What to do with the mountain of cardboard boxes after a move? It can be a dilemma, especially  for eco-conscious consumers, who don’t want to add to the landfill waste.  St. Albert residents have an alternative with Frogbox, the Edmonton region’s only provider of re-usable plastic moving boxes.  And with drop-off and pick-up service, the convenient, eco-friendly alternative to cardboard is a no-brainer for many.

“We’ve never changed how we move, and yet it’s one of the most stressful things we ever do.” said Edmonton franchise owner Darren Weber. “We chase around for cardboard boxes, and then most end up  in the landfill after just two uses. If you could make the move easier, without impacting the environment , why wouldn’t you?”

The sturdy, stackable 70 litre boxes used by frogbox are used an estimated 400 times each – disinfected before each use – and are rented based on number of bedrooms and the size of the home or office. “Reuse is best, before recycle,” Weber said, estimating that the average house spends $150 (plus $30 for delivery and pickup) for frogbox rentals.

Customer, mostly residential, but also many business/office moves, can choose when, where and for how long to keep boxes before pickup at the new location. Weber said he sees frogbox  revolutionizing the moving industry, and with branches across Canada and several in the U.S., it makes moving to another city that much easier – pack up in one location; get frogbox to pick up the boxes in the new city.

“We want to eliminate cardboard boxes for moving. We want people to see that we’re passionate about the product and the environment. We’re going to be a household name,” said Weber, who co-owns the local franchise with wife Carmen.

As a “green” corporate citizen, frogbox donates one per cent of annual sales to eco-friendly charities like Duck Unlimited. Even the frog represents the eco-friendly mindset – it’s an indicator species, so if frogs aren’t present in a pond, it’s not a healthy environment.

“It’s a challenging industry – there can be a lot of waste – but we’re breaking new ground,” Weber added.

Other companies are seeing the benefits too. Ted Lelacheur, president of Western Moving and Storage, said there’s a definite advantage to  plastic moving boxes, especially the number of times a box can be reused.

“Fundamentally, it’s a great system. Our customers tell us they like the reusable aspect – especially office moves, where they need to get out of boxes quickly at the new location,” he said.

Chaise Kozinko, lead hand for Action Moving,  said his movers like the sturdy, stackable frogboxes too, which most importantly, can be labelled and locked. “We like that – nobody can get access to what’s in the boxes,” he said.

Consumer can go online to estimate the costs for box rental for their move, at frogbox.com.

St. Albert Gazette, Lucy Haines, Special to the Gazette, Wednesday May 28, 2014, frogbox.com

Once you’ve figured out what you want your home to look like, the big question is: Should you decorate it yourself or hire a professional? Or both?

Interior decorators and designers as we know them today barely existed before the 20th century. Before that it was taken for granted that you decorated your home yourself, unless you were Marie Antoinette or somebody with a similar pedigree.

Old habits die hard. Some people still think you need to live in a palace to hire a decorator, or are fearful of the cost (whether real or perceived). For others it’s not so much a question of money, but of ceding control and having the concern that the results might not reflect their tastes. Some dive into the collaborative process without hesitation, while others have confidence in their tastes and skill and prefer to decorate their homes themselves.

Which camp do you fall into? Here are some things to think about to help you decide.

Advantages of Decorating Your Home Yourself

Obviously, decorating your home yourself means you won’t have to pay someone else to do it. The results will truly reflect your personal taste, and you’ll be able to take full credit for them. If you’ve gone through the process before and were pleased with the results, there’s no reason not to do it again.

Whether the DIY route will work for you will depend on your strengths. “If you know what you like and you know what makes you tick, you’ll love everything you choose,” says interior designer Alana Homesley of Woodland Hills, California. You can also do the project in stages, as funds allow, and you won’t face the challenge of trying to convey your likes and dislikes to a stranger.

Disadvantages of Decorating Your Home Yourself

You could mess up. And you’ll either need to live with that error for years to come or pay a large sum of money to make it go away.

“Do you have the ability to visualize? Are you a creative type? If you’re not, then you need some help,” says Homesley, “because it is expensive, and you don’t want to make any mistakes.”

The DIY route won’t necessarily save you money. Decorating can be a time-consuming proposition with a steep learning curve and a huge number of decisions that need to be made. What’s your time worth? Will that outlay of time justify the fees you’ll be saving? If you make a mistake and something has to be redone, will you forfeit your savings?

In America a large percentage of home furnishings are sold to the trade only at wholesale designer showrooms. So what you’ll see in stores is only a fraction of the merchandise that’s available. While some showrooms permit public access, you’ll still need to buy through a designer.

Advantages of Hiring an Interior Designer

Hiring an interior designer will give you access to a large selection of to-the-trade-only furnishings, fabrics and wall coverings that otherwise you’d probably never see, and the services of workrooms and tradespeople that the designer has cultivated relationships with over the years. You can potentially end up with a beautiful home tailored to your tastes and lifestyle, and furnished with pieces chosen by an expert for their beauty, quality and durability.

“If you have the budget, that’s the way you should go, because you’re going to have something custom to you,” says Homesley.

“Having someone who can affirm your decisions is really positive,” says designer Amy Luff of Viva Luxe Studios in Bristol, Virginia. “Designers can save you money. And they can save you from repaying for something.”

Disadvantages of Hiring an Interior Designer

Working with an interior designer can be costly. It’s also a very intimate process. You will be sharing a lot of details of your life with another person. You might end up working together for months — maybe even years. A designer can become a confidant. Or, if you don’t pick the right one, an adversary.

Just because someone was on a magazine cover, Luff observes, doesn’t mean he or she will be the right fit for your home. So it’s extremely important that you like and trust your designer, and most of all, communicate well with him or her. Be clear about your budget up front, with no apologies and no excuses. Don’t hire someone accustomed to $250,000 budgets and expect her to shop for you at T.J.Maxx. Conversely, don’t expect a lower-budget beginner to deliver results like Mario Buatta.

There’s a sense of accomplishment that comes with decorating your home yourself that you might not feel if you pay someone to do the work for you. A good designer will involve you in the process, however, and make you feel like you played a major role in the outcome

Working With a Pro and Doing It Yourself

If you like the idea of working with a decorator or an interior designer, but not the cost or loss of participation, there are alternative working arrangements you could consider.

1.Hire a decorator by the hour to help you plan the layout and the furniture, fabric and color selections, then execute the plan yourself. Not all designers are willing to accept small assignments like this, but some will welcome it.
2.Design the project yourself but hire a pro on an hourly basis to hold your hand through the selection process, or to offer a verdict on items you’re considering.

3. Work with a virtual designer. A growing number of designers have hung their shingles on the Internet. You send them photos or a floor plan of your home, and they provide consultations for a fee, without ever meeting you (or your home) in person.

4. If there’s a furniture store you really like, see if it offers free interior decorating services. Some stores will work with you on your project without charge, although you will need to acquire the furniture from that store. “If you really like that store’s stuff, it’s a good way to go,” says Homesley.

Houzz, Article

Fred Albert,Houzz Editorial Staff. A staff writer and editor for Houzz

On July 1st, 2014, the Alberta Real Estate Association will be implementing a change. It will now require industry professionals to enter into a written service agreement with all client relationships when trading in residential real estate.

Here is a great video for you to watch that outlines why it is important to have this agreement in place.

Did you know that the average person moves 11.4 times in his or her lifetime? So says the most recent information from the U.S.Census bureau. Various factors prompt people to move, from job opportunities to the desire to be closer to family members to wanting to live in a nicer climate.

Moving is seldom an easy task, and is often ranked among the most stressful events in a person’s life. The employee Relocation Council cities it as the third most stressful event in life, following only death and divorce. That stress is only heightened when an entire family is making the move and an adult is starting a new job simultaneously.

Despite the potential headaches involved  with moving, millions of people move each year.  Those moving are often married couples between the ages of 25 and 44 with on or two children between the ages of 2 and 11. To make the process go more smoothly, consider the following tips.

1. Gradually introduce the concept of moving. Moving is a decision to be discussed with the whole family, even with young children who may not fully understand the process. Kids who are involved in looking at new homes or voicing opinions about which amenities they desire in a new neighborhood will feel empowered and in control.

2. Research potential new neighborhoods carefully. Finding a new residence is not entirely about buying a home that fits the family and its needs. It also is about finding a desirable neighborhood and community.  A good school district is an important factor, as is proximity to recreation, local culture and transportation.  Drive around a neighborhood during different times of the day to guage how active it is. Investigating businesses in the area can also help guage the personality of a given neighborhood.

3. Work with an experienced  agent. A Realtor who is familiar with a variety of communities is a great asset.  A buyer’s  agent will find homes and negotiate on the part of the buyer, having your best interest  in mind. Because the agent will be paid a commission on a portion of the sale price, which doesn’t come out of your pocket, it is in the Realtors best interest to help you find a home you can call your own. In addition, the agent will handle many of the tasks that may be overwhelming if you were doing them on your own, such as scouring available listings, waiting for inspections or filling out pertinent paperwork. With a Realtor handling these tasks, families can remove some of the stress from the moving process.

4. Pack children’s rooms last. Young children who see favourite items  disappearing into bubble wrapping and boxes may start to feel anxious. It’s not uncommon for preschoolers to act out or experience nightmares during the moving process. Maintain sense of normalcy in the home as long as possible. Begin packing nonessential items, only packing kid’s items when your moving date is right around the corner. Let children say good-bye to familiar haunts and even to their old home.

5. Plan a school orientation. Take advantage of any programs schools offer to acclimate kids to their new environment. Kids oftern leave friends behind when moving to a new home. The faster they get back to a normal routine, the better it will be for them.  Schools are where children will make new friends and participate in social occasions,  so tour their new schools before the school year begins, and meet with a few residents and current students to learn about special programs that may make a move less stressful for youngsters.

Relocating a family can be stressful. But involving kids in the process and anticipating an adjustment period can help families adjust more easily.

Article: Metro Creative Connection, Real Estate Weekly, April, 2014. 

Work on north-east leg rolls on this summer, completed in 2016.

This summer’s work on the Anthony Henday will mean better business for St. Albert, say local leaders.

Crews are going full steam ahead this summer to build the last leg of Anthony Henday Drive. The 27 Kilometer $1.8billion stretch of road will feature nine new interchanges and two bridges when complete, and will be the biggest highway construction project in Albert history.

“This summer is going to be one of the busiest construction seasons for the project,” said Christine Way, press secretary for Alberta Transportation Minister Wayne Drysdale. Crews expect to work a collective 1.4 million hours before the end of the season.

Crew are now constructing the second half of a bridge over the North Saskatchewan River as well as an interchange at Sherwood Drive and Yellowhead Trail north-east of Sherwood Park, Way said. They also plan to finish the southbound lanes on the Yellowhead-Sherwood Park Freeway interchange this summer. Edmonton’s 18th Street will reopen, while the 167 Ave./Fort Road intersection will close permanently.

Work to hook these new bits of road to the rest of the Henday at Manning Dr. won’t happen this year, Way said. It’s on schedule to be done by 2016, though, letting drivers motor all around Edmonton more or less interrupted.

Drivers should expect to see about 17 different construction site along the northeast leg of the Henday this summer, Way said. Traffic delays, closed lanes and lower speed limits should all be expected.

This chunk of highway is the last piece of the Henday puzzle, said Ivan Mayer, president of the Riel Business Park Association and frequent driver on the Henday. “It’s going to help everyone who’s on the loop.”

While most of the St. Albert’s truck traffic comes from the south (and the U.S.) or west (and the B.C. coast), the city does get a lot of customers that want to drive in from the north-east, Mayer said. Right now, those customers don’t have a straight path to get to this city. “This will make it much easier to find us.”

A finished Henday will mean more economic development for St. Albert, said Mayor Nolan Crouse. “People are going to be able to live here and work elsewhere,” he said. “It’s bringing the region closer together.”

This leg of the Henday is scheduled to open for traffic in November 2016.

Article: Kevin Ma, St. Albert Gazette, May 3rd, 2014

Move comes amid concerns real-estate market is overheating.

Canada’s government-owned housing agency is reducing the amount of mortgage insurance it has outstanding amid concern the nation’s real-estate market may be overheating.

Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. said Monday in its annual report it plans to have $545 billion in so-called mortgage insurance in force this year as repayments offset new policies. CMHC which insures home owners against default, said its insurance in force as of Dec. 31 fell 1.6 per cent from the year earlier to $557 billion.

The agency said it plans to insure 353,975 mortgage loans this year, up 3.0 per cent from last year.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has been reining in CMHC’s share of the mortgage insurance market to curb taxpayer liabilities in the event of a downturn.  In 2012, the government gave the country’s banking regulator new powers to oversee CMHC. Finance Minister Joe Oliver pledged in March to continue  lowering potential risks to taxpayers.

CMHC also guarantees mortgage-backed securities used by financial institutions to raise funding for housing loans, as well as the debt it issues, known as Canada Mortgage Bonds. CMHC will back $120 billion in mortgage-backed securities and Canada Mortgage Bonds this year, down 2.1 per cent from $122.6 billion in 2013, it said Monday. The agency will probably issue close to $40 billion in Canada Mortgage Bonds this year, in line with issuance over the “last few years”, senior Vice-President of capital markets Wojciech Zielonka said Monday.

CMHC insurance is fully backed by federal government. By law, Canadian mortgage that have less than a 20-per cent down payment must be insured.

Edmonton Journal, Business, Section C, Editor: Mark Iype, Tuesday May 6, 2014

Congratulations! Top Producers for April 2014!

Hip Hip HOORAY!  Way to go Team!
Congratulations to our top 4 producers for the month of April!!!! 1. Mike Kinsella 2. Rainy Noyes 3. Don Cholak 4. David Centis

Keep up the great work!

If you think this might affect you, maybe its the right time to make a move.

Tax Season
CMHC to limit mortgage insurance product offerings
Effective May 30, CMHC will stop offering mortgage insurance on second homes

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation will no longer offer mortgage insurance on second homes, the crown corporation said on Friday.

It will also discontinue selling mortgage insurance to self-employed people without third-party income validation.

The new limitations mean borrowers will also no longer be able to act as co-borrowers on other applications.

These changes, which will take effect on May 30, are part of the ongoing review of the mortgage loan insurance business.

CMHC said self-employed Canadians can still qualify for insured financing with a validation of their income using traditional methods.

As well, the two products will still be available to those who submit requests prior to May 30, regardless of the closing date of the home purchase.

CMHC said these two products account for less than three per cent of its insured business volumes in units.

“Given the limited use of these products, their discontinuation is not expected to have a material impact on the housing market,” CMHC said in its release.

The changes come as Canadian home buyers face an increase in mortgage insurance premiums.

In February, CMHC announced it would hike premiums for default insurance by an average of 15 per cent effective May 1.

The increase would hit buyers who have a downpayment of less than 20 per cent.

CBC News/Business  Posted: Apr 26, 2014 12:23 AM ET Last Updated: Apr 26, 2014 12:23 AM ET

Construction crews build housing and community centres in Saskatoon, Sask., on Feb. 2, 2012. CMHC said Friday it will stop offering mortgage insurance on second homes as well as to self-employed people without third-party income validation. (Liam Richards/The Canadian Press)