“We don’t grow unless we take risks. Any successful company is riddled with failures” – James E. Burke
RE/MAX
January 28, 2012
January 25, 2012
Home Maintenance Schedule
Regular Home Maintenance is Key for Your Home’s Heath and to Protect your Equity
Inspecting your home on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best way to protect your investment in your home. Whether you take care of a few tasks at a time or several all at once, it is important to get into the habit of doing them. Establish a routine for yourself, and you will find the work is easy to accomplish and not very time-consuming. A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common — and costly — problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later.
By following the suggestions here, provided by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), you will learn about protecting your investment and how to help keep your home a safe and healthy place to live.
If you do not feel comfortable performing some of the home maintenance tasks listed below, or do not have the necessary equipment, for example a ladder, you may want to consider hiring a qualified handyperson to help you.
Seasonal Home Maintenance
Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months. Over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof.
While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year-round:
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Timing of the seasons varies not only from one area of Canada to another but also from year to year in a given area. For this reason, we have not identified the months for each season. The maintenance schedule presented here is, instead, a general guide for you to follow. The actual timing is left for you to decide, and you may want to further divide the list of items for each season into months.
Winter
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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.
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January 13, 2012
New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home
Now that the holidays are behind us, many of us will take a small sigh of relief and turn our focus to the indoors as we recharge our batteries and await the warmer seasons that still seem a long way off. This is a great time to turn some of your energy to small, inexpensive, but valuable things you can do around your house. Zoomer Magazine has some great ideas for you to make the most of your time indoors with these winter resolutions for your home.
Check the alarms. Your life may depend on them, so take a few minutes to test your fire alarms, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. Change the batteries if needed (they should be changed once a year), and give the devices a vacuum if you notice dust and spider webs. While you’re at it, check the locations and dates on your fire extinguishers too.
Change or replace your furnace filters. Haven’t changed or cleaned your filter in a while? Experts recommend cleaning or replacing filters once a month during the winter to ensure your furnace is running efficiently. Also, give your ventilation system a check every other month.
Install a programmable thermostat. There’s still time to do something about high heating bills. These gadgets are inexpensive (many cost under $100) and will often pay for themselves within a year.
Plug the leaks. The chillier and windier the day, the more the cold will want to move indoors. Now’s the time to “feel” the leaks and drafts that are affecting your home energy costs. If you can’t do something about them now — like weather-strip the windows or put up plastic sheeting — then take notes on what repairs you’ll need to do in the spring.
Watch for unwanted water. While you’re playing home detective, look for frost, ice or condensation — on your windows, in your attic and around vents and fixtures. It could signal air leaks, and warn you of mould or damage that could build up over the months. Any drips or water coming in from outside could become a problem when the spring thaw and rains hit.
Hunt for safety hazards. Loose rugs, squeaky steps, clutter and untamed cords can lead to household accidents. Look for hazards inside and outside your home and do something about them, like securing rugs and keeping your entranceways clear of boots.
Ditch the toxic trash. Got some new electronic gadgets for Christmas, or want to stop living alongside toxic trash? Plan a trip to your local hazardous waste facility to get rid of old electronics, old paint cans, cleaning products, expired medications and batteries.
De-clutter a room. Free up some space and even earn a little cash for your RRSP or TFSA. Designate an area to tackle, whether it’s an entire room, a closet or even a bin, and clear out items you aren’t using.
Lighten up. The right lighting can not only make your home safer, it can add some ambiance too. When the sun sets, look for areas that are poorly lit (especially high-traffic areas and around stairs) and consider installing motion-sensor and emergency lights (a simple night light will also do the trick).
Need a little boost? Consider daylight bulbs or lights that provide a more natural spectrum of light than fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. These bulbs can be pricey, but they can provide better lighting for your favourite hobbies.
Change or add one accessory. A new shower curtain can do wonders for a bathroom, and a well-placed mirror can brighten up a room — but neither requires a major investment of cash. Many home and décor items are on sale this season, so keep an eye on the discounts. If you’re missing Christmas lights, consider a lighting decoration for the window or a dark corner. Look for stars and snowflakes that have a wintery (rather than Christmas) feel, and you can still use them next holiday season.
Tackle a sewing project. It’s the wrong season for a coat of paint, but you can freshen up your décor with a splash of colour. Hit the fabric and craft sales and pick up some material to make an easy project — like cushion covers or a table runner. Watch for printed panels to make a quick wall hanging, or inexpensive fabrics to make a table cloth or new curtains.
Organize the essential stuff. Last — but certainly not least — make it a point to organize your home-related paperwork and bills. Are your receipts and warranties easy to find? Could someone step in and pay your bills if you were indisposed? Do you know — and are you happy with — your level of insurance coverage? Do you have a method for tracking household expenses? Are you paying too much?
Even if you can’t tackle major projects that require ventilation, winter doesn’t have to mean a loss of momentum when it comes to maintaining and updating your home. Make any necessary repairs, update with an accessory or simply make your home a nicer place in which to spend time.
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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.
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December 23, 2011
The Bagogloo Team wants to thank their clients, colleagues and friends for a fantastic 2011! Merry Christmas!
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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.
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December 09, 2011
Balanced conditions set to return to most Canadian housing markets in 2012, while residential values expected to once again set new records, says RE/MAX
Canadian residential real estate defied conventional logic and outperformed expectations in 2011, posting another solid year of housing activity virtually across the board. The trend is expected to carry forward into 2012 as Canadians continue to demonstrate their faith in homeownership, despite concerns over the European debt crisis and its impact on the global economy, according to a report released by RE/MAX.
The RE/MAX Housing Market Outlook 2012 examined trends and developments in 26 major markets across the country. Eighty-eight per cent (23/26) anticipated average price increases by year-end 2011—with percentage hikes ranging from one to 16 per cent. The forecast for 2012 shows the upward trend moderating, but still ahead of 2011 figures. Overall home sales are expected to remain on par or ahead of last year’s levels in 85 per cent (22/26) of markets in 2011—including Saskatoon with a year-over-year percentage increase of 13 per cent and an eight per cent uptick in Calgary, Winnipeg, Hamilton-Burlington and Sudbury. Almost half of Canadian markets will match the 2011 performance, while the remainder should post increases ranging from one to five per cent next year.
By year-end 2011, an estimated 460,000 homes are expected to change hands, up three per cent from the 447,010 units reported in 2010. Sales are expected to climb one per cent to 464,500 units in 2012. The value of a Canadian home is set to climb to $363,000 this year—an increase of seven per cent over the $339,030 posted one year ago. By year-end 2012, the average price in Canada is forecast to appreciate two per cent to $371,000.
The Canadian housing market has demonstrated tremendous resilience in recent years, but 2011 stands out. Instead of responding to economic concerns both here and abroad with a retreat in sales and prices, residential real estate markets actually experienced an upswing in the volatile third and final quarters. While clearly not impervious to the impact, Canadian consumers are intent on making their moves now, in advance of higher housing values and rising interest rates down the road.
Improvement in both provincial and local economies, especially during the second half of 2012, should serve to further stimulate home-buying activity. Calgary, Saskatoon, and Halifax-Dartmouth will likely lead the country in unit sales in 2012, each with a projected increase of five per cent. Regina, Greater Toronto, Saint John, Moncton, and St. John’s anticipate a three per cent increase in home sales next year.
The economic underpinnings support ongoing demand, particularly as job creation efforts continue and unemployment rates edge down further. Nationally, we remain on an upward track, and the confidence consumers have demonstrated in housing over the past decade will prove well founded once again next year. The rising belief in homeownership is key, especially among Generation X and Y—some of whom are making their moves sooner. Boomers and retirees are changing, too. They’re healthier and more active, with longer life expectancy. Overall, we’re seeing an extension of the homeownership cycle, and it’s great news for housing.
While tighter supply levels contributed to steady price appreciation in most major markets across Canada this year, an increase in inventory more in line with years previous should ease upward pressure on average price in the year ahead. The highest appreciation is expected in Regina, where values are forecast to increase eight per cent, followed by Greater Toronto, Halifax-Dartmouth, and St, John’s—each posting a five per cent gain. Overall, 81 per cent of the markets examined are forecast to set new records for average price next year. Noteworthy milestones include Greater Vancouver, which will break the $800,000 threshold, as well as Regina and Kitchener-Waterloo, which will reach the $300,000 mark.
While prices will remain on the upswing, buyers will benefit from greater selection moving forward. Stability or modest growth will characterize sales activity while GDP moves forward at a more muted pace in 2012. Whether markets will meet or potentially exceed projections will hinge largely on consumer confidence. An unexpected call for interest rate hikes could also serve to bolster sales.
Other highlights include:
- Population growth and immigration are major factors expected to prop-up housing demand and household formation in the coming years. Since 2000, Canada’s population has experienced double-digit growth of 11 per cent. By 2031, over 42 million people are expected to call Canada home.
- Investment will also continue in Canada’s major centres, with income-producing properties at the top of the most wanted list. Low vacancy rates and stock market volatility reinvigorated this segment of the market in 2011 and the very same factors are forecast to influence sales moving forward.
- Condominiums are expected to gain an increasing share of the marketplace, particularly in Western Canada and Ontario. A focus on higher density urban growth is impacting purchasing patterns and introducing new, affordable options—critical to the attainability of homeownership as prices continue to move upward.
- Housing stock in major Canadian centres will improve as municipalities focus on redevelopment and revitalization.
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If you have questions, or want advice on Buying or Selling a home, get in touch with The Bagogloo Team of RE/MAX nova by email at info@halifaxmetrohomes.com or call 902-830-9006.
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