72 Laurentide Drive

416.445.8858 • eckojay@eckojay.com • www.eckojay.com

Asking Price $1,488,800 / Selling Price $ 1,705,000

Exquisitely updated, unique, sun-filled and cheerful executive residence on a large pie-shaped park-like lot. Extensive custom renovations and additions. Approx. 3,800 sq. ft. of living space. Over 1,000 sq. ft. of relaxing deck overlooking gorgeous garden. Gardener’s delight. Private flagstone patio. Like being in the country.

Steps to the prestigious Donalda Golf and Country Club. Close to good schools and Three Valleys Primary School with gifted program. Near tennis court, nature trails, ravine, parks, TTC. Near shopping and fine restaurants. Easy access to highways.

COMMISSION NEGOTIABLE. FIRST CLASS SERVICE. FREE HOME STAGING CONSULTATION.

Not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale or individuals currently under contract with a Brokerage. The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from various sources believed to be reliable, but the accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions or for damages resulting from using the published information and opinions. The newsletter does not render legal, accounting or other professional advice. Who;e or partial reproduction is forbidden without written permission from the publisher.

JUST SOLD!

an mdn communications inc. publication | the print market group of companies | 416.488.4566 • theprintmarket.com • info@theprintmarket.com

From Our TeamTo Your Neighbourhood

Dating HousesHow To Tell The Age Of A Home

REAL ESTATE NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY ECKO JAY REALTY LIMITED BROKERAGE – MARCH 2015

Ecko nomicsTHE

Your Neighbourhood Realtor With A Proven Track Record.

MAINTENANCESEASONAL HVAC

CLEANINGSPRING

1 VERSAILLES CRT Bayview/York Mills

Asking price: $2,498,000Selling price: $2,560,000

111 UNDERHILL DR Lawrence/Underhill/Brookbanks

Asking price: $868,800Selling price: $1,101,111

36 GREENGATE RD Bridle Path/Banbury/Lawrence

Asking price: $2,488,800Selling price: $2,488,800

21 LIONEL HEIGHTS CRES Lawrence/Underhill/Brookbanks

Asking price: $988,800Selling price: $1,250,000

37 GREENGATE RD Bridle Path/Banbury/Lawrence

Asking price: $2,388,800Selling price: $2,337,000

26 CROSSBURN DR York Mills/Don Mills/Lawrence

Asking price: $848,800Selling price: $860,000

55 LACEWOOD CRES York Mills/Don Mills/Donalda

Asking price: $1,499,000Selling price: $1,488,000

2181 YONGE STREET # 3205 Yonge/Eglinton

Asking price: $788,800Selling price: $845,000

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

RECENT SOLDS

SOLD

1-York Mills Leslie.indd 1 2015-03-06 9:54 AM

A frequently asked question by a homebuyer is, “How can I determine the age of the home I would like to purchase?” Unfortunately, this is one of the more difficult tasks a homebuyer has. Over the years, houses are given facelifts through renovation, repair and replacement which can often mask deterioration hidden beneath the surface. This is one of many examples of why a home inspection proves handy, and the pros have some tricks up their sleeves. Here are just a few tips for any home buying sleuths looking to get a handle on a home’s age:

1. Thermal pane windows tend to have a metal strip which separates the two panes of glass. On that metal strip, you will often find the manufacturer’s name, a CMHC number, and the date of manufacture. This information must be used carefully. It will tell you the age of the window, but not necessarily the age of the house. Check several windows. If they are all the same, you have just figured out how old the house is or the date when all of the windows were upgraded.

2. On houses built within the last 25 years, you will often find a sticker on the outside of the electrical panel indicating the possession date. The Ontario New Home Warranty Program placed these stickers on the electrical panel so that the warranty period could easily be established. If you can be sure that the furnace or the water heater is original, the gas inspection sticker on either of these appliances is a good indication of the age of the house.

3. An easy place to pick up a date is off a toilet. Porcelain plumbing fixtures usually have a manufacture date stamped into them. If you remove the lid from the tank, the date will often be stamped on the underside of the lid and also inside the tank near the water line. Again, you must look for other clues, you have only established the date when the bathroom was renovated.

4. With the exception of custom built houses, most houses built with concrete block foundations are pre-1970. Most subdivision houses built in the ’70s or newer have poured concrete foundations. Most brick houses in Ontario were solid masonry construction until the late 1960s. Most brick houses built after 1970 were brick veneer construction.

5. As you are probably aware, knob and tube electrical wiring makes insurance companies cringe. Knob and tube wiring was superseded by conventional modern wiring in the late 1940s. Even though wiring looked modern through the 1950s, it was not until 1960 that modern wiring contained a ground wire. Therefore, houses built before 1960 have two prong outlets as opposed to modern electrical outlets, which are designed for three prong plugs.

Dating houses can be helpful for a number of reasons, but the main use is that they’ll give an indication to the amount of maintenance and product replacement that a homebuyer can expect in the coming years.

DATING HOUSES* fo r s ta t i s t i ca l use on ly

Should I have my ducts cleaned?Your ducts should be cleaned after a major renovation, or if you are switching from oil to a new gas furnace. Other than that, all you need is a good low static filter that will clean the air very effectively but will not impede the airflow through your duct system.

How can I improve the comfort in my house?Ductwork is the major contributor to discomfort in most homes. Basements are often too cold in the winter and summer, while the second floor is too hot in the summer months. To remedy this, you can try these few steps:

1. When you replace your furnace make sure the blower has a high capacity, high static, energy efficient motor.2. Seal up and insulate your basement ductwork.3. Balance the ductwork and check the static pressure of the supply and return side to determine if some ductwork modifications are required.

Why is my basement damp and musty smelling?Many homes have a moisture issue in the spring and fall, and perhaps even year-round. If this is the case, you will require a large whole house capacity dehumidifier to remove the dampness. If this does not clear up your situation, you should contact your insurance company to check for mold and to determine where the constant source of water is coming from.

To better prepare you, let’s look at some of

the more commonly asked HVAC related

questions we receive every spring.

Should I replace my furnace and A/C equipment?There are three clear times when to replace your equipment. The first is based on the age of the equipment. If you have a builder’s model type of furnace, its life expectancy is about 15 years and a boiler will last about twenty years. With premium brand name equipment, the benchmark is 20 years. Secondly, if you are having repeated expensive repairs and your system is over ten years of age, then replacement is recommended. Finally, if you have standard efficient equipment and plan to stay in your house for another ten years, then you should consider replacing your equipment with Energy Star products that will pay for themselves over time.

What rebates are available to help in my purchase of Energy Star equipment?Today, there are more rebates than ever. Following an Eco-Energy home audit, you can receive at least $1000 towards a furnace, $7000 for a GeoThermal heat pump, and $400 for an air conditioning unit. The Federal Government’s new 15% home improvement tax credit is also valued at up to $1350, while the Ontario Power Authority will rebate $550 for A/C and furnace equipment or $125 for an ECM motor. Enbridge will also rebate $100 for an Energy Star furnace and $15 for a programmable thermostat. Lastly, most manufacturers will rebate around $500 for furnace and A/C installations.

Of course, an energy audit simply makes good sense, so our industry supports Bill 101 that would require an Eco Energy Audit for each house transaction. This would give new owners an understanding of the energy efficiency of their home.

Remember, home comfort and energy efficiency are essential in maximizing the enjoyment of your home, while minimizing operating costs. Your HVAC system is a big part of that, and spring is a perfect time to give your system the annual tune up it needs.

Spring is here, and with it comes the annual rituals needed to beautify our homes and prepare for the warmer months ahead. Spring cleaning, storage of winter clothes, and much-needed garden work are at the top of everyone’s to-do list, but as we all know, there’s much more to a home than the finishing. For a home to provide the best comfort, spring also presents an opportunity to do some of the less glamorous but equally important maintenance.

MAINTENANCESEASONAL HVAC

CLEANINGSPRING

This is the premier edition of Eckonomics, your best resource in local real estate. We intend to send many of these to regional home owners in the coming months and though our editorial will change over time, we will strive to consistently bring you and your family interesting and timely advice to help you get the most out of your current home, your future home, and your community. If there is something that you’d like to see incorporated in an upcoming edition, please send me a personal email to eckojay@eckojay.com. We are always here to help.

In the meantime, with spring now upon us, it’s a great time to start thinking about the maintenance issues we as homeowners incur. An important place to start is with the furnace and we’ve given some spring maintenance tips to ensure your HVAC system is in good shape. If you’re currently looking for a home, in the east end we have many residences of different ages. It can be daunting for prospective buyers to determine an approximate age; the article Dating Houses offers some useful tips to unlock this mystery.

Regarding the market, 2015 has started with a flurry of activity. In fact, TREB is reporting a 14.9% increase in the number of sales during the first two weeks of February 2015 compared to the same period in 2014, for a total of 3,120 home sales. Prices are also up, with the average sale price now exceeding $600,000, a full 10% increase over the previous year. With low rates and tight market conditions, if you see a house you like in your budget, it may not last long. It’s always best to speak to the professionals and if I can help, please let me know. I can be reached at 416 445 8858.

I look forward to hearing from you and I hope you enjoy your complimentary copy of Eckonomics.

FROM OUR TEAMTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

YORK MILLS

LESLIE

401

BANBURY

BANNATYNE

Semi Detached

Detached Condo Apartment

AverageSale Price

Low Sale Price

High Sale Price

Days onMarket

Difference to List Sale

-

-

-

-

-

$1,682,667

$1,388,000

$2,150,000

3

97%

-

-

-

-

-

YORK MILLSLESLIESouth of 401 to North of York MillsBanbury/Vyner Creek to Leslie

1-York Mills Leslie.indd 2 2015-03-06 9:54 AM