets that are making an appearance in modern kitchens across the country. Ranging from the lighting and fridges to the faucets and appliances, everything is going smart, making this one of the most notable kitchen design trends in 2018.

When it comes to selling your Sherwood Park home, you need to keep in view that only a well-maintained home that looks attractive will have better chances of selling. It’s also why many homeowners hire the services of professional stagers before listing their home for sale. However, with my experience as one of Re/Max’s top 100 Realtors® worldwide, I’ve put together a number of other ways in which you can create a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere in your home.

Create an Impact with The Right Lighting

1. Include colourful throw pillows, area rugs bedding and other bright-coloured accessories in the rooms.
2. Add some mirrors to the walls; they will reflect the light and make the room look larger as well. It’s a good idea to add mirrors to rooms with smaller or poorly placed windows.
3. Add some diffused lighting fixtures- these don’t have to be pricey, but ambient illumination helps add some dimension to the available space.
4. Update or upgrade lighting bulbs and fixtures.
5. Opt for LED lighting and choose soft light over white light bulbs. The yellow light will make the spaces look more inviting. In fact, LED bulbs will also generate less heat, making the indoor spaces more comfortable.
6. Highlight features like textured walls, kitchen backsplashes, and granite countertops as well as other attractive details, with new lighting fixtures.

While you are sprucing up the look of the indoor spaces, don’t forget the outdoors. Well-planned exterior lighting can go a long way in improving the curb appeal of your property. If you want to make a great impression on prospective buyers, ensure that the outdoor areas are tastefully lit. Train a couple of floodlights on the exterior walls, install a few pathway lamps and install sconces or down-lighting on walls surrounding your garage door.

Ready to sell your Sherwood Park home? Start off on the right foot with a FREE Home evaluation from the TOP Realtor® with RE/Max Elite Sherwood Park & Edmonton 2017 – SONIA TARABAY!

The chances of you knowing the house selling process are likely pretty slim, so you will need some extra help in negotiating contracts and answer queries you have along the way. If you are new to this process, an expert REALTOR® is just what you need to assist you in the process. Here are a few questions you can ask a real estate agent while putting up your house before sale.

1. Given my house’s state and location, what do you think is the best price I can get for it?

While selling your house, ask the realtor to provide you with an analysis of your house’s condition and any upgrades that it might require. You will need more than just dollar-per-square conditions. Ask the agent to provide you with a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis).

2. How long will it take to sell my house?

Based on the local market, agents can only provide you with a rough estimate of what they might expect to get out for it. Based on the sale price of your house, they will tell you how soon you will find buyers.

3. Are there any improvements we can make that might help us sell sooner and for a lot more money?

Spending a small amount of money to make a few home improvements will eventually help you get a higher price for the property. For example, if the walls in your bedroom are painted in a dull colour, you might want to spruce them up by adding a few coats of paint.

4. Are you a full time or part- time real estate agent?

You should consider an agent who is working full-time, this will make him/her a lot more accessible.

Sonia’s work ethic is tremendous as she is committed to serving her clients 7 days a week whether they are buying, selling and/or need a mortgage. Her ultimate goal is to make her clients happy!

5. For how long have you been in real estate?

You should consider an agent who has experience of over 4 years. If not, you should request that another team member be present who can help and provide some guidance.

6. How many houses do you currently have listed for sale?

An agent who is familiar with the neighbourhood will prove to be much better. Even though they might be handling various other clients, the busier the agent the better they are.

Just take a drive through Sherwood Park and Edmonton and you’ll see Sonia’s FOR SALE signs everywhere.

7. How many of the houses that you sold in the past 12 months were in my price range?

You want someone who has the knowledge and experience selling high-end homes, an agent who has sold starter homes or condos might not be the right way to go.

8. What will the overall marketing strategy for my house consist of?

Marketing a house doesn’t just mean a sign on the front yard or a listing on a site. Photographs help a lot in such instances, especially good ones. The agent typically pays for the photography sessions; sometimes they click images themselves. The more images posted online, the higher the attention your property would get.

When you list your home with Sonia Tarabay, you are guaranteed to receive her 5 Star Service. Sonia’s clients are #1. Through Sonia’s aggressive negotiation and marketing skills, your Sherwood Park home will sell faster, and for top dollar!

Selling your house is never an easy task, however by hiring a realtor to help you out can save you a lot of stress and time. Asking these questions is a good way of covering your bases while making such a major investment. If you are selling your Sherwood Park, you will need the assistance of a real estate agent who has a wealth of expertise selling homes in Sherwood Park.

Don’t leave anything on the table: Sell it with Sonia to get the right price, the right marketing strategy, and the 5 Star Service you want.

The curb appeal of your home is one of the most important aspects to focus on in order to attract potential customers to your Sherwood Park or Edmonton property. One of the first things that people notice when they look at your houseis the outdoor spaces of your home, which makes landscaping a vital aspect of your home’s curb appeal. This makes it necessary to spruce up the look of your landscape before listing your house for sale and can up the value of your property by as much as 10 percent.

Some Pointers

Typically, homeowners start preparing their house for showing about a month in advance. In this time, you can make sure that everything in your landscape looks perfect and doesn’t give the impression that you did things at the last minute. Here are a few tips that can make a significant difference while selling:

1. Add Outdoor Containers You can add large tropical or similar container plants to the entryway of your home or the patio space. These features uplift the appearance of these outdoor spaces. This attracts potential buyers to your house.

2. Add a Touch of Mulch One of the best ways of adding colour to your landscape is by installing mulch in your garden beds. This adds a pop of colour and enhances the appearance of the surroundings. The best part about mulch is that it is cheap and extremely easy to use.

3. Add Color To make your landscape appear even more appealing, add colour by including annuals with seasonal colours. Pick a colour scheme that fits well with the overall aesthetic of your home.

4. Stone-LinedYour Landscaping Beds Stone-lining your garden adds to the aesthetic. The stone features add structure to the space and make it look more appealing.

5. Add a Waterfall Installing a waterfall on the patio enlivens the places and adds a very refreshing touch to the atmosphere. You can choose from custom designed ones to complement the styling of your home.

6. Shape the Overgrown Shrubs and Trees Not maintaining your garden shows neglect on your part. You can avoid this by doing quick chores like levelling of shrubs and trees in your landscape. This shows that you maintain your garden as well as you do your home.

7. Tidy up Your Perennials One of the simplest ways to improve the appearance of your landscape is to tidy up all the flowerbeds. If you have overgrown plantings or decorative pots that seem out of place, re-organize them. Trim and prune all your plants and remove dead or dying plants.

8. Fix Any Irrigation Issues Getting irrigation fixed can be expensive, and you do not want the buyers to bear the expense. Keeping your irrigation system well maintained is important; provide all the necessary information of the irrigation system to the buyer. If you have an automatic system, include instructions that specify the use and also recommend the scheduling that had previously worked for you.

Keeping these simple landscaping tips in mind will help you improve the appearance of your home, increasing the chances of a quick sale. When you list your home with Sonia Tarabay, you are guaranteed to receive her 5 Star Service. Sonia’s clients are #1. Through Sonia’s aggressive negotiation and marketing skills, your Sherwood Park or Edmonton home will sell faster, and for top dollar! 

If you are planning on redecorating your home, you will want to check out what products are available in the market. Since there are a large number of furniture stores in Edmonton and Sherwood Park, it is a good idea to conduct a bit of research before going furniture shopping. This will help you identify what these stores specialize in and what they sell.

Here we look at 10 different stores that you can visit to find the furnishings, décor, furniture and other interior products you need. These stores offer various styles ranging from traditional to modern and everything in between. Typically most stores require ordering although some of them have ready stocks and you can buy the product off the shelves.

Aspects to Keep In View before Buying Furniture

Before buying any furniture for your house keep a few pointers in your mind such as:

• The available space
• The styling of the existing furniture
• Materials used in the furniture
• How often you have guests over
• Your personal preferences
• Your budget

The top 10 furniture stores in Edmonton

1. URBAN BARN With locations in both Edmonton and Sherwood Park, this store hosts a variety of contemporary and traditional pieces as well as a variety of home decor items to help you make the most out of your space.
2. CHINTZ & COMPANY Situated near 10502 – 105th Ave NW in Edmonton, this store is known for the chic and traditional twist used in their furniture. Unique details are incorporated in all the products, which add a distinctive look to them.
3. RESTORATION HARDWARE Located in Southgate Centre 5015-111st, this store provides customers with a large selection of furniture products. Known for their clean and classic looks with rustic raw elements, this store offers a lot more to customers who are looking for something unique that stands out.
4. POTTERY BARN Located on 8882-170 St, Pottery Barn offers a large selection of various products ranging from traditional, contemporary, a touch of rustic and nautical features.
5. CRATE & BARREL This store is known for its mid-century products with a few modern features and warm clean lines. It is located at Southgate Centre 5015-111 St
6. PIER 1 IMPORTS Furniture that is manufactured here has an ethnic exotic flavour. They have traditional and contemporary styled furniture. The store is conveniently located with locations in both Edmonton & Sherwood Park.
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7. HOME ENVY FURNISHINGS Located at 5240 Windermere Blvd (Edmonton) and #16-9175 Broadmoor Blvd (Sherwood Park), HEF is known for its Canadian made solid wood furnishings and accessories – made to order! Give your home a personalized touch with custom-made pieces from Home Envy Furnishings.
8. RESIDE FURNISHINGS It is an Edmonton based company, known to incorporate industrial and rustic elements to their products. Located at 10434 Mayfield Rd buyers who want an older and rustic look can opt for products from this store.
9. OLD HIPPY WOOD PRODUCTS If you’re looking for a custom piece to add character and a unique flair to your space, look no further than Sherwood Park’s own Old Hippy. Locally made, these furniture pieces maintain the unaltered characteristics of the wood used to ensure an authentic piece just for you.
10. SOFA LAND  Newly opened in Sherwood Park, Sofaland has been family owned and operated since 1992. They have a variety of modern, traditional, and quality furniture at an affordable price.

If you are located in Edmonton or Sherwood Park, you can choose from any of these stores that provide excellent and well-designed products. Good quality products will not only enhance the aesthetics of your home but improve its value as well. Want some more tips or are looking to sell your home? Get in touch with me today, Sonia Tarabay – Top 100 REALTOR® RE/MAX WORLDWIDE. 

The baby boomer generation in Sherwood Park and Edmonton is getting to the point in their lives that the larger home they have may too much. It may be too much space, or they may find that the upkeep is just too much. Many of those in this generation prefer to downsize in order to save money and time so that they can do those other things that they have always wanted to do. However, what should a person look for when downsizing? Having been around the real estate business in both Sherwood Park and Edmonton, I’ve gathered quite a bit of expertise on the subject and will take you through some of the things to look for when downsizing. Read on!

Look at the House Design

You want to find a new home that is going to work for you for years to come. In fact, many baby boomers say that the downsizing move is their last move. With this being said, here are a few elements to consider in the house design:

1. Wider doorways
2. Flat thresholds
3. The indoor air quality, which refers to having all the vents in the home going outdoors
4. A bathroom that can have support bars installed if needed later
5. A one level home is often the best choice for people, as they don’t want to be ageing and still having to go downstairs to do their laundry.

The Neighbourhood

Be Sure to Consider your Cash Flow

The Location

Take your time to make this decision, as this is a major financial move and give me a call at 780-707-6015. I’ll help you not only find the perfect home for this wonderful stage in life, but I’ll also help get your current home sold, cause with Sonia it’s SOLD!

Millennials are in the job market and they are buying homes in Edmonton and Sherwood Park! But, what type of homes are millennials looking for? Knowing this can make all the difference for those who are trying to sell their home as the market is packed with millennials looking to buy. As one of RE/MAX’s Top 100 REALTORS® Worldwide, I have the expertise and experience to give you some great insights into what Millennials are looking for in a home.

The Kitchen and Bath Must Be Updated

Both the kitchen and bathroom must be updated for millennials to even be interested in looking at a property. What are they looking for in an updated bath and kitchen? New and updated fixtures, modern cabinets, and updated flooring is a complete package that turns their heads.

Large Kitchen

A large kitchen seems to be something that draws millennials into a home to buy. Years ago, people would dine in the dining room, but millennials would rather have a large kitchen that enables everyone to hang out in one space.

Open Floor Plan

An open floor plan is something that many millennials are attracted to. They like the space to flow easily from room to room, that way everyone is always included no matter where they are at in the home.

Furnishings that are Low Maintenance

What does this mean? Millennials are looking for furnishings that are low maintenance such as hardwood floors versus having carpets that require a lot more cleaning. They are also looking at the materials used in the kitchen and bathroom. They want countertops that are granite and easy to clean versus the laminate that may stain easily.

Energy Efficient is a Must

Millennials are all about being more energy efficient! If a home has solar panels or other cutting-edge efficiencies, or they find that the home is well insulated, they are going to put this into the win column for a home they are considering.

Technology

This includes the security of the home. A home with a technical side and a security panel are more received than those who do not have either!

Location with Walking Areas

The location is a big selling point with millennials. But, they are looking for a location that has nearby parks, walking paths or is within walking distance of something that interests them.

Room for a Home Office

Even a small bedroom can be a way for the millennial to have a home office. But, if a home already has this office in place, that is even better!

Ready to Move In

Millennials are often looking for a home that is ready to move in. They do not want to see items that they would have to fix…including anything that is simply décor. Keep this in mind when trying to sell to this group of people!

They Want to See it Staged

Yes…staging is really a selling point for millennials. They like to walk into a potential home and see how furniture and décor are already arranged before they commit to buying.

If you are selling a home and trying to reign in a millennial buyer, it may be time to make a few changes to make your home more acceptable to what they want! Get started today with a FREE HOME EVALUATION from me, Sonia Tarabay – RE/MAX’s Top 100 REALTOR® Worldwide!

While it is technically still spring, many days have sure felt like summer in Sherwood Park. With the snow long gone and the community in full bloom, it’s time to start paying attention to your yards, especially if you want to sell your home for top dollar! Curb appeal is very important and potential buyers will get their first impression of the property long before they step inside the front door.

Before you get started, go outside and look at your yard and pretend you are a buyer. What does it say about your home? A meticulous, well-maintained yard will show buyers your care and attention to detail. A yard that hasn’t been kept up will make buyers wonder what else you’ve neglected.

Do a quick assessment. What do you like about your yard and home from the curb? If you have a bold front door or a unique feature in your landscaping, you want to accent those to make them stand out. But also make note of areas that need attention like weeds, bushes growing out of control or large stains on the driveway.

The great thing about spending some time and money tidying up your yards is the return on investment is huge. Pulling the weeds in your yard and giving it a fertilizer treatment can be done in a couple of hours and will cost you very little. Replacing the few rotten or cracked boards on a deck then giving it a fresh coat of stain also won’t break the bank but will give new life to your outdoor space. A quick pressure wash of the siding, driveways and decks can also go a very long way too. Remember that many buyers are looking for a low-maintenance property that has been well cared for.

There are also some very easy ways to stage your yards and garden. To liven up that big empty deck, head to one of Sherwood Park’s great greenhouses and pick up some plant potters. Invest in some patio furniture that is just the right size for your backyard. You don’t want to cram the space with furniture and many young families are looking for large, open yards for their kids.

If you’re looking for a Sherwood Park REALTOR® I’ve got plenty more tips to help you get the most money for your home. Give me a call today and let’s get started!

Warm regards,

Sonia
780-707-6015
soniatarabay@remax.net

As a longtime resident of Sherwood Park, I consider it a privilege to work, live and play in this awesome community!

Sherwood Park has been our home for over a decade now and I can still remember the excitement I felt the very first time I visited this place. I fell totally in love with it! It was as though something wonderful was about to happen. Well, it did! I met some of my most valued friends and clients right here at home, and for that I am eternally grateful.

My husband Eddy and I have three children; Alexa, Lennox and Eva. We feel blessed that they are growing up in a safe and happy community, attending good schools and have made some wonderful friends. Naturally, every parent wants to provide the best for their children and we certainly have found the best of family life living in Sherwood Park.

In following my passion for real estate, I decided to launch my business in 2009 and focused primarily on helping Sherwood Park residents. There was no question in my mind that it was the best decision I ever made. Having grown up in an entrepreneurial family, I had a strong business background and a proven track record in sales. My education was also in business and marketing. In addition, my branding with the use of animal prints was very unique to the real estate industry and my marketing plan for selling homes was very aggressive, which ultimately benefited my clients. Undoubtedly, clients knew when hiring me they would receive my “5 star service”. They knew that I cared about them and that I would work hard on their behalf to help them achieve the best results, whether they were buying or selling a home. Soon I became known as “Sherwood Park’s Real Estate Tiger”.

Today, I am fortunate to have worked with hundreds of clients selling hundreds of homes and helping peoples’ dreams of home ownership come true. Knowing that I have helped make that kind of contribution in someone’s life is incredibly rewarding for me on a very personal level. Having cultivated these client relationships is what keeps me focused and driven  every day to continue to help more and more people in the world of real estate.

I am extremely grateful and appreciative for the ongoing trust and support I receive from the Sherwood Park community. I must admit that it’s a lot of fun to drive around town in my animal wrapped “Sonia-mobile” and see people on the road wave and smile back at me. Sometimes I even get a thumbs up! It’s also pretty cool to be recognized by the kids when I’m shopping around town! I often laugh about it as I am just like every other mom out there.

Should you be looking to buy or sell a home in Sherwood Park, please feel free to drop me a line. I would love to hear from you! Many thanks and I wish you and your family a wonderful year ahead!

Warmest regards,

One of my favourite parts of working in the real estate market is keeping my negotiation skills sharp. I love the negotiation process, and this is where I really go to work for my clients, letting my skills shine. This is when you know for sure you have a tiger on your side. 

It’s an exciting time! You feel THIS close to your goals, so close you can taste success. Adrenaline kicks in, and there’s that mix of excitement and anxiety when you enter this phase of a real estate transaction. It’s kind of like asking someone on a date via text message: You spend a lot of time staring at the phone, waiting for a reply, gaming out all the possible scenarios in your head.

That high energy is great, and it’s a huge part of why I love my work. Although as a professional REALTOR® I try and make this process a Win/Win for my clients, there are times when a compromise needs to be made and all parties need to cooperate. There comes a point in the transaction when both parties realize that, if everyone gives a little, then everyone wins.

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