Just as you drink pure water, isn't it vital to ensure the air you breathe is also clean? It's common for people to spend up to 75 percent of their time in their homes, and the sources of air pollution in a home can be many.

The variation in chemicals and pollutants can produce a range of negative effects in your home, so take a 2 minute read to find out the best ways to reduce indoor air pollution!

1. Ventilation

Open your windows! Creating circulation is so essential. The recent emphasis on energy conservation has caused homes to be constructed in an air-tight, sealed way; this traps pollutants right in your home.

Ventilation can help remove the pollution, and lung function can be improved by ventilation because it reduces the harmful effects of indoor air pollution.

2. Use Organic, Natural Cleaning Products

For people with issues with their respiratory tract or lungs, like asthma, all-natural cleaning products — especially ones you make yourself — provide one of the best defenses for your health.

Try to replace toxic or chemical-based cleaning products with natural, organic alternatives. You'll find these options at many stores, or you can make these amazing DIY cleaning recipes. Also, the classic combo of vinegar and baking soda works great on drains!

3. Invest in Natural Scents

We all want our homes to smell fresh and clean, but before you grab that fragrant aerosol spray can, think twice!

Instead, use essential oils with a diffuser. Lavender, lemongrass, and tea-tree or orange-blossom oil all work great and don't contain any air-polluting chemicals. You can also dilute oils in distilled water and use them with a spray bottle for a chemical-free home or office spray.

Everyone has advice about the real estate market, but not all of that unsolicited information is true. So when it comes time to list your home, you’ll need to separate fact from fiction.

Below I’ve identified the top three real estate myths — and debunked them so you can hop on the fast track to selling your property.

I need to redo my kitchen and bathroom before selling.

Truth: While kitchens and bathrooms can increase the value of a home, you won’t get a large return on investment if you do a major renovation just before selling.

Minor renovations, on the other hand, may help you sell your home for a higher price. New countertops or new appliances may be just the kind of bait you need to reel in a buyer. Check out comparable listings in your neighborhood, and see what work you need to do to compete in the market.

My home’s exterior isn’t as important as the interior.

Truth: Home buyers often make snap judgments based simply on a home’s exterior, so curb appeal is actually very important.

The good news is that it doesn’t cost a bundle to improve your home’s exterior. Start by cutting the grass, trimming the hedges and clearing away any clutter. Then, for less than $50, you could put up new house numbers, paint the front door, plant some flowers or install a new, more stylish porch light.

Home shoppers can ignore paint colors they don’t like.

Truth: Moving is a lot of work, and while many home buyers realize they could take on the task of painting walls, they simply don’t want to.

That’s why one of the most important things you can do to update your home is apply a fresh coat of neutral paint. Neutral colors also help a property stand out in online photographs, which is where most potential buyers will get their first impression of your property.

Hiring a professional to paint the interior of a 2,000-square-foot house will cost anywhere from $2,000 and up, depending on labor costs in your region. You could buy the paint and do the job yourself for $200 to $500. Either way, if a fresh coat of paint helps your home stand out in a crowded market, it’s probably a worthwhile investment. Get in touch with us if you are thinking of selling and want more advice! We can also connect you with our team of professional tradespeople!

Temporary modular housing can be constructed more quickly than permanent housing and provide immediate relief to hundreds of people looking for homes. This initiative is not only significant in addressing the needs of Vancouverites, but also creates an opportunity to celebrate the future of diverse neighbourhoods. Read on to find out more!

What are Modular Homes?

A modular home is a home that has been built indoors – basically, inside a home-building factory. Once complete, the modules (or components of these homes) are transported by truck to their new location and assembled by highly qualified tradesmen onto the already poured foundation.

Why Modular Homes?

This cuts builder waste since it allows for bulk materials to be ordered for the pods’ exact dimensions. 

Also, manufactured homes overall typically sell at a lower price point than traditional single-family homes due to their reduced construction costs — currently a major issue restricting home builder activity. Even though lumber futures came down from an all-time high in May, they remain inflated compared to historical norms.

Where are they going up?

This summer, 98 new living units will be completed on 1580 Vernon Drive, as a part of a 10-year, 1000 unit initiative by the provincial government that began in 2018. Currently, there are 660 temporary units and 350 permanent units, and with this finishing, more than 750 temporary modular homes are now available for residents.

Finding the right art for your space is hard, but hanging art correctly can be even more difficult. In fact, hanging artwork incorrectly at the wrong height is the #1 most common interior design mistake! Read on to find out 3 foolproof tips for hanging art!

Hang single artwork pieces at eye level

I find it’s best to hang single artwork at eye level, and 60 inches from center to the floor is the magic number.

If you’re hanging your art above furniture, it can be 4-6 inches above the piece, and if the art is going above a sofa or console, the piece should be approximately 2/3 width of the furniture. As a general rule of thumb, always consider the scale of your space when hanging art.

I usually prefer to use larger artwork and frames rather than smaller in projects. It’s much more simple to fill in spaces when you have less space to fill!

Treat two pieces as one

When hanging two art pieces, treat them as one and still hang them 60 inches from the floor to the center of the grouping.

This rule also applies to groups of three and four. Make sure they are spaced only a few inches apart, so they look together and not disconnected.

Hang Gallery Walls with cohesive spacing

When designing a grid gallery wall, I use prints and photos with a similar theme and consistent frames. They could be black and white photos, botanicals, sketches, etc.

I go with completely different pieces in mixed frames for an eclectic look. I usually hang large and medium pieces 2-3 inches apart, and smaller pieces 1.5-2.5 inches apart.

Make things easier on your end by tracing the frames on a piece of paper and using painters tape to create a layout on the wall before you have to put holes in the wall.