Home owner

Gardening is a pleasant hobby that anyone can enjoy. If you are looking to transform your landscape, you will first want to know a few of the basics before you start digging, planting & building.

Choose the Right Location.

For a simple and small garden, you will want to ensure proper placement of your garden in terms of your boundaries. You should always check your property’s survey plan before making any changes to your landscape. Regardless of the size of your garden, you should avoid ...

We know you’re looking for all things related to boundary trees, good for you. Let me tell you that you are in the right place because you’ll find all the information needed here. So, let’s get started.

Trees are essential to our natural environment, however, they are more than living beings, as they can be part of fond memories and might marl a special place on our properties as well.

Boundary trees can be a big deal because unlike structures such as sheds, garages, additions, or patios ...

Should I check a survey plan before buying a house?

Deciding whether to consult a survey plan before bidding on or buying a house is considered one of the most effective ways to avoid buyer’s remorse.

What is a Survey Plan?

A survey plan, also known as a land survey, property survey, Surveyor’s Real Property Report, and building location survey, is a diagrammatic representation of a property and all it’s physical features. It shows the physical extent of the property – the boundary –

A Laneway Suite is a new, self-contained residential unit located on the same lot as a detached house, semi-detached house or townhouse, and generally located in the rear yard next to a laneway. The laneway suite is typically smaller than and fully detached from the main building. It is also sometimes referred to as a granny suite or a garden suite, as it provides a separate living space on the property that can be used for extended family members, tenants, or guests.

Laneway Houses are a hot topic in the City of Toronto, as they offer homeowners the ability to create new sources of revenue and increase the overall value of their property. To qualify for a laneway suite,

On Thursday June 28, 2018, the City of Toronto Council approved a motion to amend a city bylaw which would now allow the construction of laneway suites in residential neighbourhoods. The ever-increasing demand for affordable housing in the GTA played a huge role in the 30 -5 vote, with the hopes that this change will alleviate some of the pressure its residents are having with finding living space.

Our last few blog posts have focused on the top four situations where a land survey plan is important: buying a home, selling a home, planning an exterior renovation (building a fence, shed, etc.) and disputing a boundary. Now we’ll look at the land survey plan itself, and the important role it plays in our system of private land ownership, which is based on properties with well-defined boundaries.

One of the oldest professions in the world, land surveying emerged along with the human desire to build large structures, from Stonehenge forward. Ancient surveyors plotted the sites of the pyramids in Egypt before the first massive building stones slid into place. The Romans established land surveying as a profession to measure and manage the conquered lands that formed their empire. Both William the Conqueror and Napoleon Bonaparte relied on precise maps to gain wealth and power.

Notable surveyors include Sir George Everest, (yes, that mountain), George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In what would become Canada, the great explorers – including Samuel de Champlain, James Cook and George Vancouver – began the process of documenting the contours of the land on paper.

Licensed Ontario Land Surveyors and their staff, working within the Province of Ontario, have a statutory right to enter onto private property in order to perform a survey. Despite this entitlement, they often meet resistance: neighbours may object and have been known to call the police to stop what they consider an act of trespass.

The law recognizes certain circumstances when officials of government agencies and inspectors can enter onto private land without a search warrant. But this access is subject to limitations. Even fire firefighters and emergency medical services staff must abide by certain conditions when entering private land during an emergency.

On April 22 2015 the Law Society of Upper Canada is holding the 12th Annual Real Estate Law Summit in Toronto.

Bob Aaron, lawyer and Toronto Star columnist, will be speaking on the importance of the land survey plan in today’s real estate transaction.

Today’s savvy homesellers understand the value of showing their home in its best light. “Staging” a home by eliminating clutter and adding tasteful artwork, neutral paint colours and optimal furniture arrangements has become routine in the hopes of attracting multiple offers and higher bids.

There is less awareness about the importance of including a property survey plan in the home information package. While the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (APS) contains a standard condition that allows the purchaser to request that the seller supply a survey plan if they have one in their possession, there is much confusion regarding this clause and what precisely the vendor will produce.