Sonia's Real Estate Blog

Thanksgiving is one of my favourite holidays for many reasons. For one thing, it reminds us to live a life of gratitude and appreciation for everyone. We are all interconnected in life even if we do not know one another. Smiling at a child or showing kindness to a stranger is an expression of gratitude and appreciation for others. It’s that simple.

Sharing our abundance is also very important. Inviting a friend into our home, supporting a charitable cause, and just giving our time to really listen to others is a wonderful gift to our souls.

Thanksgiving is also a time to celebrate your zest for life! My life is very simple at times where I am truly enjoying “simple pleasures.”  A really good cup of coffee, a relaxing hour at hot yoga or even just a good night’s sleep are very simple yet extremely wonderful pleasures for me. But my ultimate happiness in life are my three children. I’m always grateful to hug them every day and tell them that I love them.

I would love to hear what you are most grateful for this Thanksgiving! Please feel free to contact me anytime. I wish you a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. May the spirit of Thanksgiving continue throughout your entire year!

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

It’s that time of year again when everyone is uttering those three words nearly every child dreads: back to school. As summer holidays wrap up in Sherwood Park for another year, it’s important for everyone to be mindful of the great children of the community and take some safety precautions.

One important thing is for drivers to remember that school zones are in effect once again. While the schools have been absent of children for the past couple months, they’ll soon be crawling with kids, so stay alert. All school zones in Strathcona County have a speed limit of 30 km/h and they are in effect on school days from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m., then from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., and again from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Playground zones will remain in effect as well. They are also 30 km/h zones and start at 8:30 a.m. and run until one hour after sunset.

If you are dropping your child off at school, be sure to learn the school’s rules for picking up and dropping off. Also be sure to watch for crosswalks and obey all crossing guards. It’s important to remember that pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk.

School buses will also be back on the road and they require caution. If you see alternating flashing yellow or amber lights, that means the bus is slowing down and you should do the same. If you see a bus with a flashing red light, you must stop! Passing a school bus with its red lights on will net you a $543 fine and six demerit points. School buses use red lights and stop signs in rural areas of Strathcona County and residential estate areas.

Back to school is an exciting time for many kids (and many parents too I’m sure!) so let’s make sure it is safe for everyone!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

Congratulations to Gwen H. and her beautiful family for winning the Sonia Summer Surprise Contest! Gwen won the contest by commenting on my Facebook post telling everyone what her favourite summer activity is in Sherwood Park. She and her family love to explore all of the green spaces and parks in Strathcona County both on foot and on bike. Check out her reaction to winning the prize!

Gwen was very excited to win the prize pack which includes a $200 gift certificate for Festival Place and a $200 gift certificate for Wild Wing. For years, Festival Place has been bringing in amazing acts of all genres to Sherwood Park and it’s one of my favourite spots to catch both local and international acts. With 101 flavours, Wild Wing is the best place in Sherwood Park for chicken wings! They also have a full menu of burgers, wraps and much more and are a great place for a fun family supper or to watch your favourite sports!

Thank you to everyone who entered the contest and told me about your favourite Sherwood Park summer activities. The activities were so inspiring – everything from shopping at one of the several farmer’s markets, to spending hot afternoons at the spray park or relaxing on your deck with a glass of wine in the evening. We’re very blessed to live in a family friendly community with so much to do!

Congrats Gwen and enjoy your prize!

Sherwood Park is a blast in the summer! From spray parks to bike trails to all of the great celebrations and festivals, there is so much to do and only so much time to do it!

Summer is my favourite time in Sherwood Park and I want to kick off the season with an incredible contest! I can’t tell you what the prize is just yet (that’s the surprise!) but I can guarantee you’ll love it.

All you have to do to enter is go to my Facebook page, Like my page and comment on this post by telling me what is your favourite thing to do in Sherwood Park over the summer.

I can’t wait to hear your answers! You might give me some new ideas too!

Thanks everyone and happy summer to all!

Sonia

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I was extremely honoured to be a part of Sherwood Park’s annual Canada Day Parade. The community is always so wonderful in supporting the parade with many great floats and a great crowd gathered all across the route. I always look forward to seeing all the smiling faces as we pass through the streets of our great community. This year I especially enjoyed driving through in my “Sonia mobile” and waiving to everyone!

It was also a great opportunity for all of the families to get outside and spend some quality time together with all of the fun activities and fireworks happening at Strathcona’s largest annual festival at Broadmoor Lake Park.

Canada Day is one of my favourite holidays as it serves as an unofficial start to the summer. But it’s also the best time to reflect on how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful and welcoming country

To me being a Canadian means freedom. We have the ability to live our lives the way we want to, speak when we want, express our values and to stand up for what we believe in. The pleasure to be able to interact with cultures and races of all kinds in our multicultural country and to sleep peacefully at night not worrying that your home will be gone in the morning. For all those reasons, I am proudly Canadian!

Warmest regards,

Sonia

Happy Father’s Day to All Dads!

In honour of my father…

When it comes to fathers, mine was truly special. His handshake was as solid as his character and his compassion to others was incredible. Everyone who knew my dad, loved him. He was just that type of guy who made you feel like YOU were the most important person around. His big heart and big personality shined everywhere he went.

Dad was a real estate developer and entrepreneur for most of his life. He and my mother loved to travel the world, but mostly dad enjoyed simple pleasures in life. Spending time with his children and grand children at home was his favourite thing to do. Dad always gave generously to various charities. He never talked about it. He just did it. He did it because of the compassionate and generous man he was.

Unfortunately, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and passed away in 2008 just one day after I gave birth to my third child, Eva. Luckily, dad didn’t suffer considering this terrible disease. I would have loved for my dad to meet Eva but I was thrilled that at least he got to name his grand daughter. This was a tribute to him.

My dad is the one who encouraged me to get into real estate. He said “Go get your real estate license young lady and don’t you ever look back.” That moment changed my life forever.

Well I learned many things from my dad, but the most important thing I learned is to respect others and help out anyone you can in life. I’m grateful for everything my dad taught me and I will always honour his memory.

Happy Father’s Day dad.

Love forever…
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