Pandemic Fun: Building a Barn

Well, the summer of 2020 just seems to be dragging on and on, doesn't it? Things are still closed, people are still home from work, and kids haven't been able to go to school for months. A pandemic will do that, and it can become increasingly difficult to keep children entertained.


We are incredibly lucky here, and we know it. We haven't been hit as hard as some areas, and our government responded quickly and efficiently. Everything was shut down and people stayed home, so our active caseload is under 10 at the time of this writing. We're doing well.


But staying home all the time is hard on the kids. So we need projects. We live in the country and have the ability to have a variety of animals, so we're lucky again. Building a Barn became our next project.


Well, my kids built the barn. Now 12 and 14, they're growing up and getting bigger. So we ordered a barn package and they got to work. They read the directions, nailed boards together, attached paneling, and even erected the walls. There were moments of hilarity, frustration, and a fun moment where the kids practically dropped a wall on me. Two kids and their mom building a barn does lead to some interesting moments.


I fully realize not every family can build a barn during quarantine. But everyone can do something. Try to find a useful and fun project to do with the kids. Maybe you can't build a barn, but how about making a bed for the cat? No cat? Well, it doesn't have to be pet related. You could decorate dishes with a dishwasher and food safe paint and varnish. Buy white dishes and brightly colored paints. The kids will enjoy themselves and you'll have plates you can use for years.


There are dozens of project ideas out there. But the best ones will be projects you can see for years to come. They'll remind you of the time your spent months upon months with your children while they couldn't go to school and most activities were shut down. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Pandemic Fun: Building a Rabbit Hutch

Well, it's summer of 2020 and kids have been off school where I live for almost 3 months. They'll be off school for another 3 months. That's nearly 6 months at home. Nothing is open because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we can't exactly take the kids to the zoo or sign them up for summer camp. With the kids home for an entire spring and summer, we had to come up with some projects to do.


Our first project was conceived of for two distinct reasons. First, the kids were off school before spring break. Spring break, at least where I live, is a terrible time of year. Snow and wind and rain and slush. Occasional blizzards. Getting snowed in. It's not usually a fun time of year. So the weather prevented us from starting a large outdoor project at that particular time.


But the kitchen was also mid-renovation, so inside activities sucked. That meant the garage was our option. Fun times. We had to do something, and it needed to be something fun. And useful. After a little discussion with my two boys, who are 11 and 13, we decided to build a new rabbit hutch. My younger son has 3 rex rabbits outside, and they needed a new house anywhere. The old one just wasn't good enough. So building a rabbit hutch it was.


But this would be tricky for a couple reasons. First, getting the materials during the pandemic proved to be a little bit of a challenge. Even though hardware and lumber stores were open, they had limited hours, were allowing only a few people in at a time, and had strict rules. Those rules meant I couldn't take the kids with me. We had to make a list and I had to buy everything without them actually being there. Okay. I bought wood, paint, screws, and some of the hardware we'd need.


Turns out I'd be short on wood, but that only mattered until my older son found some extra wood in the basement. So we had wood. I'd also forgotten paintbrushes, but I stole a few from my neighbor. So we had everything we needed.


The building was fun, though I ended up banned. My older son was afraid I would cut off my fingers so he manned the saw. My younger son got tired of me measuring wrong and took over that job. So they built it under my direction and using the blueprints I'd drawn for them. They're great kids and the hutch looks great. It took 2 weeks to finish because it was cold out and we needed to wait for the weather to warm a little before painting. But they did it.


My talented boys completed their first quarantine project. They worked hard, worked smart, and made something the rabbits love. They still intend to add a gambrel roof to the top so it looks more like a barn, but they're happy with it.


Quarantine projects have become a necessity. Whether it's building a rabbit hutch or painting a bedroom, giving your children something productive to do can be a lifesaver. They can learn new skills and have some fun.


And we ended up with a rabbit hutch out of it.

Redecorating: The Dreaded Hardware Store

When you're redecorating, and when you decide to involve kids in the process, it can seem like it never ends. Never. We'd finally reached the point in our Great Bedroom Saga where we could actually go to the hardware store. The planning was done. The room was clean and vacuumed (and I deserve a reward for getting my 9-year-old to vacuum without bribing or yelling). So naturally, I was off to the hardware store. With 2 kids in tow. That's surely not a recipe for disaster.

First stop: The Paint Department. That's where the fun always begins. Because how can you do anything if you don't know what colors are going on the walls? I had already decided that we'd use that 2-in-1 paint. You know that one that is paint and primer in one? I've used it before, and it's the absolute best. But you have to go with a good brand, like Behr. Yes, it's a little more expensive, but remember you're not buying primer.

So I know exactly what I'm getting. Just have to pick the color. Easy, yes? Not so much actually. First I have to get the kids to pick from the right section. I yelled, "That's OUTSIDE paint!" and, "That paint will drive Mommy crazy!" a few more times than I intended. I seriously thought about hot gluing them to the floor in front of the paint chips I needed them to pick from. And they have hot glue in store. And staple guns. How handy...

No, I didn't go get the glue. Or the staple gun. Instead I trapped them there and told them to pick. This should have been easy since they'd already decided on silver. But there were 10 different silvers and 2 boys. Did they pick the same one? Of course not. That would have made my life easier. So now we have two colors that honestly looked exactly the same to me (did I mention that I have just a touch of color-blindness?). So how to pick? I made it easy and lied. We needed 2 cans, I told them we'd get one of each. Then I get the one with 'silver' in the name (it was French Silver, if you're interested) and called it done. Also needed a deep brown (for painting the beds and shelves and other stuff), but I'd picked one out while they were arguing and said that one was Mommy's choice.

Were we done? Of course not. Now we needed paintbrushes and rollers. Do you think kids can pick these things quickly? Nope. They spent 45 minutes trying every single paintbrush in the store before they found ones they liked. We'd now been in the hardware store for well over an hour, our paint was still mixing, and we weren't done yet. Off to electrical and lights, which were luckily right next to each other.

Just as luckily, we only needed a faceplate for the light switch and a tiny extension cord (for that dragon light they'd insisted I order) from electrical. The faceplate had to be white, and there were only four options, but it still took 15 minutes to pick. We were now approaching the 2-hour mark and our cart was still depressingly empty. Paintbrushes, a faceplate, and an extension cord. Sigh. Now for lighting.

Now, it's important to note that the light in the kids' room is on the wall. On the wall. Let me repeat, on the wall. The light we choose, therefore, had to be on the wall. The wall. I even pointed this out to the kids and directed them towards the display of lights that go ON THE WALL. What do they do? For the first time they agree on something, but it's a chandelier. I refuse to buy it because it WILL NOT FIT. Crying ensues. They want the chandelier. Sales man, against what I'm sure is his better judgment, comes over, looking a little scared.

But he had a solution! They had just received a wall sconce that was pretty much a wall version of that chandelier. It wasn't even on the floor yet, but they had one. He went to get it, kids are dancing, I could have kissed him. I didn't due to the wedding ring on his finger, but I could have. Now back to the paint department.

And the kids have changed their mind. Not silver. Gray. So I tell them it's actually gray, and I'm so smart I knew they wanted gray (it was still French Silver with a high gloss finish). For some reason (possible a miracle sent by the gods), the actually believe me.

Now for the checkout. I just spent $560 because that light was so expensive. It's a light! And the kids want to add chocolate bars. More than one. And a couple drinks. What kind of hardware store has chocolate bars and drink? But I'm so tired I don't even care. $579 dollars now.

In the car, heading home, and I'm so tired I don't even care. We're not painting today. Cry all you want kiddos, painting will have to wait until tomorrow. Mommy needs a nap.

Redecorating: The Great Clean Up

So the kids want to redecorate? No problem. Huge plans? No problem. As soon as the room is clean.

Which is exactly where the first problem in the Great Bedroom Saga was waiting for me. We have one basic rule in our house: your room is your room. I don't care if it's messy. I don't care if you don't put your clothes away. I don't care if you haven't made your bed. As long as the room doesn't smell like a dried up fish stick and your don't leave your junk lying around the rest of the house, I can live with a messy room.

Until it's time to redecorate. I am not even going to try to redecorate a room with Lego strewn across the floor. Have you ever stepped on a Lego? I have and it hurts. So if there's Lego (or one of the many other little toys they seem to keep on the floor) lying around, I'm not painting. Ever.

Bear in mind that this whole redecorating thing wasn't exactly my idea. The kids came up with the plan. So I figured it was only fair that they get their own junk off the floor before I bought the first can of paint. Good idea.

Or so I thought. Who knew it would be such a battle? And, just to set the record straight, the room isn't exactly a total disaster. Some things are on the floor, yes, but most of it is in toy boxes or up on shelves. Cleaning up the entire room would take no more than about fifteen or twenty minutes. Tops.

So what do the kids do? Nothing, as it turns out. I send them to clean their room, promising a trip to the hardware store just as soon as it's done. Ten minutes later, the kids return and ask to go to the hardware store. That seemed just a little quick to me, so I decided to check. They hadn't even picked up the dreaded Lego. No hardware store.

My youngest, who has Asperger's, had an immediate breakdown. He wanted the hardware store, he expected the hardware store, and he was going to have a meltdown (which looks like a tantrum but actually isn't) until we went to the hardware store. My oldest son, who had apparently planned this out, was just about smirking. He had to go to his not-cleaned room while I dealt with the little one.

Eventually, by repeating myself at least a dozen times, I managed to get the little one to understand the sequence of events according to Mommy. Clean up, then hardware store. Clean up, then hardware store. Little one was on board. Now for the big one.

The big one, at a whole eight years old, was not interested in cleaning.

"Why can't you clean it up?" was his big question.

"Fine," I replied. "But Mommy cleans with a garbage bag. I'm going to get my garbage bag. Anything left on the floor is definitely garbage. I'll be back in two minutes."

Usually my threats are pretty empty, but I think he realized that I just might be serious. By the time I got back, garbage bag in hand, Tristan (my older son) was slowly cleaning up. Slowly, but it was a start. The younger one was sitting next to the bunk beds looking confused. A few minutes of careful coaching and Rowan too was cleaning up. Sort of. But it was good enough.

I helped, of course, and thirty minutes later we were ready for a trip to the hardware store. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Redecorating: The Great Bedroom Saga Begins

Have you ever made a promise to your kids that got you in way over your head? Well, that happened to me this week, and it all started because two little boys wanted just one little thing from me.

First, a little background. My two children, now 8 and 6, share a room. They've shared that room for six years. Before that, it was my nephew's room, but then we all played musical houses (that's a different and entirely ridiculous story) and now my kids have the room my nephew once had. The room has a blue ceiling, blue and grey walls, and clouds cut out of ceiling tiles hanging from the ceiling. It also has a Disney's Cars light switch. All of this was from when it was my nephew's room. The only things I added were a few Diego wall decals and a Thomas the Tank Engine toy box. Six years ago. The room hasn't changed since them.

So maybe the situation I've found myself in was bound to creep up on me. And it may be partially my own fault for not updating their room as they grew. They're not toddlers anymore, after all. But I digress.

A few days ago my oldest son Tristan sat beside me and said, "Mommy, you need to paint my room."

That seemed an innocent enough request, so I asked him what color he wanted it painted. Tristan pulled out a paint chip (where did he get a paint chip?!) and showed me a silver paint that would look lovely but would never go over the deeply insane blue on the walls and ceiling now. I asked if he couldn't pick a slightly darker color. He refused. Fine. Silver walls it was. I'd need tinted primer go cover all that blue, but it was fine. Paint is no big deal.

Tristan went on to explain that if he was going to be a knight, he needed grey walls because castle stones are grey. I remember thinking "How cute" as he talked about being a knight. He has all the costumes and two years ago my father and I built him a castle in the yard to play in.

Rowan, my younger son, snuck in and said, "Did you ask her yet?"

Tristan shook his head, so now I was suspicious. He'd already asked me about paint, and I'd agreed, so what hadn't he asked me. I gave Tristan a look. He smiled. I gave Rowan a look. He ran back upstairs.  So I turned back to Tristan.

"What's going on?"

With a heartfelt sigh that shook his little body he explained. He wanted a knight's bedroom. With grey walls and one stone wall and a cool bed and everything. He didn't like Cars and he didn't like Diego. At all. He and Rowan were old enough now to get a bedroom they loved. Thinking paint and wallpaper would do it, I agreed. Then he asked if he could use my computer. In a flash of blind stupidity (and not seeing the connection), I agreed.

So I made dinner and Tristan, at a whole 8 years old, clicked away. To my growing misfortune, I'm coming to realize that the school is teaching my kids to spell and surf the web. This is a dangerous combination. If Tristan couldn't spell, he couldn't use Google and my life would be easier. Well, he can spell and they taught him all about Google. And they taught him how to save pictures from the Internet. This was about to ruin my day.

So I'm making hide-the-beans burgers and cinnamon sweet potato fries and Tristan starts printing something. Who taught the kid to print!? Not me, that's for sure. Into the kitchen he comes with a STACK of paper. My heart clenched as I realized this kid had a PLAN.

What was the plan? A stone wall. Not wallpaper, but real stone. I managed to convince him to use wallpaper because he'd lose a foot of his room with real stone, but it was a near thing. He also wanted to get rid of the bunk bed and have two separate beds. He'd found three pictures on the internet that he wanted to combine. Scary. Oh, and fake windows behind each bed. And castles rising above each bed (he didn't have a picture for this, but he is a little artist). Oh, and THREE nightstands. And treasure chests at the end of the beds. And the beds...navy with a silver stripe. With a crest. And reversible, so silver with a navy stripe on the other side. Still with a crest. Matching curtains around the beds, and these curtains have to hang from the castles rising above the beds.

His plan involves a little more than just paint and wallpaper. It involves new lights (including a dragon light), new switches, new beds, bedding, shelves that look like castles, castles that rise up above beds, curtains, chains, murals, fake windows, and I can't even remember what else. And what did I say when he thrust all these papers and plans at me?

I said, "Yes." What did I just get myself into? Stay tuned for the answer.

Tips for Buying a House As-Is

Just the idea of buying a house ‘as-is’ frightens many homebuyers. Generally, ‘as-is’ means that the homeowners might not allow an inspection prior to purchase, and this should make anyone wary. Be aware that you will certainly be doing repairs of some kind. After all, a house wouldn’t be listed ‘as-is’ if there was nothing wrong with it.

If you do choose to pursue the ‘as-is’ home, there are some things in particular that you should watch out for. While many things are a fairly simple and inexpensive fix, there are some problems that will drain your wallet and frustrate you as you attempt to fix them. While an inspection may not be possible, you can still take a look around and make an attempt to identify what might be your biggest problems.

Electrical Sockets

Modern houses that are built to code generally have one electrical socket for every six feet of wall space, though this number varies a little between jurisdictions. Older homes may have fewer outlets, so you might have to invest some time and money remedying this.

Adding electrical sockets is usually considered to be a quick and easy fix. However, you should really count the number of outlets in the home. If there are very few outlets indeed, the problem may be bigger than simply a builder who didn’t put in enough sockets. The house may be wired with a system that truly can’t handle any more outlets. This may mean a total rewire, and that won’t come cheap.

Floors

It’s easy to just never look down when taking a look at a property. However, when buying a house ‘as-is,’ you owe it to yourself to look at every possible problem. This means looking at what’s right beneath your feet. Floors that are not level or that sag in the middle might indicate that the builder of the home took a few shortcuts. Perhaps the contractor set the floor joists at twenty inches instead of the standard sixteen. There are other possible reasons for the sagging floor as well, none of them easy to fix.

If the floors do sag, feel spongy, or is at all unstable, consider walking away from the house entirely. It will probably be a very expensive fix, but since you cannot have an inspector take a look at the problem for you, you have no idea how much it will really cost you.

Roof

Replacing a roof is very expensive and if you suspect a problem with the roof you should probably consider a different property. Look for loose or missing shingles, an excess of moss, or any areas of discoloration. Also keep your eyes open for any sagging spots on the roof. These can indicate structural problems that you probably don’t need to be dealing with.

If it’s winter, check the eaves for a build-up of icicles. Heavy ice usually indicates poor insulation, at least near the roofline. This ice build-up can cost you money, not only in heating bills, but in repairing the damage done to the roof by the ice dam.

Taxes

In most jurisdictions, property taxes are a matter of public record. You can easily assess just how much the property taxes will be, and maybe you can even estimate what they might be once you begin repairing whatever it is that needs to be repaired. Keep in mind that this will only be a guess, since you’re really not going to know what the repairs are until you actually buy the house.

Utilities

Knowing how much the utilities cost for the property you’re interested in can be a great way to evaluate how much energy the house consumes. However, the homeowners, having chosen to list their house ‘as-is’ and not allow inspections, are probably not going to give you the utility bills for the past year. In some jurisdictions, there might be a way around this.

Record the asset number on the meter and contact the utility provider. If your jurisdiction allows it, you may be able to request the usage for up to the past two years. This will allow you do get an idea of how much you will have to pay to heat the home at various points in the year. You might also be able to decide whether or not you’ll have to invest in insulating your new home. Insulating can be very expensive.

You can usually purchase an ‘as-is’ property for relatively cheap. However, the costs associated with bringing this home up to code are undisclosed. You might find yourself having to invest thousands in your new property. This will elevate your costs, possibly to the point where the house just isn’t worth it. Evaluate the home carefully and decide if you’re really willing to take that risk. If possible, negotiate a home inspection and contractually detail the home’s current condition, allowing yourself room to back out of the deal, if need be.

Tips for Buying a Used Home

Pre-owned or used homes are a popular and viable option for many people and for a variety of reasons. Sometimes they are more affordable than a new home. Perhaps some people are more attracted to older homes from a purely aesthetic standpoint. It might also be the case that an attractive neighborhood is full of pre-owned homes. Whatever the reason, when purchasing anything used, it is best to be cautious. Older homes will not have any type of builder’s warranty (though there are exceptions), so there are some things that the potential buyer must be aware of.

Electrical System

There are many reasons to inspect the electrical system of any home you are considering for purchase, especially an older home. A faulty electrical system can put both you and your family in danger. Every year, hundreds of homes are destroyed by fires caused by problems in the electrical system. And every year people are killed in these fires. Protect yourself by having the electrical system inspected by a qualified professional.

There is another reason to have this inspection performed. In many jurisdictions, there are codes that must be met before you can legally reside in your new home. Also, if you are obtaining a mortgage, your lending institution may require a thorough inspection before they will approve the mortgage request. This is to ensure that they know where they’re money is going. Most institutions won’t want to invest money in a property that’s not worth it.

Foundation

One of the most overlooked aspects of a purchasing an older home is the foundation. A flawed foundation can cause problems, both now and in the future. The foundation should be straight and level. It should also stretch the entire length and width of the home. If any portion of the home does not have an adequate foundation, consider a different potential home. Also have a professional look for any serious cracks. Some cracking is normal, but serious cracks can indicate a larger problem. Fixing a foundation is very expensive, so walk away from any home with a flawed foundation.

Heating and Cooling System

Unless you enjoy being too hot or too cold, you’d better take a close look at the heating and cooling system of any potential home. A furnace that malfunctions can be both a hazard and an inconvenience. Unfortunately, unless you’re experienced in the function and maintenance of a furnace, you’ll probably overlook something important. Furnaces just aren’t that user friendly. It’s probably a good idea to hire a professional to inspect the system before you put an offer in on the home.

Plumbing

Replacing an entire system of pipes is incredibly expensive. Even lesser plumbing problems cost a lot of money to fix. And an unexpected problem with pipes can cause so much damage that you’ll just want to tear the house down and build anew. Before you sign anything or make a single concrete offer, have the plumbing inspected. If you do wish to make an offer on an older home before having this inspection performed, make sure you make the offer conditional upon a satisfactory inspection. Get this in writing before you make your offer.

Roof

Another very expensive fix is a damaged or substandard roof. In addition to the costs associated with repairing a roof, you may have to fix any damage caused to the interior of the home by an ill-timed leak. To ensure that the roof is in good repair, look for any missing or damaged shingles and an excess of moss growing on the roof itself. Also keep your eyes open when you’re touring the home. Any staining from water leaks should be noted.

A roof in need of repair doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t purchase the home. But you will want to take the cost of a new roof into consideration when making an offer. It might be prudent to deduct the expense of a new roof from the asking price of the home.

Whatever your reasons for purchasing a pre-owned home, be aware that you will have to deal with some amount of wear and tear. This is normal, especially if the home if more than five years old. However, some things are neither easy nor cheap to fix. The electrical system, foundation, heating and cooling system, plumbing, and roof five areas you will want to investigate thoroughly before making an offer on any home.

Buying a Fixer Upper

Buying a new home is stressful enough, but buying a fixer-upper brings a whole new level of uncertainty and sometimes even fear. And though turning a decrepit property into a gem can be fun and rewarding, it can also be fraught with difficulties. Before you take on the task of fixing up a home, there are a few things you should consider.

Be prepared

People often underestimate how difficult it is to truly renovate a property. Only those people who’ve never bought a fixer-upper and successfully improved it think that it’s an easy process. Before you even consider buying a fixer-upper, you’ll want to mentally prepare yourself. Assume that the renovations will cost twice as much as you think, take double the amount of time you initially thought, will be less pleasing to the eye than you had imagined, and that the house itself won’t be worth nearly as much as you had hoped. Even though all of these things are unlikely to occur, if you assume they will, you’ll be pleasantly surprised when they don’t.

Current Value vs. Potential Value

It is important to understand how your renovations will impact the value of the home you wish to buy. If all of your work will result in a home that’s worth exactly as much as it was before, you might want to consider another property. In order to adequately assess these values, enlist the aid of a qualified real estate agent. An agent experienced in properties that require extensive renovations should be able to give you a general idea of how much the value will improve.

It’s also a good idea to hire a home inspector to evaluate the cost of the renovations. The inspector should provide you with a report indicating the work that needs to be done as well as what the estimated costs might be. Make sure you add ten to fifteen percent to account for any unforeseen expenses. If you feel you need a more accurate estimate, hire a contractor to tally the costs for you.

Add the renovation costs to the price of the house and compare the final cost with the estimated value after renovation. If the final value of the renovated property is actually less that the cost to purchase and renovate the house, consider investing in a different property.

Fixes That Pay

Some renovations bring more value to a home than others. Fixing kitchens and bathrooms will increase the value of your home exponentially. Adding new floors, especially hardwood, and fixing any damaged drywall are also cheap fixes that increase value. Paint may be cheap, but it doesn’t really add to the value of the home. Beware of any structural fixes such as piping and foundations as these are money-eaters that don’t add as much value as you might expect.

Know Your Own Limitations

Not everyone can do everything. Know exactly which renovations you can do yourself and which one you’ll need to hire a professional to complete. You might be tempted to do all the renovations yourself to save some money, but if you don’t know how, or if it’s something that requires a specific skill that you simply don’t possess, hire someone. It might cost a little more, but it might actually be cheaper in the long run. Some projects, if not completed properly, will actual lessen the value of your home, so think twice before tackling a project that you’re not qualified to take on in the first place.

Research Your Area

Most jurisdictions require homeowners to purchase permits prior to starting any real renovation. While you probably don’t need permits to install hardwood flooring or change the light fixture in the bathroom (though you’ll want to check this out carefully, as some areas require permits for every little change), at some point you’ll encounter a project that needs permits. This is especially important if you intend to do electrical, plumbing, or structural improvements.

These permits will inevitably cost money and should be included in your calculations. You should also be prepared to be patient. The issuing of permits is done by the government, and local governments often take their time.

Expect your renovations to take a great deal of time, money, and labor. There will be inevitable bumps along the way, and the occasional surprise. However, with a little preparation and an honest look at your own expectations, you might find that the old house that’s falling apart really is the perfect home for you.

Home Buying Negotiation Tips

Buying a house is a complex process. Making the initial offer is only the first step on the long road to buying a home. If you want to get a good deal, you’ll have to learn the fine art of negotiation. However, the truth of the matter is most people are not very good at negotiating. Even with the aid of an experienced real estate agent, you might find yourself a little disoriented. However, if you take a moment to ask yourself a few simple questions, and then seek the answers, you will find yourself better prepared for negotiations.

Do They Like Me?

This may seem like a silly question, but it might save you money on your new home. Psychologically, people are normally attached to their homes, especially if they’ve lived there for more than five years. Subconsciously, most sellers want the home to go to someone they like. It might not be a bad idea to attempt to bond with the sellers.

This doesn’t mean you should take them out for drinks. In fact, you might never actually meet the sellers if everything is done through the agent. However, you could include a letter with your offer. Introduce yourself, discuss your family, and your reasons for needing a new home (if those reasons might make the seller feel more favorably toward you). Just make sure you praise the house too much. If the sellers get the feeling that you must have that particular house, they’ll have the advantage.

What is it Really Worth It?

Before making an offer, it is important to realize that the sellers may be overpricing their home in order to make a better profit. Ask your real estate agent for a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) to put the price in perspective. The CMA will analyze other similar homes in the neighborhood and allow you to get a feel for what other sellers are asking.

You should also take the time to visit other similar homes. You might gain some valuable information that you can use during your negotiations. If other homes have upgraded kitchens and bathrooms, but the home you’re looking at is still stuck in the 1980s, you can use this to save thousands of dollars.

What Are My Priorities?

Don’t fall in love with the house too soon or you’ll put yourself at a disadvantage. Use the CMA to detail a list of homes that are in the same price range but in better condition or have additional amenities. List this because part of your arsenal. You can show the sellers that they are overpricing the home and get a better deal.

You also need to decide what you’re willing to fight for. If you give up a few extras, you might save thousands. Perhaps the sellers will accept a lower offer if they get to take their appliances with them. Be ready to compromise if you want the best price.

Why Are They Selling?

Understanding why the homeowners have chosen to sell their home is a great way to put yourself in a better bargaining position. Your real estate agent might be able to help you discover the reasons behind the sale, but you can find out a lot on your own.

Sometimes, the homeowners will be upfront and honest about their reasons for selling. Other times, you’ll need to do some investigating. Ask the neighbors casually and you’ll often discover a wealth of information. Sellers who are relocating due to a new job, a divorce, a death, or even the loss of employment will be more motivated to sell. Sellers who are simply throwing their house on the market and will sell if the price is right are harder to bargain with.

What Should I Offer?

People often assume that they should offer something incredibly low at first, giving themselves room to negotiate up. This sounds like a good idea in theory, but in practice it can backfire. While you should definitely give yourself some breathing room and make an offer below what you’re actually willing to pay, make sure your initial offer is still fair to the sellers. You want the sellers to make a counteroffer, and an offer that is too low may be rejected out of hand.

When Do I Walk Away?

Try not to be in love with the house or it will be harder to walk away. Decide exactly how much you’re willing to pay in advance, and stick to that price. If the counteroffers really put you off, be prepared to walk away. You don’t need to be overpaying for that house.

Walking away is harder if you’re emotionally attached. If you find that you love the house a little too much, ask your real estate agent to handle the negotiations. Give the agent your maximum price and let him or her handle it from there.

Negotiating a fair price for a house you’d like to purchase can be both stressful and difficult. Keep a level head, clarify your own position, and enlist the aid of a qualified real estate agent if necessary, and you’ll soon find that the negotiation process becomes much easier.

Home Buying Red Flags

Many owners are anxious to sell their homes. In the rush to sell, there will always be those owners who do not disclose all the problems the property may have. Perhaps they want a quick sale, or a better price, or maybe they simple were not aware of the problems in the first place. Whatever the reason, it’s up to you, as the potential buyer, to spot these problems.

Hiring a home inspector might seem like a good idea, but unless you’re very wealthy, you simply can’t afford to hire an inspector to look at every house that might catch your eye. You can, however, educate yourself. If you know what to look for, you’ll be able to weed out the more damaged homes and focus your attention and money elsewhere.

General Maintenance

If you’re looking for a home you can just move into without having to address a lot of issues, make a point of looking for signs of poor maintenance or maintenance that was never done in the first place. Cobwebs over important areas such as the furnace, hot water heater, or air conditioning unit are generally a sign that these appliances haven’t been serviced regularly. Look at the plumbing as well, if at all possible. If you see an excessive amount of caulking or putty, you’re probably going to have to replace the pipes, and this isn’t cheap.

Go outside and check gutters and drains. If either of these are clogged with more than a week’s worth of debris, it’s likely a sign of neglect. The interior of the gutters may be damaged and have to be replaced. This may not be something that you want to do when you purchase your new home.

Doors

When most people look at a home, they look behind a door, but they don’t close it. A door that won’t close might indicate a serious structural problem. Take the time to open and close every door in the house. Some settling of a home as it ages is normal. But it’s not normal for doorframes to warp.

Flickering Lights

While you might need a home inspector to determine if the wiring is faulty, you can still make some basic observations on your own. Walk through the house and turn on every switch. If the lights flicker or you hear crackling or sparking sounds, it’s a sure sign that there might be an electrical problem. Also take a close look at the circuit box. Corrosion or an overload of wires is an indication that the system needs an overhaul.

If the agent or homeowner tells you the power is off because the house is standing vacant, insist on touring the home while the power is on. If your request is refused, you should absolutely walk away from the deal.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Many homeowners repaint right before listing their home for sale. This could just be general maintenance and the desire to sell. However, it could also mask some serious problems. Fresh paint can cover up water spots, structural cracks, and even large holes in the drywall. If the house has been repainted but other maintenance has been neglected, you might want to ask why.

The Floor Plan

If you’re looking at older homes, beware of obvious changes in floor plan. Most older homes were not originally open concept, so if you encounter a home that has been renovated to have an open floor plan, ask to see work orders from a qualified contractor. Many times, important load-bearing walls are removed but not replaced. This leads to structural problems down the road, problems that will present a danger to you and your family and are quite expensive to fix.

The Foundation

You may not be a trained and qualified home inspector, but you can still look around for obvious problems that the owners simply didn’t tell you about. One of the most overlooked parts of the house is the foundation. Walk the entire perimeter of the home and examine the foundation in detail. Some cracking is normal, but watch for very deep or very long cracks as these could indicate a weakening foundation. Also make sure the foundation is level. A foundation that is not level is usually a sure sign of a problem that will be difficult and expensive to fix.

When you go inside, make sure you look at the basement. Search for signs that water may have leaked into the basement at some point. You don’t want to have to deal with water damage when you first move in. If there are signs of water damage and the owners claim it’s been fixed, as to see work orders to that effect. Not all owners will lie to you, but some will, so don’t take their word for it.

The Neighborhood

Before you even consider making an offer, take a tour of the neighborhood that you might be moving into. Boarded up homes and vandalized property is usually a sign of problem, as is graffiti. That ‘good deal’ might be because the neighborhood is unsafe or an attraction to criminals.

While looking around the area, take note of how many homes are for sale. If there seems to be too many homes for sale, don’t be afraid of asking neighbors why everyone is moving. You might gain some valuable information that night make you decide to walk away from that particular property, or any others in the area.

That Odd Smell

Let your nose guide you when you’re looking at a potential new home. Take a deep breath and try to identify the various scents. Try to smell beyond the baking cookies and the scent of poodle on the couch. A foul odor might mean mold, mildew, or something worse. If you smell gas, there’s probably a leak, or maybe a furnace in poor repair.

Some homeowners and agents will try to tell you that the house smells funny because it’s been uninhabited for some time. Even if it’s true that the house has been sitting vacant, that’s not the reason for the smell. If you don’t know exactly where the smell is coming from and how to fix it, walk away. Find a home that doesn’t make you gag.

Windows

It’s not enough to simply look through all the windows. Open each window each fully and close it again. Sliding windows should slide with little or no resistance. If they get stuck, you’re probably looking at a structural problem. Even if there isn’t a structural problem, windows are expensive to replace.

Where’s the Water?

While you probably can’t crawl around the house inspecting every piece of pipe, you can turn on all the facets and check the water pressure. Low pressure might indicate corroding or leaking pipes. If the water isn’t on because the house is vacant, arrange to view the home once the water has been turned on. An agent or owner who refuses to do this is definitely hiding a larger problem. There have been cases where unsuspecting homebuyers have purchased a home with no water supply at all.

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. You owe it to yourself to look for the red flags and evaluate potential money pits. If you haven’t seen any obvious red flags and decide that you’re interested in a particular property, hire a qualified home inspector to further examine the home. This may cost you a little money, but it will also put you in a better position for negotiating the price of the home and let you walk into your purchase with full knowledge of the problems associated with the property.

Handy-Mommy: Plugging Up Drafts and Saving Money

As a mother, I've had to learn many skills. I can patch up a wound, soothe a cranky child, and I can tackle minor home improvement projects. With a little help and the proper motivation. And since October has obviously started and we recently got out first snowfall of the season, I figured now would be a good time to plug up those drafts, making the house more comfortable for my children and saving a few bucks on my heating bill.

Most mothers I know want to save a little money, and that means tackling minor things yourself. If your furnace needs servicing, you should definitely call a professional, but little things can be done all by yourself. A few inexpensive supplies from the local hardware store can help you keep your family warm and cut that home heating bill.

Leaks and Draft Have to Go

If you live in a house that is not Energy Star-rated, you almost certainly are losing some warm air through the gaps and cracks in your home. You might be losing as much as 35% of the precious heat your furnace is supplying. A lot of people blame their windows, especially if the windows are older, but unless the glass is cracked, it's probably not the windows. If you do replace your windows, invest in the double-glazed type, and hire a professional. Don't install windows yourself.

But, like I said, it's probably not the windows. One of the cheapest items in the hardware store is caulk. Buy some. Caulk baseboards and window trim on all exterior walls. Also caulk around light switches and electrical outlets on those same walls. Exterior walls is where you're losing your heat, so stop up those gaps.

Doors are another place where the heat slips out, so purchase (and actually install!) some high quality weatherstripping. This isn't hard to do and takes only a few minutes. Then train those kids to actually shut the door! Weatherstripping does nothing to help you if the doors aren't shut.

Insulating Makes the Difference

I know you probably can't insulate your entire house by yourself. But you can use some ready-to-purchase products from the hardware store to help. Do you have an electric water heater? Have you wrapped it in an insulating jacket or blanket? No? Then check the water heater's manual and go out and purchase an insulating jacket of the appropriate size. I got one for just under $50. Then actually put it on. Don't do this if you have an oil-powered heater and if you have a natural gas water heater, get the insulation installed by a professional.

You can also add some insulation to your heating system. Take a look at your ducting and you'll realize that you're losing a lot of heat to the basement before the heat even gets upstairs. Yes, you're heating the basement, but that heat can really be used elsewhere. You can wrap your ducting in a pretty silver insulation and secure it with duct tape to solve the problem, instantly saving yourself a good deal of money. Do you have radiators instead? Wrap insulation around the exposed heating pipes in the basement or crawlspace.

Lower the Thermostat

I know everyone says this, but few people actually do it. Turn your thermostat down by 3°C or even 6°C when you go out for the evening or when you go to bed. A thicker blanket can help offset the cooler temperature and make you feel cuddled at the same time. You can even get a programmable thermostat (mine cost about $40) and install it. I did this myself following the directions that came with the thermostat. It's not difficult and you can save yourself a significant amount of money.

It's true that the lower you turn your thermostat, the more money you'll save, but don't be extreme. 5°C is probably too cold for a house with children. Be reasonable. I turn mine down to 15°C every evening and get up a half hour before the kids to turn it back up to 19°C. They stay warm and I can wear a thicker sweater for 10 minutes while the house warms up.

It's cheap and easy to save yourself a few bucks in the cold winter months. But it does require some time, especially when you're insulating and caulking. So plan ahead and you'll be free of drafts this winter.