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Conspicuous Consumption to Consciencious Consumerism. Need a moment? Ok, we'll call it the 4Cs. Back in the day when Baby Boomers were calling the shots, real estate had a much different perspective. Rising land costs somehow translated to requiring
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Google 'Home improvements' or any variation of how to increase the equity in your home and a gazillion websites will come up on your screen. Ok you may have to scroll. What about stuff that may upgrade the look and help sell faster, but won't
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Happy to announce the error to cancel the program last year has been corrected in this week's federal budget; As soon as the details are published I will re-enter them onto my Green Living page. There are some serious rebates available for pretty
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We all tend to buy into doing our bit to keep the planet chugging along, whether being a tree hugger or bowing to social pressures or drawing attention to one's eco-ego. Celebrities are no different, albeit their world twirls a tad faster. Here is
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Up to one third of the heat generated in a house is lost through the roof, walls and ceiling. Add insulation to R-values of 32 or more. Ceiling fans, up in the summer. down in the winter. New windows and doors can be expensive; as an alternative caulk
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Bedrooms use up to 11% of a home's lighting. Install florescent lights (CFLs), and dimmer switches when practical. Good for creating a mood too! Have a guest room or others not always in use?, close the heat register to allow the energy you are paying
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Let's start at the bottom and work our way up. The basement - don't wait until your furnace ceases to operate; if it's more than 15 years old consider replacing it. Newer models typically run at 90% efficiency compared with older ones at around
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And then you won't move. Kitchens are the centerpiece of a good home, which is why many feel it is necessary to spend a gazillion dollars, the alternative being to let them age not so gracefully. It doesn't have to be that way. Read on: The kitchen
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When sprucing up your home for visitors, the bathroom is one space in the house where you can make a big impact for a relatively small outlay. And this is particularily true when selling your home. Most people already know that kitchens and bathrooms
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Preparing a home for sale has become a business unto itself, and can get pricey when having it done professionally. For higher end homes there is an efficiency of scale so it can be worthwhile the cost. For homes under $500k, and for those so inclined,
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With Spring approaching in Ottawa, many homeowners are beginning the process of making their properties available for sale. Decluttering is, and should be, the first order of the day; you're moving anyway so get all that stuff in boxes now! Thoughts
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I see a lot of online variations of this old classic but few for home sellers which must make them feel, well, out in the cold. So in the spirit of the Holidays here is my rendition. The fact I'm a Realtor is purely coincidental. On the first day
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The ongoing housing mess south of the border is beginning to have an impact on how we view our homes in Ottawa. And that is: - smaller is smarter. Money sucking McMansions are necessarily going to become less attractive as energy costs continue to skyrocket,
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Set your priorities among three factors - quality, quantity, and cost. Choose which two are most important to you and let the other 'float'. Easy-peasy!
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....have challenges when it comes to updating efficiencies without breaking the bank. But there are things available which will reduce energy costs while adding to the enjoyment of one's living space. Energy Star appliances, dual-flo toilets, efficient
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