The amount of Canadians in the housing market who rent their homes accounts for 33% of the population. 

The recent coronavirus housing crash led many renters and homeowners to seek more affordable options. This applied to both residential and commercial real estate. 

If you have found yourself in need of a new rental property, you're certainly not alone. However, finding the perfect place can be a challenge if you aren't aware of the positive signs as well as red flags to watch for. 

Ready to start your hunt but want to ensure the most effective use of your inspection times? Follow along to learn 5 no-fail signs that you've found the perfect property.

1. You're Already Decorating

You've likely heard people express their excitement about a property by describing where their furniture will go. If you've joined the daydreamers in this imaginary decoration throughout your inspection, you're on the right track. 

This furniture arranging imagination is often an indication that you feel comfortable enough in the space to picture yourself there. What's more than that is you feel your furniture will translate well into the area. 

While it can be great to purchase new pieces for your new digs, keep in mind that rentals aren't a guarantee. Finding ways to make your existing furniture fit is always beneficial for longevity as well as saving on your budget.

2. It Ticks Your Boxes

Like many house hunters, you've probably made a mental list of all the items your new place must have. While it's important to practice some flexibility in your must-haves list, finding a place that ticks off the top priorities is a great indication. 

Understandably, you may not be able to find a three-car garage and wood burning fireplace in every property within your budget. However, deciding on the most important features will help you stick to your plan and not get swept up in the excitement of a new rental. 

For example, if you have decided that having a spare room is a priority for you but on a whim decide that you won't have overnight company and can forfeit the space, you may end up regretting your choice or relocating sooner than expected. 

Once you find a place that ticks off all your top priorities, it's a great time to stop trying to top it. 

3. The Location is Ideal

Location is everything, but what you feel makes a great area may be different from another house hunter. 

While you'll likely hear the term 'it's a great neighborhood' several times throughout your rental inspection journey, it's important to decide what qualifies as a great location for your needs. 

Perhaps you have children and want to ensure there is a great school in the district.  Or maybe you have an active social life and want to ensure you are within walking distance from restaurants and pubs. 

Develop your qualifying list of location needs and narrow your search to fit your ideals. If you've found a spot that ticks your boxes and is within your ideal area, you've got a real winner. 

4. Nothing Else Compares

Whether you set up multiple inspections already or have decided to explore all of your options between committing, if you find yourself continually comparing properties to your favorite one, this is a great indicator you've found your spot. 

That 'always on your mind' feeling is there for a reason. You may not be able to put your finger on the exact reason that you loved the space so much, but the answer could be as simple as feeling comfortable and at home. 

When you find yourself picking apart perfectly good places and drifting back to another choice, it's time to sign the lease. 

5. The Perfect Landlord

If you've dealt with a difficult landlord before, you know the value of finding an experienced and reliable landlord. While these can be difficult to come by, they are out there and are a great reason to choose a property. 

Renting from inexperienced landlords can land you in a frustrating position, especially when it comes to requesting repairs, dealing with bills, and negotiating rent. Because these landlords don't have any reference points, they may simply be unfamiliar with what they are responsible for and unintentionally ignore your rights.

Beyond experience, you'll want to find a landlord that maintains reasonable communication with you. If it's impossible to track down your landlord, or they call you every 2 weeks to "check up on things", you'll likely find yourself becoming frustrated and ready to get out. 

If you've met with the landlord or the property management company already and feel confident in their communication, experience, and professionalism, you've found a gem.

Red Flags to Avoid

Of course, just like there are signs of great rental homes, there are also key elements you should watch for to avoid disaster. 

While the coronavirus housing crash has influenced a drop in prices in the housing market in 2020, finding a commercial or residential real estate property that seems too good to be true, probably is. 

Don't forget that even in a pandemic, there are still rental scammers out there. Stay clear of those listings that promise far too much to be real. 

Once you've found your place, be cautious not to get caught up in the excitement before the lease is signed. Even if you trust the landlord, signing an incomplete tenant agreement is an incredibly dangerous way to enter a deal. This sets the landlord up to add in unmentioned conditions and rules your agreement ineffective if anything goes wrong.

Remember, the tenancy agreement is there to protect both you and the landlord and should be fully complete before signing.

Finding the Perfect Rental Property

Now that you know the 5 signs of the perfect rental property and what to keep your eyes out for, you can set forth with confidence on your search. Get ready to daydream, tick your boxes, and find the perfect landlord for your residential and commercial real estate endeavors. 

Ready to start your rental property search today? Get in touch with us to find out what's available and land your ideal rental. 

In life, our major goals are to become happier, healthier, and wealthier as time goes on. Typically, this means moving up in our careers, building a family, and creating a life of luxury and contentedness. 

However, as things progress and our families get bigger, we often find ourselves needing a larger home. If things are going as planned, by this time, you should have the finances to accommodate upsizing your home. However, before you make any big moves or commitments, there are a few things to consider. 

We want to help you make sure your process of trading up is as smooth and successful as possible. Keep reading for our top nine tips on what to do when finding a bigger home for you and your family. 

1. Assess Your Budget

Before upsizing your home, you need to figure out what you can afford. Maintaining a healthy monthly budget is vital for short-term and long-term financial security. You don't want to commit to payments that stretch your budget too thin. 

Dig into your monthly cash flow to see how much you can comfortably afford to spend on a higher mortgage. This may mean cutting back on some of the other expenses in your life, liking dining out, shopping, and other unnecessary items. Nearly 53% of Canadians live paycheck to paycheck, don't become one of them because you didn't do your homework before making a big investment.

2. Figure Out What You Want to Do With Your Current Home

Once you're sure you can afford to upsize your home, you need to figure out what to do with the home you're living in now. If you and your family are renting a home, this process will be quite simple. 

However, if you own your current home, you have two primary options. You can either sell it to help you afford your new home or keep it as a rental for an extra source of income. However, most people would prefer to sell their homes rather than taking on two mortgages, which means prepping the home for the market.

Additionally, understand that you may not be able to get approved for a second mortgage if you choose to hold onto your current home.

3. Get Pre-Approved for Your Next Mortgage

This leads us to our next step in upsizing your home, getting pre-approved for a mortgage. Talk to your lender or bank to find out what you're eligible for in terms of loan amounts and interest rates. 

If you must sell your home before you can get approved for a loan, make that your top priority. Regardless, you need to know what you're looking at in terms of mortgage eligibility before shopping for your next house. 

4. Save Money for the Mortgage Downpayment

Depending on the size of your mortgage, you'll need to come up with a varying minimum down payment. For example, if the loan is under $500,000, you only need a 5% downpayment. 

If the purchase price is between $500,000 and $999,999, you need 5% for the first $500,000 and 10% for the remaining price. However, if you choose to put less than 20% down on any mortgage, you'll need to pay for mortgage loan insurance.

5. Consider All the Costs of Upsizing Your Home

Once you get approved for a mortgage, you need to start thinking about all the costs involved in upsizing your home. Take your finances we discussed earlier into account to make sure everything is within range of your budget. 

For example, when you move into a larger home, you'll have more expenses. These include:

• Higher property taxes
• Higher utility bills (heating, cooling, electricity, etc.)
• Possible HOA fees
• Home repairs and maintenance
• And more

Additionally, moving into a bigger home requires furnishing a bigger home. You'll likely need to buy more beds, couches, shelves, and other necessities to fill the larger space. Make sure you account for these things in your budget.

6. Create a List of Priorities

When trading up into a larger home, you need to sit down with your family and come up with a list of priorities. You'll likely be living in this house for the next 10-20 years, if not longer. You need to make sure it meets all of your needs and expectations. 

Ask yourself the following questions:

• How big a home do I need?
• How many rooms and bathrooms do we want?
• How close do I want to be to work?
• What school districts do we want to fall under?
• Should we find a place with parks and playgrounds nearby?
• Do we want our home to have special amenities (pool, firepit, patio, fenced yard, etc.)
• And more

It's okay to dream big and wish for the world, but make sure you have a clear idea of your top priorities that are non-negotiable.

7. Hire an Experienced Realtor

To help you find the home that's best for you and your family, we highly recommend hiring an experienced realtor. They can also help you sell your current home if you need to do that first. 

Experienced realtors are familiar with the local real estate market and can help streamline the process of finding exactly what you need. Furthermore, they are skilled in the art of negotiation, which will be useful when negotiating terms with the seller. 

8. Think Ahead

Before you sign any contracts when upsizing your home, make sure you're thinking about the future. Buying the home at the right time (during a buyer's market) could help you build positive equity in the home over time. If resale value is important to you, you also need to consider the neighbourhood and whether it's growing or in decline. 

Additionally, if you're taking on a larger mortgage payment, you need to think about your financial longevity and job security. For example, if you work in sales and are having a great year, making the mortgage payment maybe a piece of cake. But what if you weren't having a great year?

9. Make an Offer

Finally, when you have all of your ducks in a row, there's only one thing left to do - make an offer on your next home. Use the advice and guidance of your realtor to make sure you're getting a good deal.

It's okay to come in with a low offer, just don't make it so low that you offend the seller or they decide not to take it seriously. If you make a super low offer, they may not even respond or send a counteroffer at all. And remember there are other things to negotiate with other than price, such as:

• Closing costs
• Realtor fees
• Appliances
• Furniture
• Window treatments
• Decor
• And more

Lean heavily on your realtor if you don't have much experience negotiating real estate deals. They'll help you get the most value for your offer.

Are You Ready to Upsize Your Home?

Upsizing your home can be an incredibly exciting and rewarding experience. Just make sure you follow the tips listed above to ensure your transition into a larger space is smooth and stress-free.

And if you're ready to start looking into your options or need help selling your current home, we're here for you. Contact us today to get in touch with our top agents.

Quick Guide to Commercial Real Estate

If you are interested in building long term wealth, then commercial real estate will help you achieve your goals. However, if you've never bought a commercial property before, it may be quite daunting. While navigating the ins and outs may be challenging, the right information will be a useful tool. 

This article will give you a guide to commercial real estate purchase. If you are a first-time buyer, then keep reading to find out what you need to know when you buy your first commercial property.

What Is Commercial Real Estate (CRE)?

Before diving into this guide to commercial real estate, it helps to know what this type of real estate is. CRE refers to property meant for business activity. Tenants rent out for work and not to live in. This is what sets it apart from residential property. 

It usually has a longer lease period which means more consistent passive rental income for you. It’s an appealing form of real estate because of the high returns and property appreciation.

Step by Step First Time Buyers Guide to Commercial Real Estate 

1.Know your options

If you are going to buy commercial real estate, you have to know the options available to you. Commercial real estate typically falls into four broad categories.

• Office

In this category, some buildings house different types and sizes of offices 

• Industrial 

This includes the larger commercial property, including warehouses and factories. It involves a larger outlay and is much more prominent on floor space.

• Multi-family rental

Multi-family rentals are buildings that you can rent out to many families such as apartments.

• Retail

Encompasses retail space for businesses that interact directly with clients, for example, shops and restaurants. 

2.Define your strategy 

Once you know your options, it's time to decide on your strategy. You have to ask yourself if you want to buy to keep the property for rental. Or if you're going to purchase and develop the property to improve its value for resale. 

You will also want to think about which type of property you wish to specialize in. A clear

3.Set up a budget 

The next step is to come up with your budget. As a novice property buyer, it's easy to pay too much for a property. The goal is to pay a fair price. Get experts, to give you a guide to commercial real estate prices. This will help you come up with a reasonable budget for the property type you are most interested in. 

The Canadian property market, especially office space, is quite appealing; hence properties move fast. Having a predetermined budget will help you make decisions quickly. That way you won’t lose out on many great properties.

4.Get some help

Commercial property can be quite involved, especially if you are doing it for the first time. It’s essential to get an expert to give you a good guide to commercial real estate purchase. Consulting with a tried and tested realtor will help you avoid complications. 

You might hit a lot of speed bumps while shopping for CRE. Having experienced people by your side will ensure success in your real estate journey. The temptation to avoid the expense of getting help is understandable. But getting help will save you more in the long run. 

5.Go shopping 

Now that you know what you want and how much you can spend, it’s time to start shopping for your commercial property. To begin with, look through property listings, you'll find a goldmine of available properties. 

While skimming through the listings, you should keep a couple of things in mind.

6. Location

It's important to determine if the location is ideal for your chosen property type. For most commercial real estate purchases, urban locations are the best. For retail property, a location with a vacancy rate of less than 5% is the most desirable. 

Slightly out of town locations with a good transport network are a better option for industrial sites. They are also much less competitive.

7. Zoning

Authorities classify specific areas for different business types. This is why you must know the zoning laws. Buying a building in an industrial area with the hope of turning it into a children’s play area, for example, might not be legal. 

Guide to Commercial Real Estate Property Due Diligence

Once you have your eye on a property that works for you, it's time to do your homework.

Property taxes

They do say only two things are certain in life and tax is one of them, as with anything else you have to pay the piper. On average property taxes around the Edmonton area are roughly 2.3%. You have to know how much you are going to pay in tax so you can plan ahead.

The state of the building 

An important consideration you should make is the state of the building. Will it need repairs? What kind of maintenance is required regularly? These factors come into play in the cost consideration and will also save you future headaches. 

It's important to get a thorough building inspection done so you won’t get any surprises. Find a guide to commercial real estate building inspection to get a checklist to use.

Funding 

Once you have all the information about a property, the next thing is to secure your funding. You don't want to lose out on a great property because you are still working out the kinks. So it's best to get the funding ready before you commit. 

Closing the Deal 

After all, is said and done and you have all the answers, it is time for the paperwork. Remember to read through the contracts, including the fine print. Enlisting legal help to give you a guide to commercial real estate contracts is a necessity at this point. You might want to make sure your contract has a due diligence clause, in case you discover something unexpected.

Final thought 

Despite COVID-19, the commercial real estate market in Canada is still a great long-term prospect. However, blindly diving into the property market might leave you frustrated and in a loss position.

Commercial real estate buying can be quite risky since it involves large amounts. The risk becomes even more prominent when you are not well informed. For a new buyer, the many considerations you have to make may be complicated. Use this guide to commercial real estate to equip yourself with the knowledge you need to make a right decision.

Getting the right property will have you well on your way to generating good passive income cashflows and lasting value. 

Even with a good guide to commercial real estate buying, looking for the right property may be overwhelming. We are here to help. Please have a look at our commercial listings and Contact us to find out more about our services. 

When most people see a nice home, they think of the long-term investment it represents. They think of a family, long-established in a charming neighbourhood. 

But this isn't always the case. In these days of skyrocketing housing prices, homes are just as likely to be rental properties. And there are numerous benefits of renting a home. 

Let's check out some of them, including a few you might never have thought of. 

1. Greater Flexibility

To begin with, let's start with one of the top benefits of renting a home: the sort of flexibility that buying a home can't match. 

If you're more interested in exploring a city or town, rather than putting down permanent roots, this is an attractive reason to rent a home. Perhaps you're not attached to any one location. Maybe you'd like to see what other cities and towns have to offer. 

Rental contracts often run for twelve months. Afterward, you're free to search for a new home to rent. The point is, you're not fettered by owning a home; renting a house affords you unparalleled freedom. 

2. No Maintenance Headaches

Amongst the pros of renting a house is that you don't have to worry about maintenance costs and repair bills. 

Owning a home means you are responsible for repairs and other upkeep hassles, but things are different when renting a house. Providing you rent from a good landlord, all the headaches that come from broken appliances, mould damage, leaky pipes, etc., are none of your concern. 

3. Location, Location, Location

Here's the thing about renting a home: it gives you somewhat more affordable access to locations where home ownership is out of the question. 

For instance, buying a home in beautiful St. Albert or downtown Edmonton might be out of the question for you. But choosing to rent expands your available options. Though still pricey, there are many more options within your budget. 

4. Fixed Budgeting

Setting a budget, and adhering to it, is a difficult thing to do. 

But it helps to have a fixed rent amount, which is maintained throughout the span of a lease agreement. This is another great benefit of renting a home that few people consider. 

Homeownership comes with a heaping of variable costs that tend to throw any budget out of whack. This includes property taxes and fluctuating mortgages. 

As a renter, however, you're insulated from these fluctuations, which allows for more efficient budgeting. 

5. Better Quality and Amenities

Renting also tends to mean access to a better quality home than you might otherwise be able to afford. 

Whereas owning a large home, well furnished, with access to downtown, might be outside your price point, it could very well fall within your means when it comes to renting. And this is why renting a home instead of an apartment could be a more attractive choice. 

Discover the Benefits of Renting a Home

So there you have it—five benefits of renting a home that we think make renting an excellent first choice, rather than a last resort. If you're unwilling or unable to take on the chores of homeownership, renting a house is an attractive option. 

If you're ready to begin your search for a home to rent, we're here to help. Contact us today, and let our team of top-notch agents find you a new place. 

Having a rental home can be challenging at times. Finding easy ways to increase your rental property income - even harder.

Renting your house out for a higher price will increase your rental property income, but you want to do it in a way that is fair for all parties.

Providing a quality house with top-rated customer service, proper maintenance, and a fair market price is a sure-fire way to win any tenant’s hearts.

To increase your monthly return, we will need to look at your property the same way our property managers do.

Here are 9 easy steps to increase your monthly return on your property investment:

1. Curb Appeal

Realtors will tell you that giving your house curb appeal is one of the best approaches to make it appealing for buyers; this also remains true for potential tenants.

First impressions mean a lot. You want your house’s first impression to be on a positive note.

That usually means a yard that is well taken care of with a house and fence with no paint flaking off. But do not stop there. How does the garden look (if there’s one)? Have the trees been appropriately pruned?

Can the home benefit from more trees? If that is too much effort, purchase a couple of potted shrubs and line them up in which you want to have more separation from the outside world.

If venturing out into your back yard means you get to hear the hustle and bustle of the city, try purchasing a fountain to burble off and block traffic sounds or loud neighbours.

There is no faster way to increase your rental property income than by having a positive curb appeal.

Brainstorm as many outside improvement ideas as possible to liven up the house’s initial impressions. If your budget is tight, there is always a less costly choice if you get creative.

2. Charge for Amenities/Perks

You can gain extra income by adding more micro-transactions or upsells. Adding services where tenants can pay to mow their yard every two weeks through the summertime can create a simple to implement cash flow.

Even if you do not make much extra cash, you know the lawn will be well maintained. A well-maintained lawn means better curb appeal.

3. Add light by Updating the Windows.

A bright home is a welcoming home. Most people want a home with lots of natural light. You can add light to dark rooms by substituting small, obsolete sash windows with bigger sliding or casement ones.

If you have a brick rental home or when there’s other circumstances that may increase the cost of adding windows, you should consider putting a couple of mirrors in strategic areas to brighten up the living areas. Once the renters have signed a lease, they can always move or remove the mirrors at their pleasure.

A home with deteriorating windows is usually a deal-breaker. No one likes a draft or paying more on their energy bills. Advertising an energy-efficient house in these markets is just one more added benefit. When making your rental listing add the window manufactures data.

4. Future Proof Your House by Making it a Smart House

Turning a dull, old home into a smart home is relatively simple. Adding two or three smart home gadgets can help you flourish! Your once bland home will be transformed into a “smart house” with “innovative technology” For a couple of hundred bucks, your property gets ratcheted up in curb appeal, modernity, and worth.

Landlords may also see an increase in monthly income and longer stays by having a smart house.

One of the best places to start is the thermostat. This way, you can boast to potential tenants it’s going to save hundreds of dollars annually on gas and electricity bills while being environmentally conscious.

Afterward add smart door locks and a smart smoke/ CO detector. Smart door locks have a practical use for landlords and property managers that will provide temporary access to anybody: builders, realtors, leasing representatives, potential tenants, etc.

5. Keep the House Clean

Usually, we shouldn’t need to say this, but… Cleaning your house does create real value to your renters, and raises the potential rent you can charge. Tenants do not just look at things such as leaks in the roof and beautiful appliances; they look at the atmosphere as a whole.

When a previous tenant moves out - bring in the cleaners. Have them clean every nook and cranny. Are the cupboards cleaned inside and out? How about the appliances and walls? This doesn’t just show the house better but increases the perceived value.

6. Add a Layer of Fresh Paint

Painting is the easiest and best way to go from old and run down to bright and shiny, therefore increasing your rental property income.

Outdoor colours that blend with the environment make a home feel much more comfortable and inviting. Indoors, it is all about light. Try keeping the inside colours clean and neutral.

7. Add a Sense of Smell

The sense of smell is very primitive and closely connected with memory, likely more so than some of our other perceptions. To put it simply, if the house is filled with warm and welcoming aromas, then your prospects will more than likely have a positive memory subconsciously affiliated with that house.

Before having prospects show up, some property managers will bake biscuits. Now that is an inviting odour sure touch at the bottom line!

8. Quality Advertising

How often have you heard, “all I will need to do to rent a home is put a sign in the window.” Although this can work, it is likely to get you poor quality tenants.

If you're only getting leads by a sign in the window, you won’t get as much demand as you were to advertise online. When going by supply and demand, this means fewer prospects and fewer prospects means less demand. Less demand means you’re likely to charge your place out for less.

Leasing a house with just a sign likely means you’re underperforming and losing out on opportunities. Let’s say 30 people drive by the house, and 10% of those people are interested. You have three potential people looking at the home. Comparatively, if you advertise online, you have 3000 people interest and the same 10% you have 300 people in your rental pool. A good advertising company will go even further to pair you with even better-quality leads.

Don’t forget quality over quantity also plays a role in the photographs used in marketing your house, so be sure to take high-quality images. If a single picture is shot from an older phone and another from a high-end camera, which set of images do you believe is more inclined to capture the audience of people aimlessly scrolling the world wide web?

9. Provide Quality After Care with Preventative Maintenance

Some of the very best strategies to increase income property revenues are to give a sense of caring. Renters that feel like they are well cared for will usually stay in the house longer. This also increases the likelihood of increasing your rental fees after every lease. So, when you want to foster a relationship of caring, look into preventative maintenance.

What’s more, some tenants will look for any reason to complain and not let you escape about the issues in the home. Worse yet – they will not even tell you about any problems at hand.

If leaks persist for a long time, they could cause significant irreversible rot and water damage. Changing furnace filters increases the life of the furnace and delivers clean air.

Preventative maintenance is good, but don’t interrupt the tenant so often that they get annoyed. At Bermont Realty, we prefer to do them every six months and a year at most.

Good preventative maintenance is the key to tenant retention. If you provide excellent care, this can go a long way to keep you in high favour with your renters and raising the probability of a lease renewal. And turnover is often a landlord’s most significant expense, so whatever you can do to mitigate it’s a fantastic thing for the main point.

Wrapping it All Up

Owning a rental property is a lot of work. Having a qualified property manager to take on the everyday hassle will save you a tremendous amount of time and stress. They will also tell you if you should increase or decrease your rent based on the current markets.

Limiting your rent increases to keep your current renters avoids those extra expenses, but encouraging them to stay creates a neighborhood. That’s what many renters, especially those with families, are looking for.

If you’re looking to see the value of your rental property, check out our home evaluation tool. It’s free!

Looking to hire a manager? Ask the 7 essential questions you should ask any property manager before hiring the one that's right for you.

What makes a house a home? There are many aspects of your house that make it feel more like a home and a beautiful garden is one of them. A house for sale on the market is an empty structure on a lot of land. 

A home is a house that's been modified and made to suit your personal preferences and daily needs. It's something that you've made your own! Starting a garden from scratch might seem daunting, but once you've achieved the final product it'll all be worth it. 

Are you ready to start your own garden but not sure where to begin? Below is our guide on everything you need to know about starting a garden from the ground up! Continue reading to learn more!

1. Choose What You'll Grow

One of the first things you need to decide is what you want to grow in your garden. You need to keep in mind the location of your home. Do you receive more shade than the sun? 

Are there more warm days throughout the year than cold ones? What's the average temperature like for the year? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you decide what's best to grow in your garden. 

If need be, speak with your local plant nursery shop or garden supplies store about the best plants to grow in your garden. If you want to grow veggies, be sure to choose veggies that you and your family love. You should only plant and grow what you'll eat and use. 

2. Find the Ideal Location

Your next step is to find the ideal location for your garden. There are a few factors to keep in mind when selecting the best place for it. Do you want your garden in the front or back of your house?

Which location receives the most amount of sun? Which location is the safest from traffic, children, pets, and wildlife? Depending on what you're growing, your garden will most likely need at least 5 hours of direct sunlight each day. 

There are some greens and herbs that can flourish in partial shade, so be sure to do your research on what you're growing and find an ideal location. You should also place your garden in an area where you see it on a daily basis. 

If you place it in an area where you don't walk past it or see it each day, then you could easily forget about it as time goes on and your garden needs as much attention as possible. Lastly, make sure you place it in a location where children and animals won't run through it, causing damage. 

3. Buy Your Gardening Tools

Now that it's all starting to come together, it's time to buy your gardening tools! When you have the right gardening tools, taking care of your garden is simple! As time passes by and you become more of a gardening expert, you'll find more tools and different tools that are unique and work best for you.

For now, you'll need the basics. Here's what to buy.

• hand tools
• gardening hoe
• scuffle hoe
• leaf rake
• dirt rake
• garden shovel
• watering system

One tip is to ensure you buy all metal tools. Plastic tools are less expensive but will make gardening more of a chore than when working with metal tools. For your watering system, you can either use a sprinkler system or purchase a hand-held watering can. 

4. Plant Seeds in Raised Beds

When you're ready to plant your seeds, consider planing them in raised beds. You can create several raised beds throughout your one garden. Planting your seeds in this manner helps keep many pests and weeds out. 

It makes the gardening process much easier for you and keeps things organized. You'll fill your raised beds with appropriate soil for what you're planting and then you can plant your seeds in their rows! 

5. Provide Rich Soil for Plants

Most items that you grow in your garden will need a neutral pH. Other items, however, like potatoes, will need more acidic soil. Pay close attention to what it is you're growing and provide a rich soil that those plants will love. 

You can purchase test kits to test your soil before planting your seeds. Another way to test is by soaking your soil with a hose and revisiting it the next day. The day after soaking, dig into the soil and grab a handful. 

If water comes out of the soil when you squeeze, or if it's too dry, then you'll need to add organic matter to the soil. 

6. Give Yourself and Plants Space

Once you have the perfect quality of soil, it's time to start growing! When planting your seeds, give yourself and the plants space. Follow the directions on the back of the seeds package to plant accordingly. 

Most seeds will need to be spaced out for optimal growing conditions. You should also plant your different seeds in ways where it's easy for you to walk through your garden, get to each and every plant, and tend to it with ease. 

7. Tend to Your Garden Regularly

Use a garden how to stir the top of the soil on a regular basis to stop weeds from growing. When growing vegetables, fertilizer them to produce a better result. You'll also want to be sure to keep all animals out of your garden. 

A 6-foot deep fence will keep bunnies out while an 8-foot high fence will keep deer out. Remember to water the soil, not the plant itself to prevent fungus growth. If using a sprinkler system, have it set to water in the morning so the plants can dry by the evening. 

Are You Starting a Garden from Scratch? 

Have you found the perfect home and are now considering starting a garden from scratch? If so, follow this guide to help you throughout the process! 

Haven't found that perfect home yet? Click here to see how we can help you find that perfect house that you can turn into the home you've been waiting for!

You have just moved into your first home. Whether you are renting or purchased your first home, making it feel like an actual home can take some time and settling into.

It may be harder to decorate a rental property as it’s mostly used for short term provisions but creating a sense of home is something to be perceived in our minds. A house can become more than a home. In this article we are going to look at two of the happiest nations on the planet, Canada and Denmark.

Both these nations have similar values in how we handle the long, cold and dark winters. As Canadians we have the feeling of hominess in our culture whereas our cousins in Denmark have something called, "hygge" (pronounced hoo-ga). Although people don't really know the actual translation of hygge and what makes a home "hyggelik" or homey as it's a broad ranging topic.

It has been called everything from,"coziness of the soul", "the art of creating intimacy", and "taking pleasure from the presence of soothing things" to "the absence of annoyance" and many more. One thing we do know for certain about hygge and hominess is that they are both about creating an atmosphere and experience. A feeling of home.

Here are 9 tips for decorating your first home.

1. Lamps and Lighting

Creating the right atmosphere in most situations has something to do with lighting. Making your first home have warm, ambient lighting such as candle light can create a warm, welcoming experience for you and your guests. Be warned that candles can create fire hazards and dangerous fumes so let's look at a healthier alternative – lamps.

When choosing a lamp, the light temperature matters. We often think of fancy restaurants having warm, dim bulbs to be welcoming. The same goes with your first home. To create a "hyggeligt" atmosphere the lower the bulb temperature is the best rule of thumb. Think about that first hot date watching the sunset. We want the room to be the same light temperature as the sunset and candle light which is roughly 1,800 K. A recommended bulb type is the Edison bulb.

2. Things made of Wood

There's just something about wooden objects that create a sense of home. It’s raw, it has textures, it is simple and best of all it connects us to nature. The feel of snuggling up in a log cabin chalet in the Rockies, seeing children play with simple wooden toys or the creek of a wooden floor. Things made of wood give us the connection to nature and a simple sense of hominess.

3. Throw Blankets and Cushions

With our cold, long winters is there anything better than snuggling up in a blanket by the fire? Adding a faux fur throw is a great way to make your first home feel more welcoming.

Adding cushions to your blankets is also an essential. What's better than leaning your head on a cozy cushion reading your favourite book?

A quick visit to Ikea can certainly help. When adding your blankets consider the weight for the season. Add a glass of wine and perfect mood lighting and you're in for a perfect night.

4. Tactile Goods

We talk a lot about the atmosphere and mood lighting but we want to take into account all our senses. One we don't often think about when decorating our first home is how things feel. Running your fingers along the grain of a wooden table, the warmth of a coffee cup we take for granted or the softness of a faux fur throw.

Add some textures to your home. You won't regret it.

5. House Plants

Bringing nature into our home goes beyond wood. We've mentioned faux fur throws and now we are mentioning plants. House plants and flowers are well-recognized for their ability to positively impact our mood and reduce stress, among other things. When we go out in nature, we de-stress and create a sense of calm in our souls. What's better than bringing this into our homes?

Like fresh food? You may want to think about adding a windowsill herb garden to cook with.

Adding artwork to your home is a great way to make your home feel welcoming overnight. Have you walked into an empty house? One of the first things you notice is the bare walls making a house feel like just a house. Adding vibrantly coloured art work can make a space more pulled together, less empty and more welcoming

7. Declutter Your Space

A cluttered home leads to a cluttered mind. In this article we mention that creating a home is often about atmosphere. Adding clutter to our atmosphere is like pollution for our minds. Taking a couple moments each day to put your clothes away or make your bed can greatly add to our sense of hominess. If you don't notice it in the short term, you'll notice that keeping your first home clean and decluttered will be a lot easier on your mind long term.

8. Add a Mirror

Placing a mirror in strategic locations can make any room feel bigger and brighter. If you have a small apartment or room this can make a huge impact. Not only functional, you can often find vintage mirrors that add some character to your room.

9. Add Vintage items to your space

Let nostalgia come into play. Adding Vintage items to your first home creates many new narratives as the objects often hold a story of their own. All things have a history and adding them creates hygge.

Come Home to Happiness

While hygge is very suggestive and open to one’s interpretation we can see many commonalties when it comes to fostering a safe and welcoming atmosphere in our first home or even presenting our homes to sell. More often than not we see that nature plays an important role in our homes but if you want the most of hygge be sure to add some outdoor time to your life as well. If you're looking to purchase or rent your first home contact our office and one of our agents will help you on your way to living well!

Hiring a property manager is a great step to take when owning rental property. Property managers take a lot of the weight off the shoulders of the owner when it comes to maintaining the property, dealing with tenants, and much more. It's even more beneficial to hire a property manager when your rental property is in a different state than you.

When this happens, it makes it more difficult to manage your property since you can't be there in person to see everything through. However, you need to take your time and ensure that you're hiring someone who you can trust with your property and your income.

The best way to give yourself peace of mind when leaving your property in someone else's care is to know the right questions to ask a property manager during the hiring process. Below is a list of several different questions that you'll want to ask before deciding which property manager to hire.

Continue reading to learn more!

1. Do You Have Experience with All Tenants?

As a property owner, you need your property manager to handle all tenant questions and concerns. If you own multiple properties, the amount of time you would need to spend answering all tenants' questions would consume your entire week. You'd rather be focusing your time and energy on other things.

That's why it's important to ask your potential property manager about the experience he or she has dealing with all types of tenant interactions. You want to hire someone who can handle all of these things for you and only bring to you the questions or concerns that require your attention. 

2. How Will You Help Keep My Unit Occupied?

Keeping your unit or units occupied at all times is essential for a property owner to keep constant cash flow. Without a tenant to occupy a unit, there's no money to be made. Because of this, be sure to ask how the property manager will help you keep all of your units occupied. 

A good property manager understands how the market works and will get to know all of your tenants. A property manager who gets to know tenants is essential. This helps keep everyone on the same page. 

For example, if your property manager knows that your tenants are planning on moving out, he or she can begin to find a new tenant before the current one leaves.

3. How Will You Help Me Improve Cash Flow?

The entire purpose of having a rental unit is to rent it out and make some kind of profit out of it. Ask your potential property manager how he or she will help you improve your cash flow. Ideally, you would bring in tenants and they would pay their rent on time each month and there would be no problems with the property.

However, this isn't always the case. You need a property manager who's going to ensure the rent is paid on time each month and will take appropriate actions when it's not. Your property manager should also help you with finding the best prices on service providers for repairs and maintenance around the unit. 

Find someone who's going to help manage your expenses and create the cash flow you need. 

4. Do You Have Established Relationships? 

Property managers sometimes have established relationships with companies, which can help you get discounted prices. This might not always be the case, but it's worth a shot to ask your potential property manager about the types of connections or established relationships that they have.

These relationships could be with electricians, landscapers, plumbers, and other types of services. These companies are more willing to provide the best of their services to people they have relationships with. You might not have the time to build these connections, but a property manager does. 

In return, this could help you save dramatically. 

5. How Are Tenants Screened Before Renting?

Your rental unit is your investment. The only way to keep it that way is to ensure your renters are honest and overall good tenants. To be sure of this, ask your potential property manager how he or she will screen tenants before allowing them to rent the unit. 

Some screening processes might include speaking to past landlords, looking up job history, and running background checks. You want to know what all will be done to determine which renters are selected and which ones aren't. Make sure that the property manager you choose has a plan of action for how he or she will screen the tenants. 

6. Do You Have References for Me to Review?

Prior to hiring a property manager, ask him or her for a list of references. A good property manager won't have any trouble offering you a list of references that might include past clients, contractors, real estate agents, and more. When speaking to these references, be sure to ask them about any good aspects and bad aspects of working with the property manager. 

7. Do You Have the Proper Licenses? 

One of the most important things to ask your potential property manager is if he or she has the proper license. Depending on what state your unit is located in, there might be different licenses required for property managers to have. 

There are also trade organizations that provide property managers with certifications. Ask your potential property manager about what types of licenses or certificates he or she has. 

Know What Questions to Ask a Property Manager Before Making the Hire! 

Don't hire your next property manager blindly. Know these questions to ask a property manager before working with them. Doing so ensures the best rental experience possible. 

Ready to get started? Contact us today to see how we can help you!

They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but should you judge a house by its curb appeal? Much like a book, your home's outside can give an impression on what's inside.

Whether you are selling or preparing your home for rent small changes can lead to a greater curb appeal. Here are ten tips on how to increase your home's curb appeal on a budget.

1. Take care of your front lawn

Taking care of your lawn is much like your hair. To look presentable, in most situations you want your hair styled. You want the same for your lawn. When you mow the grass, kill the weeds and rake the leaves it will also lead to a healthier, thicker lawn. Add some water and you will reduce the brown spots. This will show potential buyers and renters that your home is generally well cared for.

2. Trim trees and bushes

Thinking green and increasing your home's curb appeal on a budget brings up something for the green thumbs. If you cannot see your home from the curb then what's the point of adding curb appeal?

More often than not, a basic pair of pruning shears can cut down overgrown trees and shrubs hiding your home. Trim runaway plants and shrubs to create a neat and orderly look and feel. A pair of pruning shears only costs a few dollars so consider it a tree-t on the pocket book.

3. Clean the exterior

It may not seem like much but dirt and grime build up fast on the siding, especially in newer areas where there is construction. Using your garden hose, turn it to the strongest setting and blast the dirt and grim way. For situations with lots of dust, a light bristle brush or a power washer can add an extra punch when it comes to rinsing off the dust. Just don't apply too much pressure because you can blast through the siding. Once you're done your home's colours will be brighter.

4. Paint the front door

This little step can make a dramatic change for the better. Adding some colour to make your door pop is a sure-fire way to increase your curb appeal on a budget. Some colour coordination is needed here. You will want to pick a colour that contrasts well with your house. In this case you'd want to opt for a bold colour that will help accentuate the other colours. Optionally you can use the Front Door Paint app which will let you test out alternative colour options or, you can go to a local paint store and ask a store associate.  They are well trained and have seen many ideas passed by them.

5. Enhance the door

Since we're on the topic of doors let's open up more options by adding more décor. If you don't want to paint, consider adding a wreath or planters. If you're feeling extra creative you can pick up an old set of planters from a thrift store or garage sale and a can of spray paint. You can bring new life to something old to create a memorable and welcoming front entrance.

6. Updating the lighting

We don't often think about the lighting but a quick swap from an outdated or builder grade fixture can instantly brighten your home. If you're doing this yourself make sure the circuit breaker is off with no chance of accidental energization. Prove zero energy with a testing meter to reduce the risk of accidental shock however here at Bermont Realty we always suggest to work with a qualified electrician.

Feeling thrifty? Grab a can of spray paint and add a new colour for a fraction of the cost. From colour choices to new fixtures you will have watts to think about.

7. Clean the Windows

This tip will leave you seeing clearly. When you clean both the outside and inside panes you will add a sparkle to your home.  Clean the outside with a garden hose and then wipe both the inside and outside down with a micro-fibre cloth. This will leave a streak free shine.

For hard to reach places you may need a ladder or a squeegee on an extendable pole. Safety first, always have a friend or family member nearby to steady the ladder.

8. Upgrade the numbers on your house

Removing your old house numbers is a quick way to increase the appeal of your home to the modern age. You can add more character by replacing them with something that aligns better with your home's architecture. Choose a distinctive font that's not overly bold but will grab the eye.

You don't have to have a lot of hands on experience.. Replacing the numbers is an easy task that can be completed in a relatively short time.

9. Create Symmetry

Creating symmetrical patterns adds a focal point that is pleasing to the eyes and will immediately increase your home's curb appeal on a budget. One can easily achieve this look by adding the same planter or wall lanterns on each side of the door. Don't have room on the front porch? Consider doing the same on your garage door.

10. Clean your gutters

Gutters that are overflowing with sticks and leaves makes for a very unorderly, unclean look. Clearing out and cleaning gutters can make them like new. A clean gutter will drain water away from the home to prevent flooding.

The Take away

In a day you can transform your home by doing general maintenance or light touch ups that will boost your home's curb appeal on a budget. Most homes will have many beautiful elements to them and a quick touch up is all you need. By putting in a little effort you'll be amazed at the results and you may even fetch a higher asking price. If you are looking to sell or rent a home contact one of our agents today.  Oh yeah - Puns intended.

Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta. It's home to 1.3 million people. The Edmontonians live in a city with year-round interest, North America's largest mall and access to wonderful natural beauty.

Moving to St. Albert means you get the peace of living in a suburb, without being far from a world-class city. Learn about different things to do in Edmonton.

Things to Do in Edmonton

Barely a week goes by without a festival in Edmonton. Many of these events are annual celebrations with long traditions.

As well as the special events there are attractions that are available all year round. Edmonton has museums and attractions for all tastes. Add to that a diverse food and drink offer to please the most demanding of tastes.

Living in St. Albert means you can have the best of the small city of St. Albert and the big city that is Edmonton. Let's start the adventure.

Indigenous Experiences

The indigenous people of the Edmonton area include the Métis, Blackfoot, Salteaux, Nekota Sioux and Cree. This rich culture is celebrated in Edmonton with several festivals and permanent exhibitions.

The Edmonton Indigenous Peoples Festival is held every year. It's led by the Canadian Native Friendship Centre of Edmonton. These events are also part of the National Indigenous Peoples Day and feature entertainment, an artisan marketplace and opportunities to taste indigenous food.

Museums

If you love to visit museums there's plenty for you in Edmonton. The Alberta Aviation Museum features a display of historic aircraft and information about them. Little ones can be pushed around the exhibits in strollers made to look like small planes.

The Alberta Railway Museum preserves an important aspect of Canadian heritage. The contribution of railway engineering to the development of Canada and Edmonton is displayed here with something for old and young alike.

A museum with a very niche interest is the quirky Neon Sign Museum. It's a unique insight into a time when neon was the innovative way of attracting the attention of customers to stores, bars, and restaurants. It's nostalgic for those that remember these former downtown features and educational for the young.

Natural Beauty

Mill Creek Ravine is a popular attraction with trails and plenty of flora and fauna to see. Take a walk and enjoy peace and quiet while in the city. The trails are suitable for exploring at all times of the year and you can even ride a bike here.

William Hawrelak Park is a venue for several festivals but it's great to visit anytime too. Take a paddleboat for a ride, take a picnic or simply explore the trails. In winter there is a skating pond for the more energetic visitor.

If your preference is indoor natural beauty take a visit to Muttart Conservatory. The botanical garden isn't just a visitor attraction. It's also a centre for scientific research.

On a bigger scale, the Elk Island National Park on Highway 16 East is place for encounters with truly wild Canadian fauna. Bison, elk, moose, and beaver can be found here. There is also a wide range of birds including herons, owls, and geese.

Shopping

The largest mall in North America is here in Edmonton. The West Edmonton Mall is huge with over 800 stores. It also has entertainment, restaurants and fun for the whole family.

For a retail experience that's a little smaller but still very special, visit Old Strathcona Farmers' Market. It's an indoor farmers market providing all-year-round fresh produce direct from the farm to you. It includes handmade crafts, skincare products, plants and you can have a tasty meal there too.

If your preference is outdoor shopping rather than malls, then 4th Street Promenade may be for you. Shops and restaurants share this more traditional shopping area. See it at Christmas time when the lights are twinkling everywhere and there's plenty of Christmas spirit.

Food and Drink

Craft breweries have sprung up all over the world in recent years. Edmontonians have their fair share.

Town Square Brewing Co. is an award-winning tap house. This is a venue for friends to meet or a family gathering.

Sea Change Brewing Co. combines supplying craft beer with being a venue on the Edmonton music scene. A great night out.

Take a trip downtown to the H.V. Shaw Building. Here you'll find Yellowhead Brewery. It's a historic location and a tried and tested craft brewery with 10-years’ experience of brewing.

Your choice of coffee shop may be as important to you as a restaurant is to a gastronome. In Old Strathcona, try Block 1912 for fine coffee and fruit pies.

Café Leva serves meals along with their very special coffee. Coffee Bureau serves coffee and tea with fresh cookies and croissants.

If food is your thing then take a food tour. The walking food tour takes in Edmonton's food highlights as well as introducing you to the people who make it. Chefs, business owners, and artisans share their stories to bring to life the food of Edmonton and its culture.

Dining in Edmonton is an eclectic mix of styles. Uccellini is a popular Italian restaurant with a reputation for service and a special tasting menu. Baijiu is a small intimate characterful restaurant with an Asian vibe. 

Music and Dance

Dance and music are always part of great nightlife and Edmonton has plenty to offer. The Funky Buddha, The Buckingham and The Common might make it into your list of favourite places to strut your stuff. If you need a little Dutch courage, the tequila cellar at El Cortez's might help.

Live music is a regular feature of The Station and the Starlite Room. Both feature local, national and international musical talent.

Blues music fans will love Blues on Whyte. There's a dance floor and the live music is on seven days a week.

Make a Plan

There are so many things to do in Edmonton you need to plan. Check the festival calendar and clear your diary. Make a date with friends and family and take some time out to get to know Edmonton.

Contact us about real estate in St. Albert. 

As an entrepreneur growing your business is exciting but leasing your first office space can be both thrilling and overwhelming. You know there is risks in business but mitigating the risks with an education approach will help you grow your business to success. Right now, you've likely been working from home, café’s, pubs and numerous other community areas. Whether you need that office space now, or you're looking, our experts have some free tips to make sure you get the right space for your business. Please call Guy Hebert at 780-445-4723 to view office spaces that might fit your needs.

1. Know Your Needs

Do you need space for your business or is it something you'd like? Some businesses will require a place to call their own but with technological advancements some businesses run just fine working from home or a cozy café. Having your business function and thrive in these alternative environments can save you a lot of time and money.

2. Business Location

How many times have you heard, "location, location, location" in real estate. This mantra does not only remain true for buying your property, it is true when it comes to leasing.

Choosing a prime location that will be easy to access and is close for your employees for commuting will not only impact your business directly it will make your employees happier which has numerous other benefits for your business. In fact, a study of 1000 people said the ideal commute to work was no more than 16 minutes.

3. Nearby Amenities and Services

When considering your first office space think about the desired amenities you'd like close to your business. Being close to a café, restaurant or other boutiques can increase foot traffic whilst keeping your employees happy. Being close to shops helps but thinking about your day-to-day activities is another factor. Often you may need to do regular visits to banks, or other meeting spaces.

Being relatively close to your employee's homes can broaden their modes of transportations. For these reasons it’s important to consider other factors such as parking stalls and a secured area for bike storage. With the increase of bike lanes and paths in St. Albert, Edmonton and other major cities more and more people are biking to work. If you do not have a dedicated spot consider a bike rack or storage space within the building.

4. Property Accessibility

When considering an office space how accessible do you want your business to be? Is the office building you're looking to get close to public transportation such as the LRT or bus stop? Is it close to a free way? How visible from the street will your business be?

5. Business Locations Affects SEO

These days Google is everything. From asking Google for directions to a friend's house or a local business. Where your business is located physically can impact you digitally. According to Snap SEO the ideal business location to better impact your businesses online presence is closest to the city centre.

With this in mind you'll be better positioned to rank better than your competitors.

6. Consider your Budget

Looking past your business location your monthly lease payment can be one of your business's largest bills. Knowing this it is important to set a budget and stick to it. Putting your company into debt or stunting its growth can be detrimental to business growth. Make sure you are clear and realistic on what you can afford. Perhaps you can forego a larger extravagant space for something cozier.

Consider the Expenses

When renting an office space there is extra expenses to consider. Your lease is just one factor when it comes to your budget but the added expenses can really add up. Consider other expenses such as:

• Property tax
• Phone and Internet
• Utilities (Power, Water gas)
• Insurance

Consider rent to own furniture

To cut down initial purchase costs it may benefit you to look into rent-to-own furniture to fill up your space. In the short term this is much more cost effective and allows you to modernize your technology when something greater and better comes to market.

7. Lease Agreements

Once you have picked out the property for your business you will want to look at the lease agreement. Having a lease agreement that is clear and concise will reduce a lot of headaches in the future. Make sure the lease clearly defines all the provisions. A verbal agreement between your landlord and you with some additional costs such as the power being included is just that – a verbal agreement. Having items in writing will protect both you and your landlord.

Who is responsible for building maintenance?

In your lease make sure it is clearly defined who is responsible for repairs. An unexpected water leak can damage goods and information. If you are responsible for repairs leave some extra room in your budget.

Lease Length

The length of your lease may vary in options from a year to five years and beyond. Locking in your lease for a long-term lease for multiple years may save you a dime but you want to make sure you will not outgrow the space. On the contrary you don't want to be stuck with a bill in case your business folds. Whatever the case it’s important to consider the term you want to carry for your lease.

Tenant Responsibilities

Before signing a lease read it over thoroughly. Scan it and ensure you clearly understand all your responsibilities as a tenant. As mentioned above you may be responsible for power, utilities and more while some locations may have them included.

8. Move Forward with Confidence

Taking your business to the next level requires you to collaborate with the right experts to get the knowledge right from the source. At Bermont Realty we are leaders in commercial leasing and have a huge selection to choose from. Feel free to drop us a line by going to our contact us page.

Being a renter can be tough and getting the first months rent and a security deposit can be daunting task, especially since most of us live pay cheque to pay cheque. Like most renters you want the full amount of your security deposit back.

From a property manager perspective, we want to give back your security deposit and we are usually happy to do so. There are a few things that we will look for when it comes to giving back the full amount of your security deposit.

Before and During the Move in process

Keeping your security deposit starts before you move into the home. The moment you get your keys and do your initial property walk through you want to note any items that need repair, this not only lets the property owner and manager know what needs to repaired but it can contribute to your personal comforts. Having something in disrepair such as a furnace may be ok in the summer however in a cold Canadian winter you will be wishing that furnace was repaired at the initial walk through.

Clean the Space

Cleaning your property before moving out is a great start on getting back your security deposit back. It may vary from property to property however there is some common guidelines.

What was the condition of the property before you moved in?

Take before moving in photos and after. Compare the two. Are there stains on the floors or walls? Perhaps they need cleaning. Have you altered the property? (paint the walls, change flooring, add or remove walls etc.). When doing this be sure to have dated your pictures with written proof detailing the condition of your rental space.

If you have altered the property in anyway you may want to check to see if this was agreed upon by the property manager and landlord. Some times painting is not allowed and if you painted a room by mistake you may be required to paint it back to its original fine. Be careful because some times this comes with a penalty.

Checklist:

We provide a checklist for move-in and move-out inspections. Following the list is a great way to dramatically increase your chances of getting a security deposit back. Go through it and be thorough. After all a security deposit can be a large chunk of change.

Taking care of a rental property as you live in it

Once you have completed a move-in checklist you’re ready to have a place to call your own. Like everything some things may wear out. There may be leaks or severe weather. With this in mind it's important to report things to your property manager or landlord as they happen. If a faucet is leaking or a door handle jiggles more than it should, these are items that may need repair. Report it to your landlord as soon as reasonably practicable. This may not only reduce any further damage but also increase your state of mind knowing you’re living in a sound home.

Moving out of your rental space

Sometimes a living space may only last us so long and we may want to look else were or purchase a house of your own. When you’re ready to move out notify your landlord. When giving notification of your move out write them and ask, “I want to get my security deposit back. What can I do to maximize my return?” Asking this simple question lets the line of communication open up and gives notification to your property manager that you are moving out and looking elsewhere.

In the email also ask for the move-in checklist so you can compare. If none is provided ask for a cleaning list. We are really easy going and love to help. It’s that easy.

Having pets may cause some odours. It is important to do what you can to ensure that’s not the case when you’re ready to move on. Sometimes you become nose blind to these odours and may not get your full deposit back. Get a second opinion on the odours and do some extra cleaning.

Checklist before vacating

For your convenience here is a checklist to complete before vacating your property. Following this list will dramaticially increase the chances of getting your full deposit back.

• Clean in, out, behind and under the fridge and defrost and clean the freezer
• Leave the fridge door open if the power has been turned off
• Clean in, out behind and under the stove and clean the oven and burners on the stove
• Clean the dishwasher inside and out
• Clean the hood/vent and screen
• Clean the microwave inside and outside
• Wash the cupboards inside and outside
• Clean sinks and taps
• Clean inside and outside of all windows/tracks, screens, closet doors/tracks and patio doors/tracks
• Wash all walls, floors, baseboards, doors and stairs
• Dust curtain rods and window coverings/blinds or replace curtains with the landlord’s
• Dust or wash fans and vents, light fixtures, replace burnt out light bulbs
• Check the smoke detector, replace batteries as needed
• Clean bathroom thoroughly including the tub, tile, sink, vanity, mirror, medicine cabinet, cupboards and toilet
• Vacuum and have all carpets steam cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning company
• Clean the fireplace inside and outside
• Clean the washer and dryer inside and outside
• Clean the storage room – wash floors and walls
• Sweep the garage floor and wash if necessary
• Sweep the deck/patio and wash if necessary
• Cut and trim grass, weed flower beds
• Clear snow and ice from driveway and all sidewalks (if moving out in winter months)

Ample notice of move out date.

One of the common reasons you may not get a security deposit returned is breach of contract. Some tenants have moved out before their lease date without giving ample, or proper notice of moving out. Be sure to check your contract. When is the end date? Are you moving out too early or late? Following your contract guidelins is perhaps one of the best ways to ensure you get your deposit back.

Conclusion

As you can see by the list there is numerous reasons you can get dinged on your security deposit but with consideration to the check lists you can greatly increase your chances of getting it back. If you have any questions please contact us and ask for our property manager. We’d be happy to assist.