Shop Around

For most of us, real estate transactions are the
biggest financial transactions of our lives. So before you embark on the buying and selling process, here
are some tips to help get you started in an uncertain market.

1. Shop around: 

With more than 75,000 real estate representatives in Ontario, how
do you pick the one that is right for you? It’s always a good idea to meet with at least a few different real estate representatives before selecting who you will work with. Consider asking friends or family
to recommend a broker or salesperson. When you have your shortlist of representatives ready, consider asking these questions to find out which representative is right for you. It’s a great way to determine whether you and your rep will be on the same page.

1. Tell me about your real estate experience.

2. Tell me your general approach to buying or selling and how your approach would best suit my needs.

3. Tell me about the services you would provide and any different options or services that may or may not be included.

4. Tell me about the commission or fees I would pay. 

5. Do you have references?

2. Look them up: 

3. Before hiring a salesperson or broker, look them up using the search tool at the top-right corner of RECO’s website. Confirm they’re registered and in good standing.Read and understand everything before you sign:  

It can be tempting to speed the process along by signing forms that you haven’t read. After all, nobody really likes reading the fine print. But taking the time to understand what you’re signing can avoid a lot of problems later on.  

4. Know your tolerance for risk:  

If you’re buying a home, you may be tempted to submit an offer without any conditions attached so that you can get a leg up on the competition. But are you comfortable taking on that level of risk? Can you afford to fix an issue with the home that an inspection otherwise may have detected? Will you be OK should you lose your deposit if a lender denies you financing? Consider all outcomes before committing to a decision. 

5. Remember, you own the process:  

Your representative is a great source of information to offer guidance. But you’re in the driver seat. Don’t make a decision unless you are well informed and comfortable with it.

Source: RECO

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New Visit-Worthy Restaurants in Hamilton

December 29th, 2018

Posted in #MyHamilton

Hamilton recently topped this list of North America’s 50 fastest growing restaurant scenes. 

With so many new restaurants opening every month, I can’t cover them all here.

So here’s just a taste of some of my favourite newly opened spots: all worth visiting Hamilton for, and all very delicious.

193 Bench

193 King St. E.

193 Bench is Hamilton’s newest downtown sandwich destination. They’re all about from-scratch, which makes their food that much more special. On top of an extensive sandwich menu, you can also buy their bread to go (they’ll even slice it for you!). Choose from potato & olive oil sourdough, buttermilk biscuits, ciabatta, sourdough bagels and more!  You can pick either a half or full sandwich – perfect if you want a light snack or pair up with soup or salad. If they’re in stock, don’t miss out on their cruffins – a crazy-delicious croissant and muffin hybrid pastry.

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Shorty’s Pizza

1099 Cannon St. E.

If you’re craving New York style pizza when you’re in Hamilton, this should be your first stop. This east-end pizzeria nails the classic pizza parlour decor, with checkered floors, vintage photos and old photos and memories from their customers. You can get 14” or 18” pie or just grab a slice. The classic pepperoni pizza is full of grease and love-filled pepperoni cups that will take you back to the childhood slices you loved. I like their Hawaiian with hot peppers – a nice hot and sweet combo. (Yes, I’m that person who likes pineapple on their pizza).

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Synonym

328 James St. N.

From their gorgeous countertop to clean décor, the ambience at this new and very special downtown coffee shop will keep you coming back. It’s open later than your typical coffee shop and offers a vegetarian and vegan menu that includes tapa style plates and brunch items. Their extensive drink menu includes specialty coffee, juices, wines, craft and craft beers. While you’re sipping and eating, be sure to check out their curated collection of hard-to-come by books.  Exciting news! They’ll have a back patio in time for summer.

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Crumbled

339 Barton St. E.

Crumbled offers a unique build-your-own twist on classic cake.  Customers at this new Barton Street dessert shop pick their own sponge, frosting and toppings – all served fresh in a bowl! All the cake and icing are made fresh in-house. Some of their toppings are also made from scratch like the Oreo cookie! If you’re indecisive like me, you can choose one of the classic sets on their “basic bae” menu. Did I mention their birthday cake one comes with a mini birthday cake cupcake with a candle on top?

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Hui Lau Shan

35 King St. E.

Attention Mango lovers! This very popular handmade dessert chain opened in Hong Kong back in the 1960s. Now you can get the exotic taste of Hong Kong in downtown Hamilton. Choose from a huge variety of mango desserts including mango pudding, mango frozen cakes, mango mochi, mango drinks and more. If you’re not a bit mango fan, that’s okay too. They have other fresh fruit juices, drinks and desserts. But you should really try the mango!

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The Pigeon

3200 Homestead Dr.

If you find yourself near Hamilton International Airport or you’re simply a fan of delicious fried chicken sandwiches, The Pigeon should be on your must-try list. Owner Matt Beasley – former executive chef at Aberdeen Tavern and former head chef at Toronto’s prestigious One Restaurant – has gone back to delicious basics at this small catering and take-out joint in Mount Hope. Their huge fried chicken sandwich is possibly the best in town – crispy, juicy and finger-licking good. If you’re lucky enough to find the Queso Fried Chicken Sandwich on the menu, it’s is a must try with their truffle fries!

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Cafe Baffico

1375 King St. E.

This new spot near Gage Park in Hamilton’s east-end, is an adorable cafe by day and a warm and welcoming Italian restaurant come dinner time. When you walk in, you’ll feel transported to a small-town in Italy. The owner is one of my favorite baristas in town so expect a perfect cup of coffee to go with your delicious morning pastry. If you’re here for dinner, enjoy Roman cuisine options off their rotating blackboard menu. Regional Italian dishes you typically can’t find in town include Caponata, Cacio e Pepe and Amatriciana.

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Here are some other noteworthy new restaurants to add to your must-visit list:

Asian cuisine:

Janbing in Jackson Square food court is the only place in Hamilton to get these savory crepes, very popular in China. You can choose from mung bean or black rice crepe batter. Watching them get made is worth the price alone. Szechuan Noodle Bowl on 117 King St. E. in Dundas is the second location for this very famous noodle spot in Mississauga. They’re known for their hand pulled noodle soups and cold noodles as well as a huge menu of authentic Sichuan dishes.

Fully Vegan:

Lick the Whisk at 29 Barton St. E. is a vegan dessert café, popular for their homemade ice cream and waffle cones. They also offer donuts, crepes, cupcakes and more! Lotus & the Bee at 304 Barton St. E. recently opened their doors and serve healthy, nutritious vegan food including brunch.

More to look forward to:

Stay tuned for more on these brand new Hamilton restaurants as well. Frats on King William Street (Pizza / Italian); Amigos on George Street (Tacos); Souvlocke on Locke Street (Greek), Rugantino on Locke

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Images are taken by the author and cannot be used without permission. 

Visit Tourism Hamilton’s full restaurant listings for many more great choices.

Jennifer Shin is a Hamilton based foodie who runs @tastehamont on Instagram and tastehamont.com.

7 Designers Share Their Favorite Paint Colors for a Relaxing Home

At Apartment Therapy, we believe that your home is your sanctuary—and you should treat it as such. After all, where else can you retreat to after a long day at work, bad date, or busy vacation and just relax?

But before you KonMari your space or invest in some soft, dreamy sheets for your bedroom, you should decide on your home's color scheme.

Everything from the backsplash in your kitchen, to the tint of your floors, to, yes, the paint color for your walls has the power to set the mood of your space and dictate how you should decorate it.

Since very few people feel totally at home with a busy wallpaper or neon hue, we asked seven designers for their favorite calming paint shades.

A Soft White

(Image credit: Jessica Schuster)

"We love Farrow & Ball paint. They are highly pigmented paints that deliver a unique depth of color; you can literally stare at the wall and get lost. Their subtle neutrals, muted pastels, and rich dark hues are all so relaxing to the eye—especially Cornforth White. We catch ourselves using that color a lot!" —Xandro Aventajado, co-founder and creative director of Current Interiors

"I love working with Farrow & Ball because their paints seem to have a calming effect regardless of the color—off-black is one of my favorites! Cornforth Whiteis also great for when you want to add some drama in a soft way." —Jessica Schuster, interior designer

Subtle Brights

"My most relaxing paint colors aren't the most obvious choices, but combining them with a soothing palette really creates a calming vibe. I love Bright Yellow, Peachy Keen, and Early Spring Green from Benjamin Moore." —Ghislaine Viñas,interior designer

50 Shades of Grey 

(Image credit: Reid Rolls)

"Kendall Charcoal from Benjamin Moore—or Kendall, as our office lovingly refers to it—has become a favorite. It's smokey and inky at the same time. The darkness and richness of the chroma remind us of a great cashmere sweater: You just want to snuggle in with a good book—and what's more relaxing than that?! We love it in a room with plaids, saddle leathers, and some great textures. We've [also] used it on flat walls, stucco walls, and even brick; the more texture, the more drama and depth this intriguing color has." —Dan Mazzarini, owner and creative director of BHDM

Double Duty 

(Image credit: Susan Petrie)

"I design a lot of beach homes and find it's nice to get away from the traditional soft blues that are so often used to evoke a calm space. I love to use Benjamin Moore's Iced Cube Silver and Ecru. The combination is neither too feminine nor too masculine, but a lovely marriage of the two. It doesn't feel overdone or like it's making a statement, yet offers the perfect middle ground you may not be able to achieve with just one shade of paint." —Susan Petrie, owner of Petrie Point Designs

Rolling Tones

"I believe it is the tone of the color—not only the color—that can be relaxing. It's possible to take your favorite color and select a calming, restorative tone. My favorites from Sherwin-Williams include Tidewater, Moonmist, Wishful Blue, Gratifying Green, and Pineapple Cream." —Barry Lantz, co-ownerof A Lantz Design

Au Naturale

(Image credit: Katharine Pooley)

"'I love to use neutral paint colors with just a touch of color for a serene and peaceful backdrop. Farrow & Ball's Elephant's Breath is a personal favorite. In different lights and at different times of the day, it has a subtle warmth and depth [you can't find] in other light gray paints." —Katharine Pooley, interior designer

How Smart is Your Home

How "Smart" is Your Home?

 

Smart home products are quickly catching on with consumers ranging from front doors that unlock as you come up the walkway, robot lawnmowers that keep your grass trimmed, remote controlled thermostats and lighting, to home monitoring cameras. What was once science fiction, or conveniences seen on the TV show the Jetsons, “Smart” technology has become today's reality.
This new trend has widespread implications for those people thinking about selling their home or shopping for a new home. A 2015 Real Estate Survey showed that 81% of home owners are more likely to purchase a home with Smart home technology installed. According to the survey, 33% of agents said homes with Smart technology sold faster than those without.
What does Smart home technology looks like today?
Any device in your home that uses electricity can be put on your home network and at your command. Whether you give the command by voice, remote control, tablet or Smart phone, the home reacts. The main idea for Smart homes is that we’re building intelligent living spaces that take care of us instead of the opposite.
Smart home technology isn’t just a new gimmick, it is a practical way to make your home greener, saving you time and money without lifting a finger. A few examples include:
1. Home Automation
What if your home could sense when you were awake and adjust the lights or thermostat accordingly? What if your baby monitor alerted you to your baby’s sleep activity and comfort level? And what if your refrigerator could detect when you’re low on groceries and then send your car a reminder to go to the grocery store.
It’s hardly a far-fetched thing today. Wireless Smart home technologies such as Nest and Zigbee have made it easier than ever to automate your home or control aspects of it from a Smart phone or tablet.
Nest, for instance, works with compatible Smart appliances— including Philips HUE lighting and Logitech remotes—to set your home on autopilot. Observe any room without getting up from the couch with easy-to-install cameras; set your remote control to also warm up your living room when you settle in for movie night; or even get updates on your pet’s eating habits while you’re at work.
2. Home security systemsThe next most popular type of Smart home technology that people currently have installed in their home according to the survey is Smart home security. In addition to traditional systems, these may include video monitors inside and outside the house that you can view on a Smart phone from anywhere you happen to be.
3- Home entertainments systems
No Smart home would be complete without the right entertainment system to compliment your lifestyle. A Smart home has you covered, from a superior 4K TV experience with a billion colours, to in-wall sound bars and outdoor speakers.
The Smart home industry is moving forward
While we all likely have more than a few Internet-connected devices already in our homes—whether it’s a Wi-Fi enabled game console, a Smart TV, or a connected security solution—these are piecemeal solutions. A truly Smart home is one that connects multiple systems into one system and collects and responds to data.
The Smart home industry is still moving forward, many companies are already pouring millions of dollars into developing technologies that seamlessly integrate our digital and physical worlds within our cars and homes and we are about to see the fruits of this movement in the near future.

Source:  Canada Realty Newsletter

Todd Fryer's Real Estate Newsletter

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