Kitchen and Bathroom 'Facelift' Ideas

Kitchens and bathrooms do help sell houses, although they may not be the main deciding factor, they are strong contenders when buyers consider what property they will now call home.
Buyers consider these rooms when they are house hunting because of the difficulty of renovating them and the expense that would be required. If you have been diligent in the upkeep and upgrades of your home then this week’s notes will not be as difficult.

 

However, if you have never updated your home or maintained the repairs in the baths and kitchens, then this could be a pricey section!
Truth be told, you will pay to do upgrades in these rooms, either when it comes time to sell and you have to reduce the price to reflect the work needed, or over the years while you live there and have been paying to maintain and upgrade.
Homeowners typically should be spending 1-3% of their market value every year to upgrade and maintain their property in good condition. So if this has not been done, it will need to be.





 What types of upgrades can you do?

• Updating Appliances in all the same color, this includes the hood fan. Especially if they are more than 10 years old.
• Replace or Repair all damaged tiles or flooring
• Repaint kitchen cabinets (or do touch ups)
• Consider a kitchen update if older than 7 years. New kitchens price at $5,000 and up, depending on if you are installing them yourself. This is not recommended for beginners no matter how keen you are!
• Install new counter tops or call a Granite company for a granite looking overlay that is less than the price of real granite
• Update flooring, even a small bathroom looks like a new world with brand new floors
• Update light fixtures
• Paint the ceilings
• Take off old tiles in the bathtub or shower and add a new surround. A simple do it yourself kit can be purchased for around $300.00
• Add under cabinet lighting
• Add new shower faucets and shower rods
• Re-grout your existing tile if it is still in good shape, adding a new grout color can go far
• Fresh paint colors in warm neutrals make a room look 100 x better for a small investment of time and money
• Update faucets to the latest trends
• Tighten all knobs, or replace for a modest cost. Knobs range from $3.00 to over $10.00 per piece, so it is a small investment for a great improvement
• Replace toilet seats, especially if they are cracked, wooden or themed
• Add new blinds or window coverings
• New sinks, curtain rods and towel bars also make a great first impression

Remember you are giving the buyers every reason to buy your house, so carefully consider the first impression and ask yourself what do you look for when you are the buyer? How do you compare houses when you are the buyer? Then create a property that will attract buyers. It’s as simple as that.

Perfect Paint Choices for Staging Your Home

Experts say that staged homes sell faster and for higher prices than those that are not, and paint color is a low-cost but effective way of showcasing your home. The following home staging tips and ideas will help in guiding your paint color choices.

 Neutralize

The colors potential buyers see when they enter your home should be neutral so that the buyers will not be distracted by someone else's style. They should see the walls of your home as a blank canvas on which to project their own preferences and style. But "neutral" doesn't necessarily mean white. Using subtle color can actually enhance the buyer's experience, so repaint walls that have strong colors with rich neutral hues.

Some suggestions: Benjamin Moore 'Barley 199', Benjamin Moore 'Stone House 1039' and Benjamin Moore 'Providence Olive HC-98'

Update and Refresh

If your wallpaper has a distracting design or is outdated, remove it and add a fresh coat of paint for a more current, updated look. A low-sheen product will help reduce the imperfections on walls and ceilings. You can also use color to highlight the architectural details and features of your home.

Some suggestions: Benjamin Moore 'Carrington beige HC-93' , Benjamin Moore 'Shaker Beige HC-45' and Benjamin Moore 'Nantucket Gray HC-111'

Maximize Your Space

Light, clean, organized spaces appear larger. So clean and declutter, and give your walls a fresh coat of paint in a light neutral color to bring the room to life and make it seem more expansive. One home staging idea that can help expand your space visually: paint the moldings the same color as the wall, which gives an illusion of higher walls.

Some suggestions: Benjamin Moore 'Manchester Tan HC-81', Benjamin Moore 'Monroe Bisque HC-26' or Benjamin Moore 'Camouflage 2143-40'

 

 Refresh Outside Spaces

First impressions are everything, so besides trimming your hedges and grass, be sure your front door and any fencing or mailbox posts are freshly painted. And because buyers love decks, porches, and patios, also make sure they're freshly painted or stained.

Great suggestions for front door: Benjamin Moore 'Dinner Party AF-300',  Benjamin Moore 'Yorktowne Green HC-133' and Benjamin Moore 'Tate Olive HC-112'

 

5 Easy Fixes to Make your Home 'Buyer-Ready'

5 Easy Fixes to make Your home More Appealing to Buyers

When it comes to selling your home you always want to have your best foot forward. and if it is a tough market you really cannot afford to be anything less than showcase perfect!

One of the secrets in catching the eye of potential buyers is to highlight the features of a home that are important to them. Showing buyers that you have what they need will help sell your home fast and get the best price.

But of course, not every home is perfect. You might not have the best location, neighborhood, space and other factors that are important in choosing a home. But those imperfections, especially the ones you have control over, should not hinder you from having a great showing.

We listed 5 tips that will make your home appeal to home shoppers:

#1 Style according to location advantages

There is little you can do about your property’s location. Instead of masking location disadvantages with adjectives in your listing, you can factor the location to your marketing plan. Is your address in a hip, urban location? You might want to stage your house in a way that it will appear attractive to young professionals. If your home is located near a high school, designing your home in a way that it will reflect the style that would appeal to a growing family is important. In short, visualize the needs and characteristics of a buyer and set up the property accordingly.

#2 Fix and repair before the showing

Before your first showing, make sure that everything is in working condition. Do you have leaking faucets or clogged pipes? Fix anything and everything that is broken because those become a major turn off. Prospective buyers wouldn’t want to figure out those repair needs themselves and they will just look at the listing down the road instead. If you are working with a realtor, ask them if they have a list of preferred professionals that they could recommend to fix those repairs around the home, or you can check out a recommendation website like Angie's List

#3 Make scents!

First of all, if there’s unpleasant odor in the property, get to the root of the problem and fix it! No one wants to live in a smelly house. Secondly, don’t overdo it with air fresheners. Most people like lemons so a bowl of lemons pierced with a fork will do the trick. Lightly scented candles are good as well, scents like fresh linen or clean laundry are usually safe bets. For cooler months, try bakes cookies or even just a bowl of water with cinnamon and sugar in the oven at a low temperature

#4 Sufficient lighting for every room

Buyers find bright rooms really attractive. Draw back the curtains, open the shades, and make use of artificial lighting if you need to.
A tried-and-tested technique to achieve the most balanced room lighting is to place three lighting sources in a triangular configuration. For example: a floor lamp, table lamp and ceiling light fixture are three sources of light in a room. Another tip is to replace dated lighting fixtures; an inexpensive and quick upgrade that can have significant impact on the look of a property. Remember when you are preparing for an open house have all of your lights turned on - the house will look and feel bigger and brighter!

#5 Declutter

When home buyers tour your house, you don’t want them to focus on the clutter. If you have personal belongings on display, like family pictures or collection, or just anything that will distract potential buyers, tuck these away. Think of it as a 'pre-pack', you will want to have those items with you at your next home, won't you?A second benefit to a properly decluttered space is that is makes the place look larger. Bigger is always better for buyers. A bigger space encourages them to imagine how they will add their own personal touch to the property and without your personal belongings, they can start to mentally move in with their things.

Staging tips for Selling your Home in the Fall Months

It is now mid-October, we have had frost warnings, the leaves on trees are turning colour and falling, and fireplaces will soon find themselves useful. While most of us are excited for this amazing season, people in the real estate are preparing themselves because once the cold sets in, the number of buyers out there will start to sink.

While you still have time to prepare for the cold season, don’t waste these days and take advantage before the winter season sets in. Remember that no one would want to go home shopping when it’sfreezing cold and everything is covered in snow!

One of the essential strategies to get a sale before the holidays is home staging, regardless if you’re using the help of a real estate agent or selling the house by yourself.
Here are a few tips to make your home look perfect this fall.

Maintain your yard

Rake leaves, trim bushes, and use seasonal flowers. Keep it looking fresh! Always remember that the curb appeal is as important as the interior. It’s the first thing that your potential buyers will see. This about an inviting front door vignette with a wreath and maybe some pumpkins or a bench with some pillows

 

Control back to school clutter

Back to school season can create clutter in your entry. Make sure to have a place for your backpacks, shoes and other items the kids need to grab before catching the bus. This can even give the new homeowners some great ideas too

Keep it neat and simple

While Halloween and Thanksgiving are not religious specific, too much decorating can distract buyers. Remember less is more. This can be tough with children so don't eliminate it completely but keep it subtle and stay away from the gore,  keep it cute and have it is specific areas and not every square inch of the house

Use home decor that takes a cue from nature

Rather than ghosts, scary monsters or turkeys display pumpkins, hay and flowers. Nothing can scare away potential buyers like handmade scarecrows or frighteningly realistic gory Halloween decorations. A simple bowl of fresh apples or mini pumpkins as a dining centerpiece is simple but effective.  An empty corner that looks odd can easily be filled with a tall glass vases filled with tall sticks.  A door looks more welcoming when it is dressed up a bit too

Turn your fireplace on for showings to set the mood

A little warmth emanating from the fireplace evokes a welcoming atmosphere. A crackling fire says “welcome home”, as well as well-placed candles to complete that warm, snug room.  And in cooler months a fireplace will be on the minds of buyers, so make sure they can't help but notice it!

 

Add pillows

Use furry throws, pillows and texture in your home decor to create a cozy feel. Or, think about adding a splash of pillow with pillows in fall inspired colours, warm colours can make any space look and feel inviting. Pillows are inexpensive additions to your home and knowing how to use them will surely bring a big difference.

 

The cinnamon effect

Remember to use candles, incense and other oils to infuse fall scents, like vanilla or apple cinnamon. No, you don’t need to bake a bunch of sugar cookies before the showing, but investing in a tasteful, subtle scented autumn candle will do just fine in eliciting that cozy feeling buyers want to experience when they walk into their future house.

 

Pillows makes Perfect!

We have to say it. We love styling homes with pillows!

Pillows are inexpensive, yet amazing in giving a room extra touch of softness, color and attitude. We’ve seen so many spaces transformed beautifully with simple additions of pillows of all sorts of shapes and sizes and it’s something you can do on your own to stage your home for the resale market or just to update your space.

 

So, in this post, we gathered photo inspirations for you as well as 5 decorating tips using pillows.

#1 Because they are happy!  

 
Imagine this room without pillows. Boring, yeah? It’s like snatching all the energy and life in this space. Colorful pillows, especially those with geometric prints, can instantly make a room look more alive. If you think your living room is too bland and lacking energy, throws and pillows are one of your best choices.





#2  Going colourless can still be dramatic

 Sometimes, it doesn’t have to be all colourful and playful. If for example, you want to keep your bedroom toned down and want a prospective buyer to notice important architectural details instead of focusing on the bed, adding black and white or neutral-colored pillows will help create a dramatic effect.






 #3 An easy (and cheap) way to make the room look on trend and updated

Look for colours and prints that are on-trend and you can use them to enhance the artistic ambiance of any room. In the case of this family room, the sofa is pretty basic and maybe a bit older, to make the room look more up to date the stager played with the hanging arrangements of the art but also added some colour to the room (dark blue and coral - orange) giving the room an updated look



#4 Mixing makes it fun!

" Matchy matchy” is out of date. Have fun and get a little crazy! There are certain elements in the house that should be matched in order to achieve symmetry and calmness, but pillows are an exception. Especially if you have a white bed or sofa, bright-colored pillows can instantly lift the boredom away!




 #5 Make pillows the focus

Can’t afford that bejewelled lamp at the store for your centrepiece? Throw and pillows can substitute for that. Ribbon pillows, sequined pillows, fur pillows and any funky-looking pillow in a bright hue can serve as a focal point.

 

Shades of Grey

I have been using a lot of different grey tones in my renovation projects lately.  Some of my clients are a bit hesitant at first but once they see the different options in the grey family they are pleasantly surprised with the results.

Greys can be dark or dull but there are warm options, soft options, but it really is an ideal neutral for the whole home.  try it is in bedrooms, kitchens, living, family and dining rooms even in children's rooms.  With the right accents and furniture you can transform your space into an look you want with a great backdrop. Here are my favourite shades of grey, so far...

Benjamin Moore Sea Salt is a calming and soothing grey.  I used it most recently in a family home.  they wanted an urban farmhouse look.  they paired the sea salt walls with a Mascarpone kitchen (we matched all of the trim and doors to the mascarpone paint) which added a lot of warmth to the space, with knob and cup chrome hardware with a charcoal glass subway tile back splash and a granite back splash with white, light grey and darker grey veins.  The flooring was natural oak (original to the home) to give it  country feel and we added 100 year old barn beam legs to the island that had storage and seating for 6.









Most recently, we staged a property that was in need of some updating.  The layout of the condo was great, with lots of natural light and over sized rooms with a white kitchen and bathroom.  We wanted to add a bit of drama on the walls but because this was a property that was going on the resale market we did not want to scare away buyers.  We choose a softer grey tone which is elegant and classic, Silver Satin by Benjamin Moore.  with the staging furniture - a white sofa, some traditional wood tones, blended with glass and some modern pop of Radiant Orchid - the space is coming together nicely and it will have broad appeal in the market.

 




Another favourite of mine is Ashley Grey by Benjamin Moore,  we used this shade a more traditional kitchen with pashmina colour cabinets and a quartz counter top to add some more modernness to the space.  We wanted to mix the traditional feel of this home which was built in the 1920s so we used the Ashley Grey from the Historic Collection but by pairing it with pashmina painted cabinets in a traditional style and quartz counter tops (which are more uniform) we had a beautiful blend of old and new.






If you are still hesitant to give grey a chance, try a warmer grey like Benjamin Moore's  Balboa Mist (which was featured recently in a spread 'Seize the Day' in Better Homes and Gardens February 2014).  The chip looks like a true grey but when paired with warmer wood tones and off whites, it looks more beige but in a more modern palette.

 

Prepping my own home for sale...cont'd

Well, things are moving along smoothly not too many bumps which is great!


Our small renos are moving right along...I think what really saved us time on the renos was the fact that we ordered all of the materials with our contractor's advice (and measurements) we also ordered items that were in stock and before the renos began. While everything was being processed our contractor, Danny started on the small stuff that didn't require the new materials. That saved us a lot of time and energy...

the house hasn't been too much of a mess, our crew worked from one area and once they finished they moved into the next area which has been great considering we have too little ones and we needed to keep every thing and every one safe and secure. Plus you don't feel like you are living in a disaster zone if the work is confimed to an area.

Next up, we are getting the basement and living room carpets cleaned (post reno work). I know the new owners may even ditch these carpets but I think if they look and feel good, it will be appreciated in viewings plus you should never assume anyone is going to do anything with your home...they may not want to for a variety of reasons.

Our new sod is looking great and super lush and green but will really need a trim and soon....hopefully mother nature will agree and lay off the rain for a few days...









My goal is to start staging by the end of next week, after a good post-reno clean up! The kids rooms are done but I need to get all of the toys out of the living room area, tidy up our bedroom (although it has already been depersonalized), declutter the kitchen counter tops, and really prepare the basement laundry/rec room space and the main floor family room. Oh and get some flower pots outside...some people might think it is overkill but I think (my husband agrees too) that it is super important to present our home in it's best light!









...and then photo shoot time! What so many sellers don't realize is that timing is everything with renos but also with getting your home on the market. Your photos and listing should be up early in the week (if you are planning an open house) so that buyers can view it online and then make plans for a showing or open house. We are aiming for photos next weekend and getting it live online on the Monday.









The pool openers are coming next weekend and we should be ready for an open house in two weeks time.









I am feeling really good about this house and I know we have taken very good care of it for the future owner and that shows!