New Mirror or Redesign?

I recently helped a client redo their bathroom and instead of taking down the old mirror which was steadfastly fixed to the wall, I used a edging product found at Lowe's to frame the mirror and WOW, a brand new mirror.  Much cheaper than purchasing a new mirror and very easy and quick to install.  Several different choices of frames too to suit any decor.  This one matched the new vanity and the look is totally updated.



The bathroom and mirror before Redesigning

The product is simply called "Mirror Edge" and all you need is a tape measure and utility knife to score where to snap it to fit around the perimeter of the mirror.  Double sided tape is included or you can buy a special glue as well for permanent adhesion.






The bathroom after the Redesign with the "MIrror Edge" 



Be Aware of Lurking Odours

Be aware of lurking odours in your house during the winter months especially when you are trying to sell it.  What you can't smell, others might, as all houses have their own particular odour as a result of how people live in them. 
With the heat on and windows and doors closed most of the time, cooking odours, pet odours, and (yes) people odours linger and get into the fabrics of the house.  This can be a real turnoff to prospective buyers and leaves an unfortunate negative first impression.
Tips to eliminate or even prevent nasty odours:

• Pets
• Change letter boxes for cats daily
• Change bedding for caged pets frequently
• Groom and bath pets regularly
• Better yet, send Fido or Spot to their local animal spa or relative for a short while
• Wash pet bedding and toys
• Carpets and Furnishings
• Have all carpets, drapes and cloth furnishings professionally cleaned
• Wash bedding linens and towels frequently (I am amazed how many people don't do this anyway)
• Clean, clean, clean
• Bathrooms need to be pristine
• Kitchens spotless
• Keep the laundry up (nothing worse than smelling someone elses dirty laundry)
• Use Eco friendly cleaning products with little or no scent
• Think about where you are storing stinky, wet boots and running shoes!  A container away from the main living area might be the answer or wear them when leaving!
• Watch out for mildew and mold formation as a result of too much moisture
• Change filters on your furnace as recommended by the manufacturer

Now is not the time to experiment with new exotic dinner recipes or cook highly odoriferous foods.  You don't want prospective buyers guessing what you had for dinner two nights ago!  If you smoke, do so outside and hide the evidence.  Also, if you like to have a before dinner cocktail, wine with dinner and beers watching the game, watch out (for many reasons) for the residual smells they leave behind.  Again having your house smelling like a tavern may be a deal breaker!
When you are selling your house at this time make a habit of airing out the house daily by opening a few windows and doors for about five minutes.  This allows all the stale odours to escape and fresh air to come in.  A fresh smelling house is worth the few extra dollars it might take in increased heating costs.  If you have a scheduled showing again air the house out for a few minutes before you leave.  Perfumed candles (never leave on when you leave for a showing), air fresheners and pot pourri are not the answer and sometimes leave the buyer wondering what you are covering up.  The baked bread and cookie smells are now a bit cliche and besides, they are a lot of work.  As a last resort use an electronic air cleaner, but this should not be necessary if you follow the above suggestions.
Our sense of smell belongs to the oldest part of our brain and can conjure up many emotions at the unconscious level so be very conscious about how you deal with household odours. 

If you want some more specific ideas about preventing or eliminating lurking (and not nice) odours in your house when selling contact HomeReady Home Staging for more ideas. 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. . .

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. . . 

Mirrors have been used for centuries not only for practical reasons but for decorative ones in the home.  Many people hang mirrors like art - above a sofa, above a mantle or a sideboard and so on.  However, I wonder though how many people actually give thought as to what the mirror is actually reflecting besides their own reflection.  To be properly placed the reflection of the mirror needs to be looked at from different angles.  Is the reflection pleasing or is it reflecting a less than appealing view like the ceiling or an open storage unit or a cluttered corner?  Does the mirror's reflection allow you to "peak" into a neighbouring space or room?  Mirrors properly hung can open up a room giving the illusion of greater space.  As well, light reflected from the outside can brighten up a space adding warmth. Take care though not to reflect the light (and energy) back outside.
When Staging a home for Selling it is important that these details not be overlooked as the impression that reflections make are reflected back onto the owners and the presentation of the home.  To make sure that the mirrors in your home reflect the image you want others to see, contact HomeReady Home Staging.  Reflecting the best your home has to offer to propsective buyers is what we do!  613-894-4155, homeready@homereadyhomestaging.ca

The Quick Fix

The Quick Fix

It has become apparent that many homeowners don't want to spend too much money on Home Staging Show Casing.  I don't blame them as many have already spent a bundle on repairs, upgrades and painting.  So they may have their house well on its way to looking really good.  It just needs that "icing on the cake", so to speak, "the jewellery for the outfit". . . you get the picture!  What they really need then is to Show Case their house to attract immediate buyer attention so that their house sells quickly and they realize the most equity from this sale.  The Quick Fix is the answer.  Once all the work is completed and the house is cleaned, the HomeReady Team will come in to rearrange the house to show off the house's best assets using only the homeowners furnishings and accessories.  We will creatively get their house ready for picture taking and listing.  We can also take those great pictures too for marketing the house for sale.  This is a very affordable service.  Do contact HomeReady Home Staging for more details.  613-894-4155 or homeready@homereadyhomestaging.ca

Laundry/Powder Room Facelift Finally Finished

Finally, almost one year later, I have finished the laundry/powder room facelift.  It is now one of the most valued and most used (I must say) room in the house!  It seems amazing how much larger the space feels and how much storage there is.  Many thanks to John Manzo, Tego Bathrooms, for interpreting my desires into a formal design and to team for putting it together.  I painted and pulled it together in its final form. 
I love looking at the whole process!                                                





Before view 1





Some major plumbing had to be done





Before we got to this





Now what the laundry side looks like





Before View 2



Views 1 & 2 - The finished laundry side of the room





 Before View 3 - what a mess!



Before View 4 - More mess!



View 3 - Now there is a toilet and vanity with lots of storage



View 4 - Can't believe all the storage.  Now everything is behind closed doors!



First Day of Fall

Well here it is already the first day of the Fall season.  Where did summer go?  Many people are asking this it seems and so it goes for homeowners too who are thinking of selling their home before the snow flies.  When the seasons are changing there always seems to be a flurry of activity brought about with the transition and this adds even more pressure for those wanting to sell their homes now. 

There are many tasks for homeowners to complete to get ready for the harsh season ahead.  Homeowners thinking of selling their home have even more tasks on their "to do" lists in order to prepare the home for sale.  Yard work, winterizing the home both inside and out all need to be completed now still maintaining that "Oh so appealing and desirable look to attract prospective buyers".  So much pressure - so much stress!   But wait a minute - I know how to alleviate much of this extra concern.  Ever thought of calling in a Home Stager?  Yes, you heard me right!   A Home Stager knows exactly what needs to be done right now for Fall home sales and can guide you through the process.  Home Stagers have all the right connections to resources that can help you prepare your home, from the curb to the back fence, for sale.  And when all the work is completed, the Home Stager will come into your home and create just the look that will appeal to the buyers looking for homes in your area.  How great is that?  Let go of the pressure - let go of the stress and let your Home Stager take care of your home sale preparation.  For more information about what Home Staging can do for you contact HomeReady Home Staging at homeready@homereadyhomestaging.ca or 613-894-4155.  You'll be glad you did! 

Divorce Home Staging - Eh, What?

Had the pleasure of lunching with Julie Audet, a caring and sensitive Family Law Lawyer who is putting together a unique concept to make important separation and divorce information readily available to unfortunate individuals going through this difficult time in their lives.  Her website, http://www.familylawinabox.com/ is very interesting and she will be adding more information over the next while that will be an affordable alternative for many seeking legal information.  All this brought me back to a time long ago when I was in this unfortunate situation.  This is actually how I first became aware of what was needed to sell a house.  I was a typical newly single parent living in the family home that needed to be sold to settle our affairs.  I didn't want to move, nor did the kids.  This was our home!  So I really didn't put much effort into preparing the home for sale.  I liked my blue flowered wallpaper even if it looked like PeeWee Herman's playhouse (my former sister-in-law affectionately labeled this) and I wasn't going to change it.  The new owners could.  I kept the house tidy, but let our dog greet prospective buyers.  I broke most of the Home Staging rules; in other words, I sabotaged any sale.  I didn't want to move.  My realtor was kind and patient, but likely quite frustrated with me.  Anyway, the house eventually sold at a loss and we moved. 
So fast forward many years and several houses later.  I've worked as a counsellor with many separating and divorcing individuals/couples over the years and have come to learn lots about what happens emotionally during this time.  I still facilitate "On Your Own Again" groups and "Parenting After Separation" workshops occasionally through Family Services a la famille Ottawa and have come to know that the family home can become a real emotional battleground that impedes any successful house sale and in effect keeps the couple from moving on in their separate ways.
I was looking for ways to successfully intervene with couples selling their homes, when the newly formed CSPI (Certified Staging Professionals International Business Training Academy) offered a course through DivorcethisHouse(TM).com with lawyer Kelly Lise Murray looking at the Best Interest of the House(TM) model.  This innovative approach fit in very well with my own experience and training and I have embraced the mediator approach keeping both parties of  the couple in the loop, educating them with how to get the best from their house sale, freeing them to go their separate ways.  It is often difficult for waring couples to communicate directly and effectively about the sale of the family home.  My role is to educate, validate and communicate so that the house gets sold as quick as possible and for the most money and the couple learn to detach from the house and each other.  A very rewarding role indeed!
Please contact HomeReady Home Staging for more information about this approach if you or someone you know is going through this difficult time.  homeready@homereadyhomestaging.ca, 613-894-4155.  I'd be happy to help!