Vern McClelland's (mccl) Blog

Rookie Mistakes Like any profession, there is a steep learning curve the first few years as a Realtor.  What nobody told me was that around the first curve is another, then another.  Let me share with you some of the mistakes I have made  in representing over 1,100 properties in the Midwest to da...

A Seller's Guide to the Anatomy of a Quick Sale It starts with an attractive price; one that reflects the current market conditions.  Take a hard look at sales of comparable properties plus those that are being actively presented - in other words, your competition.  Listen to your Realtor; he or ...

Good Neighbours are a Gift   We had walked into a busy restaurant just behind a neighbour couple and an old friend of theirs, so they kindly invited us to join them at their table for supper.  Not only was it fun catching up on local news, it made the time waiting for our meal pass that much quic...

There is Gold in Those Hills It looks like Canada is slowly recovering from one of the worst downturns in the last 70 years.  Many of us were caught unprepared, I know I was.  It took me several months to adjust spending patterns to the new reality.  When you are self-employed that is not always ...

Summer Fun in the Midwest There was a comment recently in a local newsletter where the author stated how boring she found it was to live in the Midwest.  Now I am no tourist booth operator, but I actually think there are an extraordinary number of affordable activities to keep families busy all s...

Exploring Options  During the last few weeks I have had a number of meetings with individuals looking to explore their options on problems they were experiencing with real estate that they owned.  This prompted further discussions with allied professionals, lawyers and appraisers, to ensure that ...

Bits and Pieces There can be a number of terms that Realtors use daily that may be confusing to our clients, so I am going to strive to explain some of them briefly today. Mortgage insurance - insurance that protects the lender in the event of borrower default.  This coverage is required for high...

Open Houses - Are They Worth It? It is not uncommon when I am being interviewed by a seller prior to listing, to be asked if my team will do an open house.  My answer is "that depends".  Depends on what you may ask.  Well, let's consider some of the reasons for doing an open house, but also let's...

Emergency Shelters need Friends I had the privilege last week of being invited to sit in on the regular monthly meeting of the Lloydminster Social Action Coalition Society as it discussed operational issues of its Men's Emergency Shelter.  It was interesting listening to the discussion between th...

Six Critical Success Factors for Investment in Real Estate It's a rare week that I don't get at least one phone call or visit from someone who is considering investing in real estate.  Now I don't profess to be an expert in this aspect of the business as I am not an active player myself.  Even th...