Your Home

Homes and buildings in Canada have become more and more of an engineering exercise in recent years, as technology and energy efficiency-driven solutions emerge, making traditional construction methods a thing of the past in many areas. A number of these advancements in home construction are not that obvious or even hidden completely, adding efficiency without…

She thought there’d be a bidding war. And why not? That’s exactly what the real estate agent told her. “You’d better make this your best shot because there’s gonna be a lot of competition.” So she did. After all, it was the perfect house – worth more than the asking price to her. But how…

Hosting a holiday party this year? Make it a memorable one for your guests by creating your own special cocktail, one that will be talked about for years to come. A cocktail can be made from just about any combination of at least 2 different liquids, yet many recipes call for 4 or more. We…

As the song goes, ‘Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful’. That’s the reason why the onset of winter is when we find many outdoor pests trying to invade our space. They may not be planning on sitting in front of a roaring fire exactly, but they do seek the…

There’s something about the holiday season that makes gathering with family and friends extra special. But between the cooking, decorating and shopping, preparing for the holidays with that never-ending to-do list can be overwhelming. To reduce stress and stay organized, make a list of all the tasks you need to complete around the house, and…

If you are thinking about hiring out snow removal this year, there are some steps you can take to avoid being snowed. Complaints and news reports about snow removal scams are on the rise, according to the Ministry of Consumer Services. Typically, the scam artist takes payment for the whole season, then never comes back.…

The installation of new windows is one of the more major upgrades popular with homeowners. The reason for upgrading a home’s windows can be strictly for cosmetic reasons, to reduce a home’s energy consumption, or both. One thing that is certain is that applying a new window style and one of the new frame colours…

As the cold autumn winds blow, signaling the oncoming winter, one can only imagine how people in earlier times coped – huddling around a crude pile of flaming logs. Thank goodness for furnaces! The first furnaces appeared in the late 1800’s replacing fireplaces, then boilers and radiators, as the preferred way to heat a home.…

Many Canadians are interested in knowing the “smartest” household renovations to make to receive a good return on their investment. Although there are many variables that affect the value of a home, the Appraisal Institute of Canada (AIC) offers these general tips to Canadian consumers. 1. Choose improvements with long life expectancy. Roofing, energy-efficient heating and…

If you have done any home renovations, chances are you put a lot of time and effort into selecting the big-ticket items like paint colour, furniture, flooring, countertops, and lighting fixtures. But what about the little things, like light switches and outlets? These can be “dressed up” to make your redecorating project a success down…