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The RealEdmonton Blog offers current news on the Edmonton real estate market, as well as tips and advice for buyers and sellers, and helpful information to help you care for and maintain your real estate investment.
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 • 1,216 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm manufactured home "Single Wide Mobile Home" -  MLS®$94,900 CAD Evergreen Mobile Home Park, Edmonton - This home shows like new and is ready for quick possession. Three bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Master bedroom features a large walk-in closet and full ensuite with jetted oval tub. Second bedroom has a walk-in closet and ceiling fan. Two storage closets at the front entry. Skylight in large open kitchen with plenty of cupboard and storage space, including large pantry. Glass-front cabinetry in dining room, with more cupboard storage space. Vaulted ceiling in living room with remote-controlled ceiling fan. Large windows. Fenced yard with garden shed. Clean and ready for quick possession. Property information
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(NC)—Today's bath has been redefined as home spa, the one place in a home where you can retreat to for a reviving pick-me-up. So, when it comes time to give this room a pampering of its own, consider paint and the power of colour. It's a quick, easy and economical way to invigorate the space. “A splash of paint can be the perfect tonic for toning up a tired bathroom,” suggested Benjamin Moore colour expert Sharon Grech. “Whether it's just a fresh coat of existing colours or a whole new palette, budget-conscious consumers will appreciate the affordability.” In today's volatile housing market, a bath makeover remains a home renovation that still is a wise investment, increasing a home's value. Often, just a simple paint job can be so transformational that it also can achieve comparable payoffs whether your plans are to stay put or re-sell. When it comes to bathroom paint, conventional wisdom has always dictated that only a high-gloss finish will do, to avoid telltale water spots and streaks from showing. Now, according to Grech, Benjamin Moore has developed Aura Bath & Spa a matte finish paint that locks out moisture. “It is exceptionally eco-friendly, low-VOC premium performance paint that retains the colour integrity regardless the steamiest conditions and offers a terrific option for consumers.” The new formulation is available in 1,800-plus colours. With a choice of colours that extensive, deciding which ones to use can be the biggest challenge. “The cool palette of blues, greens and watery hues is, of course, a popular choice for creating a calming and serene setting,” she advised. “Think about using the warmer end of the spectrum—yellows, oranges and pinks—if you want a room that wakes up the senses and is more stimulating and lively.” You can learn more online at www.benjaminmoore.ca. www.newscanada.com
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(NC)—A house is made up of components that work together to form an integrated system. The performance of one component depends on its relationship with other components in the same system. Your home's ventilation and heating components, construction materials, their assembly and the behaviour of the people living there all interact – a change to one affects all others. Changing one component of a house without considering how it influences other components and the entire house system can waste energy and money. This fall, as we prepare to face another “fresh” Canadian winter and all the utility bills that go along with that, take a moment to think about the system in your house and how you can create efficiencies to save you money and help the environment: • Investing in a high efficiency furnace is a great idea, but it will have to run a lot longer if you have poor weatherstripping around windows and doors and insufficient insulation in the walls and attic. Invest in proper air sealing and insulation levels, and watch your savings soar; • New high-efficiency windows won't prevent condensation problems if they are improperly sealed or insulated, the humidifier on the furnace has not been adjusted or if kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans are rarely used or are improperly ventilated; • A properly functioning home incorporates air tightness and good ventilation. You can have those systems tested by a certified EnerGuide energy advisor who is certified by Natural Resources Canada. He or she makes sure that any recommended upgrades will take both these factors into account as well as other components of the house as a system, thereby ensuring the health and safety of you, your family and other dwellers in the home. You can find a licensed EnerGuide advisor in your area by visiting www.newhomes.nrcan.gc.ca or call 1-800-387-2000 to order publications. www.newscanada.com Word Count: 308
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Westview Village, Edmonton - Announcing a price reduction on 411-10770 Winterburn Road, a 1,037 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm manufactured home "Single Wide Mobile Home". Now  MLS®$104,900 CAD - . Property information
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(NC)—The eavestroughs have been cleaned, the mower has been put away, the trees are trimmed, and the garden “winterized” – so now that the season of outdoor projects has passed, what's a home handyman to do? Plenty. This is the perfect time to head inside and tackle your workspace clutter. After a busy summer, workbenches are often in rough shape so now's the chance to take inventory and get organized in just a few simple steps. 1. Zone it. Assign zones for each function. For example, a typical garage might store automobile supplies, sports equipment, gardening and lawn care tools, holiday decorations, and of course, your tools. Focus on 3-5 zones and organize your work space accordingly. This will help keep your workbench free of frisbees, soccer balls, Christmas ornaments and anything else that will interfere with your projects. 2. Store it. Proper storage solutions make all the difference when you are searching for the right tool for the job. Don't just pack things in a box and put it on a shelf above your bench. Look at purchasing an organizational tool chest, and be sure to label each drawer for fast and easy retrieval. And don't forget about those loose screws, nuts and bolts. If you don't tackle this job, you'll always be running out to get extra fasteners for each project – costing you time and money. Many home hardware centres sell organizing cabinets, but even a tackle box from your local sporting goods store will do wonders. 3. Get it. Do you really need a 12v, 14v and an 18v drill? Multifunctional tools are a great way to help minimize clutter. If you have an 18v drill and a small screwdriver you'll be able to tackle nearly all of the jobs around your house. A brand-new product that can help to keep your work bench clutter free is the ReadyWrench by Black & Decker. The ReadyWrench is made of durable vanadium steel with a nickel chrome finish and puts 16 of the most popular standard (SAE) and metric socket sizes at your fingertips, in one convenient hand tool. No more searching for lost sockets and best of all its small size is perfect for most projects from assembling furniture to fixing up that old bike for next spring. The ReadyWrench is available at major home centres and hardware stores and makes a great gift. 4. Maintain it. Stick to your new system and return things to their right place after each project. An organized workbench will save you time, money and aggravation so you can get back to work – and play. www.newscanada.com
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(NC)—For many homeowners, winter signals an increase in heating bills and a time to combat the chills that come along with the season's damp, dreary weather. Keeping warm during the season can be done by ensuring your home is well-insulated, especially your attic. There are seven million under-insulated attics in Canada. And since attics are a primary source of heat loss in a home, this makes for a great amount of lost energy across the country. Cheryl West, an insulation expert at Owens Corning says insulating your attic for improved comfort and energy efficiency is an easy do-it-yourself project for any homeowner. Re-insulating the attic can be completed over the weekend with all the materials and tools available at your nearest home building supplies store. And if that's not enough reason to re-insulate your attic this winter, here are more: • A properly insulated attic can help save on monthly heating costs by up to 28 per cent*. • An attic insulated to R-50 can help save a half ton** of greenhouse gas emissions annually. That means you'll need to install at least 15 inches PINK FIBERGLAS Batt Insulation along your attic floor to achieve R-50 for optimal thermal resistance. • The Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) helps homeowners save up to 15 per cent on eligible home renovation expenses, up to a maximum of $1,350, through a non-refundable tax credit. • Natural Resources Canada provides an ecoENERGY Retrofit Rebate of up to $750 just for insulating the attic alone. • Matching grants to the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program are also available in select provinces and cities. Prepare your home for the coming winter and re-insulate your attic today for increased comfort and energy efficiency. You can learn about how to apply for the ecoENERGY Rebate by visiting www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca. Details on the HRTC and how to insulate your attic can be found online at www.insulationtaxcredit.ca and www.actionplan.gc.ca. www.newscanada.com (369 words) *Savings vary depending on the original amount of insulation in your home, climate, house size, air leaks and personal energy use and living habits. .**Based on an average attic size of 1700 SF with existing R19 insultion, averaged over seven cities in Canada. The colour PINK is a registered trademark of Owens Corning ©2009 Owens Corning. All Rights Reserved.
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 • 1,037 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm manufactured home "Single Wide Mobile Home" - MLS®$108,900 CAD Westview Village, Edmonton - Completely renovated, gorgeous home offers great value! 1180 sq. ft. of living space including a sunny open sunken flex room. Cathedral ceiling living room. Gorgeous kitchen and dining area. New interior renovations include complete drywall (not panel boards), soft corners, laminate floors, stainless appliances, ceramic top self-cleaning oven, built-in
microwave, maple cabinets, berber carpets, mirrored closet doors, sears furnace with programmable thermostat, new plumbing, bathroom fixtures, sinks, dual-flush toilets, lighting. Beautiful diagonally-tiled backsplash, laundry room with cabinets, new Sears front-load washer and dryer. Full bath ensuite with jacuzzi tub. Spare rooms with armoire styled closets. Exterior has also been overhauled with new vinyl siding, gutters, soffits and facia. Upgraded foam insulated skirting, keyed entrance and automatic control vents to modulate heat and humidity under the home. And new energy efficient, low maintenance Award windows throughout. So much more to see. Property information
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• 1,216 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm manufactured home "Single Wide Mobile Home" - MLS®$99,900 CAD Evergreen Mobile Home Park, Edmonton - This home shows like new and is ready for quick possession. Three bedrooms, two full bathrooms. Master bedroom features a large walk-in closet and full ensuite with jetted oval tub. Second bedroom has a walk-in closet and ceiling fan. Two storage closets at the front entry. Skylight in large open kitchen with plenty of cupboard and storage space, including large pantry. Glass-front cabinetry in dining room, with more cupboard storage space. Vaulted ceiling in living room with remote-controlled ceiling fan. Large windows. Fenced yard with garden shed. Clean and ready for quick possession. Property information
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Downtown, Edmonton - Announcing a price reduction on 802-10105 109 Street, a 958 sq. ft., 1 bath, 1 bdrm apartment "Loft". Now MLS®$241,900 CAD - Reduced!. Property information
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 • 861 sq. ft., 1 bath, 3 bdrm bungalow - MLS®$205,000 CAD Gibbons, Edmonton Area - Nice, clean bungalow in the town of Gibbons, just 15 minutes north of Edmonton. Good size living room. Fenced yard with room to build a garage. Ready to move in and priced to sell. Property information
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(NC)—Receiving a home purchase agreement contingent on property inspection is stress provoking for many home sellers. Yet, contrary to popular belief, an inspector does not assess your property on a pass or fail basis. “We typically evaluate the home and its key elements as being in excellent, good, fair or poor condition,” explains John Umpleby of Informed Decisions Property Inspections. “We look at the home's integrity, identifying any deficiencies to be addressed to give the buyer purchase confidence. We're there to protect all parties, not stop a deal.” Homes with good up-keep usually receive a good or fair rating. Umpleby advises all homeowners – whether selling or not – to do periodic mini-inspections to identify potential issues before they become problematic. “I find many prospective home sellers value the opportunity to have any worrisome issues assessed and addressed on their own terms, rather than second-guessing what an inspection report may reveal at time of sale.” - News Canada
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(NC)—Before listing, consider staging your home to give it a competitive advantage. “Homes that present as move-in ready have strong buyer appeal in today's market,” explains Jackie Peifer, a realtor with 20 years experience. “These properties sell more quickly which helps protect them from price reductions.” Still, some sellers resist the idea of home staging. “Sellers often confuse decorating with staging. They worry the stager will be critical of their belongings,” explains Diane Black, a home staging expert. “If they've lived in their home for years, it becomes difficult to view the space with fresh eyes, from a buyer's perspective.” According to Black, sellers often equate stagers with furniture and art placement. “Experienced stagers know that helping sellers attend to home preparation basics to make their property move-in ready is our first order of business.” Peifer agrees. “To sell for top dollar, I can't stress enough the value of a freshly painted, clean and orderly home, with upgraded flooring if needed.” - News Canada
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(NC)—Doing your homework is a must when selling a home. It starts with selecting the right realtor. “You should always interview more than one realtor,” advises Jackie Peifer, a Greater Toronto Area realtor with 20 years experience. “What helps determine a good fit for you is if the realtor demonstrates knowledge about the area you'd like to move to. As real estate experts, we can't specialize in every single area.” According to Peifer, to sell well you should avoid overpricing your home. “A common mistake is setting the list price above the home's market value. Resist adopting a 'let's try and see' strategy with the view that your list price can always be reduced later,” she explains. “Today's serious buyers do their internet homework and know which properties are priced to sell. Often, the most motivated buyers come forth at the beginning of a listing.” - News Canada
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(NC)—With the holidays and colder months just around the corner, now is the time to find easy ways to save money. Performing a simple home energy audit can help cut costs by pinpointing the places where a house is losing energy, identifying ways to conserve hot water and electricity, and evaluating the efficiency of the home's appliances and heating and cooling systems. Sue Rainville, director of marketing for Hunter Douglas, Canada's leading manufacturer of custom window fashions, offers the following steps for consumers to conduct a home energy audit: Locate that leak Window frames and doors are obvious sources of drafts. Check electrical outlets, switch plates, baseboards, fireplace dampers and wall or window-mounted air conditioners for spaces. Look for gaps around pipes, faucets and mail slots. Apply caulking and weather stripping where needed. Look to your furnishings “Windows are rightly called the 'eyes' of a home, yet they are also energy holes through which heat can escape,” said Rainville. Help protect your home with shades such as Duette Architella honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas that can reduce heat loss at the window by up to 50 percent when properly installed. Attics and basements In cold weather, air leaks in the attic act like a chimney, drafting expensive heated air upwards and sucking cold air into the rest of the home. Large gaps are also often found around plumbing pipes, light fixtures, chimneys and soffits. Ensure openings for items such as pipes, ductwork and chimneys are sealed with expanding foam caulk. Step outside Insulation needs to work both inside and out. Check areas where two different construction materials meet, such as the foundation and the exterior brick or siding. Look for cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation and siding, and seal them with the appropriate material. Using these tips, consumers can learn how to conduct a home energy audit on their own, just in time for those cold winter months. More information is available online at www.hunterdouglas.ca or toll-free at 1-800-265-8000. - News Canada
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Alberta is poised to pioneer guidelines governing the cleanup of houses used for illegal marijuana crops.
The Alberta Real Estate Association and University of Calgary are proposing standards for rehabilitating former drug houses that could be the first of their kind in North America. For unsuspecting home buyers or renters, moving into a home once used for an illegal grow-op can be hazardous to health. Marijuana grow operations generate high levels of humidity that can taint the walls and ventilation systems with toxic mould. In Alberta, provincial health inspectors have condemned grow-op homes as unfit for human habitation. Apart from the heath risks, there are potential financial pitfalls as well: structural damage from water saturation and unsafe wiring from illegally rigged electricity. Officials estimate the average cost of remediation is $25,000 to $30,000. “There are no guidelines in place to handle properties that cannot be remediated to the satisfaction of local authorities. There are currently no provisions in place provincially to protect the consumer should this situation arise.” said Alberta Real Estate Association spokesman Bill Fowler. The project aims to create minimum acceptable remediation standards province-wide. To read more go to this link: http://www.canada.com/news/Alberta+pioneering+standards+restoring+toxic+drug+dens/1956447/story.html
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