Fall Maintenance for Your Home

Is your home ready for cold weather? These fall maintenance tips for your home will help get you ready for chilly temps, and help save money by making your home more energy efficient. Don't wait until something important breaks down before you fix it! Preventative maintenance is the key to saving money and keeping your home warm and comfortable during cold winter months.
Take one day to finish these fall maintenance tips for your home. You'll be glad you did!
Check weather stripping and caulking around doors and windows. If you notice any gaps in the coverage, make a quick trip to your local home improvement store for new materials. Keep all cold air out, and all warm air in your home with well-sealed windows and doors.
Replace your furnace filter before you even turn the unit on. A nice, clean filter will help air flow freely, and will put less strain on your furnace, making your home more energy efficient.
Have a qualified heating professional come and check your heating unit before cold weather hits. If you wait you see noticeable problems with your heater, you may not be able to get someone to come out to check it out before it breaks. These individuals are much busier during cold weather, so get them out to your home now.
If you have a chimney, having a professional chimney sweep come out and clean out flues. Again, don't wait until the weather is cold. Do it now to save yourself time and money.
If you live where the weather becomes extremely cold, protect your home from frozen pipes. Insulate the pipes before the weather dips down to freezing temps. The more insulation you use, the less susceptible they are to freezing.
Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. The risk of house fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increase during winter months, so make sure that your family is protected.
By taking the time to complete the fall maintenance tips for your home listed here, you will ensure that your home stays nice and warm all winter long.

Fall Maintenance for Your Home

Finances - Homeowners Insurance

It is something that you have to have, so why not make sure you are getting the best deal possible. For many households, simply taking the time to compare different insurance plans can lead to savings of 10% or more per year. You want to make sure that you are adequately insured, but many people make the mistake of getting too much insurance instead. Below we have included some tips that can help you save on your homeowners insurance:

• Add some security devices such as smoke deterctors, dead bolts, or a burglar alarm
• Do an annual review to compare the amount of insurance you are carrying to your home and assets. You want to be properly insured without overpaying for insurance you do not need.
• Often insurers will offer steep discounts if you also get your auto insurance through them
• Call and ask your insurer if there is anything you can do to save. This simple act can often save your some money.
• Consider raising your deductible. Call your insurer to find out what you could save by raising your deductible another $250.

These few steps can help you gather the information needed to ensure you have the right coverage at the right price.

Finances - Homeowners Insurance

Bank of Canada Holds Rate

The Bank of Canada on Tuesday held the overnight rate at 0.25% following its commitment to keep rates down through the end of June 2010. The Bank of Canada remained optimistic for the performance of the economy in the second half of 2009, it seemed to be pessimistic on the medium term outlook for the Canadian economy. The bank stated the stronger performance in the second half of 2009 will be driven by "monetary and fiscal stimulus, increased household wealth, improving financial conditions, higher commodity prices, and stronger business and consumer confidence". However, the negative impact from the strength of the Loonie on the export market will more than offset these improvements and therefore the Bank has lowered its growth projection for 2011 to 3.3% down from 3.5%. The Bank now anticipates the economy will reach full capacity and inflation will reach the Bank's target by the end of June 2011, one quarter later than in the July MPR. The Bank of Canada feels the risks to the "inflation projection are tilted to the downside."

This announcement laid to rest some speculation that the bank would follow Australia' lead and hike rates sooner than expected. Canada like Australia's economic growth is being helped by commodity markets but unlike Australia, Canada suffered a deep, short recession led by the US. The Bank of Canada wants to ensure that Canada is in a recovery before hiking rates too soon. The outlook for the Canada's economy has improved significantly since the last rate announcement date but the soft domestic demand has kept inflation well under the 2% target.

Some economists believe the Bank of Canada will keep rates steady to the fourth quarter of next year but this only a prediction. Variable rate mortgages will be the best option for clients, at least for the next year or more.

Bank of Canada Holds Rate

House Hunting: Finding the Right Fit

by Contributed - Story: 49982
Oct 10, 2009 / 12:00 pm

With so many choices and variables, how do you find the perfect fit? Before you start your search, it's a good idea to narrow down the playing field by looking at what would fit you best. Here's where to look:

Look Inside

What do you already own that your new home would need to accommodate?

If your dining suite is one that you cherish, use often and happens to be huge, then add “large dining room” to your Must Have List. Carry this logic through your space and you should come to some conclusions about what is essential in a new home. While you’re at it, take a look at your personal style it can also give you valuable clues as to what you really want. For example, if your style tends more to clean lines and a modern look, then loft-like spaces or open concept homes will probably hold more appeal.

Look Outside

What is out in the world that catches your attention? Is it a brick exterior or cedar shingles that make a house feel like home to you?

Consider the different styles of houses that you like, and see if there are any common elements among them. Another place to look is at the style and size of any new items you plan to acquire. Taking an outside inventory of what appeals to you can help narrow down your search.

Look at Your Requirements

It's helpful to take a head count and look at what features are vital to each member of your family. How many of you are going to live there, and are any more expected shortly? How many of you need home offices or parking spaces or playgrounds or workshops?

This will give you an idea of the size and number of rooms you require, as well as clues to locations or types of housing. Make sure you include pets and consider what's best for them. This may move a fenced yard to the top of your list.

Look at Your Lifestyle

Look at your lifestyle to gain insight to your best locations.

If you’re planning to stay awhile, and are also planning on children (or already have them), then you’ll want to find a neighbourhood that’s kid friendly and has great schools. Another consideration should be your work commute. Make sure it has what you need, whether that’s access to public transportation or parking spots.

All in all, if you take the time to consider what’s really important to you, you should be able to find the house that is the right for you.

Happy Hunting!

House Hunting: Finding the Right Fit