Paulette Maltais 780-907-4550

Gearing up for summer? Now is a great time to get your home in top shape for the months ahead. Whatever your weather, caring for your home now will help to ensure a worry-free, comfortable summer. Follow a few of these tips each week and you’ll be done in no time.

This is printed from “Pillar to Post”

To Book an Inspection: inspectionsEdm@pillartopost.com
To View the Web Site: www.pillartopost-edmonton.com

OUTDOORS
• Inspect siding for cracks and make any needed repairs.
• If paint is peeling, cracking, or chipped, repair and repaint now to limit damage to the underlying materials.
• Remove window screens and clean with a soft brush and soapy water. Repair any holes or tears or replace the screen material before reinstalling.
• Have air conditioning units serviced to ensure good operation. Promote air circulation around the unit by keeping surrounding shrubs and plants trimmed.
• Clear debris from gutters and eaves to allow rainwater to drain properly.
• Seal cracks in the driveway and keep walkways clear of debris and overgrown plants.
• Test irrigation/sprinkler systems and replace any broken sprinkler heads or emitters. Check for proper water coverage and adjust if necessary.
• Power wash decks and patios and seal surfaces as appropriate.
INDOORS
• Vacuum or brush off refrigerator coils to help maintain energy efficiency.
• Empty dehumidifier pans and clean hoses according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If possible, take area rugs outside and hang them over a deck or porch rail to air out.
• Adjust ceiling fans for proper balance and change the rotation to the summer setting. While you’re at it, give the unit a good dusting.
• Switch heavy bedding out for lightweight summer fabrics. Have the winter bedding cleaned before storing it away for the season.
• Close the chimney flue to prevent insects from entering and to help keep cool air in.
• Repot houseplants to give their roots a fresh start for the summer.
• Check door and cabinet hinges and lubricate any that stick or squeak.
• Open windows on cooler days to keep fresh air flowing throughout the home.

Information below has been provided by the Edmonton Real Estate Board.

“Edmonton, May 4, 2015: Canadian Home and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC) released the Updated Results of its House Price Analysis and Assessment Framework for Canada and 12 Markets last week. The report focused on housing market risk factors such as overheating, acceleration in house prices, overvaluation, and overbuilding. Their conclusion about the Edmonton market was that it presented a low risk in all these factors.

. . .

Residential sales in Edmonton’s Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) are beginning to pick up with 1,597 in April 2015. That is up 10% from 1,453 in March but still down 13% from April 2014. Reported sales are down in all categories except duplex/rowhouse – which are up again like last month, but this month over 24%. Single family sales were 1,001 – down 13% over last April (1,147 reported). Condos took the biggest hit down 20% over last year with 432 sold.

Despite a decline in all residential sales, the average sale price was $337,270 up 3% from April last year. Single family dwellings sold for an average of $438,641 (up 2% from last April), condos for $252,935 (up 0.2% y/y) and duplex/rowhouses were $356,022 (up 7.23% y/y).

“Sales are definitely down this year, but the sales numbers are still higher than 2011. It is unlikely that anyone would call 2011 a bad year for housing sales. It’s just in comparison to last year, we are not quite as busy. Prices are stabilizing and inventory is robust. We will continue to see increases in sales as we move into the selling season,” Tetreault says. “Our REALTORS® are out there working hard, not just listing new properties, but selling properties to clients who have been waiting for more inventory. The increase in listings is allowing REALTORS® to find the property that is right for their buyers. A lot of buyers waited to see what would happen in the first quarter. We are starting to see their confidence come back as a result of the continued stability of our market.”

The end of month residential active inventory was 6,784 for the Edmonton CMA. April residential new listings were up 11% from last year at 3,298. Average days on market were 44 compared to just 42 in April 2014.

REALTORS® forecast stable market for 2015

Edmonton, January 7, 2015: The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton released their annual housing forecast today at a seminar at the Northlands Expo Centre attended by 700 REALTORS® and business people. President Geneva Tetreault forecast that sales of single family homes in the Edmonton Census Metropolitan Area will remain at the same level as 2014 around 11,500 sales.

Last year exceeded modest expectations with a growth of 11% in all residential sales. Tetreault expects another big year for sales of single family homes in Edmonton but little growth. “The cool down of employment growth and uncertainty of oil prices, may leave buyers more cautious in 2015. This is likely to be offset by the potential increase in mortgage rates in late 2015. Buyers will want to take advantage of the record low rates for the first half of the year,” explains Tetreault.

If dust bunnies are not your favorite house pet and dust is making your eyes and nose itch you might want to consider getting some “air-cleaning plants. Examples of “air- cleaning plants” are bamboo palm, rubber plants and spider plants.

Article written by Wes Hoover and 1st point copied below:

“What Agents wish Consumers knew

“1. We are not overpaid. Anyone who thinks this just doesn’t understand how our business works. Most real estate agents in most parts of the world work on a contingent fee basis. That means we work for free, we list houses for free, we show houses for free, we answer your questions for free. All of this is in the expectation that upon providing results we get paid.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that we are a bargain! Agents typically charge between five and seven per cent. Compare this to other contingent fee-based businesses that charge as much as 50 per cent.”

Three Little Fixes You Can Make When Prepping a Home for Sale
(written by Pillar to Post and reposted here)

For Sale (Almost)
Homeowners make a lot of memories in their houses, and there’s no doubt it’s emotional for them to say goodbye to their well-loved kitchens and family rooms when they put their homes on the market. Unfortunately, potential buyers will not be charmed by that “lived-in look.”

Here are a few simple DIY projects… These little fixes will rejuvenate some common trouble areas and make homes more appealing to fussy buyers…something your clients definitely can get behind!

1) Busted tiles are not classy.
Oops. Did an anvil drop on that tile countertop? Tile holds up almost indefinitely to all kinds of wear-but sadly, as you may have seen in your years on the job, tile cracks if something heavy is dropped on it.

What your clients can do
It’s relatively simple to replace broken tile: remove the grout, mask the surrounding tiles with tape, loosen the tile, chisel out the pieces, set the new tile, fill the perimeter with new grout and allow the grout to dry. Goodbye, shabby tile.

2) Scratches and dings and gouges, oh my!
We know your client’s brother-in-law didn’t mean to run into the built-in bookshelves drawer with the recliner. While a droll family memory, there’s no value-add for the prospective home buyer, so it’s probably best the seller get rid of any and all visible scratches, dings and gouges.

What your clients can do
Minor scratches can be wiped clean with mineral oil, lightly sanded with fine grade sandpaper and sealed with polyurethane. Scratches that penetrate the finish can be filled with a like-colored furniture repair stick. The product consists of wax and putty, and is easy to apply. Follow with a coat of polyurethane.

Not quite a gouge, but deeper than a scratch? Use wood putty in a matching color. Gouges also can be treated with wood putty. Make the repair, let it dry and apply the polyurethane.

3) Counter intelligence?
Bags of groceries, stubborn food stains and the occasional misfire with a kitchen knife are all to blame for clients’ laminate or Corian counter surfaces looking scuffed and sad. Fortunately, there are simple solutions that won’t leave home sellers with an empty wallet.

What your clients can do
Laminate is a repair-friendly surface: a color-matched repair pen or paste will camouflage most scratches. Be careful not to overfill, and gently sand the excess when dry. The remnants of past meals can be removed using a paste made from baking soda and water. Leave the paste for a few hours and wipe away. No need to rub or scrub.

Minor scratches on Corian can be treated by using a mild abrasive liquid cleaner on a damp sponge, rubbing over the scratch in small, overlapping circular motions, and rinsing with clean water. Encourage clients to wipe the surface completely dry, and repeat if the blemish is still visible. Deeper scratches should be treated following the manufacturer’s instructions.

That was easy, wasn’t it? With a little elbow grease and a modest investment of time and money, your clients can bring the sexy back to worn surfaces.

THE PILLAR TO POST ADVANTAGE

If you are thinking of purchasing a home you will want to research House inspectors to see which one you want to hire to do your house inspection. Here is a link to one of them. ihttp://www.pillartopost.com/

Christmas Holidays are always so much fun. Homes, yards and streets are so vibrant and come alive with colorful lights and ornaments. This is also a time of year where house fires increase. There are many things that increase the potential of house fires during this festive season. Here are a few tips to help you keep your family and home safe during the holidays.

– Insure that any burning candles are out of reach of childrens’ little hands and fingers.
– All candles should be blown out before you leave the house even if it is just for a few minutes.
– It is always so much fun to host Christmas Diner but so much potential for burns. Children should be kept out of the kitchen when the turkey, ham… comes out of the oven and hot food is being prepared.
– If you are using a natural tree, always give it plenty of water. A dry tree is a fire hazard.
– Led lights are a “lower fire hazard”. Use this type of lights for your tree and yard lights.
– Do not use your fireplace to burn Christmas paper and wrappers

Please stay safe during the Festive Season.

Paulette Maltais is an Accredited Buyer Representative. As such she has received special training to work with Buyers in helping them buy Real Estate in the Edmonton and surrounding area. If you are presently thinking of buying Real Estate call Paulette and know that you have an expert looking after you. Paulette’s website also has very important information and suggestions to help all Buyers make the right move. Click on “Buyer’ on the websites menu and you will be able to read or download important information pertaining to buying Real Estate. Are you thinking of buying a home in the near future and want to work with an Accredited Buyer Representative? Call Paulette today – 780-907-4550. Marci did just that and this is what she had to say about the service Paulette provided: “Paulette assisted me in . . . purchasing a new home… I found her to be ….friendly with a pleasant demeanour…She made me feel that I had someone on my side who would look after all the details that might otherwise have been missed… I think hiring Paulette to help you buy a new property is a wise choice.

When you are thinking of selling your home you want to make it look as big and bright as possible. Letting in light will showcase the interior of any house.  Brighter interiors are more compelling, more spacious, more attractive. There are several ways you can lighten and brighten your home:

– Clean the windows and light fixtures

– Paint walls and ceilings in a light, neutral color

– Wax floors, shampoo carpets and clean upholstery

– Remove heavy shades and curtains/drapes where possible

Add lamps or accent lighting to fix any remaining dark spaces or create visual drama