Real Estate Blog - Seasonal Holidays

Thunderstorm Safety

In Calgary it typically rains the most during the month of June, and this year has been no different. The rain is a welcome alternative to the snow, and a refreshing way for spring to flow into summer. The rain makes the grass a little greener, the flowers bloom, the crops flourish and the worms happy. As long as the river doesn't rise as much as it did in 2013, we will be happy!

This weekend Calgary is expected to be hit with classic summertime thunderstorms, and you need to be prepared for the downpour. While we do appreciate the moisture, storms have the potential to cause numerous problems that you need to be prepared for. 

The most common negative outcome of a thunderstorm is a power outage. When this happens, you need to be prepared.…

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Easter at Home

Happy Easter Long Weekend!

This weekend may not feel like a long weekend since most of us have been stuck at home due to COVID-19 social distancing protocals, but Easter is definitely still worth celebrating! This is a holiday that represents new life and springtime, two things we could use these days. Here are some creative ways you can celebrate Easter from home this year:

1.  Attend Church from Home: "Many churches have now made their services available online, either through a live stream or through a recorded podcast. If your own place of worship doesn’t have streaming capabilities, 'visit' another church instead. Furthermore, you may not be passing around the offering plate at church, but consider making an Easter-inspired donation to an…

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Staycation Ideas for Spring Break

Spring Break is next week for many students in the Calgary public school system. While some have already been working from home as they attend school virtually, starting next week children everywhere are going to have a lot more free time on their hands! Since traveling somewhere exotic for Spring break is not an option this year, we've rounded up some Staycation ideas for your kids this spring break. Read on for details!

DIY Olympics: Each day of spring break have a different competition for your kids to compete in. Events can range from an obstacle course in the house to a puzzle competition. Craft little medals for them and then do a big winners banquet of their favourite treats and meal at the end of the week. This will give them something to…

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The History of Daylight Savings

Daylight Savings is this weekend, and we are springing forward! We may be losing an hour of sleep, but it means we’re one hour closer to spring blossoms and summer nights.

While most clocks will automatically spring forward these days, be sure to check items such as kitchen appliances and older vehicles. It’s always worth the small inconvenience to figure out how to change the time on these clocks—don’t be one of those people who leave it until autumn when we gain the hour back.

Why do we practice daylight savings? The main reason is to conserve energy. By setting our clocks ahead we gain more daylight hours in the spring and summer, which means less artificial light is needed during waking hours. To offset this adjustment, we lose an hour of…

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At Home Valentine's Date

Valentine's Day is this weekend and is worth taking a moment to celebrate, no matter what your situation is. The last year has been incredibly draining as we have been part of a collective grieving; a grieving of loss of life, plans, jobs, opportunities, and what we always considered 'normal.' So whether you're spending this Valentine's Day alone, with a partner, or with a cohort, take time to celebrate love. There is much to be thankful for, and there is love in this world for everyone. 

Here are some ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day at home, depending on your situation:

For the Solo Valentine: If you're spending this Sunday alone, take time to bask in a day or evening of self care. Order in your favorite meal from a local restaurant,…

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Getting Back to Work After Holidays

Sweet, sweet winter break is ending for most Calgarians as offices open back up and email auto-responses turn off. Whether you did way too much during the break or nothing at all, it can be hard to get back into the swing of things. For those of you who are already back at work, we imagine this week was rough. It is not an easy transition to make, but here are some tips:

1. Plan for your first day back to work. Pack a lunch, make sure your bags are ready to go, clothes are laid out. Shower the night before, make a checklist of things to do in the morning, ensure your car has gas or your at home workspace is tidy. Do what you can to make the mornings easier!
2. Make sure you get lots of sleep. Sleep is essential in giving your brain the rest it…

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Goals for 2021 You Can Accomplish

After a tremendously difficult year, many people feel as though they're barely managing to crawl into the new year. If there has ever been a year where "new year, new me" seems applicable, it's this one. As 2020 comes to an end, many people find themselves self isolating at home, likely wearing yesterdays sweater and still picking through Christmas leftovers. The glimmer on the horizon? A new year. A fresh start. 

Before you begin goal setting for 2021, we want to encourage you to take a moment to pause. Acknowledge the tremendous effort and strength it took to accomplish what you did this past year, and give yourself grace for the items on your to-do list that you never got to. As the year comes to a close you're likely to begin seeing posts about…

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Merry Christmas

All of us here at Team Ken Richter would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It may be different than in years previously, but we hope the season brings you time to rest and take comfort in small graces.

2021 is just around the corner, and though you may be tempted to rush into the new year, we encourage you to take time to pause. Reflect on this last year, the good and the bad, and take time to be thankful. You made it, and that is something to be proud of. 

This holiday season we would also like to extend our sincerest gratitude to all of our valued clients for your continued support throughout this challenging year. We look forward to serving you again in 2021 and beyond!

We hope that…

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Best Christmas Lights in Calgary

Calgary loves to celebrate the holidays. A drive through any neighbourhood will quickly get you in the Christmas spirit. In Bowness, Christmas wreaths are lights adorn the streetlights and shops, giving the community even more of a festive, small-town feel. It is our favourite time of the year to drive through one of our favourite communities. 

Here is an inexpensive holiday activity idea: get a cup of hot chocolate from Tim Hortons and take a drive through the city. Set your radio to 95.9 CHRM for non-stop Christmas music and turn up the heat. Not sure where to start on this beautiful, Christmas adventure? Here are some places to check out:

1). Downtown Core: Many buildings in the downtown core are adorned with Christmas lights inside and out.…

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Last Minute Christmas Gifts

Christmas is only a few days away! You know what that means… the malls are packed because people have not finished shopping for gifts. This may be the most wonderful time of the year for businesses that are profiting from last minute gift-buyers, but it is definitely not the most wonderful time of the year for shoppers that just want to get home. Especially with new COVID-19 restrictions, getting in and out of shops is more difficult and less advisable. 

To make your last minute gift shopping process faster, we have complied a list of Christmas gift ideas that are easy to aquire. Figure out exactly what you need, exactly where you can get things and get ready to wade through the crazies. It is time for your last minute gift guide:

1). Starbucks:…

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