New Year, New Wardrobe?

For those of you have resolved to keep your wardrobes tidy and organized this year, we’ve just heard that IKEA is offering some great deals on closet organizers and accessories in their Storage Event!

Some budget-friendly buys include 20% off PAX wardrobes and KOMPLEMENT interiors. These incredibly flexible wardrobe systems come in all kinds of shapes and sizes so that you can tailor your storage space to suit your individual style.

The Storage Event is on at IKEA until February 14, but remember: if you make an eligible purchase before February 1, you can still qualify for the Home Renovation Tax Credit!

Hints & Tips For Condo Living: Protect Your Belongings

For space-limited condo dwellers, storage lockers offered in the building can be of enormous value. It isn’t uncommon for such spaces to be located in underground garage areas, so it’s not a bad idea to keep in mind that occasional leaks can happen. To protect your belongings, consider the following options:

• Place smaller, compact items into stackable plastic bins to optimize a small space while keeping things tidy and protected not only from water, but also dust and dirt. Clear bins will allow you to see what’s inside each box with ease, such as the SAMLA storage line offered by IKEA.

• Items that are used more frequently can be placed on raised, open shelving units for ease of access. The BRODER shelving system by IKEA is a sturdy, freestanding option for awkward spaces where drilling may not be possible. The product is available in different sizes and configurations, but we generally find that the smallest units, such as the 1-section L-foot,  work best for condo lockers which are typically on the narrow side.  The GORM shelving system is also a customizable, budget-friendly alternative.

• Bulkier items can be placed on small wooden pallets or skids, similar to those used by retail stores and warehouses, which will keep them off the ground in case of leaks.

Special thanks to one of our readers for sharing their experience with us and inspiring this post!

Update From Sales Centre Visit: Gibson Square (North York)

The Livehigh Team recently visited the Sales Centre for Gibson Square.

The project will be located in North York, at Yonge St and Park Home Ave, north of Sheppard Ave.

For more details, please click here to access the Gibson Square condo page.

Reminder: Don’t Miss The HRTC Deadline!

a.k.a. Must All Good Things Come To An End?

As most of you know, the Government generously offered a temporary incentive for homeowners to undertake new home renovations last year.

Since January-end of 2009, Canadians have been benefitting from this Home Renovation Tax Credit (HRTC) for eligible expenditures on work performed or goods acquired.  With savings of up to $1,350 on new home reno projects, it's almost a crime not to redo your backsplash with that gorgeous glass subway tile you've been eyeing all year!

If you think you're ineligible for this credit just because your home happens to sit 20 levels above ground, you're (fortunately) mistaken!  In fact, condo owners may have an additional opportunity to cash in on the credit for renovations made to common areas outside their individual units, as detailed in this great article from yourhome.ca.

Sadly - as with all good things - the HRTC initiative must come to an end. There isn’t much time left to take advantage of this great opportunity, so hurry up and revamp that kitchen or bath before February 1!

For more information on the HRTC and eligible expenditures, click here.

The Latest Buzz: Burj Khalifa

Published in many newspapers worldwide, the latest buzz in the world of high-rises is the Burj Khalifa (formerly called Burj Dubai), now officially the world’s tallest building.  It celebrated its grand opening in Dubai on January 4, 2010.

The building is 2,717 ft high, beating former record-holder Taipei 101.  With 160 floors of private residences, an Armani hotel and office/retail space, the Burj Khalifa holds a number of world records such as tallest skyscraper, highest outdoor observation deck and tallest service elevator, just to name a few!

It's been reported that over 90% of the Burj's 1,000+ apartment units have been sold, and at its peak, some units reportedly went for over $1,900/sf.  Now, a 669-sf studio apartment can be yours starting at a mere 2.8M AED (the equivalent of just under $800,000!)  

Amidst Dubai's continued struggle to cope with its massive real esate collapse and the resulting reactions of financial markets around the world, the Burj Khalifa faces criticism and controversy from some journalists and financial commentators for its excessive and unneeded real estate, even cited as a being "vertical ghost town".  It's been speculated that much of its real estate was sold over three years ago, bought mostly for investment and will likely go unoccupied for the time being.  It's been further noted that the crash will cause a good number of buyers to abandon their deals.

What do you think about this?  Does the unveiling of the Burj Khalifa symbolize a lifestyle in excess or does it signify a positive uprise in global economies?

Regardless, we have to admit that there's something appealing about the shimmer and shine of this magnificent building.  The opening ceremony for the Burj included a display of fireworks and light beams along with sound, water and music effects.  To see it is to appreciate its scale:

Click here for a picture of the tower and its surroundings.

Click here to see how it compares to some of the world’s tall towers.

Click here for a video of the opening ceremony.

Attention Landlords & Tenants!

If you’re a renter, considering a rental or have a unit available for rent in Ontario*, this post is for you!

Many people don’t know that in Ontario, there are guidelines that every landlord and tenant must follow when entered into a lease agreement. These guidelines are set out in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), which gives residential landlords and tenants specific rights and responsibilities. The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) was created by the RTA, and as one of Ontario’s “quasi-judicial” agencies, functions almost like a court of law. The general role of the Board is to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants, regulate rent increases and educate landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the RTA.

Some of these rights and responsibilities may come as a surprise to many landlords or renters. The LTB has a comprehensive website that provides important information for all landlords and tenants, but we’ve highlighted some of the most popular topics covered after the jump.

And if you’re looking for a rental unit or have a unit available for lease, please visit our website to view available rentals or post your rental…free!

Season's Greetings From Livehigh.com!

All of us at Livehigh would like to thank you for your continuous support. Your comments and feedback are taken very seriously and will help us continue to shape and improve the website.

We wish you all a very safe & happy holiday season.

See you in the new year!

The Livehigh Team

Considerations When Buying A Condominium

In addition to price and location, there are other important factors that should be considered when making your home purchase. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has done a great job of creating a comprehensive guide to explain the basics of condo ownership and help potential buyers through the selection process.

The CMHC Condominium Buyers' Guide can be downloaded for free here.

We think this guide might be especially helpful for first-time buyers, and have highlighted some points of interest after the jump.

Hints & Tips For Condo Living: Deck The Halls…But Hold The Holly?

With the holidays just around the corner, many of us are getting into the spirit of the season by sprucing up our homes with a little festive décor. Before you shell out for that live evergreen however, you may want to check whether your building will allow it. Many condo boards don’t permit live trees to be used due to the fire hazards they can pose, and the mess they can cause in common areas (if you’ve ever tried to transport even one live pine tree, let alone say, 200 in a condo building, then you can probably picture the foliage rug that would result – not a pretty sight!)

While there’s nothing quite like the scent of fresh pine, artificial trees have come a long way over the years and there are some great alternatives for condo dwellers who want to have their Christmas tree (and put it up, too.)

Details after the jump...

Hints & Tips For Condo Living: Shoe Storage

38 pairs and counting...

Are your shoes invading what is already a limited space?  Not sure what to do with all those shoes scattered all over the floor?

A practical option is to use a bookcase to customize your own shoe-shelving unit.  We like the BILLY Bookcase from IKEA - it's not only style-savvy but also budget-conscious!  And with its many different designs, it provides a world of options for custom shelving.

 Benefits:

• Available in a wide variety of heights, widths, and colours, the BILLY Bookcase fits into many different spaces with ease, and matches almost any decor;
• Different styles can be mixed and matched to customize your ideal storage space;
• An economical option for custom closet shelving, starting at only $29.99 (CAD);
• Quick and easy to assemble;  
• Additional shelves can be purchased separately so that your storage unit can be tailored to fit as many types and pairs of shoes needed.
• Placement suggestions for small spaces;
• The 41-inch bookcase can fit into the coat closet by the entrance of your home, still leaving enough room to hang your jackets above.
• The bookcase is shallow enough to fit into the gap behind a bedroom door.

Considerations:

• The shelves may not be deep enough for larger sizes (but remember, shoes can be lined up from back-to-front or side-to-side).
• Adding a liner or shelf-protector sheet can help to reduce wear-and-tear from dirt and water.
• You may be able to find the bookcase online at a discount (e.g. Kijiji or Craigslist).