Marnie Campbell Real Estate Team Blog - Homeowner Tips

How Renovating Without a Realtor® Could Cost You Thousands (and Hurt Your Home’s Value)

Renovating your home is exciting—but if you're not strategic, you could waste thousands on upgrades that don’t add real value. The #1 mistake homeowners make? Renovating without consulting a Realtor®.

At the Marnie Campbell Real Estate Team, we’ve helped hundreds of Calgary homeowners make smart renovation choices that attract buyers and maximize resale value. In this guide, we break down:

✅ The 10 best renovations for 2025 (with ROI percentages)
✅ What upgrades buyers LOVE—and what they don’t
✅ 5 specific upgrades per renovation that increase your home's value
✅ How to avoid wasting money on low-ROI renovations

Before you renovate, read this guide to ensure your upgrades are a smart investment.

Why You Should Consult a Realtor® Before You…

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8 Tips for Making a Home Move Easy

The countdown is on! You’ve purchased your next home and maybe even sold the current place you are in today, but the big move is still a work in progress. There are a couple essential notes to take to make your moving day as stress free and streamlined as possible.

1. Hiring a moving company or doing it yourself?

Do you call in all your favours and get your friends to help you move or spend the money and hire a moving company? A couple factors will probably play into your decision such as the time of year. Let’s face it, Calgary’s weather is a bit temperamental and if you’re moving the second week of January you might find out who your friends really are. You might need to sweeten the deal with eggnog lattes and take-out to swing the pendulum in…

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Creative Small Space Gardens

Creative Gardening Options for you small space.

If a first grader can grow a bean with a wet paper towel on a sunny windowsill, you can create a garden, regardless of how much space you have to work with. Calgary boasts properties that have expansive back yards perfect for growing your own organic veggies and fruits. We also have condos that have big windows flooded with sunlight and apartments with patios to take advantage of for gardening. There are also many Calgary communities that have started community/ shared garden projects where you can flex your green thumb if you want more space than your property offers. Whatever you have, there are possibilities that will help you spruce up your outdoor space.

If your interested in starting a community…

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14 Must Ask Questions Before You Hire a REALTOR®

How do REALTOR® fees work? How much do you get paid?

Typically, the fees for both the listing and purchasing REALTORS® are paid for by the seller. The fees are determined at the time the home owners sign the listing agreement. The fees can vary depending on the type of service you’re receiving. What this means is there are different types of services that different REALTOR®and brokerages offer. Ask your REALTOR® what their fees are.

Is real estate your full time or part time job?

Your REALTOR® should be a full time agent. Like any professional you work with you want them to have the most experience possible and competently immersed in their profession. Full time REALTORS® see more properties, know the market and are going to be there when you…

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7 Easy Ways for Homeowners to "Go Green" and Save Money

As a homeowner there are several little changes you can do to make a big difference to the environment and your energy savings. Here are some ideas that can help you "go green" easily and inexpensively.

Get a recycling bin. Most cities have a recycling program. You may be able to get a rebate on your recycling bin or even get it for free. Some cities even offer residential curbside collection for blue box recyclables, green bin organics, small appliances and seasonal yard waste. Keep a list of which materials you can and can’t put in your recycle bin on your fridge door, so that everyone in the family can participate.

Get a kitchen compost bin. Find out if your city has a compost pick-up program. If they do, get a kitchen compost bin or kitchen…

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Building MaxWell Realty into a Major Real Estate Player

The Alberta-based Maxwell Realty was founded in Calgary in 1999 by Realtors® Ron Stanners and Dick Oakes. Ron Stanners, broker at MaxWell South Star, and Ron Oaks, broker at MaxWell Canyon Creek, have built MaxWell Realty into a major regional real estate player.

Over the past 14 years, MaxWell Realty franchises have sprouted all over Alberta and British Columbia with several offices in Calgary including MaxWell Canyon Creek, and  MaxWell South Star, as well as, MaxWell Realty Edmonton, MaxWell Realty Group in Lethbridge, MaxWell Mountain Realty in Canmore, MaxWell Canyon Creek in Okotoks and MaxWell Realty Invermere to name a few.

MaxWell Realty has a built a reputation for providing exceptional real estate service, really caring about its customers…

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4 Summer Lawn Care Tips

Calgary has had a lot of rain in June so remembering to water the lawn hasn’t been an issue. Here are a few summer lawn care tips, other than watering, to keep your lawn looking nice and green.

One of the most important tips for maintaining your lawn is to mow high, about 2.5 to 3 inches. Mowing too short will weaken the root system and allow those pesky weeds to grow.

Each time you mow, alternate the pattern you take. We are often creatures of habit, but for healthy lawns mowing in different directions will help prevent soil compaction from the wheels of the lawn mower.

The blade of your lawn mower should be sharpened at least one time per year. A sharp blade will reduce the time it takes to mow the lawn. A dull blade will tear at the grass…

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Home Security Tips You Might Not Know?

Most Calgarians do the basics to protect their homes because they are confident they will not get burglarized. They lock doors and have a light on in the house when they are away.

Yet, there were 6812 break and enters in Calgary in 2010. So what else can you do to prevent your home from being broken into? Here are a few tips for home security:

• Never hide a key outside. Thieves know all the hiding places. Instead, make sure all family members have a key.
• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So be extra vigilant about making sure doors and windows are locked while you're away during the day.
• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times more likely to target a home without an alarm system.
• Thieves will attempt…

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