One thing about real estate, and markets – both are changing all the time. Good times and bad. A home or the market it is in maybe difficult – but not impossible for selling. All homes are capable of a sale – it’s all in how it is framed and offered – given your price is in line with market. There may just be some issues your house is dealing with that you may not be aware of that are holding you back. Take the quiz to see if you are dealing with any of these issues…
When selling your home, you must remember that you cannot be all things to all people but you can be the right home for the right buyer. When you address your home’s ‘health’ issues – you remove the barriers to a sale. It really is just that simple. Are you up for the task?
This wonderful home has all the features a large family needs! It’s OPEN ENTRYWAY, MUDROOM, HUGE DINING SPACE, MASSIVE BONUS ROOM, 3 GOOD SIZED BEDROOMS + SPACIOUS MASTER & ENSUITE are just the tip of the iceberg!
This 4 bedroom beauty also comes with hardwood floors, quartz countertops throughout, hot water on demand, central A/C and more! It’s in fantastic condition and tucked in on a quiet crescent in the popular southwest family community of Ambleside. Boasting a prime location, backing the walking trail (thats right, the back neighbors are far,far away!) and just down the street from the school. Enjoy all amenities nearby (Currents of Windermere, Windermere Crossing) and quick access to major commuter routes. As if this all wasn’t enough, one last note… No homes in front either, so LOTS OF STREET PARKING!
Let me just say that walking into a potential new client listing meeting and noticing the KonMari method in action got me really, really excited. My client was super impressed that I kept noticing everywhere she had “KonMari’d” her residence – such as the big glass jars in the pantry labelled clearly, the rolled towels in the nearly empty hall closet, and the uniquely folded clothing in her dresser drawers. She was especially proud of her undies drawer, which was super endearing that she would share this with me. As it turns out we had both recently binge-watched Marie Kondo’s Netflix series “Tidying Up” and read pieces of her book “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up”.
I would like to first commend and congratulate those that have undergone this drastic decluttering method for themselves. Sometimes I think I’m more of an eclectic hoarder than I like to admit but having the time to do more things with my family because I’m not wasting my time moving clutter around seemed very appealing to me. That – and the concept of ‘sparking joy’ really resonated with me. Imagine being happy in every room of your home, with every cup you drink from and with every article of clothing you put on your body. If you are fully surrounded by things that bring your happiness what is there to be sad about then right? There is something to be said for this happiness and how it pertains to listing your home in our real estate market.
For those of you unfamiliar with the KonMari method I highly recommend her Netflix series and there are a multitude of resources on the subject, but here’s my take on the key principles.
Marie Kondo recommends using a 5-step-5-category approach of organizing instead of trying to organize room to room. This can be an emotionally taxing process and its recommended to do this all in one go for the best overall effect and impact on your life moving forward. If you get stuck along the way try to remember that you are envisioning your ideal future life and only want to bring those items with you to this new life that align with what you are creating for yourself. Kondo maintains that each item that is kept should ‘spark joy’ within you – think of holding a newborn baby, a little puppy or a stapler if office supplies are what do it for you. Once you internalize the sensation of “sparking joy” it gets easier to recognize the feeling and trust your intuition as you go through the process. Also – do this with your family – because Kondo believes that tidying your home will tidy your relationships too.
Clothing – Put all of the clothing from the entire house into one room and then go through it. Touch/hold each article one by one and see if it “sparks joy” – so if the item speaks to your heart you keep it and if it doesn’t you thank it for its service to you and let it go. The thanking of items is very important – especially when you later get to more sentimental items.
Books – Same as clothing. That’s right – one by one and really think about if you are keeping it for a memory or if it will serve purpose in your ideal life you are working to create.
Paper – Same as above. Gather every paper into one room including every document, every newspaper clipping or drawing you have been holding onto. (…and you thought clothing was hard!!!)
Kimono – MISCELLANEOUS – Everything else like the kitchen, bathrooms and garage. Take everything out and don’t put it back unless it can inspire joy moving forward and there is a specific place for it.
Mementos/Sentimental –Honor these special treasures by putting them in a beautiful box that is easily accessible so that you can visit these sacred items every time you need to. Think about displaying these items in a special way instead of having them hiding in a closet somewhere.
***Remember that everything that is kept has a specific place and will be cherished. It is organized into bins, containers or drawer dividers and visible upon looking into a cupboard or opening a drawer. When you see what you have and everything has its own home there is a certain state of calm within the mind because the excess is no longer a burden to you. There is also no time or extra energy exerted trying to constantly make room things or look for things that have gone missing.
I remember staging my first condo for sale in St. Albert over 10 years ago. We had so much stuff that we rented a pod and took everything “extra” out of the condo while we lived in our new residence having showings and waiting for it to sell. After we sold, a month after moving in, we emptied the pod out and filled our house back up with excess items we didn’t need. Reflecting back, this was a very rudimentary version of the KonMari method – except the point is we didn’t need or miss all of the items that were in the pod. And we ended up just trying to cram them into our new house, creating burden and strain in our new life.
So how does this all relate to real estate and help you to maximize the price for your home and most importantly your well-being in the future???
YOU ARE CREATING THE LIFE YOU WANT WHEN YOU MOVE – You are not dragging extra items with you to your new residence. If you declutter using this method you will only be bringing items that spark joy and align with the future that you envision for yourself. Imagine the feeling of moving into your new home being surrounded by only what is meaningful to you. (Bonus – you will probably save a lot on moving costs too!!)
NO STRESS SHOWINGS – A quick wipe and things are show-ready as opposed to a major overhaul and cramming-items-into-every-crevice-panic-attack each time your realtor calls. Selling a home can be a stressful process on its own so any chance of removing additional stress can’t hurt.
NO CLUTTER MAKES HOUSES FEEL BIGGER – Potential buyers aren’t distracted by your personal items, tastes and extras. They will be looking more at the space in general as opposed to being distracted by a multitude of items. They will also easily notice the abundance of space for their belongings in the closets, the pantry and the other rooms of the house.
PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP – Having an organized and clean house means you care about the environment that you live in which easily translates to potential buyers. If your home is organized it shows buyers that you are the type of person that will stay on top of maintenance, upkeep and have done everything you can to maximize the life span of the home. This bodes well for envisioning their new future there.
BUYERS VISIT YOUR SPACE AND FEEL HAPPINESS – I personally believe in energy and the positive energy that families who have undergone the KonMari method have transferred into their homes is indescribable. They are experiencing joy together every day and it is emanating and pulsing from their home. They have also thanked their home for its service to their family and have put out the intention for the new life they are wanting to create – so they are aligning their past and present worlds. Gratitude and love are the strongest energies of all and are my personal inspiration when I perform a house clearing. (That’s why I couldn’t believe it when I saw Marie Kondo thank the house – I instantly understood what she was doing on a different level because it relates so much to what I help clients with!!)
In the end, like everything in life just take what resonates with you from the KonMari method and leave the rest. I have done my closet and my pantry yet I am far from finished with my home – but it is my process and it will move as fast and as slow as it needs to. If you are feeling overwhelmed in your space or planning on listing then this decluttering method may hold strong merit in your world. And if you need any help I’m always here.
-Lisa Bergmann, Realtor with Kennedy Real Estate Edmonton
3 tell tale signs you’ve chosen the right spot to put down your roots
If you’re thinking of purchasing a new home or investment property, of course you want to make a good decision, am I right? One great way to ensure you put your hard earned dollars in to an investment that will give back to you, is to pick the right neighborhood!
#1 It is easy to navigate to as many “major hubs” in the city as possible.
Bonus Points if there are options for people who don’t drive. Since I live in yeg, The University of Alberta, Downtown, a Hospital, or Southgate Mall are some. Close proximity to major commuter routes like Yellowhead Trail, Whitemud Drive, and Anthony Henday are also a plus. Lastly on this one, proximity to schools is HUGE! There must be a school or two or 3 nearby!
#2 Homes sell in the area quickly and in the $400,000 range (give or take)
Now- do not, I repeat DO NOT buy the most expensive home ever sold in the neighborhood for $410,000. You never want to be the most expensive home on the block. However, it speaks to the potential future value of the home to know that it is common for homes to sell in that range. Another reason to choose this price range is that usually it is a decent home, and this price range continues to sell even in a down market (ahem 2017-2019 in Edmonton, Alberta) so chances of losing your shirt or just plain being stuck with it, are minimal.
When we talk about the “value” of our, homes, what it really means, is “What can I sell it for?” So first, we must address “Who will I sell it TO” A good portion of buyers entering the market over the number of years to come will be Millenials. They are educated, environmentally conscious, health conscious, and thrifty. However, they are willing to spend their hard earned dollars very thoughtfully on only those experiences or tangibles which stack up their aforementioned ideals. So, having locally owned & sourced restaurants &coffee shops catering to a variety of dietary preferences, and hangouts offering space for commmunal collaboration could be a major benefit when re-sale time comes around. Other services or amenities of note are yoga studio or gym, the River Valley trails, a walkable grocery store, the library, an active Community League, current orupcoming public transit etc..
No longer is it about having the biggest and best house, no matter how far out to the burbs you have to go to get it… Location and overall quality of life is everything. And schools. Don’t forget the schools.
Ritchie Market, Home to Acme Meats, Beira, and Transcend Coffee. Boasting a large common seating area.
It has a massive, like I mean MASSIVE living area (designed with room for a large formal dining as well) and natural light in every room from lots of big windows!
It has 12 foot ceilings on the main floor and a shiny white kitchen with pantry too!
Master bedroom features walk-in closet , full 4 piece bathroom Plus : Bedroom 2 & 3 will fit human sized beds and furniture!
Find a second rec space in the basement (teens, toys, hobbies- yasss!)
And offers a super sunny west facing deck (garden boxes & BBQ’s, yes please!)
Morinville is already a vibrant family community, and it keeps getting better. Currently morinville is home to one highschool, a Jr. High and two elementary schools. But 2019/2020 will be a big year for the town with a NEW SCHOOL offering English and French Immersion Programming for grades 5-9, as well as potential for a second phase for highschool students. The new Rec Center will open on the east end of town in May with a new rink and added opportunities for running, walking and physical fitness. See here for more community recreation programming.
Other services to take note of are, thelibrary, dental, chiropractic, optometrist,medical, a number of beauty & wellness services,Fable Day Careand Gardens, and more. Also, as a final PSA, it shouldn’t go wothout mention that MORINVILLE NOW HAS A MCDONALDS!
#3 Morinville is only 10 minutes from St.Albert! Whaaaat!!!
Welcome Aboard! From the beginning of Andrew’s professional career, he has been passionate about helping others. Using a fun and fearless approach when working with clients, he helps them through the transaction by making the process exciting and enjoyable. His extensive background in professional photo + video allows him to create visually compelling content that gives buyers a vision that sets your home apart from anyone else on the market.
Welcome Aboard! Lisa brings her passion and energy to the real estate profession with almost 20 year of experience in senior management, marketing, sales and communication. She has always been enthusiastic about ensuring that her clients’ needs are met and exceeds these needs by providing exceptional levels of customer service. Lisa was born in Edmonton and is the proud mother of two beautiful girls.
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