Add Value to Your Home With a Finished Basement!

A Finished Basement Adds More Space and Value to Your Home

Imagine all the possibilities that would open up if you had a finished basement. The added square footage could allow you the chance to add an in-law suite, a basement apartment for extra income, a game room for the kids, and even a home gym for your convenience. Many home owners choose to finish their basements for a variety of needs and reasons, including accommodating a growing family. Rather than moving to a different location in search of more space, finishing the basement is a much more convenient and affordable option.

Have Your Basement Remodel Done By the Pros

You may be tempted to take on the basement finishing Mississauga Oakville job on yourself in an effort to save money. The truth of the matter is, however, without the necessary training, tools and skills, you can essentially cost yourself more money and hassles by going the DIY route. There are many intricate details that are involved in a project such as this, and each step needs to be taken in the right order. Failure to account for these scenarios can land you hot water, especially if your completed project isn't structurally sound, or if you failed to complete work according to building codes.

Not only will this prolong the completion of your project and potentially cost you more when things need to be redone, it can also be a safety hazard if things are not done properly. This is why basement finishing should be taken care of by a team who has the skills and know-how to get the job done right the first time.

If you have had weather related damage caused by the recent flooding in the Toronto area, you will want to be sure any mold or issues are corrected before new construction begins.  Most insurance plans will cover your construction costs, leaving you with a better basement than before the storms!

Carcone Construction - Your Experts in Basement Finishing

Carcone Construction has been in business for nearly three decades, assisting home owners in all types of home renovations, including room additions, second story additions, kitchen and bathroom renovations, and basement finishing, to name a few. They have skilled trades to ensure that all aspects of the job is done in the most streamlined way possible. When you're ready to have your basement finished, contact the experts at http://carconeconstruction.ca today or call (416) 953-5185 to schedule an appointment for a consultation.

Home Staging Vs. Decorating

Many people are not sure what the difference is when they hear of home staging versus decorating a home. When you decorate your home, you do it for your tastes and for your family’s needs. When you stage a home, you want to make it appealing, but not really taste specific. It should appeal to the broadest swath of potential buyers.

You will want a home that is functional, welcoming and organized. A professional home stager – interior decorator can help you make your home beautiful, whether you are looking to sell it, just moved in, or are ready to redecorate.

A home is the biggest investment that most Canadians will ever make. Staging your home before listing it will help your home to show well compared to others on the market. Statistics do show that staged homes sell faster and for more money. Some realtors will even pay for the cost of staging as it helps to make their job easier. Regardless, a professional stager can go through your home and determine what needs to be done to get it ‘show home’ ready. This can mean DE-cluttering, furniture placement, painting, repairing, etc. Getting rid of obvious problems (cracks, broken drawers, burnt out lights), clutter (toys, nick knacks, outside junk), visible dirt, odors, and more – can go a long way to making your house desirable – often at a low cost – and certainly much less than a price reduction. If your carpets and floors are unsightly, it pays to have a professional carpet tile cleaner to renew them rather than try to replace them.

With staging, you want to keep your rooms neutral, with simple color schemes and a few punches of color. Arranging the room so the focus is on the home architecture will help to sell the features of the home rather than distract from them. You want to appeal to a wide audience and must view your home from a buyer’s prospective. You want to make your home a comfortable place they could envision themselves living in.

If you have just purchased a home, it is worth investing in a professional decorator to make the most of your space and to avoid costly mistakes. Interior decorators can help you make the most of the rooms and furniture placement, as well as help select paint colors, lighting and more.

If you are in the Oakville, Burlington, Milton or Mississauga area, call Divine Home for your staging and decorating needs: (905) 466-2503.

Obtaining a First Time Buyers Mortgage Alberta

Buying your first home is an exciting time in your life! Buying a home is the most expensive and important investment for most people. Obtaining a first time buyers mortgage Alberta is one of the necessary steps prior to shopping for and securing a home in Lethbridge, Calgary, Red Deer, Medicine Hat or other areas.

Where To Shop For A First Time Buyers Mortgage in Alberta

Many first time home buyers do not fully understand the full scope of the home buying process, including legal necessities and securing a mortgage. There is a lot that goes into the home buying process, but having the right people working for you can make the process simple and smooth.

A first time buyer mortgage is a vital piece of the equation when securing your first home. You want to make sure that you get the lowest rate possible, which will reduce your interest payment each month, but there are also terms and conditions that must be factored in. Many first time home buyers will go straight to their bank for a mortgage, not realizing that they will be offered only one rate, often a non-discounted one. Instead, independent mortgage brokers are able to shop around to various lenders and provide their clients with the lowest rate available to them, while making sense of all the extras and fine print attached to the mortgage product.

The right mortgage broker will be able to pre-qualify a first time home buyer, and offer many terms and conditions that meet their unique criteria. Whether you are in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge, Red Deer or Medicine Hat, a mortgage broker can get you a fantastic first time mortgage and you will know that you are pre-approved to shop in comfort.  Knowing how much you can afford to spend on a home and what to expect in terms of monthly costs is very important when you are buying your first home, and is the reason why your first call should be to an award winning mortgage broker.

Using an independent mortgage broker can ultimately save you thousands of dollars in the term of the mortgage by getting you the lowest rate. These professionals are experts in the home buying process, and have a large variety of lenders that they deal with on a regular basis that are willing to provide a mortgage at the lowest interest rate possible.  They are also connected to real estate professionals, lawyers, movers, home inspectors, etc. and can help make the road to home ownership smooth and informative.

First Time Home Buyers Incentives

There are quite a few first time home buyer incentives that lenders across Alberta and Canada offer to first time home buyers. A mortgage broker is well versed in these incentives, and will introduce them to you and make every effort to allow you to take advantage of them. And the best part is, mortgage brokers offer their services at no charge to you! Contact a mortgage broker in Alberta today!

The Importance of Fire Ladders For the Home

When a house catches fire, it is amazing how fast that fire can spread throughout the home. For this reason, it is vital that everyone in the house is prepared for an emergency such as this. Having smoke detectors, fire extinguishers or a sprinkler system are extremely helpful. However, another crucial component is the plan of evacuation. Getting out of the burning house in time is a matter of life and death. But what do you do if you are on the second floor and the stairwell is blocked with fire?

This is where fire ladders for the home are of great importance. If the window of a second storey bedroom is the only escape route available, than having a fire escape ladder handy and readily available can be life-saving. By gaining access to the ladder, rolling it out and hanging it out the window, those who may be trapped on second or third levels of a home can make their escape even if the main escape route is blocked with fire or smoke. This is why having two planned escape routes and being prepared is crucial to saving lives. Investing in good quality fire ladders for the home to ensure a safe evacuation is incredibly important for the lives of all who live in the home.

Fire escape ladders can be fixed to the window. Alternatively, a portable version can be stored beside or underneath the window in a wall-mounted box, or stored under a bed. Both types have their advantages. The fixed versions may be easier to climb down since they are quite rigid. However, the portable type are very convenient as they can be transported to any window that is free of obstruction and easily accessed in the midst of a fire. If there is fire in the room where the permanent ladder is fixed, having access to a portable ladder can certainly come in handy.

When shopping for this safety tool, you should consider a few things. First of all, determine if the ladder is strong enough to hold the weight of each person in the home. In addition, determine the length of the ladder that you would require. It should be long enough for it to reach the ground when rolled out of the top storey of the home. Of course, it should be easy to use, quickly deployed, and tangle-free. Be sure that everyone in the home – including the children – practice how to use the ladder a number of times so that it is used without confusion if a fire actually occurs.

The Convenience of an Easily Set Up 2 Person Portable Hot Tub

Gone are the days that shopping was done exclusively through physical retail markets and salesmen. The internet has changed the way we research products and how we purchase items and enlist services. With literally any product at your finger tips, more and more people are purchasing online. For those of you who are considering buying a hot tub but are skeptical about doing it through online sites, here are some tips on why it can be more beneficial than heading to a store,as well as where to find the best hot tubs online:

When you head to a hot tub retailer you are limited to the products they carry and the prices they set. If you purchase directly from a manufacturer, you will be able to choose from all their models and colors and even custom order your spa with added features. Prices are usually better when you cut out the middleman, like in the website hottuboutpost.com. This site features 52 American made models built by QCA Spas ‚ one of the oldest manufacturers with over 40 years experience. Choose from a variety of options ranging from the number of seats your spa has, to adding a sound system, and the amount of jets you want. Purchasing from the manufacturer also means you are getting factory prices on the spa and accessories. This means no retail mark ups – just the price of the product.

Another benefit is optimal customer service that is there for you as you need it. If you are tired of pushy salesmen who can’t answer all your questions, purchasing online is for you. With both a customer service line and live chat support, you can contact the experts and get your answers. Customer service reps won’t be vying for your commission – they are there to assist you with picking the right hot tub and features you want or to answer your questions and concerns about the products or process, so you get the best spa for your needs.

Another advantage is in the shipping costs. Sites like www.hottuboutpost.com offer free hot tub shipping on your purchase. They will deliver your spa to your door, free of cost. When you purchase from a retail store, you are not only paying more for your product but you are paying for it to be delivered to you.

To recap, if you purchase spas online, you get more variety, lower costs, expert customer service (when you buy from the right online stores) and free shipping to your home.