There are two ways to be seen on the major search engines, according to Randy Edgar , President of Computer Camp a real estate technology training company. May business owners are using "sponsored links" or pay-per-click" to buy their way to the top of the search engines. However, a study done at Penn State shows that consumers use "pay-per-click" less that 16% of the time. So, here's a question for you . . can you afford not to have 84% of the market?
And if you don't have a website at all, can you afford not to seen be in the game?
Randy Edgar can be booked to speak at your next event, Email him at Randy@ComputerCamp.net
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The union representing Airdrie's Emergency Services insists their decision to join the International Association of Fire Fighters was not driven by a desire to become adversarial or confrontational with their employer, the City of Airdrie. Airdrie's Emergency Services is not looking for big wage increases or grievances, that's not been part their efforts to organize Airdrie firefighters. Firefighters have become have become a partner with the city. The International Association of Fire Fighters promotes the concept that labour relations are a partnership.
Airdrie's Emergency Services voted Nov. 4 to join the International Association of Fire Fighters and the motion passed with 79 per cent approval, with 56 of 57 eligible voters responding. Membership in the union will provide Airdrie's Emergency Services access to professional development and training as well as provide worldwide networking opportunities.
International Association of Fire Fighters is the largest professional organization representing firefighters, firefighter safety and the public safety with respect to fire protection and emergency based EMS. They provide the support and resources to help them succeed at the local level. To the Airdrie frontline firefighter, International Association of Fire Fighters provide Airdrie's Emergency Services a window into that network that's a fraternity of firefighters worldwide and a tight-knit family."
Having Airdrie's Emergency Services associated with the International Association of Fire Fighters can only mean better safety and service for Airdrie's Residence.
Speaking of safety and service, As a Realtor I can appreciate how joining a larger group such as the International Association of Fire Fighters can be of great assistance. Canadian Realtors have the their local Boards, Provincial Associations ,such as ; Alberta Real Estate Association and the Canadian Real Estate Council, to assist us with Training, government representation, operational guidelines and consumer protection. Making our industry one of the most regulated, to assure that we provide fairness, safety and educated members . I know I appreciate having such dedicated associations behind me giving my clients the assurance they are working with a true professional.
ALL LOGOS BELOW ARE LINKS:
Bill
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Situated in the exclusive community THE COVE, in the Lake Side community of Chestermere, this Two storey home has over 2300 Sq Ft of living space above grade, your whole family will love this home! The main floor features a formal dining room/flex room and open concept great room, kitchen and breakfast nook. The 2nd floor boasts a Master suite with separate sitting area and 5 pce ensuite along with two additional bedrooms and a main 4 pc bathroom. This home is on a quiet cul de sac.
CALL : Bill Jones for a Private Viewing - 403-701-1739
Great family home in the Canals of Airdrie. 2 storey with 3 bedrooms, bonus room and 2400 Sq FT of living space. Cozy family room with fireplace is open to spacious nook & good sized kitchen with ceramic tile flooring,maple cabinetry, island with breakfast bar & walk-in pantry. Main floor den is conveniently placed for home based business. The master includes a luxurious ensuite with jetted tub & separate shower plus walk-in closet.Quiet location with west facing back yard and deck. Side door access to lower level with many large windows and R.I. plumbing ready and waiting for your specific requirements.
CALL : Bill Jones for a Private Viewing - 403-701-1739
"Rich, how much will the seller take for the house? Well, taking the rest of the contract into consideration, the seller will more than likely accept the listing price." Frankly, what the heck else did you expect me to say?
Even though some agents ask that question, thats really not what they're after. There is usually a pause after I tell them the seller will accept the listing price. What they frequently say next is, "my client wants to make an offer, but I don't want to waste your time." I don't know about you, but for me, its never a waste of my time to review a written offer with my sellers. Thats my job.
At least be honest. It really is about wasting your time, having to write an embarrasingly low offer, isn't it? If you're working with a client who thinks they can grab some listing by offering 50 cents on a dollar, you probably are wasting your time. As a buyer's agent, you really need to ask yourself whether your client is a serious buyer.
Experienced agents know whether their buyer clients are serious, or just tire kickers. You would be surprised how many people fall asleep in front of the tv and wake up in the middle of the night to an infomercial. "Real estate riches for 50 cents on the dollar, or less." This is where many of them hook up with an unsuspecting agent to do their dirty, time wasting work.
If your buyer client is wasting your time, I'm sorry. If you have an offer, even a low one, send it over. I never consider it a waste of time to do my job.
Moving is always a challenging time and there are a number of companies that need to be contacted whether your moving in or out.
In order to make it a bit easier for anyone moving into or out of the Airdrie Alberta area, I have listed below the phone numbers of the companies that you will need to contact to arrange for the connection of utilities in you new home.
Direct Energy (Gas)1-866-420-3174
Direct Energy (ATCO Electric) not Airdrie1-888-240-3181
To get name of any retailer for area1-877-427-4088
Epcor (power)1-800-667-2345 or 310-4300
Telus (phone)403-310-2255
Shaw Cable403-716-6000
City of Airdrie (water, sewer, garbage collection)403-948-8859
If you have questions regarding which school your child will attend, please contact either the Calgary Catholic School District or Rockyview School Division and they will connect you to the superintendent of schools and make the necessary arrangements for you.
I sincerely hope that this will help to make your move to our area less stressful. If I can be of more assistance to you, I can be reached at 403-701-1739 9 am to 9 pm Daily
Bill
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Calgary, November 2, 2009 – The Calgary housing market continued to rebound in October, according to figures released by the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB®).
“Calgary’s housing market has clearly turned a corner,” says Bonnie Wegerich, president of CREB®. “We expect there to be a few bumps on this road to recovery but we believe the worst is over. Home prices have held firm and edged upwards in some markets over the past months. This has helped buoy up the confidence of both buyers and sellers.”
The average price of a single family Calgary metro home in October 2009 was $462,465, showing an increase of 1 per cent from September 2009, when the average price was $459,085, and showing an increase of 3 per cent from October 2008, when the average price was $449,100. The average price of a Calgary metro condominium was $289,155, showing no significant change from September 2009, when the average price was $290,253, and no significant change over last year, when the average price was $289,148. Average price information can be useful in establishing trends over time, but does not indicate actual prices in centres comprised of widely divergent neighbourhoods, or account for price differentials between geographical areas.
“Move-up buyers have clearly entered the market,” says Wegerich. “This is reflected in the average price for a single family home cresting just above $462,000—historically the highest it has ever been in the month of October. Nonetheless, our median price is $410,000, indicating affordability still remains in the market. We expect upwards pressure on prices will ease as more listings come on to the market.”
The number of single family homes and condos sold in October 2009 in Calgary metro are also both up from the same time a year ago.
October saw 1,285 single family homes sold in Calgary metro. This is an increase of 57 per cent from October 2008, when single family home sales were 820. This is an increase of 2 per cent from 1,257 sales in September of this year. The number of condominium sales for the month of October 2009 was 601, an increase of 51 per cent from October 2008 when 399 condominiums changed hands. This was an increase of 4 per cent from the 580 condominium transactions recorded last month.
“Improved consumer confidence has helped fuel this rebound. It seems for many potential homebuyers it was global-wide uncertainty rather than personal financial circumstances that was holding them back from making a home purchase,” says Wegerich. “Many of these buyers are now facing improved affordability, and lower mortgage rates than prior to the recession—together these created a tipping point for market recovery.”
“The recent lift in sales over the past several months does represent a release in pent-up demand that built up in the last quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009,” acknowledged Wegerich. “We do expect this recovery to be a gradual one and for sales to taper off in the winter months as this pent-up demand eases.”
Single family Calgary metro new listings added for the month of October totaled 1,819, a decrease of 2 per cent from September 2009 when 1,857 new listings were added, and showing a decrease of 22 per cent from October 2008, when 2,322 new listings came to the market. Calgary metro condominium new listings added in October 2009 were 859, down 9 per cent from September 2009, when the MLS® saw 940 condo listings coming to the market. This is a decrease of 20 per cent from October 2008, when condominium listings were 1,071.
The median price of a single family Calgary metro home in October 2009 was $410,000, showing a 3 per cent increase from September 2009, when the median price was $399,900, and up 5 per cent from October 2008, when the median price was $390,000. The median price of a condominium in October 2009 was $263,500, down 1 per cent from September 2009, when the median was $265,000, and down 2 per cent from October 2008, when the median price was $268,000.
All Calgary metro MLS® statistics include properties listed and sold only within Calgary’s city limits. The median price is the price that is midway between the least expensive and most expensive home sold in an area during a given period of time. During that time, half the buyers bought homes that cost more than the median price and half bought homes for less than the median price.
“Canada’s housing market has been a bit of an unexpected bright spot in this current recession,” notes Wegerich. “Unlike recessions in the past, borrowing costs have so far remained very low. This, along with improved affordability, has been fundamental to the recovery in the Calgary housing market.”
CREB® is a professional body of 5,337 licensed brokers and registered associates, representing 250 member offices. The board does not generate statistics or analysis of any individual member or company’s market share. All MLS® active listings for Calgary and area may be found on the board’s website at www.creb.com.
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During the cold winter months, homeowners in most of the country find it necessary to turn on the heaters to keep warm. You can save energy when heating your home by taking the time to winterize for maximum energy savings.
Due to increasing energy costs, winter heating will consume an increasingly larger portion of a household's energy budget. That's why it's important to check your home to insure that your heating dollars aren't being wasted.
The end of summer and the beginning of fall is a perfect time to get your home ready for the ensuing cold-weather months. Use the steps listed below to help formulate a plan to winterize your home.
Check For Leaks
Weatherstripping and caulking are the least expensive, simplest, most effective way to reduce energy waste in the winter. Improperly sealed homes can waste 10% to 15% of a home's heating dollars.
Check around doors and windows for leaks and drafts. Add weather-stripping or caulk any holes that allow heat to escape. Make sure doors seal properly.
If your windows leak badly, consider replacing them with newer, more efficient ones. Remember that replacing windows can be expensive - it could take you quite awhile to recover your costs from the energy savings alone.
Every duct, wire or pipe that penetrates the walls, ceiling, or floor has the potential to waste energy. Plumbing vents can be especially bad, since they begin below the floor and go all the way through the roof. Seal them all with caulking or weather-stripping.
Electric wall plugs and switches allow cold air in. Pre-cut, foam gaskets that fit behind the switch plate can effectively prevent leaks.
Don't forget to close the damper on your fireplace if there is no fire burning. This acts as an open window.
Examine your house's heating ducts for leaks. Since you don't see them everyday, ducts can leak for years without you knowing it. They can become torn or crushed and flattened. Have damaged ducts repaired or replaced. Duct tape can work for a short time, but after a while, it dries up and becomes useless.
Check Your Home's Insulation
Insulation reduces the heat flowing out of your home during the winter months. Ensuring that your home is properly insulated will help your save energy when the temperatures drop.
Insulate your attic. In older homes, thin can be the most cost-efficient way to cut home heating costs. Prior to energy efficiency standards, homes were often built with little or no insulation. As a result, large amounts of heat is lost through walls, floors, and ceilings. The amount of insulation that you should install depends upon where you live. Insulation is measured in R-values, or the resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the less resistant the product is to heat flow. Ask the salesperson at your local hardware store about the recommended R-values for your location.
Weather-strip and insulate your attic hatch or door to prevent warm air from escaping out of the top of your house. Since warm air rises, this type of heat escape is common.
Seal holes in the attic that lead down into the house, such as open wall tops and duct, plumbing, or electrical runs. Any hole that leads from a basement or crawlspace to an attic is a big energy waster. Cover and seal them with spray foam and rigid foam board if necessary.
Check Your Heating System
Autumn is the perfect time to perform routine maintenance on your home's heating system to ensure that it is running efficiently, and effectively during the winter.
Replace your heater's air filter monthly. Since your heater will have to work less hard, it will run more efficiently. Cleaning and removing dust from vents or along baseboard heaters will have the same effect.
If your heating system is old, you might consider updating it. A pre-1977 gas furnace is probably 50 percent to 60 percent efficient today. Modern gas furnaces, on the other hand, achieve efficiency ratings as high as 97 percent. Replacing an old heating system can cut your natural gas use nearly in half!
Use your set-back thermostat if you have one. If you don't have one, get one. A set-back thermostat allows you to automatically turn down the heat when you're away at work or when you're sleeping. you can then boost the temperature to a comfortable level when you need it. It takes less energy to warm a cool home than to maintain a warm temperature all day. Using a set-back thermostat can cut heating costs from 20% to 75%. Reverse the switch on your ceiling fans so they blow upward. This is especially valuable in high ceiling rooms, where heat that naturally rises is forced back down into the room.
Make sure all hearing vents are opened and unblocked by furniture or other items. This will ensure that the air is evenly distributed through the home.
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Remember to service your smoke alarms on November 1, when changing your clocks back. "It's a great habit to service your smoke alarms in conjunction with changing back your clocks," says Chuck D'Amico, Assistant Chief of Community Safety, Airdrie Emergency Services. "When smoke alarms are properly installed and maintained, the risks of fire deaths are reduced significantly. When a fire starts, smoke spreads fast and the smoke alarms give you time to get out. "
To service a smoke alarm, change the batteries on all battery operated units as well as test those that are hard wired. Other tips for maintenance and installation from the National Fire Protection Association, includes:
· Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
· An ionization smoke alarm is generally more responsive to flaming fires, and a photoelectric smoke alarm is generally more responsive to smoldering fires. For the best protection, both types of alarms or a combination alarm (photoelectric and ionization) should be installed in homes.
· Test alarms monthly by pushing the test button.
· Smoke rises; install smoke alarms following manufacturer's instructions high on a wall or on a ceiling. Save manufacturer's instructions for testing and maintenance.
· Replace batteries in all smoke alarms at least once a year. If an alarm "chirps", warning the battery is low, replace the battery right away.
· Replace all smoke alarms, including alarms that use 10-year batteries and hard-wired alarms, when they are 10 years old or sooner if they do not respond properly.
· Be sure the smoke alarm has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
· Alarms that are hard-wired (and include battery backup) must be installed by a qualified electrician.
· If cooking fumes or steam sets off nuisance alarms, replace the alarm with an alarm that has a "hush" button. A "hush" button will reduce the alarm's sensitivity for a short period of time.
· An ionization alarm with a hush button or a photoelectric alarm should be used if the alarm is within 20 feet of a cooking appliance.
· Smoke alarms that include a recordable voice announcement in addition to the usual alarm sound, may be helpful in waking children through the use of a familiar voice.
· Smoke alarms are available for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These devices use strobe lights. Vibration devices can be added to these alarms
• Smoke alarms are an important part of a home fire escape plan.
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Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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"Rich, how much will the seller take for the house? Well, taking the rest of the contract into consideration, the seller will more than likely accept the listing price." Frankly, what the heck else did you expect me to say?
Moving is always a challenging time and there are a number of companies that need to be contacted whether your moving in or out. 
changing your clocks back. 
