Boost your home’s curb appeal with this handful of easy tips.

Pressure Wash the Exterior

A lot of grime can accumulate on your home’s exterior over the course of a year. Give your home’s appearance an instant boost by pressure washing the siding, windows, deck, patio, gutters and walkways.

Note: You can rent a pressure washer from most major hardware stores

Check Your Gutters

Now that you’ve cleaned your gutters to ensure proper drainage, check their appearance. Are they looking warped, sad and saggy? A gutter replacement will help sharpen the lines around the exterior of your home and protect it from water damage.

Show Your Lawn Some Love

In addition to the standard spring rake and mow, opt to give your lawn a healthy new start…

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As per the provincial government, Alberta is scheduled to slowly start returning to normal – with many services set to reopen as early as May 14th. While strict public health measures, physical distancing and hygiene practices will continue to be reinforced, Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy will focus on “gradually reopening businesses, resuming activities and getting people back to work.”

Here’s what to expect:

Conditions for Relaunch 

The province’s relaunch plan is divided into three phases: The Current Situation, Stage 1 and Stage 2 (with a further Stage 3, depending). According to authorities, the following conditions much be in place for stage 1 to begin:

  • Enhancement of nation-leading testing capacity
  • Comprehensive contact tracing…

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In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, both the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA) and the Alberta Real Estate Association  (AREA) have put active protocols in place to ensure the health and safety of home buyers, sellers and their agents. While now is still a great time for real estate in the capital region, if you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, here’s what you need to know:

Social Distancing

Tour homes and meet one on one with your REALTOR® from the comfort of your living room. To help flatten the curve, reputable agents are taking to online applications such as Zoom or Skype to conduct virtual showings and attend to the needs of their clients. When an in-person meeting is deemed necessary, be sure to maintain a regular social…

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In addition to spending more time with family, if there’s one good thing to come out of having to stay home, it’s the ability to tackle overdue projects around the house. If decluttering has been on your radar for some time, we have a “few” ideas to help get you started.

Stray Socks

As you purge the one-offs, consider getting rid of the holey ones, too.

Bygone Books 

Reclaim your shelf space by getting rid of books you’ve already read (and don’t intend to read again), old cookbooks, diet books and magazines.

Surplus Water Bottles

While it’s good to keep hydrated, a water bottle for every room may be a bit excessive. Not to mention, they tend to deteriorate with age.

Mismatched Linens 

Sheets, pillows and towels wear out over…

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While we’re all doing our best to stay home during these difficult times, the occasional trip to the grocery store may prove unavoidable. When and if you do have to venture out, keep yourself and others safe with the help of these 10 essential grocery shopping tips:

1. Attempt Online First 

Maintain social distancing by attempting to order online first – either in a click and collect or delivery format (Instacart, for example, will shop a wide range of retailers on your behalf for delivery as soon as possible). Keep in mind, wait times will vary according to customer demand, therefore you’ll want to order a few days ahead.

2. Organize Your Shopping List Ahead of Time

Minimize the amount of time you’ll need to spend in the store by…

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The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the employment and income of many hardworking Albertans. As a means of helping homeowners pay their bills during these times of economic uncertainty, several of Canada’s largest banks are offering payment relief by means of deferred mortgage payments.

Here’s what you need to know:

What is the Mortgage Payment Deferral? 

An agreement between you and your lender, a mortgage payment deferral allows you to pause or suspend your payments for an allotted period of time. Sometimes referred to as a mortgage forbearance agreement, the deferral is a temporary measure that, upon ending, will see your payment schedule return to normal and the missed payments repaid.

Note: A mortgage payment deferral includes payments…

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How much will it cost to sell your Edmonton home? While the answer will vary according to your unique selling situation, here are a few expenses you’ll want to prepare for ahead of time.

Pre-Listing Inspection: 

While optional, scheduling an inspection before you list can help streamline the sale of your home. Not only will a pre-listing inspection allow you to identify and address repairs and hidden issues ahead of time, but it will also instill buyer confidence and minimize negotiation time.

Home Repairs and Upgrades 

Improve your home’s value (and sale price), by tackling necessary repairs and renovations beforehand. These may include addressing larger ticket items such as roof or siding repairs, HVAC, plumbing, etc. You may also want…

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Looking for a few fun family activities to do at home (that go beyond regular board game night)? We have some suggestions:

1. Plan a Scavenger Hunt

Have some scavenger-hunt fun by hiding items in and around your home (outside in your yard if possible). Give each member a personalized list of things to find and offer prizes for the winner.

See 5 Steps to An Unforgettable Indoor Scavenger Hunt for tips and ideas

2. Cultural Cuisine 

A culinary experience and learning opportunity rolled into one! Choose a country you’d like to know more about as a family and prepare an authentic meal that might be served there. For instance, if you chose England, you may opt to make Fish and Chips, Shepherd’s Pie and Bread and Butter Pudding. Serve a…

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To our clients, families and friends (and friends we’ve yet to meet): See below for some important information regarding the government’s Emergency Response Package in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effectively immediately the government has announced an $82-billion-dollar aid package, including wage subsidies, income support and tax referrals, to assist Canadians and Canadian business owners in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

With $27 billion designated towards direct support and $55 billion to assist business liquidity through tax referrals, the response package will assist Canadians in paying for their rent/mortgages and groceries while helping businesses meet payroll and bill requirements.

Details of the response package include:

  • …

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Cast off the winter blues and ready your home for spring’s arrival with the help of these ultra-useful spring cleaning tips:

Plan Ahead 

Cleaning your home from top to bottom can feel like a pretty daunting task when you’re unprepared. Stay on track and prevent overwhelm with the help of a cleaning schedule or to-do list. If possible, make a plan for each room (one room at a time) and spread your list over several days to ensure you can get everything done without feeling overburdened.

Clear Clutter First 

Spring marks a great time to purge. As you move from room to room, take stock of items that may be donated, sold or recycled, paying extra attention to drawers, closets and other clutter-accumulating areas. Decluttering won’t just make…

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