What's the Appeal?

If you're in the process of selling your home or you're thinking about upgrading, you may have heard of ‘curb appeal'. So what is the big deal about curb appeal?

Many buyers will decide on whether to look inside or not based on what they see on the outside. How your home looks from the outside plays a big roll in a potential buyer choosing to come inside or not.

Next time you come home, stop outside and take a look at your home from across the street.

What is your first impression?
Can you enhance the best exterior features? Landscaping, lighting, etc.?
How can you improve the worst exterior features?

Here are a few tips to help you improve the curb appeal of your home.

Get rid of mold, moss and mildew on sidewalks, stairs, roof and driveway.
Make sure windows are clean.
If you have dirty siding or decks, clean them with a pressure washer.
Mow the lawn on a regular basis.
Edge along flowerbeds and pathways.
Use lighting to enhance the home's appearance after dusk.

These are just a few of the most common things that you can take care of yourself. If you have the budget and your home could use it – a fresh paint job can really pay off. The most common curb appeal advice is to paint your home. If you can fit it in to the budget, buyers will notice it and appraisers are likely to value it.

No matter what your budget, there are things you can do to make you home more appealing to potential buyers. Good luck!

Preparation is Key

It's not just natural disasters, such as tsunamis, earthquakes or volcanoes that we need to be prepared for. We also need to be ready for when severe weather strikes. Storms can cause outages and interruption. A little preparation goes a long way.

Blizzards, ice storms, and flooding are far more common to most Canadians than the explosive eruption of a volcano. In 1998, millions of people in Quebec, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada were hit by a devastating ice storm. There were extended power outages, paralyzed transportation networks, and a boil water advisory caused by failures at water filtration plants.

It's little more than an inconvenience to go without electricity for an hour or two, but what about 24 hours or longer? Are you prepared to take care of your household if day-to-day services, like electricity, gas, and water are interrupted?

Public Safety Canada recommends that you be prepared to take care of your family for a minimum of 72 hours. The principle behind being prepared is to keep enough supplies in your home to meet your family's needs for 3 days. Store these items in a sturdy, portable container in an easy to find place.

Stock the basics:

Water: the rule of thumb is 2 litres of water per person per day for 3 days.

Food: stock food that won't spoil, like canned food, energy bars and dried food. Remember to include a manual can opener.

First aid kit: a basic kit includes bandages, antiseptics and pain relievers.

Clothing/Bedding: stock extra warm clothes and rain gear. Sleeping bags are a convenient bedding solution.

Emergency supplies: stock a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries.

Special Items: family members' needs, like a spare inhaler. Also include some back-up cash, and copies of important documents, such as birth certificates.

Being prepared will give you more peace of mind and confidence to protect and provide for your family in an emergency. Take a few minutes and learn more about being prepared.

Get Prepared
http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/index-eng.aspx

Health & Happiness

Here are some great reasons to go for a walk today. Just 20 minutes of physical activity a day can help to:

Increase your energy
Increase levels of good cholesterol
Improve your body's control of blood sugar levels
Lower blood pressure
Lead to more solid sleep

Lower Stress Levels

Mannie G. of Burnaby, BC had made the move to being in business for herself. “Being newly self-employed I wanted to invest into my business,” she explained.

Mannie said, “It felt like I was being penalized by the banks because I wanted to work for myself.” With a home equity loan she was able to push her business to the next level.

“ Thanks for helping me
take my business to
the next level. ”

Every month, Capital Direct helps Canadians just like you to realize their dreams. What about you? Your home equity is something you've worked hard to build, so why not 'let your house lend a hand' © when you need it most! Contact a Capital Direct mortgage specialist to discover your options.

May Sudoku

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Capital Direct's Eco-friendly Calculator

Do you know how large your home’s eco-footprint is? Under the ecoEnergy Retrofit program, homeowners can take advantage of available grants when improving the energy efficiency of their home. Not only will you be reducing your home's energy consumption but you can receive money back through available grants.

Visit Capital Direct's Eco-friendly Calculator online at, http://www.capitaldirect.ca/eco-calculator. Calculate the environmental impact of your household and find out ways of reducing it, then give us a call to learn how we can help you apply for available retrofit grants.

Request our new booklet: Borrowing for Success

How to Borrow What You Need to Succeed Guide

Learn how you can use your home equity to your greatest advantage.
To receive your FREE copy of this informative new booklet, email us at yourteam@capitaldirect.ca with the subject line: “New Guide Request”. Please include your full name and postal address, and we'll send you a copy via Canada Post.