Screen doors let the breeze in and keep the bugs out. They open your home to the sounds and scents of summer, and help cool your house without wasting energy on air conditioning. Want to let in a little more summer this year? Here’s what you need to know about picking the perfect door.

Screen doors have come a long way from the hard-to-open metal models and flapping wood doors of your childhood. Available in metal, vinyl or wood, many feature smooth hydraulic or pneumatic closers and springs or chain stops that keep them from slamming shut or swinging open. Designed for both practicality and curb appeal, doors are available in a wide variety of colours, styles and finishes. Your choices include:

1. Basic vinyl or aluminum. Durable and affordable, these doors come in a surprising variety of attractive styles; you’ll find everything from traditional designs to art deco-inspired geometrics.
2. Storm/screen door combo. Traditionally, people replace the screen door with a storm door in the winter. A combination door makes the “swap” easier; simply remove or slide the glass down in summer and replace it with a screen.
3. Wood. From rustic doors featuring carved animals to pretty “granny doors,” wood can really add to the look of your home. However, winter cold and damp can be hard on them, so manufacturers suggest that you take them down when it gets cold to prevent warping.
4. Sliding. Inexpensive and easy to maintain, sliding screen doors that go with patio doors make it easy to open up your home to a fresh breeze.
5. Retractable screens. If you don’t like the look of a screen door, these are a great option, and are available at your local home improvement store. Screens pull out from the sides and lock shut with a magnetic catch. Handy homeowners will be able to install them with little effort.
With the right screen door for your home, comfort and curb appeal are a breeze!

Tips for installation
Thinking about installing your screen door yourself? Manufacturers include installation instructions that only require hand tools, but most DIY resources suggest an intermediate level of “handiness.” If that doesn’t sound like you, consider using an experienced carpenter or the store’s installation service.

Condo Cool
You don’t have to live in a house to kick back and enjoy the breeze. Welcome summer into your space by installing a screen door to your balcony. It’s a great way to make your indoor and outdoor spaces feel unified and to make your condo feel more spacious.

Helpful hints in making a small room appear bigger!

Small rooms are the bane of the home decorator. How do you achieve a pleasing look that doesn’t feel cramped and claustrophobic? Short of building an addition or knocking down walls, you are limited to a few, but effective, decorating tricks that create the illusion of space.

The strategic use of colour and light is the best way to achieve this. Choose light shades of paint or wallpaper for the walls. Lighter colours reflect light making for a brighter room. Use an even lighter shade of the same colour or white for ceilings and floors. A darker colour on the ceiling will make the ceiling look lower and tends to make the walls look as though they are closing in.

Avoid harshly contrasting colours. In fact, a monochromatic colour scheme that carries throughout the room into fabrics and accessories is very effective. Steer away from too many patterned items. The goal here is to blur perspective.

Anything you can do to bring light into the room will also give the effect of increased space. A corner wall sconce that casts light up onto the wall works well. Try to vary lighting effects for interest. A skylight is a great way to add light to a room, but isn’t always practical or affordable. Mirrors are a great solution for small rooms. Place mirrors directly across from another for maximum impact. A mirror placed across from a window is also effective. Place a lamp in front of a mirror to add more light to your room.

If you have wood or patterned flooring, have it installed so that the lines run diagonally across the room. This makes for longer lines, which give the appearance of a larger space. When furnishing the room, pick objects that are proportioned to the size of the room. For example, opt for a loveseat over a full-sized sofa. Lastly, keep the clutter to a minimum. Avoid using a lot of knick-knacks and keep the room tidy and well organized.

Get the best value for your dollar

You’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage and have established a budget for buying a new home but aren’t quite sure what to look for to get the best value for your dollar – that’s where we can help

Consider location

Location is one of the most important determining factors when purchasing a new home. Make sure the neighbourhood has a good reputation, is close to essentials (schools, malls, grocery stores and hospitals) and is far away from unappealing or industrious areas.

Consider your lifestyle

Give some thought to your lifestyle and the features you need and want in a home. Can you afford the property? Is it accessible? It is suitable for a family?

Ease of access

Is the property easily accessible from a map? Is it close to a highway or major road? Is public transportation readily available? If so, what’s the cost?

Consider public areas and services

Take into account the condition of public areas, such as streets, sidewalks, parks and recreational facilities. Are they well maintained? Also consider public services, such as street cleaning, snow removal, garbage collection and emergency services.

Be objective

It’s easier said than done to be objective when it comes to buying a home, however, this mentality can quite possibly save you from getting stuck with a lemon.

Get help buying your new home and give real estate pro Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty a call at 519-716-7253, send him an email, visit his Gold Book page, Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more information and to stay connected.

Westmount Grand

Great New Home Listings!

With the frigid temperatures we are having I thought I would warm you up with news that “spring is just around the corner”. Don’t put it on HOLD…Call RIZ to get it SOLD!!

Calculate with confidence

Calculating a mortgage can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be with the help of experienced real estate agent Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty in Kitchener, Ontario.

Whether you’re a first time buyer or are looking to upgrade or downsize, mortgages are a necessary evil. The best thing you can do for both you and your loved ones is understand the ins and outs of your mortgage.

To better understand your mortgage there are a few terms and numbers you’ll want to familiarize yourself with. These are: the actual loan or mortgage borrowing amount, the annual interest rate, the mortgage amortization period (in years) and your mortgage term (in years).

In Canada, all mortgages are compounded semi-annually as required by law. If you’re quoted an interest rate of six per cent, your effective annual rate will be 6.09 per cent based on three per cent semi-annually. Considering your mortgage payments usually occur on a monthly basis, a monthly rate must be calculated based on an annual rate and in this case your monthly compounded rate works out to just under six per cent (5.926 per cent to be precise).

The length of your mortgage amortization period can affect how much interest you pay and the shorter the term the more likely it is for you to pay less in interest. Likewise, a mortgage loan with a smaller mortgage term (an example would be a period of 10 years as opposed to 15 years) and higher monthly payments can save you thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars over the long term. If you can afford to make higher monthly payments and can handle a shorter mortgage term, it’s something worth considering as the savings can be considerable.

Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty in Kitchener has more than 10 years experience serving the Kitchener-Waterloo area and helping customers find their dream homes. He will work with you and your family to get top dollar for your property when selling and receive the best bang for your buck when buying. He’s even designed a nifty mortgage calculator to make it easier for you to understand the financials of your investment.

Give the professional and courteous real estate pro Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty a call at 519-716-7253, send him an email, visit his Gold Book page, Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more information and to stay connected.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Winter Collection

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Homebuyers wishlist this holiday season. Don’t miss out!

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