Choosing a real estate agent to work for you

So you are looking to sell your home, your property, your real estate investment. You have chosen to use a real estate agent (a good choice if I do say so myself!). How do you chose an agent? Shop around! My first suggestion is to see who works in the area. Look online. Talk to the local people. As much as some of us real estate people like to think that we can be experts in all areas of real estate in all areas of the country, we cannot. A local real estate agent knows what is going on locally. They know what prices properties are selling for. They know how long properties are taking to sell. They know the local economic climate - what new developments are coming; what is happening with the local job market; what the tax climate is like. My point is, just because someone is a top notch real estate agent in one area, does not mean that they are an expert in another. For example, I do not know much about the local real estate market in Lethbridge or Calgary. If someone has a property that they want to sell there, (or buy) and they ask me to help them, the best thing that I feel that I can do is to refer them to a real estate agent who knows that area. I am also aware of areas where an agent has listed a property that is out of their region, put up a sign, and the agent is never seen again. How is that beneficial? Not very.

Check for For Sale signs. What is the condition of the sign itself? Does it look like someone takes care in their work, or is the sign falling down?

Check on the internet. Google an area and real estate agent. One warning - there are some bogus real estate sites, the same as in other industries. Make sure you check around and make a few phone calls to make sure that the agent is who he/she says they are. Ask how much activity they have had in the area that you are looking at.

Interview a few agents. If you "click" with one another, great! If not, move on. Remember that the agent works for you. Make sure that you have an employee that you are comfortable with.

Action is picking up!

After my open house in Vulcan today, I am meeting up with people at the lake. The phone calls and emails have been coming in this week with people wanting more information on Lake McGregor Country Estates. It's nice to see action picking up a couple weeks earlier than normal. There are some great deals to be had, as the are some owners very anxious to sell. List prices on several of the properties that we have listed, and on some for sale by owner properties, have dropped substatially. With the increase in interest and the drop in prices, I can see our inventory of listings going down by spring.

New Happenings

The boiler is fixed and the pools are ready to go! Woohoo! Good timing as the weather is warming up and we will probably see more people coming to the resort now.

Also, it was announced that the resort is looking at putting up storage sheds. Is is great news for boat owners who can already store their boats in e compound, but once these sheds are built, the boats can be stored inside. I am sure that these sheds will be spoken for pretty quick. For more details contact the resort manager.

Getting ready for a new season

The mild winter has helped with interest at Lake McGregor Country Estates. We have had a few offers already this year which is nice to see. The fact that you can get a serviced cottage lot for under $50,000 is attractive to those looking to buy recreational property.

Spring clean up has already started with some owners, as we get anxious for spring to make an appearance. As for the clubhouse, there have been new boiler parts ordered. This, of course, keeps the pools nice a warm. The pools are shut down now, but will open as soon as these repairs are completed.

My prediction for the New Year

2011 saw a few more sales than 2010. With list prices lowering and signs of the economy starting to pick up again, I think that 2012 is going to be an active year with sales at the resort. That inventory of properties available for sale is going to decrease, in my opinion. Asking prices are getting more "reasonable" for buyers. When they shop around and compare, I think that they will see that Lake McGregor Country Estates is quite competitive. Buyers have had lots of time to shop and compare, but now I think it's time that they will make a move. Once again, just my opinion, but I see a stronger economy helping the recreational property market. We may end up seeing buyers wishing that they had bought while properties were "cheap", just like they said about lots pre-2006.

I challenge buyers to try and find a another fully serviced cottage lot at a resort with clubhouse, private beach and marina, with lots price in the $55,000 area. I think that people will see that it's affordable to buy recreational property again.

Merry Christmas

I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year!

Lyle

Holiday Hours

Clubhouse hours for the upcoming holiday season are as follows:

December 24, 2011 (Christmas eve) Open 9:00am to 3:00pm
December 25, 2011 (Christmas day) Closed
December 26, 2011 (Boxing day) Open 9:00am to 7:00pm

December 31, 2011 (New years eve) Open 9:00am to 3:00pm
January 1, 2012 (New years day) Closed