• Gardens and swimming pools are not just for fun
  • Demolition and “just because” also have hidden traps

Before you get ready to apply for a mortgage, think about the following things that might substantially change your budget. You must get well-informed.

The backyard

You knew you wanted to change the colour of the walls, but you forgot that you also need to invest in a rake, a hedge cutter, a lawn mower and pruning shears. You can catch up. But the costs that are really a knock-out are those such as a thermopump for the pool. The bill can easily go over $1000 per summer. To learn more about pool maintenance, read our article.

The Welcome Tax

This tax, which is a property transfer tax, was imposted for the first time by Liberal minister Jean Bienvenue in 1976. Since “Bienvenue” means “Welcome” in French, we refer to this as the “Welcome Tax” and rarely associating it with the man who introduced it. It’s pretty steep. For a property that sells for $300 000, you will have to pay about $3000. Ouch! Before you make your calculations, we suggest you find out the exact amount from your municipality. It’s better to know before the bill arrives. Use our calculator to calculate your land transfer tax.

Transportation

When you leave an apartment for a condo or house, often it means leaving the city and making a life in the suburbs. A second car, or additional transportation fees might be added to your new life. These costs are often underestimated and can be devastating. It’s important to plan your move and count the kilometres you’ll need to travel, plus look at the public transportation schedules when you have to travel.

Renovations

That new house has a lot of nooks and crannies? A wall or two might need to come down. Damaged balcony? Rebuild it. The shed is much too old? Too bad. This type of work is less costly than major work, but still puts a strain on your budget and be more than expected. Costs mount for even things like disposing of old materials; not generally included when you get the help of friends and relatives. If you need to work on your home, the article “How to find the right building contractor” might be useful. 

Creature of comforts and “just because” costs

There’s always those easy-to-incur expenses, just because there was a furniture sale… Perhaps because the neighbor go a nice gate, maybe because the BBQ was old and the patio furniture was falling apart, maybe because a 60 inch TV is better than 42… When you add up all these costs in addition to your welcome tax you get to the bottom of your budget much quicker than expected. Respect your budget. It matters.

Wear and tear

There’s a long list of the most frequently unexpected costs. When you’re a tenant and the toilet breaks it’s not your problem. When the hot water tank explodes, or the electrical panel isn’t sufficient for the task at hand, you can’t call the landlord to send his guy Saturday morning. You’re the owner! A home grows old faster than you think, the roof, the plumbing, the windows etc. need to be upgraded and maintained, dependent on your ability to maintain an emergency fund another great topic!

Key takeaways

  • You’ll need to cover the costs of maintaining that pool and garden, often requiring expensive parts or services.
  • Verify the municipality’s welcome tax rate. It could be higher than you expected.
  • Transportation costs are often higher when we move out of the city.