All Blog Entries by Justin Havre

Are you living with unwanted guests? It is not uncommon for a stray cockroach or rat to make its way into a home. This can be easily handled when dealt with quickly. But what about when pests breed and multiply, taking up residence in your home?

In order to address a pest infestation, homeowners first need to know the subtle signs of a pest infestations. Termites, rats, cockroaches, bed bugs or other pests can take over a residence and lead to potential structural damage and health complications. Even in desirable City Centre homes, infestations can be a deal breaker for home buyers.

Learn what to look for when it comes to signs of a pest problem in your home.

Getting Rid of Termites in the Home

Termites can destroy the structural

When you're getting ready to put your home on the market you may need to splash some paint on the walls in order to get a faster sale. While you may like your purple and pink walls in the kids’ rooms and the tangerine colour that's been added to the living room, you need to remember that not all buyers have the same taste as you do. 

When you paint your walls neutral, there won't be any chance of offending anybody and your home will be appealing to more people.

How Color Can Impact a Home

The colour of a room spotlights your personality. It is personal and when you have overly dramatic colours on the walls, it can act as a distraction to buyers. They may not be able to envision themselves in the home because your personality is taking

Once the big day has arrived and the green movers are pulling up in your driveway, everything starts to really sink in. Although you have probably been preparing for this move for months, the reality really starts to come to life when the moving truck arrives and the movers start approaching your door.

In order to stay sane and rational during the moving process on this big day, here are 5 tips to help you get through it.

Stay Calm While Preparing For The Move

The calmer you remain the better the process is going to be. You'll be able to remain in control and on top of things by staying as calm as possible. If you ever find that your nerves are starting to get to you, take a quick walk up and down the sidewalk outside to get a breath of

Moving to a different home is both exciting and stressful, and when people decide to pack up and move, they can quickly get overwhelmed. Fortunately, with a proper timeline and a good calendar, it's possible to take a lot of stress out of the experience of relocating or buying a new home. Here's a calendar/timeline that can help.

Start at Least Eight Weeks Before Moving

Not only should a homeowner have a firm moving date, they should also have a timeline of the things that need to get done before that date arrives. Eight weeks out, consider:

• Hiring a mover and setting things up
• If you have a large safe, talk to a professional about moving your safe
• Getting everything out of the basement, attic, and shed
• Using up things that

a Calgary house purchase is in your plans make sure that you go through every aspect of the buying decision with your partner first in order to avoid any potential future disagreements.

Things can get pretty heated when you're looking for a home and you don't have a firm understanding between the two of you of what you're looking for.

Common Factors of a Home Wishlist

order to help you simplify your needs and wants for a home you can follow this easy to use step-by-step checklist as a guide. Simply go through the items from top to bottom to help you put your thoughts in order. It should help you narrow down the exact type of home you want to get and where you’d like to look for it. Once you have established this it's easy to work with a

A home's roof will naturally wear down over time, and depending on what it's made out of, it may have a lifetime of 20-30 years or longer before needing to be replaced. Replacing a roof is a big job that homeowners want to do as little as possible, and picking the right material can help a roof last a long time. But what are the different types of roofing materials available? Here are some of the best roofing material options and what makes them good choices for a homeowner looking for new roofing materials.

Roofing Materials Overview

There are plenty of roofing materials to choose from, but some are definitely going to give you more value for the money than others. Throughout the years there has been a wide variety of newer roofing products put

The lighting in an Okotoks home can often do more than homeowners realize to set the mood of each room. Harsher lighting may make sense in a bathroom when everyone wants to look their best, but it can be off-putting when trying to relax in the morning with a cup of coffee. Before putting the final touches on your lighting decor, take into account how each shadow and glow works in the many rooms of the home. Many people don’t put much thought into how to light a house, but spending a little extra time picking out the right house lighting can go a long way. Here are some invaluable tips for how to light your home.

Liven Up the Living Room

Lighting the living rooms is especially important because most people spend a lot of time in their living

Home owners who want to put their house on the market often struggle with the decision to make home improvements before listing the property. Roof upgrades in particular can be a difficult decision because roof improvements and repairs can be costly and best done by a professional. Knowing the signs that a roof needs to be replaced and understanding the expectations of the home buyers can help the homeowner decide whether or not a roof should be repaired or replaced before selling the house.

How Long Roofs Last

Because there is such a wide variety of different roofing materials, there’s no one answer for how long a roof will last. Different kinds of roofing materials are expected to last for different lengths of time. For example:

• Asphalt

Calgary is located close enough to the Rocky Mountains to provide plenty of fun just a little ways away. Sometimes, you can find interesting fun that doesn't happen every weekend. Whether you enjoy skiing, skating, curling or even speed dating, you might just find it in the mountains. If you find yourself in a position where you need a little relaxation, consider enjoying some mountain activities – they can really help you.

Go on a Hike

When it comes to mountain activities, it just makes sense that hiking would be on the list. Obviously, this would be an activity for someone who is a little on the physically fit side. You need to stop and ask yourself whether going on a hike is going to relax you or if it is going to stress you out more.

While the condominium lifestyle is a dream for many homeowners, certain individuals may discover that living amid a condo community isn't exactly their cup of tea. Of course, there are pros and cons of buying a Calgary condo, just like there are in any community. So, before signing on the dotted line here are five considerations before buying a condo.

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

1. Privacy Preferences

Individuals who prefer a great deal of privacy may find condo living challenging to their senses. After all, most condominium communities have dozens or even hundreds of units, usually joined by common walls. This means means that