|
|
|
April 2013 - Hammer Home News
|
|
Hello everyone!
Spring is finally here and its time for you homeowners out there to turn to some spring cleaning and perhaps consider making your home more eco-friendly. I found these great tips from Mortgage Brokers Ottawa and thought I would share them with you this month, so here it is to get the process started:
-
Change out your existing lightbulbs in favour of energy-efficient bulbs. This is a small change that is not only eco-friendly, but will save you money on your hydro bill.
-
To conserve water, install low-flow showerheads, water-displacement devices in your toilet tanks, and try to run dishwashers and washing machines only when they are full.
-
When choosing products for your spring cleaning project, search for one of the many lines of biodegradable products on the market to use.
-
While you're cleaning, it is a good idea to check around doors and windows for possible leaks, and seal them. A simple seal with caulking or weatherstripping can conserve a lot of energy, and potentially save you even more on your monthly bills.
-
Consider registering to receive and pay your bills online. Online billing and banking saves paper, and more and more banks and companies are starting to charge fees for paper billing.
-
Spring cleaning can often include getting rid of things around the house that are no longer needed. Try to reduce the amount of superfluous belongings that are being thrown away by doing a little bit of research. Several things can be donated to local charitable organizations, recycled, or even sold.
-
Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
By just taking a few small steps, you can make your home a more sustainable place to live.
Have a great month folks, and please remember, If you know someone thinking of buying or selling, please feel free to let me know - happy to help where I can :)
Sincerely
|
|
|
|
|
Spring Market Shows Moderating Trend
Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 1,167 residential properties in March through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® system, compared with 1,388 in March 2012, a decrease of 15.9 per cent. “The Ottawa market has been described as steady and stable for the past few years. It’s not going up drastically, and it’s not going down drastically,” says Tim Lee, President of the Ottawa Real Estate Board.
“The market was forecasted to slow down in 2013 as a result of recent mortgage changes, and indeed it has.” “According to chief economists at the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and intelligence garnered from large mortgage lenders, large mortgage brokers, and large real estate brokers, the most recent changes to mortgage rules and guidelines has largely impacted first-time buyers by forcing them to focus on more affordably priced homes. They were, to a much lesser extent, priced out of the market,” explains Mr. Lee.
Read More...
|
|
|
|
|
This Month's Trivia Question:
What is the tallest building in the National Capital Region (Ottawa/Gatineau)? This includes spires and architectural details but does not include antenna masts.
The first five individuals to respond correctly will win a $10.00 gift card to Starbucks. Email your answers to rachel@rachelhammer.com
Last Month's Trivia Question:
A bathroom with a door to the master bedroom as well as a door to the main house is called what?
The Answer was: Semi-Ensuite (Cheater ensuite was also accepted)
Congratulations to:
Jane, Chantal, Debbie, Sandra and Jason to be the first five to answer last month and win a $10.00 gift card to Starbucks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
