When a parent moves in with you

There are many practicalities to parse


By Helen Morris, National Post
 
 

 
While it can be a great joy, taking in an elderly parent will have emotional, physical and financial ramifications for a family.


It is a tough time no matter what the circumstances when an elderly relative, perhaps a parent, is no longer able to live independently in their own home.

One option may be for your parent to move into your family home. If parents, kids and grandparents can all live together, then there are a number of financial, tax and estate issues to consider.

"It may provide a source of comfort to your parent and be a very positive thing to do, but we do recommend that you look at the practicalities," says Christine Van Cauwenberghe, an estate-planning specialist with Investors Group. "If the parent is moving in with you due to a deteriorating health situation, is your home properly outfitted with ramps and things like that? Is it really going to be a financial saving for them to move in with you versus moving into some sort of assisted living?"

There are a number of medical expense credits and deductions available for construction, renovation or alteration of a building, Ms. Van Cauwenberghe says, to enable access or easier living, but there are many terms and conditions for eligibility. Canada Revenue Agency has details at cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pub/tg/rc4064/README.html.Unless you are an only child, it is key to discuss financial and other arrangements with siblings.

"Sometimes people enter into caregiving agreements ... and there's a verbal understanding that they will then either receive a larger portion of the estate or receive certain money as compensation," says Ms. Van Cauwenberghe. Then, "the parent dies and there's nothing written down and the person who has been providing all the caregiving is extremely resentful."

For the sake of the family, all agreements must be openly discussed and in writing.

Occasionally, a parent might be able to contribute to his or her own upkeep. If a parent is paying rent, you can set off a number of expenses.

"Some caution has to be drawn, though, when claiming rental income on your personal residence," says Dean Paley, tax, estate and financial planning at Edward Jones. "If you claim a type of depreciation expense called capital cost allowance against your rental income, you may incur a partial capital gain when you ultimately sell." In Canada, when you sell your principal residence there is no tax on the gain, but claiming depreciation on rent changes the situation, so Mr. Paley suggests seeking advice on the best option for your particular circumstances.

Your parent's former home also comes into the financial mix.

"If they were to sell it, they should sell when they move out so there is no tax on the capital gain," says Mr. Paley, referring to the fact that the parent may decide to keep their home as an investment property, which would become taxable on sale.

Another often overlooked wrinkle in dealing with family property is whose name is on the title.

"A rash decision that sometimes people make is that they move into a child's home and ... the parent will add the children on as joint owners (of the parent's home) ... thinking that it will facilitate transfer of ownership," says Ms. Van Cauwenberghe. "I cannot emphasize enough the dangers of adding on a child or another individual as a joint owner of your home. It can make things extremely messy. We know that sometimes people do it because they think they are saving probate but in some cases they don't even save probate and it just causes a lot of headaches."

Speak to a lawyer before contemplating this route as joint ownership brings a number of risks and unintended consequences, such as, "If the child is married and gets divorced -- because they are joint owner of that property , that property would be subject to the division of assets for the divorce," says Mr. Paley.

And one other possibility you may not have planned for:

"If your parents are living with you and you pass away, how are they going to survive?" Mr. Paley points out. He says insurance can help to ease the financial stress and keep a roof over their heads if you die before your parents and children, so update your policies when a parent moves in.

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July 14th Ottawa Real Estate Daily Market Update

Your Ottawa Real Estate Daily Market Update


New listings for Today: 89

Back on the Market: 12

Conditional Sales: 29

Sold Listings: 49

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From parking lot to paradise

By Ailsa Francis, The Ottawa Citizen

Dedicated gardener Adrienne Clarkson shares tales of how Rideau Hall inspired the transformation of her compact garden.


Adrienne Clarkson is no wallflower. Maybe a dark purple hellebore or a highly coveted handkerchief tree, but the dedicated gardener is certainly not an orange or golden wallflower.

To make the colour point, Clarkson tells how a prankster neighbour, aware of her anti-orange rule, surreptitiously planted a tiger lily in the woodland garden in front of her Toronto home. It goes without saying that upon blooming, Clarkson pulled the offending bulb out of the ground.

Since the end of her term in 2005 as the 26th governor general of Canada, Clarkson is being lured back to the capital by the the Ottawa Botanical Garden Society. On April 26, she will describe her private gardening challenges, which in scope (but not in affection) are a far cry from the redevelopment of the public gardens at Rideau Hall.

Clarkson will chronicle the origins of her Toronto backyard that began as a parking lot for a Victorian rooming house and this year will enter its fourth growing season as a sunny, perennial sanctuary.

We spoke on the telephone in anticipation of her talk, but this day, the former representative of the Queen is excited about the summer flowering bulbs she ordered from Gardeimport.com (a Canadian mail-order plant and bulb company; www.gardenimport.com), especially Acidanthera and Eucomis. The former (now known as Gladiolus callianthus or the peacock orchid), can be easily incorporated into a perennial garden because of its elegant presence and graceful white blooms, says Clarkson. Or it can be planted in a pot for a drop-dead gorgeous (and fragrant) late summer display.

Ever since childhood when her mother (a keen and talented gardener) used her and her brother as "slaves," doing everything from slug picking to weeding, Clarkson has been entranced by growing things. The long-time friend of Marjorie Harris (her previous Toronto garden appeared in Harris' 1993 book The Canadian Gardener's Guide to Foliage and Garden Design) and admirer of gardener Frank Cabot, is an unstoppable creative spirit and multitasker. It's not surprising that she was thoroughly involved in the revamping of the gardens at Rideau Hall.

"They were a mass of red and white geraniums, with a sprinkling of white impatiens and red salvia," she says incredulously, describing the patriotic, yet uninspired gardens she found when she and her husband, John Ralston Saul, arrived at Rideau Hall in the autumn of 1999.

With the help of a legion of talented gardeners and arborists, the grounds were transformed back to a more natural style that had been evident under the direction of Lady Evelyn Byng in the 1920s and with Norah Michener in the late 1960s.

Clarkson is proud of the woodland garden at Rideau Hall, the walkways where she developed a love affair with Tricyrtis, otherwise known as toad lily. (As we talk, the correct Latin names for perennials and shrubs easily roll off her tongue, making it sometimes hard to keep up). This shady garden was the inspiration for her front garden in Toronto, which boasts a prized variegated pagoda dogwood tree, and numerous woodland perennial jewels, including Asarum, (both the European and Canadian species of ginger), Actinidia (kiwi vine), Arisaema (jack-in-the-pulpit), Epimedium (barrenwort), Veratrum (European white hellebore), and Helleborus (both Christmas and Lenten Rose), among others.

But it is in the rear garden that Clarkson and Ralston Saul have found solitude and privacy. After the parking area was reclaimed, the couple must have thought that the hardest work was over. But it was not to be. Clarkson remembers digging down four feet to correct the hard-pan soil, and being shocked to find the remains of a large swimming pool. Surprised, but undaunted, they had heard stories of the previous owners filling in the pool with junkyard waste, from prams to tricycles. After the debris was taken away, jackhammers were brought into break up the concrete.

The area was finally ready for design and planting after truckloads of compost was mixed with soil. John Thompson laid out the garden's plan and constructed yellow cedar fencing (charred to provide interest), as well as the gravel pathways and seating areas. Then Clarkson and Ralston Saul began the fun of planting. Her favourite nursery northwest of Toronto, Lost Horizons (www.losthorizons.ca) got the lion's share of her plant buying business and a regular give-and-take with Marjorie Harris helped to provide inspiration. The two women sometimes disagreed, once on the benefits of Midwinter Fire dogwood. Clarkson is a fan, but Harris encouraged her to "pull it out."

Don't miss what may be your only chance to see this veteran plant lover's private outdoor refuge and hear the story of its development. Asked if there was a book or garden tour in the works, Clarkson said: "No, neither. I leave the garden books to the professionals."

SEEING ADRIENNE CLARKSON

What: From Parking Lot to Paradise: The Making of an Urban Garden

When: April 26, 7 p.m.

Where: The Library and Archives Canada, 395 Wellington St. (Parking is available in the large lot east of the Archives)

Cost: $20 Ottawa Botanical Garden Society individual members; $23 OBGS group members; $25 general public

Tickets: Send a cheque with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: The Ottawa Botanical Garden Society, P.O. Box 74009, 5 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa, K1M 2H9

Online: www.ottawagarden.ca

Information: Call 613-747-0600 or e-mail eventcoordinator@ottawagarden.ca

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Investing in the great outdoors remains a priority

Arbors, water features among popular features


By Amy Hoak, McClatchy News Service
 
 

 
Homeowners love their yards. They plant gardens, create cosy areas for entertaining and install decorative elements that they're as happy to look at from the kitchen window as from their chaise longue.


And despite a weak economy, North Americans are expected to continue this love affair with the world outside their door -- and perhaps spend a little more time in it as they plan to spend their summer vacations at home.

About 94 per cent of residential landscape architects polled by the American Society of Landscape Architects earlier this year said that outdoor living spaces, including cooking and entertaining areas, would be popular in 2010.

That said, improvements are expected to have few frills as homeowners stick to the basics in this cool economy.

"Homeowners want to create a sense of place for their family, friends and neighbours to enjoy outside, but an uncertain economy means many will dial back some of the extra features we've seen in past years," said Nancy Somerville, executive vice-president for the group, in a news release.

Some of the most popular features this year: outdoor seating and dining areas, including benches and seat-walls or weatherized outdoor furniture, as well as fire pits and fireplaces, the classic outdoor grill and outdoor counter space, according to the survey results.

More lavish outdoor kitchen appliances, including refrigerators and sinks, are expected to be less popular, as are stereo systems and outdoor heaters.

Survey results found a growing interest in low-maintenance landscapes and native plants. There's also a continued resurgence of the home garden.

At Home Depot, sales of seed packets for vegetable gardens were up more than 50 per cent in 2009, compared with 2008, said Jean Niemi, spokeswoman for the company. Last year's popularity has prompted the company to increase the types of edible seed packets offered at the stores by 25 per cent this year, she said.

The stores are also planning to offer workshops on how to plant and maintain a garden.

While consumers may be planting more as a way to have fresher produce or so they can know where their food is coming from, there's also an economic driver: According to the National Gardening Association, a well-maintained food garden yields an average $500 return, considering a typical investment and the market price of produce.

A growing market

The interest in spending time outside is likely to beget more products designed for indoor/outdoor use in the near future, according to Rob Tannen and Mathieu Turpault, of Bresslergroup, a product-development firm.

One of the products they imagined: a tray container system that people could take into the garden to collect fruits and vegetables, adapt to fit the sink for cleaning the produce and slide into a refrigerator as you would a crisper drawer. Another concept was a grill with seating built around it, allowing cooks to entertain friends as they work.

Technology will likely play a larger role outdoors, too, Tannen said. It's not far-fetched to imagine a shed with solar roofing panels that allow you to charge pieces of large lawn equipment, as easily as you might dock your Dustbuster inside the house. Or using iPod apps in the garden to learn how to best take care of a plant, he said.

Already, technology has entered some gardens. EasyBloom, a product that hit the market in 2008, is a sensor that you stick in the ground to collect information about the soil. You then connect it to a computer via a USB port, where collected information is analyzed to help determine what plants will thrive in that area. The tool also can diagnose problems with an existing plant. It costs about $40, and is sold online.

"People get bummed out when a plant is not doing well," said Matt Glenn, chief executive of PlantSense, the company that sells EasyBloom. "If you have a rose bush, ... put the sensor next to the rose bush and the sensor will look at the world the way the rose does."

You'll quickly learn, for example, if it isn't getting enough sunlight or has been over-watered -- which can be useful for the growing ranks of novice gardeners, he said.

Adding appeal

When designing any outdoor area, it's important to create a series of places that you can inhabit, whether it's a covered space to entertain in or a vegetable bed to attend to, said Sarah Susanka, an architect and author of The Not So Big House series of books. Don't forget your garden's view from the inside either, she added.

"When I was designing my garden, I designed a view from my kitchen window" so it could be enjoyed while standing at the kitchen sink, she said.

"If you can see something that you find attractive day after day, you're much more likely to sit out there," she said.

And while many homeowners are making these outdoor improvements to their homes so they can enjoy them -- especially in a real-estate market where moving to another home is financially difficult for some families -- a well-planned and maintained garden and outdoor area will serve an owner at the time of resale, too, she said.

"When you have a beautiful garden, someone will fall in love with it," Susanka said. "In fact, it's what they're purchasing -- more than the house even."

Arbors, water features such as fountains, pergolas and decks are expected to be the most popular outdoor structures for homeowners this year, according to the architects group.

And making an investment in a deck, for example, might set an existing home apart from a newly constructed one, said Edie Kello, director of marketing for Fiberon, a company that manufactures composite decking material.

"Fifteen to 20 years ago, most builders were putting on decks. A lot of construction builders these days aren't building decks," Kello said. "I think it's a cost factor," she said, adding that when builders were mass-producing during the boom years -- building as quickly and cost-effectively as possible -- homebuyers would often get only a stoop outside their door.

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Less is more when decorating your backyard or garden

By Susan Semenak, Canwest News Service

Spring cleaning isn't just for shoe closets and windows. Most people's backyards and gardens could use a good decluttering, too.


The same basic design principles that lead to striking interiors make for beautiful gardens.

Allan Becker, a garden designer from Montreal, says the style and proportion of so-called "hard objects," including ornaments, furniture and containers, need to fit the mood and scale of the garden.

Pergolas, fountains and sculptures add architectural dimension to flower beds. They serve as visual exclamation points, or act as buffers. A bird bath, for instance, is a perfect element for filling the empty visual space between flowers and fence.

But, like too many tchotchkes in the living room, they can stifle a garden's style and spirit when overused. In their zeal to beautify their gardens, many gardeners make the mistake of overstuffing.

In her list of no-nos, Margaret Roach, a former editor at Martha Stewart magazine, includes gnomes, wishing wells and lions, "especially in plastic." Her garden blog, awaytogarden.com,also discourages white plastic furniture, red-dyed mulch and gravel or decorative lava rock.

Becker, who writes his own blog (allanbecker-gardenguru. square-space.com),says decorating a garden is a matter of personal taste. Some people think garden gnomes are cute. Others like "found art" -- recycled objects such as old kettles or kiddie wagons -- tucked in among their nasturtiums.

But Becker says too much stuff just ends up looking like junk. "You shouldn't have too much out there," he says. "Before you buy any ornamental object for the garden, study its style and spirit." Joe Swift, the British garden designer and author, says the crispest, most stylish gardens stick to a restrained palette. They rely on simple geometry and carefully edited plant selections and materials. The number of colours in the flowers and the decor are kept to a minimum to avoid looking "fussy."

"A common mistake is to try to make the most of the space by cramming it with 'features' such as pots and water fountains," Swift writes in his book, Joe's Urban Garden Handbook. Be "ruthless and picky" about garden decoration, he warns. Don't haul things out from the attic or the garage and plunk them into the garden. Don't make impulsive purchases. Here are a few design basics for planning, or rethinking, the "hardware" in the garden:

- Don't use more than one ornamental object as a focal point in each garden area. That means a single bird bath in a flower bed, or a sculpture. But not both. Two identical objects, such as flower-planted urns, flanking a path or entrance, would also work.

- Choose a style and stick to it. A rustic garden can handle recycled objects, Becker says, but a manicured garden can't. Neither can a minimalist garden.

- Limit the colour palette. Choose containers and ornaments in tones that blend with the surroundings, including the house's brick, paving stones and windows, shutters and doors.

- Place ornaments off-centre. To create visual interest, keep things asymmetrical.

- Camouflage. Use temporary screening, such as rolls or panels of willow, hazel or bamboo, to block off unsightly views or divert the eye from "major negatives," such as the neighbour's peeling garage wall. It's inexpensive and easy to install.

- Repeat yourself. Repetition and simplicity in the choice of materials and plants create a powerful and tranquil mood, Swift says. Suspend a row of three lanterns from the balcony.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette
 
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Come on over

Cocktails are chilled, the barbecue is heating up for company


By Paula McCooey, Ottawa Citizen
 
 

 
The days of small picnic tables and folding aluminum chairs seem to have gone the way of the ice cream truck. It’s no secret outdoor furniture trends have been on the rise. Now there are more options than ever. And because of this, people are willing to spend a little more money for bigger pieces, which translates into bigger gatherings and outdoor dinner and cocktail parties. Case in point is a beautiful outdoor dining display at Ottawa’s The Fireplace Center & Patio Shop. The large (60-inch) square chocolate faux wicker table by ActiWin is elegantly set for a party of eight, with a Lazy Susan in the middle to make reaching for that savory dish of grilled vegetables or sirloin a breeze. "Outdoor wicker is really powerful right now," says owner Andy Cotnam, who says the set, including dining chairs and cushions, retails for around $4,000. "I think it’s a drastic departure from what we are used to looking at in a backyard. Here you’ve got a completely wicker- wrapped framework. A lot of cubist designs, nice wide arms, modular sectionals that you can custom make to suit your living space. And all of these enjoying thick deep cushions." The Sunbrella fabric is a durable foam that drains and dries quickly. Originally used in the marine industry, and later for awnings and umbrellas, it has evolved into a fashionable and comfortable option for garden furniture. "No longer does it feel like an outdoor fabric," says Cotnam, who says most cushions come with a five-year warranty. It’s so comfortable and supple. You are bringing the comfort level that you are used to indoors to the backyard." For those who enjoy the modular look, but are looking for a lower price tag, check out IKEA’s Ammero lounge collection. Sold separately, the plastic rattan lounger, $199, and one-section chair, $150, come in dark brown with beige cushions. These pieces are not only stylish and sturdy, they are versatile and can be configured to suit each backyard, deck and balcony. They can be personalized with accent pillows and throws to create a nautical or Moroccan theme. Tamara Robbins Griffith of IKEA Canada says as much as Canadians love their winters, when the tulips bloom, they come to really appreciate the warm air, longer days of summer, which has driven the trend toward decorating outdoor spaces. Not to mention staycationers can justify investing in sleek outdoor pieces if they opt to scratch a summer trip to Cape Cod. "Canadians have always enjoyed spending a lot of time outdoors in the summer, but we have seen a shift in the attention paid to decorating," says Robbins Griffith. "The consumer is reading decorating magazines and watching shows on television that feature beautifully decorated outdoor rooms. "The average person also has a much better understanding of how a carefully planned home translates in the real estate market. People want good value for their money, but they also want to reflect their own personal style." Good value can be found almost everywhere. Loblaws’ PC Estate Conversation set includes a two-seater faux rattan love seat, two matching lounge chairs with stylish mildew-resistant cushions, plus four flowered accent pillow and a coffee table with glass for $599.99. And if that deal isn’t good enough, a shopper can check out the PC Towne Chat Set, with a love seat, two lounge chairs, cushions, a table with a glass top and umbrella for $399.99. Martha Stewart has introduced an outdoor living line at Home Depot. The Logan four-piece faux wicker set is $599; a chic cardinal red umbrella is $99 and vibrant throw pillows are $14.99. For a more organic route, Ottawa’s Delusions of Grandeur supply all things teak. Owner Ross Hamilton says he goes straight to the source in Indonesia to get the best quality outdoor sets. Like Cotnam, he has noticed a shift to larger outdoor tables, which include extension tables, and tables with hideaway drop leaves in the middle to gain space to squeeze in an extra guest. "Historically, most of our tables were (for) four to six people. Now I would say half of our sales, when it comes to table and chairs, it’s six to eight, eight to 10 people, says Hamilton who says a longer teak table will sell for around $1,295. And if you’re craving that chic L.A. vibe, look no further than The Bay. Their new Sung Outdoor Capri set is sure to wow friends and family. The four-piece conversation set, which sells for $1,099, is crisp white with metal legs, with deep seating that will make your guests want to hang out for hours. "As we invest in our backyards and improve in their functionality, we want to share that with our friends and neighbours," says Cotnam.


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Outdoor kitchen expands the home

Sink, fridge, counter and cabinets have joined the built-in grill for al fresco living


By Jean Patteson, McClatchy News Service
 
 

 
The outdoor kitchen is rapidly becoming the social hub of the home, much as the indoor kitchen is the favourite gathering place for family and friends. The trend is especially strong in areas where the climate favours outdoor living almost year-round.


"It's a hot item," said Scott Redmon, owner of Alfresco Living in Maitland, Fla. "And the outdoor kitchen is becoming a lot more than a grill and a sink in the corner of the porch. It's a whole entertainment system. People have a higher expectation for their exterior spaces since HGTV came around."

Outdoor kitchens are popular because they are fun to live with, said Russ Faulk, vice-president of product development at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet in Kalamazoo, Mich. "They add to the quality of life for the homeowner. Preparing a meal outdoors is not a chore, it's an occasion, a reason to have friends over and enjoy the process."

In addition, an outdoor kitchen expands a home's living space and adds to its value, he said. "The return on your investment is comparable to an indoor kitchen redo."

Since the economic downturn, "People have been unable to sell their homes, so they are starting to upgrade with better landscaping and outdoor kitchens, spending more time at home," said Sue Fern, manager of the Florida chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

The built-in grill was the start of the outdoor-kitchen trend, said Faulk. "Then came the sink, the refrigerator, a counter for food prep, cabinets for storage -- pretty much what you'd have in an indoor kitchen."

As more equipment is added, outdoor "rooms" are becoming larger and more covered, he said. Seating areas are added, along with outdoor TV sets, fire pits and water features.

The grill -- fired by gas, wood or charcoal -- is still the heart of the outdoor kitchen. Especially popular are hybrid grills, which can be switched from gas to wood or charcoal, depending on what is being cooked, said Faulk. "There's nothing like grilling fish over an oak fire."

Pizza ovens are starting to threaten the grill's reign as king of the outdoor kitchen. Oven designs range from large, wood-fired brick and clay ovens that take several hours to heat up, to compact countertop models fired by gas that are ready for baking pizzas in 20 minutes.

Also gaining popularity in outdoor kitchens are keg-tappers, wine chillers, ice makers and warming cabinets.

When designing an outdoor kitchen, be sure to look for low-maintenance equipment, said Faulk, "or you defeat the purpose of carefree outdoor cooking."

Also, make sure any cabinetry is designed to keep the contents clean and dry in inclement weather; install good task and ambient lighting; and choose counter-top material that is stain- and grease-resistant and stays cool in direct sunlight.

"Get counter-top samples, leave them in the sun and see how hot they get," advised Faulk. "Heat-retention is not always related to colour. Some light colours get hotter than some dark colours."

He also offers these cost-cutting tips. "Design the outdoor kitchen against the house to reduce the cost of getting utilities to the space. And buy the best grill you can afford."

When designing an outdoor kitchen, "Consider how the space will be used: as a personal refuge or a place to entertain and be social; as a place to cook and eat, or to drink and socialize," said Eduardo Xol, exterior designer on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and celebrity designer for hayneedle.com.

And remember, he said, "Indoor-outdoor living helps balance the soul. It keeps you connected with nature and helps you become more aware of living green."

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