Irene Kelleher's blog

(NC) As summer approaches, many homeowners are eager to fire up their grills and host outdoor cookouts with family and friends. While barbecuing can be a fun and delicious way to enjoy the season, here are some ways to prioritize your safety to prevent accidents and ensure a memorable, worry-free gathering.

Before starting your barbecue, ensure that your grill is in good working condition. Check for any gas leaks in propane and natural gas grills, make sure all connections are secure and check the grill’s air inlets for spiders or other obstructions. For charcoal grills, use only...

(NC) Homeownership is a big step, whether you’re a first-time buyer or not. Protecting your new home typically involves getting new locks, installing an alarm system and maybe even getting a “guard” dog. However, something you might not have considered is to help protect your mortgage.

TD Mortgage Protection, for example, offers optional coverage to help safeguard one of your biggest financial obligations. You’ve worked hard for your new home, and you likely want to help ensure you and your loved ones can stay in it as long as you want, whether it’s your starter or forever home.

If...

(NC) Summer is a time to stretch your legs and enjoy the warm weather with your family and friends. During this time, many people are also looking to make upgrades to their home.

Whether you’re looking to add more value to your home, make a few eco-friendly improvements or simply maximize your enjoyment, there’s a renovation project for everyone. Give your home a breath of new life with these summer renovation projects that can add value to it.

1) Update the interior

• If you’re looking to undertake some bigger projects, first consider whether you have the necessary skills and experience...

(NC) It’s time to celebrate the fathers – and those who play the role of father figure, like grandads, awesome uncles and other inspiring folks – in our lives. Whether yours is the techie type, a sensitive soul or the guy who already has it all, our Father’s Day gift guide has you covered.

For the techie
A drone can be a popular gift for anyone who’s fascinated by the latest technology, loves their toys and tools, or wants to try aerial photography. It’s a rapidly growing hobby. Just know that there are important things Dad must know before flying one. Does it need to be registered? How...

(NC) Virtually everything in life can now be achieved with just a few clicks or swipes, including planning a new deck. If you’re looking to update your outdoor space, expert assistance is available at your fingertips via a computer or mobile device. Thanks to advancements in rendering technology and user-friendly interfaces, there are lots of great tools and resources online to help guide you through the deck design and planning process from inspiration to installation.

Visualize the possibilities. Every great outdoor space starts with a vision. Apps such as the Trex AR Deck Visualiser...

(NC) Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a seasoned reseller, the process of buying a home is equal parts excitement and exhaustion. If you’re in the market this spring, here are four factors to consider.

Check and update essential equipment
Congratulations, you found your dream home. While you’ll already have a long to-do list for moving day, you should add testing the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to your list. Replace the backup batteries and make sure none of the units have passed their expiry date.

If the home has an old-style thermostat, consider swapping it for a smart...

(NC) Mother’s Day is on the second Sunday of May every year. This year, that means it’s on Sunday, May 12. Which also means you don’t have a lot of time to pull together gifts and ideas to show her how important she is to you. Here are three ideas to get you started.

A shared interest

Your relationship with your mom can be complicated. Consider finding fresh ways to connect this Mother’s Day and then seeing where they lead you. Taking advantage of a shared interest can be a great way to create a reliable conversation starter or spend low-key time together. For example, if you’re both into...

(NC) With housing affordability shifting dramatically for a generation of Canadians, many hopeful homebuyers are turning to the “Bank of Mom and Dad” to help them secure their first home.

While it’s natural for some parents to want to help their kids get a leg up in the real estate market, helping out with a deposit or down payment can represent a significant chunk of money out-of-pocket for parents.

If you are in a position to try and help your kids buy a home, whether that’s with a loan or a gift of money, it’s important to have a plan in place that’s clearly communicated to your...

(NC) As spring comes into bloom and summer waits just around the corner, many of us are ready for a reset, whether at home or in life. With that in mind, these are super simple steps to help you feel safe, refreshed and organized this season.

Finally tackle that fridge
A messy or sticky refrigerator can make any home feel unclean, so giving it an overhaul can offer big relief. Find recipes to use up your leftovers. Look up how to organize your fridge to keep food fresher, longer. And even if something’s past its best-before date, that doesn’t always mean you have to throw it out....

(NC) The goal of spring cleaning might be to ensure you have a healthy home, but sometimes cleaning can expose you to chemicals and pollutants that could pose a risk to your health.

Here are some tips to ensure your next home cleaning is as healthy as possible.

1. Dust with a wet cloth

   Dust and dust mites can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Using a damp cloth or mop to remove dust and dirt wipes it up without spreading it around in the air for you to breathe in. Vacuuming regularly – weekly if you can – can reduce the amount of dust you have to deal with and make your space more...