Real Estate Blog

Canadian homeowners may give little thought to their home warranty but should know more, especially when buying a new home. There are some differences between a home warranty and home insurance policy, with specific timelines applying to coverage.

Learn more about Canadian home warranties today to ensure your home is covered when anything happens to it.

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

The Fundamentals of Home Warranties

Home warranties are not alike and are known to vary. There are a number of home warranty programs available, such as single New Home Warranty Programs, mono-provincial warranty programs and third-party warranties.

There's nothing more frustrating than downsizing at the last minute. Getting rid of old possessions can be time consuming as well as emotionally draining. Many people who downsize from a large home into a smaller home will take months or years to make their downsizing complete. People who need to downsize in a matter of weeks may find themselves facing a difficult challenge. These tips will help people purchasing new homes who need to get rid of their extra possessions in a hurry.

Set Goals and a Schedule

The first step in any downsizing, whether it's being done in a hurry or not, is to make a plan and set a schedule. Downsizing is best done room by room. Homeowners who need to downsize in a rush can set a schedule to go through each room a

Lives may be at risk when Canadian homeowners fail to monitor and attend to potential dangers within home. From smoke to carbon monoxide to other hidden dangers, how can occupants reduce potential home hazards? Learn about common hidden dangers found in residences today.

Fire In the Home: Where There Is Smoke…

A smoke alarm may be installed but not be operating as intended. Know that monthly testing is suggested for smoke alarms and that batteries need to be replaced not once, but twice a year. A properly functioning smoke alarm can provide early detection of a possible fire. Protect household members by installing and maintaining smoke alarms as fires in a home can lead to serious burns, injuries and worse.

In case of a fire, all

Buying a new home is a major event in one's life, and packing up the old abode and transporting everything and everyone to the new dwelling can also be a majorly stressful event. However, with a little bit of strategic planning moving day need not cause mayhem. Here are four easy ways to ease moving into a new home.

1. Make a Moving Plan

Nothing simplifies the moving experience like having a solid and realistic plan. Create a countdown list beginning with the number of days or weeks until the big day, and start outlining goals to reach by set dates. Be realistic when setting target dates to reduce self-induced stress. Keep in mind the distance of the move, as the plans will likely be different for those moving across town versus those making

Are the signs of foundation problems becoming undeniable within the exteriors and exteriors of the home? While the most common issues often begin subtly, foundation cracks and shifts caused by soil settlement or sudden natural forces can lead to major home structural issues without proper resolution. Fortunately, there are several modern home foundation fixes that can restore the dwelling's integrity.

Minor cracks caused by shrinkage can generally be repaired with masonry sealants and patches while vertically moving foundations will generally require slab jacking or push pier/piling procedures. However, the best solution will be determined by geographic location, soil quality and the specific condition of the slab itself. Read on to learn more

The roof is a major part of the home, and can sustain expensive damage if homeowners do not take quick action. This guide identifies the most common kinds of roof damage, and what people can do to fix it.

Long Icicles

Many problems with the roof start with the gutters. These simple pieces of equipment that are often made out of a thin plastic carry dirt, leaves, and water off the roof. They need clear downspouts that point away from the home's foundation to eliminate this waste. If gutters get clogged and are not cleaned out regularly, they can fill up with debris and water. In winter, this could create icicles more than a meter long. Cleaning the gutters at least once a year, and replacing broken gutters as needed, should take care of the

Selling a vacation home is going to take a little more energy than selling a primary residence because the two are taxed so differently. The process becomes even more complicated if sellers generated rental income during their time of ownership. What are the tax implications of selling a second home? To understand the full implications of a sale, sellers should know the basics of capital gains, capital losses, and depreciation before putting the home up on the market.

For informational purposes only. Always consult with a certified tax expert before proceeding with any real estate transaction.

Capital Gains Tax: How It Works

How does capital gains tax work? A capital gain refers to the total cost of appreciation from the time the asset was

Both buyers and sellers need to know about home-buying contingencies in a contract. These clauses can offer some advantages but may also create certain obligations that need to be met within stated timeframes. This may serve to move the purchase of a property along or provide a legal means for a party to get out of the contract. What should buyers and sellers know about home-buying contingencies?

Learn more about common Canadian home-buying contingencies before signing a contract today.

Where to Find Those Home Sale Contingency Clauses?

These clauses may be located within the real estate sales contract or contained within an offer to purchase property. For the transaction to be considered as binding, the contingency clauses must be met. If

Flooring affects the way a home looks and how it is maintained. When a homeowner changes the type of flooring materials in their house, it's important to consider factors like appearance, comfort, maintenance and value. Performing research about the various types of flooring and considering lifestyle factors can help homeowners choose a type of flooring that they can enjoy for many years to come.

Carpeting: Comfortable and High Maintenance

Carpeting is plush, soft and warm. For Windsong homeowners who don't like to have cold feet, carpeting can be ideal. Because it's padded, carpeting is comfortable under foot and safer in a fall. For this reason, carpeting is often the preferred flooring material for homes with household members not

Many homeowners have decided that it is time to reduce their energy costs and have turned to a clean energy source to meet their energy needs. Solar panels for houses are an affordable option that many homeowners now use. The technology has advanced to a level for homeowners to produce and store enough energy to become completely self-reliant when it comes to generating sufficient energy for their home. Is solar power worth it? There are many reasons why homeowners are adding residential solar panels to their home.

It has become a common sight for homeowners to see residential solar panel systems on homes in communities. Canadians are in good company as this technology is widely implemented in many first-world nations. Germany, China, Japan, the