Edmonton Real Estate Blog

Vermiculite is a volcanic mineral that is fire-resistant and has strong insulation properties. It was incorporated into home insulation products branded Zonolite Attic Insulation in Canada and installed in hundreds of thousands of homes across the country.

Vermiculate from the Libby Mine in Montana were used in insulation products sold under the brand name Zonolite Attic Insulation in Canada. Health Canada notes that vermiculate from the Montana mine may contain amphibole asbestos, which when inhaled may cause serious health problems, including cancer.

If you have Vermiculite insulation: stay away from it – if it’s left untouched in the attic, there should be minimal or no risk at all, according to Health Canada. The asbestos fibres must be airborne to be inhaled. Each time you breathe asbestos fibres into your lungs, you increase the chance of developing health problems.

The fibres can become trapped in the lungs and can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs’ lining or the abdominal cavity.

It’s impossible to tell just by looking at Vermiculite where it was produced or whether it contains asbestos or not. Often, empty Zonolite kraft paper bags were left in the attic. If the bags show that ore was processed by W.R. Grace Canada, Grant Industries or F. Hyde and Co., the product is probably from Libby. If you know you have vermiculite insulation in your attic or walls and you’re concerned about it, it probably makes sense to test the material to see whether it contains asbestos. It is suggested that you hire a trained consultant or contractor to collect the sample and get it analyzed at a laboratory. There are numerous consulting companies that perform this kind of asbestos analysis work.

Removing asbestos-containing materials is typically very expensive. If a significant amount of material is involved, it will probably cost thousands of dollars. Due to the physical characteristics of vermiculite, the risk of the material getting into the air is low. If the insulation is not exposed to the home environment – for example, it’s sealed behind wallboards and floorboards or is isolated in an attic that is vented outside – the best advice would be to leave it alone.

If you are renovating and you suspect you have vermiculate insulation, you should hire an asbestos removal professional before proceeding. Health Canada also suggests sealing cracks and holes in the window frames, door frames and walls. If you suspect Zonolite was installed in your attic, seal up any cracks in the ceilings of the rooms below.

Source: Dave Watson, Canadian Residential Inspection Services (780) 909-8945

In the last quarter of 2008, 6,198 people packed up their belongings and moved to Alberta which brings the province’s population to 3,632,483 as of January 1. Alberta was the only province with substantial interprovincial migration: BC came in next with 1,453 new residents according to statistics compiled by Statistics Canada, CMHC and the Conference Board of Canada.

Now that our newest residents have been in the province for a while and have secured stable jobs and lifestyles, they are going to be looking to find the home of their dreams, and they’ll need to move out of their current abode. That’s where you come in. Residential sales have been increasing since December and there are over 7,500 listings currently on the market. So if a client comes to you and asks if now is a good time to buy, tell them yes.

In-migration is a key factor that influences the housing market. New Albertans looking for homes increase demand for homes and simple supply and demand theory states as demand increases, so does price. Interested in what the market did in March? The REALTORS® Association monthly and quarterly market analysis is now available on the intranet. The Edmonton market is solid and now is a great time to buy

1 Work from the top down, inside to outside, to avoid getting what you just cleaned dirty again.

2 Do one room, even one area of one room, at a time to avoid unfinished jobs. The satisfaction of seeing one room sparkle will make the hard work feel like it’s worth the effort.

3 When tidying, reduce trips around the house by temporarily depositing items in one spot en route to but not at their final destination.

4 Do two things at once. While laundry is going, scrub the shower stall.

5 Make small repairs. If you’re not handy, hire someone.

6 Invest in good rubber or vinyl gloves to protect your skin and nails.

7 Dust before vacuuming or cleaning the floor. Try feather or lambswool dusters, especially extendable ones for reaching above window and door casings and into corners. Household rags are invaluable for jobs requiring a damp cloth – natural fibres work best.

8 Buy mops with a squeeze mechanism (great for vinyl, linoleum or ceramic tile floors) and a decent-size heavy-duty pail – one with a measuring scale helps get soap-to-water ratios correct.

9 Don’t stand your brooms on their bristles. It will destroy their shape and diminish their effectiveness. Instead, get a broom holder, like the Magic Holder 5-position broom organizer.

10 Use a Swiffer for light dusting, or your favourite broom or vacuum attachment to clean hardwood floors. Then damp-mop with a mild cleaner such as Murphy Oil Soap. I recently discovered BonaKemi’s MicroPlus Hardwood Floor Care System, which includes a mop with a removable washable microfibre pad and a nontoxic water-based spray cleaner. It makes the floors glow, and smell good, too.

Weekly rate minder provided by:

Narish Maharaj
Dominion Lending Centres Optimum
(780) 238 – 7038
Apply online : www.dlconline.com

Well the market continues to improve. 

Currently with the Realtors Association of Edmonton there are 10, 388 residential properties listed on MLS.  However there are 2,599 single family dwellings listed in Edmonton proper.  In the last 30 days there has been 600 single family homes sold. That is a slight improvement over last week.

That would give us a listing to sales ratio of 4.33:1, an improvement over last week which would indicate that we are reaching the bottom to valuations.  A ratio below 4:1 would indicate that valuations would start to rise again.

If you are trying to time the market… start looking now.

The cold weather and storms of the winter season can wreak havoc on the exterior of a home and the surrounding property. Sometimes it isn’t that there is significant damage, but simply the fact that it may have been several months since you last paid attention to or attempted any outdoor maintenance.

Now is the time to do a winter-end check to make sure everything is in order and your home is ready to withstand those spring-time showers and the pending heat of summer.

While all exterior areas should be checked periodically, one area that typically requires special attention at the end of the winter season is the roof. To identify possible roofing concerns, look for:

• Ceiling stains – A possible warning sign that your roof system needs repair or replacement. If localized, it may be an isolated point of damage or a flashing leak. Ceiling stains can also be associated with excessive attic moisture and/or ice dam conditions, which may require additional attic ventilation and/or insulation to prevent a recurrence. If there are stains on lower level ceilings, a plumbing leak could be the cause.
• Loose or missing shingles – Any loose or missing shingles should be repaired or replaced immediately to avoid additional leakage and damage to the roof deck or interior of your home.
• Loose, lifted or cracked flashing – This is the sheet metal or other type membrane found at the base of chimneys and roof penetrations. Damaged flashing should be repaired or replaced to prevent leakage. Any open gaps should be sealed with roof cement.
• Lifted or curled shingles – This may be an indication the roof is worn and at or near the end of its service life, or, at the very least, makes it conducive to wind damage. If found just in an isolated area, spot replacement may be possible, but if widespread, get a professional opinion on the roof’s condition.
• Heavy granule buildup in gutters or at base of downspouts – The granules on roof shingles gradually wear away to the point where the underlying material is exposed over large areas. Once this happens the rate of shingle deterioration accelerates. If granule loss is excessive, it may indicate aging shingles that need replacement.

Any roof maintenance check should also include gutter cleaning. This is an areas often not paid attention to until an overflow creates problems. Gutters need to be checked year-round to help avoid expensive water damage to the siding or house structure. Extensions or splash blocks at downspouts help divert water away from the house, avoiding soil erosion and infiltration through basement or crawlspace walls.

If you have questions on your roof system, consider utilizing the services of a professional home inspector or qualified roofing contractor to determine conditions.

Remember, these tips are only general guidelines. Since each situation is different, contact a professional if you have questions about a specific issue.

 Prime Rate is 2.50%.
 

Variable rate mortgages from as low as Prime  + .80%

Rates are subject to change without notice. Fixed mortgage rates shown in table above and quoted variable mortgage rates are available nationally to qualified individuals. Some conditions may apply. Lower rates may be available in certain regions, or to those with higher credit scores or higher net worth – check with your Dominion Lending Centres Mortgage Expert for full details.

*O.A.C., E.& O.E.

About Dominion Lending Centres

• We are Canada’s premier online mortgage lender, and one of the fastest growing mortgage companies nationwide!
• Our Brokers are Experts in their field and many are ranked amongst the best nationally.
• We close loans in all 10 provinces and 3 territories.
• We can process your mortgage in as few as 7 days.
• We have more than 100 mortgage programs making it easy to choose the best fit for your situation.
• We are the preferred mortgage lender for several of Canada’s top companies.
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Wow I really had a busy weekend.  I finalized an offer I started at the end of the week and had two more deals go pending.  While most Realtors seem to be slow I am very busy and still looking for a new administrative assistant… but enough about me.

As of this morning there were 10,159 properties listed with the Realtors Association of Edmonton (EREB).  However of those only 2,576 were single family dwellings in Edmonton proper.  In the last 30 days we have had 542 single family dwellings sell.

That would give us a listing/sales rati0 of 4.75:1.  That is very encouraging and indicating that we are very close to the bottom of the market if not at the bottom already.  Remember we need a 4:1 listing/sales ratio for a neutral market.

If you have been sitting on a fence waiting for the martket to bottom out… start looking now or take the chance to pay higher later in the year.

Basically a brand new 1,310 sq.ft. 3 bedroom 2 storey home.  Features many extra upgrades such as ceramic tile, hardwood, and upgraded berber carpet.  The large eat-in kitchen also features upgrade cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.  Upstairs the master bedroom has both a 4pce. ensuite bath and walk-in closet that you don’t have to worry about being so dark as it has it’s own window.  Purchase price includes a $850 landscaping deposit to be payable to new purchase upon completion of front landscaping.  The home also features a covered front veranda.