Hi everyone:

[caption id="attachment_1191" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Photo by ryemang's photostream on Flickr"][/caption]

I've written about the subject of selling privately on the MLS®, which at this point in time is not an option. In fact, to my knowledge, it is never going to be an option, as this would simply reduce the M.L.S. ®' effectiveness to that of just another private sales website.

So what then are a Winnipeg home sellers options for selling his house or condo:

1) Word of Mouth: Just ask your friends, neighbours and relatives. Perhaps put a poster up at the church, your local grocery store and a few telephone posts. Advantage: Its FREE. Disadvantage: Your market access is very limited, and chances of getting a full price, let along top-dollar offer are very remote.

2) KIJIJI, Craigslist, Local Newspapers: Run some ads on local community sites like those mentioned here. Many of these are even free, although for a few dollars you can 'highlight' your listing. Advantage: Still very low-cost. Disadvantage: Although you are accessing a larger market than with word-of-mouth, your 'reach' is still limited.

3) Private Sales Companies: There are dozens of these, just Google "private sales companies" and you will see lots of choices. Advantage: Larger market reach, internet exposure and better chance of finding A buyer. Disadvantage: More significant cost and no money-back guarantee. If you cant sell your house or condo, you've missed out on being a "NEW LISTING", once you call a real estate agent, because home-buyers will know that you could not sell for x-number of weeks. So these are the options for selling privately.

4) Listing with a REALTOR® on the M.L.S. ®.

Access the entire home-buying market all at once. Disadvantage: Not the cheapest method. There are discount brokers around who will list your home on the M.L.S. ® for less, but like most things in life, you get what you pay for. Advantage: Access to a huge market of buyers, best chance at getting multiple offers and top dollar for your house or condo.

Even if you DO choose to list with a REALTOR®, you have plenty of options. Each REALTOR® has their own marketing plan and price. Click here for a look at my marketing plan.

If you're thinking of selling your house or condo, please call me anytime for a personal market evaluation and one-on-one consultation and discussion of all your options. Bo Kauffmann 333-2202

Hi everyone:

As we do every month, Winnipeg REALTORS® have issued their monthly real estate market update on MLS® statistics regarding the sales and listings of houses and condominiums in Winnipeg for September 2010.

[caption id="attachment_1191" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Photo by ryemang's photostream on Flickr"][/caption]

As always, these statistics cover the sales and listings for the entire south-east area of Manitoba, including Winnipeg, Steinbach, and all towns and rural areas in this vircinity. For a look at my own real estate market update of Winnipeg-only, see this Real Estate Market Update Video.

For the month of August, 2010, Winnipeg REALTORS® report that sales were down 12% when compared to August 2009, and dollar-volume was off 5%. Overall, however, dollar volume for the year was up 11% to this point, when compared to 2009. As well, the numbers of listings entered onto MLS®, at 14,843 so far, was up 15% when compared to the same time in 2009.

As usual, the most active segments of the market were homes in the $150,000 to $199,999 range, and the $200,000 to $249,999 range, which had 22% and 21% of the market, respectively. This is to be expected, as these usually represent the price ranges for 'first time buyers', who are after all the driving force behind the Winnipeg Real Estate Market.

Days on Market, which measured the time it take to sell a home, for residential detached homes was at 30 days, which is equal to August 2009, and 2 days slower than July this year. Of note is the fact that homes in the $150,000 to $200,000 range sold in only 20 days. Condominiums are still an excellent alternative for the first time buyer.

As for condominiums, the most active price ranges were in the $150,000 to $199,999 range, followed by the $100,000 to $149,999 range at 33% and 27% respectively. Average days on market for condos was 34 days, which is 3 days slower than July, but 6 days faster than August 2009.

For a complete look at the press release, click on Press Release 09-09-10 August 2010 MLS Statistics

If you're thinking of buying or selling a house or a condo in Winnipeg, call Bo Kauffmann of Remax Performance Realty for a realistic market evaluation. Call 204-333-2202 today.

Hi everyone:

With approximately 1400 Real Estate agents in Winnipeg, home sellers appear to have a lot of choice when it comes time to sell their house or condo in or around Winnipeg. Some choose to go with an agent they've used before, perhaps even a relative or close personal friend. Some folks shop around for the lowest commission, but selecting a Listing Agent isn't the same as buying a pound of flour: All REALTORS® are NOT the same, and they don't use the same marketing plans. So when it comes time to list your Winnipeg house or condo, compare agents based on what they do for you!

Perhaps the biggest difference between Listing Agents is their Marketing Plans. The average agent is content to placing the home onto the MLS®, perhaps show it on their own website (assuming they HAVE a website) and advertising it in the local Winnipeg Real Estate News. Here is a graphic of what their plan might look like:

Average Agent Marketing Plan

I've always been taught: average efforts bring average results. The average agent sells 17 homes per year in and around Winnipeg, and the average Listing has a success rate of approx. 70% (give or take a point or two).

Now, with 80-85% of buyers starting their search on the internet, I personally feel that no marketing plan is complete without comprehensive Internet Promotions. My listings also go on the MLS®, into the Winnipeg Real Estate News and into my website, but my plan goes well beyond those points. Here's a look

My Marketing Plan for your Winnipeg Home

[caption id="attachment_1140" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Extensive Marketing Plan for your Winnipeg house or condo"][/caption]

I believe that when it comes to marketing your home or condo, 'more is better'. Some of my competitors have said "Achh, you don't need all that stuff, Winnipeg's market is hot and houses sell quickly". Keep in mind that 70% of houses sell...... which means 30% DON'T. By the time a home-seller discovers himself to be in that 30% group, it's usually too late to add "all that stuff"....   Like my dad always said "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

For YOUR market evaluation, call me anytime. Bo 333-2202

Real Estate Market Update report for Winnipeg in September 2010. Stats on listings and sold houses and condos in Winnipeg's hot real estate market

Here we take a look at how many homes are available on the real estate market in Winnipeg, and how many have sold in the past 31 days in Winnipeg. By combining these factors, we get a good idea of where Winnipegs Real Estate Market is heading.

If you're thinking of buying or selling a house or a condo in Winnipeg, please call my anytime. Bo 333-2202

Hi everyone:

I just came across an excellent resource for mortgage rate, interest rate, insurance rate and credit card rate information. Check out the blog at ratesupermarket.ca

This site features input by some very impressive contributors. While NO ONE can predict interest rates with 100% accuracy, being able to draw on the experience of some of the countries top mortgage experts gives ratesupermarket a nice advantage in this effort.

The site blog includes categories such as Mortgage Tips, Housing Market, Real Estate and dozens of others.

This month's Mortgage Rate Outlook predicts that fixed rates are expected to remain the same, 'with downward bias', and variable rates are also expected to remain the same.

This continues to be an excellent time to purchase a house or condo in Winnipeg. Inventory levels are up slightly, and due to summer vacations, buyer activity is down a little, meaning that your chances of finding and actually getting a house are increased.

If you're looking to purchase a home (house or condo) in Winnipeg, please call me anytime. Bo 204-333-2202

Hello Everyone:I just wanted to give you a quick look at the real estate market in one of Winnipeg's upscale neighbourhoods:  Lindenwoods and Linden Ridge.Currently, there are only 12 homes for sale in this prestigious area, ranging in price from $359,900 to $874,900.  in the past 31 days, 10 homes have sold here, ranging from $365,500 to $820,000 in price.Looking back to the month of June 2010, there were 18 homes sold in Lindenwoods-Linden Ridge, ranging from $319,900 to $625,000.  Of those, 6 sold ABOVE list, 6 sold BELOW list and 6 sold AT LIST price.During the month of July 2010, we saw 21 homes sold, ranging from $320,000 to $820,000 in price.  Of those, 16 sold BELOW list price while 5 sold ABOVE list price, although in most cases, the difference was small.As expected, during the July (and probably for August as well), bidding wars do slow down.  Savvy real estate agents take this into account when setting the list price of the home, as they can no longer count on 'multiple offers', and are well advised to set a more realistic asking-price for the home.If you are looking to buy a home or condo in Winnipeg, please call me for a copy of my Home-Buying Guide, explaining the process of finding, offering on, and getting a home in Winnipeg.If you are thinking of SELLING your Winnipeg home or condo, call me for a straight forward, realistic market evaluation and a look at my Customized Marketing Plan for your home.Bo  333-2202

Hi everyone:

With approximately 1400 Real Estate agents in Winnipeg, home sellers appear to have a lot of choice when it comes time to sell their house or condo in or around Winnipeg. Some choose to go with an agent they've used before, perhaps even a relative or close personal friend. Some folks shop around for the lowest commission, but selecting a Listing Agent isn't the same as buying a pound of flour: All REALTORS® are NOT the same, and they don't use the same marketing plans. So when it comes time to list your Winnipeg house or condo, compare agents based on what they do for you!

Perhaps the biggest difference between Listing Agents is their Marketing Plans. The average agent is content to placing the home onto the MLS®, perhaps show it on their own website (assuming they HAVE a website) and advertising it in the local Winnipeg Real Estate News. Here is a graphic of what their plan might look like:

Average Agent Marketing Plan

I've always been taught: average efforts bring average results. The average agent sells 17 homes per year in and around Winnipeg, and the average Listing has a success rate of approx. 70% (give or take a point or two).

Now, with 80-85% of buyers starting their search on the internet, I personally feel that no marketing plan is complete without comprehensive Internet Promotions. My listings also go on the MLS®, into the Winnipeg Real Estate News and into my website, but my plan goes well beyond those points. Here's a look

My Marketing Plan for your Winnipeg Home

[caption id="attachment_1140" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Extensive Marketing Plan for your Winnipeg house or condo"][/caption]

I believe that when it comes to marketing your home or condo, 'more is better'. Some of my competitors have said "Achh, you don't need all that stuff, Winnipeg's market is hot and houses sell quickly". Keep in mind that 70% of houses sell...... which means 30% DON'T. By the time a home-seller discovers himself to be in that 30% group, it's usually too late to add "all that stuff"....   Like my dad always said "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

For YOUR market evaluation, call me anytime. Bo 333-2202

Hi everyone: With approximately 1400 Real Estate agents in Winnipeg, home sellers appear to have a lot of choice when it comes time to sell their house or condo in or around Winnipeg.  Some choose to go with an agent they've used before, perhaps even a relative or close personal friend.  Some folks shop around for the lowest commission, but selecting a Listing Agent isn't the same as buying a pound of flour:  All REALTORS® are NOT the same, and they don't use the same marketing plans.  So when it comes time to list your Winnipeg house or condo, compare agents based on what they do for you! Perhaps the biggest difference between Listing Agents is their Marketing Plans.  The average agent is content to placing the home onto the MLS®, perhaps show it on their own website (assuming they HAVE a website) and advertising it in the local Winnipeg Real Estate News.  Here is a graphic of what their plan might look like:

Average Agent Marketing Plan

I've always been taught:  average efforts bring average results.  The average agent sells 17 homes per year in and around Winnipeg, and the average Listing has a success rate of approx. 70% (give or take a point or two). Now, with 80-85% of buyers starting their search on the internet, I personally feel that no marketing plan is complete without comprehensive Internet Promotions.  My listings also go on the MLS®, into the Winnipeg Real Estate News and into my website, but my plan goes well beyond those points.  Here's a look

My Marketing Plan for your Winnipeg Home

[caption id="attachment_1140" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Extensive Marketing Plan for your Winnipeg house or condo"][/caption] I believe that when it comes to marketing your home or condo, 'more is better'.  Some of my competitors have said "Achh, you don't need all that stuff, Winnipeg's market is hot and houses sell quickly".  Keep in mind that 70% of houses sell...... which means 30% DON'T.  By the time a home-seller discovers himself to be in that 30% group, it's usually too late to add "all that stuff"....   Like my dad always said  "Better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it."

For YOUR market evaluation, call me anytime.  Bo  333-2202

Hi everyone:

When the time comes to sell your house or condo, and you decide, like 90% of home owners, to 'list' your home with a real estate agent, how do you select from the 1400+ REALTORS® in Winnipeg? With some many choices, you would think that the choice would be a difficult one. Well, not really, as about 95% of agents follow the same program: List the property on the MLS® and let the system do the work. Nothing wrong with that, but there are a few other upgrades available.

In Winnipeg, REALTORS® seem to have 3 different ways of getting the home owner to choose their service: Quote the highest listing-price, Offer the lowest possible commission or (gasp) Offer an outstanding service coupled with an excellent marketing plan.

In this 3 part series, I will explain the pitfalls of the first 2 options, starting with that age-old favorite of the desperate agent: "Quote the Highest List Price".

So here is the scenario: You (the home-owner) call 3 agents to ask their opinion as to the value of your home. This is actually the wrong thing to do, as it invites agents to promise and predict higher and higher selling prices. Instead, the owner should be interviewing agents to find out their marketing plan for the home which is being sold. Anyway,.... I digress.

So agent #1 comes into the home, and the discussion turns to the value or price of the home. The agent pulls out some comparable properties and they seem to indicate a sale price of approx. $200,000.

The next day, agent #2 enters the home, and his comparable properties also seem to suggest a sale price of $200,000.

On day three, the miracle worker arrives: He looks at the house, (or condo) and 'ooohs' and 'aaahs' over the selection of colors, the 'stunning' beauty of that crystal chandelier, the functionality of that re-painted kitchen. Yes, his comparable properties also indicate a sales price of around 200,000, but since he runs a big team of agents, he is confident that he can get $220,000 or maybe even $230,000.

When reading this article in the cold light of day, we all realize the projected outcome, and we are likely to say :"Oh, come one.... this would NEVER fool ME." Well, folks, it happens every day.... and it works!!! Home-owners like to hear nice things about their homes, and they love positive projections and predictions, and so the "Big-Team" leader gets the listing. Many times with predictable outcome. Here's an example of what happens:
Agent #1 suggested a list price of $199,900.

Agent #2 suggested a list of $214,900. Homeowner lists with #2.   A few weeks into the listing, the price is reduced to $204,900 and then again to $199,900 and the home finally sells for $197,000.

IF the home had been listed at the proper price in the first place, it would most likely have sold right away, and very likely even with multiple offers, driving the price up from $199,900. Instead, it languished on the market, and after a few weeks, and a couple of price reductions, the 'bargain hunters' start coming out.

The home owner in this example probably never realized that a 'big team' has obligations to feed their assistants, and as such, the pressure to get the listing "at any price" is great. The reasoning is :"Better to get the listing at a high price and then reduce it later, than NOT to get the listing at all".

Now I wish to assure you that NOT all agents operate like this, but as a homeowner, please remember this: Look for other difference between agent #1, #2 and #3, but DO NOT choose by the higher quoted listing price alone.

In the next article, I will look at method #2: Offering the discount commission.

Until then, if you're thinking of selling your house or condo, please call me anytime for an objective opinion and diverse marketing plan for your home.

Bo 333-2202

Hello everyone:

Let's start with a "Note to Home-Sellers: STOP listing your homes for LESS than you are willing to ACCEPT!!!!"

So here is the scenario: I've got a buyer, pre-qualified and approved for up to $200,000. This week, we find a nice home, listed at $196,000. The home-owner has tried the "Showings Start Friday, Offers on Tuesday" deal, in an effort to bring in multiple offers and drive the price up. Alas, its July and they only had a handful of showings, and no offers.

So my buyer decides to write a very nice and clean offer, and we present it to the Listing Agent and the owner. My buyer is 'pumped'.... could this be the one? I'm excited too. ... Until we get the call that the owner has turned down the offer! And NOT JUST turned it down, but refusing to even counter-offer it. As the Listing Agent explained, the owner had her sights set on $20,000 more, and would not sell for the asking-price.

And so my initial caution from up top: DON'T list your home for less than you're willing to accept!"

I understand that there are times in the year when a low-pricing strategy will work. It's a pretty safe bet that, given our current market, if you list your home with a REALTOR® in the spring time, and the home shows well and is priced well, you're going to get multiple offers. Unfortunately, some agents rely on this strategy ALL YEAR LONG, but guess what: Marketing Strategies are not like Spandex pants: One Size DOES NOT fit all!

Even Winnipeg's hot real estate market will have slow times, such as July and August, and again in December-January.   a strategy which works in April or May, could backfire on you in July, when Winnipeg Home Buyers traditionally 'take a break', and instead of 35 showings, the home receives only 6 (or even fewer).

Experienced agents, who have been thru these seasonal cycles, understand this, and create special marketing plans for these situation. (Actually, the Marketing Plan should fit not only the season, but the type and style of home as well.... ONE SIZE DEFINITELY does NOT fit all situations).

Now for the good news: Just because the market is a little slower, does NOT mean you wont get as much money as your neighbour did in the spring!! It just requires a different approach, a plan that does not simply count on "Low-Price = Bidding War" type of thinking.

So if you are a home-owner thinking of selling their home, call me for your special and customized marketing plan. One of the first questions I will be asking is "When are you thinking of selling?"..... because the timing is an important factor in creating the proper marketing plan for your home.

Hi Everyone:

I just checked the condo-availability for Winnipeg, and found that there are currently 276 Condos in all price ranges. Lets look at some of the different price ranges:

$140,000 to $200,000:

There are 68 condos available in this price range, which many people would consider an 'entry-level' type of investment. In this price range you can expect to find 1 or 2 BR,s outdoor parking spot, most likely a Window A/C unit (although some of these might have central air), insuite laundry and balconies. There are some very nice condos available in the Swindon-Tuxedo area in this price range.

$200,000 to $300,000:

There are 87 condos available in this price range. Here you could expect to find Central Air, underground heated parking spots, larger suites (1000 sq ft and up) and more.

$300,000 to $500,000

Here you could expect to find a newer building and an upscale neighbourhood, such as Wellington Cr. Amenities should definitely include underground parking, c/air and furnace, and most likely a nice view of the river or the city. There are currently 61 condos available in this price range.

$500,000 and up:

Luxury galore: Expect full-service such as security personnel at the door, large suites and the better locations and views. There are only 13 condos in this price range, including 4 condos over $1 million, all of which are located on Wellington Cr.

If you're thinking of buying, or selling, a condo in Winnipeg, choose your agent wisely: While all REALTORS® are allowed to sell condos, not all of us are equally trained, experienced and qualified to do so. As a current condo owner, and past president of a condo board, I am ready to help you with your condo-decisions. Call me anytime.... 333-2202

Hi Everyone:

Here is my Real Estate Market Update for July 2010. We take a look at how many homes and condos are on the market on June 30th, and then compare it to how many have sold in the past 30 days.

We also compare those stats with sales of houses and condos in Winnipeg over the past 6 months to see where we are heading.

Winnipeg Real Estate Market Update report for July 2010, examining listings and sales of homes and condos in Winnipeg Real Estate Market

If you're looking to buy or sell, a house or a condo in or around Winnipeg, please call me anytime.
Bo 333-2202

Hello Everyone:

Do you own rental property, and feel that now is the right time to sell? You may be right, as property values have far outstripped our Province's controlled rent increases. As your rental income has increased by 2% to 3% each year, the value of the property may have incresed by around 10-15% a year.

Case and point: I recently listed a nice little house on Winnipeg Ave.

When I first saw this property, which had a tenant in it, the value would have been somewhere around $50,000, sold "AS-IS". The owners heeded my advice, gave the tenants their notice, cleaned and fixed the home up, and listed it for $89,900. In the end, it received multiple offers and sold for even more than that.

2nd case and point: I have a buyer for a condo in Lindenwoods. We were trying to get a look at this condo, which is tenant-occupied by a 'non-co-operative' (read: JERK) tenant, who keeps the place messy, and disrupts showings. This is not uncommon, as tenants quite often don't like the idea of 'their place' being sold, forcing them to find alternative accomodations. And so a condo, which should have sold quickly, has been on the market for 2-1/2 months, causing he owner grief and possible loss of money.

If you own property, and wish to sell it, call me first. Here is a short video on WHY it is in your best interest to sell the home WITHOUT the tenant in it.

Hi everyone: This has happened to me on a couple of occasions:  I meet with a new buyer for the first time, and we start to go over the buying process.  In this meeting, I explain what the market is doing, how best to write an offer, and generally discuss and describe the entire buying process. On more than one occasion, the buyer exclaimed:"We never knew THAT!".....  or, better yet: "Our LAST agent never explained THAT." In speaking to them further, I learn that they had been receiving listings from another agent, gone out to look at a few houses, tried to put in an offer and were promptly 'blown out of the water' by other, better prepared buyers.  So here is my point : FINDING a house or condo is the easy part.  The listings are out there, on MLS®, in magazines and newspapers and on the internet.  But FINDING is only a small part of what I do....  the key is in the PREPARATION.  To be blunt: We're not buying a pair of pants, a book or a loaf of bread.  We ARE about to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars into the real estate market, and we're doing it at a time when there is heavy competition for the same house we want to buy.  Being PREPARED is key to winning these multiple-bid situation. I have created a "Home-Buying Brochure" which helps my house and condo buyers understand the process.  A PDF version of this brochure is attached here for your information.  I do hope you find it helpful.  If you have any real estate related questions or comments, please call me anytime.  And of course, if you're looking to buy a house or condo, I'd love to help you FIND and GET the home of your choice. Click here to download your Free Guide:                          Bo's Home-Buying Guide

Hi everyone:

This has happened to me a couple of times this spring: a 'new' client (new to ME) calls me and we meet in my office and discuss the house (or condo) buying process. I will usually ask; "Have you looked at homes recently?" On a couple of occasions, the reply has been; "Yes, but our last agent didn't explain anything to us. He just sent us the listings and when we wanted to write an offer, we lost the house by $30,000"

Those buyers were not upset at loosing the house..... they WERE upset at getting 'blown out of the water' with no guidance or assistance from their real estate agent.

And so the reason for the headline of this post: "FINDING a house or condo is EASY". It really is. Here is what you do: Pick up the phone or send an e-mail to any one of the 1400+ REALTORS® in Winnipeg. Most will be only to happy to set you up on an automated search thru the new Keystone MATRIX® search system (an excellent system, by the way... check out this video)

After setting up the search, you'll be receiving listings by the dozens, maybe even by the hundreds. Then, when you find a house you like, you can call or e-mail that REALTOR® and go see the house and then even write an offer on it. This is where the problem occurs. Are you truly prepared for the bidding process? Have you been pre-approved by the RIGHT lender? Are your funds still tied up in RRSP's and will it take a couple of weeks to free them up? What's the house of your choice really worth? Can you trust the agent (whom you've never met until the day of the offer)? How much are your "Closing Costs"......

These questions just scratch the surface of what is required to actually GET the house or condo of your choice. So, FINDING it is easy....... GETTING it requires a little prep-work. That's why I start out with a meeting in our office, where we can make certain that you are prepared and ready.

If you're serious about buying a house or condo, call me anytime. Let's get started...

Bo   333-2202

Hello everyone:

In order for the home-seller to be assured top dollar in Winnipeg's hot real estate market, it is in their best interest to create a bidding war, or multiple offer situation. Why?

"It is only thru competition that we try our hardest and achieve our best!"

I don't know who said this first, but I firmly believe it's true. Think about it: Track and Field records are not set during practice runs. They are set during the Olympics and World Championship events, when competition is at its highest level. The same holds true for the sale of a house. EVERY buyer thinks the house is over-priced, especially if he is the only one making an offer. If there is NO competition, the buyer will try to get the house at a reduced price. However, if the buyer realizes that there are 3 or 4 other people who are also putting in an offer, they then put their best foot forward and present their best, cleanest and highest offer.


Creating a bidding war is in the home-sellers best interest. If you're thinking of selling, be sure to call me and I'll be glad to sit down with you and explain how this works. Bo: 333-2202

Hi everyone:

After issuing a market update for Lindenwoods I wanted to take a look at Whyte Ridge, another very popular Winnipeg neighborhood.

Currently, there are 9 homes for sale in Whyte Ridge, 8 of which are priced between 259,900 and $400K. The 9th home is over a million dollars.

In the past 30 days, a total of 9 homes have sold in Whyte Ridge.

For the 30 days before THAT, (between Feb 18th and March 18th), 7 homes sold in Whyte Ridge.

If you're thinking of selling a home in Whyte Ridge (or anyplace else in WInnipeg, for that matter), please call me for your market evaluation.

...and if you're thinking of buying a home or condo, in Whyte Ridge or other areas, please call me for a free consultation.

Bo 333-2202

Hi everyone:

It's funny how, when we have a Listing in a certain neighborhood, we tend to pay extra-special attention to that neighborhood. And so it is with Lindenwoods, where my client's home at 6 Hawkesbury Cr. is for sale.

A few weeks back I reported that there were 14 active listings in Lindenwoods, a number which increased to 25 active listings during the past couple of weeks (NOT counting condos), and has now gone back down to 18 homes.

Of those 18 homes, 9 are between $300,000 and $400,000. Whats even more significant is the fact that in the past 30 days, 22 HOMES HAVE SOLD in Lindenwoods.

This is a significant increase from the 30 day period between Feb 18th and March 18th, when only 3 homes sold in Lindenwoods.

If you're thinking of SELLING a house in Lindenwoods, right now may be an excellent time to do so.

If you're looking for a house (or condo) in Lindenwoods (or other parts of Winnipeg), please call me anytime.

Bo 333-2202

Hi Everyone:

There is an old saying that goes: "Your home is never more exciting than the first couple of weeks on the market". So when you put your home on the market (and I mean the REAL MARKET, by LISTING IT with a REALTOR®), make sure that your home shows it's best.
Because here is a bit of reality: About 80% of your total showings are going to happen in the first 5 days...... This is very important to remember.
When you put your house on the market, there are any number of potential buyers who have been waiting for YOUR HOME. And they will rush in to see your home in the first few days, checking it out to see if it's worth competing for. If the buyers find fault with your home, they simply move on to the next one and MAY NEVER RETURN.
So it's very important to have your home as 'show-worthy' as possible. Here are a couple of simple tips to get you started:

1) CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN
Counters, bathrooms, carpets, lights, windows. Kitchen cupboards, sinks and the garage. Clean everything. Don't leave buyers with a bad impression.

2) DECLUTTER
Kitchen counters should be empty, except for perhaps those Tea-Sugar-Flour-Coffee canisters. Less furniture is better than too much. Box up everything you don't need. You could designate a room in the basement as the 'junk room' and move extra stuff into there.

3) PAINT
If there are any areas where the paint is fading or flaking, paint it. Stay away from the wild colors and stick to earthy, neutral tones. That "Bright Red" kitchen wall looks funky in a magazine, but is not everyone's cup of tea.

These are just a few things to get you started. If you're looking to sell your house or your condo, call me for more advice and to show you my marketing presentation.

Bo 333-2202

Hi everyone:

As a real estate agent, I receive many requests to "Send Me Some Listings". Many of my competitors are putting out ads that say "Call me for the latest listings", and it seems that the average house and condo buyer believes that this is all an agent does. In my humble opinion, FINDING the listings is just a small part: I think that PREPARING an EDUCATING the buyer to compete in today's market is far more important. This is also a reason why several buyers have recently come to me after working with other agents and seemingly getting nowhere.

Here is my list of 7 Reasons Why a house or condo buyer in Winnipeg should be working with their own agent!

1) Save Time

As their agent, I can show ANY listing to my buyer. Whether it's Re/Max®, Century 21®, Royal LePage® or any of the 180-plus brokerages in Winnipeg.

2) Save Money

Often, I may be able to save my buyer money when it comes time to make the offer. I may have valuable information regarding the listing of their choice, which can help the buyer make an informed decision.

3) Convenience

Every call a Listing Agent and wait for hours for a call-back? And then make the appointment according to the agent's schedule? By working with me, my buyers enjoy direct access, quick callback and convenient showing scheduling.

4) I Represent My Buyer

Did you realize that the Listing Agent works for the Home-Seller. Doesn't it make sense to have your own REALTOR® working for you?

5) Get Results

There are ways to win these "Bidding Wars", and yes, even ways to avoid them in the first place. Let me show you how.

6) Get the "Straight Goods"

You may not always like the answers, but you're gonna get 'em.

7) My service is Free

That's right. No gimmicks. In every case, the Home-Seller has already set aside the amount for a Buyer's Agent.

So if you're thinking of buying a house or a condo, please call me anytime. I'll make certain that you're prepared for the market, and represent you every step of the way.