Blog posts in Home Tips & Tricks.

Herbs and spices are essential in every kitchen pantry. Aromatic seasonings enhance the flavour of your soups and stocks, meat, fish and poultry, casseroles and baking. Check out our list of must have spices, as well as tips and tricks for storage, shelf life and usage.

After Calgary’s Thanksgiving snowfall it feels like winter might be coming a bit early this year. The question is – are you ready? There’s no time like the present to prepare for the city’s impending deep freeze. Take note of our handy checklist below and you’ll be ready for winter in no time.

Summertime is in full swing, but something is missing... find out how to make the most of your backyard during the summer months by applying these 3 simple landscaping tricks. We guarantee to have your neighbours talking about your backyard oasis all summer long!

Last week we learnt how to throw your kiddos a backyard bash so this week we will find out how to make sure the lawn is in top form. In order to learn how to manicure your lawn to perfection, we need to unleash the secrets from the lawn pros. So start your mowers and get ready to impress!

Calgary’s infamous June showers are almost over and – from what we hear – it will be a long hot summer. So while you’re stuck inside, avoiding the rainy weather, why not spend a little time prepping your home for indoor-outdoor living. Here are a few tips and décor ideas to get you started:

A new home is the biggest purchase you’ll ever make. Whether you’re buying your first home ever – or your first home in greater Calgary – we have a suite of handy resources and tools to help you through the home buying process. You’ll find Excel’s Guide For First Time Homebuyers, mortgage calculator and answers to a host of frequently asked questions.

By taking away some of the unknown and arming you with a toolkit of practical resources, we can help make your biggest purchase worry-free – leaving you to focus on all the excitement that comes with owning a new home!

With the overnight frost almost at bay, the outdoor gardens centres are buzzing. Hanging baskets, veggie gardens, patio planters and bedding plants are ready for your attention. But Calgary’s quirky climate can cause even the greenest of thumbs some grief. Don’t worry though; we have some helpful tips to keep your garden in bloom throughout the summer.

Spring has sprung! Sure, we’re waiting on leaves and vibrant green grass. And, yes, there’s probably at least one more dusting of snow before the winter tires come off. But heck, why not get in to the spirit of things and prepare for sunshine, warmth and everybody’s favourite – patio season!

Grab your dusters, Swiffer’s and power washers – it time to start spring-cleaning!

After 26 years as a Calgary new home builder we’ve come to realize that our business has a whole lot of industry specific terms and acronyms. While it’s second nature for us, it may feel like learning a whole new language for you. For instance COP refers to Canada Olympic Park for most proud Calgarians. But in our world it actually stands for Certificate of Possession (and in reality being handed a COP can feel like winning gold for most new homeowners.)

When the weather outside is frightful that fire inside’s delightful. Except for when it’s time to pay your winter heating bill. Calgary’s sub-zero temperatures are already upon us. So, before the next big freeze hits check out these simple eco-friendly winter maintenance tips to help keep your house cozy, body warm and wallet happy: