Most sellers in this day and age recognize the value of staging a home's interior, but what about the backyard?

Especially in the summer months, when outdoor spaces often look their best, a well-staged backyard can be a major selling point and might just help you seal the deal with a buyer.

After more than a year of COVID-19 restrictions and public health guidelines that discouraged gathering indoors, Alberta's recent reopening has restored some sense of normalcy. When it comes to the process of buying and selling homes, it has also meant the return of a real estate staple: the open house.

It's only June, but Calgarians have already gotten a taste of the 30-degree temperatures usually reserved for the peak summer days of July and August. This summer could be a hot one, and it'll feel even hotter if, like many Calgarians, your home doesn't have air conditioning.

Here are five tips for keeping your home cool without A/C this summer:

You only get one chance to make a great first impression, so why waste an opportunity to get a leg up on other sellers?

Whether it's for better listing photos or to impress during showings, improving your home's curb appeal doesn't have to be expensive. Here are five cheap ways to boost your home's curb appeal:

To the uninitiated, plumbing repairs and maintenance can be intimidating. Major repairs and plumbing emergencies are no doubt best left to the professionals, but with a few tools and a bit of knowhow, smaller fixes can be accomplished by any homeowner.

With that in mind, here are five tips for the aspiring DIY plumber:

Calgary is one of the most unique cities in Canada when it comes to weather. Throughout the year, we can see temperatures span from -40C to 40C in a matter of months, and chinooks can warm our frostbitten city into a springtime paradise in only a few short days.

Because of this, our homes have to be prepared to withstand the most extreme weather Alberta has to offer. While these temperature fluctuations can cause damage to your home's exterior, they can also affect your home's interior, as there is a direct correlation between the temperature outside and the indoor humidity. The damage your home sustains could lead to unforeseen issues and cost thousands of dollars to repair.

The art displayed in a home provides personality, creates a welcoming atmosphere and offers a glimpse of your unique style to guests. And while there aren't many unbreakable rules for choosing and arranging art, you still don't want to fling it all over the place with little thought to how those pieces work with each other or the space.

Here are four guiding principles that will have your home looking like an expertly curated gallery in no time.