April E-NEWS. SPRING EDITION
Courtesy of paul Indrigo, Sales representative
H o m e o f U n i q u e T o r o n t o . c o m L o f t S e l l e r s . c a
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Welcome to Day 111 of the 50,000 Air Miles Challenge to help Easter Seals Send a kid to camp. Gladly, many of you are following the golden rule of buying and selling...THE RIGHT TIME TO MOVE IS WHEN YOU ARE READY. No co-worker, crazy uncle or recent news story can possibly influence you to buy or sell. Enjoy the letter and be sure to read all about CondoCabinet.com for those of you looking for unique solutions for your unique spaces. Feel free to send me info on your unique business for future newsletters.
Now here’s the latest news... Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,430 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, pushing total first quarter 2010 sales to 22,418 – the best result on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. The average price for March transactions was $434,696. The average price for the first quarter was $427,948. More info at: http://www.torontorealestateboard.com/consumer_info/ market_news/news2010/pdf/nr_market_watch_0310.pdf
APRIL 2010 e-news
In this issue: April update
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Making your space more accessible benefits everyone
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CondoCabinet.com
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Current Promotions./Air Miles Offers/Hot Spaces
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FEATURED NEW LISTINGS TWO new spaces at West Harbour City in the Waterfront area.
http://www.century21.ca/paul.indrigo/Property/ON/M5V_1A9/Toronto/Fleet_Street/628
Executive 1+1 bed unit with 2 baths on the 19th floor overlooking the water. Parking & locker. $1800 per month.
Executive 1 bed with 1 bath. 32 sq ft balcony overlooking the city. Parking & locker. $1600 per month.
Paul Indrigo, Sales Representative
Make your Home More Accessible How to Design an Efficient, Accessible Kitchen
Century 21 Regal Realty, Inc. Brokerage. Independently owned & operated. 1291 Queen St West Toronto, ON Tel: 416-849-5360 Mobile: 416-823-2705 Fax: 416-981-7884 E-mail: paul.indrigo@century21.ca
Once you know who will be using the kitchen, you can decide the most efficient way to design the room and everything in it. For example, kitchen designers traditionally focus on a compact work triangle formed by the sink, stove and refrigerator.
For many, the kitchen is the heart of the home. But as our needs change over time, it can become a challenge to make sure that the kitchen stays safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy. To help you make your home more accessible, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers the following tips on how to make sure your kitchen is functional and comfortable for your entire family:
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Be sure to provide appropriate design features and incorporate flexibility and adaptability into kitchen design. This will ensure that the life and usability of a kitchen are increased, and families, couples and individuals will be able to stay in their homes and neighbourhoods as they grow and age. Start by thinking about who will use the kitchen and how they will use it. Are you a gourmet cook, or do you prefer simple, microwavable food? Do you have a disability that affects the way you prepare food? Will a caregiver do most of the cooking? Do you have a child you need to keep an eye on while preparing meals? Once you know who will be using the kitchen, you can decide the most efficient way to design the room and everything in it. For example, kitchen designers traditionally focus on a compact work triangle formed by the sink, stove and refrigerator. But most modern homes expand this triangle to include other appliances, such as a dishwasher, while still keeping the working area compact enough to keep wasted effort to a minimum.. If anyone who uses the kitchen has a walker or wheelchair, leave at least 750 x 1,200 mm (30 x 47 in.) maneuvering space in front of any controls, work areas and appliances. For power wheelchairs or scooters, the minimum recommended maneuvering space is 1,800 x 1,800 mm (71 x 71 in.). Designing for minimal effort is an important principle of universal kitchen design. Planning for efficiency considers the location and relationship of all major elements within the kitchen. This will result in the placement of similar or related items together in the same location within the kitchen. Adaptability in the kitchen can be achieved by installing adjustable-height counters, adjustable shelving in cupboards, and drawers for storage rather than under-counter cabinets. An accessible sink should provide knee-space clearance — 750 mm (30 in.) high, 800 mm (32 in.) wide and 600 mm (24 in.) deep — to allow someone using a wheelchair to wheel under the sink. When buying new appliances, floors or countertops, think about the surface finishes before you make your selections. For example, glass cooktops tend to be easier to clean. Stainless steel appliances often show fingerprints and may require specialized cleaning products. Also, some countertop surfaces must be resealed each year to protect them from stains and bacteria. Avoid putting any small rugs or mats in the kitchen, as these can be a tripping hazard for people with mobility impairments. If your family includes any children, people with Alzheimer’s disease or people with developmental disabilities, store your household cleaning products where they will be safe and secure. In case of emergency, always plan for easy access to water, a fire extinguisher and the gas shut-off valve. Consider installing an override switch for appliances or outlets. Plus, make sure your kitchen has sufficient lighting for everyone in your home, especially if anyone in your family is over the age of 60.
For more information or a free copy of the “About Your House” fact sheet Accessible Housing by Design — Kitchens, or for information on any other aspect of owning, maintaining or buying a home, visit our website at www.cmhc.ca or call CMHC at 1--800--668--2642. For more than 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise. For story ideas or to access CMHC experts or expertise, contact CMHC Media Relations — National Office at: 613-748-2799 or by e-mail: media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca.
UNIQUE SMALL BIZ CORNER
Condo Cabinet is a cabinetmaking shop with a unique focus. We build beautifully designed space-saving, multifunctional cabinetry and furniture for the limited floor plans of condominium loft spaces in the downtown Toronto market. The condominium/loft market has been booming for the past many years, and while the ceiling heights have gotten taller and the windows much larger, the prevailing trend in the floor plans seems to be getting smaller and more compact with every new project. Add to this the loss of wall surfaces now replaced with glass, and it becomes all the more important to maximize the functionality of the remaining walls. A queen bed that disappears when not in use can greatly impact a home with limited space. And getting furniture off the floor by incorporating them into or onto the walls drastically increases the sense of space in a room. Most wall beds are made from particleboard with melamine finishes to look like wood. The designs are standardized and usually rather traditional, varying only in colour. Condo Cabinet provides highly innovative designs using fine materials such as real walnut, cherry, ash and mahogany veneers on plywood core as opposed to particleboard. This makes our products stand the test of time and daily rigours of use without the typical problems of edges delaminating and particleboard swelling or being easily chipped. There is also the added benefit of low VOC’s (volatile organic compounds). The large amount of glues in the particle boards off-gas for years – infecting the air in the room with harmful chemical vapors that some people can actually smell. There is now a new material available made of 100% bamboo, which we use whenever possible – it’s harder than most woods, looks fabulous and is much more sustainable than traditional hardwoods. A Condo Cabinet design is intended to remain as an essential enhancement of the space. Since it is custom designed and built-in, it will add to the value of your property similar to a quality built kitchen. We customize our designs for your space so it will work universally for just about any taste a future owner might want or have. After all, just like in the apparel industry, good design never goes out of fashion. Condo Cabinet is furnishing for the new millennium.
Patrick Ellard Condo Cabinet Designs 416-887-7557 Email: patrick.ellard@gmail.com Web: www.condocabinet.com DISCLAIMER: Paul Indrigo, Sales Representative & Century 21 Regal Realty Inc, Brokerage recommend you speak with at least 3 professional and experienced contacts before making an informed decision. None of the business featured on Unique Small Biz are asked to pay or compensate Century 21 Regal in any way.
Not intended for those under any agency relationship. Independently Owned and Operated. ® TM, trademarks of Century 21 Real Estate LLC, used under license.™ Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and Century 21 Canada Limited Partnership. Earn 2 AIR MILES reward miles for every $1000 of property value bought or sold through a participating CENTURY 21 office to a maximum of 1500 reward miles per transaction. When selling a property, your home must be listed with a CENTURY 21 office to be eligible to earn reward miles. Only buyers represented by a CENTURY 21 office will be eligible to earn reward miles. To inquire about earning reward miles on your next real estate transaction or the status of the earned reward miles on a previous transaction, contact your CENTURY 21 office directly. A CENTURY 21 office has no obligation to issue reward miles more than 12 months after the closing date of your transaction. Visit Century21.ca for the office nearest you.
CURRENT PROMOTIONS (click for current links)
BMO OFFER FOR EXTRA AIR MILES Can you imagine earning over 3000 Air Miles simply by moving smartly? Approx 2000 from me (based on $400k) + BMO deal http://ow.ly/1AjLM
SOME HOT NEW LISTINGS TO CONSIDER... CITYPLACE/WATERFRONT Great 1 bed unit at the new Luna Vista Development. Assignment sale. Priced at $295k. http://www.century21.ca/paul.indrigo/Property/ON/M5V_3Z7/Toronto/Capreol_Crt_2101/25 PRIME SCARBOROUGH After 20 yrs of growing up in this hood....all the sudden, its cool again! Check out this 3+2 bed home with double driveway for under $400k. http://www.century21.ca/paul.indrigo/Property/ON/M1R_4H2/Toronto/Waringstown_Dr/51 ART CONDOMINIUMS IN PRIME QUEEN WEST For this one, you just have to drop me a note but a client just bought an amazing space for under $300k and the fact that its only going to 148 units= a success in the making! Join me for tours of this awesome project!! COMING SOON Stay tuned for a stunning 2 bed at Luna Vista to be featured on my site! Also coming soon is a great bachelor unit at Malibu in my Top Under $300k tours.