Sonia's Real Estate Blog

Through hard work and dedication to my clients, I’ve been fortunate to receive many honours in my real estate career. While it’s not about the awards, I was truly honoured and humbled when I was notified that I have been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from REMAX of Western Canada, after just seven years in the real estate business!

The award is very special to me because it affirms that doing what you love is the key to success. What I love the most is helping my clients obtain the best results when buying or selling a home. It’s what I’m most passionate about in my work.

When I think back at my career as a REALTOR®, I have learned so much and I’ve met so many great people, but it has absolutely breezed by. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun!

I’m very excited for this honour and to share it with my family, who is so supportive of me. I also owe a lot of gratitude to all of my clients from Sherwood Park, Strathcona County and Edmonton.

Warmest regards,
Sonia

There are many tools in the REALTOR’s® toolbox and over the past year, I’ve been perfecting one of the most effective new tools – online video. They say photos are worth a thousand words. Well the impact of video is even greater!

I take my videos to highlight the best features of the homes I am selling. If the kitchen is the selling feature, I’ll shoot it there and show off the best the home has to offer. If I’m hosting on open house, I’ll shoot a video to give prospective buyers a sneak peak into the home and get them excited to come and view it. Sometimes my videos involve special contests too! They’re not necessarily real estate related, but they are community related and my audience loves it!

As Sherwood Park’s Real Estate Tiger, I have always put my clients first, ensuring their homes get awesome exposure which ultimately leads to awesome results. I allow people to see my true personality in life and I do the same in my real estate videos. A key part of the videos is the human element, so I try to keep them light, fun and engaging. So far, it has worked exceptionally well! The videos I post on Facebook always get thousands of views from potential buyers who are looking for their next home. These videos have helped me connect with many future buyers already and my audience continues to grow.

Ultimately, my goal is to help my clients sell their Sherwood Park home quickly and for top dollar. Personalizing my videos is just one of the unique ways I go above and beyond my competition to help my clients in the home selling process. Please visit my Facebook page and check out my most recent videos and give me a call if you’d like a video on your home!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

It takes a lot of hard word and dedication to truly excel in the real estate world. It’s one of those professions where you are always on the clock – evenings, weekends and holidays included. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world, for one very important factor – all of my incredible clients!

This week, I am celebrating 7 wonderful years in real estate where I have consistently ranked in the Top 1% Sales, an accomplishment I could never have even dreamed of if it weren’t for the fabulous people who have supported me since Day 1. There’s nothing more satisfying to me than finding the perfect home for my clients. Knowing that I helped them find the ideal property for them to raise their families in is extremely gratifying. Obviously, I love helping my clients sell their homes for the most money too! I’m never afraid to negotiate hard for my clients. Guess that’s why they nicknamed me “Sherwood Park’s Real Estate Tiger”.

I’m so appreciative of all the kind words I hear from my clients when I run into them around Sherwood Park, at our local chamber of commerce or anywhere else in the community. That’s the food that keeps this Tiger running!

Over the past 7 years, I have learned an incredible amount and met more lovely people than I could have ever imagined. I’m excited to continue on this journey and help as many people as possible when they need me to sell their homes and find them their dream homes too.

From my heart to yours, thank you for all the continued trust and  support!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

It has been an absolute pleasure to be involved in the Food 4 Food initiative, which is now in its second year in Sherwood Park. The campaign was started by councilour Dave Anderson and how it works is Sherwood Park residents drop into Save On Foods and make a donation to the Strathcona County Food Bank. In return, each donor gets a hot dog and a pop!

I’m very excited to be one of the corporate sponsors of this event. All of the donations are staying in the Strathcona County area, which is very important to me. With the economy the way it is in Alberta, the need is high and we all need to pitch in and help out when we can.

Last year Food 4 Food brought in more than 14,000 cans of food and $1,000 in cash. We’re waiting on the final tally, but we’re hoping we beat that this year. Thank you to everyone who has come out to Save On Foods to help our cause! We appreciate every donation!

Many thanks!
Sonia

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

When choosing a REALTOR® to sell your Sherwood Park home, there are many factors to consider. How will the agent market my house? How long will it take to sell? Will this agent sell my house for top dollar? Does this agent have a proven track record in the business? Does this agent specialize in Sherwood Park? Do I have to use the same agent my family recommended?

These are all valid questions to ask and I am confident to answer all of them when meeting new clients. Another question is this one: Does this REALTOR® really get awesome results? Ultimately, that’s what you’re after. Awesome results. Fortunately, getting awesome results is something I know quite a bit about. I have just been named the #1 agent of RE/MAX Elite for April and I consistently achieve this award throughout the year ranking in the top 1% in our office. In an agency of more than 200 REALTORS®, these are accomplishments I am very proud of.

I’m incredibly passionate about what I do and I believe that’s the #1 reason I have had such great success with my clients. Of course, awesome results are about more than just numbers. If I didn’t have amazing relationships with my valued clients and their complete trust, I would have never achieved what I have.

The best part of my job is meeting all of the great people I have over the years. I love Sherwood Park and I love my clients! They have become my friends and there is nothing more satisfying than seeing them happy in their new homes. My clients make this job what it is and they make these types of awards so much more rewarding!

So if you’re looking for awesome results when selling or buying your next Sherwood Park home, then feel free to give me call. I would love to help YOU achieve awesome results!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

If I had to choose one reason I love working in real estate, it’s forming relationships with all of my clients. Simply put, they are my #1 priority and there is nothing more satisfying than helping them buy or sell Sherwood Park homes. I know my clients and they know me. More importantly, they trust me, my negotiation skills, knowledge of the Sherwood Park real estate market and my aggressive marketing strategy.

It’s this aggressive approach to marketing that has helped me earn the nickname “Sherwood Park’s Real Estate Tiger” and it’s a nickname I embrace. I picked up the name early in my career and my years of experience only made me a faster and stronger tiger. When my clients first sit down with me, they hire me almost immediately, as they know exactly what I will do for them and the steps I will take to get them optimal results.

My approach for selling homes revolves around providing maximum exposure and outstanding service to my clients. While my strategies differ from other agents, they have been proven to work and work well. I’ve ranked in the top 1% in my RE/MAX Elite Sherwood Park and Edmonton offices of more than 200 agents, and I am consistently ranked as one of the top 100 RE/MAX agents in Western Canada.

So when it comes to buying or selling Sherwood Park real estate, feel free to contact me anytime because you want a TIGER on your side!

Sonia Tarabay

780.707.6015

Optimism is more important today than ever in this current economic downturn. As a business owner, I believe that it is critical to focus on the big picture. Our clients!

When I started my career in real estate in October 2009, the market was somewhat flat and many people believed that Alberta was in a never ending recession. I had to completely ignore this pessimism, as it was like poison to my mind and quite frankly I couldn’t understand how this outlook benefited anyone. In fact, I distanced myself from those individuals who spoke negatively about the market, not because we weren’t facing challenges in our economy, but rather because of my committment to staying focused on the positives.  I found that working hard and maintaining an optimistic attitude every day was the key to finding success in real estate.

As business people, we are hired to provide the best service to each and every one of our clients. We cannot control external economic factors, but we certainly can control how we react to it. We know historically that Alberta will regain balance. In the meantime, I believe we must remain optimistic and exude a confident attitude. Our clients depend on it!

Warmest regards,

Sonia Tarabay

Are you ready to save time, stress and money? I sure hope so! Because when you work with me, you get a top Sherwood Park REALTOR® and an expert Mortgage Broker all in one!

Since the beginning of my career, I have always been motivated to provide an even more complete and improved real estate buying experience for my clients. This is why I chose to be both a licensed REALTOR® with Remax Elite and a licensed Mortgage Broker with Verico iMortgage Solutions. This expertise combo is definitely a rarity within the industry and it’s also a very powerful one. I believe in assisting my clients through the entire process of buying and selling a home, and my deep understanding of the mortgage industry over the past 7 years has allowed me to become a stronger, more knowledgeable REALTOR® who can offer expert advice in all areas of real estate.

Not only am I finding my buyers and investors great deals on Sherwood Park homes, but I am also helping them find great deals on mortgage rates, terms and options available in the market place today.

So whether you are buying your first home or your tenth home, put my expertise to work for you! I am available to serve my clients 7 days a week and welcome your phone calls. Along with my awesome mortgage team, we can help you get pre-approved for financing almost immediately. Then it’s time for us to have a lot of fun house-hunting together! So let’s get started today! Ultimately, my goal is lifelong happy clients.

Warmest regards,

Sonia

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,