Kelley Skar (www.nwcalgaryliving.com) : NW Calgary Blog

Why did I do it? Why did I Move to CIR Realty?

Kelley Skar — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 21:19:09 -0600

Nothing has changed...except that your service is going to get better. Want to know more? CLICK HERE

Why I Moved to CIR Realty

Why? Because the blue in their logo really goes nicely with this website...wouldn't you agree?

Ok maybe not that reason, I'm really not that shallow.

I do have A...LOT of reasons as to why I moved but to hopefully keep this short I am going to focus on three main topics. All of them are a big part of my value proposition that I provide to my clients.

Culture

I just started reading a great book that my friend Lindsey Smith gave me, it is called the Go-Giver, have you read it?

Apparently it has been around a long time, however I just got turned on to it. I am about 1/2 way through right now and I have realized something, I am living this book already. It is not a book where I am going to have this great epiphany and realize that I have to give more of myself to generate more business. That really is the premise of the book, you help until it hurts, it's a big wheel and what goes around always comes around.

I have been practicing this ever since I started in real estate. This, this is what CIR is all about. They give. The Agents give. They all help each other achieve goals that they may not have been able to achieve elsewhere without the culture of collaboration and sharing. This really is my favorite piece of the puzzle and that is why I started off this post with Culture.

Support

What is support? Well for a REALTOR® it means that you have a great conveyancing department, fantastic receptionists', a team that is helping to build something larger than just another real estate brokerage and an unbelievable amount of training material along with coaches and mentors that are all worked into our fees.

I started with a company 5 years ago that is a 'national brand' and they could not come close to the amount of training material and business applications that CIR has.

Technology

Well, I hope that if you are reading this you likely know me by now. I consider myself to be all about tech and you could call me tech savvy when it comes to my business.

CIR has the most robust virtual office I have ever seen, everything from transaction management to iPad support to showing you how to set up your email to ordering signs, feature sheets and postcards all from the back end of their site.

This is simply everything that you would need to run a virtual real estate business as I do, the whole virtual office is accesible from my iPad...which I need.

Want to just hear it instead of reading it?

Ok well if you made it this far down the page it may have defeated the point of posting this video...We have received a ton of great feedback from this video and it is one that I am very proud of, I hope that you will take a couple of minutes and watch it.

Leave a comment below and remember...it only gets better from here!

Will I get a Better Deal on a House Working With the Listing REALTOR?

Kelley Skar — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:09:16 -0600

Want to find out why it is better to work with a Buyer's Agent? Click Here!

Is it Better for a Buyer to Work With a Buyer's Agent or the Listing Agent?

Loaded Question? I don't think so.

This one is pretty easy to answer actually. I heard this analogy the other day and I think it hits the nail on the head when talking about the situation above. "If you were getting divorced, would you want to have your Wife's(Or Husband's) Lawyer representing your best interests?"

'Nuff Said? There is a common misconception when buying real estate and that is, you will get a better deal working with the REALTOR® that has listed the property than hiring a Buyer's Agent to represent you.

Why? Simply because that buyer thinks the commission will be discounted and there will be more play in the price of the home.

Wrong. Why? The commission agreement is between the seller, the REALTOR® and the brokerage, it has nothing to do with the buyer. Second...The Listing Agent is WORKING FOR THE SELLER! Our job is to get the highest price possible for our clients. Still don't get it? Refer to the statement above about the divorce or simply watch the video below.

Do yourself a favour when shopping for a home....Higher a buyer's agent that has YOUR best interest at heart. 'Nuff Said.

250 Panamount Close NW, Calgary, AB

Kelley Skar — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:54:36 -0600

I just sold this House at 250 Panamount Close NW, Calgary, AB Panorama Hills.

View this recently sold House or see all my home sales

16 Rocky Ridge Close NW, Calgary, AB

Kelley Skar — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:54:31 -0600

I just sold this House at 16 Rocky Ridge Close NW, Calgary, AB Rocky Ridge.

View this recently sold House or see all my home sales

262 Panamount Heights NW, Calgary, AB

Kelley Skar — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:54:25 -0600

I just sold this House at 262 Panamount Heights NW, Calgary, AB Panorama Hills.

View this recently sold House or see all my home sales

Northern Hills Spring and Summer Activities

Kelley Skar — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:36:03 -0700

Want more information about Living in Northwest Calgary? Click the Blue!

Northern Hills Activites - Spring and Summer 2012

Are you curious about what is happening here in Northwest Calgary this spring and summer? In particular, the Northern Hills?

Well look no further as I am here to help you out. Look to nwcalgaryliving.com as a community resource, it is more than just a real estate site, I want you to find value in these pages.

If you do...I hope that you will let me know via email or by simply giving me a call at 403-827-7527.

Northern Hills Activities

Summer Day Camps for the Kids:

Week Date Ages

Week 1 - July 3-6 3-5
Week 2 - July 9-13 6-9
Week 3 - July 16-20 3-5
Week 4 - July 23-27 6-9
Week 5 - July 30-Aug 3 3-5
Week 6 - Aug 7-10 6-9
Week 7 - Aug 13-17 3-5
Week 8 - Aug 20-24 6-9
Week 9 - Aug 27-31 3-5

Mother's Day Celebration - Sunday May 13th...Starts at 11:00am

Canada Day Celebration - July 1...FREE BBQ from Noon to 1:30...Live Entertainment as well!

Father's Day Celebration - Sunday June 17th - FREE BBQ...Lunch at 11:30

Community Cleanup - Saturday June 9th from 9:00am - 2:00pm
Unwanted Items to be dropped off at the eCommunity Centre between 9-2.

Play School in Panorama Hills

I know this is important for a lot of parents in our community...here is the low down:

2 Days per week starting Tuesday September 18, 2012 - Tuesdays and Thursdays $70/mo
3 Days per week starting Monday September 17, 2012 - Mon, Wed, Fri $100/mo.

Registration is Monday March 19th at 10am at the Panorama Hills eCommunity Centre...SPACE IS LIMITED!!

This is just a start...I hope you find what you are looking for!!

House for Sale in Calgary's Northwest-Panorama Hills

Kelley Skar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:26:20 -0700

More information on Panorama Hills or on this home? Click Here.

Panorama Hills House for Sale-Cul-de-Sac Location

It is not too often that a house of this size and this well cared for, maintained and updated comes on the market.

Ya I know, we REALTORS® say the same thing about every home we list for sale, right? It is the "Biggest" the "Best" has a great "Location"...I am sure you have heard it all before.

So how do I describe this home to you other than telling you how fantastic it is? I will give it a shot...This home was made for a family. Period. End of story.

Why? Layout. Location(oops there I said it!) ok but it backs onto a school greenspace. No Brass to Speak of! Man Room. 4 Levels. 4 Bedrooms. Immaculate Yard(my client is meticulous...seriously!).

Ok...'nuff said? I hope so. I want to give you just a glimpse inside of this home so watch the video below.

If you want to view this home privately with me or with your REALTOR® go ahead and CLICK HERE

Want to have a Look? Call Kelley Skar at 403-827-7527

16 Rocky Ridge Close NW, Calgary, AB

Kelley Skar — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:21:11 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 16 Rocky Ridge Close NW, Calgary, AB

There is no question in my mind...This.Is....the BEST Value for your dollar in Rocky Ridge. Gleaming hardwood floors greet you at the front entry and continue into the front living room and dining room and all the way down the hallway to the family room. There are many spots to relax in this fantastic family home...the Master Retreat is large with a good sized walk in closet and Master Ensuite. Two more bedrooms upstairs which are a treat to see...nicely painted already for your little ones. The white kitchen and oak trim bring out the clean lines in this home which reveal a wonderful open concept design perfect for entertaining. This home is a North to South exposure meaning you are going to have a TON of sunshine in the backyard all year round. The basement is partially finished, in fact most of the hard part has been done for you already. If you are interested in more info check out the multimedia links above or call today for a private tour.

The Best Carpet Cleaners In Calgary

Kelley Skar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:00:25 -0700

A Magic Wand, the Best Carpet Cleaners in Calgary

I am sure that this scenario has happened to everyone....having friends over to your new place, or to your newly developed basement and everyone is having a good time and maybe a few drinks along the way.

All of a sudden you hear a shriek and out of the corner of your eye you see that full glass of red wine you just poured for someone...oh let's just say it is your sister in law, go flying through mid air and land on your beautiful new carpet!

Ok...so maybe this hasn't happened to everyone but it did happen to us just this past weekend. Ya know, I wasn't even that mad. Alright who am I kidding, I was upset, but what was I going to do? Strangle my poor sister in law when she felt bad enough about being the perpatrator that spilled the wine on my new carpet?? No of course not!

So Who Did We Call?

We called the only cleaning company that we have ever called... A Magic Wand

These guys are so great they were able to get the red wine out NO PROBLEM! Want to know what I love the best? It's isn't their pricing...it's the fact that they are 100% Chemical Free.

I've used them and will continue to use them! If you need a great carpet cleaning service call them and tell them I told you to call!! Here is their number: 403-274-3029

How to Find a Good School in Calgary

Kelley Skar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:46:53 -0700

Need more information on how to find a great neighbourhood in Northwest Calgary? Click Here!

How to Find a Great Calgary School

My wife is a Teacher. She got online one day to the Calgary Board of Education website and started navigating around.

She came to an area where it shows the parent how schools in the Calgary board are performing against the provincial average.

It also shows what the city average is and measures against that as well.

I believe that this site is such a phenomenal tool and a great guide for people looking for homes in all areas of Calgary, that I decided to do a screenshot video blog to help navigate through the site and how to read the scores.

This really is a wonderful resource that will really help to guide a growing families decision on the area they want to live in by how the schools in the area are faring against all of the other schools in the province.

How to Find the Right School in Calgary

If you have any other questions about buying or selling a home in Calgary you can contact me here.

Panorama Hills Open House!

Kelley Skar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:50:45 -0700

We are proud to announce that this Jan 22nd, 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 250 Panamount Close NW in the Panorama Hills neighborhood, Calgary. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent House for sale in beautiful Panorama Hills.

Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this Panorama Hills House for sale.

As always please do not hesitate to give me a call at 403-457-3233 if I can answer any questions before the open house, or if you would like to book a private showing.

Kelley Skar
Partners Realty Group

250 Panamount Close NW, Calgary, AB

Kelley Skar — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:33:49 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 250 Panamount Close NW, Calgary, AB

House for Sale in Panorama Hills in Northwest Calgary

Kelley Skar — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:05:20 -0700

Would you like to view this home, all you have to do is click this link!

262 Panamount Heights Northwest in Panorama Hills

This truly is an amazing home for such a great price, listed at just $424,900, we don't believe this home in Panorama Hills is going to last very long.

There is such a list to go through on this Northwest Calgary home, I will try my best to do it justice. If you do not feel like reading the entire list then maybe try watching the short video below and I will put the list of features below that...

I hope you enjoy the video and if you have any questions or would like to book a viewing feel free to call me direct at 403-827-7527.

List of Features for this Panorama Hills Home

Inside this home at 262 Panamount Heights you will find:

Berber Carpet(barely used)
Lino in the kitchen and front entry
knockdown ceilings
Bonus Room
4 Bedrooms
Finished walkout basement
Stone finished corner fireplace
East to West facing backyard
Quiet Street
Less than a block to St.Jerome Catholic and Panorama Hills Elementary
walking distance to pahtways and parks
family oriented street and neighbourhood
3.5 bathrooms
Speakers on the mainfloor mounted in the ceiling
Open Floor Plan

If you have any questions or would like to book a viewing on this home please call 403.827.7527.

262 Panamount Heights NW, Calgary, AB

Kelley Skar — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:02:33 -0700

I just finished uploading this House for sale, 262 Panamount Heights NW, Calgary, AB

What Paperwork do I Need When I Sell my Condo?

Kelley Skar — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 12:39:38 -0700

Want to Sell or Buy a Condo? Call me at 403-827-7527

Condo Documents That you Need Before you Sell

I have talked a lot in the past about why you need condo documents before you sell your condo in Calgary!

I honestly think where I have dropped the ball for you guys is telling you exactly what documents that you will need! In the short video below I mention some of the most important ones that you should be getting from the condo board on a regular basis.

Quick Video: Bonus...Find Your Condo Docs Online...or Not

The fact is, you should be getting all of your condo documents from your board on a regular basis and if you aren't you should ask why that is.

Here is a breakdown of what you will need BEFORE you should put your Calgary condo on the market:

Operating Budget and Fee Schedule
Notice of Special Assessment (if there is any)
Current Financial Statements or a Balance Sheet
Year End Audited Financial Statements(these are different than the current financials)
Reserve Fund Study and Cash Flow Plan
Bylaws
Management Agreement
AGM Minutes
12 Months worth of Board Meeting Minutes
Engineer Report(Post tension cable if there are any)
Insurance Certificate(for the building NOT for your Unit)
Condominium Plan
Statement of Claim
Lease for Parking Agreement

I certainly hope this list and the video above help you guys out. If you have any further questions or want to contact me just fill in the form below:
&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mycalgaryrealestateconnection.wufoo.com/forms/q7x3q7/" mce_href="http://mycalgaryrealestateconnection.wufoo.com/forms/q7x3q7/"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Fill out my Wufoo form!&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

Kelley Skar — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 21:15:52 -0700

Want more tips on how to get your home ready to sell in any market? Call me 403.827.7527

Why Your Home HAS to be Ready to Sell

Ok...this should be simple but some times it just isn't. What does it mean to "Get my house ready to sell?"

Put yourself in the buyer's shoes first and foremost...if you were out looking at homes and you walked into a place with dirty dishes, kids toys, marked up walls, filthy bathrooms...would you be in the mood to make an offer? I would hope not!

My friend Elysse Bulloch with Simply Stylish Staging has some great advice when getting a home ready for sale...

"63% of all buyers are willing to pay more for a home that is move in ready..."

To read the rest of Elysse's post Click Here

Do I Need to Stage?

My answer...simply put...is Yes. If you don't have an eye for flair then hire it out.

Most people do not have the technical ability or the time to rip a bathroom apart and re do the plumbing. I certainly know I don't, I know and understand my limitations.

When I need to hire an expert to save me time and money, I do it. The same should be and NEEDS to be said for the staging industry. A great stager like Elysse will help you get your home sold for more money in less time, this is why she is a part of my team.

Here are a few other things to get you started:

Clean Your House from TOP to BOTTOM if you don't have time hire a cleaning service
Declutter, Declutter, Declutter...You are moving right? Pack...
If you're REALTOR® does not use professional photography....then you hire someone! Do it right...first impressions online make all the difference.
When you are getting those pictures...all the counters are cleaned off, kids toys are put away or moved out of the shot and for the dear Lords sake...don't be in the picture with your cute and cuddly kitty Skittles...ok?!

Those are my top 4...if you want more of a list from me then I would suggest you give me a call at 403.827.7527 or fill in the form below.

&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://mycalgaryrealestateconnection.wufoo.com/forms/q7x3q7/" mce_href="http://mycalgaryrealestateconnection.wufoo.com/forms/q7x3q7/"&amp;amp;gt;Fill out my Wufoo form!&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;

How I use my iPad to Enhance my Buyer Clients Experience

Kelley Skar — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 12:54:23 -0700

Are you an Agent and wondering how to use your iPad in your business? CLICK HERE

How Buyer Clients Benefit from my iPad

This is a telling graphic, I asked this question: "How many of you own an iPad?" and within an hour I had 3 likes and over 37 comments.

The reason I asked the question is because I wanted to know how many people would understand the benefit from the use of an iPad while searching for a home. If you have a tablet of any kind you will understand how fantastic a tool they really are.

Here is a quick break down on three ways that I use my iPad with my clients who are looking at buying a home.

Search, Document, Save

How many times have you looked for a home and your Agent has given a stapled stack of listing sheets? What kind of shape was that stapled stack in at the end of your tour? Crumpled, Ripped, Missing Pages...Crap. The sheets usually wind up in the husband or boyfriends back pocket or on the front seat of my car when we were done...PiP or Pre iPad

Search

I am going to have the home search already completed before I meet my clients. At this point they will have sent me a list of MLS#s and I will save the PDF listing sheet into one of my apps prior to our tour.

Document

While out on our tour I am going to set my iPad up on the kitchen counter and listen attentively to my clients comments while we go through the home. Before we leave I take a couple of minutes to document what we have discussed and what my clients thought of the house.

Save

After the tour is complete I am going to save the listing sheets in the order we saw the homes with the notes taken right on the sheets, into their Dropbox file and their Evernote Notebook. That way we have access to them anytime we want or need.

The listing sheets then get emailed to the client so that they can look at them later, print them off later, look them up on Realtor.ca for later.

Real Time Search

One of the most important uses of my iPad or iPhone is real time search using an app available to us here in Canada called Prospects. Of course there is an app for Realtor.ca however I find myself gravitating towards prospects because of its ease of use.

Let's just say we are out shopping when you see a home across the street that looks interesting,"What are the details on that home?" You ask.

Instead of me saying,"Uhhh, I dunno!" or "Here let me call the Agent and leave a message and hope that they get back to me before we leave the street"...I pull out my trusty iPad(or iPhone), walk to the front of the home and push Instaview. This gives me all the stats on the home as well as all of the pictures the listing Agent has posted to the website. As well as a way to contact them directly to see if we can get into the home immediatley to have a look.

Time to 'Write' an Offer

Time to wrtie up that offer! How do I do it with just an iPad? I have every form I will ever need downloaded to my Dropbox account. I can easily access and fill the documents out through another app called PDF Expert.

Once we have gone through everything, you have signed and initialled, I can send it to the listing agent through email or through iFax right from my iPad. Paperless. Efficient. Priceless.

Just to Recap...Document. RealTime Search. Ease of Offer. These three combined in my opinion enhance my clients experience through technology.

If you Would Like to Take me and my iPad for a test drive Fill out the Form Below:

Condos for Sale in Tuxedo in Northeast Calgary

Kelley Skar — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 09:29:35 -0700

More info on Tuxedo North? Give me a call 403-827-7527

Condos for Sale in Tuxedo in Northeast Calgary

Tuxedo is an inner city neighbouhood in Calgary's Northeast it is bounded between 32 Avenue NE to the North, Edmonton Trail to the East, 16th Avenue to the South and 2nd Street NW to the South.

This development is located on 20th Avenue between Centre Avenue and Edmonton Trail. There is no sales centre on site so if you would like more information on this development be sure to give me a call at 403-827-7527.

Here are some of the pertinent details of this condo development by Sandlewood Developments:

Prices starting at $259,000
29 Apartments available(50% sold as of December 4, 2011)
26 Units are 2 Bedroom/ 2 Bathroom units
3 Units are 3 Bedroom/ 2 Bathroom
Measure from 813-1100 Square Feet
Standard Finishings include: Hardwood/Ceramic Tile Floors, Granite Countertops, Top Line Appliances, Underground Parking, Tile backsplash

How to buy a Condo in Foreclosure

Kelley Skar — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:33:56 -0700

Want more info on buying Foreclosures? Call me at 403-827-7527 or Fill out the Form here

Buying a Condo in Foreclosure and what to Look out For

I have had a lot of questions lately on how to buy condos that have gone into foreclosure and the things that you need to look out for in Calgary's market. So...being that it is in my DNA to help out I thought I would complile of list of things you need to look out for.

Buying a Foreclosure is not for the Faint at Heart

There are many things to watch for when purchasing a Condo foreclosure in Calgary's market. Buying a home like this is not the same as purchasing from a private seller. There are a few things that remain the same such as:

Pre Approval through your lender or Mortgage Broker
Condo document inspection and Condition
Financing Condition

These are pretty much the standard when purchasing any condo. Where it becomes difficult and some times unnearving for the purchaser is knowing the fact that they may have to purchase all of the condo documents themself. Here is a rundown of some of the other things you need to look out for when buying a Calgary Condo Foreclosure:

Condo Documents can cost upwards of $600-$1000 the seller will not provide the docs for you
The condo corporation may be non-existent

These are just a couple of the things you should be aware of when deciding if buying into a condo that is in foreclosure.

If you want the other 5 Steps on buying Condos in Calgary Fill in the Form Below

Is Greed Good When Selling Your House?

Kelley Skar — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:12:18 -0700

Want to Sell your Northwest Home? Call me at 403-827-7527

Greed is Good. But...is it?

You know Gordon Gecko right? Do you remember the infamous speech from his movie Wall Street where he proclaims that "Greed is Good!"

So, is Greed Good? Is it healthy for a capitalist society? Heavy, Heavy questions here...I am not going to get into a philosophical debate as to whether Greed is good.

What I am going to do however is tell you a story about Greed. A story of greed and how it pertains to buying a house here in Calgary, or, anywhere for that matter.

Fun with Dick and Jane

I have had some great fun getting to know Dick and Jane. After a couple of months of searching for the perfect home it was becoming very clear to everyone exactly what they were looking for in a house.

If you have ever shopped for a home then you know how your tastes, wants and needs will change during the process. Once you figure out what you are looking for(it may take some time), it is a great feeling!

Then, once you find that place, you get a tingly feeling in your stomach, goosebumps, hair raise on the back of your neck. All the signs of excitement of finding THE place. A sense of being HOME. This...is where the real fun begins!

Offer Time!

Dick and Jane go through the motions and decide to put the offer together and had me present it to the other side.

Did they have those same feelings all over again? Maybe. I think a little different this time. Anxious, butterflies, nervousness, impatience. Finally we get an answer! We.Are.Competing.

"What? But this is OUR house! Right?! Now I have to compete with another buyer on MY house?"

Ok now what? My advice...go in as strong as you can, give them what they want, full asking price(The comps supported this), give them their possession date. Put in a couple of conditions, nothing out of the ordinary. Submit to the other side with explanation of who my clients are and the strength of their buying ability.

Then the Jeopardy theme song starts to play....we wait. Then...finally we get the call and good news, they are now only dealing with us and not the other buyers! GREAT NEWS...Right? Wrong.

Greed is Good. I guess that is what the seller's were thinking when they came back to us and said the would accept all of our conditions and terms of the offer EXCEPT the price. Huh? But we offered you EXACTLY what you were asking! We gave you what you wanted, and now you want more money?! Greed. Plain and Simple.

Why is this Greedy?

We are currently in a Buyer's Market here in Calgary. This home is in a neighbourhood where the average sale is netting the homeowner 97% of the asking price. If you are fortuante enough to get not only one offer but two in this market consider yourself very lucky.

To be greedy in this situation may have benefited the seller, but only time will tell.

Why did they decide to deal with us in the first place? Because our offer was the stronger of the two, this, straight from the other Agents mouth. They wanted a strong offer but wanted the money of the other offer...having their cake and eating it too.

So, what do you think? Is this greedy? Would you have been happy in this current market if someone were to give you a full price offer?

Remember, it is not 2006 here in Calgary, homes are not selling in 6 hours anymore, more like 60 days! I am not advocating for you to settle here, but what I am saying is...you should be happy with what you get, especially if it is FULL asking price!