Should we paint? Asking and listening to owners

If you’re like most strata corporations, building maintenance is a divisive issue. And if you’re reading this, it’s because you care, perhaps more than most.

Proactive councils understand building life cycles and depreciation reports and are knowledgeable about various project costs.  In contrast, other groups seem to oppose any proposal to spend money except for regular operations. Or worse, they are indifferent (or oblivious) to the need to regularly maintain their strata property. Welcome to strata living.

But there is hope. Major painting projects are a valuable investment of time and money. Done well, they immediately improve property values, reduce future maintenance expenses, increase community pride of ownership and make people feel better about their homes.

So, walking into an AGM, owners will be thinking of all of these things as they decide whether to give approval. But they are also weighing these benefits against the joy of buying a new car, taking a vacation, building their savings, or just keeping up with their regular bill payments. Everyone’s situation is different.

Our advice? Here are four ways to build the momentum needed to get your painting project approved:

• Engage the owners early on, survey with options, gauge interest
• Hold an information meeting, invite input, summarize and distribute findings
• Form a non-council advisory group
• Invite a credible industry spokesperson to the AGM for questions

These are ideas for wider consultation and can allow the process to gain energy. They will also provide insight into what is most important to owners since its unlikely to be the same for everyone.

Once you have this information, you are in a better position to decide if there is enough support to move forward. If it’s close you may see opportunities to provide more information, answer concerns, or simply work to persuade the swing group.

For example, do they need to know that the resale value will increase? Are they more interested in improving community pride? Is there concern that if we don’t paint now, then it will cost us much more in the long run. Perhaps they need someone to share their enthusiasm about the project results or a past experience that proved worthwhile.

We’re quite certain; your best success will come from a mix of practical information and emotional convincing. And, if you are aware of what’s important to owners, then you’ll be better equipped to get your approval.

We hope this helps. If you’re in a situation like above and curious for more ideas, please call or email us to discuss.

The post Should we paint? Asking and listening to owners appeared first on Remdal.

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4 Romantic Decor Ideas for Your Home This Valentine’s Day

Only a few days left before Valentine’s. But, if you’re already living with the love of your life, you have a reason to celebrate it every day.  Make each moment more special by following these tips:

Choose the right window treatment
One should select such window curtains or dressings that are plush, alluring and dark so that it can curb lights from traffic or any sort of external noise from intervening in the romantic mood that is created. Source: Freshome

Glow with fairy lights
String lights aren’t only for the holidays. You wouldn’t want to wrap your bedroom in bright colors or blinking bulbs, but a single string of white lights is quite romantic. Wrap the lights around your footboard or headboard or weave them over the curtain rod, the doorframe, or even across the ceiling over your bed. You’ll get a soft glow similar to candlelight without the need to worry about flames or fumes. Very pretty. Source: TheSpruce

Create a hideout
Have a space in your home that you’re not really using? Clear out the junk and make it a place for your loved one to enjoy instead. Add furniture and touches that you know they’ll enjoy, such as wall paint in their favorite color, or the perfect storage solution for their favorite collection. Source: ChoiceHomeWarranty

Talk with a florist
That’s right—have a conversation with someone who lives and breathes gorgeous blooms. You know roses sell for top dollar this time of year, so to save some cash (and avoid being totally on the nose) steer clear of this obvious choice and pick something sentimental in an unexpected color.

Julie Coraccio, a professional organizer with Reawaken Your Brilliance, recommends fragrant lilies or wildflowers.

“Find something that looks like you picked it from your yard and has a carefree sense,” she says. Source: Realtor

Have bigger home improvements in mind? We’ll take care of them for you! Call us today!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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Tips You Need to Follow When Removing Roofing Shingles

Are you planning to DIY the removal of some damaged shingles on your roof? It’s a difficult task, but with caution, you can certainly pull it off. Take a look at the necessary steps you need to take to ensure a successful, risk-free project.

 

Wear safety equipment
Before you begin any work on your roof, you want to ensure your safety equipment is in good repair in order to get the job done. Safety equipment such as ladders, ropes and harnesses should be checked for any defects. Be sure to include safety goggles, gloves and sunscreen when you are considering doing work on your roof. Also, a straw hat is good for keeping the sun out of your eyes. Rubber soled shoes in good repair will ensure you keep your footing while on your roof. Source: DoItYourself

Begin at the top
Start at the peak of the roof. Use a garden fork to pry off the shingles from the ridge cap. Slide the tines of the fork underneath the shingles and felt paper. Lift the garden fork straight up to release the shingles from the roof.

Divide your work area
Continue working in 2-foot- to 3-foot-wide sections across the roof, working down as you walk across. Dispose of the shingles as you go. Work slowly and carefully around the flashing, chimney or skylights. Pull the loosened shingles off by hand around these areas. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Clean up
Once you have finished removing the old roofing and nails, sweep the roof to get rid of any debris before you begin laying your new moisture barrier. You’ll want a push broom to make this job go faster.

Though a regular brush can be used to get all the loose nails into one pile to scoop up, it’s more efficient to have a magnetic broom. These are magnets on wheels that you roll over the surface to collect any metal items left behind. They can be as simple as a magnet on wheels, or they can have a brush, magnet, and vacuum. They are handy on rooftops, but excellent to roll over the ground. They’ll pick up nails you may not be able to see that are down in your grass.

Once you have finished, find a dry place to store your extra shingles for later use. Make sure that they lay flat, so they don’t become misshapen. They won’t be any use to you in the future if they aren’t flat. Source: HealthyHandyman

Endangering yourself to save a few dollars isn’t worth it. If, in the tiniest bit, you’re not sure whether you can manage to do some roof work yourself, it would be best to leave the task to the pros. Call us today to get your free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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3 Reasons Why There is Standing Water in Your Yard

It would be futile to put all your efforts in clearing puddles on your yard if you don’t address what’s causing the water to stay in the first place. Here are some of the most common cases:

Low Spots
There is a good chance that you have—or will have—standing water in your yard if your property lies at the foot of a hill and your region gets a lot of rain. You can also suffer from having low spots in particular areas of the yard, even if you don’t live at the foot of a hill, where the terrain slopes down.

If a low spot is causing water to collect near your house, the first thing to do is correct the grading around your house foundation to prevent water from seeping through the foundation. This is more important than dealing with water pooling elsewhere in the yard. Source: TheSpruce

Non-Porous Soil
Hard soil and sticky clay soils don’t allow water to soak into the ground past the surface, which causes excess water to accumulate. In particular, hard subsoil, also known as hardpan, is a thick layer of soil that doesn’t allow any water through. You may have this soil on your lawn from natural causes or as a result of construction equipment densely compacting the yard. Source: HouseMethod

Gutter Downspouts
The gutters on your home could be contributing to the mass of water collecting in your yard. As your home’s gutters collect rain, they eject it through the nearest downspout. If your downspouts are emptying into an area that runs uphill or tends to collect water, it might be time to redirect your gutters.

You can attach a rigid drain pipe to the end of a gutter spout to carry water away from problem areas. Or, if it’s feasible, simply dig a dry creek bed for your gutter to empty into that will carry water away from problem areas. Source: HGTV

Don’t let standing water damage your lawn and create problems for your home. Call us today and you’ll get a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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3 Tips to Sell Your Home for More Money

Are you planning on selling your home this year? Find out how you can easily increase the price tag of your home by following these simple pieces of advice:

Improve your curb appeal
How a home looks from the outside has a huge effect on how many potential buyers walk through the front door.

Than Merrill, CEO of FortuneBuilders, suggested investing in a new front door. If buying a replacement door is not within the budget, “consider repainting it for a fresh, clean look,” he said. It’s an affordable renovation you can make for less than $1,000. “Also, pressure washing the driveway and front walk — and trimming the hedges and trees — contribute to the overall look of the house.”

For people with a higher budget for renovations and repairs, Cannon Christian, president of Renovation Realty, suggested replacing worn vinyl siding. New vinyl siding can have an 80 percent or higher return on investment, according to Christian.

“It’s easy to install, cheaper than other alternatives like aluminum and wood and requires little maintenance,” he said. Source: GoBankingRates

Declutter
Clean everything out of the basement, the attic, and organize closets and pantries. What doesn’t go to storage either donate it or give it the heave ho. I know from very recent experience that a 10’ x 20’ storage unit will cost you less than $125/month (not including the sweat equity of moving everything out). It’s money well spent. Look at the exercise as an opportunity to streamline your life—believe me it will make your life easier when you actually move. Source: Forbes

Let light in
Maximize the light in your home. After location, good light is the one thing that every buyer cites that they want in a home. Take down the drapes, clean the windows, change the lampshades, increase the wattage of your light bulbs and cut the bushes outside to let in sunshine. Do what you have to do make your house bright and cheery – it will make it more sellable. Source: HGTV

We can help make your home’s exterior look like it came straight out of Canadian Living. Call us today to get your free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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New Year Resolutions for a Better Home

If you are looking to create a better version of yourself this year, why not create resolutions for your home as well? Try including the following on your list:

Keep the gutter clear
A 1,000-sq.-ft. roof will shed about 620 gallons of water during a 1-in. rainfall, or about 103 gallons per downspout if you have six downspouts. That’s a lot of water dumped right next to your basement. Although it may seem obvious, clean and properly functioning gutters with downspouts that empty away from the foundation are key to avoiding major and expensive home repairs. Source: FamilyHandyman

Organize your documents
If paperwork terrifies you, don’t make it too complicated this year. Simply take a pack of card document wallets and mark each one with categories, for example – ‘gas’, ‘electricity’, ‘broadband’, ‘school’. Pop each letter or bill into the relevant file and find an accessible place to keep them all. Better still, opt for paperless billing whenever possible. Source: HouseBeautiful

Cut down energy use
How about trying to improve the planet as well while you’re improving yourself? Going green could be a great way to make this year truly remarkable. You could start with solar panels or a hybrid car but those are not the only things that can make a difference.

Learn to properly recycle, remember to turn off lights while you’re not using them and turn the taps off when you’re brushing your teeth. This way, you’ll not only contribute towards a better planet but also cut down your bills significantly.

You can trim energy use by sealing and insulating your ductwork. This increases the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by almost 20%. It will make your home more comfortable and also extend the life of your furnace, heat pump and air conditioner. Source: LifeHack

Make your home better and safer this year. We can help you take on home improvement projects you’ve been delaying for years. Call us for a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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Home Trends to Get On This 2020

Your home is your sanctuary. You should always feel good whenever you’re in it. However, if your home is starting to look outdated or cluttered, you’ll often feel uninspired. Start the New Year right with a change of environment. Plan your remodeling projects using the following tips:

Low upkeep outdoor materials
Natural stone will still be a big trend in 2020, however, for elements like pavers, large and simple ones will replace ornate trends of the past. Composite decking is as always a popular choice for its longevity and low maintenance. Corten steel will make a return. As a material that requires little maintenance and develops a beautiful rust-like appearance over time, it fits in perfectly with the overarching theme of home trends of 2020 – simple, lived-in and warm. Source: HomeBunch

Environmentally friendly options
2019 has seen awareness around eco-friendly, green and sustainable materials and practices grow substantially, so expect to find biomaterials in homes in 2020, such as building supplies made from recycled products or ethically sourced materials, and homewares designed with an environmentally-friendly mindset. Source: BHG

Climate change-ready
Extreme weather patterns are spurring more homeowners to invest in disaster-resistant home improvements. “Eighty-two percent of millennials are anxious about how climate change will affect their children’s quality of life,” explains Suzanne Shelton, president and CEO of the Shelton Group, a marketing firm that specializes in sustainability. Source: BobVila

Smart homes
One trend that will continue into 2020 is arguably becoming the new norm: If people are installing it in their homes, chances are it connects to Wi-Fi. Stephen Ferrara of Compass Real Estate in New York City points to products such as Sonos speakers, Nest thermostats, and Amazon Echo voice assistants as affordable examples of smart technology.

“Technology will continue to shape how people renovate,” he says. “Something as simple as a $20 smart plug used in conjunction with the app gives you full control over lighting without having to even be home.” Source: Blog.Cheapism

2020 is a good year to work on the big projects you’ve been putting off for some time. Give your home its much-needed update this year. We can help with roofing, drainage, and all kinds of home repair. Contact us for a free estimate!

 

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8296 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4C6
(604) 360-2114

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