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No one wants to deal with a burglary. How do you reduce the chances of one happening?

 

Fortunately, burglaries are a well-studied phenomenon — especially by law enforcement. These studies have identified specific things you can do to cut the risk dramatically. Here are some ideas:

 

• 34% of home break-ins occur through the front door. Experts recommend investing in a door with a top-quality locking mechanism. (The best are those that lock at three points of contact.)

 

• 50% of burglars will be deterred if your home has some sort of video monitoring system. A thief doesn’t want his face on YouTube!

 

• Unfortunately, signs and window stickers warning of an alarm system do not deter thieves. However, 62% of burglars will immediately run away when an alarm goes off. Always turn on your alarm system when you’re not home!

 

• 22% of burglaries occur through a sliding glass door or patio door. Make sure it’s locked and also use a solid metal jammer.

 

• Some thieves use frequency scanners to gain access to garages. Police recommend changing your remote entry code regularly and putting blinds or curtains on garage windows so thieves can’t see (and be tempted by) any valuables inside.

 

As you can see, there are many simple things you can do to reduce your chances of a burglary dramatically. The effort is worth it.

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Determining if you should buy a new home or fix up your current one isn’t easy.  In fact, the decision can be steeped in so much drama they make reality TV shows about it!

 

So if you’re considering whether to move or improve, here are three things to consider.

 

1. Will a renovation truly fix what you don’t like about your property?  If you’re tired of a small kitchen, for example, it might not be possible, given the layout, to make it any bigger.  On the other hand, if you’re craving a spacious rec room with a cosy fireplace then a renovation could make that happen.

 

Of course, there are some things you may want that aren’t specific to your house, such as an easier commute or nearby park.  Those are features you may only be able to get by moving.

 

2. How much will a renovation cost?  How does that compare to the cost of moving to a new home?  It’s important to get accurate estimates of each so you can make a smart decision.  This is where a good REALTOR® can help.

 

Keep in mind that renovations have a habit of costing more than you originally anticipate. As mentioned earlier, the final result should be a home you want to stay in for quite some time.

 

3. Beware of compromising versus settling.  Whichever decision you make — renovate or sell — you can expect to have to make at least some compromises.  That’s normal.

 

For example, consider adding an extension to your house. That’s a major renovation.  Is it the ideal way to get the extra room you want?  Do the benefits of renovating outweigh the benefits of finding a new larger home designed to include the space you need?

 

Yes, it’s a tough decision.  If you’re in the midst of making it, call today, to get the facts you need to make the best choice for you.

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Saskatoon continues to hold its own in the face of challenging economic times. Year to date the number of homes that have sold over $700,000 has increased by 18% for a total of 26 units. This has helped to keep the average sale price for Saskatoon at $344,000 which is only 2% below the average a year ago. By comparison, the median price for a home in Saskatoon was up 1.2% Overall unit sales are down 6% year over year from 764 units to 715. March saw a slowing in the pace of the number of homes listed for sale helping to slow the growth of the inventory. At the end of March there were 1,857 properties available for sale in the city of Saskatoon, an increase of 6% over 2015.The number of days to sell a home on average in Saskatoon in March was 46.
 
The CREA Composite Home Price Index was down 2.7% from last March indicating that there continues to be a very slight decline in housing prices overall. Homes that are sold by Saskatoon REALTORS® are realizing just over 97% of their asking price and are selling in 46 days on average. "Economics tells us that an increase in supply levels will have levelling or declining effect on prices" comments Jason Yochim, CEO of the Saskatoon Region Association of REALTORS®, "Having said that, there are segments of the market that are performing well provided homes are priced properly" he adds "this will generate the interest needed to obtain a strong sale price. A REALTOR® not only has the market expertise but is objective and emotionally detached from the transaction."

The sales to listing ratio is determined by dividing the number of sales for the month by the number of newly listed homes. This ratio for March was 38% which is consistent with last year. A ratio lower than 40% is considered a buyers' market.

By comparison, the market surrounding Saskatoon, which includes rural residential property, the cities of Warman and Martensville and smaller bedroom communities, has experienced a 12% decrease in unit sales year to date. The number of combined first quarter sales in the cities of Martensville and Warman has been declining steadily over the past three years. In 2014 the year to date sales were 134 units, in 2015 107 units and in 2016 the total number of unit sales was 82. The average price for a home in Warman this year is $373,000 compared to $327,000 in Martensville while the median price is $359,450 and $318,759 respectively. In Warman and Martensville the average days to sell was 55 and 59 respectively.  -Source: April 2016 SRAR Media Release
 
Looking for a good REALTOR®?  Call today.
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