Being a Professional REALTOR® - August 2014

God said I need somebody that will get up before dawn with the dedication of the sun.  Risk time, energy and investment for no salary or guarantee work long hours on the street prepare and deliver presentations serve and attend to others emergencies then stay out past midnight at a meeting at the school board...so God made a REALTOR®.  God needed somebody mentally tough that could wake up unemployed everyday yet gentle enough to have compassion for others.  Someone that could build a bridge between people and technology.  Someone to arrive home nightly in the dark to accommodate others time tell them 'thank you for the opportunity' and mean it... so God made a REALTOR®.  God said I need somebody that can sell like Carnegie.  Make contacts and write contracts handle objections and deal with rejections and who can finish her forty hour week by Wednesday noon then weary from contingencies and people eccentrities and volatility's put another forty hours and sacrifice a weekend too...so God made a REALTOR®.  God needed somebody that does not measure their work in hours but by their satisfaction of their clients someone to handle emotions unemotionally.  To meet with triumph and disaster and treat those two impostors just the same.  God said I need somebody strong enough to knock doors and be ignored, direct mail and email, run ads, deliver notepads, yelp and blog and work like a dog, make calls and get up from falls and who will stop her efforts when called upon to mend the broken spirit of a colleague or a client...so God made a REALTOR®.  It had to be somebody who would honor ethics and integrity and not cut corners.  To keep their head when all about them are loosing theirs and trust themselves where others doubt.  Someone that could hold on when there is nothing left inside except the WILL which says 'hold on'.  Who would laugh and then sigh and then respond with smiling eyes when her son says he wants to spend his life doing what mom does...so God made a REALTOR®.   

Please stay tuned for more updates about Victoria and Oak Bay real estate. 
 

I was featured recently in the Oak Bay News. The article was about the importance of decluttering when downsizing a home after decades. If you are selling a home in Victoria I mentioned in the article below how an hour's consultation with a professional home stager can dramatically improve a home's appeal by decluttering and rearranging furniture to best show off the home's attributes. Sometimes Seller's feel overwelmed when preparing to put their home on the market. Please remember you are not alone we will take one step at a time to figure out the best way to prepare before listing the home. I have had estate sales and homes in Oak Bay where we just painted a little or moved a few pieces of furniture around and the photo's looked fantastic!

You can read the full article below or contact me if you have questions about selling a home in Victoria.

Downsizing a Home After Decades

Even an hour’s consultation with a professional home stager can dramatically improve a home’s appeal by decluttering and rearranging furniture to best show off the home’s attributes, says realtor Brenda Russell.

— image credit: Niels Nohr photo

• by Angela Cowan - Oak Bay News
• posted Aug 2, 2014 at 2:00 PM

Moving is a stressful experience at the best of times, and downsizing after living in the same house for decades can seem like an insurmountable task, but with a few phone calls and a little bit of effort, the process can be relatively pain-free.

“The first call should be to a realtor who specializes in (the neighbourhood) and specializes in downsizing,” says Cassie Kangas, a realtor with DFH Real Estate and a lifetime resident of Oak Bay. She’s been selling homes in the community for eight years, and says that the general rule of moving every seven years doesn’t apply here.

“It’s much longer,” she says. “I went to elementary school with kids whose parents are still living in Oak Bay. We’re looking at 35 and 40 years for some people.”

After such a long time, she says, it’s important that no surprises crop up when the house goes on the market.

“I definitely recommend doing a pre-inspection,” says Kangas. Dealing with old oil tanks in the yard or anything that would make the house unliveable – like a roof in need of replacement – is a must, but renovations aren’t always necessary.

“It’s usually not worth putting any money into the house, unless it’s something that needs to be done that would impede the sale of the home,” she says. “It’s more realistic to just price the home where it needs to be, reflecting any work it might need.”

Tearing out walls or replacing the kitchen might be a bit much, but a coat of paint and a professional’s eye can do wonders to interest buyers, says Brenda Russell, realtor with Royal LePage Coast Capital Realty. Russell has been licensed for 24 years, and has seen what a little bit of staging can do.

“Doing a colour consultation or even just changing a few pieces of furniture around…I always encourage even an hour’s consultation,” she says. “It doesn’t cost very much, and when you bring a professional in, then you’ve got a ‘wow’ experience.”

Russell adds that while professional help can be invaluable, to remember that every house is individual, and no house is going to be perfect.

“Every home is different. Your neighbour’s isn’t the same as yours,” she says. “Even a brand new house isn’t perfect, so there’s always going to be something to look at.”

Both Kangas and Russell agree that the important thing is to take the process one step at a time, and not be afraid to call in help if needed.

“It’s about gently getting started, and gently working through the process,” says Kangas.

I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, 305 225 Menzies St, Victoria, British Columbia

The VICINO, a 2007 concrete complex allowing BBQ, pets, rentals w/no age restrictions. Urban conveniences and a community lifestyle. No car needed in this James Bay location but offers a secure underground parking lot with storage locker and visitor parking in the rear. This bright CORNER suite has SW exposure with 2 large balconies, two bedrooms, two bathrooms bonus ensuite laundry! Luxury from the granite counter tops to the stainless steel appliances (new Bosch dishwasher) to the gas range and fireplace. Double sink with garborator. Floor to ceiling windows with Hunter Douglas Blinds. Brand new plush carpeting in bedrooms and wood floors throughout living areas. Park, Thrifty Foods, Banks, Coffee shops, more just across the street.

I just finished uploading this Townhouse for sale, 1 3211 Shelley St, Saanich East, Victoria, British Columbia

Bright, two storey corner townhome in the popular Cedar Hill area. A delightful nine unit complex located on a quiet no through street. Access off either Cedar Hill Rd. or Shelbourne onto to McRae. Three Bedrooms, two Bathrooms, Blinds, Appliances. Wood flooring throughout entry, living and diningroom with carpeting upstairs. Heated marble bathroom flooring. 2010 energy efficient windows. Fenced, private sunny garden area with a brick patio area. Outside and inside storage areas. Close to all major routes, amenities and UViC! No rentals. No age restrictions. Pets allowed with approval. BBQ allowed. One parking space with an additional space for $20/month. Roof only 10 yrs. old. Walk to Cedar Hill Golf Course and Hillside Mall.
   

Victoria Symphony Splash Tonight - August 2014

The event has started at the Inner Harbour.  Performace starts this evening at 7:30pm.  After 3pm chairs can be placed on the upper and lower causeways.  A Twenty Five year celebration for The Splash and is now the largest annual symphony event in North America!

Each year a young soloist is chosen to perform with the Victoria Symphony a tradition starting in 1994. Erik Lin is nine years old.  He started piano lessons at age five.  May 2013, he was invited to perform at the opening of the David Foster Foundation Theatre at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Along with many prior performances, awards and honours.  I'm sure Eriks music teacher, Ingrid L. Henderson will be smiling from ear to ear tonight along with his family and 40,000. other people... smile.

If you can please donate $5.00 for a button supporting the event.

Have Fun, Be Safe... please stay tuned for more updates.

Below is a photo of the Victoria Inner Harbour showing off the Empress Hotel and Causeway.