Sometimes you cannot eradicate Barbie pink and Barney purple when putting your house on the market.  The turmoil with the children may be too great.  I listed a home that had two little girls.  Yes, Barney and Barbie were cohabiting in that house.   OMG.   It would have made a home stager happy to get his or her hands on Barney's cave and Barbie's house.  It was difficult to look at those rooms (no photos were included in the listing) BUT we posted a little sign outside the rooms saying that they would be painted before the new owners' took possession.  If this happened again, I would also add the paint chip of the colour that the room would be painted.   While we had no problems with the sale (and in fact the new owners didn't want the rooms painted!!!!) why toy (LOL)  with a possible... 06/01/2011

  Yesterday I was finally moved to do something that I have put off for years.  Yes, years.  I have wooden blinds on many of the windows in the house.  They get dusted and occasionally vacuumed on a semi-regular basis.  They do not get washed.  Now, I notice dirty blinds in homes that Buyers and I look at and also those in my own home. Real dirt can accumulate on blinds as they get their fair share of household grease, dust, sprays, air born pollutants, etc.  Over time, dusting no long does a good job.   Maybe it is because I want spring to really get underway or maybe it is genetic programming to do some spring cleaning but yesterday I finally got the wherewith-all to start washing the wooden blinds. Oh sure, there are those of you who have metal blinds that you pop in the tub or take... 04/05/2011

Are you going to change the drawer pulls and handles in your kitchen?  Consider brushed nickel.  This metal is very current, does not show all the finger prints of your spouse and children and gives an instant update to your kitchen and bath. Adding cupboard door knobs and drawer pulls will increase the perceived value of your home.  I recently stayed in a Del Webb community in Arizona.  What a great place to retire!  However, selling the homes is competitive.  There are only so many models of homes.  Most kitchens look the same.  Certainly the appliances that come with the home are all the same - GE Profiles.  Good quality.  What is missing in the homes that you buy are door knobs and drawer pulls.   Now, to separate your home from the herd, whether in Phoenix Arizona or Tuktoyaktuk a... 03/19/2011

Happy Valentine's Day I am not normally happy with the effects that Picnik makes available.  However the dusting of hearts just seemed appropriated for this photo. I find that I use the traditional museum frame a lot and like to 'sign' the work.  In this case, with hearts galore, I kept away from the Valentine's Day special frames and looked for one that symbolized a sending from me to you - a stamp.  Hope you like it. 02/13/2011

Selling a home after the death of an owner is not a simple straightforward transaction.  As agents we need to verify that the executor / executrix have the legal authority to dispose of assets in the estate.  Negotiating the final offer can be a long distance fax nightmare when all the family members are involved.  During the listing and sale process the biggest challenge is to maximize the sale price for the inheritors.        In the past few months, I have seen two examples - one good and one not-so-good - about how to keep the increase the sale value. In the first house, the executrix had staged the house with a few pieces of furniture and with a few things in the cupboards.  She left a vacuum and mop in the home so that she could return and keep the home clean during the selling pe... 12/29/2010

Unless you are living at the palace, having a wall of mirrors in your home ages the decor.  Do you have mirror glued to the wall?  A passé decorator choice was mottled mirrors.  Now they just look like a Buyer's nightmare.    Buyers will look at a wall of mirrors or a bathroom with glued on mirrors and see big bucks and danger to remove them.  If you have the time and patience, you can remove the mirrored yourself before putting the house on the market.  You are going to need some supplies (tarp, tape, goggles, gloves and a metal ruler/crow bar) and time.  Check the Internet for detailed instructions.  Once removed, patch the wall.  There will be some damage no matter how careful you are.  Take you time.  There is going to be a nice return on your investment.    Mirror Mirror off the W... 12/21/2010

size="2"> New Listing: Ottawa 3 Bedroom House 194 Woodroffe AvenueOttawaK2A 3V4 »map »more details Bedrooms: 3 Bathrooms (full): 1 Price: $359,900 Year Built: 1937 Yearly Tax: 3400 Lot Size: 5,000 sq.ft. Frontage: 50 ft Depth: 100 ft Basement: Yes Garage: 1 car Description Cute as a button, Completely renovated storey and half with nothing to do but place your furniture. Large principal rooms with lots of storage and closet space New roof with 40 yr shingles, new windows, new Furnace and A/C. Kitchen and bathrooms renovated. Features dark stained hardwood on both levels and brand new hardwood in finished basement. Finished laundry room. Professionally painted. Minutes walk to Carlingwood mall, Westboro and area schools, churches and shops along Carling. Lucas Smith Phone: 613.369.5940 ... 01/13/2010