Durham Region Real Estate Blog

With today’s interest rates at near record lows, many people are recognizing that a mortgage payment on a house can actually be comparable to what they would spend on renting an apartment or home.  Perhaps you’re one of them and are ready to take a step up the property ladder.

For most people, buying a home is the most significant financial investment they’ll ever make, and there’s a lot of planning that goes into a successful transition.  With that in mind, here are a few tips to help you navigate the home buying process:

Consider future needs. Look ahead and anticipate what your family may look like just a few years from now.  If you’re a single buyer, you may someday add a ‘significant other’ to your household.  If you’re a young couple, you may be planning on children.  Or you may already have children whose needs will change within just the next few years.  As they get older, perhaps your children will need a bedroom of their own, or some private play space.  Though additional space may not be needed immediately, it’s important to consider potential future plans for a home.  Keep in mind that there is no such thing as the “perfect” house. Instead, determine what’s essential for the near future – number of bedrooms, approximate square footage, community, etc.  But be cautious.  Look to future needs but don’t overextend yourself buying space you may not ever need.

Remember resale. Purchasing a home is a great long-term investment. However, there are many reasons home buyers may need to move again, such as relocating for a job or a major lifestyle change. Think about the length of time that the home may be owned and during your search, also consider the potential resale value of prospective properties you are viewing.  I can help by sharing such valuable information as the average price of resale homes in the area, how long each property has been on the market and what features increase – or detract – from a home’s value and appeal.

Plan for maintenance and repair costs. Owning a home is a rewarding experience. However, along with a set of house keys come certain responsibilities for upkeep.  A leaky faucet and unkempt lawn won’t take care of themselves, so be sure to include future repairs and maintenance in your household budget.  Keep in mind that certain properties such as condominiums and town homes require less exterior maintenance and might be a good option for those who find the idea of maintaining a yard a bit daunting.

Want to know more about the home buying and selling in the Durham Region?  Contact me so we can talk about the best options for you in today’s market.

Do you have high expectations of your real estate salesperson or are you just happy if they show up, fill in the paperwork and bring you an offer? Do you ask several questions or do you just answer some questions and hope the whole thing just goes away?

Sometimes I forget what it’s like not to know what is involved in the whole real estate process. Sure, for the first time homeowner it’s a whole new process, but it is also a confusing thing for many buyers and sellers. Most people who buy and sell a home haven’t done it in years so the things I consider routine are anything but normal. And forget about those strange circumstances that come up. You have no clue what to do about them!

So what should your REALTOR® bring to the table? A pleasant demeanor. You’re going to spend some time together during the process so you definitely want to work with someone you can get along with. Knowledgeable about the whole process. Does your REALTOR® have experience in dealing with many types of properties and buyers or sellers, or do they only know one market. Is that market a fit for your needs? Experienced. This can go a long way in getting you the results you want. An experienced REALTOR® can help you market your home in the best possible light so that you can get the most amount of money in the least amount of time. They also know how to find the house that’s going to be perfect for you. Trustworthy. The REALTOR® you choose to work with will know a lot about you and your finances, your bottom line, your motivation for selling or buying and any number of other personal details about you. Make sure you are working with someone under a contractual agreement (Buyer’s Agent or Seller’s Agent or both!). You want to make sure that your personal information is kept private so that it can’t be used against you in negotiations. And while I’m mentioning negotiations, you want to have a great negotiator on your side. Someone who can weave their way through the sales talk and fancy nonsense words to get you to the very best deal for you.

I really suggest that we sit down and have a relaxed conversation. What questions will you ask me? What do you expect from the whole experience? I’d love to hear from you!

It seems that life is adding more and more stress on our plates all the time. But how do we handle stress is what sets us apart from our neighbours. In your home stressful things are going to happen, but the place itself should be a source of great joy for you. Sure, a little face lift may be of value, but the building and the feeling you get when you walk into it should be perfect for you. If you feel stressed just pulling into the driveway, it may be time to make a move.

Just because you love where you live, or it was the perfect house when you originally purchased it, doesn’t mean the house is going to perfect forever. Life change, we get older, our families grow larger and smaller. Why shouldn’t our houses change with us? You’ll find that place that was once perfect is now stressing you out. A move to your new perfect place will help.

15 years ago Blair and I bought our perfect home. Blair called to let me know he had found a great house for sale that he thought we would love. As we drove closer to our ultimate destination in Oshawa, my mouth dropped. I knew there was no way we could afford a house in this neighbourhood. Well, afford it we did. Purchased for more than the asking price, firm, with a 20 day closing date. What were we thinking? It all worked out though and Blair could often be heard saying that he would never move from this house.

That was four houses ago. Surprised? Don’t be. The perfect house for you one day may not meet all your needs, or your lifestyle, in the future. Perhaps it is another persons perfect house. Again Blair and I find ourselves living in our perfect house. But for how long, I don’t know. What I do know is that if you find yourself stressed out by your house, forgive yourself for falling out of love with it. Clean it up, list and sell it so that you can get in to your next perfect house and let someone else form a love affair with your home.

Looking after your home will definitely help to maintain the value in it and new paint is a great idea. You can get a completely new feel in each room for a fraction of the cost of new flooring or furniture.

First you must determine how much paint you need.

Measure the perimeter of your room (length and width), and then add the four numbers together.

Multiply the perimeter by the height.

Deduct windows and doors. An average window is approximately 15 sq. ft. and an average door is 21 sq. ft.

Divide by 400 (1 gallon of paint covers about 400 sq. ft.)

Length + length + width + width = total perimeter

Total perimeter x height – doors – windows = Total sq. ft.

Total sq. ft. / 400 = number of gallons needed

Then round up to ensure you have enough paint.

Second, decide which sheen to use. Use a flat paint in a low traffic area then increase the sheen as the amount of traffic increases. Use flat in a living room, flat enamel in a dining room, eggshell in the master bedroom, satin in a hallway, soft gloss in a kitchen, semi gloss in a kids bedrooms and high gloss on doors and trim.  Of course, a satin could work well for walls in all the rooms and then you could just try the semi gloss or high gloss paint on the doors and trim.

Third, decide on a primer. Tempted to skip the primer? Don’t! Primer not only provides a good surface for he paint by helping to even out the surface’s porosity, but is also brings out the paint’s true colour. Some primers have specific formulas to address certain problems such as hard to hide colours, glossy surfaces and stains. Using a high quality primer ensures a durable, even finish with more accurate colours. It can actually save you time and money too!

Fourth, prepare the surface.The great majority of paint failures are attributed to inadequate surface preparation. Clean and dry the surface but removing all dirty, dust and grease and dull the glossy surfaces with a liquid de-glosser or sandpaper. Repair all surface imperfections, fill all cracks and seams with paintable acrylic caulk, fill holes with a patching compound and then scrape or sand any peeling paint. Finally , prime all the areas.

Now it’s time to paint! Use painter’s tape to mask off any areas not peing painted. Cover furniture and floors with drop cloths. Sitr paint throughout the painting process and if you are using multiple cans of the same colour, mix them together for the best uniform colour. Prime the area to promote hide and adhesions. Painit the ceiling first by brushing a 3 inch border then begin in a corner and roll across the ceiling in 3 foot sections. Finish with long, even roller strokes across the entire ceiling. Paint the walls next. Paint only one wall at a time by brushing a 3 inch borger around the ceiling, floor, tim and corners. Always maintain a wet edge. Working in a 3foot x 3 foot area, roll a large “W” onlto the surface. Now fill in the “W”. Work hoizontally across the room, moving from side to side. and continue the pattern across the wall. Finally, paint the trim and remember to leave the windows open for at least one hour to prevent sticking to newly painted sills.

Once the room is painted and the clean up is done, take a picture and email it to me (I’d love to see the new room) then sit back and enjoy your handiwork!