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Managing Your Emotions When Selling a Home

Selling a home can be an emotional roller-coaster ride for some people. It’s true that homes come with far more emotional weight than any other investment we make. It’s where your family traditions came to life and lifelong memories were formed.

The process becomes even more stressful as you buy a new home, move in, and spend time adjusting to the new environment. In other words, you’re saying goodbye to an entire neighborhood as well. 

With that being said, here are some tips that will help you make a clean break and smooth out the ups and downs of selling your home. 

  1. Understanding your reason for selling

Your reason for selling could be financial or personal, such as the need for more space or access to better amenities. Regardless of your reasons, it’s important to make sure you are 100% ready to sell.  If you’re having a hard time coming up with a concrete reason to sell, step back, wait a few months and re-evaluate.

  1. Prepare yourself for the selling process

Putting your home in the market opens it up for public scrutiny. Always remember that this is a business transaction. The inspection will reveal some flaws and buyers will provide feedback after showing, so it’s best not to take it personally.

  1. Give the home a proper goodbye

After you’ve decided to sell your home, it’s time to give it a proper goodbye. You can take some photos before leaving or just spend time in your favorite rooms. These simple suggestions can help you limit the effects of nostalgia and sentimentality. 

  1. Work with a dedicated real estate agent 

Hiring a real estate agent is always important, especially if you can’t put your emotions in check during the transaction. A real estate agent will help you avoid overpricing, analyze the market where your home is, and get the best deal. They will be with you all throughout the process, making it less overwhelming for you.

If you’re still having a hard time and in need of help from a real estate agent, consider reaching out to MV Realty Group. Our team of professionals has a proven track record in freeing our clients from the stress of handling a real estate transaction.  

Contact us today and let’s talk about your needs!

Living Space 101: The Benefits of Hiring an Interior Designer

Some homeowners enjoy researching and planning, designing, and decorating living spaces on their own. They believe that this will help them save a substantial amount of money. 

This could be true in some ways, but they are also doing a disservice to themselves by overlooking the benefits of hiring an interior designer. Proper and cost-effective interior design always matters, and Professional Interior Designers can do wonders in maximizing functional living space. 

Here are the top benefits of hiring an interior designer.

  1. Excellent Time and Budget Management. Designing your home requires time and money. For sure, it can be stressful when you do it on your own. Hiring an interior designer will lessen the time you need for decorating your home and make the most out of your budget.
  2. Save Money. For first-time homebuyers, hiring an interior designer will help you save money as it keeps you from making unnecessary expenses. With the help of a professional, you can focus on buying the things that actually add value to your home. 
  3. Expert Knowledge. A professional interior designer already has the know-how and the skills needed to transform your home. You can just tell them what you want with your living space and they can help you turn ideas into beautiful realities!
  4. Energy-efficiency. If you want to help keep the environment clean and save energy, a professional interior designer can lead you towards energy-efficient improvements. This brings added savings and more importantly, a more sustainable lifestyle for you to enjoy.

These are just a few reasons why you should work with an interior designer. But perhaps the greatest benefit of hiring professionals is the peace of mind you get, knowing that someone else is doing much of the legwork to make your home standout!

Why Should You Clean or Replace your Air Filters and Fan Screens Regularly

Air filters help protect you and your family from dust and pollen. But they are one of the aspects of HVAC that are often overlooked. 

That said, cleaning or changing your air filters is important as it ensures good air quality and proper ventilation. After all, as homeowners, we all want to be comfortable as the winter season nears.

But more than that, here are some reasons why you need to keep your air filters and fan screens in good condition. 

  1. Dirty, clogged filters block normal airflow, reducing the efficiency of your HVAC system. Moreover, the air that passes through these filters can carry dirt into the system itself. This could affect the evaporator coil’s heat-absorbing capacity.
  2. Dirty filters can also cause allergies and irritation, especially to people with sensitive skin. Consider changing or replacing your air filters to prevent any respiratory and skin-related conditions.
  3. Removing dirt ensures maximum efficiency and performance. This will prevent your aircon from falling short during extreme climates in the summer and winter. 
  4. Aside from health-related problems, dirty air filters will also cause a spike in your electricity bill. A dirty and clogged filter uses more energy and power in order to produce quality air. 
  5. Regular cleaning and maintenance extend the life of your HVAC unit. Worn and filthy air filters have to work harder to push air through. Taking care of your system will prevent the worst from happening to your system.

Ensure that your home is warm and cozy when the temperature drops. Conducting an air filter cleaning or replacement is an easy way to improve your home’s heating system for the winter. 

At-Home Self-Care Guide

There has been an increase in people having anxiety due to the coronavirus. Fears about the current pandemic have taken an emotional toll and many of us are trying new things to cope with all the stress. 

Here are some self-care and grooming tips you can try to get through this stressful time:

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A New Seller Testimonial!

Clarence, I appreciate you allowing me to assist you in selling your property in these challenging times. I am grateful that we were able to achieve the result you were looking for. Thank you so much,  and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Media release: Calgary real estate market feeling impact of COVID-19

After the first full month with social distancing measures in place, the housing market is adjusting to the effects of COVID-19.

April sales hit 573 units, a decline of 63 per cent over last year.

“The decline in home sales does not come as a surprise. The combined impact of COVID-19 and the situation in the energy sector is causing housing demand to fall,” said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.

“Demand is also falling faster than supply. This is keeping the market in buyers’ territory and weighing on prices.”

Sales activity eased across all price ranges, but the largest declines were for homes priced above $600,000.

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Not-So-Obvious Home Staging Tips

When it comes to “staging” your home for sale – which basically means ensuring it looks clean and uncluttered – you probably already know the basics: clean the counters, vacuum the floors, mow the lawn, etc.

But there are also some less obvious home staging tips that can help to sell your property faster and for a higher price. Here are a few examples.

The Kitchen
Obvious: The stove, sinks and countertops should be spotless.

Not-so-obvious: The contents of your cabinets and refrigerator should be facing forward

The Bathrooms
Obvious: They should be clean and uncluttered. Have fresh towels hanging neatly on the rack. (Create the “hotel bathroom” look.)

Not-so-obvious: All towels should match. Ensure toilet lids are closed.

Your Bedroom
Obvious: Make the bed neatly. Check that the closet is organized and uncluttered. (If your closet is bulging with clothes, put some in storage.)

Not-so-obvious: Don’t leave any clothes out. Even clean clothes neatly folded in a hamper can seem untidy to some people.

The Kids’ Bedrooms
Obvious: They need to be clean and uncluttered. (Good luck!)

Not-so-obvious: Arrange stuffed animals, games and other toys like an attractive display in a toy store. It’s okay to have a toy, like a racetrack, out of the box. Just make sure it’s completely put together.

Why Window Placement Matters

Windows are crucial components of your house. These give you a view of the outside world and give your guests a stunning view of your world indoors. 

But more than that, your windows can also produce the right effects if they are placed the right way. Here are a few key takeaways:

Natural light

The right window placement provides an ample amount of natural light that brightens up the living room. 

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Inspect Your Walls Before You Sell

Say you’re trying to sell a used car. Imagine that it’s a desirable model, the mileage is low, and overall it’s in great condition…except for the body.

If there are a few areas where the paint is scratched and there are dents and rusted spots, you might find out that selling this car is going to be a challenge. For sure, potential buyers won’t see past the condition of the body and not appreciate the true value of the vehicle.

The same thing can happen when you’re trying to sell a home.

Everything about your home could be wonderful, but buyers will most likely notice the obvious flaws such as faded paint, cracks, and holes in your walls more than the other positives features of your property.

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I’m at a loss for words! It is an honor being a part of the RE/MAX Hall of Fame. This recognition sums up the highlights of my 2019 Real Estate goals and is something I have been working towards over the past 5 years since I joined Remax Complete Realty. I would never have reached this milestone without the support of my staff and the trust that our clients have placed in me and my team! Here’s to building more successful relationships through real estate in the coming years!

#TopProducer #2019 #RE/MAXHallofFame #YYC #YYCre