It can be tough to make the decision to sell. In fact, for many homeowners, it’s overwhelming. If you’re considering making a move and struggling with the decision, here are five helpful questions to ask yourselves:

1. “What are our practical reasons for selling?”

This question refers to what you’ll get by moving to a new home. The reasons could include a bigger backyard, shorter commute to work, an extra bedroom, a more desirable neighbourhood, etc.

2. “What are our emotional reasons for selling?”

This question refers to how you’ll feel about living in a new home. For example, you might feel safer, less cramped, less worried (because the local schools are better), or happier (because the shorter commute means more time with your family.)

3. “What type of new home can we afford?”

This question involves finding out how much you’ll likely get when you sell your existing home and how much of a mortgage you qualify to receive. With that information, you’ll have a price range within which you can comfortably shop plus a clear idea of what your mortgage payments will be.

4. “In what ways will our lifestyle be better in a new home?”

This ties in closely with emotional reasons for selling. It relates to what your life will be like in a new home. Try to paint a picture in your mind. For example, you might want to be able to spend Saturday afternoons relaxing in your bigger backyard or Sunday nights entertaining friends and family in your larger living room.

5. “What else do we need to know before we decide to sell and move?”

Sometimes people are hesitant about selling simply because they have unanswered questions. So, if there’s any part of the selling and buying process that’s not clear, be sure to ask me.

Did thinking about these questions help make the decision easier? If you need more help or want to talk about your decision…

Call me today! 416-779-8732

*Morris Marketing*

If you’re thinking about buying a new home, you may be considering purchasing in a new development. How does that compare to purchasing a resale property?

Buying a newly-built home has some advantages. Depending on the development, you may have leeway in the style of the home and the lot you choose. Also, when the home is built, you’ll be moving into a place where everything is brand new!

On the downside, however, you may be forced to make a decision based purely on marketing brochures and floor plans. Unless there’s a model home just like the one you want, you’ll be buying sight unseen. Also, there may be unpredictable construction delays — an unpleasant experience if you’ve already sold your current property.

Of course, buying a resale home may also have a downside. For example, the house might need work, such as a new roof. What you see is pretty much what you get. And, that’s true for the floor plan too. You can’t ask for the living room to be five feet wider, unless you decide to renovate.

On the other hand, a big advantage of a resale home is moving into a neighbourhood that is already there for you to see and explore. Unlike in a new development, you can get a very clear idea of what it’s going to be like to live there.

Plus, you get to see the house too!

Regardless of which way you go, I can help you make the best decision and
find the home that’s perfect for you. Call today. 416-779-8732.

Vertical gardens have become popular among those who enjoy growing outdoor plants but have limited dedicated space to grow them. Not unlike high-rise buildings that can accommodate more homes on a parcel of land by building up, a vertical garden can take advantage of a small underutilized footprint, and turn it into a visually impressive green space.

A vertical garden is limited only by your own imagination and ambition. Examples range from a stepladder-style arrangement inside a condo or on a small balcony, to a house exterior covered in climbing vines on a wall trellis.

Whether you prefer colourful flowers, flavourful herbs or simply bountiful green cover, the fullest effect is achieved by selecting plants that yield a great deal of foliage that will hang or droop sufficiently enough to cover the frame of your planter arrangement.

The most sophisticated versions can nurture greenery within soil-retaining mesh pockets on a grid-like frame, or in troughs arranged like a bookshelf.
Whatever your arrangement, it must be made so that its easy to water and maintain your plants, and water run-off can be properly managed.

To get started, go online and learn from the wide range of visual ideas, do-it-yourself kits and how-to instructions that are available.

*Morris Marketing*

Do you sometimes see “For Sale” signs and wonder what homes are selling for in today’s market? Do you ever wonder what your own home would likely sell for, if you were to list this year?

It’s natural to be curious. After all, your home is similar to a traditional investment. Some people check how their mutual funds are doing every week!

Checking on the value of your investment in your home makes sense. So, if you ever have questions about what’s going on in your local market, please contact me. I have the information and data needed to provide you with the market insights you won’t find easily on the internet.

Of course, if you’re seriously considering listing your home this year, contact me to have that conversation. The time to make those plans is now.

All the best!
Ruth B.

416-779-8732

Ideally, when you list your condo for sale, you want your entire unit staged well. That way, you’ll maximize its appeal to buyers. However, that’s not always possible. So, if you can’t stage everything, focus your energy on those rooms that will have the biggest impact.

Here are the rooms buyers tend to scrutinize most:

• The kitchen. Buyers almost always remember the kitchen when they see a condo. They either love it or hate it. So, making your kitchen look great is crucial. Make sure it’s clean and uncluttered. A cleared countertop with only a few carefully selected decorative items and a beautifully set kitchen table can have a big impact.

• The living room. People spend a lot of time in the living room, so it’s not surprising that buyers take a close look at this space. Make it seem as spacious and comfortable as possible. The lighting should be soft and pleasant. Professional stagers say putting some books on a table will help set the right mood.

• The master bedroom. This room should, obviously, look uncluttered and warm. If there is an adjoining ensuite, consider it an extension of the same space. The bed should be made to look as welcoming as a nice hotel room bed. A throw and some decorative pillows could make a big difference. The closet – a clutter magnet in most homes – should be as neat and organized as possible.

• The Foyer. Don’t underestimate the importance of this space. It’s the first thing buyers see when entering your unit. Clear away items, such as shoes, to make the foyer seem open and inviting.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to make your condo look attractive to buyers. When rooms are staged well, buyers tend to form a more positive impression and, as a result, you’re more likely to get a good offer.

*Morris Marketing*

Condo dwellers who like to be out and about – and not tied to their homes for extended periods of time – often feel they can’t enjoy the pleasure of tending to an outdoor garden. However, both simple and creative watering systems can be used to support balcony gardens – regardless of their size.

The range of options is broad enough to address most balcony gardening designs. For example, for individual potted plants, you can purchase simple water vessels that “spike” directly into the soil and dispense water over time, or you can use planters that have their own self-watering containers.

For larger collections of balcony plants, gravity-fed lines can drip a steady distribution of water from a reservoir, as long as the source is secured in a higher position than your plant beds or containers. If that’s not an ideal arrangement, you can install a more sophisticated mechanism that utilizes a pump to deliver the required moisture according to a pre-set schedule.

Finally, before you make a decision to expand your balcony’s population of plants, be sure you can manage your water supply and run-off according to your condo agreement’s balcony rules.

*Morris Marketing*

There are many situations where playing the waiting game can pay off. For example, you can delay booking a flight and hold out for a last-minute deal, or you can wait for a grocery item to go on sale so you can stock up and save.
Does it make sense to play this same game when selling your home?

If you try to “time the market,” you could end up getting more for your home. But, you might also get less! In the meantime, while you’re waiting, good opportunities to sell at a reasonable price may pass you by.

The stakes are high when you’re selling your home. If you wait for stewed tomatoes to go on sale, and they don’t, you won’t feel a big hit. However, if you wait to sell your home and the market of eager buyers dries up, there could be a significant financial impact.

That’s why you need to be very careful about trying to time the market. Yes, it can sometimes be smart to wait a few weeks, and in some cases even a few months before you list, but you need to make that decision based on good information and even better advice.

Remember, if you’re not only selling but also buying in the same market, the advantages of “timing” might cancel each other out. If you sell when the market is high, you’ll also be buying in a high market.

What’s the good news? In most cases, the best time to sell your home is when you’re ready to sell, regardless of the market.

*Morris Marketing*

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is invisible and odourless, so you can’t actually “watch out for it”. However, you should monitor for it because an excessive build-up of this gas in your home can be deadly.

Fortunately, there are many types of Carbon Monoxide detectors you can purchase — and most are effective and affordable. Some models simply plug into an outlet. (Many also have a battery backup.)

Carbon Monoxide is caused by the incomplete burning of fuel. It can be released by a faulty gas furnace, kerosene heaters, and gas fireplaces. That’s why it’s a good idea to install detectors in areas close to these fixtures, as well as near bedrooms.

Experts say you should always follow manufacturer’s instructions when installing CO detectors, and test them regularly. You want to make sure you can hear the alarm from your bedroom.

CO build-up in homes is rare. So your detectors may never go off. But, if the alarm does sound, get everyone (including pets) out of the home and into the fresh air. Then call 911. Typically, the fire department will do an inspection and determine the source of the carbon monoxide.

A final tip: Never use your BBQ or outside grill in the garage or, especially, anywhere inside your home. The risk of CO exposure is very high and definitely not worth the convenience of a grilled burger!

*Morris Marketing*

Shopping for a new home in a distant town, city or neighbourhood can be a challenge. It’s especially difficult if getting there requires a very long drive or flight.

So, if you’re thinking of moving out-of-town, here are some home shopping tips to consider:

• Schedule a longer than normal viewing appointment. Make sure the seller is aware that you’ll need more time to see and evaluate the home, so they don’t book another appointment too soon after yours.

• Spend extra time in the neighbourhood and surrounding area. Drive the streets. Go for a walk. If possible, chat with neighbours you run into.

• Get all the facts you can about the home and surrounding area. You’ll want to take a close look at crime statistics, property turnover, demographics, etc.

• Don’t rush your travel plans when going to see a listed home. Try to arrive for the viewing relaxed and energized (rather than stressed and fatigued), so you can see the property in an unhurried manner.

Following these simple tips can bring your faraway dream home a lot closer!

*Morris Marketing*