Lorraine Girouard at The Good Real Estate Company

The evolution of home architecture The architectural evolution of Western homes over the past 400 years provides a fascinating look at how changing needs and changing trends shaped the style of the average home. From Post-Medieval to Contemporary, here’s a quick look at what characterized some of the Western world’s most popular home styles. Post-Medieval (1600-1740). Simple box-form with a single roofline and often asymmetrical window placement.... French Colonial (1600-1850). While still simplistic in form, the French Colonial style is more asymmetrical than prior styles and often incorporated a large covered porch. Queen Anne Revival (1880-1910). Queen Anne style and its revival during the late 19th and early 20th century has influenced homes for decades with its multiple rooflines, covered porches and attention to detail. Craftsman (1905-1950). Much like Queen Anne, the Craftsman style lives on today in homes where detail is prioritized over size. Manufactured (1930-Present). What began as Pre-WWI mobile homes has become an entire way of living. From small trailer homes to full-sized pre-made homes manufactured homes are known for their affordability and transportability. Contemporary (1945-Present). A wide-ranging category, contemporary homes include everything from A-frame, to nature-inspired to deconstructed. See more

Do you have hot water heating in your home? Or maybe you’ve never lived in a home that has it and are curious how it works. Hot water heating uses radiant heat rather than forced air to warm a space. Heated water circulates through a system of pipes in the walls or sometimes the floor. The heat is then transferred to the air in the room. The three main types of hot water heating are gravity flow, pumped and baseboard convection. A gravity system is the oldest and simplest ver...sion of hot water heating. Based on the thermal and density differences of hot and cold water, a gravity system heats the water in a boiler, which then forces the cooler water in the pipes out of the way so the warm water can circulate throughout the home. A pumped system works similarly to a gravity system, but uses a pump to circulate the water instead of having the hot water force it’s way upwards. This type of system works much more quickly and efficiently than a gravity system. The third most common system uses radiators that run along the baseboards of a home. Because warm air is known to rise, one of the most effective ways to introduce hot air into a room is at floor level. See more

What's your favorite pie? Lemon Meringue is my favorite and so easy to make.

Tips for buying and selling a home at the same time. Unless you’re a first time buyer, buying a new home usually means selling your existing one. And while buying and selling simultaneously is a juggling act, there are several things you can do to create as smooth a process as possible. Begin decluttering and repairing your current home before you even begin to view new homes. That way, if you do find something you love quickly, you’ll already be well on your way to listing.... Browse homes online to familiarize yourself with the city or neighborhood you’re interested in, as well as the property types and prices. Begin visiting potential homes. Find out if the sellers have flexibility on the possession date. When you’re ready to make an offer, make sure the purchase is contingent on the sale of your current home and negotiate a closing date that will give you enough time to sell, pack and move. See more

#decidebeforeselling Three things to consider before selling... Selling your home is a big decision, and many factors are usually at play such as relocation due to a new job, wanting to upsize or downsize, or a big life change. Whatever the reason, there are a few key factors you should consider before listing.... How soon do you want to sell? Is the sale of your home something you’re envisioning for the future? Or is it something you’d like to do within the next few months? How quickly you sell once you list depends on the state of the market, the price of your home, its location and its condition. All of these elements will play a role in the selling process and should be carefully weighed when you’re coming up with a timeline. How much do you want to sell for? Of course, how much you want to get for your home and how much you actually get might not line up. But it’s important to think about the amount you’ll need for your next home. If the home you’re planning on buying is a lot bigger or in a more expensive city, you’ll need to know ahead of time whether your current home’s sale price isn’t going to cover it. Does your house need any repairs or renovations? If your home is older or in need of a lot of maintenance to get it sale-ready, it’s time to come up with a to-do list and budget. For example, if you have an outdated kitchen or bathrooms, you might want to renovate before listing as these updates can get you a higher sale price. On the other hand, you might only need to do a few small touch-ups to get your home market-ready.