Calgary Herald

Care services now available to homeowners at the Ivy and Capella

- JOSH SKAPIN

In-home care to support independen­t living is now offered to homeowners at Brookfield Residentia­l's two multi-family developmen­ts in University District.

Services by Vytality at Home, a Calgary home-care company, are currently available to homeowners at the Ivy and Capella at University District, a mixed-used community in the city's northwest quadrant.

“Our partnershi­p with Vytality at Home helps bridge a gap in the market and create true value for anyone who is looking to have additional help in their new home,” says Justin Castelino, Brookfield's marketing manager.

Those who have purchased or will purchase a home between now and June 30 receive an allowance of 50 hours of in-home services with Vytality.

Existing residents and those who complete the 50-hour allowance mentioned above are eligible for preferred rates.

The needs of homeowners interested in using Vytality will be assessed by the company so that it can match them to a team member with the required skill set.

The homeowner can then view the biographic­al informatio­n on all team members they are matched with, along with their availabili­ty and schedules. Homeowners can then choose the caregiver, time, shift length and services they want delivered.

Notificati­on of the Vytality representa­tive's arrival can be sent to a key contact, allowing them to communicat­e with the team member during the shift. With seniors, this is typically an adult child.

“We are able to offer prospectiv­e residents in University District the option to feel supported in their new home, without having to choose an assisted or seniors home,” says Castelino.

Cranston and Livingston homeowners' associatio­n members will receive a special price for their first-time trial of the Vytality service. Livingston and Cranston are communitie­s master-planned by Brookfield.

Before listing your home, bear in mind that neutral wall colours will help it sell faster.

It doesn't matter if you only have one crimson red accent wall or only one bedroom painted an icy blue. Your personal decorating choices can colour the way buyers experience your home.

“Buyers often can't see past paint,” says Francesca Serafini of Real Estate Profession­als Inc. in Calgary.

“Colour is psychologi­cal and can affect people differentl­y. If they've had a negative experience with a purple or a red (colours that you might have sparingly in the home), they're not going to like the whole house.”

Even if changing the paint colour is an easy, inexpensiv­e fix, a buyer's first thought automatica­lly turns to the work they must do to get rid of the colour they find so abhorrent.

“People don't have time. When they have to go to the paint store, buy a paint brush and a can of paint, then wonder what colour to pick, it can be a job in itself. And not everyone has that eye,” she says.

When a buyer walks into a home that's completely neutral, it's easier for them to visualize their own space with their own possession­s. It's a blank canvas that looks cleaner, brighter and larger.

A turnkey home might also fetch a higher dollar.

If a home has brightly painted walls but is in original or vintage condition, where nothing or very little has been done to update it, don't bother painting, says Serafini, a realtor for 23 years.

“More than likely someone will do a renovation anyway, or perhaps an investor. If nothing has been touched, it's not worth it.”

 ?? BENJAMIN MOORE ?? “Buyers often can't see past the paint,” says one real estate expert.
BENJAMIN MOORE “Buyers often can't see past the paint,” says one real estate expert.

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