Bad habits are easy to fall into, and hard to break out of. Take, for example, the use of alliterative titles. It was our resolution to stop with the cliché, but it's a tougher habit to break than we thought!

All jokes aside, there are bad habits that you can fall into as a homeowner...habits that can end up costing you money. We'll list them below, as well as solutions:

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1) Compulsive Sale Buys

We know, getting a deal on anything for the home is such a rush when you're a homeowner...but budget buying may actually cost you more in the long run. Cheaper isn't always better. For example, cheaping out on paintbrushes seems like a good way to save money, but dollar store brushes can leave annoying streaks and uneven strokes. Depending…

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Today, our homes are capable of performing tasks automatically. These intelligent features remind us of cartoons like The Jetsons, or sci-fi shows like Star Trek. What once was imagined is now reality! Automated home features make life easier for us, and some can even help to increase your ROI if you plan to sell. Let's go over some specific smart tools, shall we?

Header image of a man's hand holding a cellphone. Cellphone display shows a smart home hub, where he can adjust the lights, locks, appliances, thermostat, doorbell, outlets and vacuum from one convenient place.



Smart Doorbells

Smart doorbells are becoming a must-have for every household! With online purchases at an all time high, so too is package theft. These doorbells will alert you to the presence of thieves, or to the presence of your delivery person, all in real time! A video feed streamed to your mobile phone allows you to see who's at the door, allowing you to decide how to…

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Our homes have a direct influence on us, not only on our moods, but our mental and physical well-being. Is it any wonder that in our third year of a pandemic that interior design trends are largely focused on making us feel at ease, instead of boasting style? Here are five major trends happening in interior design that lay out the look for 2022:

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1) Curved Furniture

Curved or sculpted forms have a softer, natural shape. In contrast to the sharp and angular pieces seen in previous years, curved furniture evokes cognitive ease. The natural shape/curve is familiar to the eye, and is therefore associated with safety and comfort. You can plan on seeing more curved furniture and accent pieces as the year unfolds!


2) Natural Surfaces

…

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What are the holidays without Christmas cheer? If you're looking for games to add into your family traditions, you've come to the right place! Here's a top ten list of fun family Christmas games you can use for any get together:

A group of friends playing a game of Christmas themed Who Am I



1) Christmas Guess Who

 

Bring this family favourite to your holiday gatherings! Create cards with holiday-related questions like, "Who has played the role of Santa in our family the most?" or, "Who has celebrated the most Christmases?" Have a stack of family photos showcased, so that each person can match up the question with the photo. Once solved, hang them from a Christmas-themed picture string for a festive holiday memory!


2) Christmas Would You Rather

Find out how your family and friends…

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This week, we want to take you in a different direction than our norm. This week, we're going to confess what distracts us the most. Hopefully, by showing you some of our vulnerabilities, you can identify with one or a few of them - and work on dealing with it, as we deal with ours. Without further delay, let's countdown these distractions!

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5) Media Playing In The Background

Working in silence seems too eerie, doesn't it? That's why we usually have music playing in the background at work, or have the TV on in the background if we've got a couple of things to do at home. It could be a show, music channel, sports station, or Youtube video....but it's gotta be on! Well, now this habit has turned against us - sometimes we just stop what…

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Are you and your partner making the big move together? Here are some quick tips for unmarried couples who will be purchasing a home together!

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1) Saskatchewan Definition

Regarding property in Saskatchewan, couples are considered official spouses when they have lived together in the same dwelling for two years, plus one day. This means that the person's name on the title of the property up until the two year (and one day) point is the only person who has any claim to said property. After that point, the two spouses have an equal claim - 50/50.


2) Mortgage Application

As with any person going to purchase a home, you go to a mortgage broker or your bank to get pre-approved for a mortgage. One person applies for this mortgage.…

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When dealing with property from a legal point of view, you may come across two terms: real property and personal property. What do these mean exactly? Let's talk about each in more detail:

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Real Property

Real property refers to land, anything built on that land, growing on that land, and/or anything existing under the face of that land. Basically, real property refers to anything that is immovable. Examples:

  • Barns
  • Garages
  • Crops
  • Mineral Rights
  • Sheds
  • Buildings
  • Fences
  • Roads
  • Landscaping
  • Ponds
  • Pools

Personal Property

Personal property refers to tangible (physical) and intangible (non-physical) items not permanently affixed to the land. Basically, personal property refers to anything that is …

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What says home sweet home better than a house with history? Historic homes appeal to so many people - from preserving architectural designs to showing off unique character touches. Yorkton's South Central, Central and Northern neighbourhoods feature some excellent historic homes. This includes wealthy professionals' homes from the late 1800's and houses built by the Doukhobor settlers! These homes still stand today, reminding us of the people who came before us, who started their new families in a new territory, and who built their families with the future in mind. With all of these things in mind, it's not hard to see why you might find yourself hunting for one of these homes! As with all things in this life, buying a home comes with drawbacks - a…

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Looking for stylish ways to show your appreciation during this spooky season? Keep it locked here to find out 5 easy and inexpensive ways to transform your front door! 

An image of the exterior entry way to a house. A pumpkin arrangement lines the black staircase up to the black front door.



1) Bloody Numbers

What's more off-putting than a haunted house? A house that seems normal at first glance. With this one detail, you can effectively give your guests and/or trick-or-treaters that uneasy feeling when they come up to your front door! All it takes is your hot glue gun. If you don't have red glue sticks, melt in bits of red crayon and mix thoroughly. Squirt the red glue onto the edges of your house numbers, blowing on it to accelerate the cooling process. What you're left with is dripping, oozing, bloody numbers. If you're having fun, try doing the same…

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