The 2nd installment of our Private Investment Club's Investor Spotlight series that focuses on member deals. Tap into their insight as they openly discuss their recent results in real estate investing and also talk future deals. Sunil Tulsiani's ultimate dream of realizing one hundred PIC millionaires is well underway.
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Thursday 6 August 2015
Sunil Tulsiani - Top 10 Food Markets
"For a gastronomic adventure into the unknown, you can't beat a local food market" - Ute Junker
There are few quicker ways to get an insight into a city than to stroll through the local food market. From pyramids of glossy-skinned tropical fruit to roast guinea pig, you never know what you will find. Take a healthy appetite and a sense of adventure, and this may be the highlight of your holiday.
Monday 3 August 2015
Sunil Tulsiani and Robert G Allen Live in Toronto
Don't miss the 3 day live event in Toronto led by Real Estate and Multiple stream of income guru, Robert G. Allen. You will learn how to become financially free via latest money making techniques, how to be successful, how to make passive income and how to take advantage of today's uncertain markets.
Friday 31 July 2015
Sunil Tulsiani - Home Decorating Ideas
Give your home decor a spruce up with these easy and budget-friendly decorating tips.
Revamping your home decor needn’t always be a major project and you don’t always have to spend a king’s ransom to do it. Here are 25 ways to give your rooms a fresh look in record time, without breaking a sweat – or your budget.
- Update lampshades with new ones in more contemporary shapes or simply fresh white shades.
- Paint is the classic makeover potion. Instead of repainting a whole room, just paint one wall in a focal colour or paint a contrasting rectangle over a sofa to use as a “gallery” space. You can also paint the insides of bookshelves in an unexpected colour or paint your ceiling a lighter version of the wall colour. Update your kitchen with paint or any other space in your home.
- Update your window dressings. IKEA and other home stores have reams of readymade draperies you can hem to the right size (or leave to puddle on the floor), or you can make your own from sheets or lengths of designer outlet fabric. Hang from an attractive new curtain rod, also available in stock sizes.
- Pull a room together by choosing two contrast colours – black and white, say, or white and one bright colour – and use them as a repeating theme throughout, such as a row of yellow and white pillows on a sofa, or robin’s egg blue walls and all-white furnishings.
- A simple but effective tip: Edit your accessories. Too much of a good thing is too much. Try taking all your home decor accessories and putting them in a box, then putting them back one by one where they’ll have the most impact.
- Take down all your paintings and other art and move them around to different walls or different rooms. It’ll be like seeing them for the first time.
- A classic display scheme ever since Victorian times: Create a gallery wall of family photos and other small pictures in matching (or contrasting) frames, arranged in a collage on a large wall such as a stairwell or hallway. (For best results, first create a plan by arranging them on the floor till you find the right composition and “balance.”) The art of arrangement is always stylish.
- Inexpensive frame mouldings from the box store can transform a plain wall or hallway into an instant paneled look. Paint the mouldings in a contrasting shade or white.
- Replace overhead lighting with thrift-store (or box store) chandeliers. (Note: it’s recommended to hire a professional electrician to install them.) A dated-looking chandelier can be painted white. You can also add extra crystal drops, available at lighting stores.
- Peruse Craigslist, eBay or freecycle.org regularly for finds. It’s amazing what shows up at a bargain or even free – but like any good flea market shopper, be sure to check regularly, as good things go fast.
- Carpet stores often have remnants of high-end carpet at rock-bottom prices that make a great area rug. The store may bind the edges for you, or you can do it yourself with carpet binding tape and some tidy hand-sewing.
- Some paint stores sell mixed paint for much less than custom-mixed paint because the colour was off or it was returned to the store. Great if you’re willing to experiment on the colour.
- Re-tile kitchen backsplashes. Most backsplashes require only a few square feet of tile, so you can treat yourself to a fancy style or use plain porcelain tile for most of the surface. Then intersperse a few hand-painted or high-end tiles as accents.
- Small details make all the difference: Beautiful coasters, interesting desk frames, a small but exquisite crystal vase filled with fresh flowers.
- Buy a half-dozen four-inch terra cotta pots and paint in a trio of coordinating colours. Plant with herbs and line the pots up on a kitchen windowsill.
- Big box stores have come a long way in terms of cheap and chic bathroom accessories and stylish storage options. For a fraction of what you’d pay in a high-end bath boutique, you can often get pretty designs in wood or china, or sleek modern accents.
- A trick made famous by Woody Allen in Annie Hall: Change the lightbulb in your bedroom lamp with a pink one for a rosy, romantic glow. Or opt for a pink lampshade, which can produce something of the same effect.
- Replace the drawer and cabinet pulls in your kitchen, bath, bedroom, or on a furniture piece. Inexpensive stylish options can be found at Lee Valley, Summerhill Hardware, IKEA or other big box stores, or you can scour a thrift shop or antique store for vintage ones.
- Replace your bathroom shower curtain and curtain hooks, for an instant freshener for even the most dingy bathroom. Create a sparkling bathroom makeover.
- You can now buy ready-made slipcovers that with a few judicious tucks, fit much better than the wrinkly versions of yore. Or, for a little more investment, have loose-fitting slipcovers made.
- Replacing an ugly old faucet with a new one is a relatively simple DIY project. Many big box store styles are designed for home installers and include all the fittings and instructions in the box.
- Purchase an inexpensive but attractive frame, or rescue an old one from an antique store or your parents’ attic. Paint flat white and attach small rings to the upper corners. Place hooks on the wall to correspond and hang. Hang a couple of vintage plates or smaller framed pictures artfully inside, or leave the framed space as-is, for an artful and simple focal point.
- Maximize light in a darker room by hanging a framed mirror directly opposite the window.
- Take a walk in the park, woods or beach and pick up interesting (and free) seasonal accents for your home. A tray filled with pinecones, a tall vase of dried pampas grass stalks, or a bowl of colourful pebbles, beach glass or shells all make eye-catching home decor accessories.
- Spruce up your entrance by painting your front door a cheerful colour. Pair it with a new lighting fixture, mailbox and house numbers - all available at the box store.
Wednesday 22 July 2015
Sunil Tulsiani - Moving House
It’s a done deal. You’re finally moving into a new home. But while the excitement builds, so does the anxiety about your getting your stuff to your new digs. Whether you’re relying on your own muscle-power or hiring professional help, a little moving know-how will get you there with as little stress and few unnecessary expenses as possible.
Start early - Make a checklist of things that need to be done before moving day. First off, there’s a whole list of companies and organizations that need to know your new address and when it will take effect. Arrange for change-of-address notification with Canada Post. Update any government documents, such as your driver’s license. Call your insurance company to update your homeowner’s policy. Inform utility companies (including cable and phone), newspaper and magazine subscription departments, and often-missed health-care professionals (such as your doctor and dentist) about your move.
Put Canada Post’s online service to work for you. At www.smartmoves.ca you’ll be able to file your change-of-address notification with a few clicks of the mouse. Pick an E-card to send to friends and family, let Canada Post know which government offices and business your want to notify, and generate helpful checklists to keep your move on track. You’ll also have access to exclusive offers and special discounts.
Trash it or save it - Moving is the perfect time to edit your belongings. Make a list of the things you don’t want to move with you. Dispose of those shabby university-dorm bookcases, that haggard flea market easy-chair, or meaningless memorabilia before you buy packing tape. If your pile of rejects is high, arrange for a trash removal service to cart it away for you.
If you’re moving into a smaller space and not ready to part with larger items that you don’t have room for, consider putting them in storage. Check under “moving and storage” in the Yellow Pages for a local facility. Also note that if you’re using professional movers, they may offer storage services.
Hire your wheels - If you’re moving on your own, arrange for your van or truck as early as possible, especially if you’re moving during summer months. The rental company will be able to advise you on what size of truck you’ll need and offer moving equipment for an extra fee. Things like a dolly, furniture pads, and proper packing material might be worth the extra cost.
You’ll also want to take the time to sign a contract and know exactly what you’re paying for. Moving day is not the time to be quibbling over a verbal agreement.
Get professional help - If you’ve decided to hire movers, don’t go with the first moving company you contact. Get estimates from a few companies since you’ll be trusting them with practically everything you own. When you review the estimates, make sure you’re getting prices for the same services and take special note of how precious items will be handled. Some moving companies will not move pianos, chandeliers, or sensitive electrical equipment but may recommend a special service for you to investigate. You’ll also want to note their insurance coverage. Exactly what will you get if your inherited dining suite is chipped or scratched?
Pack it up - If you’re hiring a professional mover, you may be lucky enough to avoid packing since some will pack everything for you. If, on the other hand, packing is a chore with your name on it, invest in proper packing supplies. You may even want to check the Yellow Pages under “moving supplies and equipment” to rent or buy supplies. Some even offer plastic bins for the environmentally-minded.
Good boxes go a long way in making your move smoother, but don’t forget about reinforced packing tape, a tape gun, bubble wrap, packing paper (since newsprint can discolour light coloured items), and a marker to label boxes. To avoid back and muscle strain, keep packed boxes under 25 kg and label all sides, top, and bottom. To prevent damage, don’t over- or under-pack boxes.
Like all complicated endeavours, a little planning is a great stress-buster. It makes move-out day go by that much more smoothly, and move-in a dream.
Thursday 16 July 2015
Sunil Tulsiani - Wanna Sell Your House This Spring? Follow These Tips
Just because there are slim pickings at the start of this spring's housing season doesn't mean sellers are in the driver's seat entirely. Today's home buyers are a nit-picky, recession-scarred bunch, and they want to get serious value for their hard-earned cash. Sellers need to not only price their homes carefully, but prepare their homes thoroughly for the process. Here are some tips:
Curb appeal
First impressions matter, and this is a first date you don't want to end up paying for. Clean up the landscaping and freshen up the flowers. Take down your tacky tidbits and decorative flags, and consider some color updates. One new coat on the garage can make a difference.
Depersonalize
Nobody wants to see how you live and with whom you live. Take your babies off the walls and trade them for fancy-free, faceless photos that make potential buyers better able to picture themselves in the home. If you have seriously un-generic taste in art, put it in storage. It doesn't matter how pricy the pieces, buyers aren't art experts, and taste is entirely individual.
Clean up
Don't just make the beds, but de-clutter and minimize. You might like the stack of magazines on the table, buyers don't. They don't want to know what you read. They might not agree with your fun pillow sayings. A little work and a big trash bag can make a huge difference. If your house is empty, you might have a professional come in and stage your home with rented furniture and design sundries.
Small projects = big returns
Don't do major renovations. You won't get the money back in the purchase price. Do choose some updates, especially in the kitchen and bath. Maybe you re-grout the tile, maybe it's a new countertop or backsplash. If you can, add space where it doesn't exist, like refinishing the basement. Believe it or not, a new front door offers one of the highest returns.
Check for cracks
Big cracks. In your foundation, in your stucco, in any structural area. Inspectors will come through and red flag this to potential buyers. Odds are it will cost you a lot less to fix it now than later, and you don't want buyers negotiating repairs into the purchase price.
Keep it cool
Don't turn up the heat on your buyers, especially if it's still cold out. They're coming in coats, and the hotter it is inside, the more they're going to want to leave. Warm doesn't always mean welcome.
Article Source
Tuesday 14 July 2015
Sunil Tulsiani: 10 Secrets From a Real Estate Agent
Buy and sell your house successfully with 10 tips from a real estate professional.
With the economy on a slow rise back to normalcy, many are still unsure of whether they should be buying or selling a home. Despite the uneasiness you may feel, you don’t necessarily have to stay put, explains Linda Turner, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty in Mississauga, Ont.
For people looking to buy, now is a very good time, she says. "With the all-time low mortgage interest rates, it is the perfect time for first-time buyers, investors and existing homeowners who are looking to upgrade to purchase a property." Interest rates are predicted to rise in the coming months, and with the new HST looming, you'll want to move fast.
We got Linda's best advice for weathering the still unsteady economy. Whether you're a buyer, seller or both, check out these 10 tips for navigating the real estate market successfully.
Tips for buyers
It's all about location - Whether you're a first-time buyer, investor or existing homeowner, you need to understand the best locations for your investment, Linda says. "Buying the smallest house on the best street versus the largest house on a less preferred street will reap big rewards when it comes time to sell." As an investor, a condominium that is near public transit or a university is a good move.
Think about a condo - There's a surplus of inventory in the condominium market, so your realtor should be able to negotiate a good deal for you when it comes to buying a condo, Linda says. If you're buying as an investor, rather than a first-time homebuyer, you will want to consider leasing out your suite for the next four to five years before selling, she explains. "It's been suggested that the condo market should be in an upswing by 2013."
Know your credit rating - It's best not to just assume your credit rating is in order. To avoid getting any surprises before you meet with a lender, check your rating first so you have time to resolve any issues that might stand in your way of buying. You can call either Trans Union of Canada at 1-800-663-9980 or Equifax Credit Information Services Canada at 1-800-465-7166.
Know your price range and stick to it - Meet with one or more mortgage lenders to obtain a pre-approved mortgage before you start house hunting, Linda says. Once you know how much you can spend you can narrow down your choices. It's safer to buy within your budget, no matter the economic situation.
Head out of the city - It's booming in Milton, Ont., for example, Linda says. Young families are heading there to buy affordable and newer resale homes. Sometimes it pays to go further afield depending on what you're looking for. If you want more space and more property, but have a budget to stick to, a downtown location won't do. You have to widen your circle of prospective locations.
Tips for sellers
Refresh and beautify - Getting your home ready for sale is crucial. Linda suggests considering a consultation from a professional stager so your home's potential is maximized when potential buyers see it. Think about getting rid of clutter, adding stylish accents to tired furniture and tidying the yard for curb appeal.
Upgrade and update - You don't have to completely renovate your home, but consider updating areas that are tired, such as replacing a kitchen counter and sink or replacing worn carpeting. Adding hardwood to a room or two is also helpful as this upgrade is becoming very popular to buyers, Linda says.
Make sure the price is right - Price your property right the first time, according to the current market conditions in your area. Some sellers believe that if they overprice their property, they have more room to negotiate or they can always reduce it later, Linda says. "This strategy can really hurt the seller." Prospective buyers will search for homes within their price range. If your home is listed too high, buyers may skip over it.
Don’t worry about a closing date conflict - If you receive a great offer on your home but the closing date is up to 30 days later than the closing date of the property you already purchased, don't sweat it, Linda says. Most mortgage lenders will approve bridge financing for approximately 30 days, if all conditions have been removed and you have a firm sale. For peace of mind, speak to your current lender prior to listing your property to confirm this, she suggests.
Get the best representation - Your home is most likely your largest investment so you'll want to feel comfortable when you go to sell it. Start off right by selecting a real estate agent who you feel you can trust, Linda says. Find someone who has a solid marketing plan plus a proven track record of successful negotiated sales.
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