"We really do enjoy sharing information that will help enhance your property and it's marketability. Please feel free to ask us how you can showcase your home, as we have many wonderful tried and true suggestions! We also will share with you the best way to improve the appearance of your home, inside and out, without enduring tremendous expense. And for those of you that want to really go the extra mile, whether it be for re-sale or just personal pleasure, we can refer you to a wonderful interior decorator that will help you transform your home to an outstanding living environment! Contact Marilyn any time!"
Winterize your home
- Upgrading attic insulation is crucial when winter-proofing your home. You should have at least 11-13 inches of insulation or approximately R-40 to R-45. Insulating the attic can save as much as 15% of your home's total heat loss.
- Insulate, caulk, and seal your attic hatch to keep warm air from leaking into the attic which can cause condensation that could lead to wood rot or mould growth.
- Windows should be caulked and weather stripping applied to doors to prevent loss of heat.
- Steel doors are 3x more efficient than wood doors at eliminating drafts.
- Insulate hot water pipes.
- Maintain your furnace efficiency by having it checked in the fall before the heating season begins. Replace filters or clean reusable filters every two months during the heating season.
- Consider upgrading your existing furnace to a mid- or high-efficiency furnace to save $$ on heating costs.
SELLING TIPS: Market Flucutations Selling and buying property is normally relative, assuming you are re-purchasing in the same market. For example, IF your $150,000 home has dropped 10% in value, so has your $300,000 dream home. Yes, you lose $15,000 (10%) on your current home, but you save $30,000 (10%) on your next purchase! Always keep this in mind when considering selling. It's all relative. ____________________________________ Putting the Spotlight on Your Home In order to best show your home, keep in mind this is your home's debut for every prospective buyer that comes through the door. I suggest turning on all the lights, opening drapes in the daytime and play quiet unhurried music in the background. Light the fireplace. Keep your pets outside during showings and out of the way. Remember some people are allergic to animals or fear cats or dogs. Try to have as few people in the house as possible however if you can, be absent or take a walk. Showing a home is much more effective when the potential purchaser is able to properly look around and discuss the home freely with their Realtor. Otherwise, with the homeowner present, they may feel rushed or awkward and think they are inconveniencing the owner. It is never a good idea to discuss your home in length with a potential purchaser, let the Realtor obtain the information from you. Sometimes homeowners, without realising it, scare off the purchaser with too much information. As a homeowner, you do not know the specifics the potential purchaser is looking for.
Here's a detailed informational document to help you prepare your home for a successful sale!
Show Business | Top Ten Tips: How to Protect your Investment You've just made one of the largest investments you'll ever make and you're keen on protecting that investment for years to come. Maintaining your home is not difficult, as long as you know what to look for, do your check-ups regularly, and keep on top of things before they become too challenging. Here are the Top Ten Tips to help you care for your home:
| Exterior | | 1) | Check the caulking and paint on the exterior. Are there cracks? Is there peeling? Tip: If you have joints in the wood trim opening up, remove or scrape off all the paint, stain or caulking. Make sure the surfaces are clean and dry before applying new caulking or paint, and check that it's the proper caulking and paint/stain for the job. | | 2) | Lawn looking poorly? Bugs gnawing on the grass roots? Tip: Fertilize your lawn four times a year. Check with a local nursery for advice on the proper formulation for your area. When watering your lawn, start your sprinkler in late evening or early morning so as not to put the lawn under stress in the heat of the day. Respect water rationing and water only on days allowed for your address. Also check for "leatherjackets". Keep those pesky little bugs in control by spraying with Diazinon in the spring and fall. | | 3) | Overflowing gutters? Debris in your downpipes? Tip: Inspect and clean gutters and downpipes at least once every year, usually in the fall, to remove leaves and other debris. This ensures that rain water can drain freely into the run-off system. | | Exterior and Interior | | 4) | Squeaky latches or stuck door locks? Tip: To ensure proper operation of all door locks and latches, use a "graphite" lubricant and spray into the lock mechanism. Do not use WD-40 or a silicone spray since this tends to "gum" the mechanism and make operation difficult over time. | | 5) | Windows and patio doors stiff? Tip: If your vinyl windows and patio doors become stiff and hard to open and close, apply a small amount of silicone spray to the track. As in 4) above, avoid WD-40. | | Interior | | 6) | Filthy Furnace Filter! Tip: Inspect and clean the furnace filter every fall. Replace the filter at least once a year at this time, more frequently if any renovations or drywall work has been done in the home. Have the furnace cleaned and checked by a professional once a year to ensure proper operation of all components, and to maintain the warranty. | | 7) | Any caulking problems in the kitchen or bathrooms? Tip: Ensure that all silicone caulking around the kitchen and bathroom sinks is in good condition. If any areas show wear or deterioration, replace immediately. Be sure to check around tubs and shower enclosures at least once a year, where problems can frequently occur, and replace any worn or damaged silicone. For tubs, fill with water before installing new caulking to allow tub to settle away from the wall tile to its full extent. | | 8) | More caulking concerns? Tip: Maintain the caulking between the tub, toilet, cabinets and vinyl flooring. Water spilled on the floor can penetrate below the vinyl and cause discolouration of the vinyl and swelling of the underlayment. If that happens, it will require complete replacement, so be alert! | | 9) | How about grouting problems? Tip: Reseal the grout on tub and shower surrounds at least once a year. Be sure to use a silicone sealer spray, available from your local home improvement centre or hardware store. Allow this to dry completely before reusing the tub or shower. Useful hint: It is best to wipe the tile down after a shower to remove excess water. | | 10) | And finally, the wax seal. Tip: If a toilet is removed to replace the flooring, and especially if a different type of floor is installed such as ceramic tile, ensure that the wax seal in the plumbing drain line is also replaced with one large enough to match the depth of the new floor. |
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