Negotiating 101 in an Agency Relationship
I’ve always got my client’s best interests at heart, and (hopefully) the other agent has their client’s best interests at heart. This is the core of the agency relationship. I often tell people that if I’ve got another experienced, skilled agent on the other side of a negotiation, that’s 90% of the battle. Yes, we […]
How to Write a Compelling Offer
Fewer multi-offers are happening now compared to the spring market (this is perfectly normal), but they’re still occurring for desirable, competitively-priced properties. Whether it’s a multiple-offer scenario or not, there are always different things to consider when writing an offer to make it more compelling for the seller to accept. Of course, the price will […]
Spotlight on Angela, Photographer and Staging Consultant
I’m not one to do things half-assed. In my previous life (before real estate), I grew a business from scratch that became the largest of its kind in Canada. I used to say I did it by outservicing my competitors. But actually, when I think about it, I didn’t much care or pay attention to […]
Real Estate – Early Spring vs Late Spring
Welcome to the Late Spring Market, a significant transition point past the peak of the market in terms of sales volume. You may wonder: If the total sales in May were more than in April, how can I say we’ve passed the peak? The answer lies in the trend. If I look at the weekly […]
The Illusion of the Celebrity Agent
A short time ago, a past client referred me to friends for a possible listing. I met with the couple, and we hit it off right away. They seemed to genuinely appreciate my straightforward approach and selling strategy. And I loved their home! My mind was churning with marketing ideas. I knew they were going […]
Pricing Strategies in a Bonkers🤪Market
“Bonkers!” This word is so apropos in our current real estate market. By the way, the current tight market conditions (low inventory vs high demand) have been in place since the end of 2021. However, there are different degrees of bonkers🤪. For example, let’s compare absorption rates from January 25 to March 28 (I record […]
The Insurance Conundrum
House insurance is becoming a much more significant factor for both buyers and sellers. Buyers are often surprised when the insurance company starts asking probing questions right before closing. Particularly when their “new” house is more than 25 years old, currently anything built before the year 2000. (Also, did you know there are hockey players […]
The January FOMO Phenomenon
After 19 years as a full-time professional REALTOR® and being a serious student of market trends, I’ve picked up a few things. I call one of them the ‘January FOMO Phenomenon.’ One thing that never changes is the fact that December and January are ALWAYS the slowest two months of the year for sales. Most […]
The Monday Morning Report
As in any profession, there is a wide variance in competence from one real estate agent to another. But even if a REALTOR® is in the Top 1% of all agents in skill, knowledge, and experience, they can often still be guilty of perpetuating the biggest complaint there is in the business: Lack of Communication […]
New Rules for Short-Term Rentals
This news is from B.C. but it’s being studied all across Canada, including Alberta, and it may very well be legislated in our province sooner than later. Essentially, short-term rentals (STRs) in B.C. (Airbnb or otherwise) will be banned almost entirely as of May 2024. The exceptions are rentals attached to the owner’s principal residence […]