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Five steps to a renovation grant (NC)-Are you renovating your Shouse? Here arc lîve easy steps t0 Sgeuting governmcnt retrofit grants. E A residential encrgy assessment initiative bas bruit developed hy Natural Resources Canada -~(NRCan) 10 help homeowncr-s Smake retrolit choices that tmprovc w the comfort andcl nergy effictency ýof their home. AmeriSpcc of z o) Canada can help sou qualify by fol- E lowing these [jve casy steps: 1.i Hire a qualified AmeriSpec V energy advisor t0 perform a z pre-retrofît energy evaluation a of your home. '1< Y u 2. Select the improvements from your home energy recommen- dation checklisi. 3. Implement tbe recommended energy upgrades within 18 nionths. 4. Cali your *ArneriSpcc energv advisor 10 perlor-m your posi- retroit evaluation, to confirm your nesi energy raiing and t0 suhmit your application on your behaîf. 5. Wait for up t0 90 days alter your [ollow-up evaluation 10 receive your checque based on tbe eligihie upgrades per- formed. Homes ibai have had pre and post retrobit evaluations will he ehi gihie [or granîs to a maximum of $5.000 ($10.000 i Select provinces) wîîb an average grant of $1.100 ($2,200 in select provinces). Additional information on the cesîdenîtal energy assessmneni pro- gramn is avaîlahle online ai w&ww.amerispec .calecoenergy or toîllfree ai 1-866-284-6010. - News Canada Fall home maintenance checklist (NC)-Colder weaiber, shorier days and falling leaves mean iii 1unie Io gel your home ready for the %101cr monîhi. Faîl hointe maintenance iniobves more than raking Iravs a oi stoisrng gardeit [cîrîitîre. h requitcx attention ici your roofs and gutîcîs. s ocr founidation, fauccîs and windows, and rien your ceîling fans. _Winier cao hc bard on a bouse, so uxe recommend a number of sîeps to prepare y our honme for the încreased cold and mousture," saîd Rob Skinner, AmeriSpec of Canada. "There are tingi ibai mosi bomeowners don't even îbînk of îhaî can make a huge dîl- [erence. The following are somte tipi [rom AmeniSpee to make sure you're ready for the winter monîbi: -Proteci tbe outside [acîcets - For 4those who do not have freeze-proof faucets, lb ix important to shut off the indoor waîec valve and make sure the otisîul [alicet ix c ottipl(Itels driieel l[c ut anc1 resersc the ccllng I lats -Tum the fan off, dlean and oilthie moine, jean and dry the blades and reverse the air flow direction to pusb warm air down. -Replaee battenies in the imoke deteetors and test the imoke alarmi - Battenies sbould be replaeed îwice a yeac and ail smoke alarms should he irsecl weekly - Apply weaihrstcippiiîg 10 win- clows and doors- Eren insulated %vin- dowx and cloocs require addiiional rein[orcect for winier. Wcaiher- strippinîg i educes cliabts and savs on - Caulk acounid wiinelou and dooî casings 10 keep oui air ancl waiec If your boeuse bas wxood siding wîîh win- dow [camnes ibai stand oui [romn the sidîng, caulk the top and sides of the [rame. Don't caîilk under the xiii thai space should he lefi open 10 allow moisitice inside the wail 10 escape. If your bouse ix brick or sione, wiîh win- dow trames ihat are set mbt the finish material, caulk ail four edges of eacb [rame -wlsece the brick moulcl meets the masonrs. -Fix up yocîr gutiers -Ensure ibere are no leaves or other debris in yocir goîters in order 10 preseni over- [lois attî leaiktýgc lîîrîtg hc,îî vsn oos AmerîSpec boite inspeciors oller great tipi on home maintenance and improvements. More information on common home maitlenance subjecîs and professional honte inspections can be found ai ww-w.amerispec.ca. -News Canada NEWS &$f The Oakville, Milton August Real Estate Market DIANNA MORRISON OMDREB resiaent (Augui 2001) Oaks'îlle -Milton, Ontario) For the montb of August 2009, T6e Clakville, Milton and District Real Estaîr Board total sales were 781, an inerease of 21 per cent over Augusi 2008. As oh- serx'ed in ibe monihs of June and J ulx, the trencd contincues ishere sales arc up, but the numbers of new listings are doisn. Augusi 2009 neis listings are reporied doxin b> 15 pcr cent. The Oakvîlle, Milton and area resale market reported a *total dollar volume4 of sales for the year-to-date ai 4 per cent higber ihan 2008. The year-to-date total of clous sold in 2009) s 9 per cent bîgher. accordîng to Multiple Listing Serv'ice@ (MLS®) sîatistîcs ce- leased bx [6e Oaks'îlle, Milton and District Real Esiate Board. -The Augusi cesîdential resale market in Oaks'îlle and Milton continues 10 demonstrate sound performanc- es,' remarks Dianna Morrîson, OMDREB Presîdent. 'Milton residential resale acîîs'îîîes maîntaîn tbeir domînance in the ceai estate market wîrb an il per cent increase tn resales compared 10 Augusi 2008 and Oakx'îlIe demonstrated vîgorous aerîvîry ibis montb, svîîb a resoundîng 35 per cent increase ini resales. Thbe average prîce cof resîdential properîtes sold in the mnontb of August 2009 in Oakville was $526,636, an increase of 1 per cent oser the saine monîb last year. MiltonoR average sale prîce was $369,819, an increase of I13 per cent wben comparecl 10 August 2008. *Toctal dollar volume of sales rellects "aIl propctty types" inciuding resîdenîtal, condominiums, commct-- etal property, [armiland ancd sale cof husinesses. Your local REALTORS LIVE, GIVE & PLAY in the Neighbourhood too! Estabiuhed in 1954, The Oaknîiie, Multon and District Real Estate Board (OMORES) serves Vakvilie, Milton and surrounding eom- munitien with more than 1,800 REALT0RSO. Membera of the associatiofl may uoe the REALT0R&E trademark, wheh identifies them aa ceai eatate profesuionalo wlîo subseribe to a striet code of ethîeu. The assoeiation operatea the loeal Multiple Listing Servie@ (MLSIO) and providen ongoing profesînnai edueation eourses for itu Memberu. 0MDREB Reaitortil eare about creating a better eommunity and parielpate <n the 'f very REALTOR Careu' programn whîeh supports aheiter-baued initiatives. Your 0MDREB REALTOROE con provîde you wîth the data and serviees you need to make informed ceai eutate deeiuîonu, Advertîuements of local MLSP- property listings and information about the services provided by a REALTORO0 ean be foundat www.REALTOR.i20. For more information riait www.omdreb.on.ca or rai OMDRES ai 905.844.6491 OMORER Ai~ot 1009 S~i~ R.~~IR OESIDO2NTIAL ONLY SALES & DOLLAR VO)LUME ACCORDiNe; TO DISTRICr Ai.MS 2009: M.ih t. >t Mii0.n Au-t 2009: Yea g Dte O).ktili. Milton, Ro..detiai Type Okîi. Reid.nti.i Type 2008 Compamd to 2009 Milton \4e5,,,2 Si>ý P',>' Milton A, xgl 4<1". o Oo stil.. S Vk,, DOMt 213 $149,3 9605 1 S.I., S S ,,ui. OM 1.251 i $1,187S7,i9' 14 1IMÉO, StId by Type t!.is Sold b, lîpi Aur- 2008 Ali) 2009 %, Ch,,,it $599- 1'0 139.9 124" AITi. 200 Aittt. 2009 % Ch,,g $3313 $'19,94- 9 $45 '1 $42""() 110-2008 uintO 2009 % chantge $9, 1, 911 $52 636 $13,',,, $4'))q0 <1 1. nie p>kii., id ed i» k<..IId iibW<Siit0" ... ~ ..Isight 4-touwf the 09Mne