HOME INSPECTIONS: ARE THEY WORTH IT?

The simple answer is: Yes. But there’s more to it. 

 The real question is, what value do you gain? 

 The average inspection will cost around $500-700, depending on the age and size of the house. The average GTA home price currently hovers near the $1M mark. When you do the math, spending less than 1% of the total purchase price is a no-brainer to give homebuyers peace of mind.

Buying a home isn’t just a transaction. It’s an emotional experience. How many of you have walked into a home showing and fallen in love with a stunning kitchen or master bathroom? Meanwhile, you neglected to notice the smell in the basement or the 70’s-era mechanical room. With visions of gourmet meals being made in the marbled backsplash chef’s kitchen, who has the bandwidth to think of the furnace? That’s what service techs are for, right? And remember the coffered ceilings in the bedroom? That’s where the real value for money is...right? 

Home Inspections offer a great high level overview of the bones of the house…..but they don’t go much deeper than that. And they aren’t all the same.

I make sure that all of my clients understand exactly what a home inspection report will deliver - and what they won’t. I always manage expectations before booking an inspection for my buyers.  Remember - until recently, the home inspection industry was not regulated. It was only in 2017 that the Ontario Government passed The Home Inspection Act in 2017.

The Act ensured that reports and contracts met specific requirements, and that the performance of the inspectors themselves conformed to certain standards. Today, all inspectors must be licensed and insured. Prior to 2017, the industry was the wild west! Trust me - I could write a book about my inspection experiences. When I bought my first house,the guys for hire were so shady that I had a developer friend inspect the place. He was the only one I could trust! 

Insured? Check! Licensed? Check! All good, right? Wrong. If only it were that simple. Now you’ve got the matter of who to actually hire. The big guns? Or the independent?

You could choose a large, corporate group like Carson Dunlop. They’ve been around for years and are one of the most trusted names in the business. They’ll walk you through the process and throw in the Home Owners Guide alongside the final report. The guide clocks in at around 200-pages, so you’re in for some reading. In some cases the inspector will walk you through step-by-step. But in a big company like that, you don’t always get lucky. Some inspectors are fabulous. Others, less so.  

Alternatively, you could hire an independent. In this case, the person you hire is the person you get. If they’re great, they’re great. They’ll perform the same inspection as a larger outfit, but in my experience they tend to get a little more down and dirty than those constricted by company rules. They may not throw in the heavy tome at the end, but the right person will go out on a limb for their customers. 

The key to both types of inspectors isn’t just what they tell you - it’s what they don’t say. They don’t identify mould. That requires a mould expert. They won’t inspect pools or hot tubs. That requires a pool expert. You get the gist of it. 

Home inspectors cannot realistically tell you what lies behind the walls of a home. Or if there’s a crack on the foundation. Or the roof tiles will fly off in a windstorm. Basically, none of the big stuff is covered. The process of buying any home with or without a home inspection has been, and will always be Caveat Emptor - Buyer Beware.

At the end of the day, due diligence is never a bad idea. Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases you will make, so it’s worth making that extra investment.  For first-time buyers it’s an excellent introduction to how a house actually works. While it isn’t a guarantee that your house will be problem-free, I can guarantee that you’ll learn something, and gain a little peace of mind along the way.

RLH Host(ess) Gift Guide 2019 - Be Original!

Its that time of year again where each week is filled with dinner parties and holiday get-togethers! Time to breakout the cocktail attire and manage your social calendar. I was raised never to show up empty-handed to anyone’s home, so as soon as I receive an invite, I start thinking about a great hostess gift to bring. I am guilty of defaulting to my favorite bottle of wine or a French Champagne a time or two, but why be boring when you can be original! So I have taken the work out of it for you this year and compiled a list of RLH’s Favourite Things for your “host(ess) with the mostess” this holiday season. Try not to buy them all. I dare you!

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Walnut Base Cake Stand

GOOP does it again with this hostess gift idea! I love the fact this stunning piece looks like the Tulip Table designed by Eero Saarinen in the 1950s which is a staple in stylish kitchens across the world. If your hostess is an avid baker you can’t get go wrong with this piece. Bring a dessert on top with it and you are golden!

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Jo Malone: Pine & Eucalyptus Home Candle

I credit my sister for introducing me to Jo Malone’s unique scents over 10 years ago and the love affair is still going strong. The JM candles come in all their scents and are a steady favourite of mine to buy for the Host that has everything. Although scents are personal, the Candle’s stunning packaging makes it a perfect powder room edition for any home. The Limited Edition Pine & Eucalyptus candle by Jo Malone won’t last long with the host that loves themselves a Christmas Tree…or 2.

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Hopson Grace: The Cheese Knife

WIne and Cheese is a standing event every Friday at my house. After a long week, I love to end it with a great red wine and a fabulous French cheese. I also insist on the right accoutrements so if you can relate, look no further than Hopson Grace’s Cheese Knife. A staple for any host(ess) that likes to entertain or just indulge in great cheese.

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Monogramed Guilded Coasters

Elte has always been synonyms with luxury decor. I will admit I have a hard time getting past the accessory department when you walk in though. I am tempted by all the fabulous items you can pick up for much less than one of their glorious furniture pieces. These Monogramed Coasters are a perfect example. I love that you can make these a more personalized gift by selecting the initial of the Host Family name/nickname. At this price point you could spell out their whole name!

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Collective Art: Rhubarb & Hibiscus Gin

“When life gives you lemons, make a Gin & Tonic” I always say! Collective Arts is a craft brewery located in Hamilton Ontario that promotes creativity and art in everything they do. Their Rhubarb & Hibiscus gin is part of their core line up. It has a crisp citrus & botanical blend that leaves a warm ginger finish. If you hostess is a gin lover (like me) then this beautiful bottle is not only a work of art but a welcomed hostess gift for the one that has everything.

Introducing Snap Home Staging!

I am so excited to announce a new member of the Rachel Levy Homes Family: Snap Home Staging! Its always been very important to me that I provide the best service for my clients, pre & post sale, along with outstanding sales results. I recognize that someones home is likely their largest investment and when it comes time to sell it, there are so many things to consider. This is where my team comes in!

A recent study done by Zillow in the US discovered that the following issues topped SELLER’S concerns:

  • Will my home sell?

  • Will I sell it for the desired price I want?

  • How much home prep will I need to fo before I sell?

These are not unreasonable concerns for Sellers and its an agents job, in my opinion, to answer these questions for their clients. I always strive to take the guess work out of the selling process for my clients. Whether its creating a workbook schedule outlining the process so they know when and where everything is happening; or prepping their house so that we can maximize their investment by selling for top dollar.

Some stats to consider:

  • Eighty-three percent of buyers’ agents said staging a home made it easier for a buyer to visualize the property as a future home.

  • Forty-five percent of sellers’ agents stated that they did not stage homes before listing them for sale, but suggested that the seller declutter or fix property faults.

  • When staging a home, 22 percent of sellers’ agents reported an increase of one percent to five percent of the dollar value offered by buyers, in comparison to similar homes. Average Detached Home in Toronto is now over $1.3M; 5% of the sale price is $65,000!

This is where Snap Staging came to be. I have been staging my clients home for years. I pride myself on seeing the prep, decluttering and staging of all my Sellers homes as my responsibility. Although there are some agents that require their clients to pay for staging, I consider this part of my Marketing Plan and I cover all the costs. I have tried several staging companies and although some are better than others, I have never found one that met all my needs. So I decided to launch my own: Snap Home Staging with long time friend (and client) Belinda Baugniet.

Snap Staging is simply put: luxury, everyday staging. It was born out of a need in the market for superior service and quality staging. Belinda and I first met when we were both in the media business many years ago. Belinda was heading the digital marketing for one of the major banks and I was a senior Account Director for a leading digital company. We have over 30 years of marketing experience and 25 years of design/fashion experience between us. Belinda is a brilliant Interior Decorator who thrives on making her clients happy and making the experience outstanding every time. We are beyond excited to bring this exceptional service to the Rachel Levy Homes client roster, and the entire City of Toronto.

We are located in North Toronto with easy access to the 401 - we consider ourselves “remote” employees, because our office is your home! Visit us @ www.snaphomestaging.com

Neighbourhood Highlight: 78 Brookview Drive, North York

Finding the right place to live isn’t just about finding the right home for you and your family, it’s about finding the right neighbourhood. Amenities like schools and parks are not only important for your lifestyle, but for the appreciation of your property. 78 Brookview Drive is located in one of the best neighbourhoods in Toronto, merging quiet neighbourhood streets with sprawling parks and accessible transit. Check out the full list of neighbourhood perks below.

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