Home Care | Page #8

Home Care

 

Security systems have always been a way to give homeowners peace of mind whenever they are away from their property for work, school, vacation, errands, or simply sleeping. In medieval times, castles were surrounded by moats to ward off unwanted visitors. In Victorian times, bells were placed along doorways and windowsills to alert residents of arrivals. In the seventies, 'beware of dog' signs were posted and pit bulls purchased. More recently, alarm systems triggered by the opening of a secured door have been used. Today, technology companies are designing new and improved home security. 

Studies have shown that the mere presence of home security, whether legitimate or not, is enough to ward off a potential trespasser. Some people will post…

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It's a dogs world and we're just living in it! Calgary, Alberta is home to a whopping 122,325 dogs; and that number is growing every day. That means that for every ten people, there is at least one dog. What a glorious statistic! Because of Calgarian's affinity for their pooches, the city has designated many off leash dog parks so that pups can run wild and free. Places such as Edworthy Dog Park provide acre upon acre of space for dogs to explore. Not a fan of dogs? Don't worry; the city also enforces strict guidelines on these dog parks to ensure responsible pet ownership and to be good stewards of the land.

Some of the most popular dog parks are:

  • Edworthy Dog Park
  • Riverbend Dog Park
  • Nose Hill Dog Park
  • Sue Higgins Dog Park
  • …

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Many indoor lighting options are not only expensive, but fail to properly fill your home with an appropriate, comfortable amount of light. Here are some of our best tips for tackling this problem:

Maximize all natural light potentials. Make sure your windows stay clean and clear of snow and dirt. This will allow the most natural light to come seeping in whenever possible. Open up your blinds and move things away from windows that will cast an obtrusive shadow.

Purchase quality, environmentally friendly lightbulbs for all indoor and outdoor lighting. Using an LED light not only gives you more brightness, but it will save you an incredible amount of money in the long run. Go to your local hardware store and assess your options. Remember that…

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Having little kids in the home is often romanticized with visions of quiet playtime with blocks and the sounds of giggling wafting through the home. While sometimes dreams do come true, the reality is that having kids playing in your home is a little more complicated.

Homes are safe havens, but to the right amount of childlike curiosity, death traps. Unfortunately many children are injured in the home during innocent playtimes, which is exactly why it is so important to create a safe play space.

Safe play spaces are ones that are physically secure, tidy and engaging. Here are some tips on how to accomplish all three of these things:

Make sure the space you have designated for play is physically secure by ensuring it has clear physical…

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With American Thanksgiving over, the Christmas holidays are officially in full swing!

This year Christmas is going to be different as families are modifying their plans in the wake of new COVID-19 restrictions. Even though some of our traditions may no longer be feasible, like large family dinners or sitting on Santa's lap, one tradition that stands the test of 2020 is decorating for the holidays. As we settle in for a new round of quarantine here in Alberta following a state of public health emergency being declared, it's becoming more appealing than ever to decorate our homes. If there is one thing we all need right now, it is holiday cheer and coziness.

There are consistent holiday decorating staples, such as a Christmas tree and stockings…

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Smart Home Technology is a booming industry. What used to be the creative imagining of science fiction stories is now a reality. Homes are now being built with built-in smart home technology or retrofitted to accommodate smart home technology. These products aim to help our homes run more efficiently, from energy use to time spent.

Here are some new smart home technology products for you to check out:

Lockly: A door lock that does so much more than a simple key ever could. Digital Trends writes, “Lockly is known for its high tech smart locks that have advanced features like fingerprint sensor technology, a touchscreen keypad that moves the numbers for added security, app control, voice control, and temporary codes for guest access.”

Jupiter…

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This week we saw the autumn dew turn to frost in an altogether expected, but disappointing, turn of weather. Besides, what is a month in Calgary without snow? A miracle. They may have predicted we would have a snow free October, but here in Alberta we know better than to trust a long-term forecast.

With the fresh snow coming our way this weekend, it is time to winterize! Ideally you would already have this done, but sometimes life gets the upper hand. If you're scrambling now to winterize your property while it is currently wintering, here are some tips of things to check in on so you can stay toasty warm all winter long:

  • If you have any leaks, cracks, or holes in your home, now is the time to fix them! What is merely annoying during the…

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Outdoor living spaces are such a enviable luxury. Plain backyards can be transformed into works of art with varnished decks, ponds, twinkling lights, gardens and patio furniture. Here in Calgary we get the pleasure of having some beautiful outdoor living spaces since most homes have some variety of a backyard and the weather is nice enough to use the space to its maximum potential for about two months of the year. Unfortunately, this good weather does not last.

All of the outdoor living space elements mentioned above need to be winterized for the other eight months of the year. This is to ensure they don’t get damaged in harsh weather conditions. Here are some tips on how to properly winterize your outdoor living space before the frost comes:

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Keeping your home clean is always important, but these days it has gone from a want to a need. The reality is, COVID-19 is still very much present in the City of Calgary. Anytime you leave your home or interact with others you risk being exposed to this virus, which you could in turn bring into your household. At the same time, life must go on. People are returning back to work, schools are open, and it's impossible to completely bubble yourself off from the world. 

Health Essentials writes, "the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes the 2019 novel coronavirus is spread primarily when healthy people come in close personal contact with a person who has COVID-19 who is coughing or sneezing (hence, why social distancing is so important).…

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Back to school is right around the corner! The commercials are on TV, people are flooding Staples and Walmart for supplies, schools everywhere are dusting off their desks and students are trying desperately to soak in every stray moment of summer. With back to school time comes a new dedication to keeping things organized, especially the house. Here are some creative DIY additions that will make back to school easier on your home.

1). Front Entryway Locker Room: Transform your front entry into a mock-locker room by installing little stalls with space for yourself and each of your kids. Put a shelf up for winter hats and gloves, a coat hanger for jackets and backpacks, and a basket for miscellaneous items. This will prevent everything from getting…

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