I watched a really good Webinar yesterday on Secondary suites - For more info and to watch it click here. Here are a few of the points I discovered"
- The City are waiving $900 of fees for permits until December 2021
- For a secondary suite -There are other options besides putting in a second furnace.
- For an existing suite there are differing rules than if you are building a new suite. An Egress window is the size of the unobstructed opening not the size of the window.
A secondary suite has ...
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posted in Investing
at Thu, 31 Dec 2020 18:28:11 +0000
Calgary?s East Village has perhaps seen more change over the last 20 years than any other community in the city. Since the idea of bringing East Village back to life resurfaced in 2005, the neighbourhood once known for its vacant lots and neglected buildings has been transformed into one of the city?s more vibrant communities.
While there have been several key developments during that transformation ? including the Simmons Building, RiverWalk pathway, St. Patrick?s Island and a handful of ...
The changing of the seasons often leads to window woes in a home, as problems that went unnoticed during the summer months become apparent with the arrival of colder weather.
Dallas Paquette from Lift Renovations, which handles window installations for Lowe?s Canada in Calgary, says winter weather is challenging for windows. As they expand and contract, gaps can open in areas that are weakened.
?Cold weather sort of puts a window through its paces thermally and can often expose flaws,? he said. ...
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posted in home tips
at Tue, 29 Dec 2020 17:48:41 +0000
Buying a property can be incredibly exciting and terrifying at the same time, especially if it?s your first . For a lot of buyers today, the idea of getting a killer deal is the ultimate goal, one that you may have heard is possible with a bank-foreclosed property (also known as a ?foreclosure? or ?real estate owned? property or simply ?REO?). Real estate prices over time are only going up, after all, so what?s the scoop on foreclosures?
Can You Get a Deal on Foreclosed ...
posted in Investing
at Thu, 24 Dec 2020 21:33:36 +0000
To paint or not to paint? With upholstered furniture, that is a complicated question. Social media, online blogs and video tutorials show that it can be a fun DIY project, but there are a few key considerations and great results are not guaranteed.
Calgary?s Dale Marie Wedge of Blooming DIY-er said choosing the right furniture piece is important. For example, she might paint old chairs or sofas to serve as props in the home.
?Maybe paint an ugly upholstered chair and use that as a plant ...
posted in home tips
at Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:46:05 +0000
Year of Construction: 1928
Address: 8539 48th Ave N.W.
Community: Bowness
Architectural Style: American Colonial Revival
This unique heritage home is a well-known landmark in historic Bowness, a community that began its life as one of Calgary?s first suburbs. The original owner and builder of the home was stockbroker and oil man Leonard Phillips, who was born in 1887 in Wakefield, England.
Courtesy of the City of Calgary
Phillips, who arrived in Calgary in 1911, purchased the property in 1928 ...
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Here are a few specific tips that might make the difference between a quick sale and a better sale. Or in the case of a slower market, any sale at all.
Before the guests arrive at your listing, you should open all window blinds, drapes and interior room doors and turn on all lights ? everywhere ? even on a sunny day! To avoid stuffiness, let the light and air flow.
Unless the buyer is a cave dweller, not only does a bright and airy atmosphere make the home more welcoming, but it also means the ...
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posted in home tips
at Fri, 18 Dec 2020 17:31:09 +0000
Chances are, you have at least heard of building permits even if you haven?t applied for one yourself. Going by their name alone, you can probably guess the general gist of what these permits are used for. You might be surprised to find out that a lot of homeowners don?t really know that much about building permits, especially when it comes to details such as when you need to apply for one. It can actually get kind of confusing at times, so here?s a rundown of the basics of building permits so ...
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posted in home tips
at Thu, 17 Dec 2020 21:32:16 +0000
Cochrane?s largest infrastructure project to date, the much-anticipated Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge, recently had its grand opening, which was marked by a low-key, physically distanced celebration and plenty of fireworks.
?Given the challenges of the time and the global pandemic, it was just so nice to have something positive to rally around,? said Cochrane Mayor Jeff Genung.
The bridge was named in honour of longtime Cochrane resident, philanthropist and Cochrane Eagle founder Jack Tennant, ...
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Good lighting is important in many places in a rental property. When you?re working in the kitchen, though, having sufficient lighting to see what you?re doing is vital. Poor lighting in your kitchen can make cooking and other tasks a pain, especially if the lighting leaves shadows in areas that you use a lot. Fortunately, there are a number of options available when it comes to adding new lighting to your kitchen. Here are some of the best for you to consider.
Recessed Lighting
One popular ...
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posted in home tips
at Sat, 12 Dec 2020 23:14:45 +0000
Historically low interest rates coupled with highly active markets might have you wondering whether now is the right time to purchase an investment property.
Canada?s housing markets have shattered records since the early summer, posting a 45.6% year-over-year increase in sales activity during September, according to the latest data from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). During the first nine months of this year, 402,578 homes changed hands over Canadian MLS® Systems, a nearly 6% ...
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posted in Investing
at Fri, 11 Dec 2020 17:55:24 +0000
Although we?ve already gotten our first doses of snow, winter is (technically) still just around the corner, with many more cold days and tons of the white stuff to come.
Unfortunately, winter is also the season that tends to reveal and worsen issues within the home, so there?s no time like the present for some proactive maintenance. A bit of extra effort now could save you countless headaches when temperatures drop.
Here?s a handy checklist to get you started:
Gutters and downspouts
Make sure ...
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posted in home tips
at Wed, 09 Dec 2020 01:58:31 +0000
Calgary?s condo market may be mired in a bit of a slump, but developers are still finding ways to make their latest offerings stand out.
This is what Ocgrow Group of Companies has done with SOLA, the company?s new development in inner-city Kensington that will boast 172 condo units ? all equipped with smart-home automation.
SOLA will be Canada?s first luxury condo development to be fully integrated with Amazon Alexa devices.
?I firmly believe the real estate and tech sectors will continue to ...
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It?s the classic rate decision many mortgage shoppers are faced with. And it?s only been made more complicated since the start of the pandemic. Towards the latter half of 2019, variable rates were flying off the shelves with rates as low as prime ? 1%. A lot has changed since then.
In March, fears over the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown forced most banks and other mortgage lenders to cut their fixed rates from 3.95% to 2.45% within the span of just one month. At the same time, ...
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posted in Investing
at Fri, 04 Dec 2020 18:21:58 +0000
There are some chores around the house that make you feel like you?ve really done something, giving you a sense of massive accomplishment and joy. Cleaning gutters isn?t one of them. Unfortunately, it?s a chore that still has to be done, whether it?s fulfilling or not. And if you?ve got to do a thing, you might as well do it right. That?s why we?ve got tips for better gutter cleaning.
Why Clean Your Gutters?
Your gutters are the most efficient way to move water running off of your roof to ...
posted in home tips
at Thu, 03 Dec 2020 16:30:21 +0000
While design trends come and go, there?s one item we can be sure won?t be making an appearance in our living rooms again: the tube TV. While the big and bulky televisions of our childhoods have been replaced with more minimal options, that flatscreen TV can still be an eyesore in your home. That?s why we?re sharing six creative ways to stylishly hide your TV.
Hide it behind a map or picture
Would you guess there?s a flatscreen hiding behind that stylish map and console setup? To achieve this ...
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posted in home tips
at Tue, 01 Dec 2020 21:07:06 +0000