Eighteen questions you should ask a Realtor before hiring

Buying or selling a home is likely the biggest transaction people will make in their lives.

For example, the average MLS® System sale price in Calgary, as of the end of April, was close to half a million dollars.

Whether you're a buyer or a seller, finding the right REALTOR® can be a daunting task. There are many to choose from; CREB® has more than 5,400 registered Realtors serving Calgary and surrounding areas. It's important to select a Realtor who can meet your needs, especially when you consider the stakes.

How much home can you afford?

Shopping for the home of your dreams requires knowing how much you can afford to spend, which for most buyers ties directly into a mortgage.

Financial institutions in Canada look at a buyer's Gross Debt Service (GDS) and Total Debt Service (TDS) ratios to help determine how much mortgage to approve, and therefore, how much home a person can afford.

Proper pricing is a crucial part of selling your home

If you want to sell your home, it is critical to have it priced correctly. If it's priced too high, it will be passed over in the sea of listings at this busy time of year. If it's priced too low, you risk the chance of leaving thousands of dollars on the table.

Carbon monoxide safety measures for homeowners

Recent, heart-wrenching news stories about deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning, including a young boy in Airdrie, have people thinking about CO safety in their homes.

"Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-irritating gas that is poisonous," said Carol Henke, public information officer with the Calgary Fire Department.

Tips for safe and warm winter cycling

When winter arrives, many Calgarians store their bicycles away until springtime.

But not everyone.

A growing number of people cycle year round, including during their daily commute. And in the winter, that requires some additional preparation.

Tips and tricks for DIY room painting

Before running a paint roller over any wall in your home, Ryan Tantzen, manager at Anilin Decorating Centre, says you should first "figure out your needs for the project."

"Whether you're looking to sell your home, or stay in it, will dictate those needs," he said.

The general rule of thumb? If you're looking to sell a house, it's advisable to use a light colour.

Renovations on a $5,000 budget

At first glance, doing meaningful home renovations for $5,000 is akin to those travel guides for "Europe on $10 a day": easier said than done. Yet, like the backpacker who squeezes every penny from their budget to travel the globe, affordable renovations are not out of reach if you spend your nickels and dimes wisely.

According to Bob Weir, vice-president of operations with Calgary's Reborn Renovations, making improvements with $5,000 certainly narrows your options, but it can be done.

Security solutions for the modern home

Home is where you expect to feel safe, and for some people, that means adding a home security system.
Years ago, homeowners had two choices: have a system professionally installed, or make do with simple devices, such as timers to turn lights on and off, and clunky, wired security cameras.

But thanks to today's technology, there are numerous devices that a do-it-yourselfer can install, while the option of leaving things up to the pros is also still available.