RE/MAX Real Estate Blog

“We’re looking at the T-Rex of winters.”

That is the catch phrase flying all over town these past few days after Jack Burnett, editor of the Old Farmers Almanac, likened our upcoming season to history’s most savage predator. He must not have realized he was addressing Edmonton’s hardy and unflinching masses, where life carries on, the work never stops, and much to the dismay of youngsters school is always open no matter the weather.

However, in the face of a long winter that’s predicted to be even colder and snowier than we are accustomed to it’s better to be prepared than to be stubborn. These ten cost effective tips will help save on energy bills, even in a T-Rex winter:

1. Cover your windows with plastic.

Older or inefficient windows cause hot air leaks to the outdoors and will end up costing a bundle. Bubble wrap is even better than regular plastic wrap, because of the added insulation of the air pockets.

2. Add a door sweep to all exterior doors.

Not only do they keep heat in but they keep the wet and damp out. They can be easily installed and Home Depot sells a variety of styles, most for less than $10.

3. Reverse Ceiling fan directions.

As we all learned in science class heat rises. There’s no use paying for the furnace to warm your whole house just for all that heat to settle up in the rafters.  Changing fan direction recirculates the warm air pumped out by your furnace and pushes it down into the living spaces.

4. Move furniture away from your vents.

Does it get any easier than that? Move armchair 6 inches to left for the winter, stay warm, save a bundle.

 5. Put a fan near your older radiator.

Radiators are great for creating heat, but not so great at circulating it. A nearby fan facing an opportune direction will help properly distribute all that warmth you’re paying for.

6. Close off any rooms you don’t use.

Storage room of needless items? Guest bedroom with no guests? Close the door, close the vent, close the window. Done. You’ll wonder why you bothered heating all that unused space in the first place.

7. Make use of that decorative fireplace. 

That hipster focal point that came with house is more than just a mantle for vintage books and busts of Beethoven…light that baby up! It’s completely free to use, just don’t forget to chop a few logs over the fall (your biceps could probably use the workout anyways).

 8. Open south and west facing curtains during the day.

Instead of paying for all that heat, why not use the sun. It not only provides free light, but free heat. Opening south and west window coverings in the day will allow your house to absorb as much warmth as possible, while closing them at night traps that heat in.

9. Insultate your water heater.

For about $30 you can buy a water heater insulation blanket and install it yourself in a jiffy. Here are 2 and a half minutes of helpful installation instructions:

10. Clean your gutters.

It’s high up and seems like worst job in the world but ice dams are a disaster.  Cold rain and snow combine with debris and can form ice dams that clog. This will lead to leaks inside the home. Leaks and cold weather are never a good thing. Scratch that. Leaks anytime ever are never a good thing.

These tips are relatively cost  and time efficient, meaning you should be able to get it all done on a day off and on a budget. Don’t forget there’s still time to get your house sold or a new house bought before the cold sets it! CLICK HERE to search for properties in the area of your choosing. 

Last week Re/max Edmonton posted this article recapping the summer sales figures for Edmonton and area real estate, addressing the minor decline in residential housing prices. When comparing June and July sales figures to new August number this trend becomes apparent, however when comparing housing prices year-over-year there is an obvious incline showing growth in the market.

As with all economic activities, the real estate market in Edmonton is strongly correlated to the population spike the city has been experiencing. In our most recent blog post, The Infill Trend, we addressed possible issues arising from population growth and the many steps being taken for the city to benefit positively from this change. At the heart of every solution was the creation of more residential living space in same geographic area we already occupy.

Edmonton Population Factors Compared to Other Major Canadian Cities (click to expand). Image Credit: Living in Canada

According to municipal census stats, the population of Edmonton has increased by 60,000 individuals in the past two years, for a current total of around 835,000. Within the next 10 years that number will break the one million marker. This strong need for residences, or the necessity for land to create more efficient styles of residences has a created strong demand. In addition to rising prices, another outcome of this housing pressure is expediency; properties are selling in significantly shorter time periods than what we have seen previously.

According the EREB sales figures, sales prices have increased by 14% when compared to the same summer months last year. By the end of August 2013 approximately $5 billion worth of homes had sold, whereas the total for August 2014 is $5.7 billion. An 11% increase has also occurred in the actual number of residences sold compared to the same time in 2013.

Edmonton August Sales Highlights (click to enlarge) . Source: EREB

According to EREB President Greg Steele:

“There has been some pressure this summer with a tight inventory of available homes and lots of new customers but low interest rates and new construction are enabling people to find a suitable home in the Edmonton area.”

He goes on to say:

“We move into the fall with 5,334 residential properties in the inventory and a vibrant market. Homebuyers and sellers are encouraged to work closely with a REALTOR® to find a suitable home in their preferred neighbourhood and price range.”

If you are interested in becoming a home buyer, or working on an infill project of your own click here to search for properties available in Edmonton and surrounding areas.

The current population of the city of Edmonton is around 835,000.

Projections expect that number to break one million within the next 10 years. If that number is hard to swallow, consider these statistics: in the next 30 years there is an expectation of half a million new residents living within city limits. That’s like the entire population of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan picking up and moving to Edmonton…TWICE. Every one of those 500,000 new neighbours of ours will need a bed to sleep in, a kitchen to cook in, and access to all the same amenities we use each and every day.

What is the key to this potential population crunch? New housing in established neighbourhoods. And the number one strategy to achieve this measure is infill projects.

Project Definitions. Source: City of Edmonton

The City of Edmonton is looking ahead, and presently establishing solutions to keep the city thriving while supporting an elevating population in the distant, as well as not-so-distant future. The city developed the “Evolving Infill” project which liaised with any and all interested members of the community to establish a conversation about the pros and cons of the upsurge of residential infill. The dialogue took place from November 15, 2013 and was wrapped up this August, 2014 when an extensive report was been published with in-depth responses to the challenging questions posed to concerned citizens.

Taking into account the information gleaned from this project, the city is now able to move forward in an effort to encourage and support the creation of more diverse housing options. The two year work plan explains measures taken to make the entire infill process more streamlined, with higher degrees of efficiency. Many of these measures address the inefficiencies of bureaucracy  and attempt to remove some of the red tape attached to municipal construction projects. Examples include addressing zoning bylaw location criteria (opening up more opportunities for garage or garden suites), changing RF1 zoning to allow narrower subdivisions of land, and simplifying approval processes for medium density houses in RF3 zones.

The city has published a user friendly guide to this new action plan (in plain English for us non-contractors out there), “Edmonton’s Infill Roadmap” outlining measures and approaches expected to change in the coming months and years.

Excerpt from the publication. Source: City of Edmonton

Excerpt from the publication. Source: City of Edmonton

According to an anonymous contributor to the report:

“My neighbourhood desperately needs to infills to replace tired housing stock, and also to provide enough density to support the schools and commercial businesses in the area.”

While a contractor explains:

“If garage suites were allowed, this would allow the original house to stand and the homeowner still to increase density while also having an income suite.”

Infill is important for a young, growing city; by making the best use of existing infrastructure we can allow for the thriving population expected within the next three decades. For more information on infill visit the City of Edmonton’s website, to create a custom search of properties available for purchase CLICK HERE and speak with an agent about exciting potential for infill projects in an area of your choice.