Property for Sale? Need to Buy a House?
I need your help. I'm about to launch myself into business as an independent contractor. I'm working on a strategy and a marketing plan and a business plan and a GST number to name a few. I took the education in 2010 and had two years to sign on. Well the two years are up this Spring and I have to use it or lose it. You're wondering what I studied? Well, it was real estate. Yes, I read and studied and poured over the books to pass Phase I and Phase II - Residential. I got good marks by the way. I am awaiting a more current criminal record check to arrive and then presto, off I will trot to the local real estate commission to pay for my license and a bevy of other fees. That's about a week away. Right after, I will have my second meeting with my designated broker and off I will go into the wild blue yonder, or is that into the wild blue sunset...either way, I'll be off.
Recently, I've done a little search of real estate companies to see which one might work best for me. It seems the best one to fit my needs and theirs is Royal LePage Varsity on 8th Street. (They used to be Prudential Realty). Their location couldn't get much better. Can you believe that back in the 1970's I used to live one block away on 9th Street in a basement suite? I could walk to the university where I was attending first year university. Seems like I keep going back to things and places from my past. In those days, I also travelled by bus, and the bus stop was on the same block as the real estate office (which wasn't there yet). I feel like I'm in a movie called "Back to the 8th Street Location". I feel quite at home in the neighbourhood at the very least. I see the book store on the corner of Clarence Avenue and 8th Street is still there. There used to be a big restaurant on the opposite corner called "Tiffany's", if memory serves me. At any rate, in the next block is the turn off to Tim's, so there is always a steady stream of traffic driving by, reading the sign, deciding if it's worth stopping in. At least that's my initial impression of the premises.
I'm not sure how long I've wanted to get into the real estate business, but it's been for several decades. I have always been fascinated with homes and as anybody who knows me or my family will understand, we all like to help people. I know that when you buy a house, it's probably the most money the majority of us will ever spend at one time on one thing. We all definitely want to get our money's worth. You will want to choose a home that matches your family. We all have needs, wants and desires, and it all comes down to making simple choices. Make a list of what you want and try not to deviate from it. That may change based on your mortgage limits, but it sure helps to look at the right properties to start with. Better yet, start out with the banker and find out how much you can be pre-approved for. It makes life so much easier than finding out after you make an offer that you can't swing the purchase price. I have been involved in the buying and selling of a number of homes in my life and always find it exciting. Over the course of several years, I have talked to a number of people in the business and honestly, they all seem to love it. I haven't met one who said they hated their job and didn't know why they stayed with it. The concept of house and home is close to my heart, so I can't think working in the industry would be any different.
I have honed my administrative skills over the years, and got exceptionally good with the Microsoft Office Suite having learned to type on a manual typewriter way back when. I worked in banks, law offices and other offices with good training as a legal secretary. I have owned my own retail business, and been involved in home-based businesses over the years when I was a stay-at-home Mom. My educational training lead me to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and finally a Master's of Science in Nursing. I have been in the helping profession as a nurse educator and manager for a number of years...I hesitate to say the exact number lest you think me a dinosaur. Let's just say I'm seasoned yet I look and feel very youthful. ;-)
Every person I have met lives somewhere. Some because of life's good fortune live in off-the-charts homes. Others may be just starting out and finding that with a growing family, their place has become too small. Some always wanted to live on the riverbank with a river view. There are millions of scenarios that has ordinary people just like you and I wanting to move to a new home. Maybe you're downsizing and trying out a condo. I own one so can tell you what I know about the ins and outs of living in one, buying and selling one. I also own a house, so have many experiences there.
Many are renting and would love to stop that and get into being a home owner. People don't always know that a mortgage payment might be in the cards for them. Further, they may not realize that a mortage payment could be even lower than paying rent! As a young person, I was one of those. I assumed I would never even qualify. Not all people want to try to pretend to understand the red tape that goes with things like purchasing a home or paying income tax. They shy away from it, because they don't know a realtor, a banker, an accountant, or a lawyer. Someone like me can help you through the rough patches as you make one of the best decision of your life. Buying a house is a great decision. In addition to what I have already studied, I will have excellent additional training available to me upon registering as an agent. I will have the value of mentors and seasoned administrative people to double and triple check all of my transactions. That's just the way this particular agency works. As well, this real estate agency has it's own university training system and tried and true realtors for me to rub elbows with. If you know me, you know that I work hard no matter what I do. I hope you know that I will do everything in my power to earn your respect and your trust. My hope is that you will be exceptionally happy with your sale or your purchase. If you're thinking of making a change, try me.
If you're someone who wants a brand new home, totally or partially finished, you should be able to look forward to shiny and squeaky clean, at least for awhile. You may run into issues you might not have thought were a problem such as the mud that gets tramped into your house because it rained before the grass you planted even sprouted. These new houses are usually all in the same boat, so you see every manner of boardwalk path thrown helter skelter on the ground leading from the sidewalk or driveway to the house. If the place is completely done that's one thing. If it's not, the more you can finish before moving in, the better. Those baseboards might lay there waiting to be nailed on for months otherwise.
I have gone to countless open houses over the years. I look for cracks in foundations, and basements for one. I look for uniqueness and little exemplary finishing touches. I have this super-douper sense of smell that has me noticing right away whether there's been water in the basement. If I have a cold, this might backfire... I may not be an electrician, but I can tell whether the wiring looks like a dog's breakfast or not. I've been in huge houses that had so many rooms, alcoves, closets and secret passageways that I almost got lost. Remember when you're finishing basements or renovating that less is usually more. Kids however do love these hideaways in the making of their forts, so that might be your family's thing. If there's a closed-in deck outside at the back of the house, it might be the perfect place for a fort...especially if there's a dryer vented into it....that could make it a heated fort! The only thing is that everything in it will be covered with a fine layer of lint over time.
In the 70's they used to have whole blocks of brand new homes for the public to walk through and admire. Honestly, each house would be a colour scheme using one colour only. Can you imagine one house that was entirely decorated in different shades of pink ? Next door might be all yellow. Then all purple. It was certainly fabulous and extraordinary, but not necessarily permanently livable. I vividly remember the last house I went to on one occasion which was nothing if not gorgeous in green. Now don't get me wrong, green is one of my favorite colours (the other is purple). After walking through an entire brand new two-storey house with every shade of green known to man, I was absolutey nauseated. I couldn't believe a simple colour would make me sick to my stomach, but it really did! That was the end of looking at open houses that night and I thought I could never have green walls in my own home ever again. Not true, I have one vivid green wall in my kitchen, believe it or not. One wall is okay, remember, less is more.
How is the landscaping and slope of the property? Hopefully away from the foundation, not towards it or caving in. How are the eaves? Separated and springing away from the fascia? Useless when it rains? Totally plugged and in need of repair? Is the property full of overgrown trees whose leaves and twigs constantly keep the eaves full and the downspouts plugged? If you answer yes to any of these questions, like Ernie from Sesame Street, you may be the one out on the ladder in the middle of a rainstorm hoping not to get struck by lightning. Remember trimming a tree you can do yourself, but if you're going to pay somebody, it will cost you. Removal of mature trees can cost several thousand dollars. They say poplar trees are one of the worst for roots that grow through the underground sewer pipes. It is said that the amount of root system a tree has is as much as you see above ground. In other words, they are everywhere!
Does the roof leak? Are all the pipes on the roof tarred around the base? Those brand new shingling jobs might not be as great as you thought if the roofers didn't do the fine tuning required. Again, if water pours into your basement every time it rains, perhaps the chimney didn't get sealed properly when the new shingles were applied. If you need a whole new roof (i.e. shingles), that could cost about $5,000 just for the front half. Are the windows in need of replacement because the casings are rotten? Has the plumbing under the kitchen sink been leaking so long it smells like mildew? If so, it's probably because it is mildew. If it looks like a skunk and smells like a skunk...it's probably is a skunk. How much does a new kitchen cost? I don't know, but I would guess upwards of somewhere between $10,000 - $30,000, depending upon what you want. I need one. About two years ago, a new furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner and garage heater would have set you back about $12,000.
A new picture window can cost another couple of thousand dollars especially when you discover you need to replace the window coverings because they no longer match. Exterior painting which includes heights if you're in a two-storey and mega scraping can also add up to several thousand dollars if you aren't careful. I expect many people are physically capable of doing these kinds of jobs themselves, so that will save plenty of money. Look at me, I did my deck one summer and my garage door last summer, all by myself. Also, all these types of repairs can often be done over time, so that's usually why folks will opt to buy a fixer-upper because they're a little cheaper. They say the average cost of a house these days in Saskatoon is around $330,000. That's the average.
If you're the seller, I can team up with you to make your home "presentation ready", tailor-making it to reflect its beauty, but within reasonable limits, of course. We can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but we can certainly try. We both know your home is like no other. You are selling homeyness and comfort as much as love. The buyer wants to fall in love with your house the same way you did. They want to be excited and have ideas about how to keep on loving it. You'll know you have captivated them when they start talking about whether their furniture will fit in this corner or that! Oh joy! Start to clap your hands then! Our goal is to make yours the most sought after property on the market because you have worked to make it the most beautiful and welcoming space possible. I know a few tricks (not all) to share with you that have worked for me and mine. I can research other ideas too until we find an angle (I'm dreaming now) that will take the buyer's breath away and have them lining up to make their offer. This is what we strive for! In turn you can teach me what you know about home decorating and together it will be a thing of beauty! :-) I know you want to make the most profit possible, so let's do a proper assessment and don't overprice the place or it could sit like a stone for far too long and that is never a good thing. Unlike God, neither you nor I can move mountains.
Buyers who are met with a pleasing aroma for instance, are far more taken than if they're met with the smells of something rotten in the fridge! Smell is everything. You can never clean too much when showing your home. If you can't get all the cleaning done before placing it on the market, just keep cleaning as often as possible and before you know it, the place will be spotless. You also need to box up a whole pile of trinkets and personal things to make room to breathe. You can store your treasures in whatever containers you like. It's just for the time being and they will wait for you to get them out again once you move into your new surroundings. Think of it as getting one step ahead of the packing which will be a huge job! If you can store the boxes or containers somewhere out of sight or in one corner, it looks better. Off the property at your relative's or friend's place works too.
While sorting through your stuff, try to have a pile to donate and definitely hold a garage sale. You can sell bigger items for free on Kijiji or in the newspaper under classified ads. Most radio stations have times to phone in with items for sale so keep your eyes peeled. I know you love your pet, but if at all possible have them out of the house when the home is being viewed. Your dog especially will do what it takes (like bark his head off) to protect his property when strangers walk right into his domain.
Many people in rural communities have children leaving home to attend post-secondary educational institutions in Saskatoon. Some families have kids spaced like stepping stones who go to school one after the other. Like my family, first it was the son and his friends, then a year or so later, the daughter and her friends. These families sometimes look into buying a house rather than paying rent. Smart cookies. If you are someone from any of the communities where I have lived in the past, (Melfort, Hudson Bay or Prince Albert)...let alone any other community, please think of me as your connection in Saskatoon. I will be set up with a new cell phone business number within the next week and would be most happy to hear from you. Stay tuned. In the meantime, you could inquire at the Royal LePage Varsity office, 1106 8th Street East and ask if Jean has started with them yet. The phone number there is (306) 665-3600.
If you are someone who is moving to Saskatoon for a new career, I would love to show you around the city. Over the years I have lived in Lawson Heights, College Park, Lakewood, Varsity View and Confederation Park. I have come to know many areas of the city quite well and am continually amazed at it's level of continual growth. If you are someone who is associated with one of the hospitals because of illness, think about purchasing a second home if the stay is going to be an extended one. I can help and I know many families, including my own who have had to scramble to find suitable accommodations at a very stressful time. With the new children's hospital being built, God forbid, but this could be an important decision for you and your family to keep in mind one day.
You may not believe this but I have had recurring dreams about houses all my life. I have always pondered their significance and I guess that is the real reason I became interested in real estate in the first place. I think someone has been trying to tell me something all these years and it's now that I am heeding their suggestion. For the time being, I will not be retiring from my current job, but one day that too will be a dream I hope to fulfill.
I need your help. I'm about to launch myself into business as an independent contractor. I'm working on a strategy and a marketing plan and a business plan and a GST number to name a few. I took the education in 2010 and had two years to sign on. Well the two years are up this Spring and I have to use it or lose it. You're wondering what I studied? Well, it was real estate. Yes, I read and studied and poured over the books to pass Phase I and Phase II - Residential. I got good marks by the way. I am awaiting a more current criminal record check to arrive and then presto, off I will trot to the local real estate commission to pay for my license and a bevy of other fees. That's about a week away. Right after, I will have my second meeting with my designated broker and off I will go into the wild blue yonder, or is that into the wild blue sunset...either way, I'll be off.
Recently, I've done a little search of real estate companies to see which one might work best for me. It seems the best one to fit my needs and theirs is Royal LePage Varsity on 8th Street. (They used to be Prudential Realty). Their location couldn't get much better. Can you believe that back in the 1970's I used to live one block away on 9th Street in a basement suite? I could walk to the university where I was attending first year university. Seems like I keep going back to things and places from my past. In those days, I also travelled by bus, and the bus stop was on the same block as the real estate office (which wasn't there yet). I feel like I'm in a movie called "Back to the 8th Street Location". I feel quite at home in the neighbourhood at the very least. I see the book store on the corner of Clarence Avenue and 8th Street is still there. There used to be a big restaurant on the opposite corner called "Tiffany's", if memory serves me. At any rate, in the next block is the turn off to Tim's, so there is always a steady stream of traffic driving by, reading the sign, deciding if it's worth stopping in. At least that's my initial impression of the premises.
I'm not sure how long I've wanted to get into the real estate business, but it's been for several decades. I have always been fascinated with homes and as anybody who knows me or my family will understand, we all like to help people. I know that when you buy a house, it's probably the most money the majority of us will ever spend at one time on one thing. We all definitely want to get our money's worth. You will want to choose a home that matches your family. We all have needs, wants and desires, and it all comes down to making simple choices. Make a list of what you want and try not to deviate from it. That may change based on your mortgage limits, but it sure helps to look at the right properties to start with. Better yet, start out with the banker and find out how much you can be pre-approved for. It makes life so much easier than finding out after you make an offer that you can't swing the purchase price. I have been involved in the buying and selling of a number of homes in my life and always find it exciting. Over the course of several years, I have talked to a number of people in the business and honestly, they all seem to love it. I haven't met one who said they hated their job and didn't know why they stayed with it. The concept of house and home is close to my heart, so I can't think working in the industry would be any different.
I have honed my administrative skills over the years, and got exceptionally good with the Microsoft Office Suite having learned to type on a manual typewriter way back when. I worked in banks, law offices and other offices with good training as a legal secretary. I have owned my own retail business, and been involved in home-based businesses over the years when I was a stay-at-home Mom. My educational training lead me to obtain a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and finally a Master's of Science in Nursing. I have been in the helping profession as a nurse educator and manager for a number of years...I hesitate to say the exact number lest you think me a dinosaur. Let's just say I'm seasoned yet I look and feel very youthful. ;-)
Every person I have met lives somewhere. Some because of life's good fortune live in off-the-charts homes. Others may be just starting out and finding that with a growing family, their place has become too small. Some always wanted to live on the riverbank with a river view. There are millions of scenarios that has ordinary people just like you and I wanting to move to a new home. Maybe you're downsizing and trying out a condo. I own one so can tell you what I know about the ins and outs of living in one, buying and selling one. I also own a house, so have many experiences there.
Many are renting and would love to stop that and get into being a home owner. People don't always know that a mortgage payment might be in the cards for them. Further, they may not realize that a mortage payment could be even lower than paying rent! As a young person, I was one of those. I assumed I would never even qualify. Not all people want to try to pretend to understand the red tape that goes with things like purchasing a home or paying income tax. They shy away from it, because they don't know a realtor, a banker, an accountant, or a lawyer. Someone like me can help you through the rough patches as you make one of the best decision of your life. Buying a house is a great decision. In addition to what I have already studied, I will have excellent additional training available to me upon registering as an agent. I will have the value of mentors and seasoned administrative people to double and triple check all of my transactions. That's just the way this particular agency works. As well, this real estate agency has it's own university training system and tried and true realtors for me to rub elbows with. If you know me, you know that I work hard no matter what I do. I hope you know that I will do everything in my power to earn your respect and your trust. My hope is that you will be exceptionally happy with your sale or your purchase. If you're thinking of making a change, try me.
If you're someone who wants a brand new home, totally or partially finished, you should be able to look forward to shiny and squeaky clean, at least for awhile. You may run into issues you might not have thought were a problem such as the mud that gets tramped into your house because it rained before the grass you planted even sprouted. These new houses are usually all in the same boat, so you see every manner of boardwalk path thrown helter skelter on the ground leading from the sidewalk or driveway to the house. If the place is completely done that's one thing. If it's not, the more you can finish before moving in, the better. Those baseboards might lay there waiting to be nailed on for months otherwise.
I have gone to countless open houses over the years. I look for cracks in foundations, and basements for one. I look for uniqueness and little exemplary finishing touches. I have this super-douper sense of smell that has me noticing right away whether there's been water in the basement. If I have a cold, this might backfire... I may not be an electrician, but I can tell whether the wiring looks like a dog's breakfast or not. I've been in huge houses that had so many rooms, alcoves, closets and secret passageways that I almost got lost. Remember when you're finishing basements or renovating that less is usually more. Kids however do love these hideaways in the making of their forts, so that might be your family's thing. If there's a closed-in deck outside at the back of the house, it might be the perfect place for a fort...especially if there's a dryer vented into it....that could make it a heated fort! The only thing is that everything in it will be covered with a fine layer of lint over time.
In the 70's they used to have whole blocks of brand new homes for the public to walk through and admire. Honestly, each house would be a colour scheme using one colour only. Can you imagine one house that was entirely decorated in different shades of pink ? Next door might be all yellow. Then all purple. It was certainly fabulous and extraordinary, but not necessarily permanently livable. I vividly remember the last house I went to on one occasion which was nothing if not gorgeous in green. Now don't get me wrong, green is one of my favorite colours (the other is purple). After walking through an entire brand new two-storey house with every shade of green known to man, I was absolutey nauseated. I couldn't believe a simple colour would make me sick to my stomach, but it really did! That was the end of looking at open houses that night and I thought I could never have green walls in my own home ever again. Not true, I have one vivid green wall in my kitchen, believe it or not. One wall is okay, remember, less is more.
How is the landscaping and slope of the property? Hopefully away from the foundation, not towards it or caving in. How are the eaves? Separated and springing away from the fascia? Useless when it rains? Totally plugged and in need of repair? Is the property full of overgrown trees whose leaves and twigs constantly keep the eaves full and the downspouts plugged? If you answer yes to any of these questions, like Ernie from Sesame Street, you may be the one out on the ladder in the middle of a rainstorm hoping not to get struck by lightning. Remember trimming a tree you can do yourself, but if you're going to pay somebody, it will cost you. Removal of mature trees can cost several thousand dollars. They say poplar trees are one of the worst for roots that grow through the underground sewer pipes. It is said that the amount of root system a tree has is as much as you see above ground. In other words, they are everywhere!
Does the roof leak? Are all the pipes on the roof tarred around the base? Those brand new shingling jobs might not be as great as you thought if the roofers didn't do the fine tuning required. Again, if water pours into your basement every time it rains, perhaps the chimney didn't get sealed properly when the new shingles were applied. If you need a whole new roof (i.e. shingles), that could cost about $5,000 just for the front half. Are the windows in need of replacement because the casings are rotten? Has the plumbing under the kitchen sink been leaking so long it smells like mildew? If so, it's probably because it is mildew. If it looks like a skunk and smells like a skunk...it's probably is a skunk. How much does a new kitchen cost? I don't know, but I would guess upwards of somewhere between $10,000 - $30,000, depending upon what you want. I need one. About two years ago, a new furnace, hot water heater, air conditioner and garage heater would have set you back about $12,000.
A new picture window can cost another couple of thousand dollars especially when you discover you need to replace the window coverings because they no longer match. Exterior painting which includes heights if you're in a two-storey and mega scraping can also add up to several thousand dollars if you aren't careful. I expect many people are physically capable of doing these kinds of jobs themselves, so that will save plenty of money. Look at me, I did my deck one summer and my garage door last summer, all by myself. Also, all these types of repairs can often be done over time, so that's usually why folks will opt to buy a fixer-upper because they're a little cheaper. They say the average cost of a house these days in Saskatoon is around $330,000. That's the average.
If you're the seller, I can team up with you to make your home "presentation ready", tailor-making it to reflect its beauty, but within reasonable limits, of course. We can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but we can certainly try. We both know your home is like no other. You are selling homeyness and comfort as much as love. The buyer wants to fall in love with your house the same way you did. They want to be excited and have ideas about how to keep on loving it. You'll know you have captivated them when they start talking about whether their furniture will fit in this corner or that! Oh joy! Start to clap your hands then! Our goal is to make yours the most sought after property on the market because you have worked to make it the most beautiful and welcoming space possible. I know a few tricks (not all) to share with you that have worked for me and mine. I can research other ideas too until we find an angle (I'm dreaming now) that will take the buyer's breath away and have them lining up to make their offer. This is what we strive for! In turn you can teach me what you know about home decorating and together it will be a thing of beauty! :-) I know you want to make the most profit possible, so let's do a proper assessment and don't overprice the place or it could sit like a stone for far too long and that is never a good thing. Unlike God, neither you nor I can move mountains.
Buyers who are met with a pleasing aroma for instance, are far more taken than if they're met with the smells of something rotten in the fridge! Smell is everything. You can never clean too much when showing your home. If you can't get all the cleaning done before placing it on the market, just keep cleaning as often as possible and before you know it, the place will be spotless. You also need to box up a whole pile of trinkets and personal things to make room to breathe. You can store your treasures in whatever containers you like. It's just for the time being and they will wait for you to get them out again once you move into your new surroundings. Think of it as getting one step ahead of the packing which will be a huge job! If you can store the boxes or containers somewhere out of sight or in one corner, it looks better. Off the property at your relative's or friend's place works too.
While sorting through your stuff, try to have a pile to donate and definitely hold a garage sale. You can sell bigger items for free on Kijiji or in the newspaper under classified ads. Most radio stations have times to phone in with items for sale so keep your eyes peeled. I know you love your pet, but if at all possible have them out of the house when the home is being viewed. Your dog especially will do what it takes (like bark his head off) to protect his property when strangers walk right into his domain.
Many people in rural communities have children leaving home to attend post-secondary educational institutions in Saskatoon. Some families have kids spaced like stepping stones who go to school one after the other. Like my family, first it was the son and his friends, then a year or so later, the daughter and her friends. These families sometimes look into buying a house rather than paying rent. Smart cookies. If you are someone from any of the communities where I have lived in the past, (Melfort, Hudson Bay or Prince Albert)...let alone any other community, please think of me as your connection in Saskatoon. I will be set up with a new cell phone business number within the next week and would be most happy to hear from you. Stay tuned. In the meantime, you could inquire at the Royal LePage Varsity office, 1106 8th Street East and ask if Jean has started with them yet. The phone number there is (306) 665-3600.
If you are someone who is moving to Saskatoon for a new career, I would love to show you around the city. Over the years I have lived in Lawson Heights, College Park, Lakewood, Varsity View and Confederation Park. I have come to know many areas of the city quite well and am continually amazed at it's level of continual growth. If you are someone who is associated with one of the hospitals because of illness, think about purchasing a second home if the stay is going to be an extended one. I can help and I know many families, including my own who have had to scramble to find suitable accommodations at a very stressful time. With the new children's hospital being built, God forbid, but this could be an important decision for you and your family to keep in mind one day.
You may not believe this but I have had recurring dreams about houses all my life. I have always pondered their significance and I guess that is the real reason I became interested in real estate in the first place. I think someone has been trying to tell me something all these years and it's now that I am heeding their suggestion. For the time being, I will not be retiring from my current job, but one day that too will be a dream I hope to fulfill.
