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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“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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Wet or Soggy Basement=Possible Mold Problem

Something that should be  a major concern for both Home buyers or home sellers is Household Mold.  This is particularly true in areas that have a high volume of rain such as in the Vancouver Washington Neighborhoods. The American Society of Home Inspectors estimates that 60 % of U.S. homes that have basements, have wet basements and 38% of those homes run the risk of severe basement mold. Most often, the water comes from rainfall or melting snow.

A 1500 square foot roof sheds 1000 gallons of water for every inch of falling rain! There also could be rising groundwater which may be fed by an underground spring. Once the water starts accumulates around the foundation, it will start working its way inside through cracks, joints, and porous materials. Condensation can also add to the problem. It’s also possible that your gutters are not carrying water far enough away from the walls of the house. Whatever is causing the problem, and whether you call in a professional or try to solve it yourself, it needs to be taken care of as soon as possible. Obviously water and moisture can cause damage to the house and its contents and can cause a serious mold problem which can be a real health threat for your family.

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How Long Do You Keep “Stuff” in your Home?

Not knowing how long to keep different things contributes to household clutter. Being very unorganized can cost you time and money also. Find out when things should be tossed out before spending time packing them for a move for example. Learn what documents you should keep and which ones should be shredded or tossed. Same with old medicines and prescriptions.

Most of us keep closets and drawers full of old clothes that should have been tossed years ago. Makeup?  Toss it out if its a year old or more. Same with spices in the kitchen. Toiletries usually are used up by the expiration date, but if not, use the 1 year toss out rule.

A good way to save on everything you use is to get everything organized. All clutter will cost you time and money. If you don’t know where something is, and you need it, you will go out and purchase a duplicate, costing extra money. When you have to look and look for something each time you need it, this is costing you valuable time.  If you can get your items organized, your life will become much simpler and finding the things you want easier.

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