Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Kari Calder a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor and a Saskatoon Real Estate expert shares a tip on how to guarantee an increase in your home’s value

The decision to purchase your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and will also be one of your largest investments. Done right, it can also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in your life! Kari Calder a saskatoon Realtor with Century 21 Fusion is there to help you through the process, and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a realtor working with your best interests in mind.

 

The goal of virtually every buyer out there is to buy a home that will increase in value. Nobody wants a house that turns out to be a money pit. How can you ensure that the home will increase in value? Here are a few things to look for that will ensure that your home purchase is a good solid investment.

Location

Anyone in the real estate industry will tell you the 3 most important things in real estate are location, location, location. If you want your home to appreciate in value, you have to think about the neighbourhood you’re choosing. You can choose many things about a home but location just isn’t one of them. Also be weary of numerous for sale signs in the area. Multiple houses for sale within a small area is usually a clear sign that you should consider looking elsewhere.

Size

The average square footage of a home has risen from less than 1,000 sq ft in 1950 to nearly 2,600 in 2013. Bigger isn’t always better. It’s better to be the smallest home on the block because then you leave yourself more room to build equity. Buy the least expensive house in the best neighbourhood you can afford will ensure an increase in value.

Exterior

Most people know that curb appeal is important when selling a home but what if the sellers overlooked that key piece of info. As a buyer, don’t overlook the house that may be hiding behind overgrown hedges. If you’re willing to do the work yourself, you may just find a great deal that has been hiding.

Interior

You may be drawn to a home that’s been nicely upgraded but don’t run from one that is outdated. As long as the bones of a house are good, consider buying one that needs cosmetic work done to give a home an instant lift in value.

Condition

Always get a home inspection to asses a home’s condition. To avoid regretting your purchase always make sure you have a home inspection prior to completing the sale to ensure that the structure and the mechanical of the home are in great shape and won’t eat up any profit you might make.

Price

Look for an expert negotiator to make the smartest home purchase. Hiring an agent, like myself, who will put your best interests first is a valuable one. Purchasing a home that’s undervalue and that essentially increase in value when you take possession is one of the best ways to ensure that your home’s value will increase.

Contact me today to ensure that you have a great REALTOR® working for you and ensuring that your investment is a smart one. 

 

Kari Calder

Saskatoon Real Estate Agent

Century 21 Fusion

kari@saskatoonrealestate.net 

 

Kari Calder is one Saskatoon's top Century 21 Fusion real estate agents. Kari can assist with all of your Saskatoon buying and selling real estate needs and she is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REALTOR

 

Kari Calder a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor and a Saskatoon Real Estate expert shares a tip on Avoiding Unexpected Maintenance Costs

The decision to purchase your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and will also be one of your largest investments. Done right, it can also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in your life! Kari Calder a saskatoon Realtor with Century 21 Fusion is there to help you through the process, and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a realtor working with your best interests in mind.

Here she shares a tip on Avoiding Unexpected Maintenance Costs: 

One aspect of home ownership that sometimes gets overlooked when buying a home is the cost of maintenance and repair. Experts estimate that homeowners spend approx 1-4% of their home’s value on maintenance and repair every year. For a home that’s worth $400,000, that’s $4000-16,000 on average per year.

 

Unexpected maintenance issues usually seem to appear when you’re least prepared for them. Have a plan and budget in place to help cover those costs that will arise not only in the immediate but in the future as well (that roof isn’t going to last forever).

 

Some maintenance costs that you may not have thought about include lawn care/equipment, add on’s like a deck, shed, etc, furnace upkeep, pest control, kid wear and tear, and don’t forget about Murphy’s Law.

 

Owning a home might sound scary but it’s my job to make sure that you are aware of what you are ‘getting yourself into’. As long as you are prepared, your transition to home ownership in Saskatoon will be a smooth one.

Kari Calder Saskatoon Real Estate Agent

Century 21 Fusion

kari@saskatoonrealestate.net 

 

Kari Calder is one Saskatoon's top Century 21 Fusion real estate agents. Kari can assist with all of your Saskatoon buying and selling real estate needs and she is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REALTOR

Trusted community steps up to help a local Saskatoon woman after her contractor nightmare Part 1

The Trusted teamwork for the public, we do that by finding great local businesses, verifying they are as good as we have heard, and contracting them to uphold the 5 Trusted Guarantees. These 5 Trusted guarantees are the cornerstone of our business and the businesses we partner with, and if something does go wrong we hold the businesses to their obligations....that's what the Trusted Saskatoon businesses sign up for. That's why we promote them and why we believe they are the best businesses in the cities we serve. 

 

 

JANICE'S BUILD- the Trusted Rebuild

Last week we heard about Janice, a single Mum in Saskatoon that has not been lucky enough to deal with a  ' Trustworthy' business, in fact, she has dealt with the kind of company that we set Trusted Saskatoon up to protect people from.... let's share the first part of the story. 

Janice is a lovely woman who has been left in a house that was a home 5 months ago & now is a dangerous unfinished, building site. She is trying to keep on a brave face for her 10-year-old daughter but is sick with worry that the house won't survive the Winter cold that is on its way,  and wondering every day how she is going to manage to get back on her feet .......why? All because of an unscrupulous Saskatoon contractor that has been her worst nightmare! 

 

We heard her story last week through a friend of Sara's, the Trusted founder, and we were extremely moved by her plight, and wanted to do what we could to help...it's a great thing we know an amazing group of local Saskatoon businesses, who are invested in their community and who truly set the standard for integrity in the Saskatoon Business community!

 

We sent out an email at 9 pm that night, we had some responses back within the hour and by the end of the week, we have already had so many wonderful Trusted Saskatoon directory partners offer Janice their help...and  Trusted Regina partners!  

 

 


Thank you also to Aaron Loraas- from Loraas disposal for donating bins and garbage fees for the project, Winroc and Rona for materials and Heating roofing systems in Colorado for the roof!! 

Sara went to surprise Janice tonight, who knew nothing of this until then..it was extremely emotional, Janice was completely gobsmacked when Sara knocked on her door and told her why she was there. Once the first round of tears dried, and she realized Sara was above board, she showed her around the house and Sara couldn't believe the state this contractor has left her in. We shared the news about the wonderful Trusted Saskatoon companies that had already stepped up to help her, and she was happy to allow us to document this journey by blog and video, so she could prevent other people from having the same thing happen to them....so this is Part 1 of THE HOUSE THAT TRUSTED SASKATOON REBUILT!   

So whats next?
 
 
A well-recognized business leader and expert in the construction industry is going to cast his professional eye over Janice's bombsite of a home, and he will then be able to assess just what needs to be done, and from there we can start planning the rebuild, and what we need in regards help & materials from these amazing Trusted Saskatoon companies.
 
 We will leave you with Sara's comments as the last words of Part 1
 
" Saskatoon has been amazing to me and my family, and I believe it's important to step up to help people in the community you live in. Janice's situation is not uncommon unfortunately, a thing like this happen every day to families and individuals in this city and this province, that's why I was motivated to start Trusted. I am just glad I am in a position, along with the Trusted partners to help her with this hand up back on her feet again. 
 
To start the ball rolling I will donate $1000 in TrustedSaskatoon.com  Gift Certificates for Janice to put towards this rebuild. She can use them at any of the partner businesses on the www.trustedsaskatoon.com directory.  I am not going to publicly name the contractor or his business...that is not my place, but after what I saw & heard today I believe strongly that the company  should have their A rating on the Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan lowered to an F, and the insurance companies should take them off their preferred list of contractors"  
 
  

Kari Calder Trusted Saskatoon Realtor and a Saskatoon Real Estate expert shares real estate mistakes to avoid

The decision to purchase your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and will also be one of your largest investments. Done right, it can also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in your life! Kari Calder a saskatoon Realtor with Century 21 Fusion is there to help you through the process, and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a realtor working with your best interests in mind.

Here Kari shares a great tip on Mistakes To Avoid That Will Decrease Your Home's Value: 

Thinking of selling your home in Saskatoon one day? There are a few things you can do to avoid decreasing your homes value. See below for the little mistakes that could cost you big time in the long run. 

Exterior colour. Don’t choose a colour that doesn’t fit well in your neighbourhood. It should look cohesive with your area and with curb appeal playing a huge factor with resale, this is one mistake that can easily be avoided. If you want to add your own touch, consider changing your exterior door colour or adding bright colours with flowers.

 

Landscaping without the future in mind. When landscaping, consider how large trees or shrubs will get to avoid major problems later. When planted too closely, roots can break up the pavement or cause issues with the foundation or sewer lines if too close to the house. Ask a professional if you are unsure. 

Pools. People spend a lot of money on putting in a pool and expect their property value to increase because of it. Adding a pool typically won’t get you back the cost spent on it so only add one because you will be maximizing your utility from it. 

Interior paint. When it comes time to sell, turn those bright, crazy wall colours into neutral, light colours the majority of buyers will love. Having every room brightly painted will distract buyers and end up costing you.

 

Appliances. If your kitchen is updated, make sure your appliances are too. If it’s not and your appliances are original, dirty, and dingy consider replacing them for newer ones. Buyers don’t want to end up inheriting your junk. 

The small things. Keep your eye on the small details too. Updating cabinet pulls/knobs, light switch covers, vent covers, light fixtures and even replacing lightbulbs will help your home sell and show that it’s been well cared for.

 

Deep cleaning. Clean your house inside and out before showings occur. Potential buyers will love if a home has been thoroughly cleaned as it shows that it’s been well maintained by the owners. 

Making the small spaces feel big. Be careful what furniture you use so it doesn’t overcrowd the space. Even choosing larger floor tiles or adding mirrors for a smaller space will help the room feel bigger.

 

Hopefully these tips will prove useful to you and if you do decide that you are wanting to sell, contact me and I will be able to help give you advice on what you can do to your home to help boost it’s resale value.

 

Kari Calder 

Saskatoon real estate agent 

Century 21 Fusion 

Kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

 

 

 

Kari Calder a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor and a Saskatoon Real Estate expert shares her insight

The decision to purchase your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and will also be one of your largest investments. Done right, it can also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in your life! Kari Calder a saskatoon Realtor with Century 21 Fusion is there to help you through the process, and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a realtor working with your best interests in mind.

Here Kari shares a great tip on High Morale in Saskatoon:

 

The perception of quality of life in Saskatoon has increased. Although morale seems to be lifted, the number one issue seen across the board was roads. Citizens feel that the City should keep road repair/maintenance at the top of the priority list.

The survey issued by the City of Saskatoon plays an important role in key decision making and allocation of funds. It dictates what is important to citizens and determines what really matters. After last year’s survey feedback, the City is now undergoing it’s most aggressive road work program Saskatoon has seen, a 47% increase from last year’s budget.

A notable increase in satisfaction of roadway construction and maintenance as well as snow clearing has been seen with this years survey. Also notable, an increase in satisfaction with traffic management and planning for growth and development.

Other highlights of the survey results include:

  • Services rated of the highest importance include: quality of drinking water, repair of water main breaks, maintenance of major roadways and freeways, fire protection, and police services.
  • The services that received the highest rating for performance include: quality of drinking water, fire protection, electrical services reliability, garbage collection, and police services.
  • Respondents were divided with just over half showing support to a question specifically related to an $8.00 monthly charge to have snow removed from residential streets after it has been ploughed to the side.
  • The City’s website continues to be an important information tool for citizens.

A total of 500 surveys were conducted over the phone and 801 surveys were completed online. You can view the entire survey at www.saskatoon.ca.

 

Kari Calder

Saskatoon real estate agent

Century 21 Fusion

Kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

 

Kari Calder is one Saskatoon's top Century 21 Fusion real estate agents. Kari can assist with all of your Saskatoon buying and selling real estate needs and she is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REALTOR 

Kari Calder

Saskatoon Real Estate Agent

Century 21 Fusion

kari@saskatoonrealestate.net

 

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