How to recognize a valuable home / Guides

...How to recognize a valuable home: Don't just look at how many bedrooms and bathrooms, true value goes far beyond that. Energy efficiency - ask to see utility bills Quality heating equimpment and affordability in operation Exterior durability - building enclosures and water management Interior air quality ...

...alk-ability Emergency services: hospitals, fire and police Municipal services: access to power, water and sewers (this is more relevant for building lots) Green space: being close to parks and waterways Soil conditions and topography to avoid flooding Stay away from flood plains Backyard privacy and greener...

...atteries on the market today are much more robust and functional than the lead-acid batteries we have relied on in the past. Discharging a lead-acid battery beyond 50% capacity can damage the battery and reduce its future storage capacity . Also, lead-acid batteries require periodic maintenance throughout their relativ...

...ation: All cold-climate homes need some source of heat to maintain a livable temperature in winter . How much heat is required depends on how fast a house loses heat. How fast it loses heat depends on how well insulated it is, and how well-sealed a home is against air leakage - which in terms of a high performance ho...

...anada have begun to favor more efficient and sustainable homes, we still have a long way to go in terms of making quality homes easier to identify. In Europe, they have introduced mandatory home-energy labeling for new homes and resales – similar to the label you’d see stuck to a new appliance - so that homeowners ca...