Interview with Julia Katsivo

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Did this Facebook Live Interview with Julia last friday at BNI. We had a Seminar on Monday night. It was our best attended yet. If you missed it you can come next monday March 5th! Call me for details. 416-779-8732. Also remember that Thursday is the last day to put your money in RRSP’s. If you Plan to use the Home Buyers Plan to Increase your down payment this year 2018, Call me today. You don’t have any time to wait to increase your down payment by 30% by using this Government Plans.

Open House Tips That Turn Viewers Into Buyers

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What do you want from an open house? Obviously, you want to attract a lot of potential buyers — and have at least a few of them become seriously interested in your property. So how do you make your open house as successful as possible?
 
Get minor repairs done. A dripping faucet, a squeaky fence door, or a scuff on the wall may seem minor to you, but these problems can stand out like a sore thumb to a potential buyer.
 
Brighten things up. Make sure all areas of your home are well lit. Natural light has the most appealing effect. Open all the curtains.
 
Put away personal items. Trophies, pictures, mementos — all remind potential home buyers that they’re strangers in someone else’s home.
 
Make each room look as impersonal yet inviting as possible. Stage your rooms as though they were in an attractive furniture store display.
 
Sniff around. There are probably smells around your home that you’ve become used to, or even like, such as lingering perfume scents in the bathroom or remnant odours from cooking an exotic meal. Try to make your home as scent-free as possible.
 
Make sure everything works. Check for burnt out light bulbs, running toilets, and derailed closet doors.
 
A final tip: Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t be at the open house yourself. Your presence can be intimidating to potential home buyers, no matter how cordial and helpful you try to be.
 
Need more tips on selling your home quickly and for the best price? Send us a message by clicking the button below!
 
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

Check Your A-C’s Exterior Unit for Optimum Performance

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Before the height of summer arrives, check your central air conditioning’s exterior unit to ensure it is ready to provide you with maximum cooling while using the least possible amount of energy.
 
First, confirm that the power is off. Then, check that the box sits level, and remove any objects or plants that may restrict its expulsion of interior heat. Remove the outside screen(s) and clean the fan, compressor, condenser coils and fins with a low-pressure garden hose.
 
Before replacing the screen(s), check that the fan is unencumbered, and that the aluminum fins are not bent. If necessary, you can gently straighten them with a butter knife or A-C fin comb. Next, go inside to replace your interior air filter(s), which can be accessed near the main fan. If filters are washable, clean them at least twice a year. Turn the power back on and set your thermostat to trigger the A-C operation.
 
If anything is amiss, call for service now, to avoid the rush during the next heat wave. Be sure to ask your technician for a written inspection checklist.
 
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

New Windows Are a True Home Improvement

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It’s easy to think of your home’s windows as being visual enablers that merely allow daylight to come in, and you to look out. However, in addition to that function, windows also need to perform, almost as well as walls do, in their role as barriers that protect you from the outside environment.
 
As a homeowner, if you neglect this critical factor, you may be compromising the comfort and energy efficiency of your home. By paying attention to the condition of your windows’ frames, panes, closure seals and lock mechanisms, you can determine whether they are underperforming. Look for condensation “fog” on or within the glass, as well as loose or rattling sashes and sliders, and dried-out or cracked caulking or weather stripping around the glass and frame.
 
If you are uncertain, consult a reputable company for an energy leak assessment, then get quotes for windows that are certified for their performance and longevity, and installed with a guarantee. If you decide to buy new windows, consider a design that complements your home’s architecture, as their style can contribute to your home’s resale value, just as their energy efficiency can.
 
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

How to Repair a Large Drywall Hole

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Repairing a large hole in your wall is surprisingly easy when you follow a few simple steps:
 
1. Use a utility knife or coping saw to square the edges of the drywall hole.
 
2. Cut a patch from a new piece of drywall, making sure it’s slightly smaller than the squared hole – but don’t try to insert it in the hole without a solid backer to stop it from falling in behind your wall.
 
3. To form a solid backer, cut a piece of scrap wood or another piece of drywall that’s wider than the square hole, and wrap one or two lengths of wire around it. Insert it into the hole and lodge it against the back of your damaged wall by pulling the wire snug. This backer creates a new “bottom” for the hole.
 
4. Secure the wire on your side of the wall so the backer remains in place, then insert your patch in the squared hole. Apply drywall compound around the edges of the patch, smoothing it flush to the undamaged wall.
 
5. Allow the compound to dry, then snip the wire before sanding and painting.
 
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

Bacteria is a Growing Concern

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Spring cleaning often focuses on reducing clutter, but it can also be an opportunity to reduce potentially harmful bacteria within the home.
Start with areas that are likely to have sources of growth, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Thorough cleaning in those areas should include more than the usual suspects.
For example, microwave ovens and toothbrush holders can be effective breeding grounds for bacteria. In fact, any place where moisture can linger (such as sinks, sponges, and dishcloths) will provide a robust environment for a myriad of microbial colonies.
Other common haunts are well-known: handles, doorknobs, keypads and hand-held devices. Grooming products like hairbrushes, pedicure tools and makeup applicators can be a hotbed for fungi. If at all possible, confine these items to individual use, and keep them clean.
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

Rebates and Discounts: Investigate Before You Renovate

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When planning home improvement projects, it’s wise to investigate your eligibility for rebates, discounts and other incentives that might help you reduce your overall costs.

Among the most common programs available to homeowners are those promoted by various levels of government in support of conserving energy and the environment. While installing a modern energy-efficient lighting or HVAC system will definitely save you money in the long run, it requires a large initial investment. So, it makes sense to determine whether there are government sponsored programs that will reward you when you’re ready to make that initial investment.

As well, some manufacturers, retailers, and contractors might promote their products and services at special prices in support of such incentives, and might even help you with rebate applications. Of course, you will need to do some homework by checking with your municipal, regional and federal offices, but it’s better to know before you start your renovation than to find out afterward that you missed out.

*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

What to Do When Closing Dates Don’t Match

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If you want to sell your current property and purchase your next dream home, you might be concerned that the closing dates need to be on the same day.
You might be worried that you’ll lose a property if the closing dates overlap, or you’ll be put out on the street if the dates are far apart! For the most part, these concerns are unfounded.
Thousands of properties change hands every day and usually, everything works out just fine. In fact, it’s amazing how often closing dates actually do match!
But what happens if the closing date of the home you want to buy is days or weeks earlier than the closing date of your own property?
Most lenders anticipate this situation and offer something called “Bridge Financing.” This is a special loan that allows you to purchase the property with the earlier closing date. When your current property closes, the bridge financing ends and your new mortgage – if you need one – begins on the new home.
Alternatively, if the home you want has a later closing date, we will work together to explore options, such as a short-term rental.
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

Top 5 Ways to Impress Home Buyers

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Remember when you found your current home? You walked in and got the feeling it was a great fit for you and your family. Now that you’re planning to sell your house, you need to make that same impression on the next potential buyer.
Here’s how to do it.
1. Clean and de-clutter. Make sure your kitchen, bathrooms, and floors sparkle. Use old-fashioned elbow grease or call in professional cleaners to get the job done. Can you walk into your walk-in closet? Does your car barely fit into your garage? Start packing early and put your seasonal and personal things into storage. Make your rooms and cupboards look spacious.
2. Repair the little things. Put on your home inspector’s hat and walk through your house. Make a list of the items that need attention and arrange for repairs. Focus on your entry-way, drywall, paint, sticky/squeaky doors, leaky faucets, flooring and countertops.
3. Help buyers see themselves in your house. Remove your family photos and personal mementos. Buyers have difficulty picturing themselves in your house when your personal items are on display.
4. Let the light in. Bright homes often have a higher resale value. Pull back blinds and draperies to let natural light in. If you still have some dark spots, add floor or table lamps to the area.
5. Groom your yard. You wouldn’t go to a job interview without being well groomed, so make sure your yard is groomed for viewings. Trim your hedges and shrubs. Cut the grass. Pull weeds and cut back any greenery that covers walkways.
*Article Provided by Morris Marketing*

Consider Cloud-Storage for Safekeeping of Valuable Records

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While it is advisable for anyone with irreplaceable valuables to have a safety deposit box in a secure location away from the home, having a digital record of its contents offers the added benefit of immediate access to images of the items, should the need arise.
To that end, you should photograph and itemize expensive jewellery, heirlooms and collectibles, as well as scan any appraisals or authentications.
In addition, it could prove very convenient to have instant visual access to important documents, such as financial assets, passports, wills, powers of attorney, life insurance and home insurance policies, as well as personal mementos.
But saving these visual references on your phone, tablet or computer could fall short of your intentions, given how easily and often such devices can get lost, damaged or hacked. For that reason, a password protected digital “cloud” backup is likely your safest precaution.
Usually provided at little or no cost by your internet service
provider (ISP) or device manufacturer, cloud backups are stored on remote servers that offer a level of secure storage
that’s worth considering.
*Article provided by Morris Marketing*