<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">
    <channel>
        <atom:link href="https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/2020-02/rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/2020-02/</link>
        <description></description>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/tips-for-refinishing-your-cabinets.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/tips-for-refinishing-your-cabinets.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Refinishing Your Cabinets? Tips To Be Successful</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 


Cabinet refinishing can be a big project for a Cochrane Heights home, requiring many hours of work and a lot of planning. If you've never done this kind of project before, you have a lot to learn about ensuring the work is done properly. These tips can help you through the process.


Set Aside Time


Cabinet refinishing can take time, often a lot of time. For most people, cabinet refinishing cannot be done in a single day or even over a weekend. Even with help, most homeowners need several dedicated days to get the work completely finished. Homeowners who want the work to be done as quickly and efficiently as possible may need to hire a professional who has the right tools and enough employees to get the work done fast.


Draw a Diagram, Label Your Doors and Drawers


Before removing any doors and drawers from the cabinets, draw a diagram of the cabinets and number each door and drawer on the diagram. When the diagram is finished, write a corresponding number on each cabinet door and drawer. This will prevent you from mixing up the doors and drawers, and will make it easier to return them to their proper place.


Keep Hardware in Sandwich Bags


Remove the hardware (like hinges and knobs) from each door and drawer, and then put each set of hardware in its own individual bag. Label each bag with a permanent marker to indicate which door or drawer the hardware was removed from. This ensures the hardware will be easy to reattach when the time comes.


Remove Old Finish Before Applying New


The old finish on the cabinets must be removed before any new finish can be applied. If it is not, then the new finish may chip away over time. Old finish can be removed with sand paper, or with a deglosser. When using a deglosser, read the instructions carefully to ensure the work is done right. 


Not Up to the Task? Work With a Contractor


Cabinet refinishing is a big task. If you're not physically up to the job, hire a professional contractor to get it done. Your contractor will know how to refinish your cabinets quickly. In addition, your contractor may find it easier to get better results, because he or she will have the right tools and experience to get the job done.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 27 Feb 2020 07:10:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/drone-to-sell-your-home.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/drone-to-sell-your-home.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>4 Reasons to Use a Drone When Selling Your Home</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 


There are many strategies homeowners use when trying to sell their home. Whether it’s hiring a professional home stager or doing professional landscaping, there are many ways to attract buyers. Recently, drones have become more accessible, and people have come to use them to take pictures and video of nearly anything—including homes. There are many great reasons why homeowners should use drone photography for their homes. Here are some of the biggest advantages.


Hiring a Drone Operator is Affordable


The biggest reason people automatically write drones off is because they seem like they would be extremely expensive. While this can be true, it doesn’t have to be. Drones can actually be extremely affordable, with one session costing between $200-$600. The price will vary depending on what the homeowner wants done. For instance, a session that’s exclusively taking still photos will be less expensive than a session where the homeowner wants both photos and video. Most drone operators also include photo and video editing into the session costs, so the homeowner won’t need to worry about having to pay extra money later for editing services.


Drones Are Great for Large Properties


Some homeowners have large properties that are multiple acres in size. It can be difficult to capture just how large a property like that is with just photos, especially if the land is flat and doesn’t have much variation. Hiring a drone operator can be a great way to show off an entire property clearly. Having drone videos can be a great way to show off natural features of the property, such as ponds, streams, or other similar things, which is extremely useful to buyers who want to know exactly what they’re buying.


Drones Are Capable of Better Angles


Homeowners often discover when trying to take photos on their own that it’s difficult to get angles that make their homes look good. This is often because the person taking the photo can’t get far enough up off the ground to get the right angle. With a drone that can hover in the air at any height, that isn’t an issue. Drones can capture images of homes from any angle that the homeowner could possibly want, and that includes interior photos as well. With photos taken by a drone, there are very few barriers to what can and can’t be done.


Drones Can Show Off More Than Just the Home


Another great advantage of using drones is that they can capture more than just the home. If the homeowner wants to include images of the surrounding neighborhood, hiring a drone operator makes that easy. Drones can easily fly over the neighborhood and show off where local schools are, nearby parks, and so on. This can be a great way to show buyers where the home is in relation to all the different local attractions. When a buyer is looking for a new home, these sorts of things are extremely important to them—especially if they’re new to the area and don’t know where everything is yet.


Drones are a great asset to real estate, and all Bow Ridge home sellers need to consider hiring a drone operator to help bring their home listings to the next level. For more information about drones and home photos, be sure to contact a local drone operator who can clarify any possible questions.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 20 Feb 2020 08:13:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
<item>
    <guid>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/different-home-architectural-styles.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/different-home-architectural-styles.html</link>
        <author>justin@justinhavre.com (Justin Havre Real Estate Team)</author>
        <title>Which Home Architectural Style is Right for You?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 


Home architectural styles can vary dramatically. If you're searching for a Bow Meadows home, it's important to recognize that not every architectural style will fit your lifestyle and personal preferences. Knowing the different home styles and how they can affect you can help you decide for yourself which architectural styles to focus on when you're looking for a home. Having this information can help you narrow your search.


Want to Age In Place?


Some activities become more difficult when you get older. Specifically, going up and down stairs and performing household chores can become very challenging. For this reason, people who want to age in place usually look for a home that is in good shape and unlikely to need major maintenance or renovation. They're also attracted to homes that are compact and lacking stairs.


Ranch Style


Ranch-style homes are usually spread out over one ground-level storey. Most ranch-style homes date back to the 1950s, 60s and 70s, so they're relatively new and sturdy, requiring less maintenance than some older homes. However, ranch homes sometimes need plumbing or electrical upgrades to avoid safety hazards in the home.


West Coast Modern


West Coast Modern homes are usually one storey but sometimes can be multiple stories. These homes have a sleek modern look with large windows. Like ranch-style homes, West Coast Modern homes generally date back to the mid-20th century, and thus are often in good condition and require only a standard amount of maintenance.


Have Small Children?


People with growing families are often attracted to homes that have few stairs, but enough room for their kids to spread out. Parents of small children are often on a budget and have little money leftover for major home improvements.


Split Level


Split-level homes were popular from the 1950s up through the 1970s. These homes have some stairs, but not as many stairs as homes that are two storeys or more. Because many split-level homes were built in the 1970s, they are relatively new and often need minimal upkeep.


Ranch Style


Ranch-style homes are just as attractive to parents of young children as they are to seniors, for many of the same reasons. They're easy to maintain and often have no stairs.


Love Big Homes and Romance?


Home buyers who love big homes and romance are often drawn to Victorian homes, which can date back to as far as the 1880s. These homes can also be a drain on finances because they tend to be energy inefficient and often in need of upgrades. People attracted to Victorian homes are usually those who have a true love of historic architecture, money to dedicate to maintenance and upkeep, and time to put into their home. Victorian homes are often large and generally somewhat costly, so people with older children and big families are sometimes attracted to these properties.


Contact Your Real Estate Professional


Want to buy a home? Not sure which style is right for you? Your real estate agent can help you with your decision. Although no real estate professional can tell you what to buy, your agent can help you make your decision by showing you a variety of styles in the neighbourhoods where you would like to make your purchase. Looking at different homes can make this decision-making process easier.


If you're a home buyer who would like to purchase your first home and you're not sure which style is right, reach out to an experienced real estate professional today.


 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Thu, 06 Feb 2020 06:56:00 -0700</pubDate>
</item>
    </channel>
</rss>