LOOKING

Now that you’ve decided to purchase a home in the Saskatoon or surrounding area real estate market what are the next steps? This is where I step in and help all of my clients and make the looking process as easy and effective as possible. There are thousands of Saskatoon real estate listings on MLS as well as several hundred more private sales. You can find houses on the Saskatchewan MLS system, Kijiji, or even with signs in the front yard. With so much information and so many options how can anyone make a decision and ensure they are getting the right house for them?

Before we actually start looking at houses I want my buyers to be preapproved, preferably through a Saskatoon mortgage broker or, even better, a Saskatoon mortgage specialist. There is a big difference between doing an online preapproval/prequalification and getting a preapproval from a bank or mortgage broker. There is nothing more heartbreaking than finding a house for sale in Saskatoon and falling in love with it based on what you think you can spend vs what your lender determines you can comfortably spend.

PERSONAL CONSULTATION

When starting with a new buyer I prefer to first meet at my Century 21 Saskatoon office to visit about their needs/wants and the real estate process. After we have established that we can work together we then will begin looking at homes for sale in Saskatoon and surrounding area. This section will go more in depth and touch upon the consultation process and what to expect when working together.

WHAT SHOULD I BUY?

Most people have made up their minds before they contact me about what type of property they are looking for, but from time to time, my buyers aren’t sure what kind of home they want—whether it's a condo, house, duplex, etc. This section will explain some of the differences between the different styles of houses and condos and the different lifestyles afforded by each option.

HOW DO WE SEARCH?

Do I send you all of the potentials? Do you send me all of the potentials? Do we work together? In this busy day and age, we have to work together to ensure everyone’s time is managed efficiently so there are different ways of searching and eliminating homes. This section goes over who does what and how we can make the actual showing process as efficient as possible.

IT'S ALL ABOUT LOCATION

The old adage is true! Location, location, location! While you may love a house for sale in Saskatoon and may be able to see yourself living there, if the neighbourhood isn’t want you want or need, there is no point. I will also help new to Saskatoon buyers understand neighbourhoods better so that they don’t end up somewhere they don’t feel safe. This section speaks more to the importance of location.

HOUSE HUNTING IN SASKATOON

Saskatoon is a growing city so when we are out looking at houses for sale in Saskatoon there is a method to how I set up our day and our time. This section outlines what I need from you to get appointments set up and also some of the challenges I face when things change last minute so that we can all avoid any complications.

WHAT HAPPENS WHILE VIEWING HOMES

Often, at showings, the buyer is looking to see if their furniture fits while I am looking at the structure of the place and what is around it. There is also a protocol to follow when viewing other people’s homes and I will go over what you can and cannot do when viewing houses for sale in Saskatoon and surrounding area.

HOW LONG SHOULD THE BUYING PROCESS TAKE?

Some buyers actually buy the first house for sale in Saskatoon that they see. This doesn’t happen often and more often than not they need to see a few other properties for sale before they offer on the first one but generally speaking the process shouldn’t take too long. It depends on a person’s motivation to buy and this section will go over why it may take longer for some than others to find the right house.

FOR SALE BY OWNER

When I work with buyers, I ask them to keep me informed if they see something on the MLS® system or listed privately so I can help them. It is the largest purchase of your life so you shouldn’t be expecting the seller to look out for your best interests and in private sales the owner is looking out for themselves, not you. So this is how I handle for sale by owners in Saskatoon and surrounding area and why you don’t want to go it alone.

OPEN HOUSES

Open houses can be a great way to preview houses without your agent with you or to get ideas of what you want in a home. But many Saskatoon real estate agents will actually do Open Houses with the sole purpose to try and pick up new real estate buyers. In this section, I will let you know what to say to the Saskatoon REALTOR® who is hosting the open house so that you aren’t roped into signing up on their websites or other.

WHAT HAPPENS IF KARI IS NOT IN TOWN?

It is rare that I take time off so if I am going to be out of the city and you are actively looking at homes for sale in Saskatoon you will be given a heads up and I will set you up with my licensed assistant or one of my colleagues so you are still looked after in my absence. Whether it is to view a couple of houses or to put in an offer, I will still be in the loop and there for advice to my clients, my assistant or my colleague and as with the advances in technology I can always stay connected. If I am in the country it is much easier for me to be in the loop but for those rare times that I am out of the country I ensure to have systems in place so that you are still looked after as if I am here. I ask for loyalty from my clients as I work hard for them wherever I am and if I happen to be away for a day and you buy a house with another agent that I don’t have you set up with I have been working with you for free which is hard on my pocket book. Saskatoon real estate agents don’t get paid for all of the hours and days of work we do until we close a deal so that means until our buyers purchase a house through us.

As soon as you write an offer with a Saskatoon REALTOR® that isn’t me or one of my colleagues that I have pre-arranged an agreement with I don’t get paid so no matter what please communicate with me if you have any concerns. I am loyal and hardworking with my clients and will often sacrifice family time to spend with my clients out looking at houses for sale so if they don’t remain loyal to me it is disappointing. I don’t usually make buyers sign a “Buyer’s Brokerage Agreement” which means you have to write an offer with me no matter what otherwise you are responsible for paying me as I build a trust with most of my clients. Some have proven me wrong but most are great.

Kari Calder 2017

Take the next step in your journey

I look forward to working with you and helping you reach your home ownership goals. Reach out to get in touch and start the process today. I offer:

Personalized service

Local market knowledge

Excellent communication

Strong negotiating skills

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