Kitec Plumbing Class Action Lawsuit Settled - do you have Kitec Plumbing?

Kitec Plumbing was a type of plumbing installed in the late 1990s and into the mid 2000s.  It has proven to be defective and cost owners thousands of dollars to retrofit.

It's important your realtor knows what to look for when buying a home.

Below are two links to articles regarding this type of plumbing and how to identify it.

Contact me if you have any questions!

http://eriesedge.com/2015/03/kitec-plumbing

http://www.thestar.com/life/homes/2015/03/06/kitec-plumbing-in-your-home-will-cost-you.html

Waterloo Region Housing Progress is Bucking the Trend

This recent article in the Toronto Star highlights the plan implemented by the Region of Waterloo regarding housing, and the considerations that come into play.

Very important for home owners, investors, businesses and anyone who lives in the Region to have an understanding of housing trends.

http://www.thestar.com/business/2015/03/20/waterloo-housing-the-dream-and-the-surprising-reality.html?referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com

Contact me today for specific Real Estate Information regarding your neighbourhood or for a Free Home Value Report.

5 Strategies for Home Buyer's in a Seller's Market

In many area, particularly parts of Kitchener-Waterloo, it's becoming a seller's market with low inventory and homes selling quickly.  My last 3 listings have sold in multiple offer situations, and those were in February and March!

Any time the market changes, it's time to change strategies. During a buyer's market, buyers have the upper hand and can make more demands to sellers over their homes' price and condition. During a sellers' market, buyers concede the upper hand to sellers and are more willing to accept higher prices and seller terms.
When homes are in short supply, buyers don't have the luxury of taking their time, teasing sellers with lowball offers, demanding that every little thing be fixed, and shopping for homes with multiple real estate agents. Do these five steps instead.

Make a good first impression. Not only do you need to impress sellers, you need to impress real estate agents. Hire one agent and let him or her profile your needs to the marketplace. Be specific about your must-haves so you don't waste your agent's and your time viewing homes that lack what you want most. When you find the home you want, send the seller a letter along with your offer outlining why you love the home.

Get preapproved by a lender. Not only will you know how much home you can buy, you'll be ready to make an offer quickly. Your real estate agent can include the fact that you're financially preapproved by your lender in with the offer, which will carry weight with the seller.
Shop within your price range. In a seller's market, it's wise to shop for homes within or slightly below your price range. This will give you more room to make full-price offers or above in case the home you want is in a bidding war with other buyers. You'll be able to pay your own closing costs. Trying to buy a home out of your reach during a seller's market will only cause you and your agent frustration.

Be flexible. No home is perfect. To get more home for your money, you might shop for an older home that needs renovation. Try to look past ugly wallpaper and stained carpet and visualize the home with more attractive finishes. You may be able to get more living space in an established neighborhood than with a newer home that is priced higher for similar square footage.

Be ready. Be ready to see a new listing at a moment's notice. Be ready to make an offer when you believe this is the right home for your household. Once a seller has accepted your offer, proceed as if you're in a normal market. Set a reasonable closing date that accommodates the seller as much as possible. Confirm the offer with your lender. Schedule the inspections you'll need and don't nitpick the seller over small things.

Whether you're in a buyer's market or a seller's market, you should feel good about the home you choose, the deal you make, and the courteous way you treated all parties to the transaction.

Contact me for a Free Home Buyer's Toolkit...I'm here to help.

Dealing With Foundation Problems

You've cleared out all the old clutter, painted the windows, and planted some flowers.   You're sure you've thought of all the little things about your home that will make a good impression to a potential buyer. Yet, even if your home décor is beautiful, if your property shows any signs of a leaky foundation or drainage problems, then a buyer who may have fallen in love with the rest of your home will simply walk away when they see what's happening downstairs.   Every aspect of your home relies upon its foundation. If a buyer detects moisture, cracking, heaving, or other problems in your home's foundation, it can often be an indication of intensive and costly repairs needed in the future. The common denominator of such problems is usually water. There are a few simple and cost effective solutions a homeowner can take to address these common foundation problems early, before a small problem becomes a bigger one.   The majority of foundation trouble is due to inadequate drainage. A heavy rainfall on an average-sized roof can produce thousands of gallons of water that spew from the different downspouts located around the house. The first thing to do is check eaves and drainpipes for clogging. Metal snake type cleaners are available at building supply stores to assist in cleaning those hard to reach spots.   If you're sure the gutters are clear, yet you're still having moisture problems, the next thing to do is to check the angle of the downspout ends or ‘kickers' which route the downspout water away from the basement walls. If the downspout nearly touches the ground before the bend for the kicker, then you are creating a choke point for the water flow at peak times. It's far better to have the downspout ‘kicker' to start angling away from the house while it's still 8-12 inches above the ground. This longer, higher slope will let gravity help evacuate the water faster. Also, try to pipe all water to a low point away from your home. But do keep in mind where the water is draining, so you can keep the neighbours happy too.   If these measures fail to solve your home's drainage problems, it may be that you have to dig deeper – literally. It may be that you have to install a drainage tranch, or ‘weeper' tile underground to help alleviate the build-up of rainwater around your house. The ‘weeper' is essentially a small sewer pipe that pulls the water away from the house quickly. It a very labour-intensive job that requires digging a trench 12 to 14 inches deep for drain lines leading water away from your problem areas. There's a relatively low skill level, so some able-bodied do-it-yourselfers may be tempted to do it on their own, with a little help from their local home improvement store.   Remember to correct any moisture problem in your foundation before you fix any cracks, stains, and blemishes, or you'll end up doing the same job over and over again!   Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report and Staging Advice.

The Value of Home Inspections

Home inspections, aside from financing, are probably the most important aspect of a purchase before firming up.

Check out this video to see what's involved and what to expect at a home inspection.

February Home Sales Values in Kitchener - Waterloo Up Slightly Over Last Year - and Sales Jump 43% over January!

Residential sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS®) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) were down up 43.9 percent compared to January home sales despite the Region's "Deep Freeze" as temperatures plummeted.


A total of 423 residential properties were sold compared to 436 the same time last year. Residential sales in February included 250 single detached homes , 44 semi-detached,  31 townhomes and 97 condominium units.

Sales this February showed a healthy increase compared to January and with the recent announcement that the Bank of Canada will be holding interest rates at 0.75%, we should continue to see a steady, stable market for Kitchener-Waterloo.

Single detached homes sold for an average price of $395,285 an increase of 1.2 percent compared to last year.

The average sale price for a condominium was $230,568 a decrease of 0.4 percent while townhomes and semis sold for an average of $301,774 (up 6.8%) and $254,070 (up 3.6%) respectively.

The average sale price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS® System decreased 0.4 percent to $335,740 compared to February 2014 with 42.6 percent of home sales in February occurring in the $250,000-$349,999 range.

Contact me today for a Free Home Value Report or a Home Buyer's Toolkit - I'm here to help.

Where will Light Rail Transit (ION) Take You in Waterloo Region? You'll be surprised!

Here are some of the facts about what the Light Rail Transit System (ION) will do for Waterloo Region.  It will be amazing for our communities!

3 Kitchen Facelifts for Selling Your Home

When selling your home there are little things that you can do such as cleaning scuffs on the walls, changing light bulbs and giving your home a good cleaning to get it in selling condition. However, one of the most dramatic changes you can make to effectively increase the value on your home is to give your kitchen a facelift (if it’s older or dated).

1. Give the Cabinets a Facelift

Old oak cabinets that have yellowed over time are not very appealing to most potential home buyers. There are several ways in which you can change this, in a timely and cost effective manner, without going through the expense of a massive kitchen renovation.

One way to do so is to use the existing cabinets and reface the cabinet doors and drawers. Replacing the doors and drawer fronts only and leaving the existing cabinet boxes, is only a fraction of the cost of a full renovation.

Doors will likely have to be special ordered to fit however, some home improvement big box stores carry an in-stock line of cabinet doors in a variety of colors which could update the look.

2. Pay Attention to Detail

Painting and staining existing cabinets is another way to change the look of older cabinets. I recommend using a paint specifically for melamine if you have the old white melamine cabinets. If you have wooden doors it is best to sand the cabinets with a hand sander  before applying the stain or paint.

Make sure you take all of the proper steps so that you get a fresh look without the old color seeping through. You can even replace handles on doors and drawers to update the look without spending a lot of money.

3. Countertops Help Sell Your House

Perhaps your cabinets are not that old (less than 5 years) but you have post form laminate countertops in a dated forest green or sky blue. It would be worth the money to replace them with granite to immediately increase the value of your home.

When your kitchen is fresh and updated it gives a whole new look to your home. If your kitchen doesn’t scream 1970s it will be more likely to appeal to the younger generations who like more of a modern style.

Contact me today for a free Home Value Report or with any Real Estate Questions.

Advice on How to Buy a Home in Kitchener - Waterloo

Buying a home can be a stressful event, so here is some valuable advice when you decide to become  a home owner!



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