Old Homes Don't Mean Bad Homes.

I got news for everyone out there. New or old there is unfortunately no such thing as a perfect home. All homes are different and all have their own quirks about them that make them unique and one must know what those are before they become costly problems.

The benefits of living in an older home are plenty! The history, the style, the craftsmanship, the way that 3rd stair always squeeks. But owning such a home has its challenges. Maintenance can be tricky and expensive, especially if certain areas have been neglected. Here are some common issues found in older homes.

Energy inefficiency is the one of the key main issue with older homes. Most older homes were built with single-pane windows; maybe those are ok in a tropical climate, but whoever thought that they were sufficient for the temperature changes that we see here in Ottawa, were sadly mistaken.

Insulation in older homes was little to none in some cases and lack of insulation will also result in wasted energy and money. The most important and easiest area of the home to insulate is the attic, but walls and floors above ventilated crawlspaces should be insulated as well if possible. The attic may already have insulation but it may be inadequate by current standards. Not to mention, the type and materials used in older insulation should be carefully looked at and inspected.

If your home has older water pipes, have them checked to identify the material and determine if they need to be replaced. Some older materials such as galvanized steel, iron, and even lead are subject to deterioration and are still in use today even though new construction does not allow them. Replacement options include copper and PVC piping.

Electrical systems can still cause some issues and older types be found a lot homes and may not only be dangerous, but they can make the house uninsurable. Homes in the Glebe and downtown areas where they were constructed prior to 1940 may still have knob and tube wiring. Other homes built prior to the 80's may have aluminum wiring which heats up much quicker than copper and can become brittle over time. Even if no danger is present, we use so much more electricity in our homes now that the capacity of your older system may be inadequate. Only a qualified electrician should attempt any repairs or updates to your home's electrical system.

Foundations can be a tricky subject. Most older homes used stone foundations. During the 50's,60's and 70's, came around block foundations. Both of those types can have issues and your home should be looked at thoroughly to ensure that all is intact with them. Today homes mostly used poured concrete. Not to say that there aren't problems with those as well, but they are generally more durable. You should have someone that can identify any issues before the issues become problems. I have been on well over a hundred home inspections, and I can spot most problems before we waste our money calling in home inspectors to notice the same issues.

All in all, there is no such thing as a perfect home unfortunately. All homes have their problems and the key is to know what your home needs to make it as perfect as it can be.

Successful Staging of Your Home

Be it on Television, Online, or in a magazine, you have probably by now heard of staging. It's clear that staging your home can give you a competitive advantage when selling your home, but most people still aren't too sure exactly what that means or what it involves.

Staging is organizing and decorating your home so that potential buyers can visualize themselves living there. One doesn't need to spend a fortune to stage their home, the key is to figure out your homes best attributes, and highlight them while having few distractions.

Once spring time hits, the market will begin to get flooded with homes hitting the market, staging your home could give it the competitive advantage you need to blow away the competition, here are a few tips to help you get started.

DE-CLUTTER- buy some storage bins and start packing away all those little trinkets passed down from grandma. Store away all your jewelry and other small items. Take special care in the bathrooms and kitchen and put away as much as you can, clearing all items from the counter tops.

TAKE OUT PERSONAL ITEMS- No one cares what your kid got on their last test, nor do they want to see your Christmas cards or pics from your vacation. All of these things will only distract buyers from the great features of your home.

LIGHT AND WARMTH- Make your home welcoming and warm by having it bright. Open those curtains to let the sun flood in. If it is winter, turn up the heat. If it is summer, get that A/C working.

FURNITURE- Make sure your furiture helps show the size of yourrooms. Avoid having excessively large pieces, or too many pieces that take up too much space. Also, that old lazy boy that is formed just perfectly to you, has got to go, sorry.

NEUTRAL COLOURS- Ok so you love the Green Bay Packers, this doesn't mean that everyone is going to love your green and yellow man cave. Stick with neutral colours throughout the home.

QUICK FIXES- Little things add up in a buyers mind. Look for all the small things that could be easily fixed, and deal with the issues.

CLEAN- Should be a no brainer here but you'd be suprised how many homes I see that are not clean. I have lots of great cleaning crews that can do a fantastic job for you so that you can't cut any corners and can focus on more important things.

FINAL TOUCHES- Some flowers for the table, candles on the mantle, throw pillows for the couches and beds. All sorts of little things to splash a bit of colour will do wonders on a lasting impression. I have a great design team that can help you with that as well.

The time of year is coming, homes will be sold for top dollar and in short time periods. Give me a shout to allow me to help your homes be one of them so we can get you into your dream home that much quicker! amiller@kwottawa.ca

Remodelling Your Bathroom

Many clients of mine have recently been considering doing some renovations in their home. It seems to be a common question as to where their dollars are best spent. Well its no secret that the most important rooms of your home in buyers eyes tends to be the Kitchen and the Bathrooms.

The bathroom is a great place to spend your dollars and actually get the money back when you resale. It usually is the first place to start because of outdated features, different decorating taste from the previous owners or simply normal wear and tear on a very functional room of your home. Well if you have been thinking of remodelling, here are a few things for you to consider:

Resale Value - Resale is something that I ALWAYS discuss with my clients. You may have heard before that bath remodels add value to your home. These days you can recoup about 64% of the costs of a minor bathroom remodel, according to Remodeling magazine’s “2010-11 Cost vs. Value Report.” If your bathroom is especially in need of updates, you may recapture more.

Costs—Good News - Contractors are always eager for work, and prices are lower for their materials and labor, so now may be an ideal time to make your bathroom more livable.

Timely or Timeless Style - This is a huge problem that I see when people are redoing their bathrooms. Before you remodel, think of what it will look like in a couple years when you sell your home. Will you and possible buyers still like the look and style? Hopefully they will, otherwise they’ll factor in the cost of their own remodel when making an offer. Then all your hard work will be for nothing.

Too Much Cost? Think Small - If you’re not ready for a full remodel, then a fresh coat of paint, new towels and a pretty framed print can do wonders to update your bathroom—and give you a new look for 2011. If you have those old fixtures that are a stunning shade of pink, blue, yellow or even green, there are ways around completely replacing them. There are several companies out there that will refinish those fixtures in more neutral colours. Keep in mind though that those old toilets use up a LOT of water and if you choose to replace it, you will eventually get your money back through savings on your water bill.

Remember, it's you and your family that have to live there now, so ensure that whatever you do, you can handle brushing your teeth in there day after day. Balance that with how perspective buyers will like it, and you have yourself a winning recipe.

If you need any contact info for contractors, designers, or for people to refinish those old fixtures please don't hesitate to ask.