There’s a good chance you know at least one real estate agent already. Probably someone in your neighborhood, in your church or right there in your own family. Do you want to hire this person to sell your house? Probably not. When you think about it, you’ll be having some serious conversations with this person. You’ll need someone that you can disagree with and not feel bad about it. And don’t forget, you’ll be sharing some pretty intimate financial information with this person. Are you comfortable doing that with Aunt Betty?

When it comes time to sell your home and search for a new home for sale, don’t you wish we could overlook all of the hype and puffery to see who the best agent really is? It’s difficult to compare agents because you simply don’t have the right kind of information to do so. But, all is not lost. There are ways to siphon through an agent’s track record and make a prediction regarding her potential for selling your home. And, regardless of whether you’re a buyer or seller, you need to know stuff. So here are eight ways that you can check this agent out before you sign on the dotted line.

1. Chat with their other clients

Start by getting the names of the agent’s most recent clients, and get their contact information. Also, find out if any of those clients were really happy with their experience, or if any were really unhappy. And also obtain the listing price and the sales price for each client. Also, find out if any of these homes have similar characteristics to yours, like location, price or other amenities. What you’re really looking for is an agent who is an expert in the type of property you’re selling. And when you talk to the sellers, ask how long the home was for sale before it sold.

Irina Mierzewski -Russian Realtor in Edmonton Alberta Canada

2. Verify the licensing

Each province has a board that licenses and disciplines agents in that area. Call the Edmonton real estate board to see if this agent is duly licensed and see if she has been disciplined in any way, or had any complaints filed against her. You can search on www.RECA.ca or email to have your questions answered here

3. Be sure your agent has the proper credentials

We’re living in the age of specialization. Real estate is no different. And even if your agent is a generalist, there are many additional training opportunities that enable the agent to do a better job. So, if you see a bunch of letters after their name and you have no idea what they represent, it means they have gotten extra training in a specialty. Here’s what a few of these stand for:

• CRS (Certified Residential Specialist): Simply means additional classes to help them sell your home.

• ABR (Accredited Buyer’s Representative): This means they have extra education in helping them represent you in a real estate transaction.

• SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist): Specialized expertise in working with folks over 50.

• GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute): Agents who have extra knowledge on technical issues, in addition to real estate essentials. Does your agent use the word Realtor? It means she is a member of the National Association of Realtors. These agents pledge to adhere to a special code of ethics. More and more agents today are choosing to become members because buyers demand it.

4. How will you communicate with me?

A break in the communication chain can make the difference between an offer and a sale. Be sure you have an agent that will work with you in the mode of communication that works for you. That might mean fax, text, email or phone.  Is this the person you want? If not, think twice.

5. How long has this agent been in the real estate business

This is one of the things you can find out when you call the Edmonton Real Estate board. Or simply ask directly. Look for agents who have been in the business at least five years. Otherwise, they’re building their learning curve around you. That’s not a good thing. What you really want is an agent who has been actively involved with properties in your category and your price range. Ask if they can actually show that they have done this and just where their name stacks up in your market.

6. Check out their active listings

Go online and check out her listings. You can go directly to the agent’s website, or you can check with Realtor.com, where all of the listings in MLS are listed in a searchable database. Most people start searching for their home with the Internet, so you want to be sure this agent has a good grasp on how to use this tool. Just be sure they look good online. While you’re there, double check to be sure the listings for new homes for sale are similar to your home-same area, same price range. Be sure they have plenty of listings to be a factor online, but not too many that you just get lost in the mix. check the photos of their listings- are they considered to be “bad mls photos”? would you like to have your house photos added to badmlsphotos.com inventory or would you rather have your house sold?

7. Ask about comps

If the agent is really good, she’ll know what’s going on in your area and will know details about other properties close by. Ask her about a specific recently sold house in the neighborhood and see if she can tell you a little about it. You just want to be sure your agent knows your market.

So, be sure you pick the agent that is best qualified to do the job you need done, and someone you can work with. The person you choose needs to know your market, conduct business in the most ethical manner, have all the right answers to your questions and work as a partner with you at all times. To insure that all of these needs are met, call Irina Mierzewski at Realty executives polaris  780-991-9764. With Irina’s extensive experience in the real estate industry, you can rest assured that her qualifications are unsurpassed and her sole interest is getting your home sold.

8.5×11 YEG June 2015

8. Ask about marketing

Is the agent active on social media and internet?Does he has active youtube channel or simply FaceBook professional page? what is being posted there? what kind of marketing can he offer you? that is all very important steps towards your successful sale!

Good luck and with any questions please do not hesitate to contact Irina Mierzewski- your Russian speaking realtor in Edmonton AB Canada

Home staging plays a very important part in successfully selling your house. The impression that the buyer makes of your home is what will determine him to make you an offer for it or keep looking. Here is what a properly staged house should convey to the buyer:

Cleanliness

Your house needs to look spotless. Because we might at times miss something important, it’s recommended to hire a professional cleaning firm at least once before starting to show your house to prospective buyers. While you are at it, it’s a good idea to depersonalize the space – remove family photos and personal items off the shelves, to allow the buyers to feel more comfortable inside your house and not like they are intruding in someone else’s home.

Space

The first thing you need to do in order to create space is to de-clutter. It’s a good idea to just take a look around and remove anything non-essential. Don’t forget kitchen appliances – it’s best to just remove or hide them, same with knives and anything else you might have lying around. Instead, add a vase of flowers or a bowl of fruits.

Your rooms need to look warm and inviting. Furniture can play a significant part here. It’s a good idea to arrange it in such a manner as to maximize the impression of space and at the same time group pieces together to maximize the potential for conversation.

Brightness

Buyers love a house which has enough light. Make sure your windows let as much light through as possible, and change your lamps with stronger ones. You should aim for something in the range of 100w for 50-60 square feet.

Color

It’s a good idea to use neutral colors for areas like the living room and kitchen, because beside being the safer option (different people have different tastes), it also makes a room look more spacious and brighter. For bedrooms however, don’t be afraid to use other colors. Avoid strong, vivid colors like pink – instead go for dark, relaxing colors, which will make the room look more intimate and cozier.

You can further add color to your house by using décor, such as flowers or artwork. Experiment with the way you arrange them, to obtain the best possible effect and draw attention to specific areas of the room.

Every buyer looks for the perfect house. And while it’s true that different people can have very different ideas of what the perfect house should look like, by applying the tips above you will greatly increase the chance that they visualize your house as their future home.

OTTAWA, February 28, 2014 — Following the annual review of its insurance products and capital requirements, CMHC will increase its mortgage loan insurance premiums for homeowner and 1 – 4 unit rental properties effective May 1, 2014.

The increase applies to mortgage loan insurance premiums for owner occupied, self-employed and 1-to-4 unit rental properties, including low-ratio refinance premiums. This does not apply to mortgages currently insured by CMHC.

For the average Canadian homebuyer requiring CMHC insured financing, the higher premium will result in an increase of approximately $5 to their monthly mortgage payment. This is not expected to have a material impact on the housing market.

Effective May 1^st, CMHC Purchase (owner occupied 1 – 4 unit) mortgage insurance premiums will increase by approximately 15%, on average, for all loan-to-value ranges.

CMHC reviews its premiums on an annual basis and, going forward, plans to announce decisions on premiums in the first quarter of each year.

Based on a 5 year term @ 3.49% and a 25 year amortization

Based on a 5 year term @ 3.49% and a 25 year amortization

In the same way that many people decide not to fix their own cars or do their own dentistry, it’s wise to enlist a professional when selling your most valuable asset. Real estate transactions are complex, time consuming and involve a lot of legal documentation. Finding your new home and changing your life is hard enough! Irina Mierzewski is expertly trained and highly motivated to get you the most for your home.