www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Tuesday, December 29, 2009 · 22 No matter what kind of home you're looking for, there are some key features to consider. I always remind my clients that they will find large Augy Carnovale***,Adrienne Lake**, Sandy Abma*, Don Abma**, Michael J. Allan*, Tom Au-Yeung*, CindyAvis*, Michelle Bailey*, Priscilla Bajus*, townhouses and small single-family homes, so looking for what you want Kathryn Bandiera*, Don Bassindale**, Carmen Bedard**, Doug Bedrosian*, Gail Bird*, Beulah Blain*, Monika Blewett**, Floraine Bowen*, Tracy in a home is as important as the type of dwelling. Your RE/MAX agent will Brace*, Ross Bridges*, Jay Bridle**, Judi Brokking*, Cassandra Bruyns*, Lorraine Bull*, Paul Butler**, Mary Carr*, Norm Carr*, Grace Ceresa*, ask many questions before the hunt begins. Claudia Chopik*, Kati Cloke*, Florentina Coban*, Sue Coleman*, Marcia Cordero*, Laurie Coughlin*, Ryan Crane*, Mara Crnogorac*, Kimberly Where will your family spend most of its time? Kitchens are a popuCronk*, Andre Da Costa*, Lisa Dale*, Diane Dawtrey*, Barbara DeMarzo*, G. Walter DeMarzo*, Sandra Doyle*, Len Duncan**, Jerry England**, lar family gathering area. Make sure your prospective kitchen can handle Suzanne Farkas*, Bud Farris*, Wendy Farrow*, Joette Fielding*, Todd Foley*, Mary Foster*, Teresa Gamble*, Rita Garami*, Patsy Gauer*, Liliana the traffic. You may also want an eat-in kitchen or one with a breakfast Gonin**, Debbie Gonin-Braun*, David Gorski*, Pamela Gottschalk*, Kerry-Anne Hall*, Caroline Hamel*, Ishrani Henry*, Karen Holmes*, Allan nook, allowing you to keep the dining room for special occasions. Hoppener*, Mike Howarth*, Jeff Hoyles*, Summer Humphrey*, Bryan Hune*, Terry Hutchison**, Christopher Invidiata*, Alex Irish*, Joe Irwin*, Paul Jackson*, Bill Jenkinson*, Robin Jepson*, Michael Jones*, Rick Kedzior**, Susan Keen*, Mary Kelly*, Marek Kluga*, Mary Koehler**,Veronica How much bedroom space do you need? Some people prefer small, Koehler**, Marija Kolesar*, Jenny Kotulak**, Magda Ladanyi**, Lisa Lanoue*, Bill Lawson**, Kirsten Leggat*, Gary Lima*,Yvonne Little**, Carolyn plentiful rooms to house children, frequent guests or a home office. Lofquist**, Cindy Lowes*, Jennifer MacDonald*, Ahmad Mahmoud*, Gianna Marcantonio*, Angela Markusic*, Others prefer fewer, larger rooms. Of course, if your budget permits, David Marshall*, Korrie-Sue Marshall*, Barb Mattson*, Joan McCoy*, Petra McCulloch**, Murray many large rooms would probably be ideal! McDonald**, Tom McDonald*, Angie McKinnon**, Guy McMurray*, Allan McWhirter**, Bathrooms are also a major point to consider. How many bathrooms Brad Meadus*, Nadia Meco*, Janet Mills-Saundercook*, Gail Moreau*, Virginia Munden*, does your family need to handle peak traffic times? Is one enough? (Not Wayne Munden*, Vera Nadeina*, Lidija Naden*, Patti Natyshak*, Cathy Naumowich*, likely!) While one per person might be more like it, that dream may not Don Naumowich*, James Neil*, Laurie Ogilvie*, Raymond Pace**, Jennifer Palozzi*, be affordable. Make sure the home you're ready to purchase has sufficient John Pears*, Rob Pearson*, Valerie Peebles*, Renate Penkett*, Carole-Ann Peterson*, Colleen Pickett*, Teresa Pignatiello*, Bill Pinto*, Lloyd Pisapio*, Steven Porter*, bathroom space and that the bathrooms are comfortable. When looking Mark Pospisil*, Diane Powell*, Doriana Pressacco*, Louise Preston*, Ed Pryla*, at bathrooms, ask yourself how important a window is for light and fresh Derek Quinlan*, John Ratelle*, Cidel Rivera*, Rick Roman*, Judy Ross*, Tara air. Sales*, Gabor Sallai**, Kris Saric*, Jennifer Schaffer**, Mary Ann Schiralli*, Judy Note: Hot water is always a problem with a large family. Remember, Shorney**, Richard Shorney**, Deborah-Lee Simpson**, Sandra Simpson*, most hot water tanks are rented from the utility company. You can always Catherine Smith*, June Smith*, Lillian Smith**, Ralph Snelgrove*, Janina have them upgrade the size of the hot water tank for a minimum cost. Sosnowski*, Kevin Stokes*, Jonathan Tavares*, Joop Ten Thye**, Linda TinoWhen it's time to relax and entertain, how will your prospective home Zylik*, Paul Van Trip*, Nick Vassov*, Dean Vecile*, Al Volpe*, Sherry Wallace*, meet your needs? Do you want a formal living room, or a room where Lindsay Walls*, Alice Wardrop*, Hal Watson*, Angela Watts*, Barrie Watts*, Catherine Wellman*, Steve Williamson*, Anne Winter*, Maureen Wortley*, your family can stretch out and watch television? Do your children need Ian Wykes** Marilyn Wykes* Debbie Zardo* Rod Zardo* a play area or your teens an entertainment room? Some homes have a living room and a family room. Attics and basements can be wonderful storage areas, or can serve as additional living space. If extra space is important, you will want to consider a finished basement. Everyone seems to have their own definition of what this means. Take a good look at the workmanship. Was it done by a professional? Do you see yourself redoing a sloppy job? A poorly finished Aboutowne Realty 67 Lakeshore Road. W. 418-2 N. Service Rd. E basement can be more work than a completely unfinished area. Some Corp., Brokerage Independently owned and operated signs to watch out for are moisture along the floor lines and corners of all exterior walls and pungent odours which may also be a sign of moisture, mildew, and/or mold which can be costly to repair. A brief word about closets. Look at the clothes you have now. Add another half, and then look for closet space to hold it all. If you're like most of us, you'll never have enough closet space! Heating and cooling systems are also key features Oakville Super Centre Dundas & Trafalgar Road Only to consider. When it comes to heat, natural gas, oil and electric furnaces are all options. Older homes may even have hot-water radiators. Still other homes have baseboard heaters. Make sure you find out about OFFICE: the maintenance and condition of the heating system as well as annual operating costs. If you're thinking DIRECT LINE: Aboutowne Realty about air conditioning, think about how expensive it would be to add central air, or if a window unit would Corp., Brokerage Independently owned and operated suffice. Try to get on to a "Homeowner's Insurance Plan" with the utility company. For a minimum NEW PRICE NEW LISTING annual fee you have guaranteed regular maintenance and repair. As you can imagine, each type of home has its advantages and drawbacks and no two buyers will have the exact same wants and needs. The only way to truly evaluate which home is right for you, outside of price, is to consider what you absolutely must have 10 Wildan Drive, Flamborough $569,000 1151 Carla Court $819,900 8921 Fifth Line $969,000 #28-3050 Rotary Way $349,900 Robin Jepson and Michael Jones Robin Jepson and Michael Jones Robin Jepson and Michael Jones Gary Lima and what you can live without. Sales Representatives 905-338-9000 Sales Representatives 905-338-9000 Sales Representatives 905-338-9000 Sales Representative 905-842-7000 Before you go house hunting, prepare a list of Michael G. Jones, Sales Representative 'can't live without' features and a list of 'would be michaeljones@idirect.com great if...' features. With best wishes to you and your family, for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. From all of us at RE/MAX Aboutowne. Happy New Year Determine your housing needs before looking for your dream house 905.338.9000 905.842.7000 www.remaxaboutowne.com in Save money. Live better. Check out our unbeatable service! 905.338.9000 905.484.5125 www.remaxinwalmart.com Returning to Walmart Feb. 1, 2010. You can contact us anytime to buy or sell. * Different commission, rates, fees and listing and marketing services may be offered by other RE/MAX franchisees and sales associates in Canada. Provided by www.remax-oa.com