New Listing at Electra Lofts Located Beside DNA Condos

The Condo Chicks are listing a beautiful unit located in the heart of King West, located beside DNA Condos. With outstanding finishes and it’s boutique feel, this condo is a must see! Some more information:Originally built as 1+ Den, entire second floor  is a master suite, with walk-in closet.
Penthouse suite, south facing, view of lake.
Private rooftop terrace.
Main floor balcony.
1.5 bathrooms.
Large pantry closet and in-unit storage.
TTC at door step. Easy access to Liberty Village and Ossington / Queen West shops & Restaurants.
Locker storage included.
Parking Space included.
Brand new granite kitchen counters and sink. New carpeting on stairs.

 

Click on DNA Condos for more information!

To Barbecue or Not to Barbecue – That is the Question!

One of the things that people overlook when purchasing a Toronto condo is whether their new condo will permit them to barbecue. With more and more people choosing the condo lifestyle in Toronto, it can sometimes be very difficult to find a condo building that will accommodate aspects of a freehold home into your condo such as barbecuing. This alone makes your condo search a more challenging and frustrating task.

Many buyers are under the impression that condo policies on barbecues can be taken lightly. After all you do own the unit so why shouldn’t you be allowed to barbecue freely on your balcony or terrace? Unless you want a lawsuit on your hands, abide by the condo corporations rules.
According to The Ontario Fire Code, there are no restrictions on where barbecues can be located. The city of Toronto does allow balcony cooking however your condo corporation may prohibit these actions. An interesting fact is that it is the transportation of the BBQ on the elevator and the storage of the propane tank that is illegal not the actual barbecuing. By law, charcoal and wood fires used for cooking are legal however it is the condo corporation that will prohibit barbecue usage. To date, there have been many legal battles concerning barbecues on condos balconies; therefore it is best to do your research and due diligence prior to purchasing a condo in Toronto if barbecuing is an important aspect of your condo lifestyle.
With builders now realizing the demand for barbecuing privileges, the installation of natural gas lines on balconies and terraces in Toronto is becoming more and more common. Such units can be found in the DNA Condos, including the newest of the buildings, DNA3. Where natural gas lines are not present, the majority of Toronto condo buildings are attempting to accommodate barbecue lovers with a rooftop terrace if they are prohibited on individual balconies.
When searching for a condo in Toronto, it is important to ask your Realtor to only show you units where barbecuing on balconies is permitted. Once you’ve chosen the condo you would like to reside in and you’ve decided to put in an offer, make sure that your Realtor makes the offer conditional on your lawyer’s review of the status certificate. A portion of this document deals specifically with the barbecue rules and regulations of the condo building.
If you are interested in knowing which condo buildings in Toronto will permit you to barbecue on your balcony, or if you have a particular building in mind but are not sure about whether barbecuing is permitted, please feel free to click on DNA Condos for more information.

DNA3 Lofts

Incredible lofts have been released at DNA3 Condos. These two storey units boast 18 feet ceilings with floor to glass windows. With outstanding finishes and in what is anticipated to be an award winning building, these few units will not last. Don't miss out!

Click on DNA Condos for more information.

The Truth about Open Houses

The process of selling your condo can be somewhat stressful and as Realtors, it is our job to market and sell your property to the best of our ability with the least cost and disruption to you and your family. There are many tools that we use to help in the sale of your home but one common misconception is that open houses and advertising it in the newspaper sell your condo. While these marketing tools may seem like a good opportunity for you as the seller, the truth is, open houses generally don’t sell a home.
According to The National Associations of Realtors, only 1% of homes are sold by conducting public open houses. Realtors use open houses as more of a prospecting tool then a way to sell the home. It is not uncommon for a listing agent to pass on the job of hosting an open house to a newbie agent as there is a very low chance of the home selling through this avenue. For newbie Realtors, open houses present a great opportunity to meet prospects who are in the market for a condo. When parties come through the open house, the Realtor has them put down their information on a sign in sheet. In addition to being a security measure, this list allows the Realtor to follow up with them and help them in their home search.
Another type of open house is what is called an "agent open house." This type of open house allows Realtors in the neighbourhood to have the opportunity to visit the property before it is exposed to the public. What is commonly forgotten is that Realtors have access to the most important tool for selling your home and that is the MLS system. If an agent has a client for your home, they will book a showing for their client through the MLS system. Not only is the property advertised freely to all the Realtors on MLS, but is also published on the public MLS site. From the public MLS site, buyers can search for your home and contact the listing agent if they want to view the property.
Another common misconception that sellers have is that newspaper and magazine advertising increases the odds of selling your home. Again, according to The National Associations of Realtors, only 3% of homes are sold by advertisement inquiries. Also keep in mind that these advertisements can be very expensive.
Realtors understand that sellers want everything possible done to sell their home however, Realtors also know that conducting open houses and newspaper advertising generally will not sell a home. In reality, Realtors bring the most serious and qualified buyers so focus on the types of marketing that attract the Realtors; having a well put together home that shows well and pricing right and then the qualified buyers will follow.
If you are looking to sell your toronto condo or home, click on Condo Chicks for more information.

Future Site of DNA3 Condos

The site of DNA3 Condos! Anticipated to be finished in 2013. Great units still available! Contact The Condo Chicks for more information.

DNA3 Standard Finishes

DNA3 is a new construction condo going up at in the King West Neighbourhood at the corner of King and Shaw St.
Below is the the kitchen in the model suite so you can get an idea of the finishes. The nice thing about this project (and this model suite) is that all the finishes are standard – meaning no upgrades. There will be three different colour palettes to choose from – so what you see is what you get!
All DNA3 suites will have ( as a standard!) :
- Engineered hardwood floors
-9 ft ceilings
-In the kitchen : Caesar Stone countertops, glass backsplash, Italian cabinetry, a  kitchen island with colour-through high pressure laminate counter, halogen track lighting, stainless steel sink with chrome faucet, stainless steel appliances and an integrated fridge.

Click on DNA3 if you would like more information.

The Condo Chicks do the National Post

How high for a view?

One of the most common questions posed by Toronto condo purchasers is whether views are important. With the City of Toronto developing at such a rapid rate, it makes purchasing condos with unobstructed views a challenge. With builders understanding how views can be important to prospective purchasers, Toronto condos with unobstructed views definitely have purchasers paying a premium.
The first question you must ask yourself is if having a view from your balcony or windows is important to you. When you begin looking at Toronto condos, it is important for you to know that unobstructed views are very difficult to come by, especially on the lower floors. Even if you find a condo that has a great view from a higher level, always make sure to see if there is a parking lot below. If there is, keep in mind that the chance of a builder developing a condo on that lot is highly probable.
Once you have decided that an unobstructed view is important to you in your Toronto condo purchase, you must figure out what type of view is important to you. In the City of Toronto, the south view is considered the premium view. Depending which Toronto condo you are looking in, the south view can have both city and water views, which makes for an incredible sight. Builders have started to capitalize on this exposure by charging purchasers more per square foot when purchasing a south facing condo unit. If you move more south of the city down to the lake, south views are directly facing the lake. The views from these condominiums will never change and will always maintain their waterfront views. If you don't want to purchase on a high floor, but do want an unobstructed view, there are many condos on Toronto's waterfront that offer purchasers this option.
Buildings located in the centre of downtown Toronto can have stunning unobstructed views. The key is to be on a high floor. Developers have started constructing condos higher than ever in order to achieve these views from all directions. With south views being the most sought after, east and west views also have their advantages. For people who enjoy waking up early to sunlight, east exposure is ideal for them. On the other hand for those who enjoy to watch the sun set and to have longer afternoon light, it is the west exposure that is best suited for you. Ideally Toronto condos that are corner units, can provide double exposure of views. Corner units usually mean having windows in all bedrooms which can be a huge advantage when it comes time to sell your Toronto condo.
It is not only penthouse units in Toronto nowadays that have incredible views. In fact many high rise condominiums are offering unobstructed views from their normal suites- not only their penthouse units. A good view is important to many people, therefore purchasing a Toronto condo with a view can help increase the value of your unit when you go to sell.

Click on Dna Condos for more information!