Blog - Billy Peshke

Keeping Houseplants Alive when You’re Away

When you’re out-of-town, there are plenty of kennels and other facilities that will mind your dog or cat. In fact, the pet-care business is booming! However, the same options aren’t available for your houseplants. So what do you do? 

First, keep in mind that plants can go for several days or even a couple of weeks without water. This frequently happens in their natural habitats. So if you’re gone for just a few days, your flora will probably be fine. 

Flowering plants tend to need the most water. Give them an extra dose just before you leave. Also, make sure they are in indirect, rather than direct sunlight. That will help them conserve water. 

If you’re going to be away for a week or more, consider one of the several products on the market that…

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Calgary Stats - January.1st 2016

(Based on 30 days back) 

Active: 4414

Sold: 836

Average List Price: $480,197

Average Sale Price: $462,571

Average Days on Market: 49 days

 The city of Calgary's absorption rate is at 5.27% meaning we are in a buyers market. 18% of homes on the market today are expected to sell within the next 30 days and sellers are receiving 96% of asking price. 

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Airdrie Stats - January.1st 2016

 (Based on 30 days back) 

Active: 293

Sold: 61

Average List Price: $377,193

Average Sale Price: $368,255

Average Days on Market: 59 days

 Airdrie's absorption rate is at 4.80% meaning we are in a buyers market. 20% of homes on the market today are expected to sell within the next 30 days and sellers are receiving 97% of asking price. 

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What Home Inspectors See that You Can’t

When you make an offer on a home, it’s a smart idea to have a professional home inspector check it out from top to bottom. This inspection will ensure that the property doesn’t have any unexpected “issues”. After all, you don’t want to buy a home only to discover that the roof needs to be replaced, immediately, for thousands of dollars. 

That being said, you might question whether you really need to invest the few hundred dollars it costs for a professional home inspection. “The home we want to buy looks like it’s in very good shape,” you might be thinking. “I can’t see anything wrong with it.” 

However, a professional home inspector can see things you can’t. When you view a property that’s on the market, you might be able to notice obvious issues,…

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Simple Ways to Reduce Your Monthly Utility Costs

Many homeowners think there’s not much they can do about telephone, heating, water and other utility expenses. Sure, you may grumble about a high heating bill one month, but what can you do about it?  

 Turns out, you can do plenty. There are several ways to reduce monthly utility costs that can save you tens or even hundreds of dollars. For example: 

 • Shop around for a better phone plan. Then contact your phone company. They might match the rates. 

 • Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. You likely don’t need tap water to be that hot. 

 • Clean the screen on your outside air conditioning unit regularly. (Gently with the water hose.) Dirt and leaves can build up on it, reducing the unit’s efficiency. 

 • Leverage the sun. Open…

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Calgary Stats -Dec.2nd 2015

(Based on 30 days back)

Active: 5404

Sold: 1314

Average List Price: $475,311

Average Sale Price: $460,301

Average Days on Market: 46 Days

The absorption rate is at 4.11% meaning Calgary is in a buyers market. 24% of homes on the market today are expected to sell within the next 30 days and sellers are receiving 97% of asking price. 

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Should You “High Ball” Your Listing Price?

One of the most important decisions you make when selling your home is setting the listing price. That can be tricky. After all, if you price your property too low, you leave money on the table — perhaps thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you price your home too high, many buyers won’t even bother to see it, believing it is too expensive. 

 Even with that reality, there are some sellers who contemplate setting a high listing price in the hopes of a windfall. They want some unsuspecting buyer to fall in love with the home and buy it — even though it’s overpriced.  That rarely, if ever, happens.  Instead, the listing often languishes on the market because its listing price is conspicuously much higher than its market value.  

 Think about it.…

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Airdrie Stats -Dec.2nd 2015

(Based on 30 days back)

Active: 341

Sold: 97

Average List Price: $378,790

Average Sale Price: $371,369

Average Days on Market: 46 Days

The absorption rate is at 3.51% meaning Airdrie is in a balanced market. 28% of homes on the market today are expected to sell within the next 30 days and sellers are receiving 98%of asking price. 

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Making Your Home Critter Proof

You may love animals, but with the exception of your family pets, you don’t want them in your home. Here are some tips for keeping the wildlife around your property where it belongs: outside. 

•  Don’t place bird feeders too close to your windows. Doing so may cause birds to associate a window with food and therefore try to peck their way inside. 
•  Make sure window screens are secure. If you can push a screen loose with your hand, so can a bird or other animal.
•  Check screens on dryer vents and chimneys. If they are damaged, fix or replace them.
•  To determine how animals are entering your home, stuff wadded paper in the suspected entry point. If the paper is disturbed the next day, you’ll know where they got in.
•  Never leave food outside,…

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When Is the Right Time to Talk to a REALTOR®?

When would you talk to a car salesperson? Probably only once you’re ready to buy a new car. You would do some initial research (perhaps on the internet), get an idea of what you want, and then go to the dealership to meet a salesperson, test drive the car and make the purchase. 

Although that approach may work when you’re buying a car, it’s not the best approach when it comes to real estate. You see, successfully buying or selling a home requires a lot of planning and legwork. You want the process to go smoothly, the right decisions to be made, and the best possible deal to be negotiated.  

After all, this is the purchase and/or sale of your home!  So, the best time to talk to a REALTOR® is as early in the process as possible. In fact, even if…

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