Major Mistakes Common Home Buyers Make

#1 Not knowing what they can afford before making an offer.

The best way to avoid this is to get pre-approved for a mortgage so you know exactly how much you can afford. Usually pre-approvals are free.

#2 not knowing who the agent represents.

Unless an agent is working as your buyer representative, they represent the seller. Many people don't realize this.

#3 choosing the wrong mortgage.

A bad mortgage can cost you thousands in taxes and interest. Consult an accountant before you choose your mortgage.

#4 Not finding problems with the home before buying it.

You should always have a professional inspector look at the home before buying it, otherwise you could be looking at huge repair costs later on. Read this guide to avoiding a money pit.

#5 Not understanding how their credit can impact their ability to purchase or refinance a home.

Get a mortgage professional to help you go over and prepare your credit file before you buy a home.

*How to choose a home, major things to watch*

*HOW TO AVOID A MONEY PIT: BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THESE 6 WARNING SIGNS THAT COULD MEAN EXPENSIVE REPAIRS...*

Many people think that serious defects in a home are easy to spot, but the truth is, often the most serious and costly problems can only be detected upon very close inspection. When you are considering buying a home, look for the following six telltale signs of serious problems...

*1. Roof*

Leaks are the most common problem with roofs, and are tough to detect from outside. However, from inside an attic, you can often see water marks where there is a leak.

*2. Plumbing System*

Make sure you are confident that both water systems: the one that brings fresh water in and the one that takes sewage out are functioning well before signing on the dotted line.

*3. Electrical Systems*

Before you agree to buy you should make sure that you can run all of the appliances you want to and even power tools at the same time without having a power failure. You also want to make sure that the electrical system is safe and does not present a fire hazard.

*4. Heating and Cooling Systems*

Be sure to thoroughly inspect the heating and air conditioning systems in any home you are considering purchasing.

*5. Bad Paint and Signs of Rotting*

The paint inside and outside the house can reveal a lot about the condition of the underlying material. Check several places on several walls, using your eyes and a screwdriver for poking.

*6. Cracks and other important signs*

Cracks in walls, doors not closing properly and uneven floors can all be signs that there is a problem with the foundation. If the foundation is not strong, the entire house could literally collapse, so you should carefully check for these signs. A bad foundation may not mean imminent disaster, but it could be used to bargain for a lower sale price, or you could ask to have the owner repair it before the sale.

How to make your Garage sale a success

Its spring and time again for those neighborhood garage sales. Here are 25 ways to make your garage sale a success.

• Be the first in your area to have a sale and do not hold it on a holiday weekend.
• If you choose a weekend before Mother’s Day, have a special table set up for Mom.
• If Place your address first or last in a classified Ad, Use a catchy title, such as Pack Rat Surrender, Girl’s Stuff Galore or Five Family Sale.
• Find community newsletter, local cable TV or community billboard for free listings.
• If you have lots of merchandise, list some in Xeroxed flyer and hand it out to friends, neighbors and co workers two weeks before the sale.
• If you have higher priced items or furniture, advertise them before the sale on billboards at supermarket, college campuses, daycare centers etc.
• Use colorful poster size signs to promote your sale, make them bright and cheerful with thick black marker.
• Be ready to start your sale an hour earlier than advertised. Be gracious and offer early birds a smile and/or coffee.
• Hire a sitter for young children or pets. You will be more relaxed.
• Keep house doors locked while sale is on.
• Have a checkout table with… a tape measure, calculator, stapler, pins, making tape, few pen, scratch pad and bags for purchase.
• Have batteries and an extension cord to the garage outlets so customers can test small appliance.
• Set out lawn chairs for non shoppers.
• Play an easy listening radio station, CD or tape – but not loud enough to bother the neighbors.
• Mark prices of the items from 25% to 35% down from the original price of the new item.
• Price merchandise under $1 in denominations of 25, 50, & 75 cents. Price similar items individually and group odds and ends in boxes and plastic bags at 5/$1.
• Use a carpenter’s apron or a money pouch as your cash box – keep $30 to $50 of loonies, townies and quarters as your float.
• Display clothing on Hangers. Staple tags to cloths. Have a full length mirror available marled “Not for Sale”.
• Assemble items like tents or Christmas trees.
• Display more valuable items such as jewelry on check-out table on a solid color towel or black cloth.
• Fill your cooler with plenty of ice and sell cold drinks at a discount.
• Make sure your house no. is easy to see from the street. Tie large balloons to the signs you post at main intersections and use them on telephone poles etc. to point the way to your house. Do not forget to go back at day’s end and remove them.
• If a customer asks you to hold merchandise, ask for a substantial deposit or payment in full. Set a time when they will pick up the item or you can release for sale.
• Start lowering prices at 1 pm. By for the bargain hunters will be on the prowl. Put up signs saying “Willing to Bargain or make an offer near the check out”.
• Get plenty of rest the night before. Then lighten up, have fun and enjoy meeting some new people.
• After all, it just a Garage Sale!

Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian Economy

Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadian Economy The corona virus has a devastating impact around the world. This global challenge not only risks the health and safety of population all around the world but possesses disruption to the economic vitality of millions of people, organizations, business and many other sectors. Due to this pandemic, there is major impact on Canadian economy as whole, as the unemployment ratio rises from 2.2% to 7.8%. Some industries have been particularly affected or will take a long run to return to normal such as tourism, bars, restaurants and some other. Some essential factors to understand at this stage are: • Nature of the production process has been abandoned due to COVID-19 as it requires employees to be close together. While employees had to selfquarantine in order to protect their health or care for child. As well as the seniors have limited their activities due to the greater risk if contracted to the virus. As a result, the voluntary sector has been understaffed. • Foremost issue is cash flows when demand drops as consumers stop or delay buying. Some non-essential services relinquish when people stay home. Decrease visit in bars, restaurants, supermarkets, gym. Travel industry faced huge consequences due to COVID-19 pandemic. 50% orders are cancelled in the export sector too. • Most cultural, educational, sports activities are paused due to proximity of participants which also led to blockage of some small business. Supply chain disruptions for many types of goods, temporary closures of nonessential stores and service providers and the recent lowering of interest rates, the economic effects of the corona virus outbreak will be deeply felt in subsequent months. The goal of Canadian Government is to "ensure that in-bound investment does not introduce new risks to Canada’s economy or national security, including the health and safety of Canadians,” a policy statement from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada said. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the government recognizes that some businesses, which will be important to the country’s recovery from the pandemic, are especially susceptible to foreign purchases. He specifically pointed to startups facing a cash crunch, saying they could be “exposed to predatory foreign investors." The CN Tower in Toronto, Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled that there government will introduce the emergency care benefit which will provide money every two weeks to workers who stay home. “People will receive this benefit for 14 weeks for an amount comparable to the amount that would be paid through EI.” Asked by reporters how the federal government is working to help those who may not be able to pay rent on time due to COVID-19, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the Emergency Care Benefit would provide funds to those who need it most. “Those 5.7 million people who aren’t in the employment insurance system, those people are very important to deal with up front,” Morneau told reporters. “If they are sick or if they are quarantined or if they laid off or can’t work and aren’t getting paid they will have access to funds.” Global technology leader Cisco Systems is committing $225 million to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will support healthcare, education, government responses and relevant technology. Cisco is distributing a portion of this commitment through the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, which is supporting the World Health Organization’s work on managing the COVID-19 outbreak. As the global workforce adjusts to working remotely, Cisco technology is securing over 2.2 million people online, including those on the front lines of the crisis. Its video conferencing platform Webex has facilitated virtual meetings for the French, Canadian, German and Colombian governments as they coordinate policy responses to manage the corona virus crisis. “Cisco must, and will, do even more to help others respond to this global pandemic,” said Chairman and CEO Chuck Robbins. He has joined over 30 CEOs from various technology companies in Silicon Valley to pledge support for local organizations providing support to vulnerable communities. Thank You. By: Hetvi Sheth Biren Mehta's Niece