You never want to smell smoke in your home and realize there’s a fire. That’s why it is important to be diligent about fire safety. Experts recommend that homeowners be especially careful with the following common household items:

• Portable heaters. Never leave one in a room unattended. Make sure paper and other combustible materials are well away from these units.

• Electronics chargers. We all want our computers, tablets and smartphones to charge quickly. The price we pay for that convenience is chargers that pull in a lot of power, making them very hot. Keep them away from combustible material, as well as other wiring.

• Smoking materials. Be careful with cigarettes, pipes, cigars and other such items. Bedding and upholstery, which burn slowly and dangerously, are the source of 75% of smoking-related fires.

• Candles. Never leave candles unattended for any reason. If you must leave the room, extinguish them.

• Flammable liquids. These can include paints, thinners and some brands of cleaning products. Read labels carefully and follow the safety instructions.

To paraphrase a famous expression: An ounce of prevention is worth not having to deal with a house fire.

You’re at work when the thought hits you, “Did I lock the door when I left this morning?” You check your smartphone, see that you didn’t, and click the “LOCK” button. Now your house is secure.

That’s home automation for you!

But, is home automation a good idea? That depends on a number of factors.

On the pro side, home automation can improve your quality of life. There are automation products that will adjust heating/cooling depending on whether or not you’re home, make your morning coffee when you get out of bed, and the list goes on and on. These conveniences save you time.

Home automation can also give you peace- of-mind. It’s comforting to be able to remotely see the inside of your home and check that everything’s okay.

Home automation can also make your property more appealing to buyers. Traditionally, buyers like homes with security systems, and will appreciate other automation gizmos, too. The only downside is the cost. Like most new technology, home automation products can be pricey and may become out-of-date within just a few years.

Thinking about it? Experts advise you to do your research first. Check out product reviews online. Then, if you determine that a particular product is going to benefit you, go for it!

Buyers are using the internet to search for properties more than ever before. In some cases, they can even go on a “virtual” tour of a home using their smartphone or desktop computer. So, you might be wondering if the old- fashioned Open House still works these days?

The answer is yes. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see them advertised. If Open Houses didn’t work, no one would be doing them!

No matter how good the internet gets, it can’t compete with a buyer being able to visit a property in person, walk through the rooms, stand in the backyard and imagine himself BBQ-ing with his family, stroll the area, and meet neighbours.

An Open House makes it easy for buyers to do just that. It’s an open invitation for them to come by at a specific date and time, to see the property and chat with the REALTOR®. It’s a casual environment, which many buyers prefer.

Some buyers, in fact, are more comfortable going to an Open House before scheduling a private viewing.

Will you need an Open House to sell your home? That depends on a lot of factors. When I work with clients, I put together a marketing plan designed to sell the property for the best price possible. Depending on the circumstances, that may or may not include an Open House.

If you have questions about what would be involved in a successful sale of your home, contact me. I’d be happy to chat and answer your questions.

Watch any TV cooking show, and you’ll notice that a chef’s kitchen looks quite a bit different than what you’d find in most homes. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t have one just like it in your home! With a little remodeling, and splurging on some new items, you too can have a kitchen worthy of Gordon Ramsey, Jamie Oliver, or Rachel Ray.

Chefs love counter space. So, when remodeling, plan to create as much as possible. If you have an existing island, for example, you can replace the countertop with a larger one. Just adding eight inches in both directions will make a big difference.

Most chefs have more than one oven. If that’s impractical for you, consider buying a double-oven stove. Also, chefs prefer gas burners for quicker heat-up times and exacting control of cooking temperature.

One thing you’ll notice about chefs is they love stainless steel. That’s because it’s easy-to-clean, hygienic and durable (assuming you take care of it).

Finally, because chefs spend so much time in the kitchen, they want the space to be attractive and comfortable. So, when remodeling, keep decor in mind.

Even if you’re just an amateur chef, creating a chef-worthy kitchen will make the foodie in you smile.

This is a good question to ask or consider now that our market has changed to a balanced market, inventory has risen, and you are most likely going to have some good competition for your home when you go on the market.

Number 1 is typically removing about 25-50% of furniture and items from a property to make the space feel larger and improve the flow throughout the home. It doesn't take any of us very long to collect way more stuff than we need. This is the beginning step of our staging process.

Number 2 is painting; this comes with a disclaimer: the appraisal institute estimates a 200-300% payback on painting but I can tell you firsthand that it is only the case when you use the right colour, if you are doing it in preparation to sell. The right colour changes with the times and we pick a colour that we know the maximum amount of people will like and that will least likely annoy anybody.... yes, a little neutral and some may consider bland but totally different if you are picking a colour that appeals to you because you are going to live with it for the next 5 years; than ignore payback in that case, it’s for your enjoyment, which is perfectly fine!

Number 3 is lighting, or maybe a tie for number 2, in my opinion. There is nothing worse than a dimly lit home to make it feel small, a bit depressing and it doesn't exactly give you that clean feeling either. There are many LED fixtures at a reasonable cost these days and worth considering. The bulbs are very important as well; I would recommend a temperature of 2700K-3000k which is closest to what our eyes are used to and distorts the colour less as well. Around an 8.5-watt LED creates something close to 60 watts of light. WARNING: Do be careful today when buying the many fixtures that are designed for LED bulbs i.e. Ikea; I see many hall fixtures with a clear 40-watt max warning on them loaded with 60w and 100w bulbs.... a fire hazard I believe, so another reason I like the LEDs to get the wattage up.

Call for a free consultation to help get you started! 905-690-8977

You turn on the television and watch a news story about housing prices going down. Then you read an article about the housing market on the upswing again.

It’s a little like being on a roller-coaster ride!

Unfortunately the ride isn’t much fun if you’re thinking of buying or selling a home. In fact, it can be very confusing and frustrating. You just don’t know if “now” is the right time to make a move.

In reality, the housing market has been fluctuating for decades. Yet, people sell their homes every day for good prices, and just as many people get into their next dream homes affordably.

When you hear news of market fluctuations, there are two important things to consider.

First, a lot of media information about the housing market is national, or at least regional. If the housing market is trending up or down nationally, remember that it doesn’t necessarily mean that your LOCAL market is doing the same.

In fact, it’s entirely possible for housing prices to be rising in your neighbourhood while they are falling nationally, and vice versa.

Secondly, if you’re selling a current property while buying another home, then the net effect of market fluctuations may cancel out.

Say, for example, that the local market is on the upswing. You’ll probably be able to sell your current home for a good price. However, the home you purchase will likely also be priced to reflect the upswing.

The same holds true when the market is down.

All that being said, there are some circumstances in which you need to consider market fluctuations when deciding whether or not to make a move. Call today for more information.

Disclaimer: This article is not a substitute for legal advice. No action in regards to your particular matter should be taken until you have first sought full legal or professional advice from a lawyer fully retained to act on your behalf.

WHY DO I NEED A LAWYER?
It is the law, in Ontario, that a licensed lawyer transfer ownership of your home. This law was passed to better protect the public from fraudsters and bad purchase and sale agreements.

WHAT IS THE COST OF BUYING, SELLING OR REFINANCING A HOME?
Every property is different, and so is every real estate transaction—the buyer, seller, and financing are different, the property is different. It is this unique set of circumstances that require a similar but unique set of documents and legal analyses, every time, and for every property. Put another way, a home is not a "one-size-fits-all" item, and neither is the legal work associated with it. For example, a property may have an easement (a right for someone else to use the land) or a septic tank and well, instead of municipal services. Despite this uniqueness, real estate lawyers traditionally charge a standard fee to make it simpler for their clients, and to stay competitive with local lawyers who provide a similar level of service. This fee is only part of the cost of buying, selling, or refinancing a home.

CLARIFYING LEGAL COSTS
The total cost of a real estate transaction consists of three separate categories: the legal fee, disbursements, and expenses. What you pay the lawyer (the legal fee) is only one part of the total cost. It is the job of a real estate lawyer to help you determine the total cost of your transaction, including, for example, the price of the home, legal fees, disbursements, and other expenses. Below, we break down some of the costs for you into the three categories.

1. THE LEGAL FEE
The legal fee covers the time the lawyer (and any assistants at the firm) spend on your transaction. This can include...

- analysis of the offer
- discussions with you (the client) about what you need to do
- collecting your information
- drawing up the documents
- liaising with lenders, lawyers, and other parties
- advising about pending issues as they arise
- checking all the numbers
- communicating with you as the deal progresses
- answering any questions you may have
- meeting with you to sign the final documents
- and more

2. DISBURSEMENTS
A disbursement is money the lawyer spends on your behalf. These are also referred to as, "third-party costs." A good analogy for this is, you've bought the car and now you have to pay for the insurance and registration.
These costs normally include...

- government taxes (such as Land Transfer Tax)
- a search of title (the ownership) and registration of title (the new ownership) on the government database
- title insurance (if applicable)
- banking fees for certified funds or wire transmissions

3. EXPENSES
Expenses are additional costs relating to the property.
These can include...

- default insurance (if applicable)
- municipal change of ownership fee
- adjustments for remaining fuel oil and propane (if applicable)
- moving costs
- roperty inspections
- environmental reports
- land surveys
- tax adjustments between the new and former property owner
- utility connection charges
- lender fees
- lender deductions for insurance fees or pre-paid taxes
- additional costs listed in Tarion™ Schedule B (on new builds)

WHY DO SOME LAWYERS CHARGE A BIGGER OR SMALLER FEE?
Many things can affect a lawyer's fee: the years of experience acquired by the lawyer (more experienced lawyers can cost more), the skill level of any support staff involved in the transaction, the location of the lawyer (Toronto lawyers tend to charge bigger fees, due to higher overhead), and what services the lawyer includes in the fee.

It is important to note that some lawyers may quote a low fee on their website or over the phone, but charge additional lawyer’s fees, later on. Put another way, not every lawyer includes the same services in their fee quotation. For example, some lawyers can charge additional fees for...

- transfer of title
- changes to mortgage documents
- holding money in trust
- direct deposits to clients
- and other services that other lawyers simply include

We encourage you to ask if there are additional lawyer's fees, separate from disbursements and expenses. That is an important conversation to have. For example, you can ask, “Aside from disbursements and expenses, is that the only lawyer’s fee?” As of September 2017, the rules governing Ontario lawyers have changed to prevent advertising fees that are not all inclusive—so Ontario lawyers should no longer advertise fees that do not include all fees for legal services, disbursements, third party charges, and other amounts. In general, you should find that most lawyers who appear to charge a low fee actually charge about the same or more than other lawyers in their community. If you are uncertain about a lawyer's fee, we are happy to help you compare, whether you choose our services or not.

HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE A REAL ESTATE LAWYER?
Some clients prefer a lawyer who works alone (a sole practitioner) who can process their transaction relatively inexpensively. Other clients prefer a lawyer who employs more accessible and highly skilled assistants (extra sets of eyes and ears) who collect and organize client information for lawyer review—which can also reduce costs. Either of the above examples can do a good job. Rather than basing your choice on price (i.e., what services you receive for what cost) we recommend choosing a real estate lawyer who...

- speaks to you personally or calls you back quickly (when you first call about your purchase, sale, or refinance)
- has experience processing transactions like yours
- teaches you about the legal process
- has a good reputation for practising real estate law in your community
- and has not been subject to any disciplinary orders or prosecutions by the Law Society

Your home has both a personal value and a market value.

When you think of your home as a place where a family is raised and memories are built, then it’s like those popular MasterCard commercials on television: Your home’s value is “priceless”.

But, when it comes to how much your home is worth to potential buyers, then things get much less sentimental. It’s the “market value” of your property that determines how much it will sell for, not your personal feelings.

Market value is simply the price at which similar properties in similar neighbourhoods are currently selling. If you were to list your home on the market today, you could expect to get somewhere close to that figure.

Even if you’re not planning to sell your home in the near future, it makes sense to get an update on its fair market value. Your home is an investment – and you should know how much that investment is worth.

There may also be circumstances where you might have to move quickly. Knowing the market value of your home will help you make quicker – and better – decisions.

How do you determine the market value of your property? Call today.

Remember the last time you were in a furniture store or other major home retailer? Remember the fully decorated displays of furniture, appliances and other products? Some of those may have even been organized as model rooms.

What did most of those displays have in common? Chances are, they were well lit.

In fact, in the retail industry, there are professionals who specialize exclusively in display lighting. It plays such an important role in showcasing and selling home products successfully that the stores are willing to absorb the expense.

The same holds true for your house.

If you want to show your house well, and sell it quickly and for the best price, make sure every room is well lit.

There are probably some rooms in your house where the lighting is adequate, such as the kitchen and bathrooms, and perhaps the foyer. But there are other areas where the lighting may be mediocre. Take a close look at:

• Closets
• Bedrooms
• Hallways
• Storage areas
• Laundry rooms
• The garage

If there are areas in your house that are dark or shadowy, the solution may be as simple as installing higher wattage bulbs, provided your fixture can accommodate them. Keep in mind that brightness can vary significantly from one type of bulb to another. Your goal is to make the room feel bright yet comfortable on the eyes.

Also, don’t forget to open drapes and blinds. Often the best and most pleasant source of light for a room is the sun shining through a window.

Want more tips on showing your house well? Call today.

Putting your home on the market may be the last thing you have on your mind. But, as you know, life happens. Things change. You might unexpectedly find yourself in the position of wanting, or having to quickly sell your home. It happens more often than you might think.

In fact, according to studies into why people sell their homes, more than a third are due to relatively quick and unexpected changes. Something happens – a job relocation, a lifestyle change – and the homeowner finds him or herself making a move.

In these situations, the biggest source of stress is caused by the need to prepare the current home for sale.

If you’ve lived in your house for a few years, or even just a few months, you know how quickly things can pile up. The garage gets filled with stored items. Things needing minor repairs get put on hold.

That’s why it’s a good idea, every so often, to inspect your property and ask yourself, “If I had to put my home on the market this month, what would I need to do?” Then plan to get those things done. That way, if you suddenly find yourself wanting to sell your home quickly and for the best price, you’ll be ready.

When you purchased your current home, chances are it was a good match for your lifestyle. It had the space you needed, the features you wanted, and a location that worked for you.

But for most people, lifestyle and needs evolve through the years. Kids get older. Jobs or careers change. People take on new hobbies and other interests.

As a result, the home that was ideal a few years ago may not fit with your current lifestyle. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need to shop for a new home! However, it may mean that it’s worth taking a look at the market and seeing what’s possible.

Think about the kind of home that would support your lifestyle today. Ask questions like:

• How many bedrooms do we need?
• How easy is it to travel to work each day?
• What special features do we want in our home? (Big backyard? Rec room? Quiet neighbourhood?) • What do we want nearby? (School? Playground? Walking and biking trails? Shopping? Entertainment? Golf?)
• What else does our home need in order to support our lifestyle?

After asking yourself some of these key questions, you may, in fact, find that the property you have now is still ideal for your lifestyle.

If, however, your home is no longer a good fit, you have options. You can stay in your current home despite it no longer being ideal; you can make some changes (a renovation, perhaps); or, you can see what’s available in the housing market.

If you need help with any of these options, call today.

You might naturally assume that it is most important to talk to a Realtor when you’re selling or buying a home. But there are many other circumstances in which it makes sense to give me a call. Here are a few examples.

1. When you’re at the “thinking about it” stage If you’re just thinking about selling your home, and haven’t made a firm decision yet, you might feel uncomfortable calling a Realtor. Don’t be. In fact, I welcome your call. We can discuss what your current property will likely sell for on today’s market, and determine the type of home you qualify to buy. That way, you’ll have some clarity and be able to make a more informed decision.

2. If you’re nervous about the selling process If you haven’t sold a home before, you might be concerned about what’s involved in the process. You might even worry that putting your home on the market is going to be a lot of work and create a lot of turbulence for you and your family. Fortunately, selling your home doesn’t need to be scary. In fact, a big part of my job as a Realtor is to make the process as smooth and trouble-free as possible. So if you have concerns about selling your home, you should give me a call.

3. If you have questions You likely have questions about the local real estate scene from time to time. You might have questions like: “How much did that home around the corner sell for?”; “Is now a good time to make a move, or should I wait until the market changes?”; and, “How much is my current home worth?”

When you have questions like those, you don’t need to dig for answers on your own. You can give me a call. As an expert in the local market, I can give you the answers you need.

Imagine there’s a neighbourhood you’d love to live in someday, but, every time you drive through, you rarely, if ever, see a For Sale sign. It’s as if homes get gobbled up by buyers the moment they get listed.

It’s true, properties do tend to sell quickly in desirable, in-demand neighbourhoods. Does that mean you’re destined to either hope for a lucky break or miss out on ever living there? Fortunately, no. There are practical things you can do to increase your chances of getting into that neighbourhood.

Your first step is to find out the kind of new home you can afford. You want to get your financial ducks in a row so when a listing does come up in the area, you’re able to respond quickly. Find out the average price range of homes in the neighbourhood. Then, if necessary, talk to your lender or mortgage broker.

The second step is to get your current property ready for sale. You don’t necessary need to list it now, but you want to be in a position to do so quickly, if necessary. You may need to clean up and declutter, get repairs done, and spruce up your home in other ways.

The third step is to talk to me. You see, listings in popular neighbourhoods often move fast. By the time you see them advertised on the internet, they may be gone. I can closely monitor listings in that area for you, so the moment one comes up that meets your criteria, you can be alerted. This greatly increases your chances of getting that home.

So if there is a dream neighbourhood you’d love to get into, give me a call.

If you want to transform a room into something that’s functional, beautiful and perfectly matched to your taste, then you might want to hire an interior designer. It’s an interior designer’s job to come up with imaginative ideas that will wow you.

It’s a myth that interior designers just deal with paint colours, décor and furnishings. In fact, according to the Interior Designers Institute, these professionals have the training needed to handle all aspects of a renovation or remodeling project, including selecting and managing contractors. They can direct a project from beginning to end.

If you want to renovate your basement into a stunning home theatre and gathering place, an interior designer can:

• Draw out several concepts for you to choose from,
• Purchase the best building materials,
• Hire the contractors, and
• Manage the project.

He or she can even pick out classic movie pictures for the walls! There are many professional associations that have “Find an Interior Designer” links on their websites. In Canada, it’s the Interior Designers of Canada (www.idcanada.org). 

Some people don’t give hallways much thought when painting and decorating. Instead, they focus on rooms.

The fact is, a great looking hallway can have the same, if not more, impact than the most eye-catching family room or bedroom, especially when you need to go through the hallway to get there!

Here are some painting tips that can bring a dull hallway to life:

• Paint the hallway the reverse of the rooms around it. If the rooms are dark, use light colours in the hall. If the rooms feature simple colours, consider being more dramatic in your choice of hallway paint.
• In a longer hallway, using two shades of the same colour on perpendicular walls can make the space seem less tunnel-like. (The darker shade goes on the shorter walls.)
• Darker colours can work well if the space is well-lit and there are few, if any, shadows cast.
• If you decide to paint the halls white, select an off-white or eggshell white. Avoid stark white as it will reflect light in a way that’s unpleasant.

One more tip: Pictures can go a long way in making a hallway look inviting, regardless of the wall colour.
Good luck with the painting!