What's new with Excel.

We know that buying a new home can be a stressful process, but when you add children into the mix it can get even more complicated! One of the first things a parent thinks about is “Where will my children go to school?”. Did you know, 7% of the schools in Calgary are over 4 years old and are simply too crowded, so here are some helpful things to consider when deciding where you want to buy your next home:

Although May has surprised us with everything from snow, rain, blustery winds and the odd day or so of sunshine, it is starting to look like we will get the much needed warmth we've been craving all year (crossed fingers!). Get out and about to enjoy this great city of ours and take in some amazing events happening this month. Here's what we think shouldn't be missed!

To buy old or new? It’s one of the most common dilemmas that homeowners face when deciding to buy a house. Some people prefer to know that they are the first ones that have lived in the space while others like the unique charm that an older house may possess. So how do you know if a brand new build is right for you? Well, here are some added perks to owning a new house that older homes just don’t offer.

Now that the snow is starting to melt and the sun is shining, let us fling right into Spring! Here are three of the most fun and original DIY home ideas to get right into the season.

Are you looking for some fun family activities to check out this month? Here are a few of our top picks for a fun-filled weekend this April.

Spring is here! Yes, we realize there is still snow on the ground and temperatures are still feeling wintery, but that doesn't mean a bit of spring cleaning and organization can't begin. One of the easiest places to start is your closet. With a few simple tips you can de-clutter and organize your closet allowing you to shave precious minutes off of your morning routine!

The weather is finally warming up which means the perfect time to get out and about in this great city of ours! Check out a few fun activities happening around town this month.

Make your home a calm and healing environment with aromatherapy. We often think that aromatherapy is just a way to make our homes smell fresh, but when used in a medicinal fashion, there are amazing healing benefits. You would be surprised how often we unknowingly experience aromatherapy benefits in our daily lives. We are exposed to so many different scents throughout the day; some trigger positive emotions while others create the opposite response.

Now that the end of February is amongst us, we can barely contain our excitement that spring has almost sprung! Here are a few tips to help your home transition smoothly from the cold wintery season to the warmer, more enjoyable days of spring.

Firstly, we recommend that you ensure all gutters and down spouts are free of debris and clutter so that they do not get clogged and are able to drain efficiently. This is especially important to keep in mind as the snow begins to melt and we depend more on these gutters to carry water downward and away from our houses to prevent water damage. Also, with the warmer weather comes the rain and as we all know Calgary saw a lot of it last year! Small, simple, preventive measures such as these do pay off in the long run and help to keep your home in tip-top shape.

Looking for for some fun activities to do around Calgary? Here are a few suggestions for the month of February!

EDUCATIONAL: The Telus Spark Science Center is the place to be every second Thursday of the month. It is Adults Only Night from 6-1pm. There are DJ’s, bars and hands-on experiments. It’s a great place to take a date or head to with a group of friends. The Being Human Exhibit is a great way to get close to a date - one of the activities includes hugging for 2 seconds to boost the Oxytocin in your body!

Excel Homes is committed to building energy-efficient and environmentally friendly homes. Here is an easy tip to benefit your pocket book (and the planet)!

Did you know that most appliances continue using electricity even when they are turned off? This inadvertent use of energy is referred to as Vampire Energy. It happens when an electrical device has an external power supply. This can be avoided by simply unplugging your appliances or using an energy saving Smart Power strip. Smart Power strips work to reduce your power usage by shutting down power to products that go into standby mode.

If you’re looking for a fun and easy way to give your room a bit of a refresh, you’re in luck! Today’s blog looks at headboards. Let your imagination run wild, be inspired, and let your personality shine through!

DIY head boarding is popular because of its simplicity. Create the desired shape out of wood (see below for headboard shapes), and use a mattress pad to obtain the desired firmness. Use a layer of batting or thin fabric to hold the pad in place by stapling it to the back of the board. Cover the padded shape with your choice of patterned fabric and voila, you have a customized headboard!