At Home With Valerie

With Halloween just a few days away, I thought it might be fun to tell you about some really creepy places here in Alberta.  All of these locations are real and they really are haunted! You just might want to visit some of them to see for yourself. In the meantime, keep your lights on when you are alone in the house! Banff Springs Hotel in Banff  is an alleged paranormal site. An anonymous young bride, who died of a broken neck on her wedding day in 1932, has also reportedly been seen by patrons within these grounds. Dressed in her wedding gown, she was descending a staircase. She tripped on her gown and fell down the stairs. Her ghost can reportedly be seen dancing alone in the dining room, only to burst into flames. The apparitional resident is reportedly a former employee of the hotel. A bellhop who died after announcing his retirement in 1976, Sam Macauley, has lived on in the eyes of some guests and hotel staff members who claim to have seen visi...

Play up the fall feel of your home starting with the outside of your home. Make sure all leaves are raked and flower beds cleaned up. Let beautiful fall colors be shown by the trees around your home, not by the dead ones laying on the lawn. Since we are talking about the outside your home, make sure the back yard is picked up and summer free. So put away all pool toys, tiki torches and beach balls. Have fun taking out warm colored cushions for your patio furniture and a fire pit to sit around. Finally place pumpkins by the front door and a beautiful fall wreath. But do not carve your pumpkins it will cause them to rot faster. Move inside Start with fresh fall florals. There are so many options but a few are; marigolds, Mexican sunflowers, and strawflowers. Place in entry way, master bedrooms, and florals are a great add to any mantel. To make your home feel warm and welcoming invest in some throws and pillows to match your floral arrangements. The colors sh...

Chances are, you’ve probably heard a friend, neighbor or relative say they’re “waiting till prices come down further” to purchase real estate. Logic says we should support their desire to stay in a holding pattern; after all, buyers are getting deals every day right? Well, sort of. Certainly home prices have dropped - dramatically even in some areas of the country - but I’m here to tell you that one of the most common myths among buyers is that waiting for a home price to drop is the best way to “get a deal.” The truth? Interests rates can have a much more significant effect on price. In other words, locking in low interests rates will almost always nullify any price drop. Here’s the other caveat: the longer you wait for a home's price to drop, the more likely it is that interest rates will go up. Let’s look at an example where an increase in interest rates are applied to a 30-year loan. As you’ll see in the table below, the effect of an increasing interest rate is h...

There is a reason the term “location, location, location” is used so commonly within the real estate industry.   The location of a property is one of the most important considerations when selecting a home, as it will affect the value of your home, your day-to-day life, and even your own and your family's safety.   So what can you do to find out a little about the area in which you are considering a home purchase, and what in particular should you be looking for? Know Your Needs The biggest obstacle to finding a home in an area that can meet all of your needs is not knowing clearly what those needs are.  While it may be nice to live near the lake, or by your favorite restaurant, what is it that you and your family will need and want in order to have an enjoyable and functional lifestyle?  Facilities such as grocery stores, good schools, and community centers may be necessary for families, whereas access to theaters, good restaurants, and ...

If you are a first time homeowner, or are purchasing a home after a major life change such as marriage or having children, what should you consider to be sure your new home can grow with your changing family?    The time and effort that go into purchasing and decorating a new home, not to mention finding it in the first place, means that you'll want to ensure that your home will be right for you and your family for years to come.   So what should you look for in your new home so that it will give you enjoyment and be functional both now and in the future? Size Though a cute two-bedroom home may be right for a newlywed couple, this type of space will likely soon be outgrown if there are any children in your future or if you and your spouse like to entertain.  You will also want to consider the number of bathrooms and the facilities in them.  Having only one toilet or shower can certainly put stress on a growing family. Features Special feat...

As a real estate agent, I spend a lot of time on the road. Thought I’d share this app I just came across for getting the maximum tax deduction for mileage. Handy Tax Deduction App: Milebug Spend much time in your car for business? That's a rhetorical question for most real estate agents I know. Agents are some of the most mobile people I know. The miles can really add up, and when it comes tax time it’s important to get that accurate deduction! If you’ve recently completed your own taxes and have vowed not to let mileage slip away next year, read on! If you're still tracking your data in a little spiral notebook, this year might be the right time to upgrade to a more mobile solution: Milebug. Milebug lets you easily log mileage for tax purposes. Check out some of the features: Use the Mileage Tracker for multiple businesses and multiple vehicles with a simple choice Setup frequent destinations and purposes for easy use later Choose either kilometers or ...

Do you know what goes into a home warranty? While it can provide you with a little peace of mind, you need to understand exactly how home warranties work before you invest in one. The idea of a home warranty can sound great. According to the National Association of Realtors, a home warranty is defined as, “a service contract, normally for one year, which helps protect home owners against the cost of unexpected covered repairs or replacement on their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. Coverage is for systems and appliances in good working order at the start of the contract.” It sounds simple: You insure critical systems in the home, and should something go wrong with those systems, the cost of repairs is largely covered by the insurance company. And it’s true, a home warranty can give you exceptional value, especially in the first year of home ownership, when you’re still getting a feel for the overall health and maintenance status of yo...

The winter months are quickly approaching, and I'm hoping that you'll have a warm, cozy season in your beautiful new home!   In fact, I'm including with this letter some quick tips for making sure that you and your new home are ready for the winter months ahead!   I hope that you find these tips to be helpful and useful.   FIVE QUICK TIPS TO GET YOUR HOME READY FOR WINTER Roof repairs: If you can safely get onto your roof to inspect for missing shingles or other factors that may lead to a leaky roof, now's the time to do it!  If not, call in a professional organization and have them take care of the rooftop work for you. Seal it off: Inspect doors and windows to ensure that the weather-stripping is in good condition.  This will keep your house warmer and cozier in the winter months. Hot stuff: Make sure that your heater and ventilation systems are in good working order!  Clean out accessible ducts and replace filters where...

When the cooler months roll around, pests look for reliable sources of warmth and food... that includes your house! Here are some practical tips for keeping them out. When the temperatures begin to dip, humans aren’t the only ones who appreciate the warmth and shelter of a cozy home. Insects, rodents, and other small mammals are also drawn to the comforts your house provides.  Ever have a mouse die in a wall? It’s not the sort of smell that one appreciates during the holidays. No one wants an expensive electrical repair when a rat chews its way through wiring in the attic or basement, either. Do yourself a favor and protect yourself from pests this Fall and Winter. Here are some tips: 1. Inspect the outside of your home for ways animals may sneak in. Often utility vents and areas under eaves have gaps which should be sealed or screened. 2. Look for gaps around door and window frames, and caulk or repair those gaps. Tiny entry ways can lead to big problems. 3....

Do you have a strategy for finding a home? You might be surprised how many people overlook these simple tips for finding just the right house. So you’re thinking about hunting for a home. Congratulations! How do you plan on finding the home you want? It’s surprising how few people can answer this question. Most people say: “Well, I guess I’d look online and maybe contact a real estate agent.” Sure, that’s a fine place to start... but if you want to hunt for a home like a pro, here are some simple tactics that will make your experience much more efficient, pleasurable, and likely to land you a home you want to buy. 1. Know what you can afford. How can you begin to look before you know what you can buy? Price range usually narrows the field considerably. You may not even know how much you can afford, though an agent can help you work through that math. Getting pre-qualified for a mortgage can also help you find the answer to this question. 2. Know where you want to live. ...