By Samantha EdwardsSamantha Edwards

Photo by iStockphoto/Thinkstock

 

 

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Olde Muskoka charm describes this lovingly restored and updated Family Cottage. Fabulous southern and westerly views provide wonderful sunsets. 

This winter usable cottage which has been a year round home in the recent past, welcomes you with bright and cheerful rooms.  There are 6 spacious bedrooms and 4 bathrooms which means plenty of room for friends and family.  Visualize yourself in the grand living room with a crackling fire in the stone fireplace, playing a game of cards, working on a puzzle or just chilling on the chesterfield. If you like to cook, you can create culinary delights in the large kitchen and serve them up in the separate dining room which overlooks the lake.  There have been many upgrades and repairs done to the main cottage including a new roof, new insulation in the roof, all bathrooms are new, floors re-finished, everything freshly painted inside and out, new water pump and heat line, and more.

This property is truly a family gathering place with six level acres of land to play on, a regulation tennis court and a new sun dock surrounded by shallow water at the shore and deep water at end for jumping in the lake.  There is an existing two storey boathouse which can be renovated or re-built and finished with accommodations above.  A 3 car garage completes the picture for storing all your toys. 

Enjoy all of Muskoka’s amenities close by such as golf, fine dining, spa, shopping and more.  This property is ideally located between Bracebridge and Port Carling and offers endless big lake boating.

Homeowners in northern states have already had to turn on their furnaces and boilers this fall. And a lot of them are already paying too much to make the house warm and keep the lights on. The thing is, you don't have to be a glutton to waste energy—many homeowners with good intentions still end up blowing money this time of year.

Here's a look at a 17 common mistakes folks make—and some quick fixes and long-term solutions to keeping a home's systems running as efficiently and inexpensively as possible. {C}

1. Not covering leaky windows and patio doors. Single pane windows let cold air infiltrate into the house. So do windows and doors that aren't sealed properly. A fast, inexpensive solution is to cover windows and patio doors with a clear sheet of plastic. You can cover five windows for about $20.

2. Using CFLs everywhere. Everyone knows that compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs consume less energy, but that doesn't mean they're always the best choice. "They're really not made to be turned on and off repeatedly," says Brian Winters, co-owner of Winters Electric, Inc., in Colorado Springs, Colo. "They are designed to be turned on and left on." Constantly turning them on and off, like in a bathroom or hallway, can shorten their lifespan. "They make more sense outside where you're leaving on a light from dusk until dawn."

3. Overlooking LEDs. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are sometimes a better choice than CFLs. They don't contain mercury, aren't affected by frequency of use, and use less energy than CFLs. Plus, some pretty appealing products are hitting the market.

4. Not insulating outlets and wall switches. There's probably not much, or maybe any, insulation behind the outlet boxes in your exterior walls. To stop cold air from leaking through, remove the cover plates, place a piece of foam insulation over the outlet or switch, then reattach the cover. You can buy 10 foam pieces for only $2.

5. Leaving holes unfilled. Holes in exterior walls and floors for plumbing pipes, vents and electrical conduits can let outside air into the house. Fill the gaps and holes with sealant.

6. Using incandescent bulbs without a dimmer. Dimming incandescents reduces the amount of electricity they use. "The bulbs last longer and use less energy," Winters says.

7. Not adjusting the thermostat at night. When you're away from home for more than four hours, or tucked in at night, turn down the heat to save a few bucks. Programmable thermostats can do this for you. Some can even think of this on their own.

8. Keeping worn out door seals. Even with adequate caulking, doors can still be drafty when the weatherstripping wears out. Pull off the old strip, then install new weatherstripping with staples or small nails.

9. Letting warm air escape through the attic hatch. Weatherstripping is useful beyond just sealing doors and windows. The foam strips can also seal attic access doors. While you're at it, attach insulation to the attic side of the door. This keeps the air you're paying to heat or cool from escaping up the hatch.

10. Not replacing loose caulk. While you're weatherstipping doors and windows, you might notice some loose, cracked caulk around those opening's perimeters. Use a putty knife or an oscillating tool's scraper to remove the old caulk around the exterior of doors and windows, then seal around them with the appropriate weatherproofing caulk recommended for the material.

11. Under utilizing your ceiling fan. A ceiling fan keeps air circulating. In the winter, the fan pushes the warm air down from the ceiling to help keep your warm.

12. Leaving a gap under your front door. Some door thresholds are adjustable by turning a few screws. If you can see daylight under your door when it's closed, raise the threshold, but not so much that there's friction when closing the door.

13. Leaving a gap under your garage door. If your garage door doesn't close flat and level across the garage floor, cold air, leaves and rain water can blow inside. Place a flexible garage door weatherstrip across the floor to provide an air-tight seal.

14. Allowing indoor air to escape up the chimney. Most chimney dampers don't provide an air-tight seal, and they allow cooled or heated air to leak out up the flue. A chimney balloon provides a solution—inflates to create a seal, and it's much easier than installing a new damper. It's quick and easy to remove and install, and if you forget it and light a fire, it'll fall out on its own. Word of caution—removing an inflated balloon is messy.

15. Letting the water run while shaving. This wastes hot water and the energy to heat it—that's true all year long.

16. Not bleeding radiators. If a radiator is full of air, it can't fill with water. With the boiler running and a bucket handy, open the radiator's valve and allow the air to escape. Catch any water that comes out and close the valve. The radiator can now fill with hot water and keep the room toasty. (Note: Don't leave the valve open and unattended—and make sure the radiator valves are all shut before firing up the boiler for the first time in the season—or hot, dirty water will go all over the floor.)

17. Using a worn-out furnace filter. This affects indoor air quality as well as efficiency. Inexpensive blue fiberglass filters can stop large particles that will damage the furnace, but to really get good results—and to block 90 percent of pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens, consider investing a Filtrete filter. They cost more, but these three-month filters perform better and last three times as long as the blue styles.

Whether you have already looked at over 50 different homes, or you are just setting out on your house hunting journey, there are a few key things to keep in mind when touring each property. Although your emotional reaction can be an important element (after all, buying a home is one of the most significant investments of your life!), you should try to check that at the door, at least for your first visit. Focusing on the following 5 elements at each home viewing will keep feelings at bay so you can objectively evaluate the property.

1. Neighbourhood

There is a reason realtors are known for touting “location, location, location!” Your community is one of the most important factors in feeling ‘at home’ in your house. This includes access to public amenities like parks, restaurants, services, and schools. Don’t forget to consider your commute as well as your potential to make friends in the area.

2. The Innerworkings

The internal systems; furnace, air conditioning, hot water tank, etc. are major factors in the efficiency, comfort and overall function of the home. These are elements that could require an additional investment to replace or repair after the sale if they are not up to date or code.

3. Finishes

The quality of materials used throughout the home should be in line with the asking price. Inspecting fine details like door frames, baseboards, and windows will ensure that you catch any areas where a builder could have cut corners.

4. Proof of past work

Ask your agent to inquire about past work done on the home – renovations, additions, even new appliances. The previous owners should be able to present you with proof of any of these in the form of receipts, work orders, etc. Having a paper trail will a) ensure that work was done when stated, and b) that you are aware of any warranties for future repairs or replacements.

5. Ceilings

Roof and water damage are some of the costliest home repairs, so make sure to look up, way up at the ceilings in each room of the home in search of bubbles or any possible water damage. A thorough home inspection should also uncover any existing water damage in the home.

A day in the life of a Realtor is a hectic mix of meetings, coffee, showings, emails, property tours, open-houses, offers, more coffee, negotiations, and a million other little tasks that keep the real estate buying and selling process looking seamless for our clients.

Following are the 7 traits of a top-performing agent, and the one that you should be seeking out for your next real estate deal.

A GREAT AGENT IS…

Proactive and creative

Selling a home today requires a special combination of pricing, marketing, and in most cases, staging. A great agent will approach your sale with unique ideas to showcase the best aspects of the property and generate buzz.

An excellent communicator

You should never be left wondering where your agent is and what step you are in the process (whether buying or selling). A great agent keeps you in the loop, is proactive on follow-up and ensures that you are never overwhelmed.

Highly knowledgeable

A great agent will know the city, town, district, or neighbourhood like the back of their hand. And if for some reason they don’t, they will make it their duty to learn it all for you! You should be able to get the full scope of the lifestyle that comes along with a new home; schools, neighbours, services, transportation. Beyond being a neighbourhood guru, a good agent knows exactly what’s going on in the market and how to react appropriately based on whether you are buying or selling.

Friendly and positive

Your agent is someone you will be spending a lot of time with during the sale or purchase of your home. They should make the process as enjoyable as possible for you with a positive attitude and approachable demeanor.

100% trust-worthy

A great agent is someone you can trust whole-heartedly. They give you all the facts, they are honest about negative aspects of your transaction, and they look out for your best interests, not theirs.

A savvy negotiator

The sale/purchase negotiation is perhaps the most important step in the real estate process. You want a tough negotiator on your side who knows exactly what will entice buyers/sellers, and what will turn them off – when to push, and when to retreat.

Incredibly organized

With so many moving parts: showings, marketing, preparing documents, running open houses, negotiating, market comparisons, the list goes on and on! A great agent has a step by step plan for executing each step, is clear in sharing their approach with you, and does not let any detail slip through the cracks.

*Key photo: TheHitBoard

An Exceptional Lake Rosseau property featuring stunning panoramic sunset views and complete privacy. This property boasts a 4 Bedroom true Post and Beam, winterized cottage plus loft, cathedral ceilings with open beam work, lake view from all principal rooms, a majestic floor-to-ceiling Muskoka stone double-sided fireplace into master bedroom, multiple outside decks to enjoy the view and peaceful surroundings, indoor hot tub/glass solarium room with access from the master suite. Walk-to or drive-to the oversized 2 slip boathouse with 30 and 27 ft slips including a spacious winterized 1 bedroom suite (1000 sqft) above plus a large sun dock. Multiple sitting areas to enjoy the peace, tranquility and sunset view. Moving in is easy as the cottage and boathouse come substantially furnished and equipped. A back up generator and a 2 car detached garage with workshop area completes this fine offering. Easy access to Windermere, Port Carling and Bracebridge.

"Historic Cleveland's House"

     Over the past 135 years, Muskoka has seen a rich legacy of grand hotels come and go. In the early days of the 20 th Century, hotels dotted the shores of the big and small lakes of the area, drawing people away from the cities during the summer months. Over the course of the era, these hotels slowly disappeared, succumbing to fire, disuse, destruction and corporatization. Today, all of the original hotels have virtually disappeared. That is all but one.

Clevelands House, on the western shores of Lake Rosseau, remarkably beat the odds and refused to share the fate of the other grand hotels. The original buildings still exist, seemingly impervious to the ravages of age, but more importantly the magical feeling of contentment and tranquility that once defined the grand hotels of Muskoka can still be felt, over a century later. (from the pages of Clevelands House: The Last Grand Hotel, by Scott Turnbull) 

I had occasion to visit the main dining room of Clevelands House last week. I noticed that although the buildings are looking tired and in need of maintenance, the huge dining room was full of families having a great time and obviously enjoying the excellent food and amenities.
 

An ad in The Globe and Mail displayed June 27, shows Clevelands House is looking for investors.. 'Cleves' on the western shores of Lake Rosseau is one of the last remaining grand hotels of Muskoka to still have its original buildings. The ad, which positions the property as a premier development opportunity, states the investment opportunity includes the existing operations of Clevelands House, as well as The Rock golf course and Wallace Marina. 

We are hopeful that the future will be bright for this historic land mark which continues to allow so many visitors the chance to enjoy Muskoka and develop a passion for it.