All Blog Entries by Justin Havre

There are so many great climbing and cave attractions near Calgary that it's a shame if you don't try one! There are so many great ways to get outdoors, get active and enjoy a bonding experience with family or friends.

Whether you're seeking rock climbing, caving or a ropes course, you can enjoy these things at locations like Mt. Norquay and Mt. Yamnuska or take lessons with Nakoda Lodge and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures in Canmore. Here is a look at these and more offering ropes courses, climbing and cave attractions near you.

Caving

Have you ever wanted to check out some of the unbelievable cave experiences in the area? Check out Canmore Caverns Ltd, a company that is offering a great cave experience. They'll take you to Rat's Nest Cave

Some home improvements are worth more than others. If you're a homeowner who is thinking about making home improvements in the coming months, choosing your home improvements wisely is important. These four home improvements have low ROI, and may even decrease your home's value.

Turning a Bedroom Into Something Else

Bedrooms add value to homes, so a bedroom conversion that turns a bedroom into an office space, library or recording studio can decrease the value of that home. Homeowners who want to convert their spare bedroom into another room altogether must do so carefully. No matter what the changes, it's important to ensure that someone else could use the space as a bedroom. Homeowners should be wary of making changes like building in office

Experts often say that, when a natural disaster occurs, most problems stem from a failure to prepare more than the disaster itself. Canada is subject to a number of risks, depending on location. Issues can range from flooding to earthquakes to extended isolation due to heavy snowfall. In addition, everyone has the potential to fall prey to smaller disasters like injuries around the home. To stay prepared, homeowners should research which disasters are common in their area and prepare accordingly. By setting aside some supplies in an emergency kit now, the impact of any emergency can be made far less severe. Things that should be in every household emergency kit include:

Food and Water

In the event of certain types of emergencies, families

Understanding the different types of housing styles throughout Calgary is necessary if you want to buy a home here. There are plenty of great styles throughout from a Tudor to a more modern style. Here are some of the most iconic home styles found throughout Calgary.

Craftsman-Style Bungalow

This type of house is very much an American Style from Greene and Greene architects who called their millionaire chalets ‘bungalows'. In their heyday, bungalows were prized for artistic naturalism and exotic looks. The style is also inspired by the English Arts and Crafts movement due to the design's vernacular architecture that melds into its natural setting.

Bungalows typically nestle into the site, low and spreading, so they are aesthetically

In nearly all cases, having a smoker in the house will make it more difficult to sell. The smell of stale tobacco is difficult to remove and turns off non-smoking buyers. On top of this, there are even health concerns related to re-emission of nicotine and tar from surfaces which have previously absorbed them.

The bottom line is that, if left untreated, it will likely take longer to sell a smoker's home, and you may well have to settle for a lower price to do so.

Steps Before a Showing

Whenever you show your home, you want to present it in the best possible light. The last thing you want is the smell of smoke hitting your buyers as they enter the front door. There's several ways to combat this situation:

• Stop smoking indoors:

A bathroom renovation is a perennially popular home improvement project, no matter if it's a luxury transformation of the master bath, a functional update for a hardworking family bathroom, or a cosmetic redo of a tiny powder room. Decision-making cam be difficult though, whether it's a DIY project or you work with a professional design and construction team.

The dilemma often centers around balancing budget and design, and the necessity to assure that high style will also bring a high return on investment. A 2018 poll reported that while nearly half of Canadian homeowners contemplated renovating their homes during the year, actual spending was estimated to decrease by about seven percent from levels spent on updates during the previous year.

Finding the right insulation isn't just a smart move for responsible homeowners who want to cut down on their heating and cooling bills, it's also one of the best ways to increase the resale value of the home.

When it comes to choosing the right insulation for the home, owners need to find quality materials that can handle the constantly fluctuating temperatures. However, they also need to consider the ventilation of the home as too much insulation can potentially interfere with the airflow. Learn more about how to strike the right balance.

Get an Energy Audit

The first step for a homeowner is to order an energy audit to see where they may be losing warm or cool air from the home. Most homeowners will only get this done if they notice the

Canadian residents may think that they are safe in their home but still be unaware of the serious safety hazards that may require their attention. Adults, young children and the elderly can all be at risk of injury or worse in those homes wherein homeowners may have neglected to pay attention to common home safety hazards.

Here are some common home safety hazards found throughout Canadian residences today.

Smoke and Fire Hazards

All Canadian residents should ensure that their smoke alarms are working properly as fires often start at night when people are sleeping. An operating smoke alarm can save lives. More than one smoke alarm may be needed and should be located in every room of the home and on every level. Smoke alarms need to be

Over the past few years we have seen a huge shift in the way small businesses and multi-billion dollar companies market their products. There has been a big shift in where these companies have allocated their marketing budget and there is a reason why. The Internet & Social Media is changing the way we market products, engage with prospects and use technology to our benefit.

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

Print Marketing in Real Estate

In the past print marketing was a very effective way for real estate agents to market homes to buyers. People used to pick up the weekly real estate news paper, magazines and property books to view

Many old buildings have their share of history, but some attract attention for an altogether different reason. Some homes and structures in Calgary, Alberta appear to be haunted and tales of ghostly visitations continue to bring goose bumps to young and old. Those looking for some of the more unusual attractions in Calgary may want to consider a visit to a few of these allegedly haunted places.

Signs of Hauntings in the Home

Colin Bengert, executive director of the Calgary Association of Paranormal Investigations (CAPI), spent eight years investigating the paranormal and knows how it's done. Most calls about a haunting have the same experiences including:

• Hearing ghostly voices
• Seeing electronics or lights flicker on and off