From legalization, the Canadian government is expecting recreational marijuana sales to hit $4 billion annually. This $4 billion is subject to a 10% excise tax for the federal government, and each province will be able to set its own additional tax. Thus, provinces can expect marijuana to be a huge boost to their revenues.

Both the ability for Canadians to grow marijuana at home and the expected expanded use of the recreational drug has many in the real estate sector concerned. The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has been up in arms about the implication of cannabis legalization, citing that it can cause damage to and devalue homes. It’s without a doubt that with this new member of Canadian society, homeowners, landlords, and renters will be severely affected.

In a CREA statement earlier this year, they firmly stated that there were major issues with cannabis legalization, and that more regulations were needed on growing cannabis at home. CREA wanted Bill C-45, which legalizes cannabis, to provide a framework for safe home cultivation, believing that without a framework, cultivation could lead to electrical fires, increased theft, and potential fungus and mould issues in homes across the country.

The dangers of growing marijuana in your home is due to the need for lights, which can cause excess energy consumption and potential fires, the need for a certain humidity level, which can encourage mould or fungus growth, and the increased potential for break-ins due to the value of the plants. However, some experts believe this is false speculation. And that with four plants, humidity levels won’t be high enough to encourage mould or fungus. Additionally, four plants will only require 200 watts of lighting—a level that’s safe against electrical fires.

• Homes around dispensaries were subject to a discount prior to marijuana being legal. Legalization resulted in a lift in the stigma around the drug, resulting in home prices returning to its fair value.
• The large volumes of business for these dispensaries resulted in an economic boost to the local area.

• Quebec: Landlords can change signed leases and ban tenants from smoking. They have 90 days after legalization to make said changes—this does not apply to medical marijuana.
• Nova Scotia: Landlords can amend existing leases to add in rules about cannabis use and cultivation, but they have to provide a four-month notice before April 30, 2019.
• Saskatchewan: Landlords can prohibit possession, cultivation, use, and the sale of marijuana in a rental unit.
• Alberta: Renters and condo tenants may have restrictions on growing marijuana at home due to rental contracts or the condominium bylaws.
• British Columbia: Prohibition of smoking cannabis where existing lease prohibits tobacco and prohibition of growing the drug unless it’s for medical reasons.
• Ontario: Condominium boards can restrict growing cannabis, and smoking depends on individual building rules and lease agreements.

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Colder weather means more than back to school. It also means that leaves fall from trees and clutter your front and backyard. While the plethora of colours is beautiful, unraked leaves make your lawn look unmaintained and detract potential buyers. These leaves also reduce the sunlight that your grass gets and suffocate them. Therefore, make sure your lawn is leaf-free

And just because summer is over, doesn’t mean that summer lawn care is over too. Although your grass may not grow as fast, it’s ideal to still cut it. Get rid of weeds to also maintain that perfectly green lawn.

Lastly, the colder weather can leave your summer flowers shrivelled and lifeless—waiting for the next summer sun. Trimming dead flowers tidies your flowerbeds and allows you to add fall-season flowers, such as chrysanthemums or potted mums, for a splash of colour among the evergreen bushes and trees. Pumpkins are also a great decoration as homes prepare for or retire from trick-or-treaters.

While the outside of your home is important, it’s the inside that many buyers care to see. And adding some seasonal colours, decorations, and scents can make the inside of your home that much more appealing. This doesn’t mean painting every interior wall orange but is as simple as warmly coloured pillows and blankets for the couch and autumn-themed centrepieces for the tables. Also, when you’re buying pumpkins for the outside of your home, a few mini pumpkins for the inside won’t hurt.

We buy with more than just our eyes, so adding some autumn scents can emphasize a cosy fall atmosphere. The scent of freshly baked cookies, apple pies, cinnamon, and, again, pumpkin, can resuscitate a person’s favourite autumn memories and put them in a buying mood. As an added bonus, the potential buyer can walk away from your showing with some delicious treats—or you can ignite these scents using an autumn-themed candle.

Colder weather demands a warmer home—you don’t want potential buyers walking in to realize that they’ll need to wear their jacket. Although there’s no snow just yet, the weather may require you to start running your furnace. Additionally, check your windows for damages that can lead to drafts. A damaged window leaks the warmth of your home to the outside and turns off potential buyers who want a place that can retain comfortable indoor temperatures during the winter. As well, installing weather stripping prevents leaks and secures comfortable indoor temperatures.

The autumn season also means shorter days and less sunlight. Buyers often come to see houses after work, and by October and November, the sun may have set by that time. This is why plenty of indoor lighting is crucial, as sunlight is no longer available to show buyers the beauty of the property. Fluorescent lights, as opposed to incandescent light bulbs, also make your home seem more modern. If you want to go above and beyond, Philip Hue light bulbs can completely change the dynamic of your rooms with different colours. And don’t forget the fireplace, which provides heat, light, and an autumn vibe.

Exterior lights are as important as the interior ones. Just because it’s dark outside, doesn’t mean that buyers no longer have an interest in your home’s exterior decor. Lighting the outside of your home gives a rough impression of what the property looks like in the daytime. Though, if they really have an interest, they’ll come back during the day.

A homeowner needs to maintain their home, and each season has its own maintenance checklist. Because winter is coming and heating soon becomes a necessity, replacing your furnace’s filter and ensuring it’s at its optimal performance is crucial. It also shows people that your home is ready for cold nights. A clean Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is part of your furnace’s optimal performance, so getting it cleaned should also be part of the to-do list. Both the heater check and HVAC cleaning requires a professional to come into your home, but before inviting them in, make sure that they have the proper certifications and credentials to perform the tasks that they offer. A clean HVAC system can also rid your home of fall allergens, helping those viewing the property breathe more easily.

Going back to falling leaves, it’s important to clear dead leaves from not only your lawn but also your gutters and water pipes. There are dozens of options for this, whether it’s fancy tools, professional help, or getting your hands dirty. Neglected gutters can lead to wood rot or pest infestations. Also make sure that water is not coming behind your gutter, as this leads to the formation of puddles on your walkways and driveways which ultimately damages them.

Finally, if you’re someone who uses their fireplace (or wants to impress people coming in for an open house by lighting the fireplace), make sure that it and the chimney are clean. Frequent fireplace use can lead to the build-up and accumulation of unburned tar vapours. And this leads to chimney and house fires.

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