Welcome those buyers into your home!

When hosting open houses for your home, you will need to do more than a simple advertisement in the local paper, putting it on the Realtor.ca website and put out yard signs. There are several other real estate marketing tools you can use to attract people who may be looking to buy into your home.

Take the time to knock on your neighbours' doors and personally invite them. You never know if they have family or friends who may be looking to purchase a home in your community or maybe they want their family to move closer.

• Become tech-savvy - Put your Open House on as many websites as you can. If possible, optimize all of your website traffic to ensure buyers who are looking will be able to find your home.
• Blog it! Add a blog link to all of your traffic including Facebook and ask your friends to share it.
• Pictures say 1000 words. Make sure every photo you use on the internet is clear and has the proper pixels. Do put on photos that are dark, have bad curb appeal, etc.
• Facebook Ads - Facebook ads are great! Just choose your search criteria, upload your photos, add the dialogue and input your payment. You may want to do this a week in advance. NOT the day before.
• Sell your community! Add information about your community to your feature sheets. Give the reasons why a buyer would want to live in your area. Do you have a dog park nearby? Community events? Ravine walking trails? Add some more photos.
• Build a website for your property and add it to your feature sheets for buyers to look at later. Add as many links as you can. Add a video: Videos are easy to make and can be uploaded online. Make them fun and entertaining (No more than 2 minutes)
• Flyer! Drop off flyers with your community. This is also a great way to meet your neighbours, find out more about your area and is great exercise. Ask them to drop in for coffee, the more strangers you have in your home, the safer you will be.
• Create a sign-in sheet! Have your Open House guests sign in once they arrive. You will be able to follow up with them later to see if there is any interest. It may seem like a lot of work, but holding an Open House in Edmonton takes time to make it effective.

Have fun and good luck with your Open House

Do you really need a property inspection when purchasing a home in Edmonton?

A property inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. It is for the sole benefit of the purchaser and is usually subcontracted to a certified licensed residential real estate inspector, paid for by the buyer, and can take one to four hours depending on the size and condition of the property. At the end of your inspection, a standard home inspector’s report will be supplied covering the condition of the home.

A property inspection can identify the need for major repairs or builder oversights not known to the seller which can lead to unpleasant surprises and unexpected difficulties in the future. Buying a home can be the largest single investment you will make and spending a few hundred dollars for peace of mind is money well spent.

Property inspection components covered include:

• heating system including furnace and hot water tank
• the central air conditioning system
• carbon monoxide and fire alarm detectors
• interior plumbing using both visual and water residue tools
• mold issues and water damage
• electrical systems
• the roof & attic
• visible insulation of walls, ceilings, floors, windows, and doors using a thermal ray tool
• foundation & basement
• other structural components which may need major repair or replacement.

Depending on your chosen property inspector, there may be some things that will not be inspected such as things that can not be seen visually and appliances. You may want to check that these chattels are in working order.

Foreclosures:

If a home inspection is not allowed on a bank foreclosure offer to purchase, it is still a good idea to have one done at a later date.

New Homes:

In Alberta, builders must supply a new home warranty at closing, however, new homes should ALWAYS have a home inspection done by a licenced, certified building inspector. Building a house takes time and there are always things that get missed. It is easier to address these concerns before you remove your inspection condition.

Nothing is Perfect:

During the inspections, there will be items that will be found. There is no such thing as a perfect house. Usually more items are found on new builds rather than resale homes. 

What if there is an issue:

Hopefully you have an inspection contingency if the report reveals problems. If the inspector identifies problems, it doesn’t mean you should or shouldn’t buy the house. Talk it over with your real estate agent. There are a few options to address any concerns you have.