You’re standing by your windows admiring the view. Then you notice it. Moisture has built up around the edges of the glass. Should you worry?
It all depends on the reason for the build up.
Assuming you have traditional double-pane glass in your windows, there are a few things to look for if you notice moisture.
Often, moisture at the bottom of the windows is simply caused by too much humidity in your indoor air. If that’s the case, just adjust your humidifier.
If the moisture is on the exterior of the window, typically there’s also no problem with the window itself. It may have rained recently, or the outside humidity may have spiked, causing the accumulation. Generally there’s no reason for concern.
However, if the moisture is in between the two panes of glass, the seal has broken and surrounding air – along with it’s water content – has made its way in. This disrupts the thermal barrier of the window, reducing it’s energy efficiency. In fact, the glass might feel noticeably colder than your other windows on chilly days. In that case, you’ll need to replace the pane.
Similarly, if the moisture is coming in through only one spot – the bottom right corner, for example – then you might have a leak. If you have a wood frame or sill, you may also notice a growing water stain. It’s important to get leaks fixed quickly. There may be water damage occurring within the frame that you cannot see.
A pantry is the ideal nook for storing extra food and other items ordinarily crammed into the kitchen. It’s also a nice design feature, as it harkens back to the days of country kitchens with spacious pantries. You might be thinking, “That’s nice, but our home doesn’t have a pantry.” That’s okay. These days, there are many ways to create one in your home – even if it doesn’t have one! Here are just a few suggestions:
Add shelves to the laundry room. If you have the space this is the ideal place to create a mini-pantry.
Purchase a portable pantry. There are many available on the market. Some are even disguised as cabinets you’d expect to see in living and dining rooms.
Purchase a moveable pantry. These units are on wheels and can slide in and out of the kitchen with ease. Some are short enough to slide conveniently under a kitchen table.
Make use of an unused closet. These are rare in most homes, but if you have a closet that isn’t being used, it can easily be converted.
As you can see, there are plenty of options available. You don’t necessarily need to build an extra room!
When considering which of two or more competing offers to accept for your home, there is no doubt price plays a huge role. After all, if Offer #1 is $10,000 higher than Offer #2, that’s an enticing difference that puts thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.
Is judging by price always the right choice?
However, price isn’t the only thing you should think about when comparing multiple offers. There are other factors you need to consider as well. For example, what conditions are in the offer? If Offer #1 is conditional upon the buyer selling his current property for a specific amount, then what if that doesn’t happen? You could end up with an offer that dies and be forced to list your home all over again.
In that circumstance, accepting the lower offer may be your best move.
There’s also financing to consider. Most buyers will attach a certificate from their mortgage lender to show that they can afford the home and will likely secure financing with little difficulty. If you get an offer where the ability of the buyer to get financing is in doubt, that’s a red flag.
The closing date is another important factor. Offer #1 might propose a closing date that’s perfect for you, while Offer #2 is four weeks later. If you’ve already purchased another home, you might require a month of bridge financing if you accept Offer #2. There’s nothing wrong with that per se, but the costs and additional hassle are factors you should consider.
As you can see, assessing competing offers isn’t as easy as it looks. Fortunately, as your REALTOR®, I will guide you toward making the right decision.
According to statistics released by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA), national home sales posted their third monthly increase and broke all previous monthly records. The South Okanagan Real Estate Board has also reported an increase with a total of 430 residential sales so far this year across the board area, up 16% from the same period in 2015.
Oliver’s sales were up 35% so far this year for a total year-to-date residential sales of 38. In Osoyoos, there were 47 sales, up 38% from 2015. The average sale price of single family home year-to-date in the SOREB area is $408,849. There were a total of 1167 active residential listings at the end of March 2015.
OLIVER: In Oliver 11 single family homes sold in March for a total year to date of 27 sales. This compares to 12 single family sales in March of 2015 with a total year to date last year of 22. So far this year, there have been 2 mobile home sales and 9 condo/townhome sales. At the end of March this year there were 159 active residential listings compared to 170 on the same date last year. This means there is more than 11 months supply of homes currently on the market (still firmly in a Buyer’s market. The average sale price of a single family home so far this year was $326,218. This compares to an average sale price at this time last year of $336,640. So, while it looks like there may be upward pressure on prices, the of inventory on the market indicates that the increase is due to more higher priced homes selling this year than last.
OSOYOOS: In Osoyoos, 12 single family homes sold in March for a total year-to-date of 27 homes. This compares to 8 sales in March 2015, and a total year-to-date sales last year of 22. So far this year, there have been no mobile homes sold and 20 condo/townhomes (which is about 67% more than the 12 sold last year). At the end of March this year there were 253 active residential listings, which is slightly lower than the 287 homes on the market last year. This represents a 13.5 month supply of listings. The average sale price of a single family home sold this year is $448,826 which is significantly higher than the $292,105 at the end of March in 2015.
The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a record 12,560 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, up 38 per cent from March of last year. Home sales last month eclipsed the previous record of 11,683 unit sales in May of 2007. Total sales dollar volume was $9.69 billion in March, up 66.9 per cent compared to the previous year. The average MLS® residential price in the province was up 20.2 per cent year-over-year, to $771,620.
“Housing demand has never been stronger in the province,” said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Most large population centres of the province are now experiencing record levels of housing demand.”
“Strong employment growth, rising wages and a marked increase in net inter-provincial migration is fueling consumer confidence,” added Muir.
Supply imbalances are becoming increasingly common as new residential listings are not keeping pace with consumer demand. As a result, the inventory of homes for sale is at decade long lows in many regions.
The year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume increased 70.1 per cent to $21.59 billion, when compared with the same period in 2015. Residential unit sales climbed by 39.2 per cent to 28,028 units, while the average MLS® residential price was up 22.2 per cent to $770,408.
Assuming you have traditional double-pane glass in your windows, there are a few things to look for if you notice moisture.
n 2015.