Look no further, situated in the beautiful rolling valley of Rural Colinton, Alberta 2.75  acres of fenced paradise. 2 Acres of this quaint acreage have been cleared and an abundance of trees surround three sides, and the other side has a gate at the driveway.  Beautiful sloping hillside which is ideal for building your dream home with a walkout basement.  A great spot, tranquil, quiet, country living at its best, raise your family, have a few animals, what more could you ask for.  A 5 minute walk to the town of Colinton, 10 minutes to Athabasca, easy access to Highway 2, and in 90 minutes you are in Edmonton.  Power is on the property, gas line is to the property and would be very economical to have run to property.  A new Bored Well was dug and registered summer of 2012 with an abundance of excellent water.

This is the life, Best Location, Best Lifestyle, Best Getaway, and the Best Place to start your 1st Apple Tree.

 

 

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

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Email:

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Holiday Season Decorating Safety

 

 

 

 

With the holiday season just around the corner stores are filled with Christmas decorations galore to suit anyone’s style. With a little extra knowledge, this year you can protect your family and home and enjoy the holiday season knowing you are fully prepared!

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree check that it is “fire resistant” which means it will resist burning and extinguish quickly if it does catch on fire.
• When purchasing a live tree it should be fresh- it should look green, needles will be hard to pull off of branches and do not break easily, the trunk bottom should be sticky with resin and when tapped on the ground minimal needles should be lost. Heated rooms dry the tree out so keep the stand filled with water.
• Choose a location for the tree away from fireplaces and radiators, out of the way of traffic and not blocking any doors.

Lights

• Indoor and outdoor lights should have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory to meet safety standards. Only use lights with fused plugs.
• Check old and new lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections and get rid of any damaged ones. Replace burned-out bulbs with the same wattage bulbs.
• Only use a maximum of three standard size strings of lights per extension cord making sure the extension cord is rated for this use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree because it
• can become charged from faulty lights and electrocute anyone who touches the tree.
• Check that outdoor lights are certified for outdoor use and keep your distance from power or feeder lines from utility poles leading into older homes.
• Hang outdoor lights securely to protect them from wind damage using hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks.
• Outdoor lights should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s). Portable GFCI’s can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold or can be installed permanently by an electrician.
• Turn off ALL of your holiday lights when you go to bed or leave your home; the lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

• Choose non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to decorate your Christmas tree. Stick to tinsel or artificial icicles made of non-leaded materials; leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use candles on a tree or other evergreen decorations. Use non-flammable holders placed where they can’t be knocked over.
• In homes with small children, avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable or have small parts that can be swallowed or that resemble food or candy that a child may try to eat.

Fireplaces

• -Use a firescreen and keep decorations away from the fireplace and where they can’t fall into the fire.
• -Do not burn wrapping paper or other garbage, as these materials ignites, a flash fire may suddenly result.

This is a Joyous Season and sometimes all that glitter and bling we are tempted with gets in our way, and we forget some of these steps that can keep our family and home safe as we Celebrate and Entertain this Season.  Enjoy your Christmas and your Home.

 

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

 KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

 

 

Welcome to the final instalment of Winterizing Your Home! In Parts I and II we talked about preparing your home heating system, air conditioning, roof, plumbing, chimney, fireplace and insulation for the colder winter months to come. Be sure to get these next simple suggestions added to your list as winter is just around the corner!

 

Windows and Doors

Reducing infiltration of cold air from leaks around windows and doors is one of the easiest ways to reduce your winter heating bills!

Windows

• On a windy day close your windows and feel for air leaks. It can be
  helpful to burn an incense and if the smoke trail becomes anything but vertical
  you have a leak.
• Places to look for leaks- at the edges where the window is hinged, slides
  or meets another unit.
• Plastic can be taped over the windows, but a less costly solution
  that looks better is to use rope caulk weatherstripping. Press the rope caulk
  into all the joints where air is leaking.

Doors

• Check if your doors already have weatherstripping and check for
  leaks along the sides, tops and bottoms of the doors.
• Install weatherstripping where it is needed.

 

Sprinkler System

Don’t overlook this one when winterizing your property!

• This should be done before the end of October.
• Turn the water supply off and blow compressed air through the
  sprinkler lines to clear them of water to prevent freezing and bursting when
  the temperature drops.

 

Landscape and Amenities

Lastly you’ll want to get your yard ready for winter; doing so will save money on expenses in the spring because your outdoor amenities will have been protected!

• Cover patio furniture and if possible store in a shed, garage or basement.
• If your deck needs it, consider giving it a fresh coat of sealer.
• Drain gas from your lawn mower or you can just let it run until it’s out of gas.
• Drain any water fountains and unplug the pumps.

 

When your home and property are properly prepared for the winter months to come, you can rest at ease when the cold weather arrives. It’s important to transition your home between changing seasons and invest a little to avoid sudden big expenses that can sneak right up on you!

Just can’t stress this enough,  your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the “pick of the crop.”

 

www.liveinstalbert.com

 

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last time we talked about preparing your home heating system,  air conditioning and roof for the colder winter months to come. Here are some more easy steps to follow to ensure the ice, snow and temperature drop won’t take you or home by surprise!

 

Plumbing

Damage to plumbing and your home during the winter months can be a costly nightmare when freezing temperatures cause pipes to burst. Investing some time and a little bit of money will be well-worth it!

• Insulate exposed piping- Any exposed water or drain piping in un-insulated spaces (this includes crawl spaces, attics, outside walls, etc. ), need to be insulated. This can be done by wrapping the pipes with electrical heating tape and then with foam insulation.
• Exterior faucets- Called hose bibbs or sill cocks, these outdoor faucets need all water supply turned off from inside the house. Drain all of
  the water and disconnect any garden hoses which should also be drained as well.  Insulated covers can be purchased to cover the hose bibbs.
• Seasonal shutdown- If you are shutting down a summer property for the winter be sure to shut of the water supply and drain the plumbing system.

Chimney (and Fireplace) Checklist

• Check if the chimney is clear of nests from birds, squirrels and other small critters.
• Check the floe damper operation, that it opens and closes properly and that it can lock in both positions.
• Check the chimney draft by lighting some rolled up newspaper; the smoke should rise up the chimney. If it doesn’t a professional needs to be called to clean the chimney of creosote ash and possible debris.
• If it has been several years since the chimney has been cleaned then a professional should be hired to do so.
• Inspect the fire brick in the fireplace and any open mortar joints MUST be repaired! A fire can spread into the stud wall behind the masonry firebrick through open mortar joints.

   Insulation

Here are some extra tips for the cold months to come beyond the basics of insulating your home.

• Insulate your hot water tank with an insulating blanket (you can purchase at a hardware store).
• Insulate exterior outlets and switch plates with inexpensive foam sealing gasket.
• If your fireplace leaks air you can cut a piece of fibreglass insulation and fit it into the fireplace to block cold air from coming into your home. Just don’t forget to remove it when you want to start a fire!

I hope you are well on your way to winterizing your home, because the snow and ice is just around the corner! If you start taking these simple steps to prepare your property for the cold then you can relax when the temperature starts to drop.  Stay tuned and next you can learn about winterizing doors and windows in your home, sprinkler systems and your landscape and amenities!

Remember your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the pick of the crop.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

 

 

The best time to get ready for the winter is in the fall, before the the cold weather, snow and ice arrives! Home winterizing can be easy when you take it step-by-step and start early enough. Part one of this three part blog will get you well on your way!

 

Heating System

You’ll want to make sure you have heat for when you need it!

Test Run- Turn the thermostat on to ‘heat mode’ and listen for the furnace to start. Warm air should start blowing within a few minutes.

• Seasonal Maintenance- Have your  furnace checked by a service technician or if you know how you can do this  yourself.
• Replace the air filter.
• Fuel- If using a propane or oil  furnace top-off the fuel storage tank.
• Heating Vents- Ensure vents are  clear so air can flow.
• Check for Carbon Monoxide  Leaks- Install a test badge or battery operated alarm.

 

Air Conditioning

Often people forget about caring for the condensing unit (the portion that sits outside) as winter approaches.

• Clean Condensing Unit of  Debris- Using a hose set to high pressure, clean the fan blades and condensing  coils.
• Cover Condensing Unit- Although  designed for outdoor use, covering the unit with an air conditioner cover will  extend the life and efficiency performance of the unit.
• Window Air Conditioners- Remove  and store them for winter. If removal is not possible then close the vents and  cover the unit with an air conditioner cover.

 

Roof

Hire someone to inspect your roof if you are not comfortable safely doing so yourself; if you do inspect it yourself be sure to wear solidly fastened shoes with non-skid soles.

Check for missing or damaged shingles and have them replaced.  Check flashings around chimneys and other roof projections which can be a source for leaks.

Clean out gutters and downspouts. Wet leaves left over winter can add weight and volume which increases risk of damage when frozen.

 

That’s all for now but be sure to check back for part two on Winterizing Your Home which will include tips on winterizing your fireplace/chimney, plumbing and insulation! In Part Three the following week you can learn about winterizing your doors/windows, sprinkler systems, landscape and amenities.

Your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the pick of the crop when the time comes to sell.

 

www.liveinstalbert.com

 

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

 

All the Tools

Spring Cleaning

 

 Spring is in the air and so is the dust, dirt and clutter that has built up over the winter months!  Whether you are getting ready to sell your home, need to take an inventory of your belongings, you need a good cleaning from top to bottom or maybe it’s just time to transition into the warmer weather; spring cleaning is a good idea for every home. Once you have completed the task you will feel organized, tidy and just a little bit lighter!

Here are a few tips to help you get started, followed by a general checklist to help break the daunting task into smaller more manageable ones and ensure you get everything done. Also listed are some specific jobs for certain rooms and areas in your home.
TIPS

1) Get four large containers and label them:

Put Away– items that are used regularly and need to go back to their “home”

Get Rid Of– items you don’t use anymore that are in good enough shape for a 2nd life

Storage– items not used regularly or that are seasonal but you still need to keep and find a place to  store in your home

Garbage– anything that doesn’t fit  into the other categories

2) Depending on the size of your home, how you like to get things done and how much time you have, you can choose to either dedicate a
whole weekend to the job or assign different days to different rooms. The last chart divides your home into 7 areas, so if you choose to do one area per day then you can get the job done in one week!

3) If you want the whole family to get involved (this can be a challenge, sometimes quicker and easier just to do it all yourself!) here are some ideas to encourage them:

-Each person should do their own bedroom, especially if they want to decide what goes into the ‘Garbage‘ container!

-Let them read the checklist and decide which room/area they would like to do

-Organize a garage sale at the end of the clean up and make a rule, “The more you help, the higher percentage of profits you get”.
GENERAL CHECKLIST

Walls & Ceilings    – vacuum to remove dust and then wipe down Dust thoroughly   – from the top of the room down and then vacuum the dust that settles on the ground

Shelves   – take everything off, dust and wipe-down

Doors   – wipe down thoroughly and polish metal hardware

Windows  – remove and wash screens  -clean window treatments; check curtain labels, many can be machine washed  -clean glass (from the inside and out)

Upholstered Furniture – remove cushions and beat out the dust (outside)  – vacuum under the cushions and in crevices  – read care labels to clean
stains

Wooden Furniture -wipe down and then wax (if appropriate)

Rugs  – vacuum and then shampoo  -rugs without backings, including oriental rugs, require professional cleaning

Floors  – sweep and mop  – most non-wooden floors can be waxed

*Don’t forget to move all of your furniture to clean under and behind thoroughly!

AREA ROOM – SPECIFIC TASKS

Bedrooms – Flip mattress and replace winter bedding with more  lightweight ones.   Wash pillows, most can be   machine washed.   Put winter clothes away  and bring out warmer  weather ones, also get rid  of items you no longer  wear.

Bathrooms – Scrub EVERYTHING – Discard expired hygiene  products, cosmetics and  medications.

UPDATE FIRST AID KIT!!!

Living Room – Dust TV and stereo equipment, Swap heavy curtains,  rugs and throws for lightweight ones.

Kitchen Clean all appliances (turning  off power to do so), including  removing food from fridge and   freezer to defrost and clean.

Dust cupboards and shelves and clean out drawers Scrub sink  Throw out expired food.

Office  Clean computer and dust  keyboard  Organize files.

Stora     ~ Get rid of what you don’t need.

Utility Areas   – Organize In areas with concrete floors use blocks to lift  items and boxes off the  floor to preserve and  protect them.

Outdoors – Sweep cobwebs off porch  ceilings and walls, Scrub decks, patios,  walkways and driveways.  Wash outdoor furniture and  toys

Replace burnt out and broken light bulbs and  fixtures.

Just think of how fantastic you will feel when your whole home is clean, organized and up-to-date! If you are getting ready to sell your home then it will be ready for showing and make packing and moving so much easier.  And if you’re not then you can feel good about keeping your family healthy by getting rid of those hidden germs (that are there no matter how clean you keep your home!). When you are finished you can give back to the community by donating gently used items; or make some extra cash by having a garage sale, (check out our garage sale
blog for some tips).

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!!

 

www.liveinstalbert.com

 

Additional “Anna’s Advice” Articles…

 

Additional “Edmonton Realtor: KENNEDY Real Estate” Articles…

 

 

 

 

                  

 With the first day of Spring just around the corner (March 20th), it’s the perfect time of year to focus on fire safety in
your home! We “Spring” our clocks ahead an hour, and to help remind you about maintaining your household smoke alarms, why don’t you Spring Ahead Into Safety as well!

Did you know that the number one reason for smoke alarms not functioning in homes is due to missing or dead battery/power sources? An analysis was done of people who perished in homes where smoke alarms were present but not working, and 85% of those people who died did not have a functioning smoke alarm because of missing or dead batteries! What a simple and easy problem to fix!

Smoke alarms save lives, it’s even the law to have a functioning detector in your home! But who wouldn’t want to protect
themselves and their families, especially while you sleep, as most fatal fires are at night when people don’t wake up. You only need to change the battery once a year, twice if you want to be extra cautious, and a great way to remember this is to do it when you change your clocks in the Spring and Fall.  Here are some other smoke alarm safety tips for your home:

 1) Test your detectors once a month by using both the test button on the alarm, as well as a smoldering piece of cotton string. Be sure to also follow the owner’s manual when doing this.

2) Make sure an alarm is installed on every level of your home and near sleeping areas. One alarm isn’t enough! They should be installed on the ceiling, and if this isn’t possible then place them high up on the wall. Also make sure they are away from
bathrooms, heating appliances and ceiling fans.

3) If you sleep with your bedroom door closed, which is recommended for fire safety, then you should install a smoke detector IN your bedroom.

4) Dust or vacuum out the detectors regularly, a good time is when you are testing them each month.   Don’t use chemicals to clean as this can damage the smoke alarm. Also never paint them.

5) Replace old smoke alarms AT LEAST once every ten years.

6) When you are purchasing a new alarm, why not go for the best?! Some detectors are electrically powered and some use batteries, however the best use a combination of these power sources and also have a pause button for when it accidentally
goes off. This is handy for when you are burning dinner!

7) Have an escape plan. Make sure everyone in your home knows what the smoke alarm sounds like and practice your escape plan together. It should include two separate ways out of each different room and a pre-arranged meeting place outside where you can call the fire department from.

8) You should also have at least one carbon monoxide detector installed on each level of your home.

 

 So can you remember to Spring Ahead Into Safety next week? Don’t forget to check that the smoke alarm battery is in
place, connected, not corroding and functioning properly. These simple tips will help protect your home and more importantly you and your family!

Happy Spring!!

 

www.liveinstalbert.com

Additional “Anna’s Advice” Articles…

Additional “Edmonton Realtor: KENNEDY Real Estate” Articles…

 

 

DOWN SIZE - GARAGE SALE

Okay,  You have decided to  downsize, you are moving to a new home, where you have less real estate space to store all those items you really don’t use, and those you had totally forgotten about.  Why less real estate space, no other explanation than you are ready to move on to the next stage of your life.  The family has grown up and  left home, and now it is time for you to do less and enjoy more, and you can’t wait.  Smaller home, means nothing more than, less work, and more play time.  YOU EARNED IT.   You may ask, what about those family dinners,  I’m sure your new place will accommodate all your family, in the nice and cozy atmosphere that you have always managed to arrange for special occasions.  The nice thing, is the cleanup won’t take nearly as long, and you will have all that spare time to do all those things you just didn’t have a chance to do when the kids were at home, and all your time and energy was focused on them.So now before you make the move, you have all of those unwanted items to get rid of, you’ve gone through everything, and the TOSS PILE, is just that, get rid of it, and what better way than a Garage Sale.  Why not get together with your neighbors for one last time and have a HUGE BLOCK GARAGE SALE/GOING AWAY PARTYall in one.  Besides by having a Block Garage Sale you know you will get way more traffic and more traffic means more sales.  After the Block Garage Sale – have all the neighbors get together and have a Pot Luck BBQ.  The perfect end to a perfect and successful garage sale.

Garage Sale - Block Party

Some tips on a successful Block Garage Sale.

1. A group sale is better then selling alone.  More stuff draws more traffic
2. Advertise – stick an ad in the newspaper, and get your signs out early.
3. Be prepared.  Be ready to go the night before so that you don’t have to rush around in the morning.
4. Play background music, this will draw your customers in, complete silence can be uncomfortable.  Don’t play offensive music, play something appropriate for your audience, something fun and catchy.
5. Plan you sale layout with customers in mind.  Use marketing tricks to make your customers more likely to purchse your stuff!
6. Price things carefully.
7. Label things well.
8. Be friendly. Greet people as they arrive – chat if they’re chatty.
9. DO NOT  bad-mouth your items.
10. Make it easy for shoppers to test electronic items.  Have an extension cord handy so that people can test them.
11. Be willing to bargain, but be less flexible at the start.
12. Know what your ground rules are  when it comes to bargaining.  Customers will always bargain, they want a deal.
13. Keep a ledger.  Jot down a description of each item and how much you sold it for.
14. DO NOT use a cash box.  Keep your money on you at all times.

 

The whole idea of this garage sale is to get rid of all the stuff you are not moving to your new home.  Your goal is to recycle all those items that are still usefull – TO SOMEONE ELSE.

A successfull garage sale, starts with good organizing, price all your items, this gives the customer an idea of what you want for the item, without a price customers may overlook the item since a offer may offend you.  Display the items so you can encourage customers to come, LOOK, AND BUY.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Additional “Anna’s Advice” Articles…

Additional “Edmonton Realtor – KENNEDY Real Estate” Articles… 

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert Area Specialist! 

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!
Area Specialists | Lifestyle Marketing

REALTORS® : Looking for a great Team environment to grow your business…see our Brokerage Model for info on how to make that happen!

Where do we start to make the move of living with less – DOWN SIZING – .  You have made the move to downsize and move to a smaller home or condo.  I want to take you through the process of down sizing – room by room.

Start Small – Whenever you start the process create 3 piles – KEEP Pile – MAYBE Pile – TOSS Pile

KEEP PILE – These are items that you know you will need in the near future.  Items you cannot live without.  These are items that have sentimental value and are not replaceable.

MAYBE PILE  –  This pile includes items you like, but haven’t used in a long long time.  You might be ready to TOSS the item, but are unsure of that yet.

TOSS PILE – Be generous with this pile – remember you are downsizing.  Include everything you haven’t used in the last 6 months,  everything you are surprised to find or have forgotten you had it.  If it’s broken (and you were going to get around to fixing, toss!!), worn out, anything you don’t like, or if it holds memories you don’t want to take to your new home.  TOSS these items, or keep for a garage sale.

Now take the toss pile and decide whats great for a yard sale and what is going into the trash.  Remember these items have been forgotten and are no longer of use for you.  Have that garage sale and make some money to decorate your new home.

The maybe pile is the stuff you should box up and keep out of the way.  In the basement, garage or storage.  If you don’t us it within a few months chances are you won’t every use it.  ADD these to your garage sale.

Remember you keep the stuff you use on a daily basis, what I’m talking about here is the stuff cluttering up your basement, storage, the shelves in the closet, clothes at the back of the closet, or garage.    Those items that take up real estate space for no good reason.  Those are the best candidates for great successful garage sales.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Additional “Anna’s Advice” Articles…

Additional “Edmonton Realtor: KENNEDY Real Estate” Articles… 

Downsizing your home and lifestyle  

You have made the decision that it is time to downsize for one reason or another. . This can be a very emotional time for you and your family. Take your time, and make sure you are ready for this life altering change. The thought, the idea, the wrench of leaving, the excitement of a new beginning.  Moving to a smaller home does have its benefits, and there can be many reasons for the downsize

 

1. You have become an empty-nester, the children have left home and you no longer need that large home.
2. You are tired of the upkeep, housework just doesn’t have the thrill it once did, and well yard work, that is for the younger generation.
3. You want to reduce your living expenses; smaller home equals fewer utilities, and hopefully less mortgage, or no mortgage.
4. You are ready to travel, you are retired, and now you want to put your time and energy into your dreams of traveling to all those exotic places and for longer periods at a time. You have desired to go to and never had the time or money, and now you can do that and not have to worry about your home and all the chores that need to get done on a daily or weekly basis. You want to be free.
5. Your health just doesn’t let you do what you used to; you need to downsize to keep your health in check.

There can be many reasons to downsizing, and each individual has their own. Whatever your reasons may be for downsizing your home, like most life transitions, has its emotional ups and downs. You have many decisions to make, you are eager to get started and eager for your next journey. Downsizing means leaving your home of many years and many of those treasures, your neighbors and friends. You now have the task of decluttering and deciding on what you can live without and what goes with you to your new home.  What kind of home are your downsizing to, a smaller home, a condo whether it is a townhouse or apartment condo. How big will your new home be?  Bottom line, what stays and what goes with you. I suggest you start off with  taking 2 rooms in your present home, and set them up with tables and shelves.

•  Room #1 goes with you to your new home.
•  Room #2 is all the stuff you have collected over the years and you can live without.

Throughout your day as you sort through your possessions start distributing items to either of these rooms. By putting something in Room #2, you haven’t gotten rid of it yet, but you have made the decision you can live without this item. If you never use it, then you definitely can live without it. Do the same with Room #1, put the item in this room, then as you go to the room and see what is there you can decide if you actually need to have that item, memento or souvenir. Just remember you are downsizing, so you do need to limit what makes the move with you to your new home.  This is only the first step to downsizing to a smaller home.

Thinking of downsizing? Need to know what your options are…give me a call and we’ll get you headed in the right direction!