Posts from September 2015

Staging a home to sell is a conscious effort to prepare your home a step above the competing listings on the market. You want a potential buyer to walk into your home and feel like they have to have it! Staging is not easy to do but with some effort the results could truly pay off. Here’s a checklist on how to impress from curb to closet:
• Cut and water the lawn, and trim and prune all trees and shrubs
• Remove pet waste, leaves, and weeds from the yard along with tools, toys and other visible items
• Clean all exterior doors and windows on house and garage
• Paint the exterior trim and stain the deck and fence
• Stage an outdoor sitting area with flowerpots, pillows, outdoor carpets, and fire pit or fountain
• Install outdoor solar lighting along all driveways and walkways in front and back yard
• Replace your mailbox, house numbers and paint your front door for a quick curb appeal facelift
• Paint the interior – including walls, doors, ceilings, closets and trim – in a neutral beige or grey
• Remove all shoes, jackets, keys, mail, umbrellas and bags from entrances
• Lubricate doors, furniture and windows to eliminate squeaks
• Remove ALL but the essential items from countertops in the kitchen
and bathrooms
• Clean INSIDE and ON TOP of all appliances including refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher and oven
• Dust entire home including ceiling fans, light fixtures, air vents, lampshades, TV’s and electronics
• Clean door frames, doors, windows and window sills, walls, light switches, trim and baseboards
• Place a large bowl full of one fruit such as lemons or apples on the kitchen countertop or table
• Change cat litter and keep it out of sight along with pet food bowls, pet beds and pet toys
• Use fresh plants and flowers to compliment a focal point of the home
• Use an odor neutralizer with a fresh scent even if you don’t think you need one
• Replace all light bulbs with maximum watts and have all lights on and all blinds and draperies open
• Depersonalize the space by removing family photos, trophies, mementos and magnets on the fridge
• Coordinate décor accessories, pillows, and artwork with no more than two accent colors per room
• Float furniture away from walls, into conversational groups, and place so the traffic flow is obvious
• Arrange décor accessories in groups of three – a small, medium and a large item clustered together
• Vary the pattern and grouping of wall hangings and have one or two large focal pieces in living area
• Pack unnecessary items and furniture – at least 1/3 of your home and store them OFF the property
• Don’t neglect storage areas – place items in plastic containers and neatly stack on shelving
• Leave commercial-free easy listening music playing at a low but audible volume on in the house

• Calgary Home + Design Show – Thursday, September 17 – Sunday, September 20
• Calgary ArtWalk Festival – Saturday, September 19 – Sunday, September 20
• Calgary International Film Festival – Wednesday, September 23 – Sunday, October 4

Calgary’s residential resale housing market recorded further easing in absorption rates in August due to weaker sales activity.

Sales in the city declined by 27 per cent to 1,643 units last month relative to the same time last year, and 12 per cent below 10-year averages.
“Persistent weakness in the energy sector weighed on sales activity this month, which once again retracted to levels well below the norm for the city,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.
The residential unadjusted sales-to-new-listings ratio eased from 67 per cent in July to 60 per cent in August, contributing to a monthly rise in inventory levels to 5,146 units. Combined with weaker sales activity, months of supply pushed up to 3.13 months.
While every price range experienced fewer sales per new listing, homes in the higher price ranges saw the most significant decline in absorption rates compared to last year, noted Lurie.
Year-to-date new listings in the $600,000-plus category increased in share of activity compared to last year. However, sales activity in this price range represented 18 per cent of all the sales last month, down from nearly 20 per cent last year.
“With more options in the higher-end of the market, sellers will need to consider their competition as well as their goals regarding a sell date,” said CREB® president Corinne Lyall. “This will influence the pricing strategy they agree upon with their real estate professional.”
Lurie added that despite challenges near the top of the market, absorption rates in the under-$500,000 detached sector remained relatively tight and is likely causing some price trend discrepancies.
Despite weaker absorption rates, benchmark prices remained relatively stable, totaling $456,300 in August. Lurie credits this steadiness to both the detached and attached sectors, which have remained more balanced relative to the apartment sector.
The apartment sector continued to struggle with increased competition from competing properties during the month, as unadjusted months of supply rose to 4.3. Increased supply is ultimately weighed on pricing, as prices declined on a year-over-year basis by 1.44 per cent in August.
Overall, the combination of price declines and higher inventory levels in some segments of the market are influencing buying patterns in Calgary, said Lyall.
“Improved selection in these segments is giving buyers the opportunity to be discerning about their purchase decisions,” she said. “They may be weighing their options between resale and new product, along with what community fits their lifestyle.”
“Although market conditions affect consumers’ real estate decisions, so do their lifestyles. People move for a number of reasons, including proximity to work and schools, along with changes in family dynamics.”