Matthew's Hockey Season is Wrapping Up
  
As you can see, Matthew had an accident while playing hockey. During the last regular game of the season, with only 2 minutes remaining, Matthew was checked and received a buckle fracture near his wrist.
He's taking the accident in stride, but he was a little disappointed that he won't be able to play during their City Championship run. His team placed fourth out of thirteen teams in the division and he wanted to keep making a difference on the ice.
Now he has to cheer them on from the sidelines.
On a side note, because of his arm he can't help me shovel the snow! He usually helps 2 of our elderly neighbors by shoveling their sidewalks and driveways. Now I had to do all three but I wasn't alone, Lillian came out and helped otherwise I think I would still be shoveling.
High School Basketball Season
This is Danielle's last year in High School and her Basketball Team ended the regular season at the top in Calgary and are ranked near the top in the province.
Danielle has had a fantastic season, she has made some lifelong friends and they are all practicing hard to bring home the Championship.
The image above is taken from a Global News video feature of Bishop Carrol playing in the Western Canada High School Tournament. Danielle is shooting for 3.
Here is the link to the video: https://www.facebook.com/lillian.crews/videos/10213815987807649/
City playoffs start Tuesday. Our family is really excited to go and cheer them on.
Selling your Home? Here's What Home Buyers Look For
We all know that different buyers have different wants and needs. For example, families will be looking for homes near good schools and lots of recreational activities.
There are some common features that the vast majority of people are looking for in 2018. Today, bigger isn’t necessarily better - it’s all about whether the house meets the needs of today’s busy lifestyles.
Here are some of the key features that can make a huge difference in the selling price of your home.
Updated fixtures and appliances
Buyers are spending every cent they have on the purchase price of the home, and they don’t want to have to spend more to get it fixed up on top of that. If you live in a home that’s in need of freshening up, some new light fixtures and cabinet hardware will go a long way. If the kitchen appliances are 1970’s avocado green, you may need to spend some money to get energy efficient, up to date appliances.
Remember, we have access to a government approved program where you can include up to $40k for renovations when you purchase that home with great bones in your perfect neighborhood!
Office Space and High Speed
Working from home is becoming more and more common, even if it’s just the occasional evening or snow day now and then. Having somewhere to focus and work on the computer is a must. Connectivity is key. A good mobile signal and high speed internet mean access to entertainment, information, and time saving opportunities of all kinds.
Amenities Close By
People want to be able to walk to restaurants, coffee shops, and gyms. As a result, buying in bedroom communities without these amenities less appealing. Buyers will spend more to get a smaller space if the location will allow them to live the lifestyle they want. Neighborhoods with short commutes are more popular than ever, and condo apartments downtown and townhouses close to downtown are also in demand.
Low maintenance
A decade or two ago, a big expanse of open lawn was an asset. Don’t get me wrong - people still want to see some landscaping, and curb appeal still sells but for a large number of people, less is more.
A larger, nicely styled walkway with some low-maintenance containers will present a welcoming appearance without taking up every free minute to maintain
Updated Kitchen and Bathrooms
You don’t need to have granite counter-tops to sell your home, but if your kitchen and bathrooms haven’t had an update since the 1980s, expect less interest and a lower selling price. Buyers don’t want to spend their weekends working on their houses - they want to just move in and have everything look good.
Buyers want well-designed, eat-in kitchens with plenty of organized storage. Ideally, the storage should be in the form of a pantry, rather than endless cupboards, especially if the kitchen is small. For bathrooms, they are looking for clean lines, walk-in showers, and as little grout as possible.
If you or someone you know is planning to sell a home that isn't updated and renovated, you could ask your realtor to promote the renovation program as part of the sale. This could get your buyer dreaming about how your home will look in the future rather than how it looks today. I've worked with some realtors who have promoted this with great success!
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