4 Home Maintenance Tips Worth Doing

When you're a homeowner, your to-do list never gets completely checked off. But in addition to the endless chores, upgrades and repairs, it's important to make a checklist of proactive minor maintenance jobs. They might not feel terribly urgent, but by taking regular care of theses areas of your home, you could save yourself a big headache and a lot of money down the road. Avoid leaks, mould and even fires with these routine maintenance tips and tasks. 

Clean your gutters

Yes, it's time consuming and they are often hard to reach, but cleaning your gutters at least twice a year is important if you want to avoid paying for repairs later. Putting off cleaning the leaves and debris from your gutters can lead to damage to your roof, leaks and mould, and could ruin your ceilings and walls. If you don't want to get up your ladder, pay a professional to do the dirty work for you. 

Clean your dryer vent

We're not just talking about removing the lint after every couple of laundry loads. In addition to cleaning your lint filter, it's also important to routinely clean your dyer vent to avoid a dryer fire. You'll need to shut your dryer off and remove the exterior vent cover to properly clean it, so make sure you watch a video and follow instructions closely or hire a handyman. 

Clean your exhaust hood

The fans in your kitchen and bathroom serve a vital role in ventilating your home by removing smells and moisture, but they're not self-sustaining . Every so often (we'd recommend at least once a year), you'll need to remove them, take them apart and clean them according to the manual's instructions. Your kitchen hood sucks up a lot of cooking grease and it may be gummed up, so allow plenty of time to soak. 

Re-grout your bathroom and kitchen tiles

It might seem like your bathroom tiles turned into a crumbling, mouldy mess overnight - but in actual fact, the wear and tear has been slowly happening over a much longer period of time. Regularly re-grouting any peeling or cracked tiles in your bathroom and kitchen keeps moisture out which can lead to mould and mildew. 

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5 Useful Items That Every Homeowner Should Own

Whether you've purchased a fixer-upper or the move-in ready home of your dreams, you'll likely spend some time and money sprucing up your new sigs. You don't need to break the bank with expensive gadgets and gizmos, but there are a few key items that will be worth their weight in gold. 

1. Ladder - from gutter cleaning to painting, every homeowner needs a ladder (or two). Having a short indoor ladder for changing lightbulbs and minor repairs is essential, but don't forget that home emergencies take place bot inside and out. Purchase a tall ladder to provide access to your attic and gutter. If storage space is an issue, consider investing in an adjustable or collapsible ladder with multiple height settings. 

2. Tools - get a hammer and a high-quality cordless drill along with a large set of drill and driver bits, often purchased separately. Make sure to also get both a stubby screwdriver and an offset ratchet screwdriver to get at those tight and awkward spaces. A bright, adjustable work light will be essential, especially if you are painting a room and have removed all the light fixtures. 

3. Power Washer - keeping the exterior of your home clean and presentable can take up a lot of your precious time. Investing in a power washer provides homeowners with an opportunity to quickly and efficiently clean sidewalks, driveways, decks garage floors and fences. Plus, let's face it - it's weirdly satisfying to watch. 

4. Wet-Dry Vacuum - if you're planning a smaller scale home DIY, like sanding and drilling, your existing vacuum will come in handy. However, a wet-dry vacuum is what you need for bigger objects like nails and other debris that would clog a normal vacuum. Grab some extra filter bags if you're dealing with a dusty job, like cleaning a fireplace. It can also clean up liquid messes of all kinds and some wet-dry vacuums can even be put in reverse to act a s blower. 

5. Snow Shovel - one of the less glamorous parts of Canadian home ownership is shovelling snow. Since the safety of your family (and passersby who use your sidewalk) depend on its removal, it's wise to invest in the right equipment. From plastic over metal to a shovel with a straight vs ergonomic handle, make sure you choose one that isn't too much of a chore to use. 

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GTA REALTORS® Release August 2022 Stats

There were 5,627 home sales reported through the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board9s (TRREB) MLS® System in August 2022, representing a year-over-year dip of 34.2 per cent 3 a lesser annual rate of decline compared to the previous four months. The August sales result also represented a month-over-month increase compared to July.

Sales represented a higher share of new listings compared to the previous three months. If this trend continues, it could indicate some support for selling prices in the months ahead. On a year-over-year basis, the MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) was up by 8.9 per cent and the average selling price for all home types combined was up by 0.9 per cent to $1,079,500. The average selling price was also up slightly month-over-month, while the HPI Composite was lower compared to July. Monthly growth in the average price versus a dip in the HPI Composite suggests a greater share of more expensive home types sold in August.

While higher borrowing costs have impacted home purchase decisions, existing homeowners nearing mortgage renewal are also facing higher costs. There is room for the federal government to provide for greater housing affordability for existing homeowners by removing the stress test when existing mortgages are switched to a new lender, allowing for greater competition in the mortgage market. Further, allowing for longer amortization periods on mortgage renewals would assist current homeowners in an inflationary environment where everyday costs have risen dramatically,= said TRREB President Kevin Crigger.

The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) should weigh in on whether the current stress test remains applicable. Is it reasonable to test home buyers at two percentage points above the current elevated rates, or should a more flexible test be applied that follows the interest rate cycle? In addition, OSFI should consider removing the stress test for existing mortgage holders who want to shop for the best possible rate at renewal rather than forcing them to stay with their existing lender to avoid the stress test. This is especially the case when no additional funds are being requested,= said TRREB CEO John DiMichele.

There are other issues beyond borrowing costs impacting housing affordability in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. The ability to bring on more supply is the longer-term challenge. However, we are moving in the right direction on this front. The strong mayor proposal from the province coupled with the recent commitment from Toronto Mayor John Tory to expand ownership and rental housing options are examples of this. TRREB looks forward to hearing additional initiatives from candidates vying for office in the upcoming municipal elections,= said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer.

TRREB MLS® Sales-to-New Listings Ratio August 2022

TRREB MLS® New Listings August 2022

TRREB MLS® Sales August 2022

TRREB MLS® Average Resale Home Price August 2022