Considering Purchasing A Home? Here Are Some Tips

You have made a decision to purchase a completely new home. But before you sign anything – in fact, before you even start looking – take a close look at your way of living, and get the responses straight down on paper. How you live can without a doubt allow you determine where you live; things like pastimes, the amount of socializing you do, just how much hours you spend at home, and even what sporting activities you get pleasure from – all these may have a effect on the home you ultimately opt for.

It’s interesting, but a majority of folks don’t give as much consideration to their way of life as they do to the structure quality of the home.

While a profile needs to be created for each family member, form a list for the family as a whole, charting family priorities or the strongest and weakest tastes of each member. It might be difficult to fulfill every person’s wish list equally, but this kind of user profile is going to specify which components are generally most important to all.

Likewise, writing it down don’t just helps keep them in mind when you’re house-hunting, but could also make you aware about traits you could have in any other case neglected. The following are some points to bear in mind in drawing up the profiles.

Recreation. The majority of people enjoy some kind of leisure-time activity, whether a sports activity or a hobby. Regardless, it could have an impact on the home you decide on. In case you lean toward active sport, then you certainly should look for a home and community that allow you to fulfill these requirements handily and simply.

In case you are still working, to enjoy the most time at home, opt for a site suitable to your job, or very near to a fast commute. And in the event that your spare time is limited, chances are you’ll want to have a home in an area where virtually all of the outdoor maintenance is done for you. Residence living is the greatest option for a low-maintenance lifestyle that amplifies spare time.

Exactly how effective do you reckon you will be in starting a new way of living? Most individuals are creatures of habit in certain regard and they follow the same likes and dislikes and pursuits even though they’ve moved to a different location. Other individuals regularly develop new interests and new approaches to have a great time. People are most likely to be pleased in a home and neighborhood which gives them precisely the same fulfillment they enjoyed before.

Could there really be room for everything? You could have an amount of china or artwork, an excellent library or wine cellar. Your kids may have favorite items, too. Select a home in which these items can be shown and cherished.

How about price? Exactly how much do you want to invest in your home in relation to other interests? A mature adult couple now residing in a single-family home may decide to use their resources to move into a similar condo. In contrast, a more youthful couple may want to spend more on a home in a recreation-oriented community for them to enjoy activities that would cost them much more individually.

As you answer these questions regarding your personal way of living, you may discover additional questions you should ask yourself, to help you to determine precisely how you desire to live. Once you answer them all, the search will be a lot simpler.

How to Save on Your Fall Home Improvement Projects

A photo of a home renovations professional
Homeowners tackling renovations may be eligible to receive grants of up to $5,000 when incorporating more energy-efficient solutions!

(NC)— The Government of Canada has renewed the ecoEnergy Retrofit—Homes Program from June 6, 2011 until March 31, 2012. What does this mean? Homeowners tackling renovations may be eligible to receive grants of up to $5,000 when incorporating more energy-efficient solutions.

Not sure where to start? The experts at The Home Depot Canada can help with a few of the most common home improvement projects that are eligible:

Remodeling the Bathroom

A cost-effective way to update the bathroom is to install a more modern vanity. Looking to a new unit similar in size to the existing footprint is smart—and a matching sink and new low-flow faucet will make the investment a good one. To take full advantage of the ecoEnergy Retrofit—Homes Program, consider adding one more update to the remodel—a new ecoEnergy approved low-flush or dual-flush toilet (that comes with a rebate of $65). This rebate can even be applied to up to four replacement toilets per home.

Finishing a Basement

A finished basement is a great place to entertain and enjoy as a family. Did you know that insulating this space could cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 20 per cent? Not to mention possible rebates of $125 to $1250. A warm basement and cash back—the perfect combination!

Winterizing for Cold Temps

With air leakage accounting for 30 to 40 per cent of total heat loss in a home, fixing drafts before the mercury dips can add up to big savings. Bigger projects, such as installing ENERGY STAR® qualified windows and doors, can save up to 12 per cent on the average energy bill and provide a rebate of $40 per rough opening (the structural framing in a wall or roof that separates a heated space from an unheated space—creating an opening for the installation of a window)

To find out more about the ecoEnergy Retrofit—Homes Program and whether other provincial incentives are available, visit www.homedepot.ca/ecoenergy

Source: www.newscanada.com

If you are thinking of buying a home, Selling your existing home, downsizing or relocating to another city – put the experience of a professional realtor to work for you. Burlington Real Estate Agent, Lori VanDinther wants to help you Make the Right Moves!

Simple Staging Tricks to Sell your Home

 

Photo of a decluttered and clean kitchen
A clean and de-cluttered home presents better and sells faster on average then a home with clutter

Staging your home for sale requires a plan of action, an objective eye and time to follow through. There are simple home staging tricks to help showcase your house in its best possible light. Some homeowners will enlist the services of a professional home stager, while others will take on the task themselves. Here are some simple staging tricks that offer huge impact.

If you love color and rooms in your house are painted in rich, saturated tones it’s time to put on your painter’s hat and repaint. Colors that are neutral such as white, beige and light grey will appeal to the largest amount of potential home buyers.

De-cluttering will result in rooms that feel bigger. Remove large pieces of furniture that get in the way of natural traffic patterns. Be prepared to store excess furniture in the basements of family members or even rent a storage unit if you have to. Take time to de-clutter closets since prospective buyers may open your closet doors. Be ruthless when it comes to removing accessories and sentimental pieces. Family pictures, children’s artwork, religious artifacts and trophies are best boxed and stored. A good rule of thumb is, once you think you have de-cluttered every room, do a walk through with a good friend and see what else you can remove!

During an open house, you have a short time to make a positive first impression. It may sound obvious but make sure that your house is spotless. Bathrooms and kitchens must be impeccable. Clean light fixtures, wash cupboard fronts, make floors shine and wash windows inside and out. Remove soiled rugs and have carpets and furniture professionally cleaned. If the sofa is looking too tired to be cleaned, cover it. Everything must be in perfect condition. Make plans to board pets with a friend while showing your house.

You don’t have to completely renovate your home but consider relatively inexpensive fixes such as replacing a tired kitchen counter or sink, or adding new drawer handles to kitchen cupboards. Fix leaky faucets, light switches and broken windows. You aren’t expected to do major repairs unless there is something that might fail a home inspection.

Finally, use decorator tricks to reintroduce warmth. Beautiful flowers in vases will add a nice touch to any room in the house. Replace heavy drapery with light linen ones for a fresh look. New pillows can add small punches of color. On open house day, put a fresh fruit bowl in the kitchen or display freshly baked cookies on a platter. Turn lights on in darker rooms and leave all doors open. After all of your home staging efforts and with the guidance of a professional realtor, watch your house sell in a timely manner!

Thinking of selling your home?

For more helpful advice from a professional Burlington Real-Estate Agent visit Lori VanDinther’s Burlington Homes Website.