2 Open Houses-Sunday, May 20th

104 Ch de l'Ile, Ile-Cadieux

$889,000

MLS 8736713

Visite Libre

Dimanche, 20 mai

2-4 hrs.

2560 Julien, Saint-Lazare

$379,000

MLS 8617843

Open House, Sunday, May 20th

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Curb Appeal

How to Improve Curb Appeal

Home Selling Advice to Help You Attract Potential Buyers

 http://video.royallepage.ca/mediadetail/6416697-Curb-Appeal
 http://videos.royallepage.ca/mediadetail/6416745-L%27attrait-ext%C3%A9rieur

A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appeal—the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure they want to come inside your house by spending some time working on the its exterior appearance.
It's difficult to look at our own house in the same way that potential home buyers do, because when we become accustomed to the way something looks and functions, we can't see its faults. Decide right now to stop thinking of the property as a home. It's a house—a commodity you want to sell for the highest dollar possible.

Curb Appeal Exercise

The next time you come home, stop across the street or far enough down the driveway to get a good view of the house and its surroundings.

1. What is your first impression of the house and yard area?
2. What are the best exterior features of the house or lot? How can you enhance them?
3. What are the worst exterior features of the house or lot? How can you minimize or improve them?

Park where a potential buyer would and walk towards the house, looking around you as if it were your first visit. Is the approach clean and tidy? What could you do to make it more attractive?
Take photos of the home's exterior. If you have a digital camera, view the color versions first, then remove the color and look at it in black and white, because it's easier to see problems when color isn't around to affect our senses.
Make a list of the problem areas you discovered. Tackle clean up and repair chores first, then put some time into projects that make the grounds more attractive.

• Kill mold and mildew on the house, sidewalks, roof, or driveway.
• Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools.
• Clean windows and gutters.
• Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.
• Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks.
• Mow the lawn. Get rid of weeds.
• Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded.
• Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home's roof.

Don't Forget the Rear View

Buyers doing a drive by will try their best to see your back yard. If it's visible from another street or from someone's driveway, include it in your curb appeal efforts.

Evening Curb Appeal

Do your curb appeal exercise again at dusk, because it isn't unusual for potential buyers to drive by houses in the evening.
One quick way to improve evening curb appeal is with lighting:

• String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near important landscaping elements.
  
• Add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch.
  
• Make sure lighting that's visible through front doors and windows enhances the home's appearance.

Landscaping Decisions

There are times that adding elements to your landscaping can improve curb appeal, but there are other times when removing something is even more effective.
For example, we had a listing for a large brick house with large white columns. Tall evergreens, planted in front of each column, had grown taller than the roof. They obscured the columns and windows and made it difficult to see the front of the house.
We suggested that the owner remove them. She trimmed them back, but it didn't do the trick—they were unattractive and still kept potential buyers from seeing the true character of the house.
I sold the house to a couple who could see past the trees. One of their first tasks after closing was to yank them out of the ground, instantly boosting the home's curb appeal.
Most buyers cannot visualize changes, and often won't take a second look at a house if the first look doesn't appeal to them. Home buyers who can visualize changes, and are prepared to make them, expect you to reduce the price of the house to compensate for the work they plan to do.

A Few Curb Appeal Tips

• If you can budget it, a fresh paint job does wonders for a dingy house. Drive around your town to find color schemes that are appealing.
• Install a more attractive front door, maybe something with leaded glass inserts.
• If you can't justify the cost of a new door, consider replacing plain doorknob hardware with something more attractive.
• If new hardware is beyond your budget, repaint or stain the door and polish the hardware?

If you brainstorm, you'll find that there's a solution to most problems—one that lets you stay within your budget. The trick is to find the areas where improvements are needed, then work on them as best you can.

Paul and Diane Laflamme

Diane Laflamme

Courtier Immobilier

Royal LePage Village

4000 Saint-Jean, DDO

514.684.1141

514.715.4514

Paul Laflamme

Courtier Immobilier

Royal LePage Village

472B Main Road, Hudson

450.458.5365

514.793.4514

Mother's Day.....is this Sunday

Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13th

What are you doing for your Mom?

Merci/Thank

Thank you and merci to all Broker's who came to our Luncheon/Inspection today at 2584 Ecusson, Saint-Lazare. We appreciate your support! Paul and Diane Laflamme, Royal LePage Village.

2584 Ecusson, Saint-Lazare

$639,000

Marketplace - In Denial

Excellent information.

Mortgage insurance is meant to offer peace of mind. Most people pay the premiums and think they're covered. But some have discovered - when it's too late - that they aren't.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe61HVGIwUo

What will be the next Instagram?

I love Instagram!

Facebook’s willingness to pay $1 billion to buy the 12-person start-up Instagram has Silicon Valley venture capitalists happily re-doing their math on the potential value of hot young companies.

The fact that Facebook was the buyer is itself seen as a big plus for the valuation of startups that may be adding subscribers rapidly but in some cases are still far from being profitable or ready for the public markets.

Until now, “it’s really just been Google,” said Jeremy Liew, a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners who backs LivingSocial and others. “You really can’t get an auction with only one bidder.”


The price paid for Instagram, a company with no revenue, will also make it easier for potential acquirers to justify spending big for something perceived as strategic, according to Jeff Clavier, managing partner at SoftTech VC.

Some venture capitalists think Instagram was a one-off.

“It’s certainly an outlier from a valuation standpoint,” said Matt Murphy, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers who manages its $200 million iFund. “There was a big strategic concern or threat there” for Facebook, he said.

Investors also caution that the dynamics that enable so-called Web 2.0 companies like Instagram to gain huge numbers of customers very quickly can also cut the other way.
One need only look at Highlight, a location-based social application for iPhones that was all the rage early last month and is now almost forgotten, or even Turntablefm, which lets far-flung friends listen to music together and has lost buzz after acclaim last summer.

Still, companies with certain characteristics — massive growth in users or a competitive edge in mobile applications, for example — could be in the hunt for a 10-figure payday. Here are some of the hottest prospects:

PINTEREST
WHAT IT IS: A virtual pinboard that lets people easily assemble pictures and other bits of content online. Users follow each other, Twitter-style, and comment on each others’ pins, which can include anything from hot cars to vacation destinations. The nature of the content makes it e-commerce-friendly, and tremendous growth over the past six months puts it at the heart of the social networking revolution.
“If anyone wanted to make a counter-statement to Facebook, Pinterest would be a good way,” said Clavier, who is not an investor in the site.
FUNDING TO DATE: $37.5 million from Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners and others. An investor told BusinessInsider last month the company was now worth $1 billion, up from the $200 million valuation it claimed in October at its last funding round.
KEY FACT: User base has grown to 19 million from 2 million in just six months, according to comScore Inc.
WHO ARE THESE GUYS: Founders Paul Sciarra and Ben Silbermann met at Yale. Half the 200 emails Silbermann sent to his friends asking them to join Pinterest at its launch went unopened.

TUMBLR
WHAT IT IS: A blogging service that allows for mixed media posts, such as pictures with short captions.
“It’s in the same space as Pinterest,” said John Lilly of Greylock Partners, who worked on the $50 million funding round that Instagram wrapped up just before its sale to Facebook. “But it’s significantly bigger than Pinterest is on almost every single metric.”
FUNDING TO DATE: $125 million from Greylock, Sequoia and others.
In September 2011, Tumblr was valued at $800 million.
KEY FACT: High level of engagement, with users creating 14 original posts each month on average, Tumblr says.
WHO ARE THESE GUYS: Founder David Karp, doing Harvard drop-outs like Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg one better, quit the Bronx High School of Science at age 15. Spark Capital and Union Square Capital were two of Tumblr’s earliest investors, as they were at Twitter.

New Water Front Listing!

Waterfront!

104 Chemin de L'Ile, Ile-Cadieux

$889,000

Gorgeous waterfront property in the second smallest municipality in Quebec. This well maintained bungalow has breath taking views of Ile Cadieux Bay. The bay has calm waters and the property offers deep water mooring. This home has a long history dating back to 1917.The property has a 3 tiered stone wall completely fronting on the lake. Enjoy the panoramics views from the sunroom which has 48 feet of windows.

This is paradise.

  L'Île-Cadieux is a village and municipality in the Montérégie region of Quebec, Canada.  It is located on and contiguous with Cadieux Island, which projects into Lake of Two Mountains just north off Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 128.

Fence Me In

Fence Me In: Ideas for Defining Your Outdoor Space

Good fences make good neighbours – and the right fence can really make your yard. These steps can help you find a style that works for your space.

Step 1: Determine your needs
First, figure out the purpose of your fence. Do you want it to provide privacy? Beautify your yard? Keep kids or pets in? Comply with pool safety standards? Define your property lines? Add to the value of your home? Determining your needs can help you choose the right fence for you.
Step 2: Choose your style
- Private. A solid-board fence blocks an unattractive view completely, but it also cuts out light and breezes and can make you feel boxed in.
- Semi-private. This style, which can have subtle spacing, louvers or lattice to let in light, is friendly, comfortable, and makes your yard feel bigger.
- Open. Great if you want to enclose your property but don’t want to block it off visually.
Step 3: Select your material
Your options are limited only by your imagination and, of course, your budget.
Chain-link. Definitely the most cost-effective choice, but not necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing. It’s good for defining boundaries, keeping kids and pets in, and maintaining a sense of openness. If you’ve got a big yard and a small budget, this is the way to go.
Wood. Styles range from split rail and picket fences to board-on-board styles that look great on both sides and offer privacy, yet let in air and light. The downside to wood? It needs regular maintenance to look good over time.
PVC/vinyl. Vinyl fencing looks just like painted wood, but you’ll never need to paint it – all you have to do is clean it once a year.
Iron, aluminum or steel. Use it if you want an open, formal look. Aluminum, which looks like wrought iron but is less expensive, is the most budget-friendly choice. If cost isn’t an issue, custom ironwork is an excellent way to incorporate a fence or gate that’s completely unique.
Natural “fencing.” Hedges and shrubs reduce noise and dust better than a fence, are less expensive, and look lush and beautiful. You’ll just have to be patient while your “fence” grows in.
A great-looking fence adds tremendous value to your home – whether it’s resale value or your own enjoyment of it over the years. Think carefully about your needs and your personal style, then go ahead and build a fence you’ll love.
Be nice to your neighbours.
Talk to them before you do anything. Choose a design that looks good from both sides, and make sure you know exactly where your property lines are.
Think outside the box.
You may not need to surround your whole yard to get the privacy you want. Consider using a fence to screen in a sitting area or create an outdoor room.

Clash of cultures on the way?

Companies need to prepare for up to six generations in the workplace

A career military man and veteran of the Korean War, Richard Waterson toed the line and respected his superiors throughout his work life. The Edmonton senior, now a community volunteer, says he's troubled that both values appear to be in decline.
"Today, the younger generation seems to want everything without doing anything," says Waterson, who at 80 says he's discouraged by how frequently he encounters self-interest, disdain and disengagement among those his junior. "When I was growing up, you respected [your elders] thoroughly."
If the immortal lyrics of Aretha Franklin seem applicable now, just wait.
In the coming decades, labour analysts predict there could be as many as six generations working alongside each other - a situation they say could plague organizations that aren't prepared for the inevitable clash in values, work ethic and, indeed, respect.
"You're going to see lots of conflict between different levels of employees. But what it will really be is conflict between generations," says Linda Duxbury, a professor at the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University in Ottawa.
When Ofelia Isabel entered the corporate world, she says, she looked at her organization's senior employees with the utmost deference. The Toronto woman says she's not sure she'll command the same knee-jerk respect from young hires when it's her turn on top.
"I see it as an opportunity," says the member of the Canadian leadership team at Towers Watson, a global human-resources consultancy. "The respect will still be there, but it won't be automatic just because of having a title. It will have to be earned."
Divides are already being seen already these days between baby boomers, members of "Gen X" and those belonging to "Gen Y."
"It's amazing the number of times I'll have conversations with boomers, and some Gen Xers, who will just roll their eyes and say: 'Gen Y's work ethic is completely different. We're doomed,'" says Isabel. "They raised them, and yet they now struggle with what they created."
She suggests that to thrive in the new multi-generational culture, workplaces are going to have to start focusing less on seniority and hierarchy and instead place more emphasis on acquiring skills and relationship-building.
What are the perceived differences between baby boomers, Gen Xers and Gen Yers?
. Born between 1947 and 1964, baby boomers are often described these days as prioritizing benefits and a good pension. They're also, experts say, likely to question the work ethic of younger generations.
. Gen Xers, those born between 1964 and 1974, are generally believed to be bottom-line driven, but, at the same time, they're focused on work-life balance. They're said not to be looking for friends at the office and they expect good pay for their talent.
. Their successors from Gen Y -born between 1975 and 1990 - are known for their optimism, need for positive reinforcement and love of a team atmosphere, Duxbury says. But they don't respect workplace hierarchies as much as previous generations. They want flexible hours, challenging work and more vacation time.

Mike Cuma, an expert on human-resources and labour relations, says companies should already be considering ways in which these differences will affect them.
Near the top of that list are relationships.
Managing multiple generations simultaneously is going to be a challenge, he predicts.
"I can see younger people banding together in the workplace and the senior folks banding together into another group," says Cuma, a partner at Legacy Bowes Group in Winnipeg. "It's not good for teamwork, it's not good for getting things done and it's not good for the organization."
Among the other issues he highlights are situational dynamics (the eldest generation supervising the youngest or middle-aged workers supervising those much older than themselves); resistance to change (whether in office culture, technology or policy); scheduling considerations (more flexible shifts, allowances for extended leave and more sick days); and the potential for a polarized workforce.
Carleton's Duxbury, a pioneer in the field of organizational health, says she believes that, in the future, organizational structure will come to rely less on the traditional model of climbing the corporate ladder.
"Diversity will be so omnipresent that we won't categorize people by their age so much as ability," says Duxbury. "The older generations, however, will be more likely to be in the leadership roles, setting work culture and expectations."
Over the next 25 years, the number of Canadians over 65 will more than double, to 10.4 million. By 2051, analysts project there will be only 2.5 people aged 20 to 64 for every senior in Canada, compared to 4.7 in 2009.
In other words, the phenomenon of older people prolonging their time in the labour force - whether by choice or obligation - isn't likely to limit the entry of younger workers into the job market at that time.
But not everyone is convinced that delayed retirement, and the resulting changes in employee demographics, will turn organizations upside down. A number of leading experts in the field, in fact, predict it could be a good thing - provided companies are adaptable.
"Each time you introduce a new social segment into the workplace, management has to step back and ask themselves: "Is the way we've always done things still useful and necessary? Can we do things differently to accommodate the changing workforce?'" says Sandra Robinson, professor of organizational behaviour at the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business. "Asking such questions not only leads to smarter management practice, but also usually introduces flexibility that all employees - regardless of age - can gain from."
SHADES GREY OF
More people expect to keep working after age 65. Is the workplace ready for the revolution? A special series.
Monday: Will employers want workers in their 70s and 80s. They may have extra health care needs and declining abilities.
Tuesday: Researchers are working on innovations that help older employees bounce back from falls - a leading cause of injury.
Wednesday: As aging drivers take over rush hour, industry is eyeing everything from bigger fonts on street signs to car seats with heart monitors.
TODAY: Labour analysts predict there could be as many as six generations working alongside each other and organizations must prepare for a clash in values and work ethics.

By Misty Harris, Postmedia News

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun

 

 

Breaking your mortgage: ‘It’s either worth it or it’s not’

Fixed-rate mortgages are at historic lows but if you are locked in to a contract with your bank, those benefits may be yet elusive. First you have to do the math to see if breaking your contract is worth the penalties you may face.

“There is no grey area,” says Cindy David, a certified financial planner at Dupuis Langen Financial Management Ltd. in Vancouver. “It’s either worth it or it’s not.”

The big five banks are offering four and five year mortgages at just 2.99%.

“We’re even seeing 10-year fixed rate mortgages at 3.99%,” says Ms. David. “Think about that:  Interest and principal at 3.99% for 10 years. From a financial planning perspective if any client approached me and said ‘Should I look into breaking my mortgage?’ My answer would be yes.”

Step one comes down to meeting with your financial institution and doing the math to determine whether or not the cost of breaking your mortgage is worth the anticipated savings from the lower rates. The fact is the penalty for breaking a mortgage can be thousands of dollars and in many cases, the cost and the future savings cancel each other out, in which case you may be wise to wait until your mortgage is up for renewal.

 http://business.financialpost.com/author/maryteresabitti/

THE SPRING MARKET IS HERE!

Le marché de printemps est maintenant.
Appelez-nous pour une évaluation du marché libre de votre maison.

The spring market is here.
Call us for a free market evaluation of your home. 

Paul & Diane Laflamme

Royal LePage Village

450.458.5365

514.684.1141

Check out page 23 in this week's Your Local Journal Newspaper!

http://www.yourlocaljournal.ca/pdf/issue_wi.pdf

We service clients in Saint-Lazare/Hudson/Rigaud/Vaudreuil-Dorion + West Island & Montreal