Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category

After Threats of Legal Action I Had To Move This Blog Re: Alarm Companies

Monday, July 5th, 2010

I wrote  a blog on my Century 21 website a year ago based on several articles that were in the paper about practices by some alarm companies.  I was contacted on Canada Day by one of the US companies referred to in the articles and threatened with a law suit.  I am a small fish but apparently my blog goes a long way as I ticked a lot of people off (hence the bullying phone calls and 3 or 4 letters from bulldogs at these companies and their lawyers). To be honest, it has reinforced my belief that consumers need to be aware of the reports about foreign alarm companies reportedly operating in Saskatchewan. As a realtor in Saskatoon I believe that my clients need to be aware of any reported and/or potential property related scams or unscrupulous businesses. In addition to raising awareness of potential problems related to home ownership my practice has always been to refer clients to Saskatoon locally owned and operated companies in order to avoid the potential pitfalls of dealing with foreign companies.

Some other links to consider when shopping for alarm companies:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Pinnacle+Security+falsely+claims+member+Better+Business+Bureau+Saskatchewan/3162647/story.html

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/06/burglar-alarm-scam-door-to-door-salesman-ane-driggs-utah-better-business-bureau-ron-walters-security.html

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/r-article-a-40962-m-7-sc-31-avoiding_alarm_scams-i

http://www.chrisd.ca/blog/13373/home-alarm-security-scam-manitoba/

Here is the EDITED version of the blog that caused so much ruckus and controversy.

I was recently contacted by one of the owners of a local security company as the Better Business Bureau of Saskatchewan has been receiving hundreds of complaints about home security ‘salespeople’ that have been going door to door and misrepresenting security companies in Saskatoon and Regina. I saw these young men (from Alberta by their plates) going door to door this past weekend. They didn’t stop at our house perhaps because we had a security sign on our front step and it was not a local security company so they likely couldn’t find it on their list. We did the old trick of putting up a sign without having an alarm-now we have Reed Security as I trust them!

I had a neighbour with a local company’s sign on their lawn who told me that these guys told them they were with that company…but I know all of the sales people there and this was not the case.

These US based companies are reported to operate under several names but may be linked and the names mentioned in the articles can easily be accessed on the internet. Do a google search and see for yourself, but it is my opinion based on my experience and the information available to me that signing up for an alarm plan, or any other plan or product for that matter, should be avoided if it is the result of high pressured sales tactics. Stick with your locally trusted companies and don’t be pressured by unscrupulous sales people from any company who show up at your door.

Here is a link that warns Saskatoon consumers:

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Business/warns+public+about+high+pressure+sales+tactic/1683942/story.html

(Apparently they got to the Star Phoenix too as this article appears to be removed)

I am advised that these salespeople may see your security company sign and tell you that they work for that company and then try to give you a “Free upgraded” alarm system, but this upgrade will actually cost you about $45/month and it isn’t through your current supplier. They also reportedly try to name drop and tell you that your neighbour X has upgraded their system, even though they probably did not and I have heard they especially like to go after seniors.

Be aware of these high pressured sales tactics.

SO that was the blog that started this whole thing and my lawyer agrees that as a Saskatoon Realtor and as someone my home buyers in Saskatoon trust to help set them up with quality people that it is reasonable for me to want to warn my Saskatoon home buyers of any reported and/or potential scams or questionable businesses, especially first time home buyers in Saskatoon.

When choosing and alarm company it is always advisable to do your due diligence by checking out the companies you wish to deal with (ie: do they have a local office, have they been reported to the Better Busineses Bureau, do they have local references…). If you do choose to use any company that is not locally based it is always prudent to do your own due diligence and get references but ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS ask them for the business cards before allowing them to even speak to you and ask them to leave any contracts and documents with you for your review before you agree to anything.

Good luck consumers! Hopefully this post by a small fish realtor in Saskatoon won’t warrant more threats as I do believe in freedom of speech!

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon
653-8222

New Listing 106 Blakeney Crescent

Monday, July 5th, 2010

I am pleased to say that previous Saskatoon home buyers are already using me to list their house for sale in Saskatoon. It is a great compliment to have repeat business and as a Saskatoon realtor I am very happy to say that I have had a lot of that in my 3 short years as a Saskatoon real estate agent.

My most recent house for sale in Saskatoon is located at 106 Blakeney Crescent in Confederation Park. This lovely and well cared for home features a heated verandah, laminate throughout main floor and bedrooms, open kitchen with island and pantry, 1.5 bathrooms, basement that is framed and wired, and plenty of room for a garage. This house for sale in Saskatoon was built in 2005 and is 1156/2 (not included the 4 season heated verandah).

If you are looking to buy a house for sale in Saskatoon this is a great listing and a great price at only $259,900.

Contact your favourite Saskatoon realtor for a personal showing or if you don’t have a realtor in Saskatoon please contact me as I work with many first time home buyers in Saskatoon and can walk you through the entire process of buying a house for sale in Saskatoon (or buying a condo for sale in Saskatoon).

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
306-653-8222

Been Away for A Bit Moving-New Price on Stonebridge House

Monday, April 26th, 2010

We have recently moved again within the city of Saskatoon so blogging has been put on the backburner. It has been a busy month for real estate in Saskatoon so packing the house for sale in Stonebridge was left until the last minute…which means unpacking has been interesting! I am a Saskatoon realtor (r) who works with enough Saskatoon first time home buyers and Saskatoon home sellers that I know better, but when it comes to yourself it is easy to give advice and not take it!!

We moved from our house for sale in Stonebridge to our newly built house in Willowgrove. We were fortunate with the weather as it was the sunniest and hottest Friday in the past 3 weeks (freak snow storm the Friday before and rain this past Friday, so our moving day was GREAT!)

With more houses for sale in Stonebridge I have recently reduced the price of 107 Robertson Cove to $389900 from $399900. This is a great house for sale in Saskatoon as it is almost new and the landscaping is done including the driveway and walk way. In the muddy weather of spring I value the finished driveway more than you can imagine after moving into my new mud pit of a yard in Willowgrove. There are many houses for sale in Willowgrove and many new houses being built in our area that makes for muddy streets and sidewalks…not much fun for me or the dog as having a dog and a new house in Saskatoon means a muddy house!

We are also already missing the ameneties in Stonebridge as our runs to Home Depot have been on a huge increase with the work of our new house. We used to be a 5 minute drive from our favourite spots; Home Depot, Wal Mart, Winners Home Sense and for food-Wok Box! Now it takes about 15 minutes from our new house in Willowgrove but we still run over to Stonebridge to get most things as the amenities there are better than anywhere else in the city of Saskatoon it seems.

If you are looking to buy a house in Saskatoon or to sell your house in Saskatoon I would love the opportunity to earn your business. I am a motivated and active Saskatoon Realtor (r) who loves what I do so I hope to be able to help you with all of your Saskatoon real estate needs.

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
www.karicalder.com
653-8222

2009 Awards Gala

Monday, April 12th, 2010

I was off to Regina, Sk last week for the annual Century 21 Awards ceremony for Saskatchewan Century 21 Agents. We had some great speakers and a lovely awards ceremony and I was proud to see my fellow Saskatoon realtors(r) winning awards. Approximately 70% of Saskatoon Century 21 Agents won an award and Century 21 Conexus Saskatoon in the Top 10 for all of Canada for production.

It is always exciting to watch my fellow Saskatoon real estate agents winning their awards and being recognized for their hard work and dedication. Our job is much more than just selling houses for sale in Saskatoon, it is a lifestyle. Most people don’t understand the hard work and sacrifice it takes to be a successful real estate agent in Saskatoon or anywhere for that matter. While we don’t get paid by the hour, there are many people who treat realtors (r) in Saskatoon as they do and don’t appreciate the hard work that goes into this lifestyle. They often see that we are driving around Saskatoon and surrounding area in nice vehicles and aren’t stuck in an office all day long. They don’t see the late nights, running out at all hours, missing time with family and friends so that you can ensure you get your clients their dream house for sale in Saskatoon or to ensure our clients selling their homes in Saskatoon get the best offer. Our vehicle IS our office most of the time so it should be nice and comfortable! So thanks to my colleagues dedication and hard work there were many of us who won awards for selling homes for sale in Saskatoon and we beat out much of Canada with our productivity and hard work.

I knew that I was a Century 21 Centurion Award winner but I didn’t know that I was #49 in the company for units sold and #69 in the company for overall production until today. I am an energetic Saskatoon real estate agent who loves what I do so I am proud of my success and proud to be a realtor (r) in Saskatoon. We have a great city with a great energy and I love to call Saskatoon home.

Thank you to all of my clients, friends and family for your support, understanding, and your open ears when I need to vent my frustrations or exlaim my excitement!! I am happy to be a top producing agent in a great company as Century 21 Saskatoon has a strong team of support staff and Saskatoon real estate agents who work as a team even though we are each individuals.

Kari Calder
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon, Sk
karicalder@sasktel.net

70% of Century 21 Saskatoon Agents Receive Awards for 2009 Production

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Every Tuesday morning Century 21 real estate agents in Saskatoon get together for our weekly sales meeting to go over recent sales data, recent trends in Saskatoon real estate and just get caught up to date in general on the happenings in the world of fellow realtors(r) in Saskatoon.

Amongst the data last week were the announcements of the awards for production in 2009. I am proud of my fellow Century 21 Real Estate Agents in Saskatoon as 70% of us have been recognized for sales achievements in 2009.

With the slowing of the global markets, 2009 was slower than 2007 and 2008 so it is great to see so many real estate agents with Century 21 in Saskatoon doing so well.

Awards are broken down into 7 categories; Masters Silver, Masters Ruby, Masters Emerald, Masters Diamond, Centurion, Double Centurion and Grand Centurion. I am excited to say that I was awarded the Century 21 Centurion award for the second year in a row. There are 9 of us from our company who achieved Centurion status. Only 1 agent in the company was awarded the Double Centurion and this year we didn’t have any Grand Centurions, but I am sure 2010 may see someone achieve this.

Century 21 agents are also recognized for their donations to charities such as Easter Seals Canada and our Saskatoon real estate agents in Century 21 have been the most generous in the country with fundraising efforts and personal donations. It is a great company with wonderful values and I am a proud Saskatoon Century 21 Realtor(r). We have a great family of agents, managers and support staff.

If you are looking to buy a house in Saskatoon or to sell your house or condo in Saskatoon contact me!

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Saskatoon Century 21 Conexus
www.karicalder.com

Kari Calder
Saskatoon Real Estate Agent
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.

New Listing-Condo for Sale in Downtown Saskatoon

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Yesterday I listed a condo for sale in Saskatoon on 3rd Avenue North in downtown Saskatoon. MLS 359045

This condo is a 1 bedroom 1 bathroom unit in a concrete building. The main advantage of a concrete building is sound, but there are also other benefits such as fire safety and safety in general. The unit is bright and open with neutral colours and features a sun room (not included in square footage). The City Park condo in Saskatoon means a quick walk to the river, U of S, City Hospital, and downtown. The condo for sale in Saskatoon is ideal for students, first time buyers, or older people looking for a condo for sale in a quiet and safe building with elevators and an amenities room. This unit has covered parking in the carport that is secure and features video surveillance.

There are many differences between buying a house for sale in Saskatoon and a condo for sale in Saskatoon. Make sure to speak to your real estate agent in Saskatoon about these differences or use a qualified Realtor, like myself, to help you purchase a condo or a house for sale in Saskatoon.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon
www.karicalder.com
653-8222

Time to Slow Down

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

As a real estate agent in Saskatoon I spend plenty of time on the road and sometimes am in a rush to meet clients to view houses for sale in Saskatoon and can be guilty of driving too fast, but yesterday’s tragedy on Circle Drive is a reminder to slow down.

Around 10am Thursday morning a young woman was killed on the freeway and a 30 year old man was seriously injured. The northbound vehicle on Circle Drive lost control and crossed the ditch into the southbound lanes and caused a head on collision.

According to the Saskatoon Star Phoenix article, investigators had to close down the southbound lanes on Circle Drive and the northbound lane was restricted to one lane until about 6:30 pm.

There were 7 accidents yesterday in and around Saskatoon according to MD Ambulance.

It is an unfortunate reminder of how precious life is and how you can’t take a moment for granted. Our hearts go out to the friends and family members of those involved in yesterday’s accident.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon
www.karicalder.com

Home from Thailand, back to Real Estate!

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

I have been fortunate enough to take a break from real estate in Saskatoon and go see some of the world this year. We went to see my parents, who purchased a condo for sale in Florida about a year ago, for Christmas. From there we went to Thailand for a few weeks and finally Cambodia before going back to Thailand and then home to Saskatoon. For those who know me at all, they know that travel is my passion (of course right up there with real estate!) but I kept tabs on the Saskatoon real estate market while I was away as that is my second passion. Its not a job if you love it, right? Although finding the time to catch up on my blog is a bit challenging!

While I was away the Saskatoon real estate market was a bit slow as it was Christmas holidays and offices were closed, but since the new year things have been steady. It appears that the current market is moving more towards a sellers market than a buyers market in some areas, but it is balanced in other areas. Last week we saw only 115 new listings of houses for sale in Saskatoon while the houses selling in Saskatoon were up to 52 (from 36 the week before). The total active houses for sale in Saskatoon is sitting at 696 with the single family homes for sale in Saskatoon down to 388.

My own personal inventory is down to just 1 listing as I sold all of the houses I had listed before I left for holidays, so I am ready to take on more listings! It is a great time to look at selling your house in Saskatoon.

If you are looking to buy a house in Saskatoon or are a first time home buyer in Saskatoon just starting to understand the process please contact me and I will be more than happy to help you purchase a home. There is no fee to use a buyer’s agent on a Saskatoon MLS listed property. There are many reasons to hire a professional Realtor (r) in Saskatoon to help you buy a home and protect your greatest investment.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd
Saskatoon, Sk
306-653-8222
http://www.karicalder.com/index.html

Roughriders #1-First time in 33 Years!

Monday, November 9th, 2009

For the first time since 1976 the Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the best in the West! Mosaic Stadium in Regina saw a sold out crowd of 30945 and hosted the game against the Calgary Stampeders, who we dominated 30-14.

Some fans, my mom and dad from Estevan included, have been waiting 33 years for a victory like this. The Riders still have one more victory to attain before moving on to the Grey Cup in Calgary on November 29, 2009.

It is a big thing for the team, for the city of Regina, for the province of Saskatchewan and for the fans to be the host of the Western final. So now it is between the Stampeders and the Eskimos to see who will be up against the Riders in the Western Final.

If there is one thing about Saskatchewan I can say it is we are all proud to be from Saskatchewan and we have fans right across the country. Yes, it gets stupidly cold here in the winter in Saskatchewan, but besides the weather our province is home to a lot of great things and I think any football player in the CFL will say that Saskatchewan fans are the most loyal! But, my opinion is a bit biased 🙂

Go Riders!

Kari Calder
Real Estate Specialist

Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd Saskatoon

E.D.Feehan To Have A $5M Overhaul

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

E.D. Feehan High School, located in the Caswell Hill area of Saskatoon, will receive a major overhaul. E.D. Feehan’s enrolment dropped dramatically with the opening of a second Catholic high school in the city’s West side, Bethlehem High School.
The preliminary drawings were unveiled last week to allow more career training at the school. Renovations will begin in January, 2010 on the south end of the school’s main floor where those with intelluctual and/or physical disabilities are fully integrated.
The school has also received approval for a 50 spot day care centre. The preschool portion of the new day care will be ready for 30 preschoolers within about 6 months time. The second phase, which will accomdate 20 infants/toddlers, is expected to take longer.
Most of the work should be completed within 3 years, with the majority of the renovations taking place during the next 2 summers.
Post secondary  classes, such as a new “health campus”, will train students in the health care field and this is a joint venture with the Saskatoon Health Region and Gabriel Dumont Technical Institute.
The role of E.D. Feehan has changed and is now more of a community school and will create more opportunites for the community to use the school’s facilities. For example, the students in the school’s contruction program will be building a house at school for the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
The provincial government is contributing $3.75 million and the school division is giving the remaining $1.25 million.

Kari Calder
Residential Real Estate Specialist
Century 21 Conexus Realty Ltd.