Toronto Condos

Multi-generational Home

Do you live with your children AND parents or grandparents? Even though the scenario of 3 or more generations living together may be more usually seen in older movies, the truth is that it is now becoming more common than it was just few years ago. Of course, multiple generations homes have many positive, but also many negative sides. I hope to show you some of them in this article. In case you are trying to figure out whether to move in with your children and grandchildren, this might be, at least a little, helpful.

Positives

-it may be a very economic solution -not always, though, as sometimes such homes are so big that they are basically separate and the only common room is the kitchen

-the family spends lot of time together

-it can create a great family atmosphere and close relations

-there are less problems with who will take care of small kids if the parents urgently need to leave (no need for a babysitter and useful advices from the older generation regarding bringing up the youngest ones)

-the members of the younger generation might help with shopping or housework the older are not able to do anymore

-on the other hand, the older generation could for instance cook while the young are at work- mutual help is essential

-many older people feel quite lonely - living in the same house as their kids and grandchildren could prevent these feelings; they always have someone to talk to, to spend some time with and so on

Negatives

-lack of privacy, private life, there is always someone there

-too significant interference in each others' lives

-disputes about bringing up the youngest members of the family (parent usually have a feeling that the grandparent are spoiling the kids too much)

-too good relations between children and their parents is not always such a fantastic thing (no woman wants to be compared to the mother of their partner - e.g. "my mom is the best cook in the world")

-having to adjust to more people and respect the needs of more generations - it is quite difficult at times, due to big differences

It is extremely toughto name general good and bad sided of multiple generations homes. It all depends on mutual relationships among the family and strict rules right from the start. Honesty is very important, though. In case you believe living in such a home is definitely not for you, then do not do it. Yes, your parents really want it, but what about you? Ignoring how you feel and your own wishes in the matter is a recipe for disaster.

Planning to Buy a Second Home?

It is very common to be an owner of a so called second home used mainly for vacationing. It would be very surprising if you did not know about anyone who owns such a "holiday home". BUT: after actually buying the house, quite a few people suddenly realize it is not what they expected it to be - it might not be used as often as predicted, it might be taking a lot of money, and so on. Some just become quite depressed about the whole situation. In this article, I want to offer you some tips on what to avoid and how to enjoy your second home as much as possible.

Most importantly, you should consider (realistically) whether the house is really needed. If you think so, try to figure out why and for approximately how long. Yes, it would be nice if you could spend all your free time there for the rest of your life, but it probably will not happen. You do not have the same wishes, needs and abilities as you are getting older. For instance, if you can afford to take care of a home when you are in your 20's, it does not mean you will be able to do so at the age of 60. Think it through properly. If the house is not going to be used for a longer time (you may just want it for a summer or two), it perhaps is better to just rent one. You do not necessarily have to buy it.

Financial matters are another big issue. Do not forget that even though it is just a second home, you have the same responsibilities as if it was your main home - you have to pay for it just like you have to for your first home, perhaps take a loan from a bank etc. Also, since second homes are often located near the beach or in the mountains, they may be more susceptible to problems than houses in the city. Insurance can be very expensive and it is an almost essential part of a vacation home. Briefly put, responsibly consider whether you can actually afford a second home. In case you know you do not have sufficient amount of money, it is not the smartest thing to borrow. Owing money is not really nice and do not forget that second homes are not necessary for anyone's life.

True, second homes are certainly popular nowadays, but people may face disappointment after buying them due to not thinking it through properly. Hopefully the tips offered in this article will help, in some way, to prevent dissatisfaction with your weekend home. If you own a second home and want to share your story, just leave a comment. I would love to read it.

Are You Leasing a House or Are You Leasing a House Out?

Almost everybody has been either in a position of a landlord or of a tenant, at some point during their life. Only a couple of lucky people have always been owners of their property and never had to experience living in someone's property. On the other hand, there are people who own an extra property for rent. Not everything in life is perfect and it is not unexpected for occasional arguments or disagreements between the tenant and landlord taking place. So whether you are a landlord or a tenant, here are some ideas on making it run a little bit better:

Settling your rent on time is one of the first important rules of being a good tenant. Nothing is this life is free, so if a landlord is providing you with a property then you should not make them wait for payment Try and keep the property in decent condition, this means keeping it clean and tidy, including the backyard Even though it is not your house so you are not abusing your own property, try to take care of the house just like it was your own. If you are thinking about sharing the house with other individuals make sure you read the agreement and only share it with as many people as the agreement allows.

As a landlord you have a duty of care to the renter, so make sure the house is in good condition. Any services to the house should be safe as not to cause a problem to a new tenant; also make sure that bits such as windows are not broken. Try to pay for gas, water or electricity (if you are liable for these) on time so that there will be no awful surprises for the tenants – it won’t be acceptable if suddenly there isn't running water. Do not keep the spare keys, a tenant is not going to be happy if you turn up without notice and let yourself it, it is now their home. You need to honour the tenants right to privacy, even if it is your house , they are paying you for the right to live there.

As a Forest Hill Houses expert I believe the most important thing to think about is put everything the tenant and the landlord settle on, on tenancy agreements. For an idea, I write down who is going to deal with the repairs or paying for the electricity. Make a decision on pets To avoid issues in the future, it is important that these details are sorted out before the tenancy starts and make sure you stick to them.

Tips on Selling Your House Successfully

Experts are there to help you sell your home, but if you want to do it without their help you could make several mistakes. Rather than fall into the pitfalls when selling your home, I hope that by reading this report it will give you an insight into avoiding common issues.

In other articles I have mentioned the exterior of your home, this is the first impact a possible buyer is going to have and could determine whether or not they want to invest in it. The inside of the home is what buyers are coming to see, but that doesn't mean the exterior is not important. The garden, shed, patio and general state of the exterior of the home is crucial. So if you don't want to sell, just leave the outside in a mess with the grass uncut and paint peeling off the property.

While you may love your animals, a probable purchaser may be wary of them. First of all, it is not acceptable for viewers if a dog keeps jumping all over them as soon as they step inside the house. As well, some animals may smell really disgusting. Pet cages need to be cleaned just before the viewer turns up. Make sure you dispose of the waste in an exterior bin and air the room so it smells clean and fresh. Nasty smells can be really discouraging to possible viewers.

Dirt is another thing that will put people off buying your home. Leaving, for example, dirty pots on the table or your clothes all over the chair are not a brilliant idea if you are looking to find a buyer. Of course, you may think the visitors did not come to look at your clothes and they do not care your home is not quite clean, but trust me, they do. Consider what you wouldn't want to see when looking around for a new house and then decide whether you would buy a property in this state. I would be out of that home quickly and would never look back!

Make sure personal items such a shoes and jackets or newspapers and magazines are hidden away. Family photo's and the kid's painting masterpieces need to be kept to a minimum. Let the purchaser envision the family house, their family home, rather than yours. It is hard to envision yourself living in a house that is filled with personal possessions belonging to someone else. Your potential purchaser could look in drawers, so avoid stuffing your personal possessions inside them, as doing this can be as harmful to a possible sale as leaving them out.

Is there anything else you can think of to help individuals sell their house? Have you viewed a house and disliked something so didn't get it? Let me know if there is anything else that could be beneficial to include in this piece.

If you have any question concerning selling a home, contact Elli Davis from Toronto Luxury Homes

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