Real Estate Informed Buyers Guide by Freshtake Marketing Inc

INFORMED BUYERS PRESENTATION

B R A D VA N D E WA L L E REAL ESTATE BROKER & CO-FOUNDER

M AT T H E W C H I AC H I A REAL ESTATE PARTNER & CO-FOUNDER

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AL L AB O U T BRAD

INNOVATIVE CALGARY REALTOR Brad Van De Walle has been involved with Luxury Calgary homes since 2009 and is one of Calgary’s top agents. Brad utilizes his extensive experience and passion in marketing to help his clients realize their real estate dreams.  Brad, an outstanding realtor with Calgary Re/Max Real Estate Central who heads up the Greater YYC Group, Greater International Group, Greater Ottawa Group, Greater California Group and Greater Seattle Group, started out by focusing on condo projects, but over time looked for new challenges. Brad’s ability to connect with all types of people, his understanding of the Real Estate industry, an sales approach has made Brad one of the most innovative agents in country. “I started at the bottom, I knew nothing. I took it upon myself to master this industry and my hard work has paid off” Brad has now brought his talents to a thriving real estate industry in Ottawa where he has some roots. The Greater Ottawa Group was formed with one goal in mind; create exceptional agents, with exceptional marketing and service to create exceptional results. Pride of ownership of the team radiates through Brads actions and personality. This career, his business partners and most importantly his clients mean everything to him. “The Greater Ottawa Group is not in this for the transaction, we care about our clients, they become our friends, we want what is best for them”

Exceptional Agents.

Exceptional Results.

ALL ABOU T MAT T

PASSION-DRIVEN CALGARY REALTOR Matt’s career in Real Estate began after a number of years of sales and management in the food service industry. He started at Royal LePage Benchmark, which gave him the training and experience to be a professional REALTOR®. In 2010 he started a team with Brad Van De Walle, at Re/Max Real Estate (Central), called The888SOLDTeam, now known as The Greater YYC Group. Brad and Matt have become close friends, close business partners, and have the same drive and passion for our work. Their goal is to “Redefining Your Real Estate Experience” and treat every client with the same level of care as our own family. Brad and Matt created the The Greater YYC Group and are excited about our careers in Real Estate. “I hope to demonstrate our team’s energy. Brad and I are transparent and authentic. Who we are in real life is who we are in Real Estate; fun, passionate, and driven.” An avid basketball fan, Matt loves to hang out with his boys and watch the game. His passion for basketball does not fall short of his passion for real estate. “Real estate is something I have come to love and truly enjoy. It’s not just a hobby or a job, it’s my new passion”. This has lead Matt to quick success as an agent and fellow-entreprenuer. He is client-driven and highly motivated to ensure all his clients are taken care of. He also believes in overall success and loves helping people in need and volunteering in his spare time. “Any success that comes my way is attributed to my clients, friends, family, partners and team. We rely on each other in so many different ways that it would be foolish to accredit success without acknowledging where it came from. I would like to thank everyone for your support.”

Exceptional Agents.

Exceptional Results.

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ABOUT O U R TE AM

COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATED & EXPERIENCED The Greater YYC team has come together to create a comprehensive, educated and experienced group of talented individuals that are changing the foundation of how we buy and sell Infills. We have a firsthand understanding of the construction; buying, selling and building process. We cover all our basis when working hard for you and we are committed to giving you the best Real Estate experience possible. Our commitment to enhanced customer service, through constant communication, detailed updates, network of related professionals and personalities, has made the buying experience like no other. Buying and Selling Real Estate is a big decision and it is very important to put your trust in people who have the experience, tenacity, and the same objective as you. Together, we can help you find the perfect infill home for you and your family. We cover all our basis when working hard for you and we are committed to giving you the best Real Estate experience possible. Our commitment to enhanced customer service, through constant communication, detailed updates, network of related professionals and personalities, to make for an experience like no other. We have everything covered for you so this process can be as enjoyable and stress free as possible. Do you have a lawyer? What do you do on possession day? Do you know what a home inspection is for? These are common questions that many people fail to even consider. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry, we take care of all of this and more so you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to worry.

OU R ADVAN TAG E

DETERMINED TO BE GREAT! The Greater YYC Group is passionate about what they do. They are focussed on not just being good, but being great. They won’t compromise this, and won’t settle full less. It’s what drives them and in the end, leads to your success! Below are some straight up facts that separate us from the rest: - Our local brokerage, RE/MAX Central, was voted the #1 Brokerage in the world for 16 years in a row. - RE/MAX is the most recognizable name in real estate and has been for years. RE/MAX has been in business for over 40 years an producing some of the most productive and well-known names in the industry. - We are an full service extensive team. We have lawyers, mortgage brokers, inspectors and a marketing, branding and graphic design team that help throughout the buying process. - We have a great online presence! We are included in over 100 websites, as well as MLS, Kijiji, Realtor.ca, Remax.ca, Open to View, and all social media platforms. - We are a team and teams always dominate. Our team members combine our skill, knowledge and integrity to create the best possible results. We motivate each other and work around the clock until each task is complete. Our team includes you and we welcome you into our Greater YYC Family.

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AGEN T Q UALI TI ES

KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN LOOKING FOR AN AGENT... 1. EDUCATION The most important factor in choosing a real estate professional is their education in the real estate industry. Our professionals have advanced training and education, allowing them to be among the top agents in the world and earning prestigious designations in the various fields of real estate. 2. EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE You want a full-time agent who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you intend to sell. Does he or she employ a diverse range of marketing and advertising strategies? How tech-savvy is your agent? How many similar properties has he or she been able to sell in the past? 3. AVAILABILITY AND COMMITMENT Your agent should be capable of prompt and decisive action during the course of selling your property. Does your agent make it a point to keep in touch with you constantly? Can your agent easily be contacted in case of emergencies or even for the simplest questions? Is your agent available on the weekends or in the evenings when most buyers are out looking? 4. RAPPORT Does your agent take the time to listen to your goals and clarify your needs? Can your agent understand your unique situation and be genuinely concerned about the outcome of the process? Your listing agent will be your guide and partner in this crucial decision, so it is important to find one with whom you can get along.

THE RIGHT AGENTS

THE RIGHT AGENTS EQUALS THE RIGHT RESULTS Teams always out-perform an individual. Because we are an experienced, well-oiled team, we ensure our client’s expectations are always met. Real estate is so much more than just a job, it is our passion, and our duty is to provide all our clients with the necessary services to help them reach their real estate goals. Having the RIGHT AGENTS help. IT ALL STARTS HERE... Many agents offer great service, but not-so-great advice. Others offer great service, great advice, but lack communication. Though, we are not perfect, we strive to offer our clients excellent service, excellent communication, trusted advice and a personal touch. We truly believe in people, their dreams, and care about all of our clients, who we now consider our extended real estate family.

“FOR MOST OF US, OUR HOME IS OUR BIGGEST INVESTMENT. WHEN IT’S TIME TO BUY WE MAKE SURE YOU MAKE THE BEST DECISION IN PREPARATION FOR YOUR HOME. IN THIS BOOK YOU WILL FIND DETAILED INFORMATION ON HOW TO PREPARE YOURSELF TO BECOME AN EDUCATED BUYER.”

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BUYE Râ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S I N FO

3 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN BUYING YOUR NEXT HOME 1. MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE It is very important to evaluate yourself and your situation to help ensure that buying a home is the right decision for you. We believe in full disclosure and the importance of planning. Some questions you should ask yourself: What reasons are prompting you to move and what is your preferred timeline? Have you went through the pre-approval process? what amount have you been approved for?

If so,

When we find the right home for you, are you prepared to make an offer? 2. YOUR LIFESTYLE Deciding on what type of home you want to live in is just as important as deciding on where you want to live. For some, location is everything. For others, the home is everything. It is important that you decide what is most important for you and what type of lifestyle you truly desire. 3. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Another important decision during the buying process is proximity to important things such as schools, work, grocery stores, and amenities such as shopping centres, restaurants, parks and recreation centres. These things define your lifestyle choice and are not only necessary, but convenient.

MORTGAGE INFO

TEAMS ALWAYS OUTPERFORM GETTING STARTED You’ve decided you want to buy a home. Now what? The first – and most important step to the home buying process is financing. You can’t do anything until you know how much you can afford. To get started, you need to understand what lenders are looking for from a borrower. There are three main factors that help determine if you qualify for home financing: income, assets, and credit history. DIFFERENT TYPES OF MORTGAGES: Getting a mortgage is one thing. Getting a mortgage that best suits your situation is another. Some mortgage have less strings attached but have more strict stipulations, while others may be harder to get, but have more flexibility. It is important to have all the information about mortgages available to you before you decide to move forward in the purchase of a your home. Find out how Len T. Wong & Associates can help you find the mortgage that best suits you. INCOME & ASSETS Most loan programs require the lender to verify all of your income sources. Typically you will need to provide pay stubs, your T-4 and copies of your tax returns. Lenders will also want to go through your assets and how much of a down payment you will have when determining your loan approval.. CREDIT HISTORY All lenders review a borrower’s credit history to determine the type of credit used, the amount owed, and the borrower’s repayment history.

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MOVING CHECKLIST

UTILITY PROVIDERS • Electricity Providers • Telephone Providers • Water & Sewage • Cable & Internet Providers • Gas Providers GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS • CRA • Post Office • Schools • Provincial Licensing • Library • Veterans Administration INSURANCE COMPANIES • Accidental Insurance • Auto Insurance • Health Insurance • Benefits Provider • Home Insurance • Life Insurance PROFESSIONAL SERVICES • Broker • Accountant • Doctor • Dentist • Lawyer BUSINESS ACCOUNTS • Banking Institutions • Cell Phone Providers • Department Stores • Financial Companies • Credit Card Companies CLUBS & MISCELLANEOUS • Country Club • Health & Fitness Club • Recreation Club • Book Club • Other Club SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES • Magazine Subscription • Newspaper Subscription IMPORTANT INFORMATION It is important that you use this checklist in order to be well-prepared when buying a home. The last thing you would want to happen is to move into a home without the necessities in life such as electricity, gas, water, or work/ school related services such as internet/phone, etc. Be sure everything is in order to keep things running smoothly during the buying process. If you need assistance, we are always here to lend a helping hand. It`s what we do!

BUYER’S PREP

THINGS TO KNOW AS AN INFORMED BUYER You’re ready to buy - or maybe you’re just ready to start seriously thinking about buying. There’s a lot you can do to prepare. With so much information available at your fingertips, you may already be doing a lot of your own research. Here are a few things to keep in mind while you get started. DETERMINE YOUR PRICE RANGE The best place to start when buying a home is to find out how much house you can afford. A Greater YYC agent can refer you to a mortgage broker who can assist you with determining how much of a down payment you can afford, comfortable monthly payment, and the type of loan that fits your needs best. Serious buyers who are highly motivated should go through the effort of getting pre-approved; not only will this allow you to focus your home search, but it will also position you as a serious buyer in the eyes of sellers when the time comes to make an offer. MAKE A LIST AND PRIORITIZE Imagine your ideal home and location. Now make a list of everything you envisioned, take that list and break it down from high to low priority. High-priority items are the things you cannot live without in your new home. (Large Bedrooms, Large Closets, High-end appliances, proximity to amenities and schools, etc.). Lower-priority items are those that are an added bonus, but not necessary. (Jetted-tub, landscaped yard). TOUR HOMES IN PERSON AND ONLINE Some people look at several homes before finding just the right one. And others find “the one” immediately. Thanks to the internet, you can streamline your search process significantly by checking out homes for sale online. You can visit open houses and preview everything that’s for sale in your market on one of our websites.

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ONLINE PRESENCE

LETâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GET ONLINE EXPOSURE! We use the Internet and our innovative website to make your listing highly visible. With more than 90% of buyers checking the web first when looking for a home, this is a part of your marketing strategy that you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford to miss. Below shows that 99% of people search for a home using three main search engines. We make sure to be as visible as possible on these platforms to make sure you are as visible as possible.

81% 12% 6% REMAX.COM and The REMAXCollection.com With over 4 million unique visitors quarterly, remax.com is a leading real estate resource for consumers. More than 130,000 leads are generated each month from interested home buyers. GLOBAL.REMAX.COM The first real estate company with true global reach, global.remax. com markets your home to 97 countries in minutes, translating your listing into 26 languages. REMAX.CA Through our massive online, television, outdoor and print ad campaigns, generating valuable exposure for your listing in over 93 countries around the world. Prospective buyers go to our websites remax.ca and global.remax.com to search for listings in their cities and towns. MOBILE REMAX.CA RE/MAX Canada has made it very simple for their customers to review a property for sale, remax.ca is designed to be compatible with all smart phones. By simply logging into remax.ca users can view favorites and browse as they would on a desktop, without downloading any applications.

YOUR WISHLIST

WHAT ARE THE THINGS YOU WANT IN YOUR HOME? First, ask yourself this question: why have you decided to buy a home? What price range are looking to buy in? What type of communities do you prefer to live in and what is your desired location? What type of home are you looking for? Condominium, town home, single family, rural, etc. How important is the size of the home you are looking for? Number of bedrooms/bathrooms, etc. What kind of lot are you looking for? Backyard size, direction and exposure. What type of layout are you looking for? Open floor plan or compartmentalized. Is there a particular architectural style you prefer? Bungalow, two-storey, split-level. What amenities and additional features are you looking for in your new community? Shopping, transit, schools, parks, recreation centres, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.

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WRITING AN OFFER

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW You found the perfect home and now it’s time to write an offer. Your REALTOR will call the listing agent to: • Verify availability. • Determine if there are any other anticipated offers being written on the home. • Ask general questions about timing or special circumstances of the seller that need factored into the offer. This information is used to determine the appropriate price. This is a critical part of the process and the reason why it is always a good idea to use an agent you trust. DON’T INSULT THE SELLERS It is always good to understand that the seller is not going to give away their home for an unrealistic price and unfavourable terms. By recognizing this as a mutually acceptable transaction, the sellers will not be insulted by your offer. On lender-owned and lender-approved properties, there is generally less negotiating room and more competition. The contract is awarded to the highest bidder with the best terms of purchase. INVESTING IN CALGARY Calgary is one of the most prosperous cities, not only in Canada, but also in the world. Calgary’s economy has been pushed by oil development and has made this city a western gem with so many opportunities in real estate and career advancement. Though, oil prices affect the economy and fluctuate prices, real estate in Calgary has become a stable option even during uncertain times. Calgary proves to be a great place not only to live, but to invest with constant development and re-development, a desirable core, high earning families and unique, quaint suburban communities define this booming metropolis. Overall, Calgary gets an “A” for quality of life and it doesn’t look to change anytime soon.

HOME INSPECTION

THE IMPORTANCE OF AN INSPECTION It is a good idea to make sure what you think you are buying is indeed the property you are buying. It is so important to feel comfortable with your purchase during the home buying experience. Feeling comfortable starts with financing, but then leads into feeling confident that your purchase is sound. Having a professional home inspector is the way to gain peace of mind. A proper inspection will cover all areas of the house both structurally and mechanically and give you an objective view of the property. A qualified home inspector will also provide you with a written report indicating areas of concern and the estimated cost of repairs. Here are a few home inspection tips:

• •

• Ensure the home inspector checks for visible issues with plumbing, electrical systems, roof, insulation, walls, ceilings, floors and windows, and the condition of the foundation.

Ensure your home inspector gives you a close and personal look at your new home. It takes about three hours to go through all the systems, and if there are any problems, you will see them with your own eyes. They will also give you maintenance tips and easy fix-ups, if necessary.

• Ensure that in the end, you receive a detailed report that summarizes the condition of your home.

WRITING AN OFFER

HOME INSPECTION

• •

• Ensure the home inspector checks for visible issues with plumbing, electrical systems, roof, insulation, walls, ceilings, floors and windows, and the condition of the foundation.

• Ensure that in the end, you receive a detailed report that summarizes the condition of your home.

WRITING AN OFFER

KYLE AND DANAH DEY Matthew came highly recommended by a family member who had used his services to purchase a home. He took extra care to analyze the current and past market to make sure our home was priced properly and that all the best features were highlighted and listed. He documented accurate measurements and took amazing photos to show the house to the best of its ability. Within hours of being on the market, we had numerous showings and a high level of interest. We received multiple offers within the first 24 hours and although the initial sale fell through due to unforeseen circumstances on the buyers end, within 2 days back on the market it was sold! Matthewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friendly and caring approach made the entire process easy and painless. He worked around our families schedule and always placed our needs above anyone elseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. He was willing to help out wherever he could by making himself available for any questions and/or concerns we had matter the time or offering help where needed. I would highly recommend Matthew to anyone who is planning on selling or buying a home. JANETTE REES If you are looking to buy or sell, this is definitely the team to go with. They helped us sell our house in December (within 48 hours of listing), and when it came time to buy there was no better choice. They are very professional, yet they realize the importance of building a personal relationship as well. They are a one stop shop for real estate needs, and there is no doubt we will use them in the future if needed. *See more testimonials at www.greateryycgroup.ca

HOME INSPECTION

DARREN & DIANA Hey Brad and Matthew, we’re just sitting in the backyard, enjoying a nice wine with the fire-pit going and swinging in the hammock, and we want to say Thanks to The888Sold Team. You guy’s rock. The whole experience of the purchase of a home and the selling of our house has been great. The brochure was fantastic, the photos great, the quick and ongoing communication is unmatched, and the service your provide can’t be comparable to any other Realtor. We enjoyed the honesty and directness from both of you. You gained our trust and we do not just consider you our realtor but a part of our family. Thanks for everything. TREVOR & ALLINA FAUNt From the beginning, Brad made it clear that his priority was making sure that we found exactly what we were looking for. He made sure he knew exactly the kind of place that we needed and he went right to work. When looking at the various properties we felt no pressure from Brad that we had to make a quick decision. He was completely patient to show us as many places as we needed and he made sure that we always had all the necessary facts to make the right choice. When we wanted to take a look a property, Brad would instantly arrange a viewing, no matter how little notice we gave him. He was constantly available and we always felt as though we were his top priority. Within two weeks we had found the place of our dreams and Brad instantly made it his mission to make sure we got the absolute best price. He has tremendous negotiating skills and we were extremely pleased with the final result. We ultimately got our dream condo, in our dream location for a price that was well within our budget. I would completely recommend Brad to anybody looking to buy or sell a property. His knowledge of the real estate market is very thorough and his desire to completely act in the best interest of his clients is apparent. Overall, the experience was extremely positive and we would not hesitate to use Brad again in the future.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY

C : 403 888 SOLD (7653) O : 403 216 1600 E : info@greateryycgroup.com www.GreaterYYCGroup.com

REAL ESTATE (CENTRAL)

#206 - 2411 4 St NW Calgary, AB T2M 2Z8 Each office independently owned and operated