Real Estate Blog - Ken Richter

Recovering From A Traumatic Event

The impact of the Calgary floods goes far beyond the physical damage.

You may find yourself on an emotional roller coaster ride as traumatic events tend to provoke a range of strong emotional reactions.You may feel anything from shock and disbelief, fear or anger, to feeling sad, powerless and vulnerable. There is no “right” or “wrong” way to think, feel, or respond.

For your emotional well-being, it’s important to stay connected to the people who care about you. Those who get and give strong emotional support from others are better able to cope.

To rebuild your life you not only have to clean up and repair all the physical damage, but you also have to restrengthen your mind, soul, spirit and heart. One way to do this is by reminding yourself…

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Household Hazardous Waste Tips

Cleaning up and disposal of waste after the recent flooding is an enormous job. While going through the process you may come across many hazardous items that you’re unsure about how/where to dispose of in an environmentally-friendly and garbage collector-friendly way.

Items with motors, such as old car batteries, lawn mowers, cars/trucks, golf carts and recreational vehicles all have lead-acid batteries and should be taken to a household hazardous waste drop-off location. The City’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Drop-off Program makes sure that these sorts of items are disposed of properly and residents can take their items, at no extra charge, to any of the HHW drop-off locations at landfills or designated fire stations with special storage depots.

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Volunteer Thank You: 2013 Flood

Team Ken Richter would like to thank all of the community and City of Calgary volunteers, first responders, rescue workers, non-profit organizations, businesses, government agencies and everyone aiding in the effort to help the flood victims of Bow Crescent, Bowness & Montgomery, the city of Calgary and all of southern Alberta.While there’s much to do, the next step in the recovery and reconstruction effort will focus on supporting and helping the community achieve their goals to clean up and rebuild as quickly as possible.

This has been a unique opportunity to reach out to help our neighbors and our communities and our ability to rebound quickly from recent events has much to do with the kind of spirit that makes this community great. Together, we…

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Roommate Wanted

Having a roommate is an adventure.

Many people end up becoming the best of friends with their roommates, creating a friendship that can last a lifetime. If you get along well with the person sharing a space with you, it makes living with them so much easier! There will always be things you don’t always agree on, but it is always nice to come home to a friend.

On the other hand, having a roommate could be a nightmare. If you don’t get along well with the person you are living in close proximity to, it can make for a world of miscommunication, purposeful negligence, and passive-aggressiveness that makes home less welcoming than it ought to be.

Since none of us are big fans of the later happening, we want to make sure that your situation falls…

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Monthly Household Tip 4

Here are three home maintenance tips to think about addressing now that the gorgeous spring, actually almost summer, weather has arrived!

Wash Your Windows: The one thing that it is easy to neglect (or purposely avoid!) is cleaning your windows. After all the recent rainy weather they really are going to need it. If ladders are not your thing spend the extra few dollars to call in a professional window washing company to do those tricky second story windows. There’s nothing like the sun shining through sparkling windows to lift your spirits!

Power Wash the Exterior: Power washing is one of most efficient and cost-effective ways to clean off the dirt that’s built up on your home’s exterior after being exposed to the elements over the messy winter and…

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Naturally Clean Solutions

Make your spring cleaning easy and economical! Natural do-it-yourself cleaning solutions are more environmentally friendly than commercial alternatives. Make simple, gentle eco-friendly recipes using everyday household products.

Window Cleaner: Shake together 1/2 teaspoon liquid detergent, 3 tablespoons vinegar, and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle. Spray and wipe for a streak-free finish!

All-purpose Cleaner: Dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda in a quart of water. Mix well. Use in a spray bottle or with a sponge on kitchen and bathroom surfaces. Rinse with clear water for a clear finish.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Sprinkle some baking soda into the bowl followed by a generous portion of vinegar. Scour with a toilet brush and flush.

Drain…

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Spring Upkeep

Spring means getting things done so that summer living can be fun and carefree.

One thing to consider addressing early in the season is your windows. Clean or replace your screens so that you can let fresh air in and enjoy the beautiful weather.

A second thing to consider is the valve to your outside water hose. Make sure it’s turned on to avoid having to run down to your basement when you are actually ready to use the water.

Third, clean out your downspouts and gutters where leaves and other matter can accumulate over the winter. Keeping gutters clean means a lot fewer headaches in the future.

Check back with Team Ken Richter in May for more home upkeep tips! 

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Top 10 Tools for Simple Tasks

If you want to be self-reliant around the house, a good selection of basic tools is essential to have in your toolbox. When you have the right tools, little tasks are not a big deal. To get the job done right you might want to invest in the following:

1. Claw Hammer – good for driving nails, hanging pictures and other things, and useful for small demolition projects.

2. Flathead Screwdriver – has a single blade that fits into the single slot of a flathead screw. Good for driving in screws and opening all sorts of things held together with screws!

3. Phillips Screwdriver – has a four star point at the end that fits into the corresponding screw’s cross-shaped depression. Allows a user to apply more torque than is possible with a flathead…

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Monthly Renovation Tip

When buyers tour homes for sale, they’re taking a close look at the bathrooms. If you want to impress potential buyers create a comfortable, spa-like environment.

RE/MAX studies show that making your bathrooms the best they can be will generate a 56% return on investment. Consider what potential buyers will see at first glance.

Focus on the visuals with light colours, rich textures, nice tiles and fixtures. Boost home value by choosing quality materials that appeal to the masses.

When it comes to anything permanent try to stay as neutral as possible, giving potential buyers a clean canvas on which to imagine themselves in.

Remember, houses with well-done improvements tend to sell quicker plus you get to enjoy it before you sell your property!

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Monthly Household Tip 5

Nothing is so frustrating and potentially expensive, as having a major appliance on which you rely on a daily basis, like your refrigerator, furnace or air conditioner, break down when you need it most. There are a few things that you can do on a regular basis to help ensure their longevity and effectiveness.

* You can pull your refrigerator out from the wall and vacuum off the condenser coils, as they rely on air flowing around them to work efficiently.

* On your furnace, it’s easy to replace (or clean, on some models) your filter in order to keep it in good working order.

* To keep your air conditioner in top form, keep the grill and register clean and it will keep on working for you when you need it the most.

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