Courtesy of Alyssa Kasko

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

ALYSSA KASKO MOBILE: (780) 690-8479 alyssa.kasko@century21.ca www.alyssakasko.com REALTOR ®

ALYSSA KASKO

TIPS FOR PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR A SHOWING You’ve decided to sell your home. You’ve contacted your favourite REALTOR®, and you’ve begun the process of putting your property on the market. Those are important first steps. But to attract the right sort of buyers, and to ultimately receive the sort of return on your housing investment you’d like, it’s important to make your home as appealing and as attractive as possible. the lawn is freshly cut, the autumn leaves are carefully raked, or if it’s winter that the driveway is shovelled and snow-free. Few things can dissuade a buyer more than having to trudge through snow or wet slush to get to the front door of a home.

Clutter inside a house is probably the first thing a prospective buyer will notice upon entering a home. Always pick up and put away anything that doesn’t need to be there — especially on stairs, tables or behind furniture. A pile of shoes by the doorway or a clump of newspapers and mail dumped on a table can give buyers a negative impression of the property. The list could go on and on, but you get the idea. By taking a few steps before a showing, your property will appeal to a wider audience and ultimately sell for a higher price. It’s your biggest investment, so make the effort to get the full return you’re entitled to.

It’s a corny old saying, but it’s still true that you never have a second chance to make a good first impression. For the seller that first impression starts with what’s typically referred to as ‘curb appeal’ — or how the home looks when you first see it from the road. For many potential buyers that first glimpse could be the difference between a profitable sale and a home left on the market for an extended period. A buyer will never know how gorgeous your home is on the inside if the exterior of the property is a turn off. Depending on the season always ensure

MOBILE: (780) 690-8479

alyssa.kasko@century21.ca

ALYSSA KASKO

There’s something therapeutic about working in the garden. You can feel like a pioneer toiling in the soil, an artisan adding natural beauty to your property or a provider creating a bounty for the table with your own hands. The benefits of a garden are as myriad as the individuals who tend them. But what if you have only a small space to work with, a cramped yard or a confined condominium space? For the visionary, space is not an issue. Here are three tips for creating the perfect small space garden. 1. YOU CAN HAVE GREAT GARDENS IN SMALL SPACES

Careful design: A haiku poem uses as few words as possible to convey the largest message. Your small space garden functions the same way in a physical sense. Pace out your plot, determine what crops, plants or shrubbery will thrive in the space available. If shaded, research plants that love the shade. If subject to sunlight, seek out sun-worshipping varieties. The same applies for any furniture, ornaments, lanterns or equipment you might want to introduce —where will it fit? Always plot it out beforehand. Creative substitutions: Space is always going to be at a premium in any small space garden. If you’ve always wanted a spacious

garden shed to house your inventory of tools, you might be disappointed. However, there are a range of rack systems or other storage options available to the careful shopper. If you’re a skilled handyperson you might be able to hand-craft some storage method of your own, adding your personal touch to the environment. Use of lighting: Throwing light on the space can enhance its airy feeling —making it seem larger than it is. If you plan to use your garden for entertaining or for dining ‘al fresco’ then solar powered lighting will add both function and ambiance to the plot.

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Vision and creativity will help to make your small corner of the world a personal oasis of delight and contemplation for your whole family to enjoy.

MOBILE: (780) 690-8479

alyssa.kasko@century21.ca

ALYSSA KASKO

DECKS ENHANCE A HOME’S ENJOYMENT ANDVALUE

Big or small, complex or basic, a deck is one addition to a home that can pay true dividends — both in terms of personal enjoyment, and as a means of adding to a home’s potential resale value. Depending on the size of the home and the shape of the yard, a deck offers a unique way to add space, character and improved functionality to a property. A deck can be anything from a simple open space to host a family barbecue, to an elaborate covered ‘party central’ for hot tubs and large-scale festivities. A deck can dramatically expand a home’s living space at a relatively low cost per square foot. In the easy, breezy days of summer, a spacious deck becomes a true focal point of a home. In essence a deck is the addition of a new room to a property, accessible to the resources found within, while allowing quick access to the great outdoors.

As distinctive and personalized as the persons who own them, decks can be constructed of any material, but nothing compares to the character and warmth of a deck constructed of natural wood. Red Cedar, for example, is the ideal material for deck construction. One of North America’s most durable woods, Red Cedar is naturally resistant to both rot and insects which makes it the ideal choice for any outdoor application. The addition of a well-designed and constructed deck can be much more than convenient entertainment venue. A deck can also be a genuine selling feature should you choose to put your home on the market. A professionally crafted deck can add distinctive architectural interest to any home or backyard and can be part of an overall outdoor upgrade that could include such functional elements as gazebos, trellises, planters, ponds and other water features and more.

MOBILE: (780) 690-8479

alyssa.kasko@century21.ca

ALYSSA KASKO

UNDERSTANDING BASIC REAL ESTATE TERMINOLOGY Purchasing a home, whether for the first time or the tenth, is a complex and often intimidating experience. There is the large financial commitment of course, but there is also interaction with various professionals including (but not limited to) REALTORS®, lawyers, home inspectors, bankers and others. As with any profession, real estate has its own distinctive vocabulary and terminology which can seem mysterious to the uninitiated. To help dispel some myths, here are a few core terms used when buying or selling a home.

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Closing date: As expected this simply means the date on which the money changes hands during the real estate transaction. Possession: The actual date (and time) of when the buyer receives the keys to their new property. This is the final stage of the process and will occur once the closing has completed. Conditions: Buying a home is far more complex than purchasing a loaf of bread. As a result, there are often requests in place within the sales contract for specific actions to occur before the sale can complete. Sometimes

referred to as “Subject to Clauses” these conditions could be anything from having a home inspection completed, to the removal of a derelict automobile from the backyard. Conditions are specific to each property. Deposit: This is the funding provided by the purchaser and held in trust by the real estate agent when writing the initial offer to purchase. This money is refundable if the purchaser fails to meet the subjects required to complete the sale. An example of this would be a purchaser being denied financing by their banking institution.

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It’s hoped that by understanding some of the common terms the process of buying or selling a home will become less of a mystery and more of the important milestone in your life that it really is.

MOBILE: (780) 690-8479

alyssa.kasko@century21.ca

ALYSSA KASKO

July sees first large decrease in Edmonton real estate market

AVG. SALE PRICE Single Family Dwelling $489,370

AVG. SALE PRICE Condo $229,463

ACTIVE LISTINGS 8,325

DAYS ON MARKET 39

Edmonton, August 3, 2022 - Total residential unit sales in the Greater Edmonton Area (GEA) real estate market decreased 23.8% compared to June 2022 and saw a year-over-year decrease of 10.3% from July 2021. New residential listings decreased 14.8%month-over-month from June 2022 but saw an increase of 6.2% from July of last year. Single-family home unit sales were down both 12.4% from July 2021 and 24.4% from June 2022 at 1,159. Condo unit sales also decreased 1.6% from July 2021 and 22.1% from June 2022. Duplex/ rowhouse unit sales were down both 12.7% year-over-year and 21.3% from last month. Single-family homes averaged $489,370, a 5.0% year-over-year increase and a month-over-month decrease of 1.0%. Condominiums sold for an average of $229,463, seeing a small decrease of 4.4% year over-year and 3.7% when compared to June 2022. Duplex prices increased 4.3% from July 2021, selling at $372,864, but saw a 3.9% decrease from June 2022. Single-family homes averaged 33 days on the market, seeing an increase of six days from June 2022. Condos averaged 52 days on the market, increasing by seven days month-over-month, while duplexes averaged 34 days on the market, a five-day increase compared to last month. Overall, all residential listings averaged 39 days on the market, increasing by six days month-over-month, with no change recorded when compared to July 2021. Source: REALTORS® Association of Edmonton | Market values stated are of the average of Edmonton and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to date evaluation of your home.

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MOBILE: (780) 690-8479

alyssa.kasko@century21.ca