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When we visited a home show recently, I left with a full bag of pamâ€" phlets and brochures to read through. Since the weather is miserable. I plan to spend the afternoon in the basement going through all this stuff. I don‘t dare go upstairs anyway, because my wife Em is hosting a sort of party. To tell you the truth, it‘s the sort of party where a bunch of friends get together to try on bathing suits. Em says these home fashion parties are all the rage, and she gets a free suit for hosting it. Since I get to stay in the basement for a few uninterrupted hours, it‘s not a bad deal. From what I saw in the fridge this morning, though, Em and her friends will have to try on a heck of a lot of suits before all that wine and cheese is gone. So here I am with my pamphlets, and what I do is read them, then file them away for future references. Although Em laughs, you never know when they might come in handy. In fact, one of these pamphlets mentions something I was wondering about just the other day. When I come home from work I pass a new house that‘s being built, and there‘s a sign that says it‘s It‘s what‘s ins1ide that counts LILIANA GONIN 338â€"2000 LILIANA GONIN 338â€"2000 LILIANA GONIN 338â€"2000 one of these "Râ€"2000" houses. Now if you‘re like me, you‘ve heard this phrase lots of times but haven‘t got a clue what it means. Well, it‘s actually quite interesting â€" especially if you‘re in the market to buy or build a new home. "Râ€"2000" means that the house meets high construction standards that give it a high level of energyâ€"efficienâ€" cy. It‘s being built with higher levels of insulation and air sealing from attic to basement, which means less air leakage and fewer drafts. And it has energyâ€" efficient heating equipment, including a heat recovery ventilator. This ventilator replaces the house‘s stale, indoor air with fresh outdoor air â€" without heat loss. People buy Râ€"2000 houses because of their certified quality construction and the fact that they‘re more energyâ€" efficient and comfortable to live in as a STEP UP TO A DETACHED QUIET COURT LAKE VIEWSI! & â€" JOAN BEETTAM 338â€"9000 JOAN BEETTAM 338â€"9000 & 0 0 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 06 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 0 0 o o o 0 o 8 o o o o o o result. They‘re available in all the popâ€" ular styles and price ranges and when you look at them from the street, there‘s nothing to set them apart from the neighboring homes â€" it‘s what‘s inside that counts. And that‘s what I told Em when she came down here all upset because some silly bikini didn‘t fit her. (7) The payment schedule should include a breakdown of stages int he proâ€" ject at which the contractor will receive portions of the final price. result. They‘re available in all the popâ€" â€" come in handy?! ular styles and price ranges and when This newspaper, in conjunction you look at them from the street, with Ontario Hydro, is bringing you there‘s nothing to set them apart from Phil‘s Basement to help "bring the neighboring homes â€" it‘s what‘s home" ideas on how to save energy. inside that counts. And that‘s what 1 _ To receive the brochure "The Râ€"2000 told Em when she came down here all Home: Higher Standards Create a upset because some silly bikini didn‘t Better Built Home," call Ontario fit her. Hydro at 1â€"800â€"263â€"9000 and tell Who says these pamphlets don‘t them Phil sent you. K legal right bet t1 (Con‘t from RE 13) (6) Warranty conditions should be spelled out, as well as responsibolity for insurance ont he premises while the work is being done. A downpayment is normally made when the contract is signed, or when the project is started. Partial payments are made at the completion of major stages of the work. "It‘s always in consumers‘ best interâ€" est to keep downpayments and partial payments as low as possible. That reduces losses if the work isnt completed or done properly," says Gurevsky. "Unfortunately, calls to our offices show the recent tough economic times have brought flyâ€"byâ€"night operators into the market who have no intention of doing a good job," she says. "Some may just ask for a downpayment, then disapâ€" pear for good." There are no fi householders wher made or how muc! until the work is exception. Ten per no fixed guidelines to tell when payments should be much money to hold back rk is finished â€" with one n per cent of the total cost must be held until 45 days after the subâ€" stantial performance date. Otherwise, if the contractor doesn‘t pay for materials or subâ€"contractors, the consumer can be held responsible for the bad debts. Consumers who pay up in full whent he work is finished give up the right to proâ€" tection under the Construction Lien Act. Most renovation firms ask for payâ€" ment in advance for customâ€"made fixâ€" tures or major items they may buy on behalf of the customer. Consumers who sign renovation conâ€" tracts in their homes and then change their minds about having the work done have a legal right to cancel the agreeâ€" ment. Under the Consumer Protection Act, contracts valued at more than $50 can be cancelled within two working days by delivering a letter to the seller‘s place of business. To find out more about contracts or to receive a copy of the ministry‘s brochure, A practical guide to home repairs, conâ€" tact the Consumer Information Centre, 555 Yonge Street, Main Floor, Toronto, Ontario M7A 2H6, telephone toll free at 1â€"800â€"268â€"1142 or call 326â€"8555 in the Toronto area or collect from area code 807 only. The TDD line for the hard of hearing is (416) 326â€"8566.