Edmonton Real Estate Blog

Here is an update that will clearly indicate the unexpected ‘buyer’s market that has now gripped us. Real estate prognosticator’s at the beginning of 2010 told us to expect a slow steady increase of about 6% in prices in Edmonton! They did not foresee that by mid-year there would be considerably more sellers than buyers; they failed to grasp that the motivated sellers would have to reduce their asking prices and offer other incentives just to attract buyers and, even then, there were no guarantees that an offer to purchase would be forthcoming!

On the Edmonton MLS system (Aug. 23), there were 4025 single family homes for sale in Edmonton (including Sherwood Park and St. Albert). In the last 30 days, 1,263 new homes had been listed! Of that, only 648 had sold making for a 15% increase in homes for sale!

Condos showed a similar pattern. There were 2364 on the MLS system, with 649 of those being listed in the previous 30 days. In that same time frame 306 had sold making for a net gain of available condos for sale of 343 or 14.5%.

Besides the time on the market for homes/condos to sell is also increasing as buyers take longer to decide!

Buyers are now in an enviable position to seek out superior properties in their price range at the best prices. They can offer considerably less than the asking price and still have plenty of clout in the final negotiation price. As well, they ask for additional items from the seller that are not included in the list of goods on the listing sheet—a fish tank, a dining room table and chairs, a washer and dryer, and so forth.

Motivated sellers, at the same time, are now in a tricky position. They must list their price extremely competitively according to the market conditions that day and must be prepared every couple of weeks to freshly evaluate their position until their home sells. Adjusting the price downwards is a critical move. Another strategy may be to offer an incentive to buyer’s—for example, a carpet or painting allowance at closing to address a deficiency in those areas; they might also consider a cash incentive to the agent who brings them a successful offer—an increased commission amount or a specific cash amount—anything that will set your home apart from the competition.

If you are considering a real estate move to, within, or out of Edmonton, these comments will undoubtedly assist you!

Packing all your own items will save you money. It can also be quite stressful, so we came up with some simple techniques to make it easier. Remember, if you have any questions contact your personal Move Counselor .

Use the proper packing materials.
Sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and packing peanuts can all be purchased at local moving or shipping companies. Wardrobe boxes plus other specialty boxes can also be found there.

You can’t move that!
Here is a partial list of common household items movers will NOT ship:

Acid
Aerosols
Ammonia
Ammunition
Batteries
Car batteries
Charcoal
Charcoal lighter fluid Chemistry sets
Cleaning fluid
Cooking fuel (Sterno)
Fertilizer
Fireworks
Frozen foods
Gasoline
Kerosene Lamp oil
Liquid bleach
Loaded weapons
Matches
Motor oil
Nail polish remover
Open foods
Paints Paint thinner
Pesticides
Plants
Poisons
Pool chemicals
Produce
Propane tanks
Weed killer

Tools and materials

* Razor, knife and/or scissors
* Dark, water-resistant marker
* Packing tape
* Styrofoam peanuts
* Labels (can include fragile, load first, load last, do not load)

One room at a time
It’s more efficient and less stressful if you pack one room at a time. Be sure and label each box appropriately (on top and side) with a description of its contents. Boxes containing breakable or sentimental items should always be labeled as “Fragile”. Keep a detailed list of what items are packed in each box to make unpacking easier.

Empty all drawers of breakable items or anything that might spill
Also, it’s a good idea to put all furniture knobs, feet, screws, etc. in one container so they won’t get lost or damaged.

Flammable/heat-sensitive
Do not pack flammable goods or heat-sensitive items like candles, records, audio and video tapes, computer disks, propane tanks, aerosol cans, oil based paints and certain cleaning fluids.

A little TLC
Wrap each item individually and always place a layer of crushed paper in the bottom of the box or carton for cushioning. Fill empty spaces with additional crushed paper. When wrapping glasses, carefully put paper in the glass as well.

Will you be storing anything?
If so, make sure your boxes are firmly packed with the heavier items on bottom. It’s a smart idea to pack according to the season(s) which your things will be in storage and mark the boxes appropriately.

A note from the chiropractor
Put heavy items in small boxes so they’re easier to carry.

When packing the truck
Make sure the items you need first are loaded last (e.g., kitchen items, telephone and radio). Use common sense, keep in mind the size, sturdiness and weight of your boxes.

It pays to plan ahead
Pack a separate bag with toiletries, a change of clothes, etc., for the first couple of days after your move.

SOURCE: moveadvocate.com/tips/packing.asp