Attention first-time home buyers and investors! Totally charming high-rise suite with the most breathtaking downtown views and great access to shopping and Public Transportation right on the river valley for all those nature loving and active people. Freshly painted, with high end vinyl flooring being recently installed this spacious one bedroom end unit has an area off the living room for an office set up plus a large walk in storage area. Newer dishwasher, stove and a microwave. Move in ready, simply start to enjoy urban living, conveniently within walking distance to shops and restaurants. Welcome to the Top of the Valley!
Top of the Valley high rise is located in Oliver at 12121 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton. Building was built in 1975 and consist of 106 apartment style condos with a central elevator, exercise room, underground & visitor parking. Top of the Valley condo, which overlook the River Valley, offer quick access to Downtown core, U of A, and trendy 124 street via public transport.
What is a CMA🤔 and how do you get one?
Better known as a Comparative Market Analysis, a CMA helps determine what your home is worth compared to similar properties in the area that have sold in the last 4-6 months. In short, a CMA will help you understand how your home will fare against the competition. To determine the value of your home, a real estate agent will compare your home to homes with similar square footage, age, amenities, upgrades, condition, and those which are located in the same neighborhood or a similar area.
The more similar these comps, the better the price estimation. Keep in mind, CMA’s are very subjective because it may be hard to account for things such as the home’s curb appeal or what the home’s located near (ex. across from a railroad or power station). Finding a good agent that can help estimate the value of your home, based on these factors, is vital in determining the best list price.
Other factors an agent will look at when compiling a CMA include when a property sold and certain characteristics of the home. For example, when looking at the sold dates of other properties in fast moving markets, an agent will focus on sales from the last 2-3 months vs. longer. The characteristics of your home must closely match the characteristics of the comparable homes. For example, comparable homes should have the same number of bedrooms and bathrooms and a similar sized lot. Keeping comps as similar as possible give you the best footing for generating the best list price.
As you can see, a lot of value is derived from the compilation of a CMA by a real estate expert. The best way to get your home sold is to be in a competitive price range and a CMA will provide that.
Did you know that a Real Estate Agent could provide a CMA at no cost?!🤩
Contact me today for a complimentary consultation!
CORNER LOT in Malmo Plains! This beautiful, well-maintained property boasts unique features that make it a cut above the rest. To learn more…
Large main floor windows flood the home with morning light. One 2pce bath, kitchen and two living rooms make up the main floor area. Upstairs you will find 4 BEDROOMS with one 4 pce bath, and his/hers closets in the master bedroom. The basement provides for additional storage and living space and is equipped with 100 amp service. Outside you will find a small storage shed, garden and green space for hosting or lawn games. An OVERSIZE GARAGE is equipped with a SHOP in one bay and room for vehicles in the other. This is a rare gem, poised for the opportunity and creativity of the next generation! Fully fenced and minutes away from schools, parks, Southgate Shopping mall & LRT. Discover for yourself why so many residents of Malmo Plains wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!
Welcome to Helenslea Estates! This charming 1.5 Storey home BACKING RAVINE with 1 ACRE lot located just 5 MINUTES away from the city limits. The spacious driveway is hidden in a large private greenspace. Walking up the steps you will find an over 2500 sq.ft. of living space for your family to enjoy! The main floor boasts NEWER OAK HARDWOOD (2013), RENOVATED FIREPLACE, MANTLE, & HEARTH (2018), 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (INCLUDING 1 OF 2 ENSUITES), 2 living rooms, kitchen, and a large dining room. The upper level boasts the full master bedroom, 4PC ENSUITE with an office/living room and porch overlooking the front driveway. The basement includes 1 bedroom, laundry room, CRAFTS ROOM, REC ROOM and WORKOUT ROOM. Step out onto the deck and take in the beauty of the HAND-CRAFTED ROCK WATERFALL. Mature trees grace the backyard, with multiple sheds and a VEGETABLE GARDEN in the back.The gates at the front & back open for ACCESS TO VEHICLE STORAGE. A pure serenity just steps away from the city! Welcome HOME!
Address: 24 53226 Range Road 261, Rural Parkland County
I am sure, if you would be given an option, most of us would choose a weekend in a park or on a couch with a nice book, not on a ladder pulling leaves out of a gutter. But when your home is your biggest investment, maintaining your house is a must. Home maintenance can feel like a boring chore, especially for a new homeowner who has never seen a boiler or a furnace up close, not to mention draining it / or replacing a filter. But it doesn’t have to feel daunting or overwhelming. A secret to a well-kept and properly maintained house is to operate it with the season! Follow a seasonal home maintenance schedule, and keep up with the small things, and your house will be always in great shape!
Monthly
Choose one day each month for these revolving items which can easily be performed in a morning or afternoon.
Replace the furnace filter (if you don’t have central air conditioning, then you only need to do this during months of operation).
Clean your kitchen range hood filter.
Test your smoke and CO (carbon monoxide) detectors.
Clean your shower heads and faucet aerators.
Inspect and clear out all sink and tub drains.
Semi-annually
These tasks should be performed twice each year, once when preparing for winter and again each spring.
Replace smoke and CO detector batteries.
Check your attic for evidence of water incursion, rodents and confirm your insulation is in good shape.
Inspect your windows and doors (ensure frames, sweeps, stripping and caulking are in good shape).
Test your hot water tank’s pressure relief valve.
Inspect your eaves roughing, gutters, and flashing.
Clean your baseboard heater grills (turn off any breakers beforehand and be sure the grills are dry before re-engaging them)
Vacuum your air return ducts
Pull out appliances like your fridge and stove to vacuum and dust behind
Annually
Annual maintenance and inspections usually happen in the spring or fall with a few exceptions that are not season-specific.
Spring:
Inspect and pressure wash your home’s exterior.
Pro tip: Keep an eye on the caulking used to seal your siding.
Inspect your roof, eaves, and flashing each spring.
Pro tip: If there’s any sign of curling, cracking or disintegration, we recommend calling a roofing inspector immediately.
Inspect and clean your AC.
Pro tip: You only need to use a garden hose to clear dirt and debris from the unit. Remember to disconnect the power first!
Check your deck or porch, and wood fence for damage or rot and replace boards as needed.
Pressure wash your deck and fence. Watch your pressure settings though so you don’t accidentally gouge your wood!
Inspect your asphalt driveway. If you see the color and definition of individual pebbles, then you know it’s time to reseal.
Have your carpets professionally cleaned. You can also rent a carpet cleaning machine.
Have your chimney and fireplace/wood stove inspected and cleaned.
Check for mould: Inspect your home’s interior, especially places you don’t see often, and check for musty or dank odours.
Pro tip: If you discover mould, do not stop until it’s safely cleaned and the source identified and corrected—this may require a mould remediation expert.
Inspect horizontal runs from your gutters.
Pro tip: Ensure water is being directed away from the house so it does not collect and soak into the foundation.
Inspect your foundation for cracks and moisture.
Fall:
Test your home’s thermostat.
Inspect and clean out your eavestroughs and gutters.
Check your septic system (if you have a septic tank, it’s important to have a professional inspect it annually).
Drain and shut off exterior faucets.
Any time of year:
Inspect your plumbing for leaks or sweating.
Review your electrical system. Whether you live in an older home, or a new build, identifying potential problems early can save a lot of stress down the road.
Call an HVAC professional to service your furnace each year.
Inspect your flooring for wear and tear.
Check your toilets-if they start to rock, prevent damaging leaks by replacing the flange.
Check for wiggly door handles and squeaky hinges
Preparing for the long-term
You know that rainy day you’re always told to save for? Putting money aside for any eventual repairs is a smart way to avoid unnecessary shocks down the road. With modern building materials and warranties, it may be decades before repairs are needed, but it’s best to be ready.
Five years:
Have your ducts cleaned
Replace carpet in high traffic areas. A long-term, economical solution is to install laminate flooring, which can last upwards of 15 years with little maintenance.
Paint your home’s interior.
Replace the gaskets and washers in your faucets to prevent leaks.
Ten years:
Re-paint your home’s exterior. Depending on the type of paint and materials used for your siding, you should budget to repaint every 10 years.
Refinish your hardwood floors. This may need to be done sooner—or later—depending on how highly trafficked your floors are.
15 years:
Be prepared to replace all or part of your roof, depending on the materials used and any warranties applied.
Laminate flooring may need to be replaced.
Siding may need to be replaced on your home’s exterior.
25 years:
CSA approved windows reach the end of their lifetime at 25 years, and will likely need to be replaced.
It’s never too soon to start your own household maintenance schedule, and to start saving for those larger eventualities down the road. The savings to your pocket book as well the peace of mind that comes with preparedness will go a long way to ensure long-term enjoyment and comfort in your home.
Ready to start your dream home search? Or need a plan to sell?
Former show home, corner unit with all the upgrades! In fact, it still presents new like a Showhome too!
One of the BEST benefits on this corner unit and where it is positioned in the complex is the all-day SUNSHINE, making this home cheerful and a happy place to dwell. Decked out in all the Showhome extras including upgraded appliances, stunning granite countertops, FULLY finished 9ft basement with full wet bar /serving counter large windows, storage-built in’s, walk in master bedroom shower, all window coverings and upscale lighting throughout. This unit does not back a busy road (Lessard) it backs west and enjoys beautiful sunsets on the private deck. Located right in the heart of west ends walking district – walk to everything from here and fabulous walking trails too!
KENNEDY Real Estate is reinventing Real Estate by leading the industry in innovation. We are looking to add to our awesome Team with some amazing people. Are you ready? We are….
Contact Jennifer Kennedy Broker/Owner direct at (780) 920-0709 for your personal interview.
10 Commandments for how REALTORS® should treat one another:
1. Thou shalt always identify yourself on the phone when answering your phone or for making calls. 2. Thou shalt only email and not call for feedback. 3. Thou shalt not leave voice mail requesting a call back for showing feedback. 4. Thou shalt not assume the other REALTOR® knows why your commission cheque is late. He or she is not hiding it. You are just not that special that he or she would take the time to try and hide it from you. Patience my friend. 5. Thou shalt notify the listing agent when you cannot make a showing. 6. Thou shall NOT make the seller the showing coordinator. Please note they never notify of pendings or callbacks to confirm. Can you say frustrating? 7. Thou shalt always have your cell number on your feature sheet for showing confirmation. Do you enjoy calling trunk numbers, leaving a message, waiting for a callback only to have shown 10 properties by the time you get a confirmation back? Too late buddy. Too bad for your seller too. 8. Thou shalt clearly convey the location of the lockbox. 9. Thou shalt never go back on your word. 10. Thou shalt never sell yourself short. If you do the above you’ll be worth every penny.
This is a great article for Realtors/Lawyers/Mortgage Brokers and of course Edmonton BUYERS and SELLERS. There is much confusion about this topic. We were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to have Bhavna Chavda from FCT (First Canadian Title) come to our office for one of our team meetings and give us the skinny on Title Insurance. This is what we learned…
Title Insurance: what does it mean to you? If you haven’t purchased a home before, chances are it doesn’t mean much. If you have, Title Insurance may set off some alarms in your head. You’ve probably become convinced that a Real Property Report is the only way to go. But does Title Insurance deserve this bad rep?
Let’s start by defining these two terms.
Real Property Report: A Real Property Report (RPR) provides information such as the location of utility right-of-ways and easements. It also shows boundary fences, the overhangs of eaves and additional improvements such as swimming pools and hot tubs. As a seller, you need to make sure that your RPR is up to date and has municipal compliance before selling your property. Not having this can delay the sale and cause a lot of delay when it comes to transferring title from seller to buyer. Lenders will also need to know about issues with the RPR and make sure they are resolved before lending money on the property.
Title Insurance: Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects you, the home owner, against challenges to the ownership of your home or from problems related to the title to your home. The policy provides coverage against losses due to title defects, even if the defects existed before you purchased your home. A title defect is a problem with the title which prevents free and clear ownership. There are many types of defects such as rights of way, encroachments (from neighbouring properties), unpaid liens, etc.
Are you in the process of trying to sell a home, and is the Real Property Report causing you closing delays? Here’s how a title insurance policy may help you.
Did you know that a title insurance policy:
• is accepted by most lenders in lieu of an up‐to‐date Real Property Report (RPR);
• can provide coverage over known RPR problems and offers protection from loss if the land is unmarketable as a result of defects that would have been revealed by an up‐to‐date RPR;
• provides protection against real estate title fraud and issues such as unpaid liens, title defects, encroachment issues, construction liens, and costs arising from building code violations.
It also provides coverage for purchasers:
• Unmarketablility of the title or land
• Liens, including tax liens; Builder’s liens
• Easements; Work orders; Lack of building permits
• Someone else owning or claiming to own an interest in the property
• Documents not properly signed, sealed or delivered
• Fraud, forgery or incapacity (including post‐policy coverage)
• Defective registration of documents
• Registration gap coverage
• Lack of access; Restrictive covenants
• Encroachments; Neighbour’s encroachments built after purchase
• Adverse matters that would have been disclosed by a local authority search or an up‐to‐date survey
So, if you ever find yourself in a situation where an RPR is too costly or time-consuming to obtain, you can always consider Title Insurance as a viable option.
There are a gazillion reasons and articles written on this topic of which I am sure you have read a few…
HOWEVER – this article is written from a REALTOR® perspective. After ten years of real estate buying and selling here are a few things I appreciate about having a REALTOR® involved in the process:
1. Market and Demographic Knowledge: “is this a good deal?” or “what’s the demographic like in this neighborhood/condo complex?” If you are new to either the market or the city having a REALTOR® at your disposal to navigate the unknown waters of value and demographics is a HUGE benefit and saves time to – as they are able to direct you in the right direction. Demographic knowledge plays a big role when advising on an area/community/condo for downsizers – or for those looking to buy their first condo/home and want to make sure they are buying into the ‘right’ neighborhood/complex.
2. Representation: when the deal is signed that’s when a REALTOR®’s work begins. If they want to get paid, they better make sure that they not only get any conditions/subject to’s satisfied, but also ensure that the buyer closes on possession day. When you sell on your own – who ‘takes care’ of your buyer to ensure that they close and on time or at all?? I would gladly pay a REALTOR® to ensure my investment gets sold and closes on possession day.
3. Qualifying Buyers: if I were selling my house – I would only want qualified buyers to walk through the door – otherwise it’s a waste of my time and prep time for the showing. REALTOR®s qualify their buyers ahead of time. SO the folks coming through your door are the ones that can actually AFFORD your property. REALTOR®s also have access to awesome Mortgage Brokers that aid in the process of qualifying clients. When you sell on your own – how do you know if your buyer can qualify or afford your home when signing up the papers…oooh this is a recipe for despair…see the tidbit below 🙁
4. As a BUYER’S agent they are free to use! So why wouldn’t you use a REALTOR® when buying a home – in addition to the above – its FREE…and I’ll take anything that’s FREE 🙂
5. Assurance that the deal will get done. REALTOR®s have the knowledge and tools to get the job done. They are also only paid for results. So I know they are motivated to get the job done. They are the ones getting their clients into the homes/condos and making that happen. When you sell on your own – who is working on your behalf to get the buyers in the door? We have 3000 REALTOR®s in town that are all hungry for a pay cheque. They all have access to sell your property. Wow – do I need to go on? That one is a biggie – for sellers anyway. When you FISBO it (for sale by owner) you loose the ability to access a 3000 REALTOR network. Now why would you want to do that?
One other tidbit …
Did you know that if your buyer removes conditions and gives you an additional deposit cheque that does not clear (NSF) – and subsequently leaves for Timbuktu – YOU are hooped! You will be unable to sell it until after said possession day. Yeesh…another GOOD reason to have a REALTOR® on your side AND the buyers side too!
Did you learn something new in this post? Insightful from a REALTOR® perspective? I hope so 🙂
