Winnipeg Realtor and Real Estate Blog

Do set a budget. Sometimes around the holidays it can be very stressful for some families/people when it comes to income and shopping. My suggestion is to take a look and what you can afford to spend and make a list of everyone you need to buy for. Then and I know it’s hard to decide who and how much you want to spend on someone but it is very important so that you don’t go over budget and put yourself in a bad financial situation. Besides it’s always the thought that counts and not how much you spend!

Don’t take your credit card shopping. Back to setting yourself a budget, taking your credit card can defer you from your budget plan. Its money that is just sitting there and a lot of the times really easy to spend, especially around the holidays where so much buying is in order. It’s never fun to receive an online bill or bill in the mail showing how much you owe back, my moto is if it’s not in your account don’t charge it, because most likely if you can’t pay cash for it you won’t be able to pay it back to your bank. Try and stick to your cash budget plan, or if you are going to use your credit card say to gain more miles or points depending on the type of card and rewards you have, then make sure you have the money in your checking’s account to repay it back right away!

Do online shopping for some things. Let’s face it, everywhere you go around the holidays is PACKED, so packed in fact that it can be stressful to think about where you’re going to park, and is what you wanted still going to be in store. There are so many things to think about when you are going into the craziness of the malls/shops around Christmas time. It can be helpful to look online first and lighten the load of your list that way, instead of worrying about long lines and pushy people! Plus sometimes you can even find better deals online that you wouldn’t necessarily find in store!

Don’t procrastinate. We all know that at Christmas time even a month before things start to decrease quickly off the shelves! So don’t wait! Go and do you shopping at least a month before December or as early as October! There is nothing worse than waiting last minute to find out that what you really wanted to get someone isn’t there anymore and won’t be back in stores until Christmas is over! You don’t want to be left with slim pickings because that will sure dampen your mood! Also another plus of shopping early is that you miss all the chaos and hustle and bustle!

Do check return policies. Make sure ESPECAILLY if its clothing or shoes that you always ask customer service what their return policy is as all stores are different. It’s never fun to receive or give a gift to someone that either doesn’t fit or isn’t exactly what they need OR maybe they got two of. It’s always best practice to get a gift receipt with your purchase and know for yourself what the return policy is so that you know they can take it back if they need to!

I hope everyone has a stress free shopping experience this year, and you get everything on your list! Merry Christmas!

Kitchen garbage disposals are wonderful things, it allows you to scrape and clean dishes all at once in the same place and doesn’t stink up your garbage bags as quickly. Most garbage disposals are self-cleaning but it is good every once and a while to physically clean them yourself to prevent unwanted odor and bacteria build up. Here are a few easy steps to follow in maintaining your garbage disposal;

If you can physically see any large object in the disposal you should remove them right away. Always make sure before sticking anything down your disposal that it’s turned off. You can use your hands to grab large objects or household tongs, a fork or anything that will work for you to remove it safely. You may want someone to hold a flashlight for you so you can see properly, also try and avoid damaging the grinder.

Next fill your sink about 2-4 inches of hot soapy water, then proceed to pull the plug turning on your garbage disposal. This method will work better to get rid of grime and bacteria rather than just simply turning on tap and letting it run.

There may be some tougher debris and grime still stuck on the grinding elements, for this problem pour about 2 cups of ice down your disposal followed by 1 cup of rock salt. Then turn on cold water and your disposal and let the blades crush down the salt and ice. This is also a good way to maintain the sharpness of your blades as well.

You can also go and buy a scrub brush designed especially for disposals and manually clean it out. This should come with directions on how to do this simply just follow.

Here are a few simple tricks for maintain the smell that can occur with garbage disposals;

Save or peel any type of citrus fruit, lemons, oranges, limes etc. Stuff these peels down your disposal and turn it on this will leave your disposal and kitchen smelling super fresh.

Another easy method is to use baking soda and vinegar. Pour half a cup of baking soda down your drain and then pour 1 cup vinegar down. This will create a fizzle loosing up any bacteria that may be causing unwanted odors. Let this stand for about 15 minutes then pour boiling hot water down the drain, be sure that you turn your disposal on before you pour the water down.

One other easy odor eliminating agent is simply bleach. Bleach kills any bacteria and freshens things up quickly. You also don’t want to use too much bleach as it can harden up grease and make it that much harder to remove. Only use 1 tablespoon of bleach but first dilute it in 1 gallon of water. Slowly pour this solution down your drain, let sit for 5-10 minutes then turn your disposal on and flush away with hot water, let this run for a good 10 minutes washing away any bleach that may be left behind.

Hope this helps everyone! 

It is very important to keep this kitchen appliance clean on a regular basis. Range hoods are significant to your home for many reasons, here are just a few: it keeps your air clean and filtered removing any potential toxic pollutants or gasses. When you cook there is usually smoke or grease which can be quite negative toward your health. On that note it also helps reduce any mold or bacteria that can arise from cooking. It also helps to remove any excess heat from your kitchen when cooking, this can be from heat from your stove or steam from the meal that you are preparing. A lot of the times just your regular lighting isn’t always the best in your kitchen, range hoods also offer the benefit of extra lighting directly over top of your cook space which is great for reading recipes or keeping a better eye on whatever it is you may be preparing. Lots of people in the real estate market also find this feature quite attractive to the home, so it could potentially increase the value. If you don’t have a range hood you should talk to your realtor about that value it may have whether it’s negative or positive.

Here is how to properly clean your range hood:

The best way to maintain the cleanliness is to give it just a quick wipe down every day. Just wet a cloth with warm soapy water and wipe down the exterior. The filter on the other hand should only need a monthly check up. When cleaning your filter take it out of the range hood completely and fill your sink with HOT soapy water and let it soak, for best results I would say at minimum half an hour. Then using your spray attachment (if you have one) spray in down in one direction to remove any grit and soap. If you do not have a spray attachment then use a swished up and down method in your sink, be sure to put on gloves so you don’t burn your hands in the hot water. Then let air dry until completely dry. For the inside of the range hood this can get pretty caked on with grease and grime, I would recommend a degreaser product let sit for how ever log the directions tell you then wipe off with a cloth.

I hope this helps as it is important to keep this part of your kitchen clean and free from any bacteria or greases. Happy cleaning everyone and make those hoods shine!

There is always the why question when it comes to your windows sweating. Everyday daily activities such as showering, cooking and believe it or not even breathing all add moisture to the air. When air warms it expands allowing it to hold more moisture. It then contracts as it cools reaching its saturation point then releases its excess water in the form of condensation. The warm humid air then comes in contact with cold window glass it cools and condenses. So to help out with this problem (that most of us have) here are just a few suggestions that could help.

-Lower your thermostat to 66°-68° F

-Vent gas fireplaces, or limit their use, and don’t use older unvented gas space heaters

-Be sure to seal up any cracked windows

-Make sure that your clothes dryer is vented properly to the outside

-If the problem is really bad you should consider installing a dehumidifier

I hope these simple steps can reduce the window sweat in your home, it’s never fun or visually attractive to look out a window and see nothing but water drops and condensation so I hope this can help fix that problem for you! Especially if you have a really nice view!

 No one wants a stinky grubby dishwasher, especially since that’s where you clean your eating utensils. Reality is that over time your dishwashers accumulate mold and mildew which can also cause a pretty horrid smell. If you follow these simple steps this will help with those issues.

Cleaning the drain filter – the drain filter will be the biggest reason for any kind of strange smells coming from your dishwasher. Food particles clog this up over time and because it’s a warm moist area it can quickly become disgusting. There will most likely be a cylinder detachable filter where all the water drains through. Remove the bottom rack of your dishwasher to access this and twist to remove. Wash this out with soap and hot water you may want to use a bottle brush to remove the smaller particles that you can’t get to with a rag.

Wash the interior of the door and walls – grime can easily build up here so you will want to scrub this out entirely.

Remove your dishwasher racks as this will make it more difficult for you to clean when trying to reach the inside of your dishwasher to clean properly.  Use a rag or scrub brush to clean this as grime can become very hard to get off over time or the longer you leave it on. If it is too difficult to wash with just hot water and soap then try using some household cleaners.

Wash the door gasket – the seals of your dishwasher can also accumulate grit and grime so it is essential to wash this out as well again using hot water and soap or any household kitchen cleaning products.

Dishwasher racks – this is mostly likely the least of the problem when it comes to a smelly dishwasher, but it is always good to rule out anything when it comes to cleaning.

These are just a few simple steps to keep your dishwasher clean and smelling fresh! There are tons of different ways out there that you can do this but this way I find is more effective and efficient.

It’s that time of year for all you hockey parents out there, and let’s face it hockey equipment is defiantly not cheap whether you buy brand new or even used! It’s important to clean your kids gear properly and often so that you don’t have to keep buying replacement gear. Here are just a few simple way and ideas for helping you keep your kids protective gear looking and smelling like new!

The first thing that you should always try and remember to do is straight after playing or using your equipment air it out! If you have a basement or covered porch/deck/patio then lay everything out separately preferably somewhere with good air circulation. Take out the liners of your skates as well so they can get some air! Do not forget to dry off/wipe the blade of your skates and skate holders after every use to prevent rust, also on regular basis spray your skates with a disinfectant to kill all the bacteria. To disinfect your helmet, wet a small towel and apply a little amount of soap or shampoo to it. Wipe down the helmet, face cage and chin cup. Once you have applied the soap to the helmet wipe off with a different wet towel.

Follow these simple steps to wash your gear, it’s best to wash your gear completely at least once every week. Also be sure to give your equipment enough time to dry.

Step 1: Fill a bathtub or large sink (large enough to fit all of your equipment) about 1/3 of the way with hot water. You will be putting your hands in the water so make sure it is not too hot to touch.

Step 2: Add about ¼ cup of laundry detergent to the tub as it is filling making sure that the detergent spreads and mixes into the water.

Step 3: Put all of the hockey gear accept the helmet and the skates into the water. Be sure to dunk the gear so all of it is exposed to the detergent/water mixture. Let the gear soak for 30 to 45 minutes.

Step 4: Drain the tub or sink and clean out all of the soap. Rinse all of the equipment with clean, hot water to get all of the soapy residue off of your gear.

Step 5: Wring out any excess water and hang up all equipment to dry. Be sure to hang the gear in an area with good air ventilation so that it can dry in a reasonable amount of time.

Step 6: Spray and wipe down the empty hockey bag with a disinfectant spray. Make sure the bag and equipment are completely dry before re-packing your bag.

I hope these simple steps will save on costs for equipment purchases (unless necessary) and overall just keeps your child feeling clean when stepping onto the ice! Happy Hockey Season Everyone! 

 People are always wanting their home to stand out from their neighbours or friends, but a lot of the time it can cost an awful lot to design your home. Here are just of few things that can make your home look on the cheaper side!

Furniture Sets. You may think that going to a big boxed store and purchasing a complete matching bedroom suite would enhance the look of your room, this isn’t always that case! A lot of the time these sets don’t fit into your space unless your room is a complete square, and to be honest the quality lacks from big boxed stores who sell in mass production and often you suffer from massive mark ups. Matching isn’t always better, try something new like 1 round end table and 1 rectangle end table, two different style of lamps, experiment with different types of fabrics the possibilities are endless when trying new and improved interior designs for your home.

Overdone Themes. To be honest unless it is a kid’s room you are decorating themes should probably stay out of the home. This can look very tacky and very cheap. Instead pick a style or figure out your style and decorate according to that. For example choose what color you would like to decorate around. Pick out some accents that would match/offset that particular color you picked out. Get some simple not drastic overdone art work for the walls, with colors that match the color theme for that room! Try not to put too many small art pieces on the walls as this can sometimes look a little cluttered, I personally like bigger pictures and I usually focus on 1 wall and only put 1 larger picture on it. For me it just looks a lot cleaner and sophisticated.

Cheesy Décor. Unfortunately there are so many décor pieces out there that should probably stay in our grandmother’s attics. For example things like owl clocks, bunny figurines, sail boat curtain rods, flower emblems/symbols or decals or any kind basically anything that is way over the top and on the tacky side. Try to stay on the elegant side of things and keep your home looking fresh, with simple things like solid colored vases, 1 to 2 colored area rugs and simple non patterned throw pillows. Things like these are on the inexpensive side to purchase and easily can turn your dull, tacky home décor into something that looks chic and refined!

These examples are just a few that can give you a head start on changing things up in your home and make things look a little more modernized. If you are looking for a few ideas on home décor on a budget visit our web page at www.winnipeghomeconnection.com and click blogs at the bottom of the page, here you will find a few things I have written to help home owners/renters decorate your home in ways that won’t break the bank but still look fabulous!  

For some people it can be hard to think of new and exciting ways to keep our families entertained, it can be especially challenging in the winter months! I have made a little list here to give your families some great ideas to stay busy during the cold months ahead!

Something that kids and let’s face it adults love is BAKING, not only can it take up a good chunk of the day (depending how much you want to do) but it’s also something the whole family can get involved in! It’s also a great way to stay indoors when the weather is too cold to go out in.

If the kids are wanting to go outside then something really fun to do is to build a snow castle. Some people may think that it can be super difficult to make a real good one, but all you do is get a square or round bucket, fill it with snow and stack, it’s exactly like building a sand castle your just substituting with snow instead of sand but using the same method! Super easy and super fun for the whole family!

Another cool idea is making pictures in the snow with food coloring and water! Something super creative and looks fabulous in the snow! Kids absolutely love this idea. Just go buy or reuse water bottles fill with water and different colors! Then go outside and start creating your canvas! You will defiantly want to bring your camera out as it looks so awesome when you are all finished! You will most likely have to refill the bottles during this activity as the water tends to go fast, and kids like to go crazy which is really fun to watch them have so much fun with something so simple and inexpensive!

If the weather is starting to get to chilly to go out and enjoy then something really fun for the kids to do inside is a treasure hunt! You can go to your local dollar store and purchase something interesting and low cost gadgets to hide for them around the house! This is something that people have been doing for years and years and for kids it never gets old! It can also be something super fun for adults as well! You can make a list for them to follow, draw a map for in and around the house there is all kinds of ways you can do this activity, just find the most creative and fun way for your family and you will be sure to have lots of fun playing!

Lastly but definitely not the only thing left to do, is BOARD GAMES! Everyone loves to play board games, if you don’t have many or any at all it would be something great to start collecting (maybe 1 new one every 6 months) if you have children then board games are a really fun interactive way to get the whole family involved! There are so many great ones out there to choose from, here are a few examples of my favorites, monopoly, Pictionary, jenga, snakes and ladders and trivia games (and there are way too many out there to list!) So many great games out there, find some age appropriate ones for your family and have a BLAST!

I hope this little but fun list gives your family some really great ideas and ways to keep busy and have fun this winter! 

It’s always nice to change up your home décor throughout the year to spice things up a little and the seasons are the perfect time to do so! I love fall, with all the trees changing color and the brisk air even the smell of fall I love. I also personally love the color scheme of fall with the reds, oranges and yellows! Makes your home super warm, cozy and bright! Here are just a few ideas that you can try to spruce up the interior of your home this fall!

The easiest and most meaningful way to start your decorating is with a center piece for your kitchen table and coffee table! For both tables you can use fake or real leaves of different types of colors (mix and match) and string them around some white or orange small pumpkins! If you are using real leaves then I would put a little hair spray on them to preserve them a bit! Try to find some kind of rustic looking tray or large plate to do it on! This is a simple and super neat looking way to start your fall decorating!

Next and one of the most popular things to decorate is the front of your door! Fall wreaths make for an inexpensive and inviting look to any season. You can either go to your local dollar store or hardware/craft store and make your own wreath or buy one! It’s a small and simple way to freshen up your fall decorating, and everyone loves walking up to your door and looking at something fabulous and seasonal before they enter your home! I know I do!

Something else you can try which can be a little more on the pricy side depending on where you shop is decorative throw pillows! If you are a master at sewing then this is something that can keep you a little busy as well. Throw pillows can instantly spice up any living room at any time, and let’s face it they make seasonal pillows for everything now! You can get some really cozy and colorful looking ones now. It’s something that will catch anyone’s eyes when they walk into your home! It’s also something that you can reuse as well so if you do go all out and splurge a little on pillows then you know that it’s something you will have forever and can use the following year (which is always a nice thought!)

Lastly something pretty easy to find is tableware! This can be anything from place mats, napkins, plates, cups you name it you can find it in fall themes! If you love having friends and family over to celebrate the holidays it always nice to serve them dinner with something that’s not the norm. So holidays/seasons are the perfect excuse to bring out the new/older seasonal dinnerware! It really is a great way to spend time with family and really get into whatever season or holiday you are currently in/celebrating!

Thanks for reading everyone and I hope whatever season you are in you are making it one for the books! I love to decorate and change things up and I look for new Ideas every year to spruce up the holidays/seasons! Hope this can give you some new and creative ways to get you decorating for the seasons! 

First thing is to remember that stain comes in a few types; water based or oil based. Oil stains have longer drying times whereas water based dry quicker usually within 24 hours which will allow you to finish your project quicker, it also has a low odor. There are some stains you can find that are a 1 apply which can be nice so you don’t have to re-apply making your project even longer to finish! So before you start make sure you decide how much time you want to put into this project, each type of stain will look nice so you don’t have to worry about the cosmetics of the different types of stains.

You will want to sand your wood project before you start to stain it. Always be sure to sand with the direction of the grain with a light 180 grit sand paper! Once you have finished with the sanding part you can then start to stain. Apply the stain either with a foam brush or a regular brush (it really doesn’t matter what you use it will look the same either way) Once you have applied your stain be sure to wipe it off with a rag, or else it won’t look even and will have drip marks which doesn’t look very good! Also the longer you leave stain on the darker it will be, so if you don’t want it to be too dark do it in small sections so you can wipe off quickly.

Try not to apply stain too thick as it will just peel off later on. If you want a darker look to your wood project then apply multiple coasts, remembering to still wipe off with a rag.

Staining is one of the easier things you can do, and looks really sharp on any type of wood, it can quickly turn a dull not so great looking shelf, ladder, trim/baseboard into something modern, fresh looking that can light up any room. There is only a few steps when staining anything, so if you have never done it before and are looking for a few tricks of the trade I hope these simple steps will help you!

Happy staining everyone! I hope the outcome of your finished projects look wonderful! 

It’s getting to be that time of year to start planning some trips to escape the cold winter months coming up! This list was made from very seasoned experts and travelers. Some of the destinations on this list don’t exactly help you escape the cold but if you or your loved ones like the winter and snowy season then some of these will still appeal to you at this time of year, for example one of the destinations is Banff, Alberta Canada (which is a very beautiful place to visit especially in the winter) it offers lots of activities including skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing etc.

Best Places to Visit in the World

1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
2. Paris
3. Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Best Places to Visit in the USA

1. Grand Canyon National Park
2. Maui, Hawaii
3. Yellowstone National Park

Best Places to Visit in the Caribbean

1. British Virgin Islands
2. St. Lucia
3. U.S. Virgin Islands

Best Places to Visit in Canada

1. Vancouver, British Columbia
2. Toronto
3. Banff, Alberta

This is just a few ideas to get you and your vacation list started! If you would like more examples or ideas here is a link that you can check out that will offer more information on destinations and guidance to help you plan your perfect getaway!

http://www.usnews.com/info/blogs/press-room/articles/2016-06-28/us-news-reveals-the-2016-2017-best-vacations-in-the-world

You should always make sure that your home financials are taken care of first before you think about buying another property. Things like, paying off your high interest debts, do you have enough saved in an emergency fund, do you have enough steady income, do you have anything lined up for retirement. Those are important things to review and make sure are in order before you even think of purchasing another property. It is also good to contact or have a financial advisor when making big decisions like this, they will always tell you what you can and cannot afford and overall give you the best advice for you future.

You should make sure that you find the RIGHT real estate agent to help you find the best income property for you. Sometimes agents can look at you just as a potential commission opportunity, find someone who is interested in developing a relationship with you, someone who maybe owns income properties themselves! If they do you can bet they will be very knowledgeable about this way of investing and can most likely answer any questions or reservations you may be having.

Always remember that your investment property is not your home sweet home! You don’t need the must haves such as hardwood floors, granite counter tops, garages, remodeled ANYTHING, double sinks, ensuite bathrooms. These types of things could potentially drive up your price, and if you are using this property as a rental then there is no need to go above and beyond as your renters will bring their own flare and dress it up the way they want. I think the biggest thing you should consider is the location of the property! Will it attract good tenants, is their schools, what type of tenants will want to live in the area things like that!

Remember that finding your income property is just the first step! You then need to find good, respectful tenants to fill your home! You definitely do a tenant screening process before you give them the keys! You can research and get forms online for these types of screenings. You should also keep in mind that you will be a landlord as well, just remember you will always get calls any day at any time for thinks like a broken toilet or cracked window, or leaky tap. Will this bother you? Will it cut into your family time? Will it interrupt your work schedule to much? There is a lot of things to consider when making this type of decision. Just don’t take it lightly, talk to professionals, do your research and talk to people who are in this type of business and see what their experiences have been!

Hope this helps and I hope that all your decisions and choices better your lives and the lives of others!