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.
Completely remodeled in two phases and now ready for immediate occupancy! You will have the benefit of purchasing a completely renovated second floor east facing unit with an excellent location in the build as a bonus! Brand new flooring – all solid surface, new baseboards fixtures, backsplash, painted throughout and polished and detailed for the new owner(s)!
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
No matter where you live, listings for homes in popular neighborhoods are often few and far between. When these homes do hit the market, they typically don’t remain on the market for very long. With that in mind, if you have your heart set on buying in a desired area, starting your house hunt early and having patience means that when the moment comes, you’ll need to act quickly.If you’re really interested in a home, get as much info as you can beforehand: property reports, disclosures and offer due dates. These can usually be requested through your buying agent. Very important is to keep your schedule open, because in hot markets, available properties wait for no one.
Have your proof of funds & pre-approval ready
If you’ve decided you want to throw your hat in the ring and make an offer, always assume that many others have as well. Anticipating a multiple offer situation can help you come out ahead. After you’ve seen a home, speed is often the key. For hot markets, you might only have a day or two to get your offer submitted after viewing the home. Double check with the seller’s agent regarding the offer deadline so that you can be sure yours is submitted on time. In order for you to be “offer ready” when you find the property you want, it’s crucial to have any supplemental paperwork, like your mortgage pre-approval and proof of funds for the down payment, ready to act quickly.
Keep your offer simple
Most offers include conditions — things like completing inspections and receiving a mortgage approval — that need to happen for the transaction to move forward. When looking at offers, sellers tend to see conditions as potential opportunities for the deal to fall apart. As a result, they’re more likely to choose an offer that’s relatively “clean” or reduces their risk of potential hang-ups. In a competitive market, you might see other buyers removing or reducing their conditions periods to make their offer more competitive. However, it’s also crucial that you feel comfortable moving forward. For example, if you choose to waive an inspection condition, you’re agreeing to buy the home regardless of what problems may exist. As you put your offer together, consider the maximum amount you’re willing to pay, what compromises you’re willing to make and how flexible you can be on your closing schedule
Start with a strong sale price
Besides keeping your conditions in check, there is another component of the offer that will help set you apart from the crowd and it’s fairly obvious — the offer price. When you’re bidding for a home in a desirable neighborhood, you need to put your best foot forward.
As for how much you should offer, consider the asking price first. If it’s within your budget you may want to at least offer that amount if not a little more. Consider the amount listed on your pre-approval as your maximum, and work within those limits.
Write an offer letter
On the surface, all offers look the same. That is to say, they all generally include the same information about the buyer. In a situation where the seller is considering multiple offers, all that information can start to blend together. An offer letter, or a personal note you write to the seller explaining why you’re the perfect buyer for the home, might just be the thing that sets your offer apart from the others. Bear in mind that the ideal offer letter is short, sweet, and to the point. Your goal is to connect with the seller emotionally so that they’ll be more inclined to choose your offer. In a few paragraphs, you’ll want to tell the seller why you fell in love with their home and why they should sell to you.
Summary
It can feel overwhelming shopping for a home amongst crazy competition, but don’t be discouraged. With the right amount of preparation, you’ll be ready to make the necessary moves to secure the home of your dreams.
Thinking of buying a house and need help? Contact me at 780.504.4470 or galina@soldlocal.ca! I can help!
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?
Welcome to Secord! This stunning townhome with the total living space of over 1200 sq ft above grade and double detached garage has so much to offer! On the main floor you will find a gorgeous modern kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and walk-in pantry. A spacious dining and living room area offer a wonderful space for hosting or some quite family evenings. The thoughtful floor plan allowing plenty of natural light in and makes the home bright and warm all year round! A second floor is a home to the large main bedroom with 3pc ensuite bath & walk-in closet. Two more bedrooms and laundry complete this level. Downstairs, the unspoilt basement offers ample space for an additional rec room & bathroom. A recently designed deck is perfect for warm, summer days and outdoor gathering! The double car detached garage is perfect for cold winter days and additional storage. Close to schools, amenities, and easy access to main highways this home is a perfect match for all your needs! NO CONDO FEES!!
Contact Us Today to Book a Showing or if You Have Any Questions:
Mark Kennedy, REALTOR® | 780.932.3396 | mark@soldlocal.ca
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
Enjoy sitting on your cute front verandah, relax in front of your fireplace or look out onto the open green space beyond the backyard. This move in ready home is 1350 square feet, was built in 2007, and boasts 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. The master bedroom has an ensuite with an amazing walk in closet. Filled with lots of natural light the kitchen has beautiful maple cabinets and French doors that lead to the back yard. The home includes all new appliances including washer and dryer. The laminate flooring on the main floor is stunning, and to top it off, the home includes blinds with a life-time warranty. The yard is fully fenced with a double garage and back alley access. This home is so well situated – walk the kids to school since it is a stone’s throw away from Landing Trail School or walk and bike on the trails of the sturgeon river. Enjoy small town living yet be close to both Fort Saskatchewan and Edmonton along with the new North West Upgrader (virtually staged in dining and living room).
