Sonia's Real Estate Blog

One of the busiest times of the year for many families is back to school time. This year most of the Sherwood Park schools are starting between August 30th –Sept 1st. Many families hear “back to school” and it brings many mixed emotions especially if you are currently selling your home. When it comes to Real Estate there are positives and negatives we tend to see during this time.

Most years we see a lull in the market around this time. One thing to consider is many buyers are purchasing in areas based heavily on school district. This means they are attempting to close on a home and move into the house before school starts. On average, according to Realtor.ca, it takes 50 Days to close on a house however locally many houses close as quickly as 30 days. This means as a seller you want to have your house on the market no later than early July to be safe, especially if you live a highly desirable school district.

Generally, the types of homes that accommodate family lifestyles struggle the most. Those homes tend to be 3+ bedroom homes. The more bedrooms a home has the more likely a family is purchasing the house. Homes that have immediate possession are more desirable during this time for the families that are needing a home quicker to get settled into the school of their choice.

There are many areas where schools starting don’t affect the market much. Retirement communities, condos, and townhomes are a few examples. Buyers for these style of homes typically don’t have children in school anymore. Don’t be alarmed if you aren’t on the market yet. We do see the market pick back up a few weeks after school is in session and remain solid until the holiday season.

Parents with kids that are off for the summer months keep quite busy. During those months families tend to work less, travel more, and take a break from house shopping. When school starts again families get more into a schedule and then tend to have a bit more time to view homes and get serious on purchasing. If you can’t list now I’d recommend doing so the second week after schools start.

So stay safe out there and watch out for all the kids going back to school crossing the roads. If you have any questions about buying or selling Sherwood Park real estate, please feel free to give me a call. I would love to hear from you!

Warm regards,

Sonia

Starting school is an important step in your child’s life—and yours. It’s a big change. It’s exciting. It’s even a little scary. Here are 10 tips that will help you get your child ready for that first day of school.

1. Get familiar with the school. Before the first day of school, visit the school with your child so that the route, the building, and school surroundings become familiar.
2. Start the routine early. About a week or so before the start of school, begin putting your child to bed at a normal time for a school night. For a week before school starts, be sure your child then gets up, dressed, and fed like a regular school morning.
3. Practise sharing. Give your child all kinds of opportunities to be with other kids, to learn to share, wait, and take turns. That’s what school is all about.
4. Children should dress themselves. You won’t be at school to help your child get ready for the outdoors. Encourage children to practise at home putting on and taking off their own jacket, snowpants, boots, etc.
5. Dress your child accordingly. Your child is going to be active at school. Choose clothes and shoes that are comfortable and durable. Give your child outdoor clothing for all types of weather.
6. Teach the importance of listening. School means being able to listen. Kids need to understand and practise listening, things like: look at who is talking, don’t interrupt, and think about what is being said.
7. Learn at home. Include learning in your child’s everyday life. For example, a child can practise by reading package labels or weighing produce while shopping. Read to your child. Play word or counting games.
8. Develop young muscles. Give your child every opportunity to exercise and develop larger muscles by running, climbing, playing with a ball, etc. Smaller hand muscles can be strengthened with Play-Dough®, pencils, and crayons.
9. Set “at home” ground rules. Figure out priorities for after-school activities, homework, chores, TV time, and video games before the first day of school. This will allow you to agree on a schedule and avoid confrontation later on.
10. Encourage questions. Give your child the confidence to ask questions in all situations. Let your child know that it’s OK to tell the teacher if something is hard to understand.

Let’s not forget the importance of getting enough sleep and eating a healthy breakfast! Should you be looking for a new home for your family, please feel free to contact me. I would love to hear from you!

Reference: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/ready.html