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Renovations You Can Do Even When It's Chilly Outside

It's still a little chilly outside, which means that most of us would rather be curled up inside with a warm drink instead of out in the cold. While temperatures are expected to rise soon, you can never be too weary when it comes to weather in Calgary, Alberta. Our friendly groundhog Phil may have promised winter was at it's end, but that does not mean our toes will be thawing anytime soon. For now, we're going to keep our sweaters on.

During cold winters a fun pastime is scrolling through Pinterest, dreaming of all the fun projects you can do once it is warm enough outside. This is especially true when it comes to home renovations, which most people tend to complete during the summer months before a big freeze. After all, most home renovations…

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First Time Home Buyer Tips and Tricks

If you are currently in the market for your first home, you probably have lots of questions. This is a major investment of both your money and time, so you're likely feeling the weight of this as you begin your search. Ken Richter has a wealth of experience in helping first time home buyers, and he is here to help you make the most out of this moment!

Here are some tips that will make your home buying process successful: 

Tip #1: Do Your Homework: The perfect home won’t find you by itself. A key step in buying a home is doing the proper research. Educate yourself on local schools, neighborhoods, and the kinds of homes available. By reading available materials and talking with experts, you can start to put together what the perfect home looks…

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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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Maximizing Outdoor Spaces

One of the most attractive features of a new property can be the outdoor space included. Here in Calgary, many properties include nice outdoor living spaces compared to other cities where homes are lucky to have a strip of grass in front of the door. With this space, Calgarians get creative. If you search the city, you can find people who have created elaborate garden oasis’ in their backyard, or crafted mini hockey rinks during the winter. While these features are fun, they aren’t always the best example of maximizing the space.

Outdoor living spaces are something to be treasured and taken care of. In fact, here in Calgary we have bylaws about maintaing this part of the property. Part of taking care of your outdoor living space is properly…

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How To Find Your Forever Home

Some homes are temporary landing pads. They may be a rental place while you save for your first deposit, a smaller property you use to build equity towards something larger one day, or something else. Whatever it is, it served you well, but now it's time to find that forever home people write stories about.

By forever home, we don't necessarily mean forever. We just mean a property that is going to be a long term home, where you will likely spend the majority of your years. This home will hold a significant place in your heart and memories, so make sure to choose carefully! The following are some tips on what to look for and keep in mind as you search for your forever home:

First, recognize that this isn't a situation you need to rush into. Take…

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Winterizing Your Home Against The Cold

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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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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Outdoor Summer Renovations

Summertime is coming in hot and we are ready to bask in the beautiful weather. After weeks of quarantine the forecast looks great! If that is not something to celebrate, we don't know what is.

With so much nice weather on the horizon, now is a great time to check off any summertime renovations you had on your to-do list. We don't want you to get caught mid-winter with half-finished projects, so here is your reminder to grind it out. Remember: if you get it done today, you won't have to worry about it tomorrow. 

Do you want to change things up but aren't sure where to start? Are you wondering what things you should be working on that you have not yet? Look no further. We have got you covered. Here is the ultimate outdoor summer renovation list:

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Winter Backyard Additions

At the start of the winter season we braced you for the cold: we gave you tips to cut down on heating costs, ways to keep your driveway and walkway clear of snow and ice, we even taught you how to prepare your home for the big freeze! The winter season did not last nearly as long as weathermen across Canada warned us it would, however that does not mean we are completely clear of the cold.

Temperatures are already on the rise towards what is going to be a beautiful spring! However, Calgarians still have to make it through February, which is consistently one of the coldest months of the year. Rather than complain about the cold and lament another day of freezing winds, we thought the best way to cap off this winter season would be to teach you how…

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Interested in Refinancing Your Home?

One of the biggest expenses any homeowner has to deal with for an extended period of time is paying off a mortgage. In fact, it's typically one of the longest payments on any one thing that a person will make in their lifetime. 

A mortgage is money that you, a creditor, must repay a debtor within a certain amount of time. Most homeowners take out a mortgage in order to purchase a home, since most people cannot buy a home outright. This mortgage will have interest rates added to it, which are often the most difficult part to pay off as they continue to grow and grow. A mortgage is a very daunting thing for homeowners to have looming over them, but luckily it is not always fixed.

Have you ever heard of refinancing? When interest rates are low, some…

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