At Home With Valerie

In my mind, a successful negotiation is not where one side has pulverized the other. You don't "win" a negotiation; you get the best possible outcome for your clients while doing the least harm.  No one should leave a negotiation angry. After all, you never know when you might have to negotiate with the same people again.  When it comes to negotiating on behalf of my clients, I keep the following in mind: Set the stage: I like a location that's quiet, neutral, pleasant, and away from distractions and confusion.  It’s best if everyone turns off their devices, and refrains from calls or texts during negotiations. Be prepared: I never enter without my homework. I verify any outstanding facts before the negotiation begins. (Later fact-finding can cause a negotiation to bog down!) Present a united front: I represent clients and have been hired to act on their wishes. At times I may not agree with their position, but I never share that with the other s...

As the winter solstice creeps in upon us, longer nights and colder temperatures also mean the holiday season is in full swing.   I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a happy and joyful holiday season. As the song says, may all your days be merry and bright.  And to help keep your spirits warm and festive, here's my favorite recipe for a Christmas classic, wassail. Blessings,  Wassail Ingredients: 1 gallon apple cider 27 whole cloves 8 cinnamon sticks 1 quart pineapple juice 1 can (6 ounces) frozen orange juice concentrate Preparation: Mix all ingredients in a large crockpot and simmer.  Serve hot.

Along with the Christmas festivities comes the desire to decorate your home with twinkling lights, wreaths, trees and even yard ornaments featuring the theme of the holidays.  If you want to make your next Christmas decorating venture a real holiday treat, consider the following ideas: Homemade Wreath Decorations Create your own lighted wreath by taking a short strand of mini-lights and wrapping them around a plain wreath.  You can use either multi-color or clear lights, and this approach can easily be used for both indoor wreaths and garland decorations. Creating A Modern Centerpiece With Classic Holiday Style Use a clear glass vase or bowl as a centerpiece and fill it with round glass ornaments.  For Christmas, the combination of silver and gold or red and green will be ideal.  When paired with the beauty of a simplistic glass holder, the ornaments will add a very modern twist to a very traditional color combination. Holiday Decorating Scen...

When people renovate or remodel a room, they almost always overlook the door. However, changing the style of an interior door, or adding a new one, can dramatically change the look of a living space – often for the better. The most common type of door is the traditional solid 6-panel door. But there are many other choices available. Want to add light and a greater sense of space to a room? Consider a door with glass panels. Do you have an interior door that gets in the way when opened? Change it to a bi-fold door, which cuts the distance of the swing in half. There are also specialty doors that are designed to block noise, and sliding doors that tuck neatly into the wall when opened. Interior doors are typically much less expensive than their exterior counterparts. So making the decision to upgrade or add a door to a room is an affordable design option. Visit a door showroom and explore what's available.

The sudden onslaught of winter did not slow real estate sales in November according to figures released by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton. One month sales in November were the highest in five years. The figures are based on sales through the Multiple Listing Service® System in the Edmonton CMA. The number of all-residential sales in the Edmonton CMA in November (adjusted to account for late reported sales) was 1,116 (1033 reported) which was the highest number of sales in the month since 2009. There were 672 (622 reported) sales of single family homes, 349 (323 reported) condo sales and 83 (77 reported) duplex/row house sales in November. Total residential sales were up 10.5% over November 2012 with SFD sales up 7.9% and condos sales up 13.7%.   “The Edmonton market continues to perform well with sales up and prices rising,” said RAE President Darrell Cook. “While home sellers welcome the active market, buyers, with good employment prospects and higher than Canadi...

Remember the last time you visited an upscale furniture showroom? The furniture and fixtures on display probably looked great. The colours and textures jumped out at you. It was a feast for the eyes! There is a good reason for this: lighting. Of course, the quality of the products has a lot to do with how appealing they look when on display. But smart retailers know that proper lighting is key to making those products look their best. In fact, some retailers even hire lighting consultants! What does this have to do with selling your home quickly, and for the best price? Obviously, when showing your property to potential buyers, you want your home to look its very best. Proper lighting can be a big help. When preparing your home for sale, review the lighting in each room and make sure the space is sufficiently well lit. You want the lighting to be strong enough to prevent dark or shadowy areas, yet not so strong that it's uncomfortable for the eyes. As a r...

Debating whether or not to buy that next home with cash or not? I know, what a problem to have! But it’s a serious decision, especially for Baby Boomers who have significant equity in their current home. Many of my clients (especially Baby Boomers who are downsizing or relocating) ask me if they should pay cash for their next house or finance it with a new loan. While the idea of owning a home free-and-clear is certainly appealing, I always present them with a series of questions to help them clarify the big picture. Perhaps you or someone you know may benefit from these as well: How much will you be left with after an all-cash purchase? Maintaining a safety net of three to six months’ worth of living expenses can be a real comfort after you’ve done well on the sale of your home. How comfortable will you be if an all-cash purchase brings you near zero? Are you retiring soon? This goes to two issues: First, whether or not the absence of a mortgage will significantly impr...

Do you need a real estate agent to buy a new home from a builder? Legally, no. But here’s what you might be missing out on if you don’t. Q: Do I need to hire a real estate agent to represent me when I buy a new home from a builder? A: Legally, no. But if you don’t, you might be missing out on some tangible benefits that impact your wallet and how much you get for your money. There are many reasons why an agent is a sound investment during the purchase process with a builder. While some of them can be quite complex (and go beyond the scope of this blog post), here are a few highlights: Market Value Compared to Purchase Price: How much money are you going to be able to come out of pocket for your down payment? If you don’t want a nasty surprise when it comes to disparities between your agreed upon purchase price and the actual market value of the home, you’ll want an agent with access to information which will help you accurately assess the true value of that brand ...

December is a great month to cozy things up at home.  The brighter and warmer a house looks and feels, the happier you will be.  That's why I'm including with this letter a few tips to make your house as cheery as possible! And don't forget, if you have any real estate questions, you can always reach me by email at: valerie@valeriemcconville.com or visit my Web site at www.valeriemcconville.com ! FIVE WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME BRIGHT, COZY AND CHEERFUL Fix it up: The light fixtures in your home are a reflection of your personal style and taste.  Adding additional fixtures or replacing ones that aren't your favorites can be a fun and creative way to brighten up your home! Candlescaping: Candles are generally inexpensive and are extremely versatile.  Adding various candle arrangements to different rooms in your home will instantly create an atmosphere of warmth and style.  Get creative!  You might also favor scented candles to add a pleas...

A good night’s sleep is more important than you might think. While rising early and burning the midnight oil are worn like badges of honor in this “always on” culture of ours, the truth is that sleep is crucial. Did you know... Sleep loss can mean the decline of mental skills, including attention span, memory, mood, logical reasoning, and math skills. Sleep deprived people have trouble recalling pleasant experiences, but can easily recall negative experiences. Sleep improves your mood and in a recent study of professional violinists showed that a good night’s rest was more important than nutrition! Sleeping on a decision measurably improves our ability to make better choices. Fortunately, there are things we can do to improve the quality of our sleep. While a drink or two might put you to sleep, it can actually disrupt sleep later in the night. Other methods are much more effective. Exercise during the day, a cool shower at night (to lower body temperatur...

Now that you've made the decision to purchase your first home, a hearty congratulations is in order!  Becoming a homeowner, especially for the first time, can stir up some feelings of anxiety and excitement.  With the knowledge that you gain through individual research and the help of your REALTOR®, you will soon begin to feel like a seasoned house hunter. Tip # 1: Do Your Homework Did you know that there are a number of incentives available to first-time home buyers? In Canada, there is the First-Time Homebuyers' (FTHB) Tax Credit. The Government of Canada introduced a FTHB Tax Credit in 2009 — a $5,000 non-refundable income tax credit amount on a qualifying home acquired after January 27, 2009. For an eligible individual, the credit will provide up to $750 in federal tax relief starting in 2009. Another incentive is the Expansion of the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP). To provide first-time homebuyers with greater access to their RRSP savings to purchase or build a...

The convenience of mobile devices also comes with risk. As you check-in, text, share photos, and increasingly run your life on the go, you may inadvertently expose private information or make yourself more likely to be a victim of a crime. Here are four things you should be aware of as you use new mobile and social technology that might spare you expensive or embarrassing lessons: 1. Beware of how often you "check in" through social media. Apps like Foursquare and websites like Facebook allow you to "check in" when you're out and about in the world, effectively broadcasting where you are... and where you're not. Be especially sensitive to checking in from airports and locations far from home. Enterprising thieves can use this information to target your home or business. 2. Beware of the photos you're sharing. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what are your pictures on Facebook saying to friends, family, and co-workers? Just like checking ...

Clutter driving you nuts? Did you move in with someone only to find you have duplicates of everything from headboards to can openers?  Here are 7 tips to help you make the most out of small spaces: 1. Weed out the extras. A yard sale will alleviate some clutter and a trip to the local Goodwill even more. A good rule of thumb: Anything you haven’t needed in a year can go. 2. Bookcases are for more than books! Your walls are your vertical friends for storage, and good book shelving can include plants, valuables, artwork and more. 3. Wall-mount entertainment systems. Television / cable / DVD cabinets are so pre-2000! Free up floor space by going with sleek bolt-in mounts. (Just make sure they’re anchored properly!) 4. Don’t pile it, hang it! This is especially true in kitchens where you can use pot racks, hanging baskets, and even wall-mounted shelving units. 5. Maximize cabinets and closets with organizers. Poor use of cabinet space can easily waste ...

Can a draft through a window or door cause damage? It can.  Damage to your bank account! A single, seemingly minor, draft through a window can increase your energy bill by as much as 3%. In addition, a damp draft can make a room feel colder than it really is, while a dry draft can cause dry throats and skin. So it pays to pay attention to drafts in your home. Drafts are most commonly found at windows and doors, but they can also occur through walls with poor or old insulation. Ideally, a draft should be eliminated through a repair or renovation (such as replacing old windows.) When that's not possible, there are a variety of products available that will help you stop drafts in the short term – such as replacement insulation strips for doors. Visit your local home improvement center. They can recommend products and solutions that can help your particular issues. 

Wondering when the time is right to buy your home? How about now? Low interest rates and affordable housing make it a great time to buy now. Call me today at (780) 700-8638 to get me started in finding the right home for you!

There is no doubt about it! Even if the weather is relatively pleasant, your home won’t show as well in the winter as it would in the summer, especially from the outside. Fortunately, there are many ways to make your home look more attractive and appealing to buyers during the winter season. First, before showing your home to a potential buyer, clear your front walkway. Make sure fence doors and gates open freely. Also, clear off the backyard deck or patio area. You want buyers to be able to explore around your property without any obstructions. In short, do everything you can to make the experience of walking up to your front door and around your property as pleasant as possible. Second, clear away any boots, shoes and other outerwear from the front foyer. You want buyers to focus on your beautiful home, not a cluttered entranceway. Also, have mats on both the outside and inside of your main entranceway. This will give buyers – as well as you and your family – a chance t...

What's one of the most important rooms in your home? When it comes to selling your property quickly, and for the best price, the answer is clearly the kitchen. In fact, one of the most common explanations a particular buyer gives for not making an offer is, "I liked the house, but I wasn't too keen on the kitchen." That doesn't mean you must do a major renovation. However, you should do what you can to make the kitchen as attractive as possible to buyers. Here are some ideas: First, clear the counter tops. Put away the toaster and other items. You want to make the entire counter top area seem as spacious as possible. If the cabinetry is old, you can spruce it up by installing new knobs, handles and other hardware. A fresh coat of paint on the walls and ceiling can also make the kitchen look like it has had a major renovation – and it will only cost you a few hundred dollars. According to an article on the website HDTV.com, "The fastest, mos...

November is a great month-the holidays are fast approaching, we get to visit more often with family and friends, and colder weather makes us feel like getting cozy in our homes.   Since you'll want to keep warm in the coming months, I'm including a list of tips for you this month that will help you to save money on your energy bill, while still staying warm and cozy! Set the timer: Program your thermostat to reach lower temperatures while you're sleeping or out of the house.  This simple action can save you a lot of money-and will ensure that your house stays at a comfortable temperature at all times. Open and shut: During daytime hours, keep your blinds, draperies and other window coverings open.  This will enable your home to absorb the warm afternoon sunshine and will effectively add heat to the entire house.  Close all window coverings at night to keep the heat in! Installation time: If you have a window or two that feels drafty no...

I’m here to save you pain, buyers. There are myths about the home shopping experience that must be addressed. I like to make the home buying experience as stress-free as possible, so please hear me out on these three big myths about home buying: Myth #1: “That house has been on the market so long I bet we can work the seller down easily.” Not necessarily. Exceptionally high days on market could mean almost anything. The seller could be bullheaded about their price. The seller may not be particularly motivated to sell for emotional or other personal reasons. Don’t forget: A sales-weary seller isn’t likely to respond to your host of rational reasons why their house should be a bargain. Myth #2: “I want to look at foreclosed homes because they’re a real bargain and the banks need to unload them.” Banks, like entrenched sellers, don’t always make decisions which seem rational based on obvious information. You can have a hard time divining the reason a ...

Halloween is a lot of fun for adults and kids, but nothing ruins the ghoulish night like a trip to the emergency room or a lawsuit.  This is also a good time to make sure your homeowner’s insurance is current!  In that “spirit,” I thought I’d share 11 tips to help you balance spooky and safe this year: 1. Survey all approaches to your home, beginning from the property line. Keep an eye out for hazards, including loose bricks/stones, or holes in the yard. 2. Resist using open flames inside or outside. Use electric light effects, glow sticks, or electric candles instead. 3. Check your smoke alarms and make sure all exits to the house are clear of clutter. 4. Before dark, check for exposed extension cords and make sure cords avoid wet areas. 5. Determine how much darkness you really want. Lighted pathways and porches are both inviting and safer for your guests. 6. Make sure children can see in their costumes! Obstructed vision from masks can kee...

A predator is defined as one that preys on others, which is why some lenders have fittingly earned the title as predatory mortgage lenders.  Excessively high interest rates, questionable and/or hidden fees and high pressure tactics used to direct borrowers to a larger loan than they may be able to afford are trademark characteristics of a predatory mortgage lender. Prey Verses Predator When it comes to obtaining a mortgage, the rules of the jungle often apply.  If you aren't careful, you may find yourself in the grasp of a questionable foe.  If you are someone who has had past credit problems or simply find yourself struggling to obtain a mortgage, it may seem like a good idea to sign on with any lender who can close the deal. But wait, jungle etiquette suggests that you should be knowledgeable of your surroundings and always look before you leap.  Before making a quick decision on a loan that nobody else would approve, ask yourself whether or not the ...