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I’m committed to providing my clients with professional real estate services based on my experience, knowledge, and skills. I deliver the services designed to meet your needs. and work tirelessly to deliver results. I want you to be happy with the outcome whether it be finding your dream home, getting top dollar for your most valued asset or investment. I’m the Full-time Realtor serving ONLY real estate services and has the reputation for putting you, the client first and every time.
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The kitchen has more potential for waste and inefficiency than other areas in the home, but there are easy ways to be less wasteful without a major overhaul, all while helping to take a load off the planet. Here’s how:
Rethink storage for food and leftovers.
Swap single-use food wrapping for reusable elasticized bowl covers, beeswax wraps, and non-plastic zipper-top storage bags. Use recyclable mason jars or glass containers with airtight sealing lids. These all come in pretty designs and colors to suit all tastes.
Invest in reusable baking essentials.
With home baking here to stay, trade in the disposable parchment paper and cupcake and muffin liners for eco-friendly silicone baking mats, pans, and baking cups. The icing on the cake – pop them in the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Prevent food waste with a meal plan.
Plan meals ahead with more mindful grocery shopping and do more home cooking. Learn how to use commonly discarded – yet still usable – parts of food, such as vegetable scraps for soup stock; think broccoli cores and kale stems. Get into composting what you can’t use to keep it from landfills. Buy yourself a stylish compost tin for the counter to collect organic waste and discard appropriately.
Use the dishwasher more.
Contrary to popular belief, running the dishwasher half full wastes less water and energy compared to handwashing those same dishes. An Energy Star-certified dishwasher uses 15 liters of water every cycle while a running faucet uses the same amount every two minutes. Consider Cascade Platinum ActionPacs, which save water by not requiring pre-washing.
The holidays are coming up! As much as these celebrations bring us joy and harmony, they can also bring us stress. This is particularly true when it comes to your finances! However, don’t lose hope that this will be another draining year on your pocketbook. In fact, with a little planning, there are a few ways you can make sure your holidays are stress and credit-free.
Manage Your Expectations
Did you find the holidays refreshing last year, or were they somewhat draining and you’re still trying to figure out how to pay off your credit card bills? If you are someone that wants your holidays to be energizing and provide that feeling of togetherness, there is more to it than just spending money. Once you decide your expectations, it becomes easier to work towards things that create that result.
Determine Your Holiday Goals
Are you looking to plan an extravagant black-tie party or have a more low-key celebration? Maybe you just want to hang out with lots of family and friends and enjoy some good food? Or maybe you usually get away and are finding yourself homebound this year. No matter how you normally spend your holidays, sharing your thoughts with family will help determine your goals and come to a decision that works for everyone!
Create a Budget
Once you have decided your expectations and goals for the holiday, it is time to create your budget. A little planning can go a long way to creating a credit-free holiday, and will help you spread out the costs. The first step is to create a list of everything you need, from individual gifts to decorations to baking ingredients and meal items to clothing!
Start Now
Early planning can make all the difference when it comes to the holidays. Instead of lumping your entire budget into a couple paychecks, try keeping an eye out for gift ideas and cute decor all year long. While it may be too late this year, it could be a good strategy to try for 2021! Starting early will help reduce stress and give you more opportunities to scoop up incredible deals throughout the year, which means you can spread your budget even farther!
Accept Help
While I know many of us try to do everything during the holidays so our families can just enjoy themselves, it is important to remember that the holidays are a time when we are supposed to support each other, and celebrate together! If you are hosting a dinner this year, don’t be afraid to ask your family to bring appetizers or drinks. If you are buying gifts for friends, set a limit or challenge everyone to make something by hand! Homemade gifts can often feel more special and it creates a fun exchange for you and your friends. There are many incredible ways to reduce stress and help get others involved so that the holiday is perfect for everyone.
It is easy to get caught up in the consumerism and expectations of the holidays. Is dinner perfect? Did you buy enough gifts? Did you invite everyone? Is everyone happy? But don’t forget yourself in your efforts to please others.
Even though the holidays can feel hectic, it is important to celebrate YOU and be grateful for what you have - even if you weren’t able to check off all the boxes. Life happens, but the most important thing is that we celebrate when we can.
The holiday is YOURS, so make sure you spend it whichever way brings you the most joy - and the least amount of stress on your pocketbook.
(NC) Home makeovers and repairs are on the rise, as we try to make our spaces more livable and functional. But even if you prefer to DIY most projects, some inevitably require the help of a professional. Finding a reliable contractor is where you can run into trouble, as there are many contractor scams in the industry.
“While on the ground supporting our customers, some have told us that they have been approached by contractors going door-to-door to offer repair services with deals that seem too good to be true,” explains Bryant Vernon, Chief Claims Officer at Aviva Canada. “It’s important for everyone to protect themselves against contractors who may be taking advantage of homeowners especially after a severe weather event.”
Here are some of the most common scams to beware of, and some tips on what you can do about them:
The storm chaser.
These nomad roofers go across the country chasing hailstorms and other natural disasters. They are quick to show up on your doorstep after a severe weather event. Familiar with how insurance companies work, these contractors charge a hefty amount using inferior quality products and promise to help you close your file quickly with the insurance company. But they are nowhere to be found should you find yourself with a leaky roof a few years later.
The unbelievably low bid.
This roofing contractor will offer a bid that is far lower than any other construction companies in the area. But once the job starts, unexpected costs and unforeseen problems may suddenly appear. Some contractors may even resort to removing the old roof or threaten to leave the roof bare if additional payments aren’t made.
The door-to-door free roof inspection.
Similar to the storm chaser, this door-to-door salesperson will come knocking offering a free roof inspection. They will go up on your roof and possibly fabricate damage to mimic storm damage or show you a photo with roof damage from a different home and claim it came from your roof.
What you can do
Always do your research and get a couple of quotes from reputable companies to compare before deciding on the one to hire. Be cautious of those asking for upfront deposits and make sure the payment structure is clear from the beginning. Ask about all the steps of the project, completion times, and liability insurance. While not required by law, a company that does not have liability insurance means any damage to property resulting from the renovation may not be covered by them.
Find more information at aviva.ca/en/tools/approved-vendor-and-contractors-program.
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(NC) Today, many families are focused on improving their homes instead of spending money on vacations and entertainment outside. With autumn as your last major chance to renovate before the winter, here are some of the best projects to tackle now for maximum enjoyment of your space.
Upgrade your kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of your home, and where you’ll be spending lots of time cooking for the holidays and entertaining your small social circle. So, give it a facelift to make sure it’s a bright and welcoming environment. A great DIY project is painting the cabinets in a bold or warm shade and updating the hardware in a metallic neutral. You can also invest in sleek, energy-efficient appliances for a clean, modern aesthetic and get fresh seasonal linens for your tablescape.
Finish your basement
A finished basement extends your living space and has an excellent return on investment. It’s also the perfect place to turn into a spacious dedicated home office, so you can finally stop working on your dining table or couch and boost your productivity and comfort. But whether you want to turn your basement into that, a rec room or in-law suite, the first step is installing a high-performance subfloor. The best option for this is Dricore subfloor panels, which are designed with air gap technology to help protect against mould and moisture and keep floors dry, comfortable and cozy all year. It’s an easy DIY project, as the panels are easy to install and a room only takes half a day to do.
Elevate your exteriors
Not only does the exterior of your home make the first impression, it can also extend your living space – which is crucial when we’re working, living and playing at home. Make the most of it with areas you can spend time in even when the temperature drops. For example, you can create a sitting area to relax in or host smaller outdoor get-togethers for your social bubble by screening in your porch or installing an awning over your backyard patio. Laying down Dricore panels can work here too, as they will make cold surface feel warmer, softer and cozier for your feet. Complete the space with a heating lamp and you’ll be able to enjoy your exteriors almost all year-round.
Source: Toronto Real Estate Board
Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Lisa Patel announced that the strong rebound in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales continued with a record result for the month of August. GTA REALTORS® reported 10,775 residential sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in August 2020 – up by 40.3 percent compared to August 2019.
Sales were up on a year-over-year basis for all major home types, both in the City of Toronto and surrounding GTA regions. It should be noted that the low-rise market segments, including detached and semi-detached houses and townhouses, were the drivers of sales growth. Condominium apartment sales were up on an annual basis for the second straight month but to a lesser degree.
“Increased demand for ownership housing has been based on improving economic conditions, in terms of monthly GDP growth and job creation, and the continuation of very low borrowing costs. In addition, fewer households have chosen to go on vacation as a result of COVID-19 and instead have remained in the GTA and been active in the housing market, satisfying pent-up demand from the spring,” said Ms. Patel.
Both the number of new listings entered into TRREB’s MLS® System during the month and the number of active listings at the end of August 2020 was up on a year-over-year basis. While new listings were up strongly for all home types, growth in new condominium apartment listings far outstripped growth in the other market segments.
“Generally speaking, market conditions remained very tight in the GTA resale market in August. Competition between buyers was especially strong for low-rise home types, leading to robust annual rates of price growth. However, with growth in condominium apartment listings well-outstripping condo sales growth, condo market conditions were comparatively more balanced, which was reflected in a slower pace of price growth in that segment,” said Jason Mercer, TRREB’s Chief Market Analyst.
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The MLS® Home Price Index Composite Benchmark was up by 11.1 percent in August 2020 compared to August 2019. Over the same period, the overall average selling price was up by 20.1 percent to $951,404. Annual detached and semi-detached sales growth was stronger in the comparatively more-expensive City of Toronto compared to the surrounding GTA regions, which helps explain why growth in the overall average selling price outstripped growth in the MLS® HPI Composite Benchmark.
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Download Kingston Fast Facts - why Kingston is the strongest rental market in Ontario and why you should invest today for half the price of Toronto!
About Queen's University: Queen’s University has the largest endowment fund per student in Ontario • #1 graduation rate with 87% graduating in 2016 • 94.8% retention rate from 1st to 2nd-year students • The highest number of A+ students of any university in Canada • Average grade of A+ or 89.2% for incoming students • The highest number of award-winning faculty • Bloomberg Businessweek ranks Queen’s MBA #1 in the world for teamwork • Maclean’s 2016 Rankings report ranked Queen’s #1 in student satisfaction Rental Market in Kingston: • Kingston has the lowest vacancy rate in Ontario • The healthy vacancy rate is considered to be 3%. Kingston has a 0.7% vacancy rate • Among the new building (built after 2005) vacancy rate is only 0.3% • Kingston has the 3rd highest rental rates in Ontario only behind Toronto and Ottawa • Rental rates increased 3.6% 2016-17 • The current supply of student rentals are 50-100-year-old houses in poor condition, no amenities, and high maintenance costs • 1- and 2-bedroom new purpose-built luxury accommodations are scarce and highly sought after • Students at Queen’s pay $750-800/month for a bedroom in a 5-7 bedroom house. More than 40% more than the same type of accommodation in Waterloo or Hamilton • Low supply has led to record low vacancy rates and very high rental rates • In addition, wealthy students and a growing number of international students desire luxury private accommodations and they can afford higher prices
Reasons to invest in SAGE KINGSTON:
SageKingston Condos, a purpose built off-campus student residence which is literally walking distance to Queen’s University. Queen’s on-campus housing only has 4,500 beds for 27,149 students which leaves an enormous lack of on-campus student residences which brings us to this no risk and guaranteed returns based opportunity. Kingston has the lowest vacancy rate in Ontario that decreased to 0.4%* in 2018 for 1 to 3 bedroom units. - 15-minute walk to Queen's University - The supply shortage of housing in Kingston - Kingston has the lowest vacancy rate in Ontario - Kingston has high rental rates only Toronto and Ottawa have higher - Queen's University has the highest number of A+ students of any University - The number of foreign students increased by 187% in Kingston over the last 3 years - 53% increase in student enrolment 2000-2016 - The first Sage Condo in Kingston - Protected water view of Lake Ontario Kingston has the lowest vacancy rate in Ontario and the problem is even worse for students. Queen's student body has grown by 56% in the last 10 years and the housing available is old, poorly maintained, and more expensive than any other university town in Ontario. Queen's has a large proportion of mature graduate students, international students, and students from wealthy families. They desire brand-new, private, luxury accommodations and Sage Kingston will deliver just that.
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The government has positioned Budget 2024, Fairness for Every Generation , as a budget that “takes bold action to build more homes…and w...