SusanKramm.com The Website That Offers More Local Information

With the cold weather upon us,  showing -33 this morning chances are good that home buyers will be drinking hot chocolate and not venturing out.  It leaves a perfect time to check out some changes I have made to my site SusanKramm.com.  The site shows all mls listings... Neighbourhood infomation, market reports, buyer and seller info and even open houses listed daily.  Hope you'll take the time to see if some of this additional information will help you with your realestate needs.  

New Dreams--New Goals--New BeginningsNew Dreams--New Goals--New Beginnings

Very excited to have 2019 starting.... I consider New Years as a new beginning... a chance to make changes... make new goals... and fulfil some new dreams...A new start.  

I have some really great ideas for the year on both a personal level and ways to help my friends and clients achieve their real estate dreams.  Happy New Year to All!  

What Do You Hate About Renting? 

Every year around this time, we take time to reflect and plan for next year. If you are renting your current home but have dreams of homeownership, your plan for the new year may include buying, and you wouldn’t be alone!

Everyone should realize that unless you are living somewhere rent-free, you are paying a mortgage – either yours or your landlord’s. Buying your own home provides you with a form of ‘forced savings’ that allows you to use your monthly housing costs to increase your family’s wealth.

Every month that you pay your mortgage, you are paying off a portion of the debt that you took on to purchase your home. Therefore, you own a little bit more of your home every month in the form of home equity. As your home’s value increases you also gain home equity.

Bottom Line is if you are one of the many renters who is fed up with rising rents but may be confused about what is required to buy in today’s market, contact Susan as I can help you on your path to homeownership.

Susan's Christmas Wish

Wishing you the best for you and your famlies over the Christmas season.  Great time to form new memories and put our troubles aside.  2019 promises to be a fabulous year and a great time to prosper and grow.  

Thank you so much for making the past year a great sucess...

It's hard to believe that how some things change they also remain the same.  In the era that we are all trying to be smart with our dollars that we spend getting what we pay for also remains a factor.  This was written prior to 1900.  

Donation To A Great Cause

The Coucil of Battlefords realtors closed it's final chapter today.  The remaining funds in the association has been donated to a Great Cause, the capital campaign to purchase a new Mammography Unit for Medical Imaging at BUH.  Every year there are 2,000 mammograms completed in Medical Imaging.  Mammography is a specific type of breast imaging that uses low-dose radiation to detect cancer early - before men and women experience symptoms - when it is most treatable.  The current unit is 10 years old and needs to be replaced.  Technology has advanced and we need to ensure that our patients at BUH have access to the best of diagnostics and care.

10 Reasons To List Over The Holidays

If you're thinking of selling, you might want to consider selling over the holidays. Call me if I can help with any preparations, or if you are interested in a Market Evaluation for Your Home.

There is hardly any better real estate marketing strategy today than virtual staging. Only 10% of people can visualize property, so virtual staging can help most home buyers understand what a room can look like if they buy it.

Reports show that vacant homes stay on the market twice as long as a furnished home. In the Battlefords we currently do not have access to traditional staging companies. Virtual staging is very positive and cost-effective in making a vacant home appeal to Home Buyers. It can transform a home into an inviting warm atmosphere

GET LISTED!  GET SOLD!  

One more tool in the tool box to help sellers sell their home and a fabulous service to home buyers in the Battlefords... imagine...

Seven Factors that you should consider when choosing your retirement home.

1. Affordability

“It may be easy enough to afford your home today but think long-term about your monthly costs. Account for property taxes, insurance, utilities – all the things that will be due whether or not you have a mortgage on the property.”

Would moving to a complex with condo fees actually be cheaper than having to hire all the contractors you would need to maintain your home, lawn, etc.? Would your taxes go down significantly if you relocated? What is your monthly income going to be like in retirement?

2. Equity

“If you have equity in your current home, you may be able to apply it to the purchase of your next home. Maintaining a healthy amount of home equity gives you a source of emergency funds to tap, via a home equity loan or reverse mortgage.”

The equity you have in your current home may be enough to purchase your retirement home with little to no mortgage. Homeowners in the Canada have gained equity in the last 5 years.

3. Maintenance

“As we age, our tolerance for cleaning gutters, raking leaves and shoveling snow can go right out the window. A condominium with low-maintenance needs can be a literal lifesaver, if your health or physical abilities decline.”

Would a condo be worth the added peace of mind in knowing that you do not have to do the maintenance work yourself?

4. Security

“Elderly homeowners can be targets for scams or break-ins. Living in a home with security features and a security system can bring peace of mind.”

As scary as that thought may be, any additional security and an extra set of eyes looking out for you always adds to peace of mind.

5. Pets

“Renting won’t do if the dog can’t come too! The companionship of pets can provide emotional and physical benefits.”

Evaluate all of your options when it comes to bringing your ‘furever’ friend with you to a new home. Will there be necessary additional deposits if you are renting or moving in to a condo? Is the backyard fenced in?

6. Mobility

“No one wants to picture themselves in a wheelchair or a walker, but the home layout must be able to accommodate limited mobility.”

Sixty is the new 40, right? People are living longer and are more active in retirement, but that doesn’t mean that down the road you won’t need your home to be more accessible. Having to install handrails and make sure that your hallways and doorways are wide enough may be a good reason to look for a home that was built to accommodate these needs.

7. Convenience

“Is the new home close to shopping and dining? Do you have amenities within easy walking distance? This can add to home value!”

How close are you to your children and grandchildren? Would relocating to a new area make visits with family easier or more frequent? Beyond being close to your favorite stores and restaurants, there are a lot of factors to consider.

Bottom Line

When it comes to your forever home, evaluating your current house for its ability to adapt with you as you age can be the first step to guaranteeing your comfort in retirement. If after considering all these factors you find yourself curious about your options, contact a real estate professional who can evaluate your ability to sell your house in today’s market and get you into your dream retirement home!  

Selling into a buyers market

Every home seller wants to get as much return on their home as possible. And that makes sense: it’s reasonable to want to avoid a loss, especially in a buyer’s market. So how can you improve your chances of selling your home for more money?

A common home pricing strategy is to determine the market value of a home, and price it higher. After all, it’s best to test your chances with a high price, and lower it as needed, right?

Not quite, pricing your home lower than market value actually increases your chances of a profitable sale:

Price it a Little Low

Many homeowners think that pricing their home a little OVER market value will leave them room for negotiation. This actually lessens the demand for your house.

Instead of the seller trying to ‘win’ the negotiation with one buyer, they should price it so that demand for the home is maximized. By doing this, the seller will not be fighting with a buyer over the price, but will instead have multiple buyers fighting with each other over the house.

By prioritizing the number of buyers over the quality, bids can rise considerably.

Pricing a little bit low can potentially maximize your profit!

Attracting more buyers is the goal of any solid home marketing strategy. Along with keeping the price lower, curb appeal is also critical The first step to an attractive home comes from repairs and cleaning jobs performed before listing:

Improve the Curb Appeal

You’ve only got one chance to make a good first impression on the potential buyers. And it only takes a minute before they decide whether your home is right for them or not. You can vastly improve your chances if you improve the curb appeal of the exterior.

The lawn is mowed

The gutters are clean

The window frames are freshly painted

The yard is decluttered

The street number is clearly visible

All weeds are removed

First impressions are everything when it comes to buyers.   A luxury home won’t fare any better than a simple townhouse if the lawn is overgrown and paint is chipping off.

Once attracted, buyers will look over the inside. Sellers stand to increase their sale price by making a few improvements to the interior. Proper home staging will give buyers the feeling of living in a new home:

Make it “home-ready”

Most home buyers are more inclined to purchase a house if there are fewer home improvements to be made. Be prepared and make your home move in ready by making these improvements:

– New carpeting/wood floors

– Fresh paint job

– Replace any damaged screens, faucets, windows, doors, etc.,

– Clean out each room and create more space by organizing any cluttered room, closets, and drawers.

Fixing any small issues will boost your chances over your competition. Home buyers want to envision themselves living in the house, so staging your home is such a big part of the selling strategy

Neglecting to make repairs and improvements to a home is a common mistake. Sellers are under the impression they will save money by doing so, but in reality, since a home buyer will almost always order a home inspection, the repairs will be made anyway. In this scenario the buyer also the advantage in negotiations, assuming they don’t walk away after the inspection. The one caveat to add, is that, with home values changing quite quickly right now, it is generally best to avoid home improvements that will delay the list date.

We may be in a buyer’s market, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good sale. If you’re looking to sell your home, and want to get the best price, give Susan Kramm a call at 306-441-6420

The market report for April 2018. 

This shows homes listed and sold The average price for detached homes in the month of April was $229,600 an increase from 2017

YOUR HOME SEARCH?

You have made a decision to purchase a home.  Congratulations!  It will be the biggest financial decision you have made to date.  The last thing you want is to make a mistake.  As your realtor I understand and my job is to help you thru the information allowing you make a good decision for YOU!   

FACTORS TO CONSIDER PRIOR TO YOUR HOME SEARCH

• How much of that limit are you willing to spend

• Often paint can make a huge difference to the look of the home while allowing you to make it your own. 
• The Information age exposes you to so many DIY Projects and Ideas that can be done on any budget.  PIN’s
• Paid Handymen can often do repairs and change and fix for a very reasonable price                                                  Consider--immediate, 1 yr, 3 yrs, 5 yrs, 10 yrs

• Evaluate your situation—needs and wants for what’s right for you. 
• Focus on the Living Space…That’s where most of your time will be spent
• TV watchers?  Like to cook?  Kids need an area to play?
• If you have a dog you will probably need a fenced yard
• If you have lots of company coming that stays over for a few days or more.
• If you have children –where will they play and put away toys. 

• That beautiful decorating and style is leaving with the previous  owner

• Condition of them and replacement is a consideration

THE SEARCH BEGINS

• I’m sure you will be checking the internet and have a few homes that seem to fit the search.  (pictures can sometimes tell a thousand words)
• Often Buyers drive by the homes they choose and see just what the neighbours are like.  Drive to the home different times of the day.  How does the neighbourhood show from the back?
• Looks good put it on your list for a home viewing. 
• As your realtor, we will have discussed your wants and needs and can assist you in offering you options that fit your criteria.  Combining your research with my knowledge of the community saves time and often superior results. 

HOME VIEWING

Sellers work hard to prepare their home for showings and as a responsible Buyer you should view all of the homes that fit your criteria, but don’t inconvenience the sellers and waste time to view homes that don’t meet your needs or are out of your price range.  This practice ends up being very detrimental to your home search.   

• A word of caution—If you view too many homes without the above process you can become confused and frustrated.  This leads often to you as a buyer making the wrong choice. 
• By viewing first had a house can feel like a home.  The onsite inspection also allows you to see comparable homes and make you feel much more comfortable with VALUE. 

• This process allows to focus in on your needs and wants and not gets caught up in the process which can take you down the wrong path.  HAPPY HOUSE HUNTING!