Courtesy of Leah Duvall

LeahDuvall.com

Compliments of

780.270.4153 Real Estate Agent, REALTOR ® , ABR ® , SRS, SRES ® LEAH DUVALL

312 Saddleback Rd Edmonton, AB T6J4R7

Volume 17 | Number 04

UPGRADE YOUR FRONT DOOR THIS SPRING

With spring comes a season of rebirth and one way to make a statement in your home is to replace, or paint, the front door. A new door with windows or stained glass or the same door in a new colour can create a whole new vibe for you and guests entering your home. If painting or replacing the door isn't in your budget, consider just changing the hardware (knobs and locks) for a small change. To replace your front door, head to your local home improvement store for a plethora of options and expert advice. Be sure the door you're choosing will provide proper insulation, security and will fit in the current frame you have. When choosing to paint your current door, you'll want to protect any hardware by covering with painter's tape (unless of course, you're replacing it) then sanding down the current finish on the door. After sanding, thoroughly clean the door to remove dust residue and then apply a coat, or two, of exterior-grade paint and primer. Once dry, polish or replace the hardware and you’re all done. Whether you replace or repaint your door, finish off the new look with a new doormat and plants and enjoy your new entrance.

UNSTUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS

INGREDIENTS: 1 tbsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS: 1. Warm the oil in a large deep sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the beef, chili powder, garlic, salt, and pepper. Crumble the meat as it cooks. 2. When the meat has browned, about 8 minutes, add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, vinegar, brown sugar. Stir to combine and bring to a boil. 3. Stir in the cabbage, reduce to simmer, and cover with lid.

2 lbs ground beef 1 tsp chili powder 1 tsp granulated garlic or garlic powder 1 tsp kosher salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper 24 oz crushed tomatoes 15 oz tomato sauce

2 tbsp white wine vinegar ¼ cup light brown sugar

Cook until the cabbage is bright green, tender, and still slightly crisp, about 4-5 minutes.

½ head green cabbage about 4-6 cups, chopped into 1-inch pieces 2 cups cooked rice (total amount is rice when cooked)

4. Add in the cooked rice and simmer just until heated

through about 2 minutes. Serve warm.

Courtesy of barefeetinthekitchen.com

KINDNESS IS ONE THING YOU CAN’T GIVE AWAY. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK. — George Skolsky

George (1905 to 1983) was an American writer, radio host, screenwriter and movie producer who was best known for being a Hollywood gossip columnist.

FARMHOUSE STYLE DECOR Perhaps you live in rural Canada and your home's decor can authentically be called farmhouse chic because your home was built a certain way to be functional and utilize the supplies found locally. Or perhaps you live in urban Canada and long for the look of a modern farmhouse style as it brings back nostalgic memories or allows you to escape from the pace and style of city living. Regardless, there are a few key elements that define a farmhouse decor style that you can incorporate into your home if you so choose. The primary element in farmhouse decor is the use of natural materials like distressed wood, exposed stone and metal. Paired with neutral and warm colour palettes,

the natural materials provide a stark contrast and really stand out when used accordingly. Consider incorporating or highlighting metal accents, exposed wood beams, open shelves and barn style doors throughout the home. Furthermore, distressed or antique furniture as well as comfy, textured fabrics on sofas and linens round out the look.

ROLLING STORAGE SHELVES

Storage is something every home owner needs and never seems to have enough of. Creating a rolling storage system in the basement, garage or spare room can alleviate a lot of storage problems. The easiest way to create a storage system like this is to purchase bookshelves or shelving units and add casters (wheels) to the base so they can be rolled up against a wall or in a nook and then pulled out when needed. Adding labels and handles to the side of the bookcase or shelf can help make the items more accessible.

Items can be placed right on the shelf or into bins or baskets to keep smaller items together. Going one step further and adding hooks or a tension rod in place of a shelf (when structurally sound) can allow for other storage options like hanging tools, clothes, pet supplies, etc. Doors or curtains can be added to the front of the bookcase if needed as well. Be aware if your shelving unit is tall, you will want to put the heavy items on the bottom to prevent it from falling over.

JOKES Knock, Knock. Who's there? Rain Rain who?

Knock, knock. Who's there? Ears. Ears who? ‘Ears another knock knock joke for ya!

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe come out to play now?

Knock, knock. Who’s there? Howl. Howl who? Howl you know unless you open the door?

You're not going to tell me to go away and come again another day, are you?

Courtesy of funology.com

SUDOKU

Fill in the blanks so that each row, each column, and each of the nine 3x3 grids contain one instance of each of the numbers 1 through 9.

Courtesy of: www.thinkablepuzzles.com

Answer:

Edmonton Statistics

Hi Friends,

It won’t be long until Costco is full of hanging baskets again, and the spring market has really ramped up, with lots of multiple offers in some areas. Our number of residential sales in the greater Edmonton area increased month over month and year over year, and while our inventory also increased, it is still 15.4% lower than March 2023. The lower inventory combined with strong net migration to Alberta is increasing the feeling of urgency for buyers in some price points, which is how I found myself competing with clients in multiples. Overall, though, sales are not outpacing listings, so we have a fairly balanced market in general, which is good for everyone. In addition to a busy work month, March was an exceptionally busy personal life month too, as we decided to get some of those updates done that we had planned to do once the children had all moved out. In theory, painting the entire house in one go seemed like a fabulous idea, until it came to taking all the books off the built

AVERAGE PRICES

$517,313 detached UP 6.7% year-to-year

$194,101 apt./ condo UP 0.6% year-to-year

$282,557 row/ townhouse UP 13.9% year-to-year

in shelves that are painted the same color as the trim in the house. It’s funny how the book collection looks a lot bigger once the books are all in tote boxes!! Some (ahem, husband and children) might say I have a book problem, not I, I would say I don’t have enough books! I think it’s fair to say had I not moved to Kindle for the most part some years ago, it would have been worse, although I do dream of having a library room with floor-to-ceiling books, book ladders, a large wood-burning fireplace, and a couple of really comfortable large chairs. It took me a long time, and that was just one job. Many sellers do need to give their homes a refresh before listing and not just the paint; it’s the general home maintenance and decluttering too, which is why it’s a great idea to start planning early if you are thinking of a move and to keep up with your home maintenance even if you’re not. If you do any bigger renovations on your home, be sure to take before, during, and after pictures, and keep your invoices and receipts. You know what else I’m going to say, if you do something that requires permits, get the permits! You’ll be glad you listened to me if you ever come to sell, I promise!! I look forward to chatting with you soon, and keep an eye on those mailboxes; flower seeds will be landing in the not-too-distant future, well, they will if I survive the big book move! Leah xx

39 DAYS ON MARKET

68.6% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO

Statistics reflect market activity in Mar. 2024. Source: REALTORS ® Association of Edmonton Market values stated are of the average of Edmonton and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

780.270.4153 Real Estate Agent, REALTOR ® , ABR ® , SRS, SRES ®

leah@leahduvall.com

leahduvall.com

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