Trusted Saskatoon Realtor Marla Janzen's Tips to Prepare Your Home for Fall and Winter Weather

30. Sep 2021 Admin Saskatoon Real Estate, Trusted Tips

As an award-winning SASKATOON REAL Estate agent, Marla Janzen knows the city and surrounding area extremely well. She strives to find her clients the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. She has a keen eye for house layout and home staging, which really benefits her clients, most of whom are past client referrals! In her latest Saskatoon real estate tip, Marla shares tips on how to prepare your home for the colder months ahead.

PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR FALL FEELS

Fall has a certain air to it, don’t you think? As the seasons change, it’s time to get your house ready for the coming rain, snow, and ice. The best way to avoid problems later in the season is to plan ahead and do some simple house maintenance as early as now. By doing this, you’ll be free to take advantage of everything the autumn season has to offer. To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of practical things to do on your own. However, hiring a professional to do it for you will be more cost-effective in the long run, saving you both time and money.

Here are some helpful tips to help you prepare your house for the colder months ahead.

1. Check the roof for leaks

From the ground, you should be able to get a good look at it. Consider using a pair of binoculars or scaling a nearby structure for a better vantage point if you’re up for the challenge. Look for shingles that are loose, broken, or missing. The removal of leaves and other debris can be necessary if your roof is flat.

2. Make sure your gutters are clear

It’s critical to maintain the smooth flow of your roof’s drainage system, which annually diverts tens of thousands of gallons of water from the exterior and foundation walls of your residence. Clogged gutters can result in water damage to your home’s exterior and a flooded basement. They rust and corrode more quickly. Remove all debris from your gutters and cover them with mesh gutter guards before the leaves start falling this season.

3. Remove leaves and check the trees in your area

Examine the trees in your area. Look for broken or too close to electrical wires or the roof, damaged limbs. Meanwhile, clear the yard of leaves by raking them and then removing them. If you have access to a compost pile, use it. If this is not an option, place in yard waste bags and place at the curb for collection by the neighborhood.

4. Replace window and door screens

Strengthen the windows and doors of your home. Having storm windows and doors would be best as replacements for your screens. All doors and windows should have caulk and seals checked.

5. Pool closeout

Schedule a pool closing service if you have a pool and live in a cold climate. If you are capable, you can buy the supplies and close your pool yourself if you know how to do this task.

6. Garage clean up

Organizing your garage or shed for fall and winter is a terrific time to search through your supplies. Don’t wait for snow trouble before you find that snow shovel of yours. If you live in an area with erratic weather, be sure your snowblower is serviced and ready to go.

7. Manage the shed

Most often than not, we have summer items filing up our storage. It’s an excellent time to organize and clean up your shed now by rearranging and putting all summer items at the back and winter products in the front to make it easier to get the things you’d need in the colder seasons. Be sure to get rid of everything that could freeze, as well. Restore and store outdoor furniture that has been left unused over the winter. Clean the cushions by removing them and washing them—store furniture in a dry spot throughout the winter after cleaning and drying it.

8. Make a bundle of firewood a priority

With fireplaces in mind, it’s time to start accumulating firewood. You’ll be happy you did it when the cold weather arrives. Use dried and ready-to-use firewood if you’ve collected it yourself. Covering and storing firewood away from the home is the safest option. Outside, construct a firewood rack and a carrier for moving the wood inside. Make sure you have enough wood on hand for the entire season.

9. Take care of the fireplace and the chimney

The colder months would surely make you and your family spend more time together, lounging in front of the fireplace. Ensure that the fireplace and chimney are both working properly before using the fireplace. It’s highly recommended that you have a professional chimney sweep and inspection if you frequently use your wood fireplace. To avoid chimney fires, schedule a chimney cleaning appointment right away.

10. Make sure that the furnace and boiler are working properly

You should check your furnace or boiler in the fall to make sure it’s ready for the cold weather. A furnace’s filters should be changed on a regular basis throughout the fall and winter. Have it inspected if necessary, by doing so, you’ll be saving money on your utility bills and have extra for shopping, maybe?

11. Turn off all faucets and put hoses away in a dry place

Disconnect outside spigots and drain garden hoses. Turn off external faucets and, if your house is older, the valve inside. Shut everything down. Keep hoses out of the freezer by storing them in a dry location. Follow the manufacturer’s protocol for draining and safeguarding an in-ground irrigation system from winter damage to freezeproof it.

All faucets that leave your home should have an internal shut-off valve. If the interior shut-off valve has a drain stopper, open it while the outside faucet is still turned on. The drain plug on the shut-off valve should be closed and then turn the outdoor faucet back to the off position once all of the water has been completely drained from the line. If you don’t have shut-off valves or can’t find them, hire a certified plumber to install them.

Blowout sprinkler lines and irrigation system. At this time, your irrigation system may need to be drained and checked. Repairs should be performed by a professional, and sprinkler heads near snow removal zones should be marked. By doing this, you’ll have peace of mind during the freezing season.

12. Check the condition of your furnace

It would be best if you had a professional inspect your heating system once a year. Think about doing this task before winter sets in so you don’t have to rush. And while you are at it, include your furnace on the checklist too. Hire an HVAC professional to check for leaks, evaluate the heating efficiency, and change the filter. They can also check for carbon monoxide for air safety. Also, keep spare air filters on hand and swap them out regularly.

13. Clean humidifiers

During the months when it’s operating, maintaining your central humidifier will make you and your house more pleasant. To begin, look over the plates or pads and, if necessary, give them a good cleaning with a strong solution of laundry detergent. Use a wire brush or steel wool to remove mineral deposits after rinsing the area well and drying. Replace any worn-out filters and give the compartment a thorough cleaning. Vinegar is a low-cost and effective solution. Just a trivia, did you know that dry winter air makes fine wood more susceptible to cracking? So much so that dry winter air can also cause harm or irritation on our skin.

14. Make time for carpet care

Cleaning your carpets is best done in the fall. This season is the most fantastic time to open windows and let fresh air in to help with drying. If you don’t know how to operate a carpet cleaning machine, hire a pro to do it for you.

15. Comfy clean bedding

Get your down and cotton comforters, linens, and knits out of the closet and give them a good cleaning. After a thorough wash, place your blankets in a handy closet so that they’re ready to go when the frigid nights arrive.

There you have it—my practical guide to prepping your home for fall. Make sure your house is ready for the next autumn season by being smart and practical. Preventative maintenance now will save you money on costly emergency repairs and other expenditures in the long run. Maintaining your house well not only increases its worth and appeal but also saves you time and energy.

Is there something you need help with around the house or are you planning to sell or buy a new home for the winter? Contact award-winning SASKATOON REAL Estate agent Marla Janzen today for a free consultation!

Marla guarantees to provide you with a stress-free, hassle-free, wonderful experience and we are sure once you have met her that you will not contact anyone else!

Marla Janzen is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REALTOR®

Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Experts at Kitchen and Bath Classics Discuss Top 5 Bathroom Trends for 2018

26. Jul 2018 Ahmad Saskatoon Bathrooms

Whether you are building a new home or remodelling a single room, Kitchen & Bath Classics Saskatoon a Trusted SASKATOON BATHROOM EXPERT offer you one of the largest selections of plumbing fixtures, faucets, and accessories from quality names, displaying the latest trends and cutting-edge styles. The showroom consultants offer the best expertise in the business as they understand the building process; working with you to ensure that your project stays within budget and that the right products are delivered on time.

Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Experts at Kitchen & Bath Classics Talk About the 5 Top Bathroom Trends of 2018

2018 has been a trendy year for bathroom design. Whether you are building your brand-new bathroom from scratch or remodelling the old one, you need to check out the top designs for 2018. Make your bathroom remodel/renovation trendy by meeting global standards for the year. Oddly enough, your bathroom can be a reflection of your personal tastes and standards. This is just one reason why you should put more thought and effort into the design. Here are the top 5 trendy designs for your bathroom in 2018:

# 1 High-Tech Smart Toilets

Just like smartphones, smartwatches, smart wrist wears and even smart cars. Why can’t there be smart toilets that are as high tech as the other listed items? This year, you can expect some of the following features in the high-tech smart toilet market:

Seat warmers
Automatic lid openers
Slow close features
Adjustable air dryers
Built-in deodorizers
Wireless music players

# 2 Vanity Lighting Schemes

If you think you have seen it all with unique bathroom lighting, then you have to check out this year’s astonishing vanity bathroom lighting. You will see how interaction with lighting schemes in the bathroom will impact you. Creative lighting fixtures in larger bathrooms create a luxurious feeling that can define your style. If you add some light bars and wall scones to an existing chandelier situated close to your whirlpool tub you will witness a bathroom aesthetic that is too heavenly to be true.

# 3 Underfloor Heating Systems for Master Bathroom Designs

If you are looking for a master bathroom design, you can expect to find underfloor heating systems within it. Especially living in Canada with the cold winters, your underfloor heating system will instantly warm you up. It will make the bathroom floor a “hot spot” to spend your winter days. The warmth from the flooring is a delightful feeling especially when it’s cold. Regardless of what your flooring is made of (tile, concrete, vinyl or wood), your bathroom floor can become a warm patch of heaven when temperatures drop outside. Floor heating will change your life and make your bathroom a soothing place to walk into and a delight to be in especially during the long cold Canadian winter.

# 4 Relatively Unseen Tile Shapes

There are tons of varieties of shapes, sizes and colours of tiles in the bathroom floor market. However, the 2018 trend is giving a unique twist to these types of floor and wall tiles. You are sure to see ancient flooring tiles, as well as new designs, hitting the market this year. Some of the bathroom tile shapes and sizes you will see trending in the current market include:

Hexagon
Arabesque
Diamond
Moroccan fish scales
Chevron

These floor tiles will also come in various colours and textures to give your bathroom that special status you’d always envied your upscale friends for having in the homes.

# 5 Smaller Bathrooms with Efficient, Small-Scale Luxury

Smaller bathrooms are trending this year! The trend for 2018 has been to make smaller, cosier but luxurious bathroom spaces compared to past years. This makes it more efficient to use the space for interior design. Forget what you see in the magazines, the bathrooms of 2018 may be smaller, but they are crafted with a unique interior that will blow your mind away. Some of these features may include:

Aesthetic toilet designs
Unusual sinks
Smaller walk-in tubs
Unique cabinets for storage
Wireless music technology for streaming favourite songs

If you're considering a bathroom remodel or renovation, contact the Trusted Saskatoon Bathroom Experts at Kitchen & Bath Classics today!

This article is a source from http://www.geniebathsystems.com/5-top-home-bathroom-design-trends-2018/

At Kitchen & Bath Classics, their design Experts will assist you in making your choice for your kitchen, laundry or bar sink needs with a wide selection of product on display from Blanco.

Find Kitchen & Bath Classics online at http://www.kitchenandbathclassics.ca in the SASKATOON BATHROOMS category on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY of Excellence...they are your SASKATOON BATHROOM FIXTURES and FITTING Expert!

Trusted Saskatoon Realtor Clark Dziadyk Gives Tips on How to Get Into Today's Housing Market

26. Jul 2018 Ahmad Saskatoon Real Estate, Trusted Tips

Whether you’re buying a house for the first time, the second or the seventh time, it’s still one of the biggest decisions you ever have to make. In order to ensure sheer success, you need a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor like Clark Dziadyk! Clark will ease your mind by taking the pressure off of you to find your dream home! Clark puts 100% effort into everything he does.

Read what clients have to say about Clark Dziadyk here! Clark Dziadyk is 'The Realtor in Your Neighbourhood'

Trusted Saskatoon Realtor Clark Dziadyk explains some tips from a recent online blog. Here are some tips on how to get into today’s housing market:

Tips to Get into Today’s Housing Market from Trusted Saskatoon Realtor Clark Dziadyk

# 1 Become a Landlord

Most people don’t know that if you buy a home that contains a rental unit, the income from that unit can help you to qualify to get a mortgage. For example, if you were to buy a home with a basement suite, you can rent out the basement. For maximum income, you could even live in the basement suite yourself and rent out the upper portion of the house.

In order to cut costs, even more, you could look into doing renovations to the rental yourself, which is, of course, more work but it could save you lots of money in the end. Rental spaces are definitely worth exploring! You can always run the numbers on purchasing certain properties with rental spaces in them to determine the best possible outcome for you. Worried about irritating and irrational tenants? Or dealing with the regulations that come with renting out a portion of your home? Concerns such as these can be dealt with by screening tenants during application processes. Make sure to check out the Government Canada website for regulations that need to be followed.

# 2 Go in With a Partner (or a few)

A huge way to cut costs would be to split everything between you and another or a few people! Let’s be honest, these days it’s becoming common for couples to find themselves living with other couples! To make this happen, you must first choose a worthy partner. Whether it be a few siblings sharing a house, a couple friends splitting a condo well you get the idea! You may be able to split the bills, monthly payments and the havoc of a down payment with one or more people! A few things need to be in place in order for this process to work! Like well-chosen partners, a draft of a co-ownership agreement drawn up by a lawyer that spells out all of the rules, and a system for communication between partners to make sure that everything moves smoothly. Communication between housemates is key, especially in preventing miscommunications and conflicts.

Another alternative in order to lessen your stress is to consider co-ownership opportunities. These allow you to buy shares of a company that owns the property, or to buy a small ownership percentage of the property. By doing this, it grants you specific rights to a unit itself.

# 3 Consider Using Your RRSP

As a first time homeowner, you have written proof that you plan to build or buy a new home and you have money in your RRSP. As a Trusted Saskatoon realtor, Clark Dziadyk can help you with all of your pre-ownership needs! You may be able to use the RRSP Home Buyer’s Plan to get your hands on a tax-free down payment. However, if you are helping a relative with a disability through this process, you also qualify! The Home Buyer’s Plan allows each spouse to withdraw $25,000 to purchase a house. The only downfall is that you need to pay the money back to your RSSP in annual payments within 15 years. Any amount unpaid within that timeframe will be subject to income tax.

Tax-free money homeownership looks pretty good, doesn’t it? Or at least being able to start off your homeownership using tax-free money is. Depending on your individual tax bracket, it could be like having almost twice as much money at your disposal. You just cannot forget about those annual repayments in your new budget.

#4 Make MORE Money

This is always the end goal in life now-a-days isn't it?

Home prices seem to be increasing but that doesn’t always mean that your income is. An obvious solution is to make more money; however, this is easier said than done. Here are some approaches that can be taken:

The quickest approach is to ask for a raise at work. This can be a lot to ask, but it doesn’t always have to be. Communicating to your boss that you’re looking to settle down and buy a home (first time, second, upgrade, etc.) and what income level you’re striving for in order to make it happen, you could persuade them into giving you the raise you are looking for! In the end, asking for a raise is like a sales pitch. You are selling yourself by describing the situation, your goals, how to leverage your strengths, and ultimately asking for the raise itself. Whether you believe it or not, employers are people! Generally, people like to be as helpful as they can towards others. Sharing personal stories always have a measure of relatability to them, and more often than not they work better than pure logic.

On the other hand, if you’re willing to open yourself up to new opportunities, there is no harm in looking into another job. Shop yourself around and see if you are truly earning what you should be in your career marketplace. You will surprise yourself and may open new doors to new job opportunities in your field. Increase your network and speak to recruiters, you may find the job that you’ve been looking for that increases your income!

# 5 Relax

Let’s be honest, you’re not getting any younger. You want to be a homeowner! The whole process can be very stressful for a person. In order to relieve stress, you should consider using a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor such as Clark Dziadyk!

You need to make sure you’re ready before you become a homeowner! The right house will come along, it always does! Clark can make sure that you find your dream home! We live in a real-estate obsessed culture, but the relationships you build with family and friends will be the real key to your happiness in the long run.

Set goals for the next few years of where you want to get to and take it one goal at a time. Write out your plan for home ownership and hold yourself accountable to it! Meanwhile, take a deep breath, relax, sign up for a yoga class and don’t rush things. You will be a homeowner one day! Believe it!

This article was adapted from Zoocasa.

CLARK DZIADYK, The Associates of Ron Baliski Realty Inc. Coldwell Banker and he is

a Trusted Saskatoon Realtor. You can find him at 1322 8th Street East Saskatoon! View his Facebook page here!

Trusted Saskatoon Plumber at Perfection Plumbing Verifies Plumbing Rumours

19. Jul 2018 Ahmad Saskatoon Plumbing

Perfection Plumbing was founded in 1996 and is locally owned and operated. They are different than any other plumbing company in the area. In 2001 they became affiliated with a national plumbing association called Plumbers Success International. Through this affiliation, they are able to bring valuable products and services to clients that they cannot obtain from any other plumbing service company in the area.

Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory

The Plumbing Experts at Perfection Plumbing Describe Which Plumbing Rumours Are to Be Believed!

Not all rumours and myths contain a fragment of truth. Sadly, a lot of people put too much faith in hearsay, even though much of it is unsubstantiated. As a result, homeowners everywhere have come to fear events that won’t even materialize. Luckily, you can find out which myths contain some truth and which one’s lack factual basis.

#1: A Plunger is the Answer to ALL Clogged Plumbing

All earnest homeowners keep a plunger at home. These are fine to deal with minor blockage in drains and pipes. However, using a plunger is a skill that you need to learn. Too often, people inadvertently complicate the clog because they don’t properly apply the plunger, which creates an overflow. Therefore, it’s wiser to call a trusted Trusted Saskatoon plumber to deal with this issue.

#2: It's OK to Flush Anything Down the Toilet

Your toilet is not a garbage disposal. Irregularly shaped objects from the trash can get caught and cause a major blockage in the plumbing system. Similarly, the rumour that insists it’s perfectly okay to flush cat litter down the toilet is simply bilge. Animal feces may contain bacteria and parasites proving harmful to humans and the marine life via the sewage system.

#3: Clean the Bowl with Bleach Tablets

There is some truth to this myth. Putting bleach tablets in the toilet bowl does cleanse and add sparkle to your toilet. However, do not let the tablet linger in the bowl for more than 10 minutes. Prolonged exposure to bleach can destroy the plumbing system of a toilet within six months. Flush the tablet promptly and thoroughly, and remember to use only those tablets specifically designed for toilets.

#4: A Little Drip is of No Concern

According to a recent analysis performed by the Saskatchewan Watershed Authorities, Canadian households lose 1,200 litres of water every year due to a leaky faucet. That amount of water can fill as much as seven bathtubs. Aside from their drain on water supplies and the ecosystem, leaky faucets also affect your water bill. Don’t hesitate to call a trusted plumber to fix this problem right away.

Many other myths flourish undisputed, such as freshening the toilet bowl with lemon peels. Can it work? Yes, your bathroom will smell lovely. Soon after, however, you will likely be dealing with a clogged toilet. Before doing anything, rash based on myths, it’s wise to ask a plumbing service for a genuine and verifiable answer.

Find Perfection Plumbing online here check out their listing- Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers

Wiebe Windows & More Excels Through a Mystery Shop!

19. Jul 2018 Ahmad Saskatoon Windows & Doors

Being a Trusted Business on the Trusted Saskatoon Directory of Excellence comes with alot of responsibility, no other directory, advertising medium or 'watchdog organization' puts businesses through the process we do before we promote and endorse them. Most other organizations offer is checking that the business has a valid business license, and maybe that they have insurance and don't have a bad rating, 99% don't even bother with that and those that do rely on the consumers to provide ratings, mostly unverified and un-qualified.

The Trusted Saskatoon businesses become Partners with a contract, and they become part of a community. In a community we all have our parts to play to ensure the directory maintains the standards and high level of integrity that it does. To ensure that our partners are upholding these guarantees on a daily basis we have a MYSTERY SHOPPER PROGRAM, where normal everyday people mystery shop our Trusted Partners, we then get our mystery shoppers to fill out a report to tell us about the experience!

Our latest business to be mystery shopped is Trusted Saskatoon Windows & Door Experts, let’s tell you how they did!

Trusted Saskatoon Partner Business: Wiebe Windows & More

Date: June 28, 2018

Name of Shopper: Darren Gregory

MYSTERY SHOP CHECKLIST

1. How was the greeting/welcome/call answered? Very professional and informative. Quick to get back to me regarding my needs

2. If retail: Appearance of the store/staff and showroom? N/A

3. Product/Industry knowledge of staff? Brad clearly had expertise in his field. Other quotes failed in providing me with information required to secure a contract. He even took me to the manufacturer to see the quality of door quoted.

4. If a quote is required is the quote well laid out/clear? There were no issues with the quote. It was as specified with all questions answered effectively and promptly

5. Did they ask where you found them? I offered that up when I met Brad for the first time

6. Overall experience 1-10. 9............... as close to a 10 as possible but he didn't comp my purchase

7. Would you return as a customer/recommend them to close friends? I am in the process of using Brad Wiebe for another large-scale project immediately. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anybody.

8. Did anyone stand out as exceptional? If so who? Why? Brad!!!!!!!! And his staff that he uses. All professional and courteous.

9. If you made a purchase/booked a job how was the process? If so, refer to the Trusted Guarantees and give an overall mark on each if applicable:

TRUSTED GUARANTEES

1. Provide the service and quality promised. Yes

2. Complete the job on time. Yes

3. Charge the price quoted with NO surprises. Yes

4. Communicate honestly and be responsive to customer needs. Yes

5. Resolve any issues with customer satisfaction in mind. Yes yes yes!!

Please share any other comments relating to your experience with the company.

Brad Wiebe was by chance a great find. He is very talented. His concern for customer satisfaction is paramount. He did a great job removing a replacing a large patio door with precision and care. I enjoyed his honest recommendations and look forward to hiring him immediately for a larger project.

GREAT Job Brad Wiebe and the team at Wiebe Windows & More! Yet again, proving that you deserve the THUMBS UP from www.trustedsaskatoon.com !

If you want an awesome experience with Door, Windows & More with the Trusted Saskatoon customer service difference call Wiebe Windows & More today- Check out Wiebe Windows, Doors & More listing here - they are Trusted Saskatoon window and door pros !

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