Jane Nichols

Roof Inspection and Repair

2012-02-08T16:53:00Z

One of the best bits of preventative maintenance that you can undertake as a homeowner is to periodically inspect your roof. Caught early, small roof repairs and maintenance issues can often be fixed with little time and money, but can also turn into big bills and headaches if left unaddressed.

Think Safety:

Often a visual inspection with the help of a pair of binoculars will be sufficient to give you a general idea of what state your roof is in. If you do need to get up on your roof then be sure to follow these safety tips:

· Never attempt to climb on to your roof during bad weather

· Always have a friend or family member help hold the ladder

· Plant the ladder firmly and make sure that the top extends a few feet above the roof

· Follow the ¾ rule – always have 3 of your 4 limbs in contact with the ladder or roof at all times

· Don’t try to carry up materials while climbing. Use some string or rope to pull up the items you need

What to Look For:

Take a good look at any flashing and caulking. They will wear over time. A strong wind can remove or dislodge flashing and provide an entry for moisture that may accumulate and cause damage to your home. Promptly repair or replace any damaged or missing flashing and caulking.

Loose or missing shingles – repair them immediately. Do a quick visual inspection of your shingles after any windstorm.

With regular or synthetic shingles, look for curling, cracks or buckling. These are signs that repairs or replacements may be necessary.

Asphalt shingles may develop bald spots or granular wear which can be detected by finding lots of granular particles in your eaves.

Check gutters and downspouts for accumulation of leaves and debris. Blocked or partially blocked gutters causing unwanted water accumulation.

If the Damage is Large:

If you do find significant damage to your roof that will require a major overhaul or replacement, calling an independent roofing consultant can save you considerable money and ensure that any work to your roof is done right. An independent roofing consultant does not repair roofs, for a flat fee, they will provide you with an unbiased assessment of your roof and the best plan for how to correct any roofing problems. Many roofing consultants will also oversee roof construction and repairs to make sure that your job is done right without dangerous shortcuts being taken by your roofing contractor.

From Sutton Website

Is Condo Living Right for Your Clients?

2012-01-30T18:29:00Z

Hello

I believe this article will help you in your decision making whether condo living is for you.

Any comments please let me know.

Best regards,

Jane

Is Condo Living Right for Your Client?

Written by Editorial Team of Property Wire Canada on Monday, 30 January 2012

Your client is a single mother who’s married to a job that demands quick turnaround, flexibilityand tight deadlines. Or perhaps your client’s a soon-to-retire couple in their sixties, social activists who enjoy the prospect of living downtown near the causes, projects and people they support.Or it could be a newly married couple, who is hoping to break into the housing market but want to maintain digs downtown near their jobs and friends.

What each of these examples has in common is that they would make perfect condo dwellers.But just because their profile seems to fit well with condo living doesn’t mean they have the personality for it. So how do you go about determining if a condo is right for your client? You start by finding out if your client is right for a condo.“I’ve had many clients who hated condo living,” says Toronto Century 21 real estate sales rep Laurin Jeffrey. “But it’s what they can afford, which is not always what they want.” Being close to restaurants, bars, museums, public transportation and your job are big pluses of condo living. And given that nearly 50 per cent of residences sold in Toronto last December were condos, it seems a lot of people agree. But Jeffrey believes those who buy condos are doing so mainly for economic reasons.

“They are often the first-time buyer who can’t afford anything else,” he says. “When your budget is under $300,000, a condo is your best bet. And even then, it’s getting hard to find a condo for that money.”

If privacy and independence are big issues your client might want to reconsider buying a condo, recommends Kelowna mortgage broker Julia Krause, who’s been a member of her townhouse’s strata (a multiple housing property in B.C. comprising condos or townhouses or a mix of both as is the case with Krause) council for 12 years. Condo living can be difficult for people who don’t like rules and who are accustomed to doing what they want when they want to. Residents, for example, can’t simply park where they feel like parking or plant shrubs where they think they’ll look attractive.“You need to have respect for your neighbours because you’re in closer proximity to them,” says Krause. “Privacy is sometimes an issue too.” Krause recalls former neighbours who virtually lived outside. Whenever her husband, a cigarette smoker, ventured outside for a puff, he was confronted by the neighbours each and every time which started to annoy him. Fortunately, the neighbours moved. Because of the way the housing corporation is set up, there can be a level of small-mindedness among some of the homeowners. When an issue arises with a homeowner complaining of, for example, someone parking in the wrong spot, the housing council issues a letter to the target of the complaint informing them of the issue and requesting that they not repeat the wrongdoing.“The person who got complained about will sometimes go around looking for other rule breakers so there’s a degree of pettiness,” admits Krause. “We can never get condo owners to get on the stratan (housing) council. They won’t do it. But they sure want to complain.”

Krause advises realtors not to assume they can rent out any old condo as many strata councils have limits as to the number of renters allowed in the multiple dwelling (Krause’s corporation allows a maximum of three). If an investor is interested in purchasing a condo with the intention of renting it out contact the condo council to determine what’s permitted. Don’t assume that because you pay condo fees that pre-empts you from never having to lift a finger while living in your unit. Krause has received some strange calls such as residents complaining that their fridge has died or that someone left trash in the hallway.“A lot of people who buy these units are coming out of rentals and they think it’s just the same,” says Krause. Be sure to check the condo’s financial situation, she urges. Pay attention to contingency funds for emergencies and make sure the complex or building is insured for replacement value.“If you can, go to the condo without your realtor and hang around and ask people how do you like living here,” she says. In Vancouver, where the average detached home price in the city’s sought-after west-end is over $2 million, it’s clearly not a question of whether condo living is right for you, says Remax sales rep Sam Wyatt. “It’s the norm here,” Wyatt says, adding that the average sale price of west Vancouver condos in December was over $640,000. “People either get used to it or they move out to the suburbs.”

For those of you who still aren’t sure if your client is right for living in a condo get them to take the following test provided by www.sphinxlegal.com:

1. My privacy is: ___ Not important to me. ___ Somewhat important to me. ___ So important I used to be a hermit.

2. My need to be in control of my living environment can best be described as: ___ NOT a ontrol freak. ___ Need to be in control, at least to some degree. ___ As a matter of fact,someone DID die and make me king.

3. Amenities such as swimming pools and tennis courts are: ___ Very important to me. ___ Not that important to me. ___ I’m not the athletic type.

4. I would respond to the following statement, “I like mowing the lawn, landscaping, and gardening,” with: ___ Are you kidding? ___ I don’t mind it. ___ I love working outdoors.

5. The following describes my position on doing my annual maintenance chores exactly on time: ___ I thought gutters flushed themselves out. ___ I am on top of it, give or take six months. ___ I have a laminated schedule taped on the refrigerator.

6. Home resale value is important to me: ___ Because I may be moving within the next three years. ___ But I expect to be here for a while. ___ Even though I plan to live here forever.

7. Living in an urban environment is: ___ Vibrant, exciting, and convenient. ___ Something I can either take or leave. ___ Not for me—ive me the country life.

8. Meeting and interacting with many different types of people is: ___ Very important to me. ___ Relatively important. ___ I hate people.

Total all your points, giving yourself 1 point for each first answer, 2 points for each second answer, and 3 points for each third answer. Evaluate your score as follows: 8 to 10 points:Future president of condominium association 11 to 20 points: A good candidate for CID life 21 to 24 points: Thanks for thinking about buying a condo.

Please leave comments

VIP Condo Event on Saturday February 4th at 12 noon for Investors!

2012-01-27T01:49:00Z

NOW IS THE RIGHT TIME TO START INVESTING!

To Register/for further information please contact me (Jane Nichols) Direct 416 420 3454 and or email me janichols@trebnet.com

Spectacular Triple "A" Real Estate in the Heart of the City

The Investor Suites of 1Thousand Bay with suites starting from the mid $200,000’s

Next to the University of Toronto

Across from The World Famous Sutton Place Hotel and an eight minute walk to Yorkville

Just steps from both the Wellesley & Bay Subway Stations, Yorkville, Toronto General medical campus, Yonge & Bloor shopping district and all of the world class dining Toronto has to offer.

This may be Toronto’s best investment secret

Developed by Cresford with over 30 years of experience in residential development

Designed by the award winning firm Architects Alliance

1Thousand Bay is set to be one of the most prestigious addresses in the city.

A Striking 32-Storey Showcase of Steel and Glass, The entire 15th floor features a state-of-the-art amenity space equipped with fitness and weight rooms, indoor and outdoor yoga studios, two guest suites, rooftop gardens and stylish outdoor terraces with a massive BBQ deck. The luxurious lobby has 24-Hour Concierges service.

It's a 6 Star Condo in a Million Dollar location!

This is your chance to get in early and invest in Toronto’s booming Bloor Yorkville real estate district at VIP prices

Do not delay. Register today as this event is guaranteed to fill to capacity.

Saturday February 4th, 2012, 12PM Sharp

One Day Only Priority Registration

One Thousand Bay Sales Centre
984 Bay Street Toronto, Ontario M5S 2A5 (Corner of Bay and Wellesley)
Valet Parking

To Register, please e-mail Jane Nichols at janichols@trebnet.com and/or call me directly at 416 420 3454!

I look forward to seeing you all at the event!

Representations and information contained herein do not form part of any Agreement Of Purchase and Sale. Hersh Litvack sales representative, The Hersh Litvack Team, Re/Max Realtron Realty Inc. Brokerage, Cresford Developments does not warrant or represent any or all of the figures and statements above. No placement of mortgage is guaranteed and it is the responsibility of each purchaser to arrange suitable financing. You are advised to verify all figures and statements and obtain independent legal advice. Price and availability are subject to change without notice January 2012 E.&O.E.

Bank of Canada Holds Rates-Again

2012-01-17T23:57:00Z

National News

Bank of Canada Holds Rates- Again -

In times of economic uncertainty, being predictable can sometimes be a good thing.

To the surprise of no one, the BOC stayed put-again. The conditions that have prompted rate holds for the last several rounds are still in place, and the threats that they pose to the Canadian economy have not diminished enough to support a rate hike- nor has the Canadian economy dwindled sufficiently to cause a rate cut.

It’s the same culprits as usual, but the BOC expresses a realistic view of Canadian economic growth, suggesting that while Canada is not an economic island, is perhaps less vulnerable then they originally thought: “The sovereign debt crisis in Europe has intensified, conditions in international financial markets have tightened and risk aversion has risen. The recession in Europe is now expected to be deeper and longer than the Bank had anticipated in October.”

“The Bank continues to assume that European authorities will implement sufficient measures to contain the crisis, although this assumption is clearly subject to downside risks. In the United States, while the rebound in real GDP during the second half of 2011 was stronger than anticipated, the Bank expects the U.S. recovery will proceed at a more modest pace going forward, owing to ongoing household deleveraging, fiscal consolidation and the spillovers from Europe.”

The Bank of Canada seems cautiously optimistic for the future, and has adjusted their economic forecast for 2012 economic growth upwards modestly to 2%. They then expect the economy to ramp up towards the end of this year, and into 2013, and have placed growth targets for 2013 at 2.8%. The economy beat their performance expectations for the latter half of 2011.

While they admit that trouble continues to brew globally, it is not necessarily going to spill over with as significant an impact as they had originally thought.

his morning, the Bank of Canada announced that it will, once again, hold the line, with the overnight rate staying at 1 %. The Bank Rate is correspondingly 1 1/4 per cent and the deposit rate is 3/4 per cent.

Credit Card Information

2012-01-13T00:15:00Z

As your knowledge grows............ Your influence multiplies! A friend sent this to me and I think it is worth reading... ATTORNEY'S ADVICE -- NO CHARGE Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice. A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company. 1. The next time you order cheques have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your chequebook,...(read more)

When you think of Real Estate what are you looking for when you hire a Real Estate Agent?

2009-10-16T20:11:00Z

Most Real Estate Agents make promises and promises but do they keep them? Of course, we know the answer.

How do know you are getting the right agent to work with? Please tell me. I'm very curious to know.