I’ve just made a change for the better.

I’m delighted to announce that I’ve moved my professional practice to RE/MAX Hallmark Realty Ltd. Because RE/MAX® sets an industry standard for real estate excellence, up-to-the-moment research, strong teamwork and entrepreneurship—as well as exemplary community engagement outside the real estate world—this move raises the bar on my career and the value I can offer my clients.

What’s better for me is definitely better for you.

Let me show you what this change can mean to you. If you’re considering buying or selling a property—or if you simply want a home evaluation that’s a cut above the rest—be in touch.

And so it begins.  Summer is winding down.  Just last night I was thinking to myself that the evening air is chilly and has the faint smell of autumn to it.

Here is your August List to get you ready for the coming season.

1.  Carpool Season is upon us.  It's a great time to clean, or get those cars cleaned!  A fresh car makes driving around the little tykes that much nicer.

2.  Sports Equipment.  I'm sure your sports equipment got a good workout this summer.  I know mine did.  So it's time to play ball... or rather clean ball.  Clean all your sports equipment and put them away in their proper place.

3.  Air out the house!  Refresh your house one last time in August before closing up shop for the winter.  Good idea to do this while you're cleaning so all the dust that is disturbed into the air has an easy exit.

4.  Here's an easy one for the little ones.  Give them brooms and send them on a cobweb hunt.  You will get your house cleaned up, and give them a sense of accomplishment.  When the last cobweb has been demolished, take your kiddies out for Ice Cream while it's still nice.

5.  Clean Cleaning Equipment.  Seriously... when was the last time you did this?!  Mops, Brooms, Buckets, Vacuum cleaners all get dirty too.  Replace heads on Mops, replace brooms altogether, scrub buckets and service the vacuum cleaner.  Now things should be working better, and cleaner!

6.  Oscar won't be happy!  Time to give your trashcans, recycling cans and green bins and once over.  Hose them down and let them air out before adding anything to them.  Also inspect your bins to make sure everything is in working order.  (lids, wheels, hinges).  If you find anything wrong with them, give the city a call at 311, and they will send someone over to repair.

7.  Speedy Delivery.  How much dust is sitting on your mailbox?  How much paint has chipped off over the year?  Time to give it a good dusting and a coat of paint.

8.  Knock Knock.  How's your front door looking these days?  Paint chipping?  Glass all smudged with finger prints?  Now is a great time to wash that little window and repaint the front door.  It may be too cold in the next few months to do that.  A front door is the first thing that people notice about your house, so you do want it to look welcoming.

9.  Who you gunna call....?  You may want to have your home inspected by an exterminating company.  Termites are a growing concern for those in the GTA, and can cause some serious damage to your home.  Protect your largest investment... have your home inspected.

10.  I can't believe I'm even typing this word... HEATING.  Unfortunately it is time to get your Heating System inspected to make sure there are no leaks and no unpleasant surprises when cold weather sets in.   HVAC professionals start to have down time at this point in the season, so if you don't want to wait when things get busy again, give yours a call today.

Wow!  The Heat has certainly hit Toronto! I've been enjoying waking up to the 21 degree weather.  Mind you, it turns into 29 degree weather by the afternoon.  It can take its toll on your body, especially if you're going between air conditioning and natural settings. 

July has always been a time to enjoy the kids while they are off for the summer, as well as to get your house organized!  Spring cleaning is great... but we also need that summer purge!  And so begins our July checklist...

1. Hold a Garage Sale!  - The best way to entice your children to help clean the garage is to promise them a garage sale!  They can sell anything they don't want to keep.  And why not let them spend the money they get from their toys/games/clothes.  It's a great lesson of value for them, as well as gets them involved in organizing the house.

2.  Clean out those Toy Boxes - I'm sure there are toys in the house that aren't being played anymore.  With the garage sale... now is the time to clean up the playroom. I've noticed over the years that people hold on to toys that are much too young for their children. Time to get price and sell all those toddler toys if your youngest is in Kindergarten.   Toys that are broken should be tossed.  Toys that haven't been played with in over a year should also be priced and sold.  And if your house is anything like mine, there are more toys than my child can play with.  I have separated toys into 4 different sections now.  I rotate through the toys when I notice Jack is getting bored with them.  It's nice to see him rediscover toys after they have been out of his site for a few months.

3.  Clean out your Closets! - How often do we really go through our closets?  Not often enough.  Take the time this month to look in each closet.  If you haven't worn it in a year, toss it.  If you still have winter coats taking up valuable closet space, time to bring them down to the basement.

4.  Clean mirrors, prints, artwork, photographers, shelves.... anything that hangs on the wall.  Make sure you not only wipe the front of the items listed below... but also the top!  You'll be amazed at how much dust collects up there.

5.  Does your cat or dog always seems to plop down on your sofa?  Yes... we can tell... as can anybody that walks into your house.  Try to make your house more inviting, and less allergic by defurring your furniture.  A rubber dish glove works wonders, as does a damp sponge.  I'm also rather fond of the "wrapping sticky tape around your hand" method.  A lint brush also works well.

6.  Baseboards - Those baseboards are a tough cookie to tackle.  The dust just seems to stick to them... and a broom and vacuum doesn't seem to do the job.  This is why we have children!  Put a sock on their hand and send them on their way!  They are closer to the floor after all.

7.  Outdoor Lights - If your outdoor lights are full of dead bugs.... it's time to clean them out.  Wiping them down will also make your old lights shine like new again!

8.  Sanitize Pet Areas - When's the last time the Hamster Cage got a good clean?  Team up with the kids and help them clean pet cages, beds, bedding, dishes, litter boxes, etc...  Your house should look cleaner and smell better!  The sun does wonders for the dog beds.  Clean the outer shell in the washing machine and leave the pillow in the sun for a day to sanitize.

9.  Air Conditioning puts additional strain on our energy bill, so try to save power in other areas.  Vacuum under and behind the refrigerator to make it run more efficiently.  Set the water heater to 120F.  Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible (not recommended for infant and toddler clothing).  Try to use your washer/dryer and dishwasher during off peak hours.  Remind those kids to keep the doors closed.  Curtains covering the windows during the day when you're not in will also keep some of the heat out, thus keeping Air Conditioning usage to a minimum.

10.  Clean the Fridge.  Nothing lasts forever - not even mustard.  If you have 20 salad dressing bottles in your fridge, you know there are a few that have expired.  Go through your old condiments, dressings, olives, and salsa... get rid of what is past its expiration date.

I hope you do enjoy July!  Be sure to take advantage of the splash pads in your area to cool down.  They are free and refreshing... what more can you ask for?

The Sun is Shining!  It feels like Summer is almost here.  With the summer months, come some summer chores....

1.  June is the perfect time to clean stuffed animals.  Some can be laundered.  Some you just have to wipe down.  Do it when the children aren't around, the last thing you'll need is a temper tantrum when "bear" has a bath.

2.  While the Kids are home from school, entice or enlist them to do a Super Clean on their room.  Bring in the fresh air with opening the windows.  A clean room is a great start to the summer.  Be patient... this could take a while... but the summer is just beginning, so they'll have a few months to get to it.

3.  Clean and Organize the bathroom sink area.  Purchase under sink drawer units or stackable baskets to make teh best use of space.  In my household each family member has their own basket... even their own colour of towel... now I know who keeps leaving their wet towels on the bathroom floor.

4.  Clean out the Medicine Cabinet!!  Check the expiration dates on all the contents.  I'm sure there's a bottle of Aspirin in there that is a few years old.  We all have it.  While you're at it, check the expiration of your Sun Screen! 

5.  Put Vinyl or plastic shower curtains in your washing machine along with two large bath towels.  Wash in cold water on the gentle cycle.  Remove the curtains before the spin cycle and hang them to dry.

6.  Clean and repair bathroom grout.  We all know that the grout in our bathroom is getting a little discoloured and/or brittle.  It's very easy to fix it up and make your bathroom have a cleaner look to it.  Stop by your local hardware store to pick up some new grout! 

7.  Clean area rugs according to manufacturers' directions.  Be sure to use pads underneath both to keep rugs from slipping and to lengthen their lives.

8.  Go through family pictures that you've taken over the past year.  If you use regular film, weed through the photos.  Toss the bad and keep the good.  In my family, we use digital cameras now.  I find that we have a ridiculous amount of photos on our hard drive.  We will be getting rid of the blurry ones, and making albums and printing good ones.  There are many online sites to create beautiful bound photo books.  A great gift for grandparents and other family members.

9.  Go through your children's artwork when they are not around.  Put the best in a special box.  Frame the very best of the best and display it in the hallway.  Circular file what's left.

When I left the house yesterday my tulips were still in hiding.  After a long day at the office, I was excited to come home to White and Yellow Tulips in full bloom!  Spring is finally in the air!!  Phew... it was a long winter.

With May Flowers comes our May Home Check List

1.  Clean Patio Furniture and Umbrella

2.  Clean Doormats, or invest in new ones

3.  Clean A/C and Heating ducts;  Change filters

4.  If you have an A/C window unit, make sure it is debris free

5.  Clean the laundry room.  Clean the washing machine while you're at it by running an empty load on "hot" with a cup of Chlorine bleach

6.  Clean dryer ducts.  Many fires each year are caused by lint accumulating.

7.  Clean the charcoal grill, or your gas grill so there's no reason not to cook outside.

8.  Power wash the patio and deck.  Seal the wood if necessary.

9.  Clean the siding of your house with a hose.  wash off cobwebs, dirt, etc...

10.  Mold or Mildew on the walls?  Scrub it off with a solution of diluted chlorine bleach, water and laundry detergent.

11.  Clean gutters.  make sure downspouts or splash backs direct water at least 6 feet from the foundation.

In my next blog entry I will be introducing you to the world of Eco- Friendly Ways to Clean the House!

Be sure to check back in a few weeks time!  Until then....  Happy Cleaning!

Fatima

Occasionally, one can see "For Sale By Owner" signs, and some owners believe that selling their own home will not only save them money, and they have an advantage over the sellers that have their home listed by a reputable Real Estate sales professional. Before you decide to take on this very important and legally complicated process…remember not even most Real Estate Lawyer's recommend self-selling your own home in today's market. Here are a few of the reasons why:

1. You are limiting your exposure to potential buyers (less than 10% of what a good real estate broker will generate) which theoretically means your home will take ten to fifteen times longer to sell on the market.

2. The longer a home is on the market the lower the selling price is. Why? Because most buyers think that if the home has not sold after this long... there must be something wrong with the home.

3. The selling/buying process begins AFTER the buyer leaves your home. Most sellers think that all it takes is for someone to see their home, fall in love with the great decor... and the offer automatically will follow. Remember that the buying process begins after they leave your home. If a real estate sales representative does not represent the buyer, and they are looking on their own…they usually leave the home and start to talk themselves out of the buying process. Real estate professionals are trained on how to overcome buyers remorse--a very common occurrence.

4. Because of the limited exposure you will very likely end up with a lower selling price. Remember, in order to generate the highest price possible for your home… selling means exposure. You need the maximum exposure possible, to generate the highest price possible.

5. Most buyers find it extremely awkward to negotiate or even to talk directly with sellers and therefore avoid FSBO properties.

6. Lack of negotiating experience and lack of pertinent information often will result in a lower selling price, or worse yet, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits.

7. The majority of qualified buyers are working with experienced real estate professionals.

8. Many serious buyers will pass by a FSBO home merely because they recognize that it is not in the real estate mainstream, this can some times make them wary.

9. As most local buyers now retain an experienced real estate sales person to represent them as their buyer-agency, you will probably be negotiating against an experienced professional.

10. Expected savings in broker's fees will also be greatly reduced if you offer a selling commission to entice real estate sales representatives to bring potential buyers.

11. If you are planning to use a Lawyer to help you negotiate the offer, then your lawyer's fees will be considerably higher.

12. Only real estate sales representatives have access to the up-to-date market information. News reports cannot approach the timeliness or specificity available to real estate sales people. Further, real estate sales representatives are involved in home sales much more frequently than the average homeowner is. This familiarity leads to a degree of expertise that provides an edge on negotiating and successful selling.

13. You only pay the commission to the real estate broker, if they successfully sell your home at the price you are happy with.

14. Accepting an offer is one thing, ensuring a safe and successful closing is quite another. Real estate transactions usually always have problems on closing. At times, expecting the Buyers and Sellers Lawyer's to fight it out or resolve the problems, can sometimes mean the deal is lost. This is the time that your experienced real estate professional, can be the most important. Your Real Estate professional can act as a great mediator. Lawyers MUST act only on their client's instructions and are not paid to negotiate. 

I hope this helps you to decide to list it!   Love, Fatima

"Leave no stone unturned." - Edward Bulwer Lytton

This expression alludes to an ancient Greek legend about a general who buried a large treasure in his tent when he was defeated in battle. Those seeking the treasure consulted the Oracle of Delphi, who advised them to move every stone. The present form of this quote dates from the mid-1500s.

Welcome to my new Blog!

I am writing Fatima's No Stone Unturned Blog to share information and for discussion purposes with my clients and friends. I’m passionately inspired on a variety of topics, such as sustainable living, healthier eating, fitness, parenting, home buying trends, restoration, community environmental, cooking, travel, music, … well, pretty much everything! Information sharing is powerful. Awareness is the key to change and I love life and the oneness that we are!

I don't recall telling my mommy that I wanted to be a "blogger" when I grew up!  I was born in Mozambique, but have lived in Toronto most of my life. When I am not helping people buy and sell homes or investment properties, I enjoy spending time with my son, Jack, in our home in Riverdale and our country getaway!  

In this blog I will talk about real estate trends, laws, tips and encouragement to those who have felt fear around buying their first home, and those who have had difficult real estate experiences in the past. 

I Have a Special Relationship with Real Estate!

I have extensive experience in corporate marketing and banking to complement my unique approach to the business of real estate.  My experience has allowed me to see the importance of integrity and honesty and what it takes to help people buy and/or sell their homes.  My first priority, above all else, is the satisfaction of my client.  Finding the right match for you, whether it's on the buying or selling end, is what I strive for.

It's like a spiritual experience for me when I see the joy that my clients have when it comes to finding a new home that is perfect for them! I am a sales representative at Chestnut Park Real Estate, Toronto, where I am committed to provide the highest level of service to my past, present and future clients.

I look forward to sharing with you! Love, Fatima