Edmonton Real Estate Blog

Planning a party or hosting overnight guests this holiday season? The preparation can be a lot to tackle all at once. That’s why we’re covering the prep one week at a time — so by the time the big day comes, much of your work will already be done. Below you’ll find tips on getting your home ready for company, from decorations to drinks.
Invest in decor that will last. Want to avoid running out at the last minute for flowers to decorate the tables? Try using either real or fake boxwood topiaries instead. They look chic and festive, but they’re not holiday-specific, so you can leave them out for months. Other long-lasting decor ideas: bowls of nuts in the shell; plain beeswax candles on a silver tray; pots of forced bulbs (they look fresh and beautiful even before they bloom).

Make room for coat storage. If you have a coat closet, coat tree or other space for coats in your entry, clear out your own coats and gear from the area so guests have space for their stuff. A unit with shelves or cubbies, like the one shown here, is great because there is also plenty of room for guests’ hats, gloves and umbrellas. If you are looking for something to add, try a simple garment rack. Racks come at all price points, hold a ton and can be used in the laundry room postholidays.

Stock the bathroom. It’s not glamorous, but there are two things every party-ready bathroom needs: t.p. and a plunger. Once you have those basics covered, it wouldn’t hurt to check your stock of pretty hand towels and soap. Have any bath product samples lying around? Spare toothbrushes? Gather them up and put them somewhere guests won’t miss it — on the sink, or in the guest bedroom for overnight guests.

Make a stain-fighting kit. Gather your favorite go-to stain fighters in a spot you can get to easily during a party, to prevent that red wine on the sofa from becoming a total disaster. Try using a travel-size toiletry kit to store smaller amounts of favorite cleaners in, so you can grab it in an instant. Store a stain-removal cheat sheet along with your kit so you always know which cleaning agent to choose.

Take care of music and drinks. Choosing music for your party can be surprisingly time consuming — put together a few playlists now, and you won’t have to worry about it later. Or pull out the vinyl collection and let your guests take turns playing DJ. Same goes for drinks: It’s not like they will go bad, so stock up now and that’s one less thing you’ll need to shop for later. Plus, when you’re not in a rush, you can take the time to shop around for the best deal … win-win!
Prep guest rooms. Fresh sheets and extra towels, a mirror, working bedside lights, curtains on the windows, a place to put a suitcase — check the basics off your list now so you won’t have to scramble when a guest is due to arrive. If your guest room shares space with a home office, now is also a good time to clear out the clutter … guests shouldn’t feel like they’re sleeping in an office.

Find extra space for overnight guests. Don’t have a separate guest room? Or need more than one? There are tons of options for squeezing in a comfortable extra bed. Store an air mattress in the closet and pull it out as needed. Or, for a more permanent option that blends with your decor, try a daybed or a sleek, modern sofa bed, like the one shown here.

Spruce up your entry, inside and out. It’s the first things guests see, so make sure it sets the right tone. In a cold climate, safety should be priority No. 1, so check that the porch lights are working and roll out a slip-proof doormat outside. Indoors, an extra-large rug will feel more generous than the typical postage-stamp-size version, and it can handle big groups who arrive (and stamp feet) at once. A place to perch on, a few plump cushions and a mirror are gracious touches to consider adding.

Source: Houzz.com

Over the past 40 years, the S&P/TSX Composite index has experienced 14 negative calendar return years.

As shown in the chart, in each instance, with only two exceptions, the following year saw the markets in positive territory. Further, these gains were solidified with 5 year double digit returns.

These results demonstrate the resilience of the markets, and that investors have typically been best-served by maintaining a long-term focus despite short-term market volatility.

Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information.
Douglas J. Bodtcher  
Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
780-448-1988 ext. 284
Douglas.Bodtcher@investorsgroup.com

Think of your favorite room. Imagine its textures, colors and openings. Picture all of the objects that sit in it. Now take the walls away. What’s left? Does it still feel like a room? What elements are intact to distinguish it as a space?

Walls are arguably the easiest and most recognizable architectural elements that define a room. Let’s stretch this notion and identify other ways to perceive space. Consider the following tips to create your home’s spaces without relying on the typical vertical barrier for enclosure.

1. Level Change

There is no wall between this dining area and the adjacent space; a few steps differentiate the two areas. A level change can designate zones in an open plan and help to set up a hierarchy of spaces. A level change can also define a smaller area within a larger room. A sunken living room like this creates a relaxed and cozy atmosphere. The light wood flooring of this kitchen and the dark wood floor in the adjacent room merge on the steps and help the transition flow smoothly between the two spaces. Look up and you’ll notice that the ceiling changes in plane and material at the same point that the floor does.

2. Overhead Element

In this room there is a change in material at the ceiling level, while the flooring stays consistent. This material change is a smart visual way to delineate zones in a home with an open floor plan. If you can’t make a material change in your space, try using paint for a dramatic effect. Keep the color consistent from ceiling to wall to headboard — here a crisp line defines the sleeping area from the nearby window. For a cozy seating area, bring a portion of the ceiling down, as shown here. The color can stay consistent with this technique. Adding a few light fixtures further reinforces a change in scale and adds to the overall effect of this conversation zone. Use a surprising element suspended from above to illustrate a change in space. This hovering fireplace cuts through the upper-floor void and brings the focal point back to a human scale on the lower level, which could otherwise have been lost in the double-height space.

3. Structural Elements

A home’s structural elements can be used to define space too. These beams add another layer of architecture that is exposed in the vaulted ceiling. In homes, exposed structural elements are typically reserved for the roof and floor framing. But how about using cross bracing in front of translucent walls, as shown here? Walls don’t have to be solid and opaque. Steel posts with steel channels that frame the edges make up this floating overhead canopy. The zone below doesn’t rely on any full-height walls around it, so it feels protected yet open at the same time.

4. Screens

An easy way to add a privacy barrier near an entryway is to incorporate a room divider. This particular screen allows visual access to the front door with its transparent glass. The screen is a great way to create an architectural pause between here and the rest of the home. Mixing a steel frame and wood blocks resulted in a warm and contemporary insertion between the living and dining rooms here.

5. Flooring Material

Warm wood contrasts nicely with the dark, cool flooring of the kitchen and is an instant visual cue to a room delineation. Notice how the ceiling changes in plane at the same line where the flooring changes. Take the flooring up and transition it into the countertop for a more dimensional feeling, as shown in this compact kitchen. Get creative with your flooring material change to add character and vibrancy.

Defining a space without solid walls is best exhibited in a place with no walls at all! This patio relies on pavers versus landscaped areas to give it a sense of place.

Source: Houzz.com

Using a portfolio approach to properly diversify your assets can reduce the negative effects that any individual security or asset class may have on the performance of your portfolio. Financial markets don’t always move in the same direction. When stocks are rising, for example, bonds may decline in value. Similarly, different types of equities or even investment styles are more successful in some market conditions than others. By carefully diversifying your portfolio, we can reduce your risk and enhance your chances of successfully attaining your long-term goals.

Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information.
Douglas J. Bodtcher  
Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
780-448-1988 ext. 284
Douglas.Bodtcher@investorsgroup.com

For this family of four in Ottawa, Ontario, the choice was change their 1960s home or move to a larger house in the suburbs. Their love of city life won out, so they put in some sweat equity, got help from handy friends and enlisted the pros at OakWood Renovation Experts to convert a bedroom into a second full bathroom and walk-in closet. “These clients like the old details mixed with the new,” says OakWood’s Tim Moore. Here’s how the home was adapted to give Mom and Dad their own relaxing bathroom that suited their minimalist tastes.
It took a village to help the family to turn a spare bedroom into their dream master bath. When the Oakwood team started its part of the work, they had a head start. “They are handy people, and to help them save money, friends and family in the trades installed all of the plumbing and electrical rough-ins,” Moore says. “We came in when the drywall was installed but not finished.”

If you’re thinking about a master bathroom renovation, there are lessons to be learned from this example, some geared toward minimalist tastes, some applicable to all styles.

Let the most beautiful materials stand out. Simple, straight lines and a pale palette on the walls and floors allow the beauty of the new Silestone countertop and custom tiger wood cabinetry to shine. Rather than breaking things up with a backsplash, the builders installed a custom-cut mirror that maintains the clean lines.

Take inspiration from the architecture. While the windows are new and more energy efficient than the old windows, their shape mimics the original. The new elements in the room take their cues from the classically modern, long horizontal lines of the windows, creating connections between old and new. Also, the wood trimwork around the windows is a great match for the new tiger wood vanity and tub surround.

Punctuate a light-colored room with a few dark accents. While the palette of the room is soft, light and relaxing, mosaic accent tiles add dashes of dark color for contrast. They also provide a visual connection between the tub area, the shower surround and the countertop. The accent tiles are a unique detail that reflect the owners’ personal style.

Float the vanity to keep things looking spacious. Those few additional inches underneath make the vanity seem lighter and extend the view of the floor. Just be sure to sweep underneath once a week.

Use clear glass to continue the unbroken, spacious look. The entire room enjoys a long view of the beautiful mosaic accent tiles in the shower surround. This reinforces the strong connection between the shower stall and the bathtub across the room. Remember, if you use clear glass, you’ll need to think carefully about how the shower surround relates to the rest of the room.

To save money, plan your layout accordingly. The placement of the shower here accommodates a standard-size, short-width swivel glass shower door, which saved big bucks over a custom-made one.
In a minimalist scheme, small details matter. While the floor tiles are laid out as a simple grid of squares, the vertical brick tile pattern on the shower surround creates a subtle contrast.

The dark center and simple modern style of the showerhead suits the room’s uncomplicated geometry. “Delta products are very affordable, and this particular collection has a very contemporary look,” Moore says.

Add personality with artwork. This piece, depicting classic midcentury modern homes, is a great match for the shape of the window and the colors in the tiger wood.

Source: Houzz.com

One of the most visible indicators of investor sentiment is daily market volatility. When indexes exhibit extreme moves as measured by +/- 1% price changes on any given day, it is likely that emotions (fear or greed) are driving investment decisions. Why? Because the fundamental value of a business does not change by 1, 3, or 5% in any given day, in this case the market is revaluing the enterprise not on fundamental value, but on emotion. As seen below, volatility by this measure increased dramatically at the end of 2008, as investor concerns over the future resulted in extreme price fluctuations. In contrast, volatility declined throughout 2009, suggesting a more fundamental approach to pricing assets.

Feel free to contact me or visit my website for more information.
Douglas J. Bodtcher  
Investors Group Financial Services Inc.
780-448-1988 ext. 284
Douglas.Bodtcher@investorsgroup.com

150% Satisfied! Serge and Luc and the rest of the team went above and beyond my wife’s and I expectations. Serge showed tremendous patience while we looked for our new home. He also provided us with up to date research which made our decision easy when buying and selling. Serge and his team sold our house faster than what we thought possible. Serge stuck t his guns and did not settle for anything less than what we needed. We would use Serge and his team again if we were to ever going to sell and buy again. Thanks Team Leading Edge!

Rob & Terri Badiuk

The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton released market housing statistics for the month of October based on sales through the Multiple Listing Service® in the Edmonton CMA. The all-residential average price in the Edmonton CMA is $337,599 as compared to $332,232 in October 2012, a +2.5% change. The median price for a home in Edmonton is up at $327,250 compared to $315,600 last October.

All-residential sales totalled 1,454 (adjusted for late reported sales, 1,346 reported) in October, a positive change of 15.6% from the same month last year when there were 1,258 residential sales. There were 888 (822) adjusted SFD sales, 449 (416) adjusted condo sales and 90 (83) adjusted duplex/rowhouse sales (reported sales in brackets).

“Total annual sales are the highest they have been for five years and we had the best October in five years as well,” said RAE President Darrell Cook. “There is a 74% sales-to-listing ratio which means that sellers have a better than usual expectation of selling their property. At the current level of sales there is adequate inventory (4,807) for 2.7 months which is lower than normal in this market. The youthful nature of our city (average age 36) and good job prospects means that the demand for housing remains high.”

The unemployment rate declined from 5.2% in August 2013 to 5.1% in September 2013. City of Edmonton economist John Rose states that; “These numbers demonstrate that Edmonton has become one of Canada’s most attractive locations for individuals seeking work.”

The average price for a single-family dwelling in October was $397,613 (up 2.5% Y/Y) and an average condo sold for $235,680 (up 2.1% Y/Y). The average price for a duplex/row house was $326,195 (up 5.2% Y/Y). Median prices for SFDs was $375,000, for condos $222,750 and for duplex/rowhouses, $318,900.

“The first time buyer or young person moving into this market will often choose a condo because of the lower price point,” said Cook. “About 60% of all condo sales are under $250,000 and that represents 17.6% of all residential sales. Condos priced over the average price of a SFD represent only 1.5% of total residential sales.” There were 584 SFDs sold for under $250,000 which is less than 4% of all residential sales.

The average days-on-market was 54, down from 60 days last year. For real estate advice or further explanation of the market conditions, consult a REALTOR®.

Source: Realtors Association of Edmonton

Price reduced for quick sale!

In real estate it is always location, location, location and this Rideau Park home has it. This bungalow offers almost 4,000 sq.ft of developed living space. Conveniently located close to schools, Southgate mall, Whitemud freeway, and LRT. How often are you going to find a large bungalow like this with 5 bedrooms, fully finished basement, 2 fireplaces, 2 family rooms, a games room area, large double garage, nice size back yard with a covered deck accessible from both the kitchen eating area, and sliding doors from the master bedroom bay window. Don’t miss out on everything this home has to offer. Back yard backs onto walking path. Hot water tank was replaced 1 year ago, and the stainless counter top stove, fridge and dishwasher were recently replaced. For more information visit realtors website.

Click here to view more info or call today to see in person! 780-634-8151

To View & Search All MLS Listed Houses for Sale Visit Us At:
www.EdmontonHomesforSale.biz

Serge Bourgoin
Senior Managing Partner
Team Leading Edge
RE/MAX ELITE
780-995-6520

Acentury ago universal access to electrical power began to transform just about every manual kitchen chore as electric versions of them were created. Hand mixers became blenders. Wood-fired ovens were replaced by electric ones. Toasters and waffle irons were made possible by functional electrical outlets in the kitchen.

Today another revolution is dawning — this time the catalyst is wireless connectivity. Wi-Fi enables kitchen devices to be more intelligent, automatic and remote controllable — usually with a smart phone.

Here are three new categories of kitchen device greatly improved by Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Chop-Syc is an interactive touch-screen cutting board, an idea that’s more practical than it sounds. It was invented by Siobhán Andrews, who won Sharp’s #GetItDownOnPaper design contest with it.

The device functions as an ordinary chopping block. Hilariously, while you’re cutting up vegetables and whatnot, the screen shows a wood-grain image by default. (You can change it.) But when you look up recipes, the cutting board becomes an Internet-connected touch screen and interactive cookbook. It also doubles as a kitchen scale.

Some of the innovation is in the software. The device emphasizes portion control. So you can bring up a recipe for five people and specify that only three will be eating, and the software will recalculate all the ingredient measurements. It will even display a circle on the screen to show you how much dry spaghetti you’d need.

The reason an interactive touch screen is practical is that kitchens are great places for big-screen, interactive computers. But countertop space is often scarce. The Chop-Syc combines the cutting board with the computer, giving you a nice big surface for both.

Sharp has hinted about its intention to bring the Chop-Syc to market.

Still available only in Korea, two ovens enable the use of a smart phone as an oven remote control.

One, LG’s Lightwave Oven, enables users to set cooking times and temperatures by phone — Android only. The oven itself offers multiple ways to cook food, including halogen light technology, a microwave, a grill and a convection feature.

LG plans to sell the oven outside of Korea at some unspecified time in the future, at an unannounced price.

The second smart oven, Samsung’s Zipel Oven, connects via Wi-Fi to an Android smart phone. The oven bakes, steams and even microwaves food.

The app that comes with the Zipel has 160 dishes preprogrammed for one-button cooking. You can also control some features by voice command. And it will even read out recipes as step-by-step instructions.

The Zipel Oven is not yet available outside of Korea.

Source: Houzz.com