Q
What should I be asking when
selecting a custom home
builder for my new home?
A
There are a few important areas that
you should be asking about before
hiring a home builder.
EXPERIENCE How long have they been in
business? How many homes do they build
a year? Can you view recent projects or
current projects? Ask for client references to
get personal opinions from current or past
clients as well.
LICENSE AND WARRANTY A reputable
builder should be licensed by your local
province and offer a warranty. You should
also ask if they are part of a local home
builder’s association. You will also want to ask
for details of the builder’s warranty provider
and the coverage your home will have.
are provided with a clean and concise
budget that takes into account potential cost
overruns and also ask for a written schedule
with a timeline for construction. You should
also find out how often you will be updated
on the progress. - Jas Rai, www.raicon.ca
PEOPLE AND TRADES It is important to
know who you will be working with. Who
will oversee the project? Is there an in-house
designer available? What trades will they be
using and are they reliable?
BUDGET AND TIMELINE Discuss your
plans with the builder to see if your dreams
and budget align. Make sure to ask if there
are any potential extra costs you should
be aware of and discuss custom options
that may affect your budget. Ensure you
ask an EXPERT
Q
A
When is the best time to put our
home on the market?
This is a great question as there is no right
or wrong time. However, stats show that
the spring market is typically the most active
home buying and selling season. The snow
is melting, the holidays are over and in some
provinces, the colorful crocuses are popping into
bloom.
Q
A
A new year brings new resolutions and often
buying or selling a home is on that extensive list
of annual goals. Canadians are awakened into
a home buying frame of mind and begin their
home search usually online followed by open
house visits to selected homes on their wish list.
What is the difference
between a sunroom, patio
room and liferoom?
SUNROOM Essentially a sunroom
is a room with lots of windows and a solid
roof. It can be a seasonal sunroom or a
year round heated sunroom.
PATIO ROOM This is a seasonal room
generally used in summer or spring. These
tend to be out of the box type kits, built
on existing decks or patios and have single
glazed windows or plastic glazing, limited
design options and limited usability. They
tend to become storage spaces in the fall
and winter.
LIFEROOM Essentially this is a patio
cover or screen room on steroids. It has
motorized screens that keep bugs and
pollen out of your patio space. It comes
with a misting system that makes it feel
like an ocean breeze, it’s an outdoor
entertainment space and can be designed
with a projector to host all sorts of
outdoor parties and even sporting events.
Finally, it comes with mood lighting and
optional radiant heating. - Matt Jacewicz, www.
fourseasonssunrooms.com
Start preparing your home for sale early in the
year so it’s ready for the spring rush. Focus on
curb appeal, clean the outside, trim the hedges,
declutter, paint the inside a neutral color, buy
a welcome mat, paint the front door and make
your home sparkle! A good realtor can give you
a second opinion and often bring in a design or
staging expert to give your home the extra touch
it may need. Don’t be a late bloomer! Start
early to ensure your home stands out to capture
those spring buyers! - Devon Owen, www.devonowen.com