Preparing Your Home for Photographs

 

When you put your home on the market, your Realtor® will hire a photographer to take photos of your home to put on MLS and for other advertisements.  People say that photos are worth 1000 words, and real estate is no exception.  However, it is important to realize that the photographer can only take pictures of what is there.  It is not their job to stage your house and prepare it for photos, it’s yours.  To ensure good photographs, consider the following staging ideas.

Bedroom

·         Remove all photographs and knick knacks

·         Make sure bed is made perfectly

·         Remove everything from the floor other than major furniture such as heaters, clothes, toys, stuffed animals, toy boxes, clothes hampers etc. – set it aside for the photo and then you can move it back

·         Remove all items from on top of dressers and side tables other than lamps

Kitchen

·         Remove any items from the top of fridge

·         Remove any items on the fridge such as magnets or pictures

·         Put away any towels that may be hanging from the oven

·         Put away all appliances!  This one makes a huge difference for photos.  All toasters, blenders, crockpots etc. need to be put in the cupboards for the photos

·         All pots, pans, knife racks, and food items need to be put out of site

·         Remove dish racks, sponges, soap, paper towel, clothes and put in cupboards for photos

Living Room

·         Remove all family photos and knick knacks

·         If you have a throw, make sure it is neatly folded and consider putting it away for the photo

·         Clean off coffee table

Dining Room

·         Clear off dining table

·         Make sure chairs are neatly tucked in

·         Remove any knick knacks and family photos

Bathroom

·         Everything needs to be put away

o   Shampoo, conditioner, body wash, soap, scrubbies, need to be put away for photos

o   Hair brush, make-up items, soap, sponges need to be removed for photo

o   If you have a bath mat, consider removing it for photo

Although this seems like a lot, it will make the world of difference.  In addition, you need to clean, clean, clean.  All closets should be neat and tidy and everything needs to be put where it belongs.  Also consider picking up a couple of bouquets of flowers to brighten the place up – or ask your realtor® to.

I hope this helps with the prep and lets your house sell faster.  If you would like any more tips or are looking for a realtor® to assist you in the sale of your home, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  I am happy to assist you in all of your real estate needs.

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service

Tips on Furnishing your Home

 It’s always exciting buying new furniture, whether it is for a brand new place or you just want to spruce up where you already live.   However, it can also get expensive quick and get a bit out of control.  Consider the following tips when you are looking to buy new home furnishings.

1.    Shop Around.  Although a store may have exactly what you are looking for, another might have the same item (or something better) at a lower costs.  Go to a few different places to compare prices (don’t forget about prices of delivery etc. too, if you need it) and quality of products and warranties.

2.    Read Reviews.  Some discount and no name stores may have great deals on what you are looking for, but do your research.  Look at reviews for the business.  Make sure they are reputable and professional.  Ask the stores about their policies are for refunds, exchanges, and delivery etc.

3.    Make sure you have seen it and felt it before you buy it.  Always insist on seeing floor models.  This way you can test it out and check the quality of the product.  You can also see the actual colour of it as sometimes colours don’t translate very well in pictures.

4.    Read the contract.  As with anything you sign, take the time to read the contract to ensure you understand what you are agreeing to.

If you feel you were wrong done by in any way or want to know your rights as a home furnishings purchaser, go to www.sse.gov.on.ca/msc/en/Pages/Home_Furnishings_Rights.aspx to learn your rights when buying home furnishings.

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service

How to handle a dispute with your landlord

 Almost every renter and every landlord you come across will be able to tell you stories about having to deal with each other.  It can be a complicated relationship even on the best of days.  When disputes arise between tenants and landlords, as they often do, it is important to keep calm and deal with it properly and responsibly.  Keep the following tips in mind if this ever happens to you or someone you know:

1.       The first step in handling a dispute is deciding exactly how big the issue is.  Don’t sweat the little stuff.  Make sure any problems you come across are worth creating any dispute.

2.       If you decide that the dispute is worth your time and effort, start recording everything.  Make sure you keep notes, take pictures, record dates, and keep copies of any contact between you and your landlord.  Once a dispute starts, you never quite know where it will end up.  You may just end up needing this paper trail.

3.       Check the Law.  It makes everything a lot less stressful and gives you leverage when the law is on your side. 

4.       Talk to them!  They are just people.  Arrange a meeting and stay calm.  Listen to what they have to say.  Make sure you know each other’s expectations and create a follow up plan.

5.       If the meeting didn’t help, decide how far you want to go.  Perhaps you can both agree to terminate the lease and both go your separate ways.  If not, check the local laws and procedures for housing court. 

I hope these tips help you resolve any issues that may come between you and your landlord.  If you need help looking for a new place to live, please contact me and I will be happy to assist you in finding your new home.

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service

Mortgage Helper

Tired of paying rent?   Have enough money saved for a down payment?  Why not buy a house and let someone else pay your mortgage?

Whether you are just starting out, want to pay your mortgage off faster, or would just like some extra cash in your pocket, creating a second apartment within your home is a great option.

The first step is ensuring that you have a proper space to rent out.  Many people spend a little extra money finishing their basements and once it is rented they get that money back quick, add value to the house, and then start to make extra money.

Keep in mind, being a landlord isn’t always as easy as it seems.  Finding the right tenant or tenants is key.  If you have a good tenant, your home will be kept in good shape, your rent cheques will be on time, and other than that you will barely even notice that they are there.  However, if you get a bad tenant, your home could endure severe damage, they could be noisy and annoy your neighbours, and getting your rent could be a hassle.  Sometimes it is hard to tell what type of tenants people are when you meet them.  Therefore it is important that you do your homework, or get a realtor® to do it for you.

Using a realtor® in renting out your home is a great option that keeps it simple for you.  They will market the rental to ensure it will be promptly filled, will prepare a detailed contract that protects you as a homeowner and landlord, and will screen any applicants for you.  Your realtor® will verify employment letters, credit checks, bank statements, references, and talk to their previous landlords to try and find you the best tenant possible.

If you would like to rent out your house or part of your house as a mortgage helper now, please don’t hesitate to contact me and I will be happy to assist you.

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service

Colours and Moods - What to consider when painting your home.

We all know that some colours make us feel some emotions while other colours make us feel others.  When thinking about painting your home, consider the studies on moods and colours.  Here is a quick overview on colours and the moods and emotions they often evoke in people.

 

 

Red:  Red is known to raise blood pressure, increase respiration, and speed up your heart rate.  For this reason it raises a room’s energy level.  It is good in dining rooms and living rooms to stimulate conversation but should be avoided in places like bedrooms.

Yellow: Yellow is great in small doses.  In small doses it makes people cheerful and offers a welcoming feeling.  However too much yellow has been known to make people lose their tempers and get frustrated easier.  In studies, babies cry more when in a yellow room.

Blue: Blue is known to lower blood pressure, slow respiration and slow heart rates.  Lighter shades offer a calming, relaxing, and serene sense, while darker shades of blue are linked to sad feelings. However, be warned that large area of blues can bring a chilly feeling effect.

Green: Green, being a mix of blue and yellow creates feelings of restfulness as well as happiness.  Green is suited for most rooms in the house as it relieves stress.  Some people believe green is great in the bedroom as it helps with fertility.

Purple: Purples such as eggplant offer feelings of luxury and create a rich and dramatic effect.  It is a good option for the bedroom as it has a restful effect.

Orange: Orange is a nice and bright colour that brings the feelings of excitement, enthusiasm, and energy.

I hope this helped if you are trying to decide what colours to paint.  Have fun with it!

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service

Modern Versus Contemporary Design - What is the difference?

Since people often use the words modern and contemporary interchangeably, it fools people in to thinking that they mean the same thing; Even the thesaurus recognizes them as synonyms!  In this article I will explain the differences and some of the similarities between Modern and Contemporary Design.

When someone says modern, we think up to date.  However it is actually the opposite, modern design is quite old.  Modern design refers to “the modern style” from the modernism movement and mid-century modern.  This style of design offers simplicity and function.  It usually uses open floor plans, strong lines, and natural or neutral colours.  Modern design is a style that doesn’t change but stays the same as it is from a different time period.

Contemporary design style belongs to the present.  Therefore it is ever changing.  Contemporary designs blend many different design styles and mirror whatever is “new and in style”. In contemporary design, you will often see extreme colour schemes and “futuristic” designs that reflect the current and ever-changing times.

These two different design styles are often confused with one another because they both seem to reflect simple, uncluttered spaces that have clean lines.

I hope this helped clear up the confusion!  If you have any questions or still aren’t sure if your home is modern or contemporary, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service

Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese art and science that helps create good energy flow and balance in your home. Some believe that it also helps improve relationships, allows your health to flourish and brings good fortune.  Feng Shui involves the placement of furniture and other objects and their directions and anything to achieve positive energy flow and balance. I am no expert, but it is said that to increase the Feng Shui in your bedroom, you should:

 

·         Ensure your bed is not in line with any doors – make sure your feet aren’t pointing to any doors, may they be balcony doors, closet doors, or the room door

·         Do not put any mirrors facing the bed

·         You should have a good headboard and a solid wall behind your bed

·         Avoid putting your bed underneath a window

·         Have equal space and placement of furniture on either side of your bed

o   Make sure you can access the bed from both sides

o   If you have a night table on one side, put one on the other side to maintain balance

For More information on Feng Shui, there are many classes you can take and a world of information. Good luck and have fun with it.  I hope it creates some better energy in you home and life.

Sincerely,

Astra Mulawka
Sales Representative
Better Homes and Gardens
Real Estate Signature Service