Heat’s on to cool off homeless

Winnipeg’s Siloam Mission is looking for high-priority items that will help the city’s homeless community beat the heat.

Reusable water bottles, sunscreen and backpacks are at the top of that list as dehydration and heatstroke pose a threat to those living outside.

“We’ve been handing out hats, water bottles, lip-balm, foot cream, bug spray and sunscreen,” said Mike Duerksen, spokesperson for Siloam Mission. “We’re encouraging people to drink lots of water and to stay inside.”

Duerksen said Siloam Mission has seen an increase in the number of guests at its drop-in centre. As the mercury continues to climb, the centre is encouraging its guests to get out of the sun.

“It’s hard enough for us who have places to stay to stay cool. It’s even harder for someone who is living on the streets,” Duerksen said. “The challenges of homelessness are just as great in the summer as they are in the winter.”

 

http://www.metronews.ca/winnipeg/local/article/921541--heat-s-on-to-cool-off-homeless

Your Home Inspection Report

Getting Ready

Steps you can take before a professional home inspector conducts a property inspection

From routine maintenance, to detecting conditions that could signify the need for major repairs, there are many simple steps your seller can take ahead of time to prepare their home for a professional home inspection. In addition, on the day of the inspection, attention to a few details can go a long way to ensuring that everything goes smoothly.

DISCLOSURES

• Disclose past catastrophes such as fires or floods, or if the property was ever used as a marijuana grow house or meth lab
• Provide building permits and plans for any major renovations
• Disclose any work that was completed without the proper permits
• Provide invoices and warrantees for major improvements, roofs, furnaces, and appliances

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE - EXTERIOR

• Repair damaged masonry on walkways and steps
• Seal any cracks in the driveway
• Repair minor defects in exterior wall materials
• Recaulk around exterior windows and doors
• Replace damaged or missing shingles
• Recaulk around flashing
• Clean debris from gutters and check downspouts for proper drainage

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE - INTERIOR

• Repair leaky faucets and fixtures
• Recaulk around bathtubs and sinks
• Have an electrician inspect receptacles and switches and make any necessary repairs
• Repair any cracked or broken window glass and loosen any windows that are painted shut
• Arrange service for the furnace and central air conditioning
• Have the chimney swept
• Replace batteries in smoke detectors and install detectors where missing

ON THE DAY OF THE INSPECTION

• Allow sufficient time for the inspection - the average Pillar To Post inspection takes between 2.5 and 3 hours
• Be sure that keys are available for any locked doors
• Allow access to storage sheds, attics, yards, crawlspaces, basements, and garages
• Provide access to components such as electrical panels, water meter, and gas meter
• Move objects from around the water heater, furnace, and air conditioner to allow unimpeded access
• Clear paths of snow and debris
• Keep pets in a safe location out of the home or in a crate

ANOTHER GOOD YEAR SHAPING UP FOR WinnipegREALTORS®

June MLS® Sales Over 1,500

 

WINNIPEG – WinnipegREALTORS® is at the half way mark of 2011. Its MLS® market activity is tracking well as forecast.  Sales are only down 4% from sales recorded in 2007 – the best year ever - and just 2% off the second best year in 2008. June sales activity of 1,516 is not far off peak sales recorded for this month, only just edged out by 2007 and 2008 when sales were 1,564 and 1,562 respectively. They are also the fifth highest total for any month with May 2007 at the top with 1,652 sales. Another indicator of how well June sales activity went this year is the fact the equivalent of 4 out of 5 new listings sold and nearly half of the entire MLS® inventory turned over.

 

Also noteworthy for June is it is WinnipegREALTORS® first month when dollar volume for residential-detached sales eclipsed $300 million and a new MLS® dollar volume record was set at $368 million. The average residential-detached sales price in June of $258,275 was up 3% over the same month last year while the average condominium price of $201,642 increased 7% over June 2010. Year-to-date average prices for these two MLS® property types are close to the monthly levels with condominiums almost identical at $201,764 and residential-detached at $256,195.

 

Speaking of average residential-detached sale prices, when you look at the different quadrants of the city and outside Winnipeg for the first six months of 2011, the rural MLS® areas which represent almost one out of four sales had a moderating influence on the overall average price increase of 5%. Why? Rural prices have only risen 1% where the north-west quadrant of the city is up 5% and the others are all over 6% with the north-central quadrant highest at 8%. 

 

June MLS® unit sales increased 6% (1,516/1,432) while dollar volume rose 12% ($367.9 million/$329.2 million) in comparison to the same month last year. Year-to-date MLS® sales are up 3% (6,660/6,452) while dollar volume has increased 7% ($1.56 billion/ $1.45 billion) in comparison to the same period last year. Similar to year-to-date results last month, the over 10,000 MLS® listings entered on the MLS® thus far remain in a virtual deadlock with 2010.

 

“A real solid June performance helped propel our first half of 2011 market activity slightly ahead of forecast range for sales increases and did more than expected to keep a lid on price appreciation,” said Ralph Fyfe, president of WinnipegREALTORS®. “When you drill down further into different MLS® areas, property types, listing activity and price movement, you clearly see much more divergence in results.  This should not be surprising given all real estate markets are local in their make-up and have different factors at play in shaping all that transpires.”

 

Here is just one example of how one MLS® area stood out from the rest in June. River Heights had 17 new listings yet completed 24 sales leaving two listings remaining for sale in July. While there were some other MLS® neighbourhoods where sales overtook the number of new listings, it is not a typical occurrence and not to the extent that happened in River Heights.

 

Fyfe added, “Buyers and sellers need to be talking to REALTORS® - the experts on the local real estate market – to gain the information and keen insights they possess on what best fits the unique needs of their own situation. It will then give them the confidence and ability to make an informed decision.”

 

A quick review of MLS® property type activity year-to-date shows residential-detached sales are up 3%, condominiums ahead by 8% and vacant land a whopping 28%.

 

For residential-detached sales in June, 60% of total sales were from $150,000 to $299,999 with the $200,000 to $249,999 price range leading the way at 24%. The $0 to $99,999 price range only represented 3% of all sales.  The average days-on-market was 23 days, one day slower than last month and the same pace as June 2010.

 

Condominium sales activity in June saw 79% of sales from $100,000 to $249,999 with 42% coming in the $150,000 to $199,999 price range. The average days-on-market for condominiums was 22 days, six days faster than last month and 11 days quicker than June 2010.

 

Established in 1903, WinnipegREALTORS® is a professional association representing over 1,600 real estate brokers, salespeople, appraisers, and financial members active in the Greater Winnipeg Area real estate market.  Its REALTOR® members adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) designed exclusively for REALTORS®.   WinnipegREALTORS® serves its members by promoting the benefits of an organized real estate profession.  REALTOR®, MLS® and Multiple Listing Service® are trademarks owned and controlled by the Canadian Real Estate Association and are used under licence.

 

For further information, contact Peter Squire at 786-8854.

 

Shaila Wise

WinnipegREALTORS®

Administrative Assistant, Public Affairs

Phone: 204-786-8854  Ext. 219

Fax: 204-784-2343

Website: www.winnipegrealtors.ca

Email: swise@winnipegrealtors.ca

Fighting for Homebuyers

www.2muchltt.com

Untitled

We are very excited to be getting NHL back to Winnipeg! Wonder what the new name should be?

Sniff Out Potential Problems When House Hunting

Sniff Out Potential Problems When House Hunting

By Liz Gray, FrontDoor.com | Published: 4/02/2008

Mold and mildew create strong smells and can cost a lot of money to fix what is letting the moisture into the home.

When you're looking for a new home, be sure to look with your nose, not just your eyes. A bad smell may be a sign of a larger issue that could cost you dearly.

Take a big whiff of the air when you're outside the house. Do you smell sewage, gas or anything else that's unpleasant? Sewage systems in homes older than 20 years often get clogged or damaged by tree roots. If you're buying an older home, sewer and plumbing companies can send a camera through the pipes and determine if there are any blockages or breaks.

Keep your nose at attention inside the house as well. Do you smell cigarette, pet or mildew odors? If you can't smell anything but the huge baskets of potpourri all over the house, this could be a red flag as well.

Pet and smoke smells can be minimized with a little cleaning and elbow grease, but will take a long time to fully dissipate. Mildew and mold smells indicate a much larger problem -- mold removal can cost thousands of dollars, plus whatever's letting moisture in will need to be fixed.

If you notice a strong smell but are interested in the house, hire an inspector who will pay special attention to unmasking the foul odor.

 

http://www.frontdoor.com/Buy/Sniff-Out-Potential-Problems-When-House-Hunting/1566

 

Making Yourself at Home After a Move

Have you heaved a huge sigh of relief yet? If not, go ahead -- you've earned it.

Now that you've successfully cruised through moving day, you can start turning your new digs into a home sweet home. Of course, your idea of "home" may not include ceiling-high stacks of cardboard boxes. Or maybe you're not exactly smitten with whatever misguided decor (gilded wallpaper? shag carpeting?) the previous owners left behind.

TIP: Establish a sanctuary within your home. Choose one room to paint immediately, and decorate it with items that make you feel warm 'n' fuzzy -- a favorite armchair, a few picture frames, or your projection-screen television. It may be a while before all your belongings are put away and renovations complete, but whenever you need a break from your work-in-progress, you can retreat to this room and feel right at home.

Just don't get too comfortable, because you still have some unpacking to do.

Feeling besieged by boxes? Take it one room at a time. The kitchen is a good place to start -- it's the hub of most homes, and besides, too much takeout can be hard on the wallet. Get bathrooms in order next, and then move on to bedrooms, living rooms, and guest rooms. If you can't find a place for something, sell it or toss it. Don't let it languish in unpacking limbo.

Once your house is in order, take some time to explore your new community. Start with the nuts and bolts:

• Find the nearest post office, bank, grocery store, police department, fire department, and hospital.
• Update your driver's license and car registration with the DMV; if you're not a fan of standing in line, log on to your state's DMV website.
• Register to vote in your new district, and find out where the nearest polling location is.
• Call your town's sanitation department and see if curbside pickup is offered for trash and recycling.
• Get acquainted with the rules and regulations of your apartment complex or homeowners' association.
• Send e-mails or moving announcements to your friends and family with your new address and phone number. For inspiration, read Creative Ways to Announce Your Move.

Once you've made it official, you can focus on the fun stuff. Introduce yourself to the neighbors, and take a few meandering walks until you learn your way around. Subscribe to the local newspaper, get a library card, go shopping downtown, or join the health club. Make it your goal to find the best pizza delivery, deli, or takeout in your neighborhood. It may take some time to adjust, but before you know it, you'll feel like a local.

 

 

 

By Kara Wahlgren, FrontDoor.com | Published: 1/28/2008

http://www.frontdoor.com/Move/Making-Yourself-at-Home-After-a-Move/969

How Working with a Realtor Can Benefit YOU

Buying or selling a home can be one of the most important and complicated transactions you make in your lifetime.  With this transaction comes plenty of paperwork, endless decisions to be made, and unknown obstacles.  A Realtor can help you through the process of buying or selling a home from beginning to end, and ensure your financial and legal protection along the way.  Realtors differ from other licensed or registered real estate agents or brokerages in that they are member of The Canadian Real Estate Association, and as such must adhere to the REALTOR® Code and Standards of Business Practice.  These regulations, ethics and high standards ensure you will receive the best possible assistance while buying or selling your property.  Below is an explanation of ways in which a Realtor can help you.

Skill

Realtors have professional marketing and negotiating skills that can help you buy or sell your home at a price that works for you. 

Knowledge

A Realtor knows the ins and out of the industry and uses his or her education and experience to your advantage.  In addition to their training, Realtors constantly update their knowledge through professional education programs. 

Resources

Realtors have a plethora of resources at their fingertips, which can help you buy or sell a property faster and broaden your options.  Realtors have access to the Multiple Listing Service; thus if you are buying a home, a Realtor can find properties other Realtors are selling, or if you are selling they can list your home so other buyers can discover it through the Realtor with whom they are working.  Realtors can also post signs which can direct buyers’ attention to a home that is for sale and being handled professionally.

Protection

Realtors must follow strict regulations and adhere to a code of ethics that is designed to protect you, the client.  A Realtor is bound to client confidentiality and also must offer you his or her undivided loyalty; he or she must “protect the client’s negotiating position at all times, and disclose all known facts, which may affect or influence their decision.”  Realtors must also “obey all lawful instructions of the seller” and “account for all money and property placed in a brokerage’s hands while acting for the client.”  Furthermore, a realtor can legally incorporate a Property Disclosure Statement into a Contract for Purchase and Sale, ensuring you buy a home with full knowledge of any defects of which the seller may be aware.

For more information, talk to your local CENTURY 21 real estate professional.

 

 

 

Posted by Jules Seaman on March 28, 2011