Real Estate Blog - homeowner

Homeowner Checklist! [INFOGRAPHIC]

1. Figure out how much you can afford to spend on a home, including mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

2. This will give you an idea of how much you can borrow and help you narrow down your search for a home.

3. A good agent can help you find the right home, negotiate the price, and guide you through the buying process.

4. Consider factors such as proximity to work, schools, and amenities, as well as the overall safety and desirability of the neighborhood.

5. Before closing the deal, have a professional inspector examine the property to ensure there are no major issues that could cost you later on.

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Open-Plan vs Traditional Living Space: Which One is Right for You?

As a homeowner, one of the biggest decisions you'll make is choosing the right living space for your lifestyle. The two main options are open-plan and traditional living spaces, and each has its pros and cons. In this post, we'll explore the differences between the two and help you decide which one is right for you.

What is Open-Plan Living Space?

Open-plan living space refers to a design that combines the kitchen, dining, and living areas into one large room without walls. This type of living space is popular in modern homes and is often associated with a contemporary and casual lifestyle. The open-concept design allows for more natural light, better traffic flow, and a sense of spaciousness.

Advantages of Open-Plan Living Space

1. …

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How to Save for a Down Payment While Renting

Renters across Canada have been struggling with rising rent costs and wondering how they will be able to save for a down payment while renting. However, with some money management tricks and adjustments to your daily living, you can save for a down payment. It might go slowly, but every little bit helps. Here are some tips to save for a down payment while renting.

1. Make a Budget and Stick to It

Making a budget is the easiest way to make your financial goals happen. When you have a plan for where your money is going, it puts the power back in your hands and gives you an idea of how long it will take to save for a down payment.

To make a budget, write down your monthly income. Then, list your monthly expenses, including your savings goal.…

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Fire Safety and Prevention Tips for Your Home

Fire safety in the home is essential throughout the year, though extra attention is encouraged during colder seasons as we fire up our heating systems and turn to candles to create warm atmospheres. There are simple, yet preventative, steps you can take to reduce the risk of fires in your home to keep you, your loved ones and your belongings safe.

This article will assess some of the key hazards in our homes we tend to overlook as well as the major, life-saving effect of working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Fire hazards in your home you may not realize

Some fire hazards are easily identifiable, including unattended cigarettes or fire-burning candles, but there are some less obvious dangers we often overlook. Be sure to add these…

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How to Create a Homeowner’s Journal

Once you become a homeowner, you can forget about calling the landlord or superintendent if something breaks—you’re now responsible for maintenance and repairs. Let’s face it: there’s a plethora of tasks and projects to stay on top of to keep your home in top shape, everything from replacing the furnace filter and cleaning your gutters, to testing your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and winterizing your lawn. You also have lots of important paperwork to keep track of, such as warranties and manuals for your household appliances and systems. The best way to stay organized is by creating a homeowner’s journal. Here’s how to get started so you don’t find yourself drowning in random reminder notes.

What is a homeowner’s journal? 

Simply…

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How Severe Weather Can Damage Your Home

Mother Nature can be unpredictable. Some storms can be intense, with strong winds and heavy rains causing instant and noticeable damage. Other times, storms may be less intense, but still cause damage you might not even think to check for, which can ultimately cause bigger problems later down the road.

It’s difficult to predict how strong a storm will be when it hits,t or how much damage will be caused, so it’s best to beprepared. Here are some of the most common signs of storm damage on homes, so you know what to look for next time your area is hit by severe weather.

What are the most common damages after storms? 

Thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, ice storms, high winds, and heavy rain can develop quickly, with the extent of…

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Canada’s Weirdest Homeowner Laws

If you are a homeowner in Canada, you may or may not be aware of a number of related to what you can do on your property and what you can keep as a pet. Some of these might make little sense because they were passed more than a century ago. Some make a bit more sense. A few are simply laughable. Let’s have a look at a few of Canada’s weirdest homeowner laws.

Canada’s weirdest homeowner laws

Painting Laws

In Ontario, Ottawa and its suburb of Kanata are biased against the colour purple since it is legal to paint your house or garage door in any other colour. But if you paint them purple, it is against the law and punishable by a fine.

Meanwhile, in Beaconsfield, Quebec, you can be sued for painting your house more than two colours. The best…

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10 Tools Every Homeowner Needs

Even if you don’t consider yourself handy—and there’s no shame in that—having a well-equipped toolbox is a must for every homeowner. You never know when you’ll need to screw a cabinet handle back in, hammer down a floorboard, or tighten a loose pipe until a professional can do a permanent fix. Your toolbox doesn’t need to rival that of Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor’s, but there are some basics you’ll want to gather up. 

We asked Mike Sexton, owner of Double Check Handyman and Shed On Site in Fredericton, New Brunswick, to give us some insight to the 10 tools every home should have. 

1. A hammer

This is probably the one everyone thinks of, but not all hammers are created equal.

“There are a couple of different kinds,” says Sexton. “Don’t…

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Extend Your Summer: 3 Ways for a Screened-In Deck or Porch

Have you ever had your relaxing moment on the deck disrupted by a pesky wasp? Or have you been bombarded by mosquitoes when all you’re trying to do is just enjoy a nice dinner with friends? Decks and porches are fantastic—no doubt about it! They let us relax, work, and entertain while enjoying the fresh air and sunlight, which can help boost your mood and get you a dose of vitamin D. But, bugs driving us back inside are an unfortunate part of being outdoors.

If you want uninterrupted deck or patio time, here are three screen solutions to keep the insects and rodents at bay. 

1. A pop-up tent

If you want a temporary method for screening in your deck and turning it into a bug-free sanctuary, consider purchasing a pop-up tent with screen…

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What Is a Lien on a House?

Liens often have negative connotations for homeowners. Yet if you’re reading this article, you may be surprised to find out that you already have a lien on your home and that liens are not always as bad as they sound. Here’s what you need to know.

Understanding How Liens Work

A property lien is a legal claim against a property, allowing the creditor to use it as collateral to collect what they’re owed if the debtor cannot make payments.

Consider this common scenario to better understand how liens work: taking out a loan to finance a purchase. To secure loan repayments for the duration of the contract, the lender will use one of your assets as collateral. In most cases, the chosen asset will be your home. However, if you fail to repay the…

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