Exploring Toronto Neighbourhoods: Willowdale

Looking for a thriving, diverse neighbourhood centrally located that offers either an urban or suburban vibe? Look not further than North York’s Willowdale.

Where is Willowdale?  Comprised of three villages: Newtonbrook, Willowdale and Lansing, Willowdale runs on either side of the Yonge corridor north of Finch Avenue up to Steeles Avenue.  To the east, it is border by Bayview Village and to the west, by Bathurst Manor.

This area has changed significantly in the last few years.  Cadmium, business and retail development has increased along the Yonge corridor.  Comparing pictures taken in 1980 versus 2010 show demonstrate the impressive growth and ever-growing skyline. Single-family homes built prior to the 1960s are being redeveloped as much larger homes.  Landmarks in this area include: North Central Library, Mel Lastman Square, Toronto Center for the Arts, Gibson House, John Mckenzie House and the Holocaust Museum.

This area is becoming a transportation hub, linking to Toronto in the south via subway and cities and towns to the north, west and east via bus. TTC Subway Line 1, the Yonge-University line, runs in a north-south direction through the neighbourhood with Finch Station to the north and Sheppard station to the south.  Line 4, the Sheppard line, runs in an east-west direction from Sheppard station to the west and Don Mills Station to the east.  The 401 can be accessed from the neighbourhood via Bayview and Yonge exits.

I encourage you to catch out further what this fine Toronto neighbourhood has to offer you.

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

David Gharat RE/MAX For Sale 21 Horton Blvd, Toronto, M1J1K7

David Gharat RE/MAX For Sale 21 Horton Blvd, Toronto, M1J1K7

Summer in Toronto: What is Simcoe Day?

Summer in Toronto: What is Simcoe Day?

Retail signs have started to go up announcing hours for the Civic Holiday on Monday of this upcoming long weekend.  Some people in Toronto refer to this holiday as Simcoe Day.  I love my work so long weekends don’t really get me excited but I was curious about the reason for this holiday. 

This mid-summer holiday is recognized in some but not all provinces.  In Ontario, the holiday has different names based on municipality. In Toronto, it is officially Simcoe Day.  For instance, here are some other names for the Civic Holiday:

Colonel By Day in Ottawa,

George Hamilton Day in Hamilton,

Joseph Brant Day in Burlington,

Founders' Day in Brantford,

McLaughlin Day in Oshawa,

Alexander Mackenzie Day in Sarnia,

James Cockburn Day in Cobourg,

Peter Robinson Day in Peterborough,

John Galt Day in Guelph,

So who was Simcoe and why does he merit a holiday? Simcoe Day was named in honour of John Graves Simcoe, the first lieutenant governor for Upper Canada (now Ontario).  Simcoe influence on Ontario and Canada was remarkable. 

As Lieutenant Governor and British Member of Parliament, he was known to support the abolition of slavery before coming to Canada, supported the Act against Slavery in the 1793.  This meant that slavery was abolished in Ontario decades before all other colonies in the British Empire. 

Simcoe was also responsible for moving the capital of Upper Canada (now Ontario) from Newark (Niagara-on-the-Lake) to York (now Toronto).  At the time, Toronto was severely underdeveloped and Simcoe’s decision began the development of the city.  Two main streets were built at this time through Upper Canada – Yonge Street and Dundas Street.           

In July 1796, Simcoe return to England due to ill health and never return to Upper Canada.

So, this weekend, enjoy time with friends and family and be grateful for Simcoe for putting Canada on the forefront of slavery abolition.

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

Your Home, Your Investment: Low Maintenance Gardening

Your Home, Your Investment: Low Maintenance Gardening

So you want a nice garden or yard where you can relax and entertain your family and friends but you don’t want to be a slave to keeping it looking up.  While there is no such thing as a no maintenance garden, you can look at a low maintenance landscaping plan that requires minimal effort to maintain. 

What is low maintenance landscaping?

A low maintenance landscape reduces the amount and frequency gardening activities.  The type and number of features and plants will determine the amount and frequency of watering, weeding, pruning, deadheading and dividing you will need to invest. The best plan will move the frequency of maintenance activities from daily or weekly to monthly or seasonally. As you plan a low maintenance garden, you will want to consider landscaping design features, plant selection and ongoing maintenance requirements. 

Landscaping Design Features

What design features will reduce the gardening activities I need to do weekly or daily?  As you plan and continuously improve your garden, consider the following design features:

1)   Outdoor Living Areas:  Add outdoor living areas such as patios and porches, to reduce the amount of green space that needs to be maintained.  It is critical that patios and walkways be built on a solid foundation and in a proper manner.  Otherwise, you will have unwanted weeds and ultimately increase your maintenance.

2)   Plant Areas/Flowerbeds: Establish plant areas or flowerbeds with edging, landscape fabric and mulch or river stone.  Avoid over-planting flowerbeds.  Plan for the mature width and height of plants. Over-crowding can negatively impact the appearance of your garden.

3)   Ground Cover:  Do not overlook a grass lawn as part of your design as ground cover.  It takes a lot of plants to cover the same space as a grass lawn. Gardens without grasses tend to be warmer. 

Plant Selection

As you establish your garden, it will be important to understand the lot conditions and select plants are compatible with those conditions and easy to maintain. Study the information on specific plants online or on labels attached to plants. Consider the following points.

1)   Light and Soil Conditions: Consider what areas are shady, sunny or partially shady or sunny and select plants accordingly. Know whether your soil is sandy or clay-like and select plants accordingly. 

2)   Drought-Resistant Plants: Select drought-resistant plants to reduce the need to water.  Here are some to consider: Grasses, Marigolds, Portulaca, Sedum, Cricks & Hens, Daylilies, Lavender, etc.  Please note that new plants will require more water until they are established. 

3)   Slow-Growing Foundation Plants: Select slow-growing foundation plants to reduce the need to prune and trim plants.  Limit pruning to 1-2 times per year.  Here are some plants to consider: Green Mountain Boxwood, Peonies, Draft Norway Spruce, Blue Fescue Grass, etc.

4)   Perennials: Select more perennials than annuals.  Perennials are planted once and come back year after year.  Perennials, once established, will have roots deep into the soil, reducing the need to water and the need to deadhead. Annuals need to be planted each year and will require more watering. 

Ongoing Maintenance Requirements 

Once you have designed your garden to fit your taste and burden level, you will want to look at preventative maintenance as a key part of your plan.  Here are some suggestions to help make the garden maintenance so much easier.

1)   Interlocking Stone: Apply polymer sand to the crevices of interlocking patios and walkway blocks to reduce the growth of weeds. 

2)   Flowerbed Mulch or Stone:  Replenish flowerbed mulch or stone annually, as needed.  This will prevent the growth of weeds and improve moisture retention of the soil.

3)   Pruning:  Plan to prune or trim your slow-growing foundation plants in the spring and/or fall according to their specific care. 

4)   Weeds and Moss:  Spray weeds and moss with vinegar.  This will not only look after the menace but also prevent future issues.

5)   Gardening Tools: Invest in the proper gardening tools to do the minimal work you need to do.  There is an L-shaped weeding tool you could not live without.

 Happy Gardening!

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

Driving Around Toronto - For Sale And Open House Signs

Driving around Toronto these days, you actually see For Sale and Open House signs up in neighborhoods.  This is exciting! While the last few years have been exciting, I believe his balanced, non-frenzied market is strong with potential benefits for buyers, sellers, and investors.

Whether or not to buy, sell or invest at any given time for any one individual or family depends on many factors.  The real estate market and the prices that result from the forces of supply and demand are only some factors to consider.  Your current personal, professional and financial goals and milestones will also be key in your decision. 

If you are buyer, here are some positives to consider:

· Recent requirements for 20% down payment protect prospective buyers from over-extending their debt.
· With increased supply in the housing market, prospective buyers have more choice, more time to consider different homes and review home inspections.
· Increased tax requirements for foreign buyers tempers the foreign demand somewhat and may be beneficial to buyers who reside in Canada.
· Overtime, once the forces of supply and demand set in, prices may become more stable and predictable and potentially, more affordable.
· Real estate, over time, appreciates and continues to be a very good investment.

·   Interest rates remain historically low and any anticipated increase would likely be modest.

If you are a seller, consider the following benefits:

· With more days on the open market, sellers will be in a position to consider best offers over the course of days, not hours.

· Home prices (otherwise seen as asset value) may be more stable and predictable, allowing for better financial and retirement planning.

· If you have been in your home for a while, you can use the value from your home to downsizing and fund an earlier retirement or you can leverage the value from your current home to upsize to your future home.

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

Your Home, Your Investment: The ABCs of Preparing your Home for Sale

Your Home, Your Investment: The ABCs of Preparing your Home for Sale

So you are thinking of selling your home, great!  Before you put it out on the market, you will want to do some preparation work. In a balanced market, where buyers have a choice of homes, this preparation work is even more important. Do one a day and you will be ready to sell. There are many great lists out there with suggestions for you, here is ours:

The ABCs of Preparing your Home for Sale

Accessorize: As you prepare you home a viewing or open house, think about adding accessories to certain room.  A fresh bowl of fruit in the kitchen or fresh flowers (non-scented) in your living room creates a welcoming environment for buyers viewing your home.

Bathroom:  Bathrooms are a key room buyers will assess when viewing your home.  Without embarking on a full renovation project, you will want to make it looks its best – clean and sparkly.  After honest assessment, consider replacing toilet seats, toilet paper rolls, towel racks, etc.  At every viewing, place clean, preferably white, towels on the racks and remove all personal toiletries from view.

Closets: Buyers will want to check out the storage space that your home offers.  To best show off this feature of your some, pre-pack some of your off-season items and leave closets spaces 2/3 in use.

De-Personalize: Specific personal items such as family photos, collections, unique personal items (think large faux tiger rugs) will distract the buyer from seeing your home as a fit for them.  Remove and pre-pack all of these items.

Extra keys:  Likely, a lockbox with a key to your home will be needed for viewings and open houses.  Rather than have to access this each time you enter your home, you may want to get an extra copy of your key.

Front Door (for houses): Just after buyers see your front garden, they will see your front door step and door.  First, make sure the steps and door are all in good working condition.  If not, fix them.  If the door needs it, give it a fresh coat of paint or a touch-up.  Add accessories such as a welcome mat and perhaps a seasonal planter to create the best first impression.

Gutters (for houses): The exterior of your home should be in good working order.  To make sure water is properly draining from your home, clean out your gutters or eavestroughs.

Home Inspection (for houses):  Prior to negotiations, you may want to arm yourself with a home inspection.  Any issues identified with your home can be addressed or factored into your asking price. 

Intense Emotions:  Selling a home you have lived in through a stage or stages of your life can bring up intense emotions in you and in your family members.  Take time to acknowledge your emotions, honour past memories and then, look optimistically to the future in your future home.

Junk De-cluttering: Clutter or junk includes items that are 1) garbage (that which is broken, out of date or not in use), 2) out of place (that which is in the wrong room or place), 3) not useful or necessary (unwanted gifts or items bought in error) and 4) belong to someone.  In preparation for your home sale and moving, you will want to throw, sort or donate these items.

Kitchen: Kitchens can be the heart of the home and can sell your home.  Clean out cupboards, refrigerators and ovens.  Keep countertops as clear as possible.  Consider packing away extra pots and pans, dishes and small appliances to fully show the space your kitchen has to offer.

Landscaping (for houses): Landscaping adds to the curb appeal of your home.  Consider removing overgrown shrubs and planting new ones and completing any walkway or driveway repairs.  Make sure to weed walkways and keep lawns mowed for viewings. 

Make plans for animals (including humans!):  Buyers will be more relaxed viewing your home without the distraction of pets, kids or even you the homeowner.  It is best to make a plan for where you all can be during this time.

Neutral colour scheme: A neutral colour scheme will be more appealing to buyers.  If you are painting or buying new bedding, select neutral tones.

Odor Elimination:  Be it fish or pet smell, you may have grown accustom to the unique the odors that build up in your home.  The impression your buyers have of your home will be impacted by how your home smells. If needed, clean all surfaces where the dog lays, and clean the cat’s litter box daily.  Prior to viewings, air out rooms and spray air fresheners.

Paperwork:  Gather all paperwork related to your home including: utility bills, tax bills, renovation details, warranties, mortgage details, etc.  It is helpful to have this in one file as questions come up.

Quick Clean up and Tidy: You will want to do one big or Xtreme cleaning and then daily or prior to each viewing, you will want to do a quick clean up and tidy. 

Realtor: Select David Gharat Real Estate Group to help you through the process.  We are proud to have served our clients with trusted and dedicated service.

Status Certificate (for condos): Prior to negotiations, obtain the status certificate for your condominium building.

Touch-up Paint: A coat of paint can be the least expensive and easiest way to refresh a tired room or outside features of your home.  Go through your home, inside and outside, and list areas where some paint will help.  Remember to keep new colours neutral.

Update Light: Make sure all lights have light bulbs and are in good working order.  Consider updating old light fixtures.  The light fixtures you select should make the style of your home.

Vacuum Floors and Walls:  Vacuum and clean floors and walls making sure to get all cobwebs and to remove dirt and stains.

Window Cleaning:  Shiny windows inside and out will present your home in the best possible light.

Xtreme Cleaning: We recommend you complete Xtreme cleaning.  This is like spring cleaning but with a thought to moving.  Your Xtreme cleaning will include many items on this list.  Once you complete this one Xtreme or big cleaning session, you will maintain it with Quick Clean-ups and Tiding as your home is on the market.

Your Basement:  Whether finished or unfinished, take some time to clean and tidy all its rooms.

Zen Bedrooms:  Bedrooms should be presented as peaceful and restful areas.  Make sure to de-personalize the space, use neutral or pale colours, and make sure closets are in their best shape. 

David Gharat

www.housecondopro.com

228 King Edward Ave - David Gharat (RE/MAX All Stars Inc)

Summer in Toronto: Sensational Strawberry Shortcake!

Summer in Toronto:  Sensational Strawberry Shortcake!

What is there not to love about Strawberry Shortcake?  During summer in Toronto, we indulge in a perfectly balanced sweet but not too sweet combination of fresh, red strawberries, sweet whipped heavy cream and light and flaky shortcake. It is red and white, the colours of the Canadian flag. 

This dessert evokes memories in me.  When I taste the cream it takes me back to memories of my first home: India.  I fondly remember drinking fresh cream on my grandfather’s farm near Alibag, a coastal town south of Mumbai in the Raigad district.  When I taste the cream, I think of him and the trips my family made when I was young.  The strawberries trigger memories of summer in my second home: Canada. It brings back the fun of trips to U-Picks across Southern Ontario and the start of the Canadian summer on sunny June days. 

I am told recipes for shortcake either Team Biscuit or Team Cake.  Here is the recipe from The Canadian Living Cookbook we use every time we enjoy this delightful summer dessert!

Classic Shortcake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tbsp      granulated sugar

1 tbsp      baking powder

½ tsp       baking soda

¼ tsp       salt

½ cup       cold butter, cubed

½ cup       sour cream

¼ cup       milk

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Cut in butter finely.  Combine sour cream and milk, add to dry ingredients all at once, stirring with a fork to make a slightly sticky dough.

Gather into a ball and place on a lightly floured surface, knead gently 8 times until smooth.  Roll or pat out as an 8-inch round about ¾ inch thick or cut into 6 individual rounds with a 3-inch cutter.  Place on a baking sheet.  Brush tops lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake in 425-degree oven for 20-25 for minutes for large shortcake or 15-20 minutes for individual shortcakes or until baked through in center and golden brown.

To serve, split in half while warm.  Spoon lightly-sweetened strawberries over bottom half .  

Top with whipped cream and then top with other half.  

Top with whipped cream and more fruit.  Makes 6 servings.

Summer in Toronto.  Enjoy!
www.housecondopro.com

Install Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Be Prepared and Be Safe!

Do you have the proper number of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home to protect your family?  This question became a priority at our home when the carbon monoxide detectors sounded on a Sunday morning.  Wow! Are those things ever loud! After some frazzled nerves, a 911 call and a visit from Toronto’s finest firefighters, we been reminded about the importance of these detectors and learned more about the requirements.

How many smoke detectors do you need and where should they be placed?  Smoke detectors sense smoke from typically a fire.  Ionization sensing smoke detectors will even detect smolders from the beginning of a fire.  We have even had a smoke detector detect a leak in our roof but that is another story entirely! 

Every home in Ontario must have a working smoke alarm on every storey and outside all sleeping areas. As smoke rises, smoke detectors should be installed on the ceiling or, if necessary with a slopped ceiling, on the top 1 foot of the wall.  Also, avoiding installing smoke detectors near the kitchen or bathroom where smoke or steam can trigger a false alarm. Are you all set from a smoke detector perspective?

How many carbon monoxide detectors do you need and where should they be placed? A carbon monoxide detector is a device that detects carbon monoxide gas in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.  Carbon monoxide is a colourless, tasteless and odorless gas.  Carbon monoxide exposure at certain levels and lengths can lead to deadly poisoning.  Initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches and stomach sickness. As you sleep, you would not be aware of these symptoms. It is known as the “silent killer” as it is undetectable without technology.  Consequently, it is important to have fully functioning detectors installed.

In Ontario, carbon monoxide detectors must be installed outside bedrooms on each level where you sleep.  Having one carbon monoxide detector in a furnace room is not sufficient to wake people in the night.  Is your household protected from the “silent killer”?

Once you have your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed, how do you maintain them?  There are five key steps to maintaining your detectors:

1. Test the units and know how they work. 
2. Replace the batteries at least once a year, less frequently for lithium batteries than can last the lifetime of the alarm.
3. Replace units every 10 years, sooner if it isn’t working. 
4. Regularly dust or vacuum the units. 
5. Keep the unit free of paint, stickers, or other decorations that may prevent it from working properly.

What do you do should an alarm sound?

First, have a fire escape plan that you practice.  Identify two ways out of each room and an outdoor meeting point away from the home. In the case of a fire, once you are out of the house, call 911. For carbon monoxide alarms, if you are not feeling ill first check the battery.  If you are feeling ill and the battery is fine, leave the home and from your meeting point, call 911.  Although you want to avoid false alarms, do not hesitate to contact emergency services. Better safe than sorry.

Be prepared and Be Safe.
David Gharat www.housecondopro.com

Cleaning Your Eaves trough

Now that the weather is warm, there are a few things you should do to maintain your home.  Cleaning your eaves troughs is one important task.  With the rain we have seen this spring, this is even more important.

What is eaves trough? Eavestroph is the gutter that is fixed underneath your roof. As rainwater falls, it is collected in the gutters from your roof and is drained from the gutters to the ground through downspouts.  To best protect your home’s foundation, it is best that your downspouts be disconnected.   If your downspouts are connected to your drainage system, you should have them disconnected.  Over several months, debris such as leaves and twigs will accumulate in the eaves troughs.  As this builds up in the gutter or downspouts, it will prevent proper drainage and will need to be cleaned out.  The amount of debris depends on how many deciduous trees surround your home. 

How do I clean my eaves troughs?  Cleaning eaves trough for single-storey houses is fairly easy.  If you clean them regularly in the fall and in the spring, each cleaning will be easier. To get started you will need some simple tools.  You will need a sturdy ladder, heavy-duty work gloves, a garden trowel, two buckets, a yard waste bag and a garden hose. 

There are 3 steps:

1) Setup your ladder with 2 buckets, one for your tools and one in which to collect debris.  Remember to never use the top two steps on the ladder and to not over-reach when on a ladder,

2) Remove debris from the eaves troughs and downspouts using your trowel into your debris bucket,

3) Pass water through the eaves troughs using a hose to clean remaining debris and make sure your downspouts are properly draining.  

To make completing the job easier, you may want to look at some eaves troughs or gutter cleaning tools.  You can get gutter extensions for a leaf blower or for a water pressure to help with job.  You can also find special gutter cleaning trowels. 

If you are uncomfortable climbing ladders and your home has more than a single-storey, it may be in your best interest to hire this cleaning out at a cost of approximately $100-200, depending on the size of your home.  

David Gharat www.housecondopro.com

Midland Ave Condos

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Toronto New Condos

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Transition Your Porch From Summer To Fall

Transition Your Porch from Summer to Fall