ASK THE INSPECTOR: B.C. toughens criteria for home inspectors

I recently attended the annual Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI) National Conference in Montreal, and can tell you about several changes in the home-inspection industry and their effects on inspectors and homeowners. As I've said many times in . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

SOLUTIONS: Make your own hand cleaner -- and air freshener

QUESTION: Can you tell me how to make waterless hand cleaner? -- Ruby ANSWER: The FDA states that in order for a waterless hand cleaner to effectively kill germs, it must contain at least 60 per cent alcohol. Make your own . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Parade is over; buyers are starting to get serious

Although the Fall Parade of Homes officially ended on Oct. 10, the various show homes remain extremely busy. The reason is that we are in the peak of buying season right now. Manitobans visited dozens of new homes in a variety . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Open to tradition

Home combines best of both worlds

When the designers at Gino’s Homes conceived the design of 119 Bridlewood Road — one of their latest show homes in Bridgwater Forest — they kept one key thought in mind. “We really listen to our customers, ” says Gino’s marketing . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Home is where the RV is

Quit your job, jump into a rig and leave the real world behind

Jumping in the RV and driving off into the sunset is a dream for a lot of people. Harriet and John Halkyard actually did it -- and so did Mike and Terri Church. They have some very interesting tales, because they . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

A fine FIT

Ergonomics make family-oriented home really click

We've all seen them, good and bad: homes that either work well in every aspect, or, well, that don't work very well at all despite a designer's best efforts. As family-oriented homes go, 18 Kuypers Lane -- found in the secluded, . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Buyer prepare

Is a condo right for you? Find out before you commit

While a resale condo may provide an opportunity for a more relaxed lifestyle, getting there can be challenging. A big misconception with condominiums is that people tend to think that buying a condo is just a less expensive way of buying . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Bold can get old

Star-chitects' creations cutting edge -- but are they comfy?

Leaf through a coffee table book about famous modern houses and you'll likely see Le Corbusier's white box on stilts, Villa Savoye, near Paris; Mies van der Rohe's bungalow on stilts, Farnsworth House, near Chicago; and perhaps opuses by current . . .

Posted: 2009-10-31

Get home ready while weather's still decent

It is now time to pull out those favourite sweaters from the back of the closet and dust off those wool blankets, because cool, wintry days are just about upon us. The autumn is also the right time to prepare your . . .

Posted: 2009-10-25

How to care for your countertop

Scratching, cutting and staining can be avoided

WITH caesarstone, marble, granite, and travertine tile hogging the kitchen countertop spotlight, laminate has been nudged aside, used mostly in bathrooms and ensuites. Countertop.com, a U.S.-based industry website, says that in today's hurry-up lifestyle, laminate deserves a second look by those . . .

Posted: 2009-10-25