Real Advice With Rita: Neighbour’s Renovations, Prefabricated Homes and Wasps

By Rita for REALTOR.ca

Dear Rita,


My neighbour is doing extensive renovations to their home. What can I do to protect my home during the process?


– Cautious Neighbour

Hi Cautious,

 

In most cases, the onus should be on your neighbour to ensure their renovation project doesn’t disturb your property. 

 

I hope your neighbour has taken precautions during their construction project, which often starts with open communication. 

 

If they haven’t already reached out to you, consider reaching out to them for a quick chat to discuss their plans. Understanding the project’s scope and timelines can help you work around the noise, mess, and general disruption.

 

There are other steps your neighbour may take to help keep disruption to a minimum.

 

Depending on the scope of the project, a temporary fence could be erected by your neighbour’s contractor to ensure workers and construction debris are contained and your property remains undisturbed. They may also set up screening or tarps to further contain dirt, dust, and debris. 

 

If you’re worried about carryover dirt and dust, keep your windows closed and use fans for airflow. This will also help with noise.

 

Some municipalities have By-Laws in place to regulate when construction noise is allowed. For example, some municipalities don’t allow construction noise on Sundays, before 8 a.m. and after a certain time in the evening. If your neighbours are working outside the permitted times, you might want to reach out to them before you jump to lodging an official complaint.

 

If you still have safety or By-Law concerns after speaking with your neighbour and/or their contractor, contact your municipality to ensure they’re working within their permits and the municipality’s regulations. I would recommend only moving to this step if you’ve exhausted other options first because it’s better to maintain a cordial relationship with your neighbours.

 

Hi Rita,
 

I’m considering buying a lot and then a prefabricated home. Do I still need a REALTOR®?

 

– Prefab Preferred



 

Hi Preferred,

 

The process of buying land and building a home is different from buying a resale home and it can get complicated. A REALTOR® can help guide you through the entire process.

 

Before purchasing your lot, you’ll need to consider its location, zoning bylaws, available amenities (like natural gas or municipal water lines) and more. This is the expertise of your REALTOR® can come in handy. They can help you navigate the complex world of municipal planning departments. You may also want to consult with your real estate lawyer. 

 

They can also help connect you with financial advisors or mortgage brokers to discuss what financing is available, as your options are likely different from a typical mortgage.

 

There are many REALTORS® who focus on pre-construction or prefabricated homes who can help you navigate the sales process when it comes time to build. A REALTOR® will come with a wealth of knowledge about different developers, navigating the process, and can help you negotiate the best offer. When looking for a REALTOR® on REALTOR.ca, you can filter your search criteria to include agents with a Certified New Home Specialist designation and don’t forget to ask these important questions when interviewing a potential REALTOR®.

 

Dear Rita,
 

I have a large wasp nest near my garage. How do I safely get rid of it and ensure they don’t come back?

 

– Buggin’ Out

 

Hey Buggin’

 

Wasps can be a real pest—especially when they’re buzzing around your head when you’re trying to enjoy dinner and drinks on your patio. 

 

While you may be tempted to swat them, don’t. The wasps could become aggressive. 

 

If you notice wasps in your outdoor space, but can’t locate the nest, you can try using traps, but not all insects will enter the trap.

 

You can also use sprays or bait to kill wasps, but you should never remove a nest by knocking or hitting it down. This could lead to several wasp stings or other injuries. Remember: wasps don’t lose their stinger and can repeatedly attack when threatened.

 

It’s best to bring in a professional to have the wasps sprayed and nest removed. 

 

Once you’ve eradicated the pests, you can take steps to try to keep them away for good:

• patch up any cracks in your home or garage
• keep trash covered
• don’t leave food or beverages outside unattended
• try adding wasp nest decoys (wasps are territorial!) and
• keep your yard well-groomed.

Rita's article was initially published on REALTOR.ca.  You can find it by clicking here. 

Thanks for reading today’s BLOG!!!

Brian Kondo
Sales Representative / Team Leader
The Brian Kondo Real Estate Team
Re/Max Hallmark First Group Realty Ltd.
905-683-7800 office
905-426-7484 direct
brian@briankondo.com
www.BrianKondo.com
www.BrianKondoTeam.com

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