Make your home a hot item this spring

(NC)—The arrival of Spring marks the beginning of a busy real-estate season. With the warmer temperatures and the sense of renewal, many Canadians start looking for a fresh start to the year with a new home. This trend also makes it a good time of year for those looking to sell their home.

In order to help get top-dollar for your home, there are some easy renovations that homeowners can make to increase the resale value of their property, says Brett Henderson, Insulation Expert, Owens Corning Canada. Creating an appealing exterior can help make a good first impression, but some of the interior renovations – such as upgraded insulation – can provide an important selling feature. Insulation can help reduce energy costs, control noise and create a comfortable environment.

Save Money

Energy savings can be an important consideration for potential buyers. A home that is properly insulated will be much more energy efficient as heat flow between inside and outside is reduced to a minimum. This means that in winter you need less heat to keep your house warm and in summer the air conditioning is more effective. The financial savings, as well as environmental benefits, of an energy-efficient home are an attractive benefit to home buyers. In addition, sellers can emphasize the fact that the benefits of insulation will last for the lifetime of the house.

Reduce Noise

In addition to helping reduce energy bills, insulation can also help block and muffle unwanted household noise. By installing Quiet Zone‚ Acoustical Batts and resilient channels within interior walls, homeowners can maximize the noise reduction. When potential buyers visit the house, challenge them to compare the noise levels in your home to other homes they visit.

Maximize Comfort

A well insulated home will remain cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. In addition, temperatures will be more consistent throughout the home. Sellers can emphasize these benefits to potential buyers. After all, everyone wants their home to be as comfortable as possible.

Other Touch-Ups

Some other renovations and touch-ups that homeowners might consider before putting their house on the market include:

• Refurbishing worn fences, mailboxes, and lamp posts. Make sure they are up to standards with the rest on your street.

• Removing grease or oil spots on driveways and walkways.

• Clean up all debris outside and keep your lawn freshly mown to create a good first impression.

• Renovate to add more space. By clearing out and cleaning up hidden places in your home such as your basement, crawl space, garage and attic, you can make your home more spacious and appealing to potential buyers.

Before putting your home on the market, consider undertaking some simple DIY insulation renovations. Improving your home will increase your chances of a quicker and more profitable sale.

- News Canada

Home Improvement Tips: How to design and define with light

(NC)—There are more than 30 light bulbs in the average Canadian household, but interior designers tell us that as many as 35 percent of those bulbs are misapplied.

Keep in mind that not all light bulbs are created equal, says Janny Hogen Esch, spokesperson for Philips Lighting, a well-known leader in this field. So no matter whether you are redesigning your kitchen, updating the look of your living room, or building a deck to enjoy the summer, do keep in mind that there are some very attractive and cost-efficient options to consider, all of which will improve the warmth and ambiance of your home.

One of newest and most appealing developments in lighting is the beauty of the light-emitting diode, an exciting technology simply known as LED.

Elegant, safe, energy saving and easy-to-use, LED mood-enhancing accents are changing the rules and redefining the possibilities in home design, Hogen Esch said.

Did you know for example, that the ultra-efficient, LED technology uses only 3/4 watts of energy? That is 90 to 95 percent less energy use than the traditional incandescent bulb. With a life span that is 10 times as long as compact fluorescent, and 133 times longer than typical incandescent applications, LED bulbs are certainly built to last.

Designing with light can dramatically change the mood, functionality, and investment value of any room or patio. To see what's possible when you design with light, here are a couple of tips using the latest technology, courtesy of Philips Lighting and Philips.com:

• Candlelight: Infuse the soft low light of candles into any evening without striking a match. The bulbs known as the Aurelle LED Rechargeable Candle, simulates candlelight ambiance without the hassle of open flame, melting wax, and without risks to yourself and children. Place these lights on the dining table to create a special mood or take them outside for backyard dining, at the poolside, or on the beach.

• Glowing Deck Lights: Add elegance to your deck, boat, pool, pathways, walls and stairs with the subtle glow of the newest technology found in Aurelle LED Deck lights. These bulbs create a safe setting while leaving the atmosphere in tact. Available in 10-light point kits that can be easily installed, connected, and controlled by remote, these soft, glowing accents add atmosphere and safety without being obtrusive. The corrosion and impact-resistant, weather-proof components make this installation a sound investment to any landscape design.

- News Canada

Add value to your home

(NC)—Renovations do not always translate to an increase in the value of your home. And if you're okay with that, then there's no need to continue reading this article. However, if you're planning to sell sometime in the future and want to help ensure you get the most bang from your renovation then read on.

Value-neutral and value-added renovations

Surprisingly, as nice as it sounds, adding a swimming pool; or building a sauna or hot tub are considered value-neutral renovations. This means there is not much payback in installing these features in your home. You can also expect the same for installing paving stones to the driveway and reducing the number of bedrooms to less than three.

On the other hand, modernizing a kitchen and updating a bathroom are regarded as value-added renovations. The same can be expected by creating a master bedroom with an en suite bath and/or walk-in closet; and by remodeling or adding a family room, especially on the main floor.

Cost-effective options

Coming up with extra cash for a home renovation is not easy, especially if you're juggling several financial responsibilities – including a mortgage, RRSP contributions and car payments. Finding a cost-effective financing option is a must, particularly if you're planning a major home improvement project. Consider for example the CIBC Home Power Plan, which provides the freedom and convenience of a secured line of credit coupled with the security and peace of mind of a fixed-rate mortgage. This means that by using the equity in your home you can take advantage of lower interest rates with the secured line of credit than a credit card. It also allows you to enjoy ongoing access to credit so you always have funds available when you need them. And if you're concerned about rising interest rates, you may be better off with a fixed-rate mortgage. If the rates are better than what you're currently paying, then you'll save both on your mortgage payments and on the interest on your secured line of credit. Having a low interest rate on borrowed funds allows you to maximize the value of your renovation. For example, the total cost of the new kitchen and bathroom, including interest, may be offset by the increase in the value of your home.

- News Canada