This year's Home & garden show will be from Feb 23-26 and there will be lots to look at and one particular area that you may not be thinking about now but soon enough as it will be spring and gardening time. So come get some ideas. See below for the garden area of the show and its schedule.

Happy planning and planting !

The 2012 Garden Stage presented by Golden Acre and Country 105
 

Want to be the next best thing in gardening? Greenthumbs and regular thumbs alike will each find their nursery niche at the Garden Stage presented by Golden Acre and Country 105. You will get your hands dirty and take part in a number of interactive seminars on everything from presenting fresh flower arrangements to planting perennials. As the remnants of winter melt away, prepare yourself for a blooming spring by joining our team of gurus. Don't forget your gardening gloves!

Thursday, February 23rd

Friday, February 24

Saturday, February 25

Sunday, February 26

The quickest fix is to not have the problem in the first place. Here's a checklist of items every homeowner should get to regularly.

1. Test your garage door opener monthly to ensure that it reverses when it hits an obstruction or when its sensor beam is interrupted.

2. Vacuum the clothes dryer's exhaust duct at least once a year. If the duct is plastic, replace it (it's a fire hazard). Rigid sheet-metal ducting is best.

3. Replace furnace filters quarterly, or as recommended by the furnace manufacturer.

4. Test all GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) outlets monthly. Press the test button and use a voltage tester to make sure the power goes off.

5. Clean leaves and debris from the condenser of a central air conditioner seasonally.

6. Once a year, vacuum the refrigerator coils underneath the appliance.

7. Have the fireplace chimney inspected and cleaned annually.
 window and door caulking and weather stripping yearly.

9. Replace the batteries in smoke detectors yearly. And remember, even recent hard-wired smoke detectors have backup batteries that must be replaced. If you have never checked yours, do so.

(Alberta and the North only)

Excerpted from the Popular Mechanics book When Duct Tape Just Isn't Enough, published by Hearst Books/Sterling Publishing.

Easy ways to make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Getting ready to sell? Move your property fast – and for the highest selling price possible – with these easy, affordable staging tricks. These deal-sealing changes will make your home attractive to the largest pool of potential buyers, and the best part is, you can start at any stage in the game. Who knows – you may love your home’s new look so much that you decide not to list after all!

1 Paint!
Dollar for dollar, a fresh coat of paint gives you more bang for your decorating buck than anything else. Even if your current palette is relatively new, any scuffs or wear marks will channel an unkempt vibe. And an unusual colour choice – even if the height of fashion – may limit your home’s appeal. So break out that roller and slap on a couple coats of crowd-pleasing warm white or sand paint.

2 Improve the lighting
Replace any dated light fixtures ASAP. How can you tell if it has to go? If it’s over 15 years old and looks it – yet isn’t a vintage (50-75 years old) or antique piece (older) – it should probably go. “Retro” is not something most homebuyers are looking for. You don’t need to break the bank, just head to IKEA or Canadian Tire.

3 De-clutter
Take the collectibles off the mantel, put the mismatched armchair into storage (or better yet, donate it) and pare your closets down to what you’re actually wearing this season, packing away the rest. Ideally, all this extra stuff would head to charity (if in good, saleable condition), the garbage dump, or into storage. The more you store onsite, the more cluttered and small your home appears.

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4 Give dated bathrooms a facelift
A nice bath helps sell a house but, don’t invest in a total renovation. Renos are costly, and you won’t recoup your costs unless you find your exact décor doppelganger. Bring an out-of-date bath up to speed with gleaming white walls whether via a fresh coat of white bath and kitchen paint or ceramic tile and new lighting (Home Depot excels at affordable, stylish bathroom vanity lighting). Buy neutral new shower curtains, a simple new bath mat and vanity set, and have fresh flowers in the room during open houses.

5 Take down curtains
Dated window treatments need to come down, pronto (if it’s over 10 years old, get rid of it). If privacy isn’t an issue, just leave the windows bare to maximize natural light and make the room’s dimensions seem more generous. Otherwise, buy basic-issue cotton or linen drapes from Linens ‘N Things or another well-priced retailer. Always tie drapes back during viewings and open houses.

6 Put up mirrors
Make small rooms appear bigger and dark rooms seem brighter by adding an attractive wall mirror. A boxlike dining room will benefit from a leaning floor mirror (Lowes sells well priced ones, and HomeSense often has great deals) and an entranceway more welcoming with a console mirror.

7 Update porch hardware
Increase your home’s curb appeal by updating the hardware on your front porch. Buy a doorknocker or bell, mailbox, kick plate, doorknob and lockset in a set or in complementary styles. Brushed nickel is a neutral finish that will never date, while oil-rubbed bronze is another favourite.

8 And the porch light
Update your porch light to coordinate with the new hardware, if needed. They don’t have to be an exact match or even come from the same period, but the finishes and styles should look pleasing together.

9 Spiff up the front yard
Refresh your front yard according to the season. In spring, summer and fall, trim back dead plants and foliage and plant attractive annuals or perennials in flowerbeds. In winter, keep the walkway shoveled and cut back any tree or shrub branches damaged by heavy snowfall. A pair of planters flanking the front door and filled with seasonal arrangements instantly conveys pride of ownership.

10 Tend the backyard
Simple fix-its will make the most of your existing yard layout. Replace any damaged boards on your deck or fence, and apply a fresh coat of paint, or stain and sealant if the finish needs it. Weed and groom your garden and add some perennials for colour when in-season. If kids’ toys are taking over the space, put some in storage. Think “tidy,” “update” and “refresh”: never do anything costly or major like adding a swimming pool or pond, which may put off potential buyers

 

WWW.styleathome.com

 

What is the RE/MAX Quest for Excellence?

The Quest for Excellence Program is a bursary program for grade 12 students in Western Canada. It was established by RE/MAX of Western Canada to recognize the success and ongoing pursuits of Western Canadian students in regards to leadership and community contribution initiatives.

What is Awarded?

RE/MAX of Western Canada will award 16 bursaries of $1,000 each to qualifying Grade 12 students. In addition, the 16 bursary winners will be entered into a draw and one lucky recipient will receive a RE/MAX Hot Air Balloon ride for two. Bursary winners will be notified in May, 2012. All Winners will be posted in May 2012.

Year-end figures demonstrate stable growth-  January 3, 2012

  According to figures released today by Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB)

Calgary residential sales in 2011 increased eight per cent over last year, with 18,568 sales for 2011 

compared to 17,267 in 2010. Recovering from tepid sales activity in the first half of 2011, early 

improvements in employment and migration resulted in a pickup in housing demand in the second half of the year. 

 By the end of June 2011, year-to-date sales activity had only increased by two per cent compared 

to the second half of the year, where residential sales improved by 15 per cent. 

“While sales activity in 2011 remained below the long run average by 17 per cent, monthly figures point 

 towards the trend of this gap narrowing,” says Sano Stante, president of CREB®. 

2011 single family sales totaled 13,186, a nine per cent increase over last year 

 While sales increased, listings remained low, with an annual total of 24,245, six per cent lower than 2010 levels. 

Single family average price in 2011 reached $466,402, a one per cent increase over last year. 

While there have been some strong monthly increases, primarily due to sales in the upper end skewing the prices, overall prices have remained fairly stable. Meanwhile, the year-end median price of 405,000 remains at levels similar to 2010. “Throughout 2011, elevated levels of inventories have limited price growth as consumers benefitted from sufficient supply of housing to choose from; however, as these inventories drop to levels more consistent with a balanced market,we can expect  some moderate price growth moving forward,” Stante concludes.