Our Blog

“As a community for A+ tenants and landlords who are renting, sharing, and caring for homes together, we would like to share what we have learned in the real world, in the hope of helping you in any tiny yet meaningful way possible.

 

So, who are “you”?

 

Maybe you’re a newly graduated high school student leaving home for the first time; or a new immigrant navigating renting in a new country; a family seeking a dream home; or a landlord looking for professional ways to manage your rental homes without a property manager… our blog provides solid anecdotes and real-life stories to guide you with confidence on your journey. Join us and discover how our current members of landlords and tenants are living their dreams while building a better and joyful future.

 

Together, let us make impossible happen naturally.

2024-03-06

Why the Home "Pending Rented" before My Viewing?

You’ve eagerly booked a viewing, anticipating the chance to step into your potential new home, only to receive a message informing you that the property is now “pending rented.” What gives? In this blog post, we’ll delve into why this might happen … 

2024-03-05

We Show Once a Week, and Here's Why

In the realm of ACT Roar – the A+ Culfidant Triplet of homes, tenants, and landlords – our commitment stands firm: to maximize the peaceful enjoyment of our current A+ tenants, even as they prepare to move out when their lease ends. How? It’s simple. We stick to our tradition… 

2024-02-29

Case Study 02 – Two Brothers in a Large Home with a Legal Suite

I’ve got another fantastic tale to share with you today, straight from the experiences of our incredible tenants—a family that’s not just living large but also saving big. Let’s delve into their story and uncover how they’re maximizing the potential of our beautiful large home with a legal suite through the innovative concept of co-living … 

2024-02-27

Case Study 01 - Large Homes with a Legal Suite...

Allow me to present a case study featuring a remarkable family currently residing in one of our expansive homes boasting six bedrooms and four baths. They’ve been happily settled for over four years now, and I’m thrilled to share their experience with you … 

2024-02-24

Why You Should Aim for Large Homes with Legal Suites

Picture this: you’re a big family with grandparents, parents, and kids all under one roof. Or maybe you’re a group of close-knit siblings ready to embark on the next chapter of your lives together. Finding the perfect living space can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack, especially in Edmonton’s bustling rental market where homes are snatched up faster than you can say … 

2024-02-11

Why Was I being Rejected? …

Have you ever faced the disappointment of a rejected rental application and wondered, “What went wrong?” It’s a common scenario that often leaves many feeling frustrated and perplexed. But while rejection can be tough to swallow, understanding the reasons behind it can offer valuable insights for the future… 

2024-02-01

Rent Big in Sizzle Hot Edmonton Market

Let’s talk about the current residential rental scene in Edmonton—it’s hotter than a summer barbecue, with a vacancy rate of less than 1%. Bidding wars are becoming the norm as folks scramble to snag their dream digs. But amidst the frenzy, there’s a golden opportunity that many overlook…

2023-11-28

Why Most First Home Buyers Fail Strategically...

For many, buying/owning the first home is likely the most significant financial move in a lifetime, yet 9 out 10, if not more, have failed and will likely fail strategically for the following three reasons: 01) Confused dream; 02) Confused timing; and 03) The lack of skin in the game…

2023-09-08

Turning a Stormy Situation into a Soothing Soak: A Tale of Landlord-Tenant Harmony

Last night’s storm was not just a test of Mother Nature’s power but also a test of our landlord-tenant relationship. It all started with a text message from our tenant, accompanied by pictures of a fallen tree in front of their rental home. As we scrutinized the photos, we noticed something unexpected…

2023-08-14

Instant No-Cost Fix for Broken Laminate Countertop Edge

It is common for the edges of laminate countertops to be broken in many rental homes. They are eyesores, to say the least. Not to mention, if not fixed promptly, it may lead to much costlier repairs in the near future. However, the conventional method of fixing them starts with finding a matching laminate kit…

2023-05-13

How to screen tradeshow contractors in 1 min?

I went to ARLA trade show yesterday (2023-05-12) and spent over 3 hrs to chat with most of 36 contractors. Later, I realized there is a way to help me screen them quickly so that I can spend time on the ones likely more promising – I called “Stand up or not method” and yes, it only take 1 min or less…. 

2023-04-18

Why/How to conduct rental credit check?

“Credit check” is a comonly applied practice by many landlords in rental applications. In this blog, we will share the traditional way to conduct it and the new way (Culfidant way) to do it, their pros/cons, and the best practice we recommend in Culfidant community..

2023-04-07

Broken Sink - Wear and Tear, or, Else?

A fellow landlord asked the following question: “Sink crack – If a tenant drops something and cracks the sink significantly, we can charge that back to them, right? We do have it in our lease that if they are responsible for it, it’s at their cost…” So how would you hanle it, if this happened to you?…. 

2023-03-20

For First-Time Home Buyers: Understanding Mortgages 101

Buying your first home can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding how a mortgage works and how to qualify for one that best fits your needs.

As a community that values knowledge and expertise, we turned to mortgage experts for help. We spoke with Justine Cooper, one of ATB’s top mortgage specialists in the Sherwood Park and Edmonton areas, and asked her the most commonly asked questions about mortgages for first-time homebuyers.

2023-03-09

After $15.00 Additional charge and A Favor…

On March 8th, I had the opportunity to attend the ALC meetup in Calgary. While there, I stayed at a hotel and had a few experiences that I believe can help improve my own landlord business. I want to share my experience with you, in the hopes that it can also provide some valuable lessons

2023-03-09

Lesson Learned – from ALC Meetup in Calgary

I recently attended the Calgary ALC meetup hosted by Mackenzie, the founder, along with two other amazing landlords. ALC and Mackenzie have done incredible work in bringing together over 4,000 landlords into a tight-knit online community, and the meetup took this community to another level.

2023-02-24

How to Buy Your First Home in Alberta

Buying a home can be an exciting but daunting process, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. As a resident of Alberta with an annual income of $80,000, you may be wondering how to navigate the homebuying process and what your purchasing power is. In this article, we’ll go over some tips and guidelines for buying a home in Alberta with an annual income of $80,000 as an example, and how we can help every step to your new home!

2023-02-21

Is "DIY TV Wall Mount Installation" a Good Idea?

Installing a TV wall mount can be tempting for new tenants who want to save money, but it’s important to remember that it’s best practice not to take on this task on your own for very good reasons. Instead, we have proper guidelines and steps in place to ensure that everyone shares and cares for the property equally…

2023-02-18

Why Is It More Than Simply "Rented" ?

When you’re renting out a home or property, it’s important to keep in mind that everyone who is going to view/viewed and or applied for it deserves to be treated with respect. It’s important to inform other applicants/viewers that the home has already been rented out, so that they can make informed decisions and not waste their time waiting for a response.

At our company, we believe in the first principle of sharing and caring. By letting everyone on the waiting list know that the home has been rented out, we are showing that we care about their time and their interest in our properties. It’s a small gesture that can go a long way in building goodwill with our customers…

2022-10-12

What Have Been Learned from "Google Review"...

No, it is not a mistake. No one screwed up, either. And no, it is not a hacking issue either.

And yes, after some serious thinking, we have made the move to “permanently closed on Google.”

Here is why – if you would like to know.

Time is the only asset that is invaluable for all of us. We found that instead of spending time dealing with a few who enjoy bad-mouthing others when their entitlement mindset is being disturbed, we decided to focus our effort on providing the best service to those who are right for our service.