Does your mortgage broker or banker have the AMP designation?

AMP stands for "Accredited Mortgage Professional". It is the only national designation for Canada’s mortgage industry. CAAMP (Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals) created the AMP designation in 2004 as part of their ongoing commitment to increase the level of professionalism in Canada’s mortgage industry. It upholds the highest standard of mortgage industry ethics and professional excellence. The AMP designation differentiates mortgage professionals from others in the mortgage industry. It demonstrates their commitment to providing you with the highest level of service while finding the best mortgage solution suited to your needs.

AMP’s are committed to finding the best mortgage for you, not the bank! They will explain all your mortgage options and provide you with peace of mind throughout the mortgage process. They can answer questions and provide knowledge from their high amount of education and experience in the mortgage industry. You’ll feel at ease when dealing with an AMP who has met the highest standards of the industry performance, ethical business practices and commitment to ongoing education. A series of educational and mortgage experience requirements have to be met to receive the AMP designation and not everyone in the mortgage industry qualifies. As well, 12 + hours of educational courses &/or seminars are required yearly to renew the AMP designation. The AMP represents added value and access to the dedicated services of a professional who is focused on meeting your needs. Ask your banker, mortgage broker or mortgage specialist if they have their AMP designation? If not, look for the expertise of an AMP today!

For more information visit CAAMP’s website at: www.mortgageconsumer.org  

Find Trusted Saskatoon Mortgage brokers on THE Saskatoon directory of excellence. . 

Lets quickly explore the top 3 myths of why some clients will reject leather.

Myth #1 "Leather is hot and sticky!"

or "Leather is soo cold, especially for the basement!" Many people's experience of leather seating has been limited to the car. When the sun is beating down in a car, it can literally get hot enough to fry an egg on the dash, and of course the seats are going to be absolutely steaming. Same thing in winter...you never worry about hot buns, it is like sitting on an ice cube! Add to that, car makers are not using the highest grade leathers that breathe, and the backseat is almost always a vinyl. A good quality leather sofa set will actually breathe to some extent. If it is cool out, by the time you count to 6 seconds, it is warming to your body temperature, and is also going to disperse the heat. If it is hot out, with no air conditioning in the house and bare legs, you certainly can sweat and stick as soon as you sit down...but think of this. You are sweating whether you are sitting on leather or cloth. On leather, the sweat can be wiped off. On cloth, it sinks in, damages your foams, and is there the next time you place your face on the sofa to lay down. Enough said on that topic.

Myth #2 "We have pets and kids, leather is not in our future!"

 Cloth certainly can provide a great place for kids to roughhouse and mess around without worrying about scratches and damage in the same way as you would see on a leather set. Cloth also is definitely more budget friendly when there is a low limit set on what a client can spend. Of course, there are several downfalls to cloth. Pets can just as easily snag a cloth sofa with their nails as they can scratch a leather set. Once cloth is damaged or stained, it is all over with but the tears. Good quality leather is actually very hard to puncture. You may scratch it, you may scrape it, but it isn't easy to puncture, even with teeth involved. Different types of finishes on leather can lend more durability and have less noticeable scratching. Leather is wash and wear, and is a great choice for persons suffering with allergies, as dust settles on top and can be wiped off. Cloth retains dust and odors much easier. Many people think that they can just throw their cloth cushions in the wash, but it is important to really look at the care labels. Often you will void their warranty doing this, and I have had complaints of never getting the cushions to fit back on the foam properly due to shrinking. Lastly, repairs are lot easier on a leather set, often being barely perceived and maybe looking like a natural scar in the hide. Plus the area of the fix is actually stronger than the rest of the hide! Trying to sew up a hole in cloth is a futile venture, the hole often reappears as soon as there is stress on the fix. It takes a lot to truly damage a leather set. Small surface scratches are often only noticeable to the owner, the average visitor is not going to notice these things. Cloth does have the benefit of a softer feel, and it can add warmth and texture to the look of a room. There is maintenance required though, and high traffic, food eating areas may not be best suited for cloth. I get many clients who want to put cloth downstairs "for the kids", because of cost and no one really seeing it; yet this is the area they use the most in the house, watching movies, snacking with the kids and generally living on their set! Nothing can compare with the ease of care a quality leather set provides. Dog hair vacuums up in a jiffy, spills wipe off in a second.

Myth 3 "Leather is so expensive!"

Well, this is one that I can't really dispute. The only thing I can say is that good quality leather and a good quality cloth sofa are only going to be about 500.00 difference at International Furniture Wholesalers. If you are on a tight budget, I would much rather encourage my clients to look at a cloth set of decent quality with an easy to care for synthetic fabric than go with a very cheap bonded leather. Anything besides a good quality leather set is going to be disappointing as you lose all the great things about leather...the durability, the cleanability, and most of all, the breathability! The one thing I can say is...value. A cloth set wears out, a leather set just gets broke in. I find you get double to triple the amount of years out of a leather set compared to a cloth set. A leather set you can dress up and make look different just by different accents. A cloth set you may tire of and not be able to change the look up as easily, especially if you choose a pattern. A great compromise, and a very trendy look if you truly can't make up your mind is to have of bit of each. A cloth set can be dressed up with a beautiful leather accent chair, or a leather set can be finished off with a lively patterned accent chair and pillows.

 check out FURNITURE on our SASKATOON DIRECTORY.  They are your Trusted SASKATOON FURNITURE EXPERTS! 

Stay Trusted My friends ..SAFE and TRUSTED Of Course

www.trustedsaskatoon.com ALWAYS PURELY POSITIVE

www.trustedsaskatoon.com is thrilled and excited ( woooo hoooo ) to reach 1000 likes on their Facebook page.

The incentive to get there ..beyond having the SASKATOON DIRECTORY of Trusted businesses for the public ..meant that our fans canvassed their friends and spread the TRUSTED philosophy and the TRUSTED word...to great..no AWESOME effect...with only 50% of the prize being ' theirs'..... you see 50% of the prize goes to a local non profit right here in Saskatoon...Trusted Saskatoon is from here ...we care about this city and it's people..and we work hard to help them every day!

BECAUSE of our wonderful fans spreading the social media buzz....the VALENTINES www.trustedsaskatoon.com incentive has 4 winners

1. The $250 winner chosen at random is  Rochelle Fjeldstrom.

2. Rochelle then gets to choose the local non profit of her choice to recieve a $250 donation ( Rochelle chose the MS Society of SK)

3. The SPA cert winner gets a $200 Gift Cert for Just for You Day Spa- is  ALAN McKAY 

4. Alan then gets to choose the local non profit of his choice to receive a $250 donation to The C95 Breast Cancer Marathon in memory of Lisa Rendel     

As an additional gesture of thanks ....and because of their absolute determination  to help www.trustedsaskatoon.com get to 1000 fans ..... JULIA HERPENGER, LINDSAY CURTIS and JENNY COOK...will all receive a $50 Gift Cert to Spa a hava or Edgewater Spa..Trusted Saskatoon Spas...along with Just for You Day Spa..thanks ladies..you worked your social butts off for months ...:)  

Check us out on our You Tube Channel here  and remember..being a FAN of www.trustedsaskatoon.com  is THE smart and Simple choice..the winning wil never end!

The SASKATOON DIRECTORY of Trusted saskatoon businesses! 

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Whether you are building a new home or remodelling a single room, Kitchen & Bath Classics SASKATOON a Trusted SASKATOON BATHROOM EXPERT offer you one of the largest selections of plumbing fixtures, faucets, and accessories from quality names, displaying the latest trends and cutting-edge styles. The showroom consultants offer the best expertise in the business as they understand the building process; working with you to ensure that your project stays within budget and that the right products are delivered on time.

Lori Nadrowski the Saskatoon Showroom manager shares her First Trusted Tip..a NEWS FLUSH no less!!

MYTH – Low Flow Toilets don’t Work!

When working in the showroom it was always surprising how many times in a day the advantages and disadvantages of toilets were discussed. Most would think that clients would spend more time in choosing a new kitchen faucet (as it tends to be usually the focal point in many homes) as opposed to making sure they received the best toilet out there. But after you think about it, what is used more in the home and what do you want to make sure will always continue to work — especially during a dinner party? it’s your toilet! So here is the 101 on choosing your toilet. In order to get a great flushing toilet you do have to spend more than the standard $200 on a gravity flush toilet. As all toilets now are low flow, they have went from 13litre to 6litre to now the new 4.8litre, don’t get discouraged – with all the technology out there the 4.8litres do work and no you do not have to flush twice. A couple things to look for is a larger flap valve (standard is 2″) – this is allowing more water to enter the bowl at once giving it a more forceful flush and a larger fully glazed siphon trapway (standard is 1″) to make sure everything is exiting properly. A great resource in deciding on your toilet is the map-testing website http://www.map-testing.com/index.html  this gives you a complete breakdown between manufacture and toilet and the flushing capacity for bulk removal. What you want to look for, for the best flush, is between 800g – 1000g for bulk removal. Then from there it comes to style, toilets have come a long way, you can get ADA (comfort height toilets), fully concealed trapway toilets (easier to clean), and of course the must have the easy close seat – no more slamming!

Find KItchen & Bath Classics online at http://www.kitchenandbathclassics.ca  in the SASKATOON BATHROOMS category on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY of Excellence...they are your BATHROOM FIXTURES and FITTING Expert right here in SASKATOON !

Check out the you tube video BELOW ON THE COST SAVINGS AND DEMONSTRATIONS!

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 TRUSTED Saskatoon Realtors Real estate TIP

Does it really add value to your home?

But do you need it? Various house toys weigh in. Of course a basement waterfall and grotto is a practical and useful addition to any home. That’s pretty much the only thing standing between you and the playboy lifestyle you’ve always dreamed about, right? But who’s going to clean it? It’s easy to fall in love with certain features of a home, but to find out that those same features, in the long run, are your least favorite.

Here are a few common ‘extras’ and a quick assessment of their relative values.

1. In-floor Heating Also referred to as radiant heat, in-floor heating is a brand new invention. Well, except that the Romans did it a couple thousand years ago by channeling hot air under the floors of their villas. And Frank Lloyd Wright did it in the thirties with hot water, but other than that . . . For: In-floor heat comes in two primary forms: hot water heat and electric heat, and there are many advantages. The dramatic energy savings promised shouldn’t prompt you to ask for a decrease in salary just yet, since the more popular hot water radiant heat usually requires a second hot water heater and won’t shave too much off of your bill, but there are some notably appealing elements to in-floor heat in general. Radiant heat is just that – even and consistent, without the up-and-down temperature shifts associated with most conventional heating systems. It’s also silent and invisible, with no bulky radiators or even register vents ruining the feng of your shui. Radiant heat also won’t dry the air, and won’t have you hopping about looking for your slippers on a cold morning. Against: In-floor heating systems are still considered a luxury, and can add a fair bit to the value of a home. They are new, and potential long-term issues have not been entirely worked out. A handful of people also are leery about the prospect of piping a significant amount of water throughout their cherished home for fear of potential leakage. All relatively minor concerns. Assessment: Find someone with in-floor heating who doesn’t love it. I dare you.

2. Backyard Pool It’s the quintessential luxury item that announces once and for all that you are a big dog, even in parts of the country like this one where it can only be used about ten minutes per year. It is the swimming pool. From pools that are little more than big pits of standing water to jewel-encrusted infinity pools that usually adjoin large bodies of water, pools were once the thing. Are they still? For: A 2004 4-state NAR study found that having a pool increased property values from 8 to 15%. The idea of kicking back all summer with a piña colada, sitting next to the lapping water with friends can be quite attractive. And rightfully so. Against: Safety issues have not been blown out of proportion by the media. Pool deaths happen all the time, there’s no getting around that fact. Pools are expensive to maintain, even without hiring a pool cleaner, and are a lot of work. As beautiful as a pool can be when it is maintained properly, it can be an eyesore if it is not. A pool tends to negate having any significant usable space for a backyard. Am I missing anything? Assessment: The issues involved with owning a pool can be overcome, and many people enjoy having a pool very much. You just have to want one really badly for it to be worthwhile.

3. Dream Kitchen Kitchens do cool things these days. Appliances paneled to look like cabinets, an extra tap above the stove for filling large pots of water, $15,000 pounded-copper range hoods, and 460 different countertop materials . . . For: Kitchens are finally being designed with maximum utility in mind. When shopping for a home, focus on the kitchen – it is where you will likely spend a great deal of your time, and the room in which every party tends to congregate. Before you fall in love with that Kohler faucet, however, analyze the kitchen’s layout from a purely utilitarian standpoint. Is the magic triangle of sink-stove-fridge arranged conveniently? Are cabinets and other storage in logical places? Is there sufficient light? And most importantly, is this a space you will feel comfortable and happy in? Don’t underestimate the importance of a functional and attractive kitchen. Against: Be careful not to fall in love with the impermanent fixtures in a kitchen. While those glass-front, backlit uppers may brilliantly display the seller’s Royal Daulton bone china, will your mixed collection of garage sale Melmac have the same effect? Likewise, if your idea of cooking is heating up last night’s pizza, perhaps space would be better used elsewhere. Assessment: The kitchen is the hub of virtually any home. Don’t underestimate its importance.

4. Activity Rooms This is an overly broad categorization, of course, but activity rooms like workshops, games rooms, and exercise rooms tend to hold common appeal – and common drawbacks. For: Having the right setup for a particular activity can be inspiring. Having a single power tool in each room of your house and each corner of the garage and shed is not exactly the ideal situation for building that crib you started on for your daughter and are determined to finish before the birth of you granddaughter. Likewise, if you have the latest elliptical trainer and weight set in a room next to your bedroom with a 12 foot plasma TV facing it, perhaps you will find that six-pack after all. Against: If you can’t make a dovetail joint, all of the tools in the world will not give you that knowledge. If you haven’t lifted anything heavier than a handful of pork rinds in the last decade, a workout room will likely soon become just a TV room with uncomfortable seating. Unreasonable expectations usually develop into unreasonable decisions. Assessment: Your home should inspire you and will, to a certain extent, dictate your lifestyle. Be rational in your decisions, however, and aim for versatility rather than rooms that are locked in to a particular use that may not be as useful in the future. The Bottom Line With all of your dream home features, try to let reason prevail (or at least get a word in edgewise). You may absolutely worship the tumbled marble rainforest shower with the heated towel rack, but it will be of little comfort every morning and night when you are cursing the home’s lack of closet space. It is often the most boring attributes of a home that will give you the most pleasure. Now, off to luxuriate in my rainforest shower. I had to take out the bedroom to install it, but that’s okay, I don’t mind sleeping in the kitchen . . .

See Trusted Saskatoon Realtors listings here in the SASKATOON REAL ESTATE Category on THE SASKATOON DIRECTORY of excellence.

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