Your Home

The winter holidays are a prime time to get away — and unfortunately, they’re also a prime time for break-and-enters. Whether you’re trekking up to a cabin in the woods or heading back to your childhood home for a cozy family Christmas, keep your own house safe and secure by following these simple steps: 1.…

When you’re planning on driving your own vehicle to the United States, it’s important to make sure your car insurance will have you covered for your entire trip. Whether you’re headed down south for two weeks or two months, talk to your licensed broker so they can make sure you have the coverage you need…

Thinking of buying new construction? Here are the latest enhancements to the Tarion New Home Warranty Program effective January 1, 2018: Freehold Deposit Coverage Effective January 1, 2018, new home purchasers placing deposits on new non-condominium freehold homes will have increased deposit coverage of 10 per cent of the purchase price up to a maximum…

Two-thirds of all Canadian homes are heated with forced-air furnaces; of those, two-thirds are fired by natural gas, and the remainder by oil or propane or heated electrically. These systems are popular for a number of reasons, primarily their ability to heat a house quickly: just turn up the temperature on your thermostat, and seconds…

There’s a new minimalist colour palette in town, and it doesn’t involve grey. As 2018 quickly approaches, it’s time to discuss which home decor trends will define the year to come. While 2017 has been all about tropical green, warm neutrals, and sophisticated camel accents, we predict that next year will be full of even edgier hues.…

Written by Lorne Shuman The word easement appears in almost every Agreement of Purchase and Sale. It is a common term, but often misunderstood. Whether you own a property or are considering the purchase of a property, it is important to understand what an easement is. Easements are an important part of our property law…

Written by Lorne Shuman As the price of detached and semi-detached homes continues to increase, many homebuyers are choosing to enter the housing market by purchasing brand-new pre-construction condominiums. Buying a pre-construction condominium has many benefits. However, the builder’s contract is very one-sided and in favor of the builder. This column will examine some of…

Dirty air ducts can be unsafe, drastically raise your energy bills, release allergens into your home or workplace, and even attract rodents and pests. When it comes to duct cleaning, no step can be skipped, and the pollutants or contaminants that accumulate in your duct system need to be eradicated 100 %, otherwise you risk…

With winter just around the corner, many of us are climbing up on our roofs to clean out gutters. Taking care of this job does more than protect your gutters – your home’s #1 enemy is water, and gutters that are not working properly can compromise the structural integrity of your home and even endanger…

Toronto is expected to have a milder winter this year, which means frequent cycles of freezing and thawing, often leading to basement leaks. If you’re like most homeowners, this may raise concerns about basement leaks.  It is important to be proactive with basement leaks as consistent water in your basement can lead to other issues…