Real Estate Blog

Everything You Need to Know About Buying Land to Build a HomeBuying land is far different from buying a home. Getting a mortgage for land is different, as is budgeting for a land purchase. If you're a home buyer who hopes to purchase an empty piece of land and then build a home on it, here's what you need to know about the process.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Know What You Want

Before a Williamstown home buyer can purchase land to build a home, the buyer must first know what they want. Yard size, location, land features, water features, proximity to nearest neighbours and proximity to businesses are all factors that buyers must consider when trying to purchase a lot.

Writing a list of

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verything You Need to Know About Insulating Your Home ProperlyYour home's insulation has a big effect on how comfortable your home is at times of year when temperatures are very cold and very hot. If your home's insulation is not effective enough, you could be forced to run your air conditioner heater much more than would otherwise be necessary. This contributes to wear and tear on your HVAC system, inflates your utility bills and could even cause your HVAC system to fail early. A well insulated home is also a great selling point when you go to sell your home. Here's what you need to know about poor insulation and how you can improve it.

Know the Signs of Poor Insulation

Homes that have poor insulation show this problem in many ways.

  • Hot and cold spots in the house. The house will heat up with the
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How to Choose a Home Security SystemHome security is a personal matter that all property owners have their own opinions about. Some may leave their doors open while others want 24-hour surveillance at all times. But no matter how a person feels about it, it helps to understand what the options are before deciding. Homeowners who want to safeguard their investment should know there's more to modern home security than the traditional alarms of yesterday.

Do-It-Yourself

Home security doesn't necessarily mean calling a company to come to the home. Sometimes, you can install a system yourself as a DIY project. DIY systems can be as simple as putting all the lights on timers, buying motion detectors, or adding a security system sign to the home (even if the home doesn't have a

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4 Roofing Material Options You Should KnowWhen buying a home, the type of roofing material is an important consideration. So when looking a homes roof, it’s completely natural for a roof to wear down over time and need replacing. How long the roof’s lifespan is depends on what material it was made from, and some materials hold up better than others. Most homes use shingles that will last approximately 20-25 years. When it’s time to replace a roof, homeowners have a choice to make. Will they replace it with the same type of roof they’ve always had, or will they choose a new material? There are many different types of roofs out there, and they each have different advantages and fit different aesthetics. Here are some of the different types of roofing materials homeowners can choose from.

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The Straight Facts on Mold RemediationMold remediation can be a complex issue for homeowners if they have little to no experience with it. Mold removal is very important if a homeowner is considering selling their home. The sheer number of mold species would be enough to exhaust anyone before even getting started. Understanding mold risks and remediation starts with addressing the serious nature of the substance. Unlike mildew, mold typically can't be treated with regular cleaners. Here are a few tips for homeowners if the moisture in the surrounding air is causing an unwanted mold infestation.

Illness Risks

Mold can cause respiratory problems if residents are exposed to it over a prolonged period. Experts recommend seeing a doctor if anyone in the home is experiencing

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A Room by Room Guide on How to Upgrade Home LightingThe lighting needs of each household differs according to the interests, hobbies and preferences of the people who live there. In most homes, the original lighting cannot shine brightly enough to fully illuminate all corners of each room. New construction homeowners can overcome this problem by upgrading the light fixtures in the kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms and entryway. This guide can help with the selection of the best lights for each room.

Kitchen Lighting

With sharp knives and other tools in use on a regular basis, the kitchen needs to have bright, focused lighting on all the work areas. Softer lighting all around can also help make the kitchen an inviting place for the household to gather.

For this reason, strategic placement of

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How to Stay Safe at HomeAccidents at home can be deadly, but many of them can be avoided. For those who are new to home ownership and who want to keep their home safe, especially if they are considering selling their home in the near future, these tips can help people avoid accidents in various rooms around the house.

Fire

Around 7,000 residential fires occur per year in Canada, and the death rate in these fires is approximately 1%. Fires can be caused by many things including electrical problems, problems with fireplaces and ovens, lit cigarettes and lit candles.

Although there are many ways that homeowners can protect themselves from residential fires, perhaps most important is to keep operational smoke detectors in every room of the house.

Smoke detectors

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What Every First-time Home Buyer Needs to Know About Their Credit ScoreMany people have long wanted to own a home, rather than rent. Canadian residents may appreciate the additional advantages that come with becoming homeowners, such as building equity and making upgrades to suit their preferences or improve the functionality of a space. However, the majority of Canadians cannot afford to pay for a home without taking out a home mortgage loan. As part of the approval process, an applicant's credit score does hold some weight with lenders.

Credit score is one of the factors that will be reviewed by a lender. It is important in the pre-approval process as well, even though being pre-approved for a mortgage loan does not guarantee that an applicant will secure the loan. Even those with poor credit may secure a home

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4 Tips For Selling in a Competitive MarketThere are many different types of markets that people can buy and sell homes in. Some are helpful, some are not. In a buyer’s market, there are more homes for sale than there are buyers looking for homes, allowing buyers to effectively have the pick of the litter and get the best deal. While this is great for buyers, sellers may not even think it’s possible to sell their home when there’s so much competition. However, this fortunately isn’t true. While it might be more difficult to sell in a buyer’s market, homeowners can arm themselves with strategies they can use to attract buyers and help their home sell.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate

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4 Tips For Buying a Home in a Seller’s MarketOver time, the housing market fluctuates and changes, and this can sometimes lead to a competitive market. One particular market is called a seller’s market, and this occurs when there are more people looking for homes to buy than there are homes for sale. Buying a home in a competitive market like this can be tricky due to the scarcity of homes, but it isn’t impossible so long as the buyer knows how to increase their odds. Here are some of the different strategies home buyers can use to help beat out the competition and land the home of their dreams.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a licensed real estate professional before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Be Ready to Move Quickly

In any type of

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