Some new condominium buyers move in and forget they have to pay a monthly condo fee. I sit on the board; are we permitted to request 12 post-dated cheques for the year so we don’t have to chase these people down every month? Thanks for your advice!
According to the Condominium Act of Ontario, boards of directors are permitted to pass bylaws to govern the assessment and collection of contributions ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on May 21, 2013
To stage or not to stage? And if you do stage, do you admit to it? Submitting to this relatively new whim of real estate agents (do you think your parent’s ever staged their home?) somehow implies that the home you’ve been living in quite comfortably isn’t actually good enough for everyone else. The truth of the matter is that we can all learn a little something from professional ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on May 17, 2013
Most condo owners live in a concrete jungle with nary a lawn in site. Although your balcony isn’t rooted in soil, you can still plant a garden to bring in some green. All it takes is getting crafty and creative with nifty ideas to create the flourishing condo deck garden that you deserve.
Vertical Garden
Vertical gardens are ideal for condo decks. Use a living wall or screen to plant ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on May 16, 2013
Regrets, we’ve had a few: A 2012 TD Canada Trust first-time homebuyers report has found Canadian homebuyers admit to making rookie mistakes when they bought their first home.
If they could do it again, many say they would do things differently. The report notes 60% of people would make a bigger down payment; 60% would be more thorough when budgeting and 55% would buy a home sooner.
It ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 17, 2013
Getting bored of the four walls that surround a particular room? Want to redecorate, but worried that you don’t have the budget? Here are some low-cost ideas for revitalizing the look of just about any area of your home. Paint. It’s amazing what a $30 dollar can of paint can do. Changing the colour of a wall, or even just the trim and baseboards, can have a dramatic effect on a room. ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 16, 2013
Choosing the right neighbourhood is just as important as picking the right home. Perhaps it is even more important.
After all, you may be able to renovate a kitchen, but you can't move a nearby bus stop, or make a playground magically appear within walking distance.
The neighbourhood you choose to live in has a huge effect on your lifestyle and that of your family. So it's important to take ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 15, 2013
An effective technique to help you sell your property quickly and for the best price is to put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer. Don’t just visualize this. Actually do it!
Drive to your property and imagine that you’re seeing it for the first time. What’s your impression? Is the landscaping attractive? Are the walkways clear? Is the front door welcoming?
Now walk up ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 12, 2013
NOTE: Altough this article refers to what's happening in Ottawa. certainly, everything would be applicable to Toronto & GTA.
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Buying a house used to be easy because builders didn’t offer options. You talked to your banker and signed on the dotted line.
Now, house shopping is like finding a magical bathing suit — the one that makes your ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 11, 2013
Top 5 Reasons to go Suburban
There are a lot of weird biases against the suburbs – no you don’t have to wear “mom jeans” and lose all semblance of “coolness” – the SUBURBS are where it’s AT!
Bang for your buck – generally you will get more square footage for less than it will cost in the city. Why buy a two bedroom cramped condo in the ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 10, 2013
Keep it local
Buying plants and trees that support local harvesters is a growing trend, says Landscape Ontario’s Denis Flanagan, who links the shift to the popularity of the 100-mile diet, which involves eating only food grown within a 100- mile radius of where one lives. “Plants are now part of that eco-friendly movement,” Flanagan says. “When you buy local, you create ...
Posted by Jorge Branca
on April 9, 2013