Asbestos in Homes.....

What is Asbestos?Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to a variety of products to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. 

Potential health concerns

Breathing in asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer in the form of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and the abdominal cavity, and asbestosis, in which the lungs become scarred with fibrous tissue.  The risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma increase with the number of fibers inhaled.

Most people exposed to small amounts of asbestos, as we all are in our daily lives, do not develop these health problems. However, the problem arises when the fibers are disturbed, which can happen, depending on the material and it's condition through home renovations, handling, or in any way breaking it apart.  It is when it is disturbed that asbestos material may release fibers, which can be inhaled into the lungs. The fibers can remain there for a long time, increasing the risk of disease. Asbestos material that is in a friable state – that is, if it would crumble easily if handled, or if it has been sawed, scraped, or sanded into a powder – is more likely to be a health hazard.

Where to find Asbestos

Most products made today do not contain asbestos. The few products still made that contain asbestos that could be inhaled are required to be labeled as such. However, until the 1970s, many types of building products and insulation materials used in homes contained asbestos.

Your Lighthouse Inspector can identify materials that may be asbestos, but only a lab test can confirm it.  Most commonly, an inspector will find potential asbestos in attic insulation, floor tiles, exterior wall finishes, and on heating pipes (as an insulator). 

What options do we have if we suspect Asbestos?

First, get it tested.  There is no way to confirm it unless it is properly tested.  Taking the samples yourself is not recommended, but can be done with caution.  Be sure that you or the homeowner take samples in accordance with laboratory requirements to ensure a proper result.  Once confirmed, only a professional should remove it. 

There are 3 options once identified and confirmed: homeowners can leave it undisturbed, repair it or remove it. 

As long as it is in an area that is not frequented by homeowners or is in excellent condition – it can be left alone.  Asbestos in the attic, for example, can be left alone, so long as it isn't disturbed – however, leaving it may result in this process being repeated when your buyers try to sell again. 

Repair involves sealing and/or covering asbestos material – and although cheaper, if removal later becomes necessary, it will be more challenging and thus more expensive. 

Removal requires a professional who will remove all asbestos without releasing any fibers into the home.  This is more costly than repair, but it is permanent and the preferred choice for most consumers. 

When listing a home that has concerns of asbestos, having a Lighthouse Home Inspection before putting it on the market can help to avoid a deal-breaking asbestos discovery after thinking the home has already been sold. A ‘clean bill of health' can avoid such nasty surprises.
Contact me today for a free Home Value Report!

When is the Best Time to Sell a House?

   

It’s the age-old puzzle in real estate: When should I sell my house? It’s a simple question and homeowners are looking for a straightforward answer. But the right answer is anything but straightforward. So many factors come into play when selling a house that there’s one easy answer to this question, and several not-so-easy answers.

Let’s take a look:

Easy answer: Season determines when your house will sell.

If you’re looking for a simple solution, spring is the best time to sell your home. That’s because families are looking to move into a new place before school starts in September.
Assuming it takes three months to complete the transaction and 3 months before that for the buyers to sell their own house, you’re looking at an ideal listing date of early March.

Spring is also tax refund season, and buyers will be looking to invest their refunds into a down payment. That’s the current wisdom.

You’re all set, right? Well, not so fast…

The problem: Every other homeowner thinks spring is the best time to sell a house too!

Everyone and his brother who’s planning to sell will want to list in spring.
A glut of listings can create a buyer’s market, meaning buyers will be spoiled for choice and will have leverage for negotiating key things like price. For that reason, when deciding when to sell your house, spring isn’t always the best option.

You’re more likely to get a better price for your home in a seller’s market, when there are few listings and lots of buyers competing with each other for offers.

The trouble is a seller’s market can happen in any season. It’s a question of staying informed.

Keep an eye on your local real estate market.

A successful sale isn’t as easy as slapping up a “FOR SALE” sign and waiting for interested buyers to show up. If that’s your approach, it’s no wonder you’ll end up scratching your head asking yourself, “When will my house sell?”

Be aware of what’s going on in your local market. Your location, the kind of property you are selling and your asking price will drive demand. Do some research and find out how quickly other homes are selling and for how much.

If houses in your area are selling like hotcakes, whether it’s winter, spring or fall, it’s a good time to sell.

So, when should I sell my house?

The truth is the best time to sell your home is when the timing is right for you and your family.
In most cases, homeowners need to move for work, meaning they don’t have the luxury of waiting for the opportune moment to list.
Whatever the case, the best way to ensure that your house will sell quickly, no matter the time of year, is to price it well within market range, present it well with good home staging and curb appeal, and market it successfully with the right tools and exposure.

Don't roll the dice - contact me today for a free Home Value Report!

Do you have a "Home Crush"?

Sixty-nine percent of consumers recently admitting to having a “home crush”—a property they liked so much they were drawn back to looking at it more than once online or in person, according to a new realtor.com® survey of 1,000 consumers.

But men and women respond quite differently to these crushes, according to the survey.

For example, the survey found that women are more likely than men to have a crush on a home that was out of their financial league. Forty-one percent of women revealed their home crush is out of their price range, compared to only 30 percent of men who said the same.

Men were more likely than women to move from one home crush to another. Thirty-six percent of men surveyed say they find a new house crush weekly, compared to 29 percent of women.

But when it comes to true love, the sexes agreed on one thing that makes them most fall in love with a home: outdoor living space. Both men and women identified this feature as the top attribute in a home.  Women's hearts also tended to be set a-flutter by open floor plans, great curb appeal, and appliances and fixtures, while men said they swooned over g
ood garage space, curb appeal, and open floor plans.

Whether it’s love or real estate, having a short list of deal breakers is critical for finding ‘the one’ to help buyers weed through the crushes to find the home of their dreams.

Contact me today for a Free Home Value Plan or a Home-Buyer's Toolkit!

Fun Things to Do on Family Day Weekend, 2014

Are you dreading the "I'm bored" whines this Family Weekend?  Well, I've compiled a list of fun things to do all 3 Days....Enjoy!

 

Family Day at Joseph Schneider Haus                       

Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2014
End Date: Monday, 17 February 2014
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Joseph Schneider Haus
466 Queen St. S., Kitchener ON, N2P 2R7                        
All Ages | Free

Presentation by Kitchener author and nature lover, Frank Glew, 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, make a bird feeder to take home, free apple cider and a bird seed cookie, scavenger hunts and more                 Phone:519-742-7752

 

Family Day at Waterloo Region Museum                       

Start Date: Monday, 17 February 2014
End Date: Monday, 17 February 2014
Time: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Waterloo Region Museum
10 Huron Rd., Kitchener ON, N2P 2R7                        
All Ages | adult $10; family $25; student/senior $8; child, 5 to 12, $5

Family activities throughout the day while visiting Odyssey's Shipwreck: Pirates and Treasure, an exhibit created by Odyssey Marine Exploration; including interactive games and challenges, allowing the experience of the thrill of shipwreck exploration while investigating some of the world's greatest maritime stories                

Contact:Waterloo Region Museum| Email:WaterlooRegionMuseum@regionofwaterloo.ca| |Phone:519-748-1914

 

Cake and I Scream

Start Date: Sunday, 16 February 2014
End Date: Sunday, 16 February 2014
Time: 1:30 PM                                                  

Cambridge Centre for the Arts
60 Dickson St., Cambridge ON,                         
Children | $5

Cookies and Kids Theatre presentation; suitable for ages 4-plus, kids get free juice and cookie after the show; doors at 1 p.m.; tickets available at any City of Cambridge recreation centre    Phone:519-740-4681

 

Winterloo 2014                        

Start Date: Saturday, 15 February 2014
End Date: Saturday, 15 February 2014
Time: 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM 

dog sled rides, ice sculpture carving, art activities at The Button Factory, free public skating at the Public Square, free family movies, and a great chili cook-off featuring some of Waterloo’s top eateries

Waterloo Public Square
75 King St. S., Waterloo ON,
Information for GPS:                                
All Ages | Free

 

FAMILY DANCE PARTY                       

Start Date: Sunday, 16 February 2014
End Date: Sunday, 16 February 2014
Time: 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Moose Lodge
655 Wabanaki Dr., Kitchener ON,                         
All Ages | $8 advance, $10 adult, $2 kids

 

With R Fault and guest, kids activities, prizes; sponsored by Green Kitchener Centre; info: 519-576-6170

 

Have your heard about THE MAYOR'S MOVIE MORNING TO END MS?

Family Day, Monday February 17 2014 at Landmark Cinemas Kitchener (formely Empire Theatre, Sportsworld)

 Movie Morning to End MS –Blockbuster movies & costumed characters combine for a cause!

Food, family, fantasy and fun all for a great cause!This Family Day – Monday February 17^th 2014, the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Waterloo Region andLandmark Cinemas in Kitchener are hosting the fifth annual Movie Morning to End MS.

Four blockbuster movies will be featured on the big screen for the low price of ten dollars per family or group of four people. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.wagjag.com/deal/kitchener-waterloo/-647832#headerMenu. Tickets can also be purchased at the theatre (135 Gateway Park Drive, Kitchener) on the day of the event for twenty dollars per family of group of four people.

Attendees will be able to visit with live costumed movie characters – princesses, super heroes and ghost busters! Kitchener Fire Fighters and Kitchener Police Officers will be in attendance as well as, Tex the Kitchener Rangers Mascot, Miss Oktoberfest, Onkel Hans, a clown and face painters! LED magic wands and swords will be on sale and the cinemas concession counter will be open food purchases.

All money raised through this event goes to support programs and services at the local Waterloo Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.The MS Society provides services to people with multiple sclerosis and their families as well as funds research to find the cause and a cure for this disease.For more information on the local MS Society visit our website at www.mssociety.ca/waterloo.

This event has been made possible by the generous donation of time and money by community businesses and individuals.

Movie Morning to End MS unites the community in support of a meaningful cause –Together we can find a happy ending.

http://www.mayorsmoviemorning.com/

Your Property Wish List

With minus 27 degree temperatures today, it's hard to believe the Spring Real Estate Market is around the corner.  But, in the next 4 weeks or so you'll start seeing more homes for sale popping up and buyers will  begin to come out of hibernation.

For those buyers, here is a great checklist to use when searching for a home and make sure you contact me today for a Free Home Buyer's Toolkit and to chat about current home values.....
 

What does your future home look like? Where is it located? As you hunt down your dream home, consult this list to evaluate properties and keep your priorities top of mind. 

 

□         Neighborhoods

 

What neighborhoods do you prefer?

 

□         Schools

 

What school systems do you want to be near?

 

□         Transportation

 

How close must the home be to these amenities:

 

·          Public transportation                         

·          Airport

·          Expressway

·          Neighborhood shopping

·          Schools

·          Other

 

□         Home Style

 

·          What architectural style(s) of homes do you prefer?

·          Do you want to buy a home, condominium, or townhome?

·          Would you like a one-story or two-story home?

·          How many bedrooms must your new home have?

·          How many bathrooms must your new home have?

 

□         Home Condition

 

·          Do you prefer a new home or an existing home?

·          If you’re looking for an existing home, how old of a home would you consider?

·          How much repair or renovation would you be willing to do?

·          Do you have special needs that your home must meet?

 

□         Home Features 

 

Please circle one of the choices: Must Have, Would Like, Willing to Compromise, Not Important 

 

Front yard                             Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important                        

Back yard                             Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Garage ( __ cars)               Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Patio/Deck                            Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Pool                                        Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Family room                         Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Formal living room             Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Formal dining room            Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Eat-in kitchen                      Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Laundry room                      Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important    

Finished basement            Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Attic                                       Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Fireplace                               Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Spa in bath                           Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Air conditioning                   Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Wall-to-wall carpet            Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Wood floors                         Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important 

Great view                            Must Have             Would Like            Willing to Compromise      Not Important

 

□         Other notes:

Simple Tips for Better Home Showings

In order to sell a home, you need to have potential buyers see your home in a better light than your competitors.  Remember, they are comparison shopping.

 

Follow these tips to give you the best chance of getting that elusive offer....

 

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.

2. Wash your windows and screens. This will help get more light into the interior of the home.

3. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.

6. Don’t disregard minor repairs. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes. Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

 

9. Add a touch of color in the living room.  A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room. Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.

10. Buy a flowering plant and put it near a window you pass by frequently.

11. Make centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.

 

12. Set the scene. Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.


13. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.

14. Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.

5. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.

 

16. Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.

 

17. Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.

 

18. Leave the home. It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.

Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report or staging advice.

The Power of Grey in Staging

                 

                     

 

Grey is a subtle color that can bring sophistication to interiors while also the neutrality that home buyer crave.

“It’s the hot new neutral, a sleek and sophisticated color option that adds refinement to almost any room,” says Debbie Zimmer, a paint and color expert with the Paint Quality Institute. “Walls that are painted grey are great backdrops for almost any style of décor, and grey is such a dignified color that it can elevate the appearance of even the most modest furnishings.”

Zimmer says that grey can be a great color choice for embellishments throughout interiors, such as a gray wash on wood furniture or the fabric in seating.

In her 2014 color forecast, she expects grey to be used more in homes. “We will even see grey’s flashier cousin, silver, used as an important accent color,” says Zimmer.

Traditional Living Room by Toronto Home Builders Sherwood Custom Homes

 

Zimmer also predicts “white” to stage a comeback in 2014, with white and off-white back in vogue.
“As with gray, the ease of coordinating furnishings with a neutral hue like white is appealing to almost everyone,” she says. “Those who are downsizing will favor white or very light-colored walls to make their new, smaller interiors look more spacious; and for those who may soon put up a ‘For Sale’ sign, white is the wise paint color to apply before listing a home.”

 

 

Contact me today for a free Home Value Report or staging advice.

Clean, Declutter, Discard: Make a House Shine for Resale

Purging belongings can be an arduous task for sellers.  Here are 13 de-cluttering tips to help you prepare your home for sale.

 

Sentimentality can be a powerful dis-incentive to de-clutter. How could a loving daughter sell her family silver, even though she dislikes the pattern? How could parents ever discard a painting by their young budding Picasso, even though he’s now 30 and hasn’t picked up a paint brush in 20 years?

Most home owners avoid those tough decisions and schlep possessions from house-to-house. But it’s far smarter to shed before moving. Not only does it clear out space to make a listing look its best, it also saves on moving costs to transport less stuff.


1. Study the entire house. Sellers shouldn’t tackle every room in one fell swoop. Go room-by-room, starting at the front door. Pretend they’re seeing each room for the first time. The goal is to make rooms resemble those in a hotel.

2. Make piles. Sellers should organize piles as they clear each room — for example, stack items to keep, give to family or friends, donate to a charity, sell online, get hauled away, and consign. They should bear in mind the size of the home they’re moving to, their degree of sentimental attachment, and the financial value of each item. It’s best to put highly personal items aside in the keep pile, such as family photos they don’t want buyers to see during showings.

3. Create a spreadsheet. A master list of what rooms will require organizing tasks can be helpful. This will also aid in prioritizing expenses, such as home improvements, paint, and staging elements. To play it safe with finicky buyers, sellers should go neutral in paint and décor.

4. Empty closets. Often becoming a graveyard for all the belongings home owners don’t know what to do with, clean, spacious closets are a coveted feature among buyers. Eliminate anything not worn or used in the last two years. Aim to dispose of 50 percent of wardrobes since most people only wear 20 percent of their clothes 80 percent of the time, he says. The remaining items should be stored on uniform rods, or in labeled, see-through bins.

5. Clear off counters and bookcases. Get rid of books that won’t be reread, particularly now that so many people read online. Add a few home decor items for sparkle. When in doubt, follow the “rule of three,” a mantra among home stagers, by clustering items into threes to create visual appeal. The final effect should reflect a neutral style.

6. Inspect the home’s exterior. Depending on the time of year, sellers may need to hire a professional to clear leaves, snow, or ice, so that they don’t hide a home’s features. Messiness and wear and tear on the outside indicates to buyers that the inside hasn’t been cared for well.

7. Check curb appeal all around. While the front yard is key to making a good first impression, more home owners spend time out back, so sellers should be sure lawns, shrubs, trees, and amenities like a fence and air conditioning condensers are maintained.

8. Spruce up the kitchen. This is the home’s most popular gathering spot and another place where everything gets dumped—backpacks, car keys, cell phones, etc. The rule of three applies here, too. Don't stuff anything into a pantry or cabinets; get rid of it if it hasn’t been used in a few years. Also, clean out the refrigerator and freezer.

9. Make bathrooms spotless. Not every seller has a spa bathroom to unwind in, but clean grout, tiles, shower door, and vanity can make a big difference in an average bathroom. Clear out the prime real estate of a medicine cabinet, add crisp white or other neutral towels, fresh soaps, and a plant

10. Purge basements, attics, and garages. These are a home’s purgatories—where stuff goes to never see the bright light of day. Anything that’s been moved at least twice and not opened needs to be reassessed.  Separate the items to be stored in see-through bins to reveal their contents; do so by categories, such as holiday decorations; and be sure bins are labeled clearly and have lids to keep out pests.

11. Professionalize an office. With more home owners working from home, a separate room or corner for an office can boost sales appeal. Clear up paper piles and file documents—but remember, most home owners only reference 5 percent of their files. The work area should include good illumination, a comfortable chair, and clean equipment.

12. Get rid of belongings. Now it’s time for you to rethink what to do with everything in piles. Here are some upsides and downsides to these decisions:

• Sell or auction through an online vendor like Craigslist or eBay or at a flea market. Downside: It may take time to get the desired price.

• Leave at a consignment shop to get stuff out of a house now. Downside: Proceeds get shared, and it may take a while to sell.

• Give away to family, friends, or a nonprofit such as freecycle.org. Some communities let residents leave stuff outside their house with a sign, “Take it!” Upside: It gets rid of things fast.

• Have a group haul it away such as 1-800-Got-Junk? Upside: This avoids driving it to a dumpster.

• Donate to a charity. Upside: It gets out of a house, helps someone in need, and provides a deduction.

• Organize a yard sale. If time is of the essence, the seller could hire a professional who sets up tables, takes money, and gets rid of what doesn’t sell. Downside: Proceeds get shared.

13. Don’t repeat collector mania. Once you move into your new home with fewer possessions, purchase carefully.