Wednesday 27 March 2013

Ranked #1: Sault Ste Marie Cottage Country



Cottage Regions to watch in 2013:
1) Sault Ste. Marie—Lake Huron

Price: Around $140,000 for waterfront properties with road access.
Get a better bargain: Consider an island property: Water-access 
cottages can be had for $100,000.
2) Sudbury
3) Haliburton
4) Kawarthas
5) Rideau Lakes


Granite-rimmed lakes. Windswept islands. Boulder-strewn and beach-scalloped bays. All can be found in this broad swath of north country between Sudbury and “The Soo.” Lakes like Panache, near Sudbury, and Matinenda, near Blind River, are both sprawling, attractive, and largely boat-access, where a $100,000 cottage is not uncommon. A train-access property in the Algoma hills, north of Sault Ste. Marie, is cheaper to buy or lease, though complicated to reach, as is a spot smack-dab on the shore of Lake Superior (awe-inspiring views, dread-inspiring dock maintenance).
The population, apart from the two big cities at either end, is thinly spread. That said, communities like Espanola, Blind River, and Elliot Lake offer many services.
Probably the most salient feature common throughout the region, regardless of price, is privacy. Cottages here don’t climb over top of one another; even on the recently freed-up lakes near Elliot Lake only 20 per cent of the shoreline will be developed. They also tend to be modest. Crown land is plentiful, as are pike, bass, trout, and walleye. And, regrettably, blackflies. Bug jackets recommended in early summer. J.M.

Like A Hawke, Susan 


Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! 

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Photo: credit

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Home Buyers' Road Map



CREA provides a number of different resources to help you buy or sell a home. 

Buying a Home?

  1. Helpful Advice: Get the basic knowledge you need before buying a home, plus useful advice to guide you throughout the process. Find it all here.
  2. Home listings on the Internet: Visit REALTOR.ca to view the latest home listings on whatever computer or device you’re using. 
  3. Home listings app for your phone: Add our REALTOR.ca app to your phone to give you convenient access to all the latest home listings. 
  4. Find a REALTOR®: Benefit from the expertise of a professional who can find you the perfect home. Find a REALTOR® in your area.

Get the DOWNLOAD of the Road Map here.


Like A Hawke,
Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Monday 25 March 2013

Sault Ste. Marie HiRise Bungalow Awaits You









A must see property. Your future family home? Let's show you! More details here.

Like A Hawke,
Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

You can follow me on
Twitter: @susanhawkesells
Instagram: @susanhawke
Pinterest: @SusanHawke
Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Sunday 24 March 2013

It's A Wonderful Life


Let's find you that magical home together.

Like A Hawke,
Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Photo:  Brooke Schwab

Saturday 23 March 2013

The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning and Organizing Your Home



Download the Homes.com FREE guide for the necessary tips & tricks to get your home prepared for spring!  Click HERE.

Like A Hawke,
Susan

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

3 Strategies to Tackle Spring Cleaning



Spring has officially sprung! Bring on the outdoor activities, backyard barbecues and warm weather, right? The majority of us would happily welcome all of these, but before the springtime festivities begin, homeowners have a task that many would probably prefer to skip – spring cleaning.
The custom of spring cleaning in America came about as a tradition in March, when the weather is warm enough to open the windows but cold enough to keep the bugs away. So, in honor of the tradition, here are a few ways to get organized and tackle spring cleaning:
Make a plan – Seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many families jump in without one. Having a plan will ensure that you have cleaned and covered all areas. There is an endless supply of printable checklists online; choose the one that best fits your needs, and as you complete the tasks, (happily) cross them off the list.
Involve the family – Divide and conquer. Encourage the whole family to help by incorporating games with the chores. Make it a race or have an assembly line. And the dirtier the task, the better the reward.
Don’t forget the outside – Who wouldn’t be ready to get back in the sun after a long, cold winter? Use this as an excuse to organize and tidy up the exterior of your home. Wash the winter sludge off the windows, clean out the gutters, rake and fertilize the lawn, and organize the garage.
Hopefully, these quick tips will make the task of spring cleaning seem a little less daunting. For more helpful hints, visit the RE/MAX Pinterest board, Fresh Coat.


Like A Hawke, 
Susan 

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! 

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Wednesday 20 March 2013

Remax Seller's Guide





There are many reasons why people choose to sell their homes, but every seller has one thing in common: to sell their home for the highest amount possible, in the shortest amount of time.

When you are ready to sell your home, take inventory of the reasons why you are choosing to sell. These factors will help play into looking for your new home, as well as give ideas for staging and small upgrades.

When should you sell? 


Everyone wants to take advantage of the housing market when it comes to selling your home. Unless you are buying and selling strategically for investment, the best time to sell is when your existing home does not meet your current or future needs.

A key factor to consider is the economy. The economic health of a country affects many factors related to real estate. Mortgage rates are often influenced by the state of the economy. A higher interest rate may encourage you to stay with your current home as the increase in mortgage payments may change your financial situation.  A lower interest rate may mean that you can upgrade to a larger home with a minimal impact to your current mortgage.

Keep in mind that holidays and weather may impact the sale of your home. Winter holidays and the peak summer season keep many potential buyers busy and not looking for homes. Buyers with school-aged children often choose to move during the summer to minimize the challenges with changing schools in the middle of the year.

Costs involved with selling 


There are costs involved with selling your home. Some minor repairs and upgrades can make your home more attractive to potential buyers.

Here are some costs involved with selling your home:

  • A professional home inspection
  • Closing costs (lawyers' fees or unpaid taxes)
  • Mortgage discharge fees may be levied by your lending institution
  • Sales commissions
  • Staging based on recommendations from your RE/MAX agent

 Buy or sell first? 

Deciding whether to buy or sell first can be tricky. If your RE/MAX agent finds a buyer for your existing home, before you've found a new one, you may find yourself living out of a suitcase if convenient closing dates cannot be negotiated. If you find your dream home before you sell your old one, you may be forced to carry two mortgages at the same time.

To manage the buying and selling process speak to your RE/MAX agent and start your new home search as soon as your existing home hits the market.

Your RE/MAX agent can assist you whether you've already bought your next home or if you're still looking. The use of clauses in the Purchase and Sale agreement such as, "sale of your existing home" or "purchase of a new home" can be added as conditions to agreements to ensure that you are not without a place to live. Using the "sale of your existing home" can affect your negotiating power as it is a difficult decision for many sellers to agree on.



Like A Hawke,
Susan

 Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Tuesday 19 March 2013

4 Classic Decorating Themes

Decorating themes sometimes get a bad rap for being cheesy or overdone. But when done well, a theme can make a room feel personal and put together. Whether you would like to incorporate favorite finds from your travels or decor featuring a motif you love, you can pull off the theme of your choice in a subtly chic way. 

1. Well Travelled

(See more on my Pinterest)




2. Natural History

(More examples on my Pinterest)



3. Birds and Blooms

(Explore more loveliness on my Pinterest)



4. Nautical

(Sea inspired on my Pinterest)






Like A Hawke, 
Susan 

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! 

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Clutter Intervention






The BIG Spring clean. Part One here.
I invite you to my Pinterest where I curate many home boards and ideas about home staging and decluttering!

Some questions to ask:
  • Do you feel overwhelmed?
  • Is organizing and decluttering your home a common topic, a constant worry?
  • Are you continually cleaning, but your home is never really tidy?
The 3 stages of decluttering, simplified:
  • Sort things into “keep” “give” and “trash” piles.
  • Put away what you keep.
  • Haul the rest away.


Like many things in life, "simple" doesn’t necessarily mean "easy," but breaking the process down into these categories can help you stay focused.



A good, old-fashioned filing system is the best way to keep track of paper. Clearly label folders in a straight tab format for hard copies and label folders on your computer files. 

Think ART: Paper that requires A for action (paying bills, making phone calls, filling out paperwork);

R for retention (storing for future reference);

T for toss (recycle, shred or throw away, such as junk mail and bill inserts.



Obstacles to getting organized.
How to get the help you need to de-clutter your house.

Like A Hawke, Susan 

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! 

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Monday 18 March 2013

Algoma Country




Framed by Lake Huron and Lake Superior, Algoma Country attracts anglers, canoeists, kayakers and hunters. Sault Ste. Marie, situated at the nexus of the lakes, offers opportunities for every visitor. Summer brings hiking and kayaking excursions, while winter offers numerous groomed trails ideal for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.
Here you'll find a wide range of stories about living and playing in Algoma, written by local experts and travel authors from around the world. When you're ready for more, visit algomacountry.com, the official website with all the resources you'll need to plan your trip.

Motorcycle Trip here.
For the touring motorcyclist looking to get out of the kitchen, Highway 17 North of Sault Ste. Marie to Wawa is a great sample of all things Algoma. One of the Top Ten Drives in Canada, this stretch of roadway offers a WOW!factor featuring sharp turns, dips along the stretch and waterfront vistas with views of 30 miles or more across the lake. At times you may feel as if you’re going to drive right off the edge of the highway into Old Woman Bay, Alona Bay or Katherine Cove. You may not want to do any over-the-shoulder viewing!
Experience changing forest types, dizzying heights of land and rock faces along with big water views from a highway that hugs the coastline of Lake Superior. This stretch of highway is like touring a panoramic postcard where one turn reveals a sheer-drop view of Lake Superior while the next features a wall of rugged Canadian Shield rock that rises up beside you beyond your range of vision.
This route can be toured in less than a day. There are many rest stops along the way that offer incredible views of the Lake Superior coastline, that include sandy beaches. Stop at a local restaurant to experience some of friendly Northern hospitality and a delicious home cooked meal. The changing of the day, from dusk until dawn, presents views of beautiful sunsets filling the sky with an assortment of colours. After dark those touring should take caution of the local wildlife. It is important to obey all deer and moose-crossing signs in the area.
Be sure to visit James Smedley's website for amazing Algoma photographs!


Like A Hawke,
Susan

 Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

 You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Friday 15 March 2013

Reimagine your space with paint this Spring



(NC)—The winter months are dark and dreary and many of us crave colour as spring awakens. The least expensive way to brighten up the home is with a simple can of paint. A fresh coat, a bright accent wall or a new paint treatment – all of these can help us physically and psychologically brush out winter and welcome spring. 

The daunting task of selecting a colour scheme without the help of a professional designer can be overwhelming. More paint companies are going that extra step to offer consumers tools to help them make coordinated choices. For the tech-savvy DIY-er, there are mobile apps which can help with “visioning” a room. For those who are a little more low-fi and enjoy a trip to the local paint dealer, Canadian-based Para Paints has recently launched its ColourSquare tool as part of its 2013 Colour Forecast Palette. The tool is a simple cut out, designed to help even the most inexperienced decorator choose the right palette of complementary hues. With the only full-size chips on the market, Para is making decorator choices easier than ever. 

One trick that designers often use to develop a room's colour scheme is to start with a piece of art, or fabric and use that as the jumping-off point. While some may want bold colours on their walls, others may choose to bring a neutral room to life with the help of a bright accent wall, or pops of colour in accent pillows, rugs and art. Keep in mind that the paint colour you select will set the mood of the room. However, at the end of the day no one knows your design preferences better than you – so have fun, take chances and remember if it doesn't work out you can always repaint it!

Like A Hawke,

Susan


Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs.

If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them!

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Thursday 14 March 2013

The “GET CURBALICIOUS WITH LANDSCAPE ONTARIO COURTESY OF RE/MAX” Contest


OFFICIAL RULES for Ontario-Atlantic Region:

Introduction. To enter The “GET CURBALICIOUS WITH LANDSCAPE ONTARIO COURTESY OF RE/MAX” Contest [the “Contest”], participants are required to register by completing an online ballot form residing at www.FitToSell.ca or www.FitToBuy.ca or enter via any of the interactive kiosks/iPads located at any of the consumer Show’s RE/MAX is participating in.

Timing. The Contest begins 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time [“EST”] on January 30, 2013 and ends 11:59 p.m. EST on April 8, 2013.

Eligibility. The Contest is open to legal residents of Ontario, who are nineteen [19] years of age and older at the time of entry. Employees, officers and directors of RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Inc., Mouse Marketing Inc., Landscape Ontario, MarketPlace Events, Canada Blooms [the Contest Sponsors] their respective partners, subsidiaries, contractors and agents, or any person who is domiciled with any of the foregoing persons are not eligible. Their immediate family members, defined as parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandparents and household members are not eligible. By participating in and/or receiving a prize, registrants agree to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of the Sponsors, which are final and binding in all respects. Void in Quebec and where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. One (1) entry per person.

How to Enter. During the Contest Period, consumers who register at www.FitToSell.ca or www.FitToBuy.ca  or enter via any of the interactive kiosks/iPads located at any of the consumer Show’s RE/MAX is participating in are eligible. There is no fee for registering.

Winner Selection. On April 17, 2013 the Sponsors will randomly select one [1] potential Grand Prize winner from all eligible entries. The selected entrant will be contacted by phone and/or email within two [2] days of the draw. If a selected entrant cannot be contacted after three [3] attempts, he or she forfeits the prize and another entrant may, at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsors, be selected. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries.

Requirements of Potential Prize Winners. Potential prize winners will be notified by phone and/or email. Except where prohibited, potential prize winners must return to the Sponsor, within ten [10] days of being notified, a Declaration of Compliance [“Declaration”] to claim his/her prize. If the potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to sign and return the Declaration within ten [10] days he/she forfeits the prize. In the event a potential prize winner is disqualified for any reason, the Sponsors will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Potential winners will be required to correctly answer a time-limited skill testing question without any assistance in order to be eligible to receive a prize or the prize will be forfeited. Winner must confirm prize fulfillment plans with agreed to members of Landscape Ontario by November 1st, 2013.

Prizing.

The following will be awarded to the Grand Prize Winner: 
  1. Consultation and Custom Design for Winner – Value $7,000
  2. Customized article on curb appeal related to winner’s property  - Presentation of a personalized planters guide with specific plant material to guide Homeowner Blueprint Plan  – Value $2,000
  3. Gardeners Care package – Pruners, Books, Tools, Fertilizer, etc.  – Value $1,000
  4. $10,000 product and service prize provided to Grand Prize Winner with financial credits provided to purchase goods and services through preferred members of Landscape Ontario to execute the presented Custom Design Plan. No Cash Value
Winner will be responsible for all federal, provincial and local taxes and other fees associated with prize receipt and use. No substitution, assignment or transfer of prizes will be permitted, except by the Sponsors, who reserve the right to substitute a prize with another prize of greater or equal value if prize cannot be awarded as stated. Prizes must be accepted as awarded and are not redeemable for cash, except at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsors.

Publicity. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes the winner’s consent to the Sponsors’ use of the winner’s name, likeness, hometown, province and country for promotional purposes in media without further payment or consideration.

General Conditions. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond their reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Contest, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion. In such an event, the Sponsors reserve the right to award the prize at random from among eligible entries received up to the time of impairment. Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion; to disqualify any individual they find to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of this or any other contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other contest, or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage the Sponsors’ web sites or undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws and, should such and attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsors failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of this provision.

Release. By receipt of any prize, the winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsors and their respective related companies, franchisees, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

Limitations of Liability. By participating in this Contest, entrants hereby release Sponsors and promoters from any claims from: (1) incorrect or inaccurate transcription of entry information or late, lost, stolen, illegible, incomplete, misdirected, or entries received through impermissible or illegitimate channels, all of which will be disqualified; (2) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any telephone, computer, network, hardware or software; (3) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any service; (4) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (5) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; (6) any injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to entrant’s computer, which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the entrant’s participation in the Contest or from downloading any material from the Sponsors’ web sites, regardless of whether the material was prepared by the Sponsors or any third party, and regardless of whether the material is connected to the Sponsors’ web sites by hypertext link. If, for any reason, an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, the entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Prize drawing. If it is not possible to award another entry due to discontinuance of the Contest, or any part of it, Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may elect to hold a random draw from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed. Sponsors reserve the right to award only the stated number of prizes by random drawing among legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.

Disputes/Choice of Law. Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prizes awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by provincial court situated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including without limitation lost profits may be awarded [collectively, “Special Damages”], and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsors in connection with the Contest shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules [whether of the Province of Ontario or any other jurisdiction], which would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the Province of Ontario, Canada.

Data Collection/Opt-in Database. Personal information collected when you enter the Contest is subject to the privacy policies located on www.remax.ca.  By agreeing to the contest Terms & Conditions on the interactive touch-screen/iPad, our participating partners, Canada Blooms, Mouse Marketing, MarketPlace Events, Landscape Ontario and RE/MAX reserve the rights to send future promotional offers to participates who select and indicate interest in their products.  

Winner List. Winners will be posted at www.FitToSell.ca and www.FitToBuy.ca upon completion of the Contest.

Like A Hawke, 
Susan 

Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! 

You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Wednesday 13 March 2013

Tips for a brighter, more organized home

(NC)—Refreshing your home for warmer weather is easier than you might think. To create a brighter, lighter, more organized home, try these simple tips from Sally Morse, the director of creative services at Hunter Douglas, a leading name in custom window fashions:
• Clear Away
If cleaning and clearing away the clutter seems overwhelming, Morse has one simple trick to calm the nerves: “Try setting the kitchen timer for 15 minutes per area like the bedroom closet, pantry or foyer. Just telling yourself you're going to de-clutter the home in one weekend sounds draining,” she says. “Rather, split up the tasks into smaller ones so you stay focused and don't get lost in the process.” Make a list of all the areas you have to organize and space them out over a few days.
• Welcome in the Natural Light
Updating your window treatments is an uplifting and impactful décor change that can easily be made. New window fashions will not only look stylish and beautifully filter light for a glowing room, they will also provide unlimited practical benefits. Morse suggests using Nantucket window shadings (from Silhouette) a line that is streamlined and casual and also features soft fabric vanes suspended between two sheer facings. These window coverings allow you to have a view and, even with the vanes open, they filter up to 88 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays. What's more, they are now offered with a cordless lifting system for enhanced child safety and a clean look.
• Bring Nature In
As Mother Earth comes to life again, it's a great time to bring that life indoors with easy-to-maintain plants and flowers. Try the cast iron Japanese perennial, one of the toughest species available. Nearly indestructible, it withstands low light, low humidity and a wide range of temperatures. Additionally, to make your indoor and outdoor spaces feel more seamless, use the same planters on your patio and entryway as in your foyer and kitchen. Lastly, don't forget about the flowers, add bouquets to spread a cheerful dose of colour around the home.
• Lemony Fresh
Appeal to all five senses with this year's updates. After your initial scrub and sorting and clearing of clutter, extend that fresh scent by adding a lemon-scented diffuser. They are a great way to bring a pleasing, calming scent into your home, while avoiding the potential danger of burning candles. Purchase the diffuser or try creating one affordably yourself.
• Lighter Linens
For a refresher that goes a long way, try brightening up the home with lighter fabrics. The update can awaken nearly every room from the living room, bedroom and bathroom to the kitchen. Swap out heavier, darker fabrics such as rugs, pillow covers, and towels for lighter ones both in texture and colour. Top beds with a lightweight blanket, folding the comforter and placing it at the foot of the bed for chilly evenings.
With a little work and a few additions, you can happily enjoy the coming months with a clean, orderly, beautiful home.
More information is available online at www.hunterdouglas.ca.
www.newscanada.com




Bring Nature In: Make your indoor and outdoor spaces feel seamless by adding similar plants and flowers indoors.


Lighter Linens: Brighten up the home with soft, light-toned fabrics and energy-saving Duette honeycomb shades at the window.


Welcome in the Natural Light: Nothing says warmer weather like a sun-soaked room, be sure to create a livable one with Nantucket window shadings.

Like A Hawke, Susan Please check out my current listings and together we'll discover your real estate needs. If you know anyone buying or selling I'd love to help them! You can follow me on Twitter: @susanhawkesells Instagram: @susanhawke Pinterest: @SusanHawke Facebook Page: Susan Hawke Remax Sales Representative Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Canada

Tuesday 12 March 2013

The RE/MAX Win Your Down Payment Contest

 


OFFICIAL RULES for Ontario-Atlantic Region: 

The RE/MAX Win Your Down Payment Contest

Contest Rules

Introduction. To enter The RE/MAX Win Your Down Payment Contest [the “Contest”], participants are required to register by completing an online ballot form residing at www.FitToSell.ca or www.FitToBuy.ca or enter via any of the interactive kiosks/iPads located at one of the participating home shows/consumer shows that RE/MAX is involved with or has sponsored.

Timing. The Contest begins 12:01p.m. Eastern Standard Time [“EST”] on January 28, 2013 and ends 3:59p.m. EST on December 3, 2013 [the “Contest Period”].



Eligibility. The Contest is open to legal residents of Canada (except residents of Quebec), who are nineteen [19] years of age and older at the time of entry. Employees, officers and directors of RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Inc., RE/MAX of Western Canada, Mouse Marketing Inc., [the Contest Sponsors] their respective partners, subsidiaries, contractors and agents, or any person who is domiciled with any of the foregoing persons are not eligible. Their immediate family members, defined as parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandparents and household members are not eligible. By participating in and/or receiving a prize, registrants agree to abide by these Official Rules and decisions of the Sponsors, which are final and binding in all respects. Void in Quebec and where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary. One (1) entry per person regardless of point of entry.


How to Enter. During the Contest Period, consumers who enter at www.FitToSell.ca or www.FitToBuy.ca from January 28, 2013 or who enter via any of the interactive kiosks/iPads located at any of the participating home shows are eligible. There is no fee for registering.


Winner Selection. On December 10th, 2013 the Sponsors will randomly select one [1] potential Grand Prize winner from all eligible entries. The selected entrant will be contacted by phone and/or email within two [2] days of the draw. If a selected entrant cannot be contacted after three [3] attempts, he or she forfeits the prize and another entrant may, at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsors, be selected. The odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries.

Requirements of Potential Prize Winners. Potential prize winners will be notified by phone and/or email. Except where prohibited, potential prize winners must return to the Sponsor, within ten [10] days of being notified, a Declaration of Compliance [“Declaration”] to claim his/her prize. If the potential winner cannot be contacted, or fails to sign and return the Declaration within ten [10] days he/she forfeits the prize. In the event a potential prize winner is disqualified for any reason, the Sponsors will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all remaining eligible entries. Potential winners will be required to correctly answer a time-limited skill testing question without any assistance in order to be eligible to receive a prize or the prize will be forfeited. In order to be declared as the official grand prize winner of The RE/MAX Win Your Down Payment Contest, the Grand Prize winner must complete a real estate transaction with the representation from a RE/MAX Real Estate Agent who is in good standing with RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Canada Inc. (Ontario/Atlantic Regional Office) before December 31st, 2014. The down payment amount is equal to 5% of the purchase price of the property to a maximum of $15,000.00 (Fifteen Thousand). The funds will be released to the winner at the time of closing the real estate transaction.

Prizing.

RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic Inc. will provide one [1] Grand Prize as follows:

A cheque that is equal to 5% of the purchase price to a maximum of $15,000.00 is to be applied as/to the down payment in a real estate transaction, towards the purchase a home before December 31st, 2014. One [1] cheque in the maximum amount of $15,000.00 is to be payable to the winner. The Contest winner is solely responsible for any additional fees (closing costs, taxes, mortgage loan insurance etc.) associated with but not limited to the full real estate transaction. RE/MAX is not responsible or liable for any fees or cost to the prize winner. RE/MAX is not liable for any prize if the winner does not meet the aforementioned Requirements of Potential Prize Winner.
Winner will be responsible for all federal, provincial and local taxes and other fees associated with prize receipt and use. No substitution, assignment or transfer of prizes will be permitted, except by the Sponsors, who reserve the right to substitute a prize with another prize of greater or equal value if prize cannot be awarded as stated. Prizes must be accepted as awarded and is, except at the sole discretion of the Contest Sponsors.

Publicity. Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes the winner’s consent to the Sponsors’ use of the winner’s name, likeness, hometown, province and country for promotional purposes in media without further payment or consideration.

General Conditions. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond their reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Contest, as determined by the Sponsors in their sole discretion. In such an event, the Sponsors reserve the right to award the prize at random from among eligible entries received up to the time of impairment. Sponsors reserve the right, in their sole discretion; to disqualify any individual they find to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of this or any other contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other contest, or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage the Sponsors’ web sites or undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest may be a violation of criminal and civil laws and, should such and attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsors failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of this provision.

Release. By receipt of any prize, the winner agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsors and their respective related companies, franchisees, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.

Limitations of Liability. By participating in this Contest, entrants hereby release Sponsors and promoters from any claims from: (1) incorrect or inaccurate transcription of entry information or late, lost, stolen, illegible, incomplete, misdirected, or entries received through impermissible or illegitimate channels, all of which will be disqualified; (2) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to the malfunctioning of any telephone, computer, network, hardware or software; (3) the unavailability or inaccessibility of any service; (4) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (5) electronic or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; (6) any injury or damage to persons or property, including but not limited to entrant’s computer, which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from the entrant’s participation in the Contest or from downloading any material from the Sponsors’ web sites, regardless of whether the material was prepared by the Sponsors or any third party, and regardless of whether the material is connected to the Sponsors’ web sites by hypertext link. If, for any reason, an entrant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, the entrant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Prize drawing. If it is not possible to award another entry due to discontinuance of the Contest, or any part of it, Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may elect to hold a random draw from among all eligible entries received up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In the event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than stated number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed. Sponsors reserve the right to award only the stated number of prizes by random drawing among legitimate, un-awarded, eligible prize claims.

Disputes/Choice of Law. Except where prohibited, entrant agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims, and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prizes awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by provincial court situated in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) no punitive, incidental, special, consequential or other damages, including without limitation lost profits may be awarded [collectively, “Special Damages”], and (4) entrant hereby waives all rights to claim Special Damages and all rights to have such damages multiplied or increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and Sponsors in connection with the Contest shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the Laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules [whether of the Province of Ontario or any other jurisdiction], which would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction other than the
Province of Ontario, Canada.

Data Collection/Opt-in Database. Personal information collected when you enter the Contest is subject to the privacy policies located on www.remax-oa.com. By agreeing to the contest terms & conditions on the interactive touch-screen, our participate partners, RE/MAX reserves the rights to send future promotional offers to participates who select and indicate interest in their products.
Winner List. Winners will be posted at www.FitToSell.ca and www.FitToBuy.ca upon completion of the Contest

Individuals who are entering into the RE/MAX Choose & Win Contest (Win Your Down Payment or Get Curbalicous) can only enter into 1 (one) contest not booth. Potential entrants must choose which contest they would like enter


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