15 Best Low-Cost IKEA Tips to Make the Products Look Expensive
September 25th, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
For the creatives among us, wandering the aisles at IKEA ignites a torrent of DIY ideas: The store's bookcases beg to be reimagined as bar carts; white desks can be elevated with new midcentury-modern legs; and a coat of paint would work wonders to transform a dresser. The "after" images always look impressive, but if you're not the handiest among us, they can also seem a tad out of ...
CMHC’s New Underwriting Criteria: What Changed and What it Means for Home Buyers
August 20th, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has implemented new underwriting criteria (eligibility requirements) to apply for homeowner transactional and portfolio mortgage insurance. Introduced earlier this summer, these new adjustments from CMHC come as a precaution while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact consumers in the real estate market and many other aspects of day-t ...
Things to remember when hiring an electrician
August 17th, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Electrical wiring is your home’s nervous system, and while it may seem simple (either it works or it doesn’t), it is a complex network that requires special skill to manage. Here are some do’s and don’ts when hiring an electrician:
DO check if your project requires permits.
An expert will have specialized knowledge and experience in securing permits and approvals that ...
How Previous Epidemics Impacted Home Design
May 11th, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
Ever wonder how subway tile got so popular?
If you’re doing your part and social distancing from inside your home, you may start to notice small details of your house or apartment you hadn’t thought about before—like why your older home doesn’t have a closet, or how white subway tile became so ubiquitous. You may also be wondering if there’s anything you can do—aside from the usual cle ...
Home buyers and sellers adjust their activities in March amid challenging circumstances
April 2nd, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
Metro Vancouver’s* housing market saw steady home buyer demand to begin March and a levelling off of activity as the month went on and concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak intensified.
The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reports that residential home sales in the region totalled 2,524 in March 2020, a 46.1 per cent increase from the 1,727 sales recorded in March 2019, and a ...
5 Tips Buyers and Sellers should know
February 23rd, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
There are so many moving parts when buying or selling a home. For some people, just thinking about diving into the market can cause stress. Unless you’re actually involved in the day-to-day process, the lingo and the rules of the game can be confusing.
That’s where I come in! My mission is to guide you through the real estate process every step of the way, whether you’re buying, selling or ...
Make merry with a late-in-the-year home sale
November 25th, 2022, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
You may have fewer people viewing your home during the fall and winter months, but that doesn’t necessarily mean fewer offers. Compared to selling a home in the spring when there are more homes on the market, selling during the final months of the year can often be a successful endeavour.
With careful planning and a few helpful tips you can showcase your home and find time to enjoy the seas ...
16 Ways to Make Painting Less Painful
January 18th, 2021, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
Look at your clothes for color inspiration
Not sure which paint hue will make you happiest? Go through your wardrobe. If you wear mostly neutrals, opt for tan or gray. If you go for cooler hues, like blues and greens, stick with those. If you have a lot of warmer shades, try red or orange.
Get samples
Once you've found hues you like, buy sample pots to test at home. P ...
How to grow a Herb Garden
October 26th, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
How to Start an Herb Garden Indoors
It’s easy to grow a windowsill herb garden. Begin with purchased plants, plants you’ve dug from your garden or packets of seeds. While you’ll save money by sowing herb seeds, your herbs will be ready to harvest earlier if you start with seedlings.
If you dig herbs already growing in your garden to create your indoor herb garden, be sure no unwanted ...
Picking The Perfect Area Rug
October 9th, 2020, Carolyn Cowe
Posted in General ,
Budget
You should buy the best rug you can afford, even it means living with bare floors while you save up your pennies. Look for good quality natural materials such as wool and silk. A high-quality wool rug will wear well and even look better over time, says Kurtz. "Wool has the capacity to develop its own patina through exposure to light and air and feet walking on it. It's like having ...