Fresh is always better and the Brampton Farmers' Market offers the best! Those yummy seasonal recipes wouldn't taste the same without Ontario's local produce. There is also amazing hand-made crafts and delicious baked goods! The farmers market is located downtown Brampton on Main street and runs every Saturday morning from 7am to 1pm. I suggest checking it out if you haven't yet this summer. It runs, rain or shine, until October 6th.
It is amazing what a little paint can do for a kitchen. If your thinking about selling your home or just want to freshen up your kitchen, painting outdated cabinets can do wonders! If you can paint a wall, you can paint a cabinet...there are just a few more details that are important and must be followed. Sherry explains just what these details are and the steps to follow when painting your cabinets on her website "Young House Love".
And they are:
Step 1: Figure out what you want. Bring home paint swatches and select the perfect palette, and if you’re planning to replace your hardware, purchase some before you move on to the next step. Because most old hardware is a different size than newer hardware (the holes are further apart or closer together), it’s important to know if your new door and drawer bling is spaced differently than your current hardware before you begin. Then it’s nice to wash everything down with a little soap and water to cut the grease and the spills that have built up on the doors and drawers over the years. Nothin’ like a little sponge bath to get you in the mood to makeover your kitchen…
Step 2: Take it off, baby. Now it’s time to remove all of your hardware and your hinges (regardless of whether you’ll be reusing it or replacing it- and it helps to store everything in a big ziplock bag so you’re never short a screw). Of course by removing the hinges you’ll be removing all the doors, so finding a place that you can lay out a big fabric or plastic drop cloth (which are about $2 from Home Depot or Lowe’s) is a good idea. Once you have your drop cloth in place, lay out all your cabinet doors and drawers so you can paint them all together in one convenient spot (and have full access to the frames of the cabinets in the kitchen).
Step 3: Fill ‘er up. Then if you’re replacing your hardware with something that won’t fit the existing holes in your doors and drawers, you’ll want to pick up some wood filler (it’s around $6 a tube, which is all ya need) and fill those existing hardware holes in all of the doors and drawers. There are many different colors of wood fill, but since you’re painting your cabinets, matching the tone isn’t really a big deal (although it can’t hurt to grab the one that most closely resembles the color of your current cabinets).
Step 4: Get sandy. The sanding process isn’t always necessary (for example, our cabinets weren’t glossy so we skipped it and went straight to priming) but for some people with super shiny cabinets (aka: lots of polyurethane) it can’t hurt to run an electric sander over everything- or take a bit more time to hand sand things- with fine grit paper to rough everything up for maximum paint stickage. Not sure if yours need to be sanded? If they feel matte like a cutting board (a little absorbent) then they shouldn’t need it, but if they feel shiny like a laminated piece of paper or a glossy credit card then sanding is your best bet. Note: lead paint is a serious health risk when sanding, so if you have an older home with already-painted cabinets that look decades old it’s worth testing for lead with a $6 lead test kit from Home Depot. Safety first!
Step 5: It’s prime time. Due to all the grease and even just the wood stain that often coats kitchen cabinets, it’s über important to get down and dirty with oil-based primer (even if the water-based equivalent claims that it works just as well on cabinet surfaces, we’ve seen stains seep right through that stuff, so oil-based is the better-safe-than-sorry alternative). One coat of primer applied with a decent quality roller should do the trick (then just use a brush to get into those tigher spaces and the grooves in the doors). We prefer wool or polyester rollers (Purdy’s a great brand) over foam ones as we’ve found that they rile up the paint and cause bubbles. Oh and it doesn’t matter if you can still see the wood tone underneath after one coat, the primer’s main job is to make your cabinets sticky and the paint will do the rest. You’ll probably want to snag an extra brush just for priming since they’re usually pretty messed up afterwords (it’s best to toss it or save it for other priming projects and use a pristine new one for painting). And ditto with the roller. We usually don’t even try washing the oil-based paint out of it- and prefer to replace it with a fresh new one before painting for a seamless result (reused rollers and brushes can often compromise the smooth finish that you’re going for when it comes to your cabinets).
Step 6: Get your paint on. You’re in the home stretch, so just two coats of latex paint (in a semi gloss finish for easy wipe-ability) are next on the agenda. You’ll definitely want to wait a few hours after applying primer, but I actually primed and painted my cabinets (two coats!) all in the same day. When it comes to applying the paint, a high quality wool or polyester roller makes for the sleekest application. A mini foam roller can also help since it’s smaller and easy to control. You’ll also probably need to use a brush sparingly, just to get into those little cracks and crevices that your roller can’t reach. Do yourself a favor by buying an angle-tipped brush as opposed to a flat-tipped one- they make staying in the lines a lot easier.
Note: We didn’t prime or paint the inside of the doors, but our approach would be to prime/paint them first and then wait five days and turn them over and prime/paint the outside (that way if anything got a bit imperfect after being flipped face down, it would be on the inside- an therefore less noticeable).
Step 7: Wait for it. After two coats of latex paint you now have to practice patience. Most experts advise waiting at least three days to rehang or begin using your doors and drawers (especially since the rehanging process involves lots of holding and pressing and drilling which can muck up anything that’s not 100% dry). We actually advise waiting five days if ya can (it beats doing the whole thing all over again and guarantees a totally seamless finish even in high humidity).
Step 8: Hang in there. Then all you have to do is rehang your doors (either using your existing hinges or new ones), slip in your drawers, and add your hardware. If the hardware is new, take time to measure twice before you drill to avoid any annoying mistakes that will make you want to putty and repaint, which never looks as good as the flawless finish that you get the first time around. John actually took his sweet time drilling all of our holes for the new hardware (to the tune of about two hours) but it was well worth the assurance that everything was perfectly centered and right where it should be. In this case slow and steady wins the race.
http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/11/how-to-paint-your-kitchen-cabinets/
Visit the link below to find out more information about the laws and requirements regarding basement apartments in the City of Brampton.
http://www.brampton.ca/en/residents/By-Law-Enforcement/Pages/Basement-Apartme...
Don’t forget that you can use the exterior of your home to hang things like mirrors, lighting and fun pieces of decorations too. Simple and unique ideas bring that little bit extra to your outside atmosphere, and will have friends asking for your decorators number when they come over! Have fun and be creative!
The best way to clean windows, or any large stretch of glass, is with a squeegee. It does a quicker and more efficient job.
What you will need:
A good quality squeegee
window wand
If you'll be cleaning high windows, you also will need an extension pole.
The basic process is simple - apply the cleaning solution with the window wand and pull the dirt and water off with the squeegee.
In detail
1. Mix a capful of ammonia or five drops of liquid dish detergent in two gallons of water.
Too much detergent causes streaking.
2. Dip your window scrubbing wand or a sponge 3/4 of an inch into the solution.
picking up just enough water to wet the window without flooding it.
-Wet the entire window then go back over it once to loosen any stubborn soil.
-Run the scrubber against the frame on all sides of the window to pick up any dirt you've pushed against the frame.
Cleaning the face of a fireplace is a project that demands patience. Fireplace stone and brick may be hard, but they're also spongy. This means it has plenty of tiny holes for soil to build up in.
2. Mix a solution of high-alkaline cleaner and one ounce of chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water.
3. Wet the surface of the fireplace well with the solution
Do not use so much that it runs. Dirty water running down the face may cause hard-to-remove streaks
4. Scrub the solution in with a brush.
You should see the suds getting dark and dirty as the buildup comes off.
5. Rinse well.
If the surface is shadowy, a light cleaning with a phosphoric acid cleaner may be enough to brighten it the rest of the way.
Don't use any acids stronger than phosphoric, as it will damage the brick or stone.
Most kitchen cabinets are well finished and even wood cabinets have enough polish on them so that you can use a regular cleaning solution. The oil that builds up on cabinets, particularly around the handles is a combination of kitchen grease, food smears, oils and hand oils. All-purpose cleaners will take care of this job.
If your cabinets are laminate, metal, painted metal or glass, you can wash them all over with a heavy-duty cleaner.Let the solution sit a minute or two, then take a sponge and scrub wherever needed.
Remove the grimy suds from the sponge by squeezing it into the sink, never back into your cleaning solution.
Rinse with a damp “ dry to remove any last traces of scum and leave the cupboards clean and glowing.
Never use acids or powdered cleansers on cabinets. A thorough washing once a year should be enough. Keep a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner handy the rest of the time and spot-clean after kitchen use.
To get off persistent dirt, wash around all handles and any other grease zones first with hand dishwashing detergent.
Wash the entire cabinet, including the handle areas, with an oil soap solution.
Wipe lightly with the solution and dry right away with a cloth.
If your cabinets are dull from wear or age, spray furniture polish very lightly once a year or so to fill in the pores and bring back that original shine.
Watch this video, courtesy of Danny Lipford and learn how to re-do the roof on your home all on your own!
http://www.dannylipford.com/video/replacing-the-roof-on-your-home/
Looking to see some art in the city? Or maybe get some inspiration for a certain room in the house? Head to Toronto and check out any of these six art galleries and get inspired!
Art Galery of Ontario
http://www.ago.net/
Gallery One
http://www.galleryone.ca/
Harbour Gallery
http://www.harbourgallery.com/
McMicheal Art Gallery
The Powerplant
http://www.thepowerplant.org/
University of Toronto Art Center
http://www.utac.utoronto.ca/ a
Spruce up your walls with some of these classy and fun techniques that give a room that little extra.
The Sponge Technique
In this painting technique, first a solid base paint color is applied. When this paint dries off, a wash or glaze is applied using a roller. Before this dries off a damp sponge is used for exposing the base coat. This dampened sponge gives a clouded look to the wall. Once this new layer of glaze or wash dries you can also opt to apply another layer. Make sure each layer dries well before applying the next one. You can opt for two different colors for base and top coat or different shades of same color. Usually darker colors are used for the base and lighter for the top coats.
The Pressing Technique
In this technique, first a base coat is applied. Then a second coat is applied after the base coat dries off. You have to cover the wall, while this coat is wet, using a long sheet of plastic. The one used for food wrap is preferable. Now press it over the wall using a hand broom. Once you have finished pressing entire colored wall, peel off the plastic wrap. Do not drag it. You should not cover long patches. Use medium sized wraps all over to have the best look and ease of peeling.
The Ragging Technique
This is done using paper towels or rags. A base coat is first applied over the entire wall using small strokes. You can paint in different directions as well. Let this dry off. You must take a glaze or other shade and apply it using a roll. Now using rags or paper towels rag off the color in different directions. Change the pressure while ragging to have a variety in the texture. Even small variations will give it a more classy look. You can also use a variety of fabrics to get different effects.
Step 1: Put together a team
For most people, organizing the job is a massive undertaking. Involve several members of the family, if you can. Many hands make light work. Or, at least, lighter work.
Step 2: Organization day
Be ready. Have a tarp available to stack things on. You'll need large plastic tote boxes (or some type of containers), garbage bags, markers for labeling, and gloves to protect your hands. You might consider colour coding your tote boxes — one colour for items for the car, another for garden tools, etc.
Decide how you want to sort your clutter. For example: garbage, recycle, give away and keep. Garbage can be disposed of immediately. Contact your local landfill to find out how to properly dispose of old batteries and hazardous materials.
Recycling items (bottles, metal, etc.) are also readily disposed of and provide the incentive of a little extra cash.
It's sometimes easier to part with the treasures in your garage if you know someone else can get use from them. Give away — or hold a garage sale — for those items that you can no longer use, but that someone else might have use for.
The most difficult pile to sort will be the "keep" pile. Do you really need the items in that pile? Be tough.
Years of clutter won't disappear in a day. A garage can take four days to clear and sort. Gauge your own garage realistically and allow yourself enough time to complete it.
Step 3: Organizing what's left
Now that you've disposed of everything you can, it's time to find a nice orderly arrangement for the remains of the day.
You have three potential areas of storage: floor, ceiling, and walls. Utilize them according to your own specific needs. Wall shelving for garages is relatively inexpensive; garage cabinetry can dress up your garage. Bikes can be suspended from the ceiling or racked against the wall to free up more floor space. Clear containers — labeled — take care of the odds and ends neatly.
Step 4: Clean up
This is the time to sweep up and hose down your garage. Leaving it neat will encourage you to keep it organized and tidy and eliminate another organizing marathon.
Before: After: 
Wouldn’t it be amazing to own your very own private island anywhere in the world? For many this may be wishful thinking but there’s no harm in taking a look at this website and imagining the possibilities. There are hundreds of beautiful islands that differ drastically in price. Check some out by clicking on the link below.
http://www.privateislandsonline.com/
CHARACTERISTICS OF YOUR ZODIAC SIGN: Do they match your personality?
AQUARIUS Jan 20- Feb 19
POSITIVES:
Friendly and humanitarian
Honest and loyal
Original and inventive
Independent and intellectual
PISCES: Feb 19- March 20
POSITIVES:
Imaginative and sensitive
Compassionate and kind
Selfless and unworldly
Intuitive and sympathetic
Escapist and idealistic
Secretive and vague
Weak-willed and easily led
ARIES: March 21 - April 20
POSITIVES:
Adventurous and energetic
Pioneering and courageous
Enthusiastic and confident
Dynamic and quick-witted
TAURUS: April 21 - May 20
POSITIVES:
Patient and reliable
Warmhearted and loving
Persistent and determined
Placid and security loving
GEMINI: May 21 - June 20
POSITIVES:
Adaptable and versatile
Communicative and witty
Intellectual and eloquent
Youthful and lively
CANCER: June 21 - July 21
POSITIVES:
Emotional and loving
Intuitive and imaginative
Shrewd and cautious
Protective and sympathetic
LEO: July 22 - August 22
POSITIVES:
Generous and warmhearted
Creative and enthusiastic
Broad-minded and expansive
Faithful and loving
VIRGO: August 23- September 22
POSITIVES:
Modest and shy
Meticulous and reliable
Practical and diligent
Intelligent and analytical
SCORPIO: October 23 -November 21
POSITIVES:
Determined and forceful
Emotional and intuitive
Powerful and passionate
Exciting and magnetic
SAGITTARIUS: November 22 -December 21
POSITIVES:
Optimistic and freedom-loving
Jovial and good-humored
Honest and straightforward
Intellectual and philosophical
CAPRICORN: December 22 -January 19
POSITIVES:
Practical and prudent
Ambitious and disciplined
Patient and careful
Humorous and reserved
Happy Easter!
Here is a short video with beautiful and unique ideas to decorate your eggs and make a beautiful piece of art. These eggs will make a perfect edible centerpiece for your turkey dinner with friends and family.
Enjoy and have fun!
1. Eat a balanced nutritious diet - Variety is the key to a healthy diet. Including lots of different whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your meals and snacks will go a long way toward better health. If you're a meat and potatoes lover, make sure you choose leaner cuts of meat or even fish or chicken. Cook with less oil and add smaller amounts of butter or margarine as you prepare your meals. Lastly, cut back on sugary foods that make no real nutritional contribution to your diet.
2. Exercise regularly - You don't have to go for an all-out training program to begin to get more exercise. Just get moving. Examine your day and walk whenever you can. Take to the stairs. Add a brisk walk at lunch or after work. Get the bike out, dust it off and go have some fun. If a regimented program is more to your liking, go for it.
3. Get plenty of rest - It is generally recommended that at least seven and a half hours of sound sleep are needed each night. In the 2003 paper, "Proposal for a National Australia Sleep Health Agenda," The Boston Consulting Group notes, "Almost 90 per cent of Australians suffer from a sleep disorder at some time or times in their lives, with 30 per cent suffering a severe sleep disorder." Some factors that may affect healthy sleep habits are irregular bedtimes, lack of daily exercise and eating or drinking just before going to bed.
4. Eliminate unhealthy habits - Smoking, excess alcohol and recreational drug use—all have significant negative impacts on your health and well-being. Getting rid of these unhealthy lifestyle choices will be a big step in your quest for a healthier you.
5. Take time for yourself - Outside of your new exercise regime and taking better care of yourself through a healthy diet and getting more sleep, you have to set aside time just for yourself. This doesn’t mean for you and the kids or for you and your husband, this is strictly alone time. This will help relieve stress and take care of your emotional well-being. Just relax and watch a movie, keep a journal, draw or paint. Anything you can think of that you will enjoy and is relaxing, means you’ve got the right idea. Even small changes to diet, exercise and sleep habits and the elimination of unhealthy bad habits can return big benefits to your health, how you feel when you wake up each morning to face the world, and when you go to fill out your life insurance application.
6. Don't Yo-yo diet! - Do not yo-yo diet. Yo-yo dieting is bad for you and even if they sound healthy, once you stop that diet you can pile on the weight in just a couple of days! Stay away from slimfast, soup diets and diets which you have to eat or drink contents from a packet.
7. Drink Water!
You may have to live next to them for quite a while, so why not build a friendship with your neighbors? Here are 10 simple things you can do to be a good neighbor:
1. Care for their property. This makes the neighborhood a pleasant place to come home to, while helping maintain or improve property values. The house next door does not have to be a palace, but it sure is nice when it’s reasonably neat and clean. Good neighbors don’t allow their yard to grow into an eyesore or safety hazard, with junk lying about or garbage that attracts rats.
2. Are Friendly. They smile and wave when they see you. They welcome new neighbors, maybe with a plate of cookies or a recommendation on a good place to grocery shop. They offer kids candy on Halloween. Maybe they host a block party.
3. Respect the privacy of others and don’t trespass. They extend friendship, while recognizing that some may accept it, and some may not. The fact is that some folks like to keep to themselves, and that is their right. Unless there is mutual agreement, they don’t go over on their neighbor’s property without an invitation. They don’t engage in “light trespass” either, by leaving a bright light on all night outside your bedroom window.
4. Are Helpful. If someone has a new baby or a death in the family, or a vehicle is stuck in the mud, they lend a helping hand. They are also willing to lend a cup of sugar or a tool you need for a special project. (Of course it’s also important for the recipient to promptly return all loaned items in good repair.)
5. Watch out for each other. They are aware, without spying. If they notice suspicious activity or something amiss, they call or check it out.
6. Keep the peace. Noise can be incredibly irritating. Common complaints include loud music, blaring TVs, revving up a chainsaw or motorcycle early on a Sunday morning, driving an ATV in circles for hours on end, and dogs that bark incessantly.
7. Give you a heads up if they are going to make an unavoidable racket (e.g. during construction), and try to limit the impact. If they are planning to make a change that could affect you (like planting trees that could obscure your view) they talk with you about it first, offering the possibility of agreeing to a compromise.
8. Don’t drive too fast, endangering the lives of children and pets.
9. Manage themselves, and their own children and pets. They don’t engage in wild parties that extend into the wee hours, or screaming fights. Their children are well behaved. Their animals stay in their own yard.
10. Volunteer when they can. This can range from periodically picking up litter to getting involved in local organizations that help improve the quality of life in the community.
"Mold is Gold" has become the battle cry of some of Americas' lawyers.
There have been high profile cases where people have claimed that molds have destroyed their health as well as their home.
This article is not about who is right and who is wrong.
It is about presenting some facts and how you can avoid problems.
Here , there and everywhere
It is found outdoors and indoors.
It doesn't really become a problem inside until there is a water problem, such as a plumbing leak, rainwater leak or very high indoor humidity levels.
It needs water and food to grow.
Typical foods are cardboard, dust, paper, wood, dust mites, some paints, pastes and adhesives.
How your health is affected
According to a New York City Health Department fact sheet, most types of mold that are routinely encountered are not hazardous to healthy individuals.
Too much exposure may cause or worsen conditions such as asthma, hay fever or other allergens.
Common symptoms of over-exposure are cough, congestion, runny nose, eye irritation and aggravation of asthma.
Depending on the amount of exposure and a persons' vulnerability, more serious health effects such as fever, breathing problems, nausea and skin rashes can occur.
Newborns, the elderly and those with poor immune symptoms can be affected severely.
Some symptoms associated with mold exposure may be caused by many other illnesses.
How much is too much?
No one really knows at this time.
Until science gets better, common sense should dictate that you should not live in a moldy house!
Testing
There are some experts who say testing for molds does little good.
They state that there are no standards that address acceptable or unacceptable levels.
A good rule is, "if you can smell it or see it, then you have it".
Cleaning
If you suspect you have mold you don't have to panic.
You can call a mold remediation expert to test and investigate for you.
Avoidance
Remember, Water is the culprit!
* Be sure to repair plumbing leaks immediately
* Keep rain gutters clean and operable
* If you insulate your basement, do not use fiberglass or cellulose on the walls, use rigid semi-permeable insulation
* Use a ventilator for your bathroom or kitchen that is piped to the outside, not into the attic
* Do not store boxes or clothes too close to an outside wall (especially in cold climates)
If your thinking about purchasing a house that uses a well to obtain water an inspection should be done before the house is purchased. Below is a checklist to follow in order to ensure that the house you’re your interested in has a well that functions properly.
|
| Well record — Obtain a copy of the well record from the owner or the Ministry of the Environment. This should include: location of well, date of well drilling, depth and diameter of well, static water level, pumping water level, recommended pumping rate and the recommended pump setting. |
|
| Location — A well should be located at least 15 m (50 ft.) from any source of contamination if the casing is watertight to a depth of 6 m (20 ft.); otherwise, the separation distance should be at least 30 m (100 ft.). Sources of contamination include: septic systems, manure storages, fuel storages, agricultural fields (manure or fertilizer runoff), and roads (salt runoff). Wells should be located at least 15 m (50 ft.) from a body of water (see Figure 3). |
|
| Well cap — The cap should be at least 0.3 m (12 in.) above the ground. The well cap and seal should be securely in place and watertight. A locking cap would give some added security against tampering. Well caps are on drilled wells and well covers are on dug wells. Both types should be inspected. |
|
| Well casing — No cracks or settling of the casing should be visible. The ground should slope away from the casing.
|
|
| Drainage — Surface water should drain away from the well and water should not pond around the well casing. |
|
| Well pump — The well pump and distribution piping should be in good condition. |
|
| Grass buffer — A permanent grass buffer of a minimum 4 m (12 ft.) width should be maintained around the well head. Fertilizers and pesticides should not be applied to the grass buffer. |
|
| Abandoned wells — All abandoned wells on a property must be decommissioned (plugged) by a licensed well contractor. Ask the owner if there are any abandoned wells on the property and if they have been properly decommissioned. |
|
| Inside the house — Check for sand or grit in the faucet strainer which indicates a corroded well screen. Verify that the pressure tank reads between 250 to 400 kPa (40 and 60 psi). Ensure that the check valve (or foot valve) is able to sustain the system pressure by drawing no water for 30 minutes to an hour and monitoring the pressure. The pressure should not drop nor should the pump start up during this dormant period. |
To verify income
| 1. | Make sure that the employer listed on the application actually exists. Based on the income confirmation letter, use the reverse directories on www.canada411.ca or myTELUS where you enter the phone number or address to find the company. |
| 2. | Call the employer's payroll or human resources department and verify the information contained in the income confirmation letter. |
| 3. | Google or MapQuest the company to make sure the address is appropriate for the type of business. |
| 4. | Check on Careerowl.ca to ensure that the earnings claimed are reasonable for the profession or region. |
To verify the down payment
| 5. | Make sure that the full source of funds for the down payment is documented. |
| 6. | Beware of the down payment being the deposit with the offer: verify that the borrowers had the funds in their position and that the funds were not borrowed. |
| 7. | Where the down payment source is a gift, the donor's name, address and phone number should be provided in the gift letter, together with indication of their relationship to the borrower (immediate family only). |
| 8. | Do not accept internet downloads of bank statements. |
| 9. | Watch out for math errors on bank, investment, and RRSP statements. Mistakes are a red flag that the statements may not be legitimate. |
| 10. | Ensure the void cheque cross references to the account number, bank and branch. Verify that the branch of the financial institution actually exists. |
To verify the MLS listing
| 11. | Use mls.ca to verify that the property has been listed on the real estate board's system. |
| 12. | Ensure all fields are complete on MLS (realtor name, firm, phone number, contract date, expiry, etc). |
| 13. | Review the offer to purchase and ensure you have all schedules. |
| 14. | Know your real estate market. Does the sale price seem reasonable to the area? |
| 15. | Does the vendor's surname match the purchaser's? If this is a non-arm's length purchase, was the deposit paid to the relative? |
| 16. | If it's a private sale, obtain information about the property by completing the private sale checklist. See the form within CAAMP's Origination Standards for Fraud Avoidance. |
Other things to watch for
| 17. | Are chattels involved? Deduct these from the purchase price (nominal values are usually acceptable). |
| 18. | Are there purchase incentives? If there are bonuses for purchasing such as a car, appliances or furniture, treat these as chattels and deduct their value from the purchase price. |
| 19. | Watch for special conditions. For example, is there work to be completed before closing? Are there kickbacks or rebates to be made after completion? |
| 20. | Have you seen more than one file per year with the same vendor, purchaser or address? Is the purchaser acquiring a portfolio of rental properties? |
| 21. | Watch out for the combination of a quick closing with a conflict of interest (non arm's length, double ended or dual agency). This is a tell tale sign of a fraud file. |
If you are like most Canadians, you are concerned about the safety of your home and your community. One particular type of crime that worries Canadians is breaking and entering, or burglary. Below is a checklist to ensure the safety of your home. If you answer “no” to any of the following questions, further action may be required.
| Surroundings | ||
|
| Yes | No |
| Does your neighbourhood have a sense of community and pride? Do neighbours look out for and care for one another? |
|
|
| Are the house and the grounds visible from the street and by neighbours? |
|
|
| Is the perimeter of your property marked to discourage trespassers? |
|
|
| Are entranceways illuminated at night? Are the bulbs for these lights protected? |
|
|
| Exterior | ||
|
| Yes | No |
| Is shrubbery well-located and maintained, allowing unrestricted views of exterior entrances and windows? Are entrances and windows free of other obstructions? |
|
|
| Are exterior doors and frames sturdily built? Could they withstand being kicked, or otherwise broken down? |
|
|
| Are inner locks inaccessible in the event glass in or near the exterior door is broken? |
|
|
| Is the door hardware (for example, locks, latches, handles, hinges, strike plates) durable and securely installed? Are hinge pins protected or located where they can’t be removed from the outside? |
|
|
| Does the front door have a viewer that lets you see who is at the door before you open it? |
|
|
| Are patio doors “grounded” in their tracks? Is the locking mechanism effective? |
|
|
| Is the garage door kept locked? Are tools and ladders kept where they cannot be accessed by a burglar/thief? |
|
|
| Are basement and ground-floor windows equipped with adequate locks? Are windows of good quality, within solid frames and sashes? |
|
|
| Are second-storey windows that might be reached (for example, from the garage roof, TV tower, ladder or overhanging tree limb) properly secured? |
|
|
| If you were away, would the house still look occupied? If yes, what would make you think so? |
|
|
| Interior | ||
|
| Yes | No |
| Are all interior doors leading to the exterior (for example, basement, garage, solarium) routinely locked? |
|
|
| Are valuables marked for identification, insured and securely stored? Are valuable items kept in a bank vault or a security box? |
|
|
| Do you take reasonable security precautions when leaving the house for the day? for a vacation? to go to the corner store? |
|
|
| Do family members and neighbours know what security precautions you have taken? Do they have good security habits so when they may be asked to look after your home, your know your home is secure? |
|
|
| Do you know your neighbours and their phone numbers? |
|
|
| Is the phone number for the local police department clearly posted at every telephone? |
|
|
| Could security be improved by installing a suitable alarm? |
|
|
Investment properties are real estate which is purchased for the purpose of generating financial returns. Whether you buy a large apartment building or rent out your basement, when you are renting to a tenant you become a landlord which means you are subjected to laws, responsibilities and regulations that differ between provinces. Below are ten tips for renting your investment property.
Here are a couple tips to get rid of pet accidents and save your belongings:
1. First, use water with soap or a detergent to water down and remove as much of the urine as possible. Then rinse the area very well.
2. Next, apply straight white vinegar to the area.
-make sure this will not affect the color of your rug or furniture by doing a spot-test first.
Rub the vinegar in very well and allow to dry until the area is just damp. Be sure to wait until the vinegar is nearly dry before applying the baking soda.
3. Apply baking soda generously to the damp area and allow to dry completely.
-If baking soda gets too wet, it will make a mess that is hard to vacuum. Once it then dries it can stick to the fabric of a carpet and be hard to fully rinse off.
4. When dry, vacuum thoroughly. 
From the Buyer’s perspective
1. Seller will not allow inspectors inside home in a timely manner.
2. Seller did not own 100% of property as previously disclosed.
3. Seller does not disclose all hidden or unknown defects and they are subsequently discovered.
4. Final inspection on new home does not pass.
5. Seller does not appear for closing and won’t sign papers.
From the Sellers perspective
1. Buyer loses job and can’t complete.
2. Buyer experiences an illness, injury, divorce or other financial setback.
3. Interest rate increases and buyer no longer qualifies.
4. Buyer does not budget for closing costs and down payment.
5. Buyer submits incorrect information to the lender.
1. De-clutter
- Clutter is a turnoff to most buyers. You can not just stuff everything into cabinets because buyers will be looking in these areas to access storage capacity. So get rid of it or put it outside.
2. The white glove test
- Give your house a deep clean and attend to spaces that are often ignored. To vaccum is not enough, give your carpets a shampoo. A maid service is worth the investment.
3. Get a check up
- Consider having a pre-listing home inspection report prepared.
4. Revive and Repair
- Complete any half finished projects, rip up old carpets, and consider a fresh coat of neutral paint.
5. Enhance Curb Appeal
- Lawn cut? Roof need repair? Gutters clean? Driveway sealed? Your house needs to look as good outside as it does inside.
6. Lawn and Order
- Pay attention to landscaping. Pull weeds and dispose of any dead plants.
7. Depersonalize
- Put away family photos, children’s artwork, trophies and pet toys. Clear the fridge it makes the kitchen look cleaner and bigger.
8. The Sniff Test
- Ask a friend or your agent to help you identify bad smells in your home. Do not attempt to use deodorants and air fresheners to cover the smells – address the problem.
9. Light up your Life
- clean the windows so buyers can appreciate how bright rooms really are and make sure every light fixture has a working bulb.
10. Out of Sight
- before you allow strangers into your home, stash all your valuables.
Ketchup drips. Chocolate drops. Wine spills. If the party's at your place, expect a festive, colorful carpet after your last guest has gone home. If you act fast, you'll keep common carpet visitors from taking up permanent residence in your home. First things first: Blot (don't soak) or spoon up the excess, then try the remedies below. Use a plastic bucket or old plastic container to create the solutions described.
