Laura Fernandez Real Estate

16+ Pics Of Fairy Tale Architecture From Norway

2015-07-16T05:12:00.003-07:00

Think Norway, and the first thing that comes to mind are fjords, blonde people and Vikings - not fairy tale architecture.

Below, you’ll find photographs of architecture in the Norwegian countryside that looks like it’s been taken straight from a fairy tale. The architectural styles range from Stave churches, which were built during the Middle Ages, to ghostly natural waterfalls and traditional wooden houses constructed in the Norwegian vernacular style (byggeskikk) during the 19th century.

Let us know which of the pictures you think wouldn’t be out of place in a fairy tale, and as always, feel free to submit your own examples from your own travels in Norway.

Pizza Hut: The Video Projector Pizza Box

2015-06-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Now this is cool. A Video Projector Pizza Box! With a slightly new shape and size, the box transforms from holding your delicious pizza, by removing the middle rester (the thing that stops the pizza hitting the top of the box) which now holds a makeshift projector lense, that plugs into the front of the box, meanwhile you consume all the pizza, and insert your phone (and Pizza Hut gives you acccess to free movies), close the lid and play!

The Blockbuster Box is a killer promotional play from Pizza Hut and Ogilvy Hong Kong.

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Amsterdam's 3D-Printed Steel Bridge To Be 'Drawn' Mid-Air By Robots

2015-06-16T06:31:00.000-07:00

By Nitya Rajan

Amsterdam is getting its own 3D-printed steel bridge that will be partly suspended in mid-air, once again proving that nothing is off limits in the world of 3D-printing.

Behind the bold attempt is MX3D, an R&D startup that aim to 'print' the complicated and 'intricate' structure over one of the city's canals using robots to 'draw' the bridge into being.

The attempt is particularly impressive as the steel spewing bots will print the bridge on location, which is yet to be disclosed.

If all goes to plan, the machines will begin printing on one side of the canal, creating rail supports to slide on and literally draw the mid-section of the bridge into being as it makes its way to the other side.

MX3D say the technology at the forefront of this project uses the ‘Printing Outside the box’ principle, essentially allowing curved shapes to be 'printed' in mid-air.

Collaborators including construction firm Heijmans and software company Autodesk, will use what are known as 6-axis industrial robots that will heat up the metal to 1,500 degrees Celsius and wield it into shape.

Joris Laarman a designer working on the bridge said:

“ This bridge will show how 3D printing finally enters the world of large-scale, functional objects and sustainable materials while allowing unprecedented freedom of form."

If successful, Amsterdam's engineering feat will remove the restrictions of shape and size that currently limit the applications of 3D-printing.

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These renovations add the most value to your home

2015-06-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

By Krystal Yee, Toronto Star

When people consider a home renovation, one of the things they consider is the value the renovation will add to their home.

So, after years of watching interior design shows and more recently, photos and videos on Pinterest, I had wild ideas of how I was going to transform my home.

I did online research and called contractors and it didn’t take long to realize that the changes I had in mind wouldn’t necessarily add the value I had hoped. If I customize my home too much, it wouldn’t appeal to as many buyers when I wanted to sell.

The Appraisal Institute of Canada says renovations to the bathroom and kitchen offer the best value, with a recovery rate of 75 to 100 per cent of the amount spent.

The recovery rate is the likely increase a renovation will have to a home’s resale value. So, a $5,000 renovation that increases a home’s value by $3,500 has a recovery rate of 70 per cent.

The non-profit personal finance web site GetSmarterAboutMoney.ca offers five types of renovations that add value to a home:

Investments in efficient use of energy (60 per cent recovery rate)
New or improved kitchens and bathrooms (75-100 per cent recovery rate)
Low-cost improvements – painting, wallpaper, etc. (50-100 per cent recovery rate)
New windows or doors (50-100 per cent recovery rate)
Basement renovation (50-75 per cent recovery rate)

While this might seem like common sense, after going through the process on my own home, I can see how easy it is to get carried away with home improvement projects, or turn a small renovation into something bigger and much more expensive than originally anticipated.

So instead of focusing on a better walk-in closet, a built-in shelving system for my kitchen and redoing my fireplace, I’ve decided to start small and spend $3,700 replacing the green shag carpet and chipped tiles with high-quality laminate flooring, ripping out a built-in desk, and giving the walls a fresh coat of paint.

My plan is to gradually work on the kitchen and bathroom – replacing tiles, counter tops, and refinishing the cabinets.

My hope is that these small improvements will increase the value of my home, without being a burden on my wallet.

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Which renovations should you pursue before winter comes

2015-06-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Reporter/Byline: Brendan Charters for the Toronto Star

As colder months approach, your family will be spending more time indoors. As a result, you may be planning on upgrading your home to suit your family’s changing needs. But with tight budgets, it’s not always easy to decide between installing heated floors or new countertops.

When weighing your renovation options, you must evaluate the value you place on each project to ensure you’re maximizing your resources.

There are many different types of value, all unique to the desires of the individual. A residential remodel intends to change the way the current home either functions or looks to suit the needs and wishes of its occupants. The challenge is first to determine what your priorities are. While this can seem like a simple wish list, you may often find that you initial desires are not necessarily what is best for you, or our home, and the journey can shift our focus to a new set of “values.”

Here are four value categories to help you assess which renovations are most important to you:

Resale value:

This is the most common issue raised and is always top of mind. The factor driving the weight of this is how long you plan to stay in your home. If it’s five years or less, it requires heavy weighting. If over 10 years, it becomes fairly lightweight as housing trends quickly change. Renovations can date themselves, too, so anything over 10 years will likely call for an update of at least some finishes from a new owner.

Enjoyment value:

How badly are the changes you are planning needed or desired? Do you have a fourth child on the way and living in a two-bedroom house? That addition is pretty critical. Likewise, while the third-floor urban greenhouse may not add millions to the future selling price, if it is part of your retirement dream and will bring years of enjoyment to you, so that value should not be discounted.

Health & comfort value:

With so many new products on the market today, it is worth it to research the health impacts of different products you may consider installing in your home. Whenever possible, stick to natural materials, which are always better in the long run. Every house works as a system, and any changes to the building envelope and the HVAC system will affect the comfort of the home and the long-term health of its occupants. Topics such as radon gas, moisture and air management, R-value and off-gassing need to be discussions, if not research topics for every good renovation.

Social value:

How does the home consume energy, if at all? How does the renovation take environmental impacts into consideration when it comes to waste creation, salvage and new resource management? How does it fit within the surrounding area? These are all important questions to ask.

You may want to consider calling a professional to start to ensure your project is off on the right foot.

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France Declares All New Rooftops Must Be Topped With Plants Or Solar Panels

2015-06-10T08:30:00.000-07:00

Green roofs, as they are called, have an isolating effect which helps to reduce the amount of energy needed to heat a building during the winter or cool it in the summer. They are capable of retaining rainwater and reducing problems with runoff, and also offer birds a place to call home in the urban jungle.

French environmental activists originally wanted to pass a law that would make the green roofs cover the entire surface of all new roofs. However, partially covered roofs make for a great start, and are still a huge step in the right direction.

Some say the law that was passed is actually better, as it gives the business owners a chance to install solar panelsto help provide the buildings with renewable energy, thereby leaving even less of a footprint.

Green roofs are already very popular in Germany and Australia, as well as Canada’s city of Toronto! This by-law was adopted in 2009, by the city of Toronto which mandated green roofs on all new industrial and residential buildings.

Benefits of Green Roofs

There are so many benefits to green roofs. Here are just a few:

Adding natural beauty and major aesthetic improvement to buildings, which in turn increases the investment opportunity.
Helping contribute to landfill diversion by prolonging the life of waterproofing membranes, using recycled materials, and prolonging the service of heating, ventilation, and HVAC systems through decreased use.
Green roofs assist with storm water management because water is stored by the substrate, then taken up by plants, and thus returned to the atmosphere through transpiration and evaporation. They also retain rainwaterand moderate the temperature of the water and act as natural filters for the water that does run off. They delay the time at which runoff occurs, which results in decreased stress on sewer systems during peak periods.
The plants on green roofs do a great job of capturing airborne pollutants and other atmospheric deposition. They can also filter noxious gasses.
They open up new areas for community gardens, commercial and recreational space in busy cities where this space is generally quite limited.

France is definitely on the right track, but it should be a mandate that all new buildings being built in North America, and even worldwide, adopt this amazing idea to reap all of the potential benefits.

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Is it the right time to sell your house? Look at the historical data

2015-06-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

ROBERT CHAMPION

The Globe and Mail

Robert Champion is vice-president of client services for Toronto-based Sprung Investment Management.

A recent Globe and Mail series explored the risks associated with rising household debt in Canada. One risk associated with our addiction to cheap money is its effect on home prices.

Low interest rates have encouraged home buyers to take on larger mortgages. That has led to a dramatic rise in home prices over the past 20 years. The wealth effect caused by rising home prices has also encouraged homeowners to take on additional debt through home-equity lines of credit.

There has been much debate as to whether house prices in Canada, particularly in Toronto and Vancouver, are overvalued – and if so, by how much. Many wonder whether this purported bubble is likely to burst in the near future. The reality is that there is no way to know whether a bubble in house prices, or the prices of any asset class, exists until it actually bursts.

Given that uncertainty, what do we know about house prices? Looking at Toronto house prices from 1970 to 2014, it’s easy to see (from the grey line in the chart) that the long-term trend for house prices has indeed been up.

A second observation we can make is that for extended periods of time, house prices rise significantly above the long-term trend. These periods of above-trend prices are followed by extended periods of below-trend prices.

Why does this happen? Anyone who has a memory of current events will likely recall that during the mid-1970s, the oil crisis wreaked economic havoc, while the selloff at the end of the 1980s was caused by the U.S. Federal Reserve Board ratcheting up interest rates to slay inflation.

But there is a more general reason that the prices of houses and other assets tend rise and fall over time. It’s called reversion to the mean (often mistakenly called “regression” to the mean).

Reversion to the mean says that extreme values are more likely to be followed by less extreme values. Think of it this way: Performance that is well above average usually doesn’t stay there forever; it typically comes back to earth. Performance that is well below average often gets better. If you’re a golfer, you have likely experienced this phenomenon.

How can we use this information to guide decisions about housing?

Most people who are considering buying a house look at the rising prices, and assume that they will continue to rise. They believe that they must buy now before they rise even higher. In reality, periods of rapid house price appreciation are eventually followed by extended periods of declining prices (see the red line in the chart).

Prospective buyers may be better off to rent now and wait for lower prices. The Economist recently reported that Canadian house prices are 89 per cent overvalued compared with rents. That means it is significantly cheaper to rent than own. Potential home buyers should likely consider the option of continuing to rent and save a larger portion of their income.

For many older Canadians, their home is their single largest asset. As we age, many of us sell our homes and use the proceeds to help fund our retirement. Knowing that we will need to sell our homes at some future date, we look at the rising house prices and assume that they will continue to rise. We believe that we will benefit from deferring the decision to sell. That could be a huge mistake: If you choose not to sell your house in the near term and prices decline, a health or financial crisis could force you to sell at a much lower price.

For older homeowners, here is the key takeaway: The historical data show that when house prices decline, it takes 10 years or more for them to recover. Younger homeowners have time on their side; they can afford to wait for prices to recover. Older homeowners may not have that luxury.

Buying and selling a home are the biggest financial decisions most of us are likely to make in our lifetimes. Our behavioural biases mean that we tend to make decisions based on recent data that fit our view of events, rather than incorporating long-term historical data. We base our decisions on the fact that house prices have risen significantly in recent years and ignore that fact that they declined by 30 per cent in the 1990s. It’s different this time, right?

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How To Use Dark Walls in Every Room of the House

2015-06-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Dark, bold colors may seem a bit scary to dive into and dress your home in. But we’re here to show you how to use those deeper tones on any wall of the house in any room of the house without becoming too overwhelmed or harsh on the eyes. From plum to navy blue, there are so many gorgeous and vibrant shades that you can use to adorn and accent all kinds of spaces throughout your special place. Let’s have a look at how to use dark walls and grab some ideas on how to style them too!

1. Black in the Living Room.

This black accent wall works beautifully in this living room for two major reasons: it’s a larger space and there are large windows giving off a lot of natural lighting throughout the daytime. Without those two benefits the room would look a bit smaller, which is something we never want to do. It also adds to the unique mix and eclecticism.

2. Chocolate in the Bedroom.

This silky, chocolate accent wall highlights the bed and creates a gorgeous focus to the room. The rest of the space is quite open and set in a creamy, white tone keeping the openness and illusion of extra space popping. Again, this room has a gorgeous amount of natural light as well to brighten and lighten.

3. Royal Blue in the Bathroom.

We are in love with this deep blue surrounding this quiant, cottage-like bathroom. It contrasts and works well with the crisp, white and creates a very energetic and refreshing overall style. The two colors balance each other well making the blue becoming a compliment instead of an overwhelming choice.

4. Teal in the Office.

This interesting and rich shade of teal is a beautiful and unique choice for your home office. It’s powerful but also very fashion-forward and fun. Add a girlish touch by complimenting the walls with creams and corals too. Because of the lighting choices and dainty furniture pieces, the teal doesn’t overpower and nook or cranny.

5. Charcoal in the Dining Room.

A gorgeous shade of charcoal is perfect for a chic, modern and poshly-styled dining room. And we especially love the plate art piece that pops even more because of the rich color set behind it. Charcoal is right on trend for fashion and interior design, so if you’re inspired by this selection be brave and dress your home in it!{found on janelockhart}.

6. Red in the Craft Room.

Richer reds can be quite scary and intimidating, but look how gorgeous this craft room is with such a deepened shade. It adds a surprising and personal touch to a very personal space. It gushes with passion and a fiery spirit, which is quite fitting for a place where you can create and explore.

7. Plum in the Bedroom.

A beautiful and womanly shade of plum in the bedroom makes a sophisticated finish with ease and gracefulness. The arched window provides enough light to soften the blow of such a strong accent wall, but even without it the high ceilings give the depth needed to hold such a color.

8. Emerald in the Living Room.

Rich emeralds aren’t the most popular when it comes to wall colors but it sure can provide a refreshing and organic feel to any part of your home, especially in the family room. All green breathes life, even the darker tones, and this works well in this space because of the non-bulky decor and placement.

9. Cranberry in the Foyer.

Cranberry tones are more traditional and cozy choices. They’re especially nice in the foyer area, although this isn’t a big space you need a warmth about the space to welcome in your family, friends or any other guest coming through the front door. Accent with creams and golds for an even more spirited finish.{found on mtarx}.

10. Navy in the Kitchen.

Again, the dark tone is highlighting by crisp and creamy white shades. It’s a classic interior design value and we love how modern and sleek it looks, especially in this spacious kitchen. This particular shade of navy blue also helps to compliment the marble counter tops with its gray detailing.{found on emiinteriordesign}.
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10 Real Fairy Tale Cottages that Bring an Unique Twist to Our World

2015-06-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

C. Luciano

I’ve only seen houses like these in fantasy movies and it’s actually cottages similar to the ones below that my mind builds when reading fairy tales and even more fantasy novels. It’s houses like these that make our world a more beautiful place and I am happy to be able to share this eye candy with you. Hopefully you will be happy too! So let’s not waste a second and let’s check out below 10 of the most amazing cottages that you’ll see in your lifetime – it’s all stuff of fairy tales, it’s all amazing.

1. Cottage in Canada

2. A real hobbit house in New Zealand

3. Seashell House in Mexico

4. Boulder house in Portugal

5. Cottage in Netherlands

6. Earth House in Iceland

7. Hobbit Cottage in Wales

8. Tree House in Canada

9. The Whimsical House in the US

10. Fairy Tale Castle in France

I hope I’m not the only one who would really love to live in a place like these.

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Often Missed Home Buying Conciderations

2015-06-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

21 Ways to Achieve the Rustic Look in Any Part of Your Home…

2015-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Brodie Norris

Fire up the oil lantern and take a look at these ideas to infuse a bit of rustic charm into your 21st Century lives. Get a rustic look in any part of your home…

1. Reclaimed Wood and Rebar Balastrade

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The combination of rebar (usually seen giving concrete tensile strength) and reclaimed timber hits the rustic look on the head, really.

2. A Rustic Wood-Rich Reading Nook

A reading nook feels very rustic. Combine that with lots of distressed timber and you have a winning combination.

3. Reclaimed Timber Dining Table

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Actually reclaimed timber pretty much anywhere will infuse a rustic vibe. It works really well here when balanced buy the glamourous channeler. Too much of a good thing is never wise!

4. A Rustic Hodge Podge of Brick, Concrete and Stone Walls

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Most of us won't have the luxury of a centuries old wall that is cobbled together out of a variety of material. But if you do, you've got the perfect bones for an authentically rustic space.

5. Rustic Timber and Rusted Corrugated Iron Cinema Room

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Even a cinema room can be rustified with the help of some timber and rusted corrugated iron on the walls. Enjoy your 21st Century technology in a 19th Century atomsphere.

6. Rustic Exposed Beams, Stone and Wicker Outdoor Area

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This is a very spanish rustic look, what with the exposed beams, all that stone and the wicker.

7. Rustic Timber Bench-tops and Mason Jar Light Fittings

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Combine the raw rustic look of distressed timber with the humble make-do attitude of the Mason Jar light fittings and you have the rustic look home and hosed.

8. Rustic Stone Oven Wall

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Failing a real stone fire for cooking, just tile stone around your shiny stainless steel appliances for that rustic look.

9. Lots of Rustic Dark Timber

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You can never have too much of the brown stuff.

10. A Rustic Reclaimed Timber Framed Mirror

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Even in a shabby chic style room this is bound to impress.

11. Rustic Oil Lantern Light Pieces

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Bonus points for combining with John Deere memorabilia.

12. A Rustic Farmhouse Style Sink and Open Shelving

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Go for the farmhouse look in the kitchen with open shelving and a deep farmhouse style sink. This will make the whole space feel very homely and rustic.

13. A Rustic Timber Bunk Alcove

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Just because.

14. A Barn Door (Obviously)

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You thought we'd missed it, didn't you? A barn door will instantly rustic up your place. If that's what you're into…

15. Distressed Timber Stairs

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Even in an otherwise modern home, some distressed timber stairs brings a rustic, lived-in look.

16. Stone and a Rustic Hunk of Timber

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There's no boring space that an enormous hunk of timber can't fix. Especially if it has a carved in towel rail.

17. Rustic Window Shutters

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No ~~barn~~ rustic home is complete without some quaint timber window shutters.

18. A Galvanized Trough Bathtub

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No explanation needed here. Just do it.

19. A Vanity Basin on a Dedicated Railway Line

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Metro could learn a lot from this.

20. A Hanging Device Using Railway Nails

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Because nothing says rustic like rusty railway nails. And hanging devices.

21. A Windmill

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Obviously…

Finally, a Word of Warning: The Rustic Look is Easy to Overdo. Be Gentle…

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Buy First or Sell First

2015-06-01T08:02:00.000-07:00

VINTAGE SUITCASE DRAWERS | BY JAMES PLUMB

2015-05-30T08:30:00.000-07:00

English designer James Plumb created these suitcase drawers, they are assemblages of unique pieces. Old suitcases are housed in antique steel and tailor-made wood chests, to form a series of unique chests of drawers. Every suitcase is refurbished inside with a lot of attention detail. Each drawer is unique, different sizes and combinations can be ordered.

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Reed Residence by Robert Hawkins Architects

2015-05-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Reed Residence is located two miles from downtown Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA and was designed by Robert Hawkins Architects.

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Shylights: Beautiful Unfolding Kinetic Lights That Bloom like Flowers

2015-05-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

by Christopher Jobson

Several types of flowers are known to open and close for reasons of defense or energy conservation. This evolutionary mechanism, called nyctinasty, inspired Studio DRIFT to design the Shylight, a kinetic light fixture that opens dramatically during a 30 foot (9 meter) fall. The motion mimics the same action of a blooming flower or the billowing of a parachute. A collection of Shylights were just permanently installed at Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and you can see them in action in the video above. (via Prosthetic Knowledge)

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Solo House by Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects

2015-05-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

By Kiri Spirou

photo © Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma.

Back in 2010, French developer and architecture visionary Christian Bourdais launched the Solo Houses Projectwhereby he gave carte blanche to 12 leading contemporary architects to create holiday house designs that would ‘‘act as a witness of our time by incorporating the desires and expectations of the 21st century family’’. The very first ofBourdais’ 12 ‘Solo Houses’ designed by Pezo von Ellrichshausen Architects has already been built on a verdant 40-hectare property in Matarraña, a region south of Barcelona, Spain, thus marking the beginning of this rather ambitious project.

photo © Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma.

photo © Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma.

Completed in 2012, the Solo Pezo holiday house is set atop a hill overlooking a landscape of olive groves, vineyards and rounded rocky peaks. More of a sculptural tribute to M. C. Escher than a house, the building consists of a rectangular volume that sits atop a much narrower pedestal-like base. After entering through a bifurcated staircase into a dark corridor, you arrive at the main part of the house by climbing a spiral staircase. Designed to offer a 360-degree panorama, the house’s living areas are basically a continuous portico that has no exterior walls, but instead is lined with columns; almost invisible sliding glass walls and doors can be closed or opened, depending on the weather and the tenants’ wish for privacy. At the very centre of the whole structure is a square pool, itself nestled inside a ‘‘room without a ceiling’’ as the architects say, that interconnects the other rooms of the house. The overall effect is one of geometry made manifest - a play of light, volume and movement.

photo © Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma.

About the architects
PEZO VON ELLRICHSHAUSEN is an art and architecture studio established in Concepcion, southern Chile, in 2002 by Mauricio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshausen. Pezo and von Ellrichshausen have been the curators of the Chilean Pavilion at the 2008 Venice Biennale. They teach regularly in Chile and have been Visiting Professors at The University of Texas (Austin, 2011-2014) and at Cornell University (New York, 2009). Their work has been distinguished with the MCHAP Emerge Prize by the IIT (Chicago, 2014), the Rice Design Alliance Prize (Houston, 2012), the V Iberoamerican Architecture Biennial Award (Montevideo, 2006) and the XV Chilean Architecture Biennial Award (Santiago, 2006). The work of the studio has been edited in monographic issues of A+U (Tokyo, 2013), 2G (Barcelona, 2012) and ARQ (Santiago, 2007) and exhibited at the International Architecture Exhibition at La Biennale di Venezia (Venice, 2010), at the Royal Academy of Arts (London, 2014) and as part of the Permanent Collection at the MoMA (New York, 2014).

photo © Cristobal Palma / Estudio Palma.

sources:

Pezo von Ellrichshausen, Solo Houses,

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5 Things to remember in GTA bidding wars

2015-05-22T08:52:00.003-07:00

by
Mark Weisleder

It is becoming harder to avoid a bidding war in today’s real estate market. For buyers, be prepared
and for sellers, try and ensure that the bidding war process is done in good faith. Here are 5 lessons to
remember, whether you are buying or selling, to increase your chances of success:

1. What should I do when the seller is “holding back” offers for 3 days?
Answer: Sellers should consider making a pre-inspection report available to buyers. This will likely
result in an increase in “clean” offers, without conditions. However, buyers should still consider their
own pre-bid home inspection. This way you can protect against finding unwanted surprises after
closing.

2. Is it ok to present a bully or pre-emptive offer?
Answer: There is no harm in offering to bring a bully offer. The seller does not have to consider it. In
addition, the seller can ask how much it is for before agreeing to consider it. The buyer does not have
to give this information if they don’t want to. Even if the seller does not wish to consider, you will be
sure to be contacted if the seller changes their mind before the bid date arrives. You basically have
little to lose by doing this.

3. What happens if the bank thinks I paid too much?
Answer: This is happening more than you think. Do not get carried away in any bidding war. If your
lender thinks you paid too much, they will likely reduce the amount of your loan. However, you will
likely not be able to cancel your purchase if you have already waived all conditions or presented an
offer without conditions, based on any mortgage pre-approval. In order to protect against this, either
make the deal conditional on financing or always have at least 5-10% of an extra down payment in
reserve, just in case your lender thinks you paid too much.

4. Is there an advantage to buyers who go directly to the listing salesperson, asking the listing
salesperson to represent them as well?
Answer: Although many buyers believe this to be true, it usually does not work out that way. Most
listing agents will want to ensure that the bidding war process is conducted fairly, to encourage more
buyers to bid. As such, some will have another agent in the office represent the buyer or use the
office manager to present all offers to the seller. Others will ensure that all bids are sealed before the
presentation to the seller, to make sure that no buyer is permitted to see the contents of any offer
before the seller. Remember, when the process is fair, you get more bids. More bids also means more
money for sellers.

5. What if you are suspicious that the listing salesperson does not have another offer?
Answer: use the following bidding war clause: “This offer is being submitted on the basis that it is part
of multiple offers. If the seller receives no other offer by 10 pm, the seller or the seller salesperson
will notify the buyer or the buyer salesperson and the buyer will have 1 hour to revoke or revise their
offer. If the seller accepts the buyer offer, the seller will provide, within 24 hours, the name, address
and phone number of the salesperson and brokerage company that submitted the competing offer.”
In this way you can verify before you pay any deposit that the seller really had another offer. RECO is
introducing a new process starting July 1, 2015 whereby every listing brokerage will need to keep a
copy of every offer received on any property for a period of one year, whether or not it is accepted, to
try and avoid the same result.
By understanding how to properly prepare for bidding wars, your chances of success will increase,
whether you are a buyer or a seller.

Mark Weisleder
321 Cityview Blvd, Unit 3,
Vaughan, Ontario,
L4H 3S7
(416) 702-2499
Toll Free Tel: 1-888-876-5529
mark@realestatelawyers.ca
http://www.markweisleder.com

Nature Furniture By Alcarol

2015-05-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Article collected from DesignFaves. Visit source.

When I first saw this naturalist collection, I immediately thought of Jurassic Park and those tiny mosquitoes trapped in the resin. A saved history of this world that would never fall to time. In some ways that’s what the design pair, dubbed Alcarol, have done. The company they started makes simplistic furniture, finding the beauty in natures imperfections and trapping them inside resin.
Read more directly from the source.

ARCHITECTURE BY ANNA NOGUERA

2015-05-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

Wonderful restoration (of a building from the Sixteenth Century) by Anna Noguera, an Architect from Spain.

Anna Noguera

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A Fully Transparent Solar Cell: This Could Make All Windows & Screens A Power Source

2015-05-18T08:30:00.000-07:00

by Alanna Ketler

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Another incredible technology has been invented by researchers at Michigan State University: a fully transparent solar concentrator which has the capability of turning any window or sheet of glass into a photovoltaic solar cell. Just think about the possibilities! You could keep your phone charged whenever you are outdoors or in the sun, power gadgets inside your home, and power functions on your car such as air conditioning.

According to lead researcher Richard Lunt, the team is confident that these transparent solar connectors can be efficiently used in numerous settings from “tall buildings with lots of windows or any kind of mobile device that demands high aesthetic quality like a phone or e-reader.”

Doesn’t This Already Exist?

Some of the other solar cell technologies that have come out claiming to be transparent, simply put, aren’t. Many have been trying to create such a thing, but it is a tough technology to develop because when you think about turning light into energy, and then you think about how light simply passes through glass, how is it even really possible? Other transparent wannabes are also known to cast a colorful shadow when the light does shine through.

Lunt stated an obvious observation about this: “No one wants to sit behind colored glass, it makes for a very colorful environment, like working in a disco. We take an approach where we actually make the luminescent active layer itself transparent.”

What Makes This Device Different?

The beauty of this device is that the solar concentrator that is harvesting the light for power can be layered on top of a clear piece of glass without completely weakening the sunlight’s ability to pass through it. The perimeter of the cell contains small photovoltaic strips, which means it is basically a miniaturized version of a solar panel. These react with infrared light, which is invisible to the naked eye and produces solar electricity.

Unfortunately at this time theses panels are only offering an efficiency of 1%, but researchers are confident that they can reach at least 5% in the near future. Sure, these aren’t huge figures overall, but multiply that by every window in a house, or car, and you can begin to see that this could be very beneficial, particularly for skyscrapers and office buildings where virtually every wall is just windows.

The Possibilities Are Endless

Just imagine being able to have these solar concentrators wherever you like without having to have those big, intrusive solar panels sticking out like a sore thumb. This makes energy from sunlight a lot more appealing to business and homeowners alike. Not too mention the fact that energy from the sun itself is virtually free! All you need is the solar connector and you are good to go.

The future of technology is exciting.

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Hovering Wooden Bar by Atelier JMCA

2015-05-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Article collected from Featured Posts - My Modern Met. Visit source.

As a space-saving solution for a cramped Parisian restaurant, French design firm Atelier JMCA came up with this intriguing, prism-shaped bar. The cantilever design — supported on only one side — makes the bar look like it’s hovering in midair.

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Incredible Glass Sculptures by Shayna Leib Inspired by Sea and Wind

2015-05-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

by John Oliver

Madison-based artist Shayna Leib creates extra-ordinary glass sculptures inspired by the sea…

“Growing up on the Central Coast of California connected me to the sea, which has been the greatest influence on my work,” writes Leib, who also became a diver and underwater photographer a few years ago.

“The ocean has always been a source of inspiration and mystery to me, and it is a lifelong goal of mine to dive all of the earth’s seas.“

Via 123inspiration.com

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21 Beautiful Indoor/Outdoor Spaces

2015-05-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

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It's that time of year when it's suddenly, delightfully, bearable to be outside. And then you want to be outside all the time, even when you're inside. Which, of course, is an impossible dream, unless you live in one of these amazing indoor/outdoor spaces, where the usual boundary between inside and outside blurs in the best possible way.

Above: A dining room that lets the outdoors in, from The Veda House.

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This Australian home by Breezway has louvered windows that can be opened to unite inside and outside.

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The disappearing wall in this home from New Zealand Design Blog opens to reveal a gorgeous view.

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Sliding walls make this home's deck an extension of the living room. From Erin Michael.

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In this New Zealand home, a folding wall opens the kitchen up to an internal courtyard. House and Leisure

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From Wonder, a dining room that lets the outside in.

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A folding wall creates a gorgeous indoor/outdoor space in a home from Dwell.

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A wall of windows opens a home up to the adjoining patio in a space from Milk Decoration.

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The Thai home of artist Rirkrit Tiravanija, spotted on Somewhere I Would Like to Live.

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This London home from The Property Files has a sliding door that can be retracted in good weather.

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A Moroccan home from Studio Ko, via The Style Files.

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A garage door opens this living room from Marie Claire Maison up to the pool beyond.

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A bright and beautiful living room by Robson Rak Architects, via Blissful Blog.

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A house spotted on SF Girl by Bay opens itself up to the outdoors.

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Pivoting and folding doors mean that the walls of this home, from Architecture Today, can disappear in an instant.

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A dreamy Australian home from One Kind Design.

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Why have an outdoor kitchen when you can turn your indoor kitchen into an outdoor kitchen? From New Zealand Design Blog.

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This door serves to connect the whole house with the outdoors, and is gorgeous to boot. From Est Magazine, via My Style Republic.

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A sunny space from Homelife.

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Balcony and living room become one in this space from Arch Daily.

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Swinging doors connect a Brazilian home from Desire to Inspire with the jungle.

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A New Zealand studio, spotted on Design Boom, embraces the outside.

(Image credits: The Veda House; Breezway; New Zealand Design Blog; Erin Michael;House and Leisure; Wonder; Dwell; Milk Decoration; Somewhere I Would Like to Live;The Property Files; Studio Ko; Marie Claire Maison; Robson Rak Architects; SF Girl by Bay; Architecture Today; One Kind Design; New Zealand Design Blog; Est Magazine;Homelife; Arch Daily; Desire to Inspire; D

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Wise Words From Lawyer Mark Weisleder

2015-04-08T11:18:00.003-07:00

5 Things to know about square footage

I have received calls from buyers and real estate agents complaining about finding out that their home or condominium had less square footage than was represented on their original MLS® listing.

My immediate thought was "did the home shrink after closing?" In other words, if the square footage was really important to you, why didn't you measure it yourself before you bought the home?

Here are 5 lessons to remember about square footage:

1.    When you buy from builder plans, nothing is guaranteed

Some builders attach plans with square footage to their agreements, other don't. Even if the plan is attached, The Tarion Warranty Programme permits registered builders to make errors up to 2% and unfortunately, there are no penalties if the error exceeds 2%. While buyers can request a price adjustment if the error exceeds 2%, in my experience, most builders will not agree with this. In addition, there is confusion as to whether the measurements are just for interior living space or whether it goes to the exterior walls, and it may not account for pillars or other obstructions inside the unit.
So even if you are relying on builder plans when figuring out the square footage, there may be errors in them.

2.    Buyers may be able to sue if the difference is substantial

The case law has gone both ways as to whether a buyer can successfully sue if they find that the seller misrepresented the square footage and the difference was substantial, say over 10%. In some cases the listing brokerage was held responsible for not properly verifying the information. But it is not guaranteed.

3.    Will disclaimer clauses protect sellers and real estate salespeople

A disclaimer clause will likely protect a seller from liability, unless they knew the information was false and gave it out anyways. However, a real estate salesperson is required to do their due diligence. That does not mean that you can just copy the square footage from an expired listing. If you do not do any due diligence, you may still have violated the Real Estate Council of Ontario Code of Ethics, even with a disclaimer clause.

4.    If you are acting for the buyer, ask how the seller came up with the square footage

While buyer salesperson can normally rely on a listing salesperson to conduct due diligence, it is a good idea to always ask where the number for the square footage came from. Was it on plans, through MPAC or just from a prior MLS® listing when they bought in the first place? In addition, if you see a disclaimer clause, explain this to the buyer and consider having the property measured by the buyer themselves for verification.

5.    If you are not sure, just measure it yourself

It is easy to be fooled when it comes to square footage. Professional home stagers are experts at making rooms appear larger than they are by the furniture that is used. If you are acting for a seller, discuss with the seller the advantages of hiring a professional to verify the square footage before putting the home on the market. If you are acting for a buyer, ask them if the square footage is important to them, and if necessary, take the time to do some of the measurements with the buyer to make sure the area is close to what is being represented.

By asking the right questions both before listing and during the offer negotiations, there should be no complaints or claims about square footage after closing.

If you have any stories to share about the GTA housing market or just need some advice, please contact me at mark@realestatelawyers.ca

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How to Live Large In A 46 Sqm Apartment by JPDA

2015-01-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

East Village Studio is a private residence designed by Jordan Parnass Digital Architecture.

It is located in New York, USA, and covers an area of 500 square feet.

How to Live Large In A 46 Sqm Apartment in New York Living and working in under 500 square feet, the client had been pushing the limits of what his apartment, in its current configuration, would accommodate. He’d purchased the studio back in 1999, before the boom of the last decade, and wasn’t anxious to move. But between his office needs and his many toys and quirky art pieces, the apartment was jam-packed and nothing had a place. After walking the space with the client, observing and listening, JPDA established some clear design objectives for the remodel. The first was to get rid of the clutter. This meant storage – and lots of it. The second was to define and organize the functional spaces for cooking, cleaning, dressing and sleeping – lending some visual clarity to the environment. The third was to make it more “grown-up.” A restrained minimal palette would help make the small home an inviting retreat from the city below. The solution was ultimately about exploiting every opportunity for storage, and then combining those spaces and the kitchen, bathroom, and sleeping loft into an intricately sculpted wood-paneled central service core. The space outside of the core area would remain as flexible as possible, and all surfaces and cabinetry would be finished in a high-gloss white to emphasize their adaptability. Millwork was installed over the entire east wall and concealed with no visible hardware. A walk-in closet was created by meticulous detailing of the sleeping loft to create the necessary clearance for Michael’s 6’-2” head-height. The end result is a highly efficient, flexible living space that reorganizes the modest floor plan to accommodate the space demands of both the client’s professional work and personal lifestyle. The finished apartment feels airy, open and personal. Photos courtesy of East Village Studio

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