The foundation of a home is the basis of the entire structure.
Just like a strong foundation can make a happy relationship, a strong foundation beneath your home will keep it standing strong for many years.
Many different factors go into building a strong foundation.
Footings are a vital part of foundation construction. They are made of concrete and rebar reinforcement and exist to support the foundation and prevent settling. They?re made for the foundation to rest on and are especially ...
posted in home tips
at Mon, 29 Mar 2021 22:28:51 +0000
Right now, there?s no way to describe Canmore?s housing market other than ?hot.?
?I?m always hesitant to use that word because you can?t paint everything with the same brush, but the statistics don?t lie,? said a local Realtor
Those statistics show that of the 66 new listings that came on the market in February, 60 were sold in that period ? sometimes with multiple offers ? and at a 99 per cent sale-to-listing-price ratio.
Another Realtor calls the situation ?unprecedented,? considering ...
this "Pittsburgh Potty" photo dates back to 1922.
Old homes are often full of outdated features that seem bizarre in a modern context but served an important purpose at the time of construction. With some of these quirks ? such as milk doors, dumbwaiters and boot scrapers ? the utility is obvious. With others? well, not so much.
One such eccentricity from a bygone era is a case of curious plumbing. In some old homes, usually only those dating back to before the Second World War, a random ...
Saving up a down payment is hard work, and it?s getting more difficult to achieve the required savings as prices continue to rise in certain hot markets (due in part to low interest rates spurring high demand), outpacing what you might be able to save on a monthly basis. Thus, pooling resources, and buying a home as a group with the intention of living together, is becoming increasingly more popular.
Whether you?re a first-time homebuyer, or this is your second or third property, the financial ...
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posted in Investing
at Tue, 23 Mar 2021 21:59:56 +0000
With spring on the horizon ? bringing warmer days, blooming flowers, plenty of sunshine and increased optimism ? Calgary?s real estate market is poised for a flurry of activity.
?We have definitely rounded the corner, but in this market, who knows, we are still a little bit in the fog. Right now, the market is brisk and it?s essentially a sellers? market, so buyers really need to be prepared,? said a REALTOR® in Calgary.
?A smart consumer, whether buyer or seller, should engage a real estate ...
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posted in home tips
at Mon, 22 Mar 2021 19:02:00 +0000
When it comes to deciding if an investment in solar will pay off, the homeowner has to do research and make smart decisions for their home and financial situation. Here are some steps to take along the way.
Step 1: Figure out the home?s solar potential.
To get an initial idea about a roof?s solar potential, you can enter the address at Google Project Sunroof or check out solar resource maps from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. One common misconception is that solar panels only pay ...
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posted in home tips
at Thu, 18 Mar 2021 15:57:45 +0000
Fogo Island Inn - an island off an island
While you and your special someone might not have traveled for Valentine?s Day this year, that doesn?t mean you can?t start planning a romantic getaway for the future. Some people believe they need to travel to Paris, the Bahamas, or another international destination to find a romantic getaway, but that?s not the case. One of the greatest things about living in the second-largest country in the world, you don?t have to cross oceans to discover a unique ...
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With Canadians spending more time at home, opportunities to level-up our living spaces continue to present themselves. You may have spent time pampering your pets, setting a new tone in the bathroom, or even performing some long-overdue home maintenance. If you?ve been considering uncharted home improvement territory, then it could be time to finish your basement. Let?s look at some key considerations to help you plan for this project.
Is it worthwhile?
Undoubtedly this is one of the biggest ...
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posted in home tips
at Sun, 14 Mar 2021 20:24:20 +0000
Moving into a new home is exciting?it represents a fresh start with new rooms to decorate, and a new neighbourhood to explore. However, setting up your house can also be exhausting and stressful. But don?t worry?we?ve compiled a helpful checklist of things to cross off before you settle in. And if you?re moving to a new city, your REALTOR® is a great resource for advice about tasks to take care of, who to tap for help and how tofind the best schools for your kids.
1. Update your address and ...
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posted in home tips
at Thu, 11 Mar 2021 20:39:39 +0000
For homeowners, insurance is an inescapable expense that can quickly add up when stacked on top of other financial obligations like a mortgage, property taxes and utilities. That?s why it?s important to make sure you?re getting the best deal possible ? even a few small discounts applied to your premiums can turn into huge savings over time.
With that in mind, here are eight ways to save money on your homeowners insurance:
1) Increase your deductible
With all insurance policies, a higher ...
posted in home tips
at Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:58:46 +0000
Calgary is still stuck in the throes of winter, but many homeowners are already planning their landscape projects for 2021 to ensure they have an outdoor space to enjoy this summer.
Alison Atherton, co-owner of Project Landscape, says there was a sudden surge in demand for landscaping work last summer, as many Calgarians scrambled to adjust to COVID-19 restrictions and more time spent at home.
?The idea was to create resort-style living, some sort of oasis in your backyard to enjoy while you ...
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Year of Construction: 1912
Address: 802 Prospect Ave. S.W.
Community: Upper Mount Royal
Architectural Style: Georgian Revival
Oddly enough, the most famous owner of this stately brick home in Calgary?s upscale Mount Royal neighbourhood never actually lived there. As the house?s modern moniker suggests, that owner was R. B. Bennett, Canada?s 11th prime minister and a man who, despite growing up in New Brunswick and spending his final years in England, is indelibly linked with Calgary?s history. ...
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Sound transmission class (STC) is the rating system used to measure a partition wall?s ability to reduce the effect of airborne sound. A higher STC rating means less sound will make its way through the partition wall ? sometimes called a party wall, common wall or shared wall ? creating a quieter living space.
If you?ve ever lived in an apartment or townhome where you can hear your neighbours? every move, you know how irritating it can be. However, many homebuyers don?t know about STC ratings ...
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posted in home tips
at Fri, 05 Mar 2021 18:22:02 +0000
At the end of 2020, the Pantone Colour Institute announced its 2021 Colour(s) of the Year: Ultimate Gray (17-5104) and Illuminating (13-0647), ?A marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.?
This marked only the second time in the 21-year history of Colour of the Year that Pantone has chosen two colours, a deviation from the norm meant to reflect, and move on from, a year in 2020 that was anything but normal. The combination of hues ...
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posted in home tips
at Thu, 04 Mar 2021 16:55:53 +0000
Staircases tend to capture the eye because of the way they transcend from one level to the next. If your property?s stairs have seen better days, though, you might not like the message that your staircase is sending potential buyers. Whether you?re simply tired of the way that they look, or your stairs are starting to fall into a bit of disrepair, refinishing and revitalizing your stairs will have to come sooner or later.
Here are a few ideas that you should keep in mind when trying to figure ...
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posted in home tips
at Wed, 03 Mar 2021 20:14:34 +0000
With gains in every price range, residential sales activity in February totalled 1,836.
This reflects the best February since 2014.
?Despite continued COVID-19 restrictions, housing activity continues to improve. Much of the strong sales activity is expected to be driven by exceptionally low mortgage rates,? said CREB® chief economist Ann-Marie Lurie.
?Confidence is also likely improving as vaccine rollouts are underway. Additionally, some of the worst fears concerning the energy sector are ...
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