Real Estate Blog - Winter

Getting Settled Into Your New Home

With flurries cooling off the last of our autumn days here in Calgary, people are preparing to settle into autumn and get cozy. With this feeling comes the desire to nest--to make your home feel more like home in preparation for a new season. Whether you are new to your home or not, here are some things you can do to help you feel more settled following a transition in the seasons. 

• Finish unpacking. Everyone has at least one box in their home that they have neglected since moving. Friends, now is the time to unpack it once and for all. Finish moving into your home by unpacking any boxes you have. It will help you feel organized and in control. While you're at it, go through that one drawer you throw everything in and find a proper place for its…

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Winterizing Your Home Against The Snow

Every fall we write about winterizing your home. This is because properly winterizing your home is extremely important. Your property is precious and valuable, do not risk it being damaged. Think of it like a child you need to bundle up in the wintertime. The weather has been beautiful so far, but we all know that with Halloween quickly approaching, snow is inevitably on the horizon...

First things first, make sure the structure of your home is in top condition. Pay particular attention to the roof, windowsills and siding. Winter can get wet quickly with Calgary chinooks, so limiting your chances of leakage is crucial. Heavy snow can also collapse already damaged roofs, so again, take care of these right away.

Pipes can be another major problem…

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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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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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Winter Roadtrip Guide

Calgary has turned into a winter wonderland. It has been snowing steadily since Christmas Eve, blanketing our beautiful city in white, fluffy flakes. With such a beautiful winter landscape to explore, many people are embarking on adventures. With so many beautiful places close to the city, day trips and longer road trips are a fantastic way to enjoy the season. However, while the snow is beautiful, it also makes for dangerous driving conditions. Here are some tips for how to have a safe road trip experience:

1). First thing you need to do is make sure your vehicle is ready and equipped to handle the winter driving conditions. It is essential that you have winter tires (and a spare), that your battery, belts, brakes, heater and windshield wipers…

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Staying Warm This Winter

If you have lived through a Calgary winter before, you have undoubtedly collected some nifty tricks to make the season more bearable. Every Calgarian could probably write a book about their adventures in the wintertime, which is both a blessing a curse. If this is your first winter in Calgary, talk to your neighbor for a wealth of knowledge! Also… good luck.If you have looked outside of your window recently, you may have noticed the fluffy white stuff sticking to the ground. The green grass from the summer is all dried out, the beautiful leaves have all fallen, and daylight savings has officially begun to cover the sun with dark skies early in the evening. It is that time of year, folks! Wintertime.

We, too, have collected some tricks for surviving the…

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Preventing Slippery Sidewalks

The snow may be melting, but the cold nights mean that the moisture turns to slick ice. While most ice is visible to the naked eye, some ice is far more dangerous and deceptive.The city is well equipped to handle the ice on the roads, as evidenced by all the leftover salt and gravel that washes up come spring, but the sidewalks are another story.

Sidewalks in urban centres, such as downtown and shopping areas, tend to stay clear since businesses want to avoid a lawsuit. However, your personal sidewalk is your own responsibility.

There are two major reasons to keep your sidewalk and walkways clear: the first is that when snow and ice build up, it can damage the pavement and produce significant cracks. The second reason is that having lots of ice and…

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Protecting Your Home From The Frost

There is something in the air. It bites at your cheeks and makes your nose run. It clings to your car and has turned golden fall leaves crunchy and brown. It has frozen your windows shut and has usurped your garden. The frost has arrived. It is in full force, making up for the lack of fluffy white snow. It may not look quite like winter, but it definitely is starting to feel like winter.

Monitor your home’s water systems. Water systems that are not properly winterized can do incredible damage, such as cracking your pipes, blocking flow and ruining any filtration systems. Turn off all outdoor water taps and make sure they are properly sealed for winter. Make sure that faucets indoors are all used frequently: run the hot water for a minute to clear away…

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