Rooted in Family – Gibbons today, is a vibrant and growing community located along the picturesque banks of the Sturgeon River Valley. At the junction of Highway 28 and 28A, Gibbons is located a short 5.6 km from the Alberta Heartland Industrial area and only 15 minutes from northeast Edmonton. Gibbons offers exceptional health care, education, and community and cultural organizations to enhance the quality of life within the community. Residents and visitors can fish for trout in the stocked fish pond, take a walk along the river valley, share a picnic in the park or just enjoy the unmatched scenery. Watch history come alive when you visit the Gibbons Museum or visit nearby Jurassic Forest where young & old can explore & discover prehistoric live and spend some time with the dinosaurs. Come and see why Gibbons is Rich in History and Rooted in Family.

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!

Ever thought of living in a small community, a community that has lots to offer, something for all ages.  While look no further, just 1 hour north of Edmonton, is the quaint town of Smoky Lake, and that is where you will find a vibrant small town with lots of character, community spirit and activities to keep you busy and entertained all year long.

Smoky Lake is just off Highway 28, and that is where you find the Pumpkin Capital of Alberta.

While Smoky Lake today is a vibrant community with a clear future, the story of how the Town got its name remains  is quite interesting and a great history lesson.

There are two official versions of how the Town of Smoky Lake got its name. Some believe that it was originally named “Smoking Lake” by the Cree First Nations people of the area, after the 12-mile-long lake three miles west of the Town, which is always covered in a haze that resembles rising smoke.

Others believe the same Cree peoples named it “Smoking Place” because they would regularly gather at a site near the lake to smoke pipes during their hunts.

Whether it was Smoking Lake or Smoking Place, the early white settlers that arrived at the time began to use the name Smoky Lake.

As you look around, you will notice that Smoky Lake offers many essential services; K-12 School, RCMP Services, Fire and Ambulance, 24 hour Health Care Center, Churches,  and a wide variety of retail businesses and recreational opportunities including a curling rink, ice arena and an outstanding 9-hole Golf Course.  Not only does Smoky Lake offer these services but you will find some of the friendliest residents living in Smoky Lake.

Looking for a new home in a quiet neighbourhood, check out this community, you won’d be disappointed.

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Find out more information on how we make the magic happen at KENNEDY Real Estate!!

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

How To Prepare Your Home For The Market…

“Move-in Ready”… “Turn-Key Condition”… This is what a home Seller and their REALTOR® want to “hear” from potential Buyers when they first list their home for sale.  A home in which no project needs to be completed.

You want to begin to impress the potential Buyer from the “Outside – In”… in other words it starts with curb-appeal.  Having your home attractive from the outside will not only entice the home Buyer, searching on the internet, to want to see more, you are also captivating those who are walking or driving by your property.

The outside of your home is what draws the Buyer in…, once they are inside, its time to really impress…

Below is a list of 10 projects that can and WILL serve to impress any potential home Buyer and their REALTOR®…

1. The Exterior Shell:  A new coat of paint, or replacing the vinyl siding may be needed.  Make sure you choose a neutral color that will appeal to the majority of home buyers.  For a little  jazz,  you could add  a splash of color by re-painting the front door.

2. Energy Efficient:  In order to receive top dollar for your home and to avoid a failed inspection report, now is the time to get these areas of your home in order.  Replace the old furnace and hot water tank, install new energy efficient windows, and have the roof and foundation inspected.

3. Landscape:  Get out there and trim your hedges, maybe you need to hire an arborist for your trees.  “Greenify” your lawn,  If you have a perennial garden, replace the old mulch with new.  Draw attention to your home at night by adding outdoor lighting.  If a new home, have the fence finished and deck completed with privacy panels.

4. Flooring:  Your home’s floors need to sparkle…  Now’s the time to install hardwood or laminate.  If your unsure of what type of flooring to choose visit a few Show homes for ideas.

5. The Kitchen:  Always an important room in the home…you can give your kitchen a “face lift” by re-finishing or replacing the cupbards, replace the counter tops and plumbing fixtures and last but certainly not the least…replace your appliances.

6. The Bathroom:  Start with the smaller projects like re-caulking, replacing tile grout, repainting the walls and add new plumbing & lighting fixtures all this can make your bathroom look brand new.  For a little more, installing a new vanity with a vessel sink (above counter sink) always adds inspiring designer “vibes”.

7. Lighting & Interior Paint:  A well lit home can accent the best features of each room, however, if there are swag lamps still hanging it’s time for an update.  Play with a little color, paint a couple accent walls in your home.   Canned lighting can be used to highlight any décor and design element (such as your new accent walls).

8. Basement Development:  Having your basement professionally finished adds to the home’s useable square footage.  Finished basement homes sell faster, and will continue to do so.

9. Deep Clean:  Nothing you have done to improve your home will matter if your home is not clean.  This means a THOROUGH clean, this includes the areas in the home that are not normally cleaned on a regular basis…yes, you will have to pull out your appliances.

10. HOME STAGING:  Lastly, its time to allow the Buyer to envision their new life in your home.  Home Staging is about “enhancing what’s already there”.  Using this tool is a great cost-effective way to prepare your home for the market.  For more information on Home Staging visit this link:  www.edmontonhomestager.ca

Additional “Carrie’s Corner” Articles…

Additional “Edmonton Realtor: KENNEDY Real Estate” Articles… 

Carrie Wood
Business Development & REALTOR®
Edmonton’s Buyer Agent 

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!

Basements are usually the last place that a buyer sees when viewing your home. So why not make it a lasting impression?

Here are some things to consider when ‘Setting the Stage’ for the basement:

 1. Clean up and Clear out – get a bin, bag, shovel – whatever you need to only leave the essentials behind – less is more in this case – always…and no kitty litter in sight!!
2. Give Purpose to the space:
i. ) if the basement is unfinished and is used for storage – then make the best most organized storage space on the block – painted floors, proper shelving , bins for storage that fit into the shelving. It also shows that you are a conscientious home seller!
ii.) if the basement is divided into a bedroom and recreation space – play up the function of these 2 rooms
III.) if the space is one big rectangle: divide it into a games table section, desk area and a t.v. area using a couch table or Ikea low rise open book shelf unit to divide the spaces.
3. Apply Basic Staging Rules: lighting in a triangular positioning – make sure you have lamps/lighting in three areas of any given room; when in doubt angle your furniture/bed – this always makes the room look bigger by defining the space more efficiently; and all art work at eye level – or in a collage at eye level.
4. Warm it Up! If a buyer feels the basement is too cold – they will deem it not as user friendly – therefore attach less value to the over feel of the home…

Basement Photo - family room

5. Place a sticker on the furnace and hot water tank stating the age of them and when they were last serviced – buyers will really appreciate the notice.

Basements are often overlooked by home sellers – when it comes time to sell. However – on the buyers end of things – it is one of the aspects of a home that may make or break a decision. A well presented, and well kept basement completes the perfect home package for alot of home buyers out there. This is becoming increasingly so.
AND – if you live in a new home – finishing your basement right away – well ahead of the rest of your neighbors will ensure you have a completely finished home when you go to sell. Apples to apples for newer homes -ones with finished basements sell quicker and for more money!

Additional “Edmonton Home Stager” Articles…

Jennifer Kennedy
Broker | Owner

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!

This was a remodel that we did last spring – it turned out soo FAB! Walnut floors, Ikea Kitchen, and a complete basement transformation…truly from Drab to FAB…enjoy!

Watch for more transformation before and afters coming soon!

“Like” us on facebook and get notified of our next before and after reno projects and of course the latest LIFESTYLE updates!!

Kennedy Real Estate Facebook Fan Page

Additional “Before & After Projects” Articles…

Jennifer Kennedy
Broker | Owner

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!