The Perfect Last Minute Gifts for that Someone on your list!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Only one more week to go! Shopping for gifts can be tasking for someone as busy as you! I have put together the perfect list of gifts for some last minute shopping. 

These are carefully selected by myself and I matched them with personality types on your list. Conquer and enjoy !

1. For the FASHIONISTA 

Strappy heeled leopard print shoes from GAP

2. For the FITNESS BUFF

Wind Blocker Jacket from NEW BALANCE

3. For the HOSTESS

Cheers Punch Bowl with Ladle by MIKASA

4. For the BAKER

GEFU 25-piece Cookie & Pastry Press Set - Bed Bath & Beyond

5. For the TRAVELLER

DESIGN LETTERS Travel Journal - CHAPTERS INDIGO

Hope this list helped you decide for the perfect las minute gift!

WHY IT PAYS TO LIST YOUR HOME IN THE WINTER

Should you put your home on the marker now?  Although Spring is peak home-shopping season, it does pay to list your home in the winter when buyers tend to have more urgency.

If you do move forward to listing your home at this time, these are the things your need to do to have your home a hot seller in the winter:

1. Price it Right.
The quieter winter weather brings special pricing considerations. It may make sense to price low to generate a bidding war. Take a conservative approach and price at market value to nab a buyer before Spring when new listings appear on the market. 

2.Schedule a Tune-Up.
Winter buyers are particularly attuned to issues related to heating and maintenance. Furnace, HVAC and roofing need to be inspected and necessary repairs made. Other things to seriously consider: clean the gutters, change the filters and weather-strip the windows. Winter home buyers also consider heating costs so consider making low-cost upgrades like insulating the attic or installing energy efficient windows to cut down on utility bills.

3.Brighten your Home. 
Warm up your curb appeal with basic landscaping. Add inexpensive cool-weather plants like Holly to freshen up outdoor space. Repair cracked window seals, fix chipped paint, caulk windows- these things cause condensation that freezes over and can be an eyesore to potential buyers.
Paint your home in off-white to offset poor natural season lighting and will make space feel larger. Create a sense of warmth throughout the home starting with the living room. Consider Home Staging for maximum impact.

4. Declutter and Depersonalize. 
Put away family photographs so buyers can see themselves living in the home. Display pictures of what your home looks in the warmer weather so that buyers can appreciate how it looks like year round. Ex. the garden in full bloom or a picture of the backyard in the summertime.

Unsure of how to get started? Call me directly at 780-722-6480. I look forward to hearing from you!
Get to know me! Visit my website at www.debbieasmith.com

REAL ESTATE and RETIREMENT

As baby-boomers advance into their retirement years, many will face decisions about their living arrangements, such as whether to retrofit their current home to address mobility issues, or downsize to embrace a less demanding lifestyle. Whatever the expectations, it is wise to plan ahead and budget for the future, when issues like health, self-sufficiency and social interaction may take on new or more critical importance. If you're a long-term homeowner, you'll have likely built up equity in your real estate investment, which puts you in a more favourable position to free up funds to meet your goals. So, whether you're planning extensive renovations or extended vacations, its wise to determine your home's current market value compared to the cost of your long term plans in order to determine your financial leverage. Since real estate is an investment that can be liquidated relatively quickly, you might also consider selling or refinancing to release funds to address not only your future lifestyle needs and preferences but also personal desires to donate to charities or plan for family inheritances. 

Most likely you have already a plan for your retirement. I can help you with this by giving you the best and most honest advice when making real estate decisions- whether you would like to start investing now or determining your position in the market with regards to your real estate investment.

Visit my website www.debbieasmith.com and let's get started!

Selling your Condo

THREE LISTS TO MAKE WHEN SELLING YOUR CONDO

When you put your unit up for sale, you want to make sure that potential buyers get all the information they need on the features of your condo and its surrounding area. If, for example, a buyer doesn't realize there is a great school just a couple of blocks away, he might cross your property off his shortlist. An effective way to make sure something like that doesn't happen is to create three lists.

#1. The "I'll Miss It" List. Chances are, there are things about your condo that you are really going to miss when you move. It may be the spacious living room, ideal for entertaining or the nearby park with scenic trails, perfect for walking and biking. Whatever you'll miss, put it on the list! There is a great chance possible buyers are looking for those features,

#2. The "Just the Facts" List. What are the facts about your condo that a buyer needs to know in order to consider purchasing it? This may be a very long list including such items as total square footage, number of bedrooms, number of washrooms, property taxes and more.

#3. The "Repairs and Improvements" List. Buyers are interested in the state of repair of your unit. and any improvements you may have made to it. On this list, include all repairs you have done during the past three years and if possible attach receipts. It's especially important to include anything that has been replaced such as an oven or washer and dryer.

Give me call or contact me through my website 

www.debbieasmith.com

if you are planning to sell in the coming months. I have the latest information and truthful facts regarding the market status. 

BE MINDFUL OF CHANGES IN HOME INSURANCE

There's no doubt an overall increase in the number of extreme weather events has caused the insurance industry to undergo significant changes. While no one can predict the frequency or location of major storms, there is an industry consensus that the intensity of storms is becoming more severe and that insurance companies need to protect themselves against the associated risks. 

The new reality also presents increased risks to homeowners, in terms of both vulnerability to natural threats as well as potentially compromised coverage. Paying close attention to your policy details if vital. You will likely discover changes to coverage conditions and rates overtime. For this reason, policy owners need to be mindful of their policy terms, and also take whatever steps they can to avoid extensive damage from extreme weather.

Here are 6 big home insurance misconceptions:

1. 30-DAY VACANCY RULE. For example, if you are a property owner who rented property remains vacant for more than a month, your insurance company can deny coverage such as fire or water damage.

2. JEWELRY COVERED ONLY UP TO A LIMIT. Home insurance only covers for theft or loss of precious jewelry up to a "sub-limit." Go to www.ibc.ca 

3. SEWER BACK-UPS, EARTHQUAKES ARE NOT COVERED BY BASIC POLICY.

4. MAINTENANCE EXCLUSIONS. Poor upkeep of property can be grounds for denying a claim.

5. UPGRADES TO YOUR HOME CAN AFFECT YOUR POLICY.  A few renovations or remodelling can have a huge impact on your policy. Make sure you disclose these to your insurance provider.

6. LIMITATIONS FOR RARE ITEMS. Limitations apply for such rare items like stamp collections or coin collections.

Home Buyer's Guide

An Important List to have when Buying a Home

Hi, my name is Debbie Smith. Welcome to my blog. I started this blog to share my love for real estate, my passion for finding the perfect dream home for my clients, and giving my full support to home sellers. I have 18 years of professional real estate experience and have always believed in honesty and integrity in both my personal and professional life. Know more all about me professionally through my website, www.debbieasmith.com.

I also started as a new home buyer after my husband and I got married years ago. 

I can tell you now that it is not a simple process back then. It is not a simple process even now with all the technology that gives us a huge amount of information with just a click or a tap.
What inspired me to be a professional realtor is my love of homes, different styles and materials used, the different floor plans especially if it was created by a newly married couple or a couple who have been wanting to build their dream home.

I definitely learned more than anyone's share of information
when it comes to buyingor selling a home. So don't be a stranger.

Send me a message if you need that honest and professional support in buying or selling a home..

Here is the link to the official CMHC buyer's list.

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/66687.pdf