What goes under foot is seldom an easy decision. Colour, surface texture, room usage and price all come into play. Today, greener options abound, adding to the myriad of choices already available.

Increasing interest in incorporating renewable resources into the home has resulted in many beautiful eco-friendly flooring options.

For homeowners looking on the greener side, it’s worth a look at the many sustainable products available today:

• Give a tree another lease on life with salvaged wood flooring. A rustic look can be created with reclaimed wood. Buying reclaimed lumber continues to get easier, and in some instances, less expensive relative to the cost of new hardwoods.
• Bamboo is a good option for rooms with low humidity. High abundance and a natural look make sustainable bamboo an attractive flooring option. Bamboo grows to maturity in three to five years, about a quarter of the time it takes to grow trees used for hardwood.
• Linoleum flooring has retained its popularity over decades. Unlike vinyl flooring, which is a synthetic product made of chlorinated petrochemicals, linoleum is manufactured from natural compounds including linseed oil, cork dust, tree resins and ground limestone. With natural, renewable elements used in its manufacturing, this eco-friendly flooring option continues to remain a popular option.
• Cork flooring has many eco-friendly attributes. Like bamboo, cork is quickly renewable. It is harvested from the bark of the cork oak tree and grows back every three years. Cork has anti-microbial properties to reduce allergens, is fire retardant and provides a comfortable feel under foot. Cork flooring can be finished in a variety of paints and stains to complement any room setting.
• Polyester (P.E.T.) Berber carpet is a sustainable option made of recycled plastic bottles. Anytime we can reuse these materials, we reduce the amount of new materials being manufactured and we reduce non-biodegradable materials in our landfills. Polyester Berber is spill resistant and comes in a variety of aesthetically – pleasing colours and patterns.

Whatever your home’s style or design, an eco-friendly flooring option exists to complement the desired look and existing patterns.

Helpful hints in making a small room appear bigger!

Small rooms are the bane of the home decorator. How do you achieve a pleasing look that doesn’t feel cramped and claustrophobic? Short of building an addition or knocking down walls, you are limited to a few, but effective, decorating tricks that create the illusion of space.

The strategic use of colour and light is the best way to achieve this. Choose light shades of paint or wallpaper for the walls. Lighter colours reflect light making for a brighter room. Use an even lighter shade of the same colour or white for ceilings and floors. A darker colour on the ceiling will make the ceiling look lower and tends to make the walls look as though they are closing in.

Avoid harshly contrasting colours. In fact, a monochromatic colour scheme that carries throughout the room into fabrics and accessories is very effective. Steer away from too many patterned items. The goal here is to blur perspective.

Anything you can do to bring light into the room will also give the effect of increased space. A corner wall sconce that casts light up onto the wall works well. Try to vary lighting effects for interest. A skylight is a great way to add light to a room, but isn’t always practical or affordable. Mirrors are a great solution for small rooms. Place mirrors directly across from another for maximum impact. A mirror placed across from a window is also effective. Place a lamp in front of a mirror to add more light to your room.

If you have wood or patterned flooring, have it installed so that the lines run diagonally across the room. This makes for longer lines, which give the appearance of a larger space. When furnishing the room, pick objects that are proportioned to the size of the room. For example, opt for a loveseat over a full-sized sofa. Lastly, keep the clutter to a minimum. Avoid using a lot of knick-knacks and keep the room tidy and well organized.

Remaining objective can be a difficult task when viewing an open house. It is easy to fall in love with a home’s appearance, blind to problems that may make it unsuitable. While aesthetics can be an important consideration, it is necessary to look beyond window-dressing.

Aqualified home inspector should be hired before purchasing a home, but there are areas that consumers can examine on their own. This will shorten your list of potential homes and reduce the likelihood that a home inspector will reject it as unsafe or unsuitable. Here are some considerations and common problem areas to look for when touring an open house:

General Upkeep

Much can be surmised from the general state of the home. Is the home clean? Are lawns left uncut? Are the walls chipped and in need of paint? If smaller chores have been ignored it may be an indication of a broader disregard for home maintenance.

Water Leaks

Check ceilings and drywall for stains, bulges and other signs of water damage. Water that works its way inside via a leaky roof or a cracked foundation can rot wood, create mildew and mold, destroy possessions and can be expensive to repair.

Does it Work?

Test lights, faucets, the heater, air conditioning, major appliances (that are to be included with the home) – even flush the toilets to ensure everything is working as it should.

Floors

As you walk across the floors be aware of spongy (soft or springy) sections. Excessive squeaking and uneven, bumpy floors may also be indicative of expensive forthcoming repairs.

Doors & Windows

Check that doors and windows fit snugly in their jambs and operate smoothly. Look for flaked paint and loose caulking. If the wood around windows and doors is not protected from moisture, it can rot away. Feel for drafts in these areas too.

Poor Drainage

On a wet day walk around the yard and look for areas where water collects. This can be an especially bad sign if there are soggy areas near the home’s foundation.

Grout & Caulking

If the grout and caulking around bathroom and kitchen tiles is loose and crumbly, there is a good chance that water is finding its way into the wall or under the floor.

Structural

Although this is definitely an area where you want the services of a qualified home inspector, you can get an idea about possible structural problems if you see deep cracks in the foundations or loose mortar and bricks.

Miscellaneous Concerns

Naturally, one the most important factors will be determining if the house suits your family’s needs. If you do not want to replace all of your furniture, make sure it will fit into the rooms of the new house. This is difficult to do by eye, so be sure to bring a measuring tape. Also, take note of storage space. If you are moving from a home with large closets and a shed, make sure your new house is able to store an equivalent amount of belongings.

Are you ready?

When you have decided that the time is right to sell, the first step in preparing for the sale of a home is finding out its worth. Contact me for a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties.

Working to ensure your home is in the best condition possible for showing to prospective buyers will position you to receive top dollar. This includes repairing or improving any trouble spots that could deter a buyer, such as squeaky doors, a leaky roof, dirty carpet and walls, and broken windows.

The first impression that potential buyers form of your property as they drive or walk up should not be underestimated. The “curb appeal” of your home is extremely important. You can create a positive first impression by making sure the lawn is pristine – the grass cut, debris removed, garden beds free of weeds, and hedges trimmed.

However, the trick is not to overspend on pre-sale repairs and fix-ups. This is especially important if there are few homes on the market but many buyers competing for them. On the other hand, making such repairs may be the key to selling your home in a down market.

Don’t Put it on HOLD…..Call RIZ to get it SOLD!!!

… For Buyers and Your Neighbours

The summer months are the perfect time to freshen up the exterior of your home. Whether it’s for your pleasure or to impress potential buyers, you’ll boost your home’s curb appeal with these good old-fashioned cleaning tips:

– Edge the gardens, clean out debris
– Pull the weeds and rake the leaves
– Prune the plants and wooly shrubs
– Plant some urns by the entrance and flowers to the beds
– Tidy the garage of winter trappings
– Dispose of rusty broken garden décor
– Put out a fresh welcome mat and oil the front door
– Paint the windowsills, mailbox, and anything else that is looking tired
– Place clear light bulbs in exterior fixtures, and ensure burned out bulbs are replaced
– Reseal the driveway
– Hide the garbage cans
– Sweep the step
– Fix the saggy gutters

Who says cleaning has to hurt? Get the kids involved! Borrow or buy a power washer and have fun cleaning siding, windows, sills, railings, decking and patio furniture.

Riz Jadavji is a leading real estate sales representative in BlackBerry’s hometown of Kitchener-Waterloo. He works hard and generates results — Riz is one of a few select agents to achieve top three percent sales status in Royal LePage Canada in consecutive years.

Success in real estate means working long hours and being constantly on-the-move, from open houses to deal closings. Staying organized, staying in-touch and staying on top of administrative tasks wherever he finds himself is a big part of why Riz is a success.

Not surprisingly, Riz is also a long-time BlackBerry user and recently moved from the BlackBerry Z30 to the BlackBerry Passport. We caught up with Riz to find out what he thinks of his Passport.

(Check out our other interviews with satisfied BlackBerry Passport users, including celebrity chef Tyler Florence, this senior hospital executive, manufacturing executive, non-profit founder, software engineer, tech journalist, legal administrator, pharmaceutical CEO, software manager, insurance salesman, corporate IT manager and these workers from multiple industries.)

How do you use the BlackBerry Passport in your daily work?

The Blackberry Passport is my personal pocket assistant each day. While I value my efficient Executive Assistant Jessica, I also rely heavily on my Passport to keep me well organized with my hectic schedule. It’s the perfect tool for multi-tasking and helps keep me organized, yet productive.

Juggling multiple messaging, email and social media platforms can be challenging — do you find the BlackBerry Hub to be an asset for you?

The HUB — I must say — is amazing to say the least. I really appreciate the ease of functionality. I can see everything that I want to see and still have the ability to filter out what gets in the way of a busy schedule. It’s ingenious to have everything in one spot; it eliminates my having to go in and out of many apps to find out what is happening throughout the day.

How do you feel about the BlackBerry Passport’s 30-hour battery life?

In my field, I find a lot of my day is involves reviewing PDF files of offers, various attachments while dealing with numerous banks and lengthy phone conversations with clients. I find while nearing the end of day, I see others pulling out their charging cords while I can still enjoy reviewing YouTube videos and catching up on highlights of the day on various news sites. Despite all that use, my battery keeps on ticking.

Was the keyboard a factor in getting the BlackBerry Passport?

I was primarily hooked on the Blackberry keyboard, and then I got a BlackBerry Z30. I was pleasantly surprised that I could actually type quite well using the onscreen keyboard. Now, with the Blackberry Passport, I am back into my comfort zone of typing on a physical keyboard again, but in this case the larger keys make typing a breeze.

What apps do you find yourself using primarily?

I am a fanatic when it comes to using the social media platforms; that along with my need for multiple emails means that I spend a lot of my time in the BlackBerry Hub. I am also constantly using Blackberry Remember, the Calendar, Bloomberg, Documents to Go and Evernote.

Is there anything you can do with the Passport that you weren’t able to on other devices?

With the Passport, I am able to stay connected across all communications platforms, while using a number of services and apps throughout the day to tend to my business needs. Many other devices cater to just entertainment while offering the use of a phone tool, but the Blackberry Passport provides me the comfort of knowing I can rely on it as one of my tools of the trade in order to maximize my output. I feel very confident knowing that, while on the road most of the day, I can turn to the Passport for all my needs: social, business or entertainment.

How would you rate the BlackBerry Passport out of 10?

I’ve been a faithful BlackBerry user since its inception, so maybe I’m a little biased, but I have to give it a perfect 10 out of 10!

What kind of reactions do you get from the BlackBerry Passport?

The initial reaction when I pull the phone out usually starts with “Is that the new Blackberry Passport?” Although I have had my unit since it was launched, it is amazing how many people still consider it NEW. I truly believe that, based on the look and feel of this phone, it’s perceived as an executive business model and gets noticed by my peers.

Has the BlackBerry Passport improved your productivity? If so — how?

The BlackBerry Passport has enabled me to accomplish greater results with increased speed and has allowed me to develop a more efficient process to incorporate within my business model. I’m able to get a lot of work done in a short amount of time without opening up a laptop.

To put it another way: my business tag line is “Don’t Put it on HOLD…Call RIZ to get it SOLD! ™” Well, without my BlackBerry, I would have to put my business on HOLD! It truly helps me get things done.

Originally posted on Inside BlackBerry

http://blogs.blackberry.com/2015/04/busy-real-estate-agents-blackberry-is-a-passport-to-closed-deals/

Get the best value for your dollar

You’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage and have established a budget for buying a new home but aren’t quite sure what to look for to get the best value for your dollar – that’s where we can help

Consider location

Location is one of the most important determining factors when purchasing a new home. Make sure the neighbourhood has a good reputation, is close to essentials (schools, malls, grocery stores and hospitals) and is far away from unappealing or industrious areas.

Consider your lifestyle

Give some thought to your lifestyle and the features you need and want in a home. Can you afford the property? Is it accessible? It is suitable for a family?

Ease of access

Is the property easily accessible from a map? Is it close to a highway or major road? Is public transportation readily available? If so, what’s the cost?

Consider public areas and services

Take into account the condition of public areas, such as streets, sidewalks, parks and recreational facilities. Are they well maintained? Also consider public services, such as street cleaning, snow removal, garbage collection and emergency services.

Be objective

It’s easier said than done to be objective when it comes to buying a home, however, this mentality can quite possibly save you from getting stuck with a lemon.

Get help buying your new home and give real estate pro Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty a call at 519-716-7253, send him an email, visit his Gold Book page, Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more information and to stay connected.

Westmount Grand

Great New Home Listings!

With the frigid temperatures we are having I thought I would warm you up with news that “spring is just around the corner”. Don’t put it on HOLD…Call RIZ to get it SOLD!!

Calculate with confidence

Calculating a mortgage can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be with the help of experienced real estate agent Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty in Kitchener, Ontario.

Whether you’re a first time buyer or are looking to upgrade or downsize, mortgages are a necessary evil. The best thing you can do for both you and your loved ones is understand the ins and outs of your mortgage.

To better understand your mortgage there are a few terms and numbers you’ll want to familiarize yourself with. These are: the actual loan or mortgage borrowing amount, the annual interest rate, the mortgage amortization period (in years) and your mortgage term (in years).

In Canada, all mortgages are compounded semi-annually as required by law. If you’re quoted an interest rate of six per cent, your effective annual rate will be 6.09 per cent based on three per cent semi-annually. Considering your mortgage payments usually occur on a monthly basis, a monthly rate must be calculated based on an annual rate and in this case your monthly compounded rate works out to just under six per cent (5.926 per cent to be precise).

The length of your mortgage amortization period can affect how much interest you pay and the shorter the term the more likely it is for you to pay less in interest. Likewise, a mortgage loan with a smaller mortgage term (an example would be a period of 10 years as opposed to 15 years) and higher monthly payments can save you thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars over the long term. If you can afford to make higher monthly payments and can handle a shorter mortgage term, it’s something worth considering as the savings can be considerable.

Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty in Kitchener has more than 10 years experience serving the Kitchener-Waterloo area and helping customers find their dream homes. He will work with you and your family to get top dollar for your property when selling and receive the best bang for your buck when buying. He’s even designed a nifty mortgage calculator to make it easier for you to understand the financials of your investment.

Give the professional and courteous real estate pro Riz Jadavji of Royal LePage Wolle Realty a call at 519-716-7253, send him an email, visit his Gold Book page, Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more information and to stay connected.