The kitchen is often lauded as the focal point of a house. It’s where people start and finish their days, gather on special occasions, and make memories cooking or baking together as a family. Since we spend so much time in this room, designing it always feels monumental. There are so many choices to make, from flooring to cabinets, so it can be an overwhelming process. 

While we can’t help you pick out specific tiles, we can give you some tips on what to look for and what to avoid when it comes to designing your kitchen! 

Colour scheme

Choosing a colour scheme for the kitchen is the first step to a cohesive design. It’ll inform every design decision you make moving forward, which is why it’s important to make the choice carefully. Avoid bold…

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home renovation tax credits_solar panels

Home renovation projects have become quite common throughout the Canadian real estate market. Whether because people are staying home more now or they want to be more environmentally friendly, people are jumping on the renovation bandwagon. Whether indoors or out, there are many things you can do to revitalize your home. In an environment of historically low interest rates, and plenty of homeowners cashing in on their equity to fix up their humble abodes, more families are choosing to build up and build out, revitalizing their bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens. Moreover, many homeowners are greening their properties and making their homes smarter. In other words, homeowners are putting their money to work. But did you know that…

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If you grew up with a brother or sister—or 10—you know how rewarding, comforting, and sometimes frustrating sibling relationships can be. This may be especially true when siblings have to share a bedroom. There are many reasons why a shared room is necessary, be it a limited number of rooms in the home, a child who needs a roommate for comfort, or a family member has moved in with you. 

Plato famously stated, “necessity is the mother of invention,” and this situation is no different, as it presents the opportunity  to create a delightful space with your kids at minimal cost, and without needing to renovate. Let’s look at some ways to approach setting up a shared bedroom.

Image via StockSnap, Pixabay

Get the kids involved

The best way to ensure…

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You are about to make a move to a home that better fits your lifestyle. Congratulations, it’s an exciting time! But before you can do that, you need to sell your home.

The goal of any seller is to get the highest sale price in the least amount of time. If that is your goal, you’re going to want to say hello to staging.

The numbers speak for themselves: according to a study from the Real Estate Staging Association, staged homes spend 73 per cent less time on the market, and staging your property could net you 25 per cent over the asking price.

Staged homes can sell quicker and for a higher price, because they showcase the home’s best features, impress buyers, and downplay the home’s weaknesses.

What is Home Staging?

Staging is not…

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Working with a contractor, in lieu of DIY, can be the difference between a successful home renovation or repair and a botched project. Yet, finding a contractor for your home can be easier said than done. You want to make sure the person you hire has adequate experience, can give you the best value for your buck, and communicates in a clear and transparent way. 

How can you ensure you’re making the right choice when hiring your next contractor? 

We’ve outlined 10 questions you should ask to make sure you’re finding the best person or company for the job, helping you avoid any unpleasant surprises that may affect your wallet and leave you dissatisfied.

Image via Pexels, Monica Silvestre

1. Ask yourself: How do I know a repair or renovation is…

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Whether you live in the city, the suburbs, or the countryside, botanical gardens can be a wondrous, colourful, inspiring escape from routine views and commutes. 

What makes botanical gardens not just regular parks are the wide array of plant and flower families preserved for history, conservation, public viewing, and environmental studies. You can spend the day wandering through the gardens, then explore the city in which it lives. 

Canada is full of botanical gardens from coast to coast, each offering stunning views of water features, flowers, and stonework–the perfect setting to spur some imaginative ideas for your own garden. There’s no shortage of beauty to explore, but these are four botanical gardens you can start with.

Butchart…

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Photo by Linda McCann on Unsplash

In recent years, it’s likely you’ve heard the media, your colleagues and even politicians speak about “inflation.”

You also may have noticed prices for regular everyday items including food, gas, or larger purchases such as homes, furniture and vehicles have risen sharply since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Up until a few months ago, when government officials and the media spoke about the current rise in inflation, they often defined it as “transitory”. Now, officials at the Bank of Canada are stating inflation may actually be more persistent, and have signaled the future path for Canadian interest rates may be a series of rate hikes to help bring inflation back down to within its target range of 1% to 3%.…

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As a first-time home buyer, you probably already know you’ll need a chunk of cash for a down payment. But lots of other costs can creep up when it’s time to jump into the real estate market, so it’s a good idea to save up for them and be ready for when the time comes to make an offer. Here’s how one first-time home buyer is navigating this exciting time.

Start budgeting early 

When Montrealer Kelly Wong decided last summer to buy a two-bedroom condo or small home on her own, she knew she had lots of homework to do, including figuring out what she could afford. 

TIP: Using an online tool like our Mortgage Payment Calculator can allow you to see what your mortgage expenses will look like.

Wong also teamed up with Jean-François Gionet,…

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Ways to Reduce Your House Insurance Premiums

House insurance is critical. However, it is an added cost that sometimes people forget about when purchasing a home. While it isn’t necessarily against the law in Canada to not have home insurance when you own a home, most if not all financial institutions and lenders will ask for proof of insurance before approving your mortgage and allowing you to close on your house.

Having home insurance is to your benefit. It can ease your mind, knowing that your insurance company will cover your losses in a disaster (with the right insurance coverage, of course), and you won’t have to spend a fortune replacing all your belongings. With that being said, there are two insurance terms that all homeowners need to be aware of: insurance…

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Here are 10 reasons to put your trust in a REALTOR® when buying or selling your property.

Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search. 

The Multiple Listing System® is one of your REALTOR's biggest assets but not all properties that are for sale are actively advertised in the market.  Your REALTOR® can help you find all the properties that fit your search.

Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power.

With some basic information about your available savings, income, and current debt, your REALTOR® can refer you to lenders best suited to your needs. 

Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. 

There are two things you'll want to know: 

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