Real Estate Blog - DIY

The Tradition of Easter Egg Decorating

Decorating Easter eggs is such a fun tradition. It's a great way to sit down together with loved ones (or peacefully by yourself) and indulge in your creative side. Whether you're a skilled egg decorator, or a first-timer, egg decorating is all about being present and having some Easter fun. But have you ever wondered where this tradition began? 

Egg decorating has been around for a very long time. Sorcha McCrory writes for Scandinavia Standard, "the practice of decorating eggshells itself is quite ancient, with decorated, engraved ostrich eggs found in Africa that are 60,000 years old. Representations of ostrich eggs in gold and silver were often placed in graves of the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians" (Scandinavia Standard).

Quickly adopted by…

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Camping Tips and Tricks

It’s camping season! This summer has ushered in incredible weather, with plenty of rain and heat. The grass is green, the water is cool, and the sun is shining. Many Calgarians are taking advantage of this beautiful weather by packing up and heading to their favorite campsite to breathe in the fresh air. Looking for some tips and tricks to make your camping experience better? Here are some of our favorites:

Frozen Water Bottles: Instead of buying a bunch of ice for your cooler that will melt and leave a mess, instead buy a flat of water. Crack the lid and dump out a little bit from each bottle to release the pressure, then pop it in the freezer overnight. Once frozen, you can line your cooler with them to keep things icy! As they melt, they also…

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Creating Quality Compost

Gardening season is upon us, and the secret to a great garden is great soil. What makes soil great? Compost!

Thanks to the City of Calgary, every home has a Green Compost Bin. You can regularly put compost waste in it for collection, or you can keep it inside your yard and do your own thing. If you choose to make your own compost, here is what you need to do:

Add Base: Food scraps are the base for your compost. You can basically compost any kind of food, except for meat & dairy products. This is because meat and dairy will attract rodents and maggots, but also compromises the nutrient balance of the compost. Have a mini compost container in your kitchen for easy access, then regularly dump it into your compost bin outside and clean it to reduce…

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The Dos and Donts of Window Replacements

There are many reasons why homeowners decide to change their windows, including: water leakage, drafty seams, too much condensation (which can cause mould to grow on the interior), lack of outdoor noise control, poor temperature regulation, etc.. While cracks or breaks on the surface of the window are obvious cause for immediate replacement, the listed reasons for changing your windows are gradual issues that you need to keep a cautious eye on.

Many people choose to hire a contractor to come replace their windows. This is certainly a wise idea for large and/or heavy windows that will require precise professional care. However, for your average window, you can easily replace it yourself so long as you exercise extreme control and care. Don’t be…

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Back To School: Keeping Your Home Organized

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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Most Desirable Home Features

When it comes to finding a new home, most buyers put together a wish list. This wish list has two sections: need to have and want to have. For example, for some people a pool in the backyard is a need to have. For others, it would only be a want to have. Different buyers have different needs. These needs are based on preference and what is required for each buyer’s particular lifestyle.

Some people are extremely picky when it comes to what they want out of a new home. Others are more relaxed. Either way, there are a number of home features that can make a property more desirable to potential buyers. The list below is not universal; like we said, everyone is different and will want and need different things out of their home. However, this list is a…

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Pros and Cons of Different Home Flooring

Quality flooring can make or break a home. Often specific kinds of flooring is on a buyer's must-have list. Here are some different kinds of flooring and the pros and cons of each, according to the experts at Homes.com:

• Ceramic Tile: "Ceramic tiles are made of natural materials like clay, sand and water... Ceramic tiles are highly durable and you can choose from numerous designs and colors. Furthermore, they are perfect for homes with children or pets because they don’t get scratched easily... Ceramic tiles can suffer damage from exposure to sunlight and the pattern tends to fade over time. They are also slippery and children and the elderly must be careful when walking on ceramic tiles, especially with socks."
• Hardwood: "Hardwood floors have…

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Preparing for an Emergency

Calgary is a great city for so many reasons. The people here are hardworking and kind, and the city itself is clean and welcoming. Most importantly--especially to those of us in the real estate industry--the location is incredible. After all, you know what they say: location is everything.

Nestled right between the prairies and the mountains, Calgary is ideal if you like beautiful views and experiencing all four seasons. Another perk of this city's location is that it remains relatively untouched by natural disasters. It is too close to the mountains to get tornadoes, and too far from the sea to get hurricanes. It is not significantly affected by earthquakes, and is not in a hot bed for forest fires. Albeit a little too much snow some winters, Calgary…

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Home Staging: Gardens

Spring is here and each day more and more of Calgary blossoms and comes alive. We are so thankful that Calgary gets all four seasons, especially when beautiful weather like we have had today is the outcome. The birds are chirping, the bees are buzzing and we cannot wait to start seeing gardens come alive.

Calgary is home to some very dedicated gardeners who put hours of hard labour into creating beautiful landscapes for all to enjoy. A quick drive through most neighbourhoods will reveal many beautiful gardens, each with their own themes and plants. A drive through some of the most dedicated communities, such as Bowness and Mount Royal, are better inspiration than any Pinterest search.

For those of you looking to start your own garden or are looking…

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The Little Free Pantry

The Little Free Pantry idea began in the United States. Someone saw a need in their community to help provide the poor and marginalized the necessities of life. They wanted something that those in need could go to for free and without obligation; as if they could go into someone’s pantry and take what they need. Thus, the Little Free Pantry was born.

The concept is this: build a small outdoor pantry and fill it with things those in need may be able to use, such as non-perishable food, bus tickets, toothbrushes, deoderant and on-the-go snacks. The pantry is placed on the edge of your private property, available to those who need it. Note that you cannot build a Little Free Pantry on city property or someone else’s private property. Doing so is illegal…

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