The home as a system

Wake Up Buyers!!! Forget the wall colour and focus on the systems in a home!

Many buyers in the Toronto market are getting too wrapped up in the aesthetics of a home and not taking the time to consider the internal systems and how these systems affect the physical and financial health of the occupants. Most buyers and owners do not realize that often builders are putting materials and systems into new and renovated homes that are to their detriment. Eurodale Developments, winners of BILD Renovator of the Year refuse to do so as exemplified in their latest home renovation at 33 Kelso Avenue.

Brendan Charters and Jim Cunningham co-founders of Eurodale Development chose to take a holistic approach to renovating this house in the Avenue and Lawrence community. They treated moisture and air management through waterproofing and an air/vapour barrier, they created air sealing and insulation upgrades to existing non insulated masonry walls with high density spray foam (to avoid potential mould issues with cellulose based insulation) and also increased efficiencies with a high efficiency boiler to heat floors and domestic hot water. This allows for reduced dependency on the forced air heating system and the elimination of a wasteful traditional hot water tank. Complete air sealing with foam and caulking and tape in areas of air and vapour barriers, as well as new energy star window and door installations were a sizeable replacement to the old leaky units. Once they had a tight home, they addressed air quality with material selections such as formaldehyde free cabinetry and low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints to reduce off gassing. The ventilation systems in the home were also improved to ensure proper exchange of air inside the living space.

Due to these upgrades it will now cost the owners substantially less to run the home. It will also be more comfortable as there will be less of the exterior forces of nature able to affect the humidity levels and temperatures inside the space.

 In a hot real estate market like this, location, most commonly referred to as the most important factor in any real-estate deal, may not prove to be everything – you need to start looking at how the house works as a system. The house at 33 Kelso Avenue has both a great location and great system design, making it the perfect combination.

For more details on this listed property check out: www.33kelsoavenue.ca

HST Review - Do I pay the HST when I purchase my home in Toronto?

 The HST does not apply to the purchase of resale properties. However, it does apply to fees and services associated with the purchase.

The HST  has been applied to the purchase of new homes, but a rebate will be available for those purchasing new homes up to $500,000 if they are their primary residences.  A home under $400,000 has a rebate of 6% of the purchase price.

Please contact  David Speedie if you have further questions: dspeedie8@gmail.com

HST Review - How will the HST affect my housing costs in Toronto?

The HST tax will be applied to heating fuels, electricity, professional services such as architect's fees and real estate commissions.

The HST tax will not be applied to the purchase of resale property, condo fees, most financial services, residential rent and municipal public transportation.

Does this make it all more expensive? In some cases definitely yes when the exemptions to the old taxes were removed. Remember also that the old tax of 8% PST and 5% GST has been replaced. The single HST tax we now pay is 13%.

See our vlog and  our buyer's services

Tips for downsizing

"Whether you're an empty nester moving from a house into a condo, or a renter trading in a two-bedroom for a studio, you'll have to say sayonara to some of your stuff." So says Helen Racanelli in her article in Style at Home magazine. Helen provides excellent tips but I asked one of my clients who has just sold the family home of 31 years how she was able to find a smaller home and sell hers within a space of two weeks without any problem it seems. Her response:

If the sale of your house comes suddenly the preparation that you have put into this months or years before counts. My most important tip is that your children take all their stuff when they move out except of course for their most treasured childhood things which I have kept for their children. I'm a not a clutterer so when any new item came into the house one went out. Clothes not worn were periodically sent to charity. Don’t keep paper.

Next over the last few years I looked at my furnishings and style and identified what pieces kept my rooms looking like they were furnished in the 90s . So out went the mahogany china cabinet which was the the most prominent feature of the living room/ dining and in came a plainer style sideboard which would fit anywhere. Any furniture pieces I did not use were given to local church sales or put on Craig's list, not stored in the garage!

You are most likely selling to a young family so I made my home appealing to them -no heavy draperies, a wide open bright basement, no wallpaper.

What I did do right? When I replaced the bathroom several years ago I installed white fixtures, protected the hardwood floors, installed good windows and kept the house in good repair

I did not have to rush around making repairs, emptying the garage, unstuffing closets or removing tired furniture.

Now it's packing time ..

See: Preparing your home for sale.

See: Top ten tips for downsizing- Helen Racanelli