Although there are many terrific contractors out there, there are always a few bad apples. When preparing your home for sale, you need a contractor that gets your job done on time, on budget and without creating a big mess. To help make sure that happens, ask prospective contractors these questions: “Will I be issued a receipt detailing the work done?” This is handy to have as you might want to show...
Although choosing a room’s colour is highly personal, it’s worth noting that studies have linked specific colour tones to psychological behaviours. In fact, many doctors, scientists and design experts believe that certain colours can actually influence your mood or motivation. The following list provides a general interpretation of commonly held views about how we perceive colour. It may help you...
Ideally, you should plan to have plenty of time to prepare your home for sale. You want to be able to get everything fixed and cleaned up, and perhaps even make a few improvements, such as installing a new countertop in the kitchen. For any number of reasons, that’s not always possible. If you have to suddenly relocate for work, for example, you may have only days to make your home “show ready” for...
Next to a major kitchen renovation, replacing appliances is the most expensive way to upgrade the space. So, if you’re purchasing a new refrigerator, stove or dishwasher in order to make your home more attractive to buyers, you want to make wise purchasing decisions. The most important consideration is how the appliances will look in the kitchen. Ideally, they should match in colour and style. They...
One of the most important decisions you make when selling your home is setting the listing price. It can be tricky. After all, if you price your property too low, you leave money on the table - perhaps thousands of dollars. On the other hand, if you price your home too high, many buyers won’t even bother to view it because they believe it is too expensive. Even with that reality, there are some sellers...
You have smoke detectors. Your doors have good locks. The bathtub has a slip-free pad. By all accounts, your home is a safe and secure place for your family to live. However, there are some hazards that many homeowners don’t consider or even know about. For instance: 1. Blocked eavestroughs. Eavestroughs clogged with leaves and other debris can cause rainwater to overflow next to your foundation and...
You would have to visit your local pharmacy or science lab to rival the number of potentially dangerous chemicals in the average home. You likely store everything from fertilizers and acidic cleaners, to gasoline and corrosive drain openers. Obviously, it makes sense to ensure that everyone in your home uses and stores these items safely. For example, laundry detergent packs - which have become popular...
When you purchase a home, you hope it will continually go up in value - just like a good investment. However, there’s something else that you also want to see an increase in value: the neighbourhood. In fact, the neighbourhood plays a key role in what the home will be worth in the years to come. If the neighbourhood goes down in terms of desirability, so will the market value of the home. So, when...
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