Negotiating in Real Estate is a crucial skill that can make or break a deal. It’s essential to approach negotiations with professionalism and a strategic mindset. Read below to learn my top negotiation tips and strategies to ensure that your real estate negotiations go smoothly.

1. Know Your Stuff
   • Preparation is key. Before entering any negotiation, you must thoroughly understand why you are making certain demands or concessions.
   • As your real estate advisor, my role is to equip you with essential information, including comparable sales data and market insights, to empower you to make informed decisions during negotiations. This knowledge will give you the confidence to defend your position effectively.
2. Keep It Kind and Respectful
   • Real estate transactions can be emotionally charged, which can escalate conflicts during negotiations. It is crucial to maintain a respectful and courteous demeanour throughout the process.
   • Remember that there is another person on the other side of the table with their own set of emotions and concerns. By approaching negotiations with kindness and respect, you can help diffuse tension and keep the conversation productive.
3. Build a Rapport
   • In today’s competitive real estate market multiple offers are common. Building a rapport with the other party can set you apart from other buyers or sellers.
   • Simple gestures like a friendly conversation or a genuine interest in their perspective can go a long way in building trust and goodwill, making negotiations go smoother.
4. Clear and Frequent Communication
   • Effective communication is vital during negotiations. Keep the lines of communication open with the other party, your real estate agent, and any relevant stakeholders.
   • Clearly express your intentions, concerns, and expectations. Promptly respond to inquiries and requests for information to maintain a transparent and cooperative dynamic.
5. Try Not to Sweat the Small Stuff
   • Recognize that real estate transactions are emotional for all parties involved, and what may seem insignificant to you could be of great importance to the other party.
   • Avoid getting stuck on minor details that can hinder progress. Focus on the bigger picture and the ultimate goal of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement.

Are you a Reluctant Landlord?

What is that? You may be asking.

A reluctant landlord is someone who didn’t purchase their property with the intentions of renting it out.

A common scenario we are seeing is homeowners who purchased a property that met their needs when they bought it have since outgrown the property or their life circumstances changed meaning that it no longer met their needs.

Many homeowners who purchased condos around 2014 find themselves as reluctant landlords. This is because Calgary saw peak condo prices in 2014. Unfortunately, Calgary then saw a rapid decline in condo prices around 2015.

This meant that individuals who had purchased condos that worked great for them when they first moved in had most likely lost equity when it was time for them to be moving to a larger property or a different location. For some renting out their property made more sense than selling; turning them into reluctant landlords.

If this is a scenario that you have found yourself in you may be tired of re-renting your property annually, negotiating lease agreements, handling emergency repairs, tenant complaints or even complaints about your tenants.

I have good news!

Prices are finally starting to recover. We are seeing monthly price gains in the apartment condo sector. Meaning that now may be the perfect time to remove landlord from your job title.

Calgary has had persistent low inventory in apartment condominiums. This decrease in supply means an increase in the benchmark price making now a fantastic time to be selling condominiums.

With higher interest rates home buyers are looking for more affordable housing options, apartment condominiums and townhomes are a great place for buyers to enter the real estate market. Calgary also has a strong rental market which is attracting investors from all across Canada due to our relatively affordable prices.

Even if you are in the middle of a lease term feel free to reach out as I have strategies to help you capitalize on this current market.

Let’s be real, selling your home can be a daunting task. The thought of strangers coming in and out of your home; all while looking at your home with a critical eye can be nerve wracking. You want to ensure that you and your home are well prepared for the potential buyers. Here are a few tips that will help ease the stress of listing and help ensure you get top dollar.

• De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter: We cannot say it enough times. If you don’t do anything else, make sure you de-clutter. Clear off all surfaces of your home, including kitchen, bathroom and even dressers in bedrooms. As soon as a prospective buyer sees items stored on surfaces they may think the home has a lack of storage, which may or may not be true.
• Remove family photos: When prospective buyers enter your home, you want them to start picturing their lives in it. It’s easier for potential buyers to picture their lives in a house if they don’t feel like they’re standing in someone elses home. The easiest way to do this to remove family photos, you don’t need strangers looking at pictures of your 2013 trip to Cancun, that’s what Facebook is for!
• Patch up dents/scratches, tighten loose drawers, fix that dripping faucet: It’s time to bring out the tool belt and do a little handyman work. Simple things to make sure your home looks well cared for. Remember buyers can be very critical when looking at homes to buy, so a drippy faucet to them may make them think the home isn’t cared for. These are all easy enough fixes that can be done on a Saturday afternoon, so do them!
• Wipe down sinks and counters before leaving the house: Sometimes you will get short notice for viewings of your property, therefore it is important that when you are leaving home in the morning it is ready for someone to view at a moment’s notice. Make this as easy on yourself as possible, if your facewash typically sits on the counter and you have a spot in the medicine cabinet put it away once you are done using it. Keep some Lysol wipes in each bathroom under the sink. When you are done brushing your teeth wipe out the sink and countertop so they show in their best squeaky clean state.
• Make it as welcoming as possible: Make your home feel inviting and cozy, think show home! Use throw pillows and blankets on couches and beds. If you are aware of an evening showing, prior to leaving your house, turn on lamps to create a warm ambiance in your home.
• Empty rooms seem smaller: Many people assume that rooms feel larger when they are empty, in fact they feel smaller. It can be hard for many people to picture how furniture would fit into an empty space. If you have any empty rooms in your house, see if you can round up some spare furniture to fill the space. If you cannot borrow furniture or don’t have some extra stuff in a storage locker, staging may be worth the price!

All in all, it cannot be denied that it is a lot of work to sell your home. However, we are here to guide you through it and let you know exactly what to do to ensure that you get top dollar for your home. We will walkthrough your home and let you know exactly what to do in order to prepare your home for sale and to show it in all its glory!

If you are in need of some further tips check out our sellers page for some first steps prior to selling.