Recent Blog Posts by Geoff Archambault

Five Bombers chosen as CFL all stars

Five members of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been named to the CFL all-star team, the league announced this morning. Defensive backs Jovon Johnson, Jonathan Hefney and Ian Logan along with defensive lineman Odell Willis and offensive lineman Brendon LaBatte were all named league all-stars. With five all-stars, the Bombers are second in the league only to the BC Lions, who had nine players named ...

Stock markets sharply down on European debt worries

CTVNews.ca Staff Stock markets on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean slumped Wednesday, as investors waited for Italy and Greece to provide clarity on the future leadership of their respective governments. The Toronto stock market was down 1.9 per cent, or 237.55 points by early afternoon, as the TSX energy, mining and financial sectors all were on the decline. The Canadian dollar fell a full cent ...

Heat’s on to cool off homeless

Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission is looking for high-priority items that will help the city’s homeless community beat the heat. Reusable water bottles, sunscreen and backpacks are at the top of that list as dehydration and heatstroke pose a threat to those living outside. “We’ve been handing out hats, water bottles, lip-balm, foot cream, bug spray and sunscreen,” said Mike ...

ANOTHER GOOD YEAR SHAPING UP FOR WinnipegREALTORS®

June MLS® Sales Over 1,500   WINNIPEG – WinnipegREALTORS® is at the half way mark of 2011. Its MLS® market activity is tracking well as forecast.  Sales are only down 4% from sales recorded in 2007 – the best year ever - and just 2% off the second best year in 2008. June sales activity of 1,516 is not far off peak sales recorded for this month, only just edged ...

Your Home Inspection Report

Getting Ready Steps you can take before a professional home inspector conducts a property inspection From routine maintenance, to detecting conditions that could signify the need for major repairs, there are many simple steps your seller can take ahead of time to prepare their home for a professional home inspection. In addition, on the day of the inspection, attention to a few details can go ...

Sniff Out Potential Problems When House Hunting

Mold and mildew create strong smells and can cost a lot of money to fix what is letting the moisture into the home. When you're looking for a new home, be sure to look with your nose, not just your eyes. A bad smell may be a sign of a larger issue that could cost you dearly. Take a big whiff of the air when you're outside the house. Do you smell sewage, gas or anything else that's unpleasant? ...

Making Yourself at Home After a Move

Have you heaved a huge sigh of relief yet? If not, go ahead -- you've earned it. Now that you've successfully cruised through moving day, you can start turning your new digs into a home sweet home. Of course, your idea of "home" may not include ceiling-high stacks of cardboard boxes. Or maybe you're not exactly smitten with whatever misguided decor (gilded wallpaper? shag carpeting?) the previous ...

Buy What You Need, Not What You Want

Make a list of your ideal home and stick to it while house hunting     It's easy to be awe-struck by a razzle-dazzle listing. Everyone loves to look at marble countertops, hot tubs and master suites, but make sure a home meets your practical needs before you start indulging your wants. The average person homebuyer keeps a home for about 9 years, so you want to be ...

SMART WAYS TO UNCLOG A DRAIN

With a few inexpensive household items, you can avoid a costly visit from the plumber by clearing drain clogs yourself. Using cola.. Pour 3 cups of warm cola down your drain and let it sit overnight; the citric acid in the soda will break up any buildup in your pipes. In the morning, run hot water to help flush the remains. Dissolve it with fizz. Drop 3 denture tablets down the drain followed ...

CREATING A SPA-TASTIC BATHROOM

With these easy changes, it is possible to create the feeling of a luxurious spa right at home. Keep a supply of bath accessories on hand. A bathtub tray, fuzzy tub pillow, lavish bath salts and oils all help bring the spa experience home. Break out the fluffiest towels By putting your most luxurious, soft and comfortable towels on display, you will create the look and feel of a sumptuous spa. ...

House Match: Starting Out, This is the most important purchase you're likely to make. You want to get it right.

  THE QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF Regardless of how ideal the market may seem, it's still a good idea to sit down with your real estate agent and think about how you see your life in three or five years and ask yourself some pointed questions. Can I afford it? Buying a house will have a significant impact on your finances, so make sure you can handle it. Housing is more affordable than ...

Four Ways to Make Your House Irresistible to Buyers

Increase curb appeal to turn your home into buyer-bait By FrontDoor.com | Published: 11/01/2007     So what is curb appeal? It's that quality in a house that gives a potential buyer a love-at-first-sight sensation when they drive up. Simply put, it's giving your house a pretty face. Studies show spending 5 percent of your home's value in landscaping could produce a return ...

How to Make the Most of Your Open House Set your house apart with these simple tips

You've got better things to do on a Sunday than hold an open house. It's not the greatest feeling having your home opened up for strangers to ogle at your closets or poke through your shower. And while experts may debate the value of open houses, you want to get that property sold, so you do what you have to do. Your Realtor or agent should fill you in on the basics, such as getting ...

DECEMBER AGLOW WITH BRIGHT MLS® NUMBERS

PRESS RELEASE January 11, 2011 For Immediate Release     DECEMBER AGLOW WITH BRIGHT MLS® NUMBERS   -           -           -   Highest Monthly Average Home Price at $252,000   WINNIPEG - December was a month to remember with WinnipegREALTORS® recording ...

Tips for Moving Out of the Family Nest

Big firsts are always exciting. Your first bike, your first kiss, your first job, your first car; these are all things you'll remember for the good. But a first move is something you'll remember forever, but most likely for the bad. To avoid the "first move woes," try following these tips to make sure everything goes smoothly: Don't be afraid to ask for help. You've never moved before, so ...

Top 10 Rules for Staging Homes from The Stagers

1. Grab them from the curb. You've seen them. Buyers hunkered low in their cars in front of your house, doing drive-bys before deciding whether to request a showing or attend an open house. Make these potential buyers fall in love with your home from the street by adding potted plants and flowers, power-washing patios and walkways, weeding the garden and mowing the lawn. It's your first chance ...

Top 10 Home Buying Mistakes That Can Cost You

Mistake #10: Not getting pre-approved before house hunting   Why get your hopes up looking at $500,000 homes, when you can really only afford a $300,000 home? Before you start house hunting, narrow down your price range by getting pre-approved. Shop for a lender or mortgage broker you can trust. The mortgage pro will review your credit, income, assets and debts, and recommend a mortgage ...

Election debacle has Haiti again near turmoil

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haitians entered election day hoping for the best. Within hours, ballot boxes were ripped to pieces, protesters were on the streets and nearly every presidential hopeful was united against the government. Add it to Haiti's list: Already reeling from a catastrophic earthquake, one of the world's poorest economies, storms, a deadly cholera epidemic and unrest over ...

Motivation, Open The Door

"I knocked and the door opened. But I found that I had been knocking from the inside and I could have opened the door for myself."  Many moons ago, do you remember people asking you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Do you remember how easily and confidently you would have responded? Most would have answered that question eagerly and they would have said whatever came to mind. ...

Greening Your Kitchen

The modern kitchen is not only a place where food is prepared, but also where the whole family gathers - so it should be strategically designed to be a healthy and eco-friendly space. There are many ways to make your kitchen healthier for your family and the planet. From lighting to interior finishes, the kitchen is packed with opportunities to optimize form and function while minimizing its ...

SETTING THE STAGE, PICK THE PERFECT COUCH

Are you shopping for a new sofa? Use these tips from the design pros to make the right choice. If You Have High Ceilings Opt for a sofa with an extra tall back or oversized back cushions to help soften the room’s starkness. Living in a Small Space Try an apartment size sofa or a standard loveseat paired with a couple of chairs, you’ll create a cozy conversation area without ...

MOTIVATION, AVOIDING BEING OVERWHELMED

Have you noticed how busy everyone seems today? Many of the people I talk to feel overloaded with commitments, activities, and demands on their time and energy. It seems that there is always too much to do and too little time. Whenever your stress levels are high, it doesn’t take much to tip you over the edge into that most unwelcomed state called overwhelm. Overwhelm is what we feel when there ...

WinnipegREALTORS®

 Agreement Confirms Organized Real Estate’s Commitment to Competitive Services How REALTORS® serve their clients has not been substantively changed by the agreement reached between the Canadian Real Estate Association and the Competition Bureau, according to WinnipegREALTORS® president Claude Davis. "Essentially, most consumers want a REALTOR® to help them in their home buying ...

Make money management part of your kids’ routine this fall

Winnipeg, Manitoba – For families, getting into a fall routine is about more than taking your kids back to school. It should be about getting kids back on track, financially that is. To help you get your kids thinking about money, The Manitoba Securities Commission (MSC) is promoting their Make it Count program this month. The interactive mentoring program provides activities and tips for ...

It's all good

  Raves for spacious Bentley show home By: By Todd Lewys Updated: October 23, 2010     When it comes to looking at a show home, reactions tend to go one of two ways: Either you're underwhelmed -- or overwhelmed -- by what it has to offer. In the case of 160 Perfanick Dr. -- a new Bentley Homes show home in Bridgewood Estates (found in a secluded ...