SPRING CLEANING

As the sun peaks through the bay windows at our Bayview and Sheppard office, the law clerks and lawyers bustle and work hard on a busy Thursday in April. What makes this day different than all others outside though? Looking out the window one can tell the beautiful weather has brought people out of their houses and apartments to do some spring cleaning. This is especially being the case for the rows of domiciles sporting a For Sale sign. It seems as if with every gradual raise in temperature the number of signs expands. Coincidence? I think Not! Spring cleaning time is the perfect time to sell your place! The nice weather allows for quality painting, washing and gardening time. So what are you going to use this weather for?

HST Is Coming... By: Shawn Shapiro

The long weekend is almost over. Now, beautiful spring weather is upon us and as time passes by rapidly we get closer to the beginning of summer which marks the introduction of HST. Harmonized Sales Tax or HST is coming to fruition this summer and as an agent or buyer or seller one must be ready for it. As the date comes closer, more posts will be included about HST and if you need or want a full handout we have available contact shawn@shapirocho.com

Why Spring? By Shawn Shapiro

Looking out the windows at the offices of Shapiro & Cho, much can be seen. On this chilly yet quite spectacular Tuesday in March, one could get caught up in the weather. It is not quite winter anymore, but not quite Spring just yet. People walk down Sheppard Avenue East towards Bayview clinging to their Tim Horton’s cups and rolling the rim. People are dressed as if Winter and Spring had an offspring season right in the middle. It is funny though how the minute we trade our snow boots to our rain galoshes, more and more people start the process of thinking about selling their property.


On a walk around the streets near the building, muddy lawns are littered with signs for all the local agents in North York; More and more of these go up as the days pass as one can notice. Spring is when people start really selling their homes in big numbers.

The question one can ask is “Why Spring?”, and the answers are numerous. First off with the nicer weather on its way people can get around easier. More importantly with nice weather on the way agents and their clients alike can spruce up their front and back yards. Things can look absolutely perfect-to a degree of course. The outside of a property can really help with the sale, so spring becomes a crucial time to start upkeep.

With nicer weather on the way be ready to see more signs popping up everywhere and use the season to your advantage.

The Art of Staging By: Shawn Shapiro

There was a time when selling a house was a more simplistic task. You put it on the market and that was that. In 2010 though there are more trends arising before putting your place on the market.

One such trend is that people want to see how dressed up a place can look; how a different table or chair can accentuate a place and beyond—they want to see it staged. This has created a demand more than ever for stagers- artistic types who help you jazz up your place before people come to look at it.

Now you might be asking yourself the question “Why Stage?” The answer is simple, it can help you sell! The most simplistic additions and changes can make a difference from putting out some flowers, arranging a nice dining room, and basically making your place look as if it is lived in properly. Jazzing your place up can really stimulate interest in your property.

There is now even an industry for stagers. It has become a booming business and many sellers use this service. Is staging the new way to go? It seems so!

Which Social Media Is For You? By: Shawn Shapiro

It seems as if in this day in age social media is the new buzz word. Everyone wants to know how different forms of social networking can help them and their business. More than ever different forms of social networking are helping link people and businesses together. Here are some of the more notable forms.

Facebook: The proverbial “Grandfather” of all social media is still around and helping people connect. It is a great place to set up a profile for you personally or to create a group for your business. Though this form of social networking started out catering for the younger sect, people (and Business people) of all ages have now connected to make this a viable networking place for professionals.

Twitter: This social media is adept at telling people what you are up to at the moment and to send back interesting information and links.

LinkedIn: This is the most professional of the lot, and makes it easy for professionals to create a profile and link a network of people they know with recommendations and such. Many professionals use this program as it showcases education and past careers.

Blogs: Do you have a voice you want heard? Do you have points you want to elaborate on? Writing a blog has never been so simple with all the great and easy to use templates.

Be Safe, Have a Will!

You’re in your late twenties to mid thirties, and you are finally buying your first condo or house and potentially you are starting or building a family. Somebody throws out the “Crazy” idea that you should have a will and quickly you dismiss it by saying you’re young and you do not need that piece of paper yet.

Yes, there might have been a time when most people waited until their early forties and beyond to get a will, but to paraphrase that classic song “Times They Are a Changing”. People younger and younger are getting wills done and with good reason. Your will can delegate so many things from who gets your money to childcare issues and beyond.

A will is a piece of mind and can settle many qualms that people have when they pass on. It is definitely something to look into!

Welcome to The Buzzzzz...

It is a crisp fall day in Toronto (Canada), and as per usual the hallways of Shapiro & Cho Barristers and Solicitors is bustling with clerks and lawyers hard at work.

Our clients and our agents wait patiently as the fruition of all the labors of the past months comes to pass-- That magical key for that new home or condominium or that cheque being finally ready.



This is the first of many Legal Buzz blogs that will be sent your way.



Sometimes they will be musings of pertinent issues occurring within our very walls; Other times they will be tips, ideas or full articles about the legal and business world!



We will help enlighten on the world of Real Estate Law and Commercial Law and also draw upon business as well.



So happy reading and you will learn a thing or two...



By: Shawn Shapiro