The long story of the Guild Inn, a Guildwood Village classic

I was telling a client the other day about an area that I thought she should consider as she is moving from the Beach.  The Guildwood Village was the area I suggested to her and she mentioned The Guild Inn

The elegant inn I visited many times in the 80's and 90's. 

The Guild Inn was a magical place, a placed of romance, filled with charm and mystery. The grounds were stunning, many festivals and events would take place in the grounds, it was 

a wonderful location for walks and for the impromptus picnics that would plan with my young daughter on warm summer days.

I used to live in The Guilwood Village in the 90's and when friends of mine came to visit Toronto, they would stayed there or we would go there for dinner.

The history of Guildwood Village revolves around The Guild Inn so I will start my conversation of  Guilwood Village today,  by telling you about this colorful, magical and historical place.

The Guild Inn was built on top of the Scarborough Bluffs in 1914. At that time it was known as the Bickford house.

The core of the Inn itself was the summer country home for American soldier Coronel Harold C. Bickford.  He built his house in 1914 , with stables for his horses and a garage for his cars. It was a perfect spot on the edge of the Scarborough Bluffs, on beautifully forested land with stunning views of Lake Ontario.

Bickford sold the home in 1921, and the building then became a house for Roman Catholic missionaries that were destined for China. After that it became the home of a wealthy businessman. It then sat empty for a few years, until it was purchased by Rosa Breithaupt Hewetson, .

 In 1932 Rosa met Spencer Clark, a young man who shared her vision. They got married and began “The Guild of All Arts”. 

Rosa and Spencer invited artists and craftspeople to "the Guild of All Arts". The artist were provided room and board in their home, in return for sharing their work and skills with the Guild and its visitors. 

Some of the original 40 acres of the guild lands were then converted to vegetable gardens and growing fields in order to produce food on site and as cheaply as possible to feed the guest.

The arts and crafts never made as much money as they had hoped, but much of the art and furniture at the Guild was produced on site. 

The Clarks invested their wealth on the place , converting Bickford’s stables and garages into studio buildings, they built new cottages and studios, and purchased hundreds of acres of additional surrounding land. 

So many visitors came that the Clarks began to develop an Inn, so they moved out of the original Bickford house in 1934 to make room for guests.  

The inn was at extended dramatically during the late ’30s and early ’40s to accommodate the growing guests.

During World War II, the Inn was turned into a training facility for the Woman's Naval Service. At the end of the war, the property was requisitioned as a specialized military hospital specializing in the treatment of personnel suffering from nervous disorders and was known as 'Scarborough Hall'.

The property was returned to the Clarks in 1947, and they re-established the Guild of All Arts and continued to run the Inn. Unfortunately 7 years later because of the increase of property taxes, the couple was forced to sell 400 acres where The Guilwood Village was developed in 1954.

The Clarks kept 90 acres and continued to develop, to add buildings and monuments to the grounds and then in 1968, they added further renovations including the pool.

In 1978 the Guild was purchased by the government of Ontario and the city of Toronto and the Inn continued.

Spencer Clark continued to run the Inn as a hotel until 1984. At that time the conservation authority took over, overseeing the land and protecting the shore.

Delta Hotels started managing the hotel in 1984, Clark died in 1986 and the CN Hotels took over in 1987 but the lease was not renewed when CN hotels were sold.

In 1988 Giant Step Realty, who had big plans for the property, took a 99 year lease on the property but the Residence Association of Guildwood Village opposed it and unfortunately the hotel was neglected by the new owners, it was so sad to see the neglect and in 1993 the Inn was finally closed.

In 1999 the park was named a heritage property by the Heritage Canada Foundation.

The restaurant which was still running was finally closed as well and the public only had access to the park after that.

In 2001 Artscape approached the community which was met with interest at the time and many events took place on the grounds at the time.

In 2008 Centennial College was approved by the city to manage the hotel and run courses for hotel and rest but at that time a fire destroyed the studio, which had been the former stable of the Bickfords

The demolition of the hotel tower was approved in 2009 and an application from Centennial college to build a residence was denied. 

Friends of the Guild Park and gardens was formed to help save it in 2014.

The city in 2015 announced that Dynamic hospitality would open a special event venue in the site and the 16 million dollar project is on its way. Perhaps now this incredible place is poised to finally rise from the ashes.

Renovating your kitchen?

 People often ask me if renovating a kitchen is a good investment, one that will pay off should they decide to sell their home.

I often reply that it really depends on many things, for example some homes may be purchased because they are on prime lots. Most likely those homes will be demolished and a new home, or homes,  will be built on its place, so a kitchen renovation in such home may not make any sense. I say "may", as it really depends, for example,  if you live on a lot with an amazing view. Lets imagine you have a little bungalow with  a 50 by 120 foot lot, you know that it is very probable that someone will rebuild  once you are ready to sell and that the sale price of the home will not change much, whether you had renovated your kitchen or not, a builder will not care how your kitchen looks. But if you are planning to live in your home for another 2 or 3 years, maybe you should consider that it will make sense for you. If a renovated kitchen will make your life easier and will make you happy, then the renovations are worth it as they will add to the quality of your life.

 If you are renovating a kitchen for yourself you should concentrate of what your needs are and that that should be your emphasis.  If on the other hand,  the reason that you are renovating is to get a higher price for your home then you will need to think of what are the selling features of today for a kitchen.

Many of the features that we see today are very standard, we expect to see stone or granite counters, center islands, sleek designs, hardwood floors, breakfast bars, gas stoves, top drawers, white kitchen, back splashes that are easy to clean and look modern and sleek.

One thing to remember is that is that is the case, you should use designs that are classic and popular.  Try to chose a clean and uncomplicated look, a simple white kitchen with simple lines is best.

The buyer can add their special touches to their own kitchen later.

If you are renovating a kitchen for your own use, then it  makes sense for you to design  the kitchen to suit your specific needs, but if the only reason you are renovating is for resale then you


should take a more simple approach to the renovation.

Kitchen renovations are a lot of fun as long as you have a good plan and are employing a good contractor.

What are you looking for in a new home?

Is it time to start looking for that new home? You know it is but do you know what is it that you are looking for in a new home? What is missing in your existing home?  For example what kind of back yard, what kind of  property would like to have with your next home?

Recently one of my clients said, "I love my house but I simply wish I had a larger garden, I would like room for a pond and an area for my herbs, and who knows maybe even a vegetable garden, but I still would like to the have at least the same grass area I have now, for my dog to run.

I frequently hear this, " I bought the house in the winter, and I was not thinking of what I wanted to see in the summer. I need a large backyard in my next property."

"The kids need a backyard, a place for them to play."  Some time it is more like this: " We would like an outside area, somewhere we can chill and where we can have meals outdoors during the nice weather" Although some times the reasons are a little more rich and they may really need some serious space, specially when we hear things like:    "Our new place will have to have room for a skating ring", most times they do not need all that room.

Although some time people may really need some serious space for that pool, trampoline, dog run or tennis courts, often those who want a large back yard usually are overestimating the space they will need. 

Although many would like to have an outdoor space, most generally assume that they will need a larger property than what they really need. 

Perhaps they do not have any outdoor space now and they just want an area that is private and comfortable to have drinks outside on warm summer evenings, or to entertain friends, or it might just be to eat their dinners out or have their coffees in the morning on warm summer mornings, or may be just a place to grow their herbs. Perhaps a deck is all they really need. 

I believe that as an agent, I need to ask the right questions in order to get to know what  a client's real needs are. This is not out of curiosity but it is prerequisite to understand the needs of the clients in order to guide them in the right direction. Probing questions,  are necessary in order to determine a client's needs. This is an important skill and a service that I think I should provide for my clients. 

Sometimes people know they want some outside space in their new home but they have not thought it through and may have overestimated what kind of area they may really require for their new home.  All they may need in order to set that small table may be a small space.

Having a conversation with my clients and asking the right questions always helps me provide a better service. Enhance my knowledge of my client's needs allows me to help them properly. Knowing your needs will allow me to find that special property that you have been looking for.

Why investing in real estate is a good idea?

 Here are a few of the many reasons that make investing in real estate a great idea.

The first reason is leverage, with a real estate investment you can gain more leverage than with another kind of investment, as you are using someone else money. For example with a mortgage, you are using for example 80% of the bank's money if you put 20 % down. You have the ability to make a small down payment which allows you to be able to leverage the rest of your capital. This further allows you to increase your overall return on your investment, remember that your actual investment is your small down payment. Your are using other's people's money for the majority of your investment, so there is no excuse to start earlier. Waiting to have a larger down payment does not make sense in this respect. 

Most of us are well aware that money invested in vehicles such as a TFSA or an RRSP  can grow, tax-free but many of us don't fully realize that buying rental property can also give you an investment that will grow tax free until it is time to sell at which time you will be paying only capital gains on the appreciation of your investment. Talking to your accountant you can find out if this applies to you and if this will fit with your personal financial plan.

Another thing to consider is that with real estate investments in the first year or two, there could be tax write-offs against your other income which you could use, if you are a high earner. You will need to check with your accountant if this applies to you.

Although cash flow is very important when investing in real estate and for many people this could be one of the main reasons why they are investing in a property in the first place, but
what is really crucial to your real estate investment is the appreciation of your asset over the long term and if we look at the real estate appreciation charts over the last 40 years, we can see that,  that type of appreciation is realistic.

Also remember that investing in rental real estate is a business,  many of the expenses are tax deductible and that you may hire people or a company to help you run the business, so you are not alone.

For many investors the most important reason to buy an investment property is because rental real estate is a type of forced retirement plan. Buying a rental property is a commitment that you will maintain which will build  your future cash flow and your future wealth.  Don't underestimate the value of the appreciation of your properties over time. With a real estate investment as there could be tax write-offs against your other income, you will need to check with your accountant, but this could be possible for some investors. . 

You won't get rich overnight but if you are young enough and have a large enough time horizon you will get rich in time adding to your real estate portfolio.

This is true for all kind of investments, it takes the commitment of long-term investing,  as well as a diverse portfolio to build true wealth and real estate investment is as an important part of that  equation.

Kingston Road Village

Kingston Road Village

Our Kingston Road office is in the heart of Kingston Road Village. They used to say that the village run,  a few blocks North and a few blocks South Kingston Road and it was between Main Street and Victoria Park including Henley Gardens, but it now we say that it includes The Hunt Club as well as the blocks that leads to Warden.

This stretch of Kingston Road was actually the first part of the Beaches to be settled and today is growing quickly East on Kingston Rd.

 It is a thriving community that is growing by leaps and bounds and one of the areas where homes had a large price increase over the past couple of years. 

For a long time there was a shortage of condominium buildings in the area and that lack of inventory persists although there are a number of new condo development that have been build and others that are being built on Kingston Road.

The Southwood Condos is a New Condo by Streetcar Developments located at Kingston Rd & Main St, Toronto, which should be ready for occupancy by the end of this year

The other large development on Kingston Road is just east of our office, across from Henley Gardens.

Designed by Teeple Architects, it is a condominium complex by Tas.

Other new projects in the area include Glen Condos, as well as Upper Beach Club 

and Beach House Condos among many others.

The attraction to the area are the parks, the ravines, the proximity to the lake but also the shops and the restaurants, as well as the schools and the people.

The festivals on Kingston Road bring out all the residents and the atmosphere is festive with food, music, balloons and sales.

There are great green spaces, like the area of the Glen Stewart Ravine. 

The city of Toronto parks department has developed a nature trail through the Glen Stewart Ravine. There is great beauty and much hidden charms in this narrow and rich ravine.
Ontario Trails Council describes the walk and nature trail as follows "At the southerly end of the ravine, the stream disappears underground and the forest gives way to a grassy open area that is being allowed to regenerate naturally. Ontario Trails Council describes the walk and nature trail as follows "At the southerly end of the ravine, the stream disappears underground and the forest gives way to a grassy open area that is being allowed to regenerate naturally. In the winter the area is filled with children and their families enjoying the snow.

During all seasons, walkers can continue south along Glen Manor Dr. East until reaching a small park just north of Queen on the left hand side. There are some pretty rockeries in this steep-sided little park. Following the path through it will bring you out to Queen St. Cross Queen and you will find yourself at our Queen St. office.

If and when you find yourself here, please stop by to see us. The Queen Street office was our first office, the one on Kingston Road came later and now we have a new central location.

Kingston Road Village is a great business area filled with interesting shops, restaurants, cafes and flower shops. It is also very convenient as all the banks are there too.

Some of the events that take place every year in Kingston Road Village:

• Community Centre 55 Parade in November
• Kingston Road Village Fall Festival in October
• Winter Carnival at the Kimberly Public School in January
• Spring Festival in June

The schools for this area as follows:

• Kimberley Junior Public School (Grades JK to 6)
  50 Swanwick Ave, Toronto, ON
  M4E2Z5
• Glen Ames Senior Public School,
  18 Williamson Rd, Toronto, ON
  M4E1K5,
• Malvern Collegiate Institute, (Gr 9-12)
  55 Malvern Ave, Toronto, ON
  M4E3E4

The homes in this area are moments to all the shops and restaurants on Kingston Road and a short walk from Queen Street East shops and restaurants and a short walk from Community Centre 55.

A great place to live, so stop by the office and we will talk about real estate in this great community and we can it all over a cup of tea or coffee. Starbucks is a few steps from the office.

Adding some more "feelings" to homes for sale

Why do some houses just feel right to some people as soon as they walk into them? People often say that the home just felt right, or that it had a good "vibe" or that it called to them, or that it just made them feel comfortable.

I have realized that different people react to different spaces, as we are all different but there are some similarities or things that appeal to us all in an universal level.

Most people will enjoy a house that is warm when they walk in from the cold, most people also enjoy a property that is clean and not cluttered, but they will not feel embraced and comforted by a house that is empty. Vacant homes, feel cold and empty, devoid or spirit and essence, which makes it more difficult for someone to see themselves living there.

Sometimes we walk into a house that has a strong spirit or essence of the person who is living there, and although this may evoke a strong emotional response  in some people, this is not a good thing as the buyer cannot imagine themselves living in the house, the house may be too infused with the spirit and taste of its present owner. We should avoid this.

To evoke an emotional response,that will attract most people, we tend to think of simple, not cluttered spaces, but spaces that are warm and inviting, like a sitting area or nook by a fireplace with wool throws, maybe a wool rug and knitted pillows scattered around. Anything that has a natural feel and some texture ads a different dimension to a space, like basket weaves knits on large baskets, which are great for holding magazines, or natural wood for the fireplace or they can be used as holders for plants.

Hardwood floors should not be covered if at all possible, specially if the floors are new or in great shape. We need to remember that these are attractive features that the buyer needs to be reminded off and should not be concealed.

If you can have a fire going while doing the showing or open houses, it will help attract potential buyers. 

If a fireplace is not available or inconvenient to have it on, then the feeling of warmth can be added by having some candles lit around the home.

While some people love animals, some do not and any pets are better off left in someone else home while the house is on the market.

Some times pets get frightened or disturbed by the presence of so many strangers in their home and may react aggressively towards the visitors.

To avoid any possible problems have them somewhere else for the showing times,

Although rooms can be bright and cheerful during the day, at night they may not be, so having light fixtures that are bright is important for night time showings.

It is important that for showings the home feels warm during the colder months and cooler during hotter days, we do not want it to feel too hot or too cold, the temperature should be just right.

Although the visual impact of first impressions are the most important, smells and sounds also make lasting impressions and are almost,  if not just as important , when it comes to first impressions. 

While we do not want to have any fragrance that is overpowering, we would like to have a nice natural scent that will create an emotional impact.

Natural scents, like the smell of lavender, or the smell of burning wood, appeal to our subconscious mind. Some agents suggest that the owner bakes bread or cookies before an open house as those scents can appeal to our basic emotions and remind us of those memories we cherish from home. 

House plants are not always a good idea to display in a house that is having showings as they can be a bit messy and we must remember that not everyone enjoys plants inside a house.

A nice bouquet of flowers is ideal and can ad a bit of color and fragrance to a space.


Having herbs in the kitchen in small pots by a sunny window can sometimes add some more depth of feelings to the impressions that a home makes on prospectives buyer, but they should be used sparingly if at all.

Kitchen counters should be uncluttered but at the same time they should not be barren, bleak or lifeless. 

White kitchens are beautiful, but often if no color is added, it can give a bland look that may not have enough appeal.

Adding a colorful vase of jar, or some bright lemons or oranges in a bowl can ad a little color and life to the space.

It is important in summer to open windows if the air conditioner is not on, as fresh air is always preferable.

Bedrooms should be neat but inviting, and one way to add warmth is by adding wool throws and textured materials or images that are of textured materials.

If the floors are hardwood, then it's a good idea to show them off, but a small carpet on them could add some warmth and add to the feeling of comfort.

Adding some living, thought provoking everyday touches to a structure that although pretty may look devoid of emotion can go a long way to create the magic necessary for someone to fall in love with the home and act quickly and decisively and in the end that is what every seller wants, a quick sale.

Entertaining garden thoughts during a cold January night

 It is usually during the coldest winter days that I start thinking of what I want my garden to look like in the summer.  It is often at this time of the year, when I start picking up those nice little pots of basil, parsley, mint, rosemary and tarragon from Loblaws to start filling my kitchen with signs and smells of spring.  This is also the time that I  start looking through those slick gardening magazines, dreaming of what I may want to do to my garden during the following months.

It is at this time, that I start aching for a greenhouse, after all what room would be best to start growing plants in, than in a greenhouse. I have looked at different greenhouses over the years and realized that in order for me to use it, I would need to have it close to the house.
I remember that I've  told clients who were thinking of getting a hot tub that they would probably not use it often if the hot tub was placed far away from the main house.

I am sure that it would be the same for a greenhouse, so if the greenhouse is attached to the property, the green house would be used more often than if the greenhouse was away from the house.

The big question that we need to ask ourselves,whenever we need to do a large investment to our property is, will the improvement add value to your home. While making the most of your outdoor space will always maximize the value of your home, your green house may or may not add value to the home. For one thing a tasteful addition that will allow you to increase the size of your home during the fall and spring will, having a greenhouse that is somewhere in the back yard, on the other house may not appeal to those that do not garden.

A detached greenhouse can be taken with you when you move, so that may no matter so much because it would be viewed as one of your possessions rather than a fixture that goes with the house. A in ground pool, on the other hand would be one of those things that you cannot take with you and one of those items that for non swimmers buyers may be a detriment and may detract from the value of the home, as they will wonder how much it would cost to remove it or fill it with dirt to cover it. 

Sheds on the other hand are popular and they will add to the value of your home because they are practical and they make a great place to keep the bikes, the gardening tools, etc.

 Having a beautiful out door space is a selling point

when you are selling your home in the summer. It is also a selling point when you are selling in the winter if you have taken great pictures of your outdoor space during the summer time. Beautiful outdoor pictures help sell your property in the winter time, as buyers, like everyone else is yearning for something that looks green, lush and warm.

It takes very little to make cozy outdoor sitting areas, inviting spaces that create an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

Why add a security system to your home?

Monday, January 9, 2017

Why add a security system to your home?

Security systems are an important to your home, because among other things, can ad value to the biggest investment we all have, our homes. They can also save you money on damage or losses that can happen if you have a break in and it can also save you money on insurance costs but the most important thing these systems can provide you with is peace of mind.

The fact that these systems can save you money on your insurance premiums is an important consideration for many people.

Many insurance companies consider home security systems as valuable additions to your home and will give you larger discounts if you have a home security system  that is monitored. Some types of security systems can save you a large percentage of your monthly premiums.

Talk to your insurance agent, the discounts that you will get from your insurance company will help pay a large part of your security system.

Your real estate agent will tell you that some features will ad value to your home and these is one of those features.

If you are selling your home, your home will attract more buyers. This will increase the value of your home, as buyers are willing to spend a little more if they feel the home is safe and secure. When, as agents we are able to demonstrate how motion detectors work, or how the sensors that your security system possess will not only impress the buyers but it will resonate with them in a personal level.

They will no longer have to go through all the time, money and effort to connect and or find any of these units, the work has been done for them.

I invested in a ring door bell PRO from www.ring.com and I am very happy with the unit, since I bought it lasts year it has given me peace of mind knowing that I can reply to whoever is at the door when I am not home. Since then I have also got a Stick up cam for the side door.

You may enjoy looking at some of the customer stories from

https://ring.com/customer-stories

In the back of the house I have my old Logitech cameras which have delighted me catching images of deer and other creatures from the Bluffs, and one time, two years ago, it caught someone before they broke in from the side of the house. My neighbor down the street did not have a camera and did not catch the person when they broke in her house before they came to mine, her house was damaged and she was inconvenienced for weeks while the repairs took place.

The investment of those initial cameras years ago, more than paid up for themselves. I recommend to everyone to get a security camera and to have a monitoring system connected and monitored for their homes. You cannot put a price on your peace of mind.

Why add a security system to your home?

Security systems are an important to your home, because among other things, can ad value to the biggest investment we all have, our homes. They can also save you money on damage or losses that can happen if you have a break in and it can also save you money on insurance costs but the most important thing these systems can provide you with is peace of mind.

The fact that these systems can save you money on your insurance premiums is an important consideration for many people.

Many insurance companies consider home security systems as valuable additions to your home and will give you larger discounts if you have a home security system  that is monitored. Some types of security systems can save you a large percentage of your monthly premiums.

Talk to your insurance agent, the discounts that you will get from your insurance company will help pay a large part of your security system.

Your real estate agent will tell you that some features will ad value to your home and these is one of those features.

If you are selling your home, your home will attract more buyers. This will increase the value of your home, as buyers are willing to spend a little more if they feel the home is safe and secure. When, as agents we are able to demonstrate how motion detectors work, or how the sensors that your security system possess will not only impress the buyers but it will resonate with them in a personal level.

They will no longer have to go through all the time, money and effort to connect and or find any of these units, the work has been done for them.

I invested in a ring door bell PRO from www.ring.com and I am very happy with the unit, since I bought it lasts year it has given me peace of mind knowing that I can reply to whoever is at the door when I am not home. Since then I have also got a Stick up cam for the side door.

You may enjoy looking at some of the customer stories from

https://ring.com/customer-stories

In the back of the house I have my old Logitech cameras which have delighted me catching images of deer and other creatures from the Bluffs, and one time, two years ago, it caught someone before they broke in from the side of the house. My neighbor down the street did not have a camera and did not catch the person when they broke in her house before they came to mine, her house was damaged and she was inconvenienced for weeks while the repairs took place.

The investment of those initial cameras years ago, more than paid up for themselves. I recommend to everyone to get a security camera and to have a monitoring system connected and monitored for their homes. You cannot put a price on your peace of mind.