montreal real estate broker: Montreal West Island Real Estate Market - Third Quarter 2012 - 12/03/12 12:59 AM
While last month I wrote about the larger Montreal real estate market and specifically September’s results, this time I’ll focus more specifically on the Montreal West Island real estate market.
The chart below shows the West Island* results for the third quarter of 2012 compared to the third quarter of 2011, using statistics presented by the Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards in their MLS® Barometer.
Overall, the number of residential sales was down in the third quarter of 2012 compared to the same quarter last year, particularly in the condo market which saw a decrease in sales of 21%. The … (6 comments)

montreal real estate broker: How's the Montreal real estate market? - 10/10/12 11:13 PM
As a Montreal real estate broker, I’m often asked, “How’s the Montreal real estate market doing, Tanya?”
If I was bluffing or had my head in the sand, I’d say, “Great!”  But I don’t bluff and the sand gets in my eyes. If I was a pessimist, I’d say, “Terrible.” But my glass is always half-full.
In reality, the answer is much more complicated…as am I.
Here are some highlights of the latest analysis* by the Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards, looking at the figures for August 2012 and comparing these to the figures for the same month last year … (12 comments)

montreal real estate broker: Five Suggestions for Struggling Montreal Home Stagers - 01/07/12 07:45 AM
It is telling that these days the majority of calls I get for Montreal home staging come in the form of home stagers looking for work.  I know home staging in Montreal has yet to really kick off.  We Montrealers are not at all impressed with, nor do we feel the need to follow, what our fellow citizens in other parts of the country nor the continent are doing.  It's part of what makes us unique.
But it's also part of what makes it tough if you're a Montreal home stager looking for work.
I went from being a Montreal home stager to a … (25 comments)

montreal real estate broker: All the home staging in the world won't sell an over-priced home. - 01/25/11 06:49 AM
"All the home staging in the world won't sell an over-priced home."  That's what Nairn Friemann, a great New York home stager, told us during my first day of home staging training back in 2007. 
I was reminded of those words today as I went out to preview homes for sale here in Montreal's West Island and saw a beautiful house that's just come on the market. 
The home is gorgeous: not too country and not too modern, well-renovated kitchen, nice lot, no loud colours to turn off buyers, no disproportionately large furniture eating up entire rooms, stylish accessories, lovely art and … (12 comments)

montreal real estate broker: Thankful Thursdays - September 30, 2010 - 09/30/10 02:31 AM
Have you ever read one of Susan Mangigian's Thankful Thursday posts?  They're so heartfelt and genuine, they're inspiring.  So here I am, doing my first one.  I'm afraid it's going to sound cheesy, but here goes anyway.
I've always been a bit of a perfectionist.  ("...a bit of...?"  My sister is laughing her head off right now.)  While I have high expectations of others, they're not nearly as high as the expectations I have of myself. 
And when I make a mistake, I get really upset.  Really, really upset.  Oh you may not see it on my face...or do you?  But if you could see inside of me, you'd … (14 comments)

montreal real estate broker: Sometimes, you need to sell your house to find your home. - 07/16/10 12:07 PM
I met with a wonderful client today to discuss selling her home and what my analysis showed its market value to be.  She lives here in Kirkland, Quebec.  She called me after getting one of my nifty postcards, saying it was unlike any other she had seen from a real estate agent (mission accomplished!). 
As we spoke, it became clear that she had outgrown her home.  The things that had appealed to her when she bought it -- big home, quiet neighbourhood, away from the action, young families around -- now imprisoned her, in a way.  Her days of raising little ones were over.  Her … (11 comments)

montreal real estate broker: A Big Part of "List"ing is Listening - 06/08/10 05:54 AM
I love it when I hear a non-salesy, common-sensical approach to gaining business.  'Cause I'm not salesy at all.  Never have been, never will be.  I tried to be salesy once, while working in a clothing store to help put myself through university.  I ended up stalking the client who said she didn't want my help throughout the store, pretending to be fixing the clothes on the racks near her.  She knew what I was doing...and ran away.  Then I ran away too.
I'm now a Montreal real estate broker and Montreal home stager, but I'm still not salesy.  And I have no intention of … (40 comments)

montreal real estate broker: The Difference Between Montreal Home Staging and Interior Decorating - 08/17/08 05:04 AM
What is the difference between Montreal home staging and interior decorating?
As a Montreal home stager and Montreal real estate broker, where home staging is still a relatively new concept, I'm often asked, "What's the difference between home staging and interior decorating?"
There are many, not the least of which is the fact that interior decorating caters to the tastes and preferences of one home owner/family, while Montreal home staging caters to the tastes of a whole pool of potential buyers for a home.
But it goes beyond that too. Here's a picture of a room that we were presented with at … (21 comments)