"Real Estate Bits - 2"

February 2004

Money Matters...

Presented By: Glen Travers - Manager - Scotiabank
(416) 932-3034
E-Mail: glen.travers@scotiabank.com

"Turning Your Mortgage Into A Financial Planning Tool"

Home is where the heart is. It's also where our biggest financial responsibility resides. Making the most cost efficient use of your home to manage your financial affairs is exactly what the Scotia Total Equity Plan was designed to do. Conventional mortgages are becoming a thing of the past. Today's consumer is looking for more than just a mortgage. They want low-cost access to revolving credit. People today demand and are getting competitive, flexible, fixed and variable rate home ownership solutions. They are looking for convenience and generous pre-payment options. They now see the value in diversifying their risk, by choosing multiple mortgage components over different terms. And people want all this in one plan.

Please call me for details on how The Total Equity Plan from Scotiabank can help you to become better off financially!

Regards,
Glen.

"Tricks Of The Trade"

"A Great First Impression"

Remember that old adage "You only get one chance to make a great first impression" - well that goes for our homes as well. Fortunately, there are things we can do in our homes that don't involve a scalpel and a renowned plastic surgeon. Instead, some good old fashioned elbow grease (yours), a paint brush, maybe a storage locker or a cleaned out corner of the basement and a great handyman can do the trick. Friends can often be roped into helping with simple, changes to your home - especially if a great dinner with wine follows said Saturday afternoon exertions.

These are some simple, relatively easy changes you can do to alter the look of your abode:

• Brighten the rooms with soft whites and neutral paint colours. You want to create a pleasing flow of paint tones from one room to the next.
• Re-arrange the furniture in your principal rooms to highlight things like a fireplace or a beautiful bay window.
• Store excess pieces away. You can always bring them out again at a later time.
• Re-evaluate the use of the rooms in your home. Don't be afraid to experiment and change things around.
• Use decorative screens to partition spaces, hide problem areas or conceal a computer nook.
• Fill an empty corner - give it a useful purpose.
• Group your "collectibles" together on a table, shelf, fireplace mantel or in a glass front cabinet.
• Paint chipped wood trim everywhere in your home. This is a quick and easy change. Wash the walls.
• Replace heavy drapes with wood blinds or light gauze or lace curtains to allow natural light into your living spaces.
• Use mirrors in entrance hallways and small, dark areas of your home. The results can be dramatic.
• Paint your kitchen cabinets and replace the door knobs and drawer pulls. If you can't afford a new kitchen - reface your present one, especially if you like the existing layout. Remember that you can "funkify" any room in a house to create a new look. Do not look the word "funkify" up in your dictionary- it is not there! The best you will get is "funk, funky or funkiness". But you get the idea!

Regards,

Rosemary ...

Okay, Okay - Here's "The Joke"

Three friends - a surgeon, an engineer and a politician were discussing which of their professions was the oldest. The surgeon said, "Look guys, it's obvious, Eve was created from the rib of Adam and that was definitely a surgical procedure". The engineer said, "Don't be so certain - before Adam and Eve,order was created out of chaos and that is definitely an engineerig job". The politician said, "You guys are both wrong my profession is the oldest - if not for politicians - where do think the chaos came from"?

Guest Columnist

Vivien Campbell

Global, the Total Office

1350 Flint Road - Downsview, Ontario M3J 2J7

Direct Line (416) 667-6122 or Cell (416) 879-7626

Home Office - Furniture At A Price Everyone Can Afford!

An excellent article written by Rosemary Wright in a previous newsletter outlined in detail how best to set up a home office, from appropriate space and location in your home, to storage, lighting, decor and personalizing the space. She also included very important tips on how to stay focussed while working at home, as well as when to "call it a day" and shut that office door.

As a sales representative in the commercial office furnishings industry, I am finding that the need for attractive, including myself) seems to need a space at home to accomodate a P.C. or laptop computer, files, binders and stationery - regardless of what they do for a living. Although many articles have been written in design magazines (the most recent in March's Canadian House & Home) they do not give many really good suggestions as to where to find suitable furniture.

As already stated, furniture needs to be functional, attractive and affordable - but of equal importance are such issues as "How long this furniture will last, does it have a warranty, is it easy to assemble, do I have to assemble it myself and do I have to spend a lot of money for a quality, ergonomic chair?

Let me introduce you to Global, the Total Office. For almost 40 years, Global has been manufacturing excellent, quality office furniture that, "the average person can afford". This family owned, Canadian company was founded in 1965 by Saul Feldberg, his wife Toby and one partner. It has grown to be an international firm with 8000 employees. The company started with a budget-priced office chair designed by Saul, and now manufactures over 5000 different chairs plus a full line of desks and filing products. Our manufacturing facilities are in Downsview, Ontario and products are sold through a network of qualified dealers. Although the company has grown dramatically, the vision remains the same, with prices in the 'budget to mid-market range'.

Global's furniture is warranted (the average lifespan of commercial grade furniture is 10 - 20 years) and Global provides any necessary after-installation service. Global's quick-ship Catalogue program "Global Express" stocks a full range of our most popular products in chairs, desks and files; and in a wide range of finishes, fabrics and colours. All are suitable for a home office. They are available within 5 to 10 working days and can either be delivered to your home or picked up. Installers are available to assemble furniture for you at a reasonable cost.

Please call me at The Global Park Showroom - (direct line) 416 667-6122 or (cell) 416-879-7626 for more details. I would be more than happy to provide you with a complimentary Global Express Catagloge.

Regards,

Vivien Campbell,
Sales Representative
Global, the Total Office.

Ask An Expert?...

As promised this space is reserved just for you. Please send any questions you have to my e-mail. You get to have a free telephone consultation with the "Expert" of your choice. If you subsequently choose to establish a business relationship with that person/company then you should define the specific details of any business contract with that person or company!

mail@rosemarywright.com  and I will get you an answer or connect you with the Appropriate Expert.

• Ask A Lawyer?
• Ask A Painter?
• Ask A Surveyor?
• Ask A Designer?
• Ask An Accountant?
• Ask A Tradesperson?
• Ask A Home Inspector?
• Ask A Financial Adviser?
• Ask A Colour Specialist?
• Ask An Insurance Broker?
• Ask An Interior Decorator?
• Ask A Web-Site Designer?
• Ask A Kitchenware Retailer?
• Ask A Landscape Designer?
• Ask An Employment Lawyer?
• Ask A Banker/Mortgage Broker?
• Ask A Firecode/Retrofit Specialist?
• Ask A Garden Sculpture Specialist?
• Ask A Basement Waterproofing Specialist?

The above article(s) provide information that is of a general nature only and is never intended to be a substitute for advice specific to your particular concern. No one should act upon such information without appropriate advice and/or consultation.

Please Call Me With Any Real Estate Questions.

I’m Always Here To Help!!!

-Rosemary Wright...

Business Referrals:

Client & Networking referrals are the foundation of a successful real estate agent’s career.  Over many years in this industry I have enjoyed the confidence & repeat business of my clients.  I appreciate your on-going support and want you to know that I will always look after friends & colleagues you refer to me with professionalism, care and respect.

This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. If you wish to be removed, please reply to this e-mail with the words: "Remove from Newsletter" in the subject line or call me at (416) 483-8000 to request removal.

The intent of the newsletters - "Real Estate Bits " & "Real Estate Bits -2" is to provide information to you regarding real estate. Personal details such as your name, contact information and address are never revealed to anyone without your consent. In accordance with the new Privacy Act, your consent must be given (either implicitly or explicitly) to receive these newsletters. If you do not want to receive my newsletters - please notify me. My newsletters are not intended to solicit Buyers or Sellers who are currently under contract with any Broker.

The information and opinions contained, statistics and articles are courtesy of TREB, CMHC or other individuals or companies and are believed to be reliable, but their accuracy is not guaranteed. Sutton Group-Bayview Realty Inc. and Rosemary Wright accept no responsibility whatsoever for any loss arising from any use or reliance on the accuracy and timeliness of the information contained herein. Every endeavour is made to ensure accuracy. These newsletters do not render financial, legal, accounting, home inspection or professional advice. They are for general educational purposes only. They do not offer do-it-yourself advice. We encourage you to always contact the appropriate professionals or specialists to address your individual needs.