The Latest in Kitchen Fire Prevention. What You Need to Know. More fires start in the kitchen than in any other room. Those fires can be expensive; since even a minor incident, with no injuries, can result in significant damage. That’s why it’s important to keep up with the latest in fire prevention. The most recent research tells us: • Never leave cooking food unattended. Doing so is the number one cause of kitchen fires. • Make sure cooking appliances, especially deep fryers, are safety certified by the appropriate government agency. • When using oil in a frying pan, always heat slowly at no more than a medium heat setting. • Always turn off stove burners and other cooking appliances immediately after cooking. • Never attempt to put out a grease fire with water. Use baking soda or a fire extinguisher. • Never remove or cover up a smoke detector due to nuisance alarms. The one alarm that isn’t a nuisance may save your life. Finally, experts say that if you can’t put out a fire immediately, get everyone out of the home and call emergency services.

“The starting point of all achievement is desire.” Napoleon Hill

Keeping Houseplants Alive when You’re Away When you’re out-of-town, there are plenty of kennels and other facilities that will mind your dog or cat. In fact, the pet-care business is booming! However, the same options aren’t available for your houseplants. So what do you do? First, keep in mind that plants can go for several days or even a couple of weeks without water. This frequently happens in their natural habitats. So if you’re gone for just a few days, your flora will probably be fine. Flowering plants tend to need the most water. Give them an extra dose just before you leave. Also, make sure they are in indirect, rather than direct sunlight. That will help them conserve water. If you’re going to be away for a week or more, consider one of the several products on the market that water plants automatically. Many of these allow you to adjust how much water each plant gets — and when. You’ll find plenty of do-it-yourself instructions for making your own automatic waterer on the internet, from plastic cups with tiny holes in the bottom to upside-down bottles with wicks. These might work, but you’ll want to test them first.

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Damp bathrooms can cause mould and mildew to grow, which can trigger severe allergies. Fortunately, you can control the dampness by following a few simple steps. First, to protect your bathroom from accumulating condensation, make sure you have an effective exhaust fan that is wired independently of any light switches. Modern units are actually able to detect moisture in the air, and can be programmed to automatically remove it. Another way to control dampness is to ensure your toilet tanks don’t run after flushing and have insulated linings to prevent sweating. You can also install insulating wrap on supply pipes. Follow a simple routine of wiping down surfaces (including shower walls) after use as this can be an effective way to prevent saturating the air with moisture. Finally, when renovating, be sure to use water resistant insulation and wallboard.

Simple Ways to Reduce Your Monthly Utility Costs: Many homeowners think there’s not much they can do about telephone, heating, water and other utility expenses. Sure, you may grumble about a high heating bill one month, but what can you do about it? Turns out, you can do plenty. There are several ways to reduce monthly utility costs that can save you tens or even hundreds of dollars. For example: • Shop around for a better phone plan. Then contact your phone company. They might match the rates. • Turn down the thermostat on your water heater. You likely don’t need tap water to be that hot. • Clean the screen on your outside air conditioning unit regularly. (Gently with the water hose.) Dirt and leaves can build up on it, reducing the unit’s efficiency. • Leverage the sun. Open curtains in the winter to gain heat. Block direct sunlight in summer to keep the cool air inside. • Scrutinize your bill. There may be extras you’re paying for that you don’t need. • Play with the thermostat. Experiment with setting the temperature a couple of degrees lower. You might not notice any difference. It’s worth paying attention to your utility costs. Just a few smart moves can save you some serious money.

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Making Your Home Critter Proof You may love animals, but with the exception of your family pets, you don’t want them in your home. Here are some tips for keeping the wildlife around your property where it belongs: outside. • Don’t place bird feeders too close to your windows. Doing so may cause birds to associate a window with food and therefore try to peck their way inside. • Make sure window screens are secure. If you can push a screen loose with your hand, so can a bird or other animal. • Check screens on dryer vents and chimneys. If they are damaged, fix or replace them. • To determine how animals are entering your home, stuff wadded paper in the suspected entry point. If the paper is disturbed the next day, you’ll know where they got in. • Never leave food outside, unattended. After a barbeque, for example, take all remaining food inside. If you do find an animal in your home, never try to pick it up. It may bite or have rabies. Instead, call a professional.

When Is the Right Time to Talk to a REALTOR®? When would you talk to a car salesperson? Probably only once you’re ready to buy a new car. You would do some initial research (perhaps on the internet), get an idea of what you want, and then go to the dealership to meet a salesperson, test drive the car and make the purchase. Although that approach may work when you’re buying a car, it’s not the best approach when it comes to real estate. You see, successfully buying or selling a home requires a lot of planning and legwork. You want the process to go smoothly, the right decisions to be made, and the best possible deal to be negotiated. After all, this is the purchase and/or sale of your home! So, the best time to talk to a REALTOR® is as early in the process as possible. In fact, even if you’re just thinking of buying or selling — and simply want to explore the possibility of making a move sometime this year — you should have a conversation with a good REALTOR®. A REALTOR® will answer your questions, provide you with the information and insights you need, help you avoid costly mistakes, and make sure you’re heading in the right direction. When you are ready to buy or sell, having worked with a REALTOR® early in the process will help ensure you get what you want. So talk to a good REALTOR® when: • You have a question about the local market. • You want to know what your home might sell for today. • You’re interested in checking out homes currently available on the market. • You’re in the midst of deciding whether or not to make a move. • You’ve decided to buy or sell.

Do You Have “Recalled” Products in Your Home? You’ve no doubt noticed the occasional news report about a product being recalled for safety reasons. For example, a car model with a brake problem,or a children’s toy that, under some circumstances, may cause injury.You may not know that these news reports are merely the tip of the iceberg.For each product recall you hear about in the media, there are dozens that get little, if any, publicity.That means there may be products in your home that have been recalled —and you don’t even know about it. It’s a scary thought. How do you find out about recalled products that may affect you? Here aretwo tips.1. Always complete the registration that comes with many products.This is typically done by mailing in a registration card or filling out anonline form. When you register, you’ll be alerted by the manufacturerif the product is recalled for any reason.2. Both Canada and the United States have agencies that list recalled products on their websites. In Canada it’s the Healthy Canadians website at www.healthycanadians.gc.ca. In the United States it’s the Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.CPSP.gov. It’s agood habit to check these sites every season. If you discover that a product in your home has been recalled, contact the manufacturer immediately. Never assume that the reason for the recall won’t apply to you.

What Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Backyard When you put your home up for sale, you want it to look its best to potential buyers. That’s why you clean, tidy and de-clutter every room. Some sellers, however, miss the backyard. You need to pay just as much attention to that space as you do to the interior of your home. The backyard is as important a living space as the family room. To some buyers, even more. Buyers want to see an attractive backyard space, with the grass cut and the hedges trimmed. The more neat and tidy you can make it, the better. Be sure to sweep walkways and wipe down patio furniture. Also, watch out for the following things that buyers do not want to see: • Bags of garage and other waste. • Doggie do-do. (Be sure to stoop and scoop!) • Rakes and other tools piled in the corner. • Cluttered and disorganized storage sheds, pool huts and other backyard structures. • Weeds in the flower beds. • Items stored underneath the deck. • Hoses not stowed neatly. • Electrical outlets and water faucets that don’t work. These are not difficult issues to fix. Doing so will positively impact the impression the buyer gets of your backyard. Do you have a backyard that shows particularly well in the summer? Here’s a tip: Take pictures. Those photos will help buyers be able to appreciate how it looks should you list your home in the winter. Want more tips on making your home show well so that it sells fast? Call today.

Concerned about Condensation on Windows? If you see a haze of condensation on your window, should you be concerned? Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on a number of factors. First of all, an occasional build-up of condensation is normal and often the result of fluctuating humidity in the home. Usually, it’s nothing to worry about. If you’re using a humidifier, try adjusting the levels. If the humidity is being generated naturally, try placing a dehumidifier nearby. Also, remove any plants and firewood from the area, as they can release a surprising volume of moisture into the air. Do you see moisture in between the panes of glass that make up the window? If so, that means the seal has failed and moisture has crept in. Double and triple pane windows often contain a gas (argon, for example) that boosts the insulating qualities of the window. When the seal fails, the gas disappears, making the glass colder and often allowing condensation to creep in. Eventually, you’ll want to get it replaced. If you see moisture build-up anywhere on the frame of the window, particularly at the joints, that could be a sign of water leaking through. That’s an issue you should get checked out immediately by a window contractor.

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If you take care to price your home correctly — that is, at a price that is in line with what similar properties in the area have sold for recently — then you have a good chance of selling it at or near your asking price. That doesn’t mean you won’t get a low-ball offer. You might. So what do you do when that happens? First, understand that the buyer may not necessarily be trying to steal away your home at a bargain-basement price. He might simply be mistaken about its true market value. Of course, he might also be coming in at a low price in the hopes he’ll get lucky. You will never actually know the buyer’s motives. So it would be a mistake to get angry or dismiss the offer out-of-hand. That low-ball offer might end up being the beginning of a negotiation that results in you selling your home at a good price. Your first step is to work with your REALTOR® to determine: • How serious the buyer is. • How qualified the buyer is. (For example, does he have a preapproved mortgage?) • How amenable the buyer is to a counter-offer that reflects the true market value of your home. • What that counter-offer should be. This isn’t an easy process. It takes knowledge and experience to get it right. That’s why working with a good REALTOR® is essential. Looking for a REALTOR® who is an expert at this stuff? Call today.

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How to quickly improve indoor air quality There are many reasons why the air quality in your home may not be at its best. A faulty furnace or an aged carpet are just two potential culprits. Until you get those issues addressed, how do you make your indoor air healthier — today? Here are some ideas: • Check the furnace filter. This is one of the most overlooked maintenance items in the home. Any furnace repair person can tell you stories about filters they’ve seen caked in dust. Make sure those aren’t yours. Air passes through those filters before circulating throughout your home. Replacing a filter takes less than five minutes. • Clean the drains. Drains are a surprisingly common source of odour in the home. Most people only clean them when they’re clogged, but they should be flushed thoroughly with a good-quality cleaner at least once a season. • Turn on the bathroom fan. Not only do bathroom fans remove odour, they also reduce moisture build-up. About 50% of air pollutants originate from some type of moisture; mould being the worst. Professionals recommend you keep the bathroom fan on for at least 30 minutes after a shower. • Clean your doormat. Even if your doormat doesn’t smell, it can be a source of air pollutants. When people wipe their shoes, they transfer pesticides and other outside ground pollutants from their shoes to your mat. Of course, you can always open a window. That’s the most popular way to freshen the air, and it works.

If you own a car, you know there’s more to the cost-of-ownership than just finance payments and gas. You also need to budget for maintenance and repairs. If your car is older, those costs are going to be higher. That’s just common sense. The same is true of your home. It’s wise to budget for anticipated repairs and maintenance. Otherwise, you might be caught by surprise when you find that your furnace stops working and needs to be replaced. That can easily be a four-figure expense. Experts recommend that you set aside 1% of the value of your home for repairs and maintenance. For a $500,000 property, for example, that would be $5,000. That is, of course, merely a rule of thumb. If your home is older, you may need to budget more. Another recommended method is to budget $1 a square foot. If you have a 2,500 square foot home, that would be a budget of $2,500. Again, that number would need to be higher for older properties. When budgeting, consider things that are getting old and will likely need to be replaced within the next three years. Examples include roof shingles, furnace, A/C unit, deck, fence, plumbing, and windows. Depending on the size and model, a new A/C unit will cost at least $5,000. Anticipating that expense will help you plan accordingly and avoid the shock of an unpleasant and costly surprise. Keep in mind that budgeting $2,000 for repairs and maintenance doesn’t mean you’ll actually spend that money this year. But, if needed, the budget will be there, and that’s peace-of-mind.

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