Tips to Help Your Pet When You Move

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Noob

When moving to a new home, your whole family will be under a lot of stress. Your pets, which are part of your family, will undergo stress also. They may not know exactly what the reason, but they will definitely understand that their humans are having a stressful time, even if it is all good stress. They will also likely become confused during this time, since their normal routines are more than likely being disrupted. Being creatures of habit, all your pets will fully understand is that something is changing, and they may find it hard to adjust. Imagine what your pets see from their viewpoint during a move: their owners are bringing in these new boxy looking things and putting all of their possessions in them. All of these aspects will bring on stress to your pets, and they, like humans, may act out, so you will want to try to lessen the amount of stress your pets will experience during all phases of your move.

So how can you help reduce the stress your pets will experience while moving? Here are some tips that will help, according to leading experts in the world of pet care.

Packing and Preparing to Move:

• Try to maintain your pets’ normal schedule. Keeping to their normal routine as much as possible will show them that you are trying to keep things as close to the same as you can. Exercise time, feeding time, even bed time should remain as close as normal as you are able to keep them.
• If possible, leave your pets’ belongings, including food dishes, toys, and bedding, for the end of your packing. This way they can continue to use their own things that they are comfortable with.
• If you have a kitten, keep her litter box in its usual place. Until you confine your kitten to a room for the transition, you will avoid any accidents.
• Leaving a few empty boxes lying around for your pets to play in is a good idea. These are new objects in their environment, so allowing them to get to know them will help take the stress associated with that change.

During the Actual Move:

• Since you will be continually going in and out of the door, moving boxes and furniture, your pet may take the opportunity to run out the door. Because of this, it is a good idea to take your pet out of the house the day before you start to load everything. It will be difficult keeping an eye on your pet while you are trying to pack a truck.

• It may be impossible for you to move your pet the day before you actually move. If this is the case, put your pet in a room, away from the commotion. Ensure that you put their food and water dishes, bedding and toys in the room with them. You may also want to leave a radio in the room with them to help drown out the noises associated with moving.

• Remember that it is still possible for your pet to escape out of the open door. Be sure to put a collar on your pet with your pet’s name, your name, and how to get hold of you (phone number) in the event that your pet does get out. Even if you have your pet embedded with a microchip, you will want to use a collar, since only certain people such as vets have the ability to read the microchips. Everyone, however, can read a collar. Remember to use a breakaway collar on your cat for their own safety.

• When transporting your pet, ensure you do it in a safe way that protects both your family and your pet. Use cat carriers for your cat, placing them on the floor in the back seat. Your dog should be strapped in with a dog seatbelt or he should sit in the back of the car separated from passengers by a grate. This protects your dog and your family from your dog flying forward at sudden stops.

• Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car. Animals over heat faster and easier than humans do. Even when you feel the car is cool, you run the risk of seriously hurting, or even killing your pet if you leave them in a car, even with the windows partially rolled down. Thousands of pets are injured every year from being left unattended in the car.

• Transporting your pet’s possessions (bedding, toys, food and water dishes, even medication) will show your pet that their belongings are going with them. This also makes it easier for you to set up your pet right away where you plan on him staying, making the transition much faster and easier on your pet.

When you get to Your New House:

• Once you get to your new house, before allowing your pet to run in the yard, check it for his safety. Ensure that the fencing is in good condition so that your pet won’t hurt himself on it and can not escape through any gaps. Be sure that any pets in your yard are safe for your pet to eat. If your neighbors have pets too, make sure that your pet can’t get to them or that if they can, that the neighbor’s pets are friendly. Make sure that there is adequate shade available and that there is no trash or safety hazards in the yard. Keep a bowl of water outside for your pet, and when you let your pet in the yard, spend some time just sitting in the yard with him, assuring him that everything is alright for him.

• If you own a cat, you may want to consider keeping her indoors. Studies have shown that cats that are indoor pets live on average 13 years, while outdoor cats live an average of 3 years. A new move is a great way to start changing her habits if she has been an outside cat in the past. Keeping your cat indoors will help prevent catfights over territory disputes and prevent your cat from getting lost or stolen.

• While moving everything into the new house, you may want to set aside a room for your cat to remain in for a couple of days. This is the same as the transition room concept you used for moving out of your old house. Put extra bedding, toys and food in the room with your cat so she still feels completely comfortable. When you are ready to move your cat to the room she will be staying in permanently, leave her extra things in the transition room for a few days. This will give her the change to smoothly make the transition from one room to the other.

Moving with Small Pets

• Smaller pets such as birds, lizards, rabbits are generally easier to move, since they usually have a cage that they routinely stay in. You should also ensure that you transport your pets in their cages so they remain safe. Because your pets are used to being in their cages, they will feel as if nothing out of the ordinary is happening.

• It may be a good idea to cover your pets’ cage with a lightweight cloth to maintain a sense of quiet time for your pets. Just be sure there is enough ventilation for your pets.

• Because you are transporting your small pets in their cages, ensure there is adequate food and water in the cage. Bring your pets’ food, bedding, and any medication in the car with you.

• Always remember that smaller pets overheat even faster than dogs and cats. You should never leave your pets unattended in the car, even if you crack the windows.

If you have any questions or concerns about moving your pet, be sure to ask your veterinarian before beginning the move.

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What Legal Issues Can Cost You Thousands While Buying or Selling a House in Toronto

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Noob

It is very important that you are aware of the legal issues when you buying or selling a Ontario house. Residential real estate is quite a difficult process and it is necessary that even minor issues are give due attention since a major investment is being transferred from one to the other. If not carefully handled, you may found your self in the midst of major problems that become just too impossible to deal with.

This is why it is important that you keep your self as informed as possible while getting involved in any transaction dealing with the transfer of Toronto property. You should consider hiring a reputable and experienced professional that can help take care of your needs. A good Toronto realtor will do whatever is in your best interests and will also refer you to a lawyer specializing in the area of real estate.

Here are three important legal issues that should be paid careful attention to since the wrong wording here could land you into trouble:

The survey clause
When someone wants to buy a property, they can add a survey clause in the contract and it is important that as a seller you understand what it means. If you have added a swimming pool or any other addition to your property, your current survey is probably not up-to-date. If this is the case, the buyer can ask for an updated survey and the seller, that is you, will have to bear the cost for this. This means you will have to spend around a thousand dollars to get this done.

If your realtor is a knowledgeable one, he will do the survey and leave it up to the buyer whether they want to accept it or not. Most experienced agents have the right information about this, however, if they don’t, you can consult a good lawyer about it before signing the contract. Remember, you can save a lot of money here by just taking the right step.

The Home Inspection Clause
This clause is a potential deal breaker. It provides the buyer a legal loophole to back out of a deal since they can take back their offer if the home inspection does not provide them with the right results.

They could use even a small repair issue to back out of the deal causing the seller to lose both a lot of time and money. This is because the seller may have lost other offers due to this one and also because their house has now been labeled as a house with problems. This means that the offers they are going to now receive are going to be lower than the ones they were receiving before this deal fell through. And of course, your house is also back in the market causing you some more inconvenience, money, and time.

So, make sure that the clause clearly states that you, the seller, can fix any problem areas that do come during the inspection. This way both your interests as well as the interests of the buyer are protected. The buyer can rest assured that s/he is investing the money into a structurally sound house and the seller does not have to worry about the buyer changing his/her mind.

It is very important that you work with a lawyer who is experienced enough in real estate and who can help you with this clause in the contract.

The Swimming Pool Clause
Make sure that your contract addresses the swimming pool when you are buying or selling the house. Contracts may be drawn to provide a warranty to the pool so that the deal can be closed. Now, this wording could protect buyers, but for the seller it is necessary that a clause be included stating that the pool is good working condition at the time of the closing.

If you have a pool in your house, it is necessary that you seek legal counsel to make sure that your interests are protected as regards this matter.

So, basically, you should be careful about the legal issues that may be involved while buying or selling a house. Getting the help of an experienced Toronto realtor and getting legal counsel can help ensure that your interests are protected and you don’t end up spending thousands of dollars just because you were not aware of the legal implications of a particular contract.

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How to Save Time and Money While Looking for Your New Ontario Home

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Noob

While you are out there shopping for a new home in Toronto, you will find that there are re-sales as well as new houses available. Both of these have their own advantages and disadvantages. New homes use creative ways to use space and style, they are usually more energy efficient, there are lots of options available, and the look is new and modern. On the other hand, re-sales are less expensive, they are located in already established areas with developed landscaping, and since they are already settled no problems can be expected to come up after purchasing.

So yes, both options have their own advantages. But whether you are thinking of buying a new or an existing house, there are some points that you should always consider. Here are ten tips to help you make the right decision.

* Before you visit your ideal Ontario home, you need to get in touch with your agent so that you can sit down and decide on how much you can afford to spend on your house.

* Finding the amount that you are willing to spend will depend on quite a few factors. If you want to sell your existing house and use the net proceeds, then make sure to consider the amount you will receive once all the selling costs have been dealt with. For first time buyers, qualifying your income will be a major step. You will also need to decide how much can you pay as down payment and how much are you comfortable paying as your monthly installment.

* You need to remember that the agent selling the house to you is the seller’s agent and not yours. They are representing the seller’s needs and not yours. You can hire a Toronto buyer’s agent who will take care of your needs and provide you the right information about the construction of the home, financing, price differences, quality of the house, warranties and various other things so that you can get the best house that your money can buy.

* If you are looking for a builder, you need to understand that different builders have different expertise. Some make good use of space, some offer financing options that are below the usual market level and then there are some who just good designers. So, when you go looking for a builder, make sure that you know what is it you are looking for and who can give you the house that you want.

* You should also make sure to get as much information about your builder as is possible. This will help you make the correct assessment about their financial stability and reputation. You should get all the papers that you need about floor plans, delivery date, and lot availability and so on. Many buyers are not aware but some builders offer newly constructed homes and they are ready to deliver it to you immediately. You can actually move in to these houses within 30 days. There are various reasons for this immediate delivery. These include the fact that the community is nearly complete and the builder has asked the contractors to build homes built on speculation on the last lots, they are selling the model home, the contract on a home fell through, or the homes are meant for buyers who have sold their existing home and are looking for houses immediately. Often, this could be a desirable option since builders offer financing options that are quite attractive. So, if you want to move into a newly constructed home but cannot afford to wait, these immediate delivery options may just be right for you. It is also good for those buyers who want to have a look at the house before they sign the contract.

* Make sure to have a look at the neighborhood and learn as much as you can about the community. You should know about the amenities they are providing and whether there are any financial reserves being set aside to build and then maintain these amenities. Consult land-use officials to find out what else is being constructed in any vacant land that is located close to the construction site. Commuting routes and time taken and the homeowner’s association rules are also something that you should consider.

* One thing that you should keep in mind while buying a Toronto house is that lower the base price, the more options and upgrades you can add to it without the risk of making it too expensive for the neighborhood. Options can include additions of powder rooms and sun rooms and can add to the resale value of the house. Upgrading involves selecting a quality that is above the builder standards. These include upgrades in kitchen fixtures, carpeting or ceramics work. Some builders also offer incentives such as free upgrades, so make sure to make the most of these. You can ask the builder to add landscaping or add a deck for a lower amount of cash even.

* Make sure to negotiate with the builder about the price, the options and the upgrades. So, negotiate the price if the builder has a home that is ready but hasn’t been sold as yet. There may be premium lots that are priced higher and meant to be sold last to make more money for the builder. Now, the thing to remember is that all lots cost the builder the same amount of money, so keep that in mind while negotiating with the builder. If they want to close a sale, these builders may offer discounts or special financing schemes.

* Read the contract carefully and make sure that it protects you. So, make sure that the contract includes things such as placing your deposit in escrow, description of your upgrades, access to the construction site, a 30 day notice of the closing date, and an explanation of the builder and manufacturer’s warranties.

* Be sure to check any special financial packages that the builders are offering. But don’t just confine your self to the builder, check out other options. There may also be variations in other charges such as survey fee, legal fees, or appraisal fees.

* Just because it is new, don’t take it for granted that the house and the materials are stronger and durable. So, just to be careful, hire a good inspector to get a list ready about all the things that you would want to ask before the closing. You may also need to keep a little bit of cash aside for later since you may want to make some modifications. You can also consider hiring a Toronto realtor who can help you get the best price and at the best terms.

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