Six Ways to Go Green in Your Toronto Garden

People have been practicing organic gardening for years, but now it's being rediscovered by a new generation of gardeners. By simply changing the way you garden, you will not only save money, but also help save the planet. Here are a few things you can do this summer to maintain your eco-conscious garden: Build your soil with organic matterYour garden plants require a continuous source of nutrition. It's impossible to build up organic matter permanently in the soil because it continually decomposes and disappears, so soil building is an ongoing process. Decaying plant wastes, such as grass clippings, leaves and kitchen food scraps are the building blocks of a good compost. It makes sense to set aside a small corner of your garden to serve as a compost heap. A compost bin acts as backyard fertilizer factory by turning kitchen scraps into eco-friendly food for your garden soil. You save on expensive fertilizers and you help the environment by keeping your garden and kitchen waste where it should be – in your soil. Combat weeds with earth-friendly solutionsKeep weeds at bay and help the environment by laying landscape fabric which works as a durable barrier without the use of chemicals. It also lets air, water and nutrients into the soil and retains moisture, so you can water less often. Mulch is another solution to help discourage weeds. A thick layer of mulch will keep light out, preventing weed seeds from germinating, and will also protect the soil, leaving weed seeds to land on the mulch rather than penetrate the soil. Control pests with plants and wildlife Regularly rotating the location of your vegetables can help prevent disease and pests from lingering in the soil, waiting to attack next season's crops. Space plants evenly to promote circulation and mix some pest-repelling flowers, such as marigolds, among your vegetables. This will make it harder for pests to find their plant of choice, and naturally deter them with their scent and colour. Invite wildlife into your backyard to keep pests away. A birdbath will attract birds that will feast on insects, keeping them from attacking your plants, while a pond can lure toads and lizards into your yard, where they too will feed on pests. Eco-friendly pest-controls are another option, but if you have a vegetable garden, make sure these products are safe to use on edibles. Grow your own veggies Growing your own vegetables is both fun and rewarding. All you really need to get started is some decent soil and a few plants. You should be able to grow enough veggies for a family of four on about 2m² or 3m². Vegetables are marginally more complicated than herbs in that you might actually have to harvest the vegetables every now and again but the thrill and satisfaction of eating produce that you grew yourself is immeasurable. Start easy, with a lemon tree, some cherry tomatoes and maybe a few runner beans, and you’ll be a vegetable gardener in no time. Only water when your plants really need it There really is no reason to set timers to water your plants regularly, rain or shine.  Water your plants only when needed. Water early in the day so you can avoid evaporation and winds. The best place to water plants is directly on thirsty roots. Spot watering the soil around your plants with a watering can or hose can also help conserve water.

How to Deal With Toronto Home Inspection Issues

Home inspection is a critical component of the home buying process. It also is one of the most common conditions made with buying offers. It is not unusual that a home inspection comes out with one or more issues that the inspector identifies on his report. The inspector might find a leak in the roof or a broken window that need replacing. How do you deal with these issues? Should you pass on a property that you otherwise like? First of all, you should be clear on the realities of selling or buying a home. No home is perfect, and an honest inspector is very likely to find some issues with the home. This is normal. Just because the home inspector discovered a deficiency doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t purchase the home. Many issues that arise after a home inspection are not deal breakers. You should, however, bring the issue up with the seller.  Your REALTOR® will do that on your behalf and look after your interests. In many circumstances, your agent will be able to negotiate an agreement that is satisfactory to everyone involved. This will usually be in the form of a reduction in the sale price to cover some or all of the costs of the repair, or a requirement to have the seller get the repairs done before you move in. Otherwise, if major problems are discovered that should be fixed then this is a different story and may be the reason why you decide not to purchase a home. So, what are the deal breakers of a home inspection? That depends entirely on you. What is and is not a deal breaker depends on each person's preferences and needs. For example, an inspection that identifies damaged floor joists might be a deciding factor for one person who feels the problem is too expensive or time-consuming to fix. However, the same trouble with joists might be absolutely acceptable for another client who has resources to fix the issue. A home inspector does not tell a customer whether or not to buy a house. Rather, it's his or her job to provide all the available information so that home buyers (or sellers) can make the right decision for them. How you handle the negotiations that follow can make a big difference on how much you give on your end and the level of stress you experience from the process. You may decide that the repairs are beyond your tolerance for renovations and you may choose walk away from the transaction. While finding unexpected issues with your otherwise “dream home” may be upsetting, the home inspection information will go a long way in helping you make an informed buying decision. Chances are you can still get the home and have any issues dealt with to your satisfaction.

Toronto Real Estate August 2015 - TREB: Unique housing options abound in GTA | Homes | New Homes & Condos | Toront

TREB: Unique housing options abound in GTA | Homes | New Homes & Condos | Toront

TORONTO, August 6, 2015 

-- Toronto Real Estate Board President Mark McLean announced record home sales for the month of July. 

Greater Toronto Area REALTORS® reported 9,880 sales through TREB's MLS® System, representing an eight per cent increase compared to July 2014. 

The number of transactions were up for all major home types, including a double-digit year-over-year increase in condominium apartment sales.

http://torontorealestateboard.com/market_news/release_market_updates/news2015/nr_market_watch_0715.htm