Ask Realtor® Steven Silva
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What is Title Search
Posted by on May 4, 2012
Here in Ontario, the province keeps records on every piece of property. When a Lawyer or Realtor reviews these documents we call that a Title Search. Included in every standard Agreement of Purchase and Sale is the provision for a Lawyer to do a Title Search. During this process the Lawyer will discover and confirm the Owners Names, Lot Size, Legal Description including, and any other information registered against the property such as liens and mortgages.
Some issues can be discovered during that Title Search process that may need to be resolved prior to closing. A classic example is when a Seller accepts less money on the sale of the home than the money owed on the property (Mortgages plus unpaid taxes). In that case, if the Seller does not have the funds to cover the short fall at closing, you may not be able to close. Other issues that can crop are easements and Restrictive Covenants. Easements are a right granted over a property in the benefit of another person or property. It usually grants access to the property and can have a significant impact on the value of the property. A home with an easement to run a sewer line directly under the middle of your property may limit what you can build on it. Often builders put short term easements that expire after a period of time granting access over you new home. Building a fence too soon, may cause it to have to be taken down at the owners expense if your not careful. A restrictive covenant also limits what you can do on your own land. For example, some townhome complexes can only have white window coverings even though the properties are not condominiums. Builder again may put restrictive covenants on properties to ensure the community meet their marking plan.
The sooner these issues are discovered, the better position you will be when purchasing and selling your home. While some consider a title search an expensive proposition, especially for complicated titles, it can be much more expensive not doing them. Once money has exchanged hands and the deed is granted to the buyer, the buyer will be bound by what is registered on title. To avoid lawsuits, Sellers will also want to disclose what is registered on title early.
Preventing Basement Leakage
Posted by on March 5, 2012
Basement leakage is more common than most people realize. However, water in basements can be a huge deal, especially if you are trying to sell your home. There are three things homeowners should do to prevent basement leakage; clean their eavestroughs, have their downspouts directed away from the home and ensure that the grading around their home slopes away from the foundation walls. Since most basement leakage is caused by rainwater, doing these prevents water from reaching the home’s foundation so water isn’t accumulating and making its way inside.
The purpose of eavestroughs is to collect all the water that falls on the home, collect it, and bring the water to the downspouts. If eavestroughs are clogged, have holes, or are broken; a large amount of water can fall and collect on the ground near the home. Over time, this will create low spots near the home that fill up with water keeping the water close to the foundation and giving the water time to push its way inside.
The downspouts take the water from the roof and bring it down to the ground. Most of the time, downspouts discharge all the roof water onto a splash pad next to the home. Ideally, they should extend and take the water about 6 feet away from the home. There’s no point in collecting all the water and putting it right next to the home. By adding an extension, which you can find at a local hardware store, you can keep the collected water further away from your foundation walls.
If we took the water 6 feet away and then it all flowed right back to the home, that wouldn’t help. So the last thing we need to do is ensure that the ground around the house is sloped away from the home. The home should sit on a ‘little hill’ so water flows away from it. Meaning that you would need to build up the area around the foundation wall with soil (adding grass if desired) to create a slope away from the home. The slope does not have to be large, just enough so that water flows (about 2%). Even if the overall property slope is towards the house, the 6 feet closest to the home should slope away.
I have seen homes with foundations of stone and mud that have dry basements by simply following the above steps. Please note that if you are getting water into your basement now and you did everything above, it won’t stop leaking from one day to the next. Depending on the soil around your home, it can take a long time for the ground that is saturated with water to dry out. There are faster and more costly alternatives but prevention should greatly reduce, if not eliminate, basement leakage.
Open a Window; it’s Cold Outside…
Posted by on February 5, 2012
Ever notice how people that work outside tend to be healthier than those that work inside, even when it’s cold outside? It may have something to do with all the fresh air they get. Conversely, people that are closed indoors without access to fresh air tend to get sick more often. This may have to do with the fact that living in modern homes is akin to living in a plastic bag.
In order to increase the energy efficiency of homes, in modern construction in addition to adding insulation around the home, we also enclose the home in a plastic vapour barrier and seal up any penetrations as best we can. Just like a really thick wool sweater, it doesn’t really help if the wind cuts right through. We need an air barrier as well as insulation to keep the heat in.
Living in a plastic bag can trap “bad air” in and keep “fresh air” out. That is why is important to air out the home from time to time. We often do this without thinking about it. When we use our kitchen and bathroom fans, for example, we are forcing air out, which in turn sucks fresh air in through all the imperfections in the air barrier. Every time we go outside and open our front door, we let fresh air in. In some homes that may be enough, but if you stay at home during the day, or have people who are sick staying home, you might want to air out the home a little more often.
Personally, I like opening up all the windows for a short period of time and getting an air current to cycle the air. That way you let in a bunch of cold air but the house (floors, walls and furniture) doesn’t have a chance to cool down. Other people like opening up a window a little bit for a longer period of time. Others add mechanical devices such as a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) to their home which automatically brings in air from the outside while trying to recover the heat.
Try to make it a point to air out the house as much as possible on those days that the outside temperature is mild. Don’t forget to use the kitchen and bathroom fans and for goodness sake, open a window; it’s cold outside.
Upper Beach Townes
Posted by on February 2, 2012
Click For More Information
Upper Beach Townes provides the opportunity to live in one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods; the Upper Beach. With walking distance to both GO transit and TTC subway. The complex offers a selection of 32 Stacked town-homes with 2 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms + den options ranging in size from 881 to 1195 Sqr.Ft. Choose your Custom Designed Kitchen Cabinetry in a section of doors and finishes. Quartz or Stone Kitchen Counters tops with double stainless steel sink and single lever faucet.
Toll Free 24 Hour Recorded Info Line:
1-855-737-8383 id 2327
Eco-Energy Retrofit Program
Posted by on January 31, 2012
The Federal Government, on Sunday, January 29th, announced that it is no longer accepting applications for the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program. Set to expire at the end of March, the announcement ends the program two months earlier than scheduled.
If you have not enrolled, the program is effectively over. If you are already a participating homeowner, contact the program at 1 800 622-6232 and quote your 10-digit ecoENERGY number to verify your status. More information about end dates at www.ecoaction.gc.ca/homes
Insider’s News for January
Posted by on January 15, 2012
Inside This Issue…
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| If you’re not already a subscriber to my free e–newsletter email me to sign–up |
| Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to be wiser with your money? In today’s Service For Life!® Free consumer newsletter you’ll get proven tips for spending less and saving more so you can invest for the future.You’ll also learn five ways you can train your brain to remember important facts, plus funny jokes, a trivia challenge, and lots more.
Steven Silva
Steven Silva, REALTOR® PS. When you notice people talking about real estate in the next few weeks, can you tell them about the free consumer information I provide? They may be people looking to buy or refinance and you can tell them about my Free Consumer Report “7 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Financing Your Home.” You’ll be a hero because they’ll learn 17 questions to ask any mortgage lender to get the right financing for their needs. To request a copy for a friend, simply email me at AskStevenSilva@gmail.com, or call me at: 1-855-737-8383. |
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Today’s Brain Teaser . . .
Other than being colors, what do silver, orange and (see answer below) Read more of this post |
Does Your Roof Have Enough Snow?
Posted by on January 5, 2012
Have you ever looked out the window and noticed that some homes seem to have less snow on their roofs than others? Most of the time, the amount of snow on your roof isn’t a problem. However, homes that lose more heat through their roof space melt the snow faster and that can be a sign of insufficient insulation or poor ventilation. Does your roof have enough snow?
Ideally, a properly insulated home with adequate ventilation will have a cold roof space. Any heat or moisture that does get into the roof space should escape easily through the roof vents. If your house does not have enough insulation OR adequate ventilation, heat and moisture can be trapped in the roof space. This causes the roof space to heat up and melt the snow above.
In homes with plenty of insulation but poor ventilation, the roof space will still eventually warm. The heat cannot easily escape causing the snow to melt. The trapped moisture in a warm roof space can lead to wood rotting.
If your home has excellent ventilation but poor insulation, the wood in your roof will be protected but your heating bill will be higher. Heat and moisture will escape and not melt the snow except maybe near the outside walls. This area will be the warmest because the heat has not yet had a chance to escape. Snow that melts here and causes ice to build-up, may lead to leakage.
A well insulated and ventilated roof space will keep a healthy amount of snow on it and not have constant ice build-up. The next time after a good snowfall, have a look at your roof. Compare it with similar houses on the same side of your street. Comparing a house on the North side of a street to a house on the South side would not be a fair comparison because they get differing amounts of sunlight. If your home does not have enough snow, it might be worthwhile to call an insulation or roofing professional.
December News!
Posted by on December 22, 2011
Steven Silva’s…
December News!
Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living
Inside This Issue…
- Detangle Stress Of Family Ties…
- Avoid Online Shopping Scams…
- Fun Facts and Laughs: Highest-Paid Comedians, Essential Technologies For 2012, And More…
- Trivia Challenge: Win a Free ProOil Change for Your Car
- Real Estate Q&A: How Do I Find The Best Deal When Getting A Home Loan?
Is Your Chimney Ready For Santa?
Posted by on December 14, 2011
Santa isn’t as young as he used to be and I think he put on a little extra weight this year. Getting down those chimneys is hard enough as it is, so if you have a chimney for your fireplace, make sure that it has been cleaned before you use it this season.
According to my sources at the North Pole, a chimney used for a wood burning should be swept and inspected at least once a year by a WETT certified Person. WETT stands for Wood Energy Technology Transfer. People that are WETT certified are also Santa Approved! They have been trained in the cleaning and inspection of chimneys and they often can do any repairs if needed.
The flammable deposits, such as creosote, should be cleaned out. Creosote, is that black stuff that sticks to the sides of the chimney. A spark from the fire could ignite it and cause a chimney fire. Two other common repairs are to dampers that no longer work properly and the removal of blockages in the flue. Just like we wouldn’t want smoke to get stuck on the way up, we want a clear passage for Santa on the way down.
Old brick fireplaces may need a metal liner. Some older homes had coal burning fireplaces, which didn’t burn the same way wood does and may not have the proper clearances. Today, they might be mistaken for a wood burning fireplace and that may not be safe. If you cannot burn wood in the coal burning fireplaces, chemical logs might be okay but consult with your chimney professional first. If you bought a home with a gas insert into a wood fireplace, the damper MUST be fixed in the open position. If you don’t know if that was done properly, you may want to have that inspected too.
Santa will appreciate the work you’ve done and it will be one more reason for you to be on Santa’s Nice List this year! Have a Safe and Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year Too!
Switching the Thermostat from “Cool” to “Heat”…
Posted by on November 17, 2011
Switching the thermostat from Cool to Heat has always marked a point during the year for me when I finally admit to myself that the warm season is over and the cold season begins. It is also a reminder to do some Autumn maintenance in preparation for those colder days to come.Replacing the furnace filter and getting your furnace serviced is always a great way to start. Winter tends to be dry, if you don’t have a humidifier you may want to consider having one installed. If you have a humidifier, check that it is clean. Like your furnace, the cleaner it is; the better it works.
Have you ever noticed through past winters that some rooms of your home are colder and others much warmer? A Home Heat Balancing may help. Heat balancing changes the way the heat flows around the home to make it the most comfortable and efficient. Hot air naturally rises so ideal air flow is different in the Winter. In the Summer, upstairs supply vents are often opened up and the downstairs ones closed. You may find that you need to do the opposite in the Winter. If a room isn’t used during the winter, you may want to redirect the heat elsewhere. Check out AskStevenSilva.ca for more tips on Do-It-Yourself Home Heat Balancing.
Check the weather stripping around doors, windows and electrical outlets on exterior walls. Under exterior doors there is a weather stripping known as a “sweep” those are often forgotten and do need replacing from time to time to prevent cold air from getting in.
Scott Ratcliffe, local Small Engine Repair Service Technician, suggests mowing the leaves once they’re dry (his full advice is published on AskStevenSilva.ca). If you wait until all the leaves have fallen and dried up before cutting the grass one last time, you will find come spring time the lawn will be healthier and clean. Consider cleaning out the eavestroughs. Clean eavestroughs prevent them from icing up easily and overflowing. Since the ladder is out, why not get a head start on putting up the Holiday lighting before the ground is covered in ice and snow.
With a little advance preparation we can be ready to enjoy the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”!
Steven Silva’s November News
Posted by on November 9, 2011
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November News!
Insider Tips for Healthy, Wealthy and Happy Living
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Inside This Issue…
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| If you’re not already a subscriber to my free e–newsletter email me to sign–up | ||
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| Dear ReaderAre your kids or young relatives safe during the holidays? Too many children end up in the emergency room during the holiday season. In the November News Free consumer newsletter you’ll learn five of the most common dangers to keep your kids or grandkids safe.You’ll also get a list of websites to stay connected to your loved ones, plus funny jokes, a trivia challenge, and lots more.
Steven Silva
Steven Silva, REALTOR® Royal LePage Your Community Realty PS. If you’re considering buying a home soon pick up a copy of my Free Consumer Report called “8 Secrets For Saving Thousands When Finding, Buying and Financing Your Next Home”. Simply email me at: AskStevenSilva@gmail.com |
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Today’s Brain Teaser . . .
Which is heavier: a pound of gold or a pound of feathers? (see answer below) |
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Holiday Dangers For Children . . . Read more of this post
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Getting Rid of Leaves Easily
Posted by on November 1, 2011
I got some great advice from my Small Engine Repair Man Scott Ratcliffe. He was kind enough to write it down and allow me to publish it: “Now that most leaves have fallen from the trees, we will find ourselves spending hours in the yard raking and bagging leaves. Why? There is a more effective way to get rid of the leaves and at the same time make your lawn evenly cut and looking good till spring. And you won’t have to buy all those bags to put leaves in. Most lawn mowers are now designed to mulch your grass so why not your leaves? Once the leaves have dried out, use your mower to mulch the leaves. Even the fully treed lot will clear up pretty good and it will make the weekend war on leaves so much easier. Although some will say its not perfect, a windy day will only send more leaves on your lawn anyway. The mulched leaves turn into a dust and disappear into your lawn. If you have a lot of leaves be aware that it may get pretty dusty and a dust mask may be required. So next time you go out to clean up the yard, you may find that you just saved hours of work and now have time do what we like to do best on our days off….relax.” by Scott Ratcliffe If you need repairs to a gas mower, trimmer, leaf-blower, chainsaw, snow-blower or chain sharpening, give Scott a call at 416-855-4783. He lives in Newmarket, Ontario.
Water Hammer
Posted by on October 15, 2011
Q: My water pipes bang every time I turn the water on or off. I have hammer arresters, but somehow, the air cushion has leaked out. How can I re-establish the air cushion in the pipes?
Nick M. Pavicic, via email
A:Senior editor Daniel S. Morrison replies: Water hammer is the banging you hear when you quickly turn on or off a water faucet or valve. It happens because of a quick change in the velocity of water in a long pipe. A good analogy is that of a speeding train smashing into a mountain: The engine stops, but the caboose keeps right on coming. Water in a pipe can’t simply fall off the track and pile up as a train can. Instead, the liquid sends shock waves back through the water pipes. The shock occurs where the water moving back from the front of the line meets the water rushing forward from the back of the line.
Drawing by: Dan Thornton
The pressure exerted by these shock waves is around 60 times the velocity of the water, which can translate to 600 psi. This is much more than a domestic-water system is tested and rated for, so these shock waves can be destructive to water pipes. The faster the water valve closes, the greater the shock to the pipe. The easiest way to stop the shock at a faucet is simply to turn off the water more slowly: say, over the course of 1 second rather than 1/4 second. But solenoid valves in dishwashers, washing machines, and ice makers can’t be adjusted to close slowly. Instead, you need some sort of air cushion. Read more of this post
Things that go Bump in the Night
Posted by on October 3, 2011
As we approach Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to answer a question about certain strange sounds in the home. “Steve, every night when I lay in bed I hear knocking and when the furnace turns on there is a tack tack sound for a little while. Haunted house maybe?” I don’t know if the house is haunted; but I do have some ideas about what that sound might be.
When your furnace turns on, the metal duct work in your home is cool. As the hot air rushes past, the metal heats up causing it to expand. As it expands, the metal can’t move at first since it is held in place by nails and friction. The metal keeps expanding until it overcomes the friction from the wood and drywall and it slips, causing that sound. It is pretty normal to hear a few sounds quickly together when your furnace turns on. When the furnace turns off, the metal cools slower. You will still get the same sounds but there is more time in between them. The same idea applies to your whole home. For example, now in the Fall, the entire home is warmer during the day causing the WHOLE house to expand slightly. At night, as it cools, the house contracts. Different materials contract at different rates. So, as you lay in bed…while everything is quiet…you can often hear the home shifting and its not usually something supernatural.
Happy Halloween Everyone! Read more of this post
Do I need a Tarion Warranty If I Build a New House?
Posted by on September 8, 2011
The Ontario New Home Warranty (Tarion Warranty) Program is run by the Tarion Corporation and is mandatory for all new homes built for sale here in Ontario. If you are building a new home for yourself you do not need a Tarion Warranty. As a matter of fact, if you built a new home for sale and had enrolled in the Tarion Warranty Program and then decided to live in it yourself, the warranty would not apply. Tarion protects new home buyers by ensuring that the builder meets certain performance guidelines. It would not make sense for Tarion to protect a builder from himself/herself.
When you apply for a building permit, you will be asked if the home will be for personal use (i.e. personal residence, second home or for rent) or for sale. If it is for sale, you must enroll into the Tarion Warranty Program. The municipality will not give you a permit to build unless you do so. Anyone can build a home for themselves. In fact, it is a great way to create wealth and save money (IF you have the time, access to the right people and financial means). I’ve purchased a home from a builder and built myself. Builders have access to economies of scale so they can usually build less expensively and the emotional detachment allows them to move faster. Building for yourself usually takes longer but the final product is customized to you and you can decide on being the project manager yourself or contracting that out.
If you are building for yourself and intend to sell you should work with a Realtor who is experienced in Tarion, new homes and the special issues around selling new. You may be surprised as to the extent of the warranty you must provide.
Visit my website at AskStevenSilva.ca to continue this discussion and leave comments. If you have something you would like me to write about, please email me at AskStevenSilva@gmail.com
Another Related topic you can read: Do I Need a Realtor When Buying a New Home
