Marla Janzen is an award-winning Saskatoon Realtor she takes action to sell her client's homes and find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. She loves what she does and takes great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of her clients. Marla Janzen is a  Trusted Saskatoon, Warman and area Real Estate Expert  listed on the Saskatoon Real Estate Category on the Saskatoon  Directory and she loves to provide Saskatoon real estate Tips that help and assist the public! 

Her latest tip is about curb appeal and landscaping.  

Sprucing Up Your Landscaping Will Increase Curb Appeal and Attract Buyers! 

Spring is here, and that means summer and enjoying the warmer weather is right around the corner.  Backyards are wonderful spaces for entertaining and cooking, for quiet meditation or simply a source of natural beauty. A well landscaped yard can also increase the resale value of a home.

In recent years, landscaping has become increasingly important.  People are traveling less and spending more time at home whether for work or relaxation. Creating an oasis of calm and beauty in the backyard is something to consider if you plan on selling your home.

If you are not sure where to start with your landscaping project, consider the following factors:

• The look of your outdoor space should complement the architecture of your home.
• If the landscaping design appeals to the average person, it will be easier to sell your home; an obscure design may prevent a sale.
• The size and slope of a yard will influence landscaping designs.
• Consider a design that requires minimal maintenance; for example, opt for perennials that will come back year after year.

It’s also a good idea to spruce up your existing landscaping before listing your property as well; here are a few tips to get you started:

• Add large container plants near your garage door, or front door.
• Add a fresh layer of mulch to your garden beds.
• Prune any overgrown trees or shrubs.
• Tidy up any annuals or perennials that don’t look their best.  If a plant is in really bad shape – remove it. 
• Power-wash any dirty surfaces such as your patio, fence and siding.

Your home will only make one first impression and a well-maintained landscape will make your property more attractive to potential buyers.

Contact me I am one of just 3 Trusted Saskatoon REALTORS ®. I am looking forward to helping you sell or buy your home! I love what I do and I take great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of my clients. I strive to find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible.

Find Marla Janzen Online at www.marlajanzen.com   she is a Century 21 Fusion Realtor and Marla Janzen is Trusted Saskatoon Realtor. 

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing is a Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest tip, they share helpful info on preventing blocked drains. 

Prevent Drain Blockages With Common Sense and Saskatoon Drain Cleaners

Saskatoon drain cleaners very often have a hard job; the majority of any drain cleaning job is reactive, in that it’s clearing away the result of months, even years of buildup in drain and guttering systems, when the problem could easily have been alleviated, or even prevented, in the first place. But it is still surprising how many people do not know how to proactively keep their drain systems clean, and there are many reasons why this should be a priority. But just how can someone be mindful during their day-to-day tasks?

Avoid Pouring Fat Away

An alarming amount of commercial premises that serve food, and just as many residential customers, require Saskatoon drain cleaning services as fat build-up has clogged their drains. It may seem like the easy option to pour away boiling hot liquid into a plug hole, but it won’t stay hot forever. When it cools down, it congeals and effectively creates a plugin the draining system. Before long, anything that goes down the drain in the same building, and very often with neighbouring buildings who share the same pipes, will come right back up, delivering old waste and a foul smell to boot. For commercial premises, this can mean closing down while the ‘health hazard’ has to be remedied. The easiest option is to avoid pouring away fat altogether.

Claw Back on Lumpy Food in The Sink!

It’s easy when the cooking is done to throw pots and pans into the sink and forget about the lumpy, off-cut pieces of food that lay in the bottom of the bowl. But again, over time, these will not go away. When they eventually get soft enough to go down the drain, they’ll rot and start to produce a rotting smell. A quick clear away before throwing the pots and pans in the sink will mitigate this problem.

Avoid Blocking the Gutter

Many gutter drain cleaning jobs can be avoided by simply not letting the gutter clog up. Over time, waste in the guttering needs to go somewhere, and when the rain and wind hammer down, it’ll push what waste is in the guttering down the downspout, causing a blockage. Regular cleaning of the gutter is a must.

For plumbing problems in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Perfection Plumbing for help.

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest article, they share the many benefits of energy-saving water heaters.

Benefits of Energy Saving Water Heaters

Are you beginning to dread the winter months? Energy bills for hot water, and heating and lighting the home seem to creep forever upward. In many Canadian provinces, the government and/or energy companies provide assistance in the form of grants and loans, to persuade both homeowners and businesses to switch to using to energy-savin appliances.

According to Natural Resources Canada, the average family uses around 75 litres of hot water every day, accounting for nearly 20% of a household’s energy bill. There’s no doubt that the older your water heater, no matter what the type and unless regularly serviced, will be costing you more in bills than it should.

Taking the Leap, Making the Switch

Before making a decision, contact a reliable, reputable Saskatoon plumbing company that specializes in hot water tanks in Saskatoon. For a start, natural gas is far cheaper than electricity. If you can change, it’s well worth the added expense.

As would be expected, Energy Star hot water tanks in Saskatoon are far more expensive than old style tanks. All that new technology has to be paid for. But does greater expense equate to greater savings on your bills? The short answer is yes, but it’s the time taken to recoup the extra outlay which could do with some discussion.

Determining Options

Talking to a reputable company that regularly fits and services water heaters in Saskatoon is the best way to ascertain the type, size, and energy rating you will need to begin reducing your energy consumption while recouping the additional outlay in a reasonable time frame.

A reputable plumbing company that puts their customer’s needs first, such as Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd., will ask a lot of questions. How many in the family? How many bathrooms? Do you live in a sprawling single storey home, or is it more compact with upstairs and downstairs? All these things and more will have a relevance to which type of Energy Star rated water heater your plumber recommends.

While discussing the best Energy Star rated hot water tanks in Saskatoon for your needs, it is well worth considering a few smaller things which will help cut down running costs.

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest plumbing tip, they explain why they recommend leaving plumbing to the plumbing professionals.

Leave Plumbing to Plumbing Professionals.

While you may have knowledge of the various types of home repair, it’s beyond doubt that plumbing repair is a job for professional plumbers. After all, plumbing issues can be largely unpredictable if you don’t know what you are doing. You might think you are accomplishing an effective quick fix but end up with waist-deep water inside your home just hours later.

On the other hand, your alleged handiwork might wreak issues less visible, such as leaks masked by walls or other structural components. You may eventually notice them, but by then it is too late. The damage and resulting expense is already done. In fact, a persisting leak may end up compromising the structural integrity of your home as it damages the frame and foundation.

To avoid these types of disaster, it’s always better to call professional Saskatoon plumbers the moment you suspect that something is wrong with your pipes. There are easily detected signs that tell you when it is time to call for immediate plumbing assistance.

Frozen Pipes 

When your pipe becomes frozen, there is a good chance that it will crack or worse, burst. Some homeowners have tried to fix the problem themselves by using a propane torch. Since most pipes are surrounded with old, dry wood, however, doing this yourself might end up starting a fire in your home. Instead of trying to fix the frozen pipes yourself, just call a professional plumber. They will determine whether a section of your frozen pipe needs to be replaced or it simply needs thawing.

Sewer Line Stoppage 

If your sewer continues to back up, despite all of your best efforts to drain your sewer line properly, it probably means there is a bad plug right along the line that runs out to your main sewer. Often times, these are caused by encroaching tree roots inside your sewer line. In cases like this, avoid the temptation to rent a big sewer rodding machine and fix the main sewer yourself. You might end up damaging your sewer even further. Instead, call in the professionals so that you know the repair will be done right. 

Low Water Pressure 

There are several reasons why you might suddenly notice low water pressure throughout the house. One of the most common of these is an obstruction in your water lines. This can include some debris or rust which may have become stuck in a line. Alternatively, your low water pressure might signal a poorly designed supply line or reduced pressure from the city supply itself.

Don’t ignore any problems you may have at home. Aside from compromising your home’s structure, leaving plumbing leaks unfixed can also lead to higher water bills each month. By promptly calling in a pro to fix the issue, you are saving on your water bills without much effort on your part. In fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, timely plumbing repairs can reduce your water bill by as much as 10 percent.

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing are Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest plumbing tip, their topic is maintaining your home's pipes. 

Maintaining The Pipes In Your Home 

Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not important. Case in point: your plumbing. From the hot water in your shower to the water you use in your sprinkler, your plumbing system should facilitate the water flow you need at the time you need it.

It needs a little help from you, however, in the way of maintenance. Take care of plumbing as you would other parts of your home. Not sure where to begin? Follow a few simple tips.

Think Twice About Chemical Drain Cleaners

While these products promise to make quick work of blockages, they may also make quick work of your pipes as well. Just read the ingredients and warnings on the label; drain-cleaning products use harsh chemicals that can erode your drain pipes. Moreover, they typically don’t remove the entire blockage. The best way to address a blocked pipe is to call on trusted plumbers in Saskatoon who will use specialized tools to fix the problem once and for all.

Watch What You Flush Down the Drain

Of course, the best way to address plumbing problems is to avoid causing them in the first place. In this vein, watch what you flush down the drain. Some of the things you should avoid flushing down the toilet include diapers, which can cause blockages in the drain. In the kitchen, make sure only small food scraps are processed by your food disposal unit. Ideally, you should also install a screen over the drains in your shower and tubs to catch clog-causing hair and other debris.

Prepare for Winter

Since pipes are made of metals, they expand—and potentially burst—during the winter. Prevent this by insulating the pipes in crawl spaces and in your garage. Likewise, apply an insulating cap on your outdoor faucets used for hoses and sprinklers. By taking these necessary precautions, you avoid burst pipes that can wreak tremendous water damage to your home and belongings.

Address Problems Early

Is your tap spouting less water than normal? Is your water heater turning on and off repeatedly? Is the pipe under your sink leaking? If you answered “yes” to any of these common plumbing problems, be sure to take action immediately. A minor niggle that you address ASAP can save you from a ton of headaches—and a hefty repair bill—down the line.

Indeed, plumbing is one of the most important yet often neglected aspects of your home. By following these tips, you can help prolong the life of your plumbing and prevent costly repairs. If you need expert help in addressing whatever problems you encounter, get in touch with a Trusted Saskatoon plumbing contractor immediately.