Tips for Winter Proofing Your Home

That was a crazy week of cold weather in Toronto! Even though the temperature this week has been much warmer, this swing on the thermometer can wreak havoc on your home. Since it's a good reminder to all of us, we thought we'd share some of our tips on maintaining your house and keeping it comfortable during this time of year.

Winter Home Care

Caring for your furnace is important all year round but especially when it's working overtime. Many homes in our neighbourhood (although lovely!) lack good insulation so furnaces work very hard to keep up in cold temperatures.

Changing your furnace filter regularly helps with efficiency, output and overall air quality within your home. Most HVAC companies recommend changing filters every 3  months but we've found that in older homes after 60 days there can be quite a bit of build-up and filters are ready for a change. Setting a reminder on your smart-phone calendar helps to make sure you are not going too long without checking the filter. Another tip to maximize your furnaces efficiency is to turn down the thermostat at night and when you are away during the day. Only turn it down a few degrees (two or three). If the house gets too cold, it will only eat up any savings you gained when you have to reheat it.

Smart thermometers are great for this and there are several rebate programs available. We just ordered the ecobee (whoop! it's Canadian) and I'll let you know how we like it once it arrives.

Sealing up drafts around doors and windows is a good way to make sure you aren't losing that nice warm air you've worked so hard to get! Basic caulking around windows, adding threshold strips around doors and closing up kitchen and fireplace vents when not in use are all helpful in minimizing heat loss. Did you know they sell insulated mail slots? We had one at our last house and loved it.

Don't forget to play with solar gain and when the sun is out, open drapes and blinds to help warm your home. Close 'em as soon as the sun sets though; window = draft.

I heard personally from three people last weekend that they were dealing with frozen pipes. What can we do about it in an 100 year old home? Well, it's a bit of luck but some good preventive measures help too. As long as your house is heated and above freezing, pipes should continue to operate properly. However, check to see if tub and shower fixtures are installed against exterior walls; yep, they are in my house! Pay special attention to this with DIY reno work or work done without permits– sometimes what seems like the most convenient place to run pipe isn't the best in cold climates, hello frozen pipes!

The other areas of your house to pay attention to are any unheated zones (cold rooms, crawlspaces, attics, garages etc). If there are pipes in unheated areas ask an expert about the best ways to minimize your risk of frozen pipes. They may recommend wrapping insulation around pipes or supplemental heat in the areas during a deep freeze. If the house temperature drops below freezing due to long vacations, broken furnaces etc. issues can develop anywhere inside your home. This is why many plumbers recommend running a bit of water at every tap in this case. (It keeps the pipes from freezing since city water is roughly 10° C.)

We have only ever had water in our basement ONE TIME. And it was TERRIBLE. And it was because of thawing / re-freezing ice and snow that worked it's way in to our foundation. Oh, AND a broken downspout that was dumping loads of water right at the corner of our foundation that we didn't pay attention to. I am now so paranoid about making sure our downspouts are running freely during thaws and at least 6 feet away from our house. If ice gets lodged in the downspout, they don't work. If leaves haven't been properly cleaned out from gutters in the fall, they don't work. If your kid breaks off the downspout extension, they dump water in the wrong place, and don't work! Keep an eye on your downspouts all winter long to make sure they are running clear and are not frozen in a foot of snow.

Our tips for caring for your home in winter !

winter home care guide

Hope these tips help a bit. If I'm warm and not dealing with frozen pipes or water in my basement I'll be happy with this 100+ year old home this winter. It takes a bit of time to get to know the ins and outs of your home but when you do, it's much easier to keep on top of things. If this is your first winter in a new home take extra time to give it some TLC. You'll both be thankful.

Here's to staying warm & dry!

Wabi-Sabi: Embracing Imperfection

As a follow up to our post about Hygge, the Danish concept of creating joy and coziness in life's everyday moments, we wanted to talk about the Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi and how it relates to interior design and everyday life.

At its core, Wabi-Sabi is the concept of accepting imperfection. Roughly translated, Wabi means rustic simplicity or understated elegance and Sabi means taking pleasure in the imperfect. It believes that beauty is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. Its roots come from the Japanese Tea Ceremony, which is a ritual of purity and simplicity, in which the handmade bowls and utensils that are used are often irregularly shaped and worn due to use. These items are celebrated for their beauty, which comes from their deliberate imperfections and their emotional significance.

As recovering perfectionists (okay, we may be 'in recovery'), Kirsten and I are constantly reminding each other 'not to let the perfect be the enemy of the good'. This phrase has actually helped us immensely by giving us permission to put things out that may not be 'perfect' in our minds (whatever that might be!), but it moves the process along while allowing us to make improvements and tweaks over time, or sometimes just accepting it as it is.

This aesthetic is also making its way into home design, by embracing the lived-in and weathered. It is a move away from the impractical sleek images that we are bombarded with on social media, to an aesthetic that is more functional and livable.

It’s a long awaited invitation to stray from convention and expectation and instead celebrate individuality and comfort.

Dayna Isom Johnson, Canadian Living

It is also a celebration of sentimentality, embracing items whose beauty comes from their meaning rather than their austere beauty. This could mean a weathered armchair that was a family heirloom or a piece of ceramic whose beauty comes from its uniqueness and the story that it tells. It also encourages us to choose materials that weather beautifully over time such as wood, stone and metal and to choose colours that are a reflection of those seen in nature. In this way it very much aligns with the concepts behind Hygge, in the way that it promotes natural elements, colours and simplicity, and in its belief that every object in your home should be beautiful, useful or both.

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Wabi-Sabi is the antithesis to big box stores, fast fashion and mass consumption. At West Side Storeys we like to call ourselves the Mom & Pop shop in the big box world of real estate, and Wabi-Sabi embraces a lot of what we believe in and strive for - quality over quantity, true connection with our clients, relationship building, the importance of community, shopping local, waste reduction and an appreciation for the uniqueness and history of the older homes that we buy and sell.

In the end, there really is no such thing as perfection, whether it be in design, houses, or let's face it, life. So isn't the pursuit of perfection inevitably a path to unhappiness and dissatisfaction? Wabi-sabi shifts this focus to one of gratitude and appreciation for what we already have, rather than the pursuit of the next shiny new thing. This powerful shift in perspective can help us to feel more peaceful and content in the current moment and improve our quality of life.

Why not try to embrace imperfection and maybe even take it a step further and seek it out? A good exercise is to purposely choose items with obvious flaws and love and cherish them for those flaws, not despite of them. By embracing an attitude of Wabi-Sabi, you allow your home to become a true reflection of who you are and perhaps this shift in attitude will lead to an acceptance and celebration of the imperfection in all aspects of our lives....wrinkles and all ;)

Best of the West: Toronto Dog Parks

Here is a guide to the best places to take our furry friends off leash in Toronto's west end!

There are a lot of amazing things about having a dog, but one of my favourites is that they force you to get out and walk, regardless of the weather or your mood, you just have to get out there. So we have put together a list of the best places to take your pooch to get them (and you!) some exercise, and maybe a little social interaction along the way.

High Park

The big daddy of all the off leash parks, High Park has 8.5 acres of leash free trails as well as the crown jewel, Dog Hill. Located just east of the Grenadier Restaurant, and complete with picnic tables and doggy water fountains, Dog Hill is a dog lover's delight, with dogs of every size and breed cavorting around leash-free.

Sorauren Avenue Park

Located in Roncesvalles, at Sorauren and Fermanagh, this fenced-in leash free area can be enjoyed while you take in a soccer or baseball game on one of the adjacent sports fields. Added bonus, if you are there on a Monday be sure to pop into the Sorauren Farmer's Market, which takes place every Monday from 3-7pm.

Beresford Park

This small park tucked in the middle of Bloor West Village, at Beresford & Ardagh, has a dog park frequented by the many dog lovers in the area.

Baird Park

This park is located on the east side of Keele Street at Humberside, in between High Park and The Junction. Baird Park is a small park known for its active lawn bowling club, but also features a leash-free dog park which is well used by many local residents.

Coronation Park

If you want to enjoy the lake views while walking your dog, unfortunately you will have to keep them on a leash, but if you walk east along the Martin Goodman Trail to Fort York Blvd., you can lose the leash when you hit the large, fenced-in leash-free area at Coronation Park.

Sir Casimir Gzowski Park

This park, at the foot of Windermere, is also located off the Martin Goodman Trail, and allows you to go off leash while taking advantage of some spectacular lake views. If you continue on the trail heading west, you can also let your pooch run free at Humber Bay Park West (located at the bottom of Park Lawn Road).

Colonel Samuel Smith Park

In south Etobicoke, at Lake Shore & Kipling and just south of Humber College, lies the sprawling Colonel Samuel Smith Park. This lovely park, on the shores of Lake Ontario, features an outdoor skating track, playground and of course, a leash-free dog zone.

King's Mill Park

The trails along the Humber River, that run west from the Old Mill, are another wonderful place to go for a dog walk, but leashes are required here. However, you can start or end your stroll with a trip to the leash free area in nearby King's Mill Park, which is located on the banks of the Humber, just south of Bloor Street.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

A little further east, but well worth mentioning, is beautiful Trinity Bellwoods Park. Located on the north side of Queen Street at Strachan, this 38 acre park is an oasis in the middle of bustling West Queen West, and also allows you to let your best friend roam free in their designated off leash area.

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Is there something you would like featured in an upcoming "Best of the West' post, or something you think we missed? Feel free to drop us a line - we are always available to chat!

A look back at our west end business spotlights from 2019

As the first month of 2020 comes to an end, we thought it'd be fun to look back at the amazing west end Toronto business owners we highlighted in 2019. These women were so much fun to interview and spend time with. We wish them continued success and happiness this year.

Vicki Bell The Little Paper Toronto

Vicki Bell is the owner of The Little Paper, a local mama, a city girl, a nature lover and continues to find time to give back so much to the west end she calls home. We loved doing a spotlight on her, you can read it here.

Amy Montemurro Kid Kind

Amy Montemurro is the proud owner of KidKind, a local business focused on educational programming, workshops, camps and spreading kindness.

Lauren PIncente Wildhood Toronto

If you haven't been to Wildhood yet, go now. And if you are lucky you'll get to meet Lauren Pincente the owner and florist extraordinaire.

Julie Sousa Annette Street Music

We have had the pleasure of working with Julie Sousa for the past 8 years and she still greets us with the same warm smile every week. If you are looking for music lessons in the west end of Toronto, look no further/ Annette Street Music offers a variety of classes for all levels of musical interet.

Jennifer Slauenwhite Queens Fitness Toronto

Jennifer Slauenwhite pushes women to become their best selves at her west end fitness studio Queens Fitness. We love her motto that fitness is not about being better than someone else, it is about being better than you used to be.

What a great roundup of amazing entrepreneurs who are all doing their part to make our communities shine. If you know of any west end business owners that deserve to be in spotlight let us know. We'd love to meet them!

How to organize your home in 10 easy steps!

Whether you are an empty nester looking to downsize into a smaller home or condo, a divorcee looking for an emotional (and physical) fresh start or just any one of us who are looking to embrace the life-changing magic of tidying up, here are some tips on how to de-clutter your space (and your mind!) and get yourself organized with a view to downsizing into a new space or just creating more calm within the space that you are in.First things first:

1.  You need a plan

Before getting started, it is paramount that you have a plan in place, complete with timelines and deadlines.  Just like goal-setting, you will need to write it down, keep it someplace where you can see it, and keep checking those tasks off your list (it will give you a feeling of accomplishment, I promise).

2. Be prepared

Make a list of everything you are going to need to accomplish this momentous task and go out and get them.  The easiest way to get sent off course is to get into a rhythm and then find that you don't have the tools available to complete the task at hand.  Go get garbage bags, boxes, packing tape, sharpies, a label maker and storage containers of various shapes and sizes.  Then crank some music or put on your favourite podcast and get to work!

3.  Enlist help

We know that the thought of downsizing and de-cluttering can be completely overwhelming, but there are people out there who can help.  As realtors, we have a system to help downsizers tackle the clutter and get their house ready for sale, so if you are looking to sell, make sure you engage a realtor who is experienced with the process of downsizing.  There are also professional organizers who, for a fee, can walk you through this transition and, depending on the level of engagement, can even do it all for you.  Additionally, enlist your children and family members to help out, and in some (most) cases, come pick up their stuff!

4.  Eat the frog

You know that task that you absolutely positively DO NOT want to do?  Yeah, do that one first.  I know it sucks and I know you really really really don't want to clean out that storage closet under the stairs, the one that has been collecting all the discarded Christmas gifts and kids art projects for lord knows how many years, but just think how amazing and empowered you will feel when you do finally eat that frog!

5.  Go room by room

Don't multi-task, this process needs to be methodical, so attack each room individually; then close the door and move on.  Go through and pull every item out of every drawer and closet, clean off every surface and then move on to #6.

6.  Separate & Discard

Keep it, give it away or throw it out.  Separate everything into three piles, but be very discriminate, this is not a time for sentimentality.  If you haven't looked at it or used it for years, then it needs to be given away or thrown out.  We know it is difficult to part with items related to your children or family members who have passed away, but try to whittle it down to a much more manageable size.  Maybe take photos of your children's art projects, put them in an album and then keep only your favourite three pieces?  Try shifting your mindset by giving away clothes that belonged to a loved one to charity, they are not only freeing up space in your life but also getting a new one.  Have a yard sale and make a little bit of money while you're at it.  If there are items that you don't use, but are having trouble parting with because they are valuable, have them appraised and see if you can sell them. There are lots of goods options available nowadays and there is someone out there willing to buy everything!

7.  Organize

Do not put anything back that does not have a purpose or a place!  This is key.  Before you put anything back in a drawer or cupboard ask yourself whether it has a purpose and if so, make sure to make a place for it.  This is when storage containers come in very handy and there is so much variety nowadays, there are lots of options that are both practical and decorative.  Have some fun with it and be creative.

8.  Make a list of updates & repairs that need doing

As you are going through this process, make sure to make a list of any repairs or updates that are required, and if you are selling, make a plan to complete them prior to putting the house on the market.  Once the de-cluttering is done, it will then be easy to make the necessary repairs or hire contractors to do them.

9.  Don't forget the outdoor spaces!

Yup, you have to tackle the garage and garden shed as well.  Go through the same process with the outdoor spaces, getting rid of everything that no longer serves your purpose.  Just think, if your plan is to move into a condo, you can say good-bye to that lawnmower forever!

10.  Celebrate!

We know this process can be totally daunting, but we promise it is worth it.   At the end of it, you will feel lighter and more empowered, so once it is done, pour yourself a glass of wine and give yourself a big high-five!  We think you deserve a gift as well ;). If you are looking to downsize and would like us to come by and walk you through our step-by-step guide to downsizing, please feel free to get in touch, we are always available for your questions!

New decade, new goals. What do you want to accomplish this year??

Most people look at a new year as fresh start; a time to create new good habits, break old bad ones, and set new goals in their personal and professional lives.  Unfortunately without a plan in place, these resolutions tend to get broken....well, right about now.  This is why the gyms are packed for the first couple of weeks of January and revert back to normal by the beginning of February! We are not experts, and are definitely learning as we go, but wanted to share with you some tips we use for setting goals, and sticking to them.

1. Decide what you want to accomplish

First things first, you need to really think about what you want and how and when you want to get there.  The rule of thumb is that goals should be SMART - specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound.  If you want to lose weight for example, you should determine a realistic amount of weight that you want lose within a certain time frame.  In saying that, make sure that your goals are not too easy to achieve, challenge yourself and think big!  You might also want to set goals for different areas of your life, such as personal (read x number of books this year), health & wellness (work out 4 times/week), career (make x amount of money), relationships (go on a date night with your partner once a week).  I think it's also a good idea to have long and short term goals - 10 year, 5 year, 1 year & quarterly.  Once you have a clear picture of what you want to achieve and within what time frame, then you need to....

2. Write them down!

This step is really important.  A lot of people walk around with ideas in their head of what they would like to accomplish, but without writing them down and having them somewhere as a constant reminder (see #3) then you are way less likely to follow through on them.  Just the physical act of writing them down makes you that much more committed to carrying through on them.  Apparently you are 50% more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down, but that could be fake news :).

3.  Visualize

This step is two-fold.  The first part is that you need to be able to visualize yourself achieving your goals, which is a tool that professional athletes have been using for decades.  Being able to actually visualize yourself achieving your goal can be very powerful.  The second part is having your goals prominently displayed someplace where you can visually see them everyday, as a constant reminder of what you are aiming for. We know it's totally hokey, but we like to make a vision board for this.  A vision board is just a compilation of images, quotes, lists or really whatever you want, which is a visual display of your goals and ultimately it should conjure up the feeling of what you want to achieve as well.

4.  Plan of Action

Here is where you put a plan in place to make those goals a reality.  Write down what you can do today, tomorrow, this week and this month to move you closer to your goals.  Every morning set aside some time to review your goals (and admire your fancy vision board!) and make a list of small actionable steps that you can take on a daily basis that will get you closer to the big goal.  This is also a good time to review your progress; where you are doing well, where you are doing not so well and course-correct as needed.  Don't beat yourself up though, this is a journey and we are all learning as we go!

5.  Accountability

This step is key, and if you are not good at being accountable to yourself, bring in support; whether it's through your partner, a friend, a business mastermind group or a coach; make sure that you have someone who is willing to kick your butt if you're not doing what you said you would do! (Lots of people are using social media to hold themselves accountable.)

6.  Review

Constantly review your big and small goals to make sure that you are still going in the right direction, that your timelines are reasonable, and that your goals still fit your current needs and wants.  There is nothing wrong with changing your goals if they no longer suit you.

7.  Celebrate Success

This is the fun part!  Tie your goals to rewards so that you have that additional feeling of accomplishment and something physical to mark your achievement and hard work.

Off to clean my office, one of my first goals of the new year. If you are thinking about any home improvements or renovations this year, reach out to us! We are happy to provide you with a complimentary Home Improvement Consult to help you allocate those dollars to see the best return on investment. Wishing you much joy & prosperity in 2020!

West End Toronto Real Estate Market Update - 2019 The Year in Review

December is traditionally a slow month in real estate, and this December was no exception, so instead of providing you with the December numbers, we wanted to give you a snapshot of how the west end Toronto market fared in 2019.

Each neighbourhood is its own micro-market so we have broken down all the west end Toronto MLS districts to provide you with a summary of EXACTLY how your neighbourhood did in 2019.

For the entire Toronto Real Estate Board December sales were up by 17.4% year-over-year to 4,399. Total sales for calendar year 2019 amounted to 87,825 – up by 12.6% compared to the decade low 78,015 sales reported in 2018. On an annual basis, 2019 sales were in line with the median annual sales result for the past decade. “We certainly saw a recovery in sales activity in 2019, particularly in the second half of the year. As anticipated, many home buyers who were initially on the sidelines moved back into the market place starting in the spring. Buyer confidence was buoyed by a strong regional economy and declining contract mortgage rates over the course of the year,” said TREB president Michael Collins.

While sales were up in 2019, the number of new listings entered into TREB’s MLS® System was down by 2.4% year-over-year. For the past decade, annual new listings have been largely in a holding pattern between 150,000 and 160,000, despite the upward trend in home prices over the same period. “Over the last ten years, TREB has been drawing attention to the housing supply issue in the GTA. Increasingly, policy makers, research groups of varying scope and other interested parties have acknowledged that the lack of a diverse supply of ownership and rental housing continues to hamper housing affordability in the GTA. Taking 2019 as an example, we experienced a strong sales increase up against a decline in supply. Tighter market conditions translated into accelerating price growth. Expect further acceleration in 2020 if there is no relief on the supply front,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Chief Market Analyst.

Are you looking to dip your toe into the real estate market in 2020 but don’t know what your current house is worth? Or are you a buyer looking to taking the plunge? We would be happy to meet with you to provide a detailed market evaluation or to review the extensive buying services that we provide. Feel free to get in touch, we are always available for your questions!

Christmas Countdown | Days 21 - 24

Thanks for joining in on our holiday countdown again this year. We have all had a busy month and we are 4 days away from our 2019 countdown finishing up. We are easing in to Christmas this week spending time with family and spreading some holiday cheer. Here's what we'll be up to over the next four days.

Thank you for a wonderful 2019. Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones and we'll see you in the New Year. xo