With all of the options in brokers and real estate agents to choose from, it can be hard to separate an average REALTOR® from the excellent ones.
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Its back to school season in Edmonton! From cheerful Elementary kids taking the yellow school bus to University students on the LRT, Edmonton streets are once again filled with backpacks and coiled notebooks heading to class. So how do educational institutions affect the local real estate market? To start with, housing prices are always higher near reputable schools due to the strong demand. If you are looking to buy an Edmonton home for sale during the late Summer of Fall, there are couple of things you should keep in mind:
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As Summertime comes to an end and September approaches, the thing on many people’s mind is back to school. The return of students at Edmonton’s post secondaries means increased, rush hour traffic, fresh faces in Downtown Edmonton and back to school commercials on T.V. But what can it mean to an Edmonton homeowner and how can they use it to their advantage?

Secondary entrances to the secondary suite are best.

This Summer, Edmonton Home Pros invites you to explore the world of Landscaping. Whether you are building a new home and want to give it a special touch, or creating an outdoor oasis, the team has some handy tips for you before you begin your next Landscaping adventure.

Research: Know your plants, facts, and landscape designs. Have fun with researching all the different options for your yard or backyard. Remember that you are not trying to “Keep Up With The Joneses,” you are creating an outdoor living space that’s right for you, based on your personal budget and taste.

Photo by: Jim’s Garden

Low Maintenance VS Regular Upkeep: Decide how much time you are willing to invest in your garden. While all Gardens require attention and tending, some need a little more than others. If you plan on having an elaborate garden setting, be prepared to keep it immaculately groomed with crisp clippings on your hedging and well-pruned flowering shrubs. If you prefer a low key garden, consider going with self sufficient shrubs, trees, and plants.

Calling A Pro: There is no shame in consulting with a professional on your Edmonton Home’s garden and landscaping plan. Don’t underestimate the amount of work associated with your project. Some homeowners setting up the landscaping on their Edmonton homes will require large equipment and intense labour. There are multiple landscaping companies in the city, so be sure to research each one and compare prices. Feel free to ask them lots of questions about your Edmonton home’s landscaping potential.

Do you have your own Edmonton landscaping tips, or stories to share? Leave your comments below. For all your Edmonton real estate needs, trust the Edmonton Home Pros team of professionals to be your real estate solution. Contact Stephen Lau today.

What do the colours in your Edmonton home say about you? Whether you are thinking about painting a room or redecorating- the colour palette you choose will set the atmosphere and tone. Before you start making any major furniture or paint purchases, allow Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home pros team show you colours and their meanings in Edmonton homes.

We conclude this series with fire and ice, two powerful tones that evoke different feelings.

Photo by: Suzanne Phillips

Red: If you want to make an impression on a room of your Edmonton home, we recommend you add a splash of Red. By placing it in strategic locations, eyes will be drawn to certain features of your room. Add a Red pillow or bedding to accentuate the couch. Not only is Red the colour of romance and passion, but it has also been proven to stimulate appetite. Add hints of Red to your dining room for a Victorian feel. For a toned down look, choose earth tones such as brick Red or cinnamon.

Photo by: ooh_food

Blue: Who said Blue is for Boys? Over the years, Blue has proven to be an appealing tone to both Men and Women. Many Edmonton Homeowners choose to place Blue in bathrooms as it promotes a fresh and invigorating feel. Many interior stylists also recommend placing soft Blues in bedrooms for a soothing and relaxing ambiance. For a classic colour combination, pair Blue and White together.

We hope this colour series helped you better understand colours and their functionality. If you’re still hesitant or unsure about the colour scheme to use on the walls of your Edmonton Home, consider hiring a colour consultant. These professionals have a strong understanding of colour psychology and will help you dress your home’s interior and exterior.

For more great tips and advice on caring for your Edmonton home, trust the Edmonton Home Pros team. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell Edmonton real estate, let Stephen Lau and his team be your guides.

We live in an digitally-powered world. Through a small device such as a smartphone, we can surf the internet, text, email, and call someone! As such, technology continues to revolutionize the real estate industry.

In 2012, the National Association of REALTORS® profiled homebuyers and sellers. They revealed that 90% of all buyers use the internet as their top information source, when searching for a home! An astounding fact when you consider that in Canada the internet truly took off by the late 1990’s. In today’s internet-driven world, the Edmonton Home Pros team embraces new technology and makes it easier for buyers or sellers to communicate with their current and future agents:

Bringing the Home Buying and Selling process to the palm of your hands. Photo by: thinkpanama

Comprehensive Website: Our multilingual real estate website is compatible with all internet browsers. Edmonton Home Pros provides as much information to you as possible including community information, team information, tips on buying or selling your home, and more! This information is presented in an clear, and visually appealing manner.

Mobile Website: Blackberry or iPhone? Tablet or iPad? When it comes to the Edmonton Home Pros Team website it doesn’t matter! They have a mobile version of their website which makes it easier to view MLS® Listings and find information on homes for sale.

Online Listings: Before online listings came along, homeowners had to head to their nearest REALTOR’S® Office to search through a massive book of property listings. When they found a home that they wanted to see, they would write down a number, then cross their fingers and phone the agent. Thanks to new technological advances, you are just a click away from Edmonton Home Pro’s Hot Listings and can instantly contact an agent.

One of the best things about the internet is the “freedom to learn” that it provides. While word-of-mouth remains the most powerful marketing tool, homeowners have the ability to research and explore other options. Edmonton Home Pros is powered by a solid team of professionals, which offer some of the best multilingual real estate services in Edmonton. But don’t just let us tell you about it- see for yourself. Take a look at their website and see what makes them unique. When you are ready to make your best choice in real estate, contact Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home Pros Team.

Edmontonians have seen a lot of Grey and Yellow tones this Summer. We’ve witnessed seemingly endless Grey skies during a rainy week, and intense yellow sunlight in +35 weather! While the meaning of these colours sit on opposite sides of the spectrum, they constantly make numerous appearances in the lives of homeowners. As such, the second blog of this Colour Series will provide Edmonton homeowners with tips and advice on introducing these two colours into their homes, without dramatically affecting the mood.

Photo by: Ann

Yellow: Although yellow represents happiness, optimism, and confidence, we recommend you use this colour in a safe and controlled environment. Pairing it with its tonal white can add softness to the room and create a lively atmosphere. This is a great combination during the Spring and Summer months. There are many members of the yellow family, from Cream to Canary and Gold- you want to select the shade that resonates with you while maintaining harmony. Feel free to play with the colour yellow in the darker spots in your Edmonton home such as hallways or basements.

Photo by: Chris Moody

Grey: The colour Grey is often misunderstood, largely due to its plainness and lack of personality. Grey draws no attention to itself, allowing homeowners the opportunity to pair it with multiple colour combinations. Grey or Silver furnishings with Navy Blue tones can add a modern and elegant feel to a room. Grey can serve as the perfect background to rooms that are naturally showered by daylight. Since it’s a more formal and serious tone, we recommend you use Grey in offices, studios, or even kitchens, while steering clear of adult bedrooms, nurseries, and children’s bedrooms.

Want to learn more about colours? Check out the rest of our Colour Series blogs:
Pink & Green.

Stay tuned to this colour series for more great tips and advice. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell Edmonton real estate, let the Edmonton Home Pros team be your guides.

This is the second part to the Setting The Stage blog series. To read part one click on the link below:

Setting The Stage Part 1

Whether you are preparing your home for a private showing or getting it ready for an Edmonton Open House, the right home staging techniques will have your Edmonton Home For Sale looking like new!

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What do the colours in your Edmonton home say about you? Whether you are thinking about painting a room, or redecorating the colour palette you choose will set the atmosphere and tone of the room. Before you start making any major purchases, Stephen Lau and the Edmonton Home Pros team recommends you read our colour series and educate yourself on common colours.

We begin this series with two colours commonly seen in nature: Pink and Green.

Pink – Over the years, Pink has upheld the reputation of being associated with femininity and relaxation. It promotes calmness and psychologically reduces aggressive behaviour or angry emotions. In fact, some prisons are known for placing inmates in a “pink room” for a certain period of time, studies have shown that this treatment helps calm the prisoner. Despite Pink’s soothing effects, when it comes to most Edmonton Homes, it is used occasionally. Unless Edmonton homeowners are using this colour for a little girl’s room, Pink goes unnoticed by many. Try adding a splash of pink to one of your rooms, for a special and relaxing touch.

Green – Similar to Pink, the colour Green has relaxing tendencies. It is commonly seen in the natural world and blends a nice combination of earth tones. If you are looking to incorporate the colour Green to your Edmonton home, lean towards a dark shade of Green, Olive tone, or Sage Green – pairing these tones with a Burgundy or Deep Blue can accentuate some of your room’s best features.

Stay tuned to this colour series for more great tips and advice. Whether you’re looking to buy or sell Edmonton real estate, let the Edmonton Home Pros team be your guides. Contact Stephen Lau today for more information!