I hope this checklist will be of assistance:

Purchaser Checklist
Now That You Have An Accepted Purchase Agreement :
Hire your lawyer and give him copy of your Agreement of Purchase and Sale
Advise your lawyer of your lender’s name and contact information
Contact Hydro to set up an account so you have service on the date of closing
Contact your Fuel source (oil and/or gas, as applicable) and set up an account so you have service on the date of closing
Contact Bell Canada to set up an account so you have service as soon as possible
Contact your Cable and Internet service provider
Contact Lawyer
Get Lawyers: Telephone, Fax and Email Information
Give Lawyer your telephone, fax and email information
Discuss with lawyer:
a. How you want to hold title to the property
b. Any mortgage financing you have arranged
c. What date the lawyer needs you to sign the purchase and/or mortgage documents
d. When the lawyer needs your funds to close the purchase and how the funds are to be provided to the lawyer
e. When the lawyer anticipates that the closing time will take place, and when you should anticipate receiving a key to start the move [co-ordinate with your movers]
f. Confirm that your lawyer will arrange on your behalf to have utility meters read, oil tank, if applicable filled, and that they will send notices to the tax and assessment authorities when the purchase transaction has closed

Arrange for Home Insurance in Advance of Closing
Give your insurance company name of your lawyer. Your lawyer will need an insurance binder letter to show coverage and interest of your first mortgagee. [Your lawyer and insurance company are familiar with this process]
You should also instruct your lawyer to send notices of the completed purchase to each of tax department, water, hydro, gas companies, cable
Go to Canada Post and get cards that you can have mail redirected to your new home
Let your Bank know of your new mailing address so statements, etc. can be directed to your new address
Don’t forget to change your driver’s license to show your new address
Arrange for bell, internet, newspapers, subscriptions, and arrange to redirect any services to your new address

Before you move
Order packing boxes, labels
Mark and number each box and write what room the box is to go to
Make a separate list of the contents of each numbered box in a notebook
Arrange for movers for the date of closing. [Check to see if your moving company is insured]

Speak to your lawyer about when you can get physical access to the house and get a key
Make an appointment to attend at the lawyer’s office with your spouse to sign all purchase documents

Discuss with your lawyer how the key is to be delivered and/or picked up by you
Leave your lawyer with a phone number where you can be reached on the date of closing should he/she wish to contact you

If you are moving from an existing home don’t forget to take care of detaills for your previous location – Make arrangements to cut off your Bell Telephone, Internet, Cable service as of the date of closing and give them an address where the final bills are to be sent after closing
Attend at Canada Post prior to closing and provide them with the address where mail is to be directed after closing
Advise your employer, accountant, friends and family of your new address
Advise your car insurers and any other bill payors of your new address
Organise suitable transport for your pets or someone to look after them on the day of closing
Make arrangements for the children to stay with family and/or friends on moving day. Put aside some belongings that the children will need.

OTHER HELPFUL HINTS.
Prepare plants for transit
Prepare for cleaning house for new occupants
Set aside an area marked “do not move” for coats, hand
bags, kettle, snacks, tools and cleaning materials, pet food
Lock your valuables somewhere safe and carry them personally to your new home, put your passport, driving license and insurance, banking and other personal belongings in a safe place or with a trusted person
Before the removal van departs check nothing has been forgotten. Check drawers, closets, shelves and cupboards, basement, outside garage/sheds.

CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE AGENT AND ENSURE THAT YOUR MOVING CONTENTS ARE INSURED IN TRANSIT

Pre and/or After the Move
1. Apply for a new drivers license, health card or other items that require an up to date address
2. Register your car at your new address. Your insurance company will have a limited time grace period so make sure you register before the deadline
3. Contact your Bank and give them your new mailing address
4. Advise any credit card company(ies) and/or investment companies, of your new mailing address
5. Advise your employer of your new mailing address
6. Check open and closing hours of stores and services in your new neighborhood. This will help you feel settled earlier

And Don’t Forget To Call me at 613 813-4379 or 613 966-6060 – Gerry Gill – Sales Representative, Royal Lepage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage- Belleville your Belleville Real Estate, Trenton Real Estate, Prince Edward County Real Estate – the agent that goes the extra miles for families as I want to keep in touch. If you need or know of any friends and/or families that are looking for a professional realtor for buying and/or selling Belleville Real Estate, Trenton Real Estate and/or Prince Edward County Real Estate, your referrals to me would be appreciated.

As a realtor, it is important that I pass on tips to Buyers and Sellers.

Now that we are heading into the Fall & Winter Seasons, here are some items that you may have overlooked in getting your home ready.

If you had a home inspection, and if you received a home inspection booklet, did you know that your booklet likely contains some great tips on how to maintain your home, and, likely, the book provides some seasonal items for you to examine and check.

Most Important, while this should be a regular maintenance check-up item – do check/replace your carbon monoxide and smoke detector batteries. It is also a good idea to check flashlights to ensure they are working for the time you may have need of them.

Canada Mortgage & Housing (“MHC”) has these additional suggestions at:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/gemare/gemare_003.cfm

Here is an overview of what CMHC writes:

“Seasonal Home Maintenance
Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter, which can be the most gruelling season for your home. During winter months, it is important to follow routine maintenance procedures, by checking your home carefully for any problems that may arise and taking corrective action as soon as possible. Spring is the time to assess winter damage, start repairs and prepare for warmer months. Over the summer, there are a number of indoor and outdoor maintenance tasks to look after, such as repairing walkways and steps, painting and checking your chimney and roof.

While most maintenance is seasonal, there are some things you should do on a frequent basis year-round:

Make sure air vents indoors and outdoors (intake, exhaust and forced air) are not blocked by snow or debris.

Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.

Test ground fault circuit interrupter(s) on electrical outlets monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.

If there are young children in the house, make sure electrical outlets are equipped with safety plugs.

Regularly check the house for safety hazards, such as a loose handrail, lifting or buckling flooring, inoperative smoke detectors, and so on.
Timing of the seasons varies not only from one area of Canada to another but also from year to year in a given area. For this reason, we have not identified the months for each season. The maintenance schedule presented here is, instead, a general guide for you to follow. The actual timing is left for you to decide, and you may want to further divide the list of items for each season into months.
Fall

Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace, and every year for an oil furnace, or as recommended by the manufacturer.

If you have central air conditioning, make sure the drain pan under the cooling coil mounted in the furnace plenum is draining properly and is clean.

Lubricate circulating pump on hot water heating system.

Bleed air from hot water radiators.

Disconnect the power to the furnace and examine the forced-air furnace fan belt, if installed, for wear, looseness or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup.

Check chimneys for obstructions such as nests.

Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust.

Remove the grilles on forced-air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.

Turn ON gas furnace pilot light (if your furnace has one), set the thermostat to “heat” and test the furnace for proper operation by raising the thermostat setting until the furnace starts to operate. Once you have confirmed proper operation, return the thermostat to the desired setting.

Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.

Check to see that the ductwork leading to and from the heat recovery ventilator is in good shape, the joints are tightly sealed (aluminum tape or mastic) and any duct insulation and plastic duct wrap is free of tears and holes.

If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean the filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.

Check to see that bathroom exhaust fans and range hoods are operating properly. If possible, confirm that you are getting good airflow by observing the outside vent hood (the exterior damper should be held open by the airflow). See the About Your House fact sheet CMHC Garbage Bag Airflow Test for a simple way to estimate the airflow.

Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.

Clean portable humidifier, if one is used.

Check sump pump and line to ensure proper operation, and to ascertain that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks.

Replace window screens with storm windows.

Remove interior insect screens from windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass and to allow more free solar energy into your home.

Ensure windows and skylights close tightly; repair or replace weatherstripping, as needed.

Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Replace door weatherstripping if required.

If there is a door between your house and the garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.

Cover outside of air-conditioning units and shut off power.

Ensure that the ground around your home slopes away from the foundation wall, so that water does not drain into your basement.

Clean leaves from eavestroughs and roof, and test downspouts to ensure proper drainage from the roof.

Drain and store outdoor hoses. Close interior valve to outdoor hose connection and drain the hose bib (exterior faucet), unless your house has frost-proof hose bibs.

Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.

If you have a septic tank, measure the sludge and scum to determine if the tank needs to be emptied before the spring. Tanks should be pumped out at least once every three years.

Winterize landscaping, for example, store outdoor furniture, prepare gardens and, if necessary, protect young trees or bushes for winter.

Winter

Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.

After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, drain off a dishpan full of water from the clean-out valve at the bottom of your hot water tank to control sediment and maintain efficiency.

Clean humidifier two or three times during the winter season.

Vacuum bathroom fan grille.

Vacuum fire and smoke detectors, as dust or spider webs can prevent them from functioning.

Vacuum radiator grilles on back of refrigerators and freezers, and empty and clean drip trays.

Check pressure gauge on all fire extinguishers; recharge or replace if necessary.

Check fire escape routes, door and window locks and hardware, and lighting around outside of house; ensure family has good security habits.

Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.

Monitor your home for excessive moisture levels — for example, condensation on your windows, which can cause significant damage over time and pose serious health problems — and take corrective action if necessary. Refer to the About Your House fact sheet Measuring Humidity in Your Home.

Check all faucets for signs of dripping and change washers as needed. Faucets requiring frequent replacement of washers may be in need of repair.

If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, such as a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.

Clean drains in dishwasher, sinks, bathtubs and shower stalls.

Test plumbing shut-off valves to ensure they are working and to prevent them from seizing.

Examine windows and doors for ice accumulation or cold air leaks. If found, make a note to repair or replace in the spring.

Examine attic for frost accumulation. Check roof for ice dams or icicles. If there is excessive frost or staining of the underside of the roof, or ice dams on the roof surface, consult the About Your House fact sheet Attic Venting, Attic Moisture and Ice Dams for advice.

Keep snow clear of gas meters, gas appliance vents, exhaust vents and basement windows.

Monitor outdoor vents, gas meters and chimneys for ice and snow buildup. Consult with an appropriate contractor or your gas utility for information on how to safely deal with any ice problems you may discover.

Check electrical cords, plugs and outlets for all indoor and outdoor seasonal lights to ensure fire safety; if worn, or if plugs or cords feel warm to the touch, replace immediately.

Spring

After consulting your hot water tank owner’s manual, carefully test the temperature and pressure relief valve to ensure it is not stuck. Caution: This test may release hot water that can cause burns.

Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Ventilation system, such as heat recovery ventilator, filters should be checked every two months.

Have fireplace or wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced as needed.

Shut down, drain and clean furnace humidifier, and close the furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning.

Switch on power to air conditioning and check system. Have it serviced every two or three years.

Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, if applicable.

Check dehumidifier and drain — clean if necessary.

Turn OFF gas furnace and fireplace pilot lights where possible.

Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.

Check smoke, carbon monoxide and security alarms, and replace batteries.

Clean windows, screens and hardware, and replace storm windows with screens. Check screens first and repair or replace if needed.

Open valve to outside hose connection after all danger of frost has passed.

Examine the foundation walls for cracks, leaks or signs of moisture, and repair as required.

Ensure sump pump is operating properly before the spring thaw sets in. Ensure discharge pipe is connected and allows water to drain away from the foundation.

Re-level any exterior steps or decks that moved as a result of frost or settling.

Check for and seal off any holes in exterior cladding that could be an entry point for small pests, such as bats and squirrels.

Check eavestroughs and downspouts for loose joints and secure attachment to your home, clear any obstructions, and ensure water flows away from your foundation.

Clear all drainage ditches and culverts of debris.

Repair and paint fences as necessary — allow wood fences to dry adequately before tackling this task.

Undertake spring landscape maintenance and, if necessary, fertilize young trees.
Summer

Monitor basement humidity and avoid relative humidity levels above 60 per cent. Use a dehumidifier to maintain relative humidity below 60 per cent.

Clean or replace air-conditioning filter, and clean or replace ventilation system filters if necessary.

Check basement pipes for condensation or dripping and, if necessary, take corrective action; for example, reduce humidity and/or insulate cold water pipes.

Check the basement floor drain to ensure the trap contains water; refill with water if necessary.

If you have a plumbing fixture that is not used frequently, for example, a laundry tub or spare bathroom sink, tub or shower stall, run some water briefly to keep water in the trap.

Deep clean carpets and rugs.

Vacuum bathroom fan grille.

Disconnect the duct connected to your clothes dryer, and vacuum lint from duct, the areas surrounding your dryer and your dryer’s vent hood outside.

Check security of all guardrails and handrails.

Check smooth functioning of all windows, and lubricate as required.

Inspect window putty on outside of glass panes of older houses, and replace if needed.

Sand and touch up paint on windows and doors.

Lubricate door hinges, and tighten screws as needed.

Check for and replace damaged caulking and weatherstripping around mechanical and electrical services, windows and doorways, including the doorway between the garage and the house. See the About Your House fact sheet Attached Garages and Indoor Air Quality for more information on preventing garage-to-house air transfer.

Lubricate garage door hardware, and ensure it is operating properly.

Lubricate automatic garage door opener motor, chain and other moving parts, and ensure that the auto-reverse mechanism is properly adjusted.

Inspect electrical service lines for secure attachment where they enter your house, and make sure there is no water leakage into the house along the electrical conduit. Check for overhanging tree branches that may need to be removed.

Check exterior wood siding and trim for signs of deterioration; clean, replace or refinish as needed.

Remove any plants that contact — and roots that penetrate — the siding or brick.

From the ground, check the general condition of the roof and note any sagging that could indicate structural problems requiring further investigation from inside the attic. Note the condition of shingles for possible repair or replacement, and examine roof flashings, such as at chimney and roof joints, for any signs of cracking or leakage.

Check the chimney cap and the caulking between the cap and the chimney.

Repair driveway and walkways as needed.

Repair any damaged steps.

Stay tuned for next article…

Gerry Gill, Sales Representative, Royallepage ProAlliance Realty, Brokerage – Belleville
Call Gerry Gill at 613 966-6060 or 613 813-4379 if you know of someone who needs a Realtor that cares.

Would be genealogists beware! Idiosyncrasies in your family lineage will surface. There are people who are fortunate to have family endowments obtained from inheritances, others who obtain family heirlooms, and still others who have the advantage of being part of a privileged family and have a renowned surname.

In my family heritage, my matriarchal birthright is the total ineptness of members in doing laundry -specifically, the inability to use bleach properly.

In my adolescence, my sisters, brother and I never had to worry about putting labels on our clothes to identify them when we went to camp – because we knew that somewhere on our garment, usually in an inconspicuous location was the “mark”. The size of the mark varied as did the location – possibly on the inner side of a collar, under an armpit, or it could be the inside of a sleeve, but we were confident that it would be there —-somewhere!

You can imagine my trepedation when I married and left my family household to discover that this family curse had proven part of my DNA, especially when the articles that were ruined belonged to my husband. Despite my argument to him that no one would ever notice the spots on his undergarments, my husband emphatically declared that it did not matter that no one else could see the “Mark”, he would not be caught dead in these unique, distinct and colourful dungarees! Further attemps on my part to maximize bleach control failed at the cost of personal stress and obvious expense to me in replacing all ruined articles. [note to reader...and many of those items mysteriously disappeared . When my husband would ask where his favorite shirt or other item went, I sheepishly told him to the same place the missing sock goes]

But like others with dependencies on alcohol or cigarettes, I took a path of covert operation – doing laundry at night and experimenting with different concentrations of bleach – but all to no avail.

My husband and I reached a pact – a gesture of conflict resolution in our marraige. We tried to establish a new policy never to use bleach. We consider this pact as a contribution to stimulate the economy – keeping professional laundries and dry-cleaning establishments busy.

And hence….I leave you with my laundry and bleach catchphrases:

“Out On a Limb On My Family Tree” with today’s saying:
“Life is to Bleach…and then you …”Dye”.

Eastern Ontario and specifically Quinte West, Belleville, Stirling and Prince Edward County love families, and so this is yet another good choice of location to move your family here.

As a Realtor® I understand that your children have needs in making a real estate move. We can all identify that we are comfortable with things we are familiar with and know about, and we get anxious about things that are new and uncertain. Children are no different and children will react when they hear that you are moving to a different place, so you may want to be prepared. Some suggestions would be to inform the children ahead of time and help them absorb the fact that you are moving, AND, be prepared in advance for this family discussion. Take advantage of the fact that you can help by making the unknown information about a move and a new location an exciting family discussion. Some children will feel concern when they know that you are moving. There are lots of different reasons why they react, it would be because they are afraid that they won’t have friends there or they will be far from their relatives and friends.

Have A Planned Family Discussion, and include your children. You are not just changing an address, you are moving your family. The more opportunities to include your children in your family move, the more positive results you will have. Ask for their ideas and input. Ask about their fears and show your help. In order to make moving a successful one, you have to let the kids be involved from the start. You have to advise them about moving ahead of time and let them know all the good things about moving and the new adventures and events that will take place.

Suggestion: Pull up your new location on a map and show them the location and surrounding areas where future family outings will take place. Explore together the sports and music events, information about children and youth events, which you can easily access at the local libraries. Look at the wonderful beaches in nearby Prince Edward County. Look at the on-going community events which I have linked to on my website. Get your children excited about all the details that they need to know about to get their interest and let them feel part of the process. Talk about and plan family outings and celebrate the many festivals throughout the year here and in surrounding areas.

There are many local festivals nearby – such as creating personalized family watercrafts in “Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny”:

” To commemorate a devastating flood that crippled the downtown in 1980, Float Your Fanny Down the Ganny is an exciting ten-kilometer race that takes place April 3rd 2010 on the Ganaraska River, and draws crowds of up to 15,000 spectators. The race includes just about anything imaginable that can float! Visit: www.floatyourfanny.ca.”

Or look at the nearby orchards, fishing, swimming at the beautiful sand dunes and beaches in the County, and visit all the beautiful places and have fun with all the amenities there.

Have a family suggestion night and give your children their voice and chance to make suggestions on how to make moving a good one.

If your children have concerns about losing existing friends, or being far from relatives, you may want to ask them to do a project where they put a map of their new location, new phone number and mailing address labels together that they can hand out to their friends and family so they can stay in touch. Together, you can also prepare address labels for their friends and family to fill out so your children can write back. You may want to give your child an inexpensive camera where they can take photos of some activities in their location that they can send off to their friends and family members. If the children are young, they can draw pictures and send off. There may be the possibility that some existing friends and/or family members might be travelling near the new location and you and your children can look at the local events and activities in their new location that they can give their friends and family as a suggested planned get together. Make them feel that they are important, so it is better to tell them the plans and let them pack with you. It is recommended to always ask how they feel and let them ask questions so they will feel comfortable about moving.

By including the children and providing information you gain your children’s interests in moving.

Make sure to show them that all their belongings are put safely into boxes and they can bring all their things with them in their new home. You may want to have a family project of decorating the moving boxes, or doing a pictoral of your child’s belongings that are in their specific moving cartons. Before your move or when you are in your new home ask them if they want to arrange their rooms similar to the style that are familiar to them, or have a special day when you look at new bedroom themes and get them excited about redecorating for their new rooms.

You also have to help your children find new friends and let them enjoy what this part of Eastern Ontario has to offer.

Look at my links for schools, links for on-going community events. Look at the websites for Belleville, Quinte West, etc. and see links for sports and music/dancing venues.

Additionally, here are some internet sites for things for children and youth to enjoy:

CHATEAU MEDDYBEMPS http://www.meddybemps.com/index.html
Fun learning activities for all ages but especially for preschool and primary aged children. Meet the Tooth Fairy, explore inventions, make a pizza or decorate a cake. Older kids will enjoy story starters and games.

FUN BRAIN http://www.funbrain.com/index.html
Fun and educational games for kids of all ages. Math, grammar, science, spelling, history and lots more

MYSTERNET’S KID MYSTERIES http://kids.mysterynet.com/
This site includes activities from Chirp, Chickadee and Owl magazines. Lots of science fun, games, puzzles and crafts.

NICK JR. http://www.nickjr.com/
Find activities and games for your preschooler with favorites like Dora, Diego and other TV characters.

OWL KIDS http://owlkids.com/
This site includes activities from Chirp, Chickadee and Owl magazines. Lots of science fun, games, puzzles and crafts.

PBS KIDS http://pbskids.org/
Play educational games, watch PBS KIDS shows and find activities like coloring and music.

SESAME STREET http://www.sesamestreet.org/home
Play free Sesame Street online games! Learn about letters, numbers, shapes, music and art with all your favourite characters like Elmo, Grover and Abby!

TVO KIDS http://www.tvokids.com/
Tvokids.com has fun and engaging activities for kids ages 3 through 10 years old with favourites like The Adventures of Sir Readsalot and Pillars of Freedom.

UP TO TEN http://www.uptoten.com/
Over 100 learning games and activities for kids aged up to ten, including coloring, art activities, online stories, puzzles, mazes, and much more.

and when you are looking for a real estate agent, or want to refer your friends and family to a good real estate agent – whether buying or selling Belleville Real Estate, Trenton Real Estate, Prince Edward County Real Estate, call me – Gerry Gill at 613 813-4379 or 613 966-6060 – the agent that goes the extra miles for families

As a professional Realtor(R) my real estate help includes providing information to Sellers on decorating, staging and feature items to consider adding to increase the sale marketability of their home, and, as a resource for Buyers to consider adding to their new or resale home.

I will take time to do some research and let both buyers and sellers be informed on what current trends are and what is new in the area of key decorating and home feature items.

Today’s Blog is Called: “Lighten up….”Watt is new in lighting?

People who are selling their real estate should consider how well lighted their home is. Some simple tips would be to arrange for lights to be turned on for showings, and for lights to be strategically placed to let purchasers see the rooms in their “best light”. Lighting can also be directed to special features. There is a narrow beam halogen down light that can be used to highlight a special artefact, and/or a feature item such as a fireplace. Under-counter lighting under cabinets are ideal to highlight granite countertops, etc., and consider rope lighting, track lighting and use of a dimmer system.

Today, there is a wide-range of prices, with extensive options in lighting style.. While we all need to be mindful of lighting illuminiation functionality, I consider lighting as “jewellery”. It stands alone to be admired, but also is an embellishment to decors, and to create moods, etc.

Like Jewellery, lights cover many price points, and can reflect your individualism. There are many custom hand-blown pieces, with different grades of lighting glass from effervescent, frosted, clear, bubbles to diffuse light, and variations of all.

For purchasers, you can create a lighting plan, setting out the functions you want to accomplish, the decor you are trying to keep, and, what rooms, you may want to consider to add special and/or sculptural pieces to. Consider also that chandeliers and hanging fixtures can add a sculptural element. With the many choices of design, coloured hanging fixtures can keep to any design decor from traditional, modern, heritage style etc., or themed room design such as a child’s room. Recessed lighting can add drama and keep beautiful vistas open. Hanging fixtures are also a good way to add a sculptural element to your home. There are many pendant style lights that come in different shades and some hand-blown glass which provides a more elegant atmosphere.

Lighting is not exclusive to interior functionality and decor. Take time and explore the many exterior lighting options and landscape lighting which can add curb appeal, and can include lighting up paths and feature gardens and trees from solar lighting, ground spot lighting etc.. Adding exterior lighting is a simple way to feature barbecue and deck areas and to create vibrant outdoor living space.

So take time and do your own research. To summarize, and pardon the expression….”Enjoy some light reading”.

Owners of existing residential homes will sit back and reflect on their own stories – of their first dinner parties etc .
Please share your own stories with us.

On the lighter side of home ownership is a new blog category that is written by my wife. The last blog she wrote was about learning to craft.

Today she writes:
“Home ownership is everyone’s dream, however, making a house a home is by adding our own individualism – by decorating, by entertaining, and by experiencing victories and some mishaps from daily home ownership experiences.
We need first to recognize that not all of us are home economics experts, or culinary experts, or even cleaning experts. If you are like me, these talents were not passed down to me. While I concentrated on my education and my career, I was not given tips on the art of making a house a home. Unfortunately, I learned the art making a house a home by “trial” and error. Yes, “trial” is a good choice of word to use, because trial infers that a crime was committed, and, I am guilty of making some disastrous mistakes – I tried making my house a home by experimenting. I admit I did not first research the topic, and many cooking fiascos could have been avoided had I properly researched recipes, and followed instructions. Suffice it to say, I did not follow the proper route and am guilty of “guessing” at many recipes, but I served my time for my mistakes and I learned from the errors I made, and I continue forth in my housekeeping and entertainment tribulations still unnerved to try again.

Today’s blog is about my first turkey dinner which was truly “foul” [not fowl]. My husband was to travel out of town to spend the holidays with his parents and my plans were to travel out on boxing day to meet up with him. Of course, I would have preferred having our first xmas dinner together, however, being a positive person, I decided that I would host my first xmas dinner anyway.

Christmas Eve day I went to shop and purchased a 35 lb. turkey, with trimmings. I was not prepared that there was limited transportation to return home. In total frustration, I had considered going back into the Mall to buy a suit for my 35 lb bird and to try hitchhiking, but patience prevailed and I eventually after a 2 hour wait was able to get a cab. I also was not prepared that my little roasting pan – a recent wedding shower gift, was only large enough for a 10 lb. turkey. And so, my story continues.

I started to prepare the stuffing and my store bought stuffing mix -the several boxes were not enough, and so I started to add home-cooked bread/onion stuffing. And then the sewing began………..I did not have skewers and then tried to find thread realizing I only had clear thread and then miraculously in an old suitcase,I found a travellers’ sewing kit which would have saved the day…except the needle was too thin to pierce my 35 lb turkey’s skin. Note to reader…having had such a close connection with my turkey at this point, and speaking to him often, I started referring to him as “Bigford”. After many needle hits to my sore fingers, Bigford was made whole again, and stuffed with a wonderful mixture of store-bought and home-made stuffing. I then was going to put Bigford to bed in my oven to realize my roasting pan was not going to work. In desperation, I phoned my mother who told me to use the pan that came with my oven, but even that did not work. I decided to use my electric knife to saw off the wings and legs, but even that was not enough. I found a hand-saw which I first sterilized, and continued carving until Bigford, ( or most of Bigford) rested in my oven’s roasting pan, properly tented with foil. The cooking continued in the oven, with parts on top of the stove and in microwave.
Exhausted, I then started with potatoes – ten lb bag, small ham, and side dishes of carrots/peas, pickle trays, etc. etc.
All ready Xmas day for my dinner guests…BUT!!!
What…I did not tell you that my guests for dinner on Xmas day were myself, two adults and two toddlers!
So Bigford made a short appearance that day. After spending such personal time with Bigford, I certainly lost my appetite. The Toddlers only wanted to know if I had “macaroni and cheese” but my parents (as part of their prescribed parent rule) while trying not to laugh, complimented me on a job well done.

So I have a few slogans from this experience:

Cook Big, or Go Home
A good cook cannot let food go to “waist”

Cooking a Turkey is “Foul Play”

And the last wisest words …”Consider ordering in!!

See you next time when I write about “on the lighter side- “Working with Bleach”

As a professional realtor, I understand the complex issues that arise during a family breakup and the transitions that the family will encounter. In a divorce, one of the most complicated and difficult issues is the division of assets and how to deal with the family home or other real estate assets.

My professional real estate help includes dealing with the real estate issues of your matrimonial home and considerations to help in your decision process on whether to stay where you are by exploring affordability, and maintenance issues. I will help by exploring with you the purchase of a new property in the vicinity, or to a new location. With my help and other financial professionals we will explore what you can afford, and establish your criteria to find your home – home style, and location – the amenities you need, and accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping, etc.
Let me help you with your real estate needs

You’ve decided to make Canada your new home and now you’re looking for a place of your own. Buying a house is an exciting experience that can be both rewarding and challenging.

As a real estate professional, I am here to help you with your Belleville, Trenton, Prince Edward County home selection and purchase process.

Consider Eastern Ontario as your place to move. Belleville Real Estate Help, Quinte Real Estate help, Prince Edward County Real Estate help are my special help services.

These areas are close to highways and the major cities of Montreal and Toronto. They are safe and community oriented. Check the links on my website for information on these areas. Don’t forget to look at the community events that are on-going. These community events are all close to one another. These areas are close to beaches, wineries, shopping, with good schools, and all the added extras that make living in this part of Eastern Ontario attractive.

And….if you have an interest in bringing a new business to these areas, this is an area of growth with new businesses coming to this area. This is an exciting area to move your business to.

I will help with your business move, and help you and your family in your home purchase.

See the link to Canada Mortgage & Housing:

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/66144.pdf

I live in this area, and my family and I enjoy the new lifestyle, community events and business opportunities Belleville, Trenton, Quinte and Prince Edward County offer.

Call or email me and I shall provide access to our other professionals, who with my help, can make your new business and/or residential purchase an awarding reality.

This interactive online design service now incorporates building products with the existing Beauti-Tone Home Designer and Colours without leaving your home!

With the Homeworks Visualizer, you select exterior and interior photographs from the library that best match your home.  You can renovate and redecorate by dragging and dropping products onto the photo.

Featured products include siding, stucco,  roofing, stone, paint and decking – and all products are available through Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Building Centre, The menu is organized so you can choose from multiple product types, styles and colours.

Unique to the Visualizer is the garage door configurator which allows you to customize your garage door by selecting the size, series, collections, panels, window, glass, colour, decorative inserts, decorative straps and decorative handles.

In addition, the Visualizer has several valuable features which include a project summary and printout, a comparison view where you can compare different projects and options to email and print. Home Hardware is the only retailer in North America to offer such a comprehensive online experience. Visit the Home Hardware Design Centre at:

www.homehardware.ca/index/renoworks for design ideas, inspiration, and product information.

Share your Design Centre ideas and inspirations with your friends and family.

Dream: Is it your dream to own your own home?

Imagine:
How do you imagine your first home?
• Belleville real estate
• Trenton real estate
• Prince Edward County real estate
• In the City
• In the Country
• Condominium Townhouse and/or apartment
• Acreage
• Waterfront Real Estate
• Farm Real Estate

How would your gardens look?
• English garden
• Herb garden
• Vegetable gardens
• Barbecue Area
• Entertainment Area

Decorating:
• Do you watch the decorating shows on television?
• Do you subscribe to decorating magazines?
• Do you look on the internet for staging and decorating ideas for your dream home?

Furniture:
• What style of furniture in your first home do you envision?
o Contemporary
o Classic
o Modern
o Antiques
o Eclectic
o
First Dinner Party
• Who would you invite?
• What music would you play?
• What entertainment would you have ready?
• What would your dinner meal consist of?

OK, you have the dream and the imagination, all you need is Gerry Gill’s First Time Home Owner’s help.

Call me. Lets meet and talk. Together with other professionals, we can start the plan to make home ownership a possibility!