Sonia's Real Estate Blog

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.

Sherwood Park is a wonderful community for raising your family, and when a baby is born, most first-time parents are eager to get their home baby proofed. They buy all the most expensive gadgets and tools that they can find in order to make their home one that is completely safe. However, babies are not the only kids that you should be protecting your home from. Even those with toddlers or young kids in school are going to realize that childproofing goes past the days of kids wanting to put everything they touch in their mouth. So, what are some tips that can help you to childproof your home, no matter what the age of your children? I have a few that can help!

1. Children should never be unattended near water, even those older kids when it comes to the outdoor pool that you may have. Accidents can happen with older kids, and younger kids can easily drown. Having a fence around the pool and a locked gate can help deter little ones from falling in.
2. Medications should be kept in locked cabinet doors. With the number of younger children who accidentally ingest these medications, you need to have these cabinets locked. In addition, it deters older kids from getting access to medications that you may take.
3. Cleaning products should be stored out of reach. How many parents have their cleaning products located beneath their sink? This is fine if you have a cabinet lock. But, you can also put these in a higher cabinet out of reach of little hands.
4. Any firearm should be locked away and have a trigger lock on these to prevent kids from getting a hold of these.
5. Windows should have a lock on these so that kids cannot easily raise these and then fall out of the window.
6. For younger kids, stairways should have a gate so no accidents can happen that involve the stairs.
7. Do you have a basement? Be sure that the door to the basement stays chained or locked so those little ones cannot fall down the stairs.
8. Sharp edges on furniture? Consider getting a bumper to go around some pieces of furniture, such as glass tables or the like. This is a way to ensure that little kids do no get bumps, cuts or bruises from the furniture.
9. Place a gate around the fireplace, if you have one that prevents little ones from getting close and possibly burned by the fire.
10. Place sliding covers on the electrical outlets to deter kids from sticking their fingers or objects into the power supply.
11. Cords from blinds can be a choking hazard for smaller kids. Make sure that these are tied up and tight so that kids cannot get a hold of these.
12. Anchor larger furniture to the wall as many toddlers and young kids will attempt to climb anything, and you do not want this furniture falling on them.

Childproofing a home takes work, and in many cases, you may still see items that need your attention. Which is fine, you need to be vigilant about the safety of your child while at home!

Looking for the best home to raise a family in Sherwood Park, Edmonton, or Strathcona County? When you’ve got Sonia on your side, buying a home is easier, faster, and way more fun!

Let me help you find your family-friendly Sherwood Park home today!

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!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in Sherwood Park or the wider Edmonton area in the next 6 months, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the monthly market stats to see where the trends are.

Sherwood Park Real Estate Market Stats

In April, single family home total sales were up 33.8% from March, and up 12.6% from last April. That’s a great sign that more people are looking at buying Sherwood Park real estate and bringing their families to our great city this summer, which is good news if you’re planning on selling.

Looking at average price, the average selling price of a single family home in Sherwood Park has fallen slightly from last month, down around $6,000, or 1.4% from last month. When we dig deeper into the numbers, what we find is that more people are looking to buy homes at a more modest budget: Starter homes and first time home buyers are extremely active right now. We see this in particular when we look at the condo market where sales are up and the average price has increased by 3.5% over last month.

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