{"id":406,"date":"2022-03-29T13:03:04","date_gmt":"2022-03-29T18:03:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/?p=406"},"modified":"2022-03-31T10:30:04","modified_gmt":"2022-03-31T15:30:04","slug":"property-hunt-what-to-look-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/property-hunt-what-to-look-for\/03\/29\/2022","title":{"rendered":"7 Key things to keep in mind when Starting a Property Search"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<h2>\r\n\t\t7 Key things to keep in mind when\r\n\t<\/h2>\r\n<h1>\r\n\t\tStarting a Property Search\r\n\t<\/h1>\r\n\t<p>Whether you&#8217;re a first-time buyer, starting fresh in a new town, or buying a larger property for your growing family, looking for a home can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.<\/p>\r\n<p>When looking at a property you have to focus on more than the paint colour, floors and what-ifs.<\/p>\r\n<p>I&#8217;ve put together a few resources on what you should be looking at when viewing a home. These are 7 key points that will hopefully help you find a home that will benefit your investment in the long run.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/files\/2022\/03\/pexels-barnabas-davoti-8875446-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"House_gutters_property\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"1024\" width=\"683\" title=\"pexels-barnabas-davoti-8875446\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\r\n\t\tPhoto by Barnabas Davoti from Pexels\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-0\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-0\">1. Age of the Roof Shingles<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-0\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-0\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t<p>Make sure to take a glance up at the roof of the home when you&#8217;re going for a viewing.<\/p>\r\n<p>In the warmer months, signs of greenery like moss can mean that there is a significant build up of moisture in and among the shingles. Plant life growing out of the gutters can mean that they haven&#8217;t been cleaned in a while, or that there may be a significant block in the drainage system.<\/p>\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re there in winter, look for areas of uneven snow, ice damming, and melted patches; these can be key signs that there is either something wrong with the attic insulation or the shingles themselves.<\/p>\r\n<p>Ask your Realtor\u00ae how old the shingles are and check <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bobvila.com\/slideshow\/7-signs-you-need-a-new-roof-48751\">Here<\/a><\/strong> for a blog post on the specific things to look out for.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-1\">2. Age of the home<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-1\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-1\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t<p>Knowing just how old a house is can shed some light on who may have owned it previously, or if there have been massive changes to the property.<\/p>\r\n<p>Looking at the roof can help here as well, different roof lines may indicate if an addition was added to a home at some point.<\/p>\r\n<p>A property could be steeped in beautiful character, or be in deep need of an update. The materials that the home was originally built with could mean a larger investment when you go to remodel.<\/p>\r\n<p>Look <a href=\"https:\/\/canadianhometrends.com\/asbestos-in-older-homes\/\"><strong>Here<\/strong><\/a> for more information on materials used in older homes.<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-2\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-2\">3. Heating System<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-2\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-2\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t\r\n<p>Many homes in the Kenora area have different styles of heating systems, including forced air, in-floor heating, radiant and geothermal, just to name a few.<\/p>\r\n<p>It&#8217;s good to know what the heat source is and how it is fuelled.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Another note is that air conditioning isn&#8217;t always compatible with specific heating units so ask your Realtor\u00ae or local heating expert what alternatives may be available\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Visit <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrcan.gc.ca\/energy-efficiency\/products\/product-information\/heating-equipment-for-residential-use\/13740\"><strong>Here<\/strong><\/a> to see what the Government of Canada recommends and if any regulations are surrounding the current one on the property.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-3\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-3\">4. Water Prevention<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-3\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-3\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t<p>Water Damage in homes can cause long-term issues, keep your eyes peeled for these important areas while looking for homes.<\/p>\r\n<p>Check for working gutters on the roof and ask about a sump pump for the basement. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk through the home for any discolouration or efflorescence on the walls, ceilings and floors they could be signs of leaks or other issues.<\/p>\r\n<p>Check <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.harrisplumbing.ca\/how-to-prevent-water-damage-in-your-house\/\">Here<\/a><\/strong> for more information.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-4\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-4\">5. Hot Water Tank<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-4\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-4\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t<p>Is the Hot water tank rented, do they have an on-demand tank, Will there be an immediate investment in your future or does the current tank do the job?<\/p>\r\n<p>Rental options are great, at low rates; if you ever have a problem you can just call the company and they come and handle any repairs or replacement. If you are planning on staying in the home for a while then purchasing might be a good option.<\/p>\r\n<p>Do your research on what the home has already, look <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.renovationfind.com\/best-water-heaters-canada\/\">Here<\/a><\/strong> for more info on the different types available.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-5\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-5\">6. Windows and doors<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-5\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-5\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t<p>The windows and doors are the eyes of a house, they will tell you a lot about the construction of a home, the humidity levels and insulation within and the type of maintenance the previous owners kept up.<\/p>\r\n<p>Condensation or loud street noise could be a hint that they weren&#8217;t installed properly. Do a check around windows for signs of moisture, cracking on drywall or if you can feel cool air coming in around them.<\/p>\r\n<p>Look <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hgtv.ca\/renovations\/photos\/signs-time-to-replace-windows-in-home-1917902\/#currentSlide=10\">Here<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for more information on what to look out for with windows and doors.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--label-6\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-6\">7. Basement<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#\" id=\"fl-accordion--icon-6\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-controls=\"fl-accordion--panel-6\"><i>Expand<\/i><\/a>\r\n\t\t<p>If the home you&#8217;re looking at has a basement or not, you still need to have a good look at the foundation. Any signs of cracks or separation could mean something much more severe for the overall structural integrity of a home.<\/p>\r\n<p>Take a look inside and out for any signs, and while you&#8217;re in the basement have a good sniff around for dampness. Just because there may not be any visible cracks there may be an issue with the vapour barrier.<\/p>\r\n<p>Check these links for a more in-depth explanation of what to look for:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\t<p>Buying a home is one of the largest purchases you will make in your life.<\/p>\r\n<p>Using a Realtor\u00ae will help you put your best foot forward, but you and you alone will have to deal with the home that you&#8217;ve purchased.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/keeping-up-with-kristie\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" itemprop=\"url\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/files\/2022\/02\/Kristie-Icon-Standard-150x150.png\" alt=\"KristieCavanagh-Icon\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"150\" width=\"150\" title=\"KristieCavanagh-Icon\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<p>It is up to you to make do, with all the quirks and details that come with your new property. In order to make the best possible choice, you want to make sure that you know as much as possible about a home before you buy.<\/p>\r\n\t<p>Need more info? Get in contact and we can talk about your next steps.<\/p>\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/kristiecav\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" itemprop=\"url\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/files\/2022\/02\/Instagram.png\" alt=\"Instagram_Link_Kristie\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"50\" width=\"50\" title=\"Instagram\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/kristiecavanaghC21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" itemprop=\"url\">\r\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/files\/2022\/02\/Facebook.png\" alt=\"Facebook_Link_Kristie\" itemprop=\"image\" height=\"50\" width=\"50\" title=\"Facebook\" onerror=\"this.style.display='none'\"  \/>\r\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\r\n                    <a aria-label=\"Post thumbnail: House_Sale_Keys_Kenora_Real_Estate\" href=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/work-with-a-realtor\/03\/15\/2022\">\r\n                            Lets Talk\r\n                            <strong>5 Reasons to work with a Realtor\u00ae<\/strong>\r\n                                                            Thinking of Buying? Why you should choose to work with a Realtor\u00ae Buying a home is stressful and is one of the largest purchases of your life. In today&#8217;s market, purchasing property is even more difficult than even a few years ago. Competition is intense, there are many buyers and very few people selling. Due [&hellip;]\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n                    <a aria-label=\"Post thumbnail: A Realtor\u00ae&#8217;s Spring Maintenance tips\" href=\"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/spring-maintenance\/03\/10\/2022\">\r\n                            Home Maintenance\r\n                            <strong>A Realtor\u00ae&#8217;s Spring Maintenance tips<\/strong>\r\n                                                            Let&#8217;s get ready for Spring in Sunset Country, Often in Northwestern Ontario, the weather gets warm and no one tells the snow, it sticks around unwelcome. The large accumulation of snow that fell this year is going to drag out the melt. While the snow will go in time, we&#8217;re more than likely in for [&hellip;]\r\n                    <\/a>\r\n\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>7 Key things to keep in mind when Starting a Property Search Whether you&#8217;re a first-time buyer, starting fresh in a new town, or buying a larger property for your growing family, looking for a home can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. When looking at a property you have to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21673,"featured_media":420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[21,12,16,17,20],"class_list":["post-406","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized-fr-ca","tag-buying","tag-kenora","tag-kenora-realtor","tag-kristie-cavanagh","tag-property-search"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21673"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=406"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":446,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/406\/revisions\/446"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/420"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=406"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=406"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kristiecavanagh.com\/fr-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=406"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}