Jack & Matthew Wiebe Phone:  (403) 585-1171 Email:  wiebegroup@shaw.ca Website:  wiebegroup.net        Dear Clients, There’s no doubt about it. Uncertainty is everywhere – in food prices, economic outlooks, and of course, the real estate scene. If you’re like most people, uncertainty can make you feel uneasy about the future. But, there’s good news. Uncertainty becomes a lot less worrisome when you have the right professionals by your side. That’s especially true when you have professionals who work in your best interests and are just a call or email away. For example, you might have a doctor you can count on, or a trusted financial advisor who works hard for you. Well, when it comes to real estate, we want you to consider us that kind of professional. We are a team you can rely on — for information, insights, advice, and, when needed, hands-on real estate services. And, we will always keep your best interests first and foremost. So, when you have questions or concerns about what’s happening in the real estate scene, or need hands-on real estate services, feel free to give us a call. You can always count on us. We hope knowing that helps you manage uncertainty with… well… more certainty! We hope your first month of summer is going well and just so you know, anytime of the year there is always a Wiebe Group member there for you!     Matthew Wiebe, Broker Beacon Real Estate wiebegroup@shaw.ca 403-585-1171 Certified Condo Specialist and Seniors Real Estate Specialist®   Jack Wiebe, REALTOR® Beacon Real Estate jackwiebegroup@shaw.ca 403-680-6220   Seniors Real Estate Specialist®   wiebegroup.net   Buying the Faraway Home   Shopping for a new home in a distant town, city or neighbourhood can be a challenge. It’s especially difficult if getting there requires a very long drive or flight. So, if you’re thinking of moving out-of-town, here are some home shopping tips to consider: Schedule a longer than normal viewing appointment. Make sure the seller is aware that you’ll need more time to see and evaluate the home, so they don’t book another appointment too soon after yours. Spend extra time in the neighbourhood and surrounding area. Drive the streets. Go for a walk. If possible, chat with neighbours you run into. Get all the facts you can about the home and surrounding area. You’ll want to take a close look at crime statistics, property turnover, demographics, etc. Don’t rush your travel plans when going to see a listed home. Try to arrive for the viewing relaxed and energized (rather than stressed and fatigued), so you can see the property in an unhurried manner. Following these simple tips can bring you a lot closer to finding your faraway dream home. The Cure for Cabinet Clutter   When a buyer opens a cabinet door in your kitchen, it’s not an invasion of privacy. The buyer simply wants to get a sense of the available space. So, you can expect some buyers to explore cabinet space, especially in your kitchen and bathrooms. That’s why making sure cabinet space looks clean, organized and spacious is so important. Consider these tips: If you store a lot of items inside a cabinet, make liberal use of storage bins, baskets, and small plastic containers. Clutter doesn’t look like clutter when it’s organized! Go through each cabinet and get rid of as many items as possible. Pay particular attention to expired products. If you haven’t used an item for a while, question whether you need to keep it anymore. Consider storing some items somewhere else in your home. For example, pack up less used items and store them in a larger closet or other storage space. Thoroughly clean cabinets that are prone to odours, such as the ones under the kitchen sink or used for storing food. Buyers will only give a cabinet space a quick glance, yet they’ll form a lasting impression. Make sure it’s a good one! Monitoring Devices for Seniors   The 2020s may become known as the decade in which we re-evaluated our homes, and found ways to make them better serve our needs. Part of that assessment has already begun, especially amongst seniors who desire greater independence and want to continue to enjoy comfortable, productive lives in their own homes. Enabling their wishes in as safe an environment as possible often requires support from other family members and/or caregivers. It’s a big responsibility that may be eased somewhat by increased confidence in the latest electronic monitoring devices. Thanks to improved portability and tracking capabilities, the latest models of these devices are less restrictive and require less input from users. Some types monitor vital statistics such as heart rate or blood pressure. Others track movement from room to room, or doors unlocking, while some even monitor medication schedules or facilitate live one-on-one conversations. With so much technology available to help seniors live in ways they prefer, it’s important to consider all aspects of electronic supervision, and have frank conversations about the costs and benefits of the various options. Notable, Quotable, Quotes! “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.”  William Shakespeare “One of the greatest regrets in life is being what others would want you to be, rather than being yourself.”  Shannon L. Alder “One of the hardest things in life to learn is which bridge to cross and which bridge to burn.”  David Russell Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. IXACT Contact Solutions Inc. If you do not wish to receive future emails, please click unsubscribe. Trusted Email Powered by IXACT Contact®

Jack & Matthew Wiebe Phone:  (403) 585-1171 Email:  wiebegroup@shaw.ca Website:  wiebegroup.net        Dear Clients, No one likes being confused. Everyone likes clarity. That’s a principle that,  we expect, no one would dispute. When you have clarity, you can make the best decisions. When you’re confused, you’re stuck. That principle is especially evident when it comes to real estate. It can seem baffling to those who are not involved in it day to day. There are so many perplexing terms and issues: inventory, buyer’s and seller’s markets, comparables, etc. The list goes on and on. The good news is, you don’t need to be confused. One of the many things we do for our clients and the communities in which we are active is demystify the real estate market — especially your local real estate scene. These regular email updates are one of the ways we do that. Another way we help is simply by being available anytime you have questions. For example, if you’re curious about what your home would sell for in today’s market, feel free to give us a call. We can do a market analysis for you. We understand the value of having a professional you can reach out to so you can get the answers you need. That’s why we make ourselves available to you in this way. Just call us your real estate confusion-busters!   Matthew Wiebe, Broker Beacon Real Estate wiebegroup@shaw.ca 403-585-1171 Certified Condo Specialist and Seniors Real Estate Specialist®   Jack Wiebe, REALTOR® Beacon Real Estate jackwiebegroup@shaw.ca 403-680-6220 Seniors Real Estate Specialist® wiebegroup.net Setting Emotions Aside When Selling   Imagine shopping for a used car. You find one that you like and while negotiating the price, the seller gets sentimental. He shares happy memories of family picnics, his kids’ soccer games and other adventures with the vehicle. Then he demands a higher price. After all, he couldn’t possibly part with it for anything less. Are you likely to pay for his sentimental value? Probably not. Yet the same thing often happens when selling a home. It’s normal for homeowners to form an emotional attachment to their property. It can be very difficult to watch their home being treated as a product with a price tag, and watch buyers stand in the living room discussing furniture arrangements. Emotions can get in the way of a sale. It can even cause some sellers to stay firm on a high price, when a reasonable offer within market value is received. After all, as they say, ‘Home is where the heart is.’ So, when it’s time to sell your property, think about all the ways you will take your happy memories with you. Then, focus on selling for the best price within the current market conditions. Is it the Right Time to Sell?   If you’re entertaining the idea of selling your home, especially within the next year, one question you might be grappling with is, “Should I sell now, or wait until market conditions are more favourable?” The answer is simple. Your decision to sell should be guided by your own needs and desires and not by what you think the market will be like months from now. First of all, it’s nearly impossible to predict the future in the real estate market. Months from now, it could be a buyer’s market, a seller’s market, a quiet market, or even a frenzied market! Who knows? It’s like trying to predict what the weather will be like on this day next year. And, if you’re also buying a new home, then market conditions play a less important role. After all, if you sell in a seller’s market and get a high price for your home, you’ll also be paying a seller’s market price for your new home. In most situations, the “right” time to sell is when you’re ready to make a move. Savvy Negotiation Helps Win the Deal   Purchasing a home is not the same as buying a product off the shelf. You don’t simply pay the price on the tag and know it’s yours. You can’t just see a home for sale and say, “I’ll take it!”, especially if the market is competitive. You need to make an enticing offer. That offer, of course, would include the price you propose to pay. That price may or may not be the “price tag” or the asking price. In order for your offer to be successful, it needs other ingredients too. For example, winning offers often include evidence that appropriate financing has been arranged. This gives the seller confidence that you can afford the home and that the deal won’t fall through due to an issue with the mortgage. Also, you may need to put conditions on your offer, such as making it conditional on selling your current home. You’ll need to be careful here. Adding a condition or two may be necessary to protect your best interests, but may also dissuade the seller from accepting your offer. Negotiation is perhaps the most important part of the buying process. Even if there are no competing offers, there will likely be back-and-forth discussions about price, conditions, closing dates, and more. Savvy negotiating is critical, not only to ensure you get the home, but also that you get it for the lowest price and best terms possible. Real estate negotiation is not for the timid. It requires in-depth knowledge of the local market, hard-won negotiating skills, and experience. If you’re selling your home, buying a new home, or both, keep in mind the important role that negotiation has in getting you what you want. Notable, Quotable, Quotes! “There is nothing like a dream to create the future.”  Victor Hugo “Your big opportunity may be right where you are now.”  Napoleon Hill “You are braver than you think, more talented than you know, and capable of more than you imagine.”  Roy T. Bennett