The most common household allergens include dust mites, mold, mildew, pollen, and pet dander (dried flakes of skin shed by pets, particularly cats and dogs). Effective control relies on a combination of measures that, when used properly, will reduce the levels of allergens.

• Increase ventilation to the home. Opening windows whenever possible promotes good air exchange and will reduce the concentration of airborne allergens, especially pet dander.
• Wash bedding and stuffed toys once a week in hot water to control dust mites and cat allergens in particular.
• Keep pets clean and well groomed to control dander.
• Use mite-resistant mattress covers and pillow covers and wash these frequently.
• Dust and vacuum regularly, and use microfiltration or HEPA filter vacuum bags. The jury is still out on whether bagless vacuum cleaners are more effective in removing allergens than those that require bags; some studies indicate that many bagless vacuums are not sealed tightly enough and can actually exacerbate the problem. Wearing a dust mask while dusting and vacuuming is also a good idea.
• Consider removing wall-to-wall carpeting and use easily cleaned area rugs instead, particularly in bedrooms.
• Make sure bathrooms, especially those with showers, are well ventilated. Open the window and use exhaust fans that vent to the outdoors to prevent a buildup of moisture, which can encourage growth of mold and mildew.
• If possible, reduce indoor humidity to 50% or less by using room dehumidifiers or the dehumidifier feature available with many central air conditioning systems.
• Clean or replace furnace and central air conditioner filters on a regular basis. Make sure that air conditioner drain pans are clean and allow the water to drain properly.

Feel free to contact me with inspection related questions at 306-956-6760, or by email at bradly.george@pillartopost.com.

Bradly George
Pillar to Post Home Inspections

The infographic was produced by the Golden Shine Cleaning Company in San Diego. While you may never have the opportunity to use their services at home, you may find their website handy, particularly their archive of blog articles where you’ll find all kinds of great house cleaning articles, several on health friendly ways to clean.

In my experience, it’s not unusual to find traces of mold in resale homes. As the video suggests, some of them are toxic while others pose far less of a health risk. In any case, if you notice the presence of mold in a property you’re interested in buying it’s definitely worth having tested. The cost of remediation can be significant if the mold is toxic and at an advanced stage.

A company like Canadian Indoor Air Quality Investigators or Got Mold? can assist you with testing if you discover traces of mold in your home or in one that you’re considering. They’re both well equipped to remediate as well.

CMHC has also published a helpful guide titled, Fighting Mold – A Homeowners Guide that’s worth checking out.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

“The biggest thing that I experienced was a complete loss of self-esteem. To do that, to be sitting on the sidewalk, to be visibly homeless, to look through a garbage for whatever you can find, bottles, to ask people for change you have to drop all of your self-respect. It makes you feel like you’re a whole other species and that’s one of the problems with being homeless. You’re just different from everyone else and you’re not worth it, and you don’t feel like you’re worth it.” David Ferris

Part One

Part Two

“You hear a lot of people and they think that people who are addicted to drugs must be stupid or unintelligent. If they’re poor, or on welfare they must be stupid. Just through circumstances people lose their way. From my experiences I believe the most important thing is for them to make the decision that they want to move on, that they’re ready to move on but in order to do that they need to believe that they can. Don’t let them slip through the cracks.” David Ferris

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

In an 8-2 vote, council voted in favour of receiving Debbie Johnston’s three-page request as information instead of referring it to city administration for a formal report.

According to a Star Phoenix story published this evening, Councillor Gordon Wyant warned that allowing people to raise chickens could only lead to bigger things. With that, Mayor Atchison declared the matter put “to bed once and for all” and Ms. Johnston left the meeting “pissed off.”

The idea of raising chickens in the city isn’t a new one. David Hutton reports that Vancouver is considering a proposal to allow residents to keep up to four hens in their yard. “Several marches” have occurred in Calgary to try to get the city to lift bylaws banning it there. A facebook page titled “Raising Chickens” has been “liked” more than 500 times.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions. All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

Vermiculite was one of a number of loose fill insulation products approved for installation under the Canadian Home Insulation Program (CHIP) that provided grants to home owners who improved energy efficiency in their property between 1977 and 1984. Health Canada believes that vermiculite was installed in approximately 250,000 Canadian homes during that time. There is no information available as to where vermiculite use was most common but I can tell you that I have run across Saskatoon homes containing vermiculite insulation a number of times during my sixteen-year real estate career.

Health Canada’s position is this; “If vermiculite-based insulation is contained and not exposed to the home or interior environment, it poses very little risk.” Perhaps this provides some comfort to homeowners who have vermiculite insulation in their home, but in my own experience, the presence of asbestos is a growing concern for home buyers. Asbestos which is contained and undisturbed may never cause you or others in your home health problems but there is some significant likelihood that it could cause problems in completing a home sale when you’re ready to move. Some home buyers may be totally disinterested in purchasing a home that contains such a potentially toxic substance insisting that it be remediated as a condition of the sale, or they may walk away from the deal all together once they know.

It’s important to note that not all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos. If you suspect that you may have vermiculite insulation in your home you should avoid disturbing it. Contact a qualified expert for assistance in obtaining a sample for testing. In Saskatoon, Pillar to Post Home Inspections is qualified to gather samples and they can submit them to a lab on your behalf for testing. Testing costs can vary from one day to the next, but generally, a range of $150-$200 is what you should expect to pay for the service.

If vermiculite is present in your home and it does not contain asbestos, a lab report will be helpful in eliminating the concern that potential buyers for your home may have when you’re ready to sell. If it does contain asbestos, you can decide to remediate now, begin saving for an eventual remediation, or you can choose to leave it and deal with it at the time of sale. Remember though, leaving it until that late stage almost certainly raises significant concerns for your prospective buyer and could derail your sale.

One should probably consider that knowing your home contains asbestos might require you to disclose its presence when you offer the home for sale. The Property Condition Disclosure Statement (PCDS), which is not mandatory for home sellers, but is commonly used in Saskatchewan, has the following question. “To the best of your knowledge does the dwelling contain asbestos or urea formaldehyde insulation?” If you know asbestos exists, you are legally required to answer this question in the affirmative, if you choose to utilize the form. Home buyers are often suspicious of sellers who refuse to complete a PCDS. Even if you choose not to use the form a buyer could argue that disclosure is required based on the potential health implications of asbestos. In any case, professional home inspections are so common that it’s doubtful that vermiculite in your home could escape scrutiny when selling.

Health Canada has some good information online about vermiculite and asbestos including precautionary steps you can take to avoid contaminating your living space if vermiculite containing asbestos is present in your home. Check it out here.

Related posts: Asbestos in the home.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Real estate geeks can follow our daily updates on Twitter @norm_fisher.

Our Saskatoon home search tool offers MLS listings represented by all real estate brands, presented with more detail than you’ll find anywhere else. Check it out here.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

You’ll be reminded that it’s Realtor® Community Safety Week by a series of safety tips airing on C95FM and Rock102. I’ve also noticed some service announcements in the Star Phoenix. The highlight event for the week is a Neighbourhood Safety Fair that happens on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm. It will be held at Sonnenschein Way, just south of the Farmer’s Market. If you can find the time, it’s probably worth attending. Apparently, there will be children’s activities and prizes, self-defense demonstrations, home safety products and lots of good safety related information.

Whether or not you can attend you should check out a free publication that’s being offered by the City of Saskatoon. It’s called “Safe at Home” and it contains about a dozen pages of great tips for staying safe in your community and in your home. Please read it and be safe, this week and every other.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

If you are a potential homeowner or are seeking to remodel an older home, exposure can cause many health concerns for you and your family. If you are interested in living in a safe, healthy environment, free of health damaging materials, here is some information to get you on that track.

Asbestos exposure can cause a debilitating lung ailment known as mesothelioma. This asbestos-related illness is one of the hardest for physicians to diagnose for a variety of reasons. The disease typically has a latency period lasting anywhere from 20 to 50 years when it has already reached its later stage of development. Its symptoms also resemble many of other less serious conditions. Mesothelioma treatment is usually limited to a handful of procedures and results vary from patient to patient. If your home or jobsite has had asbestos removed, exposure may have occurred previously and receiving a medical checkup is of the upmost importance.

Health Canada offers assistance and information in the prevention, disposal and removal of asbestos. They are federally responsible for helping citizens maintain and improve health at home and the work place. Homeowners should not disturb any suspected asbestos themselves as this makes its fibers airborne. The inspection and removal of toxic substances must be performed by licensed abatement contractors who are trained in handling dangerous materials. They work under provincial and federal regulations to ensure no health concerns arise from improper removal.

Once the area is asbestos free, environmentally sustainable materials should be considered including cotton fiber, cellulose and lcynene, water based spray polyurethane foam that can reduce energy costs annually. With the constant growth in technology, there is absolutely no need for health damaging materials such as asbestos.

Click for a larger image displaying potential problem areas for asbestos in the home.

A qualified home inspector can often detect the presence of asbestos and other potentially dangerous products that may have been used in home construction over the years. Put “healthy living environment” for your family at the top of your “wants and needs” list when shopping for a new home.

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

The Supreme Court of Canada today reinstated Jack Grover’s obstruction of justice conviction, ruling that the Saskatchewan Court of Appeals was wrong to overturn the guilty verdict. Grover was charged following a deadly fire in one of his properties which left two children dead and an adult man suffering permanent brain damage. In June of 2006, Grover was found guilty of falsifying smoke detector maintenance records. On August 31 he was sentenced to serve one year in prison for his actions but he was released the following December when the conviction was set aside by the provincial appeals court.

Grover has a lengthy history of problems related to his real estate holdings which include single family homes and apartment buildings in Saskatoon.  In one five year period over 30 fires were reported at his properties.  He’s been convicted of making a false or misleading statement, obstruction of justice, as well as other infractions under the Fire Prevention Act and Saskatoon’s fire bylaws. This is the first conviction which came with a prison sentence. Sadly, it’s far too short.

Is it just me, or is this just a really strange idea?

Saskatchewan cattle farmer, Ivan Allin has launched a new business venture called U-Pick Steak Farm, which is supposed to address consumer concerns about the quality and safety of the food that they’re eating.

The Saskatoon Sun quotes Mr. Allin as saying, “The idea just came to me one day. You have the u-pick thing with strawberries and raspberries so I thought, ‘why not beef?’”

I’m still trying to figure out how that makes sense. I think most people are pretty well qualified to pick strawberries and raspberries, but I start to feel a little out of my comfort zone picking a cow, and I can’t imagine that I might feel any “safer” for doing so.

Mr. Allin suggests that this is a way for consumers to “come back to nature, watch the calves as they’re maturing and even pick one that they might want to have.”

Perhaps it’s the city boy in me but the last thing I want is a long term relationship with something I’m eventually going to eat.

You have to hand it to Saskatchewan people for their entrepreneurial spirit and who knows, maybe this turns out to be a big thing. Strange as I may think it is, at least Mr. Allin is willing to try something different and he has managed some free ink as a result. Best wishes for your success Mr. Allin. I hope you mooove a few head of cattle.

If the idea of picking your own cow turns your crank, you can reach the U-Pick Steak Farm at 306-946-2440.

My day to day work takes me in and out of a lot of homes. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that many people struggle with organization. A terribly disorganized home might feel homey to you, but it does little for showings at your property. In fact, many home buyers have difficulty looking past clutter. Often, their eyes dart back and forth from one pile of stuff to the next and completely overlook what’s most important; your home. Clutter robs your home of space, which everybody needs and it creates a feeling of chaos in many people, not an ideal feeling when you want them to feel at home.

Disorganization will not only have a negative impact on your Saskatoon real estate sale. For many people, being disorganized causes stress. Perhaps you’ve felt it yourself. Is 2007 your year to get organized? If so, I’ve found a website that could be your best friend. Life Organizers is all about helping you get your stuff together. It’s packed with great ideas on organizing almost every area of your life.

Your home

Office or home office

Clutter

Finances

Time management

Mind, body and spirit

Cleaning

School and family

Wires and cables

Moving

Weddings

It’s all right here.

If you are selling a home, you may want to review these articles as well.

Preparing Your Home For Sale

Preparing for a Successful Photo Shoot

I’m always happy to answer your Saskatoon real estate questions.  All of my contact info is here. Please feel free to call or email.

Follow our daily updates on Twitter @SaskatoonHomes.

Norm Fisher
Royal LePage Saskatoon Real Estate

The charge resulted from actions Grover allegedly took “to falsify” inspection records which would have indicated that timely property inspections had occurred prior to a fire at his rental property at 214 Avenue E North which killed three-year-old Isabelle Bowron and her infant sister Jordynn in March, 2005. One other adult, Curtis Gifford suffered permanent brain damage from the fire. Jennifer Bowron, mother of the children who perished, along with her three-year-old son William were burned.

The day after the fire, Grover approached the grandmother of the dead children at the hospital and asked her to sign inspection records indicating that timely inspections had been performed, as the law requires. She refused. Grover was later charged and convicted of attempting to falsify records.

In a 2 to 1 ruling, the Court of Appeal concluded that there was “no evidence” that Grover actually knew that the inspections had not been conducted.

Grover has a lengthy history of problems related to his Saskatoon real estate, a portfolio which includes single family homes and apartment buildings. In one five year period over 30 fires were reported at his properties. He’s been convicted of making a false or misleading statement, obstruction of justice, as well as other infractions under the Fire Prevention Act and Saskatoon’s fire bylaws.

Grover claims to be a victim of a fire department conspiracy and seems to sincerely believe that the system is just out to get him.

The first time I ever spoke with Jack Grover he was loudly singing halleluiahs and proclaiming himself a “Christian man.” Such public pronouncements, particularly those expressed during an introduction almost always leave me feeling suspicious and on my guard. He describes himself as a “very, very good man,” yet he seems to have no problem letting his tenants live in poorly maintained firetraps.

Will the death of two young children cause Grover to be filled with Christian conviction? Will he turn over a new leaf and work to improve the properties which he owns, for the sake of those unfortunate souls who have few options for housing?

• Suicide attempts are 3.8 times higher in these core neighbourhoods when compared against the city as a whole and 16 times higher when compared against Saskatoon’s most affluent areas.
• Mental disorders are 1.9 times higher in these core neighbourhoods when compared against the city as a whole and 35 times higher when compared against Saskatoon’s most affluent areas.
• Hepatitis C rates are 8 times higher in these core neighbourhoods when compared against the city as a whole and 16 times higher when compared against Saskatoon’s most affluent areas.
• Chlamydia rates are 4.3 times higher in these core neighbourhoods when compared against the city as a whole and 14.9 times higher when compared against Saskatoon’s most affluent areas.
• Diabetes rates are 4 times higher in these core neighbourhoods when compared against the city as a whole and 12.9 times higher when compared against Saskatoon’s most affluent areas.

Read the full Star Phoenix story for reactions from the health community.

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