7 spring fixes to boost your home’s value

At this time of year, many people dive into their spring cleaning. But this is also the perfect time to tackle home improvement tasks you put off during the cold winter weather. There are lots of relatively simple and affordable things you can do to give your home a spring facelift. Your house will look better and your family will feel happier in it. As a bonus, you will also boost your home’s value at the same time.

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King of the kitchen

Born in Saint Andrew’s Parish, Jamaica, the young Rob Rainford was was a fan of cooking shows on television. “I was mesmerized by Graham Kerr (The Galloping Gourmet) and Julia Child,” he says. “I made it my goal to one day host a Food Network show.” And he did.

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12 steps to closing a real estate deal

What is this mysterious “closing” you always hear real estate agents referring to when you’re shopping for a house? Closing occurs when you sign the papers that make the house yours. But before that magical (and often stressful) day arrives, a long list of things have to happen. This article will explain what you can expect during the closing process from the moment your offer is accepted to the moment you get the keys to your new home.

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Reno like a pro

Jim Caruk knows his way around a hammer and a circular saw, but he recognizes many homeowners don’t.”Too often, they decide to tackle a job when they don’t have the necessary time, skills or tools. Then it all starts to go south. The result can be a big headache – and even bigger bills,” says Caruk.He came up with the solution.

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Safe @ Home: Construction crooks

Canada suffers from hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction theft every month. It’s not only contractors losing out, it’s equipment manufacturers and dealers, and insurance companies – and, ultimately, home buyers.

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Buying a home: Brand new vs. fixer-upper

Purchasing a brand new home or a fixer-upper is a matter of personal choice, and weighing the advantages and disadvantages of each choice may help simplify the decision.

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Someone’s in the kitchen with Ken

Ken Kostick has made it his life’s mission to share his passion for food and entertaining. Canadians will recognize him from the long-running cooking show What’s for Dinner?, which he co-hosted with Mary Jo Eustace.

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Wired for style

Furniture makers have long made pieces for storing gaming consoles and their accompanying equipment in children’s room. Now they’re starting to offer more stylish varieties for other parts of the house.

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Greener thumbs

Gardening enthusiasts aren’t just flexing their green thumbs, they’re making them, well, greener.Businesses specializing in organic and eco-friendly gardening as well as environmentally friendly landscaping say there is heightened interest and awareness among residential and commercial clients who are looking to infuse more green into their spaces.

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Safe @ Home: Your first line of defence

Is it a privacy barrier, a burglar deterrent or, perhaps, a safe haven for your small children? Whatever the case, a fence helps define the barriers between your property and the outside world.

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