Calgary Real Estate Blog by Cliff Stevenson - REALTOR®

Homes in Scarboro

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 10:10:00 -0600

Showing homes in Scarboro. Such a great location in YYC.

Acreages in Sharp Hill

Cliff Stevenson — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:30:53 -0600

Out looking at Sharp Hill acreages just outside Calgary.

Condos in Tuscany

Cliff Stevenson — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 16:37:00 -0600

Showing condos for sale in Tuscany.

Suggestions Before Listing A Home

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:20:50 -0600

Sellers - I recommend cleaning your carpets before listing!

Ummmm....forget cleaning the carpets. Maybe address this issue in the basement first??

Bridlewood "OPEN HOUSE"

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:30:41 -0600

Saw this recently at a home for sale in Bridlewood. Largest open house sign I have ever seen.

Free Market Evaluations

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:54:09 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson talks about Free Market Evaluations

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson explains that market evaluations of your home are free, and that you don't need redeem a coupon to have one done. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Acreages in South of Okotoks

Cliff Stevenson — Sun, 23 May 2010 17:59:24 -0600

Showing acreages for sale South of Okotoks - the family pet here greeted me. Cool.

Houses in Sundance

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:58:53 -0600

Showing houses for sale in Sundance. This place is about 100 yards from the lake.

House in Thorncliffe

Cliff Stevenson — Sat, 15 May 2010 13:55:22 -0600

Heading to do a listing presentation for a soon to be house for sale in Thorncliffe - nice view.

Paying it Forward

Cliff Stevenson — Fri, 14 May 2010 09:38:36 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson encourages everyone to try Paying it Forward

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson shares how he tries to Pay it Forward in the drive thru of his local Tim Hortons as often as possible. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Condos in Discovery Ridge

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:54:03 -0600

Showing condos in Discovery Ridge. Such a great neighbourhood.

Thankful for the Feedback

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 13 May 2010 09:21:33 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson is thankful for the feedback

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson expresses his thanks for the feedback on his website and videos. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Condos in Mission

Cliff Stevenson — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:30:02 -0600

Waiting for the home stager at a condo soon to be for sale in Mission. Such a great location.

A 'Green' REALTOR® ?

Cliff Stevenson — Fri, 07 May 2010 09:03:38 -0600

A 'Green' REALTOR® ?

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson explains that there might be varying degrees of 'being Green', but that it is a growing focus and initiative in real estate. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Make Sure You Interview Your REALTOR®

Cliff Stevenson — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 10:32:00 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson highly recommends you interview your REALTOR®

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson recommends that you interview a REALTOR® that you are considering working with - even if it is a referral from someone you know and trust. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Negativity on My Blog

Cliff Stevenson — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:48:32 -0600

A few weeks ago I had someone post a comment on my blog that was a little less than flattering. This was posted by ‘Fellow REALTOR®’ (he didn’t use the proper trademark but due to recent events I’ll add it for him/her here) and his/her email address was ipfreely@remax.com.

“wow, you are one angry REALTOR, wonder if your clients feed on your negative energy and negative energy......do you have any positive comments about anything?.....seems to me like you need to relax a bit or chose another career path.....”

My first reaction was a desire to slam his/her post. I wanted to get into the spelling, the grammar, the lack of a trademark symbol.....I had this thing diced up quickly in my mind. How dare he/she make these comments after having read a blog post that discussed the use of air fresheners in seller’s homes. He/she can come to that conclusion about me having read something like that? This was a lousy post, and I was defensive. Instead, here is how I replied:

“Thanks for taking the time to read my blog and post a comment ipfreely. I really appreciate you reading this blog post.

I'll take the high road here with my response - if for no other reason than to help with my argument that I'm the furthest thing from an "angry REALTOR®".

Thanks for stopping by.”

I responded this way because I came to a realization fairly quickly.....the realization that if I am going to put myself ‘out there’, I have to be okay with a less than flattering response. If I’m not okay with this, then I should probably keep my strong opinions to myself. My blog is not an instructional blog....it is not an inspirational blog....it is a blog that offers advice, rants, raves, and opinions. I’m not saying I have to be okay with personal attacks on my blog, but critical comments and people taking issue with my viewpoints come with the territory.

This isn’t new. Anyone that has been maintaining a blog has come to this realization at one time or another, and thousands out there have known this for a very long time. This was just my time to realize this.

Somebody asked me why I didn’t just delete the post. That is not me. It would take something pretty extreme to be posted before I would pull the post. I’m throwing out my opinions and comments, and I’m okay with hearing a negative response to those opinions and comments.

So feel free to leave a comment....tell me I don’t know what I am talking about....let me know that you completely disagree with my viewpoint.

I can take it.

......and for the record? I LOVE my job, and I strive to be a positive and upbeat person both personally and professionally.

Disclaimer: REALTOR® is a trademark owned or controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Used under license.

Keep in Touch With Your Mortgage Broker Through The Process

Cliff Stevenson — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 10:37:40 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson recommends you know your mortgage broker's schedule

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson explains that you should keep your mortgage broker informed throughout your buying process. You should know if your mortgage broker is on holidays! If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

A Shout Out

Cliff Stevenson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:43:22 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson gives a shout out to Courtney Neal of Prairie Palette Gardens

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson suggests that if you are looking for garden design, yard maintenance, or landscape ideas in Calgary, AB, you should call Courtney Neal with Prairie Palette Gardens. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Why I Shoot Videos in The Car

Cliff Stevenson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 09:42:31 -0600

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson talks about why he shoots videos in the car

Calgary REALTOR® Cliff Stevenson shares why he chooses to shoot video in his car. It is a pretty short and simple answer. If you have any questions or opinions on this subject, please feel free to leave comments or email Cliff at cliff@cliffstevenson.com

Did you want the Pine or Apple scent?

Cliff Stevenson — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:08:33 -0600

I was showing homes to a client of mine this past weekend, and we walked into a home that was filled with air-fresheners.....everywhere. There must have been an air-freshener in every room in the house.

This showing reminded me of 2 things....

1) I detest the Febreze commercial currently on the air that interviews a REALTOR® who sprays Febreze on her client’s furniture prior to an open house. Really? You spray a product on your client’s furniture? I really hope this is just for the commercial, but I really had high hopes that this was an actress and not an actual REALTOR® – turns out she is a REALTOR®....and now I’m thinking there is a chance she might actually employ this tactic in her business. I can’t imagine doing this.

2) Air-fresheners in a home that is listed for sale is a bad idea. You may not agree with this, but hear me out. First of all, I have never smelled a “good” smelling air-freshener. They are usually a sickly, overdone, heavy smell.....doesn’t matter what the fragrance is. Secondly, they are usually very difficult to control how much smell is being dispersed. This usually leads to the smell being too prominent in the home.....and it leads me to ask one question in front of my clients – “What are they hiding??” The client is clearly trying to mask the smell of something (in the case this past weekend, the sellers were obviously smokers), and usually it is not getting the job done. When I smell air fresheners in a home currently listed for sale, I smell trouble!

It took me at least a couple of hours to get the air-freshener smell out of my nostrils after this showing, and my client was really turned-off of the property. It was not an inviting smell at all.

To add insult to injury, these sellers had set-up a timed release air-freshener at the front door.....which just happened to go off and coat me when we were leaving the property. Normally I am more casually dressed for showings, but on this particular day I was wearing a suit. Now I have a drycleaner appointment to add to a busy upcoming week. Good times.

My advice to anyone selling a property – DO NOT use air-fresheners.

Oh.....and to any current or potential clients.....I promise not to use Febreze on your couch.

Disclaimer: REALTOR® is a trademark owned or controlled by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). Used under license.