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        <title>Calgary Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/2018-10/</link>
        <description>Justin Havre's Calgary Real Estate Blog brings you the latest market news and property listings, as well as tips for buying or selling a home.</description>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/calgary-ab-sushi-restaurants.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/calgary-ab-sushi-restaurants.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>The Best Sushi in Calgary, AB</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 


When you decide to go out and eat sushi, you do not want just any sushi; you want the most delicious sushi bar you can find. Here are some of the local favourites for when you are craving sushi in Calgary.


Sho Sushi


Sho Sushi serves the freshest sushi in all of Calgary. The Lobster Roll is a popular choice for anyone craving lobster and sushi. This sushi roll features grilled lobster, tempura (shrimp), and avocado rolled up and topped off with black tobiko and garlic pepper sauce. The very presentation of the sushi roll when served is enough to make your mouth water with hunger.


Sushi Bar Zipang


Sushi Bar Zipang has not one, but two of the local favourite shrimp rolls in Calgary. You might have so much trouble choosing between the Ebi Tempura Roll and the Spicy Hotate Roll that you end up getting them both.


The One Sushi


Whether you love sushi or just enjoy a fun dining experience, you will find both at The One Sushi. This spot allows you to order your dishes on an iPad and they provide plenty of great choices. This is much like dining at an all-you-can-eat buffet without leaving your table.


More than 100 items are found on the iPad you order from and with just a press of a few buttons; your order is sent to the kitchen. A little later, it will appear at your table and you don't have to get up, make a plate or deal with food that has sat out at a buffet for hours.


The plates come in appetizer-sized portions, so if you like it, you can get more, if not, you can move on to something else. The price is fixed at $17 for lunch and $28 for dinner. However, The One Sushi does bill customers if they leave too much behind, so don't wasteful when you dine here.


Yamagoya


If you love sushi, Yamagoya is the place for you. It's one of the top restaurants in the area and often you have to wait for a table. However, the wait is worth it and once you get in, you will enjoy some of the best sushi found in Canada.


Midori


For less than $11, you can visit Midori and enjoy their delicious and affordable Evergreen Roll. This sushi roll is perfect for anyone who likes shrimp and lots of vegetables. It contains shrimp, asparagus, avocados, cucumbers, and salad mix all rolled up.


Even if the sushi rolls featured do not make your mouth water, these sushi establishments are popular in Calgary for selling the best sushi rolls you can get your hands on.





 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 31 Oct 2018 09:57:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-landscaping.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-landscaping.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>How to Landscape Your Calgary Home For Success</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Landscaping is the first thing a person sees when they pull up to a house. Landscaping helps form the first impressions that people get when they first see a property. These first impressions are called &quot;curb appeal.&quot; Homes that have good landscaping and thus good curb appeal are easier to sell and often are valued higher than homes that do not.


Basic Landscaping Maintenance Tips


When landscaping a property, the homeowner must take into consideration the tidiness of the property, the colour of the shrubs and flowers and the health of the overall plants. Watering, fertilizing and trimming regularly can help make a property more attractive.


Homeowners who want to improve their home's landscaping can establish a regular care regimen, prune back overgrown shrubs, replace dying annuals with healthy perennials and remove any debris from the lawn. What's most important about improving landscaping is that it must be done on a regular basis. Landscaping grows healthier with time and special care. If regular care is not given, the landscaping will not thrive. Homeowners who do not have time to care for their own landscaping can overcome these problems by hiring a professional.


Landscaping and Gardening Safety Tips


Spring has arrived and if you have the gardening itch or are planning a full-out yard renovation project, here are a few important safety tips that you should keep in mind. Not only will these tips keep you safe but they can also prevent you from making decisions that could cost you a lot of money should things go wrong.


Call The City Before Digging


Even small areas in your yard require a call from you before you start to do any digging. There may be electrical or natural gas lines running right underneath the area you're about to dig. Don't assume that just because you're planning on piling out only a square foot of area that you can take your chances.


Of course, digging in the garden for regular planting doesn't require a call since you're not going to be going down deep enough to matter. For major yard renovations you'll need to get approval first from the city before having any excavation done. In rare cases the permit to dig may be denied if the excavation looks like it may be too dangerous to carry out. For most lawns and yards, however, this usually does not come up to pose a problem.


Stay On The Lookout For Critters


If you see any evidence of wild animals burrowing under your home or garage you may have to call up a pest control company to get them handled. Raccoons and other small critters like skunks can end up damaging your home and are not safe to have around especially if you have children. You can phone a local pest control company and have them humanely trapped and placed back into the wild where they belong at a relatively inexpensive price.


Watch For Poison Ivy


Before hitting the garden take a quick look around for poison oak and poison ivy. You should also take a quick walk around your yard and the perimeter of it to make sure that these plants didn't decide to make their home in your space during the later months of fall last year.


Get Rid Of The Pesky Insects


Look for any signs of instant infestation such as termites, wasps and bees. If you happen to run across a nest and don't feel like you can handle the threat on your own it's time to call in an exterminator to get rid of it for you. Finding these nests during the first few months of spring is quite common. Keep your eyes open for any insects that want to call your home their own and get rid of them quickly.


Don’t Overexert Yourself


If you're the type of person that has been hibernating all winter you probably haven't been keeping up on your exercise. Take things slowly at the beginning. You certainly don't want to get any type of muscle injury right at the beginning of this beautiful season -especially when you consider all of the plans you have to make your home exterior look its best.


Maintaining Your Yard’s Tools and Systems


It's springtime here in Calgary and time to think about getting the systems and tools in your yard checked out for the upcoming season. If you have a contract with a sprinkler company already, now's a good time to book your appointment. Don't wait until the last minute as others do to get your sprinkler system examined. Do it now to avoid the spring rush


Maintaining Your Home Sprinkler System


Although it is another expense of home ownership, it's one that you really shouldn't avoid. When the technicians come out to take a look at your underground system they'll be able to make sure that the pipes are free-flowing and that all of the sprinklers are in working order.


A clogged pipe line can quickly do damage to the entire irrigation system that you have installed. In most cases the price is extremely reasonable for a fast check-up and won't take any longer than 15 minutes. If something is discovered during the course of the investigation the trucks will have extra parts on them and a quick repair can usually be done on the spot.


Installing a Home Sprinkler System


If you don’t have one, now is the best time to get one. The lawn care companies are just starting their advertising campaigns and soon new homeowners are going to be scheduling an installation. If you're seriously considering an irrigation system for your lawn it's best to start shopping around now will before the mad rush begins.


An underground sprinkler system is a real timesaver when it comes to lawn maintenance. You won't have the hassle of dragging out the hose, attaching the sprinkler and then moving it around the yard every few hours to make sure that the entire area is covered. You'll be able to control the maintenance with a few simple buttons and can pre-set the controls to have your lawn watered on a certain schedule.


The Technological Advances Are Amazing


You don't even need to know when to water your lawn anymore - the system will handle that for you Some of these systems use satellite weather forecasts to decide when your lawn should be watered. Most of the newer models can tell when it has been raining and will automatically turn off the sprinkler so that your lawn doesn't end up getting too much moisture and you end up saving money on your water bills.


Maintaining or Upgrading Your Lawn Mower


It's been a while since we last fired up our lawnmowers to do the grass and while there is still some time left before you'll need to dig it out for use, you may want to take a second look at it now before you need it. How was it running last year? Will it need any repairs or a simple tune-up for the spring? Do you need to invest in a brand new lawnmower?


The time is now to step into the garage or shed to test your lawnmower for the upcoming season. If you know that you're going to be in the market for a new lawnmower you may want to consider getting a battery-powered one and ditching the lawnmowers that are powered by gas altogether. These are the newest mowers on the market and according to most reviews, they are definitely worth the initial cost of investment.


Battery Powered Mowers


If you're going green you'll want to scrap your gas mower that significantly contributes to air pollution. You won't require any oil or gas at all to run the new machine and will be reducing your carbon footprint on this planet as a result.


Quiet As A Mouse


If you're tired of getting strange looks from your neighbors as they peek out from behind the blinds on an early Saturday or Sunday morning while you're mowing your lawn, these glares will become a thing of the past once you make the switch from gas to battery. You'll be able to mow your lawn late at night or in the early morning without disturbing your neighbors and you'll be giving your eardrums a break as well


Easy To Maintain


You won't need to worry about any tune-ups, air filters, spark plugs or oil changes any longer with a battery-powered lawnmower. The only thing that you'll have to do is replace the battery every 5-7 years and the good news is that these batteries are recyclable.


The Battery Power


The batteries will stay charged for about 2-3 average mows so you'll need to make sure that they get recharged on a regular basis. Some people just make a habit of recharging them after every mow to make sure that they are always ready to go. Other people invest in a second battery and keep it charged so that the batteries can be rotated on a moment's notice. This will save you the hassle of finding out at the last moment that you forgot to recharge your battery right in the middle of mowing your lawn. Of course, while operating your gas mower there may have been times when you ran out of gas right in the middle of the mowing as well


Mowers that are battery-powered are also very lightweight and easy to store. If you still have some concerns about investing in these newer mowers you may want to talk to a few of your neighbors that have one to find out whether they think the investment was worth it or not. In most cases you'll probably find that they love them


Installing a Calgary Backyard Greenhouse


If you're thinking about putting in a greenhouse in your backyard, you should realize that it carries quite a bit of responsibility with it. It's kind of like owning a pet - you'll have to be committed to taking care of it on a daily basis for the long time. If you're an avid gardener though, the rewards are great and it just may be what you need to fulfill your year-round craving for gardening.


It's not too expensive though, since you can find reasonably priced kits that can get you started for less than $500. Of course, like everything else in life, there are luxurious versions of backyard greenhouses available that can cost thousands of dollars.


One of the largest suppliers for greenhouses in Canada is Backyard Greenhouses. Here y


ou can purchase a greenhouse online and have it delivered to your home. They offer a complete supply of greenhouses and kits that are great for a beginner or a seasoned green thumbed enthusiast. You can also purchase this type of planting home at some local home improvement and gardening centers.


There is a lot of information about working with these houses on the Internet but you must be careful about getting the right data. The information supplied should be available for different types of climates. Here in Calgary, for example, the mean annual temperature is 4.1°C, there are cyclonic summer weather patterns that raise the risk of hail and there are less than 100 days that can be considered to be frost-free. Precipitation levels average about 500 mm, which includes snow.


One of the benefits of having a greenhouse in your backyard in Calgary is the long days that we experience during the summer. As well, even though the winter is cold, most of the days are sunny. For these reasons, the solar potential here in the city is almost the same as what you would find in Florida.


Two of the biggest considerations to take into account when you're planning to start a greenhouse are light and heat. There will be a learning curve involved in both the planning and the implementation of a greenhouse, and you can expect it to be time-consuming. For avid gardeners that like the idea of getting dirt under their fingernails at all times of the year, this can be a positive aspect of setting up a greenhouse. It will definitely be a challenge but when you see the fruits of your labour, and your vegetables, sitting on your kitchen table, it will be well worth it


It's time to book your spring checkup if you already have tools, structures, and systems in place in your yard, and it’s time to start shopping for one if you don't. Once you have one installed, you'll question why you didn't do it earlier


Common Landscaping Mistakes


A home for sale should look good, both on the inside and the outside. Inside, proper staging can help potential buyers see the home at its best on the inside. However, outside staging and curb appeal are just as important.


Investing time and money into a home’s outside landscaping can be a good way to boost curb appeal and make a home look more desirable to potential buyers. However, there are quite a few different pitfalls that homeowners may accidentally stumble into without realizing it. Here are some of the different common landscaping mistakes many homeowners make and how they can be avoided.


Too Much To Maintain


When it comes to gardens, less is usually more. While gardening may be an excellent hobby for some people, it’s easy to go overboard, and not everyone has the time or desire to keep up a massive garden. Using minimalism can mean the best of both worlds: a beautiful garden that doesn’t require constant attention. Instead of filling a garden to the brim with flowers, instead, try using low-maintenance bushes that only need the occasional pruning. Native plants can also be good additions to a garden as they won’t have any special needs to make sure they grow properly. Adding stepping stones can also be a good way to take up space while still looking good. If it is still too much to adequately maintain, consider replacing your real grass with an artificial lawn.


The Home Obviously Needs Repairs


Before selling a home, all homeowners need to make sure that the home is in a sellable condition. Most buyers don’t want to spend extra money on a home that needs extra repairs after they’ve already agreed to spend so much money on the home itself. Plus, having a home whose exterior is obviously in need of work may keep some buyers away. A home’s exterior is its first impression with all buyers, so it’s important to put its best foot forward, and that means fixing up anything that needs a little extra attention.


The Home Doesn’t Fit the Neighborhood


In most neighborhoods, there tends to be an overarching theme across all the homes that are in it. Whether it’s the style of the home or the colors chosen for paint, everything should look like it goes together without appearing jarring. If a home sticks out in a distracting manner, it can be off-putting to potential buyers. Here are some different things to avoid:




Too many lawn and garden decorations.


Exterior paint that doesn’t fit the neighborhood’s color palette.


Large additions such as garden boxes on the lawn.




Deciding what fits and what doesn’t will vary depending on the Chaparral neighborhood, and while a pink home may stick out in one area, it may not elsewhere. Take a look around the neighborhood and keep note of the popular styles, and try to work within them.


Dead and Dying Plants


Plants die, and sometimes that’s inevitable. However, when trying to sell a home, it’s important to put in extra effort to make sure flowers, bushes, trees, and the lawn all stay as green as possible. A little lawn care and garden care goes a long way when it comes to impressing buyers, so homeowners should try to stay on top of upkeep whenever possible. Remember, even an empty garden looks better than a dead one, so when preparing the home for visitors, go through the garden and rip anything out that has already died. If the garden looks too bare after this, try laying down a fresh layer of mulch or some large stones to take up space.


It can be easy to stumble into pitfalls, but as long as homeowners know what to look out for, it can be just as easy to avoid them. Keeping these common mistakes in mind can help set homeowners straight when it comes to preparing their home’s exterior for selling.


Where can you Learn About Gardening in Calgary?


If you want to start a garden and you want to do it right, there are plenty of opportunities in Calgary to learn about gardening. Consider one of the following organizations to learn more about how to take care of your plants.


The following locations offer frequent classes to help teach Calgarians how to garden.


The Calgary Horticultural Society


The Calgary Horticultural Society is a great resource to use for all your gardening needs. They provide all types of choices from garden shows to workshops and more.


This charity is dedicated to supporting and cultivating the gardening community of Calgary. They provide a network of over 5,000 members and more than 100 community gardens. Whether you're looking for a workshop to attend or a garden of your own, you can find it with the Calgary Horticultural Society.


Poppy Innovations Gardening Classes


The Poppy Innovations group is a group in Calgary dedicated to educating people about where their food comes from and teaching individuals to be more self sustainable through the use of gardening.


Poppy Innovations hosts a community garden as well as a number of different educational courses, including a Kid's Garden Club, starter kits for new gardeners, and education on how to grow perennial vegetables, reducing food waste, and growing hardy vegetables. They also offer education about nutrition for all age groups.


Golden Acre Home and Garden


The Golden Acres Home &amp; Garden Centre is a local Calgary gardening center dedicated to serving the community since 1967. They carry thousands of unique plants and tools for Calgary gardeners to experiment with, and they offer educational seminars and workshops for those trying to learn how to garden in Calgary.


These are just a few of the many events happening throughout the year. If you love gardening or you want to get into gardening, learn more today at one of these great organizations.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 30 Oct 2018 11:37:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-popular-flooring-types.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/pros-and-cons-of-popular-flooring-types.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Pros and Cons of Popular Flooring Types</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Homeowners trying to select the right type of flooring for their home have an important decision to make. Knowing the differences between all the different types of flooring, as well as the pros and cons of each, can help make this decision easier. Taking into account a variety of factors including durability, maintenance, appearance, environmental impact and personal preference can help ensure that the homeowner will choose a type of flooring that is right for their home.


The Value of Tile Flooring


Tile can be made from a variety of materials including stone, fired clay and glass. Tile comes in a variety of colours and can even be made to look similar to other types of flooring, like hardwood. Tile is most often installed in rooms like the bathroom and kitchen.


The biggest value of tile flooring is that it’s moisture resistant, easy to sweep and mop, and durable. Tile can last for a number of years and stands up to day-to day-wear and tear with minimum amounts of maintenance.


However, there are a few drawbacks to tile that need to be considered as well. Tile is cold and hard, so it can be uncomfortable to walk on and sit on. It’s also loud, and people walking on tile are likely to make footfalls on the floor. And while the tile is easy to clean and maintain, the grout that holds tile in place is easily stained.


When It’s Time To Sell...


Replace any cracked or chipped tiles that you can and either replace or clean the grout as needed. If the whole floor needs to be torn up and replaced you don't need to install more ceramic tiles. They are expensive and if you're planning on selling you won't see your money back by choosing the more expensive ceramic flooring. There are plenty of cheaper alternative options available that you can use to give your floor a fantastic look that don’t come with a heavy price tag.


The Value of Hardwood Flooring


Hardwood flooring has become a very popular flooring material in recent years. This flooring material can come in a range of colours but is not as versatile in appearance as carpeting or tile. This type of flooring can even include underfloor heating which comes in handy especially during winter months. 


Hardwood floors are beautiful and elegant in every way. There is absolutely nothing that can replace the sheer natural look that you can get from a hardwood floor. While pressed wood in the form of a laminate floor can look really nice, for many people it could never replace the look of hard wood.


With a lot of maintenance hardwood flooring will last for years. The problem is that it does require constant care to maintain its luster, especially if you have a house full of children or animals around. Varnish protects the hardwood but this can wear down very quickly in heavy traffic areas. You'll need to keep a close eye on the sealant on the floor and replace it when necessary. If you don't, spilt liquids will quickly stain and rot the wood and the floor will be susceptible to scratching.


Hardwood floors in general will add to the value. If you're planning on putting your property on the Calgary real estate market within the next five years you may want to take this into account as well. With a lot of traffic flowing through the house with dogs, cats and children running through it, however, you may not want to make a big investment in hardwood right away and might want to consider waiting a few years until your family grows.


When It's Time To Sell...


If you have hardwood floors that have become stained or dull you can find a local handyman that can spruce them up and make them come alive again. All it usually takes is a light sanding along with a couple of coats of varathane to make your floors shine like new.


The Value of Carpeted Flooring


Carpet is a classic flooring material that many homeowners install in the living areas of their home, like the living room, family room and bedrooms. Carpet comes in different weaves, pile types and a rainbow of colours. Homeowners who want to install carpet in their home may choose from a wide range of types.


Homeowners tend to like carpeting because it’s comfortable, quiet, and safe for families. Because carpeting is soft and padded, it is comfortable to sit on and walk on. It’s also non-slip, so it is considered safe for babies who are learning to walk and seniors who have poor balance. Footfalls also make less noise on carpet, which can be advantageous, especially on upper floors of a house.


However, carpet must be shampooed on a regular basis in order to maintain its beauty. Despite its necessity, shampooing the carpet can contribute to wear and tear of the fibers. Because carpet is fibrous, it can also absorb odors and is particularly susceptible to damage by pet urine.


When It's Time To Sell...


f your carpet is still in good shape but needs a cleaning, take a look at the specials being offered by the professional carpet cleaning companies around Calgary. Usually there are super deals available in January since a lot of people are cleaning up after a busy holiday season.


The Value of Laminate Flooring


Laminate flooring is versatile in appearance. It can be made to look like wood, stone or a patterned tile.


There are a number of valuable qualities that laminate flooring is able to bring to the table. Laminate is able to resist moisture, scratches and wear and tear a lot better than its hardwood counterpart. In general, it's a more durable type of flooring and may be your best bet if you're raising a young family and expect your floor to take a beating while your young children are growing. As laminate cannot be dented or scratched, it’s durable and can last a long time. It can also be made to look like any material, so even if more expensive flooring options are out of the question, laminate offers a more affordable substitute.


Though laminate is a quality affordable flooring option, there are a few issues with it as well. Laminate is often difficult to repair once damaged, so if it sustains major disrepair, it may need to be replaced altogether. There’s also a visible quality difference between laminate and other flooring types, even when their visual appearance is simulated. And similarly to tile, laminate can be cold, hard, and loud, making it an uncomfortable flooring option at times.


When It's Time To Sell...


Remove any stains you see by hand: the removal method should depend on what has marked the floor. Sweep and mop as well, but don’t wet mop too heavily, or else the water might seep between the floor and the baseboards.


The Value of Bamboo Flooring


Have you had the chance to see bamboo flooring and take a good look at it? It's an environmentally friendly type of flooring that is becoming more popular as each day passes. If you haven't yet had the chance to see it either in person or in pictures, it's probably not what you're imagining. The flooring is not at all like the course bamboo that you see being used to manufacture furniture or wall hangings. This kind of flooring is made from ground bamboo and it's available in a variety of different finishes and designs.


Bamboo is a type of grass and grows quickly. When you use this type of material for your flooring, you are saving trees in the process. Choosing a bamboo floor is an environmentally responsible choice that many green homeowners are choosing. It’s also visually stunning: Bamboo floors can look a lot like their hardwood counterparts and you may have a difficult time telling them apart. They are available in long strips or as a parquet style and they can shine brilliantly in the light.


Additionally, bamboo flooring is easy to maintain and flooring only requires regular sweeping or vacuuming and the occasional damp mopping with a gentle floor cleanser. Like hardwood floors, they may also require occasional refinishing to keep up their luster and to smooth out any dents and scratches. There are types of bamboo, however, that are harder and stronger than others and some can be as durable as red oak.


The biggest drawback to be found in bamboo flooring is the amount of VOCs they can emit. The floor planks are made by shredding the bamboo and then putting it back together again using pressure, heat and an adhesive that is resin-based. It's the ingredients in the adhesive and the amount used that will determine how much VOCs will be emitted.


Another drawback to Bamboo floors is they are very sensitive to humidity levels. In high humidity areas the floor planks can begin to plump up, while environments that are too dry can cause the planks to shrink. You'll want to have average moisture level in the home in order to use this type of flooring without worry.


When It's Time To Sell...


Repair any scratches in the top layer of the bamboo with a surface filler, then buff it out to blend with the existing finish. If any scratches are too deep to repair with surface filler, sellers will need to wet sand the area to the root of the scratch and then reapply a new coat of polyurethane. Stains can be repaired with a similar method: Use a disc floor sander to sand down the damaged area, then re-seal the area with a new coat of polyurethane using a mop and bucket.


Deciding What To Install


When trying to decide what to install, it's important to consider your personal preferences, the location where the flooring will be installed and whether or not moisture is present in the room. Homeowners who are installing new floors to make their home more appealing to buyers should also consider the value of each flooring type and what types of flooring is most desirable to buyers—and don't forget to survey the competition: what might suit a Cougar Ridge home might be different than what might suit a home across the city.


To find out more about which flooring types are most desirable to homebuyers, talk to your real estate professional. A smart real estate professional can help you decide what type of flooring will improve your home's property value and get the results you want.


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    <pubDate>Fri, 26 Oct 2018 11:13:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-living-in-the-suburban-or-urban-area-of-calgary.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-living-in-the-suburban-or-urban-area-of-calgary.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>The Advantages and Disadvantages of Living in the Suburban or Urban area of Calgary</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





Whether you prefer the suburbs, living in the city or you're not sure what you prefer, it's important to find the right place to call home. Calgary has plenty of great suburban and urban areas to choose from. Here are a few things to consider before home shopping.


Lifestyle


Living in the downtown area provides a different type of lifestyle compared to suburban living. If you enjoy eating out, heading to the newest bars and grabbing a cup of Joe at a hot cafe, urban living may be the right choice for you. However, families tend to choose suburban living for the outdoor activities and open green space.


Of course, urban living also comes with the noise of downtown, while suburban living provides a quieter environment. Those without a vehicle also prefer living downtown because of the public transportation.


Commuting


If you hate driving and dealing with traffic, making the decision between urban and suburban living may depend on where you work. Some of the suburbs provide public transportation into the city, but you will need to live near one of the stations. Urban living, on the other hand, usually means commuting by foot or with public transportation. This means, less time in traffic and no need to drive to work.


Cost


Cost can also be the deciding factor between urban and suburban living. Downtown living is typically more expensive and you won't get as large of a home for the same price. However, the extra cash you spend on your home will be made up with the gas you won't have to spend to get to downtown for work or play.


What Are the Calgary Suburbs Like?


There are many misconceptions surrounding the Calgary suburbs and a lot of people avoid them because they feel that they will be somehow stranded far away from the city. The suburbs do have their own look and feel to them, but it doesn't mean necessarily that you're going to be stuck driving a minivan and mowing the lawn every Sunday morning. You can be who you want to be in any part of the Calgary landscape.


The suburbs are much like self-containing cities of their own that are right next to the urban metropolis of the bigger city. Most of the things that you can find in Calgary's inner-city can also be discovered on the suburban fringes of town. As the suburbs continue to take shape and grow larger, more businesses and opportunities work their way there as well. For anything that you can't find in the suburb, it's just a short jaunt away from the larger city that has everything.


You don't become a different person when you move to the suburbs; you're just finding a place where you can live and be yourself. If you're the type of person that loves the excitement that only can be found in the downtown core of Calgary, you won't find that anywhere but right in the heart of the city. For you, living anywhere else but right in the city would be a compromise of your reality.


If you're just looking for a safe and secure place to call home you'll be able to structure things to meet your lifestyle in the suburbs. While it used to be that these areas were populated generally only by families, there are now different types of housing opportunities that are springing up across the suburbs including townhouses, condos, single-family homes and luxury units of all types. Seniors, couples, singles and families are welcomed into these pockets of the city. The suburbs are quickly becoming a mixed bag of demographics.


For the most part, housing prices go down the further you step away from the downtown part of Calgary so you'll usually end up with a larger home with a bigger lot for your money. You'll have the convenience of being close to most of the amenities you'd ever need while just being a hop skip and a jump away from everything else that's provided in Calgary proper. It's definitely worth taking a look at the housing offered in all parts of the city to get a full understanding of what's available in each section.


Final Decision


Making the decision between urban and suburban living in Calgary isn't easy. There is no right answer and it really comes down to what you prefer for your specific lifestyle.


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    <pubDate>Thu, 25 Oct 2018 11:12:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-staging-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/what-are-the-benefits-of-staging-your-home.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>What Are the Benefits of Staging Your Home?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





There are many things a home seller can do to make their home more appealing to Canadian buyers. And when it comes to home selling, some sellers empty out the property entirely while others use part or all of their current furnishings to entice a buyer to make an offer. However, most real estate professionals believe that staging is the best way to make the emotional connection a buyer needs to truly desire the property. And whether a seller is selling in a competitive housing market or just wants to make as much money on the sale as possible, good home staging can help. The good news is that staging doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive to set a property apart from its competition.


The Benefits of Staging Your Home 


When you stage your home it is like giving your place a whole makeover. Quite often your live- in furniture will be removed and replaced with other pieces that will make your home more spacious. Walls can be painted neutral colors and aesthetic pieces can be placed around the home in strategic areas.


It's estimated that staging your home can often raise the asking price by 6 to 15. It's a way of appealing to the emotions of a home buyer to make the home more appealing to the eye. The aesthetics are what people will see first when they enter your home and this is what will lead to a faster sale. It's a way of showing buyers the space that's available in the home without a lot of clutter and unwanted furniture in the way.


Staging brings a potential buyer all the more closer to a final vision of what their furniture could look like in the home. When you can place a vision in front of a buyer, it's easier to secure a sale. This is especially true when it comes to luxury homes and houses that have a higher price tag than average.


Sometimes home staging is all it takes to sell a home that has been sitting on the market for too long. In some cases it is the make-break point that leads to a quick sale when there is no logical reason for the home to be lingering on the listings from one month to the next.


Home staging isn’t meant only for the higher-end home either. If you have a home that isn't selling quickly and you know it needs a facelift, staging may be a wise investment. If you don't have the budget to afford this service, you could also consider hiring a home stager for a consultation only. The cost of staging your home can be anywhere from $200-$300 and may be exactly what you need to see a faster sale.





Ways to Visually Create More Space


Many people think of adding square footage to create more space. But that doesn't have to be the case. You can make your home appear bigger without going through the hassle of renovating and remodelling. With just a few home modifications, it is possible to make more from less. And remember, often what the eye needs is the illusion of spaciousness not actually more space.


Here's how to create the illusion of space without adding square footage.


Think diagonal views.


Think back to geometry and how the hypotenuse of the triangle was the longest of the three sides. Apply that to the sightlines within your small-house design. Your house will appear much bigger than it actually is if you are able to stand at one corner of the house and look to the far corner without any obstructions. Also, if you have a room that will be tiled, place the tiles on a diagonal. It makes the space seem larger visually, pushing the walls out.


Think like a sailor


Sailboats usually have no wasted space and that's what you should aim for. Look for opportunities for built-ins, such as building bookshelves in staircases, unique space-saving cabinets, drawers under beds, etc.


Use lighting to open up space and add interest


In creating the feeling of more space, it is important to give your house an airy feel. Use simple window dressings to bring in natural light and steal space from the outdoors and give it to the interior of the house.


If possible, use recessed spot lights as they are both visually appealing and have a low profile that is perfect for a small space.


Play with the furniture


Try to move furniture away from the walls if the space allows. It will give a feeling of more openness when a sofa isn't butted against a wall. If you're buying new pieces, try to purchase items that are on legs versus feet. The higher a piece sits from the floor, the more visual space is present. Also, armless furniture pieces give an illusion of extra space so consider an armless sofa or slipper chairs.


Accessorize


The bigger a piece of artwork is, the bigger the feeling of a space. A wall filled with many small pictures seems cluttered and less dynamic versus a wall with a large piece of art, which makes a bold statement. Also, &quot;lighten up&quot; your corners by using lights and plants. It will look stunning at night, casting shadows on the ceilings and giving an illusion of more space.


Use mirrors to reflect light


When using mirrors in a space, make sure that whatever the mirror is reflecting it is pleasing to the eye, or at least doubles the amount of light let into the space. In addition to mirrors, use other materials that reflect light and space (stainless steel, chrome, etc.). A glass table with stainless steel legs will allow light to bounce off it.


Colour your world


The colour of a room’s walls has the power to create a mood and affect the room’s appearance. Use just one or two colours per room for visual simplicity that expands a space. Also keep in mind that white, neutral or pale colours best reflect light, visually &quot;pushing back&quot; walls. Cool blue and green hues will make a space seem larger and airier. Warm reds and yellows cozy a room and can make it appear smaller.


Let there be height


Use at least one tall element in a room to draw the eye upward, towards the ceiling. Not only does this maximize the vertical space in the room, but it also draws the eye up to the less crowded ceiling space above.


Minimize the amount of furniture you have in each room


It is both wise and essential to select furniture and accessories that perform multiple tasks. The smaller your space, the more this applies, especially with furniture. Storage is an obvious second job for many pieces of furniture.


Every room has good proportions which make its space flexible enough to create any environment you wish. Compromises in decorating, colour techniques, furniture arranging and lighting considerations can all contribute to the illusion of space. By following some of the tips above, you can create a visually larger room.


Staging the Home’s Exterior With Curb Appeal


The home exterior is important to ensure that buyers get the right first impression of your home when they come for a showing. Your garden should be growing, the trees should be full, your lawn should be green and lush and on most days the sun is shining on all of this beauty. Home staging can be done on both the exterior and the interior to make your home stand out from the rest of the crowd. 


A staged home can sell 78 faster than other homes that haven't been staged so follow these tips to make your house look super


Keep up with the lawn maintenance


Think about the curb appeal that you want to present. A little lawn maintenance goes a long way when you're presenting your home in the summer. At any time a buyer may be driving by your home and you’ll want him to see it at its absolute best. Keep the lawn mowed, trim your hedges and prune your trees





Make sure your house number is visible


Make sure that your home is easy to find by potential buyers. Look at your home numbers in both the daytime and in the evening. Are they easy to read? If not, it’s very simple to replace them and doesn’t cost a lot. You don't want anyone to have a hard time finding your home. It can be frustrating if someone is trying to look for your home and can’t see the numbers. The last thing you'll want to deal with is a potential buyer that is frustrated before he even enters your home.


Keep your porch and deck clean and tidy


Declutter your deck and your porch if you have to and do any necessary repairs. Many potential buyers will be paying special attention to the places where they can spend some time outdoors when they're looking at your home during the summer months. You can also stage your deck by adding summery pillows to your patio furniture


Other Landscaping Considerations


Proper staging begins the moment the property comes in sight of the buyer. This is commonly called, &quot;curb appeal&quot;. Here are a few steps to take to make that first impression that much more impressive:




Repave the driveway


Use lighting kits for the walkway


Repaint the trim or outside of the home


Keep the lawn nicely mowed


Add colorful plants


Clean or repaint the front door




Sellers can even politely ask their neighbors to spruce up their own front yards so the buyers know they're in a nice neighborhood. (Or sellers can offer to do the extra work themselves for their neighbors.)


Appeal to Other Senses as Part of Your Home Staging Process

Are you planning on selling your Calgary home? Bake some hot-from-the-oven fresh cookies or bread to see the offers arrive in droves. Marketing research has shown that smells can influence our buying behavior and turn on impulsive decision making.

This sense of smell phenomenon is based on research rather than myth. One study showed that the smell of cookies baking made women purchase more clothing. In another study a mall pumped a sweet citrus fragrance through the air and sales rose from $55 all the way up to $90 per customer. The smell of your home plays a distinct role in the house sale and if you're smart you'll use this knowledge to your advantage.


Would you like to go a step further? Market your home by sound as well. Studies have shown that major chords somehow encourage people to buy more than music in a minor chord. Choose some music to play that includes a lot of these major chords the next time someone makes an appointment to see your home. Of course, you won't want to play the music too loudly. You'll just want to have some quiet background music playing in the home as the smell of cookies makes its way from room to room.


Bake cookies or bread


You know that feeling  you get when you walk into a bakery and smell the delicious odours that are coming from the baked goods? Super cozy. You can achieve this in your home by simply doing some quick baking. Put on a quick batch of cookies or make a loaf of bread to make your home smell like a bakery and to tantalize the senses of the potential buyers that are in for a viewing. When the oven is on, make sure that all the doors to the various rooms in the house are left wide open so that the smell can make its way into all these rooms as well.


Neutralize pet odors


There are products on the market that are all-natural and will leave an extremely pleasant smell behind while lifting up the pet odours that have made their way into your carpet or upholstery. Look for specialized products for pets that contain papaya enzymes in your local pet supply store. While you can purchase commercial products at the grocery store, these are more chemical in nature and often only mask the smell without getting rid of it completely. Plus, they can leave behind a strong chemical smell that many home viewers may find overwhelming. Stick to the natural products and your home will smell great


Light scented candles


Put out your best smelling candles and light them up for a mild air-freshening aroma. Scented candles work a lot better than canned air fresheners and they're available in a multitude of different scents. You can even purchase candles that smell like homemade bread or chocolate chip cookies are baking in the oven.


While you are making your home look as good as it can be, don't forget to make it smell great as well. There may be some lingering odours in your home that you have become used to but others will notice when they come to see your home.


If you're trying to sell your Calgary home, one of the things that will make it more appealing is getting it to smell fantastic. When a person first walks into your house, townhome or condo he'll be using all of his five senses to assess it. Studies have shown that smell can be one of the first senses that gets activated in many people before the other senses start to kick in.


Turning Your Home into a Hot Commodity


It can be quite a mystery for a person that is selling property for the first time to really understand what it's all about. Basically, it is a selling game and you need to get into the spirit to do it right.


Your home to you is not exactly the same as what others are seeing. You may not be viewing the home as it actually is and may be looking at it from the viewpoint of the memories it contains. Potential buyers are not going to see the same picture since to them it is a house and only that.


You are going to have to get into their head space to find out for yourself what they are seeing. You will have to put all of your memories aside and look at it as a true observer. If this is too hard for you to do you will have to get a friend or neighbour to help you out.


There may be a lot of faults in your home that you can't really see for yourself but you can be sure that others will. There is a new game being played and to do it right you need to become a player yourself. Look at your home as a commodity. Would other people be interested in owning this property for sale? Why?


Highlight the focal points of the home and add some extra touches to make it look its best. Tell your real estate agent what you think the best features are and he will tell you what he thinks. Together you can make a wonderful team and get the property off the market quickly and into a buyer's hands.


Consider the Buyer Perspective


Home buyers want to think about their own visions while touring the home, so keep the color palette as neutral as possible. Sellers want buyers to be inspired by their staging finesse, not necessarily to copy it piece by piece. Fill up closets about two thirds of the way to showcase how much space a buyer will have to store their things. Sellers should also keep in mind who's most likely to tour the home before deciding whether to turn their third bedroom into a home office or a nursery. As a result, home sellers should also consider removing family or personal photos and personal items or collections.


Home staging may not be an exact science, but there are ways that Auburn Bay home sellers can use the above tips to generate more interest in the home. The more impressed a buyer is when they first walk through the doors, the more motivated they'll be to make an offer the seller can't refuse.





 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Wed, 24 Oct 2018 11:08:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-cleaning-guide.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-cleaning-guide.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Cleaning and Organization Tips to Make Your Calgary Home Pristine</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





It’s that time of the year again in Calgary when the warm weather is begging you to head outside to do some yard work, some exterior work on your home and to clean out your garage. It's been a long winter and the dust has finally settled from it. With all of the beautiful weather that has arrived you'll feel great pulling the stuff out of your garage, giving it a good cleaning and organizing, and perhaps finding some items that can be used for an upcoming summer garage sale.


Take Inventory


Pull everything out and take a total inventory of what you have stored in your garage. When you actually confront pulling everything out, you can actually see for yourself what you have been hiding back in the corners of your garage that you haven't used for years. You may find a gold mine of useless items that can be turned into cash by conducting your own private garage sale or contributing to a neighborhood one.


The garage is quite often an area that we use to store toxic items that we don't want in the house. Put aside a pile of things that need to be disposed of responsibly such as outdated oil for your vehicle or a car battery. Make sure that you find out how to get rid of these items so that they don't end up causing any damage to the environment.


How to Break Down the Cleaning Process


You’ll be amazed how much better you’ll feel once you have pulled everything out of the garage so that you can give it a full cleaning. Work on it from top to bottom and get the kids to help you if you can. Your garage will look and feel like a million dollars and you'll be less inclined to get it cluttered up again when it is clean and shining


Handle The Biggest Tasks First


When you take a look at all of your spring cleaning projects they can seem overwhelming. Tackle the biggest ones first to get them out of the way. When you're left with only the smaller tasks to handle, things go a lot faster and it makes the rest of the cleanup a breeze


Work From The Top To The Bottom


Don’t create more work for yourself If you need to clean the ceiling fixtures, do them first If you scrub the floors first and then tackle the lighting fixtures, you'll have dust and dirt particles falling on the floor that you've just cleaned.


Put A Strategic Plan In Place


It’s always fun to make a plan and then scratch things off the list as they are completed. Write out your complete project and make sure that it gets done. The final item at the bottom of the list should be some type of reward for yourself for getting everything completed.


Get Your Tools In Place First


Once you have made a list of all of the spring cleaning projects that you need to do, figure out all the tools you'll need to have in place. You may have to run out and get a few cleaning products, for example. When you have it all planned ahead of time, including the tools that you'll need, you won't get caught in the middle of a task without the right products or cleaning equipment. You certainly won't want to have to drive to the supermarket to pick up a bottle of window cleaner when you're part way through the spring cleanup.


When You're Done You're Done


Once you have scratched off everything on the list, call it a day. It's inevitable that you'll find extra cleaning projects to do as you are working your way through the list. There needs to be an end to this spring cleaning cycle though. If you see anything else that needs doing, create a separate list for it. You'll have the rest of the spring and summer months to finish up the little cleaning tasks that you’ve found.


Commonly Overlooked Areas of the House That Need Cleaning


The inside of your home can become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria. It's hard to stay on top of all of the cleaning chores that are necessary so we are offering a few quick tips to help keep your home healthy.


Clean Your Faucets


When is the last time you took a look at your faucet closely? While you're probably keeping your sink squeaky clean, the faucet should also be cleaned out regularly. Most faucets have a filter that keeps dirt and debris from reaching your cup when you're pouring a glass of water. If you unscrew the end of the faucet, you'll see the filter. You may be surprised to see what has been deposited on this filter and will want to rinse it out.


The Edge Of The Dishwasher


Once every week or two you should wipe around the edge of the dishwasher to remove stains or any leftover food. Use a damp sponge and baking soda. You should also run a cycle through the washer without dishes and use a dishwasher cleaner that has been designed specifically to kill bacteria such as E. Coli.


Keep A Bar Of Antibacterial Soap On A Sponge


Put a bar of antibacterial soap on a sponge in the bathroom. When it's time to clean the sink, you can just grab the sponge and wet it.  If you have kids, you probably have to clean your sinks a lot and when you have a sponge handy that has some soap on it already, it makes things fast and simple.


Keep The Shower Doors Clean


Things can get pretty steamy in the bathroom and if you're having a problem keeping your shower doors clean, here is a handy trick you can use. If you apply a small amount of lemon oil to the doors twice monthly, the water will bead and roll right off them. You can also try Rain-X Glass Treatment. This product is used on a windshield to bead up rain particles.


Surprising Household Cleaning Agents to Use in a Pinch


Most of us are aware that baking soda and vinegar make exceptional cleaning products and can be substituted for many of the toxic chemicals that are currently on the market. Here are some other surprising cleaners that you may have around the house that can also be used as an alternative to the regular cleaners available for purchase in a grocery store.


Cola


If you have a bottle of cola on your counter or in your fridge and have pots with burn stains on them, soak the pots overnight and in the morning you'll be able to wipe the stains right off without a problem.


Beer


Apply some beer to a soft cloth and then gently rub any wooden furniture you have that may have lost its luster. In many cases you are just dealing with a build-up of residue that has been left behind by commercial cleaners. Beer will get rid of these left over residues and make your wood sparkle again.


White bread


If you have children then you probably have some smudges on your walls from handprints. Try using a slice of white bread to remove the marks or better yet give each of your children a piece of bread to do the work for you. They'll love the novelty of the idea and you'll end up with clean walls in the process


Shaving cream


If you have grease spots on your carpet, try using some shaving cream to get it off. You should first test a part of your carpet that isn't showing to make sure that there is no reaction between the shaving cream and the carpet fiber before doing an application in a more conspicuous area. Once you have tested the carpet you can use shaving cream to get out grease spots that just don't seem to lift using any other method. Make sure that you're using shaving cream and not shaving gel though in order to see amazing results.


Ice


When you're trying to remove gum from your carpet it's a real tug-of-war that is almost impossible to win. In order to get the gum out of a rug easily you should first get it to harden up by applying ice to it for about a minute. Once it’s hard it's a lot easier to scrape out of the carpet.


Time To Get Organized


Now’s the time to look at the space you have to work with. Set aside an area for specific items like yard tools, winter tools, and other things that can be put into certain categories. If you need to purchase storage materials, just get started by piling things up neatly and then making a list of the storage items you'll need to buy the next time you are in a hardware, department or home improvement store.


Anything in boxes should be clearly labeled with a black marker so that you don't have to end up rummaging through boxes and making a mess every time you need something that's stored away.


How To Stay On Top Of Home Organization


Has the clutter in your home taken over your valuable living space? If so, you're definitely not alone. Thousands of people across the country are dealing with a home that has too many things kept inside it that hinders the home’s livability. When the clutter has started to take over it's time for you to take charge and get it handled before things start to get out of control. 


Here are some tips you can use to get that clutter organized and put away properly.


You've just finished moving into your new home in Calgary. The next step? Time to get your life together by getting things organized Fortunately, there are lots of quick and easy ways you can organize your home. The best part? They don't have to cost you an arm and a leg either


Add a Rail to the Cabinet Under Your Sink


Not sure what to do with all that cleaning supplies? Add a rail to the cabinet underneath your sinks in the kitchen and bathroom. You can hang a lot of your lighter bottles of cleaners from the rail Just be careful not to hang more weight than the rail can handle


Add Magnets to the Walls


There's nothing worse than a small kitchen. Put some magnetic strips up high on your walls and then you can let your kitchen knives hang from the strip Just make sure you have the strip up high enough, so small children cannot reach the knives.


Get Some Magazine Racks


Do you have boxes of plastic wrap, baggies, foil, and wax paper? Not sure where to put all of those boxes? After all, they could easily take up an entire shelf in your kitchen A magazine rack is the perfect compact storage space for all of these boxes of much needed kitchen supplies


You can also get the magazine wall racks to store the lids for your pots and pans


Utilise Your Ceiling


Not sure where to put all of your pots and pans? Try hanging them from the ceiling You need them, but that doesn't mean they should use all your cupboard space.


These are just a few organizational tips that will make things a little less chaotic around your Calgary home. Regardless of how little or how much space you are working with, there are lots of neat things you can try.


Do You Have Too Much Stuff?


This is the first thing to look at. If you have too many things it's time to start getting rid of some of them. When you're looking through your belongings a good rule of thumb is to consider whether you've used an item within the last six months. If not, do you really think you need to have it lying around? If it's something seasonal that's completely different but if it's not you really need to take a good look at the item and decide whether it can go.


Everything Needs A Home


All of your belongings need to have a home. This would be a selected space inside the house where the item belongs. For example, a space should be allocated specifically for pet supplies, home movies, tools, light bulbs and other necessary household items, telephone books, cleaning supplies etc. A lot of clutter can build up when there really isn't an allocated space for these things and they all end up getting put together in drawers or closets that start to overfill. When everything is compartmentalized it's easier to keep track of things and discard items that are no longer of use or have expired.


Put Everything Away In Its Proper Place


It's easy to establish a type of &quot;dumping zone&quot; in the home where things are set down to be handled later. This dumping zone can quickly become a cluttered area as members of the house forget about items that have been left there or avoid them altogether.


If you find that you have this type of zone in your home you'll need to establish some firm rules and get them agreed upon by all family members. Things need to be put away in the right place once they have been used in order to keep the clutter under control.


Do you have a messy house? Start by establishing a home for various items and go from there. Everyone needs a starting point with a house full of clutter and this beginning will give you the structure you need to work with to get things back in control.


Once you have your garage clean and tidy you'll really appreciate the effort you took to get it that way. It can also turn out to be a bonding moment between you and your children especially if you have old treasures hidden away in the back of the garage that bring up past memories of days gone by.


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    <pubDate>Tue, 16 Oct 2018 10:32:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-security.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/home-security.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>4 Types of Basic Home Security Systems</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





The right Altador Calgary home security system will vary depending on where a person lives and what they're hoping to protect. There is no way to eliminate every possible disaster, but researching the different types of systems can make it easier to determine which one will benefit you and your family the most.


The DIY Approach


Some homeowners choose not to invest in any type of formal security system. Instead, they'll take basic precautions that amount to a DIY system. Here are just a few tactics homeowners can try:




Putting lights on timers: This simple solution is both easy to do and inexpensive. It can cast doubt on whether or not a homeowner is actually in the house, making it more difficult for criminals to target the property.


Updating home software: If the garage door uses a passcode, it may be easier to hack than homeowners realize. Homeowners can make a habit of either updating their software or frequently changing their password to keep crime at bay.


Additional precautions: Placing motion detectors in the shadows can scare criminals off who were counting on total darkness. Homeowners can also set up their doorbell to trigger the sound of a dog barking as an easy to deter a thief.




All of these methods are simple and affordable to do. And while they may seem primitive, consider the fact that most criminals are looking for an easy way to get in and out of the home. These little tricks can be enough to convince them to move on.


Local Alarms


A homeowner can place local alarms on all the doors and windows and where the alarm will sound if there's a break-in. The term 'local' means that the alarms aren't actually connected to any kind of law enforcement or security personnel. The idea is that when the alarm is tripped, the neighbors will either call the police or come outside to see what's going on. This is a great option for people who trust their community and who don't want to spend the additional money on a wired alarm.


Wired Alarms


A monitored security system from a trusted provider that will be connected to both the homeowner and the police. Homeowners will need to drill into the home in order to install everything from motion detectors to cameras to control panels. A wired alarm will catch anyone in the home who shouldn't be there and can provide more all-around protection than a local alarm or the DIY systems a homeowner may devise.


Combination Alarms


Home security has seen a lot of changes based on the technology of today. Homeowners now have the option to mix certain features of local and wired alarms to create a customized solution. For example, the alarm may trigger a visit from the police, but it won't require a certified technician to install. Homeowners can pick and choose what they want based on their particular home needs. So if a homeowner only wants a water leak sensor in the basement and a camera at the back door, they can buy these features piecemeal so they're only paying for what they want.


From the simple to the complex, there's a wide range of options for a homeowner to choose from. Ultimately, it's up to the homeowner to decide just how far they want to go. Again, no system can prevent every disaster, but they can all go a long way to reduce the total damage.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:55:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/playing-it-safe-with-bidding-wars.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.justinhavre.com/blog/playing-it-safe-with-bidding-wars.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>How to Navigate a Bidding War</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 





You have been looking around at different homes on the market and have finally found it - the home of your dreams. The problem is that another couple also have their eyes on the same home and seem to want it as much as you do. The bidding war begins for the real estate and you don't know what to do next. Here are a few tips to help you get through it.


For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.


Submit A Clean Offer


Although it may seem surprising, it's not always the price that determines the winner in a bidding war. A clean offer will sometimes beat out a higher offer. A clean offer refers to the agreement terms. If you have a preapproval for mortgage or can pay for the house with cash, for example, this would be part of a clean offer. Other things that can keep an offer clean include having the closing date work with the seller's, the purchase is not contingent upon you selling your home, you don't ask for anything extra like unusual repairs or appliances thrown into the offer etc. A clean offer can often be very appealing to the seller even if you are offering less money than another that has come in.


Remain Flexible


Let the seller know that you may be flexible on such things as purchasing the home as is or working with a new closing date. If the seller has to sell his home quickly for one reason or another you may win out on the bidding war just by moving the closing date forward to accommodate his needs.


Don't hold back on the deposit that you're willing to put down on the property. It shows that you are serious and really want the home. If you end up getting the property it will be put towards your down payment and if you don't win out on the bidding war you'll get the money back anyway. It's a win-win situation that just shows the seller that you are extremely interested in that house and willing to step forward and show it by offering a large deposit.


It's Not All About Business


Take a step back from the logical side of purchasing a home and put some emotion into it. Take a few minutes to write down what the house would actually mean to you so that the seller can understand why you really want their home so badly. In most cases the seller will have a very deep emotional attachment to their home and it will mean a lot to them to know that it is going to people that will love it as well. In many cases you can touch the heart of the seller as long as you are being sincere with your words.


Protect Your Investment


In order to keep yourself protected, you should make sure that you get a house inspection before putting in an offer. This is especially true for luxury homes. Although it may cost you a bit for these inspections, it's definitely a worthwhile investment.


Many people have purchased a home only to find out later that the house came with major problems. The main issues that the inspector will be looking for include problems with water penetration, the roof, furnace, and wiring. The inspector also needs to look for possible structural problems that can show in the form of doors that can't close properly, floors that slope and cracks in the walls.


To further protect the amount that you end up paying for a home you may want to consider dropping out of a bidding war when there are more than 5 active bidders fighting for the house. In this type of scenario, you may be dealing with irrational bidders that are willing to fight tooth and nail to get the home they want. It can be tough to pull out of a bidding war but sometimes you simply need to know when to fold up and when to walk away.


Prepare in Advance for the Stress of a Bidding War


Things can get quite crazy when a bidding war is going on and it is easy to lose perspective of what is really important. You need to be prepared ahead of time and have an exact maximum amount in mind of what you're willing to spend - no matter what This way, you won't be shaking your head when you find out that you are the winning bidder and questioning why you went so far when you really couldn't afford to pay such a high amount.


Sometimes it's not all about the money and many bidding wars are won by people that bid less but put an extra effort into their offer in another way that counts.


For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.


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    <pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2018 15:11:00 -0600</pubDate>
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