Ah – the holidays are approaching! Yes, that dizzying schedule of end-of-the-year parties and last-minute holiday shopping means you’re out of your home more often than in it, allowing burglars ample opportunity to scope out your home. You can outsmart them and protect your home, as long as you know where you’re most vulnerable. Here are some ideas to keep you, your family and home safe during the busy holiday season.

Lock it up

If you’re going to be out of town, program your outdoor lights, keep your doors and windows locked, and set your alarm system, if you have one. If you’re going on vacation, keep a car parked in the driveway so it looks like someone’s home. If you are away for an extended period, have your mail held until you return or ask a neighbour to collect it to prevent your mailbox from overflowing.

Outsmart package thieves

Ordering online is a glorious thing, but be aware of the delivery of your package. If you live in a city or high–foot traffic area, consider using an Amazon Locker, where you can pick up packages at your own convenience. If you’re purchasing from a retailer with brick-and-mortar locations in your area, consider having your items shipped to the local store for pickup.

Get smart

If you’ve been thinking about upgrading your home with the latest smart home technology, the holidays could be the perfect time to finally get on board. You’ll have the fun of a new gadget to play with, and the peace of mind that your home safe.

Stay safe online

If you’re shopping online, be sure the sites you are using are secure. Ensure your system is running the latest security updates and antivirus software. Consider using PayPal if you want to avoid giving your credit information online.

Don’t be naive when it comes to staying safe. Secure your online presence and your home and enjoy your holidays with your friends and family!

Happy Holidays!

Let’s face it, figuring out what makes for good design is an admittedly subjective exercise. If you ask a dozen experts their thoughts on a particular design, you’ll likely get a dozen different opinions. Nevertheless, some home design trends manage to rise to mass acceptance. So what trends need to go in 2018 according to some design experts?

Cement tiles

From backsplashes to mudroom floors, the cement tile reigned supreme this year. It crowed about in virtually every major design magazine, but in 2018 we should wave goodbye. If you can’t say no to this trend, at least choose a well-crafted design in an appropriate pattern and color that you think you’ll like for years to come.

Tropical prints

2017 – the year of the pineapple, the flamingo, the cactus and the philodendron leaf. Unless you live in a tropical climate, the exotic look tends to feel really out of place after the summer has passed.

The chevron pattern

It seems we couldn’t turn around in 2017 without bumping into some version of the pattern in everything from lampshades to backsplashes. If you’re unwilling to let go of your chevron prints, try incorporating more elaborate versions of the pattern such as herringbone.

The overstated hood fan

Once the prominent design feature in open-concept kitchens, the overstated hood fan is officially out, with designers predicting it’ll soon be integrated into cabinetry. But thanks to HGTV, they became visual centerpieces of the modern kitchen. In 2018, most designers predict a return to sleek, streamlined kitchen design.

Farmhouse style

Experts call it the Chip and Joanna Gaines effect: Over the past few years, farmhouse sinks and shiplap walls became mainstream thanks to the Gaines duo. If you love the look, follow your dreams. But keep in mind the downward spiral if you’re considering selling any time soon. Most buyers will see only another eyesore that needs replacing.

White-on-white everything

Crisp white bedding and walls seems like a beautiful idea, but most of us have kids and/or pets. So although the all-white look has dominated design trends for the past few years, times are changing. People are now embracing rich shades of brown, black, and green for a more seductive yet sophisticated feel.

Rose gold

Rose gold has saturated the market. It’s everywhere, from your iPhone to your living room, and as a result it’s overrated.

The open floor plan

This is a tough one to call. Some designers say homeowners will continue to crave open space to facilitate family and social gathering and entertaining. However, other experts have suggested it’s a thing of the past as we are starting to entertain more traditionally, with sit-down dinners and having separate living spaces will be returning.

Of course, we don’t need to change our entire home just because HGTV says they are out of style. Everyone has their preference. Your home should speak to your personality.

No matter how amazing your home looks, an unkempt bathroom can ruin any good impression you’ve made on a buyer. Even if your bathrooms are perfectly clean, if you’re selling your home, you may want to think about revamping in terms of decor. Here are simple bathroom staging ideas that can really turn a practical space into an attractive selling point.

Keep some items hidden

No one wants to walk into a beautiful washroom and see a plunger, a jug of Clorox, or a tower of magazines. To stage your home, clear the counter of makeup and toothpaste, and set out a small vase of flowers and a hand towel. Invest in a dispenser with a brushed-nickel pump to match the finish of your faucet instead of the disposable clear soap dispensers. 

Think Spa

You can’t go wrong with a simple, mostly white or neutral look. Put your money toward new, fluffy, white towels and then either fold them neatly in a stack or roll them up and place them in an attractive basket. Adding a white orchid can also up the spa feel.

Address the issues

Call in a plumber if you can’t stop the constant dripping from the bathroom sink and shower or if the toilet is constantly running. Addressing these small issues will limit the impression that your equipment is old or faulty, or both. Be ready and aware that buyers will turn the faucets on and off to see what kind of water pressure you have.

Consider the curtain

Hang your curtain rod high to give more height to the space and purchase a new white shower curtain to brighten the space.

Replace the vanity

Installing a new cabinet for the bathroom sink is money well spent. If your budget is tight, give it a fresh coat of paint suitable for cabinets and add new hardware.

Serenity now!

As the heart of the home, your kitchen deserves all the attention. Kitchen renovations can be extremely costly, time consuming and interfere with daily living. Try some of these inexpensive ideas to give your kitchen a fresh look.

Update your flooring

Depending on the size of your space and the type of material, updating your flooring from vinyl to laminate or real hardwood can make all the difference. Also, check under those carpets for authentic flooring!

Replace or remove upper cabinets

Want more of an open feel? Swap out heavy wooden doors for ones with glass or if you really don’t need them, get rid of them! Simply adding open shelves will create a more modern feeling to the space.

Amp up the lighting

Changing fixtures anywhere in the home can bring an immediate update to the space. Whether you are looking for a warm, dramatic or modern aesthetic, plenty of stores offer hardware options to suite you vision.

Paint

Painting a space is both affordable and transformative. Paint can be used on cabinets, counter tops and even old appliances. There are plenty of products and techniques available. Be sure to ask questions when choosing a product to avoid messy situations.

Replace the countertops

New countertops can drastically improve the look of your kitchen. Again, there are so many materials that can be used to replace that tired looking countertop. If granite isn’t in your budget, try butcher block for a country chic look or concrete if you’re feeling adventurous.

Think outside the box when a full renovation isn’t possible. Hiring a professional is always the route to take when venturing into renos.

Anything is possible with a creative hand.. and pintrest.

It’s hard to argue with the fact that lights and colorful accents make a home look more cheerful and inviting through out the holiday. But you also probably know that if you’re trying to sell your home, buyers need to have an easy time imagining themselves (and their own holiday traditions) in your home. This doesn’t mean you have to ditch the holiday decorations altogether.

Here are some ideas to decorate your home while it’s for sale during the holidays:

Avoid the kitsch: Inflatable snowmen,  reindeer on the roof, or angels flapping their wings can seem in poor taste and turn off potential buyers.

Classic is always best: Hang an elegant wreath on the front door, rather than a Christmas signs.

Don’t overdo lights: Simple white lights can add a festive touch without blinding buyers during walk-throughs.

Skip the tree: You can’t win with a tree. If it’s too big, it distracts viewers and can make the room seem small. It can also block the flow and make the space seem crowded. And if it’s tiny, it’s depressing and sad. Decorate a tree only if you have a great room and you want to show off a high ceiling.

Box up the greeting cards: Holiday cards on tables make the room look messy. 

Scents: The smell of simmering cider or baked cookies will delight the senses!

Pump up powder rooms: Place peppermint-scented soaps and candles in the bathrooms along with a few tasteful, holiday-themed towels. They give the rooms some spirit and interest.

Celebrate your tradition with color: This may not be the year you display the religious symbols of your holidays, but you don’t have to forsake them altogether. If you celebrate Hanukkah, hang a wreath with shades of blue. For Christmas, your wreath can be made of evergreen boughs and pine cones. For Kwanzaa, add red berries to a green wreath.

In the end, the most important holiday decision you’ll make is whether to keep your home on the market during the holiday. You’ll have fewer house hunters, but more motivated buyers. Ask me whether you should consider delisting your home for the holiday season, and starting fresh after the new year.

Happy Holiday!

Source: www.realtor.com

Home staging is the art of preparing a home for sale. Today, many homeowners are familiar with the concept of home staging, thanks to reality television. Like photography, home staging is about selling ideas and potential. A home has to say something about the type of person who would own it, and home staging professionals are experts at knowing how to create that feeling. It also helps you aim to improve the flow of your home, to eliminate clutter, and to make your home appear bigger and brighter.

It is not uncommon today to have professionals from the home staging and real estate industries work together; with some agents now including a home staging consultation as part of their services. A professional home stager is an expert in the art of preparing homes for sale. And, because most buyers now begin their home searches online, having your home staged appropriately can be crucial toward that first step of attracting an interested buyer and often more likely to get a walk-through.

The concept behind staging a home for sale is to help present the property in its best light, figuratively and literally. Even simple, inexpensive staging can result in big bumps to your sale price such as:

• Painting: New paint can mask home odors while insanely brightening a room.
• Carpeting: New carpet (even low-grade carpet) can make a room look clean and inviting.
• Decluttering: Removing “junk” from rooms, closets, and cupboards adds immediate appeal and gives the illusion of more space.
• Minor repairs: Make repairs or replace items in your home which are broken, worn out, or in obvious need of an update.

Remember: A home buyer will look at the little things in your home and, if those items are neglected, the buyer will wonder what else needs TLC.

Although professional staging may be inconvenient to your daily routine and can be unsettling to watch your life rearranged to suit the tastes of others, it is only temporary. But if selling your home in the shortest amount of time and for the most money is your goal, keep potential buyers as your focus.

Having a difficult time settling into a new home or maybe you have a property that just wont sell? Check out these lucky superstitions in real estate!

Leave the old broom behind
Tell the new homeowners to budget for a new broom. Superstition states negative aspects of life in your old home will tag along with your broom if brought to your new home.
No knives
Although it seems like a wonderful gift idea, giving a knife set is thought to bring bad luck and cut the friendship between giver and receiver.
Weekend is a time of rest
According to western belief, you can’t fully settle into a home if you move on a Friday. Save it for Thursday as this is the luckiest day to move.
Splash of colour
Having something blue in your entrance way or a fountain is believed to keep evil spirits away because ghosts can’t travel across water.
Fortune cookies
Baking cookies obviously leaves a delicious smell in the air but folklore states it also brings good luck before a showing.
Not-so grand entrance
Apparently if your staircase faces the front door, the energy of the house vanishes up or down the stairs, limiting the positive vibes on the main level.
Forgo Four
You may have heard this one before: the number four is considered unlucky in Chinese culture due to its phonetic resemblance to the word, “death.” Depending on your level of superstitious belief, attempt to do everything you can to stay away from the number four in the asking price, the selling price, the mortgage rate, the street number, etc.

GOOD LUCK HOME BUYERS AND SELLERS!

For more information visit www.crea.ca