Calgary Real Estate Blog

In the news a few days ago was the story of Derek Johnson, a man who allegedly posed as a Realtor, under an assumed name, to illegally obtain the title of a home in foreclosure. It reportedly cost the victim several thousand dollars, over the course of more than half a year, to reclaim his home’s title. Johnson has been fined by the Real Estate Council of Alberta $50,000 for posing as a Realtor; this is not the first time Johnson has been in trouble with the Council.

This story serves as a reminder to anyone seeking to engage in a real estate transaction that the licence status of any real estate professional or brokerage may be easily verified through the Real Estate Council of Alberta’s website. Using the public search, you can instantly confirm that the professional with whom you intend to do business is indeed in good standing with the RECA.

Realtors need to be licenced by RECA, and to uphold the organization’s standards of conduct to maintain that licence.

There’s a plethora of other useful information on the site as well, so I encourage you to take a few minutes to surf through it if you are considering entering the market as either a buyer or seller.

On a side note, the Calgary Home + Design Show is coming September 18-21, and I have a promo code that’ll save $5 off your tickets if you buy before August 26: click here, and enter the code SAVEFIVE.

The frigid temperatures and ridiculous amount of snowfall has forced many of us to spend a lot more time ensconced indoors than usual. Looking around your house, you might start to daydream about  things you’d like to change: the flooring, light fixtures, paint, maybe even knock down a wall. It’s no coincidence that the Calgary Home and Garden Show is scheduled in February each year, after we’ve spent a couple months fantasizing about home improvements. By the time the Show rolls around, many people are ready to make decisions and get started; no dummies, those organizers.

While pretty much any upgrade will contribute to your and your family’s greater personal enjoyment of your home, which ones also add value when it’s time to sell?

The obvious starting points are the kitchen and the bathrooms. Everyone likes a bright, spacious kitchen with plenty of counter and cupboard space, modern fixtures, and a logical layout, so renovations that make your kitchen more welcoming are always going to have an immediate impact on people viewing your property. Bathrooms, too, are an area where buyers place a premium on cleanliness and modernization. That said, going overboard on the highest-end fixtures and rarest countertops may be counterproductive if these upgrades are out of place in your home or neighbourhood.

Other smart ways to upgrade are adding a deck, tasteful landscaping to improve curb appeal, finishing the basement, and building a garage.

On the flip side, the Globe and Mail published a good article recently listing six renovations that don’t add value, citing swimming pools, elaborate landscaping projects, and wall-to-wall carpeting as upgrades that won’t really pay off when it comes time to sell. Click through to read the article, it’s worth your time.

So, as I mentioned, the Calgary Home and Garden Show is just a couple of months away, and I’m sharing a coupon code that’ll give you 2-for-1 tickets. Just click here to buy your tickets with the discount (valid until Dec 24th). I go every year to stay current with the newest and best trends, and I hope to see you there too!