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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN New windows add curb appeal, energy efficiency BY MICHELE MCDOUGALL
a sales professional with Bran- don’s Royal LePage Realty. “I won’t tell people who are listing their home to change their windows, but I do give them a heads-up,” Gregory said. “Every person who notic- es a home with older windows will say, ‘Oh, the windows need to be replaced,’ whether they actually do or not, but every person will notice it.” Window design and tech- nology have come a long way since the single pane glass and aluminum sliders, according to Oral Gurr, owner and operator of Keystone Glass, which has been in business for more than
50 years.
house is more than 40 years old, and we think they are all the original windows, so we’re looking at becoming more en- ergy efficient, and the curb ap- peal won’t hurt either.” Curb appeal, a term used by realtors, refers to the attractive- ness of the property as viewed from the street by a prospective buyer. In a competitive housing market, the homes with the most curb appeal get the most views and most interest. Even if the windows are all working properly but they look like they haven’t aged well, the buyer will mention it to the list- ing agent, said Kevin Gregory,
Before the purchase and installation of windows, Gurr said the most important step is talking with the client to get a sense of their needs, which includes determining the en- vironment inside the home, because of the constant fluctua- tion of the weather outside. Manitoba is dry in the win- ter and humid in the summer, and because most people tend to close their windows tight in the winter, even tasks like laun- dry and cooking can increase moisture levels that can affect the windows. » Continued on Page 4
One of life’s simple plea- sures is opening the windows on a warm summer day and letting the fresh air in, but that is not easy if it requires a push and pull to get the windows to open, says Brandon resident Susan Brechmann. Brechmann and her hus- band Klaus are like many in Westman who are looking for- ward to a fresh look for their home by replacing the old with the new. “We’re excited about getting new windows for lots of rea- sons,” said Brechmann. “Our
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THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
» Continued from Page 3
“In the kitchen, for exam- ple, you have your warm air with a certain percentage of humidity in it, and then you have the cool surface tempera- ture of the glass,” said Gurr. “The glass accepts the mois- ture and condenses into drop- lets of water, and they can run down the window and freeze, so you have to consider those types of issues in Manitoba, and that’s why we would rec- ommend using triple pane as opposed to dual pane.” In triple pane windows, the additional pane doesn’t get as cold, and condensation is un- able to form as easily as it does with a double pane window. And if argon gas is inserted between the panes, there are even more benefits. Argon gas is a known in- sulator that blocks the transfer of heat, helping to maintain an ideal temperature, therefore preventing frost from building up at the bottom of the win- dow when the temperature drops. Inefficient windows will not only cause discomfort to the living and sleeping areas of the home because of cold drafts, but they can affect a household’s budget as well. “Everybody knows what the cost of heating is like right now, and depending on the windows you have, they could be losing a lot of heat. Plus, if you have drafty windows, they’re not much fun to sit
Windows and mirrors in the showroom at Keystone Glass. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)
Windows with low-emis- sivity coatings are designed to limit the amount of ultraviolet and infrared light that can pass through glass while reflecting the heat back outside. “Back in the day, when it was common to have a big clear picture window, you could have a couch that would actually get damaged by the sun’s rays, so with the low-e coating, it’s like the windows have polaroid sunglasses to act as a filter,” said Stahl. Windows are covered un- der the manufacturer’s warran- ty including faults in hardware or glass failure, and if they are made in Canada, must meet certain standards including
beside or try to sleep next to if your bed is under a window,” said Gurr. Windows are the unsung heroes of the household, said Wesley Stahl, residential sales and service manager with Horizon Glass. Their role is just as important in the sum- mer as in the winter. “As our climate is warming, we’re finding that air condi- tioning is becoming a serious concern for a lot of our cli- ents,” said Stahl. “So, it’s not just about the cold weather. In the summer, it’s about keeping the cold in, and the heat out, and we’re using different so- lar-blocking technologies to do that.”
tests that involve wind, water and air, and are given an ener- gy-efficiency rating. Both Gurr and Stahl advise homeowners or buyers to con- sult a professional, someone who wants to get to know the client to determine their needs no matter how big or small the project might be, which is great news for Brechmann. “We’ll trust in the profes- sionals, and for us, we’re not looking for a complete home makeover, we just want new windows to match the person- ality of the house.”
» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com » Twitter: @enviromichele
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THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
Reimagining your dream garden BY NORAH TOLMIE Keltie’s checkerboard garden, a low-maintenance, ever-changing delight. (Submitted)
to direct and maintain 100 per cent of the precipitation the garden receives. Sylvia, of Westman Gar- deners Brandon, went through the scenario described in my question when she retired to Brandon from Calgary. Her first move? She joined a lo- cal gardening club to have access to experts on growing here in a 2B hardiness zone. Sylvia spent her first season in her new house assessing the site and watching sun and wind patterns. She also took walks through her neighbour- hood, educating herself on the plants that were performing well, admiring groupings of plants, colour combinations and such. The second thing valued highly by my gardening panel was a plan. Rick Gray, retired academic chair for agriculture, horticulture and environmen- tal programs at Assiniboine Community College, said having a detailed plan will save you time and money. » Continued on Page 7
If you had to move to a new place with a totally naked garden, what would you do? This is a question I recent- ly posed to several gardeners and the responses were varied, but a few common themes emerged. Most of the garden- ers declared site assessment the priority. Sue-on, of the Brandon Gardening Club, said she would dig holes to find out what the soil is like. Is the soil healthy? Are there earthworms (they’re an excel- lent sign of a productive soil)? Does the soil seem heavy and damp, or light and sandy? My sister Cathy, with a gorgeous mature garden in Red Deer, Alta., said soil check and site evaluation. Joan, also of the Brandon Gardening Club, echoed this sentiment. You must know your sun patterns, quality of soil and access to water. Dave Barnes would also be measur- ing the slope on the property
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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN
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for the food but because they are beautiful in the spring when in blossom. Cathy likes structures and destinations in the garden. They bring winter interest as well as summer places to sit and enjoy. A bench, pergola and fountain would all be on her wish list, adding lanterns, solar lights, statues and wall art. She loves having flowers and herbs and would decide on those after she has done her site assessment. So, the basics are similar for all members of my gar- dening panel. Then the wish- es and wants diverge. Admit- tedly, my panel members are all experienced gardeners. What are the “must-haves” for making your garden your own? » Norah Tolmie is a semi-retired horti- culturist who loves to share her wisdom. Questions or comments can be sent to norettet@outlook.com
He stressed that if you are not that knowledgeable or comfortable with plants and landscape design then hiring a professional is well worth the investment. Sylvia, because of all the research she had done, was comfortable making her own plan. Joan, too, raised the importance of a plan, as she said: “Think before you dig.” A landscape design plan will, generally, show plants at a mature size so you do not over-plant. The next step for most gardeners was improving the soil with amendments like compost, leaf mulch and peat moss. Rick and Dave will not be amending the soil in their (hypothetical) new gardens. Both are native-plant garden- ers and will plant in the na- tive soil. Dave will maximize garden space and minimize or eliminate lawn since he is going to be too busy har- vesting to mow. He would be planting a small food forest, with mostly native plants but a landscape that is still a di- verse habitat, as well as being very attractive to the eye. To see the possibilities of a native garden, check out Rick’s blog at nativeplantgardener.ca. Now that the gardeners have assessed their space, developed a plan and made amendments, they were talking about what they would want or need in a new garden. My sister Keltie in Edmon- ton said, to my delight, that she would replicate a checker- board garden that I helped her design many years ago. The garden was concrete pavers interspersed with soil squares of the same size. Keltie said the garden was more interest- ing to look at than lawn and easier maintenance. The gar- den is fluid and changing all the time. Some years a plant dies (I told her the boxwood would be hard), some years she has a fabulous container or new statue on one of the
Sylvia’s garden, planted in her third season in the house. Notice the spacing to allow plants to grow to their mature size without interfering with each other. (Submitted)
pavers. She’s enjoyed it and would have another. Marcia Hamm Wiebe, a community gardener, wants lots of edibles, native and pol- linator-friendly plants. She wants to xeriscape, which is a type of garden where you don’t really have to water. It ties in with Dave’s desire to retain 100 per cent of precipitation. She wants hardy plants, able to withstand our swings in temperature and moisture. She likes the interest of rocks and natural hardscaping for sitting areas. Joan is a sal- sa maker, and her priority is finding the perfect place for tomatoes, peppers and herbs. She would also plant some milkweed to attract monarch butterflies. My pals Rae and Deb built a raised garden bed a few years back, to get up above a soggy patch of land. They are now addicted, finding them much easier to work and har- vest from. Their new garden would have a number of raised beds. Raised beds, particular- ly around a seating area, can provide wind break, shade and privacy. Larger plants like grasses, corn or plants on trel- lises can create a cosy nook. They would be looking for a sunny area close to the kitch-
en for their herbs. And they would like to move some of their mature fruit trees or re- plant fruit immediately. They value the fruit trees not only
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THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 Home trends to watch for this season BY JILLIAN AUSTIN
that if you don’t want grout lines and you want solid walls, then that would be kind of the way to go.” Bathrooms are also seeing more muted tones and lay- ered lighting. Homeowners are wanting to transform their bathrooms into a spa including features such as steam showers and saunas. “It also stems from COVID where we couldn’t leave [our homes],” she said. “Those sau- nas were popping up every- where. People wanted these areas where they didn’t have to leave the house and still have that experience.” Next is the entryway to your home. People are paying attention to these areas a little bit more, Bauman said. They are focusing on function and opting for built-in storage or cabinets that can store items like shoes and coats if they don’t have a mud room. Lighting can make a huge difference to these areas, and Bauman suggests adding wall sconces or replacing the old ceiling fixture with something more fun. Wall treatments, artwork, tapestry or a mirror and decor are being added to these entry- way areas. Bauman noted she is seeing reeded or fluted wall paneling in this area, too. “Wall paneling adds du- rability, which is a big thing in entrance ways, especially when you come into a landing and you either go up or down stairs,” she said. “Those walls get beat up really bad.” Don’t forget to consider the important component of light- ing in your home, as this can often be overlooked. Bauman recommends layering the light, making sure you have your general illumination, your task areas covered and then your accent or ambient lighting.
Bold. Moody. Earthy. There is a shift happening right now in interior design as people are moving away from white and grey and choosing to bring in darker hues, rich textures and natural materials to create spaces that are warm- er and calming. “It’s almost as if everyone just wants a big hug from the stresses of COVID and every- thing else over the last couple of years,” said Amber Bauman, principal interior designer and owner of Grey Pearl Interior Design. “We really are looking for a cosy space to recharge and be at peace.” Bauman spoke with us about the latest trends in in- terior design but pointed out that sometimes trends are to be ignored, as it all comes down to what clients want, what works for them and their homes. “Homes typically dictate the style of the decor and how we treat that space,” she said. “But having said that, I am really enjoying the shift right now.” As it happens with cloth- ing styles, what was old is new again in interior design. “What I love about design and what I do is we are always looking to the past for inspi- ration, but we never copy, it comes back differently, and we do it differently,” she said. “The nature of trends is that they come from some place and time in history which allows for our modern interpretation.” Bauman said she is see- ing more handmade, natural materials, tapestries, textiles and wall coverings. People are choosing matte finishes over high gloss. “I’m really excited about everything coming up, which kind of started last year but
Kitchen trends are moving toward warmer tones, woods and off-white colour. (Submitted)
it’s really coming into effect now … earth tones, shades of brown, pinks, warm whites, mauve, muted greens and blues.” Monochromatic layers of colours, textures and textiles are also being introduced. For example, a black accent wall with paneling, a black televi- sion, black cabinet and black vases. “Layers of black but in dif- ferent textures and objects,” Bauman said. “Another ex- ample is painting your walls, your trim and your doors all the same colour, which is quite different.” Moving to the kitchen, Bauman said lately the trend there is also “anything but white.” “I still do white kitchens and I will always do white kitch- ens,” she said. “I think white kitchens are always going to be a thing and they will never go out of style. But again, just
going away from stark white. We’re seeing a lot of off-white, oyster, cream, taupe.” Also, wood is appearing more often in the kitchen. While in the past it would be the whole kitchen, Bauman said now it could be just the wood on the base cabinets or an island, and the upper cabi- nets oyster or something softer. Different door styles are popular right now, such as fluted, reeded and face frame. They add dimension to the space along with texture and warmth. Bauman said granite coun- tertops are popular, and for backsplash they are seeing more texture and three-di- mensional tone-on-tone. In the bathrooms, the No. 1 request from Bauman’s clients is: “easy maintenance.” “We’re seeing a lot of large format tile and also slabs. Ob- viously, it does come down to cost, but those are the areas
» Continued on Page 9
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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN
» Continued from Page 8
from your old items or do- nate/sell them and buy a few new staples. Add either real or faux plants. Invest in main furniture piece: If you have it in your budget, Bauman suggests investing in your main piece of furniture. Spend a little more money on the piece that will get the most use, such as a sofa or sectional. “That’s what you will use the most, that’s what will wear the most, so you really want to get something that is comfortable, looks good and easy to clean,” Bauman said. Accent chairs or island stools that are not used as much can be purchased at a lower price point to offset the cost of a major investment item. » Jillian Austin is a freelance writer and real estate agent with Century 21 Westman Realty. » Jillianaustin.news@gmail.com » Twitter: @jillianaustin
WHAT’S OUT? • Modern farmhouse: The past few years, this is what ev- eryone wanted when they were building a house. White, black, relaxed farmhouse. But now Bauman said we’re tran- sitioning from that design style. • DIY paneling: Putting up an accent wall and painting it an accent colour. • Over-decorating: Too many pillows on your bed or couch? Homeowners are moving toward more practical selections and looking for quality over quantity. • Stark white and white marble: Bauman said there will al- ways be a place for it, but people are shifting toward warm- er styles. • Coloured appliances: Could be fun commercially, but this trend is over for the residential projects.
“What I’m doing in all my projects is every switch must be dimmable, because we really want to be able to control that light,” she said. “And now with all the LED fixtures out there, this is possible.” Finally, something to con- sider is statement lighting. Bauman said she takes her lighting fixtures very seriously, and they are a combination of art and function. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money either. They are really coming out with a lot of options that are more afford- able and you might just need one of these fixtures or two of them and they really can just change a space, plus they also add great light.” TIPS TO REFRESH YOUR SPACE Paint: At a minimal cost,
paint can totally transform your space, Bauman said. “If you have cabinets … they can be painted. It’s not a long- term solution, but it definite- ly will save you quite a few years before you have to re- do that kitchen, so paint is No.1.” DIY Decor: Take an old canvas piece of artwork and
cover it in a textured plas- ter — those are very in right now, Bauman said. “Even old vases, re-cover with tex- tured plaster, or spray paint or paint. Maybe you like the shape of something, maybe you like the style, but you don’t like the colour. DIY decor is a big one.” Start fresh: Either DIY
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THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
Cut down on costs this moving season BY CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS
a handful of household items. “If it’s just boxes, if it’s light furniture — those are defi- nitely doable on your own,” said Tiam Behdarvandan, who runs Let’s Get Moving. But those looking to limit the stress and physical effort of leaving a sizable home may want to opt for professional movers, with time and exper- tise as key considerations. “We will do something in six hours that a regular client would do over 12 hours or over two days,” said Aaron Park- er, who owns Toronto-based Parker’s Moving. “People have lives to live; they don’t want to physically be lifting.”
He said well-reputed mov- ers protect items more ef- fectively than clients would themselves, partly because of the equipment available, such as moving blankets, mattress bags and plastic wrap for leather or fabric furniture. However, customers may want to transport some of the most fragile objects on their own, such as lamps, pictures and mirrors, according to New York-based Oz Moving & Storage general manager Nancy Zafrani. “You can lay that painting in the back of your car and drive it from your old home to your new home,” she said. Preparation and organi-
zation are crucial to save on moving time, and thus cost. Customers should purge as much clutter as possible pre- move — kitchens, closets, basements and attics are all sensible starting points — so you’re “not moving things that’s basically future trash,” said Zafrani. Selling goods online — via Facebook Mar- ketplace or Kijiji, for example — offers a way to recoup some costs. Efficient use of space is also essential, by packing awk- wardly shaped objects togeth- er, like plants in a crate, for example, or using cardboard boxes for their “stackability.” » Continued on Page 11
As moving season dawns, those looking to save money on the process have a truck- load of options before them. Preparation, research and timing are all factors in deter- mining whether a move emp- ties your pocketbook or mere- ly lightens it. A small move might be done for less than $200, with companies such as U-Haul offering half-day rentals of trucks with a 10-foot-long cargo bed for $170, complete with dolly and furniture pads. That can suffice for a sparsely furnished one-bedroom apart- ment or a storage unit hosting
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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN » Continued from Page 10
“Taking apart beds is one of the best ways to save hourly,” Parker said. Parker’s Moving charges $70 an hour per mover — so about $210 per hour for a two-bedroom apartment and $420 per hour for a four-bed- room house — plus $295 for the truck, which includes gas and $50,000 worth of insur- ance. Let’s Get Moving typ- ically charges $139 to $149 per hour — weekends top the range — including the two or three movers involved as well as the truck. A well-timed move can mean a cheaper one. Some movers, like Behdarvandan, charge a little more on week- ends and substantially more on the first and last day of the month, when leases often start and end. Others charge more from April through Septem- ber. “I would recommend week- days, middle of the month,
that’s when you can kind of get the best pricing,” Behdarvan- dan said. Customers should beware potential scams, especially where suspiciously low quotes or excessive deposits pop up. Some movers advise against paying more than one-third up front — or, for long-distance moves, paying more than two- thirds until the truck is loaded. “I’ve been in this business for 13 years, and I’ve heard of all kinds of scams,” Behdar- vandan said. In one case exposed last year by a CBC Marketplace investigation, a handful of moving companies would of- fer low quotes and then jack up the price several times over, sometimes by inflating the weight of goods shipped. Behdarvandan said his company helped some of the cheated customers move free of charge. To find a trustworthy
company, he and Parker rec- ommended word of mouth or outfits with longstanding reputations. Review sites such as Yelp and Trustpilot are an- other option, although Beh- darvandan cautioned that false reviews abound. It’s also important to read the moving contract, which could reveal whether the com- pany is a mover or actually a broker, which Zafrani suggests avoiding. “They should make sure that the contract states that the property is actually being delivered into their home and not curbside” — or a further location, she said. And on long-distance moves, she said, “Pay attention to the delivery window — is the moving company offering to deliver within 10 business days or within 90 days? “The most important thing is to be an educated consumer.” » The Canadian Press
“Those are very easy for the movers to be able to use the dollies and move everything very quickly. So I would say just be super prepared,” said Behdarvandan, whose compa- ny employs 120 workers that staff a 90-truck fleet spanning most provinces. “It’s usually the little mis- cellaneous items that take a long time.” Anything from spices to jewelry can also find tempo- rary lodging in otherwise un- used space such as Tupperware containers. Most movers offer addi- tional services for a fee, includ- ing packing and unpacking, furniture disassembly and reas- sembly, and temporary storage. Packing services are typically done before the moving date, and may involve outsourcing to another company, adding to the cost.
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THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023
How to light your home for an optimal mood BY STACEY COLINO
there is growing research that shows the right kinds of light are also essential to human well-being. “Lighting does have a significant effect on people’s psychological state as well as how they think and behave,” says Sally Augustin, an en- vironmental and design psy- chologist in Chicago. “Given the kinds of animals we are, we do need light. It’s what keeps our minds and bodies in the best possible shape.” Exposure to natural light and certain types of artificial
light helps your body main- tain its circadian rhythm — the internal clock that regulates key functions such as sleep-wake patterns, hor- mone release, blood pressure and body temperature fluctu- ations. A 2021 study from the International Journal of Envi- ronmental Research and Pub- lic Health, for instance, found that access to daylight inside the home helped participants fall asleep faster at night and gave them a greater sense of vitality throughout the day. A 2022 study from the journal Building and Environment concluded that incorporating natural light in nearly every room — the kitchen, bed- room, living room and dining room — improved emotional well-being. The takeaway: the qualities
and sources of the lighting in- side our homes matter greatly, impacting myriad aspects of our state of mind, such as how irritable or productive we feel. Here are strategies to consid- er when devising a lighting plan for your own space.
You’re probably not imag- ining it: that fluorescent over- head light really could be put- ting you on high alert. And it’s probably no coincidence that you feel relaxed while sitting next to the amber glow of the table lamp in your liv- ing room. While most of us recognize that having proper lighting at home is important for prac- tical reasons — for instance, to avoid a kitchen mishap or a makeup catastrophe —
CAPITALIZE ON NATURAL LIGHT
“Natural light is like a magic medicine — it im- proves mood, mental perfor- mance, and the ability to get along with people,” says Au- gustin. But “you need to be careful about glare,” she adds, which makes your eyes work harder and can lead to strain and fatigue. (To minimize it, try sheer curtains or position- ing yourself perpendicular to the window, she suggests.) » Continued on Page 13
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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN
» Continued from Page 12
night-light in the bathroom for middle-of-the-night trips, Veitch advises keeping it dim and warm (in the amber to red zone), so it’s less likely to compromise your ability to fall back asleep. The same goes for the hallway. For the living room, Pedit- to recommends warm, am- bient lighting because it fa- cilitates relaxation and social interaction. The same is true of bedrooms; plus, warm, am- bient lighting won’t interfere with your ability to fall asleep, Veitch says. While these lighting guidelines apply to most peo- ple, individual responses can vary, so you may have to ex- periment to see what works for you. “Choosing lighting is so much more complicat- ed than it used to be,” Veitch says, “because there are now
If your home doesn’t get much natural light, you can still achieve an ideal level of daytime brightness with full-spectrum lightbulbs, says Kati Peditto, a psychologist in Denver and director of the Human Experience Lab at architecture firm Perkins and Will. These bulbs repli- cate natural sunlight, and can be found at hardware stores, grocery stores and online. “Full-spectrum lighting includes visible and invisible forms of light [such as in- frared and ultraviolet], and it has a daylight-mimicking effect that lowers stress and boosts alertness,” she says. (Full-spectrum light is associ- ated with lower levels of stress hormones such as cortisol in the human body.) In artificially lit spaces, experts also recommend us- ing different “temperatures” of light at different times. During the day, Augustin ad- vises using cool light — which ranges from blue to white in tone — because it’s energiz- ing, and promotes concen- tration and focused work. On the other hand, spending time in warm light — which ranges in tone from yellow to orange — fosters relaxation and creative thinking, often making it well suited for later in the afternoon or evening. In general, Augustin rec- ommends using cool lights high in the room (such as in overhead lighting) and warm lights lower (in table or floor lamps), for optimal function- ality and mood. When you are lightbulb shopping, look for labels indicating coolness (such as “white,” “cool white” or “daylight”) or warmth (“soft white” or “warm white”). To imitate the setting sun, put lights on dimmers, so you can gradually turn them down. Sitting beneath bright lights at night can suppress the release of melatonin,
so you can clearly see yourself but warm enough in tone so your skin doesn’t take on an odd hue. If you keep a plug-in
making it tough to fall asleep, as can exposure to blue light and white light with blue hues — common culprits include electronics such as comput- ers, cellphones and TVs, and LED and fluorescent bulbs. DIFFERENT LIGHTS IN DIFFERENT ROOMS “You can create zones in your home with light, using pools of light for different ac- tivities,” says Augustin, whose firm Design With Science uses principles from neuro- science to create spaces that foster positive mental states. Try task-based bright light- ing in your kitchen — with under-cabinet lights, for ex- ample — to enhance safety while avoiding eyestrain, or a golden-hued bulb in an office desk lamp to spur creativity. In the bathroom, “colour quality matters because we judge how we look by look- ing in the mirror,” says Jenni- fer Veitch, an environmental psychologist in Ottawa and principal research officer at the National Research Coun- cil of Canada. The light needs to be bright enough (at least 60 watts, depending on the size of your bathroom and what the fixture can handle)
so many options.” » The Washington Post
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THE BRANDON SUN • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 Three elements to consider when buying a waterfront property
Do you want to buy a home near the sea, close to a river or on a lake? Whether you’re considering building or buying an existing home, there are several things you need to know before moving near water. HIGH PRICE TAG Homes with direct access to the water usually have a high price tag. For example, maintaining a dock or seawall adds to the total cost of the property. You don’t get that same easy access with a water-view property and may have to rent a space for your boat if you enjoy water activities. INCREASED RISK Although properties near water offer beautiful scenery, they come with added risks, including frequent repairs due to wind and possible flooding. Moreover, your insurance premium will likely increase and should be factored into your budget. PROXIMITY TO SERVICES Not all properties near water have the same access to certain services, such as drinking water, electricity, internet and local shops. Additionally, being close to the water doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to use a boat. Some municipalities prohibit gas- powered watercraft because of noise and safety concerns. Are you looking forward to owning a waterfront property? Contact a real estate broker or contractor to help you find your dream home.
What’s a pre-purchase inspection?
Investing in a pre-purchase in- spection is an essential step when buying a property. Here’s what it involves. WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN AN INSPECTION A pre-purchase inspection aims to identify any problems with the property you’re looking to buy. This information can help you negotiate a better sale price or even consider withdrawing your offer to purchase. In short, it tells you the exact con- dition and value of the home you’re bidding on.
out. This includes the electrici- ty, plumbing, foundation, heating system, siding, roofing and venti- lation. It’s important to note that a pre-purchase inspection cannot detect hidden defects but may point to signs of them. Once complete, the inspector will send you a written report with their observations. The report will detail the condition of the inspect- ed areas and indicate those that weren’t checked and why. The re- port may also recommend work, like replacing the home’s windows or roof. To ensure you’re getting the facts and making the best decision, hire an experienced, trustworthy inspector.
WHAT DOES AN INSPECTOR DO?
The inspector will examine the home’s condition, both inside and
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SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 • YOUR HOME YOUR WAY • THE BRANDON SUN
What does it mean to have good credit for buying a house?
If you’re planning on buying a home, you’ll likely need to obtain a mortgage. Do you think having a good credit score is all you need? Think again! THE IMPORTANCE OF A GOOD CREDIT SCORE Your credit score serves as a risk indicator for lenders. If your score is below 650, this could limit your pool of potential lenders. Conversely, if your score exceeds 720, financial in- stitutions will be more likely to trust you and give you a better rate. CREDIT REPORT In addition to your credit score, your credit report includes essential
information about your credit his- tory, including data about various types of credit, such as lines of credit
and revolving credit. GETTING A LOAN
Every financial institution has a process for assessing your credit- worthiness. They usually check your credit rating, income, down pay- ment, mortgage stress-test score and other elements. Contact a financial adviser or mortgage broker to find out about your financial and credit situation.
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ONLY $ 339 .99 * +tax
• Up to 12 vents • 1 main hot and 1 main cold duct
Dryer vent for $ 30 as an add on
*Some restrictions apply, see dealer for details.
Phone: 204-728-0180 • www.brandonheatingandplumbing.ca
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