The Importance of Communication

  I once saw a comic strip that went something like this: There is a man standing on the street corner holding a sign that says “THE END IS NEAR”. Drivers keep racing past him yelling about being a relgious nut, and so forth. Then we “hear” cars crashing in the distance. Later the same man changes his sign so that it reads “BRIDGE OUT”. Suddenly everyone’s reaction changes, and he saves people from potential distaster. It’s probably funnier to see than it is to read here.

   Why do I open with this story? Because we constantly hear about the importance of communication, in business, but also in our day to day lives. But I feel there is more to it than just basic “communitcating”. Anyone can say the words, but can you make it understandable? Are you sure you’re sending the RIGHT message?

  In that story, the message is basically the same, but the content makes all the difference. Haven’t you ever had it that you felt totally misunderstood even though you thought you were being perfectly clear? 

  That’s why I feel that it’s about more than just saying the words, it’s about the two-way communication, being able ask questions, to get clarification, and make sure everyone is on the same page. 

  I never want my clients to feel that they can’t ask a question! Sometimes, in the professional world, we get caught using terms (or “jargon”) that we take for granted, but others may not understand.This can be especially true when we start talking stats. 

  My hope is that when I work with someone, they feel free to stop me and get things straightened out! I may not be saving lives, like the man in the story, but I am helping people with a pretty big decision, and I make it my aim to always keep the lines of communication open. It’s a cliche, but there really is no such thing as a stupid question! If you don’t know, ask!!

   If you, or anyone you know, is considering buying or selling (or both!), and is looking for a professional they can trust, and talk to, please feel free to call me anytime, I’m here to help.

“Closing Day” Terminology You Need To Know

Closing day is an exciting time. After all, you’re moving into your new home! However, it can be stressful as well. The last thing you need is to be confronted with something you don’t understand. So here is a quick list of common “closing day” terms.

• Disbursements. This is the allocation of funds to the appropriate parties, such as the seller. Your lawyer will take care of this for you.

• Possession. This is the moment on closing day when you are legally able to take possession of your new home. It’s usually when your REALTOR® or lawyer hands you the keys.

• Title. This is a legal document that identifies the property and its owner.

• Closing costs. These are expenses, excluding the selling cost of the property, that are due on closing day, such as legal fees, reimbursement for pre-paid utilities, utility deposits, insurance, and taxes.

• Closing adjustments. These are expenses pre-paid by the seller that need to be reimbursed on closing. 

There may be other terms you come across on closing day as well. Don’t worry, a good REALTOR® can help make the day go smoothly for you and your family.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call today.

March Stats

                                                  

MARCH HAS A SPRING IN ITS STEP

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March MLS® Sales Up 9%

WINNIPEG - More spring-like weather this March compared to the previous few years helped spur more sales activity. MLS® sales climbed over 1,000 and ended up being just 2% off the ten-year March average of 1,025. First quarter sales activity showed a similar pattern, also off 2% from the ten-year average of 2,318 MLS® sales. 

MLS® dollar volume of $276 million was up 11% over March of last year and up 9% over the ten-year average.

New and available listings continue to be impressive when compared to last March.  New listings entered on the MLS® in March increased 33% while the active listings or existing inventory were up 29% to 4,338 MLS® listings. Whatever is being sold is more than being replenished by the entry of new listings on the system.

You have to go back to 1999 to find as many listings available for sale at this time of year and back to 1995 when there were more new listings entered on MLS® in March. For the first quarter, 5,499 listings have been entered on MLS®, an increase of 37% over the 10-year average.

March MLS® unit sales were up 9% (1,005/919) while dollar volume increased 11% ($276.23 million/$249.1 million) in comparison to the same month last year. Year-to-date MLS® sales increased less than 5% (2,265/2,164) while dollar volume was up just over 5% ($600.0 million/$570.9 million). The 5,499 listings entered on MLS® for the first quarter are up 26% from the same period in 2014.

“Conditions are ideal for buyers to take advantage of a healthy supply of listings and historically low mortgage rates,” said David Mackenzie, President of WinnipegREALTORS®.  “Our mortgage brokers are telling us we have likely not seen rates as low as we have now since the 50’s or 60’s.”

MacKenzie added, “The much more balanced market has kept prices totally in line with last year so affordability remains a real strength of our local market compared to other Canadian cities.”

The most active residential-detached price range in March was the $250,000 to $299,999 price range at 19%. It eked out a slight edge over the $200,000 to $249,999 range which represented 18% of total sales. 3 out of 4 residential-detached sales in March were between $150,000 and $350,000.  

For condominium sales activity in March, the busiest price range was from $150,000 to $199,999 at 28%. Not far behind was the range from $200,000 to $249,999 at 25%.

The average days on market for residential-detached sales was 28 days, 6 days quicker than last month and the same pace as March 2014. The average days on market for condominium sales was 45 days, 3 days faster than last month and 13 days off the pace set in March 2014.

March 2015	Above List Price	At List Price	Below List Price
Residential-Detached	21%	9%	70%
Condominium	15%	14%	71%

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,875 real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, and financial members active in the Greater Winnipeg Area real estate market.  Its REALTOR® members adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) designed exclusively for REALTORS®. WinnipegREALTORS® serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.  REALTOR®, MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned and controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association and are used under licence.

Deciding on the discretionary move

Sometimes we don't have much choice about selling our home and buying another. Circumstances, such as a job relocation, may have made that choice for us.

However, most often the decision to move is discretionary. Sometimes people move simply because they think it's a good idea. They feel that "now" is the right time to find their next dream home.

So how do you make that kind of decision?

There are, of course, many reasons to make a discretionary move. Usually, those reasons fall into one of two categories: need and want.

You may need to find a new home, for example, because you've outgrown your current property. Perhaps you have a growing family and require more space. Maybe you're doing more entertaining and need a larger backyard with a more spacious deck. It could be that the commute to work is arduous and you need to move to a place that's closer. 

Those "needs" may motivate you to move, but sometimes a "want" plays an important role, too.

For example, you may want to live in a quieter neighbourhood or in a newly built home that requires less maintenance. Maybe you simply want a change.

If you're thinking of making a move, take a moment to write down a list of your needs and wants. Seeing them on paper will help make the decision easier.

Looking for expert help? Call today. (204) 990-3467, lukevberg@gmail.com

Curb Appeal

Have you ever driven up to a restaurant and your first impression was disappointing? Perhaps the windows looked dark and gloomy, the façade was worn and unattractive or for some other reason it just didn't look like a tempting place to eat.

It could still be a fantastic restaurant – a real gem. But, your first impression has soured your anticipation. If you still walk through the front door, it will likely be with the expectation of being disappointed.

This scenario often plays out in the real estate market as well. 

A buyer drives up to a home for sale and quickly forms an impression based on what he sees "from the curb". That's why you'll hear real estate experts talk about the importance of "curb appeal". It's one of the most important selling points of a property.

If you plan to put your home on the market, you obviously want your home to look as attractive as possible from the street. Fortunately, there are many simple things you can do to improve curb appeal.

For example, you can trim shrubs and hedges, plant flowers, clean the walkway and driveway, paint the front door and garage door, and clean the exteriors of the windows. All these projects are relatively easy and inexpensive. Yet, each can make a dramatic improvement to how your home looks at first glance.

Don't be like the great restaurant that’s hidden behind an unkept façade. Make sure your curb appeal reflects the overall value of your property.

Looking for more advice on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Call today.

5 Unusual (but effective) Home Staging Ideas

"Staging" your home is all about making the space in your home as appealing as possible to buyers. Many people think staging has to be expensive. It doesn't. Most of these tips are very simple, and cost effective. Even if you aren't selling, these can help make your home more comfortable for you. You really don't have to blow the budget to make a room more comfortable. Don't underestimate the small things! You may already know the basics, such as eliminating clutter. Here are some other tips that are less well known yet very effective:

• Chandeliers. Surprisingly, these are one of the simplest ways to make a foyer, dining room or living room dramatically more eye-catching. You can buy a good-looking chandelier for a few hundred dollars.

• New linen. This is something many home sellers don't consider, but should. Replace any worn linen – sheets, coverings, towels, and even oven mitts with new ones. Believe it or not, new linen makes a big impression on buyers.

• Pedestal sinks. It may not be practical for you to replace a bathroom sink. However, if you are doing a renovation, keep in mind that pedestal sinks – especially in small washrooms – are a big hit with buyers.

• New appliances. A brand new fridge, stove and dishwasher are motivating selling features to buyers. That's because new appliances make the whole kitchen look brand new.

• Avoid multi-use rooms. Have a spare bedroom that doubles as a home office? That's a turnoff to buyers. Whenever possible, stage each room so that it has a singular purpose. A guest bedroom, for example, should be only that.

 Want more tips on how to stage your home so that it attracts buyers? Call today.

House vs Condo: Where Should You Be?

So, you’ve decided to make a move. Maybe it’s your first time, maybe you’re just

ready for a change. There are so many questions to go through. Needs vs. Wants lists

to make. Where do I want to live? What do I want to be close to? Who do I

want to be close to? Should I hire a professional? (Yes, you should!)

Today I want to address a question some people may not even think about right away:

Should I buy a House or a Condo?

We’ve all seen the huge increase in condo construction in our fine city, they are

popping up everywhere. Why? Because there is a real market for them! Everything from

small, one bed room “studio” style, to massive, luxury penthouse suites. So, could a

condo be right for you? Let’s find out.

I’ll admit, when I first started home shopping, and before I got into the business of Real

Estate, the idea of a condo never really appealed to me. It just seemed like I’d be living

in a glorified apartment, and paying, in some cases as much as I would for a home. My

thinking was, if I’m going to pay that much, why wouldn’t I want to get a yard and a

basement in the package?

But, after having seen so many, and really learning what they are all about, and what

goes into owning one, I can really see the appeal in them, for a few market

demographics. They certainly aren’t for everyone. If you have a family, or are planning

to soon, condo living likely isn’t right for you. The same goes for someone who loves 
having a yard and/or garden to play with. If you love growing things, you may not enjoy a condo.

However, maybe you’re a young, single, working professional, with long hours and

crazy schedules, (or even a young “power couple”!), or perhaps you’re an “empty

nester” looking to enjoy your retirement years travelling. These are just a few of 

the people that can really benefit from the condo lifestyle. 

There are several advantages - Security: Just lock your door and disappear! No one

will notice your long term absence, and, if it’s properly managed, someone is keeping

an eye on the building. No maintenance: You’ve got no yard to mow, and, in the winter,

no snow to shovel. If you have to be gone long term, or if you keep odd hours, you don’t

need to ask others to cover it, and your property won’t “get away” from you. Insurance:

Your insurance costs will be much lower, as the rules are different for condos.
Utility costs: You’re heating only the space you’re using, and it will

generally only have one or two exterior walls.

Having said all this, you still need to be careful. There are numbers and “features” to

consider: Should I go apartment or townhome style? What’s the difference? Do I get covered/heated parking, or will I be parking outdoors all winter? Is there a storage unit?

What are the monthly condo fees, and what do they cover for that money? Do they

include utilities? Is there a rec area, like a gym, or a common room, or even a pool? And if there is, am I actually likely to make use of those spaces? Does it have in-suite

laundry? If not, are they “coin-operated” machines?

I’d also like to go back to my point about getting more for your money in a home. Lets

do a quick comparison, using rough numbers. (These numbers are by no means

indicative of current market trends, in homes or condos!) Lets say you are paying $200k

for a 900sf house, with full basement and a single garage, vs paying the same $200k for

a 900sf apartment style condo. At first glance, you are getting more “space” for your

money in the home. But think about this: are you likely going to use that (possibly

unfinished) basement? Because if you aren’t, aren’t you really just paying for dead

space? Not to mention the ongoing costs of maintaining and heating/cooling all that

space? And the ongoing maintenance of the yard/property. That can really start to add

up over time. Yes, in a condo you may be paying monthly fees for this. But in many

cases they will be lower in the long run. And yes, some of your fees are going to be

paying someone else, but at the end of the day, it can be a small thing for the

convenience you get. What about equity? Isn’t there more to be gained in home

ownership? Sort of. A home is more likely to appreciate a little faster, and likely sell

faster as well. But condos do give you equity! They are not “throwing money away”.

Again, it will come down to how the numbers play out, and exactly what you want in

your life. Yes, there is a lot to consider, but, with expert help and guidance, the decision

doesn’t have to be scary. 

This post is by no means comprehensive or exact, but if you have any questions or

comments, or if you, or someone you know, is thinking about a move but doesn’t know

where to start, please, get in touch with me, lets look at your options, and talk about

what you’re after. Your home is a huge part of your lifestyle, and it’s worth the

discussion. I’m always happy to sit down and go through any questions or concerns!

(204) 990-3467, lukevberg@gmail.com.