Month: August 2022

Every city has a suburb, and these areas have become hotspots during the course of the pandemic – and with good reason. They provide a great balance between the excitement of city living and the peace and quiet to be had in the outskirts. There are many advantages to living in the suburbs that people know about, like greater affordability in buying or renting, bigger houses, and a close-knit sense of community. But several advantages often get overlooked in comparing the suburbs to the city. Let’s take a look at five of them.

5 Advantages of Living in the Suburbs

1. You can enjoy a slower pace of life and a healthier lifestyle. While the suburbs still experience rush hour, there is a huge difference coming from the city. Fewer people spread out means that there are fewer crowds. No more bumping into people as you walk down the sidewalk! The suburbs are much quieter, so you’ll have less stress and sleep disturbances from anything going on outside. Finally, living in the suburbs provides a good amount of distance from the workplace, so you can shut down from work mode at the end of each day and enjoy your family and home life.

2. There are more options to be out in nature. Cities have slowly started adding more parks so that office workers can enjoy green space during their lunch break or before and after work. However, you are surrounded by concrete everywhere else, not so in the suburbs. Homeowners landscape their yards to have lawns or gardens, and there is always a park a short walk away. There is less light pollution at night than in the city, so you can stargaze or do other nighttime activities. And without the tall buildings blocking your view, there is a lot more open sky.

3. There is a lot more space. One of the more common advantages of the suburbs is that houses are larger and have more yard space. But that isn’t the only advantage of having more space. In the suburbs, there is plenty of room on the street to park vehicles, a problem that constantly arises in city living. If you have children or dogs, space becomes even more important because they will have plenty of room to run around and play without danger.

4. Easy access to high-quality foods. Cities tend to have a lot of ready-to-eat options, both healthy and unhealthy. But if you want to prepare your own food and maybe even see where it’s grown, then the suburbs offer plenty of grocery options and farmers’ markets, so you can pick up in-season vegetables, check out local vendors, and get to know your community.

4. It’s healthy for the kids. When you look at the different sides of raising children, such as education, social life and just having fun, you’ll find it in the suburbs – and then some! Public schools here are highly rated. There are always other kids around to play with, and they can enjoy more independence playing outside since the suburbs are less busy. Finally, the suburbs have plenty of options for getting out and having fun, like going to the pool, heading to the rec center, or spending a day on biking trails or at the park. If the mood strikes, it’s always easy to take a trip into the city for some fun.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t any downsides to living in the suburbs, and there are certainly many upsides to living in the big city. Like anywhere, there are going to be good things and bad things, and you need to take time to decide if living in the suburbs is the right choice for your lifestyle.

If you are looking for a quieter lifestyle or are work remotely, then the suburbs are a great choice to savour some peace and quiet, spend time with family and enjoy a great quality of life. We’re here to guide you through the process!

The foundation of a house is crucial for supporting your home and keeping it stable, and if it’s well built, it can last a lifetime. Sometimes, foundation problems can have ramifications for the rest of the house. The sooner you know how to look for signs of trouble, the sooner you can address any problems before they escalate. Of course, if you’re on the home hunt, it is always recommended to have it carefully examined by a professional home inspector before you buy it.

Here are five warning signs of foundation problems to watch for:

1. Cracks or warping in the exterior walls. Exterior walls are built to allow for a bit of “give.” But as the foundation settles, the walls can lose support. This can lead to cracks, warps, decay, mould, or water stains on the exterior wall. If your exterior wall has siding on it, it can also crack. Crumbling bricks and cement walls are a particularly bad omen and should be investigated immediately. Don’t panic just yet. A certain amount of wear and tear will happen on any exterior wall, so if you see fine, small cracks in the wall, that might be nothing to worry about. Watch for large cracks with a zig-zag pattern or bricks that protrude from the wall, as these will indicate something wrong with the foundation. A professional should be called if the exterior wall starts to pull away from the house because the wall can collapse if it isn’t fixed immediately.

2. Cracks in the interior drywall. Similar to the exterior walls, the interior drywall should be relatively undamaged beyond normal wear and tear. However, zig-zagging cracks in the drywall or wrinkling wallpaper are potential signs that further investigation of the house’s foundation may be in order. Also, look out for bowing walls, which are particularly dangerous and should be fixed immediately along with the foundation.

3. Sagging, warping or cracking of the floors. The floors in your house run parallel to the foundation. The floors should not feel like they are “bouncing” or sagging, and look out for cracks in floor tile that are otherwise unexplainable. One way to test the evenness of your floors is to place a marble or other small object at a fixed point on the floor. If the floor is even, it will not roll. If it does roll, that could mean the floor is uneven, potentially because of the foundation.

4. Issues with the fit of doors and windows. Although doors and windows are fitted to the size of the house, a certain amount of settling takes place, and things like humidity can affect the fit of a door. But this should not happen with every door and window in the house, and it should not happen all the time. If you find that your doors and windows are sticking and not latching correctly or are too loose and won’t stay closed, it could be because their frames are warped from the foundation shifting. Another issue with doors and windows that you should watch for is gaps between their frames and the walls. You can look for gaps in different places in your home, like above the kitchen cabinets or along the countertop where it meets the wall. This can create issues with moisture and temperature, and it can indicate problems with your foundation.

5. Excessive moisture in the basement or crawl space. If you get a good rainstorm and water collects in the yard around your property, then cracks in the foundation will allow water to collect in your lowest level. The water itself will not ruin your home, but the water vapour and moisture can cause wood rot and mould and attract pests like termites and ants. These result in a musty odour that is hard to cover up.

If you notice standing water or other signs of moisture in your basement, it could be a sign that you should investigate the foundation as the most likely source of the problem. Then, take the necessary steps to lower the moisture level.

A certain amount of settling takes place with any foundation, so a bit of cracking, sticking, or moisture might be no cause for concern. However, if you begin to notice more issues with your walls, floors and doors, and they persist for a long time, then it may be time to call in a professional to look at your foundation and find the source of the problem.