In most communities, garbage day isn’t every week. So, if you show your house on day five or six, there’s going to be some accumulation! Here are some things you can do before a viewing to make sure this
situation doesn’t trash a potential sale.

• If possible, make sure all garbage containers, including waste paper baskets, are empty.
• Since compost and cat litter bags can smell even when tied securely, put them in a covered bin in the garage or outside at the side of your house.
• Check around your property for accumulated debris, such as old lumber. If you’ve been planning a trip to the dump someday, today is that day.

In addition, make sure garbage containers in the kitchen and bathroom have new plastic bag inserts. You may go through more than usual, but it will be worth it.

If you want to sell your house or condo, you need to make it as convenient as possible for potential buyers to view. That’s a given. The market can move fast these days, and you don’t want
home shoppers and their agents to move onto other interesting opportunities just because they can’t get in to see yours.

So how do you make your property available for viewing, while minimizing the inconvenience to you and your family?

One of the most effective ways to ensure ease of access is to put a lock box near your front door. This allows agents to show your property as soon as they hear from interested homebuyers
— striking while the iron is hot.

Without a lock box, an appointment would have to be scheduled. The delay could stifle buyer momentum. Worse, many home shoppers may skip your property in favour of
others they can see right away.

Rest assured, REALTORS® are professionals and will respect your privacy and the security of your property. Working with your REALTOR®, you can set rules regarding when and under
what circumstances they may enter for viewing. (For example, “Tuesdays to Thursdays, 12pm-3pm & Saturdays 10am-4pm”.)

When potential buyers visit, they often feel like intruders. It’s awkward for them — and you — if you are at home. So, if possible, take your family to the park, a movie, or a local coffee
shop during scheduled viewing times.

Another great strategy is to plan viewings around your schedule, at times when you’re out of the house anyway. If you take your kids to soccer on Saturday afternoons, make your
property available for viewing during that same time period.

With a little planning, you can maximize the number of viewings, with minimal inconvenience to you and your family. This will greatly increase your chances of selling sooner, and for
the best price.

Need more tips on showing your home? Call today!

Reports 'tip of the iceberg,' says detective 

By Stephane Massinon, Calgary HeraldNovember 11, 2009

The recent downturn in housing prices has started to reveal the scope of mortgage fraud in Calgary, said investigators at the Alberta Mortgage Fraud Symposium on Tuesday.

As financial and law enforcement officials gathered to discuss the growing trend of mortgage fraud, experts said it's an issue that's becoming more common and often can be tied to marijuana grow ops and organized crime."We are getting numerous reports coming in; I think it's just the tip of the iceberg," said Det.

Ronda Ruzycki of the economic crimes unit of the Calgary Police Service.Ruzycki said when Calgary was booming, mortgage fraud -- lying to obtain credit or money from banks or lenders -- became more prevalent.

It works when the perpetrator convinces someone to sign for a property they'll never live in, though technically own, and be paid thousands of dollars for signing the papers. These are straw buyers.Some perpetrator will get a mortgage, keep the money, and let the banks go after the straw buyer once the payments stop.Others fraudulently inflate the house price a few months later and find another straw buyer to purchase it at the higher price and pocket the increase.

"Sometimes it is flipped several times between different straw buyers and eventually they will be sold to innocent parties out there in the public," said Ruzycki."With the economic times coming into a decrease, you can't continue to flip that property because the banks aren't going to finance it, because they know the properties aren't continuing to increase in value. And they can't sell it to an unknown buyer," said Ruzycki.Calgary-based RCMP Sgt. Conal Archer said "with the recession, the houses are now devalued and these places are going into foreclosure.

When they take them into foreclosure, they find out that the person they actually thought upheld the mortgage and actually owned the house wasn't that individual after all."When property prices were skyrocketing through Calgary, inflated prices didn't seem as suspicious and it was easier to sell to innocent buyers who believed all prices were quickly rising.

Archer said the houses in mortgage frauds are sometimes used as marijuana grow ops, operated by organized crime groups.Though investigators and the financial industry believe mortgage fraud is likely on the rise, none could provide data of how much it's rising. Archer said banks and lenders are reluctant to share information on the extent of the problem. "They're all large businesses and they have their own interests to look after," said Archer.

Doug Robinson, Scotiabank's manager of fraud prevention, said that across the country, mortgage fraud has been on the rise for the past decade."It's caused all the lenders to be more careful and put a lot more time and effort into scrutinizing the loans," said Robinson.

"The bad part is organized crime groups from every community have become involved in mortgage frauds, and these people are, for the most part, very professional in the way they deliver the applications to the lenders. It makes it very difficult for staff to see the loans and see them for what they are," he said.

smassinon@theherald, canwest.com© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald