Wednesday, December 31, 2014

A Few Simple Steps to Childproofing Your Home....

Welcoming a new child into the world is one the most exciting times in an individual’s life. When families are buying a home to accommodate their growing family, it’s equally important to purchase the right supplies to baby-proof their house. Putting safeguards in place to mitigate potential danger is recommended for children below age four.

There are a few effective and affordable child-proof items new parents can purchase to keep their child protected as he or she grows and begins exploring different areas of the home.



Locks
Several different types of locks exist for cabinets and drawers. Children are naturally curious, and failing to place locks on cabinets within a toddler’s reach can give them access to potentially deadly materials, ranging from hazardous cleaning supplies to heavy objects. It’s easy to overlook the small things, but even a child who is able to get into a parent’s home office can find tiny items like tacks or paper clips that can pose choking hazards. The same is true for drawers, which may hold sharp objects or other tiny tools that could harm a child. Many baby stores or home improvement chains sell a variety of child locks, ranging from simple plastic drawer cuffs to magnetic locks that are placed on the inside of a cabinet and can only be opened with a magnetic key.

Secure furniture


Kids LOVE to climb! Furniture or accent pieces, such as bookcases, dressers and bedroom bureaus, are attractive to children who like to climb. But the risk of an unsecured bookcase or dresser toppling over and pinning a small child is high, so parents can increase their toddler’s safety by anchoring these items to the wall. Other heavy items that have the potential to fall over should be moved to a location where they will not be disturbed.

electric outlet cover

Cover cords, outlets
Covering electrical outlets can lower a child’s risk of electrical shocks that can result from pulling out appliance cords or sticking their fingers in the sockets. Inserting plastic sliding covers over sockets can shield children from harm and hiding cords underneath carpets or behind other objects may prevent toddlers from pulling them out of sockets or chewing on them.

It is also important to know how to react if your child does suffer an electric shock. Baby Center gives great expert advice on how to handle this scary situation.

Get on their level
Once you safety proof your home…think like a kid! Get down on your hands and knees and see how things look from their point of view. What looks like a tempting place to explore? Are there objects that are eye level that pose a threat to their safety? Are there objects on the floor that they could pick up and put in their mouth?

Monday, December 29, 2014

Welcome 2015 in Waterloo Region! Things to do New Year's Eve - Family Events and Adult Events....

 

There are many fun ways to welcome 2015 in Waterloo Region.
There are many fun ways to welcome 2015 in Waterloo Region. (Ruslan Semichev/Shutterstock )

Flashback To The Future 

7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St. W.
What you talkin' bout, Willis? Well, Todd Bridges is the actor who played Willis on Diff'rent Strokes, and he'll be celebrating New Year's Eve in downtown Kitchener this year as part of the city's Flashback To The Future event. You'll be able to see a Delorean car from Back To The Future, watch the magic of Scott Hammel, listen to 80s tribute band Spandx and skate at the city hall rink. For kids, there are 80s toys and retro video games from Canadian Toy Con and a vintage video gaming lounge presented by Games Exchange.

Waterloo New Year's Eve Family celebrations​

6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
75 King St. S., Waterloo
The city of Waterloo's New Year's Eve event is for families and includes a kid-friendly countdown at 9:00 p.m. with a ginger ale toast and then fireworks over Waterloo Public Square. Terrance Drake will perform Fire Dance shows at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., there will be craft activities from Fashion Academy, and Mad Science demonstrations.

Cambridge Family New Year's Eve Party 

5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Hespeler Arena, 640 Ellis Road, Cambridge
Get your skate on at Cambridge's Family New Year's Eve party at Hespeler Arena. There's a family photo booth, a Finding Nemo bouncy castle, and Ronno the musician will perform.

Guelph Sparkles in the Park

Fireworks at 8:00 p.m.
709 Woolwich Street, Riverside Park, Guelph 
Check out the beautiful lights in Guelph's riverside park and get ready for fireworks. Bonus if you have small children - they won't need to stay up late, plus there are free carousel rides. Sparkles in The Park runs every night from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so you'll be able to get there early for a great spot.

Plus check out these events: 

Bingeman's New Year's Eve Gala/Kingpin's Ball/The Lulus New Year's Eve Reunion

Gala 7:00 p.m., Kingpin's Ball 9:00 p.m, Lulus 7:30 p.m.
Bingeman's, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener

Concordia Club New Year's Eve

429 Ottawa Street S., Kitchener

Starlight's New Year's Eve Bash

Doors 9:00 p.m.
Starlight Social Club, 47 King Street N., Waterloo

Maxwell's New Year's Eve

Doors 8:00 p.m.
Maxwell's, 35 University Ave E., Waterloo

​The Order New Year's Eve Masquerade

The Order, 56 King St. N., Waterloo

Button Factory Arts Presents 'Silver Factory'

8:00 p.m.
25 Regina Street S., Waterloo

Friday, December 26, 2014

What's Open and Closed and When in Waterloo Region During Christmas Holidays (Dec. 25, 2014 to Jan 1, 2105)

Region of Waterloo

Grand River Transit will be operating on a holiday schedule: http://www.grt.ca/en/routesschedules/holidayservice.asp
Region of Waterloo International Airport will be operating on a normal schedule.
Waterloo Region Museum will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.
There will be no waste collection on Dec. 25 and Jan. 1. Residents with waste collection Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays will have collection pushed back one day. See details here: http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/aboutTheEnvironment/waste2.asp
Cambridge and Waterloo small vehicle transfer stations for residential waste drop off will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, Jan. 1.
Regional Daycare Centres and Home Child Care will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, 27, 30, 31, Jan. 1.

City of Cambridge

Cambridge City Hall Administration Offices will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1.
All arenas will be closed from Dec. 25 to Jan. 1, except for the Family New Year’s Eve Party on Dec. 31 at Hespeler Arena.
All Cambridge Public Libraries will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.

City of Kitchener

City hall offices will be closed until Jan. 2, except for Dec. 30 and the morning of Dec. 31.
All community arenas are closed Dec. 25, 26, 31 and Jan. 1. The Aud and Activa Sportsxplex will be open until noon on Dec. 31.
For public skating schedules, see: kitchener.ca/skatingschedule
All City of Kitchener pools and community centres will be closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1. Be sure to check individual community centres for reduced hours the rest of the week.
Kitchener Public Library locations are closed until Dec. 27, and will close again at from 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 until Jan. 2.

City of Waterloo

All City of Waterloo facilities (including all community centres and recreation complexes) will be closed on Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.
Waterloo Public Libraries will be closed on Dec. 25, 26, 29, and Jan. 1.

Shopping

Fairview Park Mall, Conestoga Mall and Cambridge Centre Mall are closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
LCBO stores and The Beer Store locations will be closed Dec. 25, 26 and Jan. 1.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

3 Negotiating Strategies for Buyers

Negotiation strategies for homebuyersWhen it comes to buying a home, chances are you never expect to pay the asking price; unfortunately, sometimes, you may end up in a bidding war, but for the most part, you will probably do your best to negotiate the home seller down from their original asking price.

That said, here are three great negotiation strategies for homebuyers that will help you along your way when you finally find the house you want to call home.

Negotiation strategies for homebuyers #1

Take the personal route

When you submit your offer to the seller, have your Realtor attach an introduction letter that stipulates anything positive about you and the home. Talk about what your job is, what you appreciate about the area the home is in, what you like about what they’ve done with the place, such as landscaping or the renovations.  At the very least, instruct your Realtor to discuss a little about who you are and what your plans are  - but don't talk about what you want to change in the home!

This will help to make the seller relate to you, as they want to sell their home to someone who will care about the home and whom they like.

Negotiation strategies for homebuyers #2

But don’t get too personal

It’s one thing to write about what you love about the seller’s home, it’s quite another to bash the home in an effort to get a better deal. When trying to negotiate, don’t badmouth the home or the seller will certainly resist any attempt you have to negotiate them down.  When I present an offer, I like to say things like, "the offer amount isn't a number we've pulled out of a hat.  It's based on the same statistics and comparables the seller and their agent looked at when listing."

Keep in mind that people will negotiate the sale of their home based on emotion so your objective is to show them that you will take care of the place and that your offer price is based on the market, not just a number to try and "get a deal".

You won’t be doing yourself any favors by bashing the home, so avoid this route.

Negotiation strategies for homebuyers #3

Make it about you

If you want to go at the seller with a lower offer than they are asking, your best bet would be to have your Realtor explain to the seller that the offer price isn't a number just picked out of a hat...it is based on comparable sales, facts and figures.

Also, I often advise my clients to provide a copy of their mortgage approval to set the seller's minds at ease.

Even if they don’t come down to your offering price off the bat, if they don’t have people beating down their doors to buy their home, chances are they will make a counter-offer.

Remember, however, that the seller is allowed to entertain and even accept other offers while they are negotiating with you, so don’t take too long to settle on a price.

Contact me to today for a free HOME-BUYER'S TOOLKIT!

Monday, December 15, 2014

How To Decorate During the Holidays if Your Home is For Sale

If you are planning on selling your home this Holiday Season or if it is already on the market, you may be wondering if it is OK to decorate for the holidays. Well the good news is …yes, you can!

Here are some tips to help you along the way:

Keep it classic

It may be family tradition to “deck the halls” across every square inch of your house, but, if you are trying to sell your home, it may be better to scale back. When selling a home, it’s important to present it in a way that others can see themselves living in. For this reason, you should focus on seasonal décor rather than, say, religious decorations.

Use the holidays to create warmth in your home. I think lights and color can warm anyone’s heart.  With the right touch, holiday decorations can create an emotional attraction for a buyer to your home. A cold, undecorated home can’t compete with one that has the fireplace roaring, the smell of fresh baked cookies, and elegant, yet festive décor.

Keep it tidy

Of course, there’s always the risk of things looking untidy. However you decorate, don’t distract prospective buyers from the space. Holiday decorations can cause clutter, which could potentially make a room or space look smaller. Some tips to help you stay tidy:
  • Hide unsightly wires.
  • Stay away from decorations covered in glitter.
  • Decorate with intention; try to create a mood.

Keep it in season

One area where you likely won’t want to display holiday decorations: your listing photos. Holiday decorations can unintentionally date a photo, especially if the house is still on the market after New Year’s passes.

Keep it safe

Holiday candles may leave a home smelling and looking beautiful, but, don’t forget, they can also be extremely dangerous. December is the peak time of the year for fires caused by candles. So, instead of using candles to add holiday cheer, consider getting flameless alternatives and using lightly scented sprays as safer alternatives.

Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report or Staging Advice.

Monday, December 8, 2014

10 Tips to Reduce Your Days On Market

  


It’s true that real estate sales are dependent on the right price, location and condition of a home, but sometimes there’s a little more to it than that.

If you really want to reduce your days on market when selling your home, aside from hiring the right Realtor,  here is what you need to do.

 Here is how you can reduce your days on market, none of which include lowering your price.

1- De-clutter

• Begin packing things away before you show your home
• Store your things off site or in a non-intrusive part of the home

2- De-personalize

• Buyers need to visualize themselves in the home – aim to be generic
• A coat of fresh paint will help “neutralize” the home

3- Clean up

• A one-day professional cleaning costs a few hundred dollars, and will result in a solid asking price or less days on market

4- Breathe life into curb appeal

• Invest in quick, simple fixes in the front and back of the home
• In Winter months, ensure the driveway, sidewalks, walkways and deck/porch are cleared of snow
• Mow the lawn, trim the hedges and plant a few flowers

5- Complete the to-do list

• The smaller your to-do list, the smaller a buyer’s will be, giving them less bargaining room.

6- Get a pre-listing inspection – Set their minds at ease

• You can either fix any issues found in the report, or reflect the repairs needed in the price

7- Be accessible

• Be flexible to showing requests and Open Houses - people have to be in the house to buy it

8- Have exceptional photos – A picture is truly worth 1,000 words

• Make sure your home is show ready for the pictures
• If you’ve made changes to your home since your initial photos were taken, have new pictures taken
• Ensure your Realtor is using a professional photographer

9- Spread the word!

• Get the message out to as many people as you can about your home being for sale (Facebook, Kijiji, etc.), using the information and links provided by your Realtor
• Ensure your Realtor is using every marketing avenue available and ask for feedback

10- Get buyer feedback

• Make sure your Realtor is providing regular feedback from showings and Open Houses, and adjust accordingly

Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Home Sale Values Rise Across the Board in K-W - Homeowners Can be Confident About Their Home Values

Homes sales in Kitchener-Waterloo through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) ) in November were on par with sales compared to November of last year. Residential sales have totalled 6,251 on a yearly basis which is a 2.7 percent increase over last year, and also a year-to-date record for total units sold since 2007.

A total of 469 residential properties sold last month, the same number of transactions that occurred in November 2013. Residential sales in November included 298 single detached homes (down 1.3% from last November), 40 semi-detached (down 2.4%), 49 townhomes (up 58.1%) and 80 condominium units (down 13%).

2014 is coming to end and we’ve had an incredible year for home sales in the Region.  With the CMHC forecasting steady mortgage rates and stronger employment in the Region into 2015, we look forward to continued demand for housing in Waterloo Region.  This is a good thing for home owners who should continue to see a steady appreciation of their home values.
Single detached homes in November sold for an average price of $385,533 an increase of 3.7 percent compared to last year. The average sale price for a condominium was $206,598 a decrease of 5.0 percent while townhomes and semis sold for an average of $277,442 (up 3.5%) and $255,896 (up 6.3%) respectively. The average sale price of all residential sales through the K-W MLS® System increased 3.0 percent to $331,964 compared to November 2013.

Waterloo Region is a highly desirable place to live and work.  With more than 1,000 technology companies, a healthy manufacturing sector, growing colleges and universities, excitement surrounding the LRT (ION), the Region continues, and will continue to be, a great place to invest in a home.

Please contact me anytime if you have any questions about the market or if you'd like a free Home Value Report. 

5 Important Factors to Consider Before Buying a Home!

For many potential buyers, searching for a new home is one of the most exciting times in life. Most families have a specific list of criteria that they provide to their real estate agent during their search. Some buyers are looking for high-end features like stone countertops and new hardwood floors, while others are simply interested in purchasing a home with enough space for their growing family. But there are some key factors that every potential buyer should consider as they are searching for a home. Here are five important things to think about.

Neighbourhood
When you schedule a showing with your real estate agent, make sure you pay attention to the other homes nearby as well as the home you’re viewing. Are neighboring properties well-kept and clean? Does the neighbou
rhood seem quiet? You can learn a lot from looking at neighborhoods as well as potential properties.

Property Value
Before you visit a home, ask your real estate agent about area property values. Most agents will be able to provide a comprehensive sales history of homes in a particular community. Taking a look at local property values can help you determine whether a potential home is priced well. Reviewing property sales history can also give you a better sense of whether or not homes have retained their value over time.

Amenities
As you’re searching for a home, consider which community amenities are important to you. For example, are you interested in being within close proximity of local shopping centers or restaurants? Do you want to be able to walk to a nearby park with your children? Thinking about these things can help you choose the best property for your entire family.

Other Location Considerations
Another important consideration as you’re thinking about home location is proximity to work and your loved ones. Perhaps you are interested in reducing your daily commute so that you can have more time with your children, or maybe you want to find a property that’s closer to your extended family. Always think about location in addition to home features as you search.

Taxes
One thing that many potential buyers fail to consider as they’re looking at homes are property taxes. Make sure you factor in the cost of taxes as you’re determining your overall budget. This can help you avoid getting in over your head financially. It’s also important to keep in mind that some communities have higher property tax rates than others. As you’re shopping, make sure to review total taxes online or contact your realtor for more information.

If you’ve begun looking at homes to purchase, you probably have a specific list of criteria you’re following. Perhaps you’re only interested in homes with three bedrooms, or maybe you want a turnkey property that’s been updated recently. Apart from the home itself, there are a number of other key factors to consider when purchasing real estate. Researching the neighborhood, property values, local amenities and necessities, and taxes can help you ensure that you’re choosing the best possible property for your family.

Visit http://www.neighbourhoodexpert.ca/geoweb/mappublic.aspx?id=kim_louie for a free Amenity report.  Just input the address you want and find out where all the schools, doctors and grocery stores are located!

Monday, December 1, 2014

5 Reasons Why Searching for a Home On-Line May Not be The Best Thing to Do....

5 Things You Should Know When Shopping for Homes on the Internet!Searching for homes on the internet is fun and easy... right?  Sure it is!  But, you should be aware of a few things before you begin your search.  
      

1.       What you see is not always what you get.   Agents are notorious for hiding the bad stuff in photographs.  If there are no or few photos, there is a reason and it’s probably because the home is in bad shape and does not show well online.  A listing agent’s goal is always to get you to visit the property in person.  Yucky photos usually won’t get you there.
 
2.       When you read “just needs a little "TLC” or “a diamond in the rough” it means it needs more work than you think.  It even could be a total fixer-upper.  If the home was in decent shape, most agents are not going to mention anything about the condition in the property information.  They would instead showcase the better features about the property, such as “tile throughout, new roof, or remodeled pool.”  
 
3.       The agent you see on any given listing is usually not the agent or brokerage listing the property.  On websites such as Realtor.com, Zillow and Trulia, agents pay marketing dollars to be seen on listings just to get your contact info.  You don’t need to speak to the listing agent to see the home or purchase it, that's what buyer agents are for.  Agents pay these marketing dollars to get your contact info so they can get a chance to represent you as a buyer.
 
4.    Sometimes homes online may show ACTIVE and available for sale when they are already under contract.  There may be several reasons for this, including the agent has not updated the status in the local MLS yet.  Or... they have, but the website provider has not pulled the most recent listing information into their site.  In many cases, the reason is usually the latter. Many home search websites don't pull listing updates real-time, hourly or even daily. Thus, it's important you do find a good agent who has direct access to the local multiple listing service so they can pull the information and send you the most recent listing status.  The agent should also send you new listings as they come new to the market so you never miss a listing that may fit your wants and needs.
 
5.       If you register on websites for property information, expect that you may receive a call or email within minutes from not just one agent, but possibly several agents.  Some sites sell your information to more than one agent who paid to receive leads from that website provider.  That’s not necessarily a bad thing if you are serious about finding a good agent.  Interview each agent!   You don't want just a warm body to open a door because once an agent opens a door, they just set up cause to earn the commission on that home sale - whether they write the offer for you or not.  Be sure to ask how many sales they have closed... not how long they have been in real estate. Hopefully you will find a great agent into customer service, and not into just the commission!
 
Contact me today to find out how to get the most up-to-date listings daily so you don't miss out on the good ones.


Wednesday, November 26, 2014

4 "MYTHS" About Why You THINK You Can't Buy a Home...

A recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University revealed when renters were asked why they do no plan to own in the future, financial constraints were a more common response than the perceived lifestyle benefits they may receive from renting. Today, we want to go over those financial challenges and see if we can put some fears to rest and also clear up some misconceptions. Here are the top four financial hurdles that cause renters not to buy:

You Cannot Afford a Home

Well over 50% of renters consider this as a financial barrier to homeownership. However, study after study has shown us that there are major misunderstandings about what is required to purchase a home.
The biggest misconception is the amount of a down payment required. A recent survey revealed that 44% of respondents believed that a 20% down payment was required. In actuality, mortgages are available with as little as 5% down.

The same survey showed that 30% of respondents believe that only individuals with ‘high incomes’ can obtain a mortgage.

You Do Not Have Good Enough Credit to Get a Mortgage

The survey mentioned above showed that 64% of respondents believe they must have a “very good” credit score to buy a home. Most people don’t realize that the average credit score for closed loans has actually dropped 24 points in the last two years. For more information on credit scores click here.

It’s Not a Good Time to Buy a Home

Determining when is the right time to buy a home from a pure financial calculation can be difficult. There are two elements of the cost of a home: the price of the house and the mortgage interest rate. When considering a purchase, you want to have at least an indication where prices and mortgage rates are headed. According to over 100 experts, house values are expected to increase by almost 20% between now and 2018. And Freddie Mac recently projected that mortgage rates would be as much as one full point higher by this time next year.

With both prices and interest rates projected to increase, now is the perfect time to buy a home.

It’s Cheaper to Rent than Buy

This is a myth that doesn’t want to die. However, Trulia recently reported that, in fact, buying is actually dramatically cheaper than renting. Here is what they said:

 

Bottom Line

If you are even thinking about buying, get the facts from a trained professional. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find out.




Contact me today to discuss your options or for a FREE Home-Buyer's Toolkit!



Monday, November 24, 2014

How to Remove Carpet Indents Left By Furniture




This is a great tip on removing the indents in your carpet left by furniture.  The slowly melting ice fills up the carpet fibres and makes them swell.

It doesn't show it in the video, but I recommend you gently massage the area with your fingernail   once it starts springing back and lightly blot with a clean towel and blot heavily around the edge of it.

It should be looking like new in no time!

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

You've Found the Perfect Home, But They Are Asking Too Much - Now What?

          
You’ve found a house you love. It’s the perfect size, layout, condition and even has your must-haves. There's only one problem. The seller’s asking price is too high. It's time for the phase of home buying that most people dread and even fewer are skilled at: the art of negotiation.

Make no mistake, negotiation is part skill and part art form. An experienced buyer’s agent will know how to finesse the contract negotiations and save you a lot of hassle. Your gut might tell you that the asking price for the house is too much, but you'll have a better chance of getting a lower offer accepted if your agent can back it up with facts.

A few key elements:



Comparables and Statistics
The best way to determine the fair market value of a house is to measure its asking price against similar homes that have sold in the same area, providing a set of numbers known as comparables or comps. Your agent will handle this, providing data from the local multiple listing service, or MLS. This gives you a baseline starting point. Your agent will also consider other factors, including the original listing price of similar homes versus their selling price, as well as the number of days the house has been on the market. All of this information can help make a better factual case for making an offer lower than the asking price.

Following a Process
Your agent will prepare a written offer to submit to the seller or seller’s agent. Along with this written proposal, your agent can present facts such as the comps and other data to justify your offer. When the seller sees this in writing, you have a much stronger case. Also, writing a letter to the sellers about your situation and your feelings about their home can make a big impression.

Seller Motivation
One of the strongest negotiating factors is understanding the seller’s motivation. This may be hard to do on your own, but your agent may be able to help. If your agent learns, for example, that the sellers are moving and have closed on a house elsewhere, this tells you they're probably motivated to sell quickly. Knowledge is power – especially in negotiations.

Making Your Lower Offer Work for Them
Sometimes buyers can make their lower offers more palatable to sellers by offering concessions or compromises. Something as simple as being flexible on a closing date can be attractive. If, for instance, the sellers are facing a one-month gap between the sale of the current home and their purchase of the next, they might appreciate it if your offer included an extension of the closing date or an opportunity to lease their home back from you for a month. If you don't need assistance from the sellers to pay closing costs, they could see this as a big plus. Also, having a pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender is one of your best advantages. This tells sellers that your financing is secure and not likely to fall through.  It can be a gamble for sellers to accept an offer from someone who hasn't yet secured financing.

Making the Asking Price Work for You
Depending on how far off the asking price is from your budget and your understanding of the home's value, you and your agent might consider agreeing to the full asking price but requesting additional concessions from the sellers. For instance, your agent could include in the offer a request for the sellers to pay your closing costs. Perhaps there are household items, such as the washer and dryer, you would be interested in keeping; these also can be written into an offer. A home warranty is another item sellers may agree to purchase for you. These types of seller concessions could offset the gap you and your agent see between asking price and the fair market price.

A Backup Plan
Not all negotiations result in an agreement. Sometimes the parties are too far apart in price, and there’s nothing to be done. In these cases, your agent can be ready with other properties that fit your needs. In any negotiation, you have more leverage if you're willing to walk away.

The End Game
Above all, remember that negotiating the price you're willing to pay for a house is just that – a negotiation. You're trying to reach an agreement that's acceptable to both you and the sellers. The object isn’t to beat the sellers or win the negotiation. The object is to purchase the house. Good agents know this – and will use their expertise to make it happen.

Contact me today for a free Home-Buyer's Toolkit!

Monday, November 17, 2014

6 Steps to prepare your credit before purchasing a home.

If one of your future goals is to purchase a home, it’s never too early to start preparing yourself financially. One of the major factors that goes into getting approved for a home mortgage is your credit score and credit history. All lenders will look at your credit worthiness to determine how much they will lend to you. The following are steps you can start taking now to prepare your credit for buying a home in the future.

1. Check and update your credit report: Consumers are guaranteed at least one free credit report a year; get a copy of yours to see where you stand. If you find errors, you can contact the creditor or the bureaus to address any invalid information.

2. Make payments on time: Your credit report shows your current creditors and your payment history with them. Payment histories are one of the most important components of your credit score, so it’s important to maintain on-time payments with all of your creditors.

3. Pay down high accounts: Making payments on time is only one aspect of credit worthiness. The amount of outstanding debt, and the percentage of your available credit that is outstanding, are equally important.  If you have credit cards that have been maxed out that can affect your credit score, whether you’re making payments on time or not. Focus on paying down accounts with the highest percentage of credit used.  Getting these outstanding balances below 35% of the available credit line can improve your credit score.

4. Take care of existing liens or judgments: If you have any liens or judgments, you may want to pay them off or try to settle them before you apply for a home loan. Lenders will consider you if you have an outstanding lien or judgment, however, they’ll likely require it be satisfied before the loan is finalized. Therefore, avoid the headache and go ahead and take care of those in advance.

5. Avoid opening new accounts: New accounts can be a red flag – lenders want to see a history of payments, and new accounts mean you have a new need for credit. However, if you don’t have credit yet, this is an exception. A couple of credit cards with low balances and on time payments often times can appear better than no credit cards at all. But, avoid making a big purchase like a car just before applying for a home loan – a recent large purchase can alter your overall financial picture.

6. Talk to a lender and get pre-qualified now: This will help you understand how much home you can afford, and what steps you can take to increase your purchasing power.  If there are any issues with your credit history or your credit score, the lender may be able to show you what you can do to improve your situation.

Taking steps in advance to improve your credit score will help ensure lower rates and better terms which may mean huge savings for you during the life of your home loan.

Contact me today to discuss your home purchase or for a FREE Home Buyer's Toolkit!

Thursday, November 13, 2014

How Do Real Estate Commissions Really Work?

Here is a great explanation of how commissions work. 

If you don't know what your Realtor is doing to earn his or her commission, ask!

I know how hard I work and I know the value I offer. 

Price is what you pay, value is what you get!

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Advice from Actual First-Time Homebuyer's After They've Purchased.

Here are seven pieces of advice:

1. “After you get your mortgage approval, sit down and make a list of needs, must haves and wishes, work with a realtor who can find you your dream home.” —Denise F.

2. “Work with an agent that is experienced with first time homebuyers. There is a lot to know and navigate. A good agent is essential to making the transaction as smooth as possible.” —Toni M.

3. “Put together a really good Real Estate Agent, Mortgage Broker, Attorney team that will take the time to explain the entire process to their client. If they can explain it; they can do it.” —Ronald S.

4. “Work with a knowledgeable agent who cares about his or her clients, not just dollar signs. See your banking institution 1st. Ask a lot of questions. Consider the  location. Hire a reputable home inspector! Arm yourself with knowledge and really think before you leap since it is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It is a key in avoiding buyers remorse!” -Cheryl C.

5. “Choose a quality agent, practice self-restraint, look at the quality and condition, not just how pretty it is, know your budget and your comfort level and, for heavens sake, if you are going to listen to everyone else’s opinion besides your agents then they should be with you on every showing, not just the house you want to buy!” -Paul S.

6. “I’m not a realtor but I wish someone would have told me to make practice payments. I jumped from $1500 per month to $2400 per month on my first house. The extra $900 wasn’t the big deal as much as everything else, utilities, yard maintenance, etc. I think making 6 months of increased payments while you are still renting, saving that money and putting it as a down payment would have helped me. I try to tell every person wanting to buy a new home that.” -Darin P.

7. “Pre-approval is step number one. Look at homes in your price range. Nothing worse than falling in love with a home you can’t afford.” -Linda Z.

Contact me today for a FREE Home Buyer's Toolkit!

Monday, November 10, 2014

A Welcoming Winter Exterior for Your Home (Without the hassle of putting up lights!)



Home heating and hydro costs are continuing to spiral upwards, leaving many Canadians looking for more cost efficient and environmentally friendly ways to decorate the exterior of their homes for the winter season. Here are some decorating ideas to add a warm and welcoming touch to your home’s exterior without the expense and hassle of putting up holiday lighting.

Your front door is the focal point of your home’s exterior, so plan on a showpiece item here to draw attention and make an impact. Choose a dramatic piece, such as a large winter floral arrangement in a standing urn to place beside the door. You may even have an empty urn already, leftover from your summer plantings. If not, you can still pick them up at garden supply shops at this time of year. Resin or plastic versions are very inexpensive and you can even upgrade their look by painting them with black or copper spray paint to add to the drama. Let the base colour dry. Finish the look by applying a coloured glaze wash, and then wipe it off, leaving the glaze only in the crevices for a realistic aged effect.

Fill the base of the urn with any weighted material, such as sand or gravel, so it won’t tip over. Fill the remainder with oasis and then top it with decorative ground cover such as Spanish moss, available from any florist or garden store. Decorate your urn just as you would a floral centerpiece. Begin with low-sitting items to form the core of your arrangement. A dramatic choice could be a large decorative cabbage, that’s full of soft green and purple colours. Add some fragrant fresh evergreen branches for height and edging. These can easily be found at this time of year at any Christmas tree lot. Next, fill in with your accent pieces, which can be a collection of real and artificial items. Make sure you add a few tall pieces such as spray-painted twigs or pussy willows to add height and drama. Pine cones, acorns, bunches of dried berries or flowers, clippings from evergreen shrubs and plants in your own garden will all combine to create the look, with perhaps a few floral picks from the crafts store to add the finishing touch. When choosing your accent pieces, you’d be wise to choose items that aren’t specific to the festive season, so you can enjoy your welcoming display throughout the winter months, and not just for the holidays.

If you’re good at crafting, you may want to create a matching door wreath in similar materials. A simpler, more cost effective alternative is updating your existing wreath by introducing a few of the same elements used in your urn.

You could also create a coordinating swag to place above your front door. Tie a bundle of several evergreen branches together and wire it in the center. Then cover the wiring with a large wired-ribbon bow and a cluster of accent items, and you’ve got an original and high-impact selection of pieces that look beautiful day or night. And if you want to add some illumination to your home’s exterior, you can do it very economically with just one or two strategically placed floodlights.

Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report and Staging Advice!

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Sweet Ideas for What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy

 

Keep that sugar rush going!

                
It’s been a week since Halloween. If you have mounds of candy leftover at home from Halloween, we have ideas that will please even the most sour patch kids. Now at this point I hopefully made you snicker and laffy at all of my sweets puns. Or perhaps you just think I am an airhead from Mars. Anyway here are some of the best ideas for leftover candy from across the milkyway...well actually just the internet. Enjoy!

Candy Cookie Cake

Combining Cookies AND Candy?! Stop the madness! Get the recipe for this sinful creation from Baker by Nature.

Snickers Ice Cream Popsicles 

Summer may be over but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a decadent popsicle. Get the recipe for this frozen treat from A Pumpkin & A Princess.


Candy Caramel Apple Pie

Have leftover snickers? This caramel apple pie is a total party pleaser. Get the recipe from iheartnaptime here.


Don’t feel like you can possibly consume even one more sweet morsel of Halloween goodies? Here are some other ideas:
  • Bring it to the office (your co-workers may not like you for this)
  • Stuff a pinata (because kids totally need more sugar after their Halloween binge)

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Continued Increases in Homes Sales Numbers and Values in Kitchener-Waterloo - What's Your Home Worth?



Home sales surged in the month of October with a total of 563 home sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) compared to 481 during the same period in 2013, an increase of 17 percent.


Year-to-date 5,800 homes were sold, which is the second highest number of units sold in the last 10 years and represents a 2.9 percent increase compared to the same time last year and 4.8 percent above the 5-year average for sales year-to-date.
Single detached homes in October sold for an average price of $377,895 an increase of 7.1 percent compared to last year. The average sale price for a condominium was $212,877 a decrease of 0.6 percent compared to October of last year. The average sale price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS® System increased 5.4 percent to $330,121 compared to October 2013.


The large increase in average price was due partly to the 57 homes sold in the $500,000 - $999,999 price category compared to 25 in 2013.

We’re continuing to see strong sales in the Region, with the second highest number of units sold in October on record. This fall sales rush reinforces the fact that the traditional spring market was pushed into the late summer months and Waterloo region continues to be a desirable place to invest in homeownership.

Residential sales in October included 375 single detached homes (up 19.4% from last October), 29 semi-detached (down 34.1%), 35 townhomes (on par) and 117 condominium units (up 37.6%). Dollar volumes for October and year-to-date sales were both at all-time highs with increases of 23.4 percent and 7.1 percent respectively.

Contact me today to find out what your home is worth!

Monday, November 3, 2014

A Winter Tune-up for Your Home


Winter is a time of year when many of us resolve to get ourselves in trim, whether it’s joining the gym or a dance class, or perhaps buying some exercise machinery for our home.  We devote a lot of attention to our cars too, putting on the snow tires, changing to winter anti-freeze, loading a bag of salt in the trunk.  But what about a ‘tune-up” to get your home operating at top efficiency?  While we’re snuggled in at home during the winter months, its a good time to make a few home ‘tune ups’ that could save you money while helping your home to run more efficiently.  
 
A good place to start is by making your home more energy efficient. There are many ways to do it for very little expense.  For a modest investment in the $50 range, a thermostat timer will allow you to pre-set your thermostat to turn itself down a few degrees after you go to bed each night, and turn the temperature back up before you get out of bed each morning.  If you’re normally out of the house all day, you can achieve even greater savings by repeating the process when you leave your home each day.

Another simple and inexpensive way to improve energy efficiency is to wrap your water heater in insulating material to reduce heat loss.  This small task can deliver savings that will really add up over the course of a year.  You can also reduce heat loss by installing small pre-cut insulating pads under the cover plate of wall plugs and switches on the walls around your home’s perimeter.  Dimmer switches, and the energy-efficient light bulbs will also reduce energy and save you money too.
 
Your home ‘tune-up’ should include a check of the fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home.  You should be sure that you have a working smoke alarm (and that means testing the batteries at least twice a year). installed on every floor of your house.  Also, clean the air filters on your furnace.  You should also consider having a furnace inspection to ensure its running safely and performing at top efficiency.  Again, your energy savings may even cover the cost of the inspection, and the peace of mind it delivers is priceless.
 
Want to know more about keeping your home running at optimum levels, and preserving its future resale value? 
 
Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Calculating Your Risk Tolerance When Purchasing a Home


 
real estate Risk tolerance dialWhen you’re planning to buy a home—whether as a first-time home buyer or as a seasoned pro—deciding how much you can afford is a critical initial step. Once you know that, you’ll be able to find a mortgage tailored to fit your style.
But figuring it out takes more than knowing your debt-to-income ratio. Real estate is an investment, and you need to know your risk tolerance when investing.
Are you conservative, aggressive or somewhere in the middle? Here’s how to tell your real estate risk tolerance.

Income Level

Start by taking a look at your income level.
If you make a higher income, you can afford to be an aggressive borrower, with up to 41% of your monthly take-home pay going toward your debts and 36% going toward housing expenses.
If your income falls in the middle to lower range for your area, an aggressive plan may not work for you.
Let’s use 41% debt ratio as a benchmark.
If you make $60,000 per year, that’s $5,000 per month. A 41% debt ratio means that $2,050 is committed to monthly debts—before groceries, taxes, health insurance, utilities, beer, etc. Most folks will eventually get into trouble if they do this.

Financial Stability

How you make your income also factors into the equation.
If you have a steady base plus windfall income from bonuses, commissions or stock options, then the windfall income could be used as your ‘rainy day’ bucket, and pushing your debt ratio to 41% makes sense.
On the other hand, if your work is steady—but you don’t see a promotion or raise in your future—a moderate financial plan would suit you better.
And if you’re self-employed, a conservative approach is best.
If someone is self-employed or on 100% commission, unless they have a superb, steady track record, they should always be conservative.

Saving Habits

Before you apply for a mortgage, take a hard look at how much you have—or haven’t—socked away.
If someone is a good saver, they may be more comfortable with them pushing the debt-ratio envelope, because I know they can manage tight months.
If you don’t have large cash reserves in your savings account, you’ll save yourself trouble later on by choosing a conservative mortgage.

Age

Your age is also an important deciding factor.
If you’re younger, purchasing your first home, have many years of work ahead of you and feel like you’re in line for pay increases and promotions as you go on, choosing an aggressive plan may make sense. You’ll put more toward your debts and mortgage payments each month—but you’ll be able to build up equity faster.
However, if you’re nearing retirement or already retired, this strategy may not work.
If you’re looking at retirement, you shouldn’t be using your current income to calculate your debt ratios—you should be using your projected retirement income.
This lower, more stagnant income might be better suited to a conservative financial approach.

Bringing It All Together

Once you know what type of borrower you are, realtor.com®’s Home Affordability Calculator can help you see what your mortgage and monthly expenses may look like.
By plugging some basic financial information into the calculator and selecting your borrowing type, you’ll be able to see an estimated monthly payment breakdown—including principle and interest payments, property tax, home insurance and mortgage insurance.
Use this tool to help you manage your real estate risk tolerance.

You should definitely speak to a mortgage professional as this blog just provides guidelines.  Contact me today and I can put you in touch with some great mortgage people!

Monday, October 27, 2014

Carbon Monoxide Detectors Now Mandatory in Homes in Ontario




Did you know carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning kills over 50 people every year in Canada? Carbon monoxide it a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas that results when fuels such as propane, gasoline, natural gas, heating oil or wood have insufficient air to burn completely. CO exposure can cause flu-like symptoms including: headaches, nausea, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, and loss of consciousness. In higher concentrations and when left undetected, CO can result in death.

To keep consumers safe, the Government of Ontario has introduced new requirements to help protect Ontarians against carbon monoxide poisoning by requiring all homes to have carbon monoxide alarms. The new regulation, which came into effect October 15, updates Ontario’s Fire Code.

“We want Ontarians to be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning because these tragedies are preventable. The change to the Fire Code is all about making sure we keep our families and homes safe. I urge all Ontarians to install a carbon monoxide alarm in their homes immediately,” said Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, responsible for the Fire Code.

Carbon monoxide detectors will now be required near all sleeping areas in residential homes and in the service rooms, and adjacent sleeping areas in multi-residential units. Carbon monoxide alarms can be hardwired, battery-operated or plugged into the wall. They range in price from about $25-$100
For more information please visit the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services’ website.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

18 Ways to Immediately Reduce Your Home Energy and Maintenance Costs

 

1. Check the insulation in your attic – and install more if needed.

If you have an unfinished attic, pop your head up there and take a look around. You should see some insulation up there, and there should be at least six inches of it everywhere (more if you live in the northern part of the United States). If there’s inadequate insulation up there – or the insulation you have appears damaged – install new insulation.

2. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater down to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (55 degrees Celsius).

This is the optimum temperature for your hot water heater. Most people do not utilize water that’s hotter than that, and thus energy used to keep the water that hot isn’t effective. Lower the temperature, save some on your energy bill, and you’ll never skip a beat.

3. Toss a water heater blanket over that hot water heater as well.

While most modern hot water heaters are well-insulated, some are insulated better than others and many older heaters aren’t insulated well at all. A small investment in a blanket for your water heater will slowly and gradually save you money on your heating bill over time by keeping the heat in the water instead of letting it spread slowly out into your utility closet.


4. Install ceiling fans in most rooms.

Ceiling fans are a low-energy way to keep air moving in your home. Because of the air circulation effect, you can get away with keeping your thermostat a degree or two higher in summer and a degree or two lower in winter, netting a rather large savings. A while back, I wrote a guide to maximizing ceiling fan use – most importantly, the air directly below the fan should be blowing down on you in the summer and should be pulled upwards away from you in the winter – you can use the reversal switch on your fan to switch between the modes.

5. Wrap exposed water pipes with insulation.

Exposed hot water pipes lose heat as they move water from your heater to your faucet. Insulating them makes a two to four degree difference in the temperature of the water and also allows hot water to reach your faucet faster. Check the pipes into and out of your hot water heater first, as the first three feet out of the heater (and the last few feet of inlet water) are key. Use good quality pipe insulation for the job – it’s actually quite simple. Find out more about water pipe insulation at the EERE website.

6. Install a programmable thermostat – and learn how to use it.

A programmable thermostat allows you to schedule automatic increases and decreases in your home’s temperature. This lets your house naturally warm (or cool in the winter) while you’re at work or asleep, saving quite a bit of energy use, and then when it comes time for you to actively use the house, the thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature of your home back to what you prefer. Such devices save money on cooling in the summer and heating in the winter.

7. Hang a clothes rack in your laundry room (or, better yet, an outdoor clothesline).

A clothes dryer can really eat up your energy costs, but it’s convenient for many people. Battle that convenience (and save money) by hanging a clothes rack from the wall in the laundry room and use it for some items – t-shirts and underwear dry great on clothes racks. If you can hang up 20% of the clothes in a load on this rack, you can get away with running the dryer 20% less than before, saving you cash. Even better: if you can, install a clothes line outside where the wind can catch it and hang most of your clothes outside.

8. Check all toilets and under-sink plumbing for leaks or constant running – and check faucets, too.

Do a survey of the plumbing in your home before you settle in. If you find a toilet is running constantly, it’s going to cost you money – here’s how to easily fix that constantly-running toilet. You should also peek under the basin of all sinks in your home, just to make sure there aren’t any leaks. Got a leaky faucet? You should repair or replace any of those, because the drip-drip-drip of water is also a drip-drip-drip of money; not to mention the terrible interplay between mold and home insurance.

9. Replace your air handling filter.

When you first move in, you almost always need to replace the air handling filter (don’t worry, it’s easy to do – it takes about ten seconds). Go down to your air handling unit, find where the filter is (it’s almost always a large rectangle), and mark down the measurements (printed around the edges). Then, go to the hardware store and pick up a few of these, then go home and install one of them, replacing the old one. An outdated filter not only doesn’t filter as well, it also has a negative impact on air flow, meaning your air handling system has to work harder to pump out lower quality air.

10. Make sure the vents in all rooms are clear of dust and obstructions.

None of the vents in your home should be covered or blocked by anything – doing that makes your heating and cooling work overtime. You should also peek into all of your vents and make sure they’re as dust-free as possible, and brush them out if you see any dust bunnies. This improves air flow into the room, reducing the amount of blowing that needs to happen.

11. Mark any cracks in the basement with dated masking tape.

Many homes have a few small cracks in their basement walls from the settling of the foundation and the weight of the house. In a stable home, the small cracks aren’t growing at all – they’re safe. If they’re growing, however, you’ll save a ton of money by getting the problem addressed now rather than later. Take some masking tape and cover up the end of any cracks you notice inside or outside, and write today’s date on the tape. Then, in a few months, check the tape – if you see a crack growing out of the end of the tape, you might have a problem and should call a specialist now before the problem gets out of hand.

12. Install CFL and LED light bulbs in some locations.

CFL and LED bulbs can save you a lot of money on energy use over the long haul, plus they have much longer lives than normal incandescent bulbs. Consider installing some in various places – we usually use CFLs for hall lighting and LED bulbs for closet lighting (though LED bulbs are improving all the time…).

13. Choose energy efficient appliances, even if you have to pay more up front.

Unless you were lucky enough to buy a fully-furnished home, you’ll likely have to do some appliance shopping. Focus on reliability and energy efficiency above all, even if that seriously increases the cost you have to pay up front. A refrigerator that uses little energy and lasts twenty years is far, far cheaper over the long run than a fridge that runs for seven years and guzzles electricity. (If you’re worried about the up-front cost, check out tip #17.)

14. Set up your home electronics with a SmartStrip or two.

Looking forward to getting your television, cable box, DVD player, sound system, and video game console set up? When you do it, set things up with proper surge protection (to protect your equipment). You might also want to consider a SmartStrip, which allows the on-off status of one device (say, the television) to control whether or not there’s power flowing to other devices (say, the DVD player or the video game console). Having the power cut automatically from such auxiliary devices can save a lot of money over time, especially since many such devices eat quite a bit of power as they sit there in standby mode, constantly draining your money.

15. Air-seal your home.

Look for any places where air may be leaking directly into or out of your home. These aren’t just air leaks – they’re money leaks. Thankfully, fixing small air leaks is pretty easy .

16. Plant shade trees near your house.

Shade trees naturally cool your home during those warm summer months, reducing the amount of direct rays that hit your house. Lowering the external temperature of your home saves significantly on your cooling bills during the summer, plus it increases your property value. Plant them now, so they’ll grow and shade your house sooner.

17. Take advantage of tax benefits for any improvements you make.

For starters, there’s the first time home buyer tax credit, which is essentially an interest-free loan from the federal government for new homeowners. This is perfect money to help you with fixes you may need to make when you move in, like buying good appliances or putting in shade trees.

18. Develop a home maintenance checklist – and run through it for the first time.

One final tip – create a home maintenance checklist. This list should include regular home maintenance tasks that you’d want to do on a monthly or quarterly or annual basis. Then, make it a habit to run through the items on this list each month. Doing so will extend the life of almost everything in your home, saving you buckets of money over time.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

5 Questions to Ask a Realtor Before Hiring Them to Sell Your Home


Selecting a real estate representative to assist in the largest financial transaction a person will likely ever make is a critical part of the home selling process. In a challenging economic environment where competition among real estate companies is on the rise, choosing the agent that’s right for you can be a confusing task.

 

Coldwell Banker® suggests home sellers start by interviewing several real estate agents to find someone with whom they “connect.”  However, chemistry is not the only variable to consider. The length of time an agent has been in the business, his or her home sale success rate and knowledge of the local market can also play a significant role in the decision-making process.

 
To jump-start the conversation, I suggest five essential questions home sellers should ask before selecting a real estate representative.  If they don't know the answer, don't hire them!  Also, check out this short video for more information

https://youtu.be/dFVQC4RCeeU?list=PLcxSYLv7EVEL60-bVY_kSecAx8CrXstrZ

 
1.     How long have you been in the real estate business and what has your success rate been in terms of home sales in ratio to homes listed? The length of time a real estate representative has been in the business and their home sale success rate demonstrates their knowledge and expertise in the industry. Ideally, a home seller will want to work with an agent who has a high percentage of completed transactions within your home’s price range.

 

2.     What was the average amount of time it took to sell those listings? Comparing marketing times between the agents you are interviewing will provide you with an indication of how well that agent markets homes.


3.     What was your list-price to sale-price ratio? Significant differences between original listing prices and ultimate sale prices can be an indication that the list prices quoted at the outset were unrealistic.

 

4.      What is your online marketing plan to sell my property? In Canada, the vast majority of home buyers begin their home search on the Internet. Therefore, the real estate representative you select should have a strong online marketing presence as well as be visible through social media outlets in order to reach the widest possible audience. Websites such as Coldwell Banker On Location, a branded YouTube™ channel, allow real estate agents to showcase their listings and local knowledge by tapping into the power of video and offering consumers a new way to search for homes online.

 

5.     Do you have references you can share from past clients? References allow you to gain additional insight into the day-to-day workings with the real estate agent. Gathering reputable references will help ensure that you select the best real estate representative for your needs.

. 

Contact me for a Free Market Value Report and Staging Advice!

Friday, October 17, 2014

4 Things to Check for When Buying a Home in the Fall


Buy a House
Buying a house in the offseason can be a great idea, as homes are a bit cheaper, sellers may be more inclined to sell and there’s less competition from droves of buyers.
That’s not the only advantage for those looking to buy a house in the fall: if you know what to look for, you can actually use the fall season as a litmus test to help you spot potential problems and pluses on your prospective home.

 

1. Leaves, Leaves Everywhere

Shopping for a home during the autumn is an easy way to see how impressive your home will look for years to come. Those turning leaves can make a day at home that much more relaxing.
Of course, leaves can also bring a number of issues.
If the property is full of trees, expect the yard to need heavy cleanup. Leaf cleanup can be difficult and time-consuming labor, so decide whether or not you want to pay for it or do it yourself.
This should be done more than once a season, as too many leaves will clog gutters and drainage systems.
If the yard has been cleaned, look for piles of leaves by the edge of the property to get an idea of what cleanup is really like when you buy a house.

2. Fireplaces

Nothing’s cozier than a night next to a crackling fire when the cold creeps in.
To ensure the cold isn’t creeping down the chimney, check the fireplace. Open and close the damper, checking for drafts each time. A little draft is fine, but a large draft means you may need a new damper.
Also check for any strange smells, like decaying leaves.
While a home inspector will check the general appearance and functionality of the fireplace—like if the damper opens—he will not check inside the chimney.
Ask the seller for evidence of the last time the chimney has been cleaned: if it has been for more than a year, it will need a professional cleaning job.

3. Insulation and Heating

Fall is windy. That’s good, because it will be easier to check for bad insulation.
When touring the home, pass your hand over windows, electrical outlets, doors and baseboards to check for leaks. Make note of any rattling windows, which can indicate a loose seal.
Notice if any room feels colder than others. If so, this can indicate bad insulation or a problem with the heating system in that section. A freezing room during the cold months will likely mean a sweltering one during the hot months.
Ask if you can turn the heater on and off: when doing so, listen—does it sound like a monster banging around in the basement? That’s something that can wake you (or the kids) up at night.
If there are any weird smells, the duct systems may need cleaning—or the furnace may need a second look.

4. Watching the Rain

Take a walk around the property when it’s raining and check for spouts of water shooting out where they shouldn’t be.
This means a gutter problem, which could lead to flooding if water pools on the ground. Make note of where the water is gushing and check the basement’s interior for signs of leaks.
Check the yard’s drainage system. If the home is on slanted ground or a hill base, water should rush by it—not into it. Take note of any ground gutter system and the potential for them to be clogged by leaves during the autumn season.
The more potential for flooding there is, the cleaner you need to keep your yard during the rainy months.

The Telltale Signs for Next Summer

Don’t forget problems that creep up in winter will likely happen again in the summer.
By checking for leaks, drafts and other issues now, you’ll be saving yourself potential repair costs—and high utility bills—in the hottest months of the year, too.

Contact me today for a complimentary Home Value Report.