The decision to purchase your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and will also be one of your largest investments. Done right, it can also be one of the most exciting and fulfilling times in your life! Kari Calder, a Saskatoon Realtor with Century 21 Fusion, is there to help you through the process and provide you and your family with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have a realtor working with your best interests in mind.
Simple Pre-Sale Fixes That Won't Break The Bank
Selling your home? It’s hard to get motivated to spend money on fixing up your house just so someone else can enjoy it. I understand. It feels like a waste of time/energy/money however easy fixes may be the difference between a higher offer or even an offer at all. Here are a few simple fixes you can do all for under $500.
1. Making the buyer feel at home: $0
This one is easy and costs nothing! Create a clean palate for your potential buyers by decluttering the house, packing up pictures, and making the house shine.
2. Fresh coat of paint: $200
Paint and supplies will be the majority of your costs here and save by doing the work yourself. Paint is the quickest way to transform your space and make it neutral. Don’t forget to touch up the trim while you’re at it.
3. Curb appeal boost: $50
First impressions are crucial to getting potential buyers through the door. Save money by borrowing a pressure washer and freshening up the landscaping with free/inexpensive mulch. Simple additions like potted flowers in the entryway, a new welcome mat and a bold colour on the door will make a big difference without breaking the bank.
4. Comfort is key: $50
Making your buyers feel at home and ensuring the living room is cozy is key. Add brightly coloured and fun patterned pillows, a soft throw, and some baskets for storage to help achieve this.
5. Update the kitchen: $75
No, you don’t want to redo your kitchen to sell but updating the hardware will go a long way. Also think about adding a vase of fresh-cut flowers, a bowl of fruit, or bright kitchen towels to help dress up the space.
6. Bedroom retreat: $100
Everyone wants to have a place to relax at the end of the day, so why not show off your master bedroom? Go for comfy modern bedding, throw pillows, and new lamp shades to help show buyers just how relaxing the space can be.
7. Squeaky clean: $25
Scrub the bathrooms well and replace the towels and shower curtain liners. Buy pretty soaps and add a few candles to create an atmosphere.
Kari Calder is one of Saskatoon's top Century 21 Fusion real estate agents. Kari can assist with all of your Saskatoon buying and selling real estate needs and she is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REALTOR.
Sunview Windows and Doors manufacture windows in their Saskatoon factory. They install new and replacement windows for homeowners and businesses in Saskatoon and across Saskatchewan. They also sell high quality doors, security shutters and blinds. In addition, they also manufacture solariums (also called sunrooms), screen rooms, conservatories and patio covers via their sister company, Sunview Solariums Ltd. Sunview Windows and Doors are Trusted Saskatoon Window, Door & Sunroom Experts.
Sunview Windows and Doors Tip on Patio Door Ideas and Options
We strive to be your local experts when it comes to windows and doors. We also want to share our passion for our products with you too, so now we have a Sunview blog to do just that!
In this article, you will learn about new options and patio door ideas for attractive, functional doors.
Patio Doors
Your outdoor living space is an extension of your home, and that is why you’ll want to consider a variety of options and patio door ideas before finalizing your project.
One of the most common patio door options is the French patio door. This style incorporates glass window panes in the door, allowing an unobstructed view from the home’s interior to the outside space and vice versa. It can create a natural transition from the inside to the patio. French patio doors are usually available in wood, fibreglass and PVC, and they can be configured as either swinging or sliding doors.
Sliding Patio Doors
Whereas French patio doors are a more traditional approach, contemporary sliding doors have a more modern look. These doors offer greater simplicity in that they create no obstacles at all to furniture placement, inside or out. Patios are generally gathering places for family and friends, and when lots of people are involved, a traditionally open and close door can be a hindrance to entering and exiting. Just ask anyone who’s tried to carry a tray of appetizers through a traditional door while a gaggle of toddlers is racing in or out. For this reason, and because they can add a modern, elegant design element to connect your outdoor and indoor space, sliding patio doors are a popular option.
In the past, sliding patio doors were heavier and had a reputation for getting stuck in their tracks or misaligned. Modern sliding patio doors generally offer a much slimmer, more contemporary look, and the problems of sticking and misalignment have been lessened. Because of the lighter materials, these new designs generally offer a larger, less obstructed viewing area as well.
Folding Patio Door
Designed with three or more panels, these doors fold upon opening and slide on a track, similar to sliding doors. Folding patio doors can create a unique visual aesthetic and are often a good fit for more modern patio designs. 
Whatever option you prefer the look of, you need to ensure that it will work for your home and your family… that's where we come in! The Sunview Windows and Doors team are skilled professionals. Our goal is to provide the best possible experience from beginning to end!
Contact us today to start planning your patio door dreams!
Sunview Windows and Doors are Trusted Saskatoon Window, Door & Sunroom Experts
As their tagline clearly explains...
We build them – We install them – We stand behind them
Reed Security believes when you become a client you will be entering into a relationship – one they want to grow and become long term... they work hard to meet all your Saskatoon Alarm & security needs from day one! Reed Security are Trusted Saskatoon Alarm and Security Experts.
Trusted Saskatoon Security Experts REED Security Talk Doorbell Security Cameras
See and Hear Visitors at Your Front Door
Your front doorway is a busy place. With visitors introducing themselves, your kids charging to and from the school bus, packages arriving, and hellos and goodbyes galore, it's hard for you to keep track of everyone who passes through. It's no wonder that doorbell cameras are now a smart home must-have, thanks to their ability to show you who's at the door, no matter where you are. And with a ReedHD™ Doorbell Camera, that's just the start.
Because these doorbell cameras are fully integrated into your smart home security system, they're powered by Alarm.com and able to cooperate with other devices. That gives you and your family more ways to incorporate your doorbell camera into your everyday life.
Answer Your Door From Anywhere
A ReedHD™ Doorbell Camera gives you a safe, smart way to see who's at the door, no matter where you are. When a visitor rings the doorbell, you get an Alarm.com smartphone alert. Open your Alarm.com app and you'll see a video feed of who's there, with a microphone icon that you can press to start a voice conversation through the doorbell.
Although you can see your visitor, they can't see you, and you don't need to indicate whether you're home or not. Given that burglars often ring a home's doorbell before a break-in, this makes your video doorbell a great crime deterrent.
Protect a Package from Thieves
With a smart lock included in your Alarm.com-powered setup, you can go a step further and unlock your door remotely. This is great for protecting valuable deliveries that would otherwise be left on your porch.
If you have a smart lock, you'll see an ‘unlock' icon in your app underneath your doorbell's video feed. Once you've verified the delivery person visually, tap once to unlock your door and ask them to leave the package inside. When they're done, use your app to lock your door and watch them leave.
See and Share Suspicious Activity.
A ReedHD™ Doorbell Camera is also a full smart home security camera, ready to capture and send you footage of suspicious activity in your front yard or porch area.
A visitor to your porch will trigger a motion-activated video recording, even if they don't press the doorbell. You can have these clips delivered to your phone right away, where they're easy to download and forward to your partner, neighbours or local police department.
Keep Up With Your Kids
Crooks and intruders aside, most activity at your front door is ‘good' activity: friends visiting and family arriving home. Reed makes it easy to keep up. It's easy to create a custom doorbell camera alert, triggered by your kids' Alarm.com user codes, that sends you a video clip of your kids arriving home every day. It's a great way to make sure they're home safe and know who they're with. Once the kids know they're on camera, they might even give you a wave.
PS: It's Also a Doorbell
Sometimes, you just need a doorbell. You'll be pleased to hear that a ReedHD™ Doorbell Camera goes above and beyond, with both an audible chime and a special ‘Do Not Disturb' option that parents of young children will love. Instead of waking a napping youngster with an audible chime when pushed, your video doorbell will simply trigger a silent smartphone alert that only disturbs you.
Is it Time For You To Upgrade to a ReedHD™ Doorbell Camera?
At Razor Heating & Air Conditioning, the primary focus is to provide Saskatoon and surrounding area customers with quality work, prompt service, and innovative real-world solutions to everyday mechanical and home comfort issues. Whether it be an upgrade or repair to your current home or mechanical needs of a new home, Razor Heating and Air are the people to turn to for all your Air Conditioning, Heating and Indoor Air Quality needs. Their real-world, on-the-job trained employees have the industry experience and know-how to look past the rough edges of renovation or construction. The professionals at Razor strive to bring you quality products and services with a budget-minded solution. Razor Heating & Air Conditioning is a TRUSTED SASKATOON AIR CONDITIONING & FURNACE EXPERT!
Why Your Air Conditioner Is Not Cooling
An A/C unit that’s not cooling your home is a big problem. After all, that’s its one job.
When you’re A/C doesn’t perform as it should, it’s frustrating, time-consuming, and very hot.
There are several reasons your air conditioner may be failing to perform. The experts at Razor Heating and Air Conditioning are going to walk through each one – and how best to fix it.
1. Your Thermostat Isn’t Cooperating
Your first stop is your thermostat. You should make sure that your thermostat is not only set to ‘ON’ but that it is set to ‘COOL’. Test that it’s working by setting the thermostat several degrees cooler than the stated temperature. You want to feel that chill!
If you can hear the air conditioner running, but minutes later still don’t feel any cool air coming through the vents, there could be something wrong with your thermostat and its electrical wiring. Fixing that problem is best left to a professional. You should also make sure all your windows and doors are sealed shut, and your supply and return vents are open and unblocked. It’s little things like this that are easy to forget about but super easy to fix.
2. A Breaker Has Been Tripped
This tip is only for those homeowners whose air conditioners are not running at all. Your A/C runs on electricity. No electricity going to your air conditioner means no cool air making your home a summer paradise. It’s time to travel to the location of your breaker panel and do a check. The breakers for your air conditioner should be clearly labeled. Flip them off and on again, and see if this makes a difference.
3. Your Air Filter Is Clogged
Just because your air filter is located in your furnace’s blower doesn’t mean it isn’t used by your air conditioner. Your furnace’s air handler is what pushes the cooled air through the filter, through your ductwork, and into your home.
Therefore, if your air filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, it’ll act a lot like a cork in a bottle: little to nothing is getting past it. Razor Heating and Air Conditioning recommend checking your filter once a month and changing it at least every 3 months – more often if you have hairy pets, allergies, or a lot of people living in your home. Air filters can be found at local hardware and home stores. Make sure you replace your current filter with one that is the same size.
4. Your Outdoor Unit is Coated in Dirt and Debris
Sensing a theme here? Dirt is no friend to an air conditioner. Your air conditioner condenser is located outside your home and left exposed to the elements when in use. After a while, all that wind and rain is bound to blow some dirt and debris into it. If there’s too much dirt, your condenser can’t perform the heat exchange process efficiently. There are things you can do to help with this particular problem.
For example, tidying up the landscaping around your condenser will help keep branches, bushes, and other vegetation from adding to the debris buildup. Razor Heating and Air Conditioning recommend keeping about 46 centimeters of space clear on all sides of your condenser. You should also wash your condenser regularly with water and soap. Gently wipe away dirt from the condenser fins, being very careful that they don’t break. In the offseason, make sure your condenser has a cover and it is secured tightly.
5. Houston, We Have a Mechanical Problem
While annual maintenance is an excellent way to reduce your risk of mechanical breakdowns, they can still happen. Whether it’s a broken fan motor or compressor, a mechanical problem could be the reason your A/C is not cooling properly. If you suspect a mechanical problem, you should call Trusted Saskatoon Air Conditioning Experts at Razor Heating and Air right away.
6. The Refrigerant in Your Air Conditioner is Leaking
Air conditioners use continuously circulating refrigerant to cool air. Normally the level of refrigerant never changes and your air conditioner is perfectly fine. If you spring a leak, that refrigerant level drops – and so does the amount of cool air you get. Refrigerant leaks can be identified by ice buildup, hissing noises, or a noticeable decrease in cooling efficiency. If you think you have a refrigerant leak, turn off your air conditioner and call us right away. This is a problem that should only be handled by experienced professionals.
7. Your AC Wasn’t Properly Installed
Unfortunately, this is seen all the time with both air conditioners and furnaces. An improperly installed air conditioner just won’t provide the cool air you need in an efficient manner. This is something you’ll notice after you get a new air conditioner. They can provide you with a second opinion, and do what they can to fix any potential problems. The size of your air conditioner is also incredibly important. If it’s too big or too small, you won’t be able to efficiently cool your home. Before you buy an air conditioner, meet with a qualified home specialist who can perform an evaluation and make recommendations.
8. Your Air Conditioner is Over the Hill
There comes a day when even the best air conditioner in the world just gets to be too old. Generally, after 15 years, you want to start paying close attention to how your air conditioner performs. If it gets to a point where you’re spending hundreds of dollars a year to keep it going, or you’re A/C is not cooling your home at all, it’s time for a replacement. The experts at Razor can perform an in-home consultation and walk you through the latest models, making recommendations for your home and your needs.
Get Help from the Professionals at Razor Heating and A/C
Trusted Saskatoon's Heating and Cooling Experts, Razor Heating and A/C are there to help you with all your Heating, Air Conditioning, and Indoor Air Quality Needs. Contact Razor today!
Gibbon Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving Saskatoon and surrounding areas for over 40 Years. They are a "total service" company with trained technicians who are able to provide customers with solutions to all their plumbing, air conditioning, and heating (HVAC) related requirements. As an Independent Lennox Premier Dealer, the Gibbon Heating and Air Conditioning team are proud to provide prompt, courteous, and professional service that is required by Lennox’s Quality standards. They are regularly evaluated through an independent customer satisfaction survey process. They are trained to design, install, service, and maintain home comfort and indoor air quality systems in Saskatoon. In their latest tip, they share tips to minimize strain on your HVAC system this summer. Gibbon Heating and Air Conditioning are TRUSTED SASKATOON Air Conditioning & Furnace Professionals.
Saskatchewan summer is around the corner, and having a well-functioning HVAC system to keep your home cool is essential. Here are some tips to minimize strain and help keep your system running efficiently all summer long.
Leave The AC On Even When You Are Not Home
It is often thought that turning off your AC when you leave your home can save you money. However, this is not the case. Turning off your AC will only cause the unit to have to work harder to achieve the set temperature once it is turned on again. In addition, turning off your AC will increase humidity, creating condensation issues.
Programmable thermostats regulate the temperature of your home while you are away. All you have to do is set them so that the temperature is higher during the hours you will be away, and lower for the hours you will be home. Programmable thermostats help minimize strain on your HVAC system and save you money.
Ensure Windows And Doors Remain Shut
When windows and doors are left open, hot air is able to enter the home. Allowing this hot air in will create more work for your HVAC unit that is already working overtime. Not to mention, open windows and doors allow for pollutants and allergens to enter the home easily which does not foster a healthy environment.
Change Filters Regularly To Ensure Cleanliness
When air filters are dirty, less air is able to flow through. As a result, your system must work harder to cool the home. When airflow is restricted by a dirty filter, less air passes through the evaporator coil. This puts your system at risk for the coil to freeze as there is less heat for the coil to absorb.
Do Not Shut Too Many Registers
Since the duct system in your home is designed to circulate air at a certain pressure, it is very important the registers remain open. Shutting registers means the system has to work harder, it does not reduce the amount of air the system is creating. Shutting registers will overwork your HVAC system, which will not prolong its longevity.
Ensure Annual Maintenance Is Complete
Remember that you are not always the expert when it comes to your HVAC system, and you don’t need to be! Calling a professional for your regular maintenance will ensure all system components are clean, and that the system is in good working order for the summer months.
These are a few tips to minimize strain on your HVAC system to help keep your home cool. Following these tips will ensure you and your family stay comfortable this summer. Trust Gibbon to satisfy all your air conditioning needs. When it comes to air conditioning, Gibbon offers a full line of services including new installation, repair, and general maintenance. Be sure to schedule a seasonal maintenance appointment for your air conditioning system before the warmer months hit by
contacting Gibbon Heating & Air Conditioning.
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