Fun Family Christmas Activities in and around St. John’s, 2014
December 3, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove – Tree Lighting Ceremony & BBQ (PDF)
Come to the Justina Centre for a BBQ, followed by the tree lighting ceremony. Make sure to dress for outdoor weather. More details here (PDF).
December 6, St. John’s – Festival of Music & Lights
An annual holiday celebration, lighting the trees around Bowring Park Duck Pond. Enjoy free hot chocolate and music from local choirs, but please remember to bring a non-perishable food item, too. More details here.
December 6, Mount Pearl – Mount Pearl Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
At Centennial Park, next to City Hall, join the Mayor and City Council, plus local choirs, to celebrate the season with lights and hot chocolate. More details here.
December 6, Pouch Cove – Tree Lighting Ceremony (and more!)
Today is a busy, celebratory day for Pouch Cove! Enjoy the Tree Lighting Ceremony, Santa Claus Parade and Breakfast with Santa.
December 7, Flatrock – Breakfast with Santa
Enjoy this annual tradition with your little ones at the Flatrock Community Centre. More details here.
December 7, Torbay –Night Time Santa Claus Parade
Starting at 5:30, the lights will shine so bright at the Torbay Night Time Santa Claus Parade! The route starts at the Jack Byrne Arena and ends at the Kinsmen Community Centre. More details here.
December 7, Paradise – Brunch and Pictures with Santa
Every child wants to meet Santa, and now they can, in Paradise! Come to the Rotary Paradise Youth and Community Centre from 10am to 1pm for a fun morning with Santa, including pictures. More details here and here.
December 7, Paradise – Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
Come to the new Paradise arena, for hot chocolate, treats, and the tree lighting at 6pm. More details here.
December 10, Pouch Cove – Christmas in the Cove
Come to the All Saints’ Parish Hall to celebrate the sounds of the season, with a fun concert with great performers. Admission is by a non-perishable food item donation. More details here.
December 11 –Christmas Story Hour
Children are invited to hear Mayor Joedy Wall read a holiday classic, and enjoy refreshments, arts and crafts and a visit from some friends from the North Pole. More details here.
December 13, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove – Toonie Skate Date (PDF)
A fun community skate! More details here (PDF).
December 14, Paradise – Christmas Parade
Come see Santa before he heads back to the North Pole! More details here.
December 16, St. John’s – A Time in the Old Hall
A beloved Christmas variety concert enjoyed by all ages. Celebrate the season Newfoundland style at the LSPU hall. More details here.
Prepare Your Home for our Newfoundland Winters
We all know it’s coming – Newfoundland winter’s are tough (for us and for our homes) and as a real estate agent I get lots of questions about winterizing homes. If you’re a home-owner in Newfoundland, I strongly encourage you to take time now to prepare for the coming months. These simple steps can greatly protect your real estate throughout the entire winter, and often save you money in the process.
Do It Yourself
Take an afternoon to clean out your gutters and you won’t be sorry – when water can flow freely it’s less likely to freeze and create ice damns. You can also inspect your roof and replace any missing or worn out shingles.
Remember that caulking, draft guards and weather stripping on windows go a long way. You can also insulate your pipes and wrap your hot water heater with an insulating blanket. Assess your house and where you loose heat, and add insulation accordingly. You can also replace filters on your central air, which will make your system more efficient and budget-friendly.
I also recommend installing a programmable thermostat – it can really help cut back on those heating costs. Some sources say each degree you set your thermostat lower, you’ll save 1% on your bill. While you’re at it, check that your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors have good batteries (and if you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector, install one!).
Call a Professional (Maybe)
Especially if this is your first winter in your home, have your furnace serviced to make sure it’s working properly. A professional will ensure it will work correctly and safely. If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace you should also have it inspected and cleaned.
Depending on your budget, consider installing storm doors and windows. Window insulation kits that cover your windows in plastic are a good, cheap alternative, but if your windows are old and drafty, new ones might be worth the investment.
As a real estate agent, I know first-hand the joys of home ownership, but also the responsibilities. If you have any more tips for winterizing your home, please share in the comments below – I believe we can’t be too prepared, so the more steps we can take now the better. As always, if you have any questions, please call me at 682-0744, don’t forget that I have a mortgage calculator on my homepage, and good luck getting your Newfoundland real estate ready for winter!
Stunning Open House at the Bottom of Signal Hill
If you’re looking for a new, gorgeous home in a premiere location, then I hope you’ll join me at an Open House at this beautiful property this Sunday. 15 St. Joseph’s Lane is right at the bottom of Signal Hill, with a host of attributes that make this showstopper a must-see.
This semi-detached, brownstone home features 2 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, and an attached garage. Hardwood floors, an open concept layout, 9 foot ceilings and a patio off all three levels are some of its great features. The master bedroom also enjoys a walk-in closet, private patio, and an ensuite with a corner jetted tub and custom tiled shower. And of course, located near the historic site of Signal Hill, this home is also within walking distance of all the best the city has to offer.
The listing price for this home is $460,000. I sincerely hope you’ll join me here on Sunday, November 16, from 2-4pm. And if you have any questions about this real estate listing, please email me at mark@markglynnhomes.com or call 682-0744.
Open House in Mount Pearl
Another weekend, another great open house to share. This Sunday, I hope you’ll join me at this beautiful, custom designed home in Mount Pearl, on 52 Blade Crescent.
Boasting 3 spacious bedrooms and 3 and 1/2 baths, this family home is near shopping, bus routes, parks and Waterford River – and of course only a 15 minute drive from downtown St. John’s. You’ll love the large island and sit-up in the kitchen, great for entertaining, and the open concept living and dining rooms.
This home also features a bonus room over the garage with cathedral ceilings, plus lots more stunning features. So I hope I’ll see you there this Sunday, Nov 9, from 2-4pm! And as always, if you have any questions about Newfoundland real estate, please call me anytime or shoot me an email at mark@markglynnhomes.com.
Open House for Beautiful Family Home
After all the Halloween candy is gone (or at least most of it!), I hope you’ll join me this Sunday for an open house in St. John’s. This beautiful home on 42 Hopedale Crescent is bright and spacious. Only 6 years old, it will warm your soul when you walk through the front door – which is why I hope you’ll join me here this Sunday, Nov 2, from 2-4pm.
This home features 5 bedrooms (including a master with a walk-in closet and full ensuite), 3 bathrooms, and a 3 car paved driveway. A fully developed basement with above ground windows, a large rec room and laundry room and completed landscaping and hardwood and ceramic floors throughout are more great features. The asking price is $400,000.
I know this home will show well, so I’m excited for this week’s open house. If you have any questions about this or any other Newfoundland real estate, or if you would like to see a complete listing, please email me at mark@markglynnhomes.com – I always respond to email promptly. Otherwise, have a great Halloween and a great weekend. And don’t forget that the clocks will be going back on Saturday night, too!
Open House on Bay Bulls Road
I’m happy to be showing this beautiful home on 462 Bay Bulls Road. At $230,000, this 2-storey home is priced to sell fast. With 4 bedrooms and 1 & 1/2 baths, plus gorgeous hardwood flooring, I know this house will show well. It has been recently renovated, while keeping its original character. It’s also located on an oversized, mature lot, and it’s close to schools and shopping, too.
I’ll be hosting an open house here this Sunday, October 19, from 2-4 pm. If you have any questions about this property of about Newfoundland real estate, please call anytime at 682-0744.
Happy Thanksgiving from Mark Glynn Homes
Photo by Vlad Litvinov
Happy Thanksgiving to all my clients, friends and dear family. Of course this is a great time of year to reflect on all our blessings, although I do my best to be mindful of them all the time. I hope you’re able to relax this weekend and spend quality time with your loved ones – I know I will be. I won’t be hosting an open house today, but if you have any questions about Newfoundland real estate, please don’t hesitate to call me at 682-0744.
Open House for 2-Apartment Home in St. John’s
Many of my clients are looking for 2-apartment homes, which is why I’m happy to be showing this sweet property at 24 BURRY PORT STREET, in Airport Heights. Only 10 years old, this home features hardwood floors throughout, a large living room, and a beautiful kitchen with abundant cabinets and an eat-up peninsula.
The main house also boasts an attached single garage, as well as a master bedroom with a 3-piece ensuite and an additional rec room in the basement. The apartment is equally lovely, with above ground windows for natural light, an open concept layout, and a master bedroom with walk-in closet – tenants never had it so good!
This Airport Heights home also features a 3-car driveway with drive-in access to the yard, plus a new picturesque veranda and a backyard bordered by mature trees for privacy. The result is an ideal home that I know will show well. And that’s why I hope you’ll join me there tomorrow, Sept 28, from 2-4pm. And to see a full MLS listing, please call me at 682-0744 or email mark@markglynnhomes.com.
Open House in Torbay
If you’re looking for a perfect family home, with lots of space for your children to play and grow, then I hope you’ll join me at 145 North Pond Road in Torbay for an Open House this Sunday.
This 3-bedroom, multilevel home has had many recent upgrades, including new windows, siding, doors and roof. It boasts a spacious kitchen, open concept living and dining rooms, and plenty of space and room for storage. It’s situated on a beautiful, mature oversized lot, and has lots of paved parking, a shed in the back, and the perfect patio for summer barbecues.
Not only is the home great, the location is, too – close to schools, Stavanger Drive and the Outer Ring Road. That’s why I know it will show well, and why I’m excited to be hosting an open home there this Sunday, September 21, from 2-4pm. Please join me there, email me at mark@markglynnhomes.com if you’d like to see the complete MLS listing, and call me anytime at 682-0744 with any of your Newfoundland real estate questions.
Happy Labour Day
(Photo courtesy of Jean-Pol Grandmont)
Everyone loves summer, and as a real estate agent it’s a busy time of year for me. But it’s also great when the leaves start to change, it gets a little cooler, and we all get back into our regular routines. I hope you all have a fantastic Labour Day, that your kids love their new teachers (for some tips on making the transition to school, please see here), and that we have a beautiful fall here in Newfoundland. And as always, if you have any questions about real estate in general or any particular MLS listings, please call me anytime at 682-0744. And have a great long weekend!