Maintain your home and build value

Yor home will likely be one of your largest assets for years to come. Be a wise homeowner and maintain your home, and it will save you time, money and effort down the road by extending the life of your home's systems. It's also wise to set aside some money each year to cover larger items when parts of your home eventually wear out, like the roof or furnace. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 1% of the value of your home each year.

Even though your REALTOR® and your lender have completed the jobs you contracted them to do, they can be awesome resources to you in the years ahead! Your lender is your connection to all things financing-related for your home, and is a good person to call when rates are attractive (in case it's worth it to switch to a new mortgage) or if you want to do renovations or additions (and borrow against the principal of your home).

As a Realtor, I can say that all good Realtors love it when our clients keep in touch, and we try to do the same. Realtors are excellent resources for referrals to trustworthy, quality tradespeople and professionals. In fact, we're good people to call for a referral to almost anything! In addition to tradespeople in Ottawa, I know great restaurants for a special occasion, the best pizza in your end of town, wedding planners and the CEO of a podcasting company, just to name a few! If you ever need a professional of any kind, give your Realtor a call!

Tips for closing day:

• An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and a stitch in time saves nine, so the sayings go. Learn how to maintain the systems in your home and you'll extend their life by years and years! See our resources page for links to home maintenance guides and tips.

• Plan ahead to eventually replace key systems, like the roof shingles. Set aside 1% of the value of the home each year as a rule of thumb.

• Your lender is a great resource for renewing your mortgage at the best rate, or borrowing against your home.

• Want to show off your new renovation, have a problem and need a professional, or just miss me? Call your Realtor. We've got great connections to good tradespeople and businesses of all sorts.

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What’s the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®? Visit www.crea.ca/why to find out.