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Allison James

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CELEBRATE CHANGE WITH A HOME THAT FITS



Archive for April, 2015

Celebrate Change with a Home that Fits

Sunday, April 19th, 2015

Celebrate Change with a Home that Fits

The dictionary defines transition as “a passage from one form, state, style or place to another.” If you think about it, you will realize that every day of our lives involves some sort of transition – whether it is physical, emotional or spiritual. Even though we are in that continuous state, most of us still fear change because it tends to jolt us out of our comfort zones. The best way to handle it is to merely stop resisting and just embrace the opportunities and challenges that come with it.

Many baby boomers today deal with housing progressions on several different levels. Simultaneously, as they wave goodbye to their children leaving the nest, many also attend to the housing essentials of elderly parents requiring nursing care or assisted living. Many active boomers and retirees are equally interested in splitting their time and spending the winter months in a warmer climate. If not properly managed, it can be very stressful. Not surprisingly, many of my clients are eager to shift to a more simple, carefree way of life.

The decision to sell the family home is a big one. Any move will merit careful consideration and planning. There are so many choices available to empty nesters – everything from apartments, smaller homes, condominiums, to age-restricted communities or assisted living for those in need of help in managing daily living. The key to making a smooth transition at each stage of your housing life cycle is to explore all options and make an informed decision as to what lifestyle works best for you. Then, instead of allowing thoughts of adjustment to overwhelm you, choose to celebrate change with a home that fits!

If your children are out on their own and you find yourself dreading weekend chores and taking care of a big house, then maybe you should already consider downsizing. Imagine yourself with reduced expenses and more spare time to experience all those things on your bucket list. Let someone else take care of the snow removal and yard maintenance. You’ve got places to go! In Calgary, there are endless downsizing alternatives available to empty nesters and others looking to simplify their lives. If you decide to downsize, pay careful attention to the neighbourhood and its amenities since you will likely be able to enjoy both.

You can spend years trying to time the real estate market and maximize profits, but that is really the job of real estate investors. When you are talking about your own home, you resolve to move when your current home no longer meets your needs and you are ready to go forward toward the next phase of your life. Whether you are upsizing, downsizing or making a lateral move, work closely with a professional Realtor who can guide you through the process and help make the transition as smooth as possible.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!

About Allison James

Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.

Why It Makes Sense to Work with a Realtor

Sunday, April 5th, 2015

Why It Makes Sense to Work with a Realtor

Are you thinking about selling your home and going the FSBO route (For Sale By Owner) in order to save the cost of a commission? Before making that decision, take the time to consider a few of the many reasons why it makes sense to work with a professional Realtor when selling your home.

Realtors are Trained Professionals

Would you ever consider rewiring the electricity in your home without consulting a trained and licensed electrician? Of course not – unless you are an electrician yourself. So why would you consider handling the sale of a valuable real estate asset without the help of a licensed professional? Real estate transactions are complex matters subject to all kinds of rules and regulations and fraught with potential pitfalls at every turn. As I write this blog, the median sale price for a home in Calgary is $420,000. That’s a lot of money to put into the hands of an inexperienced amateur.

Today’s real estate agents are more highly educated, trained and subject to rigid ethical guidelines. In addition to pricing and marketing your property for sale, they must know how to coordinate and work closely with mortgage bankers, home inspectors, appraisers, environmental consultants and government agencies. Even if you feel you are qualified, do you really have what it takes to pull everything together? Remember that in real estate transactions, time lost equates to money pulled from your pocket.

Realtors Have Full Access to the MLS

While most non-professionals can get on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), it is not the full access granted to licensed subscribers. You will only see a fraction of the information available to professionals. The full spectrum of reliable information and up-to-date data available in the MLS is of utmost importance in determining home value and monitoring market trends.

Buyers are Working with Realtors

We are living in a world that relies on instant access to information and demands immediate gratification. The best way to ensure a quick property sale at your asking price is to list the property in the MLS. Buyers’ agents everywhere will receive a notice of a new listing right away. Your buyer is out there somewhere and the best platform to reach them is through the MLS.

Realtors are Objective

Property owners are notoriously sentimental when it comes to their own homes. There is simply no way to remain objective when talking about something you’ve poured your heart and soul into. An experienced Realtor removes emotion from the equation and shields his or her client from the stress inherent in the daily twists and turns of real estate transactions.

Those who go the FSBO route almost always find they haven’t saved any money at all when it’s time to close the deal. Do yourself a favor, save yourself time, money and aggravation – work with a pro.

Do you need to move to celebrate the changes that are happening in your life? Let me serve you in helping you make the move to the place or home that reflects where you are in life’s journey! I will listen to your needs and use my knowledge and expertise to make this a smooth transition to the right place for you to call home in Calgary. Contact me at 403-708-5873, ajames16@gmail.com, or www.allisonjames.com and let’s get on with your journey!

About Allison James

Allison James has been a realtor® since 1999 with Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. in the changing Calgary real estate market. A Century 21 Centurion Award 2007 recipient and a member of CREA and AREA, she specializes in residential real estate and has her designations as a Seniors Real Estate Specialist and a Certified Condominium Specialist. These designations testify that she has the expertise and resources to help her clients make a smooth transition to the next step in their life journey. She enjoys helping her clients as they move through many of the same stages of life that she, too, has experienced. The fact that the majority of her business comes from past clients and/or referrals from satisfied clients speaks volumes about her dedication to the high quality of service that she offers her clients to meet their Calgary and surrounding area real estate needs. She is a mother of four who are all on their own now, and a grandmother of eight. Besides helping people buy or sell real estate, she loves spending time with her family, being active outdoors, traveling and meeting new people, photography, playing the drums, reading, scuba diving, listening to music, learning new things, and nurturing her spiritual growth.

Allison James, Century 21 Bamber Realty Ltd.
1612 17 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T2T 0E3
Tel: 403-245-0773 Toll Free: 403-708-5873 Cell: 403-708-5873 Fax: 403-592-9187
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