See article here

Hi Barbara:

Congratulations on passing your split.

You are a valued member of our Century 21 Team and an

first-rate team player.

I applaud you for your continual search for winning strategies,

as well a your willingness to enlist the help you need in your

journey toward constant improvement and even greater success.

You are among the few who value and utilize ideas

and approaches and demonstrate a fearless enthusiasm

toward reinventing your business.

I commend you for that.

Thank you for being an important part of Century 21.

Sincerely,

Eugene Pilato

Hi Barbara

“Thanks for the great results and work on 33 Merritt. Always a pleasure dealing with a professional that is committed. Life is Great.” Keith Moore (March 2010)

“Thank you” for being a valuable part of our Century 21 team. Through you, Century 21 Today Realty represents the highest standards for professionalism. We, therefore, appreciate your continued partnership and friendship… and hope your Holidays are filled with joy and fond memories.

Sincerely,

Roy and Eugene

Happy Holidays, I wanted to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for working with Realty Executives this year. It is a pleasure working with a professional like yourself.

Jason Fleming Broker

Realty Executives Plus LTD. Brokerage

Hi Barbara,

I just want to thank you for the very thoughtful sympathy card you sent me. I thought to myself, what a wonderful person you must be to think about my emotions and how I am handling the passing of my oldest friend. Thanks again for your thoughts, I really appreciate them.

John Campisano

Re/Max Real Estate

13% of Barbara’s clients come from referrals from other realtors.

Just wanted to say that it was a pleasure working with you on the sale of Lowell Ave. I wish everyone was so great to work with! Wishing you a fabulous year and many, many more sales!

Best Regards, Traci

Royal LePage

Centurion Award

            The Centurion award is one of the most prestigious awards presented to Century 21 Real Estate Professionals by Century 21 International. The Centurion award is a symbol of excellence earned by only a small, elite group of Century 21 producers. This elite group represents the premier talent and experience found within the Century 21 system.

            Barbara has received this prestigious Centurion Award and also the Top Producer Award for three consecutive years. These wards display Barbara’s commitment and dedication to the Century 21 organization over the past years. It also demonstrates exceptional professional standards and dedication to her clients.

▪         Outstanding Achievement Award

o   December 2004

▪         Outstanding Achievement Award

o   December 2005

▪         Centurion Award

o   2005

▪         Mid-Year Achievement Award

o   2006

▪         Outstanding Achievement Award

o   2006

▪         Outstanding Achievement Award of Excellence

o   2006

▪         Centurion Award

o   2006

▪         Outstanding Achievement Award

o   2007

▪         Award of Excellence

o   First Quarter 2007

▪         Centurion Award

o   2007

▪         Mid-year Award

o   2007

▪         Outstanding Achievement Award of Excellence

o   2007

▪         Centurion Award

o   2008

▪         Award of Excellence

o   First quarter 2008

▪         Mid-year Achievement Award

o   2008

▪         End year Achievement Award

o   2008

Advice for building your new home or major reno

By Steve Maxwell

When friends ask me for advice about building a house or taking on major renovations, I always start by giving them the same set of seven suggestions. Sure, you’ll have to deal with many more points than these before you’re done, but following the these will get you safely past the really important challenges and into a terrific home.

Consider Timeless Homebuilding Patterns
Fashions come and go, but the home designs that make people feel good really don’t change.  Consider layout features for your house that allow natural daylight to shine in on two sides of your most important rooms. Take note of the wonderful effect created by a cascade of steeply pitched roof surfaces. Create transition zones between indoor and outdoor spaces.  You can learn more about the patterns of aesthetic success in the classic book A Pattern Language (ISBN 0195019199 ), and the recent sequel Patterns of Home (ISBN 1-56158-533-5)
 
Build a Scale Model First
Few people have the ability to visualize a house or addition in 3D while looking at a set of two-dimensional drawings. It’s tough. That’s why building a scale model offers so much value, even with renovations. A sharp utility knife, some 3/16-inch thick foam board, a roll of masking tape and a ruler are all you need to get started. Experiment with window size, door placement and roof pitch on the model. You’ll find a scale of 1/2-inch to the foot is ideal for most homebuilding projects.

Beware  the Mold Hazard
Canadian homes are especially susceptible to interior mold growth because of our cold winter weather. As warm, moist indoor air filters through cracks around windows, doors and electrical outlets, it cools, creating condensed, liquid water droplets within wall cavities. At a minimum, insist on the very best vapour barrier installation to seal against this. Better still are the new condensation-resistant construction systems like structural insulated panels (SIPs), and walls made of insulated concrete forms (ICFs).  Even an exterior layer of rigid foam applied to the outside of a stud frame wall greatly reduces the potential for condensation inside wall cavities.

Choose the Best Roofing Materials
A large part of the cost of any roof goes to the people nailng down the shingles. That’s why paying more for the best roofing materials is the least costly long-term option. Today’s top asphalt shingles offer twice the working life of standard ones (up to 50 years in some cases), yet should only add about 25% to the overall cost of a shingling job.

Ventilate Siding, Brick and Cathedral Ceilings
Few exterior walls are completely rainproof. That’s why you need to ventilate the area behind siding, brick and stone. The best options are made of synthetic mesh that holds siding about 1/4-inch away from exterior walls, allowing water to drain downwards and out harmlessly.

Tall, vaulted, cathedral ceilings are inspiring, but the space between rafters needs to be ventilated to the outdoors with open channels connecting peak and eaves. Don’t stuff the space full of fiberglass insulation. Ignore this warning and wintertime condensation can (probably will) wet ceiling surfaces as badly as a roof leak.

Build Clear Expectations
Before any work begins, you need to build a two-way understanding with your contractor. As a homeowner, you’re entitled to a detailed, written contract outlining everything that will be done for a specific price paid. Some builders will try to convince you to pay them by the hour, plus materials. Don’t do it. This approach provides no incentive for efficient work and leaves you with no clear idea how much building you’ll receive for your dollar.

On the other hand, in all courtesy and fairness to your contractor, you need to understand that deviation from any detailed plan is costly, troublesome and frustrating. You must be prepared to pay extra (sometimes a lot extra) for changes to the contract you signed.  This is only fair, so don’t change your mind unless you must.

Consider Radiant Heat
People love cozying up to something warm. Canada is a leader in radiant in-floor heating systems, an approach that’s growing in popularity because it feels so good to have warmth coming up through your toes. Radiant systems are available to distribute hot liquid through floor frames. You’ll also find high-resistance electric heating pads available for installation underneath most finished floor surfaces.  Canada is a leader in this technicology.

More Than An Investment
For those who want a truly excellent home, understand that few are ever built primarily as moneymaking ventures. To achieve all that is possible, you need to think beyond any monetary pay-off when it comes time to sell.  Build as if you’ll live a hundred years, using the most energy-efficient materials and techniques available. And in the end, you’ll probably end up with a very valuable place, even though you didn’t have that idea up front.

Three projects that will give you the biggest return on your investment.

By Kenneth Ho

The kitchen

The kitchen is the best place to put your money, hands down. According to the Appraisal Institute of Canada, the average amount home-owners should spend on a kitchen reno is about 10 to 15 per cent of the overall value of their home. If you’re renovating the kitchen for personal use and not only for the purpose of investment, and if you are going to live in your house for more than five years, then you should spend 15 to 25 per cent or more. In most cases, you will recover the cost by the time you sell your home- with a 44 per cent higher return on investment than the average.

What do buyers look for?

• space, functionality and effective, well thought-out storage

• granite countertops create elegance, plus its resistance to scratches and easy maintenance make it ideal for everyday use

• quality- don’t skimp on appliances or labour- having the job done well is a value adder; doing it poorly may reduce the value of your home!

The bathroom

After the kitchen, bathrooms are the next key space potential buyers look at. A study from Canada’s leading real estate companies shows that a well-designed bathroom renovation can generate up to a 56 per cent better return on investment than the average. Usually a bathroom renovation involves the complete replacement of existing finish and fixtures- tubs/showers, toilets, faucets, sinks, tiles, flooring, lightings, cabinetry and tile-work. Sometimes a bathroom renovation also involves the re-location of fixtures and the removal of adjacent walls to create a better layout.

What do buyers look for?

• a spa-like environment: light colours, rich textures

• luxuries such as water jets in the tub or a steam shower stall

• a large master ensuite with a soaker tub and doulbe sinks

Floor and wall finishes

Don’t undervalue the paint and flooring in your home! Many buyers want a home that’s move-in ready, so the more appealing the walls and floors are, the more interest your home will generate on the market. Flooring can generate a 22 per cent better return on investment than the average. If you have carpet in the family, dining and living rooms, it is recommended to change to hardwood and/or tiles. Not only will it make your home more elegant, but you will also enjoy the benefits of a healthier indoor environment, with less allergens. Simply repainting your walls a warm, neutral colour will give you a 29% better return than other popular renovations.

What do buyers look for?

• walls should be smooth and painted in a neutral colour which will help enlarge the space

• currently, hardwood or tiled flooring if not throughout, then at least in the main areas, is the more popular choice for potential buyers

• flooring should create a good flow between one room to the next and be able to tie in with other elements such as cabinetry, wall colours and baseboards

Most employees pay attention to what the boss says, while the savvy employee also pays attention to how it is being said. Bosses can be good at using — not just reading — body language, which may be one of the reasons they got to be boss in the first place.

Often the body changes quickly if the boss likes or does not like what he saw or heard, or if she is uncomfortable in what she is saying to you. So watch closely — it happens in a nanosecond!

Here are some ways to help interpret the boss’ body language:

Body Stance and Posture

Positive:

• Physically on the same level (sitting or standing).
• Directly faces you.
• Comes into your office rather than just standing at the door.
• In a group, sits or stands close to you.

Negative:

• Does not face you directly.
• Stands and looks down on you. (Ever have a boss who never sits?)
• Places both hands on his hips to create a wingspan. (Even the big guys and gals who don’t need more “space” may do this.)
• In groups, avoids you, sits with others, or does not introduce you.

Eyes, Head, and Face

Positive:

• Looks you directly in the eye.
• Muscles around the eye are relaxed.
• Facial muscles are relaxed. Lips are their normal size.
• Pleasant face and friendly smile.

Negative:

• Rapid eye movement, does not look at you; has a cold, glaring, staring, or glazed-over look.
• Blinks more than normal.
• Raises one eyebrow as if in disbelief or doubt.
• Facial muscles are tight; lips thin out.
• Jaw muscles and clenched, and temple or neck veins throb.
• Smile is stiff and forced.

Hands, Arms, and Gestures

Positive:

• Hands are in view, opened, calm.
• Arms are open (but may be crossed in a comfortable position).

Negative:

• Hands are not in sight — in pockets, or under the table or desk.
• Hands (in sight) are closed or in a fist; fingers tightly clasped.
• Arms are tightly crossed (defensive or protective position).
• Points or wags his or her finger aggressively.
• Drums his or her fingers or fidgets nervously.

Remember, sometimes body language is not about you. Bosses have their own issues and you might just be in the line of fire. Observe many situations and look for consistency for the full story.

Please Click here to get the Mortgaga Calculator

Only carbon monoxide alarms bearing the new Canadian Standards Association ULC/CGA-6.19 standard are recommended by the Carbon Monoxide Awareness Committee. The unit may also have a battery back-up.                        

At least one CO alarm should be installed adjacent to the sleeping area of your home. You may need more than one CO alarm if sleeping areas are located on different levels. And remember to test the unit every month.                                    

Please refer to the manufacturers instructions for details about installation, proper use and maintenance.                         

The use of CO alarms that meet these standards can warn you about sudden failures of fuel-burning appliances and are a good second line of defense against CO exposure in you home, cottage and recreational vehicle.                                    

The best way to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning is to ensure all appliances are well serviced and maintained.    Have your furnace and chimney serviced regularly.                                                                           Don’t leave automobiles running in the garage, use barbecues outside only, and operate all gas powered equipment outdoors, in well ventilated areas.                                                                                                                                                                                             CO alarms are not a substitute for maintenance by a qualified technician, and safe use of this equipment can help prevent a carbon monoxide hazard.                                                                                                                                                                                                    

1. Clean gutters
2. Block leaks
3. Insulate.
4. Check the furnace
5. Check air ducts for potential connection issues.
6. ‘Face’ your windows. Updating windows for winter will save you money in heating bills.
7. Get your chimney inspected before use.
8. Reverse ceiling fans to push warm air downward.
9. Wrap your pipes.
10. Check that smoke alarms are in working order.

After a long winter with the windows shut tight, things like pet dander, pollen, dust mites and smoke can linger in the air and inside your house – leaving you and your family vulnerable to scratchy throats, itchy eyes and more. Read on for some simple ways to improve your indoor air quality.

Vacuum these.
Your drapes and upholstery. A quick going-over will remove accumulated allergens. Then crack open a few windows everyday and enjoy the fresh air. TIP: Now is also a great time to snap new filters into AC units in preparation for summer.

Clear vents.
Don’t block heating and air conditioning vents with things like books, plants or furniture. When this happens, air can’t flow normally. This reduces the supply of fresh air and circulation.

Prevent mold and dampness.
Since moisture promotes mould growth, dampness is one of the most common causes of poor indoor air quality in homes. Keep the air well circulated, use ceiling fans to keep air moving through parts of the house that may become damp or humid. Controlling the level of moisture is one of the best and easiest ways to improve indoor air quality and protect your health.

Sniff here.
In your basement and attic. A damp, musty smell could be mold. Using a flashlight, you or a home inspector can check for the telltale signs of water stains, discolored areas on the floor or walls, or dark patches of fuzz. Spot a problem? Mix one cup of bleach with a gallon of water and, wearing gloves, wipe it away. Note: if the area is larger than 10 feet, call a pro.

For added safety: Check the pilot lights on your stove and furnace, if the flames are yellow on top, they may be releasing too much carbon monoxide. Call your local gas company; most will send someone over for little or no cost.