Posts by Ivan
Condo Living: Is it for You?
Can’t stand the smell of smoke? Doggy doo-doo makes you gag? You like to express your style by painting your balcony railings red? Having 1970’s shutters on your windows makes you feel at home? – Or maybe you smoke and have 5 cats? Depending on your lifestyle and habits, condo living might be perfect for…
Read MoreAre you Ready to Become a Montreal Landlord?
This article is part of The Mose Report: New Homebuyer Series. Are you thinking about buying a duplex, triplex or multiplex and making the transition from tenant to landlord? For most tenants, it’s a dream come true. After years of dealing with nasty impatient landlords, we have an altruistic idea about what a landlord should be:…
Read MoreTop 5 Threats to the Air Quality in Your Office
Maintaining good indoor air quality for your employees is important not only to their health, but also affects productivity and even sick days. According to Environment Canada, Environment and Workplace Health Indoor Air Quality, Canadians spend close to 90% of their time inside; at home, at work and in recreational environments. Most people, however, are unaware of…
Read MoreNorth Pole Calls for Chimney Inspection Reports: Santa’s Database Incomplete
The North Pole is all a bustle this time of year. The reindeer are in boot camp for the big event, while the North Pole (NP) kitchen is quickly churning out high carb and protein-rich meals for them. The toy-making elves are pulling all-nighters, and the marketing team is busy deciding on the final 2015…
Read MoreHoliday Gift Ideas for the New Homeowner: Basic Tools
Welcome home! Yes, the welcome mat is definitely at the top of every new homeowner’s wish list, and maybe a plunger and a keychain, but wait! Have you considered you might need to maintain that home? A little DIY is always in the cards when you own your own home – not to mention, hanging…
Read More12 Reasons to do a Pre-Listing Inspection
PRE-LISTING INSPECTIONS Many real estate brokers are recommending pre-listing inspections to their clients, here are some of the reasons: Your home may sell faster. Your home may sell for more money. No more buyers walking away because of a problem with the house. No more 11th-hour re-negotiations based on an inspector’s findings. No more helpless feelings that an inspector…
Read MoreYour House Stinks! Get an Indoor Air Quality Check
Every house has a signature smell, a certain “Eau de Family Home”. Some are stronger than others; is a strong smell an indication of poor indoor air quality? There’s the smelly socks in the living room, the hair spray and aftershave in the bathroom, cooking smells from the kitchen, the moth balls in the closet,…
Read MoreWhy Water is your Home’s Biggest Enemy and Caulking is Your Best Friend
I went to visit my mother last week. We sipped tea and talked about the latest news and events. My mom likes to express her opinions by using proverbs. Her inventory is quite astounding. If people are not barking up the wrong tree or making mountains out of molehills, they are putting carts before horses…
Read MoreResidential Home Structure 101: Which Cracks are the Bad Ones?
Serious structural problems in houses are not very common, but when they occur they are never cheap to fix. Some can’t be fixed at all. This report won’t turn you into an seasoned home inspector, but it will give you some of the common indicators. Uneven FloorsUneven floors are typical, particularly in older homes. Here…
Read MoreVinyl Siding: A flammable material
A few weeks ago a friend called me to say he had some pictures I should take a look at. He told me that a relative of his living in Vaudreuil, (west of Montreal) was hosting a few friends on his back deck one evening when a cigarette was apparently stubbed out in a planter…
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