Springtime Selling Tips

Springtime selling tips Inventory almost always rises in the spring. Why? Because the largest number of buyers are actively searching for a new home during the months of April, May and June – although Calgary’s spring is arriving a little late this year. Your clients may be asking how they can make their homes stand out among the sea of new listings. Here are some tips to share with them: • Wash windows inside and out: Sparkle sells homes. A potential buyer may not realize why a home seems so inviting but will feel drawn to it if the windows are spotless and reflect sunlight. • Rake the yard / trim back bushes: Clean out dead leaves and debris. Don't let overgrown vegetation block windows or the path to the entrance. • Mow diagonally and edge lawn along driveway / sidewalks: Artfully manicured lawns show the seller pays attention to the details. Diagonally mowed lawns make a yard appear larger. • Transplant tulips and daffodils or buy flowers in containers: Research shows that yellow flowers stimulate buying urges and induce feelings of happiness and contentment. • Clean drapes, curtains & blinds and open every window: Wash, dry and press window coverings. Toss blinds into a soapy bathtub for a quick wash. Get rid of all accumulated dust and spider webs. Crisp linens and a spring-time breeze through the windows invites the season inside. • Set out fresh-smelling flowers such as just-clipped lilac branches or peonies: Natural scents are more appealing than artificial and trigger fewer allergies. • Polish floors to a high gloss: Hardwood floors should be refinished, if necessary. Make ceramic and linoleum floors twinkle and shine. Bleach dull grout. Thoroughly clean all area rugs. • Utilize towels, throws, pillows in light colors – yellows, pinks, pale blues, lavenders: Towels, linens, throws and sofa pillows are inexpensive accents. Replace aging items. • Offer an outside mat for cleaning shoes: Spring weather is often unpredictable, it can be 18 degrees one day and snowing the next – as Albertans well know!

Greengate Power sells Blackspring Ridge Wind Project

This is a news clip from the Vulcan Advocate - published April 8, 2013: Greengate Power Corporation has announced that it has completed the sale of its construction-ready 300 MW Blackspring Ridge Wind Project to Enbridge Inc. and EDF EN Canada Inc. Greengate will provide development services to Enbridge and EDF EN Canada during the construction of Blackspring Ridge. Located in Vulcan County, Blackspring Ridge is expected to be Western Canada’s largest operating wind energy project upon completion in 2014. Enbridge and EDF EN Canada will each own 50 per cent of the Project. Blackspring Ridge represents the largest investment in wind energy in Alberta at approximately $600 million. The sale of Blackspring Ridge follows the successful sale of Greengate’s construction-ready 150 MW Halkirk Wind Project in June 2011. Halkirk is currently the largest operating wind energy project in Alberta, but will be surpassed by Blackspring Ridge once it is operational. These two projects, totalling 450 MW, are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 20 million tonnes over 25 years, provide a clean source of power to approximately 200,000 homes and result in nearly $1 billion of investments in wind energy in Alberta. “The sale of Blackspring Ridge to Enbridge and EDF EN Canada ensures that Western Canada’s largest wind energy project will be constructed and that the associated economic and environmental benefits will be realized,” said Dan Balaban, President and CEO of Greengate. “This successful project is another example of the world-class development capabilities of our team.” CIBC World Markets Inc. acted as financial advisor to Greengate in connection with the sale of Blackspring Ridge. With the sale of Blackspring Ridge completed, Greengate will now focus its attention on advancing the development of the other projects in its portfolio. This portfolio includes the 150 MW Paintearth Wind Project which is immediately adjacent to Halkirk, the 150 MW Wheatland Wind Project which is immediately adjacent to the operating 88 MW Wintering Hills Wind Power Project, and the 150 MW Stirling Wind Project which is in close proximity to the operating 30 MW Chin Chute Wind Power Project.

And they're off....!!!!

The residential real estate market in Vulcan has not been all that busy since the start of the year. Let me rephrase that...buyer's putting pen to paper for residential properties so far this year has been slow. We have had people shopping around, but as far as sales go, not too much has been going on. As least that was the case up until a week or so ago. Three offers on Monday and another Wednesday had me hopping! And since then, my day timer has been filling up with showing appointments. Commercial property interest is still active, and agricultural land has lots of interest as farmers are gearing up for the planting season. It's about time!