Setting the scene with her camera collection
Favourite things in our homes, how we got them and what they mean to us
Something clicked when Catalina Bloch needed to hastily set up her home office at the beginning of the pandemic last year.
As an entrepreneur with a thriving business, she wanted an interesting background for video calls in her “pretty stark” converted spare bedroom. And as a photographer, she had an eye for a well-composed picture.
So she assembled her late father’s vintage cameras, her wedding photos and a collection of photography books to create an eye-catching display that’s both personal and relevant to her seven-yearold photo booth business.
Bloch says the curated vignette on a small shelf unit is inspiring, evocative and even therapeutic.
“It resets my sometimes overactive
I’m interested in buying a property that’s being sold as an estate sale. What should I know before putting in an offer?
While buying a home through an estate sale can be like purchasing any other resale property in many ways, there are a few key differences.
When you come across such a property listed for sale, the homeowner is usually the seller. However, if the homeowner has died, the estate becomes the seller and is represented by the person in charge of administering the estate — also known as the estate trustee.
You should be aware that information about the home may be limited. The estate trustee may not know details such as the age or condition of the home’s systems, history of renovations or damages, as a typical homeowner would.
If you’re interested in buying the property, discuss making your offer conditional on a home inspection and any other conditions they might recommend with your real estate representative.
Another key thing to bear in mind is that your closing date can change, depending on the circumstances. If the home’s title is in the name of the deceased homeowner who left a will involving the estate that is a simple one to administer, there may not be much delay.
However, if there’s a will with a complicated estate — or no will — the estate trustee may need to apply to court for a “certificate of appointment of estate trustee,” or probate certificate. This could have been attained prior to the property being listed, or the estate trustee could still be in the process of doing so. If the home is listed for sale before a probate certificate is granted, the seller may ask for a closing date that is several months away or may have a clause that permits the closing date to be delayed if a probate certificate isn’t granted by the court in time. Ask questions and get your representative’s professional expertise to understand what this may mean for you as a buyer.
Assess how flexible your timelines are. Have you already sold your current home or is your lease coming to an end soon? If the timeline of the closing could be a concern for you, I suggest that you ask your representative to check whether the estate trustee has already completed the probate process prior to signing the sale agreement.
If you anticipate that the estate won’t be resolved in time for the chosen closing date, you can also consider adding a clause to your offer stating that you’ll be permitted to rent the property until the sale can close.
As well, I strongly recommend that you seek the help of a lawyer who is insured to practice real estate law. Your lawyer can give you strategic legal counsel, review the documents and take the necessary steps to complete the transaction successfully.
Apart from these precautions, do your research, choose a representative you’re comfortable with and take the time to think through the factors to ensure that the home is suitable for your needs and budget. Joe Richer is registrar of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and contributor for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @RECOhelps. This column is for general information purposes only and is not meant as legal or professional advice on real estate transactions.