10 Worst First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes

Are you gearing up to buy your first place? Shopping for a home is exciting, exhausting and a little bit scary. In the end, your aim is to end up with a home you love at a price you can afford. Sounds simple enough, right? Unfortunately, many people make mistakes the prevent them from achieving this simple dream. Arm yourself with these tips to get the most out of your purchase and avoid making 10 of the most costly mistakes that could put a hold on that sold sign.

1. Not Knowing What You Can Afford

 If you don't already have a budget, make a list of all your monthly expenses (excluding rent), including vehicle costs, student loan payments, credit card payments, groceries, health insurance, retirement savings and so on. Don't forget major expenses that only occur once a year, like any insurance premiums you pay annually or annual vacations. Subtract this total from your take-home pay and you'll know how much you can spend on your new home each month. if you end up looking at homes that are outside your price range, you'll end up lusting after something you can't afford, which can put you in the dangerous position of trying to stretch beyond your means financially or cause you to feel unsatisfied with what you actually can afford. You may even learn that you can't afford the type or size of home that you desire and that you need to work on reducing your monthly expenses and/or increasing your income before you even start looking.

2. Skipping Mortgage Qualification

What you think you can afford and what the banks are willing to lend you may not match up, especially if you have poor credit or unstable income, so make sure to get pre-approved for a loan before placing an offer on a home. If you don't, you'll be wasting the seller's time, the seller's agent's time, and your agent's time and the home inspectors time! if you sign a contract and then discover later that the bank won't lend you what you need, or that it's only willing to give you a mortgage that you find unacceptable. Be aware that even if you have been pre-approved for a mortgage, your loan can fall through at the last minute if you do something to alter your credit score, like finance a car purchase. If you cause the deal to fall through, you may have to forfeit the several thousand dollars that you put up when you went under contract.

3. Failing to Consider Additional Expenses

Once you're a homeowner, you'll have additional expenses on top of your monthly payment. Unlike when you were a renter, you'll be responsible for paying property taxes, insuring your home against disasters and making any repairs the house needs (which will occasionally include expensive items like a new roof or a new furnace). A home inspection will outline what needs doing NOW, SOON and in the next 5 - 10 years....so figure that in to your expenses.If you're interested in purchasing a condo, you'll have to pay maintenance costs monthly regardless of whether anything needs fixing because you'll be part of a homeowner's association, which collects a couple hundred dollars a month from the owners of each unit in the building in the form of condominium fees. 

4. Being Too Picky

Go ahead and put everything you can think of on your new home wish list, but don't be so inflexible that you end up continuing to rent for significantly longer than you really want to. First-time homebuyers often have to compromise on something because their funds are limited. You may have to live on a busy street, accept outdated decor, make some repairs to the home, or forgo that extra bedroom. Of course, you can always choose to continue renting until you can afford everything on your list - you'll just have to decide how important it is for you to become a homeowner now rather than in a couple of years.

5. Lacking Vision

Even if you can't afford to replace the hideous wallpaper in the bathroom now, it might be worth it to live with the ugliness for a while in exchange for getting into a house you can afford. If the home otherwise meets your needs in terms of the big things that are difficult to change, such as location and size, don't let physical imperfections turn you away. Besides, doing home upgrades yourself, even when you have to hire a contractor, is often cheaper than paying the increased home value to a seller who has already done the work for you.

6.Being Swept Away

Minor upgrades and cosmetic fixes are inexpensive tricks are a seller's dream for playing on your emotions and eliciting a much higher price tag. Sellers may pay $2,000 for minimal upgrades or staging that you'll end up paying $40,000 for. If you're on a budget, look for homes whose full potential has yet to be realized. Also, first-time homebuyers should always look for a house they can add value to, as this ensures a bump in equity to help you up the property ladder.

7.Compromising on the Important Things

Don't get a two-bedroom home when you know you're planning to have kids and will want three bedrooms. By the same token, don't buy a condo just because it's cheaper when one of the main reasons you're over apartment life is because you hate sharing walls with neighbors. It's true that you'll probably have to make some compromises to be able to afford your first home, but don't make a compromise that will be a major strain.

8. Neglecting to Inspect

It's tempting to think that you're a homeowner the moment you go into escrow, but not so fast - before you close on the sale, you need to know what kind of shape the house is in. You don't want to get stuck with a money pit or with the headache of performing a lot of unexpected repairs. Keeping your feelings in check until you have a full picture of the house's physical condition and the soundness of your potential investment will help you avoid making a serious financial mistake. In other words...GET A HOME INSPECTION done by a TRUSTED HOME INSPECTOR  

9. Not Choosing to Hire an Agent or Using the Seller's Agent

Once you're seriously shopping for a home, don't walk into an open house without having an agent (or at least being prepared to throw out a name of someone you're supposedly working with). Agents are held to the ethical rule that they must act in both the seller and the buyer parties' best interests, but you can see how that might not work in your best interest if you start dealing with a seller's agent before contacting one of your own.

10.Not Thinking About the Future

It's impossible to perfectly predict the future of your chosen neighborhood, but paying attention to the information that is available to you now can help you avoid unpleasant surprises down the road. Some questions you should ask about your prospective property include:

•What kind of development plans are in the works for your neighborhood in the future?

•Is your street likely to become a major street or a popular rush-hour shortcut?

•Will a highway be built in your backyard in five years?

•What are the zoning laws in your area?

•If there is a lot of undeveloped land? What is likely to get built there?

•Have home values in the neighborhood been declining? If you're happy with the answers to these questions, then your house's location can keep its rose-colored luster. Conclusion Buying a first home can seem stressful and overwhelming, and it isn't without its share of potential pitfalls. If you're aware of those issues ahead of time, you can protect yourself from costly mistakes and shop with confidence. For many people, a home is the largest purchase they will ever make, but it need not be the most difficult!

So often as a relationship progresses to the next step, marriage or co-habitation, we get caught up in the romantic, feel –good part of it and forget the practical side of things… the finances.

Often a topic that couples avoid discussing in depth, it is necessary to get everything out in the open to avoid tough conversations, fights and disillusion down the road. This article defines seven financial conversations couples should have before they take that next step.

Couples and money: seven financial conversations every couple should have

Communication is key when you’re thinking about how you will manage your money as a couple. Here is a list of seven things that are essential to get out in the open before you take the next step:

1.Your assets and liabilities—Disclosing all of your assets (e.g. savings, property, investments), along with all of your liabilities (e.g. credit card debt, mortgages, car loans, student loans) will help you plan your financial future as a couple. It is difficult to make wise choices together without all of the information on the table. Get started with our helpful Assets and Liabilities Worksheet for Couples.

2.Your credit history—Your individual financial histories will affect your ability to get credit jointly and the financial products that are available to you. It’s important that both of you check your credit reports and discuss any financial problems you’ve had in the past.

3.Your priorities—Are you saving for a down payment on a house? Do you have debt you’d like to pay down? Or maybe you’d like to save for a vacation next year? Sit down and define your financial goals together to ensure you’re both working to achieve the same things.

4.Your financial personality—Are you the type of person who finds it easy to make a budget and stick to it? Or maybe you have a tendency to spend your money whenever you see something you like. Do you have investments? How much risk can you tolerate when you’re investing? Discuss how you each approach your finances so that each partner understands the other’s attitude toward money.

5.Your financial roles—Dealing with financial matters takes work, and it’s important to discuss who is going to do things like pay monthly bills and monitor spending habits. Try to divide tasks equally so that both partners understand and feel involved in managing your finances.

6.Your monthly cash flow—How much money do you each bring home every month after taxes? What monthly obligations (e.g. cell phone bill, debt repayment, rent) do you already have? Knowing this will help you budget as a couple and plan your financial future together.   

7.Your current financial arrangements—How are your finances currently organized? Maybe you have a chequing account, a credit card, and a savings account, all at different institutions. As you discuss your financial arrangements, think about how much you’re currently paying in service fees and which institutions offer products that best suit your new needs as a couple. Look at some examples of how couples arrange their finances, and think about what will work best for you.

PARASITE SEASON NEWSLETTER

Dear Pet Owner, Once again, parasite season has arrived in Saskatoon. It is time to talk about protecting your dog against intestinal worms (and heartworms – rare) and external parasites such as ticks, lice and fleas. Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite we see in dogs living in Saskatoon. Tapeworms can also be found in dogs that eat dead animals (rodents, birds etc.). Heartworms are not currently considered a problem in Saskatoon. Ticks and lice are the most commonly seen external parasites seen in Saskatoon. Fleas are diagnosed from time to time but less frequently than ticks and lice. Ticks are especially abundant in moist areas with tall grasses. Lice can be acquired by close contact with infested dogs. In this newsletter, I will summarize my recommendations on prevention against common parasites seen in dogs living in Saskatoon. My recommendations are drawn from guidelines outlined by CAPC (Companion Animal Parasite Council) and CPEP (Canadian Parasitology Expert Panel). For more detail information on parasite control, please visit their websites: www.capcvet.org.  and www.wormsandgermsblog.com/uploads/file/CPEP%20guidelines%20ENGLISH.pdf

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms in dogs are best prevented by regular deworming. There is no medication to prevent your dog from developing worms if they are exposed to contaminated soil. You can only treat your dogs for worms with a dewormer after the worms mature in their intestines. Therefore, frequent deworming will be required with frequent exposures. Intestinal worms are MOST COMMONLY seen in puppies and young dogs, therefore more aggressive and frequent deworming protocol is required. In adult and older dogs, deworming frequency should reflect the lifestyle of the animal because the level of exposure to infectious larvae varies from dog to dog. Please refer to the enclosed information card to determine the frequency of deworming appropriate for your dog.

Lice

I am surprised by the high number of dogs with lice presented at the clinic in the past year. I suspect that this may be related to the increased popularity of Doggy Daycare and Doggy Sports. Since lice are transmitted by close contact with infested dogs, I expect to see more of this parasite when many dogs are gathered in a small space. I am a great supporter of Doggy Daycare and Doggy Sports and encourage dog owners to engage their pets in these activities. There are many products that are effective in preventing lice. Please ask us which product will be best suited for your dog!

Fleas

It is fortunate that fleas are not a big problem in Saskatoon. I most commonly see fleas in farm / acreage dogs. Many products are effective in preventing your dogs from fleas. Please ask us which one will be best suited for your dog.

HeartWorms

To date, there has not been a confirmed case of heartworm (HW) disease in Saskatchewan dogs that have never traveled to endemic areas outside of the province. However, endemic areas have been identified in our neighboring western provinces, specifically in southern Manitoba and the Southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Due to warming climate trends and movement of dogs through international rescue adoption programs and families with pets relocating to Saskatchewan, the emergence of HW disease in local dogs is anticipated in the foreseeable future. It will require vigilance in surveillance (HW testing) and proactive prevention measures to protect our pet dog population from potential outbreak of this life-threatening parasite. Please refer to the enclosed leaflet for more information and my recommendations on testing and prevention protocols.

Ticks

The most common ticks found in dogs in Saskatchewan are the American Dog Ticks. Although a nuisance, this species of tick is not known to transmit disease. However, the Deer Tick, responsible for the spread of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, has been found in our province in recent years. In addition, cases of Lyme disease have been reported in 2011 in dogs that have only resided in Saskatchewan. Please ask us about the best way to protect your dog from ticks depending on his / her size, coat and lifestyle.

 SASKATOON VETS AND PETS category..

The Trusted team has an exciting few weeks ahead of us as we count down to our 2nd city launch and the day after that, we find out if we have made the Finals of the prestigious SABEX Awards (for the Marketing and New Product/ Service categories- Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce excellence in business awards)! 

www.trustedregina.com launches on Monday 16th April..at last! The Trusted team worked hard to find and convince Regina businesses to open their minds and listen to what we are trying to do...most of the businesses that gave us the opportuinity to show them what we do, and what we stand for, really understood what Trusted offers them..a great opportunity to differentiate themselves from the others in their category in the most positive and unique way..and we have over 50% of the directory already sold! Some of our Trusted Regina Partners have already got results and our Trusted Regina Facebook page is attracting new fans daily...we are very eager to launch to the public and have our Trusted Regina launch party and networking event at Crave ..a Trusted Regina caterer!    

Talking about Trusted Caterers...we are thrilled to welcome and brag about out final Trusted partner in the Saskatoon Catering & Bakeries category on the Saskatoon Directory of excellence....we have 3 awesome options that cover any and all of what you might look for..they compliment each other beautifully and we have been pursuing the final business, PickNics for some time , as they were nominated and recommended to Trusted by countless people over the last 10 months..and now we have seen, tasted and smelt why for ourselves!!

PickNic's Catering & Fine Foods

Nicola Lawson, Owner & Manager of PickNic’s Catering, began her culinary training in Edmonton, and completed the required schooling to begin her three year apprenticeship as a commercial baker. Upon graduation from the program, she began her career in the food industry working at a variety of establishments all across Canada. Nicola has managed and worked at a variety of food and beverage establishments throughout the world. Her travels have taken her to the Yukon, where she managed the pastry shop of a hotel, to the cultural mecca of Capetown, South Africa, managing an in-store grocery bakery and then on to sunny Bermuda, where she took time from her busy sun-bathing schedule to run a classy resort's pastry department and also to find a husband! She returned to Canada to find her extended family had since moved from Alberta and settled in Saskatoon. So, a short hiatus in the Bridge City turned into a winter job contract commitment and not after too long she was smitten with the city! She and her husband have been living here happily ever since!

If you need a Birthday Cake..or a Wedding Cake in Saskatoon, Trusted is confident that you will not find anyone better to turn your cake fantasies into stunning reality...Nicola understands that people buy food with their eyes...and she creates cakes that are literally 'works of art'..they ALMOST look too good to eat...and they will be the talk of your event for years to come.. here are just a few examples!

NOW you can see why she is the recipient of Planet S- Best Saskatoon Caterer 2011,  has been the Womens Entrepreneur Member of the year, was nominated for SABEX awards and why she was featured as a ' spotlight chef' in Flavours magaizine! 

We can assure you that Nicola is not a 'one trick pony' who just does desserts...she can, and does, turn her hand to everything SAVOURY as well as SWEET, and the imagination and design she expresses in her sweet side transfers very well to her hot and savoury side...if you are looking for a SASKATOON WEDDING CATERER ...PickNics should be your first call..they can accomodate all budgets..and we can guarantee that as much care and attention is given to the smaller, more modest weddings..as is giving to the huge extravagent weddings..it is all in the details..and PickNics KNOWS how to do details! Check out the Wedding menus here to see for yourself the delicious options they offer...if you need plates or cake stands etc..they also have rentals   

If you have an office party, special event  or client lunch that needs catering..you should definitely consider PickNics Catering & Fine Foods ..they have everything from gourmet sandwiches  to buffets and Hors D'Oeuvres , PickNic's even have 2 Themed menus to tempt your taste buds, and most can be ordered online! Lets show you some of those tasty tidbits!

And finally ..if you have a special someone in your life who you want to treat to decadent eats ( MEN WE ARE TALKING TO YOU!!!!) then you will LOVE PIckNics  CANDLELIGHT DINNER IN A BOX

"Dinner In A Box" features your choice of two Gourmet Entrees, accompanied by a Fresh Salad, Herbed Foccacia Bread and an beautifully prepared "Dessert For Two". Your meal will be packaged in a White Gift Box, and wrapped together with a beautiful Long-stemmed Rose, Candles, and tied up with a Satin Bow....grab your self a bottle of Champagne and what more do you need to set the mood for romance!

You can check out PickNic's lovely website here or simply go to their listing in SASKATOON CATERING & BAKERIES  ..where you can also read the wonderful testimonials we received from the PickNic's clients we surveyed as part of the Trusted verification process. Nicola is active on Facebook and posts lots of beautiful pics of her work for you to droll over ..so Fan her page here.

PickNics Catering & Fine Foods are your Trusted SASKATOON CATERING EXPERTS for any and all occasions!   

Trusted promotes the BEST ..other directories just list the rest!

When starting to plan a renovation or new home construction there are a lot of factors that come into play. Designing a shower is one of them. First, Plan whether you are completely changing the layout or just changing out the fixtures, know the size and layout of your shower and the capacity of your drains and water heater- this will help in determining where an how many shower heads you are able to go with. Consider heights, if this is to be a multi user shower keep in mind the heights of the users when planning body sprays and number of volume controls (you may want to consider having the top body spray on a separate volume control for smaller users and maybe a hand shower on a slide bar) Style and options, from contemporary to modern to traditional to anything in between, many manufacturers now offer a vast selection in their shower experience with rain heads, hand showers, and body sprays/jets. Make an appointment with one of our knowledgeable sales consultants today and let them guide you in your shower design process.

Find Kitchen & Bath Classics online at http://www.kitchenandbathclassics.ca  in the SASKATOON BATHROOMS category on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY of Excellence...they are your SASKATOON BATHROOM FIXTURES and FITTING Expert !

Hows this for a DREAM SHOWER SASKATOON!

stay Trusted my friends ..SAFE AND TRUSTED SASKATOON