Creating Curb Appeal

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover. But when it comes to houses, the exterior can be just as important as the interior if selling or buying.

When selling, it is the outside, or the home’s curb appeal that often determines whether the inside is ever seen. How a house 'shows’ from the street can tell a potential buyer a lot about what it may be like inside. Even if the inside is the sparkling, charming, structurally sound dream home they’ve been searching for, a buyer is not going to forget a cracked driveway, fallen shutters, overgrown grass and flower beds.

That’s why most REALTORS recommend a house not be seen for the first time at night. If you have no choice but to view homes at night, always be sure to drive past them during the daytime before making any final decisions.

For sellers, there are many ways to enhance the exterior of a home to achieve the curb appeal necessary to attract prospective buyers. Start by taking a close, objective look at your home from the curb. Be sure to view it from different angles. Ask friends and neighbors for their unbiased opinions. What are the appealing features? What’s not so appealing? What can you do to improve its appearance?

Are the shrubs untrimmed? Are there broken doors and windows, loose screens and railings? Does the exterior trim, or entire surface, need a paint job?

The interior may be clean, without a leaky faucet, cracked floor or loose door hinge in sight. But if the exterior roof, gutter, walls, driveway, garage and yard look dirty and untidy, chances are you’re not going to get a lot of potential buyers knocking at the door.

Creating curb appeal is making your home inviting from the outside -- where first impressions begin. This doesn’t mean spending a great deal of money remodeling and renovating. Adding a new front verandah might add a lot of curb appeal, but so will a couple of wicker chairs and potted flowers by the front door - at a lot less cost.

Here are some more tips for making the outside of your home attractive and inviting:

Clean up the yard Mow the lawn, trim the hedges, weed the flower beds, get rid of dead trees and shrubs; get rid of any broken lawn furniture; shovel the walk and driveway in winter; rake the yard in the fall.

Repair any problems If the roof is damaged, repair it. Also repair any doors and windows that have loose hinges or other damage; fix storm doors and window screens; caulk window exteriors; clean and repair sidings and other structural flaws.

Eliminate clutter If you have yard and construction debris piled up along the side of the house, or elsewhere, get rid of it. The exterior of your home should be as uncluttered in appearance as the interior. This includes cleaning out the garage - a major breeder of clutter. Be ruthless. If you haven’t used something in a year, give it to charity or recycle it.

Give siding a fresh new look Cleaning the exterior surface is all your home may need for a fresh new face. Before rushing to paint siding, try washing it. For painted wood siding and aluminum siding, use a solution of one cup strong detergent and one quart chlorine bleach in three gallons of water. Be sure to wear rubber gloves, goggles and other protective garments. Work from the bottom up and rinse thoroughly.

To spruce up vinyl siding, hose it down, sponge it with a mild liquid detergent and rinse.
Use paint to brighten, re-proportion exterior A paint job can do wonders for the exterior of a home. A low house can look more graceful and tall from the curb by emphasizing its vertical features. Paint elements such as doors, shutters and corner trim in a color that contrasts with the siding material or color. On a high home, emphasize horizontal by using a contrasting paint color on window sills and fascia boards. You can also make a tall house look lower by painting it a dark color, provided that the roof is dark too. Conversely, a light color will make a home look larger.

Co-ordinate the exterior 'look’ The more co-ordinated your house looks from the outside, the more appealing it will be. Co-ordinate the 'look’ of your home by painting the garage, tool shed, playhouse and other outdoor structures with the same color schemes as the house. If your house is a mixture of conflicting textures - vertical siding, shingles and brick, for instance - try painting them all the same color, or in two related shades of the same color, to create a harmonious look. Dark tones work best when working with conflicting textures.

Use flower power Well-placed flowers, trees and shrubs can really make the outside of a home look inviting. Not only does attractive landscaping invite buyers, it can increase the value of a home. Even without major landscaping, flowers can make a yard look colorful and pleasant. Plant them in garden beds, hang them from railings and porch ceilings, add flower boxes to window sills. There is no limit to the power of flowers.
At night, highlight garden features with spotlights and floodlights. Well-lit paths and entrances promote safety, discourage burglars and are an added feature to any home. A pretty wreath on the door and a welcome mat will finish things off.

Toronto Real Estate Board reports sales near 3,000 at mid-month

February 20, 2008 -- Resale home transactions in the Greater Toronto Area declined in the first two weeks of February, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill announced today.

The first half of the month yielded 2,775 transactions, down 14 per cent from the 3,240 sales recorded in the same timeframe last year. The moderation in sales was more pronounced within the City of Toronto--down 18 per cent to 1,066 from last February’s 1,308—than in the 905 suburbs, which saw transactions off 11 per cent.

“It’s important to recognize that the mid-month report provides an indication of market conditions based on a very brief period,” said Ms. O’Neill.

“However, we believe the harsh winter weather we’ve experienced in the early part of the month has had a negative impact on both sales and inventory levels. If you can’t get buyers out to your open house, then you are less inclined to list. And fewer listings means less appealing product for the potential home-buyer. It’s a compound effect.”
Although sales eased, several positive factors were also noted. At $385,735, the average price in the GTA rose seven per cent compared to $358,533 recorded in mid-February 2007. Within the City of Toronto, the average rose 11 per cent to $434,657, although pockets within the East end (Agincourt, for example) rose at the more affordable pace of around five per cent. As well, properties are remaining on the market fewer days.

The average number of days on market is currently 31 versus 35 days at the same time last year.

Furthermore, a few neighborhoods both within and outside of the 416 area code saw increased sales over the first half of February, 2007.

“We are optimistic that we will see a strong spring market because the economic fundamentals remain in place,” said Ms. O’Neill. “Prices are still particularly affordable in Toronto’s East end.”

What is Knob and Tube Wiring?

Knob and tube wiring was an early standardized method of electrical wiring in buildings, in common use in North America from about 1880 to the 1930s. It consisted of single insulated copper conductors run within wall or ceiling cavities, passing through joist and stud drill-holes via protective porcelain insulating tubes, and supported along their length on nailed-down porcelain knob insulators.

Elements
The ceramic knobs were cylindrical and generally nailed directly into the wall studs or floor joists. Most had a circular groove running around their circumference, although some were constructed in two pieces with "pass-through" grooves on each side of the nail in the middle.
By wrapping electrical wires around the knob, and securing them with tie wires, the knob securely and permanently anchored the wire. The knobs separated the wire from potentially combustible framework, facilitated changes in direction, and ensured that wires were not subject to excessive tension. Because the wires were suspended in air, they could dissipate heat well.
Ceramic tubes were inserted into holes bored in wall studs or floor joists, and the wires were directed through them. This kept the wires from coming into contact with the wood framing members and from being compressed by the wood as the house settled.

Capacity
Although these installations were adequate for the electrical loads at the time of installation, modern households use a range and intensity of electrical equipment unforeseen at the time. Homebuyers often find that existing K&T systems lack the ampacity needed for today's levels of power use. As household power use increased following the Second World War (because more appliances per household were being plugged in), first-generation wiring systems became susceptible to abuse by homeowners who would avoid repeatedly blowing fuses by overfusing the circuits, thus subjecting the wiring to heat damage due to higher levels of current.
Deterioration or abuse may have rendered it unsafe
Knob-and-tube wiring may also have been damaged by building renovations. Its rubber insulation will be dried-out, thus brittle when handled, or it may have been damaged by rodents or carelessness (for example, hanging objects off wiring running in accessible areas like basements).

Covering K&T with thermal insulation is unsafe and prohibitedsed). As a result, energy efficiency upgrades that involve insulating previously uninsulated walls usually also require replacement of the wiring in affected homes.

Insurance
As existing K&T wiring gets ever older, many insurance companies may deny coverage due to increased risk. Several companies will not write new homeowners policies at all unless all K&T wiring is replaced or an electrician or an approved home inspector has certified that the wiring is in good condition.

GTA Resale Housing Market Solid in January

TORONTO, February 5, 2008

January’s Greater Toronto Area resale housing market came within two per cent of a record performance for the month, Toronto Real Estate Board President Maureen O’Neill announced today.
A total of 5,073 properties changed hands last month, compared to the record 5,173 sales that took place in January 2007.
“This is a very positive start to the year but we will be watching closely to see how the City of Toronto’s new land transfer tax and a proposed property tax increase affect the market,” said Ms. O’Neill.
The average price, which currently stands at $374,449, rose six per cent compared to January 2007.
The strongest activity last month took place in Toronto’s Central and East districts.
The Danforth (E03) experienced a 30 per cent increase in transactions compared to last
January, driven by strong sales in all housing types.
In West Agincourt (E05) 32 per cent more homes changed hands, primarily as a result of a surge in condominium apartment sales.
Strong condominium apartment sales also lead the Downtown Core (C01) to a 19 per cent overall increase in transactions compared to a year ago.
North York Willowdale (C07) also saw a 19 per cent increase in sales, due in large part to condominium apartment transactions as well.
“While we are optimistic that the market will remain healthy throughout 2008, we recognize there are threats such as a U.S. economic slowdown and a land transfer tax in the City Toronto,” said Ms. O’Neill. “Like other levels of government, municipalities should be considering options to help off-set these risks. TREB plans to be a strong voice for REALTORS® and homebuyers as GTA municipalities, particularly the City of Toronto, debate their budgets.”
Toronto REALTORS® are passionate about their work. They adhere to a strict code of ethics and share a state-of-the-art Multiple Listing Service. Serving over 27,000 Members in the Greater Toronto Area, the Toronto Real Estate Board is Canada’s largest real estate board. Greater Toronto Area open house listings are now available on www.TorontoRealEstateBoard.com.

Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation Predicts 7.6% growth for Ontario

Ottawa, February 4, 2008

The Ontario economy is expected to improve slightly during 2008 and this will help sustain housing demand across the province. New home construction activity will be moderate between now and the end of 2008. Housing starts are expected to move up from 68,123 units in 2007 to 69,150 units in 2008, while a more modest economy in 2009 will push starts down somewhat to 67,150 units. The average MLS® price in Ontario will rise by 7.6 per cent in 2007, while 2008 and 2009 should see increases of 6.2 per cent and 2.9 per cent, respectively.

As Canada's national housing agency, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) draws on over 60 years of experience to help Canadians access a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes — homes that will continue to create vibrant and healthy communities and cities across the country.

A CMHC press release.