Jiffy News

Toronto and Calgary lead the way in April home sales

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:20:50 +0000

A new report by the Canadian Real Estate Association shows real estate markets in Toronto and Calgary are booming, while other cities and parts of the country may be starting to cool off.

Most point to Canada's current real estate market as one of the hottest in the world, but the current boom is being driven by several high-profile cities. Overall, home sales in Canada were up 11.5 percent in April compared to a year earlier, reports Reuters. However, several cities were more responsible for this rise than others.

Toronto continues to be the most consistent city in terms of high sales, with a 14.5 percent increase in April, beating the national average. Yet it was Calgary that saw the biggest surge in growth compared to the previous year, with a 30.3 percent uptick.

Meanwhile, the real estate market has cooled off in Vancouver, which was previously enjoying rapid gains. Sales fell 13.2 percent in April, and prices were down nearly 10 percent as well.

Those moving to Toronto or any other city may want to look into self storage facilities to help them get settled. Renting a storage unit at an affordable self storage facility in Toronto can be a great way for new homeowners to store their items, rather than moving everything in on one hectic day.

Jiffy Self Storage, a leader in Toronto storage solutions, is currently running a contest on their website for a free iPad 3. Visitors to the site simply need to match a few Canadian landmarks and they'll be entered to win the iPad or one of several other prizes.

Tips for a successful yard sale

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:20:19 +0000

Many homeowners may have used spring cleaning to organize their house, and it's not uncommon to find items that are no longer useful. One way to get rid of these items – and make a little cash in the process – is to hold a yard sale.

Holding a yard sale isn't a major undertaking, but those who put more effort into their sale can walk away with a bit more money in their pocket and a few more items sold, reports Moneyville. A good idea is to get the entire neighborhood to throw yard sales at the same time – this will attract many more customers who can go from house to house. Even if you are the only one holding a yard sale, advertising is important. Putting signs up around town is a good idea, but don't forget to use free websites such as Craigslist or UsedEverywhere to get the word out.

Even if your yard sale is very successful, it's unlikely you'll sell everything. However, that doesn't mean you should put the items back in your house, where they'll just take up more space. Consider renting a self storage unit in order to give yourself some extra room for these items.

Self storage can be a smart way to hang on to valuable items without taking up room in a house or apartment. For Toronto storage solutions, there's no better than Jiffy Self Storage. Those interested in self storage should check out the affordable rates on Jiffy's website, where they can also enter to win a free iPad 3.

First-time home buyers shouldn’t stretch their mortgage budget

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 03:18:35 +0000

Buying a home for the first time can be a scary experience for just about everyone, as it's a major decision with big financial implications. Moneyville blogger Krystal Yee recently completed her first year in a new home and offered up some tips for those considering their first purchase.

The top tip Yee offers is to buy for less than you can afford. Yee was approved for a $300,000 mortgage, but ultimately settled on a home that cost $238,000. This left her with more money for home improvement and savings. In addition, Yee opted to increase her mortgage payments in both size and frequency to get the home paid off quicker, cutting down drastically on the amount she'll spend on interest and ensuring she remains ahead on her mortgage.

Those who decide on a less expensive house may want to consider investing in a self storage unit. Often, it's more financially sound to rent at an affordable self storage facility in Toronto or other cities in order to get some extra space. This is a nice solution for those who want to avoid paying extra for a garage, basement or closet space where these items might usually go.

Talk of Canadian housing bubble overblown, analysts say

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:15:44 +0000

In recent months, Canada's housing market has been described as a "bubble," an economic turn referring to a steep price increase shortly before a huge collapse. Bubbles can be dangerous for real estate markets especially, because the devaluing of a home could mean that homeowners end up owing more than their house is worth.

In cities like Toronto where the real estate market is hot and prices have surged in recent months, many economists have warned that the growth is unsustainable and the market is primed to collapse. However, not everyone agrees with this assessment, reports Bloomberg. Gordon Nixon, CEO of the Royal Bank of Canada, recently came out to say that the talk of a bubble was overblown.

"When we look at the overall marketplace, there might be pockets of vulnerability but we remain quite comfortable," Nixon told the news source. "Frankly, I’d like to see the rhetoric come down a little bit."

Nixon isn't the sole voice of dissent. Both the Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. and the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage says there's no real evidence that would indicate the market is in a bubble phase.

While analysts disagree over the bubble, most homebuyers are simply concerned with rising prices. One way for buyers to save money is by renting in a cheap Toronto self storage facility. This is an affordable way to save money on extra space without breaking the bank.

Canadian housing prices continue to rise

admin — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:14:56 +0000

Prices on Canadian real estate continue to rise, as the most recent report from Statistics Canada shows an overall jump of 0.3 percent in the month of March.

For the twelfth-straight month, prices for Canadian housing rose. The 0.3 percent increase was ahead of a 0.2 percent jump expected by analysts, according to Reuters. The figure was also a full 2.6 percent higher than March of 2011, outpacing a 2.3 percent year-on-year gain in February.

Some cities saw a bigger price increase than others. The city of Toronto is widely acknowledged as the hot real estate market of the moment, and the numbers back that up, as the city rose 0.6 percent in price for the month. Several other cities cooled off – namely the British Columbia city of Victoria, where prices dropped 0.7 percent.

The rising cost of buying a home can mean buyers end up with a place smaller than they were expecting. One way to counteract this is by renting a self storage unit to hold the things that don't have a place for in the home. This is a great replacement for a garage or basement, which buyers may not be able to afford if they're shopping within a city.

Seniors deal with clutter issue

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:16:43 +0000

Numerous television shows have cast a light on the practice known as hoarding, where junk piles up to unacceptable levels in a person's home. While many seniors suffer from the disorder, others simply have lots of clutter to deal with, reports the Sacramento Bee.

Lois Gaddis, 85, is a prime example of a senior who has trouble throwing items away due to sentimental value. The Sacramento Bee reports that her home is nowhere like the people seen on the reality TV shows, but still has stacks of magazines, greeting cards and various other items in just about every room of her home.

"As you can see, I'm probably the queen of clutter," she told the news source. "I'm not proud of living like this. My husband was an officer in the Air Force. We did not live like this. The house was wonderful and orderly and easy to maintain."

Researchers say the issue isn't quite considered hoarding for many seniors, as the items may not be completely useless and the situation usually doesn't get out of control. Instead, most of the items simply have "sentimental value" and were acquired over an entire lifetime.

Seniors too attached to their sentimental items may want to look into self storage facilities rather than throw the items away. This way, the items will be easily accessible if needed, but won't take up space in an apartment or home.

Selling a home by yourself – a smart idea?

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:20:41 +0000

Real estate agents can be extraordinarily helpful with selling a home, but the service doesn't come cheap – all agents take a commission based on the final sale price of the home. Thus, many buyers who want to avoid these fees and walk away with more money in their pocket are opting to instead sell the house on their own, reports Moneysense.ca.

While this can save money, buyers need to understand that it'll be much more work without a real estate agent. For starters, agents take care of their own – and if you're selling a house by yourself, don't expect other realtors to begin lining up potential customers for you. You'll likely have to do the legwork yourself in reaching potential buyers.

Those selling on their own will also need to study the market in order to determine the appropriate price for their home. Realtors have much more knowledge of the local market and what homes are selling for, so their pricing may be more accurate. Thus, home sellers need to ensure that they get the price right, or that money they're saving on commission will quickly evaporate.

One idea that could help homeowners going it solo is an open house. This gets a lot of people into the home at once and can help set up a potential deal. It's important that those holding an open house look into home staging. This is where a buyer puts some of their items into self storage in order to make the house look more attractive, which has been shown to drive up the final price.

U.S. federal government recommends off-site storage for important documents

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:19:52 +0000

Getting organized can be a challenge for many people, but there are a number of important documents that are always a good idea to have handy. Protecting these documents is of the utmost importance, so those who don't have a filing system in place should think about taking the time to figure one out.

USA.gov recommends everyone has a filing system for important documents from the federal government and other sources. This includes bank statements, birth certificates, wills, tax records, insurance information and much more. Disorganized people are at a risk for losing these important files, and thus need to come up with a way to ensure they have them handy at all times, along with taking precautions for unexpected events.

For example, USA.gov recommends investing in off-site storage for important documents. It may be beneficial to look into a self storage facility where copies of these critical files can be stored. Beyond document storage, self storage facilities can also serve as extra space for other items, making the investment worth it. The general idea behind off-site storage is that the documents will be protected in case of a fire or theft at your residence.

As the world grows digital, many are turning to online storage for their documents. However, it's always a good idea to have physical backups. Jiffy Self Storage is a leader in Toronto storage and can provide plenty of space for important files and other items. Those interested in learning more should visit Jiffy's website, where they can enter to win a free iPad 3.

Home staging can make a house or apartment more valuable

admin — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:51:45 +0000

Homeowners looking to sell frequently turn to an open house in order to let a large number of people see their home quickly and efficiently. However, it's important that those holding an open house or showing their home to potential buyers make it look its best. This is where home staging comes into play.

Two Canadian interior designers recently gave YourHome.ca some tips for home staging. The basic idea behind this concept is to put effort into making a home look nice, thus driving up the sales price. Ideally, home staging should be done as affordable as possible, as the idea is all about maximizing profit on the home.

Much of the advice is centered around de-cluttering the house, and this is where affordable self storage in Toronto and other Canadian cities can be beneficial. Cleaning out closets and leaving a minimum amount of furniture makes the house look more open and spacious, which will in turn drive up the price. In these cases, renting at a self storage facility essentially pays for itself.

Other tips include matching shower curtains and rugs for the bathroom, ensuring all doors open properly, mopping the floor in the kitchen and removing all traces of cigarettes and other odors.

Understanding Canada’s immigration point system

admin — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:02:21 +0000

Those considering moving to Canada from another country have likely encountered the point system the country uses to determine qualified applicants.

Professionals who have a formal education have a good chance of being accepted to Canada through their skilled workers program. Essentially, this is a series of questions that each award the applicant points. Applicants with 67 or more points qualify for immigration, according to WorkPermit.com. Similar systems are used in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Points are awarded in a variety of categories. Education can earn up to 25 points for a PhD, or at least 20 points for most college graduates. Those who speak both English and French can earn 24 points, although fluency in one of these languages still earns 16. Previous work experience, age, arranged employment and providing proof of funds can all contribute points as well.

Those who are moving to Canada either permanently or temporarily may be overwhelmed when they first get to the country. It can be helpful for new arrivals to rent a storage unit for a few months until they're settled in. Self storage facilities in Toronto and other Canadian cities are a great way to hold onto valuables until they can be moved to a permanent living arrangement.