A Crash Course on Insulation for Consumers

With the right insulation, home owners can make homes warmer, cooler, and more comfortable. Educate buyers and sellers on the value of insulation.

   

Not too long from now, winter will be a distant memory, and home owners will worry about how to cool their houses and condominiums efficiently and cost effectively. But in the meantime, sellers who’ve sealed their houses tightly are coasting on easy street compared to those hurriedly trying to caulk drafty windows and doors or apply films over glazing before the next showing as temperatures plummet.

Making a house or condo snug for an owner as well as a future buyer is wise. They’ll enjoy their home more and cut heating and cooling costs.

However, many sellers aren’t sure where to invest insulation dollars, and some buyers coming to ownership from a rental aren’t aware of the need to inquire about insulation.

Smart choices can make the difference in closing faster and securing a higher offer, particularly in areas prone to hotter and colder temperatures. Your job also will be easier if you can tout good insulation in listing and marketing materials and demonstrate how they lower expenses.
Here are answers to seven key insulation questions that you can share with your buyers and sellers:

1. Where do home owners and buyers begin if they want to improve insulation or find out how insulated a home is?

They should start with an energy audit if it hasn’t been done — or at least done in a while — since the range of energy use among home owners can be very significant even when houses are similarThe best person to hire is a contractor who’s certified through an organization like the Building Performance Institute. The contractor will go through a house from top to bottom, inside and out, to get information about its insulation — particularly whether it’s leaking heat or cold air and where. For an average-size house, work generally takes between three and four hours. Prices vary but typically run between $300 and $400 for an average-size home. Some provinces and municipalities provide free audits or software that can project the savings. Some also offer rebates when home owners purchase high-efficiency products.

2. How is insulation rated?

By R values, which measures how well insulation resists heat — and cold — traveling through it. The higher the R value, the better its ability to keep homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer, respectively.

3. With information in hand, how do home owners or buyers proceed?

They should prioritize, since they rarely have unlimited funds to cover every insulation possibility. They should approach insulating their house the same way they follow a master plan to remodel or decorate their home’s interior or exterior. Work can be phased in. But it’s smart to make changes before rooms are decorated to avoid repainting.

•   I recommend starting with an electronic programmable thermostat that can be set to lower temperatures automatically, thereby saving heating costs. It’s the quickest payback. Good models range between $50 and $250. But home owners should understand how to program it to save money,
• Home owners should also use a high-quality caulk around windows and doors with poor seals, which is inexpensive but takes time. And it will need to be redone after several years, says Amram.
• Some contractors also recommend applying film to glazing. The downside is that it may be visible and unattractive.
• Installing door sweeps to close gaps is another good idea, as is plugging up light holes, switches, plumbing gaps, and other openings with a fire-resistant spray foam insulation or gaskets.

4. What about actual insulation?

Because hot air rises, home owners should start at the top of the house — with the attic if the residence has one. Unless they’re handy and can do it themselves, they should have a professional blow in fiberglass; cellulose (recycled newspapers ground up, which is very green); or spray foam, a mix of chemical compounds, but usually not as green an option. The type of insulation should depend in part on where the furnace is located and whether it needs replacement, since that may affect the ductwork. How much insulation is added should be according to R value recommendations.

Where it’s applied, on top of the floor or the underside of the roof deck, depends on the home’s design. In houses without an attic, the cavity between the roof and the bedrooms’ ceilings can be filled with insulation. Cellulose and spray foam offer the extra benefit of deterring pests; critters like fiberglass, however. As long as an attic’s being sealed, home owners should check that no openings allow cold or hot air through chimneys, walls, or the roof—perhaps from small creatures making holes, major “acts of God,” or simple wear and tear over time.

Next, home owners should focus on having a professional check walls. In cold climates, insulation can be added by cutting 3-inch holes into interior walls, blowing in cellulose, then covering the openings. It can also be applied on the exterior in colder areas and in retrofits where a professional removes siding, drills the 3-inch hole, plugs and seals it, and replaces the siding.

Adding insulation in a basement can be effective. Spray foam insulation, for instance, can be applied to the rim joist and where the house meets the foundation. Holes from electrical or plumbing work also should be filled.

5. What if home owners have single-pane windows and can’t afford to replace them with insulated models?
Storm windows are a good line of defense, though some home owners don’t like how they alter a home’s exterior architectural integrity. A new thermal product called IndowWindows is an alternative that doesn’t affect the exterior since it sits inside a window frame, says Fischer. But home owners shouldn’t dismiss replacement windows right away since many buyers appreciate having them and they may make a house more comfortable. “They should do it for themselves and change those first with aluminum frames or leaks, or on the southwest side of a house.

6. Is there anything special home owners should do when adding on to a house?

Be sure their contractor installs insulation between old and new sections. It’s often neglected.

7. Any final tips?

If home owners need to replace mechanical equipment, they should invest in the best energy-efficient models they can afford. Reduced energy consumption over time will help offset the price.

Landscaping can also make a difference. A large leafy tree on a south-facing yard can cut sun entering a house and decrease air conditioning bills. Similarly, shrubs and foundation plantings reduce wind and air infiltration in winter.

The ultimate goal of insulating a home well is to create a continuous thermal barrier that’s within a home owner’s budget.

For a free Home-Buyer's Toolkit, please contact me today!

25 Quick, Cheap and Easy Home Sale Tips

 

If you want to get a home sold quickly and inexpensively, you should review these sales and design tips.

   

Even with rising values and reduced inventory in certain markets, selling a home remains challenging. Buyers expect not just a shiny new stainless sink but pruned hedges, freshly painted walls, glistening hardwood floors, and more. Making everything look great can cost a pretty penny, and many sellers won’t be able to afford all the options available.

 

 Here’s a list of 25 affordable, easy-to-make changes from top design and real-estate pros:

1. Add power outlets with USB ports in rooms that lack them, especially in the kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms where they’re most needed. Younger, more tech-savvy couples and individuals love them.
2. Eliminate acoustic popcorn-style ceilings since they look dated and tacky.
3. Remove exposed posts and half walls. Today’s buyers want more space, and partial walls and posts gobble up room. The only walls that should remain are those that offer privacy or conceal electrical wires or plumbing stacks.
4. Update wiring for the Internet and flat-screen TVs. You don’t have to run CAT-5 through walls, which can be costly and require opening and closing and repainting walls. Instead, find a place to put a wireless router.
5. Clean carpets and wood floors since they’re often the first part of a room that buyers check out; you don’t need to replace them unless they’re in terrible shape. A good carpet steam cleaning or wood floor waxing can be relatively inexpensive, sometimes less than $200.
6. Expand a small kitchen to make it work better and look larger. Two quick fixes: Change the backsplash by adding mirrors, stainless steel, or paint, which will introduce light and views; and add an island, which requires only 30” between counters and the island to pass through comfortably. If there’s not enough room for an island, bring in a rolling cart with pull-out shelves underneath and a wood top.
7. Clear out and clean a garage, a big selling feature. Power wash the floor or paint it if it’s in bad shape, remove dated cabinets, and remove all junk that’s been stored there, so prospects can see how much space they would have for their stuff.
8. Change out corroded or dented door knobs and levers. The replacements don’t have to be expensive but they should look new and clean, and don't forget the matching hinges.
9. Pay attention to landscaping, which add to a home’s. Focus on mowing grass, removing crab grass, and eliminating dead plants and tree branches. I’d rather have dirt and the potential to paint a picture for the buyers’ mind than a backyard full of dead plants. But if you have extra fund add lots of seasonal color through blooming annuals and perennial plants and remove problems like too much noise from traffic or neighbors by installing an inexpensive fountain with trickling water.
10. Paint exterior windows, doors, gutters, downspouts, and trim, then go inside and paint the home’s trim, doorways, and walls that are in need of freshening. Don’t worry about the colours but consider those that veer toward quiet and comfort such as Benjamin Moore’s Yosemite Sand, Edgecomb Gray, or Carrington Beige. Gray is a hot interior colour now, and painting rooms other, lighter colors such as white, yellow, and beige help to bounce and reflect sunlight and use more natural and less artificial light.  But in cooler months dark colours such as deep brown and blue absorb sunlight, thereby reducing heating costs. And don’t forget ceilings, which can be a “fifth wall.” You can improve them with paint or old-style metal or faux-metal tiles.
11. Remove outdated wallpaper, replacing it with paint and preferably a neutral colour.
12. Remove, store, or discard excessive accessories on tabletops and walls and in cabinets. “Less is more, and you want the house to be seen by prospective buyers without the distraction of too many personal items,” Grant says. Some suggest following the rule of three: Leave out only three things on any surface.
13. Get the house inspected before it’s listed to know its condition and identify any structural issues that could derail sales. Many problems can’t be detected by an untrained eye, including those in a basement, crawl space, or attic.  There might be roof damage or a plumbing leak. Many inspectors take photos and provide a detailed report.  And if home owners have repairs made, they should be handled by a qualified licensed contractor, so the home owner can get problems corrected.
14. Outfit closets for extra storage to make rooms look larger and less cluttered, but don’t redo all closets and elaborately. Top contenders for redos are an entry closet for a good first impression, kitchen pantries where storage is key, and a linen closet to keep sheets, towels, and other stuff neat. The costs needn’t be excessive. A linen closet can be fitted with baskets and cubbies for between $200 and $400, an entry closet for between $300 and $500, each dependent on closet size and features.
15. Tighten a home’s “envelope” to improve energy efficiency and savings. Put money and effort into well-insulated double-paned windows, sealed furnace ducts, energy-efficient appliances, the newest programmable thermostats, LED and compact fluorescent lights, and a smart irrigation box on a sprinkler to cut water usage. After a few months, sellers can show buyers how costs have dropped. They also should put together a green manual to show which features they added.
16. Improve a home’s healthfulness by using paints and adhesives with low or no VOCs. Point out these changes to prospective buyers in another list or manual.
17. Use what you have, and arrange each room in a conversational way if possible. Don’t set all furnishings in a family room so they face a TV, since most potential buyers like the idea of an open-room milieu for socializing.
18. Remove and replaced faded draperies, fabrics, and rugs, or leave windows and floors bare to avoid showing lack of attention. Slipcovers, which can cover worn furniture can also provide an affordable decorative feature, changed for each season.
19. Replace old, dated, or worn bedding. Before any showing, fluff up pillows and covers, and make all beds neatly.
20. Toss out old magazines. You don’t want a People magazine from a year ago; it looks like nobody lives in the house or cares.
21. Check smells regularly. Besides getting rid of bad odors from pets and mildew, introduce nice fresh fragrances, but don’t go heavy on scents from candles. A light lavender or citrus spray is smart and inoffensive. Open windows before showings to bring in fresh air.
22. Make rooms lighter and larger for showings with good lighting. Warm, cool colors rather than fluorescents, are preferred Additionally, 60-watt bulbs are a good choice, even though they’re not as energy-efficient.
23. Go with plants rather than flowers indoors since they last longer, but either choice can add vivacity to a room.
24. Pay attention to your bathrooms. Specifically, make sure you have freshly laundered towels, new soap in soap dishes, spotless mirrors, and no mildew in view. Toilet seats down please!
25. Be sure your house is priced competitively with the current market and homes in your area. In most regions, it’s still the No. 1 “fix” to sell quickly.

For a complimentary home market evaluation or home staging advice, please contact me today!

5 Things to Consider When Buying a Home...

When dreaming of a first home the options are endless. From a backyard oasis with a patio and swimming pool, to a gourmet kitchen with the most up-to-date appliances, plenty of space to entertain friends or a gorgeous master bedroom suite, no first time home buyers wish list is the same.

 

However, in reality, it is not always possible to find a first home with everything, so buyers must decide in advance what items are “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves” on a first home wish list.

The following five tips will help determine what you will need vs. what is nice to have in a first home.

• Know your budget: The first step to creating a list of “must-haves” is to be realistic about what is affordable and determine a budget. Buyers should enlist a local real estate agent to help with the home search. An agent with years of expertise understands the local market and can help buyers find comparable home prices and determine what is affordable in their budget.
• Find that perfect “location, location, location”: Everyone has heard this phrase before when it comes to real estate, and while the surrounding neighborhood and home itself may improve over time, the physical location will remain the same. Buyers should determine in advance how close they would like to live to their work, schools or extended family. A short commute to work, proximity to family or having easy access to highways and mass transit are often “must-haves.” The location will also determine some home amenities that are possible or difficult to have within the buyer’s budget. For example, if a buyer has to live close to work in a big city, they may have to cross a garage or outdoor space from their wish list.
• Determine non-negotiable accommodations: A comfortable place for everyone in the family is always a “must have.” For a family of four, three bedrooms may be non-negotiable. For a family with grandparents living at home, an extra bedroom on the first floor may also be non-negotiable. After determining the budget and neighborhood, the most important factor is that everyone living in the home has a comfortable place to stay.
• Pick a lifestyle fit: After fulfilling the most important needs, buyers should find out what features of a home will best fit their lifestyle. For example, buyers who love to cook and entertain may want a home with a gourmet kitchen and decide to give up the large master bedroom. Or, buyers who love to spend time outdoors may compromise a large family room for a big backyard.
• Have a vision: When looking at a first home, buyers should avoid getting distracted by decorations, paint or flooring that may not fit their taste. Items such as paint color or carpeting are easy to fix and always worth compromising on. If everything else about a home fits the wish list, a new coat of paint and a little redecorating are easy finishing touches on a dream home.

Contact me today for a Free Home-Buyer's Toolkit or to find out about the real estate market in your neighbourhood!

Don't Let the Charm of an Older Home Make you Careless

Historic homes sometimes offer more charm and character than the newer houses of today. They boast gabled roofs, crown moldings, hardwood floors and antique fixtures. Buying an older house is like buying a piece of local history. Beautiful period features can lend a timeless beauty and grace that is hard to resist.

However, buying a house from another era can be an endeavor fraught with potential problems. Older houses are not necessarily built to the same electrical or plumbing standards of today. Also, if they have not been maintained correctly through the years, they can turn into a serious money pit… or a potential hazard.

Here are six tips to keep in mind if you are considering buying an older home:

1. Always hire a professional real estate inspector to take a close look at the property. A professional inspector is trained to spot structural damage or issues that might seem minor, but may cause major problems in the future. (Choosing an inspector that is also a structural engineer is probably a good idea!)
2. Look for signs of moisture damage, which is a common issue with many older houses.
3. If the house you are considering has vintage wiring, such as the knob-and-tube technology that was popular around the 1920s and 1930s, plan to completely update the wiring for your safety. Some of them may have been updated a long time ago to a two-wire system which still needs replacing...or may have older fuse panels.
4. You might need to add insulation. Many older homes don’t have insulation in the walls or attic, which can increase the size of your energy bill.  Beware of homes with UFFI insulation.
5. Be on the look out for iron pipes, which were popular up until 1940. They can become clogged with rust and may need to be replaced.  Some homes may have had the plumbing updated to galvanized steel, which is also a major concern.
6. Consider having the house tested for lead paint or asbestos,if it was built before the 1960s.

Take time to inspect the property thoroughly. With proper attention, you can mix today’s modern technology with your home’s period features to create a combination of charm and safety.

Contact me today for a free Home-Buyer's Toolkit or to talk about the real estate market in your neighbourhood!

5 Cool Kitchen Shortcuts!

More than shortcuts, these cool tips make the kitchen fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FiuPH06r2LE#!

Also check out this easy way of separating egg yolks! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSaskAB3j28

2 Tips When Buying a Home in a Buyer's Market

For anyone interested in either buying their first home, upgrading their current address or even downsizing their empty nest, a buyer’s market is an awesome opportunity. But, don’t let that potential cause you to get complacent. While it is true that some people stumble “accidentally” onto the occasional incredible deal, the vast majority of prospective homebuyers need to be focused and active – if not aggressive – in their search for a new home.

Sure, the real estate market looks amazing now for homebuyers. Great selection and tons of incredible deals still to be had out there. But that doesn’t mean prices will drop any further, nor does it mean that the home you want will stick around on the market waiting for you to come snatch it up. Persistence – and vigilance – pays off…in any market.

So, what can you do to better your chances of finding your perfect home at the right price in a buyer’s market? Here are 2 to help you protect your interests in a buyer’s market.

#1 – Use Technology

Sites like Zillow.com offer a home’s market value “Zestimate” and can help give you an idea of a property’s current market value. Keep in mind that technology cannot replace a good buyer’s agent for perspective and actionable advice, and these home estimates are in no way set in stone, but it is another tool a buyer can utilize to get to know an area a bit before making an offer.

Take the opportunity to look up the neighborhood on Google Maps. Get a feel for the quality of the neighborhood. Are other houses and yards in good condition? How wide are the streets? What sort of shopping or restaurants or schools is the property close to? Are there biking trails, parks and sidewalks where you want them? A quick Google maps satellite view can help answer these and many other questions.

#2 – Skip the Gimmicks

Are you shopping for a house or a used car? Sometimes, in the current market, it’s tough to tell. Some sellers are trying all sorts of things to stand out in the crowd of homes available. Some ideas are terrific and offer real value to prospective buyers. Others, not so much. Some “incentives” should send your antennae up. Ask yourself – and have your buyer’s agent ask them – what’s up with the gimmick? How desperate are they to sell…and why. Sometimes the reasons make sense. They’re moving or trying to sell a home for a parent or need to get out from under an upside down mortgage. Other times the gimmicks are used to conceal real issues that have kept the property from selling.

So, what should you look for? First, does the incentive being offered have anything to do with the property itself? New floors or countertops? Upgraded lighting? Updates to the appliances? These are reasonable potential incentives that translate into real added value. A new TV set or lawnmower does not. Second, take a look at the days on the market as well as the prices and condition of the surrounding homes. If homes in the area are having a hard time selling, find out why before making a move.
Keep these tips in mind and a good REALTOR on speed dial, and you will put yourself into a much better position when it comes time to make an offer on your next home.

Contact me today for a free Home Buyer's Toolkit or to talk about real estate in your neighbourhood.

What is the Worst Paint Colour to Use in a Home...

Emerald may be this year’s color of the year and hot hue, but which colors should you avoid?
Color research tells us some colors to avoid. Colors that can be considered, as some researchers note, “eye irritants” and can even cause headaches or mess with your vision.

According to color research, the worst offending color:

Yellow as a “pure bright lemon.”

“More light is reflected by bright colors, resulting in excessive stimulation of the eyes,” researchers note. “Yellow is an eye irritant. Babies cry more in yellow rooms, husbands and wives fight more in yellow kitchens, and opera singers throw more tantrums in yellow dressing rooms.”
That said, yellow is the first color the human eye tends to notice so in small doses it may be effective. It can help you draw attention to an item when used as an accent color. Also, using yellow in softer tints or in small quantities may not be such a turn-off.

A recent article at Homesessive.com (“Paint Color Trends to Avoid”) pinpointed trendy color combos that may have once been a turn-on that are now becoming a turn-off in home interiors. San Francisco color expert Kelly Berg recently weighed in at Homesessive.com about some trendy color combinations to avoid, such as:

• “Greige”: The gray and beige combo in a space to create a monochromatic effect. Instead, Berg recommends pulling in some accent colors, likegrassy greens, to make the space more warm and inviting. She also recommends mixing in reflective surfaces, such as glass and metal, to lighten up the room since gray tends to absorb more light than other hues.
• Chocolate brown and blue: This trendy color combo of a chocolate brown and Tiffany’s blue may be growing tiresome in home interiors. Berg recommends freshening up the look by adding a third color to the mix, such as hot pink, coral, or metallics in silver or gold.
• Red, Gold and Green: This go-to rustic color pattern also may be beginning to grow stale in interiors. Berg recommends avoiding using all three colors in equal portions when you have a tri-color scheme in a home. She also recommends keeping the saturation levels of the color similar, but not exactly the same to liven up the look.
• The all white kitchen: A kitchen all in white can look fresh and clean, but the look may be getting overdone and growing dull. Liven it up by pulling in some color from an adjacent space or pull a color from the dishes, Berg says. For example, if the home owner has blue dishes, you might try using deep indigo as an accent color.