10 Ways To Prepare For A Stress Free Move

Steven Ho Buyer, Seller, Tips

1. Counsel the kids. Communication is important for any relationship. To provide closure for the kids and reassurance that they can continue to participate in the activities that they enjoy is important. Whether they play baseball or skating, hobbies, lessons, clubs they’re enrolled in, show them where they can continue that in the new neighbourhood. For the smaller children, let …

Low Maintenance Landscaping

Steven Ho Tips

No Mow! Gardening is a great escape for some people, to plant, to nurture, and for some, to harvest. You reap what you sow. We’ve heard that saying for years, but do you want to put in the work of planting, watering, maintaining, fertilizing, etc.? Looking for ways to lower your carbon footprint at home? First, you might want to …

Helpful Tips For Buyers

Steven Ho Buyer, Tips

Bi-weekly and weekly payments Most mortgages have the option to allow payments to be made on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. This option may be desirable for two reasons. The first is it can save you money as you can expect to pay off your mortgage about 4 years sooner. This can save you dramatically over the life of your …

Potential Sources Of Funds

Steven Ho Buyer, Tips

The type of fund raising one uses is a function of judging risk and one’s individual credit rating. There are several options available. Using Existing Cash Reserves Using Existing Liquid Reserves (ie. Bonds and GICs) Utilizing any of the above as collateral for a loan Using other types of assets such as stocks as collateral Using the equity in an …

Helpful Tips for Sellers

Steven Ho Seller, Tips

14 IMPORTANT FACTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE YOU TRY TO SELL YOUR OWN HOME Occasionally, one can see “For Sale By Owner” signs, and some owners think that selling their own home will not only save them money, but believe they have an advantage over the sellers that have their home listed by a reputable Real Estate sales professional. Before you …

No leaf blowers!

Steven Ho Tips

No BLOW! Gardening is frustrating when you have excessive leaf litter or plant materials that clutter your gardens. Eliminating those unwanted leaves/litter for a clean garden requires the use of leaf blowers. Or does it? Clippings and leaves are left where they fall because they are a natural fertilizer/compost. Mother nature has a method behind the madness. Did you know …

Low Water Garden

Steven Ho Tips

No H2O! As you drive through suburbia, you will see many homes watering their lawns and gardens. Sprinklers, hoses, etc. Do people know how much water they are using to water their gardens? Do they know how much their garden actually needs? Water consumption in North America is the highest its ever been. Most people use a rotary sprinkler which …

Property Assessment 2012

Steven Ho Tips

Property owners have recently received a new assessment by MPAC. Property values were based on current market trends and other factors, dated for January 1, 2012. Do you know if your property was assessed correctly? Did you look at your assessment and be surprised at how much your property is worth? The purpose of the property assessment is for the …