Posts Tagged ‘#YYCLiving’

Marda Loops Angela Current: Current Free Design Style, Legacy Creator, Community Activator, Joy Radiator / Director of Crime Prevention

Thursday, January 30th, 2020

A few years ago, Angela happened to land at a Marda Loop AirBnB with her young kids. She fell in the love with the community and hasn’t left!  Check out our Chat by clicking here.

Angela is laying down roots in the neighbourhood … symbolizing this all with her garden at the South Calgary Community Garden.
With a background in Alarm Systems, and sales, she is the volunteer Director of Crime Prevention for Marda Loop Community Association.
Through some apps and on-line channels, Angela encourages neighbours to get to know each other, to become more aware.

Angela also works on Indulge Committee … save the date – May 23, 2020

Angela is starting a Business Networking Group, with the goal of meeting weekly. The goal is to have 10-20 local businesses – Who wants to grow their business, and support other local businesses.

Crime Prevention Initiatives:
Get on Next-door. www.nextdoor.com
Everyone in Altadore and Garrison Woods has received an official invite.
Next-door is hyper local.
Not only do you meet the people on your street … it creates awareness. When neighbours know each other, community is safer.

Community Crime Talk … with Free Pizza from Turnip Homes, Feb 4.

Current Work:
– Business Network Group
– Indulge
– NextDoor
– Crime Prevention: Community Conversation Event w Rich Wall (Free Pizza by Turnip Homes)

Connect with Angela
Gmail: angela.current@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/…/lalangala/

What do you love most about the neighborhood?

“This is a great and vibrant community, close to downtown … I’ve decided to plant roots here.
To symbolize all this, I planted a garden at the South Community Garden.”

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For more info on Marda Loop, Altadore and all the communities that make up Marda Loop … visit https://parkbench.com/altadore

10 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring A Landscape Designer

Thursday, March 28th, 2019
If you’re considering working with a landscape designer, finding the right fit — and avoiding surprises midway through the project — is largely about knowing which questions to ask upfront and being familiar with the range of services these professionals provide.These four seasoned landscape professionals provide  the inside scoop on the range of services available and the 10 essential questions potential clients should ask before hiring a professional for the job.

Pantry & Kitchen Storage Hacks

Tuesday, March 26th, 2019

(Click Image To Watch Video)

Fun With Xeriscaping

Thursday, March 21st, 2019

Creative Xeriscaping: Save Water With Style

Westlake Project: Build a Moat!

Mark Biechler of Pearson Landscape in Austin, Texas created a solution for a homeowner in Westlake, Texas whose home tended to flood during heavy rainfall. To solve the problem, a moat was built around the house (designed by Gregory Thomas of CG&S Design Build). Let it rain, let it pour. This house can now easily handle water as deep as 8 inches or more in its gravel covered moat that redistributes the excess. To appreciate the work involved in this installation, refer to these steps to make your own!

Westlake Project: Envy of the Neighborhood

The full effect of the renovated yard and entrance is visible in this view from the far end of the front yard. You can see how the natural landscaping adds color and texture to the yard while protecting it from street flooding.

Westlake Project: More Out Back

Just as aesthetically pleasing as the front yard makeover is the newly reconstructed back yard which presents an organic, natural landscape designed for water conservation.

Arroyo Project: The Dry Creek Design

The second project by Mark Biechler of Pearson Landscape in Austin, Texas involved creating an arroyo (dry creek bed) between two properties that would effectively handle storm water runoff and also serve as photogenic xeriscaping.

Arroyo Project: Ready for Action

This street view of the completed dry creek shows how on the far left, any excess water will be channeled over the gravel and large rock slabs into the gutter.

Arroyo Project: Double Duty Beauty

Many native plantings along the arroyo help conserve water while adding color and decoration such as Yucca rostrata (in the foreground), Mexican feathergrass to the far right, and in the background, ‘Mystic Spires Blue’ sage, Knockout roses and salvia. To appreciate the work involved in this installation, refer to these steps to make your own!

7 Beneficial Factors To Consider Upon Choosing Your Home To Retire In

Tuesday, March 19th, 2019

Now more than ever baby boomers are entering retirement age, the question is of whether or not to sell their homes and move will become a hot topic. In today’s housing market climate, with low available inventory in the starter and trade-up home categories, it makes sense to evaluate your home’s ability to adapt to your needs in retirement.

According to the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (NAEBA), there are 7 factors that you should consider when choosing your retirement home.

1. Affordability

“It may be easy enough to purchase your home today but think long-term about your monthly costs. Account for property taxes, insurance, HOA fees, utilities – all the things that will be due whether or not you have a mortgage on the property.

Would moving to a complex with homeowner association fees actually be cheaper than having to hire all the contractors you would need to maintain your home, lawn, etc.? Would your taxes go down significantly if you relocated? What is your monthly income going to be like in retirement?

2. Equity

“If you have equity in your current home, you may be able to apply it to the purchase of your next home. Maintaining a healthy amount of home equity gives you a source of emergency funds to tap, via a home equity loan or reverse mortgage.”

The equity you have in your current home may be enough to purchase your retirement home with little to no mortgage. Homeowners in the US gained an average of over $14,000 in equity last year.

3. Maintenance

“As we age, our tolerance for cleaning gutters, raking leaves and shoveling snow can go right out the window. A condominium with low-maintenance needs can be a literal lifesaver, if your health or physical abilities decline.”

As we mentioned earlier, would a condo with an HOA fee be worth the added peace of mind of not having to do the maintenance work yourself?

4. Security

“Elderly homeowners can be targets for scams or break-ins. Living in a home with security features, such as a manned gate house, resident-only access and a security system can bring peace of mind.”

As scary as that thought may be, any additional security and an extra set of eyes looking out for you always adds to peace of mind.

5. Pets

“Renting won’t do if the dog can’t come too! The companionship of pets can provide emotional and physical benefits.”

Evaluate all of your options when it comes to bringing your ‘furever’ friend with you to a new home. Will there be necessary additional deposits if you are renting or in a condo? Is the backyard fenced in? How far are you from your favorite veterinarian?

6. Mobility

“No one wants to picture themselves in a wheelchair or a walker, but the home layout must be able to accommodate limited mobility.”

Sixty is the new 40, right? People are living longer and are more active in retirement, but that doesn’t mean that down the road you won’t need your home to be more accessible. Installing handrails and making sure your hallways and doorways are wide enough may be a good reason to look for a home that was built to accommodate these needs.

7. Convenience

“Is the new home close to the golf course, or to shopping and dining? Do you have amenities within easy walking distance? This can add to home value!”

How close are you to your children and grandchildren? Would relocating to a new area make visits with family easier or more frequent? Beyond being close to your favorite stores and restaurants, there are a lot of factors to consider.

Bottom Line

When it comes to your forever home, evaluating your current house for its ability to adapt with you as you age can be the first step to guaranteeing your comfort in retirement. If after considering all these factors you find yourself curious about your options, contact a local real estate professional who can evaluate your ability to sell your house in today’s market and get you into your dream retirement home!

21 Creative Ways To Complete A Bathroom Remodel

Thursday, March 14th, 2019

#BathroomRemodel

Polishing up a worn washroom needn’t require pricey new fixtures or wall-busting construction. See how you can make the most of what you have with creative wall and window treatments, garage/yard sale finds, and stylish storage ideas!

How To Get The Most Money When Selling Your Home

Tuesday, March 12th, 2019

Every homeowner wants to make sure they get the best price when selling their home. But how do you guarantee that you receive maximum value for your house? Here are two keys to ensuring you get the highest price possible.

1. Price it a LITTLE LOW 

This may seem counterintuitive. However, let’s look at this concept for a moment. Many homeowners think that pricing their home a little OVER market value will leave them room for negotiation. In reality, this just dramatically lessens the demand for their house (see chart below).

Instead of the seller trying to ‘win’ the negotiation with one buyer, they should price it so that demand for the home is maximized. By doing this, the seller will not be fighting with a buyer over the price, but will instead have multiple buyers fighting with each other over the house.

Realtor.com gives this advice:

“Aim to price your property at or just slightly below the going rate. Today’s buyers are highly informed, so if they sense they’re getting a deal, they’re likely to bid up a property that’s slightly underpriced, especially in areas with low inventory.”

2. Use a Real Estate Professional

This, too, may seem counterintuitive, as the seller likely believes that he or she will net more money if they don’t have to pay a real estate commission. With that being said, studies have shown that homes typically sell for more money when handled by a real estate professional.

Research posted by the National Association of Realtors revealed that:

“The median selling price for all FSBO homes was $185,000 last year. When the buyer knew the seller in FSBO sales, the number sinks to the median selling price of $163,800. However, homes that were sold with the assistance of an agent had a median selling price of $245,000 – nearly $60,000 more for the typical home sale.”

Bottom Line

Price your house at or slightly below the current market value and hire a professional. This will guarantee that you maximize the price you get for your house.

The Essentials To Styling Your Home To Sell Quickly

Thursday, March 7th, 2019

Homeowners who haven’t prepared their homes to list now, should implement some of the following these go-to styling tips if they want to get their listing noticed and sold quickly.

Remove clutter to maximize space.

Play up key features such as windows, hardwood flooring, walk-in closets, spacious cabinets and counters by removing clutter and personal items that are distracting to buyers. Enhance the size of a room or storage area by doing the following: Remove heavy window treatments, replace or cover carpeting with bright, modern area rugs, paint walls and dark trim in lighter neutral tones, and rearrange or remove furniture.

Give each room a purpose.
Savvy buyers are looking for a house that will match their lifestyle and accommodate their needs. Therefore, it’s important to put yourself in their shoes and determine how a room should function instead of how it already functions for that homeowner. If along the way the owner had converted a living room into a game room (as shown in the photo above), you’ll need to take the space back to its original purpose. That may mean bringing back the sofa and coffee table that’s hiding in the basement so that the home doesn’t look deficient in any way.

 

Freshen walls with neutral colors and artwork.
The perfect starting point for an instant boost is a fresh coat of neutral wall color, such as a warm grey or beige. It not only brings a fresh, modern feel to a space, but it also creates a backdrop that showcases the other elements in the room, such as the bright white trim, wall art, and furniture. It’s also a great fix after taking down dated wallpaper as well as for covering up imperfections.

Use bright, modern accents for inviting style.
When possible, we like to add furniture with clean lines for universal appeal and complement beautiful bold accents that really bring a neutral room to life. And if the homeowner decides to keep their tired, worn or more traditional furniture, camouflaging with modern pillows, throws, rugs, lighting and colorful accents in geometric patterns, fabrics and finishes will create the warm, inviting vibe that today’s buyers are attracted to.

Don’t forget about curb appeal!
Especially after the cold winter months, it’s just as important to style the outside of your home to welcome buyers inside. Spruce up the yard, make necessary repairs, and update the front porch with cheerful accessories such as a fresh welcome mat, potted flowers, colorful throw pillows on a bench, and a floral wreath for the door.

7 Ways To Make The Most of Your Home Entrance

Tuesday, March 5th, 2019

Ever feel as though something’s not quite right about your entryway? Maybe it’s hard to see your front door, or your foyer feels bland and uninviting. Whether you’ve recently moved in or have been settled for many years, here are seven ways to make the entrance to your home more enjoyable for you and your guests.

How To Lay A Brick Pathway

Thursday, February 28th, 2019

Always wanted a brick pathway?…Never sure how to get it quite right?… Well, now you do! Here’s a step by step guide showing you just how to lay your own beautiful brick pathway.


Bryon Howard, RE/MAX House of Real Estate
20, 2439 54 Ave SW, Calgary, Alberta, T3E 1M4
Tel: 403-287-3880 (Re/Max) or 403-475-7368 (office) Fax: 403-287-3876 or 403-276-8049 (office)
The data included on this website is deemed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate by the Calgary Real Estate Board
MLS® MLS REALTOR® Realtor
Trademarks used under license from CREA