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PORT PERRY STAR ¥ REAL ESTATE ano CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING VOL.1 No.16 - FIRST CHOICE REAL ESTATE - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1989 Published weekly by the Port Perry Star V4 FEATURE HOMES OF THE WEEK HARVARD REALTY INC. 985-9729. SUPERB RURAL RESIDENCE $269,900. Conveniently close to Port Perry, this spacious brick, stone and aluminum clad bungalow is situated on one acre of land with a spring fed pond. The main floor boasts 3 bedrooms, living room, dining room, 1 - 4 pc. bath, large country eat-in kitchen with walkout to a huge deck. The lower level has 2 walkouts at ground level, a 3 pc. bathroom, sauna, and a large entertaining rec room with fireplace. The multi car paved driveway leads to a double car detached brick garage. To view this fine home by appoint ment only, please call 985-9729. PERMANENT WATERFRONT LIVING $193,900. This home is situated on the east shore of Scugog Island at McLarens Beach. Featuring 3 bedrooms, large living room with woodstove and walkout to sun porch and decking. The lot has 69' lakefront and a depth of 220'. There is a boathouse and out- building included. Lake recreation at your doorstep. Please call TO VIEW THESE PROPERTIES CALL ... 985-9729 / READ EVERY WEEK BY OVER 20,000 PEOPLE IN THESE COMMUNITIES ASHBURN - BLACKSTOCK - BROOKLIN - CAESAREA COLUMBUS - GREENBANK - JANETVILLE - LITTLE BRITAIN NESTLETON - PORT PERRY - PRINCE ALBERT SEAGRAVE - SUNDERLAND - UXBRIDGE Keep an eye out for disreputable home contractors Renovating your house usually turns out to be one of the best things you could do to give your whole lifestyle a lift. When it's all finished, many people wonder why they waited so long. But there is a dark side to the renovation business - one that annoys and frustrates everyone - especially the many profes- sionals in the field, such as those:who are members of the Toronto Home Builders' Association's Renovation and Redevelopment Council. Here's one example: Sooner or later every homeowner receives a little flyer in the mailbox from Joe Blow's Construction Company. Joe wants to build you a deck, a new kit- chen, an addition. You name it and Joe can do it and he can do it at discount prices. Or there'll be a knock on the door and Joe Blow's salesman will be standing there. "We're in the neighborhood right now and we wondered if you might be planning to have some work done," he'll say. Now be honest. Sure you're thinking about renovating. But would you hire a doctor this way? A lawyer? A banker? Of course not. So why is it that so many people can order a $20,000 kitchen renovation? Perhaps because you can't order a car with a bay window on the side and a patio door off the trunk. And car salesmen seldom come knocking on the door look- ing to make a deal. As house prices climb, renovations boom. The Toronto Home Builders' Association's Renovation and redevelpment Council say Torontonians spent more than $4 billion on renovations last year. But as the urge to renovate spreads, the number of shady operators multiplies. There are several ways in which con artists can dig for . dollars during a renovation boom. There is simple fraud. The '"'contractor" agrees to do the job but asks for 60 per cent down to buy materials. Then he disappears. Then there is the builder who completes the job, gets paid for it and quickly vanishes. Suddenly you start getting letters from impatient suppliers wonder- ing where their money is. And guess what? You're responsible, eventhough you thought you had already paid for them. Next thing you know, there will be a mechanic's lien against your property and you won't be able to sell without paying it off. A shady contractor may cut corners wherever he can. You pay for first-rate materials, but he buys cheaper stuff and pockets the difference. This guy will be anxious to close up the walls so you or an inspector won't notice the cheap grade of lumber or the poor quality wiring. And then there is the con- tractor who is "snorkling." This man needs cash flow to keep his business going one more week - your cash. He uses it to pay for previous jobs' materials and hopes another job will pay for yours. He'll go out of business shortly, but you'll be left to pay the suppliers. The low-baller is the master of the cut-rate renovation. But as soon as work begins, he starts hit- ting you with all sorts of ex- tras. Almost everything, you will learn, is an extra. Some people don't set out "to botch a job. They have it thrust upon them by a homeowner looking for a deal. Tempting though it may be, don't try to pro- mote a junior carpenter Pin. to a project manager, no matter how good a carpenter he is and no mat- ter how much money you think you'll save. Always make sure your contractor has liability in- surance. A Brantford cou- ple didn't - and when the (Turn to page 5) 3 I YT a I I I Try r------pew Pn A, TT Ne re me A. tA ra Rot ty "eel