Guelph Real Estate

Choosing the Right Homeowner’s Insurance

source4homes — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:24:20 +0000

Choosing the right homeowners’ insurance

Shopping for homeowners’ insurance is one of the least glamorous parts of the home buying process, but you’ll be glad you have it when the unexpected happens—a burglary, fire, flood, or when someone gets injured on your property.

Whether you’re in the process of finding homeowners’ insurance because you’re buying a new home, or you have an existing policy that deserves a second look, homeowners’ insurance policies can be difficult to navigate, between tricky language, vague coverage details, and long lists of exclusions.

When you’re ready to start looking for insurance, have this information handy:

Your social security number
The age and location of the home
The home’s proximity to fire hydrants and fire stations
The age and condition of plumbing and electrical systems
Policy numbers for any other policies you have with the same insurance company (auto or life insurance, for example)

Then, ask your insurance agent the following questions:

What type of coverage do you offer?

Be aware of differences in coverage. Basic coverage will cover the rebuilding of your home and its contents up to your policy limit. Replacement cost coverage (also called cash value coverage) pays to rebuild your home and replace your belongings, even if costs exceed your policy limit. For example, if your losses include a five-year-old television, a basic plan will only pay you for what the television is worth now, due to depreciation. Replacement cost coverage ensures that you will be able to buy a new television at today’s cost.

Is loss of use coverage included?

If disaster strikes your home and you have to completely rebuild, you’ll need somewhere to live until your home is habitable again. Does your policy include lodging, travel, and food coverage?

I live in a part of the country where earthquakes/floods/tornadoes/termites are a problem. Does my homeowners’ insurance provide coverage?

Most basic insurance policies do not cover earthquakes, floods, or pest damage. You may need a separate rider for natural disaster coverage. If the insurance company won’t provide it, contact your state or federal government. Some government offices underwrite natural disaster coverage.

I have expensive valuables. Are they covered?

A standard policy should cover your belongings. However, if you own antiques, artwork, or expensive jewelry, you might want a separate rider for these pieces. A standard policy may limit the per-item replacement to $2,000-$3,000, so if you need additional coverage, provide your insurance company with appraisals for your most valuable belongings.

Is your company financially solvent?

Only insure your home with a company that has a long history of financial stability. Insurance companies’ financial statements are released quarterly and can be found online. Don’t insure your home with a company that may not be around to pay your claims in the future.

HOAs in neighborhoods with single-family homes may cover sidewalks, landscaping, and common areas. Ask to see a comprehensive list of what is included.

What discounts are available to me?

Just like with car insurance, there are myriad discounts available for your homeowners’ insurance policy, including:

Multiple policy discounts. You’ll receive discounts of up to 5% when you insure your home with a company that already provides your auto, renters’, or life insurance.
Installing security systems. Save 5-10% when you install a security system in your home. The amount you save may almost completely cover the cost of your monthly alarm monitoring service.
Age of your home, and specifically its roof, plumbing, and electrical. Newer systems mean savings.
Change in deductible. Most companies require a minimum $500 deductible. If you’re comfortable with a higher deductible, you can save 25% on your policy.

Once you’ve insured your home with a policy that fits your needs with a company you trust, revisit your policy documents every year and make sure that your coverage is still sufficient. Always revisit your policy when you’ve made renovations to your home, purchased expensive valuables, or when your financial situation has changed. The right homeowners’ insurance policy will provide peace of mind that you’ve protected one of life’s biggest investments.

Guidance From These Paint Masters

source4homes — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:17:24 +0000

Check out this article relating to our monthly newsletter which is sent out as part of our Customer Appreciation Program. to get on this program or to find out more information about our services email us or call.

Pre Selling Home Inspection

source4homes — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:02:56 +0000

Selling Your Home? Get a Pre-Sale Inspection.

Most people think a home inspection is something that happens somewhere between making an offer and before closing on a home. But for a number of reasons, more homeowners are choosing to have their own home inspected before putting it on the market.

The reason is simple: uncovering problems early on enables you to fix them, often making it possible to add value to your sale price. An inspection is designed to reveal any potential problems a house may have—and that’s true for both buyers and sellers. Sellers may benefit from gaining this kind of detailed information about their home, so that they can choose to handle problems long before the negotiation process is underway.

Many sellers also report that their buyers feel more comfortable when the information from a pre-sale inspection is shared early on, even if the buyers choose to have their own home inspection as well.

In short, a pre-sale inspection can reduce the chance of a surprise and help speed the closing process, which would otherwise have been delayed by scheduling repairs and having the buyers confirm they were completed properly. Because for buyers, making an offer contingent upon a home inspection is about saving expenses and trouble—not to mention providing confidence in what may well be the biggest investment they ever make.

Even if you’re not a buyer making an offer, or a seller thinking of listing a home in the next few months, a home inspection can provide homeowners with a thorough to-do list for maintenance—or even a little peace of mind.

Guelph Real Estate Market Update

source4homes — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:32:20 +0000

Below is the market statistics for Guelph and District.

New Listing Near Guelph Hospital

source4homes — Tue, 10 May 2011 12:12:18 +0000

A brand new listing hit the market today! A comfortable and well cared for farmhouse style home in the centre of the City of Guelph. Close to the hospital, Riverside Park and in a convenient location for all your needs. A close manicured yard is fully fenced for the safe keeping of your loved ones and pets. Behind the home is an old age home, which makes quiet neighbours and a park like setting.

With a walk up basement this home can be converted to a non registered inlaw suite. This lovely home boosts 1800 sqft of living space with 4 bedrooms. Some remodelling may be required to fit your modern tastes. Check out this listing at www.guelph-real-estate.ca/238-delhi

For More Information on How to Start Investing in Real Estate - Fill Out the Form Below.

Downtown Kitchener Home For Sale

source4homes — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 16:04:48 +0000

A charming, character filled home located in a cozy up and coming neighbour in Kitchener Ontario. Close to all amenities, including local small business, coffee shops, bakeries. On a bus route and within walking distance to everything you need. The home features original hardwood floors, a stunning kitchen and 3 beds plus den.
The yard is cozy with front and rear concrete driveways. The unique and old fashion rear lane way adds to the cozy character. It addition to the great feel of this home, it also has hidden benefits such as being zoned as a duplex but currently being used as a single home. The separate entrance to the finished basement can be convenient should you decide to rent a space. Perhaps you can apply to a TV show and convert the basement to an apartment… Just a thought.
This home is a must see if you are looking to buy a home in Kitchener. Perfect for a first time home buyer, downsizer, or trendy couple looking for a low maintenance home close to the downtown core. If you would like more information please fill out the short form below and I will get back to right away. Thanks for visiting.

Guelph Affordable Housing Project

source4homes — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 21:02:16 +0000

I recently read another interesting article in the Guelph Mercury regarding property developments in Guelph. It seems that although the general buzz from local developers and builders is that Guelph is an unfriendly place to build homes, behind the scenes there are several projects being proposed. Perhaps the new players are out of town voices proceeding in an unbiased fervor, recognizing the immense opportunity that Guelph offers and scoring big.

Nevertheless, this article is NOT about the position of the city and its development policies, but meant to inform the readers and focus on the fact that there are indeed exciting things happening around the city. The latest development proposal is a six storey residential building on 3-7 Gordon Street. The property sits directly across from Guelph’s Farmers Market.

This 57 unit building is another affordable housing project was introduced to Guelph by Option for Homes and built by Deerfield Homes in Guelph’s east end on Mountford Drive. The Mountford Drive project was the first of its kind in Guelph and was slow to catch on. Many people were confused by what “affordable housing” really meant. Soon people overcame their fears and the project blasted ahead with great success. The Market Commons project will be similar and will likely be even more sucessful now that Guelph is used to the concept.

The units will start as low as $149,900 and will be approximately 20% less than the market rate. There are also “payment free loans” of up to 10% of the condos value and does not have to be repaid until the owner sells the property.

This development is the latest of several proposed developments. W.C. Wood site on Arthur Street, a 18 stoery luxury building on the corner of Macdonell and Woolwich Streets and a few other proposals for the downtown core have surfaced over the last 6 months. The residential component of the downtown core is important to the growth strategy of the City and is expected to grow from 3000 residents to 9000 by 2031.

If you are looking for more information about these developments or wish to be put on our list if you are interested in purchasing a condo please fill out the form below.

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Understanding Mortgage Changes

source4homes — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:15:13 +0000

In our business, other businesses effect how the real estate market adjusts itself. If you don’t quite understand what I mean, let me briefly explain. In the article attached to this post, it mentions the new mortgage rules set by the federal government. These rules are simply adjusting the length of time a mortgage can be amortized over, from 35 years back to only 30 years. This is great news for the long term stability of the real estate market, however there are some real problems for the short term market. The article explains some of the highlights.

The bottom line is that the short term market (30 days) will quicken, with house prices rising because there is not enough inventory to support the feverous buying of people trying to secure a mortgage before the changes come into play. This surge will dampen once the mortgage rules are in effect, and house prices will dip slightly for a few months. In the later part of the year, the Guelph real estate market will steady off again. The greatest effect will be on first time home buyers, where their affordability will decrease. Their monthly cost will jump which means they can only afford a smaller price tag. This might mean more people have to wait to buy their first house or investment property.

Mortgage Rule Changes Article

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Packing Tips

source4homes — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 21:53:06 +0000

Decide whether you are going to pack yourself or hire movers to do the job. Some buyers opt to pack themselves to save money and then have movers load the truck. Whether you hire movers to pack or do it yourself, below are some do’s and don’ts to make your move more efficient:

* Buy quality supplies beginning with sturdy moving boxes in a variety of sizes. Have plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap, and packing tape on hand. Identify boxes with labels, stickers, or bold markers. As you pack, list contents of boxes in a notebook.

* Do not pack items that are flammable, corrosive, or explosive, such as gasoline, fireworks, aerosols, paints, pesticides, liquid bleach, paint thinner, pool chemicals, propane tanks, or Sterno.

* Hand-carry valuables or items of personal importance or sentimental value. This includes important documents, jewelry, collections, and family photographs.

* Pack in order. Top national movers suggest you start with out-of-season items. Next pack those items you use infrequently. Leave your daily needs unpacked until the last minute.

I hope you’ll find these suggestions useful. My goal is to handle all the details of the transaction, so all you have to do is pack! I welcome the opportunity to help you when you are ready to buy a home. Don’t hesitate to call or email me.

If you would like to receive a FREE in home moving and packing consultation please call or email us!

Are You Ready to Buy a Home?

source4homes — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 21:53:14 +0000

Don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Many home buyers, especially first time home buyers, are afraid to ask for help. Some just don’t know they can ask for help, some think it costs them money, and others, well…. they just think they know everything already.

The best agents (we think that we fall into this category) have YOUR interests in mind, and work for you. Finding you the best house for the best price, is our goal. Our clients have raved about our down-to-earth approach and were over joyed when they felt cared for and appreciated. The fact is that we really do care about you and your family. We are in this business because we love it!

Let’s talk about how we can find you a house! 519-821-7325