As the place where we spend more than half of our lives, our homes have a major impact on our happiness. An extensive study by Resi, an architectural firm in the UK, revealed the factors that contribute to a happy home. At the top of the list was homeownership. Compared to renters, owners enjoyed a greater sense of security and pride because they were able to renovate to suit their own tastes and they could build equity. The people with the lowest level of home satisfaction where those living in rental accommodati... read more

Deer oh deer, why do you love to eat our most prized plants? How easily you jump our fences and stretch your graceful necks to reach the ripe fruit on our trees. Time after time, you return to graze on our blossoms and vegetable patches.   The situation is frustrating, although to be fair, we have taken over vast sections of wilderness to build homes, farms and industry. As natural habits have diminished, deer and other wildlife forage on our properties to survive. Erratic weather events, such as drought, also... read more

In the three-month period from December 21, 2016 to March 21, 2017, there were nearly 9,000 hospitalizations due to falls on ice in Canada, making it the number one cause of winter injuries, according to the latest statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Data reveals that the average length of a hospital stay after a fall was 14.3 days, compared to 7.5 days for other medical reasons.   In an effort to reduce these numbers, most Canadian municipalities require homeowners or their tenants ... read more

Steaks grilled to perfection: juicy and tender with hint of smoky flavour. For many barbeque aficionados, summer just wouldn’t be summer without firing up the ‘barbe’. Unfortunately, the quest for hot-off-the-grill flavour can sometimes result in damage and injuries. Boys under nine-years-old are surprisingly the most likely to be injured in barbeque accidents. Their odds are one in 33,509 followed by men in their twenties at one in 1 in 46,276*. In addition to injuries, many homes suffer heat and... read more

Sizzling steaks and hamburgers hot off the grill are a great summer tradition. There is nothing quite like the flavour of barbequed food and cooking outdoors also helps to keep your home cool. Not surprisingly, more than half of all homeowners own a grill. With all this cooking, come many accidents. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reports that there are more than 8,000 house fires started by grill use each year in theUnited Statesalone. Consider these important safety tips:Check EquipmentCheck hoses... read more