Oct. 22, 2012 Issue 58

October 22, 2012 - Vol 44a

P R E S E N T E D

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Happy Halloween from the Golfi Team

Rob Rob Golfi Golfi Sales Sales Representative Representative

HOME EVALUATION NO COST • NO OBLIGATION

905-575-7700 • 905-945-0188

Page 2

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

About Rob Golfi

S

ince the inception of his career in 1997, Rob Golfi has recognized that understanding his clients’ needs is essential to providing excellent service.

As business grew, Rob assembled the Golfi Team in an effort to maintain the same level of professionalism clients have come to expect. Shortly thereafter in 2003, the team received the prestigious honour of being among the top 100 Real Estate Teams for RE/MAX Canada, and this status continues to date.

Rob’s experience and aggressive negotiating skills have earned him every major honour awarded by RE/MAX, including President’s Club, 100% Club, Platinum Club, Chairman’s Club, Hall of Fame in 2003, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006, his SRES® designation in 2009 and the Diamond Club Award in 2010. Having worked with

many of the industry’s professionals over the years, he has the necessary edge to best negotiate the sale of your home.

Any agent can list your house, but Rob’s knowledge, extensive marketing background and dedication gives clients peace of mind when dealing with the single most important investment in their lives. With years of combined experience, the Golfi Team can provide your home with a level of exposure that most agents cannot. Utilizing a team approach also means that they will likely find a purchaser to buy your home sooner, rather than waiting for other agents to approach you with potential buyers.

Ranked in the top 5 of nearly 2,000 sales agents in the Hamilton-Burlington and Niagara areas, listing with Rob and the Golfi Team is the right choice when choosing someone to represent your best interest. -Å

October 22, 2012

More Young Buyers relying on Parents for Financial Assistance

W

hen young home buyers come to family for financial help, purchasing property can turn into a tug-of-war.

“The dependency of the younger generation on their parents has increased in recent years,” says Mary Sblendorio, a real estate agent on the W Network reality series My House Your Money, a show that documents prospective home buyers that turn to their extended family members for financial help.

“In the past, parents have always tried to help their kids, if financially capable. Now, it seems the parents are expected to 'help' – more like 'finance' – their children's dream homes. The rationale for children is that they have been accustomed to living a wealthy lifestyle and the thought of downsizing or downgrading is implausible.”

And since both parties have a say in the purchase, real estate agents are working harder to ensure properties appeal to varying age groups. As more parents accompany their adult children to viewings, homes must be strategically staged to please everyone involved. This boils all the way down to the paint colour on the walls.

Having been through the process previously, parents tend to be much more critical in home purchasing and are a bigger challenge to delight. “The young couple is usually more excited, and focus on the things on their wish list they are getting. In fact, they are excited to just purchase something they can call their own,” explains My House Your Money real estate agent Claudine Montano.

Mixing family and financing is never simple and when it's a case of generational home buying, conflict is inevitable.

The reality series, My House, Your Money on W Network chronicles the family dynamic that young home buyers are facing in the current market.

When it comes down to it, winning this war is easier than imagined for the new home buyers, says real estate agent, Helene Baguley. “Most parents or extended family members, even if they are providing the down payment, want to see their kids happy at all costs.”

Rebecca Burstein is a Toronto-based writer and editor, specializing in lifestyle content. www.newscanada.com

SUDOKU 7

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The Solution Fill in the grid above, so that each row of 9 squares, each column of nine and each section of nine (three squares by three) contains the numbers 1 through 9 in any order. There is only one solution for the puzzle and the numbers shown can NOT be changed.

Home evaluation No Cost or Obligation

905-575-7700

www. GolfiTeam .com

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October 22, 2012

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Page 3

Facts About the GOLFI TEAM‌ 3 Over $60 Million in Sales Annually** 3 #1 Real Estate Office in Hamilton-Burlington* 3 Amongst the Top Sales Reps in Ontario** 3 Ranked Top 50 Teams in Canada for ** 3 Ranked Top 100 Teams world wide**

1998

Rob Golfi Sales Representative

2003

2003

2006

2010

OVER $460 MILLION IN REAL ESTATE SALES *#1 Brokerage in the Realtors Association of Hamilton Burlington MLS from 1994 to 2010 consecutively. **Year End Standings for 2010, based on residential commissions paid. Rankings are compiled from figures submitted by regional offices.

Rob Golfi

Sharon Stafford

Sales Representative

Mike McNeil

Sales Representative

Hans Marcellissen

Heather Reid

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Kristina King

Sales Representative

Wendy Murray-Nicholson Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Vince Lazaruk

Sales Representative

Rosemarie Fournier Listing Co-ordinator

Together Delivering More...

Call Today 905-575-7700

Page 4

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

October 22, 2012

Grimsby, Lincoln West Lincoln & Niagara

Rob Golfi*

GRiMSBY $319,900 683 Ridge Road West

BeaMSVille $379,900 4495 Frances Crescent

Beautifully decorated 3+1 bedroom bungalow. Updates include granite kitchen counters, newer roof, furnace 07, updated windows, entry doors, and patio door. Large 16 x 28ft. deck off kitchen. Rec room with wood burning fireplace, office area, great room, laundry, and storage.

PRESTIGIOUS 2 STOREY – Only 4 yrs new, features grand foyer, oak stair case, gleaming hardwd flrs in family rm w/showcase fireplace, maple kitch w/breakfast bar island, transom windows on main level, professionally finished basement, beautifully landscaped yard w/fenced yard.

Spectacular Stately home sitting on 1.26 acres minutes to downtown Grimsby. Features 3+2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, gorgeous, updated, new designer kitchen, all season sunroom, professionally finished basement. Nothing has been spared. A must see.

Get inside to see this lovely home! Generous foyer opens to the comfortable living room. Eat-in kitchen w/sliding doors to large deck. Buyer to be approved by Landlord. Land lease fee $328.84/mth. Estimated taxes $160.37/mth.

Maintenance plan Gold $162/mth or $105/mth.

$1277.73 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1517.38 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$2795.51 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$738.92 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

D SOL

GRiMSBY

$699,900 253 Ridge Rd

Vineland $185,000 3933 Durban Lane

ONE R E TH ANO GRiMSBY $329,900 39 Mountain Street

BeaMSVille $241,900 4571 Leawood Court

WeSt linCOln $639,900 8729 Twenty Road

Huge pie-shaped lot! Updated semi on a court location.

Walkup from basement to side yard. New driveway (’12), furnace/AC, front windows, 2 exterior doors (’11), laminate flooring (’10), Carpet, and updated downstairs bathroom (’09).

Just under 3 acre property beside Twenty Mile Creek. Home has been renovated with quality finishes. Updates include kitchen, laundry/mudroom, 3 bathrooms, flooring (carpet, hardwood, ceramics), fireplace insert, most windows, major landscaping, sump pump (duo), roof, cedar exterior entrance.

LEGAL DUPLEX – In the core of Grimsby! Rare find, this beautifully maintained 2 self-contained: 2 BR & 3 BR units, sitting on 84x106 ft. lot, 2 new furnace & c/air 2006, all updated vinyl windows 2010, new shingles 2001, & a professionally finished basement.

SOld

$2555.86 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

1317.67 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

jORdan $547,000 2869 Prince William Street Full of Charm & character – a two-family home with upper floor fully rented, sitting on large lot in in the heart of Jordan Station, features hardwood floors, Cathedral ceilings, includes 3 kitchens and 4 bathrms, quick access to QEW. $2184.81 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

YER U B SH A C OUR O T D SOL GRiMSBY $849,900 2 Shoreline Crescent

Vineland $249,950 3380 Tallman Drive

LAVISH TOP TO BOTTOM - Elegant home on Lakeside Crescent. The new owner will reap the benefits of this over improved custom reno’d home w/waterfront views. Features entrance w/marble floors, designer kitchen w/oak cabinets, granite counters, stone backsplash, cherry hardwood floors.

Large 4+1 BR family home feat. a lrg eat in kitch, LR, beautiful dream bathrm w/jacuzzi tub, glass shower & dble sinks, recrm, ldry, & storage area. Single attached garage & a fully fenced rear yard. Perfect for the growing family.

Quick HWY access & along the wine route

$3394.64 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1247.93 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

GRiMSBY $399,900 152 Sumner Crescent DAZZLING 2 STOREY! 3 yrs. new former Losani model home 4 bedrms 2100 sqft., features fantastic open concept flr plan, gorgeous hardwd in living & dining rm, dream kitchen with ss appliances, glass back splash & custom Barzotti cabinetry, rounded corners, & oak staircase. $1597.26 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

St. CatHaRineS $274,900 15 Lakeside Drive, Unit 41 2 BR townhome w/amazing views of the lake. Resort style living. Lrg eat-in kitch, formal DR, LR w/corner gas FP. Hardwd in DR/LR & new hardwd in the master BR. Beautifully decorated, inground pool, lrg courtyard, priv. deck off patio doors, lower level is finished.

SOld

GRiMSBY $474,900 53 Sumner Crescent

Vineland $649,900 3274 King Street

GRiMSBY $459,900 23 Tunbridge Crescent

GRiMSBY $479,900 288 Kemp Rd. W

Spectacular, luxurious & Immaculate best describes this awesome beauty sitting on 1.3 acres on the bench of the escarpment with panoramic views of lake Ontario. Surrounded by vineyards and neighboring ranch, features 4 bedrms, 4 car garage, granite, hardwood flrs. Shows like a dream.

9 year old One Floor Beauty. Open concept home features hrdwd, cer & carptd bed. Main flr family room with walkout to fenced in back yard with spacious deck.

Basement is professionally finished with oversized recroom, bathroom, bedrooms & office space

Unique property zoned for priv. club recreational use; suitable for many types of organizations on priv. 25 acres of land w/mutual picnic area. Banquet/dance hall 2500 sq. ft with 12’ ceilings, FP, full kit facilities, bar area, coat check, bthrms & spacious bsmt for storage.

DYNAMITE DEAL IN GRIMSBY! 5 BR home including laundry rm, all on second flr. Features gorgeous hardwood floors, grand foyer w/oak spiral staircase, maple kitchen cabinets, rich hotel style ensuite bath w/glass enclosed shower, & a professionally finished basement w/9ft ceilings.

$2695.66 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

1836.92 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1896.83 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1896.83 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

BUNGALOW

NE O R THE O N DA SOL

SteVenSVille $249,999 3669 Carver Street

SMitHVille $469,900 14 Sarah Crescent

BeaMSVille $249,900 5143 Connor Drive

WeSt linCOln $319,900 9407 Silver Street

Beautifully maintained 7 yr old, 2 BR bungalow in the Village of Stevensville. Large open concept living room with cathedral ceilings and a separate dining room.

Completely finished basement w/corner gas fireplace, wet bar and a 2 piece bathroom. Loads of upgrades.

Station Meadows Beauty. 2600 sq ft, 4 bdrm. Incl main laundry, soaring ceilings in the main flr family rm, oversized eat-in kitc & w/o to deck & pool-sized yard. Basement fin w/ rec room & additional rms for bedrms or office

Amazing home on 100 x 200ft lot, built in 1953, has an open concept LR/DR w/hrdwd flrs, huge master suite, new HighEff gas furnance/CA, updated bath, entry doors, & water cond.. Bonus rm over the garage.

$1018.11 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1876.86 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

Fabulous end unit freehold Bungalow 1110 sqft avail. for 60-90 day closing. Come & visit our model home. Incl. great size BRs w/4pc ensuite off master, kitchen area overlooking family rm, attached to neighbouring unit at the garage only.

SOld

www.golfiteam.com

$1277.73 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

October 22, 2012

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Page 5

Fight over 19-ft. bookshelf landed in court

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f a wall unit is attached by a hook or other device that can be easily removed, then it may not be included with the house.

When there is confusion about what fixtures are to remain in a home after closing, it often ends up in court. The lesson is to be careful and clear when you write up your contract so you don’t have to sue later.

In 2009, Mark and Denise Holland bought a house on Sherwood Road in Ajax. The listing said a “built-in” bookcase in the recreation room was included.

This bookcase was 19 feet long and 7 feet high.

The couple’s offer said that all “built-in cupboards” and permanent fixtures were included in the price, but when they moved in, the bookcase was gone.

The sellers said it was a mistake that it

had been included in the listing and since the bookcase was not attached to the wall, it was not a fixture.

The agent admitted that the bookcase was mentioned in the listing by mistake.

The buyers complained to the Real Estate Council of Ontario. The council ruled that the error was made by the listing agent, and that the sellers were not properly protected and the buyers were misled by the false advertising. However, the council does not award damages, so the buyers had to sue in small claims court for the cost of the bookcase.

In court, the seller’s daughter testified she was present when the buyers toured the property and were told explicitly that the basement bookcase did not go with the house. The buyers admitted they did not closely examine the bookcase to see whether it was attached to the wall. In a decision on September 2, 2011, Justice Albert Cooper accepted the daughter’s evidence and noted that the buyers offered no evidence to contradict her story. He ruled that the buyers were not entitled to the bookcase.

I had a situation where the offer said “built-in microwave.” The microwave was not built-in so the sellers took it with them. The buyer complained after closing. When I asked the sellers whether there was another microwave in the kitchen, they said no. So I asked them, what did you think the words built-in microwave meant? They could not answer and eventually agreed to give

back the microwave.

When you are buying any home, you can never get too detailed about what you expect to be included. Ordinarily, the rule is that if it is attached to the house, it is a fixture and it stays with the house. If it is not attached, then it is considered a chattel, and it doesn’t stay with the house unless the buyer includes it in the contract.

Try to avoid general statements such as “built-in.” They may not be built in after all and may only be attached by a hook or other device that can be easily removed. Instead, be careful to list the make and model number of all appliances, and also note the colour and loca-

tion of any drapes, carpeting, closet organizers, cabinets, bookcases, mirrors, pool equipment, satellite dishes, barbecues, sheds, garage door openers and anything else that you expect to be on the property after you move in.

Take pictures of the items during your home inspection so that you have proof in case the seller tries to replace anything with cheaper items.

By being careful and clear when you write your contract, you can avoid aggravation after closing.

Mark Weisleder is a Toronto real estate lawyer. Contact him at mark@markweisleder.com

Year-to-Date Statistics P R E S E N T E D

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Based on sales data on all home sales from September 2011 vs September 2012, REALTORS Association of Hamilton-Burlington

AREA

YTD Comparison Sept. 2012 / Sept. 2011

Listed YTD

Expired YTD

Sold YTD

Average Selling Price

Average Days on Market

Selling % of List Price

ANCASTER (DISTRICT 42)

2012 2011

673 643

131 129

430 424

$462,213 $434,740

47 58

97% 97%

BURLINGTON (DIST. 30 to 36 & 38)

2012 2011

3146 3243

264 305

2548 2674

$453,388 $414,115

30 36

98% 98%

DUNDAS (DISTRICT 41)

2012 2011

327 331

37 49

288 249

$357,161 $341,062

48 49

98% 98%

GLANBROOK (DISTRICT 53)

2012 2011

428 425

69 67

284 410

$344,346 $321,168

59 56

98% 97%

GRIMSBY (DISTRICT 54,55)

2012 2011

439 448

73 76

325 316

$349,115 $326,757

49 61

98% 97%

HAMILTON EAST (DIST. 23,24,27,28,29)

2012 2011

805 870

118 148

661 618

$198,967 $187,153

44 49

97% 96%

HAMILTON MTN (DIST. 15,16,17,18,25,26)

2012 2011

1740 1915

232 277

1451 1439

$265,282 $250,422

40 47

98% 97%

HAMILTON CTRL (DIST. 13,14,20,21,22)

2012 2011

1090 1252

243 321

845 846

$161,857 $151,512

44 52

97% 96%

LINCOLN (DISTRICT 980,981)

2012 2011

204 N/A

53

139

$348,587

54

98%

WEST LINCOLN (DISTRICT 56,58)

2012 2011

80 81

21 28

51 44

$345,363 $322,007

67 83

96% 96%

SMITHVILLE (DISTRICT 57)

2012 2011

89 94

25 24

57 68

$263,042 $243,318

60 68

97% 97%

STONEY CRK (DISTRICT 50,51,52)

2012 2011

994 1040

177 208

778 738

$314,040 $294,089

49 59

98% 97%

Call Today 905-945-0188

Page 6

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

October 22, 2012

Thin the Hoard!

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hen Steve Ilott returns home from work, he frequently changes his clothes in his garage.

Why? The Oakville, Ontario, Canada-based professional organizer's clothes are often permeated with odors after clearing out and organizing hoarded homes.

The pervasive smell –rotting food, garbage, mold, and pet waste – is something that professional organizers routinely mention when discussing the subtleties of hoarding that just aren't conveyed on popular reality TV shows about people living amid piles of stuff.

Though no group is immune to hoarding and it affects the young and old and the affluent and the poor, seniors who hoard can be special cases.

Often because of compromised vision or a diminished sense of smell, some don't realize just how far out of hand their houses have gotten. Others just become immune to the mess.

Collection or clutter?

Maria Spetalnik points out that it's important to distinguish between chronic messiness, collecting, and hoarding. Spetalnik, a professional organizer with Conquer the Clutter, Chantilly Va., specializes in helping the elderly, those who hoard, and people who are chronically disorganized.

Collectors collect specific items, whether they're stamps or teapots, or something else. Yes, collections can be vast and take up lots of space. But collectors, she points out, know the value of the collection and work to improve it.

Others are chronically disorganized, overcommitted, and messy.

Hoarders, on the other hand, have an inability to discard items –food wrappers, jar lids, empty containers, heaps of outdated advertising, and so forth – that others would toss.

Hoarding is considered a mental illness, so if you discover that a parent or elderly relative is hoarding, it’s important to consult a qualified therapist to get to the root of the problem.

Practical steps To manage the practical aspects of hoarding – the clean-up – here are some considerations.

1. Transparency. Don't bring in a crew of cleaners on the sly when your parent is out of town or in the hospital.

For one, it's too invasive and it can be hurtful and cause further psychological harm. Consider how you'd feel if someone invaded your house and threw out possessions without your knowledge.

Moreover, say professional organizers, they'll just begin the hoarding process anew.

2. Sensitive chats. "Have an intimate conversation and explain what you see," suggests Ilott of Decluttering.ca and director of membership for the Professional Organizers in Canada. Don't impose standards or your will, but address the dangers and health threats of hoarding.

Among them: • Blocked doors and windows impede escape and rescue during fires, and paramedics and police can't do their jobs effectively in an emergency.

• Piles of clutter increase the chances

of slips and falls, and clutter could crash down and injure or kill someone.

• Health problems can stem from breathing in mold and dust, and insect and rodent bites and related diseases are additional dangers.

• Hoarding affects property values. A hoarded house simply won't sell.

Moreover, getting it ready for sale can be costly and time-consuming.

Spetalnik points out that in extreme cases, the physical structure can be compromised. Walls can bow from stuff leaning against them, floors

working together," observes Ilott.

4. Physical impairment. Be certain that the problem is hoarding. After all, seniors sometimes can no longer function properly in their houses or maintain it.

"Some who use a cane or a walker simply can't reach to put things away anymore. They look like hoarders with lots of stuff, but that's the only way they can survive," observes Spetalnik.

Others can't maneuver the stairs to reach the litter box to clean it and some lack the strength to take out the garbage. Ilott discovered a client who

can collapse from excess weight, undetected water damage can cause excessive mold, and an odor can permeate the space.

• It also can harm entire neighborhoods when someone amasses junk outside. Ilott worked with someone who'd filled his own house and yard with junk. When he found that a neighbor had left for an extended overseas stay, he started filling that neighbor's yard with metal, old bikes, and a trailer.

• Excessive shopping erodes the nest egg and can have long-term financial consequences.

3. Approach with caution. Don't arrive at a parent's house with a therapist and an organizer in tow and drop a bomb on them, cautions Ilott. Instead, talk in advance with a therapist about best way to broach the subject with a parent.

"It can be easy to forget seniors are still adults, with a rich independent history behind them – cognitive challenges notwithstanding – and have the right to live the way they want to," points out Gayle M. Gruenberg, a certified professional organizer with Park Ridge, New Jersey-based Let’s Get Organized. "Children need to try to put their own horror and frustration aside and find local resources to keep the senior safe and healthy."

Such professionals could include exterminators, crime scene and biotreatment cleanup crews, organizers, therapists, municipal authorities, and hoarding task forces. To find a professional organizer, see the resources section below.

"Everyone – the client, the kids, the therapist, the REALTOR®, the organizer– needs to be on board and

couldn't see the dirt because she needed new glasses.

So in your discussions with parents and in consultation with professionals, figure out the source of your relative's hoarding habit. If it's a physical impairment, employing aging-inplace strategies and rearranging the house sometimes solves the problem.

Gruenberg, for example, is working to organize and rearrange a house for a client with a misaligned hip and arthritic hands who can no longer bend or reach for things. Gruenberg aims to get all the needs of daily life on a single living level in the house. Another goal is storing everything the client uses on a daily basis in reachable spots.

5. Make a plan. Once you've consulted with necessary experts and have developed a strategy, discuss it with your parent or relative. Talk about how they'll be taken care of, explain the steps, and outline potential living arrangements for them during and after a clean-up. Ilott says that knowing about that unknown will ease their feelings of vulnerability.

6. Brace yourself. You may not know your parents as well as you think you do, until someone unearths relics from the past. Ilott, for example, found an enormous stash of nudist magazines in one man's house. His kids were surprised. He's also discovered treasures, such as 5,000 jazz albums that he helped a family to sell.

7. Hire sensitive professionals.

Spetalnik says that organizing professionals can step into a hoarding situation with emotional detachment and diffuse some of the family dynamics that tend to cause drama.

"Family members get frustrated and express disappointment and anger

www.golfiteam.com

that can make the situation worse," she comments. "The best results come when a client is working with a cognitive behavioral therapist combined with a professional organizer."

Look for empathetic, experienced, and patient professionals who can work one-on-one with a loved one to purge. "You really do need a circus master and guide for this," says Ilott.

And know that the process typically takes months, not days.

8. Unearthing treasures. A good organizer can work one-on-one with clients to respectfully pare back collections and discard unnecessary clutter.

Ilott, who calls himself Canada’s domestic archaeologist, tries to help clients understand what objects are and are not valuable. Some people keep things because of a perceived value and the notion that an object or collection will fund their future. Yet such things often have no market value.

Ilott's philosophy: If it has no market value and no sentimental value, liberate yourself from it.

9. Gentle persuasion. Ilott encounters numerous clients who have trouble parting with goods because objects are tied to memories. He describes his process as helping people to "rediscover as they're letting go."

He tells clients, "Getting rid of things won't detract from your history because you take your memories with you."

Resources: Hoarding is a complex issue that requires knowledge, sensitivity, and caring professionals to understand and solve.

Here are some resources to get you started.

Books and news: • Buried in Treasures by David Tolin.

• Digging Out: Helping Your Loved One Manage Clutter, Hoarding, and Compulsive Acquiring by Michael A. Tompkins and Tamara L. Hartl • Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things by Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee.

• Radio interviews – www.cbc.ca/homestretch/episode/2 012/01/13/compulsive-hoarding and http://www.mentalhelp.net/ poc/view_index.php?idx=119&d=1 &w=9&e=29675 Websites: http://childrenofhoarders.com/wordpress www.hoardingtaskforce.org/taskforcelist www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding Professional organizing: • Gayle M. Gruenberg, http://lgorganized.com • Steve Ilott, www.decluttering.ca • Maria Spetalnik, www.conquertheclutter.org • National Association of Professional Organizers, http://www.napo.net • Professional Organizers in Canada, http://organizersincanada.com

October 22, 2012

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Should your home’s Selling Price be made Public?

C

anada's competition commissioner says any member of the public should be able to find out a home's sale price.

Should you care whether someone knows how much you paid for your home?

Some people think that information should be made public, while others believe that constitutes an invasion of privacy. Why should a stranger have access to that kind of information?

This issue is a big bone of contention and now the basis of a lawsuit launched by Ottawa’s Commissioner of Competition against the Toronto Real Estate Board. The commissioner holds that anyone should be able to go onto a real estate brokerage’s website and see any price of a recently sold home in their neighbourhood. In Ontario, real estate agents can view prices through their local MLS system, but members of the public cannot. In Canada, only Nova Scotia lets everyone see this information, while in the United States, access is for the most part universal.

More of my clients are asking if there is a way to keep the price they paid for their home off the title records that are accessible by anyone. It can be done if you make arrangements to pay the land transfer tax before closing. This way you keep the price you paid off the title.

The competition commissioner believes that if sold prices were publicly available, buyers could figure out what to offer on a home themselves and would not need to employ a real estate agent. In my view, it wouldn’t change anything because there are many varied rea-

sons why a home sells for a particular price.

For example: • Two houses on the same street, the same size, built by the same builder, may have different views and layouts, which can make a big difference in their curb appeal.

• The price is affected by seller motivations. One vendor may have to sell quickly because she has bought a house, or has had a change of life circumstance, whether through death, marriage breakup, or job relocation.

• A history of sewage backups could affect a selling price, or whether the house backs onto a park or ravine, or is close to a hydro tower.

• What about a wind farm that has just been announced as coming to your area, a crazy neighbour, or a halfway house located on the same block?

In the U.S., sold prices have been available for years. A study compiled by the National Association of Realtors found that 89 per cent of deals done in 2011 were handled by real estate agents.

This figure was much higher than it had been before the Internet came into common use.

Before the lawyers make too much money fighting over privacy, my hope is that this issue can be settled amicably and that buyers and sellers continue to receive all the information they need, whichever way they might try to buy or sell a home.

Mark Weisleder is a Toronto real estate lawyer. Contact him at mark@markweisleder.com

Crossword Puzzle

Page 7

Before

After

Our Name Says It All We Manufacture and Install

Call Us

905-560-3338

Home evaluation No Cost or Obligation

905-575-7700

(Solution on Page 11)

Across

Down

1 Puberty (11) 9 About to happen (9) 10 Nothing (3) 11 Roman equivalent of Artemis (5) 13 Twisting force (7) 14 Cake-burning king (6) 15 Shrewd (6) 18 Cut short (7) 20 Accessory (3-2) 21 Deciduous tree (3) 22 French blue-veined cheese (9) 24 Bed cover (11)

2 Brief swim (3) 3 Leaking (anag) (7) 4 Southampton FC (6) 5 Enthusiastic (5) 6 Carried on (9) 7 Ornithologist (11) 8 The History Boys dramatist (4,7) 12 Italian car (4,5) 16 Drastic reorganisation (5-2) 17 Sticky deposit on teeth (6) 19 Cook's garment (5) 23 Acknowledge (3)

Call Today 905-575-7700

Page 8

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Rob Golfi*

October 22, 2012

Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas & Glanbrook TOO NEW FOR PHOTO

HaMiltOn $299,900 29 Marlowe Drive

HaMiltOn $164,900 36 Poplar Avenue

HaMiltOn Mtn $449,900 84 Onyx Drive

HaMiltOn Mtn $309,900 51 Laurier Ave.

LOCATION ROCKS! This property is located on the West Mountain, close to shopping and a walk to Mohawk College. Basement is fully finished with a 3 piece bath.

Updated windows, kitchen, and shingles. Fully fenced rear yard. Separate entrance for in-law potential. Shows 10+!

LOCATION, LOCATION! Walk to Juravinski, steps to mountain brow & shopping. Loads of character and perfect for a young couple! This property features beamed ceilings, private back yard, front and back porch, updated 100 amp panel, and kitchen. Great rental location! Don’t miss out!

Incredible 2600 sq.ft. 2-storey, 4 bedroom home with gorgeous hardwood floors, maple kitchen with granite counter tops and breakfast island. Spa-like ensuite off master bedroom and large walk-in closet. Fantastic size dining room with showcase fireplace in family room.

Location! Location! Solid brick bungalow beautifully kept in very desirable Buchanan Park Location. Updated kitch w/granite counter tops and back splash, new spa style bathrm with thousands spent, new vinyl windows & doors, new furnace 2007, shingles 2012, & finished basement.

$1197.85 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$658.64 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1796.97 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1237.79 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

WATERfRONT

YER U B ASH C R OU O T D SOL

LiST f O R 99% O f SOLD

HaMiltOn eaSt $479,900 711 Beach Blvd.

BinBROOK $249,900 32 Gowland Avenue

HaMiltOn eaSt $229,900 542 Corbett Street

HaMiltOn eaSt $234,900 232 Glenholme Avenue

Live on the beach! Solid home on the Hamilton beach with a 2 bedroom self-contained unit. Separate entrance and furnace. Gorgeous sunroom with amazing view of the lake.

Huge fenced yard, big drive way & large principle rooms.

Minuts from Spencer Smith Park and Joseph Brant Hospital.

Fabulous 3 bedroom, 2-1/2 bathroom, 2 storey townhouse backing onto parkette in Binbrook. Features master with ensuite bathroom. Open concept main floor and fully fenced back yard. Get inside today.

Very large raised ranch with high ceilings in the finished basement. 2 full bathrooms and in-law potential! Attached garage with inside entry and new 10x12 shed built in 2012.

3 bedrooms with hardwood floors. Updated roof, furnace & C/A.

SUN SOAKED, STONE BEAUTY! Everything done!

Beautiful, well maintained home in great location minutes from schools, shopping and higway. Numerous updates: bathrooms, windows, doors, concrete walkways, driveway, shingles, furnace, & 200amp hydro. 5 appliances included.

SOld

$998.14 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$918.25 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

SOld

YS A D 5 iN 4 D L O S StOneY CReeK $324,900 11 ClydebankPlace

HaMiltOn CtR $149,900 29 Holly Avenue

StOneY CReeK $599,999 47 Sasha Court

StOneY CReeK Mtn $385,000 21 Summerfield Avenue

Court Location! Centrally located 2 storey, 3 bedrms.

Updates: most large windows, garden doors, roof, furnace, flooring, refreshed main bath, redone basement with new carpet and 3pc bath, & backyard deck. Backyard paradise great for entertaining with in-ground pool, & composite deck.

WOW! Nothing to do but move in! 2 bedroom bungalow with clean and fresh décor and updated kitchen and bathrooms. Furnace, shingles, wiring, drywall and insulation all done in 08. Big private back yard and right across from a quiet park.

Spectacular, luxurious & immaculate describes this awesome beauty. Loaded w/upgrades. Features: 10’ceilings, designer kitchen w/granite counters, large master bedroom w/rich hotel style ensuite, gorgeous hardwood & slate floors w/decorative trim/moulding & much more.

Great Stoney Creek mountain location! 3+1 bedrooms w/spacious rooms, master with ensuite and walk-in closet, updated hardwood flooring in living & dining room, and eatin kitchen with oak cabinets. Beautifully landscaped lot with 15 x 29 in-ground pool and large deck great for entertaining.

$1297.70 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$598.72 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

SOld

$1537.75 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

StOneY CReeK $254,900 107 Teal Avenue

anCaSteR $224,900 150 Wilson St. W., Unit #306

HaMiltOn CtR $169,900 35 Stirton Street

Backing Onto Turtle Pond! Great location to build your dream home. Value is in the land. Showings after 6:30pm during weekday and anytime Saturday and Sunday.

FABULOUS FIND – This outstanding & immaculate condo features updated bathroom with granite counter, oak kitchen with updated new countertops & backsplash, in-suite laundry, new windows and sliding doors, covered patio overlooking trees & manicured grounds.

UPDATES GALORE! SHOWS 10++ with loads of room for a big family. New kitchen & bathrooms. Owner is downsizing, house is very clean. 3rd floor can be play area or family room or 2 more bedrooms. Private rear yard with a fabulous deck, and a big front porch. Appliances included.

Just listed!!! Large 4 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom backsplit in lower Stoney Creek. Family room with fireplace & walk out to backyard. Updated windows & shingles. Close to schools & buses. Easy access to QEW.

$1018.11 per/mth P&i / O.a.C

$898.28 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$678.61 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$998.14 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

StOneY CReeK $249,900 79 Spartan Ave.

LiST f O 98% R O f SOLD HaMiltOn $219,900 57 Highcliffe Avenue

StOneY CReeK $364,900 39 Kilbourn Avenue

StOneY CReeK $349,900 1364 Highway #8

HaMiltOn Mtn $269,900 387 East 19th Street

AWESOME LOCATION! Walk to Sam Lawrence Park.

Cute 2 BR home on a deep 182 ft. lot. Loads of updates: carpet, bathrm, some windows, & boiler (09). Sit in the den & look out over mature trees into private yard. Located in the back is a shop/cabana w/hydro. Great for entertaining.

OUTSTANDING IMMACULATE HOME! Completely redone top to bottom gorgeous new kitchen w/granite counters & tumble marble backsplash, updated bathrooms, new trim, pot lights, new gleaming hardwood floors, updated vinyl windows, fin. basement w/new Berber carpet.

CHARMING BUNGALOW TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE – this 2100 sq.ft. home sitting on park like setting country lot 85x187 ft. backing onto wooded green space, features gorgeous oak kitchen cabinets w/granite counters tops, beautiful hardwood floors, and close to all amenities.

MOVE RIGHT IN! Spacious all brick 3 BR bungalow with many updates. Shingles & windows 2005, new plumbing, 100 amp on breakers, new flooring, freshly painted, finished rec-room, 2 full bathrooms, and a single detached garage.

Close to Hill Park school and a nice walk to Limeridge Mall.

SOld

$1457.47 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1397.56 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$1078.02 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

www.golfiteam.com

October 22, 2012

Rob Golfi*

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Page 9

Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Ancaster, Dundas & Glanbrook SOLD

ONE R E H ANOT

StOneY CReeK 295,000 322 Jones Road

HaMiltOn CtR $139,900 15 Albany Avenue

HaMiltOn $359,900 90 Strawberry Drive

HaMiltOn CtR $179,900 11 Greenaway Ave

Huge 4 BR home waiting for finishing touch!!! Updates: siding(06), c/a(11), windows(04), insulation, drywall, doors, ceramics, bathroom w/ jacuzzi tub & separate shower, 3 car garage w/ rear exit! Inlaw suite 70% finished w/duplex zoning, 2 hydro meters, 2 driveways, & parking for 10!

Don’t miss out! All updated in 2012 are the kitchen, bath, soffit, facia, most windows, flooring and exterior doors.

Updated wiring, and newer furnace. Huge shed (10x18) with concrete pad. 4 brand new appliances included. Fully fenced yard with a large concrete patio. Hot water tank is owned.

RAVINE LOT! Beautiful all brick 4+2 bedrm w/3.5 baths features walk-up from basement with in-law potential, main flr ldry, main flr family rm w/fireplace, eat-in kitchen, separate dining room. New furnace/central air & carpet in basement. Great location, a walk to shopping & park.

Beautiful all brick 2.5 storey single family home.

Features 5 bedrooms & lots of possibilities! Newer hardwd flrs, updated kitch & baths, clean & fresh décor, nothing to do but move in! Includes single garage w/lots of parking & close to public transit.

$1178.28 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

SOld

$1497.41 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

$718.55 per/mth P&i / O.a.C.

What every older Canadian should know about Financial Abuse

F

inancial abuse is the most common form of elder abuse in Canada.

Financial abuse can happen at any time, but it will often start after a health crisis or after the death of a spouse, partner or close friend.

People who are alone, lonely or in poor health are more vulnerable.

They may find it harder to protect themselves from demands for money or other forms of financial abuse, or from physical and emotional abuse, which may occur at the same time.

Financial abuse can be difficult to identify or recognize. It is often a pattern rather than a single event, happening over a long period of time. The important thing about protecting yourself from financial abuse is to remember that your money and property belong to you.

They are not your family’s or anyone else’s.

Mary’s story: Lee frequently pressures his grandmother for small amounts of money. He always says he will repay her, but if she asks him when, he gets angry and accuses her of not trusting him. Mary cares about her grandson but his behaviour has become a problem. In talking to a trusted neighbour, Mary realizes that Lee is abusing her and that the abuse could get worse if it is not stopped. She decides she will call the police to find out how to stop the abuse without putting herself or her home in danger.

What is financial abuse?

Financial abuse is the illegal or unauthorized use of someone else’s money or property. It includes pressuring someone for money or property.

Some types of financial abuse are very clearly theft or fraud. For example, if someone cashes your pension cheque and keeps all or part

of the money without your permission, or if they misuse a power of attorney to take money from your bank account for themselves, they are stealing from you. A power of attorney is a legal document that allows the person appointed as the “attorney” to make financial decisions on behalf of another person, called “the donor.” The attorney is required to act in the interests of the donor, not in his or her own interests.

Other examples of financial abuse are harder to put a name to.

These can include pressuring, forcing or tricking you into: • Lending or giving away money, property or possessions • Selling or moving from your home • Making or changing your will or power of attorney • Signing legal or financial documents that you don’t understand • Working for little or no money, including caring for children or grandchildren • Making a purchase you don’t want or need, or • Providing food and shelter to others without being paid Who are the abusers?

Abusers are usually people who have a close connection to you.

They can include your spouse, son or daughter, other relative, friend, neighbour, or caregiver. They use their connection to take advantage of you and force you do what they want.

Where can I go for help?

If you think you are experiencing financial abuse, ask for help.

The abuser may try to make you think that you are the one that is causing the problem, but this is not true. If you don’t have a family member or close friend who can help you, there are community

resources you can use to stop the abuse.

Ask your bank or credit union, your local seniors’ centre, or even your doctor where you can go for advice and help. Or contact your local police.

Tips and safeguards Protect yourself—keep your financial and personal information in a safe place.

Have an enduring or continuing power of attorney prepared appointing someone you can trust to look after you, so that even if you are ill and unable to look after yourself, your finances will be protected from others who might try to take advantage of you.

Ask for help if you think you are experiencing financial abuse.

Keep a record of money you give away and note whether it is a loan or a gift.

For major decisions involving your home or other property, get your own legal advice before signing documents.

Ask someone you trust to look over contracts and other papers before you sign them.

Be very cautious if you open a joint bank account—the other person can take away all the money without asking.

Make an effort to keep in touch with a variety of friends and family so you don’t become isolated.

Where can I find out more?

For more information, visit www.seniors.gc.ca or visit your local Service Canada office. To order additional copies of this publication, or for help finding a phone number in your province or territory, call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800622-6232), TTY: 1-800-926-9105.

From Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat

Rob Golfi Sales Representative

905-575-7700 Seniors Real Estate Specialist is a designation for REALTORS® to address the needs of home buyers and sellers, age 50-plus. If you are buying or selling a home, contact Rob Golfi today.

Call Today 905-575-7700

Page 10

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

October 22, 2012

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Real estate lawyer

Paul lewis Settimi

Barrister, Solicitor and Notary Public 8 Main Street East, Suite 303 Hamilton, Ontario L8N 1E8 Bus: 905-527-0808 Fax: 905-527-0774

20 Main Street West Grimsby, Ontario L3M 1R4 Bus: 289-235-7500 Fax: 905-527-0774

paul.settimi@cogeco.net

DAVID COOPER Owner

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Canadian Head Offices: Aurora, Ontario

Craig Budd Ins Agcy Ltd Craig Budd, Agent 4289 Hixon Street Beamsville, ON L0R 1B7 Bus: 905-563-3453 Toll Free: 866-252-0035

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Hamilton: 905-573-8776 Grimsby: 905-945-5540 www.harveymoving.com david@harveymoving.com

Advertise Here For information on advertising in the Market Watch, contact

Rose Magro

email: rosaliemagro@yahoo.ca cell: 905-745-0122

Hardwood Floor Refinishing Jacqueline Paradisi The Quick, No-Sanding Solution for Beautiful Hardwood Floors

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Steve Hudson Appliance Consultant Ned Topic Service Professional Major home appliance sales, service, installation & parts

Phone: 905-309-7412 Toll Free: 1-800-482-1815 SAvE 10% Off pARTS WHEN Email: info@topicappliances.com YOU mENTiON THiS AD Web: www.topicappliances.com Best Price for End of Line & Scratch & Dent Landlord Multiplex Discount 395 Ontario St. (Henley Plaza), St. Catharines, ON L2N 7N6

www.golfiteam.com

October 22, 2012

The Golfi Team Real Estate Market Watch

Page 11

Home Staging Advice – Where Should I Spend My Money?

R

eal Estate agents are often asked “What’s the best bang for my buck?”

The process of selling your home can be quite overwhelming, so first step is to hire a Home Stager. The stager has the ability to look at your home with a fresh pair of eyes and provide recommendations for improvement and ways to upgrade your home before listing for sale.

Here are some crucial “big bang for your buck ideas”: 1) Work on that “Curb Appeal” –If your house doesn’t look appealing from the outside, chances are a potential buyer will never make it through the front door. Paint the shutters, re-seal the driveway, edge the lawn, mulch the flowerbeds and add seasonal potted plants to the front porch. A first impression can add 5 to 10% to the value of your home.

2) Upgrade the kitchen!

A kitchen remodel is one of the best ways to add value to your house. An updated kitchen appeals to a buyer’s emotions and if done correctly, can most times give you up to 100% return on your investment.

Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances are popular with today’s buyers but the most important thing to ensure is that all your appliances match. If updating your cabinets is not an option, perhaps consider painting the existing cupboards for a fresh look. Replacing worn, out dated faucets will improve the overall look of the space.

3) Spend time in the bathroom!

Updating or adding bathrooms (especially master baths) will add considerate value to your home. Buyers are looking for bathrooms that have updated light fixtures, newer vanities, ceramic floors all with modern amenities. If the tub is in need of major repair, you may want to consider replacing it or having it refinished. If the bathtub looks poorly, the entire room is “pulled down”. Don't be shy when it comes to spending -- the average bathroom remodel can get you back the majority of your investment.

4) Paint, Paint and more Paint! – One of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to improve the look of your home, is a fresh coat of paint. Neutral colours

appeal to the greatest amount of prospective buyers and make your home more desirable. A coat of paint can do wonders to brighten up old paneling, dingy cupboards or your teenagers “black and purple” bedroom. If you don’t have that creative flair (or want to save your marriage), hire a professional painter who should be able to have it transformed within days.

Your Home Stager should be able to offer colour suggestions.

5) Showcase a home office!

Thousands of Canadians now work from home, making a home office more of a necessity than a luxury. Most homes have at least one computer so creating a dedicated work space area (spare bedroom; basement corner or sunroom) is almost a must. Prospective buyers sometimes cannot envision where their “office area” would best fit, therefore showcasing this space often brings more appeal.

6) Consider adding a deck! Year’s ago, adding on a simple wooden deck was acceptable, but today’s homeowners are craving more outdoor living space. If you’re able to enhance, add or create a

HOME EVALUATION

deck, put some consideration into the shape, size and “special effects”.

Including features like a fire pit, benches or moodlighting can make your outdoor living space even more special.

7) Live clean! The least expensive thing sellers can do before marketing their home is perform a deep cleaning of every surface in the home. Can’t stress cleanliness enough. If you’re not up to it – hire a cleaner to come into your house for the day. A clean, clutter free home, can make the difference between a home “selling in the market” or a home “sitting on the market”.

Sheri Gamble is a Home Stager and Event Planner with Details Event Coordination. She can be reached at 905.632.2602 or via email at sheri@detailseventco.com. Visit her website at www.detailseventco.com.

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