Home Improvements

As the saying goes: April showers bring May flowers! This year we will have to change that saying a bit with all the rain we continue to get in May. With more rain in the springtime months of April and May, now’s the perfect opportunity to get your rain gutters in tip-top shape. As a homeowner, you’re probably wondering what the best way would be to maintain those gutters-and I’ve got the answer for you! I’ve compiled a handy list of tips that will help you to save money by doing it yourself.

If you need any additional tips, please feel free to call me at 905-220-9198. Also, if you have friends or family who are in need of real estate service or advice, I hope you’ll give them my name. I’m always happy to help!

FIVE TIPS FOR SAFELY CLEANING YOUR RAIN GUTTERS

Maintenance means everything: Ideally, you should clean your gutters twice per year. Maintaining clean gutters will help you to avoid drainage problems that could potentially lead to more costly repairs.

Climb on up: Borrowing (or investing in) a good, sturdy ladder is the key to ensuring your personal safety and to making the task as hassle-free as possible. Make sure that the ladder is placed on a flat, steady surface, and follow the rule of two: never stand on the top two rungs of a ladder, as it becomes very difficult to maintain your balance.

Protect yourself: Thick, heavy gloves are a must when performing this kind of task. Gutters may have sharp or jagged metal pieces as well as screws or nails that may pose a danger to your hands and fingers. Want additional protection? Safety glasses are also a good idea!

Up on the roof: Santa might find rooftops to be a walk in the park, but for the rest of us, they aren’t generally ideal perches. However, if you have a flat roof or a roof with a low slope, you may find it easier to accomplish the cleaning by situating yourself up top. Always use extreme caution, wear non-slip shoes, and never opt for this choice in bad weather!

Scoop, blast and repair: Once you’re ready to start cleaning, follow a simple three-step process to get the most out of the task. Scoop out any debris, blast the drains clean with a high-powered hose, and repair any leaks you may find along the way.

For more spring maintenance tips or advice, please call at 905-220-9198 or write me at sean.kavanagh@century21.ca

Roofs have always been a concern for buyers, but I think with all the recent shows on TV (e.g. Holmes Inspection), people are becoming more concerned with the condition of the roof as the effects of water damage are quite scary. Every time Mike Holmes identifies roof damage, interior walls are coming down and men in radioactive protective gear show up on the scene to remove all the mould! If you know that your roof will need replacing in a year or two, do yourself a favour and re-shingle the roof before you go to market to avoid losing buyers. On the average home, re-shingling can cost between 3,000-5,000 dollars. Home sellers will get that money back in the asking price as you can compare your house (with a new roof) to the one that sold next door that needs a new roof. The perceived value of a new roof is often much higher than the cost of the improvement.

So, pay for the work ahead of time to give potential buyers one less issue to deal with. Translation: one less issue to try and bring down your asking price!

For a free market evaluation and inspection of your property, call or write today at 905-220-9198 or sean.kavanagh@century21.ca. I would be happy to sit down with you to discuss how to get top dollar for your home.

Spring
Check the gutters – for proper flow and rain runoff. Also, check the hardware to ensure they are secured properly to the house.
Inspect the attic – for water seepage, condensation or even critters that found a warm spot for the winter and decided not to leave.
Examine foundation walls – to see if you have cracks from the winter that could let water in.
Check the roof – to ensure flashing, chimney and vents are in good condition.
Examine the condition of wooden decks, balconies, fences, gates, etc.
Fertilize the lawn

Summer
Inspect and repair roofing shingles (if needed).
Check the brick facing that may need mortar repair.
Examine the condition of doors and windows.
Paint those areas you have been putting off.
Have air conditioner serviced (hopefully before it gets too hot!).

Fall
Check the condition of the central heating system, fireplace (including chimney) and hot water tank.
Examine and reapply weather stripping around doors and windows.
Inspect the attic to see if vents are clear and that you are free of critters.
Clean the gutters.
Fertilize the lawn with Fall Fertilizer.
Reorganize shed/garage – put summer tools at the back and make your shovels, ice scrapers and snow blowers more accessible.

Winter
If everything mentioned above is taken care of throughout the year, you can reserve the winter months for small inside jobs and conserving your energy for shovelling the snow!

2010 has been a very busy year in real estate despite all of the changes that have happened within the industry. With all that has changed, it was interesting to note, however, that buyers still seem to have the same things on their wish list when they go out in search of their next home. Here is a list of the top 5 items that buyers still deem most important when they go out to buy a home .

1) Granite is Still King – You just have to walk into a kitchen store, or even your local home depot, to realize that countertop options are endless. Fantastic products are coming on the market more frequently (Corian, Quartz, polished concrete, etc…), but most buyers still see granite at the top of that list. I am not telling home sellers to run out and replace your countertops today, I am simply suggesting that if you plan on making some improvements in the kitchen, be careful when you decide on your countertop material. Buyers still look at granite as the Cadillac Top and a kitchen with granite will dramatically increase the saleability of the home.

2) Closet and Storage Space – I have had more buyers walk out of homes due to the lack of closet and storage space than anything else. We live in a consumption society and families now come with a lot more ‘Stuff’. Today we collect more ‘Stuff’, so we need more space to store the ‘Stuff’.

3) Master Bedroom Size – Many buyers still want large master bedroom sizes. Even though this one is hard to correct from a seller’s stand point, there are things you can do to the room to make it look bigger. Remove all large furniture pieces (if you have a post bed in a small master, remove the posts), declutter and repaint the walls a light, neutral colour. You can’t change the size of a room, but a brighter bedroom with less ‘Stuff’ will make it seem bigger.

4) Hug a Tree, We are Going Green! – I am having more and more buyers asking me about the efficiency of the home. As a seller, it is a good idea to have an energy audit on your home. Even if you are not going to sell, it is important to find out where you are losing energy and wasting money. However, if you are going to sell, you will want to know how energy efficient is your furnace or air conditioner, how much heat is being lost from the windows, how insulated is the attic, etc…These are just some of the questions you can have answered with the energy audit and you can be sure these are some of the questions potential buyers will be asking when they come in for a visit.

5) Move in Ready Condition – It wasn’t too long ago people wanted to find a ‘Fixer-upper’. For the most part, unless you are in the business of flipping houses, those days are gone. People are now looking to find a home in ‘Move in Ready Condition’. Many people still find housing prices very high and don’t have the financial resources to update the home once they move in. Even if they do have the financial resources, people lead busy lives and feel they will never have the time to do it themselves OR don’t want to be inconvenienced by having a parade of contracted help coming into the house to bring it up to a standard they can live with.

As we get closer to the holidays we can expect activity to slightly slow down compared to the rapid pace we saw in the spring. Even though the market may be slowing, there is no reason to panic as long as you adhere to a few rules that will help improve the saleability of your home at this time of year.

1. Keep it Neutral! Decorating a house to your specific taste is fine if you plan to live there, but if you plan on selling, potential buyers may not share your same taste in home decoration and colour choice. For a few hundred dollars, return all your walls to a neutral colour to solve 2 major issues. Potential buyers are often turned off by extreme colours or wallpaper. I know it is easy for them to remedy themselves, but most buyers will leave the showing with a negative impression of the home if the colours don’t match their taste. The other issue is also related to the first. Many buyers these days do not want to do much work when they take possession of a home. By painting all the walls with a fresh coat of neutral colour, you will give the buyer one less thing to do once they move in!

2. Less Is More – Minimize and ReduceRemove some of your furniture and decorations before you go to market. This will make your home seem more spacious and less personalized. Take down some of the family photos and kids artwork so the potential buyers will have an easier time imagining themselves in that space.

3. The Nose Knows! Keep it smelling fresh, but not too fresh! Whatever you do, do not over compensate and Fabreeze the heck out of your house. I have had buyers walk out of showings because the sellers have used too many strong scented candles or over used disinfectant sprays. It is best to eliminate strong BAD smells, but don’t overdo it! Be mindful of what you cook while your home is on the market, if you have pets, keep an eye on the litter box and try to smoke outside. Strong smells…..Good or Bad…..will have buyers running for the door.

4. Small Changes Make BIG Differences Do not think you have to do major renovations to sell your house. Major renovations should be done for you to enjoy in a house you plan on living in. It is rare a seller will get all of their money back from major renovations, so focus on the small stuff when you plan on listing your home. Repainting, replacing hardware on drawers and cabinets, light switch covers, small fixture replacements, etc… can take a little time, cost a bit of money, but can add significant value when selling your home.

5. Don’t underestimate the importance of “Curb Appeal” You know what they say about first impressions! And remember, the front of your home is the first photo people will see when your home is listed on the MLS. If they don’t like the first photo, they won’t click to see the second. You don’t have to spend thousands on landscaping, but keep the grass cut, remove the weeds from the garden, trim the bushes and trees, sweep the walkways (or shovel in winter). The path to your front door should be a clear and welcoming one, not an obstacle course!

6. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff…..Just Fix It! I always get the question with sellers, “should I do these repairs or should I just let the buyer look after them?” Just like point number 4, if it is small and won’t take up too much of your time, then fix it! If you don’t, it will not only take away from the aesthetic of the home, it may give the impression you do not look after your home. If you give off that impression, buyers will wonder what else needs to be repaired….the roof, the furnace, etc. Also, you don’t want to give the buyer small reasons to ask for big reductions!

Follow these simple rules and you will be sure to sell your home even in the slowest of markets.

As I was looking for ideas on what to do with my own kitchen reno, I found this helpful article in Style at Home magazine. I thought I would share some of those ideas with you in case you were also considering renovating your kitchen.
Renovating your kitchen will add ease to your lifestyle and value to your home. Here are the 10 most important things to consider when you’re updating your kitchen.

1 Use quality materials.
Quality drawer slides and hinges mean cabinet doors will stay closed and drawers won’t stick. Stay away from drawers that are stapled together or made of particleboard. For cabinet interiors, wood veneer is more durable than melamine, laminate, MDF or particleboard.

2 Determine cabinet heights.
If you have eight-foot ceilings, choose cabinets that go to the ceiling. They offer more storage, enabling you to use extra wall space for artwork or open shelves. If your ceilings are higher than eight feet, leave 15 to 18 inches above the cabinets.

3 Decide whether to paint or stain.
Though stained-wood cabinetry is forgiving, most finishes date quickly and aren’t easily altered. Brush-painted cabinets can lend a unique personality.

4 Select an elegant countertop.
White Carrara marble (honed or acid washed and sealed) and stained wood add elegance and warmth. We also like honed Kirkstone slate, soapstone and Wiarton limestone, and plastic laminate with a wood edge for a sophisticated look.
5 Install an island that works.
Beware of placing a bulky cube in the middle of the room. We like islands that have an open, airy look. Ideally, an island should be unencumbered by appliances, but if you want it to house a dishwasher-sink combo or a cooktop, try to maintain the light look of a leggy harvest table.

6 Don’t overdo the details.
Design accents such as pediments over stoves and plaster mouldings on cabinet fronts can represent decorative excess. Remember that the style of your kitchen should be compatible with the rest of your home.
7 Avoid maintenance nightmares.
Natural surfaces with inherent texture — slate, terra-cotta, brick and tumbled marble — are more difficult to clean but camouflage the odd crumb. Smooth surfaces in light colours, such as white laminate counters or ceramic floors, are easy to clean but show everything. And as much as we love stainless steel, it’s not easy to keep smudge-free.

8 Stick to basic appliances.
Instead of lots of appliances and gadgets, consider selecting a few reliable basics. For example, a commercial-quality stainless-steel range makes an interesting focal point and takes up less space than separate wall ovens and a cooktop.

9 Incorporate an adjacent dining room.
A clever design, plus the appropriate lighting and furniture, will let you adapt the room’s atmosphere to suit any occasion. Consider a banquette design combined with slip covered chairs for an efficient use of space.

10 Add interest.
Your kitchen should reflect you, not look like a showroom. Before designing the space, search for a piece of unique furniture and use it in your design — a room full of floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall kitchen cabinets looks boring and uninspired.

If you would like to receive more articles like this, you can sign up for my real estate newsletter at www.seansells.ca.

Have you been fighting the battle of the weeds, brown patches, or sprawling clover? Well, we will look at some lawn care strategies that will help revive your grass into a full, lush, green, weed-free lawn! When real estate professionals talk about curb appeal, it starts with the lawn. Now that spring is upon us and more people are heading out into the yard to tackle the issues left over from a long winter, I have decided to help you out with some tips to regain the health of your lawn.

1) Never cut the grass too short! Leaving the grass longer protects the plant from the sun, keeps it strong and helps resist from weed and clover growth. A thick lawn is the best defence against weeds. Never cut the grass in extreme heat or water shortage as the short grass will burn and kill the plant.
2) When you cut the grass, do not rake or remove the clippings from the lawn. The clipping help keep the moisture in the soil and add nutients back into the ground.
3) Water in the early morning or early evening to increase absorption into the soil and to avoid evaporation from the sun.
4) Speaking of watering, remember to water well! The water needs to penetrate the roots and when the lawn is watered well, you can expect the grass to bounce back.
5) Reseed the lawn every spring and add fertilizer or enriched soil to help out the process.

Following these helpful tips will ensure your grass grows into a full, lush, green lawn.

For more information on buying or selling real estate or if you have questions about current market trends, mortgages or interest rate information, please visit me again on my website www.seansells.ca or call me at 905-220-9198 and I’d be glad to answer any questions to accommodate all of your real estate needs.

Thinking of doing a home renovation? Here are seven things you need to know before hiring your contractor:

1. Get at least three references for the contractor you think you want to hire and thoroughly check all of them.
2. Ask for photos of previous jobs to ensure the workmanship. If you are asking for a specific job to be done, ask for photos of similar jobs so you know what you can expect.
3. Ask him about the last project he worked on and request a visit to speak with the homeowners.
4. Ensure that you have a signed contract outlining every job the contractor will do, how long it will take and how much it will cost. Contractors may not wish to commit to projects in writing, but you must insist on this. Itemized costs are also important so you know how the total amount is determined and can also set aside a small amount for contingencies.
5. Work out a payment plan that you both agree to.
6. Keep track of the job as it progresses, making him aware of any jobs not done to your satisfaction or any damage he may have caused (scratched floors, stained bricks, etc). Discuss these issues before final payment.
7. Contact online resources. Homestars.ca is a website where homeowners across Canada give unbiased reviews of their contractors – invaluable!

For more information on buying or selling real estate in Burlington, Hamilton or Oakville, Ontario, or if you have questions about current market trends, mortgages or interest rate information, please visit the Sean Kavanagh Real Estate Resource Centre at www.seansells.ca, or at www.seankavanagh.ca I’d be happy to answer any questions to accommodate all of your real estate needs. You can also contact me at 905-220-9198 or at www.realestatechat.ca as I am now a moderator on the Ontario Real Estate chat forum as well as the Burlington, Ontario sub-forum.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Sean Kavanagh

Have you been fighting the battle of the weeds, brown patches, or sprawling clover? Well, we will look at some lawn care strategies that will help revive your grass into a full, lush, green, weed-free lawn! When real estate professionals talk about curb appeal, it starts with the lawn. Now that spring is upon us and more people are heading out into the yard to tackle the issues left over from a long winter, I have decided to help you out with some tips to regain the health of your lawn.

1) Never cut the grass too short! Leaving the grass longer protects the plant from the sun, keeps it strong and helps resist from weed and clover growth. A thick lawn is the best defence against weeds. Never cut the grass in extreme heat or water shortage as the short grass will burn and kill the plant.
2) When you cut the grass, do not rake or remove the clippings from the lawn. The clipping help keep the moisture in the soil and add nutients back into the ground.
3) Water in the early morning or early evening to increase absorption into the soil and to avoid evaporation from the sun.
4) Speaking of watering, remember to water well! The water needs to penetrate the roots and when the lawn is watered well, you can expect the grass to bounce back.
5) Reseed the lawn every spring and add fertilizer or enriched soil to help out the process.

Following these helpful tips will ensure your grass grows into a full, lush, green lawn.

For more information on buying or selling real estate in Burlington or Oakville, Ontario, or if you have questions about current market trends, mortgages or interest rate information, please visit me again on my website www.seansells.ca or call me at 905-220-9198 and I’d be glad to answer any questions to accommodate all of your real estate needs.

Sean Kavanagh

It is almost Spring time and everyone is itching to get a kick start on their home renovations, but given the current economic situation some of us are hesitant to open up our wallets to dish out those big chunks of change!

The Government is now offering a 15% rebate on all home renovations between January 27, 2009 and February 1st, 2010. While the Government foots the bill for a portion of the renovations, homeowners are certainly more inclined to begin renovations right away.

Always keep in mind that renovations are not just about aesthetics, it is also important to remember that many renovations help you save money in the long run, and help our environment stay cleaner! Some of these products include: low-water consumption toilets, good windows, proper insulation, energy efficient furnaces, and timer-operated temperature controls.

As with all rebate programs there are certain stipulations you must concern yourself with. Don’t jump into the renovation project assuming that you’ll be covered for all expenses. Do your research and find out exactly what renos are covered and which ones are not. Furniture and accessories are not items that are covered under the rebate program but window replacements, any type of bathroom or kitchen renovations, as well as basement renovations are covered! If you are a “Do It Yourselfer” you can still claim for products, materials and even equipment rentals.

Don’t forget to find out if a building permit is required for your renovation. You may disqualify yourself from the rebate if a permit is needed and you don’t apply for one. Protect yourself, get a permit, and get your 15% rebate! Spring is almost here, start planning out your new deck, get your building permits and don’t forget apply for the Home Renovation Tax Credit! Also, be sure to check out the ecoENERGY Retrofit Grants and Incentives site to find out how you can save even more money by using eco-friendly materials in your renovation.

For more information on buying or selling real estate in Burlington or Oakville, Ontario, or if you have questions about current market trends, mortgages or interest rate information, please visit me again on my website www.seansells.ca or call me at 905-220-9198 and I’d be glad to answer any questions to accommodate all of your real estate needs.

Sean Kavanagh