Home buying perks explored
Are you thinking of buying a home? Do you sometimes find yourself adrift at sea oscillating between that dream and keeping your roommate forever because just maybe renting is ultimately easier than buying? Think again. What are the benefits of buying a home, you ask? Immediate membership perks include:
Pride of ownership
Privacy
Stability
Mortgage deduction on taxes
An opportunity to build wealth and equity
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| 1. Create a Playlist: Everything is more fun with a great playlist! Not only is music great therapy but it can make the cleaning process go by quicker and make it more enjoyable. 2. Clean One Room at a Time: While we all like seeing our homes sparkly and fresh, it can sometimes be an overwhelming process to get to that point. To help minimize the stress, work one room at a time! Start with the smaller rooms, or those that need the least amount of cleaning, and work your way up to the larger, project rooms. Another option is to tackle one or two rooms each weekend for the month and by the time May comes, you’ll be ready! 3. Declutter as You Go: Spring cleaning isn’t just about shining up the brass on the door and dusting. It is just as important to declutter your space! Before you start cleaning the room, it is a good idea to pinpoint items that can be discarded, such as old magazines and papers, as well as to go through closets and cupboards for anything that you can donate (like that sweater you bought and never wore). This will clear up space for new clothing and items and will make you feel that much more accomplished! 4. Think Green: Spring cleaning allows us to start the season off on a fresh, clean note. Don’t muddy that up with harsh chemical cleaners. In today’s eco-friendly environment, there are many safe alternatives to regular cleaners. Vinegar is a great substitute in the bathroom or kitchen as well as combining vinegar, baking soda and water as a deep clean alternative. You can also opt for a steam cleaner to manage tile, hardwood floors, appliances and even outdoor areas as they only use hot water and vapour. 5. Work From Top to Bottom: Starting from the ceiling and working your way down just makes sense! This will force debris downward and save you having to re-clean your space. Dusting first will prevent a headache later too! 6. Don’t Forget The Fridge & Freezer: The best time to clean out your fridge and freezer is right before you do your grocery shop, so they will be at their most empty. Take everything out and dispose of anything that is past its expiration date and any almost-empty items you won’t use. Before you restock be sure to wipe down the interior of the fridge with disinfectant and a damp cloth. The same can be done for the freezer but you’ll have to defrost it first! 7. Clean Air Reduces Allergies: Replacing furnace and HVAC filters is one of the most overlooked parts of Spring cleaning. Going as far as replacing your standard filter with a more robust one with a higher rating will help keep you even healthier this year as they catch smaller particles to ensure your home is void of allergen triggers, chemicals and even odours. |
Calling all Patio Lovers!!
Prime location, offering a convenient and comfortable living experience. Interior features an open and airy layout, with plenty of natural light flooding in through the large windows. The kitchen boasts stainless steel appliances, ample counter space, and modern finishes, making meal prep a breeze. Primary bedroom is well-sized, with closet organizers and plenty of storage. Oversized Den can easily be a 2nd bedroom and has access to patio. Bathroom is spacious and clean, with a bathtub/shower combo and a sleek vanity. One of the best features is the super-sized patio providing a peaceful and relaxing outdoor space where you can enjoy the fresh air and cultivate your own garden.
Pro- Active Strata council with healthy contingency fund. Amenities include, indoor pool, hot tub, exercise room and playroom for kids. 1 parking and 1 storage included.
List Price $599,000
Listed and Marketed by Maureen Seguin | Personal Real Estate Corporation
Oakwyn Realty LTD
Psst… sharing some sneaky storage tips. Messy homes make people feel overwhelmed, anxious, and helpless. As she says, mess leads to stress. Your home should feel like a sanctuary, not a penitentiary. These storage tips may make your home feel cleaner and more organized.
Fold Everything Down:
Not talking about folding your clothes (which will also save you space), but instead, think about installing a desk or a kitchen table that can be folded when it’s not in use. Bring the furniture back out when it’s time for Thanksgiving or poker night.
Use Multi-Purpose Pieces:
One clever way to make more space in a small room is to implement items that serve two purposes: like a hollow ottoman or a trunk. They will be there taking up space either way, so why not fill it them up to tackle two problems at once?
Set Up Built-In Shelving:
You may be able to save space with built-in shelving. These shelves usually don’t take up as much space as bookshelves, and you can use them to line an entire wall from floor to ceiling! Use them to store books, collections, toiletries, and other things that are taking up space in your home.
Hang Out in Your Kitchen:
One of the trickiest storage problems in small kitchens is finding space for all of the pots and pans. They take up too much space in a cupboard, so hang them from the ceiling instead. It will add to the decor of the room, and it might be easier to find what you’re looking for when you’re in the middle of a brilliant cooking concoction. Similarly, you can hang cups and mugs from under-shelf hangers, which may free up more space in the cupboards for plates, bowls, platters, and other things that stack.
Set up a Creative Corner:
Anyone in a small space may tell you that creatively filling every single space can be difficult. For a small room that is already full (but still needs more storage) look into corner shelves. Don’t cut corners—use them!
Filling your home with hidden storage may be a great way to tuck all of your items away and keep your home organized. Take everything out of the closet or junk drawer and start using these stealth storage solutions.
With the cinnamon-flavored joys of this season come another set of not so pleasant activities. Coughs, sneezes, and stuffy noses are sure to come as the weather cools down and brings the flu season upon us. However, there’s hope. Keeping clean may prevent transmission of the flu, so we’ve provided hacks that may protect you and your family.
Sanitize surfaces
When multiple people come into contact with the same surfaces, they run the risk of spreading and contracting germs. Find common areas that your family uses and disinfect them often. Obvious places include the kitchen counter, bathroom sink, and toilet, but don’t forget about spots in the rest of the house. Home offices and staircase railings get a lot of action, too.
Launder linens
When you reuse towels and sheets, you’re reintroducing yourself to germs that might have accumulated there. During flu season, it’s more important than ever to keep these items fresh. Linens, especially ones that you use on your face like pillowcases or bath towels, should be washed more often in a hot water cycle.
Cut out carriers
Certain items in your home are more likely to accumulate bacteria, which can turn them into potential carriers. These items include (but aren’t limited to) the one listed below.
Replace the items you can like sponges and toothbrushes, and be sure to wash or wipe down the others.
Don’t wait until you see symptoms to start cleaning. Prevention is key, and by avoiding the flu you can save your sick days for a “stay at home, cuddled in blankets” day, instead.
For too many people the Holiday season is a stressful time filled with extra expenses, invasive relatives and a hectic schedule (and that’s in the best cases). Take a selfless minute to make the season a little brighter for someone you know… or don’t. Small acts of selflessness can go a long way and don’t need to cost a thing. #SelflessSeason
Here are some suggestions
Winter is just around the corner! It’s time to create an inviting and cozy space for you and your guests.
Being told that your home is “cozy” is probably the best compliment a homeowner could ever receive. It means that your guests feel comfortable in your home.
Creating a space that is not only inviting but also gives a feeling of warmth, is the most difficult task for any interior decorator to achieve let alone the most important. With these easy and quick tips, you can transform your home into the coziest living space imaginable!
The most important part of having a “cozy” home is to keep yourself warm! We know that it can get really cold outside, so having tons of blankets, especially bulky blankets accessible to you can make a world of a difference. In fact, many interior decorators use this tip to create inviting and relaxed environments.
The key to creating a warm and cozy space is to have the just right amount of light You don’t want a space to be too bright yet not too dark.
So finding this perfect in-between can be difficult. However, playing around with different types of lighting can make your space feel cozier.
Speaking of the perfect amount of lighting. Why not bring in some candles?
By using candles you not only play around with the use of lighting and create a much cozier space but you can also have control over how you want your home to smell!
Lastly, pillows are also a great way to make any space feel comfortable and inviting. Interior decorators use this tip also to fill in some awkward spaces like adding throw pillows to hallway benches, empty reading nooks, and more!
With these easy tips, you are sure to have the most comfortable and cozy space in the world! In fact, you may not want to step outside after this.
| The holidays are coming up! As much as these celebrations bring us joy and harmony, they can also bring us stress. This is particularly true when it comes to your finances! However, don’t lose hope that this will be another draining year on your pocketbook. In fact, with a little planning, there are a few ways you can make sure your holidays are stress and credit-free. Determine Your Holiday Goals: Are you looking to plan an extravagant black-tie party or have a more low-key celebration? Maybe you just want to hang out with lots of family and friends and enjoy some good food? Or maybe you usually get away and are finding yourself homebound this year. No matter how you normally spend your holidays, sharing your thoughts with family will help determine your goals and come to a decision that works for everyone! Create a Budget: Once you have decided your expectations and goals for the holiday, it is time to create your budget. A little planning can go a long way to creating a credit-free holiday, and will help you spread out the costs. The first step is to create a list of everything you need, from individual gifts to decorations to baking ingredients and meal items to clothing! Start Now: Early planning can make all the difference when it comes to the holidays. Instead of lumping your entire budget into a couple pay cheques , try keeping an eye out for gift ideas and cute decor all year long. While it may be too late this year, it could be a good strategy to try for 2023! Starting early will help reduce stress and give you more opportunities to scoop up incredible deals throughout the year, which means you can spread your budget even farther! Manage Your Expectations: Did you find the holidays refreshing last year, or were they somewhat draining and you’re still trying to figure out how to pay off your credit card bills? If you are someone that wants your holidays to be energizing and provide that feeling of togetherness, there is more to it than just spending money. Once you decide your expectations, it becomes easier to work towards things that create that result. Accept Help: While I know many of us try to do everything during the holidays so our families can just enjoy themselves, it is important to remember that the holidays are a time when we are supposed to support each other, and celebrate together! If you are hosting a dinner this year, don’t be afraid to ask your family to bring appetizers or drinks. If you are buying gifts for friends, set a limit or challenge everyone to make something by hand! Homemade gifts can often feel more special and it creates a fun exchange for you and your friends. There are many incredible ways to reduce stress and help get others involved so that the holiday is perfect for everyone. The holiday is YOURS, so make sure you spend it whichever way brings you the most joy – and the least amount of stress on your pocketbook. |
Having the biggest and best home on the block sounds great – but not if it is at the expense of your life and monthly finances!
Be smart about your budget and avoid buying a home at the very top of your pre-approval value, which might lead to cash flow issues and being “house poor” down the line.
Home Expenses
When it comes to your home, it is more than just your purchase price and mortgage cost. While you might be able to afford to buy a $800,000 home, can you also afford the maintenance, property taxes, utilities and more?
When it comes to your home expenses and overall monthly budget, the goal is that the costs to maintain your home do not exceed 35% of your total monthly income.
Monthly Budget
To help you keep track of your finances, consider breaking up your monthly budget into the following categories:
From there, you would want to look at how much you spend on each category. The below is a good rule of thumb:
By spending too much on housing, you are forced to sacrifice in other areas of spending such as your life or savings, but it is better to be life RICH than house POOR.
If you’re not sure what you should budget for your new home, or have questions about making your home costs more affordable (such as changing your mortgage payments), I strongly recommend reaching out to your mortgage broker today.
What do cabinets, countertops, bath spouts, toilets, and outlets have in common? They are all areas of the home that can be dangerous for your baby or toddler.
Baby-proof your home with these Top 10 ways.
1. Outlet plugs – Buy the outlet plugs that go inside the outlet and prevent children from being shocked by sticking fingers or objects inside.
2. Non-slip bath mats – A non-slip bath mat allows you to make bath time fun without worrying that your child will slip and fall.
3. Safety gates – Use safety gates once your baby starts crawling and walking. Place them at the tops and bottoms of staircases and in the doorways of any rooms that aren’t baby-proofed and don’t have a door.
4. Corner guards – If you have sharp-edged furniture like cabinets and tables, put on corner guards. This is especially important for furniture that is low to the ground, like coffee tables.
5. Window locks – Install window locks so that your child can’t open the windows.
6. Door locks and door knob covers – Door locks and door knob covers keep children from being able to access things that could potentially be dangerous like cooking utensils, cords, medicine, and cleaning supplies.
7. Oven knob covers and oven latches – Oven knob covers and oven latches keep your child from opening the oven or turning it on.
8. Bath spout covers – The bath spout might get too hot when you are running water. Use a bath spout cover so that your child doesn’t get hurt if he or she gets too close to the faucet.
9. Pool gates – If you have a pool at home, it is essential to have a gate around it. Your baby should never be left unattended in the yard or pool, but a gate provides an added security measure.
10. Toilet locks- Babies try to get into everything! Install locks on toilets.
These safety measures can help keep your child safe around your home. You’ll have one less thing to worry about and more time to spend enjoying time with your family!