Education Forward is an educational initiative that connects practical learning resources with opportunities to help homeowners, families, businesses, and community organizations make more informed decisions.

Homeowner education is one part of the initiative. Education Forward can also help nonprofit organizations and community groups use practical educational resources to support awareness, participation, and fundraising within their communities.

Education Forward was created by Peter Last, founder of Common Sense Factor® and CS Factor Book Publishing Inc.

Peter developed the initiative after more than 40 years of experience in maintenance, construction, fire protection, hardware, and homeowner education.

Education Forward is operated by CS Factor Book Publishing Inc. under Common Sense Factor®.

Participating businesses and nonprofit organizations may support individual campaigns, but they do not own or operate Education Forward.

Education Forward serves several groups:

• Homeowners who want to better understand and maintain their homes

• Real estate professionals looking for a practical closing gift

• Nonprofit organizations and community groups interested in educational or fundraising campaigns

• Businesses that want to support useful educational initiatives within their communities

Different sections of the website are provided for each audience.

What is Common Sense Factor ® Home Maintenance: The Practical Knowledge Every Homeowner Should Know?

It is a 244-page practical homeowner guide designed to help people understand the major systems within their homes, recognize early warning signs, stay organized, and make better maintenance decisions.

The book does not teach readers to become contractors. It gives homeowners a clearer understanding of what surrounds them, what deserves attention, and when qualified professional help may be needed.

What topics does the book cover?

The book introduces major home systems and maintenance considerations, including:

• Plumbing

• Electrical systems

• Heating, cooling, and ventilation

• Combustion and cooking appliances

• Exterior components

• Fencing

• Garage doors

• Roofing, soffits, and gutters

• Windows, vents, and siding

• Interior finishes

The focus is practical awareness, organization, prevention, and informed decision-making.

Does Education Forward provide DIY repair instructions or professional advice?

No.

Education Forward provides general education and awareness. It does not provide professional advice, technical diagnoses, code interpretations, or step-by-step instructions for repairing regulated home systems.

Work involving electrical, gas, structural, fire-safety, plumbing, or other technical systems should be evaluated and completed by qualified professionals where appropriate.

Do I need maintenance or construction experience to use the book?

No.

The book is written for everyday homeowners. You do not need trade experience, technical training, or previous maintenance knowledge.

The goal is to help you understand your home well enough to ask better questions, recognize when something needs attention, and make more informed decisions.

Is a digital planner included with the book?

Yes.

The digital Home Maintenance Planner is included with eligible editions of the book. It helps homeowners organize important property information, maintenance records, service contacts, dates, and future planning.

The planner shown in the Look Inside section is an example of the included planning format.

How do I access the digital planner?

Access instructions are provided through the method identified with your edition of the book. This may include instructions printed inside the book, email access, a QR code, or the Education Forward access portal.

If you have difficulty accessing the planner, use the Contact Us page and select Member Portal or Technical Support.

The access portal provides eligible customers with access to included digital resources, homeowner planning tools, and available updates.

Portal access depends on the book, program, or edition selected. It is not an emergency service, repair service, or professional consultation platform.

What is the Education Forward personalized real estate closing gift?

It is a personalized edition of Common Sense Factor® Home Maintenance: What To Do First that real estate professionals can present to clients as a practical closing gift.

Each personalized edition can include:

• The printed homeowner guide

• Digital planner access

• Brokerage or company branding

• A personalized Welcome Home page

• Space for the agent, co-agent, and a personal message

• Access to applicable digital updates and homeowner resources

How are real estate editions personalized?

The brokerage or real estate professional provides the approved logo, branding information, agent details, and personal message.

Education Forward prepares a personalized proof for approval. The customer reviews the names, spelling, contact information, branding, and layout before production begins.

The brokerage or real estate professional provides the approved logo, branding information, agent details, and personal message.

Education Forward prepares a personalized proof for approval. The customer reviews the names, spelling, contact information, branding, and layout before production begins.

The personalized real estate offer begins with 20 copies.

The current package price, customization fee, taxes, shipping conditions, and available pickup options are displayed on the Real Estate Closing Gift page before ordering.

Personalized orders become final after the customer approves the proof and production begins.

Can builders, mortgage professionals, or other businesses use the personalized edition?

Yes.

The personalized homeowner guide may also be suitable for builders, mortgage professionals, property-related businesses, and organizations looking for a useful client resource.

Contact Education Forward to discuss whether the format is appropriate for your organization.

Yes.

The personalized homeowner guide may also be suitable for builders, mortgage professionals, property-related businesses, and organizations looking for a useful client resource.

Contact Education Forward to discuss whether the format is appropriate for your organization.

A community campaign connects useful educational resources with a nonprofit organization, community group, and local supporters.

A campaign may support:

• Practical education

• Community awareness

• Family participation

• Local fundraising

• Business and community involvement

Each campaign is developed around the organization, the people it serves, and its community goals.

Organizations can explore educational resources that fit the people they serve and the goals they want to achieve.

Common Sense Factor Kids™ provides the main starting point through practical colouring and activity books designed to educate children, strengthen families, and encourage community participation.

Homeowner education and other Common Sense Factor® resources may also be considered when they fit the campaign and its audience.

Education Forward is supporting a community campaign involving the Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton.

The campaign demonstrates how practical homeowner education can be connected with community participation, local businesses, real estate professionals, and fundraising activity.

Campaign details are available through the Sarnia-Lambton campaign page.

No.

Education Forward is operated by CS Factor Book Publishing Inc. under Common Sense Factor®.

The Alzheimer Society of Sarnia-Lambton and Bluewater Home Hardware Building Centre participate in the current Sarnia-Lambton campaign in their respective community roles. Their participation does not give them ownership or operational control of Education Forward.

Yes.

Education Forward welcomes conversations with nonprofit organizations and community groups interested in using practical educational resources to support awareness, participation, or fundraising.

Visit the Community Campaigns page to learn how the framework works. You can then use the Contact Us page to start a conversation.

Yes.

Local businesses, real estate professionals, builders, contractors, sponsors, and other community partners may be invited to support or participate in a campaign.

The available opportunities will depend on the organization, educational resources, location, and goals of the individual campaign.

Where can I purchase Education Forward products?

Available products can be purchased through the relevant product or campaign page.

The homeowner book may also be offered through approved retail locations or other sales channels when available.

Personalized real estate editions are available through the Real Estate Closing Gift page. Community campaign products are available through their applicable campaign pages.

Are shipping and local pickup available?

Available delivery and pickup options are displayed during the ordering process.

Shipping charges may be calculated separately based on the order quantity and delivery location.

Free local pickup may be available in Sarnia-Lambton for eligible orders. Campaign-specific pickup arrangements will appear on the applicable campaign page.

Standard printed books purchased directly through Education Forward may be eligible for return within 14 days if they remain unused, undamaged, unmarked, and suitable for resale.

Digital resources become non-refundable after access has been issued, except where required by law.

Personalized orders become final after the customer approves the proof and production begins.

Books purchased through Amazon are subject to Amazon’s applicable shipping, return, and refund policies. Amazon orders and refunds must be managed directly through the customer’s Amazon account or Amazon Customer Service.

Complete conditions for orders placed directly through Education Forward are available in our Terms of Use, Orders & Refunds.

Contact Education Forward within 14 days of delivery.

Include your name, order information, a description of the issue, and photographs of the product and packaging where possible.

If CS Factor Book Publishing Inc. or its fulfillment provider made the error, the affected product will be corrected, replaced, or refunded as appropriate.

Visit the Contact Us page and select the inquiry type that best matches your question.

Available inquiry categories include:

• General Inquiry

• Homeowner Questions

• Real Estate and Builder Orders

• Community Organization Inquiry

• Member Portal or Technical Support

• Media or Collaboration Inquiry

• Terms of Use or Privacy