Your Home

There is a lot of confusion out there by buyers and real estate salespeople as to what insurance is required when buying a condominium. The mistake is thinking that the insurance policy for the building will always cover your situation. In most cases, the buyer will still have to pay for part of the damages, even if they…

If your basement is a dark and uninviting storage place, now is the time to give it a second look. A little planning and some imaginative design can transform that unused space into a cosy, welcoming retreat from the hustle and bustle upstairs. Whether you decide to turn that space into a guest apartment, a…

By Lorne Shuman: When purchasing a resale home, it is typical for the seller to sell the home with the fixtures and chattels included in the purchase price.  Fixtures are items that are fixed or attached to the property in such a manner that they become part of the land that is being sold. Chattels are items…

One of the comforts of autumn is a fire crackling in the grate on a cool, fall evening. Knowing that your wood-burning system is operating safely is another comfort. Here are a few suggestions to consider before firing up your system this season: Changes to your wood-burning system, such as adding or changing a wood…

With summer vacation over, the family back to their busy routines and daylight hours growing shorter, September seems a good time to review home safety. When it comes to home break-ins, it is estimated up to 80 per cent of thieves gain entry through a door. Strong doorways will always be one of the best…

When choosing a focal point for a room, designers and homeowners alike often plan for a single feature, such as windows, TVs, artwork, or fireplaces, to take centre stage. However, the explosion of flat screen televisions for every room in the home has created a decorating debate – can you really have more than one…

The bankruptcy of a proposed condo development and the arrest of a prominent real estate lawyer last month left many buyers potentially out of deposits totalling millions of dollars. It shouldn’t have happened. Here’s why: When you buy a new home or residential condominium from a developer in Ontario, part of your deposit is protected by the…

As autumn approaches, September is the time to get a head start on home winterizing tasks. Enjoy the beautiful fall days by getting outside and checking some jobs off the list. Do a visual roof inspection. If you notice lifting, curling or missing shingles, call a roofing professional to make repairs. Have the eavestroughs cleaned…

Pops of colour can transform your exterior, taking it from pedestrian to eye-catching while increasing curb appeal and resale value. As well as setting the tone for your home’s exterior, paint provides protection against moisture penetration and the damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Whether you are sprucing up your exterior to stay or…

Some upgrades look laughable in the wrong room: plush carpeting in the bathroom or custom drapes in a kitchen. A handful of go-anywhere upgrades work especially well in kitchens and baths – and can raise those rooms from merely functional to inspiringly fashionable. Of course, virtually any upgrade you make to a kitchen or bathroom…