Thursday 27 August 2015

What to ask yourself before buying a home?


(NC) If you're thinking about buying some property soon, you have taken the first of many steps towards making it a reality.
“There is a great deal of effort that goes into home buying so it's important to prepare for the process and the responsibilities that await you,” says Pat Verge, president of the Ontario Real Estate Association. “Even if you are only thinking about it, speak to a Realtor to get your questions answered. One of life's biggest financial investments deserves the support of a professional.”
According to Verge, prospective buyers should determine a few things before jumping in as follows:
Is home ownership right for me? – Owning property comes with a great deal of responsibility. Household maintenance, unexpected repairs and expenses, seasonal upkeep – tending to these duties requires time and money. If you are prepared for the challenges, home ownership may be right for you.
Am I financially ready? – Start by figuring out how much you can afford. Then, determine how much is required for a down payment and closing costs, as well as monthly mortgage payments and other expenses like utilities, insurance, property taxes and maintenance. If you have a reliable income, emergency savings, your debts are under control, and your credit history is in good shape, you are financially ready for home ownership.
What kind of home do I want? – Before deciding to buy a detached or semi-detached house, a condo or other form of home, consider your lifestyle, current and anticipated needs, and your budget. Create a prioritized list of features that you are looking for. Finding the right place involves balancing your "must-haves" with your "nice-to-haves".
How do I get ready for the first steps? – Once you have decided on the kind of home you want and what you can afford, you are ready to start shopping. After you've looked at a few properties, you'll become more comfortable with the process. A Realtor can also show you a list of homes that sold recently in the area, giving you even more market knowledge.
More information is available at www.wedothehomework.ca.

Sunday 23 August 2015

The Pre-Delivery Inspection

Pre-Delivery Inspection Description


www.realtorpankajpatel.com

A few weeks before your condominium closing, your builder will invite you to attend a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI). Here’s what you should know, how you can prepare and what to expect including important details about your new home warranty. 
     A Pre-Delivery Inspection is an inspection that takes place before you take occupancy giving you the opportunity to view your new home before possession.  You may have someone attend with you but may be a distraction when learning how things work for the first time or noting items.  If you are not available you can appoint someone to be your designate by completing the Appointment of Designate form by clicking here
A Pre-Delivery Inspection is when your builder will show you how to use things, and you will be able to identify things that are damaged, missing or incomplete which will serve as the official record of condition of your home before you moved in and may be referred to afterwards for warranty purposes.   There is no standard for how long it should take but you should have enough time to inspect the entire home.  If you do not include incomplete or not installed items they cannot be assessed when noted on a Statutory Warranty form with Tarion and copied to builder.  If the builder refuses to write something down on the PDI form you should write a letter to Tarion as soon as possible advising Tarion of this and include the item(s) that did not get written down.  If you do not agree with what the builder has put on the PDI you are not required to sign it.





(Tridel is Canada's Leader in condominium living with over 80,000 new homes built)

If you are looking for buying a condominium or investing in condominiums,contact and refer me for your real estate needs.




Sunday 9 August 2015

SQ2


COMING SOON!
OVERVIEW:



SQ2 – Call One Of The Coolest Neighborhoods In The World Home




Living in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world comes with serious perks. Whether you’re in the mood to shop the latest trends, eat at the coolest restaurants or be seen at the hippest hangouts, Tridel SQ2 in the heart of Queen West has you covered inside and out.
Maybe you work in the bustling Financial District or you’re wrapping up your degree at one of the prestigious nearby universities. With a Walk Score and Transit Score of 100, SQ2 is the perfect place to call home.
Not in the mood to go out? We can see why! SQ2 has just the right mix of amenities to keep you entertained and in shape. From the state-of-the-art Fitness Centre with Yoga Studio , sauna and spa lounge to the spacious party room with fireplace lounge, catering kitchen and private dining room.
Have your cake and eat it to. Get outside without leaving home. The rooftop terrace is the perfect place to load up on Vitamin D. Curl up with a good book on the sundeck; enjoy al fresco dining with friends in the BBQ lounge or slip into the hot tub for the ultimate in relaxation.


Metering:

Suites are individually metered by electricity, heating, cooling and hot water

Amenities & Lifestyle










Arrive home and feel inspired
There is more than enough to diSQover at SQ2. Collect your thoughts over cardio or unwind your mind in the yoga studio. Relax outside on the sun deck or ease into the evening with a visit to the hot tub.
The rooftop patio will offer you views of the city, ample lounge seating,  outdoor eating areas complete with barbeque stations, lush greenery and foliage, and a hot tub retreat for the senses. Or simply kick back in your spacious suite – your home sweet home in the heart of Queen West.
SQ2 Amenity plans
SQ2 Amenity plans


Master Plan:

SQ2 Masterplan

NEIGHBOURHOOD:

Image Gallery



















Don't Delay, Register Today!

Call me ASAP at 647-760-7061 OR

Email: realtor.pankajpatel@gmail.com

Website: www.realtorpankajpatel.com

































Tuesday 4 August 2015

Deck builders tell us about the best materials to use for your outdoor deck




Deck builders tell us about the best materials to use for your outdoor deck




www.realtorpankajpatel.com





A custom deck is a nice addition in any backyard. It offers privacy, a place to spend time outside – whether you’re reading a book by yourself or barbecuing for a group of friends. These deck builders give us an idea of what decking materials are best. 

Why should a homeowner have a deck in their backyard?

Decks R Us: Frank McGillan, owner of Decks R Us, says the outside of your home is an extension of your home. Why not give it the same treatment? Not only that, but it provides a great return on investment. “It returns between 85 and 125 per cent in the first five years,” he says.
Having a deck gives homeowners an excuse to use the outdoors and keep up with the appearance.
“People are embarrassed by their backyards more often than not,” says McGillan, adding that when there’s no reason to go outside and use the backyard, the maintenance often gets neglected.
“Backyards we see that don’t have decks are wheat fields. They just don’t do anything with it because they don’t use it.”
Not a pretty sight, especially if you’re planning on selling your home in the near future!
What do you think of these decks done by Decks R Us?
What do you think of these decks done by Decks R Us?
Vic Porch: Chris Gerald, owner of Vic Porch, is not new to the decking business and agrees with McGillan. “I think it’s become an extension of people’s houses,” he says, adding this is especially true in the downtown core. “Space is limited, you’ve got a 1,500 square foot house and 3 kids.”
Gerald says clients utilize the 3 or 4 nice summer months by putting out nice furniture and spending time outdoors.
“There’s a whole [outdoor furniture] business around it,” he says. “It keeps momentum going.”
What do you think of this custom deck work done by Vic Porch?
What do you think of this custom deck work done by Vic Porch?
Craft-Bilt Materials: Bart Bremmers, general manager at Craft-Bilt Materials, says there are lots of reasons to have a backyard deck. It provides a space for entertaining and allows clients to enjoy the backyard.
“Some people go crazy and make their decks really nice, so it’s like a staycation,” he says.

How does the design process work?

Decks R Us: The first step in the design process is to find out how the deck will be used and by whom. “If the client goes to the cottage, they aren’t going to use the deck that much,” says McGillan.
For clients who plan on spending time at home and whose backyard will be their summer retreat, there’s opportunity to design a deck that will suit the family’s lifestyle.
“You can do just about whatever you want,” says McGillan of the possibilities. “You can put a roof over it, can be out there in the wintertime.”
A deck can even be built with walls on the side for extra privacy.
“You can do a full deck around the pool too,” says McGillan.
“If you can think it, we can build it.”
The possibilities are endless!
The possibilities are endless with Decks R Us!
Vic Porch: First impressions are everything and it’s upon meeting clients that Gerald can start coming up with a design plan. First, he’ll find out about the client’s circumstances. “Do they have kids, are they a retired couple,” he’ll find out.
The conversation moves to how the clients want to use the space. “You sort of get a sense of whether they want high-maintenance, low-maintenance, something that looks expensive or if they’re just looking for basic utility,” he says of these conversations.
Gerald works with the client to build a footprint that will accommodate what they’re looking for. Whether the deck should include lighting and other features depends on how the deck will be used, says Gerald.
Get inspired Vic Porch's portfolio!
Get inspired Vic Porch’s portfolio!
Craft-Bilt Materials: Aside from learning how the clients will use their future deck, Bremmers says they’ll also want to find out if there’s a space underneath the deck that’s enclosed, or if the deck will be an open-concept piece.
With regards to design, there’s a decking calculator online that enables you to choose the orientation of the deck boards and the size, which will also determine the shape of the deck.
Craft-Bilt Materials is a supplier of decking materials, not an installer.
Craft-Bilt Materials is a supplier of decking materials, not an installer.

What types of deck materials are on the market?

Decks R Us: McGillan says these decking materials are common on the market. From lowest to highest in cost:
  • Pressure-treated (or sienna wood);
  • Cedar deck, which costs 30 per cent more than a pressure-treated deck.
  • Composite decking;
  • Tigerwood.
“I like tigerwood,” says McMillan. “I’m a huge fan. It lasts 30 years, no bugs will eat it.” From a maintenance standpoint, if it gets dull, it’s just a matter of giving the deck a good cleaning, he says. McGillan also recommends putting ipe oil on the deck every two years to maintain its beauty.
The tigerwood – also dubbed Brazilian hardwood – is durable. “It’s almost so hard that the dogs paws don’t scratch it, it doesn’t dent,” he says. “It’s that dense of a wood.”
McGillan recommends the tigerwood to his clients if it suits their budget since it’s roughly twice the cost of a pressure-treated deck.
Decks built by Decks R Us.
Decks built by Decks R Us.
Vic Porch: Choosing a decking material depends on what the client is looking for. “You’ve got to like wood or you like plastic.”
Gerald builds a fair amount of wood (or ipe wood) decks in the city because there’s a smaller footprint. “You’re not talking about 500 or 1,000 square foot deck.”
Since clients require smaller decks, they’re opting for a premium material and spending anywhere from $6,000 to $10,000 as opposed to a price point of $10,000 and $30,000 based on size.
Pressure-treated wood is a strong viable option for a deck. “You can pretty much put it down and not really have to do anything to it,” says Gerald. “You should be able to get 15 to 20 years out of it if it was installed correctly.”
There’s a common misconception that rain damages decks, but it’s actually the rain mixed with organic debris that causes damage. “Then, if you’ve got a backyard with very little sun and has a fairly heavy tree cover, the droppings on your deck will slime up and turn into organic material,” explains Gerald. “It’s composting itself back into the earth.”
Ipe wood, on the other hand, won’t get mouldy thanks to organic material, nor will it rot or burn.
“It’s tough to work with and expensive, but it’s gorgeous.”
Dress up your newly built deck with complementing furniture pieces.
Dress up your newly built deck with complementing furniture pieces.
Craft-Bilt Materials: Craft-Bilt works with a very specific type of decking material: aluminum boards that lock together and are painted with a heavy duty powder coat finish with anti-slip grit material, explains Bremmers. “It’s completely bulletproof material when you consider any other option, be it fiberglass, a vinyl membrane, composite,” he says. “All of these have a life span; they will at some point degrade.” Bremmers says aluminum simply lasts forever.
“It doesn’t corrode. It can’t be eaten by bugs,” he says. “Aluminum decking is completely inert.”
aluminum example1
Here’s what an aluminum deck looks like.

Any materials you don’t recommend?

Decks R UsMcGillan says he’s not a big fan of composite decking. “It does have problems with smell, moulding, cracking, lots of that stuff,” he says, adding it’s not easy to replace. “It has a 20, 30-year lifespan on it, but the problem is your frame doesn’t have 30 years on it.”
The frame of a tigerwood deck, on the other hand, will last up to 30 years, says McGillan.
Vic Porch: “I don’t do a lot of cedar decks,” says Gerald. “Cedar isn’t the same quality as it was 20 years ago.” Gerald says it doesn’t have the maturity that it should. Being that it’s a softer wood, it’ll rot sooner.
“Two to three years later, it looks a lot like pressure-treated wood, unless you’re willing to do a lot of maintenance since it fades pretty quickly,” he says.
Craft-Bilt MaterialsBremmers says composite products are often affected by mould and photodegradation. Photodegredation happens when the plastic absorbs the sun’s UV rays, which leads to discolouring and breaks down the plastic.
While aluminum decking is more expensive than composite, it’s expected to last a lifetime longer than its counterpart.
Bremmers also advises that the product has a lifetime warranty.
“No composite or plastic-base material is going to come with a lifetime warranty,” he says.
Left: Composite deck. Right: Cedar deck.
Left: Composite deck. Right: Cedar deck.

Customer service is important in any industry. What level of service can you provide?

Decks R Us: McGillan says Decks R Us will go above and beyond. “We do whatever we have to do to make sure the client is happy and the project is done in such a way that it’s a testimonial to us.”
McGillan stresses the importance of maintaining a good reputation, which shows through a happy client and successful completed project.
Vic Porch: Gerald’s work is within a five-mile radius, which makes it easy for him to stop by a year or two later to check on his work. If there’s something loose, he’ll fix it.
“Customers are always welcome to follow-up with me if anything goes wrong,” he says, adding that’s the nature of building an outdoor product. “Stuff will break and we fix it pretty quickly.”
Craft-Bilt Materials: “Typically, once the deck is installed, it’s there for life,” says Bremmers. Craft-Bilt has received claims for paint issues, but they were detected before the boards were installed and they were promptly replaced.
Craft-Bilt is only a supplier of material and will not install it. Bremmers says if you’re hiring a decking contractor to install it for you, you should initiate a warranty claim through them.
“If you’re a DIYer, then you are your own installation warranty,” he says. “It’s your responsibility.”
Follow proper instructions and inspect all boards before they’re installed.
Deck building is not easy work. If you love to DIY, be careful!
Deck building is not easy work. If you love to DIY, be careful!

I’m looking for a deck builder. Why should I hire you?

Decks R Us: “We’ve been in business for 37 years,” says McGillan.
He says it’s not uncommon for homeowners to run into issues with contractors who disappear after starting a project, and the fact that they’re difficult to find. Decks R Us has a strong online presence, which speaks to their reputation.
“Contractors know where you live, but you don’t know where they live.”
McGillan says clients can Google Decks R Us – there is no hiding.
“You can find out where I live. There’s no getting deposits and taking off business.”
Vic Porch: Gerald has been in business for 7 years and has a collaborative team that works together with every deck build. “We think outside of the box,” Gerald says of the design process.
More importantly, Gerald understand the need for clients and contractors to be on the same page. If there isn’t a shared vision and styles aren’t compatible, Gerald will not take the job because he doesn’t want to disappoint the client. “Neither one of us is going to be happy,” he says.
Deck work. Left: Decks R Us. Right: Vic Porch.
Deck work. Left: Decks R Us. Right: Vic Porch.

Advice for homeowners calling deck builders?

Decks R Us: “Don’t give a deposit. It doesn’t matter who the contractor is,” says McGillan. “You should not have to give a deposit.”
McGillan says if a contractor doesn’t have the money to do the deck for you, you should question why.
“You don’t want to be handing a man who has financial problems money,” he says.
Vic Porch: “Definitely shop around,” says Gerald. “Do research on building practices.” That’s because you may not be able to identify what a good and bad job looks like, he says.
Also, receiving three quotes for a project is ideal, but make sure you’re comparing the same projects. “Don’t ask one to do one thing and another something else,” he says. The quotes should be based on the same products.
Craft-Bilt Materials: “Before dealing with any decking or railing product, you should compare warranties and find out if they have engineering data to support a building permit application,” says Bremmers. Any product manufacturer should be able to provide you with a report on the strength of the decking material and information on how much space between each joist.
Want a spectacular deck? The key is hiring an experienced decking contractor!
Want a spectacular deck? The key is hiring an experienced decking contractor!
Do you love DIY projects? If so, then you may want to consider purchasing materials from Craft-Bilt Materials and building your very own aluminum deck.
Hiring a decking contractor isn’t an easy process. You want to hire someone who’s reliable and responsible. Vic Porch and Decks R Us have reviews and image galleries on their profile pages on our website. Do your research to find a deck builder that’s right for your decking project.

Top Family-Friendly Investment Areas in Toronto

Top Family-Friendly Investment Areas in Toronto   Watch this video till end.  Let me know whch is your favorite neighbourhood in the comment...