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INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. How to nail an affordable home reno 2. Laptop Tips for back to school 3. Ten ways to winterize your home

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How to 'nail' an affordable home reno Anyone who has lived in the same house for a number of years inevitably gets the reno itch. While a gut job is expensive, home renovations are still an affordable way to upgrade without moving.

“It's natural that after a certain point, homeowners start to notice the flaws in their homes,” said Farhaneh Haque, director of mortgage advice at TD Canada Trust. “It could be that the layout is no longer practical, the bathrooms are out-dated or the exterior needs some curb appeal. Each of these areas can increase the property value of a house while making it more suitable to the homeowner's needs.”

Before picking up the hammer and hardwood, Haque recommends homebuyers plan for the cost of a home renovation:

• Consider upgrades that save money: Green options, like installing insulated glass windows, may cost more initially, but they can make sense financially in the long-run when future energy bill savings are considered.

• Research and budget for the unexpected: The reality is that a home renovation often costs more than planned. Before starting any work, consult with more than one contractor to help accurately assess costs of materials and labour. It's also a good idea to build a buffer into the budget for any unexpected expenses.

• Explore financing options: A home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows homeowners to use the equity they've already built in their homes to finance upgrades at a competitive interest rate. Consider using a HELOC to pay different tradespeople as the work progresses to avoid paying interest on credit that hasn't been used. With ongoing access to credit, it can be tempting to go overboard, so remember to stick to the budget.

For further advice on financing a renovation, contact me and I would be happy to assist you.

www.newscanada.com

Laptop tips for back to school time As another school year draws closer, weighing technology options is probably the furthest things from the minds of parents and students.

While both agree that laptops are a requirement, they have different views on what to look for in a laptop. According to a national survey of 1,000 Canadians, 23 per cent of students considered support for gaming a priority in a laptop, compared to only 10 per cent of parents.

“There are many laptop options available for work and play,” says Toshiba's education specialist Trevor Dantas. “The key is to decide what the machine's primary function will be and narrow down the features you require.”

Functionality – Consider whether you are looking for a laptop that will be solely used for schoolwork or for entertainment as well. Certain school-related programs are more graphics-intensive and you need to be sure you have a machine that can keep up. Remember that gaming requires a faster-than-average processor and a quality video card.

Mobility – Decide how portable you want the device to be. A smaller laptop will fit easily and more comfortably in a backpack while a larger system is better suited to being a primary work and entertainment hub that won't leave home very often.

Durability – Mobility increases the wear and tear on a laptop and nothing is more important than data to a hardworking student. Look for systems that feature hard drive shock protectors to shield data from accidental drops to ensure that files remain intact.

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User-friendliness – The rise in popularity of touch screen tablets has led to a new generation of laptops featuring touch screen technology. These units let students operate in a touch screen environment, which they are increasingly familiar with, or opt for full keyboard functionality depending on their preference.

Convenience – Think about other devices you may need to connect to your laptop, to decide how many USB and HDMI ports you'll require. Certain USB ports can remain functional even when the laptop is off to charge your cell phone or play music through the laptop speakers.

Once you know the features you need it's time to compare products in store or online and consider secondary factors such as price, brand and overall aesthetics.

www.newscanada.com

10 ways to winterize your home

So you've pulled your sweaters out of mothballs and found your mittens at the bottom of the coat closet. But what about your house, is it prepared for the cold months ahead?

You'll be a lot less comfortable in the coming months if you haven't girded Home Sweet Home for Old Man Winter.

With the help of several experts, we've boiled down your autumn to-do list to 10 easy tips:

1. Clean those gutters Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home's gutters 2. Block those leaks One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out. 3. Insulate yourself By spending a bit of money to make sure your insulation is 12inches deep in your attic you will notice a return on your money quickly. 4. Check the furnace First, turn your furnace on now, to make sure it's even working, before the coldest weather descends. 5. Get your ducts in a row According to the U.S. department of Energy, a home with central heating can lose up to 60% of its heated air before that air reaches the vents if ductwork is not well-connected and insulated, or if it must travel through unheated spaces. 6. Face your windows Now, of course, is the time to take down the window screens and put up storm windows, which provide an extra layer of protection and warmth for the home. 7. Don't forget the chimney Don't put off your chimney needs before using your fireplace. A chimney should be swept or at least be inspected before use each year, to make sure it is free of blockages. 8. Reverse that fan By reversing a fans direction from the summer operation, it will push warm air downward and force it to recirculate, keeping you more comfortable. 9. Wrap those pipes A burst pipe caused by a winter freeze is a nightmare. Prevent it before Jack Frost sets his grip: Before freezing nights hit, make certain that the water to your hose bibs is shut off inside your house (via a turnoff valve), and that the lines are drained 10. Finally, check those alarms This is a great time to check the operation -- and change the batteries -- on your home's smoke detectors. Detectors should be replaced every 10 years, fire officials say.

By Christopher Solomon of MSN Real Estate

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