Why Home Insurance Can Help Keep Peace of Mind For many families, purchasing home insurance translates into peace of mind. However, selecting the right type of insurance that covers all needs is often a challenge. There are many types of insurance policies available; ranging from a comprehensive policy that covers all risks to “no-frills” policies that provide minimum coverage. Regardless of the policy type, annual costs can be reduced by shopping around and by asking about discounts. In most instances when securing a mortgage, the lender requires that a home become insured as soon as the homeowner takes possession. This is not only to protect the bricks and mortar, but also to ensure that the value of the property remains intact in the event of any damage. A lender may not grant a mortgage if the property is considered uninsurable. Therefore, a home’s wiring, plumbing, roofing etc. must be at a level that is acceptable to the insurance company’s appraiser. Occasionally, the cost of insurance for new homes is lower because the risk of faults developing may be less likely. It is often difficult for homeowners to determine the value of their personal property. Most homeowners seek advice and guidance from an insurance representative, but ultimately it is up to the individual to decide the value of personal possessions for insurance purposes. To help determine the value of personal property, conduct an annual inventory of items. Videotape or photograph the contents of every room in the home or write out a room-by-room list, then assign a value to every item. Include clothing, furniture and artwork, etc. For particularly valuable or fragile items or collectibles, request special coverage. Keep a note of the make, model and serial numbers of items and file receipts for any major purchases such as televisions or video recorders. For safety’s sake, store an annual inventory list off-site (in a safety deposit box or with your insurance broker). It is not wise to under-insure. Instead try to find the right balance, based on a reasonable budget that considers affordability against the items to be insured. Insurance companies charge an annual fee or “premium” for coverage and there are a number of ways to lower the premium. For example, by paying a higher deductible in the event of a claim, premiums will decrease in cost. The deductible is the amount paid for a claim before the insurance company makes the remaining settlement. Some insurance companies offer reduced premiums to seniors or if there are no smokers in the home. Homeowners can also benefit from lower premiums if the property has a monitored security system, smoke alarms or a sprinkler system. A loyalty discount can be realized if the homeowner has maintained a claims-free record for a number of years. Some insurers also offer a discount to members of professional organizations or if more than one policy is purchased. Insurance can be purchased either directly from an insurance company or from an insurance broker. Many large insurance companies sell their own policies directly to the public via advertisements or a 1-800 number. Homeowners deal with an employee or agent of the insurance company who only sell their own company’s policies. Alternatively, a local independent insurance broker can offer a variety of policies and prices from a number of insurance companies and will comparison shop to find the best price for the coverage required. Most of us will never lose our homes or all we own to fire, water or theft, but we know it could happen. Paying an annual insurance premium is a small price to pay for security and peace of mind. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this article. However, the information provided is general in nature and those with specific questions should seek professional advice that meets their particular requirements.

How to make a festive Christmas wreath 1)Gather evergreen pieces about 40 cm long. (Be sure to ask permission from landowners first.) Use wire cutters to cut pieces into hand-size lengths. 2)Pile three or four pieces together to be wired to the wreath form. 3)Attach one end of your floral wire to the wreath frame and holding a length of greenery on the front of the frame, wind the floral wire around the end of the boughs and the frame. Don't cut the floral wire. The idea is to use a continuous length of wire to secure the lengths of evergreen to the form. 4)Next, secure a second length of evergreen on the back of the frame, several centimetres further along the wreath form. Tie it in place with the floral wire. 5)Secure a third bunch of greenery on the front, overlapping the first, the fourth on the back, overlapping the second. Continue in this manner until the wreath is complete. 6)Secure the final length of evergreen with an extra twist, and cut floral wire. 7)Trim uneven pieces with wire cutters. 8)Decorate with ribbons, cones, or other items

Sell now avoid the spring rush. Sunridge/Queenswood remains a very attractive area for many buyers. Many owners have in fact done major additions to there homes rather than move away. Setting The Stage To Sell Your home will sell. There’s no question about that – in today’s market or tomorrow’s, good or bad. However, if you put your home on the market without preparing it for sale, you may have a long wait for an offer. You also may not realize your home’s greatest return on investment. You don’t have to turn your pockets inside out to get it ready to sell. Some outlay may be necessary for painting, for replacing worn woodwork, carpeting, cabinet doors, or for repairing broken fixtures or appliances. There are, however, many fix-ups that cost absolutely nothing – except a little time and elbow grease. This fix-ups will make all the difference in whether or not your home makes the most of itself. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready to show itself off to your pocketbook’s best advantage: Outdoors 1. Spruce up all around the house. Keep lawn and shrubbery trimmed and free of bicycles and other clutter. Keep the garden beds weeded and mulched. 2. Put a flowering pot on the front step and keep it watered and trimmed. 3. Fill potholes in your driveway and tidy up walkways. 4. Clean off your outdoor furniture; remove any rust (or toss out the rusted item). 5. Clear out the garage of everything but cars. If yours has become a two-car attic, throw out the excess. 6. Straighten gutters, the mailbox, the fence – and other things that sag. 7. Fix doorbells, tighten loose door-knobs, and oil squeaking hinges. 8. Repair broken windows and shutters. Indoors 9. Clean everything in and out of sight. Shampoo rugs and wax floors. Wash or brush walls. Wash windows and clean blinds and draperies. 10. Weed clutter out of closets and cupboards. 11. Create space by storing some of the extra furniture you’ve found useful (bureaus, bookcases, storage chests, oversized chairs) but which makes a crowded impression. 12. Place the remaining furniture so that traffic can flow easily from room to room. 13. Unless you’re a skilled artist, scale down your personal art work (portraits, landscapes), posters, signs, and family photos, especially in teenagers’ rooms. Create a feeling of spaciousness. 14. Keep shades and draperies open, to admit as much light as possible, but screen out unappealing views. 15. Let your kitchen look warm and welcoming, not a hectic workplace. Keep your sink shining and free of dirty dishes at all times. 16. Organize cupboards. 17. Clean the refrigerator. 18. Keep counter tops clear, but not empty (as if unused); adorn them with your most attractive canisters. 19. Completely degrease your oven. Let the kitchen smell fresh and fragrant (with cinnamon warming in the clean oven, if you have time). 20. Remove debris (dust, flies, moths, etc.) from all light fixtures. 21. Keep bathrooms scrubbed, tidy and equipped with fresh soap and neatly hung towels (matching, if possible). 22. Get rid of all stains and install new washers on dripping faucets. 23. Feature (with lighting or furniture arrangement) your home’s best characteristics (a fireplace, a picture window, a balcony, ceiling beams, a kitchen eating area, etc.) 24. If you’ve repainted (preferably in safe neutral tones), add bold splashes of color (with your brightest throw pillows, crockery, pictures). 25. Place plants in strategic spots in any room – the bigger the more glamorous, if space permits. 26. Light the whole house, especially dark corners and hallways.Hang mirrors where they will reflect outdoor light – as well as make a room look larger.

Brief Update- The Spring selling season is nearly on us. From now to the end of the summer 50% of the total 2009 sales will take place. Already we have seen some early sales in Sunridge, a couple of homes on Wildflower and Leclair have sold. 139 homes sold in 2008 in real estate board areas 1104 and 2011 of which Sunridge is a part. It is expected that fewer homes will sell in 2009.