Category: You and Your Home

If you feel like it’s time to freshen up your home, there are some simple no-cost makeovers you can do.

Before you add anything new, remove clutter and clean out closets. You may find something hidden away that can change the look of your décor. A deep cleaning will brighten up hard surfaces and light fixtures. Even a good vacuuming of your rugs will brighten your spaces (as well as your attitude).

Take any leftover paint from your garage and touch up scratches. See if any walls could “pop” by being painted with an accent color with the paint you have.

Simply rearranging furniture can create positive results in how you feel about your interior spaces. You might remove pieces to have a more spacious look. If you are rearranging furniture, then keep the momentum going and move your accessories around. It can be as easy as changing the look of your bookshelves by repositioning books and bringing décor from another room to fill the spaces. Moving your pictures and photos around will also freshen your look. Adding plants will bring new life and colour to any room.

Your windows and lighting sources also provide ways to change your living spaces. Since light opens up space, consider how the window coverings are letting in light. Clean the windows and watch things brighten up. Moving lamps around can also enhance your interior.

Give us a call and we will help you take the guesswork out of what changes will make you feel better about your home.

We are enjoying the riot of colour and life that is summer in all its glory. Why not let summer be your inspiration and breathe new life into your surroundings? Here are five simple and budget-friendly ways to get the décor ball rolling.

Pep up with paint. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in sprucing up your space. Perhaps there is an accent wall that could really use a pop of colour, or maybe it is time to change the colour scheme of a specific room. Either way, a can of paint, a roller and some old-fashioned elbow grease are all you need.

While you’ve got that paintbrush in your hand … Paint something that you don’t like. That may sound a little odd, but if you have grown a little tired of an old dresser or dining table, you could paint it to give it a new lease on life. Check out YouTube for a smorgasbord of helpful tutorials.

Find your light. You would be surprised just how much the lighting in your home can boost or reduce your mood. Swap out old fixtures or forgo harsh overhead lighting in favour of a smattering of flattering lamps. You could pick up a few bargains online.

Cultivate an indoor jungle. Plants are a great way to add some life to your surroundings. Beyond their aesthetic value, they also reduce toxins in the air and improve air quality. Peace lilies, aloe vera, ivy and rubber plants are all great examples of air-purifying flora that purify the air.

Unleash your inner artist. Make your wall a canvas and display some eye-catching art. It doesn’t need to break the bank. You could get painting yourself and create tailor-made pieces that fit in with your colour scheme.

Are you looking for more ideas to improve your home and increase its value? Be sure to call or email us. We are always here for you and happy to help. We can also refer you to contractors if you are considering more extensive remodelling.

Smart home products that make you safer while adding value and functionality to your home will always be the favoured upgrades. Check out these products that will also make your life easier.

1. At an average price of $200, WiFi-enabled video doorbells will keep you tuned in visually and audibly to the action on your front porch, all via your smartphone. You don’t even have to be home, and you have the benefit of seeing and speaking to whoever rings your bell. Video doorbells are easy to install and provide great security.

2. A great partner to the video doorbell is the smart door lock. Enter the digital world by having digital key codes for anyone you wish to be able to access your home. You can give temporary access with a smart lock and lock or unlock your door with your smartphone or voice.

3. As power grids expand and the number of households increases, so does the number of power outages. Generators for the home are becoming more popular, but not the portable ones that are noisy, need refuelling and spew smelly gases. These generators look like HVAC units and run on natural gas or propane. They kick in automatically when the power goes out and are built into your home. An added incentive to have a smart generator is that it can be operated from your smartphone.

4. WiFi-enabled blinds that you can control with your voice or smartphone will help with heating and cooling costs. They also up your level of home security.

Taking care of your home is one of the best things you can do to keep its value. Summer is the best time to detect issues that require maintenance to maintain the integrity of your home. There are some simple but important tips to help you take care of your investment.

Exterior cleaning can be your biggest asset. Start by power washing your siding and decks. It may expose surfaces that need protective coatings from the winter elements. Follow up your pressure washing with cleaning the outside of your windows to remove accumulated dirt and grime, making the windows more functional. While working on the exterior, thoroughly clean your gutters. Make sure that they drain properly so you don’t get pooling in the yard.

The summer months are a great time to get a garage door tune-up to make sure it is operating smoothly and seals out water and pests. If you see pests anywhere in or outside your home, hire an exterminator to eliminate these unwanted visitors.

Check your roof for damaged shingles and the eaves for water damage that can cause further issues to the interior of your home.

Your landscaping should properly direct water runoff around the exterior of your home. Replacing mulch or rocks that have washed away will help ensure that water drains away from the house.

Summer is a great time to do some interior painting. Protect your walls and take advantage of warmer temperatures for drying and odor control. Keeping up with today’s decorating trends by updating your home’s interior will help keep you prepared should you decide to sell.

This advice should keep things in top shape. Contact us by phone or email, and we would be happy to give you more advice on which maintenance tips best benefit your home. We are always here to help.

When you have found your dream home, the goal is to create a purchase offer that the seller will accept. This can be hard to achieve when you don’t know a seller’s motivation or if you’re in a competitive market with multiple buyers. Here are some tips to help you negotiate.

1. Time is of the essence, so respond to a seller’s counter immediately. If you hesitate, another stronger offer may come in and nullify the seller’s counter to you.

2. Evaluate the comps that you have been given and reasonably increase your offering price to make it more attractive to the seller. Stay within the limits of your budget and loan preapproval.

3. If your original earnest money deposit is 1-2% of the sales price, consider raising it to 3-4% so the seller sees that you are serious.

4. Having as few contingencies as possible in your offer assures the seller that there are fewer ways you can withdraw from the sale. Market conditions and the level of risk that you want to take on will determine what contingencies you feel secure about waiving. Loan, home inspection and pest inspection contingencies have the most importance.

5. Keep any requested seller concessions to a minimum because they lower the seller’s net proceeds. Concessions can be closing cost credits or seller paid home warranty plans.

With our experience, we can assist in negotiating terms that a seller may accept. But when negotiations are no longer to your benefit, we will also let you know and advise you to move on. Your best interests are our first priority.

Shopping for a home is an exciting adventure! With all the excitement, clear decision-making can become murky and lead to unexpected costs.

Coming back to the ABCs, your wants and needs will lead you to the right home at the right price that will give you the best life with functional room for growth. The key: you don’t have to have “everything” to “have it all.” Here’s an exercise to keep you aligned with your goals prior to the journey ahead.

Create your list. Take time to get clear with yourself about this big decision. Make a list of everything you could possibly want in your home. Big or small. Long or short. If coupled, your counterpart is included in this exercise.

Order of importance. Next, force yourself to rate each of these facets on your list in numerical order. Ideally, limit these to your top 10.

Divvy it up. There are two types of items on your current list: those that are “heavyweights” and those that are aesthetic. Keep reading for more.

Heavyweights. Anything that includes number of bedrooms, windows, “open floor plan,” “dedicated space for …” and the like are the staples that can’t change without a major investment. These are the items that take priority in your search for a home to avoid costly renovations.

Aesthetic. Subway tile, shiplap, paint colours, lighting … these things can be easily upgraded or changed to suit your style (or even DIYed). Remove these items entirely from your list(s).

Prisoner’s dilemma. This might sound harsh, but it’s the last and final step in getting very clear with your wants and needs moving forward. What can you absolutely not live without? And on the same note, what aspects of your new home will help you thrive best? We know it’s hard, but do another forced reranking of these “must-haves.”

Trust your list. Excellent job! You’ve done the prep work. Now, remember to trust yourselves. Share this list with us so we can better assist you in finding your perfect match. As long as you’ve honestly invested yourself in this exercise, you’ll know exactly when you’ve met “the one.”

At last! Summertime is around the corner, and you can make the most of it by enhancing your outdoor living spaces. With a little thought and planning, you can create your own personal backyard oasis. Here are some ideas.

1. If you don’t have a deck or patio, build one. Not only does this addition give you a great place for gatherings and grilling, in Remodeling Magazine‘s Cost vs. Value report, the statistics show that such an improvement yields a return on your investment of more than 75 percent.

2. Creating attractive privacy screens can easily be accomplished by incorporating fences, trellises and shrubbery around your outdoor deck or patio.

3. Pests can ruin a great time outdoors, so use preventive measures such as citronella candles and employ a pest control company that can spray your yard for unwanted crawling and flying insects.

4. Create a living space with comfortable outdoor furniture for lounging and dining. Be sure to include area rugs for colour and for defining spaces.

5. Well-placed lighting will extend your outdoor experience well into the evening and create a great mood. Tiki torches, string lights and landscape lighting all contribute to the ambiance.

6. Keep it fun and include a fire pit, hot tub or game set for the kids.

Creating the perfect summer oasis will add value to your home and attract more buyers. When you start planning your project, contact us if you would like our professional input. We are here to assist you in the decision-making.

With Earth Day being celebrated on April 22 for the 51st time, protecting our one and only planet is on our minds. What can increase the value of your home, save you money and save the planet? The answer is a simple one: improving energy efficiency. And there’s more good news: special clean energy financing may be available to make it easier to pay for energy efficiency upgrades.

A good place to start is to replace older high-energy-using systems (HVAC) with newer, more efficient ones. If your heating and/or cooling appliances are more than 15 years old, consider replacing them. Your monthly heating and cooling bills will be lower in addition to your home reducing its use of the planet’s energy reserves.

Adding an extra layer of insulation in your attic is a moderate cost that can easily be recouped in a few years through your energy savings. Upgrading windows and doors will better seal in the heating and cooling and contribute greatly to the overall value of your home.

Circulating the air will help reduce your heating and cooling costs. The addition of ceiling fans will accomplish this and, for pennies a day, save a lot of energy usage.

Low-flow plumbing fixtures and upgraded water heaters will contribute to stabilizing water sources for everyone and reduce your monthly water bills.

One-third of a home’s electric consumption comes from lighting alone. Switching to LED bulbs, putting up new energy-efficient light fixtures and installing larger windows for more light will save on monthly bills and add to the value of your home. Energy Star-rated appliances for your kitchen will also contribute to energy conservation.

Whether you’re considering improving the energy efficiency of your home for the planet, to save money or to increase your home’s value, reach out to our office so you can get the best information in determining which innovations make the most sense for your market.

With the great weather and sense of newness spring brings, it is a great time to prepare for and start remodeling projects. Whether you are upgrading, updating or customizing your home, hiring the right contractor will be the key to the success of your project.

A great starting place would be a contractor referral from a friend or family member. Even if a contractor comes to you with good recommendations, it is advised to check their references, licenses and insurance. You still should get at least three estimates and a firsthand look at the contractors’ past work to help assure a good pick. Inquire if the contractor will be doing all of the work or if he or she will be using subcontractors as well.

Once you have selected a contractor, carefully scrutinize the details of the written agreement for the work to be performed. Make sure that every aspect of the project is spelled out, and see how any changes will be handled. The types of materials to be used should be listed and should meet your specifications. The commencement date and estimated finish date must be included with language addressing what your recourse is if the project is not completed per the contract. It is equally important to be indemnified in the event the work doesn’t meet building codes.

The payment schedule should include only a small-percentage up-front cost in the event the work doesn’t get completed. The final payment should be due at completion if the work is done to your satisfaction.

When considering a remodel or improvements, be sure to consult with us to ensure your upgrades are in alignment with your neighbourhood, target buyers and trends to consider when selling your home. Reach out with your questions about remodeling. We are happy to help and can also refer you to contractors.

Even if you are not moving, one of the more challenging parts of home ownership is keeping your home clutter free, knowing how to downsize your spaces and how to practically reduce the number of your belongings. This guide will help you improve your skills so you can get the job done with the outcome you planned for.

Once you know why you need to declutter and downsize, how you do so will make more sense. Take a moment to realize the mental and physical benefits of the task at hand. Create a mental picture of what end result you wish to achieve. Hold on to that idea and enjoy the process.

Start with items that no longer have meaning to you or are no longer functional. They will be the easiest to discard and will create your decluttering mindset and enable you to keep going.

Next are the things that still bear a bit of a question mark as to whether they stay or go. These items may be duplicates of things you have kept “just in case.” Analyze their real value, rarity and usefulness. Doing so will answer the question of if they are worth taking up precious space.

The final step would be to address those pieces that still stir memories. It is hardest to declutter the photos and heirlooms that stir your emotions, especially if they’ll make you feel guilty if you part ways. Consider scanning old documents and photos. Friends and relatives may feel honoured if you pass on small collectibles. Some items can be repurposed to start new lives in your newly created spaces.

It is a learning process to successfully declutter and downsize. Stay focused on your mission. We have guided many clients through the process and can do the same for you.

Elevating your home’s value does not mean having to drain your savings. Take a look at these great suggestions.

Under $200

Outdoors are as important as indoors. Liven up your yard by planting a new tree or some native shrubs. Older carpets and rugs can harbor odor-causing soil, so invest in new fresh floor coverings.

$200-400

For a few hundred dollars, you can enhance the first impression of your home by hiring someone to help detail your yard, especially if it is starting to look rough around the edges. Having things clean and fresh will attract even the most finicky buyer, so indulge in a professional cleaning service to scrub your home from floors to ceilings. Visually decluttering your home and giving it a more spacious feeling can be accomplished by changing out bulky curtains with blinds or shutters.

$400-1000

Revitalizing your kitchen and baths with new tile flooring can often be done for under $1,000 and reap far greater rewards. Consider replacing some appliances, a sink, or a plumbing or lighting fixture in these areas and notice how much your kitchen and baths will shine. Take care of the deferred maintenance issues around your home so buyers will have a positive perception of how it has been maintained.

When it comes to increasing home value without breaking the bank, our sellers have always looked to us for guidance and for professional recommendations. Call or email us today and we’ll help you choose the options that are right for you.

What better way to start the fall season than to have a home maintenance checklist to guide you through the preparations needed to avoid any casualties during the winter season or any unwelcome surprises in the spring? We are providing you with this checklist to show you that getting ready for fall goes far beyond just changing the wreath on your front door.

1. Take a tour of your home and check all of the window and door weather stripping. Any cracked or missing stripping will compromise your heating efficiency and can be remedied with new weather stripping rather inexpensively.

2. Replace your furnace filters as often as every 3-6 months. Air filters are rated and priced per air filtration effectiveness and estimated longevity.

3. Now is a good time to check your gutters and downspouts if you didn’t do so after last winter. Autumn leaves will soon be your gutter’s nemesis, so consider having some sort of leaf guards to save gutter-cleaning time and possible water damage from clogged drainage.

4. Check for concrete cracks that can get worse when water freezes and expands, causing the cracks to widen and the concrete to deteriorate. Patching compounds are an easy remedy and will help maintain the concrete’s integrity.

5. To avoid freezing pipes, drain your outdoor faucets. Stash your hoses out of the weather.

6. When springtime comes knocking, you will enjoy your yard more if your lawn turns green quickly after the cold weather. Be sure and fertilize your lawn prior to winter, and feed your evergreens at the same time.

7. Protect the investment in your outdoor furniture by storing everything or protecting it from the elements with furniture covers, readily available for a reasonable cost.

Please call us with any concerns that we may be able to give you additional guidance on.

You may not be subject to estate tax, which is applied to estates with values that exceed the exclusion limit set by law, but that does not mean you should avoid estate planning.

Here are five tasks for everyone to consider that fall under estate planning.

Check your beneficiaries. If you have filled out beneficiary designation forms for your financial accounts (such as your life insurance), they override any other estate planning documents, so review them and ensure they are up to date.

Create two wills. That is correct: two wills. You need a living will to indicate how you would like to be cared for if you become unable to express your wishes, and you need a last will and testament to explain how you’d like your assets distributed after your death.

Draft two powers of attorney. You also need two powers of attorney to indicate who will handle your affairs if you are incapacitated. One will specify who will handle healthcare decisions, and another will specify who will handle financial matters. You can designate one person to handle both.

Designate guardians if necessary. If you have children, you will want to name a guardian to look after them (day to day and financially) if you are unable to care for them.

Name an executor. When you die, your executor will make sure your assets are distributed in accordance with your will. You can specify a family member or a professional, such as a bank trust officer.

Just be sure to tell your executor that you have named him or her.

As smart technology continues to leap forward, so does its integration into our living spaces. Per Google Dictionary, the definition of “smart” has been expanded to also mean “a device programmed so as to be capable of some independent action.” “Smart” in our homes now means an automated home with artificial intelligence, or AI, connecting to smart home automation and beyond.

In recent years, we have become intimate with the ability to use control devices and appliances with the help of the Internet, but now AI takes us to new heights. Imagine “smart wellness” that can help identify early signs of some illnesses or automation that sets the stage for a perfect night’s sleep, regulating bedroom lighting, temperature, and even the firmness of your mattress. How smart is it that AI can track your grocery-buying habits and automatically keep your shelves stocked by ordering what it knows are your dining preferences?

When it comes to protecting some of the physical aspects of your home, artificial smart intelligence can be set up for things such as leak detection in attics, walls, and basements. Couple that with the ability to detect water loss in your plumbing system, and you can rest easy knowing that water will not cause damage to or create mold conditions in your home.

While monitored home security systems have been around for years, new technology now allows you to be your home’s best security monitor with systems that include facial and voice recognition, smart locks, fingerprint entry capabilities, and customized motion zones, creating fewer false alarms and saving dollars typically paid to security companies.

We look forward to helping you navigate today’s new smart home innovations. If a smart home is on your wish list, we can help you find the available homes that have already taken advantage of smart technology and organize safe showings for you.

Any improvement you make to your home should be done with the forethought of improving its value and increasing its appeal to prospective buyers. One of the least expensive ways to accomplish this is to grab a can of paint and a brush and get to work to create a positive first impression of your home.

According to canadianmortgagesinc.ca, painting the interior of a house can yield 75-100% return on investment (ROI) making it one of the top home improvements to make.

Selecting warm neutral colours can make buyers more easily visualize themselves living in your home. Colour choice will determine if an interior space appears larger and more spacious or smaller and cozier. Light tones can help increase the openness of a small space, while darker tones tend to create more intimacy.

Since buyers seem to home in on kitchens and bathrooms during the hunt for a new home, you will want to prioritize your painting to transform these two areas. The right colours and application will help define important spaces. Consider creating coloured accent wall areas to draw attention to any unique architectural features, such as alcoves, recesses, and soffits.

For exterior painting, focus on the true “first impression” of your home by selecting colours that will appeal to a wide array of buyers. If in doubt, give me a call or send me an email so I can share more helpful hints for increasing your home’s value and marketing success.

A picture is worth a thousand words if it can create a memorable first impression. What better way is there to achieve a positive reaction to the presentation of your home than to start at the curb with your detailing and exterior design features? You want to capture the attention of a casual visitor or prospective buyer from the moment they step foot on your property.

A well-thought-out plan for the curb appeal of your home can increase its value by 10% to 15% and give a buyer a good reason to select your home to purchase.

You will want to create a landscape design that complements the style of your home. A Victorian cottage demands colourful flowering gardens along with a curvy stone walkway, while a craftsman bungalow is more suited for hedges and perennial borders with a paver entry. Whatever the style, the addition of evergreens will provide year-round colour, and deciduous trees will provide great shade and intimacy to a residence when properly placed. Making the right choices for great curb appeal doesn’t need to come at a high price or with extensive upkeep. Flower beds are easily planted and are inexpensive. Selecting plants that do not grow quickly or shed will create a low-maintenance yard.

A major asset to a property’s value is the installation of landscape lighting. The illumination of landscape elements and interesting features of the architecture lets your home command attention 24 hours a day. Another great way to bolster your home’s desirability is to install an irrigation system that will keep your landscaping fresh and inviting, even during the warmest months.

We can help you locate the best sources for creating the wonderful first impression that will be the lasting impression for those who appreciate the attention to detail that you give to your home.

According to Remodeling magazine, a kitchen remodel will generate a substantial return on dollars spent for this kind of home improvement, with an 83% average return. This, coupled with the eventual increase in the marketability of your home, should be a great motivator to step up to the next level in design and function for the area where your family always seems to gather.

You will want to prepare for what lies ahead for being a “stay-at-home” family during your kitchen makeover. Planning ahead will help alleviate the stress that comes with decision-making and the construction process.

Once immersed in the project, you will experience the pros and cons of living on-site while your kitchen is demoed and given new life. You will find that grilling and using an inexpensive microwave will be your food prep salvation, while your laundry sink temporarily doubles as a dishwashing basin and a small rental refrigerator comes to the rescue for food storage. Once you establish a dining area that is removed from the action in the kitchen, you should have conquered the primary “cons” of the dusty disarray.

The major advantage of staying in your home is your direct oversight of the design elements as they come together. It will enable you to tweak things as they evolve from the original concept on paper to better protect your invested dollars. Our experience with clients who have gone through home renovation can guide you to a happy outcome for your kitchen remodel.