When I was growing up people didn’t lock their front doors; I doubt my parents even locked the house up at night before they went to sleep. As a youngster, I could walk freely into my friends’ houses at any time of day and them into mine, regardless whether someone was actually at home. Having … Continue reading Home Security
Historically through present day, the military has played a key role in helping to shape and protect Canada. The men and women who make up the Canadian Armed Forces do challenging and important work every day at hundreds of military installations in this country and around the world. The roles they play are not static, … Continue reading Military Relocations
There are definitely things that will lower the value of your home, other things which will limit your ability to increase value and some things which are essentially a non-issue for re-sale value. The trick is learning which is which. Smoking is an example of something which isn’t good for you anyway, but also drastically … Continue reading What Ruins Property Value
The old adage that putting money into someone else’s pocket when renting is only part of the story. Renting can sometimes be very liberating, freeing you from the burden of what to do when there’s a flood or a major appliance breaks. But it can also be frustrating, especially when so many TV programs and … Continue reading Rent vs Buy – Which Is Better For You?
In a world of dwindling customer service, paying more for less and lipstick-on-a-pig DIY renovations, sometimes as consumers it feels like getting good value for anything is almost impossible. In the land of home ownership, this can certainly be the case. But I received an email this week from a homeowner who is a ray … Continue reading Go That Extra Mile With Customer Service
I’ve got my feet up, sunglasses on, book in hand and the waves of the beach lapping in the background. . . in my mind. In an ideal world, we’d all have that beach-front vacation spot we escape to every weekend, if only we had more beaches and more free time. That’s the excuse I … Continue reading Finding A Vacation Home
Condos sound cool. I don’t know, but there’s something about the word that just appeals to me somehow. And yet, we hear all sorts of – usually conflicting – horror stories these days, either that nobody can afford a condo or that the value of those already owned is plummeting. Condos aren’t going to go … Continue reading So You Want To Buy A Condo – Here Is What You Need To Know
My parents are not always on the same page. In fact, sometimes they are not even in the same book. My father will say my mother is a stubborn woman. My mother says it’s her right to be so stubborn because my dad is always wrong. But when he’s not wrong, she continues with a … Continue reading Sharing A Home Vision
I’m no farmer’s almanac but I’m pretty sure “Fall” is named for what happens to our mood when we realize it’s coming. It is, of course, a beautiful season, but it heralds all sorts of jobs to do around the house before winter – the word that really ruins the summer mood – sets in. … Continue reading Fall Maintenance Tips For A Stress-Free Winter
Two heads are better than one, they say; and two people can be better than one for buying property, I say. Co-buying property is becoming a huge trend in real estate because houses are expensive – especially in major city centres across Canada. Many single buyers simply cannot afford get onto the property ladder without … Continue reading Thinking of Co-Buying Property? Here Are Some Things To Remember!
