The Pros & Cons of Having a Home on a Corner Lot

Most people look at corner lots as a plus, however even though you might get a bigger sized lot for the same price, it might not be what you want in the long run. Corner lots in Evergreen Highlands have many beautiful corner lots as do many of our other Vancouver neighborhoods. One just needs to make sure you are not on a heavy traffic area.

Pros:

• You could have more parking on a corner lot.
• The lot is much larger.
• You would only have one neighbor on the front side instead of two.
• You would usually have more unobstructed views out your windows.
• Corner lots allow more light to come into the home.

Cons:

• There is more upkeep and maintenance as the total front yard area is usually much bigger.
• There is the problem of people using the sidewalks on either side and then cutting across the yard.
• Traffic noise could be much higher due to having a home basically on two different streets, however if there is stop signs then it might be less.
• Corner lots are not preferred by people who have young children as they usually would rather have larger backyards for the kids to play in.

It really comes down to your own preference and the corner lot and home itself. There are pros and cons and each situation has to be looked at individually. Price of course will play a big part in  the consideration.

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A Word of Caution to my Readers: Be Careful Of What You Post On Those Social Networking Sites

New warnings are coming out about posting too much information about yourself on the popular social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc. Whether you are just posting for personal contact or for professional marketing purposes, revealing too much about your personal life, your family, and your business can also provide ammunition to stalkers, thieves, former clients who may be unhappy about your service, or others who wish to cause harm against you. Become familiar with the websites privacy settings before posting anything. Anything you type into your computer can potentially be there for everyone to view, so don’t put any information online that you do not want the world to see.

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Use Caution When Removing Leaded Paint

Experts are warning again about the dangers of removing leaded paint products in your home. If your home was constructed prior to 1978, there is a 75% chance that there is leaded paint somewhere on the walls. Take heed, as this would be true of many of our homes in the older Portland Homes for sale. Leaded paint is not harmless until you go to remove it. Take all precautions when sanding or removing the paint. 

Check with your city’s building department regarding any regulations regarding the removal and disposal of leaded paint chips and air dust.

Faced with strict local removal and disposal regulations, many painters prefer to leave lead removal to licensed subcontractors. “Abatement is more than just having the equipment and sucking up the dust,” says Portland, Ore., painting contractor Kathleen George. “You need to understand and follow all the rules. I prefer calling in a pro so that I can focus on painting.”

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“Green” Home Insulation Products

Nowhere is it as important to have good insulation as in cold winter ares such as in the Vancouver Neighborhoods. There are many factors to consider when purchasing insulation products for your home. Anything that saves energy gets high marks for environmental friendliness, right? To be sure, in an industry whose products have been both praised and litigated, the earth-friendliness of house insulation depends to some degree on whether you’re assessing what it’s made of or simply how it performs.

Some insulation products contain a high percentage of recycled material; others come in new formulations that remove or replace ingredients known to be environmentally harmful. There are natural products, like cotton, that get major points because they pose no risk to people with allergies or chemical sensitivities. The good news is there’s likely to be a product that meets your needs and budget.

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Time To Upgrade That Old Fireplace

According to the National Association of Home Builders, fireplaces rank among the top three features desired by new homebuyers, but unfortunately, traditional fireplaces can send up to 8 percent of valuable furnace-heated air out through the chimney, making them really fun to look at but inefficient as heating sources. You can transform your firebox in your Portland Home into an efficient room heater by adding an insert, installed by a factory-trained professional (to ensure proper venting and best efficiency results), will draft-proof an open fireplace while the unit’s shell keeps heat in the room.

Check out the possible tax credit and the savings on your monthly heating bill and it might be time to look into installing a new fireplace insert.

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