At Home With Valerie

Dear Readers, My blog is changing! Hard to believe it has been over four years since I first became involved in real estate. This was a new career change for me. I enjoyed my time helping others achieve their buying and selling goals and I got to meet some interesting people along the way. I loved real estate and created this blog specifically for real estate and tried to provide as much interesting information as I could to help home owners, renters and just about anyone interested in real estate make informed buying and selling decisions.  Unfortunately, the economy here in Alberta changed and with it, the real estate market. It became evident that it was no longer economically feasible for me to be involved in this industry. Too much money, too much time and too little income made it seem that now, the time had come for me to move on. So, I decided to venture into something new. What that new is, I am not sure yet. But one certainty is that my blog will c...

She adores the kitchen; he hates the back yard. Or he loves the proximity to work but she thinks they need an extra bedroom. Agreeing on a house can potentially be a relationship test for some couples. Compromising, keeping a level head, and being objective are key for house-hunting couples. If you and your spouse find yourself searching for a house in a tight sellers" market, then agreeing on a house will likely be even tougher than under normal conditions. Some things to keep in mind to help you evaluate each house you and your spouse are considering: The neighborhood. Remember that you"re not just buying a house, but you"re deciding on a neighborhood and a way of life. If you have kids and being close to a neighborhood school and park is important, you"ll want to consider that. How close are shopping, restaurants, churches, and other services? Are the streets maintained? Are homes maintained well? How long will your commute to work be? The ...

Flowers - Beautiful... Simple... Classic... and a great way to display your love on their work desk. Chocolate - Says "You’re sweet. I like you." For a deeper romance try giving Dark Chocolate or a mixed box of treats to bring mystery. Diamonds - Are a girl’s best friend, right? This gift is for the seriously in Love or the seriously loaded. Cards & Poems - You can say it all with a romantic poem or a thoughtful card. Do not under estimate the power of words.

Is tackling that growing list of home repairs one of your New Year’s resolutions? Use these five do-it-yourself home repair tricks to start your year off on the right foot. Stop a toilet from running.  Unhook the flapper chain from the plunger arm and slide a plastic drinking straw over the chain. Cut it to size if necessary and reattach. You’ll never hear that tank running again. Remove carpet dents left by furniture.  Dampen furniture dents with a wet rag, apply heat with a blow dryer and coax the fibers back into place using the lip of a spoon. Let dry and repeat as necessary until those divots are gone. Keep that cupboard door closed.  Pick up a magnetic cupboard latch; most come with screws already. Use a power drill to screw the magnet to the edge of the cupboard opening and the plate to the matching corner of the cupboard door. Get your shower head running like new.  Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a large plastic freezer bag and...