The Automobile Protection Association has given the thumbs up sign to The Car Inspector –  a gentleman who does mobile car inspections.

Wherever the car is that you are thinking of buying, in a driveway or on a lot, he comes to you and does a complete inspection, including an ultrasound of the body.

You might want to use this service to verify a car before warranty expiration, after a repair job (to make sure it was done properly), before purchasing a used car, before selling (either to reassure potential buyers or to see if it’s worthwhile changing cars), as a pre-trip checkup or just to reassure yourself that it’s free of safety or mechanical problems.

This mobile vehicle inspection is quite complete and here are some of the things that are verified:

– An electronic body verification, to determine if the vehicle has been repainted, involved in an accident or rebuilt covering the the body panels, windows, floor, frame and structure.
– The motor and transmission, steering, brake, air conditioning, and electrical systems
– The brake wear, tire wear, drive-shafts and differentials, as well as suspension and steering components
– Everything inside including all electrical and manual controls, switches, gauges and indicators as well as the odometer, to see if the indicated mileage corresponds with the condition and wear
– Finally a road test is done to check the handling, braking, transmission and instrument operation
– The inspection is done on site in about an hour, Monday to Friday and costs $120 (base price plus traveling)

Tel: 514-890-5000

The word “diamond” evokes images of beauty, elegance and romance, yet the diamond is also the hardest, most abrasive stone known to man. Diamancel has captured each of these qualities, creating a unique line of genuine diamond files. I have used these for years and love them – and stock up on them for gifts.

Discover Diamancel’s  Sacha™ Diamond Nail File for pets. A great alternative,  Sacha™ Diamond File replaces the often-unpleasant cutting process with an easy & effective filing method. No cutting required.

Each flexible diamond nail file in the Diamancel family has been designed for specific nail types to beautifully shape and enhance both natural and sculptured nails. The Diamancel Diamond Hand and Foot Callus Files are ideal for removing and softening rough, dry skin.

They provide effective fast, easy and effortless filing. They are durable and will outlast all your files, which make them a money saver.

• The files are washable/sanitizable as they all can be washed with soap and water
• They are hygienic too as they can be soaked and disinfected in medical grade solution.
• The fiberglass base is both resistant and flexible making filing easier

These are  effortless to use as you can use a light hand and the diamonds will do the work for you. All files have been salon tested for maximum performance.

Now is the time to buy them at the Diamancel warehouse sale where you will be able to save 50% off retail prices.

This sale accepts Visa, Mastercard and Cash.

Location: 2477 Rue Guenette, V.S.L. H4R 2E9
Dates: June 26-29, 2018
Hours: Tues, Wed 10 – 5, Thurs, Fri 10-8
Tel: 514-856-9711
http://www.diamancel.com/

How many of you have a linen closet with piles of flat top sheets, fitted sheets and then pillowcases, all separated by type? When you need to make a bed, you have to go to each pile and select the matching set. Right? Sometimes stuff tumbles out and you must re-do the pile. Annoying.

Here’s a solution to saving time. When you take the sheets and pillowcases out of the dryer and fold them, you are going to make a package of each set. Take one pillowcase and open it up, put each sheet nicely folded inside it, and then add in any other pillow cases (folded of course). Tuck the end of the pillowcase underneath. Voila, you now have one bundle to grab for any bed. Each pile in the linen closet should be by bed size: twin, queen – or by room.

Another tip: I do love hanging my linens out on a clothesline for that delicious fresh aroma.

Optimize your space with a sleek wall bed. This store offers made-to-measure wall beds planned with the help of a designer, using a solid well-made wall bed mechanism. Many designer choices of colours and combinations can cover a single, double bed, or queen-size bed (starting at about $1,300). The beds can flip down horizontally or vertically. You have the choice of many types of mattresses to make your slumber ever so comfortable. And if you are looking for the, they also sell water beds and adjustable beds.

Finish off the cool wall unit with glass-doored cabinets, desks, drawers, closets, computer desks, shelves or even a TV on the outside! They now can make a wall bed which descends right over a couch. Each bed is made to your specifications so you get whatever you want. A designer can come to your home give advice and take measurements.

Shopping here, you are supporting a local family and keeps business (and money) right here in Montreal.

Location: 4141 boul. St-Laurent
corner: Rachel
Tel: 514-303-3326
Rive Sud: 2903 Boul Taschereau, St-Hubert (450-486-1777)
Hours: Mon-Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-7, Sat 10-5, sun 11-5
www.imural.ca
www.matelaslitmural.com
fb/imural

For designer floor products, this airy, huge (4,000 sq feet, 30 ft ceiling) new carpet showroom has always been known by word of mouth – and that’s a good sign. For the past 49 years, this family-run business has been selling quality carpeting from major American and European mills.  It’s their hands-on personalized service which keeps everyone coming back.

Popular now, wood-like vinyl planking, wall-to- wall carpeting for movie rooms, and a large collection of carpet tiles are all here.  They also carry area rugs (contemporary, transitional, traditional, natural, custom), runners and exclusive designer carpet lines. For both carpeting and area rugs, they can do custom borders, add fringes, do finishings and also handle repairs and carpet cleaning. If you’re looking for entrance mats or even logo mats, just come here.

Since they buy in volume for their commercial sales, they can meet and beat the prices of their competitors. Commercial clients know to come here for carpet, tiles, and vinyl flooring.

Once you’ve entered, expect the friendly staff to give you an education on flooring. Their mission is to provide you with exceptional service and quality products, at the most affordable prices – and they meet these goals consistantly.

NEW Location: 2001 Rte Transcanadienne
corner: boul. des Sources
Tel: 514-421-1616
Hours (summer): Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5
www.normandycarpets.ca

Mayrand is a wholesale food market and since they were oriented for sales to restaurants, hotels and institutions, their prices have always been excellent. And they still have sale flyers to entice you even more. See their flyer below for even better prices this week; How about fresh trout fillets $7.99/lb or AAA Beef Bavette $12.99 lb., chicken legs with back $2.29/lb, romaine lettuce 2/$1.69, cauliflower $1.89, limes 0.15 each, and 8lb McIntosh/Cortland apples $4.89?

You do not have the extra cost of a membership fee to shop at food wholesaler, Mayrand. The aisles are piled 20 feet high with everything you’d find in a supermarket and beyond. It stocks 4 times more selection than that famous warehouse club with more consistency and choices.

As a wholesale market, it also means that you can often find select meat in the AA or sometimes AAA grades, whole filet mignons and rib roasts, pork rump and hock, homemade sausages, marinated chicken and pork, fish and seafood

There’s 500 kinds of cheese, ethnic foods (Italian, Latino, Indian, Asian, Mideastern) and they import their fresh produce themselves – no middleman. They buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers whenever possible.

There’s 70 varieties of olive oil, and dozens of flavorful Italian coffees and pastas. It’s fun to shop around and find items like 10 kg. Skippy peanut butter, an entire prosciutto ham or smoked meat, 15 kg honey, 3.5L bags of chocolate chips, pop-up aluminum foil sheets, or little paper lunch bags.

Location: 9701 boul Louis-H-La Fontaine, Anjou QC H1J 2A3
corner: rue de Lamartine
Tel: 514-255-9330
Hours: Mon-Wed 6:45-6, Thurs & Fri 6:45-9 pm, Sat 6:45-6, Sun 9-6
www.mayrand.ca
sales@mayrand.qc.ca ou ventes@mayrand.qc.ca

I don’t need to use a steel wool pad very often for difficult clean-ups of pots and pans. It occurred to me that every time I used one, it would sit for awhile til the next use – and rust away.  So I’d throw it away. It seemed like you only got one use out of them.

Then the Eureka moment hit. I don’t really use the whole pad each time. So why not cut them in half? Half had enough thickness to scrub. This way I only throw away half when they rust. When I buy a new box, I take a scissors, cut all of them in half right away. So now when you need one (and are too lazy to cut it at that moment), they’re all ready to use.

When setting up a new house or apartment, why not buy quality products that the restauranteurs use so they last a long time? Head to the Marche Centrale area, to Tzanet, for restaurant grade quality equipment for cooking and baking. It has always been a popular shopping destination for hotels and restaurants, but you too can take advantage of their quality and variety.

All of your cooking and baking needs are met with name brands like Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, Good Grips gadgets, a big selection of quality knives by Victorinox, a huge variety of dishes by Dudson from England, Arcopal from France and professional quality stainless steel pots and pans.

They sell Chicago Metallic Bakeware, a 100 year-old company which produces bakeware with a non-stick surface, which releases easily and clean-ups up effortlessly afterwards. Bakers and cake and cupcake decorators will also love the 50 ft. wall of Wilton products – and so will you.

Why not buy fast food trays or cutting boards in different colours to match any decor, 3′ pepper mills, tipped glass candy jars, call bells, oval stainless platters, cocktail shakers, oil table lamps, many sizes of pizza pans, strainers, whisks, a single serving teapot, booster seats or bamboo steamers? And if you need them, there’s a section of second-hand equipment like dishes, mixers, tables and chairs, etc.

Location: 1375 Louvain
corner: boul. l’Acadie
Tel: 514-383-0030
Store Hours: Mon-Fri 8-6, Sat 8-5
Other Location: 710 rue Bouvier, Quebec G2J 1A7 (581-742-9876)
www.tzanet.ca

Morris Charney building inspections are so thorough, that he scares real estate brokers. Charney is good at finding defects. He does all kinds of buildings from single-family homesor or condos as well as commercial and industrial buildings.

Most inspectors when they find a defect will refer the matter to an expert. Mr. Charney is an expert, a member of two Québec Orders – ­ professional (practicing) architect and city planner.  He is a member of IHINA (Independent Home Inspectors of North America) based in Boston ­ and he happens to be a Harvard graduate.

Typical pre-purchase inspections run about $1500 + tax for a verbal report or you can buy a written one. Reference is made to current and past building codes. All reports are customized narratives, not computer-generated checklists -­ just the defects, clearly explained. The information provided in both the verbal and written reports are the same. His practice has included renovating many homes, offices and stores so he has a good idea of what things cost. You can check out his LinkedIn site which contains numerous up to date posts regarding typical defects that have been discovered.

Most consumers don’t realize that the “new” Civil Code of Québec [1994] deregulated building inspections so that anyone has a right to do them – even the purchasers themselves. The only stipulations are that it be done in a “prudent and diligent” manner, “without the need of expert assistance”.

Charney believes that a purchaser has the right to be properly informed of what it is they are buying.

Tel: 514-937-5100
Hours: by appointment
www.morrischarneyinspections.com, www.morrischarneyinspectionsfr.com
mcharney@videotron.ca