Welcome to the first 2007 issue of Daley Quarterly. My newsletter was on a "sabbatical" for much of 2006, but I am back on track in 2007, thanks in large part to a newly created position in my office. I am very pleased to have the support of Sharon Lalonde as administrative assistant. Sharon offers 27 years' experience in the industry in sales and administrative positions -- all of it with Rhodes & Company. Sharon is not only experienced and organized, she brings a lively sense of humour and palpable enthusiasm to our office.

2006 was a lively, exciting and record-breaking year at Rhodes & Company -- my most successful to date. As always, I had a thoroughly enjoyable time working with my buyer and seller clients. As an added bonus, my volunteer experience as one of 12 directors serving the Ottawa Real Estate Board was extremely rewarding. I learned a great deal about the industry, and I look forward to my second year with two additional roles: chair of the Professional Standards Committee and chair of a newly formed Communications Task Force.

Condos Set Pace for Sales in 2006

Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) sold 682 homes in December, setting a new record of 13,783 residential sales for 2006. The previous record was 13,152 in 2004. There were 615 sales in December 2005.

"Overall, it was a very healthy year for Ottawa's residential real estate market," says OREB's president. "The average sale price of a home continued to trend upward, and the still-growing condominium market drove sales numbers all year long. Condos are also selling more quickly than they did in 2005, while residential sales stayed on pace with the previous year."

The average price of homes sold in December in Ottawa was $247,833, and for the year the average price was $255,889. This represents a 4.7% increase over the average sale price of $244,484 in 2005.

Source: OREB

Are You Wired?

It's easy to measure the value of conventional home improvements, such as remodelled kitchens or baths, because they appeal to many home buyers. You can compare them across homes to analyze the return on your investment. The added value of a "wired" home is harder to measure, but it may be an improvement worth considering.

A wired or connected home is defined as a home specifically designed to accommodate computers, home entertainment systems, special lighting, heating/ventillation/air conditioning (HVAC), home security systems and other elements linked to a centrally controlled network. Connectivity now includes "smart" appliances such as refrigerators that order groceries and washers that order up repairs.

Some buyers will pay more for connectivity; a wired home may sell faster than a home that is not connected. However, the wired home isn't likely to receive a higher appraisal value -- yet.

The average age of the first-time buyer is 31-35 years old. That age group may be more likely to value a wired home. That's why it's usually smart to highlight wired features when marketing your home, even though research hasn't yet confirmed that they add value.

Source: Home Essentials

Thermostats

Now that the cold weather is upon us, it's a good time to get dialed in with your thermostat and know how to troubleshoot it. The thermostat is the brain behind your furnace's proper operation. Some have mercury switches inside, some use mechanical switches, some are digital, and programmable electronic models will do everything except wake you up in the morning!

Do you know how to troubleshoot a thermostat? And did you know a tiny adjustment arm on a thermostat device called a heat anticipator can make your furnace cycle on or off frequently or cause your furnace to not hold a proper temperature setting? About.com's Bob Formisano has good articles to help you understand how to work and how to reset one.

Source: Acker Home Inspection

Preventing Leaks from Rooftop Ice

Ice buildup as snow accumulates and melts on roofs in winter is a harsh reality for our Ottawa climate. Attic spaces under roof covers are usually warmer than the outside air because heat from the house rises and gets trapped in these spaces. Inadequate insulation levels increases heat loss from the house and inadequate ventilation from the eave and at the top of the roof allows the heat to build up. "Hot spots" on a roof at skylights, exhaust vents, uninsulated hatches or two roof edges can make the problem even worse.

Ice buildup with continued melting on a roof allows a pool of water to form behind the "ice dam". Sloped roofs covered with asphalt shingles have almost no ability to prevent leakage between shingles when these pools form. The result is the water runs between the shingles and leaks into walls and ceilings causing interior damage.

To prevent rooftop ice from causing damage to your home consider the following recommendations:

• Recognize the type of roof cover on your home to see if it is susceptible to leaks.
• The long term goal is to improve the attic insulation levels and ventilation openings.
• Low profile roof vents at the top of the roof can actually get blocked. Consider higher profile vents for lower pitched roofs.
• Include ice shielding under your shingle roof cover in high risk areas.
  In the short term have professionals remove snow accumulation from the roof before ice forms. Removing ice is costly and can result in roof damage.

Source: Property Inspection Network

Those Noisy Plumbing Systems

Noisy pipes and plumbing can make a home sound like it has ghosts. The vibration can be so severe that it can actually pull water pipes away from their fasteners. Plumbing noises can have many different causes. Common sounds are humming, banging or rattling that occurs while water is running. Others can happen when a faucet or other water-based appliance is turned off.

Usually a noise that occurs while water is running can be attributed to a loose pipe, since pipes vibrate and move as the water runs through them, rubbing against wood joists and other pipes. If the noise occurs in a basement where pipes are visible and accessible, there is a good chance the problem can be easily fixed.

It's best to check the pipes while the noise is occurring. Try to identify points where pipe fasteners need tightening or where pipes are making audible contact with other objects. Mark these places with a piece of chalk and followup by securing the pipes.

Loose pipe clamps can sometimes be secured simply by driving their nails tighter. Wooden wedges can be inserted behind a pipe to close gaps and stop vibrations where pipes run close to joists or other surfaces, or the pipe can be wrapped with rubber tape.

When pipe noise appears to originate inside a wall or floor where access is difficult, it's best to have a plumber check the noise before attempting any repairs.

"Water hammer" is the term for loud banging in pipes that occurs when a faucet or appliance is turned off. This symptom results when water pipes lack an air cushion to absorb the force of a water stream suddenly brought to a halt by closing a valve. Water hammer can sometimes be fixed by letting air enter all of the system's pipes. This is done by turning off the water at the main valve, opening all the faucets, and then closing them after a few minutes.

Source: Canada Wide Home Inspection Services, Inc.