JUL 14 - AUG 11, 2017 VOLUME 33, ISSUE 07, FREE
EDMONTON EDITION
LIFE JUST GOT BETTER in Spruce Grove
a pa r tm e n ts
609 King Street, Spruce Grove 780.960.0065 | www.AyreOxford.com
Experience Modern Living
AXXESS 930 – 156 St. VITA ESTATES 18124 – 78 St. THE EDGE 3005 James Mowatt Tr. 1, 2, 1 + den & 2 + den EHGURRP VXLWHV
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• Spacious suites • Luxury finishes including tile floors and granite countertops • Six Appliances • Underground Parking Available • Located on a transit route • Easy access to South Edmonton Common, Anthony Henday • Close to shopping, parks, schools & much more
* Current advertised pricing reflects incentive application of $200 per month on a one year lease. Terms and conditions apply. Prices and specifications may change without notice. Errors & Omissions excepted. Please visit our website at www.bentallkennedyresidential.com for more information.
F U S E R E N TA L S 780.851.9335 I 2105 - 68 STREET SW
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JUL 14 - AUG 11, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 3
Editor's Note
EXPLORING DOWNTOWN EDMONTON
Elisa Krovblit Senior Editor Yellow Pages NextHome Email: elisa.krovblit@ypnexthome.ca Twitter: @ElisaKrovblit
MORE PHOTOS ONLINE ypnexthome.ca/downtown-edmonton
Make a splash IT’S TIME FOR SOME summer fun. One of the reasons you picked your apartment was for the outdoor pool, and for the next two months you’ll be making a splash. While you likely didn’t make the choice to move solely based on having a swimming pool for two months a year, thinking about your new apartment in terms of seasonal needs is a very good idea. Location, price and size are all important, but it’s the amenities that make for an amazing lifestyle. Other amenities you may want to consider are air conditioning, tennis
+ get social 4 YPNEXTHOME.CA
and basketball courts, a playground, a barbecue area and outdoor terraces or lounges to enjoy. In the winter, those may not be important, but think about things like underground parking so that you never have to de-ice your windshield or dig your car out just to leave home. Rental living is what you make of it, so choose the lifestyle you want – there’s no reason you shouldn’t spend your summer by the pool! For more rental living insight and advice, read on this issue – check out YPNextHome.ca and get ready to make your move.
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contents JUL 14 - AUG 11, 2017 | VOLUME 33 ISSUE 07
VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER
Caroline Andrews PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER
Shawn Woodford DIRECTOR, CONTENT & EDITOR IN CHIEF
Jennifer Reynolds SENIOR EDITOR
Elisa Krovblit CONTRIBUTORS
Jackie Marchildon Sonia Bell
MEDIA CONSULTANT
Heather Harke 780-456-1153 heather.harke@ypnexthome.ca
8
ON THE COVER
Amberwynd: Life just got better in Spruce Grove
SALES CO-ORDINATOR
Dale Sekhon dale.sekhon@ypnexthome.ca
SENIOR MANAGER, DISTRIBUTION
Dwayne Rutherford NATIONAL CIRCULATION MANAGER
John Jenkins
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER
Anthony Majetic PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Swinder Jodhka GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Swinder Jodhka, Mike Terentiev
12
14
in every issue
neighbourhood profile
04 Editors' notes 07
6
Area maps
Downtown Edmonton
A true live-work-play lifestyle! by Sonia Bell
09 What's online
advice
10
Cleaning Advice
4 disgusting things you’re doing at home unknowingly by Elisa Krovblit
+ online NEIGHBOURHOOD
HOME SEARCH
12 MORE +PHOTOS +VIDEOS +ADVICE +INSPIRATION +TRENDING
Moving
Research movers before you hire by Chuck Resnick
14
The Rentalist
That spot in your apartment: The original Bunz Trading Zone by Jackie Marchildon
WITH
DYNAMIC MAPS
P.O. Box 458 Station Main, Edmonton, AB T5J 2K1 ypnexthome.ca
LOOK FOR THE CIRCLE
18
Apartmentality
ADVERTISING Call 416.626.4200 for advertising rates
and information. CIRCULATION Highly targeted, free distribution system aimed at real estate buyers using street level boxes and racking, plus door-to-door insertions in key audience segments. Call 1-855-826-4200 to discuss distribution opportunities. COPYRIGHT 2017 All rights reserved by Yellow Pages Homes Limited. Reproduction in any form is prohibited. Contents of this publication are covered by copyright and offenders will be prosecuted under the law. TERMS Advertisers, editorial content and Renters Guide are not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All prices are correct as of press time and are subject to change without notice. E. & O. E. EDITORIAL Submissions from interested parties will be considered. Email to elisa.krovblit@ypnexthome.ca DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the columnists in this publication are not necessarily those of the publication.
The lease: You’re signing a contract by Elisa Krovblit JUL 14 - AUG 11, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 5
West Anthony Baranow Batu Blackburne Bl Brander Garde Neighbourhood Profile Trail North Ca Square Industr Campus Clove Industrial East Eastgate Busin Research and Evansdale Eve Garside Indus Heights Granv Henderson Es Huff Bremner Kennedale Ind Perle Lago Lin Fast facts Lymburn Lynn McArthur Indu Average household income Area Menisa M $65,337 Park Southeas Newton North Family structure Oliver Ormsby Place LaRue P Alexandra Que FAMILIES COUPLES SINGLES Ritchie River V 8% 34% 58% Valley Mayfair Valley Whitem Own vs. rent Rural North Ea Big Lake North Sout 71% Skyrattler Spruce Avenu RENT Sunwapta Ind Ellerslie The P Greens Wedge Est 29% Westbrook Wild Rose Wils OWN Yellowhead C MORE PHOTOS AND STATS ONLINE On tap Allendale Amb ypnexthome.ca/downtown-edmonton Argyll Armstro 19% 22% 25% Belle Rive Bell Quill Estates B Brookside Brow DOWNTOWN EDMONTON IS THE AREA Downtown Edmonton epitomizes SouthCamero from River Valley north to 105th Ave., versatility. The area offers trendy McDougall Ch Crawford Plain and from 97th Street in the East to shops and boutiques, beautiful views Industrial Don 110th Street in the West. It’s in the and landmarks. It’s a financial hub Industrial Edm COORS CANADIAN ALEXANDER midst of huge resurgence. With a for the city. It has a sense of vibrancy southeast Elm LIGHT MICROBREW KEITH’S number of developments underway, that is continually on the increase Estate Industri Downtown Edmonton is rapidly and hosts many festivals right in the Gorman Indus growing into a vibrant community. heart of downtown, contributing to Industrial Hair Known for its abundance of the neighbourhood’s vitality. There There are five lightrail transit Hodgson Holl events and festivals, Edmonton has is an obvious sense of excitement stations throughout downtown and Jamieson Plac established itself as “The Festival City.” and anticipation for some of the new busses that stop at malls, major Kiniski Garden Churchhill Square holds a number of developments taking place. attractions and office buidings. There Ridge Leger Le festivals in the summer pertaining to The downtown area has a diverse is also a 13-km indoor pedway system Ridge Maple R music, performing arts, visual arts and crowd and offers a true live-workthat links to major shopping centres, McNamara Ind Ravine - South sports. So regardless of your interests, play lifestyle! Artistic types are restaurants and the movie theatre, Mitchell Indus there’s something for everyone! drawn to the art district, comprising so you don’t have to brave the cold Northwest Ed The art district is also well known, a musical theatre, theatre school, winter weather and the ‘vroom’ Industrial Don contributing to the artistic appeal of galleries and museums, and where service is a direct shuttle bus to West Industrial Edm the downtown core. many artists go for inspiration. Edmonton mall. southeast Elm Estate Industri Gorman Indus Industrial Hair Sonia Bell works with Yellow Pages NextHome to get the inside scoop on what’s trending in real estate, renovation and décor. She has her Masters in Communications, and loves writing about all things real estate. Hodgson Holl Jamieson Plac Kiniski Garden 6 YPNEXTHOME.CA Ridge Leger Le Ridge Maple R McNamara Ind Ravine - South
Downtown Edmonton A true live-work-play lifestyle!
st Anthony Henday Southeast Anthony Henday Terwillegar Argyll Armstrong Industrial Aspen Gardens Athlone Avonmore Balwin Bannerm anow Baturyn Beacon Heights Bearspaw Beaumaris Belgravia Belle Rive Bellevue Belmead Belmont Belvedere Bergman Beverly Heights Bis ckburne Blackmud Creek Blackmud Creek Ravine Blue Quill Blue Quill Estates Bonaventure Industrial Bonnie Doon Southcentral Boyle Str nder Gardens Breckenridge Greens Brintnell Britannia Youngstown Brookside Brown Industrial Bulyea Heights Caernarvon Calder Calgary Calg l North Calgary Trail South Callaghan Callingwood North Callingwood SouthCameron Heights Canon Ridge Canora Canossa Capilano Carle uare Industrial Carlisle Carlton Carter Crest Casselman Northeast Central McDougall Chambery Charlesworth Clareview Business Park Clarev mpus Clover Bar Area Cloverdale Coronet Industrial CPR Irvine CPR West Crawford Plains Crestwood Cromdale Cumberland Daly Grove Dav ustrial East Davies Industrial West Dechene Delton Delwood Dominion Industrial Donsdale Dovercourt Downtown Edmonton Duggan Dunlu tgate Business Park Eastwood Eaux Claires Ebbers Industrial Edmiston Industrial Edmonton Municipal Airport Edmonton Northlands Edmon earch and Development Park Ekota Ellerslie Southeast Ellerslie Industrial southeast Elmwood Elmwood Park Elsinore Empire Park Ermines nsdale Evergreen Falconer Heights Forest Heights Fraser Fulton Place Gagnon Estate Industrial Gainer Industrial Gariepy Garneau Southcen side Industrial Girard Industrial Glastonbury Glengarry2Glenora Glenwood Gold Bar Gorman Industrial East Gorman Industrial West Grandv EAST Hairsine Hawin Park Estate Industrial Hazeld ghts Granville Greenfield Greenview Griesbach Grovenor Haddow HagmannNORTH Estate Industrial NORTH nderson Estates Heritage Valley Area High Park High Park Industrial Highlands Hillview Hodgson Hollick-Kenyon Holyrood Homesteader Hud WEST ff Bremner Estate Industrial Idylwylde Industrial Heights Inglewood Jackson Heights Jamieson Place Jasper Park Kameyosek Keheewin Kenilwo nnedale Industrial Kensington Kernohan Kildare Kilkenny Killarney King Edward Park Kiniski Gardens Kinokamau Plains Area Kirkness Klarvatten le Lago Lindo Lambton Industrial Lansdowne Larkspur Lauderdale Laurier Heights Lee Ridge Leger Lendrum Place Lewis Farms Industrial Lor mburn Lynnwood MacEwan MacTaggart 16 Area Magrath Heights Area Malmo Plains Maple Ridge Maple Ridge Industrial Matt Berry Mayfield Mayliew 16 McQueen Meadowlark Park Meado Arthur Industrial McCauley McConachie Area McIntyre Industrial McKernan McLeod McNamara Industrial NORTH a Menisa Meyokumin Meyonohk Michaels Park Mill Creek Ravine - North Mill Creek Ravine - South Mill Woods Golf Course Southeast Mill Wo CENTRAL k Southeast Mill Woods Town Centre Southeast Miller Minchau Mistatim Industrial Mitchell Industrial 216 Montrose Morin Industrial Morris Indust wton North Central Edmonton North Glenora Northeast WESTEdmonton Northmount Northwest Edmonton Norwester Industrial Ogilvie Ridge Oles SOUTH ver Ormsby Place Ottewell Overlanders Oxford Ozerna Papaschase Industrial Parkallen Parkdale Parkview Parsons Industrial Patricia Heights Pemb CENTRAL ce LaRue Pleasantview Southcentral Pollard Meadows Potter Greens Poundmaker Industrial Prince Charles Prince Rupert Pylypow Industrial Que 2 xandra Queen Mary Park Quesnell Heights Rampart Industrial Ramsay Heights Rapperswill Rhatigan Ridge Richfield Richford Rideau Park Rio Terr 14 Hermitage River Valley Highlands River Valley Kinnaird R chie River Valley Cameron River Valley Capitol Hill River Valley Gold Bar River Valley ey Mayfair River Valley Oleskiw River Valley Riverside River Valley Rundle River Valley Terwillegar River Valley Victoria River Valley Walterdale R ey Whitemud River Valley Windermere Riverbend RiverdaleSOUTH Roper Industrial Rosedale Industria Rossdale Rosslyn Royal Gardens Rundle Heig 216 SOUTH WEST al North East Horse Hill Rural North East North Sturgeon Rural North East South Sturgeon Rural North West Rural South East Rural West Rural W EAST Lake Northwest Rural West Lewis Farms Rutherford Sakaw Satoo Schonsee Secord Sheffield Industrial Sherbrooke Sherwood Sifton Park Silver Be rattler South Central Edmonton South Edmonton Common Southeast Edmonton Southeast Southeast Industrial Southeast Southwest Edmon uce Avenue Steinhauer Stewart Greens Stone Industrial Strathcona Strathcona Industrial Park Strathearn Suder Greens Summerlea Summers nwapta Industrial Sweet Grass Tamarack Tawa Terra Losa Terrace Heights Terwillegar South Terwillegar Towne The Hamptons The Orchards rslie The Palisades Thorncliff Tipaskan Tweddle Place Twin Brooks University of Alberta University of Alberta Farm Virginia Park Walker Web 2 ens Wedgewood Heights Weinlos Weir Industrial Wellington West Edmonton West Jasper Place West Meadowlark Park West Sheffield Indust stbrook Estates Westmount Westridge Westview Village Westwood White Industrial Whitemud Creek Ravine North Whitemud Creek Ravine So d Rose Wilson Industrial Windermere Windermere Area Windsor Park Winterburn Industrial Area East Winterburn Industrial Area West Woodc owhead Corridor -NORTH East Yellowhead - West York Youngstown IndustrialAbbottsfi eld Alberta AvenueWEST Alberta Park Industrial Aldergr WEST Corridor NORTH CENTRAL NORTH EAST ndale Ambleside Anthony Henday Anthony Henday South Anthony Henday South West Anthony Henday Southeast Anthony Henday Terwille yll Armstrong Industrial Aspen Gardens Athlone Avonmore Balwin Bannerman Heights Sherwood Bearspaw Beaumaris Belgra Athlone Hudson AbbottsfieldBaranow KildareBaturyn Beacon Aldergrove Glenora Downtown le Rive BellevueCalder Belmead Belmont Belvedere Bergman Beverly Heights Bisset Blackburne Blackmud Creek Blackmud Creek Ravine Blue Quill B Inglewood Balwin McLeod Crestwood Summerlea Westmount Oliver Boyle Street Brander Gardens Breckenridge Greens Brintnell Britannia Youngsto ll Estates Bonaventure Industrial Bonnie Doon Southcentral Carlisle Mayfield Canon Ridge Newton Granville The Hamptons Boyle Street Mary Calgary Park okside Brown Industrial Bulyea Heights Caernarvon CalderQueen Calgary Trail North Calgary Callaghan Callingwood North Callingwo Carlton Oxford Glengarry Sifton ParkTrail South Lynnwood Thorncliff McCauley Capilano McQueen uthCameron Heights Ridge Canora Canossa Carleton Square Industrial Carlisle Carlton Carter Crest Casselman Northeast Cen Glenora Canon Wellington Highlands York Parkview Westridge Dougall Chambery Charlesworth Clareview Business Park Clareview Campus Clover Bar Area Cloverdale Coronet Industrial CPR Irvine CPR W wford Plains Crestwood Cromdale Cumberland Daly Grove Davies Industrial East Davies Industrial West Dechene Delton Delwood Domin Page 13 Page 11 ustrial Donsdale Dovercourt Downtown Edmonton Duggan Dunluce Eastgate Business Park Eastwood Eaux Claires Ebbers Industrial Edmis ustrial Edmonton Municipal Airport Edmonton Northlands Edmonton Research and Development Park Ekota Ellerslie Southeast Ellerslie Indust theast Elmwood Elmwood Park Elsinore Empire Park Ermineskin Evansdale Evergreen Forest Heights Fraser Fulton Place Gagn SOUTH WEST SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTHFalconer EAST HeightsSURROUNDING AREA ate Industrial Gainer Industrial Gariepy Garneau Southcentral Garside Industrial Girard Industrial Glastonbury Glengarry Glenora Glenwood Gold rman IndustrialAllendale East GormanLansdowne Industrial West Grandview Heights Granville GreenfieldMill Greenview Griesbach Haddow Hagmann Est Avonmore Woods Gibbons Grovenor Fort Sask. Spruce Avenue Henderson Holyrod ustrial Hairsine Bearspaw Hawin Park Estate Industrial Hazeldean Estates Heritage Valley Area High Park High Park Industrial McKernan Cloverdale Summerside St. Albert Sherwood Park Highlands Hillv Forest Hudson Heights Huff OttewellBremner Estate Industrial Idylwylde Industrial Heights Inglewood Jackson Heig dgson Hollick-Kenyon Homesteader Brookside Holyrood Pleasantview Forest Heights Tamarack Spruce Grove Beaumont Fulton Place McKernan mieson Place Jasper Kildare Kilkenny DugganPark Kameyosek Twin Brooks Keheewin Kenilworth Kennedale Industrial Kenilworth Kensington Walker KernohanDevon Leduc Killarney King Edward P Windsor Park LaStrathcona ski Gardens Kinokamau Plains Area Kirkness Klarvatten Perle Lago Lindo Lambton Industrial Lansdowne Larkspur Lauderdale Laurier Heights Hodgson Windsor Park Maple Ridge Wild Rose Calmar Morinville ge Leger Lendrum Place Lewis Farms Industrial Lorelei Lymburn Lynnwood MacEwan MacTaggart Area Magrath Heights Area Malmo Plains Ma ge Maple Ridge Industrial Matt Berry Mayfield Mayliewan Industrial McCauley McConachie Area McIntyre McKernan McLe PageMcArthur 9 Page 3 Page Industrial 8 Namara Industrial McQueen Meadowlark Park Meadows Area Menisa Meyokumin Meyonohk Michaels Park Mill Creek Ravine - North Mill Cr ine - South Mill Woods Golf Course Southeast Mill Woods Park Southeast Mill Woods Town Centre Southeast Miller Minchau Mistatim Indust chell Industrial Montrose Morin Industrial Morris Industrial Newton North Central Edmonton North Glenora Northeast Edmonton Northmo rthwest Edmonton Norwester Industrial Ogilvie Ridge Oleskiw Oliver Ormsby Place Ottewell Overlanders Oxford Ozerna Papaschase Indust SEARCH ONLINE ustrial Donsdale Dovercourt Downtown Edmonton Duggan Dunluce Eastgate Business Park Eastwood Eaux Claires Ebbers Industrial Edmis ypnexthome.ca ustrial Edmonton Municipal Airport Edmonton Northlands Edmonton Research and Development Park Ekota Ellerslie Southeast Ellerslie Indust theast Elmwood Elmwood Park Elsinore Empire Park Ermineskin Evansdale Evergreen Falconer Heights Forest Heights Fraser Fulton Place Gagn ate Industrial Gainer Industrial Gariepy Garneau Southcentral Garside Industrial Girard Industrial Glastonbury Glengarry Glenora Glenwood Gold Guide is organized NorthHeights West, North Central,Greenfi North East, Central,Grovenor South East,Haddow West and Hagmann Est rman IndustrialRenters East Gorman Industrialgeographically: West Grandview Granville eld SouthWest, GreenviewSouth Griesbach Area. The Industrial tabs at the top of each page identify the area inHeritage which youValley are searching andPark the type of Park accommodations. ustrial HairsineSurrounding Hawin Park Estate Hazeldean Henderson Estates Area High High Industrial Highlands Hillv dgson Hollick-Kenyon Holyrood Homesteader Hudson Huff Bremner Estate Industrial Idylwylde Industrial Heights Inglewood Jackson Heig mieson Place Jasper Park Keheewin Kenilworth Kennedale Industrial Kensington ForKameyosek More Information on Advertising Please Call Kernohan Kildare Kilkenny Killarney King Edward P ski Gardens Kinokamau Plains Area Kirkness Klarvatten La Perle Lago Lindo Lambton Industrial Lansdowne Larkspur Lauderdale Laurier Heights JUL 14 - AUG 11, 2017 | RENTERS 7 ge Leger Lendrum Place Lewis Farms Industrial Lorelei Lymburn Lynnwood MacEwan MacTaggart Area Magrath Heights AreaGUIDE Malmo Plains Ma ge Maple Ridge Industrial Matt Berry Mayfield Mayliewan McArthur Industrial McCauley McConachie Area McIntyre Industrial McKernan McLe Namara Industrial McQueen Meadowlark Park Meadows Area Menisa Meyokumin Meyonohk Michaels Park Mill Creek Ravine - North Mill Cr ine - South Mill Woods Golf Course Southeast Mill Woods Park Southeast Mill Woods Town Centre Southeast Miller Minchau Mistatim Indust
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10155 - 116 ST., EDMONTON
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Visit our website: JUL 14 - AUG 11, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 9
SOUTH CENTRAL
RENT
INCENTIVE
Advice | CLEANING ADVICE
4 disgusting things you’re doing at home unknowingly people, pet hair, fungus, dust mites, allergens, food and dirt from the outside. “Carpeting is 4,000 times dirtier than the toilet seat. Just think about pets coming in from a walk or out of a litter box.” The fix: Use a good vacuum, preferably with a HEPA filter or a central vac. Steam clean carpeting once or twice a year, but not more. Too much moisture can encourage mould growth under the carpet.
By Elisa Krovblit
MORE ADVICE ONLINE ypnexthome.ca/news/advice
AN EXPERT ON THE chemistry of
clean, Kim Dunn holds a degree in industrial microbiology and owns a Molly Maid franchise. She spoke with us about the disgusting things we’re doing at home – and it has us changing our ways. The first thing you need to be aware of, explains Dunn, is fomites. “Fomites are any contaminated inanimate object. We are surrounded by fomites – germ-holding things,” she says. So what are the worst culprits? You’ll be surprised – and more than a little grossed out by the things you’ve been doing! Disgusting thing you’re doing #1: Sponges The gross factor: A sponge has 10 million bacteria per square inch. “It’s as dirty as it smells!” she says emphatically. “It’s loaded with bacteria – Salmonella, E. coli, Pseudomonus – and has a surface area 1,000 times that of a cloth. Just think of all of those nooks and crannies. The toilet seat is cleaner than a cutting board wiped down with a dirty sponge – the sponge is 200,000 times dirtier.” says Dunn. The fix: It’s always moist and damp – and a rinse isn’t a cleansing,” she explains. Use a micro fibre cloths, which does the job and is much more sanitary. If you insist on using a sponge for more than a day or two (Dunn’s staff are instructed to toss sponges after two days) then you 1 0 YPNEXTHOME.CA
Disgusting thing you’re doing #4: The TV Remote need to disinfect them with one of these three methods: 1. Run them through the dishwasher 2. Soak them in a concentration of one part bleach to nine parts water for at least five minutes 3. Boil them in a pot of water at 60°C for five minutes (in the microwave or on the stove). Disgusting thing you’re doing #2: The Loofah Exfoliating is over-rated, but if you must do it, ditch the loofah and go with a body wash that includes an exfoliant. The gross factor: A person sheds 1.5 million skin flakes an hour. “Guess what’s stuck on that loofah? Staph aureus is a common bacteria on the skin, but Staph A on the inside isn’t a good thing.” The fix: You can’t bleach it, the best you can do is soak it in a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water for at least an hour. It’s always in a humid area; if you have to use one, hang it up to help it stay dry between uses. Disgusting thing you’re doing #3: Wall-to-Wall Carpeting The gross factor: It’s a botanical zoo! Skin cells multiplied by the number of
The gross factor: They’re dropped on the floor, get sat on by people and pets, stuffed into dirty crevices of the couch and constantly touched by everyone in the family – and more often than not have grease stains (we don’t wash our hands when eating popcorn and change the channels). If we want to continue with the toilet seat comparison, the TV remote is about 4,000 times dirtier than the toilet seat. And if you haven’t wiped it down since the day you brought the TV home – then much, much dirtier. The fix: Once a week take a cloth slightly moistened with alcohol or a disinfectant cloth like a Lysol or Clorox wipe and wipe down the remote. In fact, the grunge factor goes for all the remotes in your home, plus things like the computer keyboard, the light switch and any other surface you constantly touch – however briefly. In love with design and decor, Elisa is senior editor of Conod Guide, Home Decor & Renovations, Renters Guide and Commercial Investor. When not searching out some unusual solutions to her century home’s reno projects, she’s busy discovering the next best thing in Toronto. Elisa.Krovblit@ypnexthome.ca
WEST
Your Home, Your Choice! Save up to 2 months free rent OR move in to a fully renovated suite* CEDARVILLE APARTMENTS 171 St. & 69 Ave. 2 bedroom suites
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Advice | MOVING
Research movers
before you hire
MORE ADVICE ONLINE ypnexthome.ca/news/advice
By Chuck Resnick
HIRING THE RIGHT MOVING COMPANY
can save you lots of work, stress and headaches in the long run. Industry professionals are accustomed to handling all kinds of moves, from apartments to homes and offices small and large. We understand how to pack, mark and transport items of all shapes, sizes and levels of fragility. We appreciate the importance of what we do, because people’s “stuff” is so much more to them than a collection of items. It represents their lifestyle, memories, emotional connections and fun. Although many consumers move themselves and do a good job of it, enlisting professional movers is the choice of many others. However, you do want to be careful that the company you hire is above board and upholds strict standards. How can you tell? Do your research by asking questions: Is the company a member
of the Canadian Association of Movers (CAM)? This organization exists to help people find reputable movers they can trust. To explore a company’s reputation, you can also contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and your provincial government’s consumer protection agency. Visit Mover.net to learn more about what CAM has to say – the first three things listed are: • Ask three movers for estimates in writing • Get the terms and conditions of your move in writing. • Ensure you know how your goods will be protected for loss or damage. If a company representative does not know how to answer your questions or glosses over them, a red flag should go up. Communication is the number-one factor in a successful move. At Two Men and a Truck – Canada, we have a Consumer Bill of Rights, the only
one in the Canadian moving industry. We also have a list of questions to consider when consumers are thinking about hiring a mover. Of particular importance are the financial considerations. For example, does the company have a minimum charge, and how are you charged after that minimum is met? Will you be charged for fuel or travel time to and from their office to your home or business? Will there be a fuel surcharge or a stairs or long-distance walk charge if they have to park the truck some distance from your door? Is there a deposit required, and what kinds of payment options are available? Do they offer free quotes? How do they arrive at a valuation that is covered by insurance? Does the mover have advice for how you can reduce your costs? It is also important to ask if they employ full-time workers or use temps and day labour, and whether their employees are covered by Worker’s Compensation. Are their movers trained in how to pack and move carefully and efficiently? Ask how to contact the firm’s office during moving day, in case there are issues. If all the representative offers is a cell phone number, be suspicious. In fact, it’s a good idea to visit the movers’ office to make sure it exists. Remember, anyone can make anything seem real on a website. It’s best for everyone involved to have a moving contract that outlines what is expected. Read it and ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Hiring a company you can trust makes for a more comfortable, less stressful and successful move.
Chuck Resnick is vice president Marketing and Operations for Two Men And a Truck - Canada, a division of Heron Capital Corp. Visit twomen.ca 1 2 YPNEXTHOME.CA
Your Home, Your Choice! Save up to 2 months free rent OR move in to a fully renovated suite* LANSDOWNE PARK 5210 – 122 St. 1 & 2 bedroom suites
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Advice | THE RENTALIST
That spot in your apartment:
The original Bunz Trading Zone By Jackie Marchildon
IF YOU’VE EVER RENTED BEFORE,
especially in a building, you might remember (either fondly or with hate) that one spot where everyone left their disregarded items. They weren’t necessarily unwanted items, in fact oftentimes they were great household objects that just weren’t needed anymore. Some might even say it was the original Bunz Trading Zone – a popular and fast-growing online barter/trade site – albeit without the actual meet up and trade. Even before Bunz, there were other sites that helped people get rid 1 4 YPNEXTHOME.CA
of their stuff. Freecycle, for example, allows you to join or start a local group, post items you no longer want and look for items you might need, but trading is not allowed. The free stuff section on Craigslist is another example. Bunz, Freecycle and Craigslist are all great ways to find some free stuff, but it’s not quite the same. Arguably it’s much better than having a ‘donations’ bag hanging around the apartment half full, waiting to be filled in order to warrant a trip to the drop-off donation site. Lifelong renters often claim that
renting is a lifestyle. Renters that hate being renters probably disagree. But even if renting is a stopover for you before homeownership, it really does offer a sort of unique lifestyle for a few reasons – one being that specific “spot.” While you still have access to neighbourhood groups, curbside finds and online trading groups when you own a home, the rental “spot” is different and pretty unique to renters. Even in a big city like Hogtown, …continued on page 16
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that special spot flourishes and reminds us that while we may not know all of our neighbours well, we know we like their stuff. My apartment’s spot is just outside our gate – and occasionally inside the gate if it’s a particularly good item. Almost every time I place something there – from worn-out Sperrys to glassware to empties – it’s gone within the hour.
If you’ve never rented, this probably sounds like dumpster diving, but it’s not – it’s an unspoken trade really.
The spot also makes it easy to get rid of clutter. Instead of holding on to unnecessary items, I just leave my stuff in that spot and it’s done – no second guessing. City living often means tight quarters, so the more often you purge, the better. If you’ve never rented, this probably sounds like dumpster diving, but it’s not – it’s an unspoken trade really. I leave that IKEA lamp
I don’t want anymore that is just the thing someone else needs, and sometime down the line, I’ll likely score a new printer. It’s an unspoken bond that renters share, and we may all hate certain things about renting, but this is surely something we can all agree to love. You know the spot. What have you left for your neighbours? What have you found for yourself?
Jackie Marchildon is a freelance writer in Toronto. She spends her time searching for hidden gems, whether it’s new neighbourhoods and restaurants or upcoming trends in real estate and home decor. 1 6 YPNEXTHOME.CA
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Advice | APARTMENTALITY
The lease
You’re signing a contract By Elisa Krovblit
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Inclusions: The lease should state how much the rent is, and what that includes. It varies from property to property – you may have utilities included, or you may have to pay your own, such as hydro, gas and water. Is laundry included?
YOU WANT THE APARTMENT and you
are going to sign the lease. But are you clear on what that means? It’s a legal contract and you’re legally obligated to fulfill the terms it contains. The lease is there to protect both the landlord and the tenant. This legal contract spells out what each party’s obligations are. Though leases are not legally necessary to rent an apartment, and the landlord and tenant can just agree upon terms, shake hands and go about their lives, this doesn’t give either party any recourse should issues arise. If there’s nothing in writing, it’s just a matter of one person’s word and memory of events against the other. You may be thinking that renting a place is straight forward, and that the lease just complicates things with legalities, but you’d be wrong. It’s best to have a contract that spells out all obligations and then nothing is left to memory or chance. This is, after all, protecting your right to your home, and without that confidence that your 1 8 YPNEXTHOME.CA
expectations will be met, you may find your rental experience subpar. The lease must contain some basics: The landlord, the tenant and the address: These are the basics and they identify the parties involved. All people living in an apartment should be on the leas. The duration: Is it week-to-week, month-to-month or something else? Is there a minimum residency, like six months or one year as a minimum? The rules around tenancy are determined by this information, so clarify it. The maintenance obligations: Who shovels the snow, who cuts the grass, who takes care of repairs? If you rent in an apartment building, this may be all under the property management. But if you’re renting a whole home, you may have to look after more of the property.
Exclusions: Are there areas of the property other than your unit for your use? In a duplex, for example, the rights to garage access or backyard usage may lie with one tenant or both units. If they’re not included, you have no rights to use them. Don’t end up disappointed. Expectations: The landlord may include clauses about what is and isn’t permitted. These expectations can include items such as having tenant’s insurance, no smoking pets or painting. Read your lease carefully before signing it, and make sure you get a copy of what you’ve signed. That’s your right. If it’s not in the lease, it doesn’t count. Before you sign, discuss any concerns or requests with the landlord. Often, if there is an issue, there may be some resolution you can come to – leases can be changed, but only before they’re signed. It becomes trickier down the road if you change your mind. Remember, this really is a legal document and you’re obligated to follow the terms you agreed upon with the landlord. And that’s why you sign a lease.
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