A Guide to Alberta's Solar Power Rebates
Posted by Liv Real Estate on
Solar rebates have arrived! On June 21, 2017, the Government of Alberta officially opened the rebate program to homes and businesses in Alberta.
Alberta Residential and Commercial Solar Program
Energy Efficiency Alberta, a third-party organization, has been designated to distribute multiple rebate programs, including the Residential and Commercial Solar Program and other rebates to help you save money on Energy Efficiency upgrades. The solar rebate is funded by a $36 million-dollar pool generated from carbon tax revenues. The rebate is allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis subject to your time of application.Funding
The residential rebate provides $0.75/W up to $10,000 or 30% of eligible system costs. The commercial rebate provides $0.75/W…1051 Views, 4 Comments
We missed the Edmonton forecast this year, so we came to Calgary to see what's expected to happen to the real estate market in Calgary at the #CREB2018 Economic and Housing Forecast. I'll be updating this post as information is shared.
The forecast was provided by CREB Economist: Ann-Marie Lurie, here is a summary of her remarks:
Calgary was on a path of recovery in 2017, which is expected to continue in 2018 (more of the same) with so new challenges. Alberta has the strongest growth in GDP in the country, but we're not back to where we once were. Energy prices are far better than what we've seen over the past couple of years, but challenges still exist. Modest gains are expected in the energy sector in Alberta.
"Housing market conditions are expected…
You might not notice the wear and tear on your home, but potential buyers will! Make a great first impression by taking care of a few fixes and simple upgrades. Not only will this boost your curb appeal and make your home more attractive on the market, it can also help you get more qualified offers and a quicker sale.
Photo Credit: Alair Homes
Here are the top 3 things to fix before you sell your home.
Engineered quartz countertops are a trendy choice for the style-savvy home renovator. It has all the benefits of a natural stone countertop with a few extra features that allow for creativity and versatility when it comes to style and design. Quartz countertops are durable, easy to clean and maintain and will add value to your home.
Photo Credit: Pacific Stone Fabrication
A kitchen renovation will increase your personal enjoyment of the space and increase your home’s resale value. Kitchen renovations offer one of the best returns on investment compared to other home renovations. In fact, you can expect to recoup over 80.2% of your renovation costs at resale, according to Remodelling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report for 2017, and that is for a minor kitchen remodel.
Photo Credit: Cooperrider Painting
The biggest component of your kitchen renovation will be your kitchen cabinets. A full kitchen cabinet replacement can be very expensive, but you don’t have to spend that fortune for a freshly upgraded kitchen.
We’re all looking for ways to save money these days and doing your own home improvement projects instead of hiring a contractor may help. Of course, taking shortcuts can absolutely be a bad idea if they turn your simple project into a complicated one or put you in a dangerous situation.
While you can definitely learn how to do a lot of projects with assistance from a home improvement centre or YouTube videos, it’s important to know when you’re in over your head. Use common sense and never be afraid to call for reinforcements from a professional if you get overwhelmed.
If you do decide to go the DIY route, here are a few shortcuts you must avoid:
Making sure your eavestroughs are in good working order is critical to your home’s ability to ward off flooding and moisture damage. If they are not working properly, you could get water running down your walls and pooling around your home. This can eventually penetrate through the foundation or leak through windows and cause major water damage in your home.
Photo Credit: Rise Up Ltd.
Your eavestroughs might be in trouble if:
As a homeowner, you know that there always seems to be a somewhat endless to-do list of home repairs, improvements, maintenance and other tasks. From odd jobs to home projects that could include things like fixing a leaky faucet, painting the trim, building a shed or even small home renovations. Even if you’re able to do some of these tasks yourself - do you have the time?
Photo Credit: German Handymann & Renovation - Laundry Room Renovation
Most interior walls are finished with drywall. Because it is a softer material, it can easily be dinged, dented and damaged. Fortunately, minor drywall repair is a DIY job most homeowners can manage. Major drywall projects, however, should be left to the pros.
Photo Credit: Dakota Interior Ltd.
The first thing you’ll need to do is pick up some supplies. Everything you need can be found at your local building supply store. The most important supply you’ll need is a quality joint compound, also known as drywall mud. Compounds come in different sized containers, but if it’s not a huge repair you won’t need that much. Thankfully, this material can keep for a very long time when sealed properly, so if you buy more than you need, you’ll likely use it again…
Considered long overdue by many, there are changes proposed to the condominium property act in Alberta that may arrive sometime in the not too distant future. We first wrote about the proposed changes on this blog in June, 2011. The government is looking for changes and open houses have been scheduled in the coming months as follows: