Renovations are completed on the exterior and interior of this 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom, two story home. The second floor has 4 bedrooms with two of exceptional size with one as a home gym. Nicely appointed main level with foyer separate from the formal living and dining room. The kitchen boasts plenty of counter space for meal preparation. Developed basement offering a rec-room or theatre room. Plenty of storage with the laundry-room/workshop and a 3 piece bathroom. A deck off the kitchen looks over the fenced backyard. The central location is close to shopping, schools, parks, public transit lines, and the lake.

A home’s interior can be uptodate and  cozy, but without curb appeal, potential buyers will lose interest before they step inside. An attractive, well-kept lawn is one of the first things people will notice. The good news is that upgrading an existing lawn doesn’t have to take months, and it doesn’t need to cost a fortune. Here are a few simple upgrades to help boost your curb appeal.

Remove Weeds
If weeds have gained the upper hand, pulling is still the tried and true method for getting rid of weeds in a hurry. If the act of pulling the weeds won’t do the trick, you’ll need to attack them with an herbicide. Always use chemicals strategically and make sure to use the correct amount–different weeds require different treatment.

Declutter
Take a stroll around your lawn and pick up anything that doesn’t belong. Take a wheelbarrow if you have a lot of branches, twigs or other debris. Pick up children’s toys and gardening tools. Put hoses away, or invest in an attractive roller.

Overseed
Rake over brown spots to remove dead grass, then spread grass seed. For a more enhanced effect, aerate the soil before overseeding to help break up the soil and allow nutrients to get to the root of the grass more efficiently.

Mow
Taller grass stays green longer than short grass. Set your mower relatively high and take a little off the top every three to five days. Be sure the blade is sharp. A dull blade tears the grass and leaves ragged, brown edges.

Fertilize
Nitrogen-rich fertilizer will green up your lawn quickly, make sure to use the right amount according to your soil and grass type. A little nitrogen is a good thing, but too much may damage your lawn. Limit this trick to once or twice a year. Be sure and water well immediately after applying any type of fertilizer.

Iron is also helpful in turning a drab grass into a lush and healthy green lawn. Mineral supplements can be inexpensive and can be found at your local garden center or nursery.

Freshen up
Refresh any flower beds around your lawn by laying down a new think layer of mulch. The deep tones of fresh mulch will help compliment the more potent hues within the rest of the landscaping, making everything else pop. Fresh mulch is relatively inexpensive and doesn’t take too much time to apply yourself.

You can also consider investing in an inexpensive edger to smooth out and even out the edges of your lawn. This is a quick and easy way to make your landscaping look trim and neat.

Add colour
Flower beds and container gardens are a great way to add a pop of colour into your landscaping. Plant a few brightl annuals such as geraniums, petunias or marigolds. Clean up an exterior furniture and paint  a fresh coat if needed. You can prepare in  bright, bold colours.

In the media, we find plenty of information for Home owners staging an Open House, and on the other hand, few guidelines for the Buyers who come to view them. There are assorted reasons to for those attending an Open House which may simply be an impulse activity to satisfy their curiosity about a neighbour’s home. However, for serious buyers, especially First Time Buyers who wish to have a First hand look in seeing different home styles and layouts, Open House walk through’s can be a very worthwhile exercise.

Preparing an effective Open House tour, begin with a map. Plot out the addresses of where the Open Houses are located, and the time frames of each. This to ensure that you make the best use of your time and not be rushed. Better still, plan your Open House tour on www.coldwellbanker.ca, and we’ll make up the list of all Open Houses in your target area, including times and do the mapping for you!

If you don’t already know the neighbourhood, then that’s the first place to start. Look at your map, and see where major transportation links are located, as well as parks, schools, shopping and amenities. If everything you see on the map looks good, then start out with a driving tour of the neighbourhood itself, before you devote some time to viewing individual houses.

If you plan on visiting an Open House, and you’re already working with a real estate salesperson, be sure to notify them in advance. Your sales representative can be a very valuable source of information about the neighbourhood and may possibly even be familiar with the individual property. If you discuss this with your salesperson before your visit, you’re ensured of having the right person to look after your interests when it’s time to make an offer. Of course, if you aren’t yet working with a sales representative, Open Houses can provide a fantastic opportunity to not only look for the right house, but the right salesperson. What better way to see them in action and find out quickly if you communicate on the same wavelength.

As you tour an Open House, try to see past the furniture, and any personal clutter, and focus on whether the space and layout works for your needs. Don’t assume that what you see is what you get! Many chattels and fixtures you see at the viewing, such as window treatments, light fixtures, appliances and even that hot tub on the back deck may not be included in the list price. Verify all details with the feature sheet provided. And in doubt, make a list of what you would like included.

Walking through an Open House, be direct and ask questions. this is no time to be diplomatic. The real estate professional showing the home realizes that it may not be right for everyone. By keeping your comments open and direct; the feedback assists the Sales Representative with his client. And pass on your reviews with your Sales Representative , so they have a better understanding of the home you are looking for.

Smart home technology’s time has come and real estate professionals are well aware of that. Sellers have started to use smart devices as selling points to differentiate their homes from others on the market. These attention-grabbing features can dazzle buyers unacquainted with the technology and reassure the growing number of buyers looking for a connected home.

Homeowners wanting to upgrade with smart home features may want to start with a smart thermostat, which can provide an immediate money-saving impact. It allows homeowners to cut back on heating and cooling bills without sacrificing comfort. With smart thermostats, they can set the house to be much colder during their absences and still return to a toasty living room just by letting the house know they’re on their way home.

A smart lighting system can also be a sound investment. They can be programmed to react to the presence of residents, so they’ll come on and turn off when someone enters or leaves a room. Besides being energy efficient, it’s also pretty impressive when buyers tour your property.