Trusted Regina Real Estate Agent
Home Buying in Six Steps:
NAR created the following information for members to share with their clients. The home-buying process can seem daunting to potential homebuyers, but a qualified real estate professional who understands the entire process can help ease many of these worries. Make sure your clients are prepared with these useful tips.
1) Get Ready for Home Ownership
- Build a good credit history
- Get mortgage pre-approval
- Find out what type of mortgages you quality for
- Consider hiring an attorney to review all contracts and agreements associated with the home buying process
- Save up for a down payment (typically 10-20% of property’s value; if FHA-qualified, then possibly less)
- Consider closing costs which can include taxes, attorney’s fees, and transfer fees
- Consider utilities and monthly bills, such as homeowner's assessments

2) Find a Real Estate Professional
- Get a referral from friends, family, and work colleagues, or search realtor.com® and look for real estate yard signs and advertisements
- Ask the real estate professionals you interview about buyer's representation contracts and agreements; make sure you understand the terms
- Explain your needs and expectations to the real estate professional you choose to work with

3) Find the Right Property
- Determine what is important to you, such as particular schools, neighborhood amenities, monthly mortgage payment, public transportation, walkability, etc.
- Make sure you include home owner’s assessments, utilities, and taxes when calculating the monthly mortgage payment

4) Finance the Property
- Contact your mortgage broker or lender
- The lender or attorney will run a title search to ensure there are no clouds on the title
- Make sure you understand the financing terms—ask the lender for clarification, if needed

5) Make an Offer
- Ensure the property is inspected by a licensed home inspector
- Acquire title insurance
- Make sure the title is clear, or make your offer contingent upon title clearance
- Read all contracts before signing—make sure you understand all of the terms, ask questions
- Place a competitive bid and be prepared to make a counter-offer
- Keep your credit score stable and in-check by waiting to purchase any big-ticket items until long after the closing
- Only one offer will result in a sale, so be prepared to move on if your offer is not accepted

6) Closing and Life After the Big Purchase
- Protect your new asset by obtaining insurance such as homeowner’s, flood, disaster, and fire
- Weatherproof your new home
- Maintain files—digital or print—for all warranties, insurance documents, contracts, etc.
- Keep original closing documents in a safe place, preferably outside the home (such as a safety deposit box)
- Set up utilities bills in your name, maintain files
- Implement desired aesthetic changes such as painting, minor construction, and re-flooring
- Set a move date and hire movers or plan a move party with your friends
- Get to know your neighbors and explore your new neighborhood
- If you're happy with the work of your real estate professional, be sure to recommend her/him to friends and family

Convenience and Innovation all in one
An environmentally responsible solution to your food waste management is an Insinkerator Waste Disposal. Today’s disposals only use about 1% or less of a household’s total water consumption and electrical usage. You can add a waste disposal to any new kitchen design or renovation; you just need to add the electrical requirements.
Insinkerator waste disposals. The Dura-Drive Induction motor uses centrifugal force to spin the waste against a grind ring and break it down into fine particles. We also have septic safe disposers, such as the model Evolution Septic Assist.
The Evolution Excel features the Sound Seal Plus noise reduction technology. This results in 60% less noise than a standard disposal. The MultiGrind Plus allows for more types of food waste with its three stage grind system. With its powerful 1 hp motor you can dispose of most of your food waste.
The Evolution Compact is great for homes with less cabinet space underneath. It is a ¾ hp disposal, more compact in size than the 1 hp models. This disposal works in a renovation or new construction, keeping in mind you need to add the electrical supply.
If mounting your disposal on a sink on an island, we suggest a separate button control to mount on the countertop so you don’t have to mount it on the side of the island.
We know that your time is precious and if you want a cup of tea now, or near boiling water to get those potatoes started, we can help you get that more instantly. With an Insinkerator Instant Hot Water Dispenser you will have 200F, near boiling hot water at your fingertips and more time to relax and put those feet up. The tank holds up to 60 cups of hot water and yet uses less energy than a 40 watt light bulb.
Here they share a tip on Search Engine Optimization:
Stand out
In the evolving world of technology it is extremely important for a business’s website to stand out and be noticed. Search Engine Optimization is a tool that targets keywords related to the specific industry your business is in and from there, drives more traffic to your site.
Due to the effectiveness of SEO, it has become widely adopted as the top, online marketing strategy. Business’s that operate their websites using SEO have noticed increased traffic coming to their site. It focuses on creating keywords that are relevant to the title tags and Meta descriptions, these keywords allow websites to move their ranking up on various search engines. The top ranked websites on all search engines will inevitably receive the most clicks. SEO is extremely cost-effective; it targets active consumers who are searching for products or services in your industry online. Search Engine Optimization is quantifiable and therefore results can be tracked, delivering a strong return on investment.
Not only does SEO increase traffic to websites in a cost-effective way, it brings about brand awareness. The highest ranked websites receive the most impressions and have much higher exposure. Having your website and its keywords on the first page of a search engine instills trust in consumers. Consumers typically associate themselves with businesses that they can trust, most often pages on the first page of a search engine are perceived as reliable.


Home Electrical Safety and Security:
How safe is the electrical wiring in your home? Is your property and family at risk? When it comes to electrical safety, ignorance is not bliss.
Electrical safety and security in your home starts with a proactive approach.
ESFI President Brett C. Brenner believes “knowledge can save your life.” The Consumer Protection Safety Commission (CPSC) reports an estimated 10,500 unintentional residential electrical fires annually. These fires result in an average of over $390 million in property loss, 170 deaths, and 480 injuries every year. Making yourself aware of the signs and symptoms of electrical problems and electrical deficiencies in your home can prevent these unnecessary risks to your home and family.
Electrical Outlets
Ensure your home has the right electrical outlets that meet current code standards. From tamper-resistant, childproof outlets to specialty outlets such as GFCIs for increased safety in water-prone locations, the right outlet for the job is essential to the safety of your family, appliances, and home.

CO Detectors and Smoke Detectors
Maintaining your carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are two of the easiest things you can do to ensure your safety at home. Remembering to change the batteries and test them regularly are easy habits to put off, but put safety first and make them part of your regular home maintenance routine, along with changing your air filters and scheduling an annual electrical inspection.

Wiring Upgrades
Older wiring is potentially hazardous and should be kept well-maintained and updated on a regular basis. Knob and tube wiring is the oldest variety. If you have any in your home and it has been altered over the years, it is time to consider rewiring your house. Original, untouched knob and tube wiring is safe, but you should have it inspected to determine its stability over the long-term.

Motion Sensors
Security on the exterior of your home is an important feature, not only for you but also for visitors approaching your doors after dark. Motion sensors save time and money over traditional exterior lights controlled by a switch.

Home Standby Generators
Having a home standby generator on hand is a good idea for everyone, but especially for people in areas prone to severe weather and power outages.
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Note: To protect yourself from surges that originate within the house, it is a good idea to take extra precaution and continue to use power.
Bergens are a local family business and from the moment you walk in the door you will be treated like family!
Bergens Auto Body Regina are proud to have an amazing 80 Years Auto Body Experience, and they have been serving Regina Auto Body needs for over 30 Years....they have a loyal customer base that simply wouldn't think of going anywhere else. Bergen's are an SGI Accredited Regina Auto Body and Collision Repair shop, they offer courtesy cars to their clients and they specialize in foreign vehicles.
Meet the Bergens Trusted Regina Auto Body team and see their collision repair shop in this video!
