Friday, May 30, 2014

Light Rail Transit Update for Waterloo Region - May, 2014


ION Update  
ION Update 
May 2014

 

Region finalizes agreement with GrandLinq;
costs lower than anticipated
 
The Region of Waterloo has finalized its agreement with GrandLinq to design, build, finance, operate and maintain ION Stage 1 light rail transit (LRT) between Kitchener and Waterloo. Due to the current favourable interest rate environment, construction financing costs are now $2.5 million lower than reported in March, and the 30-year financing costs have dropped by $11.5 million.
 
GrandLinq, made up of leading international organizations such as Plenary Group, Meridiam, Aecon, Kiewit, Aecom and Keolis, was approved by Council after a comprehensive evaluation of the proposals submitted from three short-listed teams. The agreement remains within the approved funding for operations and maintenance.
 
In the agreement, the Region of Waterloo will own the ION LRT system, including all infrastructure and vehicles; set the fares and the frequency of the service; be responsible for customer service and system-wide integration; collect all fare revenue, and monitor the performance of GrandLinq to ensure all service requirements are met. 
 
GrandLinq will take ION Stage 1 LRT to final design, build ION Stage 1 LRT (including related public works), and operate and maintain the system (including the Bombardier Flexity vehicles), all consistent with the Region's performance requirements.

 


 

aBRT tender closes
  
Adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT), which will link the Ainslie Street Terminal in Cambridge with Fairview Park Mall Transit Terminal in Kitchener, moved closer to implementation in May when the tendering process for aBRT improvements closed.
 
When Regional Council meets in June, the contract for aBRT improvements is expected to be awarded. The contract includes all construction works related to aBRT stops and intersection improvements. Construction is set to begin this summer with the service scheduled to commence in early 2015.
 
The ION aBRT service is a 17 kilometre route featuring vehicles running in mixed traffic with special features enabling faster, consistent and more convenient service. These features include limited stops, transit signal priority, queue jump lanes, bus bypass shoulders and passenger information display systems.
 
ION aBRT stops will be located at Fairview Park Mall (where LRT and aBRT meet), Sportsworld, Hespeler Road at Pinebush/Eagle Street, Cambridge Centre Mall, Can-Amera Parkway, the Delta Intersection (Hespeler Road at Coronation Boulevard) and the Ainslie Street Terminal.
ION Stage 2 will see the Region convert the aBRT service to LRT, creating a seamless 37 kilometre system of 23 stops between Cambridge and Waterloo. 
 
As part of this multi-phased plan to implement rapid transit in Waterloo Region, Council approved an allocation of one million dollars annually for ten years to implement transit-supportive strategies in Cambridge to increase ridership.
 
This month, Council approved the 2014 strategies, which include:
* the new Maple Grove iXpress
* detailed design and construction of new landscaping at the Ainslie Street Transit Terminal (pictured)
* a two-year marketing campaign for ION aBRT
* a two-year pilot project to encourage Cambridge businesses to join the TravelWise Transportation Management Association by providing free memberships
* the Groff Mill Creek Watershed Plan to establish floodplain policies that support new development between Groff Mill Creek and Hespeler Road
  
  

 


 

ION in the community
 
A number of ION community events are planned to take place throughout the summer.
 
On June 9, the Region of Waterloo welcomes Dr Vukan R. Vuchic for a public presentation 12 noon at Regional Headquarters, 150 Frederick Street. Dr Vuchic is one of the world's foremost scholars in transportation systems, engineering and planning and has been a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania for more than 40 years. He visits Waterloo Region to accept an Honorary Degree from the University of Waterloo on June 10.
 
His work on LRT is renowned throughout the world and his nomination for an Honorary Degree from the University of Waterloo is timely.
Dr Vuchic's free presentation is a great opportunity to engage with one of the world's most influential transit thinkers. 
 
 
 
 
On Thursday, June 19, Taras Grescoe, acclaimed author of Straphanger, will be the first speaker in the ION Community and Transit Talk Series. Grescoe will address transportation and sustainable transit for communities at Knox Presbyterian Church in Waterloo at 7 p.m. Grescoe's presentation is a free community event that will be followed by a short question and answer session.
 

Grescoe is a highly-respected non-fiction writer who has developed a reputation as a thought-leader on sustainable transportation, community building and transit.

 

Copies of Straphanger can be purchased at Words Worth Books in Waterloo before the event as well as on-site on June 19.

 

The ION Community and Transit Talk Series will bring relevant speakers to Waterloo Region to discuss timely, thought-provoking matters related to transportation, community building, transit and urban design. A second session in the series will take place in November.  
For more, click here http://bit.ly/1is1slj
 
 
 
 
The LRT vehicle will return to the Region July 4 to July 7. During two similar events last year, more than 3,000 residents took the opportunity to climb on board and tour the vehicle that will operate along the LRT corridor. Details of this year's event are still being finalized and will be released shortly - but mark your calendar now!
 
 

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

45 Things You Do at Home that Are Driving Your Housemate Crazy

How many of these are you guilty of?

                

These items range from ugh that was annoying to don’t bother coming home tonight. How many are you guilty of? I don't do any of them! ;)
  1. Leaving half-full glasses of water, coffee, soda, etc. around the house.
  2. Leaving a wet towel on floor. Even worse THE BED!
  3. Piling stuff into a garbage can because you are too lazy to take the trash out.
  4. Leaving that piece of clothing that missed the laundry basket by just a few inches on the floor.
  5. Asking where something is without bothering to look.
  6. Leaving crumbs or a mess on counter that was literally just cleaned.
  7. Turning the A/C on 60 when it is 65 degrees out and turning A/C off when it is 95 degrees out. What is wrong with your body temperature?!
  8. Leaving the dishes in the sink.

    Don’t even think about trying this trick. via funnyjunk
  9. Leaving the toilet seat up.  Have you ever “fallen in”? It’s less than pleasant.
  10. Using the same knife for the peanut butter AND jelly jar without a wash/wipe in between. Jelly –> Wash –>Peanut Butter
  11. Leaving water on the bathroom floor. Ugh cold gross water.
  12. Forgetting to switch a load of wash into the dryer. If you can’t commit to washing, drying and folding just forget it.
  13. Leaving hair in the shower drain. Gag! Yea ladies I’m talking to you.
  14. Tracking dirt into the house. FYI you make it worse by denying it.
  15. Putting a drink container with less than a sip left back into the fridge.

    via dailyedge
  16. Eating left overs that don’t belong to you. I thought about that slice of pizza the entire ride home!
  17. Leaving your clothes all over the house. Hang it up or fold it because the floor is not an option.
  18. Using the last of the soap and not replacing it.
  19. Shoes EVERYWHERE. Nuff said.
  20. Taking the remote control OUT OF THE ROOM it belongs in.
  21. Leaving drawers open. Thanks to you I have added yet another bruise to the area above my knee.
  22. Not replacing the toilet paper.
  23. Putting the toilet paper ON TOP of the old roll. Finish the job!

    Really?!? Come on! via bigfrog104
  24. Dropping ice on the floor and kicking it to the side. Hi, ice melts and now my socks are wet.
  25. Leaving the shower button pulled up when you shut the water off. You do realize how awful it is for the next person right? Goes in to turn on shower water and gets shock of cold shower water all over hair.
  26. Deleting someone’s DVR’ed show to make room for your own.
  27. Leaving all of the lights on in the house. A few fine..but really all of them?!
  28. Ignoring the fact that a light bulb is burned out. It isn’t going to replace itself.
  29. Leaving only crumbs in a bag of chips and putting them back in the cupboard.

    That was a cruel joke. via gookumpucky
  30. Never locking the door. Uh hellloo…why don’t you just invite the bad guys in to take our things?
  31. Throwing mail away before the other person can read it. Don’t just assume I wasn’t interested in the $300 offer from United credit cards even though I have ignored the last 50 offers they sent.
  32. Leaving left overs in the fridge for days.
  33. Spilling something in the fridge and not wiping it up. What in the world is that sticky brown goop?
  34. Shoving Tupperware into a cabinet so it falls out on the next victim that opens the door.
  35. Letting your alarm go off for an hour. You have a 3 snooze grace period before I throw your phone out of the window.
  36. Squeezing the toothpaste so the container is all twisted and broken.

    via imgur
  37. Talking on the phone in the same room someone is trying to watch TV. Did you not get the hint the first 3 times I turned the volume louder?
  38. Putting things away in the wrong kitchen drawers.  Only takes me an hour to find the vegetable peeler every day.
  39. Increasing the TV volume during a sports game to deafening levels.
  40. Walking right past the empty garbage can at the end of the drive-way. Yes, the garbageman emptied it. Don’t act like you didn’t see it there.
  41. Using the house computer and logging out of the other person’s email/social media accounts. Ugh! I don’t even remember my password for that!
  42. Taking up more than your fair share of half of the bed.

    via Pinterest
  43. Not cleaning plates before tossing in the sink. Fact: when you don’t rinse off that oatmeal it literally turns into food cement.
  44. Possessing less than stellar DVR remote skills. Forgetting to fast forward and/or just going too far into program, then rewinding too far back, repeat=loss of remote privileges.
  45. Stealing ALL of the covers. Get your own or sleep on the couch.
Sick of living with people who do these things?

I can help you find a place of your own :)

Monday, May 26, 2014

The Top 5 Home Renovations for Adding Value to Your Home

#5 Flooring- Flooring is one of the most important aspects of your house. You will see an immediate rise in property valuation with the installation of hardwood floors. Existing hardwood floors that you can refinish are ideal as they are less costly to restore and in higher demand than new flooring materials. For the bathroom, tile will always be in demand and retain value exceptionally well.


#4 Fixtures- Kitchens often look tired and dated, in large part due to old fixtures. Replacing or updating cabinet hardware, light fixtures, countertops and faucets will result in an immediate increase in your home’s value. This small, but effective upgrade will also revitalize the entire home. Pot lights are in high demand in open concept style homes.


#3 Bathroom- The bathroom is the second most important room in the home in terms of valuation. If you can add a three-piece bathroom to a home with only one full bathroom, you will see a dramatic rise in the market value of your home. While you should never compromise bedroom space for a bathroom, try sneaking one in dead space in the home. As an added tip, use glass for the shower to make the bathroom feel more spacious.


#2 Kitchen- Kitchens are the single most important room in the home relating to valuation. The kitchen can make a significant difference in the value of your home. As such, it is crucial that you invest in having a modern, fresh and desirable kitchen. Modern cabinetry, under cabinet lighting and new appliances will all significantly increase the value of your home on the market. To save on cost without compromising construction and desirability, look at options like Ikea cabinets as opposed to custom cabinetry.


#1 An Income Suite- No surprise, but the single biggest way to increase the value of your home is to build an income suite within the property. Whether this is converting your basement into a rental, or another floor in the home, an income property will increase your home’s worth. The main reason for this is that it covers a portion, or sometimes all of your mortgage payments, and results in your home being cash flow positive – which creates real wealth that can supplement your income. Rules and regulations vary by municipality, so be sure to check on legal requirements for a rental suite.


Please contact me today for a free Home Value Report or staging advice.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Keep Your Roof in Tip Top Shape This Spring





Along with spring comes rain and stormy weather. Mother Nature can inflict damage on homeowners’ roofs that can go unnoticed. I recommend homeowners take the following steps to make sure roofs are in tip-top shape this spring.


Start on the ground.


o   Look for any missing, loose or damaged shingles.


o   Inspect gutters to ensure they are not clogged or partially collapsed.


o   Make sure your roofline doesn’t sag.


o   Check for any evidence of water penetration in attic and ceilings after wet weather.  Simply poke your head up into the attic and scan with a flashlight

Take an up-close look at your roof.



o   Check flashings around all roof penetrations and sidewalls.


o   Look for open seams, blisters, debris, standing water or bald areas on flat roofs.


o   Inspect antenna and satellite dish supports and flashings for possible leak sources.


o   Check fascia and soffits for deterioration and damage.


o   Look carefully around any pipes and chimneys for signs of leaks.


A homeowner can complete basic repairs, but a professional should always complete major repairs.


Contact me today for a free market value report of your home!

Saturday, May 17, 2014

Victoria Day "May 24", 2014 - Fireworks and What's Open and Closed in Kitchener - Waterloo

Fireworks

Two fireworks shows are planned this weekend in Waterloo Region:
The Conestogo Optimists Club is hosting a fireworks show at Conestogo Park around dusk on Saturday night. Admission is $5 per person or $10 per family. The rain date is Monday. 
                           
In New Dundee, fireworks complete a full day of events on Monday.
Community garage sales and a backyard breakfast next to the park are in the morning.
A silent auction, vendors, kids' midway and an antique car and tractor display run throughout the day.
A community parade winds through town about 2 p.m. A barbecue and live entertainment lead up to fireworks at dusk at the New Dundee Community Centre, with donations collected in support of the Children's Wish Foundation.
The rain date is May 24.
 
What's Open and Closed
 
Grand River Transit will operate on a Sunday service schedule.
Canada Post will not deliver/pick up mail on Monday.
LCBO and Beer Store locations are closed on Monday.
Grocery stores are closed Monday.
Fairview Park mall, Conestoga Mall and Cambridge Centre mall are closed on Monday.
The Village of St. Jacobs and the St. Jacobs Outlets are open Monday. The Southworks mall in Cambridge is open Monday.
Public libraries in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge are closed Monday.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Selling Your Home in Spring – 5 Things to Avoid

 

Ah, the flowers are in bloom and everyone is layering their clothing, so it must be spring. Another major indicator of spring is all the “for sale” signs that start “springing” up, for lack of a better word.

If you plan on selling your home in spring, there are some major blunders you’ll want to avoid to ensure that you get your home off the market quickly.

1. Acting like your home is the only one on the market

Truth is, a lot of home sellers know that home buyers begin their hunt in the spring, and while it’s normal to feel somewhat attached to your home, you need to step away from the doilies and look at your home from a home buyer’s perspective.

Remember that you need to price your home in a way that gives you a competitive edge without under pricing and losing out on what’s rightfully yours. Just be smart about it and don’t overprice your home because you’re emotionally attached to it.

2. Not doing your research on what else is out there

If you don’t do your homework, and yes, home selling comes with homework, then you might end up overpricing your home to the point of not having any visitors. Or, you might end up asking a price that’s so low that you end up losing out on thousands of dollars.

Check out the homes that are for sale in your area by researching them online, especially the homes that are similar to yours. As well, make sure your Realtor doesn't just write a price on the back of their card as to what your home is worth.  Everything your Realtor does should be in writing - their marketing plan, commission structure, statistics and the comparative market analyisis.

Finally, go to some open houses...what better way to know the market then knowing your competition!

3. Forgetting the importance of home staging

First impressions leave lasting impressions, so you want to make sure that when home buyers see your home online or show up at your open house, that they see a home that is essentially move-in ready.

Make sure to go easy on all the personal knickknacks and show off a space that is clean and organized. You want to make the home shine and help them to see themselves living in it. It is no longer your home; it is a product that you are marketing.

4. Losing it during the negotiation process

Sure, you might have some home buyers who will completely lowball you with an offer that would make a grown man cry, but you can’t let it get to you. The negotiation process can sometimes be tough, but keep in mind that it’s all part of the bigger picture – it’s a business transaction and each party wants to come away a winner.

Don’t take it personally; the buyer is thinking about his or her own interests and their intent is not to offend you.

5. Rejecting an offer outright

Sometimes home buyers will lowball you on purpose, just to see if you’ll bite. Rather than reject the offer and call it a day, perhaps it might serve you better to counter their offer with something you think would be more acceptable.

Ignoring or dismissing an offer might leave you missing out on a real buyer who goofed at making an offer. So rather than just reject any price you think is too low, try countering instead. It may just lead to a great sale in the end.

Please contact me today for a complimentary market value report for your home!

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Single Detached Homes and Condos Continue To Rise in Value in Kitchener - Waterloo


Single detached homes sold for an average price of $387,130 an increase of 2.2 percent compared to last year. The average condominium price was up 9.8 percent selling for $237,008, partially due to the sales of higher end condominium townhomes alongside traditional condos.

There were fewer residential property sales through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) in April compared to the same month last year. 

A total of 652 residential properties sold in the month of April compared to 691 the same time last year, a decrease of 5.6 percent. In comparison to March, residential sales grew 21 percent, continuing the trend of monthly increases in home sales since the beginning of this year.

“We’re continuing to see increasing sales activity month after month,” says Lynn Bebenek President of the KWAR. “Persistently bad weather seems to have delayed decision to buy or sell homes, but the combination of increasing monthly sales, lower mortgage rates and some sun should drive increases in the months ahead.” 

April’s sales included 445 single detached homes (down 6.1 % from last year) 121 condominium units (on par with last year), 38 semi-detached (down 19.1 %) and 41 freehold townhouses (down 2.4 %).

Year-to-date residential sales were 6.6 percent below last year with 1,948 residential homes sold thus far.  While sales were a little slower this month the average sale price of all residential sales through the KWAR’s MLS® System increased 2.9 percent to $343,839 compared with April 2013.

Contact me today for a free Market Value Report of your home!

Monday, May 5, 2014

Do You Know Where Termites are and How to Spot Them?

1. Where can termites be found?

"There are, I believe, over 30 localized areas in Southern Ontario with subterranean termites known," according to Mark Reynolds, the technical director of the wood-boring insect division of Cambridge-based Tepeco Consultants.

"Some of the areas that are well-known are Guelph, in Toronto along the lakeshore, the Wellington
[County] area," he said.

Reynolds said termites exist in Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo as well, however, only in localized areas.

2. How quickly do termites spread?

"That's very hard to tell. They do spread perpetually, but when it makes big jumps, that's usually people transporting infested wood, be it fire wood or mulch or old scrap wood, or even railway ties, wooden retaining walls, that sort of thing," Reynolds said.

"Once or twice a year the colonies will produce flying termites, which can then spread the colonies further," he said. "They can spread colonies across the street or from home-to-home, just like ants."

si-termites-inaction
When looking for termites, experts recommend starting in the basement. They can slip between hairline cracks as small as the width of a sheet of paper.

Reynolds said if your neighbours discover termites, you should definitely get your home inspected.
"You want to know before there's structural damage done, but yes, if one home is infested it's highly unlikely we're not going to see evidence of termites on the neighbours or beyond," he said.

3. How do you know you have termites?

Reynolds recommends getting an inspection from one of several professional termite control companies across Kitchener, Cambridge, Waterloo and Guelph to be absolutely sure. However, there are also signs of infestation left behind by the insects:

Shelter tubes: Subterranean termites can't survive without adequate moisture, so they use mud, or shelter tubes made from their feces and saliva to insulate themselves and as means of transporting themselves from underground areas to infested wood. Look for long, discoloured streaks on walls or trim, or insect feces piled up outside of holes in the wood.

Damage: Infested areas indoors can cause wood to discolour or paint to blister and bubble. Outdoors, the insects can often be found if pieces of infested wood are turned over.

si-hollow-spots

Termites eat the cellulose found in wood. If left unchecked, they will devour all the wood, creating visible damage from hollow spots, seen here.
 
Hollow spots: Termites eat the cellulose found in wood. If left to their own devices, the insects will eventually devour all the wood they have available. Knocking on studs, walls and trim can often reveal hollow spots where the insects have eaten away the wood.
When looking for termites, start in the basement, Reynolds said. "That's usually where you see them. The way homes are constructed, there's multiple layers of concrete and wherever there are multiple layers of concrete there are hairline cracks."
"So if it's perceivable to the human eye, termites can usually squeeze through it."

4. How much does it cost to remove termites?

"Termite treatments for average size homes are generally going for $3500 plus," Reynolds said. "With that comes a one-year guarantee, we like to do an inspection within a year."
si-visualinspection-termites

Mark Reynolds, a termite specialist with Cambridge-based Tepeco Consultants, conducts a visual inspection of a suburban home infested with termites in suburban Kitchener.
 
"The bigger the home, added difficulties like crawl spaces, drilling of decks, garages, asphalt, sidewalks, pulling up patio stones, all these things can add to the cost of the treatment," he said.
Reynolds said the treatment doesn't include the cost to repair wood damaged by termites.

5. Should termite infestations be reported?

All municipalities recommend hiring a professional exterminator, if a termite infestation is discovered. However Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener do not track addresses where the insects have been found.
The City of Guelph has strict termite procedures for anyone living within one of the city's three termite management zones. All are located on the north side of the city, encompassing almost 900 buildings.
Unless your home is located within one of Guelph's termite management zones, cities do not generally get involved unless the insects have created a structural issue within the home.
Municipal governments require permits for structural repair to a home from damage due to termites.