Your Home

Is your home chilly and dark in winter, or stuffy and dark in the summer? If your home has too small or too few windows, it can be difficult to get the natural light and ventilation you crave, and need for good health. You may look around your digs and think, “this place could stand…

While many can only dream of the day they’ll retire, for Baby Boomers that dream is becoming a reality. But retirement doesn’t necessarily mean relocating to a senior community. More and more, adults choose to “age in place,” remaining in their current home, even after retirement. Here are a few ways to add extra convenience…

Your next renovation could qualify for money back if you are 65 years or older, or live with someone who is. The Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit is designed to help seniors with the costs of improving safety and accessibility in the home. If you qualify, you can claim up to $10,000 worth of eligible…

Just like the smartphone revolution of the 2000s, smart home technology is on track to take over our lives in the very near future. So, in the interest of giving you a head start, here are five pieces of smart technology that you’ll most likely come to covet, crave, and eventually need, on a daily…

The first day of spring is just a few weeks away, so now is the time to start lining up quotes if you are planning any renovation projects. Contractors’ calendars start to fill up in the spring, so getting a head start is a smart move, especially if you want projects completed before summer. March…

By: Lorne Shuman If you are considering the purchase of a resale residential condominium, it is important to ensure that any offer to purchase you make is conditional on your lawyer’s review of the status certificate.  This column will examine what a status certificate is and why a buyer needs to have it reviewed and…

Kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms are typically the rooms in any home that get the most use, which could also be why homeowners, when surveyed, consistently cite those rooms as the ones they most want to renovate. It makes perfect sense to upgrade the rooms where you spend the most time, but in high-traffic areas, you…

Is your heating system braving the long, harsh winter? As cold temperatures take hold all over the country, it’s important for homeowners to safeguard their homes from heating system breakdowns. Paying attention to little things now can help you avoid problems down the road, like unexpected repair or replacement expenses or disruption to your family’s…

Transitional kitchens – blending elements of traditional and contemporary kitchens – are leading the trends for kitchen design in early 2016. Transitional kitchens incorporate modern elements like stainless steel appliances with traditional interior design. As part of the trend, Shaker-style cabinets are enjoying a revival of popularity, due to their adaptability with almost any style…

The cold temperatures across Ontario pose a hazard to people trying to get around on slippery sidewalks, driveways and walkways. Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is reminding pedestrians to take care and is encouraging homeowners to take steps to help ensure their properties are safe. IBC’s Top 10 tips to avoid slips, trips and falls…