Leanne Feener @ DiMascio Group Real Estate

Friday, November 16

7 TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR CONTRACTOR YOUR ALLIES

It often seems we hear more bad stories than good when it comes to client-contractor relations. Miscommunication on both sides is a common culprit.

In my experience it has been easier to discuss issues and salvage existing relationships than start over completely with a new company. Thanks to mutual respect and an awareness of each other's expectations, my contractors and I have build lasting relationships. They feel vested in the project and take a personal interest in helping me look good in the eyes of my clients.

Here are a some tips that have helped me get the best from my contractors — and from other service professionals as well.

by Janet Paik

Remember that payment is paramount.Pay your contractors in a timely fashion, in accordance with the work completed. This point cannot be stressed enough. Your payment allows the contractor to pay his or her subcontractors, vendors and suppliers.

It's important to both parties that the project remains on schedule. Delayed payment or no payment at all makes it difficult to keep workers onsite and for the contractor to maintain a business. As added protection, it's recommended that you withhold 10 percent of each gross progress payment as a retainer. Once the job is complete, pay the retainer in full.

by Janet Paik

Know that small gestures count. There are times during a project when a little thoughtfulness goes a long way. When crews are working overtime at your request to complete a task, have their meals delivered to the site. Your contractor will appreciate your considering their nutritional needs. You'll also have the advantages of keeping the break shorter, relieving them of the inconvenience of leaving the jobsite and keeping their bodies fueled for their work.

by Janet Paik

Be accessible. When decisions need to be made and time is of the essence, an owner that is inaccessible makes the job more difficult, especially in stressful situations. If your schedule prohibits you from being available, consider hiring a project manager to oversee the daily work and make decisions on your behalf.

by Janet Paik

Give your contractor referrals and honest feedback. People tend to be more vocal when they encounter problems and less vocal when they've received exceptional service.

There's nothing wrong with expressing either type of opinion, but do it constructively. If there were problems on the job that would cause you to think twice about working with your contractor again, take a moment to make your concerns known. Your contractor then has the opportunity to improve the level of service and provide you with an incentive for giving him or her another try.

Conversely, if your contractor has provided you with a job well done, do not hesitate to refer him or her to others.

by DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

Effectively communicate the timeline and deliverables. Before each of the contractor's respective phases begins, each party needs to have a realistic expectation of the time it will take to start and finish the task. Timelines can be compromised due to delays from preceding contractors. Proper time should be allotted to meet expectations and maintain the contractor's level of workmanship.

Be considerate of your contractor's time.Without the mutual agreement of both parties, do not contact your contractor outside of normal business hours. Contractors, like you, have commitments to fulfill outside of work, even if they are just spending time with their own family.

by Kenny Grono

Have a defined set of plans and specifications. Unless the contractor runs into unforseen circumstances, a good set of plans and specifications speaks for itself in your absence.

If your contractor is installing finishes, with a set of plans there is no miscommunication regarding what material goes where. Do not confuse your contractor with your designer. Contractors are hired to install your products, not to create your vision.

www.teambluesky.ca

Thursday, November 15

THE RIGHT OVEN ARRANGEMENT FOR YOU

In the classic range setup, the cooktop and oven are combined as one appliance, most often a 30-inch appliance with four burners above an oven. The idea of being able to have a separate wall oven (or two!) is pretty exciting for many home cooks thinking about a kitchen remodel.

Are you considering new cooking appliances? Not everyone's dream setup will work in his or her kitchen, and some appliance configurations work better than others in a given space. Check out the options here.

Related: How to Remodel Your Kitchen

by thirdstone inc. [^]

Double oven. Ovens separate from the cooktop offer homeowners more flexibility with their layout. Also, many people prefer raised ovens rather than having to bend down to use a range oven. It's definitely better on your back! If you've got room for this arrangement and can find a spot for your microwave, this is a great setup. In a kitchen like this, a microwave drawer hidden on the back of the island is a great solution. The main sink on the island allows for the sleek electric cooktop to be located on the back wall.

Variations: Double ovens typically come in 24-, 27- and 30-inch widths; the overall heights vary.

by NVS Remodeling & Design

Stacked double oven. This is the most familiar setup, and most manufacturers carry versions of this appliance. Most cabinet manufacturers also offer standard tall oven cabinets for this type of appliance. The double oven unit often has one or two drawers below; the appliance is about 10 to 16 inches or so off the ground, including the toe-kick space.

by Mark English Architects, AIA

Single oven, microwave and warming drawer combo. This arrangement is also pretty typical. It's terrific if you've got room for a tall cabinet. (I like it best next to other tall pieces, like a refrigerator pantry, as shown here.) This setup is also a great way to make the room for all three of these appliances. I even like to do this with a range so you get an extra oven. This kitchen shows this option with a cooktop and an oven below in the island instead, which makes sense for this kitchen.

by NURIT GEFFEN-BATIM STUDIO

Raised side-by-side single ovens. This is an arrangement seen more frequently in modernand contemporary kitchens. It's possible that your cabinet company may offer a single-oven tall cabinet. You can do two of these side by side and make the upper and lower sections a food pantry.

by Debra Toney

In some modern kitchen designs you'll see slightly raised single ovens set side by side, alone or with a warming drawer underneath. This can be used as a design element — it gets you a bit of raised, bar-height counter space so you don't lose all that to a couple of tall cabinets. In this kitchen the design creates a semiopen space with the raised ovens; the framing around the refrigerator unit creates a room partition of sorts.

by Cynthia Karegeannes, Registered Architect

Base single ovens, alone or in tandem. Another arrangement is a separate wall oven or two in base cabinets. Shown here flanking a range top is a pretty unusual setup. Some might ask why not just do a 60-inch range with two full-size ovens and more burners? Sure, that would work, but in this case the homeowner is getting a bit more counter space.

by Andrew Melaragno, AIBD

A setup with two single ovens side by side with base cabinets also works, and it allows you to keep more counter space as well as opposed to having a tall cabinet. Also, some kitchens just don't have the room for tall cabinets, which can make a kitchen feel smaller.

by Lucy McLintic

A single wall oven set in a base cabinet under a cooktop is also an option, but be careful — not every combination of this setup works with every manufacturer. You need to make sure there's room for the cooktop to fit above the oven.

by Rebekah Zaveloff

BlueStar Wall Oven »

In addition to the well-known built-in oven options, there are a few unique models that take you off the beaten path. This 36-inch gas wall oven with French door access is a commercial-style wall oven for the home kitchen.

by Thomas Farago @ Appliance Canada Castlefield

Thermador Collection »

Rotisseries are fun accessories for your wall oven. My husband went through Cook's Illustratedand its multiple chicken roasting techniques: rotisserie, grilled, grilled on a beer-can stand, in a roasting dish trussed and nontrussed, turned and not turned — try it out for yourself and find your favorite method!

by Smeg USA

30-Inch Electric Oven SOU330X - $2,150.00 »

Full extension racks à la the kind you get in your cabinet rollout shelves these days are welcome wall oven accessories.

by Rebekah Zaveloff

GE Profile 30" Single-Double Electric Wall Oven - $2,697.30 »

Don't have room for more than one wall oven? Get two in the space of one.

by AJ Madison

Steam Oven With Convection Steam Cooking - $2,699.00 »

Steam ovens are a fabulous new addition to the appliance market. Healthy cooking, moisture without added fat and being able to proof bread are just some of the perks that come with this clever unit.

Friday, November 9

It costs $155K to raise a kid in Canada until the age of 18

Different Ways to Insure a Mortgage

Our home is one of the biggest and most important financial assets we own in our lifetime, and our mortgage is typically one of our biggest debts.

Recently, Jack and Shannon asked me if it was better to buy mortgage insurance through the bank or if they should purchase a term life insurance policy through their insurance broker. Here are some factors for Jack and Shannon to think about.

The death benefit

With mortgage insurance, the death benefit declines as the mortgage balance declines and the benefit is paid directly to the bank. For example, Jack and Shannon are getting a $265,000 mortgage, which means the mortgage insurance would start at $265,000 of coverage. After five years, the mortgage balance would drop to $240,500, but so would the mortgage insurance coverage.

With term life insurance, a $265,000 policy would have the same death benefit regardless of the mortgage balance. Although the policy is designed to pay off the mortgage, it is a separate policy from the mortgage. They could designate any beneficiary with the intent that the proceeds would be used to pay off the mortgage balance. Any extra proceeds above the mortgage amount would go to beneficiaries. With mortgage insurance, there would be no extra.

What is the cost?

Comparing the cost of mortgage insurance to that of a term life insurance policy is challenging, because it's not always an apples-to-apples comparison. The one thing I always suggest is to shop around for the best price. That being said, here are a few generalizations I can provide.

With mortgage insurance, the cost of the insurance stays the same despite the declining death benefit. Continuing with Jack and Shannon's example, after five years, although the death benefit drops from $265,000 to $240,500, the monthly cost of the insurance does not drop.

With a term insurance policy, the cost also stays the same for the length of the term. For example, if you buy a 10-year term policy, the premiums will stay the same for 10 years but then will increase for the next 10 years. Many life insurance agents would suggest a 20-year term policy for mortgage insurance coverage. In a case where the amortization period of the mortgage is longer than 20 years, premiums would go up after that period. The death benefit could be reduced at that time to reflect a lower mortgage balance.

Generally speaking, if you are healthy, buying a personal term insurance policy will likely be cheaper than getting the mortgage insurance from the bank. However, if you are a smoker or have health issues, the mortgage insurance may be the more cost effective option.

Will your claim be paid?

When you apply for personal life insurance, you must get a medical; all of the underwriting is done prior to the policy being issued. Mortgage insurance offered through the banks is different. In most cases, there is no medical - just a really long questionnaire that's not always easy to read and understand. With mortgage insurance, part of the underwriting is done at the time of claim, which has proved to be problematic at times. A while back, CBC Marketplace did an investigation into mortgage insurance and found two people that were denied claims after paying premiums on their mortgage insurance policy because of inconsistencies on the application. So even though you are paying for mortgage insurance, you may not actually be covered, because part of the underwriting is done after the claim has been made. This highlights the importance of completing these medical questionnaires properly and the benefit of buying insurance from a qualified, licensed insurance agent who knows what the insurance companies are underwriting.

Portability and flexibility

When you buy mortgage insurance through the banks, the policy is attached to a specific mortgage. If you move your mortgage to another company, you may have to re-qualify for new mortgage insurance coverage through the new financial institution.

With a personal life insurance policy, you own the policy regardless of where the mortgage is taken out. If you wish to change the coverage, you have the flexibility to make changes.

With mortgage insurance there is basically one policy for everyone. With personal life insurance, there is opportunity and flexibility to customize these policies to your personal needs.

The whole point of having mortgage insurance is to make sure the mortgage is paid off in case of death. It sounds like a simple concept, but there may be more to evaluating mortgage insurance than you might think.

Make sure you do your homework before signing on the dotted line.

www.teambluesky.ca

Thursday, November 8

Hitting the Bars to Explain the Design Process

Designing a new home or renovating an existing home can be an ordeal. You'll probably experience a whole range of emotions during the process, from excitement, to confusion, to frustration, to exhaustion, to an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and pride. But mostly confusion. If only there were an architect out there somewhere who could help shed some light on the process using only mathematical proportions and bar charts.

If only.

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

Add to ideabook

by Coffee with an Architect

I hope these charts will help you get a sense of what this process will be like. And I'm sure you'll be very happy in your new home.

Also, you could have brought coffee along with the doughnuts. That may be why I put the light switch on the wrong wall.

www.teambluesky.ca

Wednesday, November 7

10 REASONS NOT TO STAGE YOUR HOME

1. We want to test the market for 90 days. And on the 91st day? Price reduction--and 90 days worth of potential buyers who have already eliminated your property.

2. It costs too much money. I have never seen a home where the staging costs would have exceeded the first price reduction. And that doesn't even factor in the monthly carrying cost of the home.

3. We can't stage the house, we're living in it. One common misconception is that staging is only for vacant homes. Every home/condo can be staged, and you can actually live in it after staging.

4. We didn't have to stage any of the other properties we sold over the years. Yes, once upon a time you could generate three offers by 5 p.m. on the same day your Realtor put the For Sale sign in your yard. Not now. Buyers are picky and they have a lot of homes to choose from.

5. Everyone loves our house so buyers will love it, too. What you, your friends and relatives love about your house may not be what today's buyer wants. Sellers are often baffled by the feedback they get after showings--amazed that buyers have found things they don't like about the property.

6. We can clean the carpets and declutter without someone telling us how. Yes, you can (and should) do this, but it is a tiny piece of staging. Do you know what separates "clutter" from "asset"? And what about all the other things that staging encompasses, like traffic flows, highlighting architectural features, updating, and appealing to your target market?

7. We have no desire to remove/change our _______________ (wallpaper/mirrored tile/gold faucets/paneling/dated light fixtures . . .). And neither do buyers. Better to keep your home or be ready to sell at a deep discount.

8. The view alone will sell this place. Then why many months later are these great view homes/condos still on the market? Could it be that buyers want something to go with the view--like a comfortable, move-in ready home?

9. We would rather let the buyers makes their own paint/flooring choices. And that equals a price reduction. If buyers do make an offer on your home they will double or triple the cost of these items and reflect that in their discounted offer price--which includes a deduction for the inconvenience.

10. Our home is professionally decorated. A professionally decorated home is tailored to the owner's particular needs. Does it work for the new buyer's needs? You could see #1 above . . . .

These are all great reasons--

for price reductions
for extended time on the market
for buyers not coming to look at your home
for buyers not coming back for a second look

There are dozens of reasons not to stage, but only one good reason to stage--getting your home sold faster for the highest possible price. Staging is preparing your home for sale and creating a home that buyers want to buy. If you want to be in the best competitive position in this market today, consult with a professional home stager before listing your property for sale.

www.teambluesky.ca

Monday, November 5

Staging a Home after marriage breakup

"Don’t take your love away from me

Don’t you leave my heart in misery

If you go then I’ll be blue

‘Cause breaking up his hard to do”

Divorce will always be a part of our society, caused by a variety of circumstances and cultural shifts. The current divorce rate in Canada is approximately 44 per cent – a rate that has gone up over 1,200 per cent in the past 50 years. It is expected to increase in the next decade.

So what happens when these relationships fail? The pressure is on to equalize the couple’s assets (even in the case of common-law marriage). This often includes preparing the matrimonial home for a quick sale. Staging a home for this purpose takes great sensitivity and diplomacy. It can be extremely stressful on all parties. One or both of the sellers may be quite emotional, given the memories that linger. Sometimes there are children in the home who are watching this process unfold – struggling to understand.

When divorce or separation is the motivating factor for listing a house for sale, there are a number of things to keep in mind.

First and foremost is sensitivity. A home that was once a place of harmony may now be a place of some discomfort. The sale may or may not be a mutual choice between the joint owners – instead, it is being sold out of necessity. There may still be emotional attachment to the home so tact, respect and sensitivity are all key factors.

“Research has shown that divorce and separation is one of the most powerful stresses of life, closely similar to the stress resulting from the death of a spouse,” says Kerry J. Mothersill, Ph.D.

I have experienced situations where one of the spouses has already moved out and removed half of the furnishings. The task of a good stager in this situation is to work with the remaining contents and make the house appear full or to provide furniture and accessories that will make the home feel complete again for the purpose of showcasing it to potential buyers.

I have visited homes for a consultation that I could immediately identify as a break-up situation. When you open a closet door and there is only one gender of clothing pushed to one side, or when the laundry room looks like a bomb went off – it’s obvious that, while it appears to be a family home from the outside, half of the partnership is gone and the party remaining is “toughing it out” and trying to keep the house in shape.

For example, if the man remains, the house might lack a certain feminine scent and decorating touch. When a woman is holding the fort, the home is missing the expected masculinity – suits in the closet and shaving cream in the ensuite. I will sometimes add these elements to create a sort of “virtual person”, minimizing any suspicion that a shift in family dynamics has forced the sale of the home.

Providing a staging balance to the home is necessary to reduce any assumptions. If a potential buyer picks up clues that the home “needs to be sold”, the door is open for a low-ball offer and for your sellers to be taken advantage of. It’s my responsibility – as a sales reps’s business partner – to assist in protecting your client’s investment.

It is inevitable in our society that relationships will fail. However, couples who have invested together in property deserve the best effort from real estate professionals (including your staging partner) in order to maximize the return on their investment and to help them bring closure to what is a stressful chapter in their lives.

www.teambluesky.ca

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