Welcome to the Seasons Best – Meticulously Cared for Acreage near Busby, Alberta

www.busbyacreage-57113-rr21.com

Located in the Dunstable area, near many lakes and Nakumun Park, just 15 minutes to Busby and many other small towns, and summer villages. This 10 acre’s is Manicured, Treed & Private! and it even has it’s very own creek running through the property! You will find several out buildings, including a Chicken Coop! plus an oversize 4 car Garage – with a very convenient drive-thru door!

With 1520 Sq. Ft., the property features; vaulted Ceilings, Open Concept Floorplan, a Large Kitchen, Stainless Appliances, plenty of Cabinets a Corner Pantry and Centre Island – Perfect for Entertaining. 3 Generous Bedrooms and 2 full Baths, will accomadate your family perfectly! Soak and rejuvinate in the corner Jacuzzi Tub featured in the Master Bath Ensuite & Enjoy your summer evenings on the the 2 tiered deck with wood frame & vinyl sided Gazebo.

Come take a look you will not be dissappointed!

 This Property is marketed with Designer Real Estate

Welcome to your new  Recreation property.  Your  summer weekend  getaways is just minutes from Edmonton.  This picturesque, awesome 4.23 acres is waiting for you.  What more could you ask for, close to Wabamun Lake, minutes to Seba Beach, and only 45 minutes to Edmonton.  Utilities are to the property line, and water is all that needs to be looked after.  Great location for your dream home.  Buy now, and start making your summer plans.

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

Empty nest syndrome is not a clinical diagnosis, but it’s a syndrome that some parents experience when their last child leaves home. It can include feelings of sadness, loss and difficulty when you suddenly have no children at home to care for.

Mixed emotions can be expected when your child is taking their first steps towards independence. You want to encourage this exciting new chapter in his or her life, but you might miss being part of their daily lives. Along with that can come worry about their general safety and ability to care for themselves all on their own.

Other factors that can contribute to empty nest syndrome can include if your child leaves home earlier or later that expected or if you identify yourself strongly with your role as a parent.

Empty nest syndrome can lead to more serious problems such as depression, identity crisis or marital conflicts, but it can also provide new opportunities and benefits to parents. You can reconnect with your spouse, improve the quality of your marriage and explore interests you may not previously have had time for.

Some important ways to prevent empty nest syndrome include planning ahead and educating yourself. Think of this exciting new time in your child’s life as an equally exciting time in your life! Now that your children have moved on, it is time for you to take the next step.  You are now ready to downsize, and move on as well possible to a smaller home, less housework and more time for leisure.

Don’t let empty nest sndrome get you down, make the best of the situation, and make plans for the transition of when the children leave home.   Plan ahead and look forward to those days of children on their own, and anticipation of grandchildren.   We are always closing one chapter and opening another as we go through life.  Lets make the most of each chapter and path we take.

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

Look no further, situated in the beautiful rolling valley of Rural Colinton, Alberta 2.75  acres of fenced paradise. 2 Acres of this quaint acreage have been cleared and an abundance of trees surround three sides, and the other side has a gate at the driveway.  Beautiful sloping hillside which is ideal for building your dream home with a walkout basement.  A great spot, tranquil, quiet, country living at its best, raise your family, have a few animals, what more could you ask for.  A 5 minute walk to the town of Colinton, 10 minutes to Athabasca, easy access to Highway 2, and in 90 minutes you are in Edmonton.  Power is on the property, gas line is to the property and would be very economical to have run to property.  A new Bored Well was dug and registered summer of 2012 with an abundance of excellent water.

This is the life, Best Location, Best Lifestyle, Best Getaway, and the Best Place to start your 1st Apple Tree.

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

Holiday Season Decorating Safety

With the holiday season just around the corner stores are filled with Christmas decorations galore to suit anyone’s style. With a little extra knowledge, this year you can protect your family and home and enjoy the holiday season knowing you are fully prepared!

Trees

• When purchasing an artificial tree check that it is “fire resistant” which means it will resist burning and extinguish quickly if it does catch on fire.
• When purchasing a live tree it should be fresh- it should look green, needles will be hard to pull off of branches and do not break easily, the trunk bottom should be sticky with resin and when tapped on the ground minimal needles should be lost. Heated rooms dry the tree out so keep the stand filled with water.
• Choose a location for the tree away from fireplaces and radiators, out of the way of traffic and not blocking any doors.

Lights

• Indoor and outdoor lights should have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory to meet safety standards. Only use lights with fused plugs.
• Check old and new lights for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections and get rid of any damaged ones. Replace burned-out bulbs with the same wattage bulbs.
• Only use a maximum of three standard size strings of lights per extension cord making sure the extension cord is rated for this use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree because it
• can become charged from faulty lights and electrocute anyone who touches the tree.
• Check that outdoor lights are certified for outdoor use and keep your distance from power or feeder lines from utility poles leading into older homes.
• Hang outdoor lights securely to protect them from wind damage using hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks.
• Outdoor lights should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s). Portable GFCI’s can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold or can be installed permanently by an electrician.
• Turn off ALL of your holiday lights when you go to bed or leave your home; the lights could short out and start a fire.

Decorations

• Choose non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to decorate your Christmas tree. Stick to tinsel or artificial icicles made of non-leaded materials; leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
• Never use candles on a tree or other evergreen decorations. Use non-flammable holders placed where they can’t be knocked over.
• In homes with small children, avoid decorations that are sharp, breakable or have small parts that can be swallowed or that resemble food or candy that a child may try to eat.

Fireplaces

• -Use a firescreen and keep decorations away from the fireplace and where they can’t fall into the fire.
• -Do not burn wrapping paper or other garbage, as these materials ignites, a flash fire may suddenly result.

This is a Joyous Season and sometimes all that glitter and bling we are tempted with gets in our way, and we forget some of these steps that can keep our family and home safe as we Celebrate and Entertain this Season.  Enjoy your Christmas and your Home.

Anna Bayne Associate | REALTOR®

Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

 KENNEDY Real EstateYour Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager

Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

1- According to a report by Maclean’s Magazine in 2009, St. Albert is the 6^th safest city in Canada and the safest city in the west!

2- St. Albert has everything you need, all of the amenities and more without the rushing busy streets of larger cities.

3- As St. Albert expands in size geographically, it continues to maintain that feeling of a close-knit
community.

4- With plenty of parks, trails and greenery in every direction, the city’s Red Willow Trail System offers more than 70 km of trails connecting parks and neighbourhoods.

5- St. Albert schools offer Elementary, Junior High School and High School through the Catholic and Francophone School Boards and Public School District; this means you have multiple choices when it comes to your child’s education!

6- Efficient recycling programs are in place so that the environment comes first.

7- Each and every neighbourhood in the city is a safe neighbourhood with community members who take pride in their city.

8- According to the city’s most recent community satisfaction survey, 99% of respondents provided a positive rating on quality of life in St. Albert!

9- St. Albert hosts festivals and community events throughout the year for every enthusiast, including Western Canada’s largest outdoor farmer’s market and the International Children’s Festival, one of the longest running children’s festivals in North America.

10- St. Albert has a rich heritage and artistic community that is fun to live in and explore!

When you are ready to make that move, not sure where to, take a look at St. Albert and all this community  has so much to offer.  This is only a start, there is so much more this beautiful historical city has to offer all of the residents who choose this to be their home.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

Welcome to the final instalment of Winterizing Your Home! In Parts I and II we talked about preparing your home heating system, air conditioning, roof, plumbing, chimney, fireplace and insulation for the colder winter months to come. Be sure to get these next simple suggestions added to your list as winter is just around the corner!

Windows and Doors

Reducing infiltration of cold air from leaks around windows and doors is one of the easiest ways to reduce your winter heating bills!

Windows

• On a windy day close your windows and feel for air leaks. It can be
  helpful to burn an incense and if the smoke trail becomes anything but vertical
  you have a leak.
• Places to look for leaks- at the edges where the window is hinged, slides
  or meets another unit.
• Plastic can be taped over the windows, but a less costly solution
  that looks better is to use rope caulk weatherstripping. Press the rope caulk
  into all the joints where air is leaking.

Doors

• Check if your doors already have weatherstripping and check for
  leaks along the sides, tops and bottoms of the doors.
• Install weatherstripping where it is needed.

Sprinkler System

Don’t overlook this one when winterizing your property!

• This should be done before the end of October.
• Turn the water supply off and blow compressed air through the
  sprinkler lines to clear them of water to prevent freezing and bursting when
  the temperature drops.

Landscape and Amenities

Lastly you’ll want to get your yard ready for winter; doing so will save money on expenses in the spring because your outdoor amenities will have been protected!

• Cover patio furniture and if possible store in a shed, garage or basement.
• If your deck needs it, consider giving it a fresh coat of sealer.
• Drain gas from your lawn mower or you can just let it run until it’s out of gas.
• Drain any water fountains and unplug the pumps.

When your home and property are properly prepared for the winter months to come, you can rest at ease when the cold weather arrives. It’s important to transition your home between changing seasons and invest a little to avoid sudden big expenses that can sneak right up on you!

Just can’t stress this enough,  your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the “pick of the crop.”

www.liveinstalbert.com

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

Last time we talked about preparing your home heating system,  air conditioning and roof for the colder winter months to come. Here are some more easy steps to follow to ensure the ice, snow and temperature drop won’t take you or home by surprise!

Plumbing

Damage to plumbing and your home during the winter months can be a costly nightmare when freezing temperatures cause pipes to burst. Investing some time and a little bit of money will be well-worth it!

• Insulate exposed piping- Any exposed water or drain piping in un-insulated spaces (this includes crawl spaces, attics, outside walls, etc. ), need to be insulated. This can be done by wrapping the pipes with electrical heating tape and then with foam insulation.
• Exterior faucets- Called hose bibbs or sill cocks, these outdoor faucets need all water supply turned off from inside the house. Drain all of
  the water and disconnect any garden hoses which should also be drained as well.  Insulated covers can be purchased to cover the hose bibbs.
• Seasonal shutdown- If you are shutting down a summer property for the winter be sure to shut of the water supply and drain the plumbing system.

Chimney (and Fireplace) Checklist

• Check if the chimney is clear of nests from birds, squirrels and other small critters.
• Check the floe damper operation, that it opens and closes properly and that it can lock in both positions.
• Check the chimney draft by lighting some rolled up newspaper; the smoke should rise up the chimney. If it doesn’t a professional needs to be called to clean the chimney of creosote ash and possible debris.
• If it has been several years since the chimney has been cleaned then a professional should be hired to do so.
• Inspect the fire brick in the fireplace and any open mortar joints MUST be repaired! A fire can spread into the stud wall behind the masonry firebrick through open mortar joints.

   Insulation

Here are some extra tips for the cold months to come beyond the basics of insulating your home.

• Insulate your hot water tank with an insulating blanket (you can purchase at a hardware store).
• Insulate exterior outlets and switch plates with inexpensive foam sealing gasket.
• If your fireplace leaks air you can cut a piece of fibreglass insulation and fit it into the fireplace to block cold air from coming into your home. Just don’t forget to remove it when you want to start a fire!

I hope you are well on your way to winterizing your home, because the snow and ice is just around the corner! If you start taking these simple steps to prepare your property for the cold then you can relax when the temperature starts to drop.  Stay tuned and next you can learn about winterizing doors and windows in your home, sprinkler systems and your landscape and amenities!

Remember your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the pick of the crop.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

The best time to get ready for the winter is in the fall, before the the cold weather, snow and ice arrives! Home winterizing can be easy when you take it step-by-step and start early enough. Part one of this three part blog will get you well on your way!

Heating System

You’ll want to make sure you have heat for when you need it!

Test Run- Turn the thermostat on to ‘heat mode’ and listen for the furnace to start. Warm air should start blowing within a few minutes.

• Seasonal Maintenance- Have your  furnace checked by a service technician or if you know how you can do this  yourself.
• Replace the air filter.
• Fuel- If using a propane or oil  furnace top-off the fuel storage tank.
• Heating Vents- Ensure vents are  clear so air can flow.
• Check for Carbon Monoxide  Leaks- Install a test badge or battery operated alarm.

Air Conditioning

Often people forget about caring for the condensing unit (the portion that sits outside) as winter approaches.

• Clean Condensing Unit of  Debris- Using a hose set to high pressure, clean the fan blades and condensing  coils.
• Cover Condensing Unit- Although  designed for outdoor use, covering the unit with an air conditioner cover will  extend the life and efficiency performance of the unit.
• Window Air Conditioners- Remove  and store them for winter. If removal is not possible then close the vents and  cover the unit with an air conditioner cover.

Roof

Hire someone to inspect your roof if you are not comfortable safely doing so yourself; if you do inspect it yourself be sure to wear solidly fastened shoes with non-skid soles.

Check for missing or damaged shingles and have them replaced.  Check flashings around chimneys and other roof projections which can be a source for leaks.

Clean out gutters and downspouts. Wet leaves left over winter can add weight and volume which increases risk of damage when frozen.

That’s all for now but be sure to check back for part two on Winterizing Your Home which will include tips on winterizing your fireplace/chimney, plumbing and insulation! In Part Three the following week you can learn about winterizing your doors/windows, sprinkler systems, landscape and amenities.

Your home is your castle and investing some extra time and engery in it, you know you have the pick of the crop when the time comes to sell.

www.liveinstalbert.com

Anna Bayne
Associate | REALTOR®
Your St. Albert/North Edmonton  Area Specialist!

KENNEDY Real Estate
Your Edmonton REALTOR® | Edmonton Home Stager
Call us today…780-485-3010 and GET SOLD!

SPRING CLEANING

All the Tools

Spring Cleaning

 Spring is in the air and so is the dust, dirt and clutter that has built up over the winter months!  Whether you are getting ready to sell your home, need to take an inventory of your belongings, you need a good cleaning from top to bottom or maybe it’s just time to transition into the warmer weather; spring cleaning is a good idea for every home. Once you have completed the task you will feel organized, tidy and just a little bit lighter!

Here are a few tips to help you get started, followed by a general checklist to help break the daunting task into smaller more manageable ones and ensure you get everything done. Also listed are some specific jobs for certain rooms and areas in your home.
TIPS

1) Get four large containers and label them:

Put Away- items that are used regularly and need to go back to their “home”

Get Rid Of- items you don’t use anymore that are in good enough shape for a 2nd life

Storage- items not used regularly or that are seasonal but you still need to keep and find a place to  store in your home

Garbage- anything that doesn’t fit  into the other categories

2) Depending on the size of your home, how you like to get things done and how much time you have, you can choose to either dedicate a
whole weekend to the job or assign different days to different rooms. The last chart divides your home into 7 areas, so if you choose to do one area per day then you can get the job done in one week!

3) If you want the whole family to get involved (this can be a challenge, sometimes quicker and easier just to do it all yourself!) here are some ideas to encourage them:

-Each person should do their own bedroom, especially if they want to decide what goes into the ‘Garbage‘ container!

-Let them read the checklist and decide which room/area they would like to do

-Organize a garage sale at the end of the clean up and make a rule, “The more you help, the higher percentage of profits you get”.
GENERAL CHECKLIST

Walls & Ceilings    - vacuum to remove dust and then wipe down Dust thoroughly   – from the top of the room down and then vacuum the dust that settles on the ground

Shelves   - take everything off, dust and wipe-down

Doors   - wipe down thoroughly and polish metal hardware

Windows  – remove and wash screens  -clean window treatments; check curtain labels, many can be machine washed  -clean glass (from the inside and out)

Upholstered Furniture - remove cushions and beat out the dust (outside)  – vacuum under the cushions and in crevices  – read care labels to clean
stains

Wooden Furniture -wipe down and then wax (if appropriate)

Rugs  – vacuum and then shampoo  -rugs without backings, including oriental rugs, require professional cleaning

Floors  – sweep and mop  – most non-wooden floors can be waxed

*Don’t forget to move all of your furniture to clean under and behind thoroughly!

AREA ROOM – SPECIFIC TASKS

Bedrooms – Flip mattress and replace winter bedding with more  lightweight ones.   Wash pillows, most can be   machine washed.   Put winter clothes away  and bring out warmer  weather ones, also get rid  of items you no longer  wear.

Bathrooms – Scrub EVERYTHING – Discard expired hygiene  products, cosmetics and  medications.

UPDATE FIRST AID KIT!!!

Living Room – Dust TV and stereo equipment, Swap heavy curtains,  rugs and throws for lightweight ones.

Kitchen Clean all appliances (turning  off power to do so), including  removing food from fridge and   freezer to defrost and clean.

Dust cupboards and shelves and clean out drawers Scrub sink  Throw out expired food.

Office  Clean computer and dust  keyboard  Organize files.

Stora     ~ Get rid of what you don’t need.

Utility Areas   – Organize In areas with concrete floors use blocks to lift  items and boxes off the  floor to preserve and  protect them.

Outdoors – Sweep cobwebs off porch  ceilings and walls, Scrub decks, patios,  walkways and driveways.  Wash outdoor furniture and  toys

Replace burnt out and broken light bulbs and  fixtures.

Just think of how fantastic you will feel when your whole home is clean, organized and up-to-date! If you are getting ready to sell your home then it will be ready for showing and make packing and moving so much easier.  And if you’re not then you can feel good about keeping your family healthy by getting rid of those hidden germs (that are there no matter how clean you keep your home!). When you are finished you can give back to the community by donating gently used items; or make some extra cash by having a garage sale, (check out our garage sale
blog for some tips).

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!!

www.liveinstalbert.com

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