So, you've decided you want to own a home. It's a popular dream. For most people, with the right planning, it can become reality. But there is a lot to know before you begin moving. We’ll take you through the planning process step-by-step, to determine exactly the kind of home that's perfect for you. We'll ask you some questions and we've provided worksheets that you can print out and use with your RE/MAX agent.
What Does Your Future Lifestyle Hold?How many bedrooms will you one day require? Your preschoolers will be teens some day. Are you planning to stay in your home that long? Perhaps your teens are ready to move out on their own. What will you do with all the extra space? When you're thinking about accommodating your family's needs, think of things like parking. How many cars will require space? You'll also want to consider proximity to -- and the reputation of -- schools in the area.
How is your work situation? These days people tend to change jobs frequently, and sometimes the best way to get a promotion is to move to another company. If you might be transferred, will you be able to sell quickly? Keeping work in mind, how long do you want to spend commuting? Do you drive or rely on public transportation?
As you can see, you will want to give some thought to how long you intend to stay in your home. It may be difficult to answer before you've even found your home, but if it's your first home give some thought to the resale value when it is time to upgrade. On the other hand, if you're planning to stay in your home for a long time, consider your future needs and purchase a home that will accommodate them.
Do You Live a Maintenance-Averse Lifestyle?When you're looking at homes, consider the advantages of brick over a wood frame house when it comes to painting. Take a look at the garden. If you don't enjoy cutting grass, then an expansive lawn may not fit into your lifestyle. You can also evaluate the possibility of future maintenance and repairs based on the age of the house. If you don't like the idea of major renovations, a newer home may be your best option.
Is Your Lifestyle More Geared to a Fixer-Upper Fantasy?Many first time buyers have them. It goes something like this: You find a big home in a great neighbourhood that's well below what you'd expect to pay for that house in that neighbourhood. You see a couple of coats of paint, new broadloom, a few repairs and voilà, a dream home without the nightmare price.
Before you jump headlong into this 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' consider how you'll do all of the work. Will it be weeknights after a long day at the office, or will you hire someone? Are you ready to live in a dusty mess as you renovate? Do a realistic assessment of the job at hand and be sure to have the house inspected. The last thing you want is a bargain home that turns into a money pit. You're far better to find a house that costs a little more each month but doesn't need much work than to buy a fixer-upper that eats up hundreds of dollars each month. For example, lets say you could buy a really nice house with minimal work required for $10,000 more than a fixer upper. At today's mortgage rates, assuming you could stay within your monthly budget, that really nice home would cost you only about $65 per month more than the fixer-upper. If you buy the fixer-upper, you'll be spending a lot more than $65 each month to whip it into shape, as well as the strain your family will go through living in an unfinished home.
Jamie Woodend
Sales Representative
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell
Team W33 Realtors working to find your perfect home.
3 times the work for the price of one.
3 team members available to help you with all your real estate needs.
Call a Team member to get your free home evaluation.
Jamie Woodend
Sales Representative
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell
EcoEnergy Grants
If it is time to upgrade your home with new energy efficient materials check out the latest grants available from the Federal & Provincial governments
How do I get started?
Your first step is to consider if you are ready to invest in renovations that will save energy and money. Once you are ready, contact a licensed service organization to book an appointment for your energy assessment. Although all renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy assessment are not eligible for a grant, the home must be in such a state (including proper doors, windows, and roof) that the energy advisor can assess the building to make recommendations for improvement.
How will I know which upgrades qualify?
A grant depends on individual upgrades completed. The Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report provided by your advisor following your pre-retrofit assessment includes a personalized list of upgrades and the grant amounts you can expect to receive should you carry out the recommended home improvements. In addition, the report will indicate the relative impact the upgrades will have on the home's energy efficiency level.
How much of a grant will I be entitled to if I complete the recommended retrofits?
The average grant for a single property is expected to be over $1,000. The maximum grant available for one home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000. Property owners of multiple residential buildings are eligible for up to $500,000 over the life of the program ending March 31, 2011.
Where can I find a service organization that can provide energy assessments?
A full list of licensed service organizations is available on our Contact an Energy Advisor Web page.
How do I choose an energy advisor?
In a recent survey, the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI recommends released recommendations to assist homeowners in choosing a certified energy advisor to conduct energy assessments in the home. Here is an excerpt from that survey:
First and foremost, the OAHI recommends contacting two to three licensed service organizations before booking an energy assessment. Secondly, the OAHI recommends the homeowner ask the following questions:
Are they licensed by Natural Resources Canada to perform assessments to qualify for the ecoENERGY rebates?
How long will the energy assessment take?Beware of short visits – a good assessment should take 1.5-2.5 hours.
Is there any obligation to purchase products or services from the service organization?No, there is no obligation to purchase products or services from the service organization that performs an energy assessment. However, many service organizations have the capacity to provide additional retrofit services, over and above an energy assessment.
Beyond energy assessments, what else does the organization do to support the environment?Do they have experience in emerging energy efficiency technologies, e.g. instantaneous hot water tanks, solar hot water, etc.
In terms of cost, what does your fee include?The initial D assessment, the D and the E (post retrofit assessment).
“Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing a home energy assessor,” said Andrew Dixon, Past President of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. “Your home is your most valuable asset and you should compare the level of experience and time spent in your home to ensure you get the most thorough assessment possible.”
The OAHI is dedicated to enhancing the technical skills and professional practices of Home Inspectors, and maintaining high professional standards through education and discipline. For more information on the OAHI, please visit http://www.oahi.com/
Jamie Woodend
Sales Representative
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell
How do I get started?
Your first step is to consider if you are ready to invest in renovations that will save energy and money. Once you are ready, contact a licensed service organization to book an appointment for your energy assessment. Although all renovations started prior to obtaining a pre-retrofit energy assessment are not eligible for a grant, the home must be in such a state (including proper doors, windows, and roof) that the energy advisor can assess the building to make recommendations for improvement.
How will I know which upgrades qualify?
A grant depends on individual upgrades completed. The Energy Efficiency Evaluation Report provided by your advisor following your pre-retrofit assessment includes a personalized list of upgrades and the grant amounts you can expect to receive should you carry out the recommended home improvements. In addition, the report will indicate the relative impact the upgrades will have on the home's energy efficiency level.
How much of a grant will I be entitled to if I complete the recommended retrofits?
The average grant for a single property is expected to be over $1,000. The maximum grant available for one home or multi-unit residential building is $5,000. Property owners of multiple residential buildings are eligible for up to $500,000 over the life of the program ending March 31, 2011.
Where can I find a service organization that can provide energy assessments?
A full list of licensed service organizations is available on our Contact an Energy Advisor Web page.
How do I choose an energy advisor?
In a recent survey, the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI recommends released recommendations to assist homeowners in choosing a certified energy advisor to conduct energy assessments in the home. Here is an excerpt from that survey:
First and foremost, the OAHI recommends contacting two to three licensed service organizations before booking an energy assessment. Secondly, the OAHI recommends the homeowner ask the following questions:
Are they licensed by Natural Resources Canada to perform assessments to qualify for the ecoENERGY rebates?
How long will the energy assessment take?Beware of short visits – a good assessment should take 1.5-2.5 hours.
Is there any obligation to purchase products or services from the service organization?No, there is no obligation to purchase products or services from the service organization that performs an energy assessment. However, many service organizations have the capacity to provide additional retrofit services, over and above an energy assessment.
Beyond energy assessments, what else does the organization do to support the environment?Do they have experience in emerging energy efficiency technologies, e.g. instantaneous hot water tanks, solar hot water, etc.
In terms of cost, what does your fee include?The initial D assessment, the D and the E (post retrofit assessment).
“Price should never be the deciding factor when choosing a home energy assessor,” said Andrew Dixon, Past President of the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. “Your home is your most valuable asset and you should compare the level of experience and time spent in your home to ensure you get the most thorough assessment possible.”
The OAHI is dedicated to enhancing the technical skills and professional practices of Home Inspectors, and maintaining high professional standards through education and discipline. For more information on the OAHI, please visit http://www.oahi.com/
Jamie Woodend
Sales Representative
Remax a-b Realty Ltd Brokerage
88 Wellington Street
Stratford, Ontario, N5A 2L2
519-273-2821 ext 229 Office
519-949-0345 Cell
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