Well this is Issue 1 of my Blog.
Where is the market going?
There is still money in this city, as indicated by the last MLS stats that you received. Higher end houses contributed to the increase of the median price sale for the month of October, 2011.
Insurance Claims
I find it interesting when I am driving around the city and seeing all of the insurance work going on. What is so disappointing is that the homeowners just put on the same old stuff. The contractors take the easy road and just let the client order what was on their home without suggesting an easy upgrade.
This is the perfect time to do some updating at someone else's expense. Color, change in type of siding from vinyl to hardboard, different type of fence or deck material, etc. I talked to one client that had a Chinese Red Clay tile roof and was going to put the same color and paint the house the same brown. They now have a neutral clay tile roof and a totally different color which updated the house tremendously. They did not know that they could change the color.
Another client in Strathcona had hail damage on their aluminum siding house; the insurance company sent someone over to put vinyl on and they refused since it was a lower value and the insurance company had to put on stucco. This made a terrific difference in the look of the house. They are very happy that I asked what they were doing with their insurance claim.
If you have a claim, please feel free to call me and ask my opinion at
403-252-5900 or Lori@royallepage.ca.