Over the years, we have helped many clients through real estate transactions that brought them to moving day, so we know there are parts of moving to a new home can be overwhelming and stressful. Here are a few of our tips to make your moving day as low stress as possible!

Set aside personal essentials for 2-3 days.

We’re talking toothbrushes, clothes, medications, personal care products, pet food etc. Anything you need easy access to! Having these everyday items handy will prevent you from searching through taped up boxes before you unpack. We recommend a small suitcase or weekender bag for personal items and an additional bag for any furry family member that would need pet food, medications, or toys. 

Use a robust labeling system.

Labeling your boxes with their contents helps make unloading and unpacking easier when you get to your new place. You can find some cute pre-made labels if having everything look uniform is important to you, or you can get out a trusty Sharpie and start scribbling. You can label boxes with their contents (towels, face cloths, shampoo, etc.) or you can label by room (bathroom, linen closet, etc.) if you’re not reorganizing on the other end. 

Use a moving service.

Hiring a local moving company can take away the stress of heavy lifting on moving day. You can then focus on unpacking and enjoying your space. Many moving companies will charge you a flat rate whereas others will invoice for an hourly rate. Some even offer a packing service to put all of your things in boxes and wrap any fragile items like televisions or glass tables. Whatever the case, there are professionals who will take care of the heavy lifting so you don’t have to. Ask us for our recommendations for local YEG movers!

Call some friends.

If they’re willing and able, having friends or family join you for moving or unpacking can make the day go by faster and make the whole experience more joyful. You may have to bribe them with pizza and their favourite drink, but a few friendly faces can make the whole process more enjoyable. 

Arrange child care.

If you have children that are too young to help with the move, set them up with family, friends, or a sitter to make sure tiny fingers don’t cause more chaos. You won’t have to worry about curious toddlers getting into mischief or having to entertain your pre-teens when there’s no wifi or furniture. When the day is over they’ll be so excited to see all their stuff in their new rooms!

Enjoy!

Moving day always comes with a few hiccups and the days following can be overwhelming, but remind yourself to enjoy the process as much as you can because this is the start of a new journey! How exciting!!! 

As a well established residential neighbourhood in central west Edmonton, Laurier Heights has much to offer for families, retirees, blooming professionals, and everyone in between! Many of the community’s original homes were constructed between 1950-1980, but the neighbourhood has recently become a desirable spot for infills and new developments. With above-average lot sizes and iconic trees that have grown with the neighbourhood, who wouldn’t want to put their new home here!

Recreation

With some of the neighbourhood overlooking the North Saskatchewan River and other areas bordering popular natural parks, there are ample opportunities for outdoor recreation in Laurier Heights. 

Sir Wilfred Laurier Park, Buena Vista Park, and the off-leash dog park are easily accessible from the neighbourhood, and with a short walk across the foot bridge you’ll find yourself in of Hawrelak Park where all the best summer and winter festivities in Edmonton take place! Once there, you’re a short trek up the river valley stairs where you’ll pop out at the University of Alberta campus. There are also countless walking trails and well-maintained sidewalks where you’ll encounter your neighbours at any time of the year.  

At the bottom of Buena Vista road you’ll find the Edmonton Valley Zoo which is a great place to spend the day with your kids or to plan a local date day. With a recent renovation and makeover, the Valley Zoo is a hub for animal education and care!

Residents in Laurier Heights also have close access to the Royal Mayfair Golf Club, Jasper Place and St. FX Fitness Centres, and Whitemud Park.

Neighbourhood

The boundaries of Laurier Heights are roughly 87 Avenue to the north, 149 Street and the Whitemud to the west, Buena Vista Park to the east, and the North Saskatchewan River valley to the south. 

Laurier Heights features many architecturally unique homes that include single-family detached homes, a few low-rise apartments, and the recent addition of infill, or “skinny”, homes. Many of these mid-century homes have been updated to reflect more contemporary trends but prospective buyers can still expect to find one-of-a-kind style and charm.

Even though the neighbourhood is known for being quiet and tucked away, it is still highly accessible via public transit options and is conveniently located next to major thoroughfares. You can easily access the north side of edmonton and beyond via 149th street, and the Whitemud and Terwillegar Drive are accessible just a few blocks away to take you west or south in the city. 

Schools

While Laurier Heights only has one school within its geographic boundaries, it shares streets with Crestwood and Parkview to offer easy access to some of the neighbourhood’s best schools for kids of all ages.

Designated Public Schools in Laurier Heights:

Laurier Heights School (K-9, with french immersion)
Ross Sheppard (Grades 10-12)

Designated Catholic Schools in Laurier Heights:

St. Rose Junior High (Grades 7-9)
St. Paul Elementary (K-6)
St. Francis Xavier (Grades 10-12)

Other schools nearby:

Archbishop MacDonald (Grades 10-12, with french immersion)
Crestwood (K-9)
Parkview (K-9)

Shopping and Services

Residents of Laurier Heights have convenient access to some of the city’s most diverse shopping centres. Just five minutes down the road is Meadowlark Health and Shopping Centre – home to DynaLife, Safeway, Wal-Mart, pharmacies, fast food restaurants, banking, and much more! Another five minutes down the road lands you at West Edmonton Mall which is your one-stop-shop for all things fashion, home, and tech.

A few blocks north from Laurier Heights takes you to Crestwood Shopping Centre which has a selection of local boutiques and local restaurants for a night out close to home with your neighbours.

No matter your reason for moving to Laurier Heights, we’re sure you’ll love it and lifestyle it offers! If you’re looking to move into the neighbourhood or relocate within the neighbourhood, get in touch with us! We’d be happy to help you find your dream home in Laurier Heights.

With all this sun and the start of some Spring-like weather, it’s only right to be thinking about all the patios you’ll be visiting this Spring. Here are our recommendations for some local restaurants in Edmonton that have great patio vibes:

Craft Beer Market

Might we say this place is a must see? This fresh space on Rice Howard Way has a rooftop patio fixed with all the things you need to have a good time. Their light, airy space is a major hit with ping pong tables, murals, and the Cocktail Camper. While they’re known for their beer, they have a great selection of wine, cocktails, spirits, and more! 

Odd Company

Nestled in the Oliver Exchange building, Odd Company knows how to put together a good evening. Their cozy street patio (which has been open through the winter, believe it or not!) is decorated with ambient string lighting, picnic tables, and music. They live up to their promise of “good cheer, better beer” with small batch brews to offer something new every time you visit. 

Fairmont Hotel MacDonald

The Confederation Patio at the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald is a perfectly chic place to enjoy an afternoon tea, cocktails, or food from their exclusive outdoor menu. With large umbrellas to protect you from the sun on their open patio, you can enjoy a front-row seat facing the river valley and the views that go with it. 

Dogpatch

Tucked away in Riverdale, Dogpatch is the new neighbourhood watering hole with picnic table style patio seating. Their made from scratch bistro eats, hand-crafted drinks, and easy-going atmosphere is everything you need to enjoy a dining experience with friends near Edmonton’s river valley. While you’re there, we recommend checking out Bread and Butter bakery in the same building for some scrumptious pastries!

MKT

As a fan favourite on Whyte Ave, MKT is situated right in the middle of the neighbourhood’s entertainment hub. Their food is locally sourced, they have over 100 different types of beer available, and they’ve got a fantastic fenced patio with heaters, TVs and an outdoor bar. This is a great place to catch an Oiler’s game or share a plate of their giant nachos!

Biera

Located in Ritchie Market’s Bottle Room, Biera is an award winning restaurant known for their creative small plates and delicious culinary experiences. Join them on their covered patio this season and then swing by the market for speciality foods, beer, and gifts! 

Let us know if you try out any of these fabulous patio spots in Edmonton! Maybe we’ll even see you out there!!

Earlier this week, we discussed what was happening with Single Family Homes in Edmonton, but we didn’t want you to miss out on the condo market too.

The condo market is proving to be interesting as well, with prices and demand shifting positively for the first time in years.

As of April 1, 2022, this is the what the numbers were showing:

Of the available, active condos – the price points are shocking, with almost ALL the available inventory priced at under 300k!

Since January 1, 2022 there have been 1474 total condos sold, so when comparing those against the available properties we find we have a fairly balanced level of supply for the demand:

If you are in the market to buy or sell an Edmonton Condo this year – reach out!

What Is REALLY Going On!

Real Estate is a hot topic these days, more so than ever. Every day we are inundated with articles on it be about mortgage rate increases, multiple offers, future predictions, you name it – we have heard about it!

Data is often the best indicator of “what is really going on” We have taken some time to break down the overall Edmonton market over January – March 2022 to show you what we have seen and experienced over the past 3 months. Stay tuned for more updates, as while we are multiple offers in many situations, this is not across the board and is primarily targeted to select sections of Edmonton. Some neighbourhoods are starting to see some minor and more significant shifts.

Edmonton Data as of March 31, 2022:

What is more interesting is how it breaks down in terms of prices. Of the 1575 homes for sale, the number of homes that showed available at each price point reflected the following:

How does this compare in regards to what has sold in the month of March 2022?

The data does indicate that we are seeing significant movement in the price ranges of $300,000 – $500,000. Southwest Edmonton is one of the more popular areas and newer builds (2010 or newer). What this data doesn’t show though is what parts of the city these homes have sold in which would factor into individual buying/selling strategies.

Sellers: What this does tell us is that for many sellers it is an extremely great time to sell – overall we have not seen an increase in the market to this level since 2007 and 2014 respectively. That being said, we are not in the BC or Ontario market and we are seeing fluctuations in the market based on types of homes, condition of the properties and location.

Buyers: Depending on your budget, location and what you are looking for may result in a more competitive landscape. Working with a team of professionals like our team at TruHome is important. We understand the nuances of how to craft a compelling offer, whether we are in multiple situations or not.

Connect with our Edmonton Real Estate team today to discuss how we can assist you with your Edmonton home buying or selling goals.

*Data collected Mach 31, 2022 via the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton MLS® System Data