At Home With Valerie

A good night’s sleep is more important than you might think. While rising early and burning the midnight oil are worn like badges of honor in this “always on” culture of ours, the truth is that sleep is crucial. Did you know... Sleep loss can mean the decline of mental skills, including attention span, memory, mood, logical reasoning, and math skills. Sleep deprived people have trouble recalling pleasant experiences, but can easily recall negative experiences. Sleep improves your mood and in a recent study of professional violinists showed that a good night’s rest was more important than nutrition! Sleeping on a decision measurably improves our ability to make better choices. Fortunately, there are things we can do to improve the quality of our sleep. While a drink or two might put you to sleep, it can actually disrupt sleep later in the night. Other methods are much more effective. Exercise during the day, a cool shower at night (to lower body temperatur...

Now that you've made the decision to purchase your first home, a hearty congratulations is in order!  Becoming a homeowner, especially for the first time, can stir up some feelings of anxiety and excitement.  With the knowledge that you gain through individual research and the help of your REALTOR®, you will soon begin to feel like a seasoned house hunter. Tip # 1: Do Your Homework Did you know that there are a number of incentives available to first-time home buyers? In Canada, there is the First-Time Homebuyers' (FTHB) Tax Credit. The Government of Canada introduced a FTHB Tax Credit in 2009 — a $5,000 non-refundable income tax credit amount on a qualifying home acquired after January 27, 2009. For an eligible individual, the credit will provide up to $750 in federal tax relief starting in 2009. Another incentive is the Expansion of the Home Buyers' Plan (HBP). To provide first-time homebuyers with greater access to their RRSP savings to purchase or build a...

The convenience of mobile devices also comes with risk. As you check-in, text, share photos, and increasingly run your life on the go, you may inadvertently expose private information or make yourself more likely to be a victim of a crime. Here are four things you should be aware of as you use new mobile and social technology that might spare you expensive or embarrassing lessons: 1. Beware of how often you "check in" through social media. Apps like Foursquare and websites like Facebook allow you to "check in" when you're out and about in the world, effectively broadcasting where you are... and where you're not. Be especially sensitive to checking in from airports and locations far from home. Enterprising thieves can use this information to target your home or business. 2. Beware of the photos you're sharing. If a picture is worth 1,000 words, what are your pictures on Facebook saying to friends, family, and co-workers? Just like checking ...

Clutter driving you nuts? Did you move in with someone only to find you have duplicates of everything from headboards to can openers?  Here are 7 tips to help you make the most out of small spaces: 1. Weed out the extras. A yard sale will alleviate some clutter and a trip to the local Goodwill even more. A good rule of thumb: Anything you haven’t needed in a year can go. 2. Bookcases are for more than books! Your walls are your vertical friends for storage, and good book shelving can include plants, valuables, artwork and more. 3. Wall-mount entertainment systems. Television / cable / DVD cabinets are so pre-2000! Free up floor space by going with sleek bolt-in mounts. (Just make sure they’re anchored properly!) 4. Don’t pile it, hang it! This is especially true in kitchens where you can use pot racks, hanging baskets, and even wall-mounted shelving units. 5. Maximize cabinets and closets with organizers. Poor use of cabinet space can easily waste ...

Can a draft through a window or door cause damage? It can.  Damage to your bank account! A single, seemingly minor, draft through a window can increase your energy bill by as much as 3%. In addition, a damp draft can make a room feel colder than it really is, while a dry draft can cause dry throats and skin. So it pays to pay attention to drafts in your home. Drafts are most commonly found at windows and doors, but they can also occur through walls with poor or old insulation. Ideally, a draft should be eliminated through a repair or renovation (such as replacing old windows.) When that's not possible, there are a variety of products available that will help you stop drafts in the short term – such as replacement insulation strips for doors. Visit your local home improvement center. They can recommend products and solutions that can help your particular issues. 

Wondering when the time is right to buy your home? How about now? Low interest rates and affordable housing make it a great time to buy now. Call me today at (780) 700-8638 to get me started in finding the right home for you!

There is no doubt about it! Even if the weather is relatively pleasant, your home won’t show as well in the winter as it would in the summer, especially from the outside. Fortunately, there are many ways to make your home look more attractive and appealing to buyers during the winter season. First, before showing your home to a potential buyer, clear your front walkway. Make sure fence doors and gates open freely. Also, clear off the backyard deck or patio area. You want buyers to be able to explore around your property without any obstructions. In short, do everything you can to make the experience of walking up to your front door and around your property as pleasant as possible. Second, clear away any boots, shoes and other outerwear from the front foyer. You want buyers to focus on your beautiful home, not a cluttered entranceway. Also, have mats on both the outside and inside of your main entranceway. This will give buyers – as well as you and your family – a chance t...

What's one of the most important rooms in your home? When it comes to selling your property quickly, and for the best price, the answer is clearly the kitchen. In fact, one of the most common explanations a particular buyer gives for not making an offer is, "I liked the house, but I wasn't too keen on the kitchen." That doesn't mean you must do a major renovation. However, you should do what you can to make the kitchen as attractive as possible to buyers. Here are some ideas: First, clear the counter tops. Put away the toaster and other items. You want to make the entire counter top area seem as spacious as possible. If the cabinetry is old, you can spruce it up by installing new knobs, handles and other hardware. A fresh coat of paint on the walls and ceiling can also make the kitchen look like it has had a major renovation – and it will only cost you a few hundred dollars. According to an article on the website HDTV.com, "The fastest, mos...

November is a great month-the holidays are fast approaching, we get to visit more often with family and friends, and colder weather makes us feel like getting cozy in our homes.   Since you'll want to keep warm in the coming months, I'm including a list of tips for you this month that will help you to save money on your energy bill, while still staying warm and cozy! Set the timer: Program your thermostat to reach lower temperatures while you're sleeping or out of the house.  This simple action can save you a lot of money-and will ensure that your house stays at a comfortable temperature at all times. Open and shut: During daytime hours, keep your blinds, draperies and other window coverings open.  This will enable your home to absorb the warm afternoon sunshine and will effectively add heat to the entire house.  Close all window coverings at night to keep the heat in! Installation time: If you have a window or two that feels drafty no...

I’m here to save you pain, buyers. There are myths about the home shopping experience that must be addressed. I like to make the home buying experience as stress-free as possible, so please hear me out on these three big myths about home buying: Myth #1: “That house has been on the market so long I bet we can work the seller down easily.” Not necessarily. Exceptionally high days on market could mean almost anything. The seller could be bullheaded about their price. The seller may not be particularly motivated to sell for emotional or other personal reasons. Don’t forget: A sales-weary seller isn’t likely to respond to your host of rational reasons why their house should be a bargain. Myth #2: “I want to look at foreclosed homes because they’re a real bargain and the banks need to unload them.” Banks, like entrenched sellers, don’t always make decisions which seem rational based on obvious information. You can have a hard time divining the reason a ...