Calgary’s ZOOLIGHTS – A Family Tradition

Published December 9, 2014

With the weather so mild right now it’s the perfect time to head down to the Calgary Zoo for some family fun!

At ZOOLIGHTS you and your kids and friends will be delighted to see over 1.5 million lights in an amazing light display flashing to music.

Calgary’s ZOOLIGHTS has become a favourite holiday tradition and a great way to kick off the holiday season for kids of all ages!

Dress up warm and join us at the Zoo by the fire pits for a hot chocolate and enjoy many other Christmas season activities like caroling, skating, snow bowling, and even building your own igloo, to name a few!

Event Details

November 21 – January 3
6 p.m. – 9 p.m. nightly

General Admission (16+): $14
Children: $11

Bring the whole family and your holiday guests and experience ZOOLIGHTS 2014!

Real Estate Stats – November 2014

Published December 1, 2014

Calgary Market Watch

Price growth slows

If you like to stay up to date on what’s going on in the Calgary real estate market, click here for an excellent overview:

http://www.creb.com/public/documents/statistics/2014/package/res-stats-2014_Novemer.pdf

For more information or details about the Calgary Real Estate Monthly Statistics, get in touch with Bill Brandsma Real Estate at 403-253-5678, specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Christmas Lights Safety Advice

Published November 24, 2014

Yep, it’s that time of year again already…that is, time to pull out the Christmas lights!

Christmas lights are beautiful and add to the magic of the season, but all that electricity can cause problems if not used properly. Bill Brandsma Real Estate wishes you a safe and wonderful holiday season and reminds everyone of the top safety tips and special precautions to make sure they’re safe as you go about decorating your home with lights:

Before you string up a single strand of lights, carefully check them for cracked cords, frayed ends or loose connections. Frayed cords can lead to a short.
Replace burned out bulbs promptly with bulbs of the same wattage.
Modern lights have fused plugs, preventing sparks in case of a short circuit. Ditch old strands of lights that don’t have fuses and get a set of newer, safer lights.
Use extension cords properly. Keep an eye on them as they can occasionally overheat. Just touch-test the cord. If it’s hot, unplug it.
Keep your tree well-watered. The combination of shorts in electrical lights and a tinder-dry tree can be dangerous.
When you leave the house or go to bed at night turn off your Christmas lights.

Have a safe & joyful Christmas season!

Ready to Buy a Home?

Published November 17, 2014

Understanding Your Local Housing Market

Buying a home is an important lifestyle and investment decision. By understanding the housing market, you’ll have a better sense of what, where and when to buy.

Obviously, you want to buy at the best price possible. You want your monthly payments to be as affordable as possible. You want your home to increase in value as much as possible.

To make sure all that happens, it’s important to look beyond your individual purchase before you buy. You need to look at larger market conditions. What’s happening around you, for example, house price trends, mortgage interest rates, available resale homes on the market, and new home construction, will all have an influence on your purchase. The more you know the more control you have.

A Realtor is still the best source of information. A Realtor provides helpful information to assist you in determining your precise and unique requirements in a home and for choosing your desired location.

Get in touch with Bill Brandsma Real Estate at 403-253-5678 today.

Bill and his team specialize in Calgary and the surrounding area and will be happy to walk you through the home buying process step-by-step.

In Remembrance…

Published November 10, 2014

On Tuesday November 11, 2014 we pay tribute and remember those members of the armed forces – some who selflessly sacrificed their own precious lives in the line of duty — who have served their nation in war, in armed conflict, and in the effort of sustaining world peace.

Past, present and future we salute those who have served and those who continue to serve at home and overseas. Without them there would be no freedom.

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, during this very sad and difficult time.

“Wishing you strength for today and hope for tomorrow.”
~ Anonymous

Real Estate Stats – October 2014

Published November 3, 2014

More balanced conditions in the Calgary resale housing market

Supply increase eases price growth

If you like to stay up to date on what’s going on in the Calgary real estate market, click here for a detailed overview:

http://www.creb.com/public/documents/statistics/2014/package/res-stats-2014_October.pdf

For more information or details about the Calgary Real Estate Monthly Statistics, get in touch with Bill Brandsma Real Estate at 403-253-5678, specializing in Calgary and the surrounding area.

Fall Back this Weekend!

Published October 31, 2014

As the saying goes, spring forward, fall back…

Don’t forget to turn back your clocks this weekend and enjoy that extra hour of sleep Saturday night!

“Daylight Savings Time” is a way of making better use of the daylight in the evenings by setting the clocks forward one hour during the longer days of summer, and back again in the fall.

Daylight savings time will end with a “fall back” to standard time on Sunday November 2, at 2 a.m.

Remember to Change Your Furnace Filters

Published October 28, 2014

Clean or change the filter on your furnace regularly so that it will run more efficiently.

To keep your furnace working at its optimal performance you need to either change or clean your furnace filter on a regular basis. Furnace filters that become clogged with dirt and dust particles don’t clean air efficiently and force your furnace to work harder. Not to mention that dirty filters can increase operating costs and affect the life and efficiency of heating and air conditioning equipment.

If the filter is reusable, remove it, wash down with a hose and then re-insert. Otherwise, you’ll want to replace it with a new one. Always invest in the best filter you can afford after considering your furnace requirements. Not only will it clean your household air better, it may not need to be replaced as frequently as a cheaper model.

Check back in the months ahead for more household tips!

Only 9 days until Halloween!

Published October 21, 2014

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31 and Calgarians love the scariest night of the year. Halloween symbols – costumes, trick or treating, jack-o’-lanterns, witches, ghosts, goblins and magic – are out in style.

For some spooky family fun check out Fright Nights – a Halloween Events Guide for things happening around Calgary. From Ghost Tours and Boo at the Zoo, to a Haunting Halloween Family Skate, there are plenty of activities to attend for kids and adults alike.

www.visitcalgary.com//explore-calgary/inside-guide/fright-nights-halloween-events-guide

If you’re an adult who’s a kid at heart and who gets an adrenaline rush out of being scared to death, don’t miss ScreamFest, Canada’s Largest and Scariest Halloween Event! At ScreamFest you will experience haunted houses, Halloween themed carnival games, creepy and disturbing entertainment, and FEAR.

This event will be held at The Grandstand Building at Stampede Park. It is rated PG 13 so is NOT recommended for young children, but intended to frighten the pants off venturesome adults!

For more details check out www.screamfest.ca.

Check Your Windows

Published October 14, 2014

Fall has arrived in Calgary!

Now’s the time to check your windows for drafts and leaks. Improperly maintained windows can be a big burden on your heating bill. Taking care of them not only helps reduce energy costs, but will keep you and your family warm and comfortable through the winter months ahead.

A quick and easy way is to hold a lighted match to their edges on a blustery day. If it blows out and the smoke flutters, it’s time to stock up on new weather stripping! Be proactive…you won’t regret it!