Curb Appeal Ideas

It's what’s outside that counts! Check out these 11 exterior upgrades that’ll give your home simple but effective curb appeal.

Your home’s curb appeal sets the tone for what potential buyers expect of the home they’re walking into, explains Darren Brand, owner and lead stager at designedtosell.ca. “Since most people’s buying decisions are based on an emotional response, the curb appeal starts the love affair, or terminates it immediately,” he says.

Advertisement

But you don’t have to completely overhaul the exterior of your home in order to sell. Just pick and choose what you think will have the most impact and go from there. No matter what state the economy is in, dealing with curb appeal issues are important since even in good times, you could be leaving money on the table by not doing needed work, Darren says. When times are tough, there are also a lot less potential purchasers and a lot more competition, so you have to make your home stand out in a crowd.

Darren provides 11 simple ways to improve your home’s curb appeal for maximum impact.

1 Start with the most obvious things
If you can only do a few things to spruce up the exterior of your home, start with the most glaringly obvious. For example, if your garden is overrun with weeds, the front lawn hasn’t been cut in so long that you need a machete to get to the door and remnants of last spring’s garage sale still adorn the front porch, mow the lawn, pull the weeds and get rid of the mess. A messy front yard will be the first thing a potential buyer sees and it might tell them not to look any further. You don’t have to have a prize-winning rose garden to attract potential buyers, just a yard that looks tidy and well cared for.

2 Add planters
Adding planters (even store bought, ready-made ones) can go a long way toward creating the perception of a well loved home. They not only add colour to a porch or patio, they’re eye-catching and give the impression you spend time improving your surroundings.

3 Ensure consistent window treatments
Matched blinds and curtains can add a lot to the perception of quality and thought put into a home, says Darren. “A lot of people don’t even think about how this interior element affects the look of the exterior.” He also stresses the importance of washing your windows; this is also something that has an impact on the inside as well as outside of your home.

4 Wake up your driveway
Since the driveway is one of the first things prospective buyers will notice, it’s a good idea to freshen it up. Adding a sealer can refresh a tired driveway. This is an inexpensive makeover that can be accomplished in a short time by almost anyone, Darren says.

5 Add cedar mulch Adding red cedar mulch goes a long way to freshening up flowerbeds even in early spring when plants are small or non-existent. The mulch can be any shade but Darren suggests red to add a nice punch of colour.

6 Create a welcoming porch
An empty porch can look stark and cold. If you have a porch large enough to accommodate furniture, set up a welcoming grouping such as two exterior club chairs and a table or a bistro set for dining. It’s also a good idea to add some colour with plants in containers.

7 Put down new sod
A lawn in poor condition does not create a good first impression and is something you should consider replacing if you’re trying to sell your home. It’s a lot faster to put down new sod instead of seeding and waiting, Darren says.

8 Add mature plants
When working on flowerbeds, adding larger mature plants is a lot easier (and in some cases, less expensive) than buying several flats of annuals, says Darren. Larger, more mature plants also tend to have a greater impact.

9 Spring for new accoutrements
Adding a new mailbox, house light and house number is a cheap and cheerful way of updating your home’s exterior. Big box stores like Home Depot and Rona usually stock simple yet stylish, well-priced options for these items.

10 Repaint
Giving the exterior of your home a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for curb appeal. Darren suggests painting your house in the colour of homes in a more expensive neighbourhood as a great way to create the perception of quality while doing something you probably already need to do.

11 Replace windows
Replacing windows is expensive but has a definite impact on curb appeal, says Darren. It can make your home look polished and give the impression you’ve upgraded more than just the windows.

Thanks to Style at Home for the article!

If you love Withrow Park...

We came across this artist who captures the seasons and Withrow Park in Toronto...very fun!

July 9th Mortgage Rules will be changed but what is the impact?

According to an article from the Huffington Post, up to 5% of Canadians may be impacted by the changes. Here is Toronto, if you are thinking of buying over $1 million, they increased the percentage down required.

Yes, the amortization can pinch the bank account but interest rates could be the big gotcha if they go up.

These are interesting times as the government continues to try and slow the housing market.

Only time will tell.....

_______________________________________________________________________________


OTTAWA - Buying a first home or taking out a loan against an existing residence will be more difficult for Canadians under new rules announced Thursday, but Finance Minister Jim Flaherty says it's for their own good.

For the fourth time in as many years, the finance minister moved to tighten the mortgage and lending landscape — changes that mean up to five per cent of Canadians who might be considering buying a new home will likely no longer qualify.

This time Flaherty's cutting the maximum amortization period for government insured homes to 25 years from the current 30 years, and limiting how much homeowners can borrow on the value of their homes to 80 per cent from 85 per cent.

Those are not the only changes the government is making.

It will no longer be in the business of insuring homes that are worth more than $1 million — meaning buyers will need to put up at least a 20 per cent down payment or seek private insurance.

As well, it will insist that prospective buyers have the means to afford mortgage payments, property taxes and heating costs on their home. It will do so by setting cost ratios based on household income — a kind of affordability ratio — of 39 per cent for gross debt service and 44 per cent for total debt service.
"It's a question of trying to moderate behaviour and I hope Canadians will reflect before they jump into a market at the high end," Flaherty said.


"It will mean that some people will not buy into the market, it will also mean that some people will buy less into the market, they'll buy a less expensive home or less expensive condominium.

"Good. I consider that desirable."

The changes go into effect July 9.

The most significant change is the reduction to the amortization period, bringing it back to the level it had stood historically before rising to as high as 40 years during the heady pre-recession days of 2006.

The government said on a $350,000 mortgage with three per cent interest, it will increase monthly payments by $184 over what they would have been with a 30-year amortization. Over the lifetime of the mortgage, however, the homeowner will save $33,052 in total interest payments because the home would have been paid off five years earlier.

Economists generally backed the changes, with some reservations.

CIBC deputy chief economist Benjamin Tal said he wondered about the timing of the announcement, given that house prices were already receding. He estimated it could reduce new sales on homes by between three and five per cent.

That's not an insignificant hit to a fragile economy that's been riding the coattails of a strong housing and building boom, which supports construction activity and jobs.

"It will not derail the housing market, but it will be felt," Tal said. "(The housing market is) already slowing and if you push too much when we are already slowing, you could fall."
Canadian Real Estate Association president Wayne Moen called the new rules "measured," but also reminded the government that it is courting danger.

"The re-sale housing market makes a significant contribution to the economy, adding an estimated $20 billion in spin-off spending and over 165,000 jobs in 2012," he said in a statement.

"The impact of measures like those announced today must be closely monitored to ensure they have the anticipated impact and don't create a spillover effect and slow the economy."

The latest move is part of a series of initiatives undertaken recently by the federal government to slow the accumulation of debt by Canadian households, which reached a record 152 per cent of income in the fourth quarter of last year.

Also on Thursday, the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions published new rules on financial institutions designed to discourage lending to marginal borrowers. They call for timely assessments on borrower capacity to service debt obligations and effective institutional risk management and even insurance against risky loans.

Flaherty conceded the mortgage rule changes will likely have some impact on Canada's economy, but would not reveal his department's calculations of the anticipated hit to growth.
In a speech in Halifax, Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney said the changes would reduce the risk of household debt, calling them "prudent" and "timely."
On the impact to the economy, Carney said: "The housing market is an important component of the Canadian economy, but it's about seven per cent of the Canadian economy, and we take that into account in analyzing the overall economy activity in Canada."

Economist Jimmy Jean of Desjardins Capital Markets speculated Flaherty and Carney had been working in tandem on the announcement, and that the finance minister needed to act because the bank governor couldn't. That suggests historically low interest rates are here to stay for some time, he said.
"There may have been a growing understanding that the Bank of Canada will not be able to hike any time soon," he said.

"I imagine that they were waiting to see what the (U.S. Federal Reserve) would come up with yesterday and with what was offered, they figured that the appropriate strategy was to tighten mortgages in lieu of being able to hike rates in the foreseeable future."

With the Fed moving to increase monetary stimulus, it makes it even harder than before for Carney to head in the opposite direct. As well, most of the economic indicators from Europe, China, other emerging countries and the United States point to slowing economic momentum and rising risk — hardly conditions to pull on monetary levers.

Under these circumstances, economists say Carney is poorly placed to deal with the housing market, since hiking interest rates would also damage the overall economy by discouraging business investment and boosting the dollar, thereby undercutting exports. That put the onus on Flaherty, who had the regulatory tools to specifically target housing and borrowing.

Flaherty said he could not speak on the issue of interest rates, but suggested he understood Carney's predicament.

"I'm very mindful of the world situation and this is a challenge for us," Flaherty said. "I'm concerned obviously that we may get a shock from Europe.

"We encouraged, the prime minister did and I did, we encouraged our European colleagues to act with some alacrity, and I hope they do. If they don't, it's going to be a very difficult summer."

Flaherty said his decision to act was a "judgment call" based on observations of the housing market by both himself and his officials, saying his biggest concern is with the condominium situation in Toronto, and to a lesser degree Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec City.

"In Toronto in particular, what I've observed and heard about is continuous building without restriction because of persistent demand. This concerns me because it is distorting the market," he said.

While the announcement on mortgages, leaked Wednesday night, took many by surprise, it does not come out of the blue.

Carney has been warning for several years that some Canadians are getting in over their heads with debt and that they could face problems once interest rates — which sit at historic lows — start rising or if there is a second economic crisis. He has called household debt the number one risk to the domestic economy.
Recently, the Bank of Canada estimated that the number of households in arrears could almost triple to 1.3 per cent if the unemployment rate were to rise by three per cent, about the same as occurred in the 2008-09 slump.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/06/21/canada-mortgage-rules-cha_n_1614622.html

Bring your garden inside

There are some fantastic ways to bring your garden inside.

Strong Sales and Price Growth for Toronto in May

June 5, 2012 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,850 transactions through the TorontoMLS system in May 2012 – an 11 per cent increase over the 9,766 sales in May 2011. Sales growth was strongest in the ‘905’ regions surrounding the City of Toronto.

“Sales growth in the ‘905’ area code was stronger than growth in the City of Toronto across all major home types. While lower average prices are certainly one factor that has contributed to this trend, recent polling also suggests that the City of Toronto’s land transfer tax has also prompted many households to look outside of the City for their ownership housing needs,” said Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) President Richard Silver.
New listings were up substantially on a year-over-year basis in May – rising by more than 20 per cent to 19,177.

The average price for May 2012 sales was $516,787, representing an annual increase of 6.5 per cent compared to $485,362 in May 2011. Price growth continued to be driven by the low-rise market segment.
“Strong competition between buyers seeking to purchase low-rise home types drove strong price growth in May. However, if new listings continue to grow at the pace they did in May for the remainder of 2012, the annual rate of price growth should begin to moderate on a sustained basis,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

http://www.torontorealestateboard.com/market_news/market_watch/index.htm

Market Remains Tight with Sales Up in April

May 3, 2012 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,350 transactions through the TorontoMLS system in April 2012. This level of sales was 18 per cent higher than the 8,778 firm deals reported in April 2011. The strongest sales growth was reported in the single-detached market segment, with transactions of this home type up by 22 per cent compared to a year ago.

“Interest in single-detached homes has been very high, both in the City of Toronto and surrounding regions. Growth in single-detached listings has not kept up with demand, which means competition between buyers in this market segment increased. With this in mind, it was no surprise that the strongest annual price increase was also experienced in the single-detached segment,” said Toronto Real Estate Board President, Richard Silver.
The average price for April 2012 transactions was $517,556 – up 8.5 per cent compared to April 2011. While price growth was strongest for single-detached homes, the better-supplied condominium apartment segment experienced a more moderate annual rate of price growth, at four per cent.

“Monthly mortgage payments remain affordable for home buyers in the Greater Toronto Area. While interest rates are generally expected to increase over the next two years, the extent and timing of rate hikes has been thrown into question by slower than expected economic growth in the first quarter of this year. On net, borrowing costs are expected to remain a positive factor influencing home sales through 2012,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

Just Listed: 41 Hertle Avenue $449,900

Just Listed: 41 Hertle Avenue $449,900 Open House Saturday & Sunday 2 pm until 4pm  This fully renovated 3 bedroom semi-detached home has a spectacular gourmet kitchen, 2 car parking and is centrally located in a trendy pocket close to everything - The Danforth, The Beach, Leslieville and Downtown. Enjoy this sunny home with a walk out to a deck and back yard. Extras Include: Stainless Steel Fridge, Stove, Built in Dish Washer, Front Loading Washer & Dryer, Tankless Hot Water, upgraded electrical - just move in!

The Corcoran Team Dan Corcoran: Broker 416.465.4545 Info@TheCorcoranTeam.com www.TheCorcoranTeam.com Keller Williams Advantage Realty

Just Listed: 31a Hiawatha Road $379,900

Open House Saturday April 14th & Sunday April 15th
2 pm until 4pm

This lovely home is full of charm in a desirable pocket. With a warm open concept main floor, inviting covered porch, bright kitchen with a walk out to a deep fenced in yard. Just move in and enjoy this vibrant neighbourhood - minutes to downtown, the Beach, and Leslieville sites.

Extras: Fridge, Stove, Washer, Dryer, Custom Window Coverings, Updated Wiring, Plumbing & Windows. It's in move in condition!

http://www.dancorcoran.ca/

Second-Best Year on Record for Sales

January 5, 2012 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 4,718 transactions through the TorontoMLS® system in December 2011. The December result capped off the second-best year on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. Total sales for 2011 amounted to 89,347 – up four per cent in comparison to 2010.

“Low borrowing costs kept Buyers confident in their ability to comfortably cover their mortgage payments along with other major housing costs,” said TREB President Richard Silver. “If Buyers had not been constrained by a shortage of listings over the past 12 months, we would have been flirting with a new sales record in the Greater Toronto Area,” added Silver.

The average selling price in December was $451,436 – up four per cent compared to December 2010. For all of 2011, the average selling price was $465,412, an increase of eight per cent in comparison to the average of $431,276 in 2010.

“Months of inventory remained below the pre-recession norm in 2011. Very tight market conditions meant substantial competition between Buyers and strong upward pressure on selling prices,” said Jason Mercer, TREB’s Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

“TREB’s baseline forecast for 2012 is for an average price of $485,000, representing a more moderate four per cent annual rate of price growth. This baseline view is subject to a heightened degree of risk given the uncertain global economic outlook,” continued Mercer.

Click here to see Full Report [pdf]

Historic Annual Sales and Average Price [pdf]

2012 bathroom design trends

By Yuki Hayashi

Is "bathroom makeover" one of your 2012 resolutions? Ours too! That's why we asked some of Canada's leading design experts for their take on the coming year's most compelling bath trends. Whether you’re planning a full bathroom renovation or just a few stylish updates, here's what the best-dressed baths will be wearing next year. (And beyond: because come on, we’re talking about baths, not one-season clothing trends!)

Advertisement

TREND: The natural bath

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: "Although kitchens are going brighter, baths are going the opposite direction, with a lot of natural elements," says Debbie Travis, the Montreal-based design expert known for her books and TV series including Debbie Travis' From the Ground Up and Debbie Travis' Facelift.

"Unless it's a children's bath, you don't want to be confronted with bright colours. The soothing, natural, bath trend is coming through the wood-grain ceramic or porcelain tile. Glass tile is also still in fashion, but recycled glass tile is even hotter. There's a growing trend towards recycled materials, which is fantastic," says Debbie.

People also want the warmth of metal fixtures in finishes like Champagne bronze or oil-rubbed bronze, says Debbie.

"Natural hues like pale greens, ivories, and anything warm and neutral are big, and so is texture," she says. "Concrete accessories like toothbrush holders and waste bins are popular, although for countertops, stone is better than concrete (I've seen too many disasters!). Weathered wood in grey tones, like driftwood, rather than pine, is also big, as are stone finishes, whether real or faux."

Walls tend to be minimalist like a neutral off-white, but colour can be introduced on the ceiling, says Debbie, where it can provide a subtle halo of pale aqua, pink or green.

TREND:  Clean, streamlined design

Advertisement

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: "Overall design will be modern rather than traditional. People are going simple and clean, with no clutter, which means getting rid of those heavy, dark vanities and chunky mouldings, and replacing them with light, airy colours; clean, large-format tiles – if not slab materials – with no fussy borders," says Says Alicia Sass, partner and senior designer at Carey Mudford Interior Design, in Toronto.

Plumbing also gets some upscale retrofits: "Flush drain channels in shower floors that are hidden, instead of the round chunky ones in the center of the shower. A lot of wall-mount faucets. Chrome will be a big hit," adds Alicia.

TREND: Eco-friendly countertops

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: "You can really make a statement with eco-friendly countertop choices," says Lynda Felton, a Toronto-based stylist, and co-founder of online style magazine Covet Garden.

"I really like Ice Stone, [a recycled glass composite] and Paper Stone, [a recycled paper and resin composite]. They mimic natural stone but are more durable and easy to clean," says Lynda. 

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: Looking to add a one-of-a-kind, natural touch to your bath? Consider giving wood a starring role. "I love the work Italian company Francoceccotti is doing with wood. Not just the use of wood for benches and mats but sinks and bathtubs, too," says Lynda.

TREND: Adding personality with lighting and colour

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: Although baths are headed in a clean and streamlined direction, that doesn’t mean there’s no room for personality, says Alicia.

"We are seeing very fun trends for bathroom lighting, like hanging fixtures by the vanity mirrors, instead of wall-mounted sconces. Paint colours will be very bright and airy. Wallpaper has also been making a come back, but in 2012 we’ll see [alternatives to] the usual floral and stripe. We'll see a lot of geometric papers in bold colours, and a lot of prints that look almost like fabric," she says.

TREND: Show-stopping tile

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: Whether on backsplashes, shower enclosures, floors – or all of the above – eye-catching tile is taking centre stage in the on-trend bath.

"'Start at the end' with what you want to create and how you are going to use the space. Then choose from an unlimited number of tile: natural stones, quartz, glass. The trend is about you and surrounding yourself with things you love, to give you that separation from the rest of the world," says Lynn Donaldson, president of Calgary-based Lynn Donaldson & Associates Design and Contracting.

TREND: Wood floors

Advertisement

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: "I'm seeing lots of wood floors now. The planks are of better quality and they can last in the bathroom," says Debbie. "Salvaged barnboard is perfect for the bath and looks amazing on the floor. It can also be used in wood vanities and to frame a mirror. It's a very raw, textured look that adds warmth," says Debbie.

TREND: Textured shower curtains

DESIGNER INTERPRETATION: Banish that vinyl shower curtain to paint tarp duty. Luxe linen or a cotton shower curtain, in rough-hewn, visible weaves, bring  texture to the modern bath.

In the bath environment, texture rather than colour, is the most effective way to provide warmth and visual depth, says Debbie.

10 Steps to a Decluttered Closet

 Source

Step 1: Assess Your Big ObstaclesAre your shoes overtaking the space? Try a hanging-shoe rack or over-the-door organizer. Do your clothes overcrowd? Thinner hangers create space so you can find things easier. Feeling rushed each morning?  Dividing shirts, dresses, jeans, etc. bring a sense of order and saves time. Solving your biggest problem will motivate you to create the closet of your dreams.

Step 2: Make it a Family EffortGetting your hubby and kids involved in organizing can make a difference in your family's day-to-day life. Everyone should be in charge of his or her own clothes, accessories, and toys. This will cut your cleaning time in half and ensure nothing important is thrown away by mistake.

Step 3: Take An Hour
Scheduling just 60 minutes a week can really make a dent in your overstuffed, cluttered closet. Can't spare that much? Try two half-hour sessions. If you're constantly being interrupted by "Hey Mom!" -- ask your spouse to take the kids out for the afternoon. Remember to return the favor when it's his turn to hit the closets.

Step 4: Start from ScratchTake everything (yes, everything) out of your closet. If you don't remove it all, chances are the same unworn clothes will be moved around the closet. Now it's time to sort. Throw out old and damaged clothing. Donate what you don't need or don't wear.

Step 5: Out with the OddRemove items that have no business in your closet. Bank statements, insurance information, or tax documents don't belong next to your shoes, scarves, and sweaters. Create a Life.doc to organize and store all of your important documents in one accessible place. File the remaining papers in an office cabinet or milk crate.

Step 6: Organize in SectionsDesignate a place for everything in your closet. Shoes in one place, sweaters in another, and so on. This will help you keep order and save you time each morning. Make smart use of the space. Installing shelves will double your storage and help sweaters and t-shirts keep their shape better.

Step 7: Apply the 80/20 RuleYou may not want to admit it, but the majority of clothes you have probably go unworn. It's said that the average American only wears 10 to 20 percent of their clothes. To cut down on the fluff, remove items you haven't worn in a year. Drop off the excess at Goodwill or arrange a clotheswap with friends.

Step 8: Put One In; Take One OutFor each new item you buy to put in your closet, donate one item (or pitch it if it's past its prime). This will keep you from returning to your pat-rack ways.

Step 9: Keep It GoingDedicate 15 minutes a week to straightening your closet after the "big clean". Spending this small amount of time will ensure you never have to go through a major de-clutter again.

Step 10: Reward YourselfRecognize and celebrate what you've done. Treat yourself to some new hangers or buy that silk blouse you've been eyeing. Now, you actually have room for it!

Appealing Winter Curb Appeal

It’s time to talk about winter curb appeal. If you’re planning on listing your home in the winter, a layer of snow does not relieve you from your obligation to make your home’s first impression one that counts. Winter buyers still want to see the best that your home can offer, and they’re making those first judgments from the moment that they roll up to your driveway.

Luckily, winter curb appeal is a lot easier to perfect than summer curb appeal. With the lawn mower and garden shears safely stored in the shed for the winter, it’s time to dust off the shovel and broom and take them for a spin around your property.

It is imperative that your driveway walks and steps are always perfectly shoveled and broomed when you are showing your home. Not just because it shows the sound nature of your concrete work, but also because it keeps those potential buyers safe. The last thing you need when you’re packing boxes and dreaming of your new home is lawsuit on your hands. Not only does it keep you free of litigation, it also says a lot about the type of homeowner you are: neat, tidy, and on-the-ball. This is the type of impression we want to leave with buyers. It puts them in a good mood before they even pass through your threshold. Walking through wet snow and having it close in on a buyer’s feet before they even come in, gives them a feeling of disorganized annoyance, and that’s the attitude that they’ll have as they begin to survey your home.

Christmas lights are always nice to have, but also need to be extremely neat and tidy. No big, huge flashing light displays are welcome here. Keep your arrangement simple and classic. We’re looking to highlight the home, not overpower it. You are allowed to have Christmas lights on your home anywhere between November 15- January 5^th. If you’re selling anytime outside of those dates, the lights have got to come down.

Being that it gets darker earlier, it may be wise to illuminate your walkway with solar lights, so buyers can easily make their way to the door. Also, don’t forget to turn on your outdoor lights for every showing, so that buyers can easily see your exterior and make their way safely to your front door.


Just because it's cold doesn't mean it's time to stop maintaining the front of your house. Winter curb appeal can take on its own delightful characteristics; you just need to know what you're doing and be deliberate about it.

Tidy up. First thing's first: That pile of boots at your door and the snow-covered toys laying around the front yard need to go. Then rake up pine needles, branches and other debris. Clean up and cut back any dead flowers in the garden beds. Wash your front-facing windows and sweep the porch. This quick cleanup will immediately freshen up the look of your home and get you ready to take on some of the more fun winter facelift projects.

Paint your front door. A fresh coat of paint in a color that contrasts well with the changing tones of each season will ensure your home's best lasting impression. Some recommendations are red, burgundy and plum hues. The use of color helps to create interest, and stresses how important it is during these dark months when all gardens and greens have been cut back, covered or have lost their leaves.

Decorate and accessorize. Hang a wreath or other decorative addition on your front door. A wreath is fitting decor any time of year, a long as you dress it up differently depending on the season. We suggest that you highlight it with warm rusts, golds, browns and greens. You can take a simple wreath, spray paint it metallic and add a brightly colored ribbon for a striking front door.

Paint your fence. The fence should be the same color as your home's siding. This helps the fence blend in with the house's setting instead of stealing the focus.

Utilize outdoor lighting. Lighting is always important, but it is even more crucial on dark winter nights. Landscape lighting is practical, as it extends the use of your front yard into into the evening hours, and allows for safe passage for you and your guests. It is also a very purposeful design choice. New LED lighting focused on some of your front garden accents can significantly change your home's evening appeal. The right lighting will make your house a warm gem that stands apart from the others on chilly winter evenings.

Use pots and planters. Place pots and planters near the front door to create a welcoming entry. Landscape designs are anchored by focal points. An easy and fast way to add an element of focus to a front door is to frame it with symmetrically placed planters and deliberately chosen plants. We suggest a pair of cast stone or Italian Terra Cotta urns planted with an upright evergreen shrub. The Graham Blandy Boxwood, and other year round covers including variegated English and Glacier are all lovely choices. Colorful pots with winter blooms will also significantly change your curb appeal, adding a splash of color.

Creative alternatives to add character, baskets, galvanized buckets, and barrels all make interesting alternatives. We suggest adding willow branches, evergreen arrangements, branches with colorful leaves, and gourds creating your own arrangement.

Frame your garden. Use clean and attractive borders. From one of our sources they say "landscape borders play an important role in a home's curb appeal -- whether we're talking about the whole yard or just a planting bed; a defined area catches the eye more readily than one that is indistinguishable." Various curbing materials such as concrete, brick, stone and slate add definition to your garden area and help it look tidy even in the winter months.


Mix up the hardware. Giant transformations from minor hardware changes aren't just for kitchens and bathrooms, the front of your house can use a hardware makeover too. A rubbed bronze door knob, a glossy black mailbox, or decorative house numbers are quick ways to freshen up your look.

Keep your home's character intact. Remember that interesting sculptures, benches, yard ornaments and other creative touches add personality and increase your curb appeal (providing that they are tastefully done).

Be a good neighbor and shovel your walk. Even the most beautiful home will make a poor impression if it looks like you're careless about your neighbor's comfort and safety.
 
Checking your curb appeal for winter is a much easier task than creating curb appeal for summer, but unlike the summer months, it may require some extra time in shoveling after every single snow fall. So snowsuit-up and get shoveling!

Happy Holidays from Dan Corcoran & Keller Williams

How To Prepare Your House For Sale

Prepping and staging a house. Every seller wants her home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send home buyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home.
 

Here's How:

Disassociate Yourself With Your Home.

• Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a box of cereal on the grocery store shelf.
• Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
• Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
• Say goodbye to every room.
• Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.

De-Personalize.
Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."
 

De-Clutter!
People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.

• If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
• Remove all books from bookcases.
• Pack up those knickknacks.
• Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
• Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway. 

Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. This means:

• Alphabetize spice jars.
• Neatly stack dishes.
• Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
• Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
• Line up shoes.

Rent a Storage Unit.
Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"

Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.
 

Make Minor Repairs

• Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
• Patch holes in walls.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
• Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
  (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
• Replace burned-out light bulbs.
• If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!

Make the House Sparkle!

• Wash windows inside and out.
• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Vacuum daily.
• Wax floors.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Replace worn rugs.
• Hang up fresh towels.
• Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.

Scrutinize.

• Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?
• Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
• Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
• Make sure window coverings hang level.
• Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?
• Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.

Check Curb Appeal.
If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.

• Keep the sidewalks cleared.
• Mow the lawn.
• Paint faded window trim.
• Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive.
• Trim your bushes.
• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.

5 ways to spruce up your home for holidays

Candice Olson is returning for a second season of Candice Tells All on Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET and PT on W Network. The designer and TV host shares suggestions on ways to personalize your space and spruce up your home for the holidays:

1. Create a personalized wreath on the front door by using letters to spell out a message, or your family name. You can use any kind of letters. How about letters from vintage signs or monogrammed ornaments? Hang them on your children’s bedroom doors, spelling out their names using toy block letters.

2. Get inspired by nature. Use fresh bows, wreaths, berries and branches around the house to bring the outdoors in. You can paint pine cones and branches in fun colours and then incorporate them into your arrangements. Collect small branches from the outdoors, spray with high-gloss paint in various colours, suspend them horizontally and use them to showcase interesting ornaments, such as clip-on bird ornaments or anything with a hit of sparkle to glam up your space.

3. Fill vases of different sizes and shapes with glass ornaments. Surround them with candlelight and place them all on top of an old mirror to maximize the sparkle.

4. Buy some festive metallic accent pillows and cosy faux fur throws, and then swap out your current accent pillows over the holiday season. It will add some sparkle and fun to your sofa for those big family get-togethers.

5. Don’t forget to include your children’s creations in your decor. Holidays are for the whole family. Try showcasing some of their art and ornaments from previous years in shadow boxes displayed across the mantel or on a console table, along with some lights and cedar bows. Have room for two trees? Give the kids a small tree of their own to decorate any way they want — you may even have a future designer on your hands.

How to Improve Curb Appeal

Home Selling Advice to Help You Attract Potential Buyers

A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house or take it seriously based on its curb appeal—the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. You can help make sure they want to come inside your house by spending some time working on the its exterior appearance. It's difficult to look at our own house in the same way that potential home buyers do, because when we become accustomed to the way something looks and functions, we can't see its faults. Decide right now to stop thinking of the property as a home. It's a house—a commodity you want to sell for the highest dollar possible.

Curb Appeal Exercise

The next time you come home, stop across the street or far enough down the driveway to get a good view of the house and its surroundings.

1. What is your first impression of the house and yard area?
2. What are the best exterior features of the house or lot? How can you enhance them?
3. What are the worst exterior features of the house or lot? How can you minimize or improve them?

Park where a potential buyer would and walk towards the house, looking around you as if it were your first visit. Is the approach clean and tidy? What could you do to make it more attractive?
Take photos of the home's exterior. If you have a digital camera, view the color versions first, then remove the color and look at it in black and white, because it's easier to see problems when color isn't around to affect our senses.
Make a list of the problem areas you discovered. Tackle clean up and repair chores first, then put some time into projects that make the grounds more attractive.

• Kill mold and mildew on the house, sidewalks, roof, or driveway.
• Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools.
• Clean windows and gutters.
• Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.
• Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks.
• Mow the lawn. Get rid of weeds.
• Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded.
• Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home's roof.

Don't Forget the Rear View

Buyers doing a drive by will try their best to see your back yard. If it's visible from another street or from someone's driveway, include it in your curb appeal efforts.

Evening Curb Appeal

Do your curb appeal exercise again at dusk, because it isn't unusual for potential buyers to drive by houses in the evening.
One quick way to improve evening curb appeal is with lighting:

• String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near important landscaping elements.
  
• Add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch.
  
• Make sure lighting that's visible through front doors and windows enhances the home's appearance.

Landscaping Decisions

There are times that adding elements to your landscaping can improve curb appeal, but there are other times when removing something is even more effective.
For example, we had a listing for a large brick house with large white columns. Tall evergreens, planted in front of each column, had grown taller than the roof. They obscured the columns and windows and made it difficult to see the front of the house.
We suggested that the owner remove them. She trimmed them back, but it didn't do the trick—they were unattractive and still kept potential buyers from seeing the true character of the house.
I sold the house to a couple who could see past the trees. One of their first tasks after closing was to yank them out of the ground, instantly boosting the home's curb appeal.
Most buyers cannot visualize changes, and often won't take a second look at a house if the first look doesn't appeal to them. Home buyers who can visualize changes, and are prepared to make them, expect you to reduce the price of the house to compensate for the work they plan to do.

A Few Curb Appeal Tips

• If you can budget it, a fresh paint job does wonders for a dingy house. Drive around your town to find color schemes that are appealing.
• Install a more attractive front door, maybe something with leaded glass inserts.
• If you can't justify the cost of a new door, consider replacing plain doorknob hardware with something more attractive.
• If new hardware is beyond your budget, repaint or stain the door and polish the hardware?

If you brainstorm, you'll find that there's a solution to most problems—one that lets you stay within your budget. The trick is to find the areas where improvements are needed, then work on them as best you can.

Top 15 Best Loved Christmas Movies of all Time

When you think of the holidays there are some classics that will make you laugh, make you cry and everything in between. Thinking how to spend a cold December's Eve? Check out some of these fav's.

15. Frosty the Snowman - 1969 version
14. A Charlie Brown Christmas
13. Scrouged with Bill Murray
12. A Christmas Carol
11. White Christmas starring Bing Crosby
10. Trading Places with Dan Aykroid & Eddie Murphy
9.  Home Alone 2 with MacCaulay Culkin
8.  The Santa Clause with Tim Allen
7.  1947 version of Miracle on 34th Street
6.  Elf with Will Ferrell
5.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas with Jim Carrey
4.  A Christmas Story with Peter Billingsley
3.  Home Alone with MacCaulay Culkin
2.  National Lampoons Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase
1.  It's a Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart

Ripley's Toronto Aquarium opening 2013

This is great news for Toronto!

The Ripley's Aquarium is set to open in Summer 2013 and will be located at the base of the CN tower.

Some fun facts!

• It will be 12,500 square metre building
• There will be 450 aquatic species
• 13,500 sea and fresh water inhabitants
• Living in 6 million litres of water
• They will have a lagoon with a 96 metre moving walkway
• It will create 600 preconstruction jobs and 350 jobs after it is built
• The city anticipates an annual economic benefit is $35 million

Toronto was in need for some fresh attractions to bring in tourist dollars and to give us Torontonians to get excited about!

You can follow this project on line at www.RipleyAquarium.com/Canada

City of Toronto Mandatory Downspout disconnect

Toronto City Council has approved a bylaw making it mandatory for property owners to disconnect their downspouts. It will come into effect across the city in three phases. Disconnecting downspout(s) from the sewer system can reduce the risk of basement flooding and releasing polluted rainwater into our local waterways.

The Bi law comes into effect for Riverdale November 30th, 2011.

Before beginning any work, plan out what can be done and how. Decide where the water will go

Consider your options as there may be more than one way to disconnect. Preparing a plan or sketch can help you map out where the water will go. Use elbows and extensions to help direct water around any obstacles.



Determine what tools and materials you will need



Downspouts can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, galvanized steel, vinyl/plastic or copper, but the most common material is aluminum. Downspout elbows and extensions also come in standard shapes, sizes, colours and materials. Ask if the materials you choose can be painted to match your paint colour or blend into your landscaping.



Safety is a priority

Be careful when working with tools and supplies. Use personal protection equipment such as gloves and safety glasses when performing any work. Also, watch out that disconnecting doesn’t create any hazardous situations, for example, creating a tripping hazard by placing an extension across an entry or walk-way.



Read the Do-it-yourself instructions.

Toronto home sales up 8% compared to this same time last year

Pace of Home Sales Remains Brisk in October

November 3, 2011 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 7,642 home sales through the TorontoMLS® in October 2011. This represented an increase of 17.5 per cent compared to the 6,504 transactions reported in October 2010.

Monthly sales data follow a recurring seasonal trend that should be removed before comparing monthly results within the same year. After adjusting for seasonality, the annualized rate of sales for October was 97,100, which was above the average of 90,700 for the first three quarters of 2011.

"The pace of October resale home transactions remained brisk in the GTA. This bodes well for a strong finish to 2011," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Richard Silver. "Home buyers who found it difficult to make a deal in the spring and summer due to a shortage of listings have benefitted from increased supply in the fall."

The average selling price through the TorontoMLS® in October was $478,137 - up eight per cent compared to October 2010.
"Sellers' market conditions remain in place in many parts of the GTA. The result has been above-average annual rates of price growth for most home types," said Jason Mercer, the Toronto Real Estate Board's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.

"Thanks to low interest rates, strong price growth has not substantially changed the positive affordability picture in the City of Toronto and surrounding regions."