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Stories Tagged - Guest Column
News
April 23, 2021 | Shameer Gaidhar
Moisture management: the importance of monitoring your home's humidity levels
Calgary is one of the most unique cities in Canada when it comes to weather. Throughout the year, we can see temperatures span from -40C to 40C in a matter of months, and chinooks can warm our frostbitten city into a springtime paradise in only a few short days.
Because of this, our homes have to be prepared to withstand the most extreme weather Alberta has to offer. While these temperature fluctuations can cause damage to your home's exterior, they can also affect your home's interior, as there is a direct correlation between the temperature outside and the indoor humidity. The damage your home sustains could lead to unforeseen issues and cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Because of this, our homes have to be prepared to withstand the most extreme weather Alberta has to offer. While these temperature fluctuations can cause damage to your home's exterior, they can also affect your home's interior, as there is a direct correlation between the temperature outside and the indoor humidity. The damage your home sustains could lead to unforeseen issues and cost thousands of dollars to repair.
News
Feb. 22, 2021 | Shameer Gaidhar
From the ground up: the importance of a structurally sound foundation
News
Jan. 26, 2021 | Shameer Gaidhar
The sound of silence: understanding STC ratings can help homebuyers avoid noisy neighbours
Sound transmission class (STC) is the rating system used to measure a partition wall's ability to reduce the effect of airborne sound. A higher STC rating means less sound will make its way through the partition wall – sometimes called a party wall, common wall or shared wall – creating a quieter living space.
News
Jan. 26, 2021 | Shameer Gaidhar
Safety first: why radon mitigation systems should be installed in more Canadian homes
I've been building homes for over two decades, which means I've come across hundreds of common issues that many builders don't feel they need or want to address. Radon gas is one such issue and an invisible threat to homeowners across Canada.
News
Dec. 15, 2020 | Mario Toneguzzi
A Calgary real estate Christmas list
Dear Santa,
My oh my, it certainly has been an interesting and challenging year, with the COVID-19 pandemic impacting almost every part of our lives.
News
April 03, 2020 | Donna Balzer
How to grow and harvest your own food garden
Thanks to COVID-19 – and the associated anxieties around grocery shopping and keeping occupied during long stretches at home – food gardens are suddenly fashionable.
Whether you have a window box, a small patio or a luxurious, pie-shaped lot, there is room to grow something on your property and now is the time to start.
Whether you have a window box, a small patio or a luxurious, pie-shaped lot, there is room to grow something on your property and now is the time to start.
News
April 17, 2020 | Mario Toneguzzi
Silver linings: increased emphasis on affordability could eventually buoy Calgary condo market
One of the key factors impacting the Calgary resale housing market in the last year or so has been affordability.
With economic uncertainty top of mind due to the collapse in oil prices and the COVID-19 crisis, prospective homebuyers are increasingly looking for more affordable options when making a purchase.
That will likely lead to more demand in the condominium apartment market in the future.
With economic uncertainty top of mind due to the collapse in oil prices and the COVID-19 crisis, prospective homebuyers are increasingly looking for more affordable options when making a purchase.
That will likely lead to more demand in the condominium apartment market in the future.
News
March 13, 2020 | Mario Toneguzzi
Head to head: Calgary housing affordability remains strong compared to other major centres
When it comes to homeownership these days, one of the biggest and most talked about issues is affordability. This issue is particularly relevant when it comes to a generation of young Canadians that many people say is struggling to enter the marketplace due to the high costs of owning a home.
However, like anything else in this country, affordability is relative and truly dependent on context. If you're a millennial or a potential first-time homebuyer of any stripe, you're much better off entering the market in Calgary than other major centres like Vancouver or Toronto.
However, like anything else in this country, affordability is relative and truly dependent on context. If you're a millennial or a potential first-time homebuyer of any stripe, you're much better off entering the market in Calgary than other major centres like Vancouver or Toronto.
News
Feb. 28, 2020 | Donna Balzer
March in the garden: let's go seed crazy
After the first sunny day in March, most gardeners begin to think about starting seeds. This includes gardeners in all types of dwellings – from highrise condos to townhomes to bungalows. It makes no difference where you live.
I have grow lights in my kitchen and a greenhouse outside, so I have a place to start seeds indoors and a place to move them when they get growing. But what about everyone else, including renters? Are they starting seeds this spring?
I have grow lights in my kitchen and a greenhouse outside, so I have a place to start seeds indoors and a place to move them when they get growing. But what about everyone else, including renters? Are they starting seeds this spring?