At Home With Valerie

When you buy a home, you need to know exactly what you’re buying. Imagine how frustrated you’d be to find out that the hot water heater wasn’t working—in the middle of a shower!  This is why you should have a home inspection before you buy your home. A home inspection is an important part of buying your home. Before you hire a home inspector, ask candidates a few questions to make sure you hire a trustworthy inspector. 1. What does your inspection cover? Not all inspections are the same. Ask for copies of previous home inspections so you can see exactly what they will check inside the home. If you are concerned about something specific, like a leaky faucet in the bathroom, mention that to the inspector so they can check it out. 2. Are you licensed or certified? If you live in a  province or state that licenses home inspectors, ask to see their license. At the very least, choose a home inspector who belongs to American Society of Home Inspectors or the Home In...

You’ve got a new job offer across the country and you are planning to pack your things, buy a new home and make the big move. However, when you tell your 17 year old daughter your plans, she lets out a mournful wail and cries that it is not fair. How can you possibly take her away from all of her friends, her favorite hangout spots and the cute boy she just started seeing? Moving house is a difficult transition and it is even more traumatic for teenagers. The teenage years are an important stage where young adults establish their individuality and independence and during this time their social circle is extremely important to them. Being removed from that against their will can make any teen feel sad, confused, angry and resentful. Also, fitting into a new social scene in a different location can be a challenge for a teen that might be singled out as the “new kid”. How can you help your teen during this transition so that the experience will be easier on them? H...

You will want to make the process of shopping for a home as productive and enjoyable as possible. After all, you'll be on a quest to find your next dream home. That's why it's important to take the right things with you: A digital camera, so you can take pictures of the features you like in the properties you see. A notepad, so you can take notes. Measurements of your largest pieces of furniture, so you can confirm they'll fit in the rooms of properties you like. A measuring tape. Some healthy snacks and beverages, (especially important if you're taking the kids along). A map of the area, so you can check out local parks and other neighbourhood features. Clear driving directions to each of the properties you want to see. One of the best ways to shop for a home, and actually enjoy the experience, is to work with a great REALTOR®.

When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in. One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars. Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your home. Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery like a cedar hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit. Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back door. Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed with a ti...

Thinking about installing wood floors? The first decision you need to make involves the type. According to the National Wood Flooring Association, there are four types: Unfinished . This type requires you or your installer to sand and apply a finish.  If you want a specific colour or style, or you're trying to match existing flooring, this might be the best option for you. Factory finished . As the name suggests, this is flooring that has its finish applied in the factory. Although it is more expensive, factory finished flooring can be installed faster and can be walked upon immediately. Solid . This is flooring that is made from a solid piece of wood, top to bottom. The advantage is that it can be sanded and refinished many times over the years, or even decades. Engineered . This is flooring that is made of thin layers of wood pressed together. It can be engineered to be very durable and expand and contract less than solid flooring. The type you choose depen...

Have you had a hard time landing your dream home in a hot market?  If you have been through the bidding wars and have come up short, here’s a tool that might give you an edge in the next round of offers. If you have ever experienced the disappointment of losing out on a home in a seller’s market, you want to do everything possible to keep it from happening again. One tactic many buyers overlook is the “love letter” written to sellers about their home. Rationally, you might expect the highest offer will always win the home, but there are a host of other factors involved. Some are emotional. Some sellers want to see their home go to a buyer they not only trust to close the deal, but they also like personally. Want to give yourself an edge? Craft a short “love letter” to go with your offer. Here are the basics you’ll want to cover in your letter: 1. Explain how much you like their home. Don’t go overboard, but prove to them you know the home and you truly appre...

It starts innocently enough... you pass a house in a neighborhood you like, you hear someone is selling their home, you happen to look up home prices online. Before you know it, you’re knee-deep in home shopping and open house visits. This can actually be exceedingly dangerous to your financial future. Falling in love with a home before you actually know what you want in a home is risky. To avoid the “buy first, think later” syndrome that burdens family finances, marriages, and work life, ask yourself these important questions: 1. How much do we want to spend each month on home expenses? There’s a tendency for people who shop first to try and “make the math work” on purchasing a home. Often this leads to stretching the home budget and ignoring crucial expenses such as maintenance and property taxes in order to “make the mortgage.” Determine a comfortable, conservative range for home expenses first. 2. Which neighborhoods make sense from multiple angles? You may love a ...

Many people only see a doctor when they're sick or have some other health concern. On the other hand, some people visit a doctor regularly for check-ups, to ask questions and get advice, and to maintain good health. Which do you think is the better approach? Obviously, the second one! The same thing is true when it comes to real estate. Even if you have no current plans to buy or sell a home, there are many reasons to talk to a REALTOR ® regularly in order to maintain your good "real estate" health. For example, you can: Get an assessment of the current market value of your home, so you can make an informed decision about whether to stay or move.      Ask about the state of the local real estate market (which may be vastly different than what you hear on the national news.) Find out what homes are currently selling for in the area. Learn what's currently available on the market, especially in neighbourhoods you would like to live in and that ...

The responsibilities of owning a home don't have to feel overwhelming-they can be fun!   Taking the care, upkeep, and maintenance of your home into your own hands can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor.   Why not kick off the New Year by taking charge of a few projects around the house? FIVE TIPS FOR DO-IT-YOURSELF WORK AROUND THE HOME Make a list: Spend some time taking stock of the kinds of maintenance and improvement projects you'd like to begin.  A well-considered list will help you to set reachable goals. Assess your skills: Make sure that you carefully consider which projects you are fully capable of completing.  For example, unless you have sufficient experience with electrical, plumbing or construction work, you should probably leave those tasks to the professionals. Establish priorities: Which projects are most important to you?  Which projects will be the most costly?  Which is more important:...