Style & Staging Tip #10

Less is More
I’m sure I’ve stressed this in other posts, but the bottom line is: Let your house show when you sell it. Instead of jamming each room with too much furniture (and I for one am often guilty of this) make sure that each rooms special or unique characteristics can shine through. Sometimes [...]

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Help for home buyers & owners in Budget ‘09

Among many other things, the new federal budget contains a handful of benefits for home buyers and existing home owners. Here are 3 that I think will have a direct impact on the real estate market (credits below):
The withdrawal limit under the Home Buyers’ Plan increases to $25,000 from $20,000 in respect of withdrawals made [...]

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Low prices, low rates make ‘perfect storm’ for buyers

The Toronto real estate market is a buyers’ market, and will probably remain so through the first half of 2009. That, combined with near-record low interest rates (which are expected to drop even more in the next couple of months), has created a buying opportunity like few others in the last 30 years – a [...]

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We Love First Time Buyers!

If you are a first-time buyer looking for a Realtor to help you find a home, you may have noticed that a lot of real estate agents don’t pay much attention to first-timers. That’s because a lot of them think that you will be a lot of work, and you won’t buy for another 6 [...]

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Style & Staging Tip #9

Soft Sell
You only get one chance to WOW buyers. The first impression is everything. Kitchens and bathrooms are often at the top of the Must-Love list for buyers, but restful retreat-worthy bedrooms are also critical. It’s actually quite easy to create a soothing bedroom oasis. Invest in new linens — when in doubt go [...]

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Home Seller Tips

Homes sell in any market. Regardless of overall conditions, each home is judged on its own merits. If you want your home to sell quickly, for a good price and with good terms, you have to properly prepare it – and yourself – for sale. Here are a few tips to get you [...]

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Home Buyer Tips

So, you want to buy a house or condo in this buyers’ market? Great idea! For you first-time buyers (and those of you who haven’t done this in a while), there’s lots that you need to know – not just about the market, but about the process. We share [...]

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Style & Staging Tip #8

Star Light, Star BrightI know that we are all taking environmental issues a lot more seriously these days, which is fantastic. But. Nobody likes walking into a dark or dingy house. I urge all sellers to invest in good lighting before the house goes on the market. This means a combination of primary and task [...]

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Style & Staging Tip #7

Mirror Mirror On The WallI know placing artwork on walls can be a tricky thing to figure out for many people. One thing I always suggest to clients is to minimalize clusters of pictures in favour of a few bigger canvas’s, and to use mirrors. Mirrors are a fantastic way to bounce light around [...]

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Style & Staging Tip #6

Window Treatments
What your windows wear is important to principle rooms in the home. To create a sense of privacy along with a sense of warmth and style, I suggest investing in simple yet well-thought out window treatments before your house hits the market. The shot above showcases the simplicity of window shades, which provide privacy [...]

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