Your home represents a big investment, and also the place you spend a lot of your time. So keeping your home in good repair is not just important for your peace of mind, but also safety and value of your home. There are three main things to keep in mind when caring for your home:

Safety

• Fire: faulty heating and electrical can be a fire hazard in your home
• Structural: damaged foundation or rotting floors, etc
• Indoor air quality: moisture trouble, or fuel-burning appliances which can cause carbon monoxide. Both issues can cause serious health problems, or even death.
• Occupational: loose railings, stairs, etc.

Preventing/Fixing Wear and Tear

• Leaky faucets, upgrades to floors and walls, etc.
• Broken fixtures, chipped paint, etc.

Improving…

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According to a report released by Royal LePage this week, the real estate market is expected to favour sellers for the first part of 2014, with a strong spring expected.

“We predict continued upward pressure on home prices as we move towards the all-important spring market,” Royal LePage CEO Phil Soper

“In addition to normal demand, housing prices in Canada this year will be influenced by buyers who put off purchase plans in the very soft spring of 2013. Talk of a ‘soft landing’ for Canada’s real estate market in the new year is misguided. We expect no landing, no slowdown, and no correction in the near-term. Conditions are ripe for as strong a market as we saw in the post-recessionary rebound of the last decade.”


With that in mind, house price…

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January not only marks the start of a new year, it's also 'Get Organized Month', and now is the perfect time to take steps towards a clutter-free home. Below are some easy declutter and organization tips for your home:

• Purge: if you can't remember the last time you used something, there's a good chance you don't need it. Purge, and purge often.

• Tackle a little each day: trying to do this one day will leave you overwhelmed. Identify and prioritize the trouble spots in your home, and tackle a little bit each day.

• Use unused space wisely: install hooks, and use labels, shelves, etc. The more tools you can use to organize easier, the better.

• Identify a place for everything: everything needs to have a home, so if you find things that currently…

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With this brisk winter weather, we're giving our fireplaces more attention, but it's important to give your fireplace some maintenance and care so it can continue working properly.

An article on the Global News Calgary website gives some helpful information on fireplace maintenance:

Just like a furnace, gas fireplaces draw in air from outside and can get dirty or plugged up, releasing dangerous carbon monoxide

“The seal that goes around this glass door is your only defense between you and the carbon monoxide that thing produces, and a lot of people have fireplaces running on thermostats where they don’t even know these things are kicking on and off automatically, and they’re filling their basements full of CO,” explains Bill Luke from Heatsafe…

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We haven't had too much snow so far this year, but it is coming. The City of Calgary has a system in place to deal with snowfall in our city, it's called the Snow and Ice Control (SNIC) program. The City actually has road crews available around the clock during the winter months, to try and respond to snowfalls in a timely manner.

Calgary public roadways are maintained during the winter in various ways:

Anti-icing before a snowfall
When a snowfall is predicted for our city, an anti-icing solution (calcium chloride) is applied to designated roads. The solution helps to prevent snow from accumulating on roadways, and is also eco-friendly!

Sanding, salting and plowing
Roadways and sidewalks in Calgary are sanded, salted and plowed based on a…

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Calgary's resale price growth is the best in Canada, according to Teranet's National Bank Composite House Price Index. In fact, resale prices are up 6.% from the same time a year ago. Calgary was among 4 other markets that posted resale price increases that were above the national average of just over 3%.

"Calgary was one of the three markets singled out, posting a month-over-month increase of 0.9 per cent, trailing only Vancouver's 1.1 per cent increase for the best in the country." - CREB Now

So Calgary's real estate market, consistent with the rest of our year so far, continues to boast impressive numbers that go against the national trend. The marketplace is looking good, so feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

You can also…

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We are proud to support the Calgary Food Bank every year, and during the holiday season, there is especially a need for help. If you're looking for a non-profit to support this time of year, consider them.

Some quick facts about the Calgary Food Bank:

  • Every day, between 80 and 100 people volunteer at the Food Bank
  • Last year, almost 4,400 individual and group volunteers supported the Food Bank: 112,300 hours of time to help feed hungry Calgarians

You can help by donating food, volunteer hours or money. Information is available on their website here.

You can also attend one of the upcoming events:

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Free Onsite Services
Thursday, November 21, 2013 - 10:30am to Thursday, December 5, 2013 - 3:30pm
More…

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Colder temperatures can mean big changes for your home, so this time of year is perfect to tackle some of those home maintenance chores early. We came across a great checklist in Better Homes and Gardens recently, and we're sharing the highlights with you:

  • Inspect and clean gutters and downspouts
  • Seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors
  • Inspect your roof for damaged shingles
  • Repair damaged sidewalks, driveways and steps
  • Drain and winterize outdoor water systems: irrigation, faucets
  • Clean or replace dirty furnace filters
  • Have a professional inspect your heating system
  • Check your fireplace for build-up and clean out (chimney sweep) if necessary
  • Test any and all monitors (fire, carbon monixide, etc.) to ensure they are…

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You've made the decision to sell, now what? Here's a simple checklist to ensure you're ready for what's next.

Price it Right

Your best chance to sell your property is within the first seven weeks. The longer the property stays on the market, the less the seller will net. Over-pricing can reduce the number of offers that you're likely to get.

Clean and Organize

Eliminate clutter, keep your home clean, and get rid of any looming odours. Even the slightest hint of a bad smell can turn off a potential homebuyer. It's also a good idea to rid your home of any sign of pets.

Make the Home Accessible

Be sure to make your home easily accessible for showings. Keep all interior doors unlocked, and don't be around during showings. If something is kept…

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Well, Fall is finally here again, which means getting your house ready for the colder temperatures that will eventually hit. Here's a checlist for your reference, for 7 things to do for your home this Fall:

• Caulk windows: sealing your windows will ensure no drafts come in and will keep energy costs down.

• Check the exterior for peeling paint: if you do see any chips, touch them up.

• Inspect your roof: check for loose/missing shingles; rougher weather can turn this from bad to worse so get them replaced.

• Clean out your gutters.

• Seal your driveway: check for cracks and seal any you find. With colder temperatures, cracks can get worse and this will help the longevity of your driveway.

• Check your fireplace: this is more important if you…

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