What to Know About Buying a Home With a Fireplace

Posted by Call Centre on Monday, November 26th, 2018 at 8:39am.

Buying a Home With a Fireplace'Tis this season to hang up your stockings by the fireplace with care. If you don't have a fireplace, you can hang your stockings somewhere else in the home. While a fireplace is a definite necessity for some people, others wouldn't give it a second thought. When it comes to having this luxury in a home, it all comes down to personal preference.

Do You Want a Fireplace in Your Home?

There are a number of reasons someone may choose to buy a home with a fireplace or not. After all, fireplaces can bring warmth and comfort to a home, but they can also require consistent maintenance and involve some element of safety risk. If you're considering getting a home with a fireplace, consider these facts.

The Warmth And Glow

For some people there's nothing better than returning home from work and lighting up a warm glowing fire. It can be such a relaxing feeling to have the embers slowly glowing red while you're leaning back and reading your favorite book. A fireplace can add a romantic feel to any room and create a totally different ambience that spreads from one room to the rest of the house.

The Smell Of Burning Wood

Not only is it great to hear the wood crackle in the fireplace but the sweet smell can travel throughout the home very quickly. Lighting a fire can often make a house into a home, especially during the long cold months of winter. If you love the smell of burning wood, you'll want to have a fireplace in at least one room in the house.

Managing A Fireplace

As with anything else in life, the good comes with the bad. If you have a fireplace you'll have to be prepared to maintain it and of course, purchase the wood and have a place to store it. A fireplace should be checked out every year by an established company to make sure that it's ready and able to function properly throughout the winter season. This maintenance does come with a price tag but it usually isn't too steep.

If you're interested in looking at homes that offer a fireplace as one of their features, be sure to let your real estate agent know ahead of time. Fireplaces can be found in all types of housing units including luxury homes, single-family homes, duplexes, townhouses and condos. No matter what type of property you're looking for, you're sure to find one that comes with a fireplace that's perfect for you and your family.

How to Check the Fireplace and Prepare for the Winter

The winter is here and it's time to make sure your fireplace is ready for the rest of the season. A little fireplace maintenance can go a long way to heating your home this winter. Of course, it takes more than just checking your fireplace to get ready for the winter.

If you've put it off and you have yet to do anything to get yourself ready for the season, it's not too late. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the cold, snow and ice.

Fireplace Maintenance

Fireplaces are just like a furnace and they need to be well maintained. Gas fireplaces draw in are from outside and they tend to get plugged up and dirty. This can cause carbon monoxide to end up inside your house, which is very dangerous.

There is a seal around the glass door, which provides the defense for carbon monoxide. This needs to be replaced sometimes and it should be one of the first places you start, when it comes to maintenance.

The key is the flame and the inside of your fireplace. If the flames change colour or the inside gets black, you may need to get your fireplace services. It's actually a great idea to get it serviced just to be safe.

Your Furnace

Once you're done with the fireplace, it's time to check the furnace filter. Just replacing the filter can make a huge difference when it comes to your heat bills. If you want to save money and make sure your house is toasty warm, make sure you change the filter.

The Gutters

This may not be as easy since the snow has started to fall and it's cold out. However, pick a day that's not too bad and make sure you get the gutters cleaned out. This will help to protect your home from damage.

These are just three of the things to check before the winter starts. Since the winter is already hear, make sure you deal with these issues as soon as possible.

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