Month: October 2015

Shopping for a house is as much a lifestyle decision as it is a financial one. After all, unless you’re a professional real estate investor, you’re not just buying a house – you’re buying a home.

Sure, there are important financial matters to consider, such as mortgage rates, payments and resale values. But when deciding whether or not to make an offer, you also need to think about how that home will impact the quality of your life. So, it’s important not to let an attractive list price distract you from considering a home that has features that may be worth paying a little more for. You should determine the lifestyle features that are important to you and your family and factor them into the purchase price of any home. For example, have you considered the value of:

• A large kitchen and a comfortable recreational room with a wet bar? Perfect if you entertain a lot.
• A quiet room or cozy alcove? Ideal if you like to read, sew, build model airplanes, or surf the net.
• A backyard with the right combination of sun and shade? Priceless if you love to garden.
• A relatively flat, rather than inclined, driveway? Great for a game of one-on-one basketball with the kids.
• A spacious deck or patio area? Hours of enjoyment for the BBQ fanatic in the family.
• Parks, recreation centres, and schools within walking distance? A real time-saver if you have children.
• Local green space and trails? Ideal if you have a dog to walk or are a jogger.

Taking these “lifestyle factors” into account will put the asking price into perspective, and help you determine how much the home is really worth to you.

There are lots of reputable home improvement businesses that rely upon “person-to-person” marketing to get new customers. Unfortunately, there are also some undesirable contractors whose plan is to relieve you of your possessions and/or money while performing substandard, overpriced services that are void of any guarantee. Below is a short list of uninvited proposals you may encounter. Always remember that if you didn’t ask the sales representative or contractor to come to your home, you should exercise caution when providing personal information or access to your home.

• Painters, window cleaners, carpet cleaners, etc.
• Lawn and yard care services
• Roofing and other repair services
• Anyone with a “free” offer or an “in the area” special

Caution is the best approach when dealing with strangers. Some scam artists want to know details about your home security, so accomplices can break in later.

1. Do not let an unknown person into your home without an appointment previously arranged through an office or service department.
2. Ask for references or check the company through your local Better Business Bureau.
3. Always ask for identification, including an employee number and a supervisor’s phone number.