In This Edition
MarketTemperature: Months of Inventory Down
HomeAdvisor: Preparing your Home for Sale
HomeMaintenance: Maintenance Memory Jog
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Time to Sell?: I take pride in offering exceptional Service.
1. An in-depth market analysis of your property
2. Property enhancement prior to marketing
3. A comprehensive promotional and marketing plan
4. Regular and clear communication so you know what is happening throughout the selling cycle
5. Expert and experienced negotiation and structuring of the sale
6. Comprehensive transaction management
7. My “NEW” client appreciation program

Call Jim at 403 660 6239 or email jim@jimperks.ca
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If you own a home or you are thinking of owning a home, you are on the property ladder. As you move up or down the ladder you will need advice and that’s where I come in. As your REALTOR® you have my real estate experience, loyalty, honesty and my commitment to helping you make the right real estate decisions. Call me for advice before you decide to buy or sell a home.
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MarketTemperature
Months of Inventory Down
Months of inventory relates to mow many home are for sale in relation to how many homes are selling. For example, f there are 2000 homes on the market and they are selling at 1000 homes per month, there is 2 months of inventory. As of March 13, Single family listing are down over 6% from this time last year and condo apartment listings are down 11% and Condo Townhome listings are down by 9%. Overall, th nuber of listing in the market. “When new product comes onto the market, buyers are not delaying their purchasing decisions as the majority of homes are selling in less time at prices closer to their list price,” said CREB® President Becky Walters. “The tighter market conditions have supported price growth. I am still experiencing multiple offer situations in the market and my colleagues in RE/MAX Mountain View are seeing multiple offers on a daily basis right now. We are seeing many properties selling at or above listing price. As a buyer, you must make up your mind quickly when you find a property you like. As a seller, this is an excellent time to put your house on the market. I am currently working with a number of great people to help them find their next home, not always an easy task when the months of inventory is down.

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HomeAdvisor
Preparing Your Home for Sale
Although pricing your home properly is the single most important element in the selling, it is followed closely by preparing your home for sale. In order to get the maximum price for your home it needs to be move-in ready for the next owner. There seems to be this myth that you should not improve your home before you sell it because the next buyer may want to do something different with it. This could not be farther from the truth. According to the National Association of Realtors, only 13% of buyers are looking for a home that needs improving. If you home is not in move in condition, you lose out on 87% of the market.
The best way to get the maximum benefit from the sale of your house is to keep it current. Update your kitchens and baths throughout the time you own the house. Don’t wait until you sell to make these changes. In most cases you will not recoup the cost of renovations in the sale price, but if you do it throughout the life of the home you will have the added value of enjoying those renovations while you live in the house.
Some of the items on your todo list prior to selling may include floors, doors, paint, lighting and trim. These are the “givens” for property flippers and worth considering when you are selling your home. A fresh coat of paint will give you the best return on your dollar spent, but keep in mind that any do it yourself work you do has to be professional grade or it could take away from the value of your home. There are a number of other items that should be on your list. Check out this link below to the Home Ready Checklist provided by the Canadian Real Estate Association.
http://www.howrealtorshelp.ca/pdf/Home_Ready_Checklist.pdf
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HomeMaintenance
Maintenance Memory Jog
This list may jog your memory and remind you of some maintenance you forgot to do on your home
Excerpted from the Popular Mechanics book When Duct Tape Just Isn’t Enough, published by Hearst Books/Sterling Publishing.

1. Test your garage door opener monthly to ensure that it reverses when it hits an obstruction or when its sensor beam is interrupted.
2. Vacuum the clothes dryer’s exhaust duct at least once a year. If the duct is plastic, replace it (it’s a fire hazard). Rigid sheet-metal ducting is best.
3. Replace furnace filters quarterly, or as recommended by the furnace manufacturer.
4. Test all GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets monthly. Press the test button and use a voltage tester to make sure the power goes off.
5. Clean leaves and debris from the condenser of a central air conditioner seasonally.
6. Once a year, vacuum the refrigerator coils underneath the appliance.
7. Have the fireplace chimney inspected and cleaned annually.
8. Inspect window and door caulking and weather stripping yearly.
9. Replace the batteries in smoke detectors yearly. And remember, even recent hard-wired smoke detectors have backup batteries that must be replaced. If you have never checked yours, do so.

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I hope you enjoyed this edition of The Property Ladder News. As always, your comments and feedback are welcome. If you have any questions about real estate or there is a topic you would like me to cover here in The Property Ladder News, let me know.
Jim Perks