Buying a new home is a very exciting ordeal. It is also a huge responsibility. Home maintenance can be classified as one of two kinds; either initial or standard. Check out some of these suggestions concerning standard maintenance for your humble abode.

Standard Maintenance For a Home

Every six months inspect the attic for leaks and pests. If there is a leak in the attic the water could be causing mold growth that poses a serious health risk. Extensive damage to the infrastructure of the home could also be caused from water and pest intrusion.

Pay attention to the working order of the garage door mechanism. A ruined garage door mechanism can be expensive to replace. If the door isn’t closing properly, unwanted pests can enter your home. Also keep an eye on the condition of the weather strip on the bottom of the garage door.

Check your furnace or boiler for proper functioning every six months. If you don’t know about the systems hire a serviceman to check them for you or read the manual to familiarize yourself with them. Keep the surrounding area clear of objects.

During cold weather close the outdoor water faucets and bleed off any remaining water in the pipes. If you leave any water in them the water could freeze, cracking the water lines.

Caulking discrepancies need to be repaired. Caulking prevents liquid from getting into those nooks and crannies. Your bathroom, kitchen and windows are some of the places to check.

Stock up on filters for your humidifier, ventilation system and furnace. Your house will be cleaner and your appliances will last longer problem free. Also, your home will be a cleaner place.

Now that those smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are installed, test them every month. You never know when these devices might save your life! If you have a surge protector check to see if it is on.

Clear the sliding mechanism on your windows of any crud that might damage the window sill and block the draining aperture.

Trim any vegetation that gets too close to your house. Damage to your home can occur on a windy day if shrubs and branches are too close.

Clear out the eaves troughs during the spring and fall months. Blocked eaves troughs can cause flooding, usually in the basement.

An inspection of your roof once every twelve months is important in preventing future leaks. Be careful!

Your Home, Your Money

Doing standard maintenance for your home will keep the value of your home higher if you plan on selling it one day. If you have any questions, I would be happy to assist you. Reach me via email at cody@bestcalgaryhomes.com for a no-obligation inquiry!

Don’t miss our article on Initial Home Maintenance!

Getting a home inspection soon after all the maintenance is done? You might ask Why a home inspection important?

Thanks for stopping in at Best Calgary Homes! Come back soon for more great articles on home, real-estate, Calgary and everything related!

With the Calgary Stampede starting and the busyness of the rodeo and chuck wagons, let’s not forget about our fellow equestrian friends at Spruce Meadows.

Spruce Meadows is another great location for fun to do local activities and events in Calgary. Owned and operated by the Southern Family, Spruce Meadows purpose is to create a different ambiance based on admirable sportsmanship, good friendship and pleasant commerce. Making it happen are the owners, companies, athletes, officials, volunteers, media and fans above all who work together for a common goal; to make Spruce Meadows the most enjoyable place to be as possible!

Do’s and Do Not’s at the Equestrian Centre

Recommended:

• If you are visiting, dress accordingly for the weather forecast. Calgary is known for rampant weather that can switch from sunny and warm to cold and rainy quickly! No dress code is in effect at the grounds, unless there is a formal competition.
• Cheer and cheer loud for your favorite rider and horse! Horse racing isn’t for the shy, so show your support and get loud!
• Use a day sheet to keep the score. Look for one at an information booth or at the green bird houses. The order of the competitions for the day are listed on them as well, so it should help guide you during your stay if you aren’t quite use to horse racing.
• Upon entering the area, look for a tournament guide. Future events and activities are all listed in them for your convenience!

Not Recommended:

• Avoid surprising any of the horses. The last thing you want to do is walk behind a horse and surprise them! Horses can kick, so hard in fact the impact from such can be life threatening and even result in death. Another thing to avoid is waving things in front of their faces. Let the horse warm up to you first before walking around its sides and maybe avoid the rear all together.
• Up to 50,000 people can be in attendance at some events held at Spruce Meadows. The last thing you want to do is be late for an event. It’s like getting to a movie on the opening weekend on time with a group of 4. Arriving late might result in you and your friends or family having to find segregated seats from one another, which might take some of the fun out of the day.

Open year round Spruce Meadows is home to show jumping competition, exhibitions and special functions and is affordable fun for the whole family. Interested in checking out the place? Spruce Meadows offers tours through their stable area and you may even watch the trainers exercise their horses! Make sure you have comfortable shoes on as Spruce meadows is 553 acres in total, 353 acres in pastures / parking and 200 acres in facilities!

Are you looking for more local activities in the Calgary region? Check out more Do What the Locals Do in Calgary episodes below!

Do What the Locals Do – Episode 6 – Calgary Stampede

Do What the Locals Do – Episode 4 – Kananaskis Country

Do What the Locals Do – Episode 3 – River Pathways

It is truly amazing that every year for the greatest outdoor show on Earth, the Calgary Stampede, over 2200 people from Calgary dedicate personal time to volunteer and make it happen. Not only do they volunteer during the 10 days when the Stampede is on in July, but year round as well at events and activities worldwide for different reasons. Volunteers involved in the event are the people who make the wheels turn; they are the ones serving at the pancake breakfasts, organizing events, ushering people at the grandstand shows and more.

The Calgary Stampede would not be the same without the willingness of the Calgary community and its members to unselfishly volunteer their time to take part in helping out. Volunteers are also responsible for bringing forth enthusiasm and fantastic new ideas to consistently make the Calgary Stampede better than it was the previous year. Event staff works closely with them to make sure visitors are having the best time possible!

Volunteers and Committee’s at the Stampede

4-H – Agriculture Media – Ag-tivity in the City – Beef Cattle – Blacksmith Competition – Dairy Cattle - Farm Equipment - Heavy Horse Pull – Heavy Horse Show – International Livestock Auctioneers – International Agriculture – Light Horse – Livestock Evaluation – Miniature Horse – Miniature Donkey – Sheep - Steer Classic – Swine - Western Performance Horse – Stampede Breakfasts – Downtown Attractions – Parade and more!

Potential volunteers check out the official Stampede volunteering website today!

With 47 volunteer committees and over 2200 volunteers dedicating their time to make it happen, the Calgary Stampede has become one of the world’s most highly respected volunteer run functions. If you are going to be around for the 100 anniversary of the event this year and would like to participate as an event volunteer, check out any of the above web sites to get started! For more great information on “the greatest outdoor show on Earth”, check out our related articles such as:

Do What the Locals Do @ the Calgary Stampede

Your Guide to the Calgary Stampede

So you’ve decided to sell your home! There are a few things you should to before your home gets viewed. First impressions can be everything  and its up to you ensure your home is leaving a good one!  This may have been your home, but now it’s time to show people how it could be theirs. Think of your home as a blank canvass and the future owners are the artist. We want them to be able to envision their new home.

I’ve made a list for your convenience to help you prepare your home for viewing at minimal cost.

Curb Appeal

• Pick up any clutter you may have in your front and back yard
• Make sure the outside lights work, replace any bulbs if need be and clean fixtures of dirt
• In the colder months shovel and salt sidewalks
• Mow lawn, weed and fertilize to have a great outdoor impression, if you have dead patched try to re-sod
• Prune and trim trees and bushes
• Selling for the Seasons

Garage

• If you have any oil stains you can get cleaners form stores like Rona that will clean it right off!
• Re-move junk, old tools, etc
• Organize! put bikes, snowboards, sleds etc in a orderly fashion

General

• Lubricate doors, cabinets and windows if squeaking
• Clean mirrors, light switches, handles, top of lights and base boards
• Make sure walls and windows are clean
• Clean drapery’s and blinds
• Organize closets, stack shoes/boots neatly
• place colourful plants around house
• Try not to smoke or have any other unpleasant odors (such as cooking)

Bathrooms

• Clean toilets, sinks and bathtubs/shower and make sure to remove any rust or mildew
• Clean shower curtains
• Replace any old looking mats
• Leave fresh soap and toilet paper
• Put all toiletries away
• Clean the ceiling fan

Kitchens

• Store and unnecessary appliances
• Clean visible appliances inside and out
• Try to make the counters as bare as possible
• Store nick knacks and trinkets
• Leave fresh soap
• store items like paper towers, salt and pepper shakers etc.
• remove clutter from on top of the fridge and any magnets and or notes

Bedrooms

• Make beds
• Make sure you dont have any clothes or personal items laying aroun
• Organize clothes in closet
• Vacuum and tidy

I’ll put it out there. We may not have the widest selection of dim sum offerings like in Toronto or Vancouver but we do have pretty good options for the size of our city. Dim sum is equivalent to brunch for the Chinese. Many of the dishes are steamed, baked or deep-fried. The staples include har gau (shrimp dumpling), shu mai (pork dumpling), char siu bao (BBQ pork buns) and egg custard tarts. For the adventurous, I dare you to try the chicken feet or tripe. Since dim sum is linked to the Chinese tradition of “yum cha” or drinking tea, make you always have a piping hot cup of tea to accompany your meal. Enjoy!

Forbidden City

999 36 Street NE

(403) 250-1848

Housed in the Pacific Palace Mall in the Northeast, this restaurant tops my list of the best dim sum restaurant in the city. Be prepared to wait awhile but you will not be disappointed with the spectacular selection of a la carte items. My favourite dish is the Chinese doughnut wrapped in rice crepe accompanied with peanut and hoisin sauce. It is quite rich so a few bites will satisfy your taste buds.

Golden Central

5016 Centre Street NE

(403) 731-9199

Located in the McKnight area, Golden Central also offers a la carte which ensures high quality and fresh items. The baked egg custard buns are highly recommended. When you take a bite, the sweet oozing filling melts in your mouth. Even though you are tempted to take a bite right away, wait a few minutes to slightly cool or risk burning your mouth and tongue.

Harbour City

302 Centre Street SE

(403) 269-8888

If you want an authentic dim sum experience then this is the place to check out. The bustling and noisy atmosphere along with the old school push-cart style is exactly what you would expect in a Hong Kong restaurant. Try to get there early to get the fresh items or else get stuck with minimal options.

T.Pot China Bistro

9650 Harvest Hills Blvd N

(403) 532-3982

Now we venture to the community of Harvest Hills. I remember when T.Pot first opened; it was an instant hit with dim sum fanatics. I was mostly impressed with the contemporary interior design – large crystal chandeliers hanging over the tables and beaded curtains. Their ginger and green onion tripe does not have an overwhelming strong flavour like others I’ve tried.

Regency Palace

328 Centre Street South

(403) 777-2288

www.regencypalacerestaurant.com

Widely recognized as the largest Chinese restaurant in Calgary. Seafood is their claim to fame so they offer fresh shrimp dumplings, scallop dumplings and shrimp rice rolls. They also have a yummy variety of desserts – egg tarts, coconut jelly and almond jelly with fruit cocktail. It’s self-serve so customers go up to the buffet and choose their selection of items.

Central Grand

1623 Centre Street North

(403) 277-8883

A highly recommended and popular restaurant in Calgary. Central Grand also caters to those looking for the push-cart style dim sum. They definitely get the crown for the best char siu bao. The combination of savory BBQ pork and soft and slightly sweet pillowy dough is made to perfection.

Bobby Chao’s

34 Edgedale Drive NW

(403) 207-7840

www.bobbychao.com

Chef Bobby Chao takes pride in blending different flavours and texture to create his own unique style of dishes. His dim sum menu is a representation of his creativity including French style baked oysters and shrimp & peanut dumplings. Also, this is the only restaurant that offers a dozen variation of the rice crepe.

Silver Dragon

106 3 Avenue SE

(403) 264-5326

http://www.silverdragoncalgary.ca/

In the heart of Chinatown, this legendary restaurant has the best spare ribs with black bean sauce. It is constantly packed so get there early. The quality of the food and service has been dwindling the past few years and it is a bit overpriced compared to other restaurants.

Tai Pan

171 1518 Centre Street NE

(403) 269-2838

I recommend their rice crepes filled with your choice of BBQ pork, shrimp, beef or vegetables. It’s not too thin that the filling spills everywhere when you pick it up. Or the opposite which all you can taste is the rice noodle.

Urban Rice

108 3 Avenue SW

(403) 984-3380

Another restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown, this is a great place to experiment and try their selection of specialty savoury and sweet items. Reasonably priced, cozy atmosphere and quick service.

I’ve also seen frozen dim sum in supermarkets but that doesn’t look as appealing as the fresh version. With the increasingly popular food trucks popping’ up in our city, I wonder if there will be a dim sum truck in our horizon. A guy can dream, right? For more tasty food in and around town, check out the best of:

Best Calgary Pastas

Best Calgary Pho

Best Calgary Eggs Benedict

Evans Ridge is a new subdivision of the existing NW Calgary community of Evanston. Evans Ridge is a family oriented neighbourhood with lots of green spaces and pathway networks, good for leisure and staying connected with the rest of the community. This spacious NW neighbourhood puts its residents on the edge of Calgary, where escaping from the fast paced lifestyle of the city is an easy task. Being on the edge in Evans Ridge doesn’t mean complete isolation though, because Stoney Trail is a ring road encircling Calgary that allows for quick commuting times to and from the rest of the main traffic routes. Evans Ridge is host to a wide variety of different types of homes ranging in style, size and price. In other words, there is something for anyone looking to live in a suburban Calgary community.

Evans Ridge Amenities and Services

Amounts of commercial and retail developments in and around the Evanston area have been increasing exponentially to take care of the growing number of residents choosing to live here and in other nearby communities. A new outdoor shopping centre in Evanston itself includes names like RONA, CO-OP, BMO and a variety of small businesses. Costco is another place located in the neighbouring community of Sherwood and is less than a five minute drive to reach. Cardel Place (an awesome recreational centre) is also less than five minutes away in Coventry, where countless other amenities and services are found as well. Evans Ridge is situated near all the amenities and services necessary for a comfortable, suburban living experience.

Evans Ridge Schools

• *Elementary – Cambrian Heights or King George
• *Junior High – Georges P. Vanier
• Senior High – James Fowler or William Aberhart

*Elementary and junior high students have public yellow bus transportation provided due to the distance these schools are from Evans Ridge.

Evanston Community Demographics

• Ages 24 and below – 36.9%
• Ages 25 to 54 – 56.9%
• Ages 55 and up – 6.3%
• Average household income – $85,418 (Statistics Canada, 2006 Census)
• Percentage of population with a High School Diploma or higher – 89.1%
• Ratio of residents who own their property – 93.5%
• Ratio of residents renting their property – 6.5%

8 Reasons to Live in Evans Ridge

1. Quick access to northbound highways if you work in northern Alberta
2. Good location with close proximity to amenities and services in multiple outdoor shopping centres
3. Cardel Place, a fairly new recreational centre with tons of activities and facilities, is a short drive away from Evans Ridge
4. Tons of green spaces connected by an extensive network of pathways
5. One of the best NW areas for new home variety
6. Access via Stoney Trail to Calgary #YYC international airport
7. Calgary’s ring road Stoney Trail allows for quick commuting in and around Calgary
8. Experienced developer and home builders with extensive after care services

Why you should use a REALTOR to build

First Time Buyers guide and tips

Get the best advice in Evansridge

Evans Ridge holds many great new home opportunities. In order to pick the best lot, builder and location amongst the multiple options, contact me today. It costs you nothing more for expert advice and your own independent representation.

Another new downtown Calgary condo project named Vogue by the LaCaille Group has just been announced! This new development will appeal to everyone looking for a convenient down town location with brand new luxury finishings. Vogue will let you live, work and play in a beautiful downtown Calgary location. Beautiful design, views of the Rocky Mountains, countless nearby amenities and an impressive list of in-house facilities are only a few of the appealing attributes of the up and coming Vogue.

The 34-floor tower’s exterior rendering shows its elegant design, one that has taken only the best characteristics from New York and Chicago condo styles and has combined them into the ultimate eclectic design hybrid. Residential units rise up to 365 feet, topped by unique spires that will be lit at night time. For the first 16 floors, each will have 10 condo units. 7 floors afterwards will have 6 units each, and on top of them there will be 2 sub-penthouse floors offering 4 units larger than 1000 square feet with breathtaking views of Calgary in all directions and let’s not forget, the Rocky Mountains. 250 parking stalls will be available in 4 underground parking levels and 2 above-ground parking levels hidden by the glass and stone exterior. Commercial and retail lease spaces will also be situated between a dramatic archway rising 8 stories lined with lustrous black granite, adding to the in-house amenity list for Vogue.

Vogue has launched a marketing campaign targeting young urban professionals. LaCaille has hired photographers to take pictures of stylish, well-dressed people in the downtown Calgary area to post on Facebook. Three red Fiat motor vehicles are also part of the marketing plan that will eventually be given away to customers, if they are lucky that is, at a future promotional event. Neat!

If you are looking for a new condo in Calgary you need your own expert representation. When you are ready please contact me, until then I have tons of condo guides you might find very useful! A few of them are:

10 Questions to ask when Buying a New Condo

Factors you Must Consider with New Condos

4 Keys to Get the Best New Condo Deal

New Condo Advice

Vogue is an exciting new Calgary downtown condo project by LaCaille Group. If you want to get the best advice about Vogue and the new condo market in Calgary, please contact me today by phone 403-370-4180 or send me a message below! New condos are one of my specialities.

Dairy Lane Cafe is a neat little restaurant tucked away in a strip mall on 19th Street NW between 2nd and 3rd Ave. It has been a long time since I visited such a small place to eat, but I am sure glad I did! Entering the restaurant I noticed there were only nine tables, and eight of them were full; a good sign for a newly discovered restaurant. Dairy Lane Cafe could definitely buy out one of the retail spaces adjacent to it and still be packed to maximum capacity for breakfast on any Tuesday morning.

I am an Eggs Benedict lover, so I ordered one of the variations with gluten free bread, roasted pepper, avocado and requested they add back bacon as well. The Eggs Benny came with hash browns and the waitress brought along some funky India hot sauce, which just happened to supersede my reigning hot sauce favorite, Franks. After that first bite, I no longer was paying any attention to my surroundings, not even to my sister sitting across from me. I lost all train of thought because of the deliciousness of roasted pepper, bacon and especially the lovely taste of the avocado, giving my taste buds more than they bargained for. When I snapped back to reality, I had to let my sister know these are the BEST eggs Benedict I have had in town. As an Eggs Benny guy, I have to let everyone know including you!

If you are in the Hillhurst area during the lovely hours of the morning, I highly recommend stopping by Dairy Lane Cafe for a wonderful breakfast. I only saw one table for 4 when I was there, so if you have a larger party you might want to call before hand to have something arranged. Check out Dairy Lane Cafe today for the best Eggs Benedict in town.

Dairy Lane Cafe

319 19th Street NW, Calgary, AB

403.283.2497

Thanks for stopping by! Maybe Dairy Lane Cafe is a bit far to travel to for you during the hectic morning traffic hours? Another two lovely breakfast restaurants are:

Blue Star Diner Restaurant in Calgary

OEB Over East Breakfast Restaurant Review

When people are at home or in a hotel room, one determining factor in how comfortable they feel in that environment is directly related to the amount of privacy offered. Taking a shower is a private thing. So are many other occurrences that have become a part of our daily routines. Privacy when doing private things is a must and often we take it for granted. If there is no comfort provided by a reasonable level of privacy when doing private things, then it becomes a hassle. Fencing is a method used for thousands of years by people for different purposes, one of them being to create added privacy.

Calgary Infill Buyers Guide – Exposure

Calgary Infill Buyers Guide – Area Plans

Calgary Infill Buyers Guide – Home Inspections

Privacy is Key

There is a wide variety of different kinds of fencing for Calgary infill home owners. When choosing what fence to use on your property, record the dimensions of the fence and observe how the chosen material would optimize your privacy. Maybe the fence is too short with that direct line of sight from your kitchen to the unknown neighbour’s kitchen still exposed. Unfortunately there are sometimes developer stipulations for new communities that limit the kind of product available for use in such tasks. If this is the case, and things aren’t private enough just yet, you can always turn to proper landscaping to add another dimension of privacy to your home. Fencing that adds character and privacy with some landscaping to customize your home are valuable assets that will increase the overall value of your property.

Make Money, Save Money

Carefully designed landscaping will not only add value to your estate, but can add extra privacy as well if you choose. A well-placed tree can add that extra comfort that you were looking for. It is proven that homes with well-done landscaping actually increase in re-sale price. Also, carefully chosen and placed plants can lower heating and air conditioning costs by 20% by acting like insulation to prevent heat loss and the invasion of cold air during winter months! Amazing! Not only can your privacy be improved, but you can also save approximately between $100 and $250 dollars annually off the energy bill by planting 3 trees close to your home.

Calgary Infill Buyers Guide – 5 Must Ask Questions for your Home Builder

Always be sure to approach a potential home from every possible angle. It’s never good when commitments are already made with no going back. If you have any other questions about these two features concerning a new Calgary infill or other homes, I would be happy to assist you! Thans for stopping by and check in later for more Buyers Guide Tips.

Pegasus is a Greek restaurant located in the SW Calgary community of Altadore. It is tucked away in a small strip mall on the corner of 48th Ave. and 16th St. SW, so it might take a little bit to find its location for the first time. I have to say that Pegasus is a definite must if you love authentic Greek food, or if you are looking for something different to try instead of the same old restaurant over and over again.

Pegasus is decorated accordingly with tons of pictures of Greece and other ornaments and such that remind you of Europe. Before I could even check out the rest of the interior decor, we were served by a hostess who was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. She was definitely Greek, and quite possibly an owner of the restaurant. Pegasus uses authentic names for their menu, so describing what you want to the server is best in order to get what you want.

Our first appetizer was a unique style of pita-bread I never had before which was absolutely delightful. The second was huge, delicious meat-balls and the third, leaf-wrapped ground beef and spinach with a lemon flavor. Lemon roasted potatoes were the last, and were better here than at any other Greek restaurant I have been to. Each appetizer was delicious in its own way and are served with tzatziki sauce.

For the main course I ordered bass with rice and Greek salad. The fish was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth, with a lovely lemon aftertaste. Rice and salad went well with the fish and weren’t too over proportioned in comparison. A friend of mine ordered a roasted lamb leg in a juicy tomato sauce and let me try it. The succulent meat came right off the bone with ease and was better than the fish.

Not only is the food at Pegasus delicious, but is moderately priced as well. Each plate was about 16 dollars give or take a few bucks. If you want to save money when eating tasty and authentic Greek food at the same time, then head on down to Pegasus!

Pegasus Greek Restaurant @

4824 16th Street SW, Calgary, AB

Phone Number – 403.229.1231

For more restaurant reviews for Calgary concerning other types of food, check out:

Open Sesame – Calgary Asian Food Review

La Dolce Vita – Italian Calgary Restaurant Review

Haru Sushi – Calgary Japanese Restaurant Review