At Home With Valerie

Do you ever wonder how most people find the homes they eventually buy?  You might imagine them driving by a “For Sale” sign or seeing a home for sale in the newspaper and then calling to inquire.  Of course, many buyers find out about listed properties that way.  But, according to research by the National Association of Realtors, there are many other — sometimes surprising — ways buyers find their next dream home.  For example: 88% of buyers find a home with the help of a real estate agent. 90% of buyers search online as part of the home buying process. (Such as viewing a property’s profile on the agent’s website.) 69% of buyers searching for a home using Google, use a specific local term, such as “Whitby-south homes for sale”. 29-46% of buyers attend an Open House as part of their home hunting activities. Overall, the research shows that buyers are using a multitude of ways — combining online and offline me...

As you explore the possibility of buying or selling your home, you may come across terms that are unclear, unfamiliar, or new to you.  One thing seasoned professionals in real estate sometimes  take for granted is how the “everyday jargon” of real estate isn’t all that everyday for most people. In the interest of making things along the way as clear as possible, I thought you might like to have this handy reference material published by the Federal Trade Commission.  The 18-page PDF guide is free to download. “The Real Estate Marketplace Glossary: How to Talk the Talk,” contains a “glossary to help you better understand the terms commonly used in the real estate and mortgage marketplace.” You can download the guide online here: https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/one-stops/real-estate-competition/realestateglossary.pdf Naturally, I am more than happy to discuss any of the terms in this glossary. If you have any questions, please don’...

There are thousands of people with a real estate license, but there are important details which separate the great from the merely qualified.  Here’s what every great agent should promise you. There are thousands of licensed real estate agents, but of those licensed, how many are dedicated professionals? Many can make a good first impression, but to truly represent your needs, they’ll need to be able to make good on the promises only pros can make. One way to separate the pros from the merely qualified is to ask them if they’re willing to make some promises about how they conduct their business.  Here’s what any great agent should be able to say from day one: 1. “I promise to keep you in the loop and the lines of communication open.” Communication is fundamental to a working relationship, and a great agent knows that a buyer or seller may have questions and concerns which need addressing as soon as possible. You should never feel your agent is missing in a...

When it’s time to upsize with the family in mind, is it a good idea to go house hunting with the kids?  Here are some pros and cons you may not have considered when it comes to bringing the little ones along. If you need more room for your growing family, or you’re simply relocating to a new town during the summer months, you may be wondering if bringing your kids along on the house hunting journey is a good idea. In my experience, there are pros and cons to having kids with you as you try and find the next family home. Here’s what you’ll want to consider before you bring everyone along to open houses and showings. 1. Liability matters. If you have a newborn strapped to your chest, it might not be much of an issue to walk through a prospective home, but toddlers are a different story. Your home may be kid safe, but not all homes on the market have been prepared to show with a free-range child in mind. Kids don’t necessarily understand this new home isn’t a playgrou...

There’s nothing worse than a deal falling apart because of overlooked or misunderstood details of the home buying process.  Learn about the hidden pitfalls which can end up killing a happy closing day. When you finally find your dream home, the worst thing that can happen is the deal falling through at the last minute. It’s more common than you might think, and the reasons are often surprisingly small.  Fortunately, a little attention to detail and thorough planning can save you from the heartbreak of a buy gone bad. Here are some pitfalls for buyers: 1. Last-minute shopping sprees. Until your home loan has been funded, big purchases are flat out dangerous to closing the deal. Your credit matters and so does your bank balance. Every time they take a hit (say for new furniture, appliances, or even a big pickup truck for moving day), you risk skewing your financial picture in a foul direction. Lay off the buying until you’re in the clear. 2. Not dril...

Smartphone apps assist us in many ways, but homeowners may appreciate them most when embarking on a renovation project. From wall measurements to colour experimentation, there’s a wide range of apps to help simplify tasks and foresee outcomes before you begin. For example, your phone can calculate the square footage of an irregular room’s floor and walls to help calculate required quantities of supplies, or it can act as a level and a plumb – ideal for hanging pictures or building walls. You can also take photos of items and store them in special files for reference, or search curated products of interest, and find out where to purchase them. In fact, there’s even an app that uses your phone’s GPS locator to track the position of the sun from dawn to dusk and season to season. This obviously would be of enormous benefit if you were planning the footprint for new construction, but also useful in planning new window locations, and deciding where to plant trees so they c...

Rather than wait for a household emergency, take time to understand the inner workings of your home’s utility infrastructure. Start by ensuring the whole family knows the location of your main water shut-off valve, so quick action can be taken to minimize damage in the event of a major leak. From there, you can trace the path of your water supply pipes to each faucet. Next, locate your main electrical panel. It should have all room lighting and appliance circuits labelled. If it doesn’t, you should have it done, in order to avoid difficulty in identifying a circuit should one fail, overload or need to be disconnected. After the power, consider your heating and air conditioning. If they are delivered via forced air, then ducts are easily traced from the source unit to the supply grills. Generally speaking, most electrical wiring is threaded through and along wall studs and support beams, terminating at wall outlets, ceiling fixtures and major appliances, whereas plumbi...

Modern, so-called smart appliances, are being designed to offer us more and more convenience and savings.  With their features (such as lighting, heating and cooling) controlled on demand through your phone, as well as the addition of features such as monitoring systems for plumbing leaks, these appliances are getting “smarter” every day. You might enjoy using your phone to have your coffee maker respond to your alarm clock, to communicate with your oven (as it walks you through a recipe), or to regulate air circulation in your home (by adjusting the delivery at each register or grill, room by room).  Homes are already equipped with tablets embedded in the walls of rooms that control utilities, entertainment and home security functions.  So, there’s no doubt that we’ll soon become even more dependent upon smart appliances, as they help shape our modern lifestyle.

What are you afraid of right now? If not outright fear, where do you feel resistance in your life? Is it centered around new technology? Changes in your community? Conversations with people who don’t share your political or social views? Whatever your fear, I would advise you to explore the possibility of embracing it. We gain a great deal when we explore our fear, hold it up to the light, and try to get an objective picture of what, exactly, scares us. Often our fear is basic: Humiliation. Failure. Bewilderment. Embarrassment. As children, we are forced constantly into our fear. From the darkness of a bedroom at night to falling off that bike for the first time, we are in a perpetual state of fear, revelation, and ultimately mastery. As we age, adulthood gives us a terrible power: We’re allowed to stay in our comfort zone. It’s much easier to charge down the path of resistance when authority figures are standing by, telling you there’s no choice. The older w...

Latex or oil-based? Satin or glossy? Choosing the right paint isn’t as simple as it might seem. Here are the basics: Latex. A very versatile paint that looks great on wood or just about any other surface. Because it’s water-based, clean-up is easy. The only drawback is that it’s a little less durable and less water-resistant than oil-based paints. Flat finish. Once dry, this paint has little or no reflective properties. Great for covering up imperfections. Satin finish. This finish provides a soft sheen, like an eggshell. In fact, it’s often called an eggshell finish! Gloss and semi-gloss. These are more reflective and durable. They are often used in heavy wear areas, such as kitchens. Primer. There are many different kinds. Their main purpose is to prepare the surface so that the final paint goes on smoothly and adheres well. They can also be used to cover up existing paint where the colour might otherwise show through. Paint manufacturers and home impro...