Dear David: The sale of our home is closing in three weeks. Our rental hot water heater is giving us problems. Should we go ahead and replace it? – ON THE FRITZ

DEAR FRITZ: Somehow it never fails — things pop up just as life gets busy and preparing for a move is no exception. Like a light bulb that works for years, until it suddenly doesn’t, most things in our homes have an economic life and may eventually need to be replaced.

Your buyers purchased a house with a water heater. You are responsible for providing what they expect at closing, which in this case, is hot water. Your obligation is the same whether the sale closes in three weeks, or three days.

PRO TIP:

A lot of insurance companies have been asking about the age of hot water heaters in the last year, so your buyer’s insurance provider should be happy to know the unit was just replaced. More importantly, your buyer will be able to take a shower and do the dishes when they move into their new home.

With limited time at your disposal, you don’t need to do a lot of shopping around. Start by asking your agent to double-check your Agreement of Purchase and Sale and make sure it states that your water heater is rented (this is standard operating procedure). Next, contact your rental provider and see what replacement options are available. I suggest you choose a model that keeps your monthly costs in line with what they are now, so you’re not saddling your buyer with an unexpected rate hike.

Dear David: We’ve been in our home for over 30 years. We are moving to a retirement community within the city. How do I pick a mover? – STUCK

DEAR STUCK: There are at least a dozen moving companies in our area that are more than capable of helping, and happy to do so. It’s definitely hard to choose!

If you’re moving into a lifestyle community, your best bet may be to connect with the activities office or concierge, who often have a select group of movers they like to work with. These preferred teams tend to be familiar with specific rules within the complex (such as elevator bookings) which can prevent your move from interrupting other residents’ enjoyment of the complex.

PRO TIP:

Give your community’s head office a call and ask them to recommend a mover. Rates within the city tend to be fairly similar and competitive, so if you find a local company who comes highly recommended, you don’t necessarily need to worry about getting several quotes. A referral from a trusted source should be treated like gold. #Advice #AskDavid #TheNegotiator

David is a top-selling Broker in Kitchener-Waterloo Region. He works personally with you when selling or buying your home. Moving? Get it right. Ask David today! Call or text 519-577-1212.