All Blog Entries by Justin Havre

Just a few decades ago, incandescent light bulbs were the most common light bulbs available in stores, and they were the most commonly found light bulbs in the lighting of each room of the home. Today, there are many different kinds of light bulbs used by Southwest Calgary homeowners. If you're a homeowner who would like to save money and reduce your utility costs, you have many options. Here's what you need to know.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

These light bulbs have been around for a very long time, and have a very basic design. Incandescent light bulbs contain a wire (called a filament) that heats up to produce light. These bulbs come in different brightnesses for different purposes. Incandescent light bulbs produce a lot of heat. The glass from

Fireplaces are romantic and fun to use. At the right times of year, fireplaces can also be functional, providing heat and light in the house. However, fireplaces and chimneys need to be maintained, or they can become unsafe. If you're a Southeast Calgary homeowner with a fireplace, here's what you need to know.

Burn Seasoned Firewood

Seasoned firewood is firewood that's been dried sufficiently. Seasoned firewood has a low moisture content, so it burns easily and produces little smoke. Unseasoned firewood is firewood that has been produced from a recently downed tree. Unseasoned firewood produces a lot of smoke and can take a long time to burn.

The smoke produced by unseasoned firewood can cause creosote to build up in the chimney. Creosote is

Renting a property to tenants can help increase a South Calgary household's cash flow and keep the home from sitting vacant. This step requires a lot of forethought, however, as there are many important things to consider. From insurance to taxes, and everything in between, keeping the top considerations in mind can help homeowners avoid common pitfalls and achieve great results. Here's a look at the most important things to know when renting a Canadian property to tenants.

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

Insurance Companies May Require a Change in Policy

Before renting out a property, Canadian homeowners must first check with their

For many people, home flipping is their first experience in residential real estate investment. The job of a home flipper sounds easy: buy a home at a low cost, fix it up to increase its value and then sell the home for a higher cost. Home flipping is a popular activity because it's relatively affordable and many people enjoy the process. If you're new to home flipping, the following seven tips can help.

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

1. Do Your Research

Before a home flipper purchases a property, they should know the standard value of the homes in the area where they're thinking about buying. This tells them how much they can expect

Indoor air quality can have a big impact on your health and wellness of your Northwest Calgary home. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to improve your home's air quality. If you're a homeowner seeking to freshen the air in your home and make it healthier for the people in your household, these tips can help.

Change Your Air Filter Every 3 Months

Many HVAC systems have an air filter that removes dust, pollen, and dander from the air that circulates through the ducts. The air filter must be changed every three months when the HVAC system is in use. Homeowners who want to remove smaller particles from the air in their home may wish to install a HEPA filter.

Clean Your Ducts

Even with a clean air filter in place, ducts may develop a

Buying a home is an uncommon experience for most people. As a result, many people are unfamiliar with the terms and phrases that industry professionals use. This glossary of real estate terms can help you understand some of the most common words that get used in the process of purchasing a home.

Mortgage

A mortgage is a loan to a home buyer to help them purchase their house. Most people need a mortgage because they don't have the full amount of money required to buy a house.

Mortgages last 5 years. At the end of the 5 year period, unless the mortgage has been fully paid off, the homeowner must refinance and get a new mortgage. Many homeowners take 25 years to repay their loan. If a homeowner decides to move to another house before the home is

Kitchen renovations constitute big business on the home scene, and one of the most common upgrades includes replacing older kitchen counters. The midrange value of a kitchen remodel in 2018 topped $63,000. If a kitchen redo is in your North Calgary home future, here's what you should know about the various types of counter materials, their cost and their expected return on investment.

Here are eight of the best available options for trendy kitchen countertop types and updates:

Natural Stone

While granite and marble are perhaps the best known, soapstone is another natural stone with historical roots in New England. It is rustic, yet upscale in appearance, and is usually grey or dusty green in color. It blends well with stainless appliances and

The type of maintenance that homeowners need to perform for their properties is often dependent on the time of year. The cost, details, and location of necessary maintenance relates closely to the weather. Creating a calendar checklist helps people prepare for times that they will need to do more work. It also makes it easier to spread out the workload, so that they have more time for leisurely pursuits. This guide helps homeowners identify the home maintenance tasks they need to do throughout the year, organized by season.

Preparing for Home Maintenance and Upgrades

Experts suggest that homeowners plan to invest 1-5 percent of their property's value in home maintenance and upgrades each year. This can be a wide range from year to year, depending

Condos, single-family homes, and town homes are very different from one another. The type of property you buy when you're looking for a place to live can have a big impact on your happiness and quality of life. In the right home, you should be able to live out your preferred lifestyle. If you choose the wrong type of home, you could find yourself struggling to maintain the type of life you enjoy.

Knowing the difference between the types of properties can help, especially if you are a first-time home buyer. If you're thinking about buying a place soon and you're not sure whether you should buy a town house, condo or a single-family home, here's what you need to know.

Single-Family Home

Single-family homes are independent structures sitting on

Whether you're building or buying a home, you'll have to make a multitude of decisions as you acquire your new home. Two of the most common building materials are brick and wood. Knowing the differences between these two materials can help you decide which one is right for you.

Brick Homes: Advantages and Disadvantages

If you're a home buyer who is thinking about purchasing a brick home, there are many factors to consider.

Pros:

• Brick homes have a traditional stately appearance that some buyers appreciate.
• They never need to be painted.
• Brick retains heat well and can stay warmer for longer in cold weather.

Cons:

• Brick is more expensive than wood.
• Because brick is never painted, the home will always look the same.