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        <title>Real Estate Blog</title>
        <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/2016-10/</link>
        <description></description>
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    <guid>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/hate-cleaning-gutters-in-the-fall.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/hate-cleaning-gutters-in-the-fall.html</link>
        <title>Hate cleaning gutters in the fall? </title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Unless you're a fastidious home owner, cleaning out your gutters is often one of those chores you forget to do until the first hard downpour of the year. You know you've dropped the ball when your eavestroughs overflow. All those falling leaves land in the gutters and plug up your downspout. Not to mention dead pine needles, debris from crumbling shingles and the odd dead bird.


Keeping your eavestroughs clear of leaves and organic matter will help them last longer. Gutters are less likely to pull away from the edge of the roof or bend and twist from being too full. The clean lines of your eavestrough will also enhance your home's  curb appeal.


It's recommended that gutters be cleaned out twice a year. However, you might be getting tired of hauling a ladder out of the garage and getting up to scoop out the muck that collects there. Consider investing in gutter guards or gutter covers to act as a filter over top of the eavestroughs. Most guards are perforated with holes so the water pouring down on the roof will still be draw away but debris won't collect them.


There are several types of guards for your eavestroughs. There are screens which are extremely inexpensive and often ineffective; inserts and reverse curved guards. It depends on your needs. It also depends on your budget. Gutter covers and guards are in the ballpark of $7.50 or $10 per linear foot. So, if you have an average-sized home you likely have about 200 feet of gutter. That's can add up to $1,500 to as much as $2,000 to outfit your home. There are also some complicated systems that can run even higher.


Is it worth it?


Weigh the cost of this investment against the money you could save if you outsource your gutter cleaning to a professional. If you are an older adult and getting up on a ladder is a safety issue, this might be a good alternative and provide peace of mind.


They're not fool proof


Gutter guards or screens aren't perfect. Small bits of debris can sneak in and you may have to clean your eavestroughs although likely only once every two years or so. It's still a vast improvement over twice a year. Make sure you purchase guards that are easily removed for those infrequent times you do need to get out the ladder and hose. Ask your retailer about lifetime warranties on your vinyl gutter guards as well. Some offer no-clog guarantees and will come to your home if indeed your gutters do dam up.


Another hazard can be bird nests. Birds seek shelter in the smallest of spaces and under a gutter guard might just be to their liking.


After you have invested in guards over you're eavestroughs and you are still experiencing gutter overflow during a heavy rainstorm, first check for a clogged downspout and if they're free and clear you may need more downspouts for the amount of water volume in your area.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Mon, 31 Oct 2016 19:38:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/should-you-cut-corners-when-remodeling-your-kitchen.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/should-you-cut-corners-when-remodeling-your-kitchen.html</link>
        <title>Should you cut corners when remodeling your kitchen?</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
Resale is all about great kitchens so more often than not, it’s worth your time to remodel this family-centric room. But when you’re allocating resources, there are certain areas within the kitchen where you can save a few dollars, and few areas where you should splurge.  Keep the cost of your kitchen renovation on par with the value of your Cochrane home.  You should spend somewhere between 6 and 10 of the value of your home on your kitchen and see a return of around 70, ballpark.


Also, consider this spending advice:


Kitchen Appliances


You might want the very best in your kitchen with a European hood fan, six-burner gas cooktop and a fridge that dispenses everything.  Unless you’re a professional chef, you can certainly save a few dollars on your appliances.  Check consumer reviews online and invest in appliances that you will use and use well.  Commercial appliances will take up a lot of space so better to use your resources for cabinets.  You may be limiting the appeal of your kitchen for future buyers by putting in appliances that are too large.


Cabinets


This is generally the biggest expense and the most visual element of your kitchen.  This is where you should splurge.  You’ll get more mileage out of beautiful yet sturdy cabinets with quality hinges that will stand up to wear and tear. They should be well designed to maximize the space for optimal storage.  Today’s buyers are looking for soft-close doors and drawers with extra cupboards for recycling and household garbage.


Countertops


This is another huge visual element of your kitchen.  The quality of your countertops should equal the quality of your cabinets since the two go hand in hand.  Go with inexpensive countertops if the rest of the home goes with the tone of the counter tops or if the home value and location supports a lower grade of kitchen finishings.  But certainly go with the best you can afford. 


Don’t save on installation either. You might be tempted, thinking that you’re just hanging a bunch of boxes.  Let the professionals handle that. 


Floor


Can’t be linoleum for ease of care but if it doesn’t go with your granite you might be tasting your money.  Porcelain tiles are durable and not expensive.  Go with larger format tiles to reduce the amount of grout you’ll need.  If you’re putting in new flooring through the level where the kitchen is located, keep it consistent and put it in the kitchen as well to give the main floor a cohesive flow.


Where to cut corners in the kitchen: 


Hardware and backsplash tile.   Keep it simple to help offset some of your other costs.   Cabinet knobs or pulls, ceiling fixtures – these items can take up a smaller pie of the pie when it comes to your budget.  Designers say that you don’t have to match your metals if you have brass pulls on top cupboards and something else on the bottom.   White or grey, which is the new beige, are simple and classic.


Remember, people get an idea about what the inside if your home might look like from looking at the outside.   Plan your kitchen remodel to meet or exceed buyer expectations.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:11:00 -0600</pubDate>
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    <guid>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/what-you-might-not-know-about-paint-brushes-and-rollers.html</guid>
    <link>https://www.cochranerealestate.ca/blog/what-you-might-not-know-about-paint-brushes-and-rollers.html</link>
        <title>What you might not know about paint brushes and rollers</title>
    <description> <![CDATA[ 
You can’t just pick any old brush off the shelf at the store and expect it to do a good job.  Painting is an art and the correct tools are a must if you want your home to look good.


Get the right quality brush


This is the best thing you can do to ensure a good paint job.  Buy the best quality paint brush you can.  You may not think it’ll make that much difference, but a poor quality brush won’t hold an adequate amount of paint.  It will also leave more streaks which means you have to work harder to get a smooth finish.  And cheap paint brushes will lose their bristles.  Ever try to pick a stray hair from your brush off a wet paint surface?  It’s extremely aggravating and will slow you down.  If you are the kind of person who throws out your brushes when you’re finished with them, you may not want to invest in a quality brush.  But a good one, properly cared for, will last a while.


Ask your paint dealer about what type of brush to use with water-based, oil-based and low VOC paints as brush quality is extremely important when using particular types of interior and exterior paint.


Handle size, length and brush-type


Wondering what type of brush to buy?  Consider what you will be painting.  If you have a brush with a short handle, that will give you more power when brushing.  More power means you can apply more paint in a shorter amount of time because with that short handle comes a wider brush.


Specialty brushes will have angled bristles to get into corners or longer handles for better control.  You will be much more accurate when painting things like window trim and baseboards with a smaller brush.


The differences between paint rollers


What you might not realize is that not all paint rollers are created equal.  You must choose the right type of roller for the right type of paint as well as for the right type of paint surface.  Paint rollers are made of fabric and the fabric on the roller will have a nap or specific fibre length


Choose a roller with a short nap if you’re using glossy paint and applying it to a smooth surface.  The shorter nap with finer fibre will ensure a thinner coat which is ideal for a shiny surface.


A roller with a medium nap fabric are for general painting and best for matt finishes or low gloss paint.  The rollers hold a good amount of paint so a good choice for walls and ceilings.


Paint rollers with a long nap, which can hold a good volume of paint are a good choice for rough surfaces or textured surfaces such as a popcorn ceiling.  You’ll want a lot of paint on your roller because the paint has to penetrate onto the uneven surface.


If you have semi-gloss paint or varnish and you’re painting a pretty ordinary smooth surface, you can certainly use an el-cheapo all-purpose foam roller.


Specialty rollers with specific textures cost a bit more.  The roller has a specific design that imprints on the wall or ceiling such as diamonds or squares or polka dots.
 ]]> </description>
    <pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2016 14:53:00 -0600</pubDate>
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