We had the honour of entertaining guests from Virginia and as far away as The Netherlands. We’ve also made some new friends and reconnected with old ones. Other than my broken toe in November we’ve enjoyed a year of good health and have managed to weather the recession. Playing the piano has come back into our lives which I enjoy playing although I am a bit rusty. Laird is learning to play himself but won’t let me hear yet. I can’t wait until that day.

Business wise 2009 has been a year of blessings. Although from a transactional standpoint challenges existed for the first three quarters of the year, the end of the year is proving to be fruitful with results becoming tangible in the first quarter of 2010. Some of you may know that I joined Keith & Jen Burton’s Royal LePage Brokerage in March. Without a doubt it has been the best career move I’ve made so far in my real estate career. It’s opened up a world of choices and education I never knew existed within the industry. Hats off and my sincerest of gratitude to Jen, Keith, and Royal LePage.

It’s been a busy year education / course wide. Some of the courses I’ve embarked on are: Recognizing Structural Deficiencies in Homes, Privacy, Title Insurance, Pricing to Sell, Complying with Privacy, Condominiums, and of course Brian Bufinni’s: 100 Days to Greatness. Buffini teaches about relationship management an ever increasing aspect of life and business. Speaking of business relationships I’ve made some great new connections to help me improve the level of service and choice to clients, customers, and even friends. Be on the look out for more information.

Selltoronto.ca has seen a tremendous amount of growth this year with content added more frequently AND a new video blog. I’ve decided to try my hand at acting! Well not really. Just wanting to explore all avenues of the Internet and offer more value. Be on the look out for more exciting features to be offered on it. I’m currently working on putting together a service directory to display on Selltoronto as well as an expansion of the neighbourhoods section.

So that’s a quick recap of 2009. I would like to take this moment to thank everyone for their ongoing support and business. Without you I would be nothing.

Wishing you a prosperous 2010!

Tim

Consider function. Do you need light to work or read, watch TV or use a computer, highlight a specific area, or provide general illumination?  What mood – warmth, airiness, drama, romance – do you want to create for your room?

Add ambient lighting. Ceiling fixtures, table and floor lamps provide general illumination.  Add dimmers to control the intensity of light while reducing your energy consumption and promoting longer bulb life.

Add task lighting. Directional fluorescents, table and floor lamps provide concentrated light onto work surfaces such as kitchen countertops, desktops and reading spaces.

Add accent lighting. Adjustable spotlights or pendant lights can be used to enhance a specific decorative or architectural feature such as a sculpture, a prized collection, or a fireplace.

Try variety. Combine ambient, task and accent lighting to create texture. Perfectly even light is cold, so experiment with different heights and intensities to see how they work together.

• To reduce eye strain, softly illuminate the wall behind your television set or computer monitor to transition the contrast between the bright screen and a darker room.
• Avoid lighting from ceiling fixtures located directly above the bathroom vanity as they cast shadows.  Opt first for a lighting source flanking both sides of the vanity mirror length, or a light source directly above the mirror.
• Accent lighting on a wall hanging can soften a room particularly when the fixture is positioned at the bottom of the picture and illumination is directed upward.
• If you have a long dining table, hang several fixtures in a row above it instead of just one. It’s striking and contemporary – and everyone at the table will be able to see each other.

De-fuel. According to Statistics Canada, using a standard gas mower for one hour causes the same amount of pollution as driving a new car 550 kms.  For a greener alternative, try using push reel or electric mowers and cordless trimmers.  These non-gasoline powered solutions help eliminate harmful emissions, are quieter, and can save you anywhere between $55-550 in annual fuel costs.*

Cut high. Set your lawn mower so it cuts high (approximately 7-8 cm from the ground) to encourage the growth of deep roots.  Taller blades and deeper roots make grass more naturally resistant to insects, help control crabgrass, and conserve moisture better by shading the soil.

Grow up, not out. For condo dwellers and those who lack landscape space, growing vertical plants or herbs on the side of your building is a great alternative to a traditional garden.  Vertical plants require minimal care, help cut down on noise, and will improve air quality around your living space.

Waste not, want not. 50 per cent of water used for gardening in Canada is wasted as a result of overwatering.**  To prevent water waste, use the soaker instead of the mist setting on your hose.  This delivers water directly to the base of the plant and reduces water loss due to evaporation. If using a sprinkler, keep the water low to the grass and make sure it doesn’t fall on nearby sidewalks or driveways.

Let it rain. Rainwater, not chemically-treated tap water, is the best source of nutrients for growing your plants and collecting it is always a good idea.  Creating your own rainwater collection system can be as easy as setting up jars, bowls, or barrels to collect and store water for drier periods.  You can also take advantage of rainwater by positioning downspouts so that water flows directly onto planted beds, lawn areas, or directly into your rainwater collection system.  Either way, you can watch your plants grow up, and your water and utility bills go down.

* Analysis based on data from Environment Canada.
** Natural Resources Canada.

If the answers to those questions intrigue you, you may want to research the history of your house, building or the land it’s on. You may be surprised at the interesting information you uncover. Here are a few ideas to help you get your research started:

Check the structure, style and materials of your home.
Style can give you a rough sense of when it was built. Look for original hardware, wallpaper or flooring for further clues. If you’re renovating, check inside the walls for old newspapers, which were often used as insulation.

Open up your filing cabinet.
Your deed, assessment notice, and tax bill can give you clues about the history of your property.

Talk to your neighbours.
Long-time area residents are a great resource. Talk to them – they’ll probably enjoy sharing their memories. Find out if they have old photos of the neighbourhood. You can even track down the former owners of the house and see if they’re willing to chat.

If you live in a newer neighbourhood, check if there’s an older house nestled in among the newly built ones. Talk to the owners – they may have insights into the neighbourhood and the people who once owned the land where your house now stands.

Look online.
Google your street name or neighbourhood. You could find old photos, information about former residents, and details about the properties in your area.

If you own a recently built house or condo, visit to your developer’s website or contact them directly. Condos that have been converted from heritage buildings often include information on the building’s history. You may also find information on suburban developments built on former farms, and urban infill projects may have some interesting history as well.

Visit your local library, archive or museum.
Look for information about your neighbourhood as well as your house or building. Check these resources:

a. Fire insurance plans. Includes info about the date a house or building was built, modified or demolished, what materials were used and the lot size and shape.
b. Property tax assessment rolls. Contain the name and occupation of the owner(s) at time of assessment, as well as a list of occupants, a description of the property and its assessed value.
c. City directories. Listings include the name and occupation of the owner(s).
d. Photographs. Look for images of your home, street or land, or aerial photos of your neighbourhood.

Also look for census record, building permits, and voters lists. Talk to the people that work in the library, museum or archive – they may know about great local resources not mentioned here.

Call the land registry office.
They can tell you how to search for titles to your property, which indicate who built your home and who has owned it over the years.

Finding about your home’s past can be a fun challenge – learning about your property and the people who lived or worked there before you is a great way to get a sense of history, find details to make your restoration historically accurate, get to know your neighbours, and appreciate your home in a whole new way.

Your first step is to find the ideal space for your home office.  Look for a room with enough space to accommodate a desk, office chair, bookshelf, and equipment such as a fax machine, printer, or filing cabinet. If possible, ensure the room isn’t too close to high traffic areas like the kitchen,  living room or any other area that may cause distractions.  You’ll also want your room to have sufficient natural light, ventilation and easy access to phone lines and electrical outlets.

If finding the perfect space for your office proves difficult, you can always try transforming a large storage area, walk-in closet, or even a section of the basement.  Partitioning an existing room is also possible with the help of a few strategically placed bookshelves.

Next you’ll want to plan your work area.  To save time and a lot of moving, measure your furniture and the room’s dimensions and draw up a floor plan beforehand.  Make sure to leave a clear path from the office door to your seat to prevent constant maneuvering around furniture, and situate your desk near electrical plugs and phone jacks.  Install shelving behind your desk for easy access to books and supplies, and position your computer screen at a 90 degree angle from any light source to avoid any glare while you work.

Your final step is to add some style to your office.  First choose a colour scheme.  Warmer colours like reds and yellows make for a comfortable, upbeat environment, while pastels and darker colours will give you a sophisticated, classy look.  Give some visual punch to your office by adding paintings, sculptures, framed photos, or sports memorabilia to walls and bookshelves.  Finally, use flowers or green plants to create a little ambiance and improve the air quality.  Now your new home office will be ready for work, rest, or play.

*Canadian Telework Association.