My Montreal real estate blog which I call “One Good Earth” was created in honor of mother earth, this glorious earth which so generously and unconditionally nourishes and sustains us on this planet. When I think about the earth, I can’t help but reflect upon the beauty inherent in nature’s design. Nature’s bounty and abundance is evident everywhere we look…..
There’s so much wisdom and knowledge in the perfection of natural systems of which we still have little understanding……All I do know is that the time has come for us to rethink our relationship with nature and our place within the scheme of things. Modern civilization has progressed to the point where our constant expansion is having dire consequences on the planet’s ecosystems. Everything exists in relationship to the other and with the extinction of many species, we don’t yet understand that which we are breaking.
Real Estate makes up a huge portion of the built environment all across the world and sustainability is being discussed from countries to corporations to inspired individuals taking action to implement more sustainable choices. While this is all positive there seems to be this disconnect between our cityscape and the sense of nature that exists all around us. We’ve built our cities on an infrastructural base of concrete and asphalt, both of which are the worst materials in terms of their heat effect. How insane will the weather disruptions have to get before change is forced upon us. Can we be more proactive in our choices, finding solutions to some of the most plaguing problems on the planet like waste, energy efficiency and food production, conservation, etc….
My intention with this blog is to feature ideas, discussions and thoughts around companies, concepts and people that are attempting to tackle these issues. I hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoyed sharing this with you.
To quote Albert Einstein on insanity, “To keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result is a form of insanity.” So if we’re not happy with the status quo of our planet and climate, it’s time to take action and figure out some solutions.
Mold Loves Humidity
In general, mold loves humidity! Humidity levels in your home should be between 40 to 60%. More specifically, between 20 and 40% during the winter months and less than 60% during the rest of the year. This percentage reflects the amount of moisture in the air. However, checking your humidistat level is not enough in maintaining a healthy indoor environment.
Humidifiers contain water and as such, are a potential place for microbial growth. Many homes have a humidifier attached to their furnace which releases humidity during the heating season. There is a waterline that feeds the humidifier when...
Montreal Real Estate Prices
Montreal real estate prices vary across the many different neighborhoods in the Greater Montreal area. The sales data and market place can vary as greatly as an areas style of architecture. Within Montreal, there exists many micro neighborhoods and markets. Although our general market reports cover the overall sales in the GMA, the devil is always in the details. Housing styles and prices are unique to each region and cannot be compared. For example, single family homes in the urban Le Plateau are entirely different and not comparable to the suburban town of Hampstead. Condos in Old...
Trust Is Gold
Whenever I find myself in doubt, I hear my father’s booming voice, “Honesty is the best policy”.
Like in most fields and or specialties, what we knew when we started and what we know now is a reflection on the things we learn along the way.
We learn from the continuing education in our related fields of expertise and we also learn from the ongoing hands on work experience. This invaluable combination hones our skills enabling us to provide a valuable service to our clients.
As an inspector, we are trained to detect things that are not right...
Inspecting A Home As A System
When inspecting a home as a system, we need to understand that these components are part of a system. Plumbing components for example, could affect the roof negatively if the vent stacks for plumbing that travel through the ceiling, into the attic and out through the roof, are not sealed and or insulated properly.
Let’s say we are in the middle of winter and heat is escaping into the attic through an improperly sealed venting stack. The warm air comes in contact with the cold attic air and forms condensation. The condensation will accumulate into...
