Shopping For An Energy Efficient Heating System

If the furnace in your home is approaching 10 years or older, it’s possible your energy dollars are going up in flames. Heating can up to 60 per cent of your annual energy use, so an inefficient furnace can cost you energy dollars. Upgrading to a high efficiency furnace can reduce your heating bills and…

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A Better Basement Reno

Basements are coming out of hiding these days. With fewer homes for sale and good returns on remodelling investments, more homeowners are reclaiming their lower levels and renovating their basements. They’re doing it in style, with before-and-after transformations featured everywhere from HGTV to Pinterest and YouTube. A Smart, Affordable Upgrade Updating your lower level is…

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Do I Have Enough Funds To Close?

Written by Lorne Shuman The one constant in the Toronto real estate market is change.  Recently, there were significant changes to the mortgage rules announced by the federal government which may make it more difficult for homebuyers to qualify for a mortgage.  In another change, the provincial government announced changes to the provincial Land Transfer…

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Holiday Entertaining with a Luxurious Living Room

Combining new design concepts with vintage artisanal furniture creates living spaces that are simultaneously more functional and luxurious than ever before. With indoor entertaining season around the corner, it’s the perfect time for a rejuvenation. Update your space with these tips for creating a cozy, well-designed living room from Sharon Grech, colour and design expert…

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Troubleshooting Garage Door Safety

Most homeowners take their garage door for granted. But the garage door is the largest moving component of your home, and when not properly maintained, it can pose a serious safety threat to family and visitors. An annual inspection and a few simple precautions are all that is necessary to keep it operating smoothly. The…

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Uncommon Tips For Making Your Home Show Better

Most people know the basics of preparing a home for a viewing or an open house. But, there are a number of lesser known tips — tips you often don’t hear about — that can make your home even more attractive and desirable to potential buyers. In the kitchen, for example, it’s obvious that the…

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Winter Roof Tips

As important as the roof on your house is, it can sometimes be overlooked when it comes to regular maintenance and repair. And with winter on its way, one of the biggest threats to your roof is a process known as ice damming. When you have icicles or ice dams caused by moisture penetration during…

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Get Your House Winter Ready

Severe weather elements can put a strain on the outside of your home. Getting it ready for winter can help avoid costly repairs and could indirectly keep your insurance premiums low. “There are a few simple steps that homeowners can take to prepare their homes for winter,” advises Tracy Laughlin, Vice President, Personal Lines, Ontario…

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Lawsuit Confirms Buyer Beware Doctrine, by Lorne Shuman

Written By Lorne Shuman Many realtors, buyers and sellers have heard of the Latin phrase “Caveat Emptor” or buyer beware. A recent Superior Court decision confirmed this principle in dismissing a lawsuit commenced by buyers of a residential property. The facts of the case are as follows: The plaintiffs, Eric and Louise Brown, purchased a…

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Tips for Creating a Multi-Purpose Home Office

Today’s home offices must be able to multi-task as efficiently and effectively as the people who work in them — and that’s something you should keep in mind when making renovation plans. “We see fewer and fewer buyers requiring a dedicated home office when setting their search criteria for buying a new home,” writes Gwen…

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