Archive for November, 2011

You so often hear that everyone should buy a house.  There are, however, some red flags that you might want to carefully consider when making the decision to buy or rent.  If one or more of the following situations apply, you are probably not quite ready to become a home-owner.

• You haven’t managed to save the required down-payment
• Your credit rating isn’t established and/or you don’t qualify for a mortgage
• You are carrying significant debt and wouldn’t be able to afford a mortgage payment in addition to your monthly debt repayment
• You are unemployed or have reason to believe you will soon be unemployed.  Job security is important when you have a mortgage payment that must be paid each month.
• If you love to move – and do so often, owning a home may not be for you.  You have to be prepared to stay in that home long enough to build some equity in it
• If purchasing with a partner or spouse, problems in the relationship might make you think twice about buying – at least in the short-term
• If your job is such that you travel all of the time – it might not make sense to be burdened with the maintenance involved in home ownership
• If the rent you are paying is so cheap compared to your projected monthly payments to own a home, it might be better to stay put and save your money!

Everyone’s circumstances are different and may require a unique approach.  Make sure that whatever path you choose, it’s the right one for you.

Kris

Most people think that you shouldn’t try to sell your home in winter. 

While spring is usually the busiest real estate market, there are some advantages to selling in winter:

• There are usually fewer homes on the market
• A smaller inventory of available homes means less competition
• Because of the weather, people who come to view your home tend to be more “Serious Buyers” rather than “casual lookers”.

There are some things to keep in mind if you plan to put your house on the market in winter:

• Snow clearing is absolutely essential – people must be able to easily and safely get into your home
• Curb appeal is every bit as important in winter as any other time of year
• Ensure there is lots of light inside since there isn’t as much coming from outside
• Emphasize the warmth and coziness of your home.  Make it look inviting!
• Since windows are likely to be shut, make sure there are pleasant smells in your home (freshly baked cookies anyone??)
• Have some photos available of how things look outside in the summer

The most important thing to remember is to give me a call!

Kris

Most people wouldn’t buy a car without knowing its fuel economy, nor would they sign up for a cell phone plan without comparing service rates.  Yet when it comes to one of life’s biggest investments – buying a house – few stop to question how much it will end up costing them to operate that house in the long term.

The process for actually measuring “efficiency” is a complicated one.  The Canadian-made ERS (EnerGuide Rating System) scale goes from 0 to 100 with the average conventional new home falling in the 65 to 72 range.  A home identified as “energy efficient” will score in the 80 to 90 range.   

There are many benefits to doing a home energy audit.  Changes will be identified that could:

• Reduce your yearly energy bill by up to 30%
• Improve your home’s resale value
• Make your home more comfortable year round
• Help you do your part to make our environment cleaner

Such an audit will include a basement-to-attic assessment of your home’s insulation, heating and cooling systems and all other energy uses.  It will include a “blower door” test to detect air leaks and drafts and should always include a personal energy efficiency evaluation report and a list of recommendations.

Many local home inspectors are trained and equipped to do an energy audit.  I can provide you with a list of qualified energy auditors to assist you with this process.

If you have any questions, please give me a call.

Kris

We do these things every year and every year we make a new list.  Here is a checklist that, hopefully, you will be able to use for years to come!

• Shut off the breakers for your central air; turn your thermostat off or to “heat” and place cover over c/a unit.
• Remove hoses from exterior taps, unroll them completely and roll back up to drain all of the water out.
• Turn off the water, from inside the house, and drain the taps
• Empty pots of annuals and rinse out the containers, ready to use for next year
• Trim back shrubs, bushes and perennials and cover any sensitive shrubs or trees
• Make sure your eavestroughing is free of leaves and debris
• Have your furnace serviced/cleaned – and perhaps also your HRV unit and the humidifier if you have one
• Have your fireplace inspected – and if it is a wood-burning one, have the chimney inspected too
• Rake leaves and bag for pick-up or use to provide cover for your garden
• Check the caulking on all exterior doors and windows
• Check your roof and foundations – repairs are far better done in the fall than in the dead of winter!
• Store or cover patio furniture
• Service equipment such as lawnmowers (drain the gas) and snow blowers (tune-up)
• Locate your ice melting products – better now than when you get that first freezing rain!
• Put up your Christmas lights (better sooner than later)
• Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Remove and store window screens (this allows for better circulation around your windows and helps to prevent moisture build-up)
• ENJOY – AFTER ALL, WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN THIS CLIMATE!