Protecting Your Investment

This is a guest post by Caroline Doherty of Century 21 B.J. Roth Realty.

Barrie Real Estate is at a prime. We are in what you would call a “Sellers Market.”  This means, any of you out there thinking of selling… Carpe diem! (Latin for “seize the day”)

Warm weather always creates a buzz for buyers and this year is no exception. Curb appeal can go a long way, but it’s all about the things you don’t see when protecting your investment.

For most of us our home will be the largest investment we make in a lifetime. Why not take care of it the best you can in order to get the most return when it comes time to sell. Regular maintenance is the easiest and best way to look after your home; keeping you and your loves ones happy, healthy & safe.

While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a regular basis (Courtesy of CMHC):

• Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.
• Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
• Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
• If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.
• Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.

Click here for a great list of Seasonal Maintenance Tips.  Remember, if you are not that way inclined you could always hire a professional to do it for you.