The place we call home

Kenora and Lake of the Woods

Northwestern Ontario has always had a unique climate. We get both sides of extreme temperatures and plenty of different weather events.

Have you been affected?

For homeowners in Northwestern Ontario who have been directly affected by the high water levels from 2022, the Ontario government has put disaster recovery assistance in place.

See the below link for more information.

What do the current weather changes mean for us and our homes?

Boathouse_Cottage_weathered_Northwestern_Ontario
Photo by Jaxon Castellan: on Pexels

Getting worse?

Unfortunately, none of us have a crystal ball telling how the weather and climate of our area are going to change moving forward.

This year and last

What can we do about it? While most people have the current high water levels on their mind, last year was equal amounts dry and hot. Potential extremes seem to be constantly in flux, from season to season and year to year.

Plan Ahead

The best thing that we can do as homeowners is to think about the what-ifs, now. Maintenance and updating are better than picking up the pieces after the fact.

The water level is the most visible issue from last fall to this spring, as seen from one of my previous listings out on Lake of the Woods.

(see the below photos)

Before After

As you can see in the Fall of 2021, this home and cottage had its dock far above the water level. In the Spring of 2022 at the same home, it was mere inches away from fully submerged. (Later in the summer got much worse, as most of us know.)

Unfortunately, I don't know what the next year or 10 will bring us. The examples put forth in the last two years have shown us that we never quite know what mother nature will throw at us.

What Can we do?

Cottage_Camp_Lakelife_Northwestern_Ontario
Photo by Roberto Nickson from Pexels

Planning

for the future

As we move forward with planning for our future, keep in mind any additional steps to retrofit your home is something the Canadian government is offering grants for.

If you have plans to make your home more energy efficient or to have more reliable heating, the Greener Home Initiative provides grants and loans for home evaluations and retrofits.

This includes help with insulation, newer more efficient windows and doors, air sealing and renewable energy systems.

Visit the link below for more information.

Prevention

in case of the what-ifs

High water

Water levels in Northwestern Ontario fluctuate with the seasons, as I'm sure we all know by now. Unfortunately, there's not a lot that we can do about the water levels as our lake is fed into from multiple different locations, some outside of our province and some areas outside of our country.

To have as a reference, here is a link to the Lake of the Woods Control Board and their recommendations for building, docks and Hazard Land Levels. If you are looking to build or make any modifications to your property, this is a good resource for Lake of the Woods specific information.

Potential Fires

Visit here to see an article by 'Cabinlife' about preparing your cottage and property in case of fires. It covers smaller steps like landscaping and pruning trees and vegetation on your property or cleaning the gutters and installing ember guards.

Another great article is this one here from ScienceNews, which covers all things flood, fire and prevention related. Keep in mind though it is written for the United States and their climates and biomes.

Rebuilding

If you didn't catch this link before

Home and cottage owners in Northwestern Ontario who were affected by the 2022 spring flooding have until October 7th, 2022 to apply for the Disaster Recovery Assistance.

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Kristie Cavanagh
Broker
CENTURY 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd. Brokerage
Office 

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Thinking of Buying?

Why you should choose to work with a Realtor®

Buying a home is stressful and is one of the largest purchases of your life. In today’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 to the demand, the market price of homes is at a record high and is unlikely to come down any time soon.

A Realtor® has the knowledge, confidence, know-how, access and qualifications to help you get a jump on your competition.

- Kristie Cavanagh, Broker - Century 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd.
House_Sale_Keys_Kenora_Real_Estate
Photo by Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels

The Real Estate Market is intensely competitive

2021 Housing Market Snapshot - statistics provided by CREA
2021 Housing Market Snapshot - statistics provided by CREA

A Realtor® will help you navigate the market.

Kenora_home_realtor_Lotw
Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels

1 . Market Knowledge

They literally went to school for this.

Realtors® know the housing market better than anyone else, they have the connections and the know-how. They are constantly updating their knowledge and educating themselves on the ever-changing world of Real Estate. A Real Estate professional's time is spent researching and showing people just like you, what they want, they know more about the homes in their target area than any average citizen. Let a Realtor® do what they’re trained to do, and help you get the best possible deal on your home.

2 . They will Negotiate for you

Realtors® know how to negotiate and get you the best possible real estate deal. They know the things you should be wary of and will get to the bottom of any issue you or they may have noticed. It is a Realtor®'s job to know the market and what a home is worth, they’ll know if something is over or underpriced and can help you make the best offer possible.

3 . They help you Prioritize and Balance your needs

A Real Estate Professional will help you prioritize options and help you focus on what’s important; they will keep you informed to help balance your expectations. By using a Realtor® you gain a neutral third-party outlook, from outside your frame of mind. By working and communicating with a Real Estate agent you give your search an added lens to view properties so that you don't miss any opportunities.

4 . The Realtor® Code

By working with a Realtor® you work with a professional, one who abides by standardized regulations. A trained Real Estate professional in Canada must adhere to the Realtor®'s Code of conduct. If you are looking for property in Kenora or Ontario specifically, a Realtor® here has to be licensed with OREA, the Real Estate Council of Ontario. The Council's guiding principles are "based on moral integrity, competent service to clients and customers, and dedication to the interest and welfare of the public".

5 . Access to exclusive information

Canadian Realtors® have access to Board MLS® Systems, a database system that links all qualified Brokerages. Real Estate professionals are seamlessly linked to the market, all in one place.

Your Realtor® will make sure you see listings that match your needs, as soon as they get listed, benefiting you and saving you time; Conversely, they can put your home in front of more people and on more screens than ever before. It is their job to get your property sold and by putting it in front of more people they increase your chances of multiple offers. 

The Real Estate market is a fast-paced, stressful environment, make sure you enter it with the best advantage. A Realtor® will help you find what you’re looking for or help you get found, and allow you to put your best foot forward into the property market.

Kristie Cavanagh
Broker
CENTURY 21 Northern Choice Realty Ltd. Brokerage
Office 

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