Monthly Archives: January 2010

National Home Show in Toronto next month

Posted on January 22, 2010 | 1 Comment

The biggest national home show in Canada will be taking place in the Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place from February 19 to February 28, 2010.

The event showcases over 700 vendors with outdoor products and home furnishings as well as provides information about remodeling, renovation and kitchen and bathroom upgrades. Numerous vendors will also be discussing ways to increase the greenness and energy-efficiency of homes, and a giant warehouse-sized sale will provide a venue for guests to sell their used, clearance-priced items to shoppers.

Many of the usual 150,000 annual visitors attend the show with home improvement or project planning in mind and are looking for decorating, design, landscaping, gardening, cooking tips as well as entertaining ideas.

The National Home Show includes features such as:

  • Toronto Star Dream Gardens will be highlighting 25,000 square feet of gardens using plants and styles following an “around the world” theme.
  • Chat one-on-one with celebrity interior designers and ask any question about home renovations and decor.
  • A dream home exhibit featuring the contributions from many high-profile Toronto designers where attendees can see and learn about different decorating techniques and styles.
  • Try out the latest gadgets while watching the game or Olympic highlights in the cozy Rogers Sports Lodge.
  • Learn about living green in the City of Toronto with rebates, incentives and grants at the Live Green Toronto Pavilion.
  • Consultations from renovators, builders and other industry professionals to help you gain valuable construction knowledge and save time and money when renovating your home.
  • Presentations, advice and insight from Ty Pennington, Debbie Travis and various hosts from HGTV shows.

Tickets at the door are $15 or can be pre-purchased online for $12. Seniors and children aged 12-17 are $11, and children under 12 get in free.

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Despite home inspections, some homeowners living in former grow-ops unaware

Posted on January 21, 2010 | Leave a comment

A CBC Marketplace investigation has found that some newly purchased homes show signs of having been used in marijuana grow operations that their current owners never knew about, despite paying for home inspections before they ended up buying them.

Upon re-inspection by Canadian construction guru Mike Holmes, obvious signs that the homes were former grow ups were quite visible, such as patched-up ceiling holes and substantial attic mould. Four home inspectors were called to the home afterwards, and not one of the four made mention of the common grow-op related problems.

The reparations that would need to be done in this particular home to rectify these issues could cost the homeowners upwards of $10,000.

Marijuana growing operations wreak havoc on the homes they’re run in. Dangerous re-wiring jobs, pirated hydro meters, toxic black mould and alterations to the construction that seriously reduce the structural integrity of important building components are only a handful of the costly problems that come with purchasing a former grow-op.

Peel Regional Police Detective Jason Kirkpatrick told CBC that the structural damage done to the foundation of grow up homes can have continued and devastating effects over time.

“We’ve seen houses start to leak because of these breaks in the foundation,” he said, “I think a proper inspector would notice some of the telltale signs, such as ventilation being left in the attics.”

The president of the Ontario chapter of the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, Glenn Gogal, said that home inspections offer some protection, but not complete protection against problems of this nature. “There is a lot of protection in hiring a home inspector to give you an evaluation of your property, but it’s not a 100 per cent. It can’t be,” he told CBC.

Gogal mentioned that he agreed the investigation reflected poorly on the inspectors involved and that he could send out e-mails to association members explaining the situation and recommending improvement in the area.

For tips on how to effectively screen home inspectors, check out our post here: www.muddyyork.com/2010/01/01/finding-a-bad-home-inspector

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Canada Real Estate Market on Track

Posted on January 18, 2010 | Leave a comment

By Matt Goulart

As the global housing recovery continues to gather momentum according to the Global Real Estate Trends which was released by one of Canada’s largest banks, the Bank of Nova Scotia.

Right now global housing recovery is being nourished by exceptionally low borrowing costs, direct government purchase incentives and improving confidence in the fledging economic recovery and any residential real estate in major developed nations firming up in the third quarter of 2009.

Now Canada is doing exceptionally well, which leads the markets that Scotiabank tracks.

We saw the early slump in Canada’s housing market wrap up early and we had a surprisingly strong year in 2009.

Now we have seen much news concerning the increase in Canadian home prices, which brings worry of a housing bubble, however if we examine the recent home price increases, it is primarily due to fundamental demand supply factors.

When the ratio of home sales to new listings move above 50, it is considered a seller’s market, and selling prices rise faster than inflation.

The larger the imbalance between the number of potential buyers and willing sellers, will give a larger than average price gain.

The housing demand in Canada is expected to remain strong, through the spring sale season as buyers attempt to use the extremely low interest rates to their advantage and as improving labour markets increase confidence.

It is expected that reduced affordability, through the combination of higher home prices and borrowing costs will eventually cool demand, however this is not expected until much later in 2010.

On the other hand, if home prices continue to climb, there is the risk of an eventual price correction, however this topic is for another day.

With the information we have, if you are a buyer in the current housing market, you should be prepared to see more inventory and the possibility of prices stabilizing, or event going up further. You should not expect to see prices decline especially if you consider the low interest rates are being held until the middle of 2010, and the improving confidence in the labour market being seen every month.

Take your time when purchasing a house, because you are committing yourself to a large investment, one of the biggest you will make in your life. Taking the necessary precautions will allow you to make an informed decision and will ultimately allow you to have the home of your dreams.

Matt Goulart is the Founder and Lead Consultant with Webstar Content.  Matt can be reached at matt@webstarcontent.com or via their website at www.webstarcontent.com.

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Make good on your home-related New Year’s resolutions

Posted on January 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Most people make New Year’s resolutions and never follow through. Losing weight, quitting smoking, changing careers – all overwhelming life-changing steps to undertake so soon in the new year. It seems like the easiest ones to make a reality and keep would be the changes and renovations to your home and other decorating ideas you’ve been kicking around. Let yourself off the hook and commit to something you look forward to doing.

Pickup some home or design magazines brainstorm some ideas of what you can do to change the look of your home. What will you need? How much will it cost? Will it really boost the value of your home or is it just something you’re doing for yourself? This will help you determine how much money to put aside or how much planning to put into it.

You can reorganize closets and cupboards for a fresher, cleaner feel throughout your home. Making use of baskets and bins can help in the decluttering process and create space you never knew you had.

Redecorating doesn’t have to involve an interior designer or a bucket of paint, it can mean reframing art, switching it around to different rooms, removing or rearranging knick-knacks and refinishing tables or cabinets to simply bring a refreshing and aesthetically pleasing change to your home.

Create deadlines for certain projects so that when you achieve your goals, they’re measurable and recognizable. The new year is also a great time to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and ensure they’re working with fresh batteries.

As a reminder, the deadline for the Home Renovation Tax Credit is also approaching, and fast. You can receive a credit for up to $10,000 spent on renovations if the works is complete or supplies are purchased by January 27, 2010.

While any renovation wok must be complete by this date, supplies purchased by this date can be installed at any time.

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Smart meters kind of stupid if not used properly: Toronto Hydro

Posted on January 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Smart meters were made mandatory this year for home and small business owners, after assurance by the government the way the new meters calculate energy usage is much better than previous hydro meters and would save them a lot of money. The time-of-use pricing used by the meters promises savings because it offers consumers the choice of using their major energy sucking appliances during off-peak periods when the cost is much cheaper, and a 3-5 per cent savings should be evident if this shift in usage is achieved.  

In the winter, weekday off-peak hours are from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and the on-peak hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., while peaking a second time from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. In the summer, off-peak hours are from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. and the peak period only occurs once, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Year round, weekends and statutory holidays are off-peak. 

In 2004, Premier Dalton McGuinty promised that, “smart meters, together with more flexible pricing, would allow Ontarians to save money if they run appliances in off-peak hours”.  

Not only does simply having a smart meter add a $3 or $4 charge onto the bills just to pay for themselves, according to Toronto Hydro, the customers who have been using the smart meters since last summer are seeing increases in their energy charges, to the tune of an average 3$ per month.   Toronto Hydro says only 27 per cent of people with smart meters have seen a decrease, and the average savings is 29 cents. Those who see an increase on average find it much higher: 90 cents.  

Out of about 630,000 homes and small buildings that will have the smart meters, 615,000 already have them installed. 

Toronto Hydro says you really have to make an effort to conserve energy as well as shift your usage over to off-peak periods to see the savings smart meters have to offer. Turning off the television or lights when not in use, switching to energy saving bulbs as well as unplugging appliances like the coffee machine or toaster when not in use is a start.

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Toronto is Winterlicious: January 29 – February 11

Posted on January 14, 2010 | Leave a comment

You don’t have to travel to Manhattan to experience urban haute cuisine.

Celebrate, explore and savour the amazing and diverse foods and cooking styles that can be found in the city. More than 100 local restaurants will be participating in the 8th annual Winterlicious foodie event in this year.

Several delectable culinary events will be taking place, including:

 January 29th and 30th, 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.   Eats, Beats and Tweets: Fans of the Food Network show Everyday Exotic can visit chef Roger Mooking’s Nyood restaurant on Queen Street W., which will feature a tasting of Mediterranean nibbles for $50.

January 31st, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.  The Rosewater restaurant at 19 Toronto Street will be showcasing the diverse cultures found in the city with a brunch featuring Italian, Peruvian and Brazilian cuisine.

February 2nd, 6 to 8:00 p.m. The Rising Chef Citrus Cookoff: Culinary students from around the country will create appetizers, entrees and desserts all revolving around the far from simple grapefruit at the SCHOOL restaraunt at 70 Fraser Avenue. For 35$, spectators can enjoy their own grapefruit-themed yummies made by celebrity chef Brad Moore.

 February 4th, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and February 6th, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fans inspired by the hit film Julie & Julia can attend a Julia Child-themed cooking class featuring her most popular dishes for 99$, along with receiving parting gifts that include a whole pound of butter as well as a copy of My Life in France, Julia Child’s memoir.

The rest of the restaurants will be offering three-course prix fixe meals starting at $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner.

 The list of restaurants and events can be found here: http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/se/restaurants.nsf/winterlicious

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Curb Appeal in the Winter

Posted on January 13, 2010 | Leave a comment

With us seeing more snow fall in the past week, we are reminded how beautiful it can be, however at the same time we are remembered what else it can bring.

Fresh snow will bring us a beautiful sight, however once the snow sits for a few days, cars drive over it, etc, we see that it becomes an unsightly color, one of which is not very appealing.

It was not as much snow this week, with minimal shovelling, however for when you have a house on the market, there are several tips you should keep in mind to ensure your house is shown at its best.

When showing in winter, you should not forget that curb appeal is still important, despite what the season is.

For winter, you have to ensure that your driveway is always immaculate.

Look at your driveway as how you would keep your lawn in the earlier months. By that, you have to shovel the entire driveway without fail, and always keep youth driveway seen.

Do not do a halfway job but shovelling half of the driveway, or not even shovelling at all.

Once you have shovelled down to the ground, place ice salt to ensure freezing does not occur, and that your driveway shows great.

Now one of the hardest things to do is to keep your lawn looking perfect. By saying that I mean keeping footprints out of the yard, and if you have children, we all know it is especially fun.

I am not saying this to ruin the fun for your children, however if a house’ yard is encompassed of many footprints, you will find that at a distance, it does not look as great as houses which are smooth and clean in the front.

If you do decide to decorate your house for the season, try to stay away from placing too many lights and colors.

Keep it clean and simple, try to only use one two colors, with the best choice being white light. It will show well during the day and of course great at night when you turn them on, keep in mind that you will find your showings will happen closer to nightfall, so having great lights will definitely benefit you.

By following the few points I have mentioned, you will be able to still have great curb appeal throughout the winter, despite whatever people might think.

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Home Energy Ratings Report Card

Posted on January 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

How much do you know about your Home Energy Ratings Report Card?

The Ontario Home Energy Rating Act goes into effect for building owners next month, and will eventually begin to impact owners of semi-detached or detached homes by the end of next year.

The act requires anyone selling a house or low-rise building to disclose the results of a home energy audit to potential buyers. The act’s passing comes with the heightened awareness of saving energy and the increasing concern to home buyers about the total cost of owning a home down the road, not just the cost associated with buying one.

Not only must you stage your home and make it presentable for open houses and prospective buyers, “energy-staging” a home is beginning to enter into the real estate lexicon. When it is time to undergo a home energy efficiency audit, you’ll want to ensure your home is as energy-efficient as possible to impress prospective buyers.

A do-it-yourself home energy efficiency “audit” can help you prioritize any energy-related improvements you should make.

Consider using energy-saving bulbs in your home. They typically emit a soft, white glow instead of a harsh yellow light like most bulbs. Otherwise, check the wattage of your current lights. Do you have a 100-watt light bulb where a 40 or 60 watt bulb would suffice?

If your household heating or air conditioning systems are more than 15 years, a newer, more energy-efficient system would increase your home’s energy efficiency significantly. If your system uses filters, they should be changed once every two months at least to ensure efficient air circulation

If the insulation in your ceilings, walls and attic are below minimum, ensure they are updated with sufficient insulation. Older buildings were insulated when the minimum standards were less than what they are today.

Most importantly, check for air leaks and drafts. If you can spend the extra money in replacing older windows and doors with new and more efficient ones, try and do so. If you can’t, ensure caulking or weather stripping is applied appropriately. An easy way to spot drafts in your home is to close all doors, windows and fireplace flues, turn off all furnaces and water heaters and finally to turn off all of your fans. Walk around your home with damp hands or a stick of burning incense. Drafts will cause the smoke to drift, and they will feel cold on your hands.

The Government of Ontario has an Eco-Energy program, and after paying for a professional audit and completing the recommended changes, the government will rebate you half of the auditing fee as well as up to $10,000 for the cost of the changes. A full list of rebates can be found at HomeEnergyOntario.ca.

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Pets & Real Estate

Posted on January 11, 2010 | Leave a comment

Pets can make many people uncomfortable, whether they are non-animal lovers at heart or bird lovers approached by your loud, bouncing, slobbery dog. While your love-muffin of a cat is certainly adorable as it shreds the arms of your easy chair and munches on electrical cords, that might only be your perception.

Many people can merely dislike or have a rational phobia when it comes to other people’s pets. When these pets are living in a home they are looking at with the intent to buy, they may be an obstacle that prevents you from getting your asking price or even selling the home at all.

If relocating your pet to outside or a kennel during the open house process is possible, this can be a great option for clearing your house of the pet or pets in question. If not, place them in a carrier and with a note asking people not to bother them. The last thing you would want is for a potential buyer to be bitten or scratched because they tried to interact with your pet.

Remove all signs of the pet from your home. This allows the buyer to be objective when looking at your home, and won’t distract them by making them focus on what they’ll be doing differently with regard to the pet evidence that they see all around them.

Don’t provide photos of your home for listings that include the cat curled up in the corner, and be sure to put away the food and water bowls when they’re not being used, pack up all cages and carriers, remove photos from the refrigerator and pack up any toys or scratching posts that are laying around. No one wants to open up the bathroom door and stumble upon an overflowing cat box or remnants of kitty litter crunched into the floor.

Enzyme cleaners and professional companies can assist you with removing more stubborn stains and odors, while air fresheners will only provide a temporary cover up and might trigger allergies with regards to open house guests.

Living with pets for so long, little smells and the shred marks on your floor can easily go unnoticed as you get used to them. Fur, pet stains and dander leave a lot of smells, and your pets are marking their territory constantly regardless of whether or not you notice it. When your cat slinks up against your legs, rubs its face on door frames or uses a scratching post, it is leaving its scent around the home and on you. Keep your pets bathed and groomed, vacuum often, and have a friend or neighbour come around to your home to give you a fresh nose and perspective as to whether your home has any lasting smells.

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