Helpful hints in making a small room appear bigger!

Small rooms are the bane of the home decorator. How do you achieve a pleasing look that doesn’t feel cramped and claustrophobic? Short of building an addition or knocking down walls, you are limited to a few, but effective, decorating tricks that create the illusion of space.

The strategic use of colour and light is the best way to achieve this. Choose light shades of paint or wallpaper for the walls. Lighter colours reflect light making for a brighter room. Use an even lighter shade of the same colour or white for ceilings and floors. A darker colour on the ceiling will make the ceiling look lower and tends to make the walls look as though they are closing in.

Avoid harshly contrasting colours. In fact, a monochromatic colour scheme that carries throughout the room into fabrics and accessories is very effective. Steer away from too many patterned items. The goal here is to blur perspective.

Anything you can do to bring light into the room will also give the effect of increased space. A corner wall sconce that casts light up onto the wall works well. Try to vary lighting effects for interest. A skylight is a great way to add light to a room, but isn’t always practical or affordable. Mirrors are a great solution for small rooms. Place mirrors directly across from another for maximum impact. A mirror placed across from a window is also effective. Place a lamp in front of a mirror to add more light to your room.

If you have wood or patterned flooring, have it installed so that the lines run diagonally across the room. This makes for longer lines, which give the appearance of a larger space. When furnishing the room, pick objects that are proportioned to the size of the room. For example, opt for a loveseat over a full-sized sofa. Lastly, keep the clutter to a minimum. Avoid using a lot of knick-knacks and keep the room tidy and well organized.

Remaining objective can be a difficult task when viewing an open house. It is easy to fall in love with a home’s appearance, blind to problems that may make it unsuitable. While aesthetics can be an important consideration, it is necessary to look beyond window-dressing.

Aqualified home inspector should be hired before purchasing a home, but there are areas that consumers can examine on their own. This will shorten your list of potential homes and reduce the likelihood that a home inspector will reject it as unsafe or unsuitable. Here are some considerations and common problem areas to look for when touring an open house:

General Upkeep

Much can be surmised from the general state of the home. Is the home clean? Are lawns left uncut? Are the walls chipped and in need of paint? If smaller chores have been ignored it may be an indication of a broader disregard for home maintenance.

Water Leaks

Check ceilings and drywall for stains, bulges and other signs of water damage. Water that works its way inside via a leaky roof or a cracked foundation can rot wood, create mildew and mold, destroy possessions and can be expensive to repair.

Does it Work?

Test lights, faucets, the heater, air conditioning, major appliances (that are to be included with the home) – even flush the toilets to ensure everything is working as it should.

Floors

As you walk across the floors be aware of spongy (soft or springy) sections. Excessive squeaking and uneven, bumpy floors may also be indicative of expensive forthcoming repairs.

Doors & Windows

Check that doors and windows fit snugly in their jambs and operate smoothly. Look for flaked paint and loose caulking. If the wood around windows and doors is not protected from moisture, it can rot away. Feel for drafts in these areas too.

Poor Drainage

On a wet day walk around the yard and look for areas where water collects. This can be an especially bad sign if there are soggy areas near the home’s foundation.

Grout & Caulking

If the grout and caulking around bathroom and kitchen tiles is loose and crumbly, there is a good chance that water is finding its way into the wall or under the floor.

Structural

Although this is definitely an area where you want the services of a qualified home inspector, you can get an idea about possible structural problems if you see deep cracks in the foundations or loose mortar and bricks.

Miscellaneous Concerns

Naturally, one the most important factors will be determining if the house suits your family’s needs. If you do not want to replace all of your furniture, make sure it will fit into the rooms of the new house. This is difficult to do by eye, so be sure to bring a measuring tape. Also, take note of storage space. If you are moving from a home with large closets and a shed, make sure your new house is able to store an equivalent amount of belongings.

Are you ready?

When you have decided that the time is right to sell, the first step in preparing for the sale of a home is finding out its worth. Contact me for a comparative market analysis, an informal estimate of value based on the recent selling price of similar neighborhood properties.

Working to ensure your home is in the best condition possible for showing to prospective buyers will position you to receive top dollar. This includes repairing or improving any trouble spots that could deter a buyer, such as squeaky doors, a leaky roof, dirty carpet and walls, and broken windows.

The first impression that potential buyers form of your property as they drive or walk up should not be underestimated. The “curb appeal” of your home is extremely important. You can create a positive first impression by making sure the lawn is pristine – the grass cut, debris removed, garden beds free of weeds, and hedges trimmed.

However, the trick is not to overspend on pre-sale repairs and fix-ups. This is especially important if there are few homes on the market but many buyers competing for them. On the other hand, making such repairs may be the key to selling your home in a down market.

Don’t Put it on HOLD…..Call RIZ to get it SOLD!!!

… For Buyers and Your Neighbours

The summer months are the perfect time to freshen up the exterior of your home. Whether it’s for your pleasure or to impress potential buyers, you’ll boost your home’s curb appeal with these good old-fashioned cleaning tips:

– Edge the gardens, clean out debris
– Pull the weeds and rake the leaves
– Prune the plants and wooly shrubs
– Plant some urns by the entrance and flowers to the beds
– Tidy the garage of winter trappings
– Dispose of rusty broken garden décor
– Put out a fresh welcome mat and oil the front door
– Paint the windowsills, mailbox, and anything else that is looking tired
– Place clear light bulbs in exterior fixtures, and ensure burned out bulbs are replaced
– Reseal the driveway
– Hide the garbage cans
– Sweep the step
– Fix the saggy gutters

Who says cleaning has to hurt? Get the kids involved! Borrow or buy a power washer and have fun cleaning siding, windows, sills, railings, decking and patio furniture.

21st Anniversary Wolle Christmas Classic
Food Bank Drive

(In support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region)

 Saturday, December 6th, 2014

Royal LePage Wolle Realty invites you to share the spirit of the holidays by participating in our Christmas Food Bank Classic.  We will be sending invitations out soon for tickets, but for now we are reaching out for donations.

This year is the 21st anniversary of our event and we would like to make it our best year ever!

Once again, this year’s Christmas Food Bank Classic will collect FOOD and CASH donations for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.  In the past 20 years, we have collected over 20,000 pounds of food and raised $83,000 for The Food Bank. Our utmost gratitude goes out to all our sponsors for their continued support.

Sadly, not everyone will be able to enjoy the holidays, as most of us will.  Each year, more than 85,000 emergency food hampers are distributed throughout Waterloo Region.  Approximately 46% of food hamper recipients are single parent and two-parent families.  About 15% of households have a part-time or full-time job.  24% are receiving Ontario Disability Support.  37% are children under the age of 18.  Putting food on the table will be just one of the many challenges they face not just during the holiday, but every day.

On December 6th we will collect food donations in lieu of admission for a private cinematic movie screening for our clients and their families which will feature a very special visit from Santa Claus, face painters and goodie bags for the kids.

But we would like to do better! That is why we NEED your help. Your corporate donation will help us make an even better difference!

Please join us in helping The Food Bank by making a generous donation of food or cash. A donation of $100 will provide 300 meals.  Donations can be made in person  at our office, mailed to our office at the address below or  below to donate online (please mark a special occasion  as Wolle Christmas Classic)   Please make your cheque payable to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.  A tax receipt will be issued by The Food Bank for your generous donation. We will recognize all corporate donors on the day of the event and in local publications.  Donations will be accepted up to December 5th.

Our wish is for everyone to have a happy holiday!

At this special time of year, we would like to thank you for joining us in making a difference.

TO DOWNLOAD A PDF COPY OF THIS REQUEST:
CLICK HERE

For more information, please contact:
ROYAL LEPAGE WOLLE REALTY
842 Victoria St., N.,
Kitchener, Ontario
N2B 3C1
PHONE (519) 578-7300
FAX: (519) 742-9904
EMAIL: info@wollerealty.com

TO DONATE ONLINE: CLICK THE “DONATE NOW” BELOW AND MAKE SURE TO CLICK “MARK A SPECIAL OCCASION” THEN SELECT “WOLLE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC”

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By Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) admin •January 6th, 2014

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