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May 04
0

Community Feature – Why We Love St. Albert

By | Uncategorized

WE LOVE WHERE WE LIVE

If you grew up in St. Albert, then you know how amazing it is to live here! Last year, St. Albert was ranked number 7 of the 25 best cities to live in Canada by MoneySense. From the farmer’s market, to the beautiful trails, to all of the local shops – there’s something for everyone and it’s a great place to raise a family. Thinking of making the move? Read on for our favorite things about our city!

ST. ALBERT FARMER’S MARKET

The largest outdoor farmer’s market in Western Canada takes place here from June to October. Over 250 vendors ensure that you will find anything you need + more! We love strolling through the market on Saturdays, enjoying the weather and discovering new brands + makers. Food trucks + speciality cafes downtown St. Albert make it an easy place to spend the day!

QUALITY OF LIFE

Numerous things can contribute to a high quality of life – but what makes it so in St. Albert? For starters, St. Albert was Alberta’s safest urban centre in 2014 with a crime severity rating 46% below the provincial average. Community-led block parties happen often, leading to stronger and safer neighborhoods. Access to health care is simple, and you know you will be well taken care of. Over 85 kilometers of trails make it easy to get your exercise – and countless recreation facilities are found throughout the city.

ENVIRONMENT

Did you know that St. Albert has the highest number of trees per capita of ANY city in Canada? That’s pretty impressive. And that means our air quality is second to none. We are also a leader in the region and country for residential recycling – helping to take care of the earth that sustains us! The city takes great measures to ensure our environment is healthy and has set sustainability standards for air and water quality, and land and waste management. Read more about it here!

CULTURE

St. Albert has so many festivals and community events that we have a hard time trying to pick which to go to! May brings the International Children’s Festival, attracting people from all over and providing educational and fun concerts, shows, and experiences for kids of all ages. Rock’n’August is a classic car and music show that brings out tons of people every year. The Arden Theatre constantly has shows and concerts going on. Whatever it is you are interested, you are bound to find it here!

SENSE OF COMMUNITY

The best part of living in St. Albert is the sense of community – everyone is here to support each other. Whether it be supporting a local business, cheering on a hockey team, or just saying a friendly hello to a stranger on a walk – the people of St. Albert are proud of their city and love to share it. What are your favorite things about our city? Let us know!

Mar 02
0

Get Your Garden Ready!

By | Uncategorized

SPRING FORWARD

By the time March gets here, most of us are sick of the snow and ready to start planning for the summer! Landscaping and gardening are such good ways to get out and enjoy the nice weather for the short amount of time that we have it. Get cozy while its cold, grab a notebook, and start planning out your spring landscaping! It’s something to look forward to while we push through the last little bit of Alberta winters.

Landscaping is a great way to make your house feel more like your home – whether it is brand new or just new to you. It adds value to your home while also being something that you can enjoy all summer long! It takes some effort, but early planning now will save you some time in the long run.

Draw out a general plan of what you want your yard to look like – it’s much easier this way to visualize things and make adjustments! Ask yourself questions that will help you decide where to put what – are you looking for a space to entertain or a space to get some solitude? Think about your style and color preferences and what you will be using your space for the most. Figuring out your needs and preferences first will help drive the design plan.

Choosing flowers can be overwhelming as there are so many different options. Many flowers only bloom during the spring, so do some research and pick a few of these to give your garden a spring boost of color.  Alternate with summer and fall blooms so that you will always have some color no matter the time of year!

If you didn’t clean up your garden last fall, now is the time to do it. Remove debris, dead annuals, and prune back your perennials to make room for this years new arrivals. It is also helpful to prepare the soil as soon as it is workable by removing old roots and adding a layer of compost.

Plants and flowers need a lot more than just sun and water. Fertilizer is often needed to help with growth; find out what your plants needs are and make a schedule for them! There are many resources online and nursery workers often have a ton of knowledge about these things. While you are there, also ask about pest control methods that will work for you.

When you are planning your landscape, also take note of the planting distance guidelines. Often times these are over looked and things become too crowded. Your garden may look sparse at first, but soon enough it will be full and lovely.

What are your plans for your garden? We would love to hear about them!

Feb 16
0

Townhome Vs. Single Family

By | Uncategorized

TOWNHOME VS SINGLE FAMILY

Buying a home can be an intimidating process – there are so many decisions you will have to make. Probably the most important one is which type of home to choose! Most people know which type they are looking for, but you might be unsure of which will suit your lifestyle the best. Read on if you need help deciding!

TOWNHOMES

Townhomes have become more popular in recent years for a number of reasons. First, affordability. This is a great option if you are just starting out and want to be conservative with the price of your home. It is a perfect starter home that you can grow with and move onto something bigger once you are ready. Townhomes are also an attractive option for downsizing later in life. When the kids move out, you don’t need so much space anymore! Our Cobalt Beach townhomes are great because there is a range of sizes available, depending on where you are at in your life. The use of space is also practical – there is nothing wasted!

A maintenance-free lifestyle is another factor that buyers consider. If you want more time to travel, get outdoors, or just don’t want the hassle of shoveling and mowing the lawn, this is how you achieve it! Life is so busy on its own and taking one or two things off of your to-do list can help relieve some stress. Plus, you still have a bit of outdoor space to enjoy a garden or a patio set! There is also a stronger sense of community since you will be seeing and interacting with your neighbors quite often. Block parties every weekend? Yes please!

Often times townhome complexes are close to a number of amenities. Take for example Cobalt Beach in Jensen Lakes, where you are a few minutes away from the movie theatre, brewhouse, and a number of shops and restaurants. Also – the beach is five minutes away! If you are looking for an urban, outdoor type of lifestyle, then these townhomes may be a perfect fit for you.

SINGLE FAMILY

Onto single family homes, which are also an affordable option. There are many pros to this as well but we will go through the basics. If you are someone who likes taking care of a yard, having a lot of space, and getting your privacy, than this may be the option for you. It may be a time in your life where your focus is your family and spending time at home. You want a place that can accommodate the lifestyle of a busy family! More square footage, a bigger yard, and maybe a bigger garage to store all of your toys.

Single family homes are great if you are still looking to grow your family. It will be a space for you to call home for years to come! There is usually a ton of space to entertain and to host family get-togethers. More space = more opportunity!

We have many great lot options to choose from, whether you are wanting something close to the lake or something backing onto green space. Any floor plan can be customized to suit your needs – we love getting creative!

Feb 16
0

Velvet Is Taking Over

By | Uncategorized

VELVET IS TAKING OVER!

Once somewhat of a luxury, velvet is now a popular, fairly affordable fabric that can be seen in all of the best design blogs. How did this happen?! We have no idea – but we’re not complaining, and to be honest we hope the trend never goes away. We are big fans of that classy, elegant-yet-boho look and if you looked up velvet in the dictionary, that’s probably the definition you would find. How do you incorporate this into your home without looking like the room got stuck in a time travel machine? We’re glad you asked, and we’ve rounded up some of the most stylish velvet pieces for you to take inspiration from.

The key here is to choose one statement piece – a couch, a chair, pillows. You can’t have everything velvet (even though we know you wish you could – just admit it) so choose wisely. Velvet couches are probably the most popular, but are also a large expense and a bit of a risk considering this is a trend after all. However, they are SO beautiful. You can almost put that in a room with nothing else and people will be amazed at your decorating skills. Really. Try it.

Pillows are probably the easiest way to show off your trendy decorating skills. You’re hip, you keep up with what’s in and what’s out. And the best part? You can replace pillows every week if you wanted to! It’s the easiest décor hack and it really can make a dramatic difference in your home.

Here are a few of our favorite velvet pieces – plus a couple that we have used in our show homes. What are your favorites? Share with us!

Jan 25
0

Staged To Sell

By | Uncategorized

At Sarasota, we offer free staging to all of our St. Albert listings. We think it makes a HUGE difference in how fast a house will sell! It helps that our staging team rocks and can make a bag of potatoes look like it’s worth a million bucks. Here are some examples of the amazing work our staging team does.

Why Should My Home Be Staged?

Your Home is Your Home

When someone buys a home, it is often based on the feeling they get while in the home, and you want to create an emotional appeal for the buyer. When someone walks into your home, they don’t feel the emotional attachment to all of your things like you do. That painting you got while on vacation, family photos, or the desk that a family member built. Of course these things are special to you and make you more inclined to want to be at home! But to a potential buyer, these things don’t mean anything. They don’t see the story behind that slightly awkward picture that your mother forced you to put up. The goal of staging is to make the focus on the house itself and show a buyer what they could do with it. It is to reach a variety of people rather than only yourself! You do want to sell, right?

An Eye For Detail

The Sarasota staging team has an incredible eye for detail. They can see when something needs to be adjusted just the slightest bit to make a huge difference. Some things become so normal to a home owner because they see it every day, like a small chip in paint or a tear on a carpet. These small things become big things when a buyer comes into your home-you want them to be focused on your amazing house, not distracted by things they would need to fix. That’s where we come in-we notice these things and fix them so you don’t have to! Also, the clutter that we all have in our homes can actually make it seem like you don’t have enough space, which isn’t appealing to a buyer. It may not bother you, but it puts that thought into a buyers head.

Vacant Homes

If your home is vacant, staging becomes even more important. Have you ever walked into a half finished house with no furniture and weren’t able to envision it once complete? Some people just don’t have the eye for visualizing these things. You want a potential buyer to come into your house and think “Wow-I can really see myself living here!” Staging a vacant house makes it feel more like a home and that’s what really catches people’s attention.

 

Check out some Testimonials from our sellers that thought it made a huge difference.

“

From start to finish Keir and the Sarasota team were well above the rest. Their staging team and trades people came in and made my home feel like a showhome. From the day I listed the home to the day it sold, I knew Sarasota Realty was the right decision.

Dan Braund
“

After working with Sarasota previously in 2011, choosing to work with them again when it came time to sell another house seemed like an obvious choice. With a busy household it was so helpful to have small touch-ups handled by their handyman service, and knowing that Kristin and her team would have our house staged and looking great gave us peace of mind.

The Lywood Family
“

Thank you so much for your dedication and expertise in selling my condo. I am truly in shock and amazed at how painless, quick and lucrative you made this process for me. You are truly a cut above the rest. After you staged my home I almost didn't want to sell, it looked so good. I had tried for 5 years to find the right arrangement for the furniture and did not come close to the configuration that you had in just a few minutes. You have a keen eye to the artistic talent required for home decor.

Mickey Turner
Nov 17
0

Staged To Sell – Meet Our Team: Kristin

By | Uncategorized
Staging by Sarasota Realty, St. Albert

Kristin Boser: Sarasota Realtor + Décor Fanatic

When she’s not staging homes to sell, you can find her writing up deals, closing realty sales, and showcasing her day to day life on Instagram: @itsaboserlife. She’s a dreamer and she makes her dreams come true – hand selecting staging items for “who would live in this home.” With Kristin on the job, your home will find itself catering to your potential buyers, who she may just bring through later in the week.

Staging by Sarasota Realty, St. Albert

Staged To Sell

: Staging your St. Albert home to sell – for free. Our multi-talented team of home stagers are well versed in the art of creating spaces that appeal to the tastes and desires of BUYERS.

Learn More
Apr 11
2

Trend or Timeless ?

By | Uncategorized

We are always on the hunt for the newest trends – in fashion, home décor, styles, etc. But trends come and go, and before you know it you’re caught wearing puffed sleeves, sitting on a turquoise recliner sofa, sporting a hairstyle that closely resembles Don Trump. Great.

It’s time to recognize the difference between timeless and trendy.

No. 1
Is the piece well made & serve a practical purpose?

The beauty of antiques is in the quality of craftsmanship. This is why you aren’t impressed by a 1995 Ikea bookshelf, but an original Eames chair will forever be a WOW factor in your space.  A well made piece of furniture will “wear in” well and can be refinished to bring out its original beauty. The piece will always have a purpose in a space, and thus will never be donated or thrown out.

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Reclaimed wood pieces are timeless pieces – well made and will stand the test of time. They can be dressed up in a formal space or dressed down for casual use. They can handle wear and tear with grace, and be refinished down the road.

No. 2
does the trend transcend into different decor styles?

You know you’ve found a timeless piece when you can place the item into several different styles (traditional, modern, rustic, formal, casual) and the piece doesn’t look out of place. You will often see these pieces in neutral finishes  (wood, stone, leather, ceramic, mirror, metals, etc.)  or textures (typically, textures will outlast pattern).  Mixing and matching styles is common place in today’s design so this décor rule shouldn’t be difficult to follow.

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Simple, classic  pieces will always transcend through different décor styles, color trends, you name it.

No. 3
Does the piece reflect who you are?

This may be the most defining category of them all. While cookie cutter design is appealing to some, it isn’t desirable for everyone. Simply put, not everything needs to be “Grey and White” for your space to be impressive. You need to love the space you’re in so let your home reflect the special people that live there!

I am naturally color averse in my personal space. Any color I bring in to my home, I carry for a season or two and then replace it with either a new neutral or temporary color (Odd, because I love using color in client spaces). That being said, for me – my neutral pieces remain my timeless pieces; my colored pieces become my trendy items. For someone else, a vibrant space may truly reflect their personality perfectly. Those pieces will remain timeless in that space because they are relevant to the homeowner… and that’s what matters here.

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Judge the piece on it’s longevity in your space – will you still value it in 10 years? If yes, do you girl!  If not – pass on the trendy purchase or incorporate that style in a less expensive way (perhaps a small area rug, toss cushion, etc).

No. 4
What is the base you are working with?

When looking at a home – you are always told to “look at the bones” to judge the potential of it. This also rings true with décor. Timeless spaces are typically neutral spaces and neutral furniture is typically timeless furniture. With this, you have the power to create the interior style you so choose within those 4 walls by mixing and matching furniture and décor pieces.

My advice – keep the large scale items neutral; incorporate trendy items at a smaller scale. This helps your budget long-term as you’re only changing the accents.

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The more neutral basics you work with, the easier it is to layer trending pieces on top as the trend cycle demands

Lisette Sluser

She’s our in-house interior designer, stager, full-time comedian, and a soon-to-be mama.

Lisette's Instagram
Feb 18
0

Selling Your Home with Professional Photography

By | For Buyers, For Sellers, Home Staging & Interior Design, Lifestyle, New Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Uncategorized

With the Alberta market slowing down economically, 2016 is proving to be a buyers market.  That said, it is ever so important for sellers to select the right real estate company to represent their home and ensure that their house is the one that’s SOLD before the competition.

Web appeal is vital with 80-90% of potential clients reviewing listings online prior to visiting the home. In fact, without an online presence or photos to review, you can bet that your property will virtually go unnoticed by potential buyers. Attention spans are low and competition is high – what are you going to do to make your listing worth looking at?

There are some things that are within your power as a seller – cleaning, decluttering, and working on curb appeal. If you select Sarasota Realty, you can also have your home staged (alongside light touch up work completed) for free in St. Albert – which can take your home from shabby to chic in just a few hours. But a perfectly manicured home needs to be displayed properly to sell – and a professional photographer is what’s needed to do the job. Sarasota Realty also offers this free of charge to all of their clients, to ensure their listings are presented at their best.

did you know…

Professionally taken photos of homes continue to sell for more on average – receiving more attention both online and in showings. This is because a professional photographer understands photo composition, lighting requirements, and editing skills to make sure that the photo perfectly represents the space. They know exactly what to focus on in a picture to grab a buyer’s attention. They not only have the proper equipment (including a tripod at the perfect height), but they know how to use it. Most importantly, a professional photographer can match a buyer’s expectations to what they receive – never over promising or under promising. This in itself will bring in the right group of potential buyers. Chance yourself with a realtor that uses an IPhone or handheld camera for your photos, and you chance having your home sit on the market for longer than it should. This is something that you just can’t risk today.

Let Sarasota Realty showcase your home – professionally accentuating the best of your interior. Our approach generates multiple showings and helps to sell homes in even the toughest of markets.

Here are a few Iphone vs professional photos to prove why our photographers help sell our listings, fast!

(First shots taken are Iphone, second shots are professional)

Lisette Sluser

She’s our in-house interior designer, stager, full-time comedian, and part-time caffeine drinker.

Lisette's Instagram
Jan 28
1

DIY’s to Get Down with Your Crafty Self

By | Home Staging & Interior Design, Lifestyle, Uncategorized

Whether you’re looking for new crafting ideas to get you through the winter months, or simply trying to cut back on expenses in this economy, we have done our research to find you the best home décor DIY’s for every type of space. Look for some of these great ideas in our upcoming showhomes!

Accessorize the Man Cave

No. 1
Jack Daniels Soap pump

You could always use another favourite bottle if you’d prefer. The fun to this project is the process of emptying the bottle…

All you need to complete this is an empty bottle and a soap pump that has a universal size pump thread with a tight spring. You may want to bring your empty bottle discretely to the store and fit it to the correct sized pump. This great idea from Curlybirds can be found on her website here.

What a great idea for a Man Cave bathroom or bar!

No. 2
PIPE SHELVING

Pipe shelving is a wallet friendly option that you can either create yourself, or purchase off of websites like Etsy, here.

Luckily, HomeDepot has a ‘how to’ blog post on how to create these customizable shelves so you can create various sizes and orientations to hold your shelf worthy items. Note: most Home Depot’s will also cut and thread piping in house.  Before your trip to the store, make sure you are aware of the size of shelving unit you want to create so an associate can provide you with the right amount of materials.

* Make sure you purchase dry wall anchors as well to ensure a sturdy shelf.

No. 3
PALETte bar

This palette bar from 1001pallets.com is a simple and cost effective way to incorporate a bar into your ManCave or on your patio.

Depending on how rustic you want this piece, you can paint the palettes, stain them, or leave them raw (just be sure to sand these down as they can be quite rough).  As per the website, they advise removing the bottom 3 boards, nailing the palettes together and adding some glue for extra hold. Depending on where this bar will be, you can always anchor it to a wall or down to a deck for safety. The pavers can also be mortared on if you want more stability.

Spray Painting Your Home Pretty

No. 1
letter Art

I LOVE this idea with the new white trend, but any color would be fabulous!

For this project, a quick trip to Michaels will provide everything you need to finish this in an afternoon. Purchase some wooden letters, a canvas, and (white) spray paint (all sized to your liking). Layout how you want the piece to look – heart shaped, linear, etc. You may want to place some light guide lines on your canvas to avoid any crooked lines. Glue the wooden letters to the canvas and let dry. Spray paint the canvas in a gentle sweeping motion to avoid pooling of paint.

This idea was found here.

No. 2
copper tin cans

After making a pasta sauce, I’m sure you’ll have a few extra large tin cans hanging around in the recycling bin. Why not reuse them, and get your Spring gardening started early this year? Rinse and remove the excess label glue from the cans, and let dry completely. Again, Michaels has the rest of the supplies you’ll need: copper paint, mini chalkboards, and twine string. Paint the cans upside down and evenly coat them with paint. After a few coats and sufficient drying time, your cans are ready for the twine and chalkboards! Puncture the base of the can with a nail if you want drainage in your cans, or place a base of rocks before adding dirt and plants.

This fun idea is thanks to this site, here.

No. 3
spray painting fabric

Who knew this even existed!? Simply Spray Upholstery Fabric Paint is a spray paint made specifically for fabric. Now you can update your grungy patio furniture or make custom pillows with a stencil for less than new cushions.

As per the Happier Homemaker, who provided this idea, it takes up to 4 cans for pure coverage on large surfaces. Like spray painting furniture, make sure your sprays are continuous and even to avoid streaks or pooling. Can’t wait to try this!

Bring Your Accessories To Life

No. 1
marble-ize your serving tray

This is a beautiful way to take a plain or beat up tray and give it a whole new look.

The idea and photo are from mydubio.com, using simple shelf liner. You could always use a laminate instead depending on your budget. Look for a marble effect liner or adhesive film from Walmart, HomeDepot, or Amazon with a contact backing for this project. Measure twice, cut once. Remove backing and slowly seal the liner to the tray. You now have a brand new looking tray!

Now to get someone to bring you breakfast in bed with it….

No. 2
create an acrylic side table

Create this modern table with a few simple tools. The website Brit + Co that created this DIY also provides a website to purchase the acrylic piece from if you don’t want to search on your own!

Take an old TV tray or purchase a new one, and ensure your acrylic top will cover the base of the table.  Take the TV tray apart to spray paint it the color of your choice (perhaps a hot new metallic for 2016?).  Measure and drill holes into the acrylic to fit your table. Screw the two together and cover nail heads with stud beads.

BOOM – you just made a show stopping side table.

No. 3
further benefits of wine…art!

If you’ve been collecting corks for quite some time, but haven’t yet found a use for them, look no further.

Create this stunning cork art with an ombre effect. Separate your corks by color, push them together, and assess the size of the heart (or other shape) you are going to create. If it is too small, you can always purchase new corks at craft stores, or see if any liquor stores have corks to give away. Use a wooden shape from Michaels or online to use as the backing, or apply to a canvas. Next, place the corks on the board to ensure full coverage. Once ready, hot glue or cement-glue your corks down.

We spelled out the word WINE for our newest spec home in Lapierre!

Lisette Sluser

She’s our in-house interior designer, stager, full-time comedian, and part-time caffeine drinker.

Lisette's Instagram

SARASOTA REALTY p. (780) 460 2222 f. (780) 458 4821 25 Carleton Drive St. Albert, Alberta T8N 7K9