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As we’ve previously profiled, with doorbells a-ringing and children a-carroling “Trick or Treat”, the neighborhood comes alive on Halloween; and home is at the center of it all.

For many, Halloween is the most fun time of the year; the last hurrah before winter comes and sends most of the country indoors until spring.  While some are satisfied to celebrate by just setting a candy bowl outside of their front door with the “Take One Please” note posted to its side, you may be wanting to provide your family and friends with more.  And what oozes the Halloween spirit more than turning your home into a haunted house for the party of the year!

You want to make this year the Halloween people are talking about for years to come.  Here are some tips and tricks to turn your house into a haunted one Michael Myers would be proud to call home.

Go Big or Go Home

The first thing to plan out once you decide to make the ultimate haunted house is establish the boundaries for your fright fest.  Do you want a completely immersive experience taking place in every room from backyard (as long as it’s not too chilly) to attic?  Or is limiting your guests to the basement or garage going to allow for the most fun?

You will also want to take ages of those who will be attending into consideration when planning out the activities.  Are you going for terrifying? silly? or both?  If this is a silly and fun “haunted” house for young children, maybe recreating the prom scene from Carrie isn’t the best idea.

Set the Mood

Halloween is all about the mood.  It is that feeling crawling up your spine when you hear the door creak while you are curled up on the couch with the blanket up to your eyes watching Scream.

Lighting: It worked for Wes Craven, so making sure the lighting works to perfection will work for you too.  Black lights are a quick and easy way to set the mood for the entire night.  Strobe lights are another great way to get the blood pumping.  Cover your furniture with sheets to make the lighting work even better and give more of an “abandoned” feel to your house.

Music: This is going to be the soundtrack to your night.  There are also plenty of classics and modern day tracks (“The Monster Mash” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” are pretty much required) to choose from, so make sure your playlist satisfies everyone attending.

Fog:  Who knew a fog machine (or dry ice) could make all the difference in the world?  Your guests will be so impressed with your attention to detail they won’t care if they are scared out of their minds!

You can also start your guests off with a frightening thrill by the way you set up the walk to your front door! 

Must Have Decorations

Now that the mood is set and your guests SOMEHOW survived the walk to the entrance of your haunted house, you want the inside to be just as death-defying.

Wall Decorations: A couple of packs of fake spider webs to cover your furniture and fixtures is a great start.  But there are also scene setters and huge Halloween themed wallpaper you can purchase that will transform any door or wall in your home.

Hanging Decorations: Use fishing wire to hang fake bats and spiders along your ceiling.  You can hang them at different levels also to give a feel that the scariness is all around you!

Its All About the Details:  This is where your creative juices will be put to the test.  Every Halloween themed party needs a bowl of eyeballs (peeled grapes) and dish of brains (cooked spaghetti), but besides that, how creative are you willing to get?  Is each room going to be based on a different scene from your favorite horror flicks?  Is there going to be an operating room from the hospital of your nightmares filled with guts and brains? Or a witches lair with smoky cauldron, broomsticks and black cats? Here is where you can put your own spin on the haunted house!

Ask Your Minions For Help

Have a few friends willing to go all out with you or have the budget to hire some actors?  Strategically place them around corners dressed in their most frightening costumes (mummies and witches are the favorites) to scare all of your guests!

While a haunted house is a fun way to get everyone together, Halloween doesn’t have to be all scary. Plan other activities like a costume contest, pumpkin carving competition or send your guests home with one of these delicious dessert ideas!  But most importantly enjoy the holiday with family and friends!

The last thing you want is your spooky Jack-o-lantern going bad before Halloween. Here’s a clever way to make sure your carved pumpkins last through the holiday.  Only mild sorcery is involved.

Don’t forget to look up (and around) at the trees before buying your home

At a recent dinner party at a neighbor’s home, the new homeowners started talking to me about their woes with a tree in their backyard. The couple purchased their home in the early spring and spent this summer in their backyard doing major landscaping renovations. It was during this yard work when they started looking more closely at their beautiful (and HUGE) oak tree that is situated very close to their home and noticed a large cavity at the base of the trunk, among other visual warning signs.

The home I bought didn’t have a tree on the property so I wasn’t sure if this was covered under a home inspection. So I asked if during the home inspection the trees, especially this gigantic oak, were looked at and learned this is not something that falls under a home inspection. Most home inspections are a visual review of items related to the physical structure of the home, typically not things like trees, pools or appliances, as these are more specialized types of inspections.

This particular couple ended up having a professional arborist inspect the tree. Their hunch was accurate: This tree was dying and needed to be removed. If you have a large tree on the property you are thinking about buying, here are some things to look out for. If you notice any of these issues with the tree, you should hire a professional arborist to inspect the tree and your Fort McMurray Realtor can help put you in touch with a local tree specialist.

Bathrooms are still one of the most important rooms in a home when it comes to making the best impression on potential buyers. Outdated bathrooms are simply a turn-off to millenials. Whether sellers decide to stage their bathroom by adding simple upgrades to give a more modern look or completely remodel to update features and add functionality, each will have some impact on resale value.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2015 Cost vs. Value Report there is an overall return of confidence in the value of remodeling (since 2005 when it last peaked). For bathroom remodels, the national average price spent is $16,000 with 70% of the costs recouped. In general, the simpler and lower-cost home projects deliver a higher return in value.

The following are some tips to keep in mind when staging or remodeling a bathroom:

Painting and Removing Outdated Wallpaper Is A Must. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in a complete remodel, removing dated wallpaper and adding a fresh coat of neutral paint will provide a boost with instant universal appeal to buyers who are not interested in a dated bathroom.

Let There Be Light. New light fixtures can add an immediate update to an outdated bathroom. Not only will they look more attractive when paired with complementary accessories, they will also highlight the most important features in the room.

Access Condition of Cabinets. If your budget is limited and cabinets are in good condition, you may opt to refinish or paint them. Either way, there are many price levels for vanity, cabinets and counter top materials to choose from when replacing.

Replace Hardware and Add Fine Details. Better quality faucets, towel bars and vanity hardware are a simple way to add a high-end look. If you are remodeling and can fit it in your budget, consider adding a bathtub tile surround, tile backsplash, new flooring, frameless shower doors, a freestanding tub or radiant heating for a spa-like feel.

Add Depth With Accessories. Elegant accessories that complement the room’s style are an inexpensive way to update the bath. Hang a new shower curtain in a unique pattern paired with a plush bath mat. Layer soft, thick hand towels on racks paired with framed wall art. Place flowers in vases and splurge on special bottles of hand soap and candles.

For more examples of interior decorating and home staging, visit www.pjstagingdecorating.com.

If you are looking to buy a home in Fort McMurray then use our comprehensive Fort McMurray MLS search tool or contact with one of our Fort McMurray Realtors.

When buying a home, it can be overwhelming to remember the details of each property you visit. Here are five tips for buying a home and the potential red flags which could impact your purchasing decision.

If you are in the market for a new home, touring open houses will be a likely first step in your search — and it can also be a confusing process if you plan to visit many homes.

Here are five tips for buying a home that you need to know when touring an open house; so you can browse comfortably, knowing the details you discover can help you narrow down your search and weed out potentially expensive pitfalls.

1. Take Your Time

Take your time during an open house. This will help you pick up on any recurring noises such as creaks, as well as plane or train traffic, which you may not hear during a quick tour, but may be a deal breaker.

Walk the neighborhood and take note of its general condition. Many homes for sale and boarded up businesses may indicate a neighborhood that is on a downswing. Any information you can glean about the surrounding area will help make your final decision much easier.

2. Tour the Outside

Walk the perimeter of the home if possible, and note any trees or shrubs that are growing close to foundation walls. Encroaching roots can be an expensive fix down the road. If the yard slopes toward the house, that may mean water is pooling around the foundation.

While foundation cracks are quite common, anything wider than one-third of an inch could mean a structural issue. Take note of the location and try to compare to the interior of the home, if accessible. Roof repairs, window replacements, and general upkeep (or lack thereof) will give helpful clues to the owner’s standpoint on home maintenance.

3. Check for Mold

Mold and water damage can amount to expensive repair bills, and potential health problems, if not addressed. In bathrooms, check for obvious signs of surface mold on bath fixtures, and be attentive to any flex in the bathroom floor or walls that could indicate a water leak out of sight.

If the home has a basement, look for any water stains on unfinished walls or drywall, as well as cracks, bows, or buckles in foundation walls. When all else fails, use your nose to help you find any areas in the home that may be suspect.

4. Look for Pests

While no one wants to consider an infestation of any kind, they do happen, so it’s important to be vigilant about critters that could cause destruction to a home. Check windowsills and exterior entryways for termite wings that have recently been shed or sawdust that could indicate the presence of carpenter ants. And don’t forget the telltale sign of mouse droppings!

5. Sketchy Renovations

Renovated homes can be particularly attractive, but older homes, in particular, can have a host of issues. Notice the location of any walls that have been removed. If it was a load bearing wall, ensuring the renovations were completed correctly will be key to the safety of the structure.

Outdated wiring can be a fire hazard, particularly when a new electrical system has been partially wired into and older existing system. Taking note of whether a home contains cast iron piping or aluminum water supply lines will provide a small sense of any further upgrades that may need to be completed.

The Bottom Line

While the open house may be a first step in helping you narrow down your list, it can never replace a professional home inspection, which should be completed before purchasing any property. It may cost more upfront, but the savings and peace of mind over the long-term will always prevail.

Follow these tips for buying a home to save a great deal of time, money, and headaches down the road.

If you need help on buying a home in Fort McMurray then contact with Fort McMurray Real Estate specialists The Lore Group.

Your bathroom is a sacred space, but it may sometimes fall short of meeting your expectations. Rather than spending thousands on a remodel, think about what you can do to bring your substandard bathroom up to par on your own. Here are some genius bathroom hacks to consider:

#1 Cleaning Your Tub and Toilet

Over time, your bathtub may accumulate grime, dirt, and even mold from continued use and moisture. You could pay to have your tub removed or refinished, but try these quick-and-easy DIY tricks first:

• Grapefruit: To keep your bathtub clean, cut a grapefruit in half and sprinkle salt on the pulp. Get your tub wet, salt the bottom of the tub and scrub with the grapefruit half. Rinse, and your bathtub comes completely clean.
• Cotton coils: Get some cotton coil from a beauty supply store, soak the coils in bleach, and place them over the mold overnight. Pull the coils away in the morning to reveal no more mold.
• Coke: Pour Coca-Cola into your toilet bowl to scrub out tough stains. It works!

#2 Unclogging Drains

Sinks, bathtubs and toilets can get clogged with hair and assorted other things over time. While you can use drainer chemicals to get some things out, others are a bit harder to remove. It’s not always practical to call a plumber. So, consider some of these alternatives:

• Alka-Seltzer tablets: Put four tablets down the drain along with some vinegar. Wait 10 minutes and rinse with hot water (think boiling hot). If there’s still something stuck down there, you might need a quality plumber.
• Soap and hot water: Boil some water and add dish soap. Then dump in the drain (or toilet). Flush or drain; it should work again.

#3 Organizing Bathroom Space

Do you have more stuff than places to put it? This can be especially annoying if you don’t have a separate linen cabinet for all of your towels and washcloths. These hacks will help you make some space:

• Put a magazine holder on a cabinet door: Depending on the size of the magazine holder, it could hold a curling iron, hair dryer, brush and many other items.
• Roll your towels: Rolling your towels — believe or not — opens up a lot more space in a cabinet for other items, whether more linens or something else.
• Use coat hooks: Towel racks only hold maybe a few towels at a time. If you hang coat hooks, you can potentially put four to five wet towels out to dry. In bathrooms shared by multiple people, this is very advantageous.
• Adhere magnetic strips to cabinet doors: For those who utilize tweezers, bobby pins, nail clippers and other small metal items that are easily lost, magnetic strips can be the organizational godsend that keeps them in one place without cluttering up a drawer.
• Add pull-out drawers: Since adding more cabinets is expensive and takes up even more room in your already-cramped bathroom, while not add pull-out drawers? You could potentially add more space, and it’s an easier way to access storage than rifling around in your cabinet for one particular item.

#4 Redecorating on a Budget

If you want to spice up your bathroom but lack the funds to replace everything, there are some small improvements you can make on a small budget. Some can add storage benefits, while others might be considered upcycling. These include:

• Using a mason jar as a soap pump.
• Adding an extra shower curtain rod for storage.
• Placing a stacked plate holder on the countertop for added space.
• Attaching more towel racks to the back of the door for storage.

Whether you decide to go the purely decor route or blend decor with reorganization or storage ideas depends on the size of your bathroom and what you need the most.

If you need a break this summer but an exotic getaway is not in the cards, may we suggest a staycation? It’s the perfect way to say “time out” to the hustle and bustle of every day life, and doesn’t require passports or luggage. Sound intriguing? Here’s 8 ways you can have the ultimate staycation:

1. Pamper yourself
One of the best things about vacationing is an excuse to relax and pamper yourself in ways you probably wouldn’t do regularly. Book a massage or facial at your local spa, and get that “just got back from vacation” glow – you don’t have to tell anyone your secret!

2. Go see a movie
Plan a good old fashioned family movie night at a nearby theater. Splurge on your favorite movie snacks, kick back, relax, and be entertained!

3. Explore local attractions
I’ve lived in New Jersey my whole life and have never been to the Statue of Liberty or the top of the Empire State Building. Many times we focus so much on leaving home to explore new places, we forget how many great options there are in our own backyards! Pick a museum, park, or other local attraction near home and find out what’s just beyond your front door!

4. Throw a cocktail party
Invite your friends over for a fun night of drinks, appetizers, and games. You can even have a “vacation” theme to your party (think frozen margaritas, pina coladas, and lots of fresh fruit)! Throw on some reggae music and voila, you might as well be on an island!

5. Get crafty
Is there a special project you’ve been thinking about doing but just haven’t had the time? Head over to Michael’s or your local craft supply store, pick up the essentials, and get to work. Crafting can be extremely relaxing, so it’s a great way to unwind and fully enjoy your staycation. Bonus points for a new home decor item when you’re done!

6. Head to the ballpark!
Nothing says summertime like a baseball game. Round up your family or a group of friends and go root, root, root for the home team!

7. Take a nap
When is the last time you were able to take a nap in the middle of the day? Use your staycation time wisely and take a relaxing afternoon nap, preferably on a hammock! You’ll wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy the rest of the day.

8. Treat yourself!
Vacations are always a good excuse for shopping, whether you buy something in preparation for a trip or find a special souvenir while you’re away. Buy yourself a gift to remember your amazing time off!

Are you planning a staycation this summer? Comment below & let us know what you plan on doing (or not doing) during your time off!

Summer is finally here! As you and your best friend enjoy warmer weather and fun in the sun it is important to know the signs of your pet overheating. According to healthypet.com, “In the early stages of a heat-related illness it can be difficult to assess your dog’s condition, since it’s normal for him to pant when he’s warm or while exerting himself.”  Here are some symptoms to look for via buttehumane.org:

• Bright red or bluish/purple tongue
• Bloody diarrhea or vomit
• Thick drooling saliva
• Lack of coordination
• Vomiting

Prevent heat exhaustion at home with these ideas…

Drink Up!

This dog fountain hooks right up to your garden hose.

Take a Dog Dip!

Kiddie Pools are NOT just for Kids!

Make a Pupsicle

Keep your pups entertained and hydrated this summer with a DIY Pupsicle

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/252342385344001013/

Keep in touch with The Lore Group to learn everything happening in Fort McMurray Real Estate market.

http://blog.coldwellbanker.com/keep-pet-food-fresh/