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 Attract Buyers with Pet-Friendly Yards

Having a great outdoor space for your dog is the best—and it’s super attractive to buyers, especially in the millennial buyer group. Show off your yard and make it pet friendly with these easy tips.

1. Make sure your plants and mulch are pet safe. Go through and identify all the plants in your yard. If there are some you can’t figure out, take a picture with you to your local garden supply store. If any parts of the plant are poisonous to our furry friends, replace it with something that will keep everyone safe. Same goes for mulch, which is sometimes made from the cocoa plant and has the same toxic substances as chocolate.  

2. Be careful with pesticides. Many pesticides are poisonous to pets. The ones that are okay to use around pets usually have very specific instructions for use. If possible, use natural pesticides or add cedar mulch or plants like catnip and lemon balm to naturally deter pests from hanging out in your yard. 

3. Decrease muddy areas. A corner of the yard that’s constantly muddy is basically a dog magnet. Add some mulch or pavers to muddy areas to cut down on dirty paws in your entryway.

4. Upgrade your fencing. Keep your pets in and other critters out by installing weatherproof fencing. Don’t forget to add a heavy-duty gate to make life easier for you!

5. Add a shady spot. Many pets love laying out in the sun, but they need a place to cool off too. Add some shade trees or designate a covered area on your patio so your pooch can continue to enjoy the fresh air without overheating. 

With just a few changes, you can make your yard a haven for both pets and their owners. 

If you want to know how you can make your home appeal to the most buyers possible, just send me a message and I’ll give you my expert opinion. 

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Embrace City Living in this Luxury Home located in the newer Lakeside Neighbourhood. Over 3,000 sq. ft. of living space with custom features throughout. Accented entry floor tile, floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room with a gas fireplace and soaring to the ceiling is the imported stone hearth. Spacious kitchen with quartz countertops, imported silk ceramic tile on the backsplash, a dining area with a view to the yard, a large island with a built-in wine rack and a six-burner gas stove, a built-in oven with a warming drawer and a walk-in pantry. The mudroom accommodates ample storage with custom shelving floor to ceiling and double closets. Explore the upper floor featuring an open loft, large laundry room with built-in cabinets and a sink. There is a six-piece main bathroom, two bedrooms, and escape to the primary bedroom, exerting a feeling of serenity at the end of the day while relaxing with custom lighting to set the mood, a six-piece ensuite, double closets and a walk-in closet with custom shelving. The basement offers two bedrooms, a three-piece bathroom, a large family and den room with a gas fireplace and plenty of storage. This fine home is complete with a triple attached heated garage, a composite deck off the dining room with a natural gas BBQ line, air-conditioned throughout, and a hide a hose central vac system. 3D Virtual Tour Available.

 
 
 
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Explore this exceptionally well-maintained 4 level split located in the Southridge neighbourhood of Lloydminster, within walking distance of schools and parks. Over 1,900 sq. ft of living space and showing pride of ownership, this immaculate and beautiful home features updated windows throughout, updated hardwood flooring, vaulted ceilings, a large window in the living room, a formal dining room for large family gatherings, upgraded kitchen cabinets with quartz countertops, custom interior cabinet organizers and pull-out shelving, and updated patio doors off the kitchen dining area. Three bedrooms up with an updated three-piece master ensuite in the primary bedroom and an updated main bathroom. The 3rd floor features a laundry room with access to the double attached garage with a newer garage door, an updated guest bathroom, a 4th bedroom, and a spacious family room with access to the yard. The basement is complete with a recreation/games room, a cozy den perfect for an office and plenty of storage space with built-in shelving. All appliances included makes this home complete. 3D Virtual Tour Available.

5729 37 Street, Lloydminster, AB
MLS A1130394

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HOME RENOVATION STRATEGY

If you have to do more than one renovation on your home, you’re probably wondering which one to do first. And if you’re planning on doing a more comprehensive remodel, you might be having a minor panic attack about making the wrong choice. Don’t worry about painting yourself into a corner though because today we’re talking about the right order to do renovations in. 

You can’t go wrong with an inside out approach. Start by repairing the interior parts of the house—like the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, then move onto drywall and painting. After that you can work on doors, windows, and fixtures. After everything is installed, you can install your floors and, lastly, do the trim and finishing touches. 

By moving from the inside out, you won’t have to worry about undoing work you’ve already done, which is the worst nightmare of any home project.

As you plan your renovations and as you do them, resist the urge to jump around to different renovation areas. For example, if you start painting in the kitchen, finish it before moving on to the bedroom. Otherwise you’ll prolong the renovation, and you’ll have to deal with more areas under construction, which can make life difficult if you’re still living in the home. 

And if you’re planning on a big remodel, you’ll probably use the help of professionals. Get their input on which projects to do first, especially if you plan to coordinate with more than one specialist.

As long as you think through your renovation timeline and carefully plan the milestones, you’ll make it through the process just fine. And when in doubt, ask the professionals like a contractor, designer, or friendly real estate agent (hi!). 

If you have any questions about renovating your home, just shoot me a message. I can help you plan a reno to get you the most bang for your buck, and I have connections with some amazing (and trustworthy) contractors.

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Welcome, August.  It’s is the last month of the summer holidays, and I am sure a number of you are on your last weeks for summer vacations and are getting ready for back to school.    

Let’s take a look and see what had happened with the real estate market for the past month. 
We currently have a total of 311 active listings in The City of Lloydminster. 49 properties sold in July. The average selling price range is holding at $295,000, with an average of 78 Days on the market.

We did have a slight increase in sales this past month, and I am sure we will continue to see more properties sell in the next couple of months.

If you are thinking of selling your home today, give me a call or send me a message, and we can discuss how much your home is worth.  

If you are looking to buy check out my website at BorderCityRealEstate.com and search a neighbourhood.

I hope you all have a fabulous week, be safe and bye for now.

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Simple Steps to Organized Kitchen

Want a beautiful kitchen? Don’t we all? Well, your path to a streamlined, organized kitchen starts with a couple of simple tasks: cleaning and decluttering. And while organizing your kitchen can seem like a daunting project, you just have to set daily goals and then stick to them. 

Storage
Tackle your cabinets and drawers by getting rid of dinnerware, pans, utensils and appliances you don’t use. Consider adding drawer organizers to areas that get messy fast (like a utensil drawer). After you’ve decluttered and organized, use a cleaning spray to wipe down the cabinet exteriors and interiors, drawers, and any open shelving. 

Pantry
Time to see what kind of cans are lurking at the back of your pantry. Choose a section and start by pulling everything out. Toss the expired food, and if there’s anything that’s still good but that you won’t use, put it in a bag to donate to a food pantry. Wipe down your shelves as you go and replace any shelf paper as needed. 

Sinks and Counters
Take everything off your counter and decide if it needs to stay on the counter. If you only use your toaster on Saturdays, you can probably store it in one of your nice, newly organized cabinets. Deep clean your sink, faucet, drain, and garbage disposal. 

Appliances
Finish off your clean-a-thon by giving your hardworking appliances some love. First, check your fridge and freezer and throw out anything expired and things you know won’t get eaten. Once it’s good to go, clean the inside and outside of your refrigerator, and pull it out from the wall to vacuum behind it. Yay for increased energy efficiency! Next, tackle the stove by degreasing the stovetop and running the oven cleaning setting. If you have a hood, degrease that as well. Then wipe down the outside and inside of the microwave. Finish off by running the dishwasher with a cup of white vinegar to descale the interior. 

Now your kitchen is pristine and organized. In fact, that’s just the sort of kitchen buyers are looking for.If you want to show off your kitchen and see what your home could score in our hot market, just reply to this email!

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f you’ve been wondering if now is the time to give up renting for good, you’re not alone. In 2020 and 2021, we’ve seen more and more first-time homebuyers enter the market. Why? Well, owning a home comes with several huge benefits. 

Security and stability

Having a place to call yours, and yours only, can take a huge amount of stress away. You don’t have to worry about finding your next rental or if your landlord is going to sell the apartment. No more stressing about packing up and moving or about what you’re going to do after your lease ends. And if you want to start a family soon, or want to give your kids a more permanent place to live, you really can’t beat the security and stability of owning a home. 

Financial investment

Buying a home is a major financial decision. For many people, a home is the most expensive thing they’ll ever buy. But owning a home is more than just an expense—it’s a financial investment. By paying into your mortgage each month, you’ll build equity in your home. Basically, you’ll be able to get that money back when you sell the house, instead of paying rent and having the money just disappear. And because property appreciates over time, your investment will grow and increase your return.

Customization

One of the best parts about owning your own home is that you don’t have to get anyone’s permission to paint a wall purple if you want to. You can hang shelves and art, paint, redo your kitchen, and change your floors as much as you want. When you own your home, you can customize and decorate to your heart’s content. 

Whether you want to buy a home for the first time or upgrade your current property, now is a great time to buy. Interest rates are at historic lows, which means you can save big on your mortgage. There are also several mortgage options available just for first time buyers that can make getting your own home easier. 

If you’re ready to buy your very first home, just reply to this email, and we can talk about your next steps.

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Welcome to my weekly market update report for Lloydminster. Let’s see what happen with the real estate market in the past week. We had a total of 313 Active listings. 21 properties were just listed this past week. 5 properties pending, 8 have sold, and the average selling price this past week was $310,000. The homes recently sold ranged from $122,000 to $515,000 mark. We have an overall average of 51 days on the market. That is your market update for the past week. Are you wondering how much your home is worth? If you have any questions about the real estate market, Feel free to contact me. I hope you all have a fabulous and productive week, Be safe, and bye for now. Harpreet Christie RE/MAX of Lloydminster www.BorderCityRealEstate.com 780-205-7653 #Marketreport #weeklymarketupdateyll #bordercityrealestate #Cityoflloydminster#harpreetsmarketreport #Monday #happymonday #Lloydminsterrealestatemarket #lloydminsterrealestatemarketreport#Lovemymondays #Realestatenews #yllrealestate #buyingahome #sellingahomeyll #yllhomeforsale #homes #mondaystats#averagesellingpricerange #homeforsaleAB #homeforsale

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THE BEST OUTDOOR RENOVATIONS FOR

Does the summer air have you itching to spruce up your outdoor spaces? Outdoor additions and renovations can really set your home apart and provide a space for great memories. But at the same time, the costs can really add up. Try out some of these projects, which can be done on both the low and high ends of the budget spectrum.

Add a firepit (cost $300-$5,000)

Firepits truly bring people together (spooky stories and s’mores anyone?), and they’re a great focal point for your backyard. Wood-burning pits will be on the lower end of the budget spectrum because you just need to buy the pit and the wood. Propane fire pits will take more work, usually from a professional, to install and get going. Don’t forget to add some outdoor chairs around the firepit for maximum cozy.

Add a porch or patio (cost $1,000-$10,000

A porch or patio can provide your backyard with more usable space, which can definitely increase your home’s value when you sell. Plus, you’ll have more room for outdoor dining and sunbathing! The cost of adding a patio can change drastically depending on the materials you use and the size of the space. 

A simple poured concrete porch will be on the lower end while a stone patio will be way more pricey. If you want a pergola to cover your new patio, plan for another $1,000-2,000 on top of the patio’s cost. 

Add landscaping (cost $200-$5,000)

Flowers, shrubs, trees, and grass will bring your outdoor space to life and can help absorb some of that summer heat. To keep the costs low, plant some annual flowers and smaller ornamental plants to add some visual interest. If you want to add sod or bigger plants—like trees or shrubs—plan to spend a little more. And if you’ve been dreaming about a rolling green lawn, plan to spend $1,000-3,000 on sod, depending on the kind of grass you want and the size of your yard. 

Much like home values, the costs of outdoor renovations tend to increase over time. So when you have the budget, just go ahead and do the renovations rather than putting them off. And because curb appeal and outdoor spaces get buyers excited, you’ll make back the money you invest when it comes time to sell your house.

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Quality Built “Craftsman Country Acreage” featuring over 4,000 sq.ft of living space recently painted and updated flooring for a modern touch. 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, vaulted open beam construction, hardwood & tile floors throughout, spacious kitchen with quartz countertops, double wall ovens, large island, bright spa/rec room equipped with a hot tub and sauna with master bedroom access, His & Her walk in closets, jetted tubs, oversized custom shower in the master bedroom, den off the living room with gas fireplace, large games room with gas fireplace & bar area great for entertaining. 49×26 triple attached heated garage equipped with a 2-piece bath, 60×60 heated shop with 12’overhead doors & 14′ ceilings, 24×28 double detached garage, landscaped front to back, stamped concrete drive, spacious deck off spa/rec room with natural gas line for BBQ, private entry gates and more. 3D Virtual Tour Available.

$984,900
BLK B SW 12-48-28-W3RD
Rural, Saskatchewan S0M1R0
MLS® Number: A1118244
RE/MAX of LLOYDMINSTER

#remaxcollection #luxuryhomes #fineproperties #acreageliving #countrylife #ruralhome #privateacreage #peacefulcountry #remaxoflloydminster #yllrealestate #yll #lloydminsterhomes #remaxagents #remaxhustle #realtorlife @remaxoflloydminster 

Video: Laura Lights Photography

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Want to put your house on the market this summer? Now is definitely a great time to sell and you’re likely to make a handsome profit. But by doing a couple of quick home improvement projects, you can increase the value of your home. Here are a few ideas that can really make a difference in your home’s value. 

Whole Home Projects

Throughout the home, give your walls a fresh coat of paint in a neutral beige or grey. New paint makes the whole home feel cleaner and newer, which is always a bonus in buyers’ eyes. Make sure your floors carry the same fresh feeling as your walls by getting them deep cleaned or re-stained and polished. If you have chipped tile floors or dingy carpet, consider replacing them with budget-friendly vinyl.

Kitchen Projects

Kitchens sell homes, so buyers will definitely be impressed if your kitchen has fresh touches. Make your kitchen feel more modern by replacing your backsplash with a clean subway tile. If your cabinets are dated, give them a couple of coats of white or grey paint and replace the hardware with brushed metal pulls. Have room in your budget for a new countertop? Definitely consider swapping your dated linoleum for a stone countertop.

Bathroom Projects

Bathrooms are another area where a bit of elbow grease can improve the value of your home. Upgrade the vanity by replacing it or painting it a darker neutral. Just like the kitchen, update the fixtures to sleek modern metals. Consider adding open shelving, too—buyers will love the extra storage space, and it will make the room feel more upscale. 

Outdoor Projects

Don’t forget curb appeal! A great first impression goes far for buyers, so make your entryway look nice by paving the walkway or by adding a new front door. If your roof is in need of repairs, drop the cash to get it replaced. A new roof is a major selling point, so you’ll be able to make back your investment pretty easily. 

With a bit of elbow grease and a small budget, you can seriously boost your home’s value and make a greater profit on it when you sell. I recommend working with a real estate agent to figure out which projects are the most important for your home so you can get the best ROI. If you want a professional opinion on the best renovations for your home, just reply to this email!

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A first home is commonly referred to as a “starter home”—a property to get you started in real estate and that you’ll sell later on.If you’re a first time home buyer, it’s good to get used to the idea that your first home will probably not be your forever or dream home. However, you’ll definitely want to make sure that your starter home is a good investment, so here’s what to look for in your first home.

How’s the neighborhood?

A great neighborhood can make more of a difference than you’d think when it comes to buying a home. Plus, a great neighborhood can help you get a great return on investment when you sell your home. Make sure the neighborhood matches the lifestyle you want: if you love to go out on the town, a quiet neighborhood mainly for seniors probably won’t be a great fit. 

Make a list of the things you want to be close to (grocery stores, parks, trails, restaurants, etc) and compare your commute time. Don’t forget to check out crime reports and local schools, too. 

Does it fit in your budget?

Your first home’s mortgage should comfortably fit in your monthly budget, and you’ll want to make sure you have enough saved for emergency expenses. When buying a home, it’s almost inevitable that you’ll face unexpected repairs in the first year—and that’s not counting the fun decorating or renovating you’ll want to do. 

Does it have resale potential?

When you buy your starter home, you’re going in with the knowledge that you’ll sell it somewhere down the line–probably within the next 5-10 years. You’ll want to have an exit strategy going in, so make sure that your starter home is a good investment in a good area. 

While a cheap “diamond in the rough” home can be tempting, they often take more time and money than originally planned. It’s best to stick with a home that needs few cosmetic updates and doesn’t need any structural changes.

Of course, I always recommend working with a real estate agent to find the perfect home for your lifestyle and financial future. If you’re ready to find your first home, reply to this email and we can chat over coffee!

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Data is supplied by Pillar 9™ MLS® System. Pillar 9™ is the owner of the copyright in its MLS®System. Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Pillar 9™.
The trademarks MLS®, Multiple Listing Service® and the associated logos are owned by The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and identify the quality of services provided by real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Used under license.