Sunday, June 14
Thursday, June 11
GUIDE TO BUILDING PERMITS
Matt Clauson
Yes, the building permit process can be a frustrating, costly and-time consuming affair, but there is purpose to the process and no getting around your local jurisdiction if you want to do your project right.
Here we recap the building permit basics, with links to more in-depth analysis of various stages of the planning, permitting and inspection processes. It’s an overview of a subject you should familiarize yourself with before tackling your home remodel project.
1. When Is a Permit Required?
The building code has evolved to protect a home’s occupants as well as the community, but first you need to determine whether a permit is required.
In cases of simple interior cosmetic changes, such as repainting and installing interior trim or carpet, a permit will not be required.
For remodels that add square footage to your home or make structural modifications, a permit will definitely be needed. Other projects, such as those involving cosmetic changes to your exterior or landscape, may or may not require a permit.
When in doubt, take a trip down to your local building jurisdiction and ask, or seek help from a reputable professional in your area.
2. Submittal Process
Your first mission is to determine the entire scope of your project with as much specificity as possible. With a clear understanding of what the job entails, you can prepare your plan for the submittal process.
Once the scope is determined, the next step is getting the approval of your planning department. Planning departments review your plan to ensure that the general plan and rules governing land use in your community are followed. If you live in a community with a homeowners association, you may also need approval from your association.
After receiving planning approval, your plan can be reviewed by the building department. The building department carefully reviews plans for adherence to the building code, including review of any structural, electrical and mechanical modifications.
3. Code Requirements
The generally accepted building code is the International Building Code (IBC), which has been adopted, with some regional modifications, throughout most of the United States.
If you are using a design and building professional, they should have a thorough understanding of the code, but the code continues to evolve, and if you plan to oversee your own project, there are certain rules you should familiarize yourself with. These include egress and electrical requirements.
4. Green Building and Energy Codes
The purpose of the building code is to protect not only occupants, but also the general community. This is where green building and energy code requirements come in.
Your project will be required to adhere to these codes adopted by your community. Green building codes set minimum standards for a project in terms of water consumption, air quality, toxicity of materials, building efficiency, general waste reduction and storm water management.
Energy code requirements vary greatly depending on the region you live in, and they involve details such as insulation and HVAC systems regulating the energy efficiency of your home.
5. The Inspection Process
While the number of inspections required for a given project can vary greatly, from one simple visit to a series of a dozen or more, there is one piece of advice that holds true in all cases: It pays to develop a relationship with your inspector and seek his or her advice every chance you get.
Reputable building professionals establish trust with local inspectors, and if you are doing your own work, you should build a rapport with your inspector by communicating openly and listening to the inspector’s advice.
The required inspections for your project should be clearly defined by your building jurisdiction and might include areas such as concrete, utilities, underfloor work, exterior walls, roofs and insulation, all leading up to the final inspection.
6. Final Inspection
It’s the moment of truth. On the day of your final inspection, all the planning and all the work are in the rearview mirror, as long as the inspector conducting the final review says so.
If you have properly prepared for the final inspection by communicating with your inspector, seeking a checklist of all the requirements to be reviewed, you have gone a long way toward ensuring success. There are some specific requirements that commonly trip up projects (we list some in the story linked below), but the most common infraction is a failure to follow the approved plan.
The safety of your family is at stake, but so is their general well-being and the welfare of your community. It’s why the building code exists, and you will sleep better and avoid financial risks by following the advice in this series.
Hiring a reputable professional is the best way to ensure success, but if you are doing the work yourself, be sure you are educated on the building permit requirements relating to your project.
www.teambluesky.ca
Tuesday, June 2
Your May Home Checklist
by: Laura Gaskill
May is a month for getting outdoors, firing up the grill and celebrating. Take advantage of milder spring days and schedule some much-needed home improvements this month, so you’ll be ready to savor those barbecues and evenings on the porch. From having your house painted to cleaning out the shed, here are 14 tips and ideas for a fabulous month.
Tuesday, April 21
STINKY GARBAGE DISPOSAL
Becky Harris
Does this sound familiar? You’ve cleaned your kitchen to spotless hygienic perfection, but you catch a whiff of something rotten every time you pass the sink. There’s a piece of something you threw down there and ground up days ago that’s stuck in the garbage disposal, and the smell only gets worse no matter how many times you run it. Inspired by recent events in my own kitchen, I reached out to three experts to get their advice on how to de-stinkify the garbage disposal.
Monday, April 20
IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR FAMILY IN BURLINGTON
April 22, 2015 all-day
Earth Day…check back for more details.
April 24, 2015 – April 25, 2015 all-day
This is a PA Day for students in the Halton Catholic District School Board and Halton District School Board. There are always many PA Day camps, activities and events available for your children. Check our calendar now!
Sylvan Learning Edge Bash @ Sylvan Learning Centre - Burlington
April 25, 2015 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join Sylvan Saturday, April 25th for their free EDGE BASH! Stop by the centre to learn more about our exciting new programs based on Robotics, Coding and Math Edge. We’ll have hands-on activities and demos[...]
Victoria Day @ Bronte Creek Provincial Park
May 18, 2015 all-day
Fondly referred to as the first long weekend of summer! Celebrate Queen Victoria’s birthday at Bronte Creek Provincial Park by spending time on the farm with the animals, playing games and baking like pioneers!
Car-Free Street Festival @ Appleby Line Between New St. and Fairview St.
May 31, 2015 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Car-Free Street Festival is a festival hosted on Appleby Line between New St. and Fairview St. It is bringing families and neighbourhoods together by making the streets come alive with activity in Appleby Village. There[...]
June 5, 2015 – June 6, 2015 all-day
This is a PA Day for students in the Halton Catholic District School Board and Halton District School Board. There are always many PA Day camps, activities and events available for your children. Check our calendar now!
Kite Fesitval @ Brant Hills Community Centre
June 7, 2015 @ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Build a kite or bring your own and help fill the sky with colour. Free family fun, entertainment and vendors at Brant Hills Community Centre. Kite building materials available, while supplies last!
Sound of Music Fesitval @ Spencer Smith Park
June 13, 2015 – June 21, 2015 all-day
Join the fun at the annual Burlington Sound of Musical Festival on June 13th and June 20th and 21st! Sponsored by Tim Horton’s, it is Canada’s Largest Free Musical Festival! With a variety of musical[...]
Movies Under the Stars @ Various Parks
July 9, 2015 @ 9:00 pm – August 20, 2015 @ 11:00 pm
Movies Under the Stars….come on out and see a variety of movies under the night sky! Starts at DUSK! July 9 – Nelson Park July 16 – Aldershot Park July 23 – Civic Square July[...]
Sandcastles Festival @ Beachway Park
August 8, 2015 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Enjoy the fun at Beachway Park and show off your creativity while building your very own sculpture on the beach. Register to participate and win great prizes.
Children’s Festival @ Spencer Smith Park
August 16, 2015 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Head to Spencer Smith Park to enjoy free sports-themed activities, including live entertainment, play zones, inflatables, crafts, themed shows, kids’ marketplace and more at one of the Top 100 Festivals and Events in Ontario.
Thursday, April 2
Align Investment Strategy with Mortgage Financing
By Dalia Barsoum
With the recent unexpected reduction in Bank of Canada’s overnight lending rates, we are getting tons of inquiries from investors regarding how the lenders’ rates are impacted and where the best rates for investment properties can be found.
While many lenders are starting to incorporate the Bank of Canada rate reduction into their offerings to consumers (which is great news), I would like to emphasize the importance of looking at rates as secondary to the approval compared to the primary reason why you should get your deal approved with a particular lender.
Let me demonstrate through the story of Megan, one of our successful investors, who was looking to refinance one of her properties to purchase another investment. A few years back, she went straight to her bank and locked into the lowest five-year fixed mortgage product available on the market. Unfortunately, blinded by the low rate, she did not pay much attention to the fine print that indicated the mortgage was completely closed for the full-term and that it could not be refinanced. Megan’s only options for equity was to find a lender that would approve her for a secured line of credit – in second position – or obtain private funding.
While mortgage rates are a very important variable in the financing formula, they should be secondary to obtaining the right mortgage product that aligns to your investment strategy. For example:
- Rent-to-own
- Renovate and flip
- Renovate and refinance
- Buy and hold
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