Home Trends from Ed Wang & Christopher Wannamaker

Connect Realty, Brokerage

Edward Wang

Christopher Wannamaker

Direct: 416.807.1977 edward@wgrouprealestate.ca

Direct: 647.285.6964 christopher@wgrouprealestate.ca

Office: 416.588.8248 | www.wgrouprealestate.ca

THE W GROUP REAL ESTATE

Royal LePage Connect Realty

HARVESTING THE GARDEN GOODS

Harvest regularly as once a crop is mature it will be a matter of days before everything is ripe needs to be picked. If you remove the mature vegetables from the stems, the plant will then have the ability to produce the smaller vegetables. Pick vegetables and fruit in the early morning as opposed to during the heat of the day as they’ll be sweet and juicy. Use scissors, a knife or pruners to remove vegetables like beans, cucumbers, tomatoes etc. Tearing them from the vine can damage the plant and make it susceptible to disease.

Whether you have a garden in your back yard or a planter or two on your balcony, the time will come to harvest your crop and enjoy the fruits of your hard work. Did you know there’s more to harvesting your crop than just picking the fruits or vegetables from the vine? Experts suggest the following to make the most of your harvest: Do your research on when to harvest your particular crop. Some vegetables are ready to pick before they mature on the vine like peas, summer squash and turnips. Yet others, like tomatoes and melons need to mature on the vine in order to be at their peak flavours. Your seed packets will be a wealth of information.

Office: 416.588.8248 | www.wgrouprealestate.ca

THE W GROUP REAL ESTATE

Royal LePage Connect Realty

KITCHEN RENOVATION: WORKSTATION SINK

A hot new trend in kitchens over the past few years, that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, is the installation of workstation sinks. Popular in commercial kitchens, these sinks making their way into households across the country are like a multi-tool that allow you to prepare food for your meals and clean up in the same space. They often have built in accessories such as strainers, cutting boards and dish drying racks so everything is easily accessible and quickly and conveniently stored away. They are wonderful if you have limited counter and cupboard space but are also welcome in larger kitchens where function is a necessity. Because of their growing popularity, you should be able to purchase a workstation

sink that will match the size and style of your current sink. Drop in, undermount and farmhouse/apron front designs are all options available as are single and double bowls. The cost for workstation sinks tends to be higher than a typical kitchen sink because of all of the accessories included. However, many homeowners find the extra cost worth it as the functionality and efficiency the sink offers outweighs the price tag. Installation can be done by the average homeowner with an instruction manual and internet connection, but many suggest leaving the task to professionals as these sinks can be a little complicated to install depending on what style, shape and size you have.

Office: 416.588.8248 | www.wgrouprealestate.ca

THE W GROUP REAL ESTATE

Royal LePage Connect Realty

UPGRADE YOUR SHOWERHEAD

One place in your home that often gets overlooked when making upgrades is the shower; more specifically the shower head. Builder grade shower heads that have one setting (harsh) and don’t pivot can easily be replaced to create a tranquil yet functional shower option. From rainfall, to fixed and hand held there are a plethora of shower head options available on the market and can be relatively affordable and easy to install, even for the DIY novice. Take a trip to your local home improvement store or head to your favourite online retailer to find the perfect showerhead for you. A simple place to start if you’re in the market for a showerhead upgrade is one that is fixed, yet allows you to choose the pressure and type of spray. You’ll be amazed at what a massaging stream of water can do for sore muscles or

how a gentle spray can help you cool off after a hot day spent outside. Combination or handheld showerheads are great for those with pets that need bathing, families with children or persons with mobility issues as the detachable showerhead can be easily removed, used and replaced. The fixed portion of a combination showerhead can often be turned off temporarily while using the detachable portion. Shower systems use a combination of showerheads along a mounted tower for a full body experience and are likely the highest end showerhead you can purchase and install yourself. Some come with LED lights installed to create ambiance in your shower while others have shelves built in to hold shampoo and body wash.

Office: 416.588.8248 | www.wgrouprealestate.ca

THE W GROUP REAL ESTATE

Royal LePage Connect Realty

MOULD FREE LIVING

Keeping your home free from health harming mould can be as easy as knowing where to look for it, what to do if you find some and how to prevent it from growing in the first place. You can potentially find mould in places that are wet (or can get wet), warm, dark and have poor air circulation. Tour your home and access the areas where mould can form For example, look for water damage in the walls, mould growth under the sinks, under your kitchen appliances, in your chimney, in potted plants, in your front-loading washing machine, window sills and anywhere else that meets the prime mould growing criteria. Depending on what surface you happen to spot (or smell) mould on, you can most likely remove it yourself. If it's on fabric, a mattress or other materials that easily absorb moisture, you will likely need to toss the item. However,

if the mould is found on a non-porous surface like plastic, glass, tile, etc. you should be able to clean it. Using gloves, a mask and other protective equipment, thoroughly scrub the area with soap and water. The area will need to dry completely as well. A professional may need to be brought in if the mould is recurring, larger than three square meters or where access to clean it is not available. Prevention often includes thoroughly cleaning the damp, dark spaces of your home, keeping the humidity low by using bathroom and stove exhaust fans, using a dehumidifier, soaking up spills quickly and entirely and letting damp areas dry out and have plenty of ventilation. If you’re concerned about mould, the Government of Canada has a wealth of resources available online at https://www. canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/

Office: 416.588.8248 | www.wgrouprealestate.ca

THE W GROUP REAL ESTATE

Royal LePage Connect Realty

GTA REALTORS® Release July Stats

AVG. SALE PRICE Single Family Dwelling $1,427,257

AVG. SALE PRICE Condo/Townhouse $873,859

ACTIVE LISTINGS 15,371

DAYS ON MARKET 17

GTA REALTORS® August 2023 – Greater Toronto Area (GTA) home sales, new listings and home prices were up in July 2023 in comparison to July 2022. “Home sales continued to be above last year’s levels in July, which suggests that many households have adjusted to higher borrowing costs. With that being said, it does appear that the sales momentum that we experienced earlier in the spring has stalled somewhat since the Bank of Canada restarted its rate tightening cycle in June. Compounding the impact of higher rates has been the persistent lack of listings for people to purchase compared to previous years,” said Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) President Paul Baron. GTA REALTORS® reported 5,250 sales through TRREB’s MLS® System in July 2023, representing a 7.8 per cent increase year-over-year. Over the same period, new listings were also up, but by a greater annual rate of 11.5 per cent. The average selling price was also up by 4.2 per cent to $1,118,374 over the same timeframe. “Uncertainty surrounding the direction of borrowing costs, jobs and the overall economy has impacted home sales over the last two months. Over the long term, the demand for ownership housing will remain strong on the back of record population growth. However, many homebuyers will continue to be on the sidelines in the short term until the direction of monetary policy and the economy becomes clearer,” said TRREB Chief Market Analyst Jason Mercer. Source: Toronto Regional Real Estate Board | Market values stated are of the average of Toronto and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

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Office: 416.588.8248 | www.wgrouprealestate.ca