Ontario Renovation Program

The majority of us know that Home Ownership can be a difficult duty. The cost of living today is high and with so many responsibilities to your family and not enough hours in the day, projects around the house can fall to the bottom of the list.  Well I have a solution for you! The program below is like winning a home renovation lottery. Dufferin County has become a part of the Ontario Renovates Program. What this Program provides is financial assistance to home owners or renters to make necessary upgrades to their home to make it more livable. However, this offer doesn’t come without a catch…or at least criteria.

To enter yourself into this program, you must:

-Be eighteen or over

-(when renting) obtain permission from Landlord

-be making a gross income of $82,600 or less

The home also has to be valued at $366,655 or less and the maximum grant given is $3,500.

We all need a helping hand once in a while and this is what the ORP is here for. If it is yourself or someone you know that needs this kind of help, you can contact Juli Griffin, who is the head of Dufferin’s ORP at these contacts:

County of Dufferin

Community Services – Housing

229 Broadway, Unit 4

Orangeville, ON

Email: jgriffin@dufferincounty.on.ca

Phone: (519) 941-6991, ext 2404

 

Remember that enrolling in the Program is confidential and you are entitled to that confidentiality. The people of ORP are here to work out an opportunity for you so go for it! This is your chance to make your house more welcoming than ever before.

Renovations

How you present your home is how others will perceive it. When selling, you’ll have to do a bit of tinkering here and there and not just mowing the lawn or cleaning the sink. Home buyers want to know that you took good care of the home; they want to know that they can trust their decision if they buy your home. Small things like a splashy faucet or old carpet can set people off. Remember, they have a price range and if your home’s price doesn’t leave much leftover money for them to renovate, they will not be interested. Of course, doing a renovation such as tearing up the carpet can add value to your home. Carpet absorbs stains and smells much better than hardwood or tile.

If you do so choose to “update” your home after ten or twenty years of living there, your money will always get paid back in the end. The home value goes up because it is newly updated, taken care of, and it appeals to a wider range of buyers; older buyers would probably be looking for small, carpeted apartments. The money that you will get from selling your home will be like the renovations paying for themselves.

Also, as a home buyer, you should be asking all the right questions. Here are a few examples:

How old, approximately, is the home?

When was the last renovation done?

What appliances will be sold with the home?

Can we take a look at the gas meter?

Just by asking these types of questions will allow you to unravel the story of the home. You don’t want a home that floods too often, right? So ask about issues like that. However, don’t overbear the agent with these questions, the home owners may not have wanted to tell the agent about any issues. That alone plus any spotted issues that you saw during your showing, should tell you that this particular home is not for you. Unless, of course, you’d like to do a bit of work to the home or if it is too perfect of a price to pass on.

So, if you ever in the neighborhood, either wanting tips like this or you’re wanting to get more for your money on a home, just call me and we can set up an appointment as soon as possible!

 

-Sarah

Take Charge

 

Have you ever had a person speak down to you, as if you were lesser? Has it ever been done to you by a real estate agent? Some agents may think that they know a lot more than others and can control how you sell your home or what you buy. If you won’t buy something that doesn’t look good on you from Le Chateau or H&M, then why should you buy a home that just doesn’t feel right?

I support the knowledge of the client. If you brush up on your real estate knowledge and current real estate sales, no real estate agent should get in your way. As a client, you are entitled to opinion, suggestions, or even changing your mind about buying or selling your home.

Unfortunately, there are adult bullies that think that their own opinion matters most.  You should never let someone push you around and force you into hastily making a very big decision. If there’s ever an issue will your agent, whether they’re lazy or just plain rude, you can always seek refuge with me. All you have to do is search for homes that you like and if they’re off the market or a bit out of price or commute range, I can give you some suggestions on other houses that fit your criteria. We can look for as long as you need to, there is never any rush and I am always just a phone call away. There will always be an answer.

Never let someone bully you into making big decisions way too fast. If you aren’t satisfied then don’t keep in touch with them. When buying a home, find a real estate agent that fits you and a home that will cater to all of your needs. And, if you ever want a place in the area, just let me know!

 

-Sarah

Winter's Checklist

Another winter is headed our way. It’s about that time again to start cleaning up the yard and putting our summer tools away. Farms have a very big job with this, too. Combines, silos, barns; they all have to be constantly kept up and farmers have to make sure that their livestock don’t catch something from the deep freeze. We want you to have the best winter possible so we put together a checklist for preparing for the winter.

·         Clean and store patio/deck furniture, umbrellas/awnings, and kids’ summer toys.

·         Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime wood before painting again.

·         Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer's recommendations to re-caulk if needed.

·         Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.

·         Wash exterior windows.

·         Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots. In hard-freeze areas, have sprinkler systems blown free of water.

·         Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing heating cable to prevent ice dams.

·         Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

 

As for all the Friendly farmers:

-         Cover up your machinery

-         Cozy up the livestock

-         Set up rat and other rodent traps when the try to hibernate in the barn

-         Stock up on hay and grains

-         Lock up the silo

-         Put rain or snow repellant on leather saddles

-         Put a heater in the barn

-         Start thinking about next year’s finances

 

We really hope this helps everyone! Winter is tough on us and a few tips here and there couldn’t hurt anyone. So enjoy the cool air. And if your ever in need of a quick move, call me and book a meeting today!

 

-Sarah