Calgary Real Estate Blog

It’s time again to reflect on the year that was, and to be appreciative for all the good we have in our lives, and I certainly have my share. This year hasn’t been my busiest, but I am so thankful for the clients I have served, for my family’s health, for my wife’s continued employment in the besieged oil and gas sector, for my friends, and for all the other blessings I can count. I hope the year has treated you well too, and that the coming twelve months are even better. This holiday season, pour yourself an eggnog (spiced rum optional, but recommended), and spare a thought for everything that went right this year.

Hope you had the merriest of Christmases, and all the best in the new year!

Ryan

I often get asked about the importance of pricing your property right, so it sells in a relatively short period of time – if a seller’s not in a big rush to move, why not price it a bit high and hope the right buyer comes along eventually?

I like to address this with a little analogy:

The real estate market is like a Chinese food buffet (stay with me here!): there are lots of options from which to choose, and most of them look pretty good.  However, when a chef comes out of the kitchen carrying a steaming, fresh bowl of ginger beef, everyone takes notice; even diners on their way back to their seats may turn around to check out the good stuff. Some diners have been waiting and watching for the fresh ginger beef to come out of the kitchen, refusing to leave without it!  Meanwhile, those sad looking spring rolls that have been under the heat lamp for half an hour will just get less and less attention as time goes by.  No one’s taking them, so there must be something wrong with them.

And so it is with the housing market. The first wave of interest is the biggest and best opportunity to find your buyer. Buyers are waiting for the fresh “meat” to come out of the kitchen.  If a property is priced well the sellers can take advantage of that attention and bring an offer in earlier than later.  The longer a property sits on MLS, the less ‘fresh’ it looks, and the more likely it is that potential buyers will assume something is wrong with it.  It’s just the way buyers think, especially in a market like Calgary’s, where business is often booming.

While the days of homes selling on the same day they’re listed may be behind us (for now), a property that’s been listed for a long time is just going to appear stale.  You’re much better off to list according to comparables in your area, rather than shooting high to see what you can get.

For a free, no obligation evaluation of your home, please contact me today!

An interesting article from the Globe and Mail, published a couple weeks ago, suggests women – and particularly single women in their twenties – are shopping for condos more and more. Even in married couples, it’s the ladies’ sense of taste that usually wins over when it comes to choosing a property (which means foosball in the living room’s probably not going to cut it). Condo developers are responding by putting a greater focus on security, lighting, and in-suite storage.

This shouldn’t really be a surprise to anyone: there’s a reason ‘man caves’ are usually in the basement or the garage, out of sight. We (men) often just can’t differentiate between a feature or styling choice that’s awesome on its own and one that actually works in a space. We know it, and we embrace it.

What would you look for in an apartment-style condo, and what would be a deal breaker? Is the Globe’s article on the money? Respond in the comments below.