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.

Keep Your Chin Up And Your Costs Down.

So it's spring time, you're out hunting for a new dream home and finally find something perfect! It's got the hardwood you wanted, the granite counters, huge ensuite bathroom, and looks move in ready. Looks, is the key word. Unfortunately while you were bedazzled by the decorations in the home, you missed some key indications of the home. Now the inspector you just paid $500 for is telling you there are some water issues. Could be a busted toilet, curling roof shingles, and worse maybe some structural issues. Would have been good information earlier no? That's why I always keep my chin up when showing homes. You keep your eyes on what matters to you, while I keep mine up to ensure you get everything problem free.

Ceilings can come in many different materials these days but each kind should be looked at closely to notice different possible issues. The first being water problems. It's important not only to repair the damage, but find the root of the problem and have it dealt with asap. There are various types of staining and you should know the difference in them.

Mold is a big threat when moisture remains in the ceiling and the space above it. It doesn't take long for mold to begin growing, so making moves quickly and getting everything dry as possible is the best way to go. Not only a health hazard, mold can cause structural damage to the home if left to grow. Mold removal should be done by a professional and be able to warrant their work.

Minor ceiling cracks are not uncommon and usually is just the home settling. Even older homes can continue to settle for decades. Minor cracks can be repaired easily. I got all contacts no matter what the material. Major cracking can be due to structural issues and should be assessed by a professional before repair or replacement.

Paying attention to the ceiling can really pay off by getting the small problems before they can become big ones. I've been on hundreds of home inspection and I know what to look for so you aren't going in blind. Give me a call or shoot me an email now to help you find your next dream home!

Freezing Pipes in the winter

2011 and guess what? It's still freezing cold! Get used to it people this is Canada, and here in Ottawa we get colder than most. I figured today is a better day than most to talk about this topic since it is minus 21 degrees out right now. Most of us have heard about pipes freezing over in the winter and causing many issues for the home owner. No one really thinks of home maintenance during the winter. I get it. Its cold out, nice and toasty in your home and all you can think of is curling up and watching tv. Well unless you're hoping for an indoor pool, don't forget about your plumbing. Here's some things to consider.

FIRST THINGS FIRST - if you don't already know where your water main shut off is, please figure that out, and while your there, put a big tag on it so that everyone else in your home knows where it is too. Got babysitters? Then let them know too. This way, if something does go wrong and water is pouring out of the bottom of your sink you know how to stop it from doing more damage.

WHEN THE GOING GETS COLD, THEM PIPES MAY BURST - Alright so your not a scientist, here's how it works; you leave to go down to Florida in January to escape this awful cold weather, turn the heat down in your home to save costs, gets to -30, the water in the pipes freeze, frozen water expands and BOOM!!!! the pipes burst. So here's what you do before you go away,

• This one should be obvious but, DON'T TURN OFF YOUR HEAT! Turn it down but not off so that the temperature remains high enough to avoid freezing levels.
• Open the cupboard doors underneath the sinks to allow the warm air in the home to circulate into the cupboard and keep the pipes warm
• Turn on your faucets to a very slow drip to keep the water in the pipes moving.
• If you come home and come across a frozen pipe, you can usually unthaw them with a hair dryer.

DO IT YOURSELF........Perhaps. - If you run into a plumbing issue and you think you know what the problem is, maybe you can tackle that problem yourself. OR maybe not. Most plumbers out there make most of their money fixing botched up plumbing jobs from people that "thought" they knew what they were doing. Save yourself the hassle and just call in the pros. ( I know some great plumbers just ask)

So hopefully this helps and you can go away on your vacay and relax not worrying about how big of an indoor swimming pool may be awaiting you when you walk in the door.

Take care of your home, and it will take care of you.

Give me a shout if you have any real estate questions, or if you or anyone you know happens to need a hand in buying or selling a home. amiller@kwottawa.ca

10 TIPS TO HOME OWNERSHIP

Owning a home is a fantastic thing, yet sometimes a great responsibility that gets over looked. To assist you, here are 10 things to try to keep in mind during your home ownership.

1. Take good care of your home
-as a rule try to budget 1 to 3% of your home’s value for maintenance and repairs each year.

2. Build your homes equity
- By Making an extra principal payment here and there when possible, one can decrease the interest paid over the life of the loan.

3. Your home should have a good first impression
- By Keeping your front entrance clear and welcoming you will increase the curb appeal of your home which improves your homes value.

4. Be properly insured
- In most cases you only need to insure the replacement value of your home and personal property, not the land.

5. Love your neighborhood--not just your home
- If you’re not happy with your current neighborhood, start thinking of where you would be happier and let's get planning to get you there.

6. Make improvements
- Statistics show that updated kitchens and baths are the number 1 key selling features in most homes, so spend your dollars there first.

7. Safety is a must
- Install not only smoke detectors but with most homes now having natural gas furnaces it is also important to install carbon monoxide detectors to ensure the security of your family.

8. Go green and improve your monthly costs.
- More and more these days, buyers are looking for more energy effecient homes. Improvements in the insulation of windows, doors, and storm doors can save energy costs and increase your home’s resale value.

9. Stick to Neutral Colours
- If you’re thinking of moving in a year or so, choose light, neutral paint colors, what looks great to you does not always look appealing to all.

10. Know when it's time to move
- Over time people often outgrow a house or neighborhood. If you’re thinking of making a change, please call or email to discuss the next steps.

Canadian Housing Market Bouncing Back

Amid the month-to-month torrent of real estate statistics, economists pegged particular significance on new numbers because they reveal widespread strength at strong prices and showed mounting momentum over a three-month span, carried by what had been the weakest region – the West.

It's a radically stark contrast with the United States, where prices – after three long years – are still falling, down a third from their bubble peak.

In Canada, buyers are back, sales are surging, and prices are edging up. “People thought the world was coming to an end,” said Mr. Stewart, a top-selling agent at his Century 21 office near
False Creek in downtown Vancouver. “Now, the fiscal stimulus and ultralow interest rates have supercharged real estate.”

Almost 150,000 sales of existing houses and condominiums were tallied in the April-May-June period, according to Canadian Real Estate Association data published Tuesday. It was the fourth-best quarter ever since CREA began recording the sales data in 1994, the industry marketing group said.

In frigid January, by comparison, barely 16,000 houses were sold. The “Phoenix-like rise” of real estate sales is the “most astonishing economic development of 2009,” economists at
BMO Nesbitt Burns declared. And even though there are asterisks – the job market remains weak – Canada appears to have skirted “the clutches of a lengthy, painful downturn.”

Nationally, for the April-June period, sales were up 1.4 per cent from a year ago. It was the first quarter that markeda year-over-year advance since late 2007, and the period strengthened as the spring warmed. In June, sales were up 22.8 per cent nationally – and prices climbed 4 per cent. In Toronto, the sales jump was 27.4 per cent, with prices up 2 per cent.

In fact, the average price of a home in Canada has never been higher. At $318,700, the figure is slightly higher than the record set a year ago, pushed up by the flurry of sales in expensive big-city markets.

Pre-approvals

Many buyers call their lender seeking information about financing. In the process, they become pre-qualified. That gives them a good idea of what they can afford, or more accurately, what loan amount they qualify for.

You should take it one step further, however, and ask to be pre-approved. When you become pre-approved, you actually apply for a loan. The lender checks credit, verifies employment, and often verifies that you have sufficient funds to close. Then once you find your dream home, just about the only thing left is the appraisal.

The reason savvy buyers obtain loan approval before shopping for a home is that it strengthens their negotiating position when they make an offer. All sellers want to sell their home to a pre-approved buyer.

Pre-approval can also cut days, even weeks, off the closing process.Pre-approval can really help you to determine your price range, which helps you narrow your choices of homes to buy. You will already know how much you can afford before you even start looking.

Call or email me if you would like the name of a lender to pre-approve you for a loan, or if you have any questions about preapproval. I am happy to help.

Renovation Tax Credit a Hit

A new poll suggests more than one in three Canadians plan to take advantage of the federal government's home-renovation tax credit.
More than eight in 10 questioned in the Harris-Decima/Canadian Press survey said they were aware of the program, under which eligible applicants can receive a tax rebate of as much as $1,350 if they invest up to $10,000 in renovations on their home.

1. What is the Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC)?
The proposed HRTC is a non-refundable tax credit for work performed or goods acquired in respect of an eligible dwelling.
2. What is meant by eligible dwelling?
An eligible dwelling is a housing unit that is eligible to be an individual's principal residence or that of one or more of their family members, at any time between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010.
3. What is the eligibility period?
The credit will be based on eligible expenditures for work performed or goods acquired after January 27, 2009, and before February 1, 2010. Expenditures incurred pursuant to an agreement that was entered into before January 28, 2009, will not be eligible for the credit.
4. Who will be eligible for the credit?
Eligibility for the HRTC will be family based. A family will generally be considered to consist of an individual or an individual and his or her spouse or common-law partner, including children who will be under 18 years of age, at the end of 2009. A family will be allowed a single credit that may be shared within the family.
5. How will the credit be calculated?
The credit will only be available for the 2009 tax year and applies to eligible expenditures of more than $1,000, but not more than $10,000, resulting in a maximum credit of $1,350 ($9,000 x 15%).
6. What are eligible expenditures?
To be eligible, expenditures incurred in relation to a renovation or alteration to an eligible dwelling (or the land that forms part of the eligible dwelling) must be of an enduring nature and integral to the dwelling, and includes the cost of labour and professional services, building materials, fixtures, rentals, and permits.
Eligible expenditures must be supported by acceptable documentation.
For more information please visit https://mail.kwottawa.ca/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://newsletter.coconutapp.com/t/r/l/iiuyjd/jkukeui/r