Sonia's Real Estate Blog

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

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,

If there was ever a perfect time to buy real estate, it is now! We are currently in a buyer’s market and that means anyone who is looking to buy or invest in real estate should capitalize on the opportunity of virtually rock bottom prices. In addition, mortgage interest rates are at a historic low, which is a huge benefit and attraction for buyers and investors. Please view this video link below from the 2016 REALTORS® Housing Forecast Seminar. For more information on buying or investing in real estate, please feel free to contact me at soniatarabay@remax.net or drop me a line anytime at 780.707.6015. I would love to hear from you!

https://member.ereb.com/WEB/RAE/RAE_News/News/2016/1/Full_Video_Now_Available_for_2016_REALTORS_Housing_Forecast_Seminar.aspx

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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First impressions are everything, and that’s as true in real estate as it is in the rest of life. If you’re selling your home, it’s crucial to think about what the first impression of your home will be because the right one will inevitably generate a ton of showings and may result in multiple offers, while the wrong one… well, a bad impression could leave your home on the market for a lot longer than you’d like.

The first step to a quick, successful home sale is choosing to work with Sonia, and that’s because my first step is to make sure your listing makes that WOW first impression. When I list your home, I want it to shine. I want everyone who looks at it to fall in love with it, book a showing that minute, and drive over the very same day.

Professional Photography: Your Home’s First Impression

A selfie of me and my favourite real estate photographer, Trevor Boller

I’m a top Sherwood Park REALTOR® and know the market inside and out. And while I’m pretty good with a point-­and­-click camera at family events (I take a fantastic selfie), I’m not a professional real estate photographer.

Sure I could take photos of your home and post them, and they’d look ok. They’d be sufficient. But we don’t want merely “sufficient”, we want WOW! If you want to sell your home you hire top tier Sherwood Park REALTOR® Sonia Tarabay. The same logic stands: If I want to take fantastic photography that gets buyers in the door, I hire a top tier real estate photographer! My choice? Trevor Boller, real estate photographer extraordinaire!

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August has arrived, and while we’re all still basking in the warm, wonderful summer, if you’re like my family the coming of August is also one month closer to September and the start of school. As a mom with 3 kids, August is “Back-­to-­School” season: Not only are schools starting to send out supply lists, but all those fun activities and camps your kids have been registered in over the summer are coming to an end as well. That means it’s time to start planning fall and winter activities for the family!

It’s a good idea to start thinking about the lessons, clubs, and after-­school activities your children want to join in August, since registration always seems to kick of earlier every year. And there’s so much for kids to choose from here in Sherwood Park! It’s just one of many reasons Sherwood Park and Strathcona County is a great place for families to call home, and why your family will love it here. There are so many great activities to choose from, including sports, music, art, horseback-­riding, and leadership clubs: The hardest part for your kids will be picking just 2 or 3!

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If I was standing in a crowd of home buyers, I’d be able to pick out the first-time buyers every time: They’re the ones with huge smiles on their faces, and almost vibrating with excitement!

Buying your first home is one of life’s great “firsts”, and I’m always thrilled and honoured when I get to be a part of that experience. When you buy into the real estate market for the first time, you’re taking a big step forward: At the same time, you’re making a financial investment in your future, but you’re also starting the process of laying down roots and saying “this is where I belong”. It’s a brand new, exciting chapter of your life, and some of the largest smiles I’ve ever seen have been when I hand over that first set of keys on possession day!

If it’s your first time buying a home, teaming up with the right REALTOR® can make or break the experience. Not only do you need someone experienced who understand the market, but it’s important to work with a REALTOR® you like and can make a connection with. Someone who you feel comfortable spending hours, evenings, or even entire days with, driving around and looking at homes. Someone you trust to be honest with you when it’s most important, to stand up for your best interests at the negotiation table, and who shares your excitement about buying your first home.

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