home renovations

Renting out your property can be a little intimidating for a first time landlord. Attracting the right renters is crucial to a smooth and successful rental experience. The best way to get the kind of renters you want is to create the right kind of ad. Since most people won’t take the time to call unless they are really interested in your property, it is imperative to put all of the relevant details that they would need into your ad. However, remember that catching someone’s eye is crucial and for that you must keep it short and snappy.
 
In today’s world of soundbites and 30-second news clips, no one want to read a dense paragraph describing your rental unit. Instead keep your listing as short and succinct as possible using bullet points and different fonts to draw attention.
 
Be sure to include such details as:
– Security deposit
– Number of bedrooms
– Number of bathrooms
– Whether it is upper or lower floor
– Location
– What’s nearby such as shopping, transportation, etc…
– Cost
– Whether you accept pets or not
 
Once you have your list put together, you are ready to write your ad. Include good pictures where possible so that they have a good idea of what they will be getting.
 
Next, post to as many websites as possible including Craigslist and Kijiji. If you are worried about vetting the potential renters by yourself, you can also enlist the aid of a knowledge real estate agent who can help you find tenants. Usually such a request will cost you the first month’s rent, but it is worth it for those who would rather forego the trouble of finding tenants themselves.
 
As long as you find the right tenants, you will have a smooth time with your rental unit.

Listing your home on Airbnb or any other sharing website is a great way of making some extra money on the side. However, before jumping into such a situation, make sure that you are prepared for the work that it will entail and the risk that you will assume.
 
Firstly, check with the laws in your province to make sure that you are allowed to rent your home out as a short term holiday rental – in some places Airbnb has been banned.
 
Secondly, be sure that you organize yourself properly. Take good pictures of  your place. Good pictures will sell your rental quicker than mediocre ones. Make sure that your home is clean and looks attractive.
 
Next, sell your neighbourhood and the attractions of your city and your location. A good write up in a friendly, approachable manner will go a long way toward bringing renters calling.
 
It is a good idea to also invest in extra amenities including towels, pillows, blankets, linens, utensils, etc… it will save you the hassle of having to rush to clean everything before the next renters come in. Having extras on hand will mean that you can swap out the used items for clean stuff while you clean up.
 
Put together a little book containing a list of your house rules, how to use the local transportation and anything else that someone new to our city would need to know.
 
Another good idea is to include a small fee for laundry and cleaning as this will cover the extra costs you will incur for such items.
 
Lastly, remember that it is good to be friendly to the renters, but you don’t have to be their best friend. Let them know that if they need you, they can reach you, but otherwise let them explore and have fun on their own.

Yes, it is true – anyone can be a landlord. As long as you have the cash to spare, the tenacity to deal with constant challenges and an optimistic attitude, you have what it takes to succeed. However, there are also some more practical tricks you need up your sleeve in order to make being a landlord work for you. In this short blog, we’ll cover some of the basics of renting that will help you succeed.
 
1. Screen all applicants. Do not skip this step – it is necessary to know who is going to be living on your property. You want to know if they have good credit, a steady job and an upstanding character.
2. List all house rules. Present each prospective tenant with a list of house rules that you then attach to the lease upon signing – in that way, no one can claim ignorance after the fact.
3. Be sure to collect on the first of each month. Don’t let a tenant get away with not paying on time, lest it become a habit.
4. Include late fees on lease. Determine an amount for late payments and stick to it!
5. Be organized. Regardless of whether you have one or one hundred rental units, keep a detailed file of all repairs done to the place, the names of all contractors and an account of all payments received.
6. Know when renewals are coming up and make sure that you are on top of them!
 
Bookmark the Landlord and Tenant Board’s website: www.sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb and have their phone number on speed dial!

Can you be a landlord? The simple answer is “yes,” the true answer is a lot more complicated. However, the path to profit can certainly be achieved if you play your cards right and make a sound rental investment.
 
Being a landlord is one of the surest ways to build equity for yourself and your future. After all, real estate will always appreciate over the long term – even if there are downturns within your time-frame, historically, over a ten year time period property values tend to double. However, being a landlord is not for the faint of heart or for those who want a passive investment.
 
The truth is that being a landlord is an active investment. Whether you have only one rental unit or ten units to oversee, you have to be prepared that when the phone rings, at the other end will be a tenant complaining of a problem that needs fixing. Some people realize quickly that being a landlord is more work than they anticipated and so cut-short their realty dreams. However, proper planning and a realistic view of what is entailed will help you succeed. If you know that you are not handy with a hammer, enlist the aid of someone who is. Get yourself a shortlist of affordable and reliable contractors whom you can call to help you on short notice. Or, you can always hire a property manager to oversee your property and to report any real issues to you. Hiring a property manager only really makes sense if you have enough rental units and profit to make the expense worth your while.
 
The next thing to remember is that the numbers have to work in your favor. If the rent you charge doesn’t cover your carrying costs, your maintenance costs and provide you with a small profit at the end, then the investment is not sound. Whatever rental you buy make sure that the rent will cover your mortgage, insurance, taxes, maintenance and leave you with a little bit to save at the end of the month. If you don’t have that savings margin then any unforeseen circumstances will result in a loss for you that month.
 
So, to recap this quick overview, yes, you can be a landlord! Just remember to following these very simple guildelines:
 
– Crunch the numbers! Make sure the rent you receive every month more than offsets the costs of running your rental property.
– Prepare mentally for an active investment.
– Make a shortlist of go-to contractors who can help with fixes/renovations as needed.
– Know the property laws in your province or state.
– Know your tax laws!

It’s summer in the city – and the heat waves have everyone moving at a slower pace and dreaming of cool, breezy drinks after work. If you aren’t so lucky as to have air conditioning in your Toronto home, there are still other ways of keeping cool during the peak of summer heat.
 
Draw the shades
Before leaving for work in the morning, be sure that all of the curtains, shades and blinds in your home are drawn tight against the sun. Although this may seem counterintuitive when we all long to see sunlight streaming through our windows, this beautiful light will also heat up your home very quickly. The best way to prevent this is to keep the sunshine out.
 
Keep cool air in and hot air out
The next smart move to keeping your home cool is help hot air escape by creating a cross breeze. To create such a breeze you first need to create a vacuum that will help push the hot air out. To do this you have to open the windows on the cool side of your home along with the windows directly opposite those on the other side of your home. If you don’t have windows perfectly across from each other, no worries – as long as you have a path for the air to flow through. Just remember that air flow doesn’t work with angles, so there needs to be a path for the breeze to be created. The most efficient current is created by opening windows on a lower level that let in the cool air and cross windows on an upper level to let the air out.
 
Fans
Fans are always very handy at helping to create a breeze or to increase air flow in a hot, sticky room. Whether hung from a ceiling, standing on a pedestal or one of those new-fangled bladeless options, fans are terrific at moving air on days when nothing seems to move. However, be sure to turn them off when heading to work, because while they do move air around, they also tend to heat the air up as well. So, keeping them off during the day is the best way to keep a room cool for your return.
 
Clothing
Most of us assume that in the heat we have to shed our protective layers – this is actually the opposite of what we should be doing. Instead of protection from the cold, in the summer we need long sleeves and pants in order to protective our skin from the sun’s heat. The clothing should be made of natural fibres, light and light-coloured to maximize their cooling effect – it is the reason why people is hot countries tend to cover up.
 
Ice
Placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan will help to cool the air naturally. As the ice melts, the cool vapor will be picked up by the fan and blown into the air. Holding ice in a cup is also a very effective way of cooling down. Holding the icy cup near your temples will lower your body temperature while breathing out into the cup will help melt the ice, which in turn will release cool mist into the air.

Life in the city has taken on a distinctly country-like feel lately with racoons, skunks and squirrels roaming neighbourhoods at night in search of food. While cute and furry, these critters can cause a lot of damage to property, set up unwanted residence in your home and get into fights with family pets; they are also carriers of very undesirable germs and disease including rabies and the ticks that carry Lyme disease. Keeping these particular animals away from your home is definitely crucial to the proper enjoyment of your outdoor space – especially in the evenings when they are waking up and coming out of their burrows and nests looking for food.
 
The best way to keep these furry pests at bay is through exclusion – fencing off your property so that they can’t come in. However, as this is quite drastic and not necessarily the way most people want to go, there are alternatives that will stop them from coming too close.
 
Deterrents
Sprinkling deterrents around your home can work wonders at keeping these critters at bay. Commonly used sprays include coyote and fox urine – items which can easily be purchased at big box home and garden stores as well as online.
 
Scare them!
Similar to scarecrows placing moving objects in your yard can be enough to scare animals away. If you have trees in your yard, attached long shimmery streamers or anything else that will blow in the wind and move. Items can include windmills, flags or material.
 
Motion sensors
As raccoons and skunks are nocturnal, they only come out at night to forage for food. Adding motion detectors to your lights will cause them to think twice before entering your yard again.
 
Water, water
If you happen to be watching and see the animals when they enter your yard – blast them with a jet of water from your hose. Usually this will deter them from returning.
 
If none of the above solutions work for you, try pest-proofing your place but adding mesh screening around the underneath of porches – making sure that it goes down at least 6 inches and you turn it outwards for about a foot before covering with dirt. In fact, cover any opening to your home with mesh and secure properly. Fill any burrows or nests you find with dirt and use bricks or other heavy objects to keep the lids on garbage cans securely.
 
You can also place live traps around the areas these animals frequent and then call your local borough to find out where you can release them once caught. Whatever you do, remember that animals in the wild are dangerous – regardless of how cute they are and that you should never think of tackling one by yourself.

Summer in the city means sun, fun, barbeques and relaxation. However, it can also mean pests! What can you do to naturally repel insects and bugs from invading your Toronto home? Read on for some fun tips on how to use every-day natural items found around your house to make your home a fortress against pest invasion.
 
Moth be-gone!
Can’t stand moths? Well moths can’t stand cedar – which is why the fragrant wood was traditionally used to build closets. In lieu of a full cedar closet, you can purchase cedar chips or hanging blocks that you can keep in your closets, pantries or anywhere else you want to keep moth-free!
 
Spider-free
After eating those oranges or juicing that lemon – don’t throw out the peels! Citrus peels are a fantastic spider repellant. Just rub surfaces where spiders tend to gather and you won’t have to worry about sleeping with your mouth open anymore. Bonus – citrus smells great and polishes furniture nicely.
 
Mosquito repellant
No one likes being bitten by mosquitoes while trying to enjoy the great outdoors – a simple solution? Eat lots of garlic! Mosquitoes aren’t big garlic fans… the only trouble is it might keep others away from you too!
 
Ant aversion
If you start seeing ants creeping into your home, it’s time to break out the white vinegar and spritz along doors and windows to keep them out.
 
Keeping bugs away from the home
Along with the above remedies – other very effective ways of keeping bugs at bay include sprinkling cinnamon around the place and planting fragrant herbs around your house.
 
There are plenty of other ways to keep pests from ruining your summer-time activities. A simple online search can yield a slew of great ideas that won’t break the bank yet will also be very useful in keeping your home bug-free.

Curb appeal is one of the most important factors in any home sale. Regardless of how updated and renovated the interior of your home is, if that wow factor is missing when prospective buyers pull up outside, it is already working with a strike against it. In fact, many realtors consider curb appeal just as important as a solid foundation and good structure.
 
Here are a few tips that will help you spruce up your home so that people passing by will recognize the gem you own.
 
Keep is neat!
Keeping things neat simply means to cut your lawn, trim your hedges and trees and ensure that any landscaping, including driveways and pathways, are in good shape. If your driveway needs to be resealed or needs to be redone, then it is best to invest in an upgrade – the same holds true for walkways. If your walkway is falling apart, then it is time to have it redone. Although pricey, the investment will pay-off. One thing to keep in mind when redoing your walkway is that a winding walkway will add more interest to your frontage.
 
Flower, shrubs and trees!
Planting flower beds, shrubs and trees can add a lot of charm and natural beauty to your property, If you are not entirely sure what will look good or where to plant things, then we highly recommend hiring a landscape designer who can help you plan your yard. Some designers will even give you the plan with the plant/flower names suggested so that you can do the purchasing and planting yourself.
 
Keep it clean!
Nothing will detract from an otherwise attractive property like dirty siding or tarnished brickwork. If your home looks like it has been through the wringer, then it is time to break out the power washer and give it a thorough cleaning. Not only will doing so brighten up your home, but it will revive tired looking exterior finishes.
 
Adding accents!
Adding an accent colour or feature can also make a huge difference when it comse to curb appeal. A brightly coloured, contrasting front door, decorative window shutters or even a portico can change the look of your home completely
 
Planters
If you don’t have enough land to plant flower beds, then adding flower pots on your steps, next to your door or along your walkway will work just as well.
 
In short getting your home to look good takes little effort and/or investment, and the returns are well worth all of it.

Air conditioning may not seem like a necessity in Canada, but with the summer’s heat invariably comes the need for a cool escape. Whether you live in a house, condo or apartment, there are solutions to fit every place when it comes to keeping cool during a heat wave.
 
The easiest solution to air conditioning your home is to determine just how large of an area you want to cool. The size of the unit that you purchase will depend entirely on the space you want to chill. If you are looking at cooling your whole house down, then the units you should look at will be very different from someone who only wants to cool down one room.
 
Once you know the size of the space you need to cool down, then you can calculated the number of BTUs the unit you purchase will have to output. To calculate this measurement you can use a handy online calculator like the one found over here //bit.ly/2969wii. The number you get is the minimum BTUs you will need to have in order to effectively cool down your room.
 
Since every air conditioning system works on taking the hot air from your home and pumping it outside, it is necessary to have a window available for your AC unit.
 
Window Units
Window units are the least expensive option when it comes to air conditioners. They are portable machines that you can install in your window with minimal fuss. They are great for cooling down small spaces or just one room of a house. They tend to range in price and efficacies to really low-end, inexpensive to better quality more powerful units at a higher price point.
 
Free-Standing Units
Free-standing air conditioning can be placed in any room as long as you are able to properly vent it out a window. When you are purchasing a free standing unit be sure to check whether it has a dual hose or single hose vent. The single hose is good for smaller spaces, but in larger areas it can cause your unit to overheat and stop working. However, the single hose options are less expensive than their dual hose counterparts but won’t be as efficient in a large room.
 
Wall Units
Wall air conditioning units will require you to touch the masonry of your home in order to install the unit directly into the wall, but it is very effective at cooling down large spaces and/or smaller homes. They are also require a significant investment – but one that will definitely pay off on hot, sweltering days.
 
Central Air Conditioning
The grandaddy of all air conditioning systems central air is the luxe solution to your cooling needs. Although this system comes a hefty price tag it will last a long time and be more efficient over the long run.

Having a green home is a goal many of us would love to attain, but don’t necessarily know how to. Getting rid of the toxic substances in your home and making your own cleaners is a healthier alternative to using the harsh cleansers and chemicals that are available at the grocery store. Another advantage to making your own cleaners is the cost savings you’ll see. Not only are the items needed to make cleaning supplies inexpensive, they are also quite abundant.
 
Vinegar
Vinegar is one of the keystones of home cleansers. It is an astringent that can be used to clean everything from windows to bathtubs – which basically means that it can degrease really well. It can also be used directly on weeds in your garden to get rid of unwanted plants.
 
Baking Soda
Mixed with vinegar baking soda is excellent at getting grout white again, removing mildew and other stains/bacteria and as a general, all-purpose cleanser. Its texture makes baking soda a terrific mild abrasive while its composition makes it a natural deodorizer.
 
Borax
Mix with a cut lemon and you’ve got yourself a heavy duty cleaner that can remove rust stains on porcelain and enamel – but keep in mind that lemon (or any kind of citrus) should never be used on marble or granite surfaces as it will eat into the stone.
 
Here’s how to use the above listed ingredients.
 
Glass Cleaner
Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 1 cup of warm water for a fantastic glass cleaner – for an even better result use newspaper to wipe the glass clean after sponging in solution.
 
All Purpose Cleaner
Mix 4 tablespoons of baking soda in 2 litres of warm water for a good all purpose cleaner.
 
Grout Cleaner
Need to really clean your grout? Mix baking soda, vinegar and warm water for a really powerful clean.
 
You can find other ways of using these ingredients alone or in combinations that will save you money, make your home less toxic and still keep everything spic-and-span!