Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Info

Have you ever wondered why some light bulbs keep burning out while others
keep working for years? All bulbs have an average life expectancy, but there
are factors that make it so that some bulbs never last as long as they are
supposed to.

If you compute the average life of your bulbs and discover it’s clearly less
than the manufacturer’s rated life, then you may have one of the problems
outlined in this article called Why Light Bulbs Burn
Out So Quickly.

judyh :: Jan.23.2009 :: Interesting Facts :: No Comments »

If you are interested in knowing more about Land Transfer Tax Refunds For First-Time Homebuyers this article gives you some basic information.

Land transfer tax applies to all conveyances of land in Ontario, Canada. First-time homebuyers may be eligible for a refund of all or part of the tax payable.

judyh :: Jan.22.2009 :: Buying :: No Comments »

Many people think they can save a significant amount of money by trying to sell their homes without using a real estate agent. This may or may not be a good thing to do.

Here’s an interesting article called FSBO or Real Estate Agent.

Whatever else you might think, listing with a Real Estate agent will give you access to expertise and resources you simply will not have if you go the FSBO route.

judyh :: Jan.22.2009 :: Selling :: No Comments »

The days are getting longer and before we know it we’ll be itching to get outside and dig in the earth. Why not plan to plant vegetables and well as flowers this spring? The exercise will do you good, and the harvest of your own organic produce will give you a great sense of accomplishment.

While you’re at it, encourage your children with a garden of their very own. Their natural curiosity in bugs, worms and sprouting seeds, can be turned into a fun project that will last all summer and in to the fall. Here are some helpful tips to get you started.

judyh :: Jan.22.2009 :: fun projects :: No Comments »

We’ve all seen it on one of those renovation shows. The reno guys start pulling out drywall or ceilings from bathrooms, basement rooms or kitchens and they discover tons of ugly mold inside the walls.

This has to be one of your worst nightmares when you’re doing a renovation project. Before you get in and have a close look it is almost impossible to know how extensive the mold is. And usually you can’t just wipe it off or ignore it. Mold is a sign of other problems – usually too much moisture and poor ventilation. If you don’t fix the problem it will just come back.

As this article called Renovating? Be Mindful of Mold points out, mold is a potentially serious health issue:

Mold can reduce the air quality in your home. That’s because mold reproduces by launching spores into the air – sort of like a dandelion does. Those spores act as allergens and irritants, particularly to infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems, and can result in a host of respiratory ailments.

For some helpful tips on how to deal with mold – and more important – how to prevent it, check out Renovating? Be Mindful of Mold.

judyh :: Jan.21.2009 :: Renovations :: No Comments »

Here’s an article called Tips for 1st Time Home Buyers.

It is important for those buying a first home to factor in the additional costs of the mortgage when deciding how much they can afford to pay. Watch for other hidden fees too.

For more information contact Peter Hendershot.

judyh :: Jan.19.2009 :: Buying :: No Comments »

Here’s an interesting video about capitalizing on the current sub-prime meltdown.

judyh :: Jan.19.2009 :: Investing :: No Comments »

In neighborhoods all over the world, houses are a reflection of the unique personalities of the people who live inside them. Whether it’s a villa in Spain, a stone flat in Scotland, a bungalow in a small town, or a condo in suburbia, our homes are our castles.

Our strong nesting instinct urges us to customize and enhance our homes, to make them stand out from all the others on our street. We might want to build a charming white picket fence, install shutters, lay a flagstone walkway, or plant a sea of wild flowers where our front lawn used to be.

In this day and age it’s easy to let your pride of ownership shine. Even if you’re a complete novice, having never so much as hung a picture, you can sign up for a how-to seminar at your nearest home improvement store. Pick a project you’d like to tackle, and get started. It could be the installation of a new front door, building a retaining wall, or creating a patio for entertaining your guests.

Pay special attention to your front entrance. Create a warm and welcoming look with natural materials such as potted plants, paving stones and statuary. A unique and charming way to dress-up your front door is with a distinctive door knocker or bell ringer – See some samples here.

You may not realize it, but in the process of feathering your nest, you will also be doing something else. You’ll be creating a rare commodity called curb appeal. So go ahead, trust yourself and indulge your creativity. It will stand you in good stead down the road when you decide to fly the coop.

judyh :: Jan.19.2009 :: Bits and Pieces :: No Comments »

In a post called “Positive Start to 2009” Peter Hendershot says he has been doing a survey of FSBO listings in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. After contacting more than 100 people with FSBO listings, one of his conclusions is, “Almost every single ByTheOwner.com home is over priced – and it’s no surprise why. As agents, we determine asking price, based on what homes are selling for, and we are the only people with access to that information.”

The usual reason homeowners turn to FSBO (for sale by owner) is they think they can save money on commissions. But if a home is not priced right those savings never materialize.

Peter has a special offer for FSBOs. Contact him at 519-885-0200.

admin :: Jan.18.2009 :: Bits and Pieces, Selling :: No Comments »

If you are fairly new to the renovation game you may not appreciate the difference between a handyman and a general contractor. As you become more experienced with different renovation projects, and try working with different handymen who have been recommended to you, it will probably become more obvious what their limitations are.

Generally a handyman is good for small projects which do not require extensive work by a number of different trades people. For instance, if you are doing a complete kitchen makeover you will need a general contractor, because this project will require carpentry, drywall, flooring, tiling, cabinets, plumbing, electrical, ventilation as well as painting and decorating. There may be a few handymen out there who can do all of these things, but when they start bringing in other specialists to help out, they are basically acting as a general contractor.

The best advice is to use a skilled handyman who specializes in specific types of smaller projects – for example, installing new cabinets, replacing a window or refinishing a floor. When you need a larger project done you might discuss it with your favorite handyman, but get advice from a general contractor as well.

You will probably find the general contractor’s approach is more systematic and his prices more firm. Since a general contractor must call in other tradesmen to do most aspects of the project his prices will be less flexible. And because he is using sub-contractors he will almost always charge more than a handyman who is doing most of the work himself.

Handymen usually work by the hour, rather than by the project, so they have a tendency to view their price quotations as “estimates” rather than firm prices. “Estimates” are almost always low – projects almost always take longer than the estimate, and therefore cost more than you expected.

So when dealing with a handyman you’d better make sure you both understand what will happen if the project starts going over budget. If you are not prepared to spend more than the budgeted amount, make sure the handyman knows that. That should force him to take a closer look at his estimates and give you a final price he is prepared to live with if it starts taking longer than he expected.

The best way to find a reliable handyman or general contractor is to ask friends, family or neighbors. Almost everybody has some experience dealing with renovators and tradesmen. Their opinions and advice can save you hours of searching and eliminate the need to set up little test projects to see if your choice was the correct one.

judyh :: Jan.16.2009 :: Renovations :: No Comments »