Category Archives: Home Decorating

Spring Cleaning for Sellers

Posted on March 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

By Sandra Foster

The past few days have been wonderful.  All the snow has gone (at least in the GTA) and spirits are lifting.  I plan to use this energy as my grandmother did, an excuse to get into the basement, backs of closets, bottoms of drawers, to clean house

In working with sellers, it’s common to have to coach them on how and what to de-clutter.  In the spirit of taking my own advice, I recently evaluated what clutter I too have lurking in my ‘corners’.  I live in a luxury condominium, large (2,000+ sq. ft.), with lots of storage.  Lo and behold, ‘stuff’ has accumulated wherever possible – and then some.  My storage areas overflow.   I confess, I am attached to things.  When I moved into my current home, for example, at least a third of my boxes remained packed.  And I cringe to say, a few had actually moved from Toronto to California and back again, and had never been unpacked during the intervening 20 years.

My project over the next month is as follows:

  • Every unpacked box must be opened and inspected
  • All items which I can’t remember ever owning, and can’t think of an immediate use for, go into a stack of things to be sold or donated (probably the latter, since who has time to sell things?)
  • Any clothing which hasn’t been worn in a year gets packed up for Goodwill
  • All those pesky drawers where things have been tossed to ‘get them out of the way’ will all be emptied
  • Piggy-backing on a close friend’s decision, some items will go to auction along with her extensive supply of clutter

I’m sympathetic to sellers who face this task with a deadline of open house dates and viewings looming.  My deadline is purely self-determined.  I know, however, that purging myself of ‘things’ will be liberating.  When it’s time to sell my lovely condo, the task of making it presentable will be easy.  Where I now have boxes, there’ll be open space.  Finding things in closets will be a pleasure.

As an added benefit, when I coach my sellers to de-clutter, I can speak from experience about how much work it is, but how great the reward will be.

Sandra Foster is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage/Johnston & Daniel Division and a regular contributor to the Muddy York Real Estate Blog.

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‘Tis the season to break out the hot tub

Posted on December 7, 2009 | Leave a comment

It’s getting chilly outside, and the pool is all closed down and wrapped up for the season, but that doesn’t mean all your activities have to be moved indoors just yet. A hot tub can be a great way to entertain using your patio or deck in off-season weather.

What’s what?

A hot tub is portable and self-contained, a spa is an in-ground hot tub, a Jacuzzi is a brand of hot tub, and a whirl pool is more what you are likely to find in your master bathroom – a bathtub with jets.

Figure out why you want a hot tub first. Do you want it for relaxation, exercise, massage therapy or parties? This decision will help you choose what size and type of hot tub you want and where you should put it.

Location is also a pivotal thing when it comes to your hot tub. The placement of the hot tub should not impede traffic, not be difficult to get in and out of and that it’s not too far away from the back door – as toasty as it is inside the hot tub, you’re going to want the walk through that cold winter air to be short.

It’s not overly weird to request a test drive of a hot tub model – it is actually quite common, and can help you get a feel for the hot tub you’ll be spending quite a bit of time in. Many hot tub stores have private areas for clients to do just this.

Regular maintenance is what will keep your hot tub functioning and clean. Cleanliness is especially important with hot tubs. The warm and moist areas surrounding a hot tub can be havens for bacteria and hot tubs must be sanitized as per the directions, and showering before entering the hot tub is recommended.

If you do choose to make your outdoors a little more fun, ensure it’s safe. Always use a locked safety cover when the hot tub is not in use, and make sure all drains and drain covers are up to current safety standards.

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Posted in General Information, Home Decorating

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Common Home Building Mistakes

Posted on September 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

By Julian Merryrenovating

When you decide on renovating your home, it will take time before it becomes the home you have envisioned it to be. To make sure your home renovations are done properly, here are a few tips to avoid disasters.

1.Hiring the Wrong People
Like any professional, architects go through many years of school to become qualified to work on the plans for your home. By not hiring an experienced and qualified architect can cost you more when the plans are not turning out what you expected. When making large renovations, it will definitely help having a licensed architect to design the plans to perfectly suit your needs and fit your homes design.

2.Doing it Yourself Projects
There are many projects that you will find that can be done by yourself, however there are also cases where you end up having to spend more money fixing the damage you have done than you would have spent if you hired a professional. You might have some knowledge on the project you are undertaking, however, having someone who has vast experience in the project will help your renovation go along smoother and possibly cheaper.

3.Cutting Expenses
Whether you are on a tight budget or not, cutting corners on design and materials does not make economical sense. You should ensure that the fundamentals in any project have the proper materials bought for, rather than you spending money on items that are not as necessary. Quality workmanship and materials will come at a cost; however it will be worth it for your family and for the value of your home.

4.Not Planning Realistic Budget
When you create a budget, you should be sticking by it, however at times, going over budget will happen. In any situation that has a budget, a contingency is a must. For home renovations, this is the same. Create a detailed budget, and have money allocated in the event you need more than you expected. If you somehow go over your contingency, then you have to be aware that you either budgeted wrongly or you just ended up spending too much.

5.Paying Upfront
Paying builders in advance is a mistake many homeowners make. There are many cases where the builder will run out on you before the work is complete and you will be left with an incomplete renovation. If a builder is not able to trust you without cash up front, you should not either.

These tips should be able to help you when the time comes for you to make renovations in your home. Particularly if you decide to add a room or extend your house, such larger renovations require more time and money than the average home renovation.

Julian Merry is a Broker with Royal LePage/Johnston & Daniel Division.  Julian is a regular contributor to the Muddy York Toronto Real Estate Blog.  Julian’s website is located at www.julianmerry.com.

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Posted in Home Decorating, Home Inspection Information, Staging Information

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Painting the Perfect Wall

Posted on September 6, 2009 | Leave a comment

By Samuel Packpaint and brushes

Painting can be one of the easiest and most effective methods of giving your home a facelift and raising its value. Ensure professional results when you tackle any home painting project by following the tips presented.

1.Remove all furnishings in the room or push them into the centre of the room and cover them with a drop cloth. By doing this you are ensuring you have the necessary work space and you will not be damaging any of your furnishings with the paint you are using.

2.Place drop cloths on the floor, and ensure they are down. You do not want to drop paint on your carpet or hardwood and have to spend time cleaning it up.

3.Remove any switch plates, outlet covers, chandelier ceiling plates or drapery to prevent them from getting paint on it and ensuring you cover the entire wall when you begin painting.

4.Begin washing the walls with detergent and let it dry.

5.Fill any holes or cracks in the wall and wait for it to dry before you sand it. You must lightly sand walls, keeping in mind to thoroughly sand trim and semi gloss surfaces.

6.Tape off joints between your ceiling and wall; if you have crown moulding, you must do so as well. Ensure that you are not getting paint on surfaces you do not want painted. The tape you should be using is masking tape and when you remove it, do so when the paint is still wet to avoid any peeling off any paint.

7.Paint each wall one at a time, ensuring you are covering the entire surface properly without having paint clumped together. Apply at least two coats of paint or one coat of primer and one or two coats of paint.

8.In the event you do make a mistake and paint in a spot you are not meant to, have a washcloth nearby to quickly clean up. Once the paint is still wet, it is no problem to clean up the mistakes you make. Every second counts, and if you take too much time correcting the mistake it can cost you.

At the end of painting any wall, if you feel it does not give off the look you wanted, either paint it again with the same color or switch colors. The beauty of painting is that you can always repaint the surface over if you feel it is not up to your standards.

Samuel Pack is a Sales Representative with Royal LePage R.E.S. Johnston & Daniel Division.  Sam’s website is located www.primetorontoproperties.com.  Sam is a regular contributor to Toronto’s Muddy York Real Estate Blog.

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