Sonia's Real Estate Blog

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,

Christmas is the most magical time of the year! It brings family and friends together and helps us appreciate the love in our lives. Christmas reminds us to be grateful for all that we have and to share our gifts with one another. Our gifts of compassion, understanding and selflessness. The spirit of Christmas should not just be for one day but rather for the whole year!

From my family to yours, we wish you peace, joy and above all we wish you love. Merry Christmas and blessings to you this holiday season and in the New Year!

Love,
Sonia & family

When shopping for family and friends this holiday season, be sure to shop local! Shopping local helps strengthen the economic base of your community. Here are some benefits below:

Tax Base. One of the five benefits of shopping locally is the increased tax base. By shopping locally, taxes paid by these businesses are used within your community. Common uses for local sales tax include investments in infrastructure, police and fire departments, libraries, and parks.

Jobs. Local shops employ local residents, which means there will be more job opportunities within your community. The increase in jobs, one of the five benefits of shopping locally, also has a domino effect. Local stores will need to hire other local residents to help with accounting, create store signs, etc.

Product Diversity. Product diversity, one of the five benefits of shopping locally, may not seem important at first, but it is a win-win situation for local customers. Big box stores have national sales plans, and generally do not stock their stores with products that are sought after within a specific region. Local shops will need to stock their stores with products that their local customers will want, so if you have many local shops within your community, there will be a much broader range of product choices.

Competition. Competition of local shops is also one of the most important five benefits of shopping locally. Big box stores often drive mom and pop shops out of business, which means there is no competition. With no competition, the big box stores can charge higher prices. By having a multitude of local stores within your community, all of the stores will need to keep their prices competitive in order to gain your business.

Community Well-Being. The final benefit on our list of the five benefits of shopping locally is community well-being. By shopping at local shops, you will most likely run into your friends and family more often, which helps unite the community together as a whole. Local business owners are also more likely to donate more to local causes than big box stores are.

This Christmas, be merry, have fun and shop local!

Reference: http://www.mademan.com/mm/5-benefits-shopping-locally.html#ixzz3tIP0MwZu

In honour of all those men and women who have given their lives serving Canadians. We will never forget you.

During the Halloween season it is important to keep your child’s safety in mind when planning costumes, decorations, treats and activities. Make sure that Halloween is a safe and happy experience for the whole family by preparing ahead of time.

Choose the right costume

Ensure that your children are dressed appropriately for Halloween.

• Look for costumes and accessories such as beards, wigs, wings and tails that are labelled flame-resistant. Flowing skirts and capes, baggy sleeves and over-sized costumes can all be hazards around candles or flames.
• Nylon or heavyweight polyester costumes are best. Remember, flame-resistant does not mean fire-proof.
• Pick brightly coloured costumes that can be clearly seen by motorists. Add reflective tape to the costume to increase visibility.
• Use make-up or face paint instead of masks – improperly fitted masks can interfere with your child’s vision or breathing.
• Before using face paint or make-up, do a patch test to see if your child is sensitive or allergic to something in the cosmetic. Even products labelled as “hypoallergenic” can still cause allergic reactions.
• If you do choose a mask, make sure it fits properly and allows them to see and breathe easily.
• Do not use contact lenses that change eye colour or create special effects because they can cause injury to a child’s eyes.
• Avoid costumes that are too big or have long dangling pieces that children can trip over.
• Ensure that toy weapons and similar accessories are made of soft or flexible material. Hard or rigid costume accessories can cause accidents.
• Choose costumes that fit well and can be worn over warm clothing to protect your child against cold and wet weather.

Avoid danger when decorating

Stay vigilant for fire hazards and prevent injuries while getting into the spirit of Halloween.

• To avoid injuries, let children draw a face or design on the pumpkin and then have an adult carve it.
• Candles, jack-o-lanterns, lighters and matches are all fire hazards. Place lighted candles and jack-o-lanterns away from curtains and other flammable objects, and do not leave them unattended.  Instead of candles, consider using a small flashlight or battery candle to light your jack-o-lantern.
• Keep candles, matches, lighters and other fire hazards in a place that children cannot reach.
• Avoid using Halloween candles with multiple wicks. They can produce a large flame with intense heat that can ignite nearby materials like curtains and window sills.
• Check indoor and outdoor decorative lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Do not overload extension cords.
• Make sure the lights are certified by a recognized organization like the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or the Underwriters’ Laboratory of Canada (ULC).

Did you know?

It is important to make your home safe for little ghouls and goblins. Remove objects around the outside of your house that could cause children to trip or fall. Turn on your outdoor lights to increase visibility and let trick-or-treaters know they can visit.

Stay secure while trick or treating

Keep your children safe by teaching them to stay visible and to be aware of their surroundings.

• Go trick or treating with your children each year until they are old enough to go with a friend.
• Give each child a flashlight to carry, to make them more visible to motorists and others.
• Tell your children to stay in well-lit areas and only visit homes that have their outside lights turned on. Make sure they know never to go inside homes or cars.
• Teach your children to be careful when crossing the street. Make sure they look both ways and only cross when no cars are coming. Cross streets at the corner, and never cross between parked cars.

Be cautious with candy and toys

Always examine the treats and toys that are brought home before giving them to your children.

• Tell your children not to eat any treats until you have looked them over.
• Be careful when giving children any treats that could be potential choking hazards such as chewy candies, peanuts and hard candies.
• Check toys or novelty items for small parts and do not let children under three years of age play with them.

This Halloween, I hope that our weather in Sherwood is nice for our kids and that everyone has an enjoyable time. It is always great to bump into local parents, neighbours and friends. We love to see all the kids having a great time in their costumes. Stay warm out there everyone!

Love,
Sonia

Reference:

http://www.healthycanadians.gc.ca/security-securite/home-maison/halloween-eng.php

Happy first day of Fall! Here are some of my favourite things about this beautiful season. Hope you enjoy!

-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

Still looking for ideas to keep your family busy this summer? Here are a few awesome ideas that your family will love! Whether it’s an indoor or an outdoor activity, be sure to check these out!

Summer in Sherwood Park
http://www.strathcona.ca/departments/recreation-parks-and-culture/activities-and-schedules/

100 Things to do with kids this Summer
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/05/100-things-to-do-with-kids-this-summer.html

Cooking with your kids this Summer
http://www.bettycrocker.com/how-to/tipslibrary/cooking-tips/summer-cooking-with-kids

Sherwood Park Spray Decks

Check these out along with the new Spray Park and Playground sponsored by Re/Max Elite
http://www.strathcona.ca/departments/recreation-parks-and-culture/parks-trails-sports-venues/spray-decks/

If you are looking to move before the kids get back to school, give me a call, (780) 707-6015 or send me an email soniatarabay@remax.net. I would love to help you! Happy Summer everyone!

Curb appeal is tremendously important to keeping up the value of your home, as well as your neighbourhood. There are so many awesome ideas out there, but here are a few of my favourites:

1) Professionally landscape your yard. Depending on your budget, a lot of this you can easily do yourself. To start, the removal of dead wood, broken branches and pruning of your hedges restores the health and aesthetic appeal of your yard. If you want to stand out from your neighbours, replace a portion of your lawn with flowers. Plant perennials, use landscape stone for a lush landscape that sets your house apart. Planting flowers in raised flower beds or planter boxes, even added pots of flowers, provides a giant boost to your curb appeal.

2) Add big, bold house numbers. It’s so easy to swap out house numbers, and this one thing can make a huge impact. Echo your house style in the numbers you choose — a clean sans serif font for a modern house, aged copper for a Prairie-style home, contrast is to match your trim, etc.

3) Paint the front door. A front door that pops can be very cheering. Paint your front door a tasteful color you like and make it work. It’s all a matter of coordinating the door color with your home’s architecture and the other colors and materials on the house.

4) Add fresh porch furniture and symmetry to decor. Whether it is a set of Adirondack chairs or a cozy glider, is a must when you have a front porch that is visible from the street. Symmetry is not only pleasing to the eye, it’s also the simplest to arrange. Symmetrical compositions of light fixtures and front-door accents create welcoming entryways and boost curb appeal.

5) Repair the driveway and paths. Cement, stone and pavement all can split and crack over time. Repairing or replacing damaged areas can do wonders to freshen up your home’s street view.
Edging the driveway, installing a border adds a crisp, elegant look. Edging materials such as brick, pavers, stones or a combination to bring a boring paving driveway to life.

6) Change the hardware. Add a shiny new door knocker. Gorgeous hardware can make even the plainest door look very classy. Your Mailbox even makes a statement! If your mailbox is rusty and falling apart – consider sprucing it up or getting a new one. Other inexpensive hardware idea is to add brackets to your garage door that turn the most basic garage into an elegant one!

7) Change your lighting. The lighting on your porch may be old, outdated or even broken. A great way to update your curb appeal is to replace the porch lighting with something more modern, or unique to the architecture of your home. At this time you may even consider installing a motion detector which increases the safety to your home. Also installing lighting along your pathway leading up to your home not only increases the safety, but adds a warm and inviting welcome to your front door.

8) Wash your House and Refresh the Paint. Before you scrape any paint or plant more azaleas, wash the dirt, mildew, and general grunge off the outside of your house. You would be surprised as to washing a house can add tremendous value to your home. The most commonly offered curb appeal advice from real estate pros and appraisers is to give the exterior of your home a good paint job. Buyers will instantly notice it, and appraisers will value it.
Consider hiring a professional- getting quotes if it’s a large job. Even refreshing the trims make a huge difference!

9) Regard your roof. The condition of your roof is one of the first things buyers notice and appraisers assess. Missing, curled, or faded shingles add nothing to the look or value of your house. If your neighbors have maintained or replaced their roofs, yours will look especially shabby. You can pay for roof repairs now, or pay for them later in a lower appraisal; appraisers will mark down the value by the cost of the repair. While you are looking at your roof check out the condition of your gutters and eavestroughs, cleaning and checking for any damages.

10) Windows speak volume. If your windows have seen better days, replacing them with up-to-date energy efficient, double pane windows can significantly reduce your heating and cooling bills while adding value and curb appeal to your home.

Some of these things may be more costly than you imagined, but they can have a huge impact on your sales price. Some are simple inexpensive yet can make an impact! If you are wondering which items should be updated, ask a friend to drive to the house and tell you the first thing they think of when they pull up. This will give you an honest assessment and a starting point for your work. If you would like to know how much your home is worth, feel free to call me for a complimentary Market Evaluation. Thank you!