A week later we had five offers that we were reviewing, almost all of which were conditional on Status Certificate Approval.

I called the Management Office direct for an update and I was told: that the cost for a Status Certificate had been increased to $130 plus HST and that only a certified cheque or Bank draft was acceptable.

I insisted that the Condominium Act  mandated Status Certificates at $100 and that no taxes were applicable and was chastised for my being difficult and was almost hung up on. I suggested that someone at their Head Office be called, as this is one of, if not the largest Condominium Property Management in Toronto, Del Property Management and that their information should be corrected otherwise they would be contravening the Condominium Act . A call back a few minutes later was very conciliatory…yes, I was correct that the amount was $100 and yes their were no taxes to be paid, neither GST, PST or HST…

When I offered to show up at their office with $100 cash I was told that was still not acceptable. Somehow cash is no longer legal tender? When I asked why, I was told that “cash provided too many opportunities”.  I suggested that this was a staff  issue and not an issue that a third party should have to make accommodations for and maybe a staff review would have been more appropriate. I do “righteous indignation” very well when provoked. Mea Culpa…

After 1/2 hour standing in line at a local bank and another 1/2 hour re-filling out the forms for the Status Certificate, I had to wait another four days for delivery. Then it was couriered to the Buyer’s lawyer in Oakville, Ontario for approval…and another 3 day wait.

There has to be a better way and I think I may have found it:

Conduit  allows Realtors, Lawyers, Owners, Mortgage Companies to order Status Certificates online and have them delivered to the purchasing party in a .pdf format. The Status Certificate still costs $100 as per the Condominium Act but there is a $25.00 convenience fee and HST of $3.25 on the convenience fee…a total of $128.25….and you can pay online with a credit card (no visits to a Bank to pick up a Certified funds, no couriers, no time doing pick up or delivery). This .pdf format can be emailed to a number of parties rather than only having one copy that really should be studied by a number of involved parties withing the approval period.

This is a great idea and costs nothing for the Management Company to sign up.

Check out the site, order a Status Certificate or two and let us know how it works or…if you have already tried out this service, we’d all like to have your thoughts below. Please let us know!

Could we live in less space? Could we live in multiple locations at different times of the year by selling the larger home. Of course…but the enormity of the job ahead  hits with major depression and the reality is that Downsizing Sucks!

I thought I would give you some ideas from my home-selling experience that might help you deal with some of the challenges of this new adventure: Downsizing with grace and style.

When I start showing  smaller properties to those downsizing, I watch their faces trying to imagine their new lifestyle in terms of their existing furniture, art, entertainment options, cooking, etc….I can see that they are taking all their possessions and mentally cramming them in to tighter spaces. Don’t even try! It will never ever work.

Keep what you must but start looking at apartment-sized furniture. Most clients go wrong by not differentiating full size and apartment size furniture when they decorate. A couple of times I’ve suggested to small space Sellers that we replace existing furniture with more advantageous sized staging and to their credit, they did at great benefit to them.

The issue is the same: When downsizing, try to visualize the smaller space with smaller scale minimalistic accouterments. Start looking at Magazines, TV Shows and web sites that focus on “Living in Smaller Spaces” at HGTV.

It is amazing what you can do….visit the IKEA store or web site and look at what their designers do in managing space. I’ve been told by my friend and colleague Darcy Burkholder that IKEA now features their staged designer rooms with the square footage noted… to help you grasp the reality of smaller spaces and what can be put in them. A great idea!

Start fresh, reinvent yourself, create a new look, change styles…make it a fun project and approach the next step of your life as a challenge. Don’t focus on what you are leaving but on where you are going and the new lifestyle you can create there. You may be very surprised!

More to come but feel free to leave your thoughts and comments!

Related Posts:

Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Post Two

Real Estate: Downsizing with Style and Grace: Part Three

The reason that they do not know about it is that many practitioners don’t realize what is available to them as members of  TREB: On TorontoMLS (not to be confused with Realtor.ca) there is Land Registry information that allows Realtors to confirm the names of all legal owners of the property. This helps us in doing the due diligence required by law when we list or sell.

In this group of third party services TREB pays for a great tool for all members called RealNet.
RealNet is a company that focuses on new builds whether it be Condominium or Freehold and amasses information that is available through TREB members to you, the consumer.

RealNet has building-by-building information about all the new projects in the City, what is available still, price per square foot, parking and locker information, cooperation with other brokers and more…

It is a great resource and allows your Realtor to assist in your search by giving you comprehensive information and, of course, advice. Ask your Realtor to take you on a tour of RealNet.

You will be impressed and gain valuable knowledge of the new Construction marketplace.

Check out the Flyer here!