Budget Blinds

Every month I write a blog about local companies that are involved in the housing industry in some fashion. I will be writing about companies that can help you the home owners in your day to day lives. Last month was a company called Ground Werx Coatings read their story here

This month I am doing a story on Budget Blinds. Heather and Craig are another great example of entrepreneurs. In addition to Budget Blinds they also own Go Tire. They are in the process of applying to Dragons Den so they can franchise that venture.

Budget Blinds can offer you whatever you need in window coverings. They will come into your home for a free consultation and show you what is possible in your price range. As Heather tells me every job is different and costs are based on your affordability, amount of windows needing covered and your choice of covering.

Heather can offer you many different types of coverings including drapery, exterior shades, rollers, romans, pleated, shutters, and both horizontal and vertical blinds. One aspect I am interested in is the window film. I recently sold a home with a south facing bay window that had the window film. My clients told me that their livingroom stayed cooler last summer after they had it installed and they lost very little natural light out of the room.

From a Realtor point of view if you are thinking of selling your home new window covering will make your home more attractive. Old discolored blinds that may or may not work make the room look drab where new blinds can make a room more vibrant. Window coverings are usually an after thought when buying a home but done properly can give a home a great feel. Most new home construction does not include window coverings.

Thats where Heather and Craig come in. Each window covering is custom made to your taste.

Heather and Craig have been in business since 2006 as a Budget Blind rep and should be very proud that they have been in Budget Blinds top 20 for sales since then. One of those years they were #1. Budget Blinds now have over 80 stores across Canada.

Take a look at their website for more information

Give them a call, I am sure they will help in any way they can.

Thanks for reading

Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage

2007 – 5 years ago

Its hard to believe but 2007 was 5 years ago. If you bought a home 5 years ago your mortgage may be coming up soon. 2007 saw 2240 homes in Red Deer sell. If 50% of those took a 5 year mortgage then they will be renewing this year at one point. I am suggesting 50% because some sold, some took 3 or 4 years some probably walked away.

My thoughts are this. If 1120 homeowners need to renew this year what are they thinking?

My thoughts are that real estate is a long term  investment. Most people cannot expect to buy a home and sell in a few years and make a profit. Your home is just that – a home. If you are happy and comfortable then I suggest to renew ( at a lower interest rate now) and forget about it. Over time your equity will come back and it will be a worth while investment.

Just my thoughts.

Thanks for reading

Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage

Expired or cancelled listings

I recently did a search for properties in Red Deer that failed to sell for one reason or the other. So far in 2012 we have had 79 homes come back off the market that did not fulfill their wish – to sell their home.

Why? why did their home not sell while others did? I have a few opinions.

First – is price, do you know that sometimes a small price reduction can make the difference between people coming to look at your home and not having showings.

Presentation – how a home seller leaves the home in order to show it. Is everything perfect and in its place.

Smells – does your house have a pet odour that you have grown accustomed to while prospective buyers dislike.

Your Realtor – has your realtor showed you comparable properties that have sold since you listed.

Thinking of selling and want an honest straight forward Realtor that will show you how your shows best?

The answers you want are the ones that will sell your home.

Thinking of selling?

Call Ken at 403-350-1192, I will set up an appointment to view your home and give you my free evaluation where I think your home should be priced an how my outside the box thinking will get your home SOLD.

Thanks for reading

Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage

Find me on Twitter @kendevoe 

Budget Blinds

Every month I write a blog about local companies that are involved in the housing industry in some fashion. I will be writing about companies that can help you the home owners in your day to day lives. Last month was a company called Ground Werx Coatings read their story here

This month I am doing a story on Budget Blinds. Heather and Craig are another great example of entrepreneurs. In addition to Budget Blinds they also own Go Tire. They are in the process of applying to Dragons Den so they can franchise that venture.

Budget Blinds can offer you whatever you need in window coverings. They will come into your home for a free consultation and show you what is possible in your price range. As Heather tells me every job is different and costs are based on your affordability, amount of windows needing covered and your choice of covering.

Heather can offer you many different types of coverings including drapery, exterior shades, rollers, romans, pleated, shutters, and both horizontal and vertical blinds. One aspect I am interested in is the window film. I recently sold a home with a south facing bay window that had the window film. My clients told me that their livingroom stayed cooler last summer after they had it installed and they lost very little natural light out of the room.

From a Realtor point of view if you are thinking of selling your home new window covering will make your home more attractive. Old discolored blinds that may or may not work make the room look drab where new blinds can make a room more vibrant. Window coverings are usually an after thought when buying a home but done properly can give a home a great feel. Most new home construction does not include window coverings.

Thats where Heather and Craig come in. Each window covering is custom made to your taste.

Heather and Craig have been in business since 2006 as a Budget Blind rep and should be very proud that they have been in Budget Blinds top 20 for sales since then. One of those years they were #1. Budget Blinds now have over 80 stores across Canada.

Take a look at their website for more information

Give them a call, I am sure they will help in any way they can.

Thanks for reading

Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage

Open Houses – Are they worth it?

As a consumer do you think open houses are worth having and attending?

If you were selling your home would you want your Realtor to host open houses?

As a buyer do you go to them?

For me – the Realtor –  I like them.

When you hire me to sell your home I will try any means I can to sell your place. An open house is just another form of advertising that shows your property to prospective buyers. I find it more effective than any newspaper ads. A newspaper ad will tell you the normal ’4 bedroom 3 bath 1800SF 2 storey priced at $479,000′ with a grainy picture. Where as an open house you see the real house in real life.

By the way I am doing an open house on 134 Sutherland Close in beautiful Southbrook this weekend:

Please stop by either Saturday or Sunday 2-4

So for me open houses are a valuable tool, the more people that see your house the better chance you will sell.

If you are thinking of selling I would love the opportunity to come over, view your home and do my evaluation. Hopefully one day you will allow me to host an open house on your home.

Thanks for reading

Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage

Follow me on Twitter @kendevoe

Smarter Bolder Faster

If you watched the Super Bowl this past weekend you may have seen Century 21′s new ads. As a Century 21 Realtor these ads impressed me. They are catchy. The bassy catch phrase “SMARTER BOLDER FASTER’ grabs your attention.

As a consumer does it matter what the catch phrase means? Do you give it a second thought? Would you call a Century 21 realtor because of the ads?

To me the ‘SMARTER BOLDER FASTER’ means that we are industry leaders. When I joined Century 21 7 years ago I wanted to be part of a winning team. A team that leads the industry in sales, in technology and adaptation of new ideas. We are #1 in Red Deer in sales because of all these. Our ownership team and realtors are usually on the cutting edge of what is new and available to better market your home. In Red Deer our Advantage team is not the largest team but are on average the most active of any office in our area. In Canada we have probably the most intensive company website you will see.

So what does that mean to you the home owner? It means your Century 21 realtor has the tools to promote your home to its best possibilities. For you it means your Century 21 realtor has the ‘smarter bolder faster’ mentality and shows that he has more opportunities for in house courses which gives him that bolder abilities in which to market your home. Faster to me means as a busy office we get things done quickly. That does not mean we rush, it means we use our time to make sure you are comfortable in your decisions.

So ‘SMARTER BOLDER FASTER’ as a tagline. I LIKE IT. It sets Century 21 apart, much like our realtors do.

My Favorite Century 21 commercial:

So if you are thinking of selling please give me a call at 403-350-1192 or leave me an email at ken.devoe@century21.ca and lets get started.

Disclosure – I do not own a unicorn and one will not be available for your open house

Thanks for reading

Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage

Ground Werx Coatings

Recently I had an experience where a local company really had a profound impact on me. It was nothing to do with real estate but it made me think. What other local companies are around that help people in their daily lives that could be of benefit for my clients. I thought I would write the occasional blog to promote such companies.
My first blog is about a company I heard about through a local paper. The Lacombe Globe did an article on this guy who lost his job during the recession a few years ago and made lemonade out of a lemon. The company is Ground Werx Coatings and they do seal coating for driveways. Lawrence Hiebert is the owner/operator. His process is simple, Lawrence will come to your home and refresh your old asphalt driveway. Ground Werx concentrates on acreages and parking lots basically because the equipment he uses requires a bigger area and as he explains to me the smaller driveways in town can be done by the home owner. Ground Werx does not have a set price per job because every job is different, because of size and condition of your driveway or parking lot before he starts.
Lawrence is a true entrepeuner. He has started a company during a down turn in the economy. His biggest issue would seem to be the unpredictable Alberta weather. With our summers sometimes being short and active weather wise, the seal coating season is usually from middle of May to the middle or late September.
If you would like more information from Lawrence about having your acreage driveway or parking lot done take a look at his website at www.groundwerxcoatings.com or call at 403-318-3006.
You can also see the article I talked about at: Lacombe Globe article

Watch for Ground Werx at local home and trade shows this summer.

Good luck to Lawrence and please keep checking back for more local businesses.

Thanks for reading
Ken Devoe – Century 21 Advantage