One of the things that buyers value in a home is natural light.  Open window treatments and let the sun shine in.                           Keep the furnishings and accessories to a minimum to give the rooms an open airy feel.                                           The furniture placement in the room is also key. The room should open up right away when the buyer enters.                             Show the buyer how wonderful it would be to live in your house. Light their imagination. All these rooms are filled with light and space. They come from homes in different levels of the market. They all helped sell the house quickly. Staging Works! A Staging Consult can help you prepare your home for sale the right way.   06/09/2010

Whirlpool Corp. has issued this recall.                     Lucky me happens to have one. Apparently 12 of these dishwashers have caught fire.                                   I just thought I would share in case someone else out there has one they bought between February 2006 and April 2010.                                                 You can go on their site to find out if your serial number and model number are listed.                                                                  Canadians, I recommend using the phone as the site isn't set up for us.                                                                           Call 1-800-544-5513. You actually get to talk to a person. They set you up with the type of help you want.  Rebate or service call.             Meantime yo... 06/04/2010

When you are selling your home make use of those outdoor spaces.               Think of them as another room to Stage.                               Show the buyers how pleasant it will be to entertain in the garden                                                                            OR                                                               to sit out on the balcony with a glass of wine.                                   to have a family BBQ                                              to enjoy a morning coffee                             Show the buyer ...                                           after all a picture is worth a thousand words.       06/02/2010

As a Stager I see homes of varying ages.        I often have to advise clients on how to make the big ticket items like kitchens more appealing.                      The seller is about to leave and does not want to renovate but the kitchen is showing wear.            Paint can make a big difference. Changing the hardware can also update. Upgrading the lighting updates.                     By painting the cupboards and changing the hardware, this kitchen was updated.    It's now fresh and bright.             New counters, sinks and taps can also update a kitchen. From laminate to hard surface there is a lot of choice out there. Under-mount, drop-in, stainless, porcelain sinks upgrade. Perhaps all you need is a 'sexier' tap. The important thing is to show the buyer they can move into you... 05/27/2010

Your Curb Appeal has drawn the buyer into your home.        The first thing they see will set the tone for their visit.                Make their first impression a good one.                    Ensure that they want to see the rest of the house.                          Put away those shoes. Any hand prints?                                 Make room for the buyers.     If the foyer is part of a larger room, make sure it is ready for every visit.      They should be thinking 'oh isn't this a wonderful space!'            Your buyer should want to see more.                     Each room should draw the buyer on.                    Be the house that is a 'pleasure to view'.                   05/25/2010

Focal points are what draws your eye. They should be positive. When the buyer arrives at your home the front door should draw their eye. This can be a challenge when the garage is prominent. You need to lead the buyer past the garage to the front door. This can be accomplished by setting out garden beds or planters that lead the buyer. It can also help to paint the front door a more dominant color.           If there is a fireplace in the room it should be your focal point. Don't hide it behind your possessions. The fireplace should be the feature that impresses the buyer not the size of your TV.             In a bedroom the bed is the focal point of the room. If possible it should be across the room. The bed should have a hotel/magazine look - inviting.             The dining table sho... 05/24/2010

There are many things to consider when preparing your home for sale. One of them is the view. What view? Let's start with the view from the curb: stand on the curb in front of your house and have a look at the curb appeal. does your home look well maintained? is the landscaping fresh? does the front door stand out or will the buyer have trouble finding it?   When you stand at the window what do you see: clean sparkling window? clear view of the street or an overgrown shrub? garden or a neighbor's wall/window? your dirty BBQ or the patio?         When you step into the backyard: does the patio look in good shape or full of weeds? does the lawn have weeds or bald spots? is it all grass and fence? any flowers?     Remember you only have one chance to make that great first impression. Stagi... 05/24/2010

Staging a home is more than fluffing pillows. Staging a home is about preparing it for sale. It addresses maintenance issues such as roofing, plumbing, paint, landscaping and flooring. Staging looks at traffic flow through the house. This can mean editing furnishings or simply rearranging furniture placement. Updating of kitchens, bathrooms and lighting is also part of Staging a home. Staging looks at color. A paint color can enlarge your buyer pool or narrow it down. Deep colors eat light and change the perception of the size of the room.   Staging highlights the positives of your home. A properly Staged home is one a buyer can move into and live comfortably. The goal of Staging is to place the home in the best showcase condition to allow it to sell for the best possible price in the s... 05/23/2010

   That is one of the Staging phrases I learned during my course. It has proved true so often. Buyers form their opinion about how spacious a room is by looking at your furnishings. They can have trouble seeing past what is there.     In these pictures you have the same basic room. The builder intended it to be a living room and dining room.       In the top picture you see an example of a home where the seller chose not to show that feature. They wanted the space for their living room. The feed back on the house said the buyers didn't like the layout of the home.  In the homes that chose to show the buyers the dining space the feed back was good. Buyers could see that the space could accommodate both features. The homes sold quickly. Stage your home so that the buyer doesn't have to gu... 05/21/2010

You see this banner on Realty ads. The sale of a home is influenced by Price, Location, Terms and Condition. Location as discussed by Tanya Nouwens in her post Location Is No Place For Compromise is an important part of choosing your home.         It is my job as a Stager to deal with the Condition of a home. If the Location of a home is less than perfect it is all the more important to address the Condition. Buyers may choose your home even if the location isn't perfect in their eyes if they feel your home offers something special. Start with Curb Appeal: Lawn - like a golf course or patchy with weeds                                  Shrubs - appealing or over grown and woody                                  Roof - Newer and in good condition or multi-layered and missing shingles      ... 05/11/2010

HST FEE JULY 1 So many people are asking if there are exceptions to the charge. The HST will be charged on Commisions. What I can determine is as follows: If the deal is firmed up before july 1 and closes after July 1 - 5% gst is charged  If the deal is 90% done before July 1 , and firms up  after that  possible 5% depending on what needs to be completed.   Otherwise anything after July 1 is 13% $200,000 @ 5% commission  is $ 10,000.00  .This is split four ways  ( Buyer, Agent, Seller Agent, Buyers Broker, Sellers Broker ) HST would be13% or $ 1300.00 cdn funds. Please access all government web sites in first HST article. New Homes tend to be a bit more complicated . There is a grandfather clause which I have not covered. This depend on how much of the home is constructed before and aft... 04/13/2010

Burlington's Waterfront - Spencer Smith Park In the middle of winter, I find myself dreaming of the Lake Ontario waterfront. Lake Ontario has been a constant in my life from the time I was 7 years old and we moved from the tip of James Bay in Quebec down to Batawa in southern Ontario. A special occasion in my family was when my Dad would announce 'Let's go to the beach!'. My two brothers and I would jump for joy and run to find our sand toys and bathing suits. Mom would pack dinner into a cooler and my Dad would go out to the back garden shed to get the hibachi and charcoal briquettes so we could barbecue our dinner on the beach. Then off we would go. On other occasions we would go smelt fishing with two or three other families. When the smelt were running in the spring, my Dad and his ... 01/26/2010

Lowville Winter Games - Beat the Winter Blues!It's time to sharpen up your skates and wax the family toboggan. The village of Lowville, north of Britannia Road on Guelph Line in Burlington, is holding their annual winter games on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 from 12 noon to 4pm. This fun-filled day will take place at Lowville Park. Come early for the Pancake Eating Contest which is being sponsored by Golden Griddle. They'll be horse drawn wagon rides, log sawing, entertainment, tobogganing, skating, crafts and games for the whole family. The Lowville United Church will have goodies for sale to stave off those winter munchy attacks after an afternoon spent skating or tobogganing.What better way for families to have fun together? The Lowville Winter Game events are free! Leave your car at t... 01/16/2010

It's Burlington Winter Carnival Time! That time of year is upon us once more. Time for Free Skates, Free Swims, Open Houses, Contests, Tournaments and More. Don't let the crisp, snowy days of January and early February get you down or make  you house bound. Gather up the family and take in some of the events being held during the Burlington Winter Carnival. This Year's Events Include: Sunday, January 17th - Free Swim from 1:30-3:30 at the Aldershot Pool. Call 905-637-5688 for Info. Friday, January 22nd - Public Stargazing and Astronomy Night ~ I don't know about you, but the mystery of the night skies has always intrigued me. Come out to Nelson Recreation Center at 4235 New Street at 7pm where The Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will have their telescopes set up. As long as the weather and... 01/10/2010

A New Year, A New You at the Moksha Yoga Studio, Burlington.With the start of a new year, many of us turn our thoughts towards our health and decide to take up a new fitness activity or make a lifestyle change. Yoga is an excellent choice for those who do not want a strenuous activity or do not want to visit a gym to work out on machines regularly. I began taking yoga lessons when I was 14 years old. I remember how amazed I was when I found out my instructor was 65 years of age. She didn't look a day over 39. She was supple, energetic and  had a glow about her that few people half her age have. The more I learned about yoga, the more I began to realize that yoga was not just a physical activity and that much of her 'fountain of youth' could be attributed to her many years of yoga practi... 01/10/2010

If you're looking for a FREE activity that the whole family can take part in, grab your skates and head down to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario for Free skating at the Rotary Centennial Pond. Overlooking Lake Ontario, the Rotary Pond is the perfect place to spend a sunny, Sunday afternoon with your family or friends. Skating starts at 10am however the pond is also open in the evenings until 10pm so you and your sweetheart can have a romantic evening by the lake skating under the Pond lights and bright winter stars. The pond is kept groomed however it's advisable to call ahead for ICE conditions -905-634-7263 If you would rather stay cosy and warm inside and watch the activities taking place, pull up a chair in the Discovery Landing Observation building. This beautiful glass bu... 01/10/2010

The Burlington Public Library in Burlington, Ontario consists of a main branch and 5 auxiliary branches in various locations throughout the city. The main branch, known as the Central Library is located near downtown Burlington on New Street. Visit this link to take a visual tour of this beautiful library.Any resident of Burlington or Halton region can have a library card free of charge. In addition, people who work in Burlington yet live outside the city can also have a library card at no cost. To join the Burlington Public Library you will require an Ontario's Drivers License showing your address or two pieces of alternative identification with at least one showing your current address.The library card of today is a high tech little item with a barcode that is swiped everytime you tak... 01/09/2010

Wow ! What  a Year . It has been a wild ride.  The Real Estate Market was fairly quiet in the beginning of the year. It certainly picked up near the end of the year. Today I cant believe I am doing three Market evaluations in Burlington, Ontario  this close to Christmas. I wanted to post a short note on my blog to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to the start of another  exciting year !!   Have a safe and Happy Holiday.   12/21/2009

Operation Red Nose in Burlington, Ontario.It's that time of year again when merry-making sometimes results in tragic accidents when merry-makers don't stop to consider whether or not they should be getting behind the wheel and driving home.Alcohol-related accidents result in thousands of deaths and injuries yearly. This CAN be prevented with the help of individual responsibility, inidividual vigilance and community volunteer programs, such as Operation Red Nose.Operation Red Nose begins it's first season in Burlington this December, with the help of St. John's Ambulance and hundreds of volunteers. The program will run in December each Friday and Saturday before Christmas from 9pm-3am. If you are under the influence, or know someone who is, call Operation Red Nose for a free drive home. ... 12/04/2009

Burlington Festival of Lights and 'The Way to Love Anything'.....The season is upon us once more. That time of year when many hearts fill with compassion, generosity and love. Those who have much reach out to those who have little, or at least some do. At no time greater than now is the gulf between wealth and poverty, love and hate, happiness and sorrow more evident. It is a season where a strange light is cast for us all to see, if we only dare to look. This is a post about the Burlington Festival of Lights, but more importantly, it is a post about what those lights stand for. The past 3 years have been very hard for me. I came very close to the possibility of losing four of my family members.Through a series of miracles, outside intervention, family support, healthcare, hope , love a... 11/24/2009