Ontario Renovation Program

The majority of us know that Home Ownership can be a difficult duty. The cost of living today is high and with so many responsibilities to your family and not enough hours in the day, projects around the house can fall to the bottom of the list.  Well I have a solution for you! The program below is like winning a home renovation lottery. Dufferin County has become a part of the Ontario Renovates Program. What this Program provides is financial assistance to home owners or renters to make necessary upgrades to their home to make it more livable. However, this offer doesn’t come without a catch…or at least criteria.

To enter yourself into this program, you must:

-Be eighteen or over

-(when renting) obtain permission from Landlord

-be making a gross income of $82,600 or less

The home also has to be valued at $366,655 or less and the maximum grant given is $3,500.

We all need a helping hand once in a while and this is what the ORP is here for. If it is yourself or someone you know that needs this kind of help, you can contact Juli Griffin, who is the head of Dufferin’s ORP at these contacts:

County of Dufferin

Community Services – Housing

229 Broadway, Unit 4

Orangeville, ON

Email: jgriffin@dufferincounty.on.ca

Phone: (519) 941-6991, ext 2404

 

Remember that enrolling in the Program is confidential and you are entitled to that confidentiality. The people of ORP are here to work out an opportunity for you so go for it! This is your chance to make your house more welcoming than ever before.

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

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

Winter's Checklist

Another winter is headed our way. It’s about that time again to start cleaning up the yard and putting our summer tools away. Farms have a very big job with this, too. Combines, silos, barns; they all have to be constantly kept up and farmers have to make sure that their livestock don’t catch something from the deep freeze. We want you to have the best winter possible so we put together a checklist for preparing for the winter.

·         Clean and store patio/deck furniture, umbrellas/awnings, and kids’ summer toys.

·         Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks. Use a wire brush to remove flaking paint; prime wood before painting again.

·         Check caulk around windows and doors. Follow manufacturer's recommendations to re-caulk if needed.

·         Inspect external doors and garage doors. Do they close tightly? Install weather-stripping, door thresholds if needed.

·         Wash exterior windows.

·         Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots. In hard-freeze areas, have sprinkler systems blown free of water.

·         Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary. In cold-weather areas, consider installing heating cable to prevent ice dams.

·         Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

 

As for all the Friendly farmers:

-         Cover up your machinery

-         Cozy up the livestock

-         Set up rat and other rodent traps when the try to hibernate in the barn

-         Stock up on hay and grains

-         Lock up the silo

-         Put rain or snow repellant on leather saddles

-         Put a heater in the barn

-         Start thinking about next year’s finances

 

We really hope this helps everyone! Winter is tough on us and a few tips here and there couldn’t hurt anyone. So enjoy the cool air. And if your ever in need of a quick move, call me and book a meeting today!

 

-Sarah