As you navigate the mixed emotions that come with your child leaving home, it's important to focus some of your energy on this new season of your life. Whether that means decluttering, redecorating, or repurposing a bedroom, consider recreating your space to work for you. Get motivated to take that first step and involve your child in the process so they will still feel welcome and excited to be home. Focus on one space at a time. Decluttering your home can lighten your mood and simplify your life. Begin by picking one area of your home that will give you the most satisfaction to declutter. Perhaps it's the kitchen, office, or child's bedroom. Allow the emotions to come and go as you sift through years of clutter. Remember, these are just things and too many things will take away from what matters. Break down the area into manageable chunks. Decluttering the entire kitchen or a huge closet might seem overwhelming. Give yourself the freedom to focus on a few cabinets a day or ...
How Should I Clean My Hardwood, Laminate, Cork Or Plank Floor?
Sweep, vacuum, and dust mop regularly, at least once a week or more often if you have pets or a busy household. Do not use vinegar, or all-purpose cleaner on floors, they will both dull the finish. Use your manufactures’ recommended cleaner and the minimum amount of water. Any mopping should be done with a barely damp mop, never wet or soaking wet. Clean up any liquid spills immediately to avoid water damage. Steam Mop You Ask…NO NO Please Don't!! Steam Mops: Not the Miracle Cleaning Method You Thought. With the explosion of advertisements for steam mops on TV, many people ask, “Are steam mops safe for use on my new floor?” Steam is great for both cleaning and sanitizing when used in the appropriate place. However, using steam mops on flooring can cause irreparable damage. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize the same thing which makes steam mops such a “good cleaner” also causes it to be unsuitable for many types of finished flooring. Flashback to junior high: steam is ...
5 Ways to Keep Toys From Taking Over!
For most of us, it's a daily battle, and each year get a little bit trickier. Yes - we are talking about keeping organized while living with kids. Every table top, empty floor space, and cupboard eventually becomes prime real-estate for imaginative play, LEGO building, and storage for the backlog of clothes and gifts flowing in at every turn. It's a lot. And even the most organized homes can quickly feel abundantly full. The good news is, with a little bit of time and continued dedication, there are ways to curb the gradual toy take-over, even reclaiming a few kid-free spaces in the process. Below we share 5 tangible steps to get you started. PURGE Perhaps an obvious first step, but purging is key. Going through every basket, bin, and toy drawer three or four times a year is vital step to maintaining order and our sanity. Start with a garbage bag to collect all the broken pieces, partial happy meals toys, and slime that has inevitably oozed out all over the inside of a drawer. ...
7 Tips to get ahead of moving day – so you can spend more time doing what you love!
How to make moving stress free - yes it's possible! Moving is know as one of the most stressful times in our busy lives, ahead of being laid off and a relationship ending, this is pretty significant of how stressful moving is! I totally get it and I have moved home, country and city more times than I care to remember! Although I had so much fun living in different places and learning about the cultures it has now become a different experience with a young family. Really important to remember to help make moving as stress free as possible and to get ahead of the moving game is to START EARLY! This may seem pretty straight forward and common sense but most of us tend to put off things we don’t enjoy, or if we know it is going to take away our precious time from doing what we love! Here are some easy tips and ideas to help you get organized for your move: 1) Start 2 months (if possible or as soon as you know you are moving) before your move by minimizing your items. Be as ...
Water Gardening
Ponds have become places where the beauty and tranquility of water amongst foliage can be easily integrated into your garden. Water features, such as ponds and fountains, have become very popular recently. The sound of running water is soothing. An attractively landscaped pool with fish, water plants like the water lily and a waterfall or fountain can be a beautiful addition to your garden. Ponds have become places where the beauty and tranquility of water amongst foliage can be easily integrated into your garden. A pond will also attract birds to your garden. They are a super addition to gardens, as well as, they offer added colour and movement. In southern Alberta you'll find that most songbirds gather near water, so if this suits your fancy it's well worth the effort. This can be especially nice if you choose to run your pond in winter. Your pond can be a place for contemplation that begins with deliberation. Water gardens are more than water holes in the ground and can have ...
Why Hasn’t My House Sold By Now?
While it’s no secret the real estate market is down, houses are still selling. In fact, even in tough buyer’s markets, some homes will get a ton of showings and even multiple offers. So why isn’t yours getting the traffic you’d like? Your CIR Realtor has probably offered some guidance but it's sometimes hard for us, as sellers, to heed their advice or to see our home through the eyes of an apathetic buyer. Market conditions aside, there are some very basic things that can make your home stand out from the rest: Price to sell If you want to sell your home in a buyer’s market, you need to price it accordingly. Your Realtor will tell you what similar homes in your area are selling for to help you arrive at a reasonable listing price. Some sellers think it’s a good idea to price high at the start – but doing this can eliminate qualified buyers from ever seeing your home if your house is priced outside the ranges they're searching for. Prepare for showings You want your home ...
Who’s Responsible for Post-Home Inspection Repairs?
A home inspection is a normal and recommended condition that all buyers should include as part of their purchase contract negotiations. But what issues should you ask the seller to fix or pay for in order to make the deal go through? If you’re not buying a new build, some wear and tear should be expected. Don’t get caught up making a list of minor and cosmetic issues you want the seller to fix before you move in – being unrealistic can lose you the deal, especially in a seller’s market or a high-demand community. A home inspection is meant to identify major structural or electrical defects in the home, safety concerns, or issues that could be expensive to fix now or in the future. No matter what your home inspection report reveals, you should be prepared to do some minor repairs or replacements after moving in, especially if you’re buying an older home. If major issues were identified by your home inspector and you still want to buy the home, you should certainly ask the ...
Buyer Etiquette: Protocols for looking at owner-occupied homes
Shopping for a new home can be stressful… there’s a lot of inventory on the market right now and you want to make the right choice! But you should also remember that it’s a difficult time for the seller too. While there’s no hard “do and don’t” list for buyers looking at owner-occupied homes, there are some things you can do to make your viewings more enjoyable for you as well as your Realtor, the seller, and their agent. Do: Book in advance Your Realtor will book showings on your behalf but you should have reasonable expectations about being able to enter the home. Don’t expect to be able to see a home immediately – the seller may have kids or pets to pack up, or just need time to vacate the home. Even if you stay outside – it’s not ok to just show up and walk around a seller’s yard. Be on time This is common courtesy for your Realtor and the seller. Your Realtor may have scheduled several properties to show you, or there may be multiple viewings scheduled for that particular ...
JUNE GIVEAWAYS… ENTER TODAY!
Each month we will have a NEW giveaway to help improve the life you live in your home and you have a chance to ENTER each month to WIN!! Calgary, AB | ENTER TODAY by visiting cirrealty.ca or cirrealty.ca/contest CENTRAL ALBERTA | ENTER TODAY by visiting cirrealty.ca or cirrealty.ca/cacontest Contest Rules: The draw is done on the last day of the month. You must go back to the contest website, and re enter every month to win that month's prize. This means that if you enter every month, you have more than 1 chance at winning! You can not enter in advance for future months. CIR Realtors are not eligible to win. You must be a resident of Alberta and over 18 to win. ...
HOW MUCH DOES A RENOVATION COST AND HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE?
When you originally purchased your home, you may have loved the overall design and décor. The layout may have been perfectly functional for your needs. However, over time, the style of a home can become dated, and you may find the décor to be increasingly unappealing. Your family’s needs for living space, storage space and more can also change dramatically over the years. Some homeowners decide to relocate to a new home when they are faced with this situation, but others prefer to stay in the home that they have lived in for years. After all, this is a home that you may feel comfortable in. You may love your neighbors, the location of the home and more. Perhaps you do not want to endure the cost and stress associated with relocating. An alternative to relocating is to renovate your space so that it is more appealing and functional. Learning more about the cost and time requirement for a renovation is a great starting point to decide if this is a smart idea to pursue. The Impact of ...
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