Curtains   Did you know that you can wash the plastic liner behind your shower curtain?  How about the plastic curtain that is currently on the outside of the tub?  Wash it in the tub on a gentle cycle with a few towels.  After washing it, rehang the curtain.  You know not to put it in the dryer.  Most mildew and spots on the curtain will be gone.  If not, an investment of less than $10 to buy a new liner will be well worth the money.  Boy can those curtains stink! BTW  If your curtain looks like the one in the photo do yourself and Buyers a favour and buy a new shower curtain and some basic plastic hooks.  Why save $10 to lose a $289,000 sale? Photo credit:  Shower curtain meets metal heads 04/04/2011

This is a fictional real estate and home staging story about House Sellers Mark and Lou. Reorganizing and Staging for House Sellers Mark and Lou continued.   As we found out, Mark moved out but is still an owner.  His wife, Lou, has been busy with Judy Klean the Home Stager, her brother Lyle, and finally Lyle's son Robbie and his friends who have become the painting crew.  In a final push for completion, Lou's quilting group have been busy fixing things up as well.  While this work has been going on, Agent Valerie made a visit to the house to measure all the rooms and give the group a pep talk and platter of cookies.  In addition, Valerie needed to know the heating fuel, age of the house, builder, model and confirm all the other information for the completion of the 280 plus data fields... 04/03/2011

  Your real estate agent and a home stager have both suggested that you upgrade and modernize a few things in your home to make it more marketable.  Are you considering installing "authentic man-made stone" on your walls or "looks-like-granite" on your counters.  Maybe you think Buyers will be fooled by click laminate and false beams across the ceiling.  Look at your budget.  Can you afford the real thing?    Resist the temptation to go fake.  Ask any guy what sense of disappointment he had when he found out that his date's hair was extensions, those were false eyelashes and the wonderbra came off.  Now think of a Buyer looking at your home that looks great initially until time is spend looking at the individual parts. If you cannot buy the real thing, buy something that looks like wha... 04/01/2011

In the weekly news from the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB), members were alerted to a scam that is currently happening in our area.  For people looking to rent a home, please be concerned about renting without seeing a unit from ads in the free marketing sites.  There is a possibility that it will be a false advertisement and you will loose your money.  The OREB news said the following:  "Rental housing scams on Kijiji  A member reports that he discovered that information about one of his listings was being advertised as For Rent on the free classified website Kijiji. This is not the first time the Board has heard reports of this phenomenon. The con artist takes information about an MLS® listing from the Board's public website and uses it to advertise the property for rent. When the co... 03/31/2011

That would be Prince William and his younger brother, Prince Harry. Now flash forward across the pond, that would be the big pond of the Atlantic Ocean.  There you are contemplating a move.  You head out to the local big box store and find the most amazing deals on shampoo, deodorant, scrubbing cleaner, Mr. Clean and the like.  The deals are so good, you buy several bottles of each.    Now flash forward a few weeks to spring and you are getting your house ready for that sale.  You have stockpiles of products.  Your house looks like a warehouse and some Buyers are going to suspect that you are in the cleaning business.    If you are going to sell your house, stop buying large quantities of products.  A stockpile makes your space look cluttered.  Winnow down your products.  Having two of ... 03/31/2011

This morning there was an article in the paper about young first time homeowners needing to save at least 5% of the cost of a home purchase in order to qualify for a secured mortgage loan.  Well, assuming that you, that young urban professional,  can find a cute little townhouse or condo for about $250,000 then you will need $12,500.  Don't forget that there will be closing costs - the legal fees, assessments, utilities, inspectors, movers (hope you have friends with a truck) etc.   Now you need $17,500!  Here are some ideas - the good, bad and the tongue in cheek: Get to the cheapest basic cell phone available Live at home with your parents until they can no longer stand you.  Parental room and board, even if charged, is still going to be a whole lot cheaper than apartment rent. Rent ... 03/30/2011

This is a marketing tool.  Most Buyers want to make informed decisions.  They depend upon their agent to give them price comparisons and neighbourhood knowledge.  What Sellers and their agents should consider is how to supplement that knowledge with anything they know about the house and the neighbourhood.  Create a binder that you, the Seller, can leave on the kitchen or dining room table for Buyers to view.  What would you put in this binder? A copy of the listing Photos of the house that are not on the listing A copy of the Survey A copy of the Seller Property Information Statement Copies of water tests (if rural) A copy of the tax bill OR a page with information on the cost of taxes and all utilities. A copy of the house inspection (if you had one done prior to listing) A copy of a... 03/29/2011

Today the MLS shows that there are 59 properties available in the Westboro MLS areas 5001, 5002 and 5003.  These properties are either active or conditionally sold.  There are:  4 - Commercial                          3 - Rentals  1 - lot  2 - Multiple Family 18 - Residential 21 - Condos The price range for the 18 residential units ranges from $349,900 to $850,000 with an average of $720,194 The price range for the 21 condo units ranges from $227,900 to $1,600,000.  The average price is $512,945. Westboro is a wonderful place to live - active, commercially vibrant and involved.       03/28/2011

When the market is really hot, you will want to have your house listed right away.  You want to be selling when the going is hot and Buyers are out there buying, buying buying.  Now, think twice.  Even if you have decided not to stage your home (and that may be a foolhardy decision), you will increase the value of the house by doing necessary repairs and cleaning.  It is spring so add some colour to the yard.  Buyers are picky and want to get value for their money.  When it comes to the market;  Some like it hot, some like it cold . Some like it on MLS, nine days old. Photo credit:  Oatmeal Porridge with Poached Quince - Richmond Hill Cafe and Larder 03/28/2011

Work was underway at House Sellers Mark and Lou's house.  Mark had moved out and washed his hands of the selling process.  Wife Lou, her brother Lyle and the wonderful Home Stager Judy Klean were working together to get the house ready.  After a few days, Agent Valerie - the real estate representative - received a second email from Judy Klean giving a detailed progress report.  How impressive!  Agent Valerie got the email late on a Wednesday night and immediately sent Lou an "Atta girl" for the progress to date.  Valerie knew that getting a house ready to be in tiptop shape was hard slogging work so she wanted both Lou and Judy to be encouraged and for Mark to have some sense of how much effort was being put in to making the most of the marital home BEFORE it was listed.  The following... 03/27/2011

Before buying your house along a river find out the history of flooding on that section of the river.  Most rivers, with residential property on the banks, have a conservation authority that established building rules (such as proximity to the bank, type of construction and plantings).  Go to the Authority and find out the flooding history. Don't get sandbagged into buying the wrong property.  Photo credit: 090325-F-0681L-066 In 1997 I lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  The Red River flows north through the city up from Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota.  What a river!!!  Because it is situated on the prairies there is flat land all along the this northern part of the river.  Flooding is an annual concern.  In 1997, there were devastating floods.  Downtown Fargo was under water.  Millions... 03/26/2011

In the Offer to Buy, the owner usually is required to represent and warrant that all fixtures and finishings will be in working order when the new owner takes possession.  If there is a pool, the period will extend until spring when the new owner can determine that the pool is in full working order.  Things that cannot be used/tested need to be identified and the good working order period extended.  If you are selling, ensure that you leave everything in good repair.  If you are not able to warrant the condition of something, it could be identified in one of the clauses as sold 'as is'.  This does not make Buyers happy so the fewer items that are identified, the better. You will not want to make many unhappy returns to your old house. I seem to be posting about summer as I watch the sn... 03/25/2011

   ....But weed killing is quicker.  If you can no longer use chemicals to fight the annual weed battle, get out the knives and pointed shovels and start pulling up the weeds.  A field of yellow dandelions may be attractive while they are in flower but they lasts only a few days and then you have a yard of weeds.  I am so ready for spring!  Okay this photo was taken last summer and I was focusing on the ants but it is indicative of what is to come.  Buyers are not too thrilled to see a weed-filled yard.  It just spells neglect. Get up, get out and get rid of weeds. 03/24/2011

Buyers want to find a bright sunny home.  Agents and stagers tell Sellers to take down heavy drapes and pull back the windo treatments to bring in the natural light.  Are the windows clean? In spring and in late fall, wash your windows inside and out.  If you live in a new development or near construction, you will want to wash your windows more often.  Afraid of heights?  Hire help.  There are lots of companies with ladders and climbers willing to do your second and third floor windows. Let the sun shine on your sale. Photo credit:  Window wash 03/23/2011

Now that the spring and summer season are coming it is time to think of your patio and deck.  Even if you never go outside, declutter and stage them.  You may want to stay inside but Buyers always step outside and try to see themselves living in your yard.   Think simple.  Think clean.   Remove dead plants from the area. Add a couple of baskets of flowers. Sweep the deck and patio and, if required, power wash the bricks and wood.  Pack your lawn ornaments for you new house.  Pink flamingos may not be to the Buyers' taste. Turn on the water feature such as a fountain, if you already have one or get one if you want to distract from road noise.  Of course, if it is the dead of winter, the best you can do is remove the snow so that the Buyer can see the size of your deck / patio.  This mig... 03/22/2011

Since finding Capital City Luggage several years ago, I have returned time and again to look for travel accessories, wallets and bags.  The owner is wonderful and very helpful.  After going through several sets of luggage, we have finally settled into two sets of Briggs and Riley (his and mine).  We returned recently to buy the lightest suitcases possible.  Our friends have challenged us to travel for 2 weeks with only a medium suitcase so that all four of us can get our luggage in a European car trunk!  Capital City Luggage had a wide range of options.  While not a friend of croc shoes, this shop has a full selection.  Did you know that it is good luck / feng shui to use a red wallet?  Apparently, red attracts money.  I found my red wallet here (of course it has been empty from time t... 03/21/2011

    Buyers love installed closet organizing systems.  I love them too.  I have had closet companies in to to an assessment and design for my closets in my last two homes.  Truthfully, their work makes a huge difference in what can be done to maximize and organize closet space.  One of the first things that these organizers do is look at what you currently have and see how it can best be accommodated.  I think that, before you or an organizer start a design, there are 9 questions that you should consider and deal with to ensure the best end product.        1.  Am I expecting a major shift in my lifestyle sometime in the next five years?  Examples:  from student to employed, from corporate work to more relaxed style of work, from working to retired. 2.  Am I prepared to review my current... 03/19/2011

The next big question, after buying a home in an "Active Adult Community", is what type of golf cart will best suit your needs not to mention your budget.  Sure you think you can get away with renting one at the course but what about going to visit friends.  Add in about $10,000 for the cart new or look for ones on sale through ads in the community center or having that all important second vehicle while you winter away from the snow? Some of these beauties even have air conditioning.  I laugh but really, air conditioning!   03/19/2011

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

There are many hobby enthusiasts out there, myself included.  If we are creating things, we will likely end up with many items that we want to keep and display.  One or two of something is normally an interesting way of highlighting talents.  Unfortunately a lot of us fall into a trap of using our homes to showcase our work with more than a coupleof quilts or pieces of woodwork, or watercolors, etc.  If our homes are just for us then I say decorate any way you want and enjoy expressing who you are and what you love in your surroundings. Fast forward to wanting to sell your home.  Now the museum to yourself may hinder rather than help with the sale of your home.  Buyers are so interested in looking at your artwork that they do not focus on your home. Buyers see the butterflies that you ... 03/13/2011