Fighting Asthma in Your House

Posted by admin on November 13, 2011

Asthma, an inflammatory disorder of the airways, is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions affecting Canadians. Physicians have diagnosed more than 2.3 million Canadians as being asthmatic — 8.4 per cent of adults (Statistics Canada, 2009) and 13.4 per cent of Canadian children (Garner, 2008).

While the exact cause of asthma is unknown, it appears to result from a complex interaction of predisposing factors (tendency to have allergies), causal factors that may sensitize the airways (such as animal dander, dust mites, mold, cockroaches and workplace contaminants) and contributing factors, such as tobacco smoke during pregnancy and childhood, respiratory infections and indoor and outdoor air quality (National Asthma Control Task Force, 2000).

Management of asthma involves the individual, his family and his physician. Asthma specialists recognize the importance of avoiding or controlling known environmental factors, or “triggers,” that aggravate asthma. Triggers include biological pollutants, such as mold, house dust mites and pollen, as well as irritating pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide, ozone and formaldehyde (Canadian Asthma Consensus Group, 1999). For some individuals, avoiding allergens (substances that produce allergic reactions) can be the most important element of asthma management. The National Asthma Control Task Force recommends a management plan that includes reduction of aeroallergens, molds, tobacco smoke, vehicle and industry emissions, noxious odours and scents that can trigger asthma episodes. The Canadian asthma consensus report, 1999 says that increasing medication should not be a substitute for avoiding exposure to allergens and irritants.

This About Your House deals with reducing your exposure to causal and contributing factors in the home. It provides a global approach consistent with the recommendations of the National Asthma Control Task Force and the Canadian asthma consensus report, 1999. The recommendations are aimed at reducing exposure to allergens and other substances that are known to have a potential impact on respiratory health and indoor air quality. When allergens are involved, elimination is preferable to reduction, since even very small amounts can provoke symptoms. Although evidence of an association between the development or worsening of asthma and some non-allergenic contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is lacking, the Institute of Medicine (2000) suggests that it is prudent to limit exposure where practical.

Allergen Reduction

The Importance of Thorough Vacuuming

House dust is a reservoir of dust mites, fungal glucans (cell wall components) and bacterial endotoxins. As exposure to these potential allergens occurs when house dust becomes airborne, it is important to reduce house dust as much as possible. A recent CMHC study demonstrated that this can be challenging.

The study found that four to five successive vacuuming sessions with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter-equipped vacuum cleaner, at a rate of one minute per square metre for carpets and half a minute for non-carpeted areas, were required to significantly reduce the amount of fine dust in the homes tested.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are microscopic bugs that live on pillows, mattresses, bedding, stuffed toys, upholstered furniture, fabrics and carpets. They feed on skin flakes from people and thrive in humid environments. They can trigger asthma symptoms and can cause asthma in children with no previous asthma symptoms (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2008). Strategies to control dust mites include:

• Reducing the relative humidity (RH) in your house to reduce dust mites and mold. Dust mites need RH above 55 per cent to grow. The most effective way to prevent the growth of dust mites is to reduce the RH of your house in the winter. The Canadian asthma consensus report, 1999 recommends humidity levels below 50 per cent.
• Vacuuming thoroughly and often, since dust mites are a component of household dust. Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a central vacuum that exhausts to the outside.
• Wearing an N95 respirator while vacuuming. Sensitive individuals and children should keep away from the immediate area. This will help reduce exposure to dust mites that become airborne with fine dust.
• Properly maintaining furnace filters. This can reduce fine particles in your air distribution system that can be a home for dust mites. To further reduce the amount of dust circulated by your air distribution system, regularly vacuum as far as you can reach into air registers and return ducts. If you find that the return air ducts are dirty, or if the ducts have not been cleaned since the house was built or you moved in, have your ducts cleaned. Ensure that the contractor does not spray chemicals, such as fungicides, disinfectants or essential oils into the ducts.
• Reducing the amount of particulates you bring into the house by taking off your shoes upon entry and using washable doormats.
• Dusting with a HEPA vacuum or a damp cloth instead of dry dusting to help control dust (Canadian Partnership for Children’s Health & Environment, 2005).
• Reducing the amount of upholstered furnishings and fabric coverings in your bedroom that can provide a home for dust mites.
• Vacuuming upholstered furnishings with a HEPA vacuum while wearing an N95 respirator.
• Avoiding carpets – they are good dust collectors that can hold dust mites.

Sleeping area strategies include:

• Changing bedding frequently.
• Washing bedding in warm water. Contrary to popular belief that hot water is needed to kill dust mites, a warm water wash with pre-soaking is effective at controlling dust mites (Vyszenski-Moher, Arlian & Neal, 2002).
• Using washable linens such as cotton with small enough pore size (for example, 200 thread count). Washing bedding frequently is more important than encasing a mattress with a cover that cannot be removed easily for cleaning.
• Vacuuming mattresses with a HEPA vacuum periodically.
• Replacing pillows at least once a year.
• Avoiding the use of “acaricides” — pesticides that kill dust mites.
• Allowing bedding to dry by keeping beds uncovered when you get out of bed.

Mattress Covers

Typical recommended measures for avoiding dust mites include encasing mattresses, box springs and possibly pillows with mite- and allergen-impermeable covers (Health Canada, 2007). Impermeable covers will protect new mattresses from infestation and keep mites already contained in older mattresses from passing through to the surface. However, everyday use leaves skin flakes on surfaces, on which dust mites feed. Exposure to dust mites can be reduced by frequently changing the bedding and vacuuming the mattress.

Molds

Molds are microscopic organisms that grow on wet or damp surfaces. Under normal circumstances, preventing moisture from reaching high levels in your house is the only way of limiting mold growth. To control the growth of molds, the RH should be low enough to prevent moisture condensation on windows. This may mean 35 per cent RH or less.

Exposure to indoor mold is associated with an increased prevalence of asthma-related symptoms, such as chronic wheezing, irritation symptoms and non-specific symptoms. Asthma-like responses, inflammatory responses in the lungs of rodents and severe histological and biochemical changes have been observed in laboratory animal studies.

Health Canada considers mold growth a health hazard and recommends controlling dampness and cleaning up mold regardless of the type of mold.

There are several no-cost and low-cost measures:

• If your house has a crawl space with a dirt floor, cover the floor with a continuous sheet of 6 – 12 mil (0.15 – 0.30 mm) polyethylene. Signs of potential moisture and rodent problems are more visible on opaque sheets of white polyethylene than on clear or black ones. Overlap and tape any seams.
• Make sure water from your roof runs away from your house by having downspouts lead away from the foundation.
• Ensure that the ground around your house slopes away from the house.
• Run a dehumidifier in your basement, even if you have an air conditioner. An air conditioner dehumidifies only when it is running, which may be only a small fraction of the time.
• Do not keep mold-susceptible items, such as paper, cardboard and clothing, in your basement. They absorb moisture and can grow mold.
• Carpets in the basement or bathroom are likely places for molds to grow. It is best not to have carpets in these areas.
• Do not hang clothes to dry in the basement. Use a clothes dryer vented to the outside.
• Do not store firewood inside the house.
• Reduce the number of house plants. Watering them is a source of moisture. The soil can be a source of molds.
• Do not humidify unless absolutely necessary. First, measure the RH with a hygrometer. Readings of 25 to 35 per cent in the winter are generally acceptable. For information about buying and using a hygrometer.
• If you need humidity at night, use a portable humidifier in your bedroom. Monitor the RH and cycle the unit on and off as necessary. Air the room out to dry during the day. Clean the humidifier after each use. Check windows for condensation and wipe up as necessary.
• When you shower or bathe, use the bathroom fan and let it run for 15 minutes or longer after you are finished.
• Bathroom and kitchen fans should exhaust outside.
• When cooking, use the kitchen fan to get rid of moisture and odours.
• Do not leave areas of the house unheated. Cold, unheated or damp areas in the house are likely to get moldy. Excessive thermostat setbacks at night may also encourage mold growth.
• Act immediately if there is a leak or a flood. Solve the problem, then remove and dry wet flooring, walls, furnishings and other belongings. Discard what you cannot dry.
• Clean up small areas of mold yourself, following the measures provided in CMHC’s Clean-up Procedures for Mold in Houses.
• Get professional help if there is a lot of mold.
• Keep potentially mold-laden dust to a minimum by vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum or central vacuum exhausted to the outside.

Animal Dander

Some people with asthma are allergic to animal dander, which comes from the saliva and the oil glands of fur-bearing animals, such as dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils and mice. Even short-haired cats and dogs produce dander.

• The most effective way of dealing with animal dander is not to have pets in your home. The Canadian asthma consensus report, 1999 says reducing exposure to pet allergens cannot be effective without removing the pet from the home. After a cat is removed, cat dander decreases steadily over six months. Restricting a pet’s access to your bedroom and living areas does not rival the effectiveness of not having the pet in your house. Reducing pet dander by washing pets is only a temporary solution.
• Consider housing pets outdoors.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches are a recognized source of allergens that can trigger asthma reactions in cockroach-sensitive people with asthma.

• Remove open sources of food and water.
• Use non-toxic baits.
• Use a HEPA vacuum in areas that may hold reservoirs of allergens.
• Refer to CMHC’s Farewell to Cockroaches for ways to prevent cockroaches.

Outdoor Pollen

Outdoor pollens (tree, grass, ragweed and other weeds) can trigger asthma in people who are allergic to pollen. Pollen concentrations are highest early in the morning. Keep the windows closed at nights.

• Make your house airtight to reduce pollen entry. Natural Resources Canada maintains a list of residential energy advisors who can conduct a test of your home to identify air leakage pathways and suggest ways of making your house more airtight.
• Air conditioners can be beneficial in warm weather. However, check that the air-conditioning unit is not a source of mold. A moldy smell detected when the unit is turned on may come from somewhere in the house or from the air-conditioning system. Have the air-conditioning coils inside your furnace plenum inspected and, if necessary, cleaned. Ensure the drain pan under the coils is clean and drains properly.
• Ensure that your air distribution system has a filter, such as a pleated paper filter. A HEPA filter may be more effective in capturing pollen particles, but it requires special installation and is costly to replace.
• When the pollen levels are high, you may need to turn off your Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) and other outdoor air intake systems, to prevent them from bringing pollen-laden air into your house. HRVs are also called air-to-air heat exchangers.

By: CMHC

Gen Y will drive rents higher, seek smaller homes

Posted by admin on October 30, 2011

Generation Y will change housing demand, and the strained finances of many Americans will lead to more multi-generational households, according to a new report from the Urban Land Institute, released at its annual fall meeting this week.

The report, “What’s Next? Real Estate in the New Economy,” finds that many real-estate trends will be driven by the values and preferences of Generation Y, a group now in their teens through early thirties.

It’s a group that will be comfortable in smaller homes, preferring an easier commute and better lifestyle to bigger living space, according to the report. They’ll also increase the demand for rentals, a trend that will cause rents to rise.

Meanwhile, researchers expect a continuation of the trend that has people sharing housing, at times creating multi-generational households. They expect much of the fast-growing senior population to age in place or move in with relatives in order to save money.

Generation Y is the largest generation in American history, according to the ULI. It’s only logical that the preferences of this group will have a large influence in shaping the places where people live and work in the years ahead.

By: Amy Hoak

America’s Best and Worst Housing Markets, 2011

Posted by admin on October 25, 2011

Want to know how bad the real estate market is? Just drive down almost any street in the U.S. and you’re likely to see “for sale” signs lining the road. Come back a month later, it’s a good bet the same signs are still there—and quite possibly a few new ones, too. But while there’s a lot of housing pain, there’s also some good news. That’s because in some markets across the country not only have home values improved, a few have even seen double-digit growth.

So where is this miracle occurring? Believe it or not, the city that has seen the biggest increase in home value is in Florida. That’s right—the state that has seen home values plummet 52.3 percent from 2006 peak levels. Nearly 96,000 loans were modified in Florida through August 2011 under President Obama’s Making Home Affordable program. Joblessness, foreclosures, and high inventory hamper recovery in nearly every corner of the state, with rare exceptions. In this case, the rare exception is Weston, a high-income city of more than 65,000 people near Fort Lauderdale where the median home value has risen 15.1 percent to $280,000 from February 2009 to August 2011.

A survey of the 1,000 largest cities nationwide by online real estate marketplace Zillow for Businessweek.com identified the markets with the biggest gains and losses in home value, ranking Weston the best-performing city since Obama took office. In contrast, the U.S. median home value fell by 9.9 percent over the same period.

What’s behind Weston’s success? Ines Garcia, an agent for EWM Realtors in Weston, describes the city as “Broward County’s cul-de-sac.” “It’s like driving into a gated community: the landscaping, the manicuring all around the city,” she says. “We were very lucky. Weston was one of the last communities to fall and one of the first to recover.”

Other winners: Arlington, Mass., where the median home value increased by 14.8 percent since February 2009; Brookline, Mass., at 13.6 percent; and the D.C. suburbs of Burke, Va., at 13.5 percent, and Vienna, Va., at 12.8 percent, Zillow data indicate.

Of course, the winners are far outnumbered by the losers. The city with the worst-performing market in the survey is only 50 miles from Weston in Homestead, Fla., where the median home value dropped by 48.8 percent since February 2009. Rounding out the bottom worst-performing markets: former manufacturing city Pontiac, Mich., with a 47.4 percent decrease, and New Jersey capital Trenton, at 46 percent.

While those in depressed housing markets hope for solutions from the White House, “I don’t see how any President is responsible for the housing market in a particular area,” says Steven Blitz, director and senior economist at ITG Investment Research in New York. The federal government and national housing policies have a limited impact on a local level.

According to  Senior Economist Svenja Gudell, under current conditions the median U.S. home value will likely fall another 3 percent to 5 percent and not reach trough until 2012 at the earliest. The Obama years have been bad ones for housing, yet government was not alone in breaking the housing market—and it cannot be alone to fix it.

By: Venessa Wong

Baby boomers postpone their housing plans

Posted by admin on October 21, 2011

The weak economy is causing baby boomers to postpone plans to sell their homes, according to survey results released this week by Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

Eighty-seven percent of the 1,300 real-estate agents and brokers surveyed said this generation has put their wishes to sell their homes on hold.

“The baby-boomer generation has driven the U.S. economy for years, and like many Americans, they may be anxious about their next real-estate decision,” said Jim Gillespie, chief executive of Coldwell Banker Real Estate, in a statement. “I know baby boomers are a very diverse group and cannot be described in generalities, but our survey clearly indicates that those boomers who are financially secure are actively seeking to buy their retirement home or a second home, and they are taking advantage of the opportunities and value available in today’s market.”

Yet many older boomers, between the ages of 56 and 64, also want to downsize. Forty-nine percent of agents said that the primary reason for the desire to buy a smaller place is because many in this age group want a simpler lifestyle. Twenty-eight percent said the main reason for downsizing is to save money.

Read more real-estate news in this week’s pages, including coverage of the Mortgage Bankers Association’s annual convention, as well as the six biggest mistakes people make when they make a lowball offer on a home.

The weak economy has caused many Americans to put their housing plans on hold. For many, it’s hard to move even if they want to. It’s not easy to sell a home these days, something baby boomers need to do to move somewhere else.

By: Amy Hoak

The Landlord or BC Property Owner’s Perspective on BC HST

Posted by admin on September 11, 2011

THE LANDLORD OR BC PROPERTY OWNERS’ PERSPECTIVE on the indirect implication of the BC HST on rent and BC HST impact on rental housing rates

One thing to remember is that even though there is no direct HST tax on rents in British Columbia, landlords and property owners will be taxed the 12% HST on other goods and services that are required to run a rental home, condo or townhome. Remember that the landlord only sees the bottom line or the monthly cashflow (either negative or positive) that he or she gets from a BC rental property. With the implementation of the BC Harmonized Sales Tax in July 1st, 2010, the BC and federal government will apply the 12% HST tax to all goods and services associated with operations, maintenance and renovations to any property, including new rental housing. These increased costs and expenses to the property owner or landlord will result in a tigher cashflow and bottom line. And you know what that means. With less income coming in, guess who will end up paying for the increase in expenses to a BC rental home? Yes, you guessed it …. Most likely, the landlord or BC property owner will add any extra expense to the rental rate. This is why we call it an indirect implication of the BC HST on rents. The BC HST impact on rental housing will be profound. Just think about this: if all the goods and professional services cost 12% more than they do currently, BC landlords and property owners will probably increase the rental rates on rental homes, condos and townhomes by the same 12% (twelve per cent). What this means is that $1,000/month may be jacked up by 12%, taking it to $1,120/month rounded up to $1,150/month for the exact same rental housing unit in BC. Here are 3 main reasons why the indirect effect of the BC HST on rents will likely increase Vancouver rental rates and decrease affordability for renters.

Reasons #1 – 12% HST Tax Burden on New Homes

The most obvious reason why Vancouver rents will increase due to the new B.C. HST is because the 12% tax will be applied to any new homes purchased, including rental condos, single family homes and rental townhomes. Although this is an upfront cost to landlords and property owners/investors looking to rent their suites and units, when it comes to a Vancouver real estate investment, the investor only looks at the cashflow or bottom line. If the numbers do not make sense, the investor does not purchase the property. If the numbers do make sense and the property investor can get positive monthly cashflow from the rental unit, then they make the numbers work as best as they can. However, the BC HST on rents is indirectly affected by the original purchase price of the rental housing unit. The increased original purchased cost through the BC HST tax burden will ultimately be serviced by an increase in Vancouver rents and rental rates.

Reason #2 – Cost of Operating a BC or Vancouver Rental Suite Goes Up

Essentially, through the adoptation of the 12% BC HST, landlords and real estate investors who rent out their homes, condos and townhouses will see an increase in costs for operating their BC rental housing. If the rental Vancouver home belongs to a strata or community, like most rental condos, townhouses and even some single family homes in master planned communities throughout British Columbia, chances are, the landlord or property owner is paying strata fees or homeowner association fees. With the implementation of the British Columbia Harmonized Sales Tax, there will be BC HST on strata fees and B.C. HST on homeowner association fees as well, increasing the ongoing monthly costs by 12%. In addition, any Vancouver rental operating costs associated with accounting or legal fees will also be taxable under the new tax rules. What this means is that there is BC HST on accounting and HST on legal fees and notary republic costs. This ultimately has a direct impact on the BC HST on rents and Vancouver rental rates, pushing up landlord and property ownership costs that will be passed onto the renter. For BC landlords that pay for utilities, your costs have gone up again.

Reason #3 – Cost of Maintenance and Renovations Will Skyrocket

Not only will BC rental housing operations cost more, but the cost of maintenance and renovations for landlords in the province will also skyrocket. All trades services and products will be subject to the new Harmonized Sales Tax. What this means is that there is BC HST on renovations, including green initiatives, energy efficient products/appliances, rebuilding roofs, foundations, decks, add-ons and other retrofit projects. Not only that, but there is also BC HST on professional services that may include renovation staff, property appraisals and property inspectors. Because of this added HST tax burden, we see many home owners and landlords staying away from renovating their rental housing in Vancouver because it simply costs too much. Therefore, not only will we see the effect of BC HST on rents go up, but the state of the Vancouver rental homes will likely go down.

Kararent Team

Vancouver Renters Can’t Escape the BC HST Tax

Posted by admin on

THE RENTERS PERSPECTIVE on the confusing implication of the BC HST on rents and Vancouver rental market
The 12% BC HST will likely and indirectly increase costs to the renter in 2 ways.
Firstly, all rental home utilities will be subject to the twelve per cent harmonized sales tax. Therefore, hydro, electricity, water, heat, gas and any other utility you currently pay will increase in cost because of the 12% HST that will be implemented on July 1st, 2010. In addition, common household necessities such as land phone lines, cell phones, high-speed internet as well as cable TV will also be subject to 12% tax. All purchases of goods and services such as appliances, utensils, furniture, bookshelves, computers and other household items will also be taxable. Therefore, the indirect impact of the BC HST on rent is that the cost of living will certainly increase a lot by this new tax.
Secondly, landlords and property owners renting out their homes to you will also feel the pinch. Not only will they have to deal with the Harmonized Sales Tax when purchasing new homes in BC and in Vancouver, but they will also experience the 12% HST tax burden on their operations costs, maintenance costs and other professional fees. Undoubtedly, this increase in expenses to the landlord will certainly increase the rents in Vancouver due to the HST tax. So is there BC HST on rent? No, BUT, the BC HST impact on rental rates and rental housing will certainly be felt for years to come as affordability for renters will go down yet again.

Vancouver Renters Can’t Escape the BC HST Tax
According to an industry leader from the B.C. Apartment Owners and Managers Association, the implications of the BC HST on rent and rental housing in British Columbia wil be devastating and may even casue a crumbling of the rental housing stocks throughout all the major centres. Because landlords and property owners already pay GST on such things as materials, renovations, maintenance and labour costs, the BC Harmonized Sales Tax will hike those fees by another 7% to 12% HST on rental housing maintenance and operations. According to the B.C. Apartment Owners and Managers Association, there is no way for them to recoup the increase in expenses to run their BC rental housing. In addition, current Vancouver bylaws have rent controls that limit increases in rent to only 3.7% for 2009, which is minimal when considering the 7% HST tax on rent. The result according to the B.C. Apartment Owners and Managers Association is that landlords and property owners will not go through with much needed maintenance and renovations on their rental properties because of the tax burden and also, they will seek maximum annual rents and also charge the maximum allowable rent increase every year just to pay for the extra 12% HST tax on rental housing operations. In addition, BC homebuilders and developers now have even less incentive to build new rental housing stock in the province and Greater Vancouver, where it is much needed to ease the tight vacancy rates as small profit margins will be shaved down even more.

Kararent Team

British Columbia HST Implications

Posted by admin on August 28, 2011

Is There BC HST on Rent? Other Indirect British Columbia Harmonized Sales Tax Implications and the BC HST Impact on Vancouver Rents

Many renters have asked us this question already: Is there BC HST on rent in Vancouver and around the province? Does BC HST impact rental housing rates and what are the implications and impact of the British Columbia Harmonized Sales Tax on rents and rental rates in major cities where vacancies are still at record lows? To answer your questions as simply as we can, there is no direct BC HST on rent in the province. Therefore, a landlord or property owner renting their home or condo to renters DO NOT charge 12% BC HST on Vancouver rents. Basically, what you see is what you get in terms of BC rental pricing.

HOWEVER, because of the implementation of the BC Harmonized Sales Tax in July 1st, 2010, there is an indirect effect of the 12% HST on rents in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia. Not only will the B.C. HST impact residential housing rents, but it will also ultimately affect commercial rents next year. Again, these is no BC HST on commercial rents directly. However, the commercial property owner will have their hands tied as the 12% new tax will be applied to all operation costs, maintenance issues, renovations and professional services. What this means is that the BC HST on commercial rents will increase indirectly due to the increase tax burden on the British Columbia commercial property owner. In this article, we will try to examine the negative impact of the BC HST on rent, even though it is indirect.

THE BC HST RENT IMPACT IS TWO-FOLD, AFFECTING BOTH RENTERS AND LANDLORDS. THE IMPLICATION OF THE BC HST ON VANCOUVER RENTS WILL CAUSE RENTAL RATES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA TO INCREASE. THIS WILL RESULT IN A DECREASE IN HOUSING AFFORDABILITY FOR RENTERS, LANDLORDS AND HOME OWNERS.

Firstly, we will try to explain what HST actually is. HST stands for Harmonized Sales Tax and BC will become the fifth province in Canada to adopt the harmonization of their provincial sales tax and the federal GST tax after Ontario, Newfoundland/Labrador, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. By doing so, the two taxes will be combined or harmonized into a single sales tax that is equal to 12% (twelve percent). The BC government has confirmed that there is no BC HST on rent applied to rental housing in Vancouver or anywhere else in the province. What this means is that if you are renting a two bedroom condo in Vancouver costing $1,000, you are paying $1,000 and not $1,000 plus 12% HST. However, this does not mean that Vancouver rents won’t be affected by the British Columbia Harmonized Sales Tax as we will explain directly below.

Electronic lease signing?

Posted by admin on August 25, 2011

Since the spread of the Internet in the 1990’s, there has been virtually no area of business that has not been dramatically altered by the changes in technology it has brought about.  

Some industries have been quick to adapt to changing technology and utilize its benefits while others have been slow to adjust.  But what has been surprising to many is how slow the residential rental industry as a whole has been to welcome the age of the Internet and the cost savings is has to offer. Even today, many landlords and property managers with portfolios ranging from one to one hundred units do not have a formal website providing information about renting with their company or the units they have available.  But for those willing to welcome the technological change with open arms, the Internet has brought about a host of ways for landlords to improve efficiency and save large amounts of money.

Whether or not they utilize them to their full potential, most landlords and property managers know about the options and benefits of listing available rental units online, either through an outside site like the free services such as Kijiji, Craigslist and Streetseed and paid services such as Viewit and more recently MLS.  There are also many widely known ways of using email and Internet forms to quickly and accurately take and file maintenance requests and correspondence with tenants.  But the newest sets of Internet tools available to landlords which is has just started to gain popularity in the United States and Canada are related to the leasing and rent collection processes.

 Landlords have just recently begun to see the organizational and efficiency improvements that can be realized by collecting lease applications, lease agreements and payments online.  And with an ever-increasing collective acceptance of doing business online along with advances in Internet security – processing these documents over the web has never been easier.

 Picture emailing out a link from your smartphone or computer which directs a prospective tenant to a website where your lease application, lease agreement and payment forms are located securely online.  Soon after, you start receiving emails notifying you that the lease application is completed and ready for your approval via your smartphone or computer. A subsequent email then states that the lease agreement has been digitally signed by the tenant and filed online for both parties to access, and finally that the tenant’s banking information has been submitted to pay their deposit and monthly rent payments.  This is something that many landlords are very excited to be experiencing after years of wasted time sitting with tenants while they fill out lengthy applications and read through pages of lease documents before signing.  

It is estimated that the average time spent to get applications completed, a lease agreement signed, in preparation time, faxing documents and/or meeting tenants alone is 47 minutes.  This does not take into account the several hours per unit used up by filing these documents, generating rent rolls and reports, colleting deposits, post dated cheques and rent receipts at tax time.  With today’s technology, all of the above can be done in a matter of minutes, more accurately and very inexpensively, freeing up the landlord or property manager’s time and energy for other things.  Another benefit is that approximately 30 sheets of paper per rental unit have been saved, contributing to environmental preservation and yielding further cost savings.  

In a world where everything from movie passes to plane tickets are purchased online, it only makes sense that the rental housing industry is starting to take advantage of transaction processing technologies that can dramatically improve overall efficiency and workflow while significantly cutting costs.

By: John Miles

Renewable Energy

Posted by Admin on August 21, 2011

How it works

Although solar-panel layouts are tailored to each rooftop, some roofs are more desirable than others, says Dave Rogers, chief executive officer of AMP Solar Group.

The idea is 40,000 to 50,000 square feet of flat surface, with little foot traffic, Mr. Rogers says. But that’s only 10 per cent of what’s out there. “The biggest factor is the condition of the roof and its structural capacity. We figure out where the roof is in its life, and if the roof is solar-ready, we just put solar panels on. In most cases it will require some roof work, and we’ll pay for that.”

Once the roof is ready to go, solar panels are installed. They are weighted by ballast to keep them in place – the company tries to avoid making holes in the roof to prevent leaks, and this also makes the panels easily removable in case the building owner needs to make roof repairs.

The panels are then connected to a junction box, and power is fed into the city’s main grid. The amount of energy produced is metered and, for the next 20 years, the panels collect energy with very little maintenance. A 17,000-square-foot building – similar to IKEA’s store in Vaughan, Ont. – would generate about 320,000 kilowatt hours per year, or enough to power 33 homes.

Some companies are experimenting with ways to utilize smaller roofs of 10,000 square feet or less. For instance, Solar Power Network installs panels almost flat, at a 5-degree angle (traditionally panels are positioned at a 30-degree angle to capture the most sunlight). The flatter a panel is, the less ballast it requires, and so this plan is suitable for smaller buildings with more load restrictions.

Kararent Team

What are bed bugs?

Posted by admin on August 14, 2011

What are bed bugs?

Bed bugs are insects that, as adults, have oval-shaped bodies with no wings. Prior to feeding, they are about 1/4 inch long and flat as paper. After feeding, they turn dark red and become bloated. Eggs are whitish, pear-shaped and about the size of a pinhead. Clusters of 10-50 eggs can be found in cracks and crevices. Bed bugs have a one-year life span during which time a female can lay 200-400 eggs depending on food supply and temperature. Eggs hatch in about 10 days. 

What do bed bugs feed on? 

Bed bugs prefer to feed on human blood, but will also bite mammals and birds. Bed bugs bite at night, and will bite all over a human body, especially around the face, neck, upper torso, arms and hands. Bed bugs can survive up to six months without feeding. Both male and female bed bugs bite. 

Can I get sick from bed bugs? 

There are no known cases of infectious disease transmitted by bed bug bites. Most people are not aware that they have been bitten but some people are more sensitive to the bite and may have a localized reaction. Scratching the bitten areas can lead to infection. 

How do bed bugs get into my home? 

Bed bugs are often carried into a home on objects such as furniture and clothing. If you think you have a bed bug problem, check for live bed bugs or shells in the following areas:

• Seams, creases, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs
• Cracks in the bed frame and head board
• Under chairs, couches, beds, dust covers
• Between the cushions of couches and chairs
• Under area rugs and the edges of carpets
• Between the folds of curtains
• In drawers
• Behind baseboards, and around window and door casings
• Behind electrical plates and under loose wallpaper, paintings and posters
• In cracks in plaster
• In telephones, radios, and clocks

Bed bugs can also travel from apartment to apartment along pipes, electrical wiring and other openings. If the infestation is heavy, a sweet smell may be noticed in the room. 

What can I do if I have bed bugs in my home? 

The best method to deal with bed bugs is Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which combines a variety of techniques and products that pose the least risk to human health and the environment.

1. Consult with your local health department or a professional Pest Control operator to confirm that you have bed bugs.
2. Inspect your mattress and bed frame, particularly the folds, crevices and the underside, and other locations where bed bugs like to hide.
3. Use a nozzle attachment on the vacuum to capture the bed bugs and their eggs. Vacuum all crevices on your mattress, bed frame, baseboards and any objects close to the bed. It is essential to vacuum daily and empty the vacuum immediately.
4. Wash all your linens in the hottest water possible and place them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes. Consider covering your pillows and mattress with a plastic cover.
5. Remove all unnecessary clutter.
6. Seal cracks and crevices between baseboards, on wood bed frames, floors and walls with caulking. Repair or remove peeling wallpaper, tighten loose light switch covers, and seal any openings where pipes, wires or other utilities come into your home (pay special attention to walls that are shared between apartments).
7. Monitor daily by setting out glue boards or sticky tape (carpet tape works well) to catch the bed bugs. Closely examine any items that you are bringing into your home.
8. Consult professional pest control services and discuss options that pose the least risk to humans and the environment. 

If you choose to treat the infestation with an insecticide, call a Professional Pest Control Service for more information. Use the least toxic product available and follow all manufacturers’ instructions. 

Whether you choose Integrated Pest Management or insecticides, you may continue to see some living bed bugs for up to ten days. This is normal. If you continue to see a large number of bed bugs after two weeks, contact a professional pest control service. 

What do bed bug bites look like? 

When bed bugs bite people, they inject their saliva into the biting area, causing the skin to become irritated and inflamed. Individual responses to bed bug bites will vary. The skin lesion from bed bug bites may go unnoticed, or be mistaken for flea or mosquito bites or other skin conditions. 

Four types of skin rashes have been described in the literature:

1. The most common rash is made up of localized red and itchy flat lesions. The classical bed bug bites could be presented in a linear fashion in a group of three, which is called “breakfast, lunch, and dinner”.
2. Small raised red swelling lesions are also common.
3. In rare cases, people may develop large raised, often itchy, red welts.
4. In people with high sensitivity to bed bug saliva, people may develop a lump filled with blood or fluid. 

Bed bug bites most commonly occur on exposed areas of the body, including face, neck, hands, arms, lower legs or all over the body. 

How do I treat bed bug bites? 

Most bed bug bites go away by themselves and don’t need treatment. Keep the skin clean and try not to scratch. If the bites are very itchy, your doctor may prescribe cream or antihistamines to relieve the itchiness. Oral antibiotics may be prescribed for any secondary skin infection from excessive scratching. 

How do I prevent bed bugs from entering my home? 

• Although even the cleanest homes and hotels can have bed bugs, regular house cleaning, including vacuuming your mattress, can help to prevent an infestation. Clean up clutter to help reduce the number of places bed bugs can hide.
• Be careful when buying used furniture or clothes. Make sure to inspect the used item, and feel free to ask the retailer if the items were checked for bed bugs.
• Use caution when bringing home used furniture or clothes from the curb side. These items may be infested with bed bugs.
• When travelling take the following precautions:

  * Inspect the room and furniture: inspect all cracks and crevices of the mattress and box spring, and look for blood spots or live insects. Request a different room if you find evidence of beg bugs.

  * Protect your luggage: keep all belongings in your luggage and wrap your luggage in plastic to help prevent bed bugs from entering your luggage. Keep luggage on the shelf or away from the floor.

  * Protect the bed: move the bed away from the wall, tuck in all bed sheets and keep blankets from touching the floor.

  * Upon returning home: keep your luggage in an isolated area of your home, such as the garage. Inspect the luggage. Wash all your clothes in the hottest water possible and put them in a hot dryer for 20 minutes.

 For more information: 

• Toronto Public Health – www.toronto.ca/health or 416-338-7600
• Effective Control of Bed Bugs, Health Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Agency – http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/consum/bed_bugs-e.html#2

By: Toronto.ca