Center Stage

Today, I have put together some tips for staging your home. Staging your home is a way of setting up for buyers so that your home may look more appealing. Though you may have to hide some personal things, you also want them to feel that the house has charm and potential. If you feel uncomfortable to do this yourself, I offer the services of hiring a staging consultant for your home.

First off; Dressing Up the Outdoors

-Curb appeal

Your home needs to look inviting from the side of the road; no one wants to look at an icky looking home

-Decorate the Front Porch

Small pots of flowers, a welcome mat, and an outdoor dining set should do the trick

-Keep it Seasonal

Flowers for Spring, opened pool in the Summer, gourds and pumpkins in Autumn, and Wreathes in the Winter

-Gardening and Shrubbery

Keep the gardens healthy and free of pests

 

Keep Your House Clean

-It has to shine!

-Organization is Key (this includes the garage)

-No one wants to walk on dirt

-void your home of any clutter, it is very unappealing

Daily cleaning instead of Weekly is essential

-Get rid of pet odours and keep the pets at a friend’s or family member’s home

-No toys should be left in plain sight, start packing them neatly some where

 

Add Flare To Every Room

-A Little Style Never Hurt Anyone

So long as the styling isn’t too overwhelming, it should feel welcoming to others

-Symmetry is inviting

Rearrange furniture to make the rooms feel balanced and harmonized

-Think Whimsical and Crisp!

-Openness

Homes should be able to be explored by buyers, leave hallways clear and open up closets to entice the buyers

 

Colours

-Neutral Based

No gender based, no fancy coloured based, and no kids based spaces; everything should feel a little bit toned down, your style isn’t everyone else’s style

 

So, there you have it. A complete guide and list on how to present yourself by means of arranging your home. The more someone like the little hints of style that you place in your home while selling it, it is more likely that they will take care of the home as you did. Call me if you need help with staging consultation for  your home and we’ll get right on it!

-Sarah

Renovations

How you present your home is how others will perceive it. When selling, you’ll have to do a bit of tinkering here and there and not just mowing the lawn or cleaning the sink. Home buyers want to know that you took good care of the home; they want to know that they can trust their decision if they buy your home. Small things like a splashy faucet or old carpet can set people off. Remember, they have a price range and if your home’s price doesn’t leave much leftover money for them to renovate, they will not be interested. Of course, doing a renovation such as tearing up the carpet can add value to your home. Carpet absorbs stains and smells much better than hardwood or tile.

If you do so choose to “update” your home after ten or twenty years of living there, your money will always get paid back in the end. The home value goes up because it is newly updated, taken care of, and it appeals to a wider range of buyers; older buyers would probably be looking for small, carpeted apartments. The money that you will get from selling your home will be like the renovations paying for themselves.

Also, as a home buyer, you should be asking all the right questions. Here are a few examples:

How old, approximately, is the home?

When was the last renovation done?

What appliances will be sold with the home?

Can we take a look at the gas meter?

Just by asking these types of questions will allow you to unravel the story of the home. You don’t want a home that floods too often, right? So ask about issues like that. However, don’t overbear the agent with these questions, the home owners may not have wanted to tell the agent about any issues. That alone plus any spotted issues that you saw during your showing, should tell you that this particular home is not for you. Unless, of course, you’d like to do a bit of work to the home or if it is too perfect of a price to pass on.

So, if you ever in the neighborhood, either wanting tips like this or you’re wanting to get more for your money on a home, just call me and we can set up an appointment as soon as possible!

 

-Sarah

A Chill In The Air

This Fall season looks like a cold one. This reminds me to tell you to not get sick! Catching a cold or the flu can lead to having less motivation and also a raging headache. Take care of yourself and others this season by using disinfectants like Purell every time you use a door handle, get into the habit of sneezing into your arm and not your hands, and most importantly, get the flu shot if it is necessary.

When I go to meet my clients, I love to see them happy and cheery. I also like to know that they are healthy enough to be up to the challenge of selling, buying and moving. The more you take care of yourself, the more immune you become against viruses and illnesses and I would rather you having better days than not.

Also, try not to go to the doctor’s office or a hospital if you don’t need to; which I really hope you don’t. During this season, people go to clinics and hospitals if they have become very ill and you don’t want to be in a place full of contagious germs. The best thing you can do for yourself is trying to be isolated from public transport or rest rooms. They have thousands of germs as it is and when the flu season is added on top of that, it is certain that there will be a week needed to be spent laying in your bed sometime in the near future.

If public places like these are your only options, disinfect and wash your hands as much and as good as possible. And if you’re already sick, avoid these public places, too. Going out just to feel better might not make someone else feel better. If you’re going to pass your germs on, pass it into a Tissue or a garbage can.

Let’s all have a good season and not become ill! Stay vigilant of germs and public places and we should be alright!

-Sarah

September's Final Weekend Events

This weekend will be featuring a few small events that the whole family might enjoy. First up, there is the Pumpkin Festival which will be hosted at Chappell Farms in Barrie on Penetanguishene Road, Just off of Hwy 11, next to the 400. Next, is the Culture Days event, where you can choose to spend this weekend to celebrate your culture, like going to see a Bollywood movie or eating in a Tavern. You can also tryout for under 17 rep soccer teams in Innisfil on the 30^th in Innisfil Beach Park. Please see schedules below for more details on all of these events.

Pumpkin Festival

HOURS OF OPERATION
9:00am - 5:00pm

ADMISSION
Weekdays:
$6.00 per person, which includes HST
Children under 2 are free
Weekends & Holidays:
$11.00 per person, which includes HST
Children under 2 are free

ATTRACTIONS
Farmyard animals - Hay Maze - Corn Maze - The Boo Barn

Trike Track - Sand Diggers - Play Area
Pick your own Pumpkin

Added attractions on weekends and holidays:
Magic Shows - Live Entertainment - Jumping Castle (weather permitting)

The Haunted Barn "theme changes yearly"
Agile Canines Performance Team Information

 

Innisfil Rep Soccer Tryouts

Innisfil S.C. Competitive Tryouts for 2012/2013

Age based on 2013 Location Time Dates

Under 9 Boys & Girls Select Born 2004 Innisfil Beach Field 1 9am - 10:30am

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 10 Boys & Girls Select Born 2003 Innisfil Beach Field 2 9am - 10:30am

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 11 Boys & Girls Rep Born 2002 Innisfil Beach Field 1 10:30am - 12pm

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 12 Boys & Girls Rep Born 2001 Innisfil Beach Field 2 10:30am - 12pm

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 13 Boys & Girls Rep Born 2000 Innisfil Beach Field 1 12pm - 1:30pm

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 14 Boys & Girls Rep Born 1999 Innisfil Beach Field 2 12pm - 1:30pm

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 17 Boys Rep Born 1996 Innisfil Beach Field 1 1:30pm - 3pm

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

Under 17 Girls Rep Born 1996 Innisfil Beach Field 1 1:30pm - 3pm

Sept 29, 30 & Oct 6

One Time-$10 Tryout fee - Location: Innisfil Beach Park, Innisfil ON
Innisfil Club Office: 7328 Yonge Street, Innisfil, ON L9S 4B9 info@innisfilsoccer.ca 705-431-4516

 

I hope that everyone has an excellent weekend with their families and friends! Please call me at any time if you spot a property that you like that is for sale while going to these events.

In The Heart of BC

 

Nanaimo is a city in British Columbia that features gorgeous waters and “bathtub” racing, which is an annual event. You can also get a good taste of a Nanaimo Bar and great views of the Pacific ocean. And you should see the cute homes out here! This week I am visiting BC for a conference and what better place to visit than right here in Nanaimo. Houses range from Detached to Apartments and then to small boats which are in Vancouver!

“Nanaimo is officially known as Harbour City for good reason. Stretched like a long, lean finger along the east coast of south-central Vancouver Island, British Columbia's sixth-largest city gets its identity, history and a wealth of recreation from a lovely, island-sheltered harbour right in the heart of town. Hiking, boating, kayaking, biking and world-class scuba diving and snorkeling are everyday activities at the bustling waterfront, as seaplanes take flight from sparkling blue waters.

Today, Nanaimo is a fast-growing urban centre that is no longer merely the premier gateway to Vancouver Island. A boldly revitalized downtown core, delightful harbour front walkway, sparkling new museum, affordable art galleries, and a wealth of cool shopping and dining alternatives are good reasons to park the car, find accommodations and stay awhile.”

-Tourism BC

So, if you ever want to travel within Canada or your family is trying to get you to go on a trip, take the opportunity to escape to Nanaimo or Vancouver! You won't be disappointed.

-Sarah

Rainy Days and Real Estate

We all know that a nice looking car can seem so much more appealing when water runs down the side of it and washes all the dirt off. Question is; how can rain benefit the real estate business? Houses that have siding instead of brick tend to look a lot cleaner in the rain. Make sure, however, to always clean the siding when selling your home. No one wants to move into a place that always looks dirty. Rainy days also hit a home with a certain natural light. Your home needs to look good in both the sun and in the rain.

If you’re interested in gardening, take advantage of that on the warmer, sunnier days! Small flowers and trees along with statues can make a house look so much more inviting. Rain gives gardens plenty of water which makes plant life look much livelier. As for statues, like cherubs and engraved pathway stones, they become cleaner and stand out more on a gloomy day. Just like today!

Not to mention, the interior must also look good in the rain. You want a feeling of softness and warmth, not an empty, harsh lighted head ache. Try getting a light dimmer or put some lamps in a few rooms to give more variety for a buyer to look at. On rainy days let the lamps be the winner, not the overhead fixture. This goes for both light and dark rooms. Darker rooms need a yellower light to tone it up but in a lighter room setting, they look good in anything, just make sure it looks inviting. The lighting inside should not overly clash with the sun outside, whether it’s rain or shine. Let the lights blend and the house might as well sell itself!

So, if you’ve got a couple of buyers coming in for showings or you’re out looking at homes, both you and them should be able to stop by a place that looks happy in the rain and enjoy your once gloomy day!