Realestock Blog

Any realtor worth their salt knows that the quickest way to freshen up a property is a simple coat of paint. So how can you catch a buyer’s eyes? Painting everything builder’s beige won’t cut it anymore, but a paint job with an on-trend contemporary colour can elevate a property above its peers.

Does this mean you should paint the walls of a small, dark bedroom grey because it’s a popular colour right now? No. To be blunt, that would be stupid. However you could paint it a soft grayish blue, then add some grey and white accessories and capture the trend in a way that works for the space.

So, if you’re looking to improve a space, what are the hot colours for 2010?

Soft pastels like pale pink (yes, pink!) are popular, and don’t have to look girly. The important thing to note is they’re warm and cheerful, but not hyper-saturated. Colour may be in, but it’s muted. This grey and pink living room provides a perfect example.

Blue rules – but like the pinks, they’re not bright – they’re airy and light and take colour cues from aquatic colours like ultramarines and turquoises.  If I had to pick one colour I’ve seen pop up on every “colour trend” list, it would definitely be a turquoise blue. However, keep in mind that light blue isn’t the best colour if your room lacks natural light – a safe bet is to pick a bluish grey, which won’t seem overpowering in bright light, and will play better in a darker room.

Overall colour palettes are ditching cool beiges– warm, earthy neutrals with names like “sand”, “clay” and “mushroom” rule the day – look for infusions of gold, lavender or cream instead of beige if you want to spruce up the paint on a family friendly home.

Grey, grey, grey! It’s a tricky colour to work with, but the rewards are an almost ethereal look to your rooms. Greys can have an undertone of blue, green or even purple, so it’s best to test a grey to see how it looks before you commit. However, when you get a grey right, the results are simply stunning.

Citrus can add a splash to your décor – it could be small hits of a pumpkin colour, or a muted, softer orange as a colour to brighten up a room with neutral furnishings and accessories.

Want more information or a little more help with your paint choices? These are the sources I used to put together this list:

Apartment Therapy - Inspiration from Crown Paints, Colour Me Happy - What Everyone Should Know about Grey, Style At Home - Paint Colour Trends for 2010, Sico Paints Trends for 2010-2011, Apartment Therapy - The Best Grey Paint Colors

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What do you get for a million?
A lot! For $999,900 dollars you can pick up a two level penthouse suite with spectacular downtown views. A spacious 1860 sq feet offering puts similar priced Vancouver offerings to shame. Better yet, this property is in the heart of downtown - a few blocks from Queen Street, incredible night life, world class restaurants, and the Bay Street financial district.
Downtown Toronto Penthouse
Size: 1860 sq ft
Bedrooms: 2 + den
Bathrooms: 3
Price: $999,900 CAD

What do you get for a million?
A spacious three double bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment overlooking the water in Auckland’s Viaduct Basin – which sounds sort of unappealing, but the Viaduct Basin is one of the swankiest parts of Auckland’s Central Business District (or CBD to the locals) housing the newest, most upscale apartments and best restaurants in the city.
Auckland Ocean View CBD Apartment
Size: 2260 sq ft
Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Price: $1,055,000 NZ Dollars, approx $787,053.25 CAD

What do you get for a million?
Property is at a top premium in Washington DC, so for those wanting to live closer to where the political action is happening, an apartment in Dupont Circle, part of the “Old City” would be more to most people’s liking. Dupont Circle is home to numerous Embassies, countless historic residences, and the Capital Pride LGBT pride Festival.
Dupont Circle Apartment
Size: 1416 sq ft
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Price: $998,000 USD, approx $1,053,249.50 CAD

What do you get for a million?
A two bedroom apartment, overlooking the Thames River, across the way from Canary Warf, in Rotherhithe – a district in inner southeast London. Although quiet and suburban in nature, Rotherhithe used to be the site of the Surrey Docks, which were largely filled in during the 1980s, to be replaced by modern housing and apartments.
Thames Riverfront Apartment
Size: 904 sq ft
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Price: £595,000, approx $956,385.63 CAD

What does a million get you?
A 1910 apartment in Berlin’s 4th borough, Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf featuring oak floors, high ceilings and incredible period details. Charlottenburg was the commercial centre of West Berlin during the Cold War, and is still the main shopping centre of Berlin, offering major hotels, theatres, bars restaurants and attractions for tourists such as the world famous Berlin Zoo.
Period Luxury Apartment in Berlin
Size: 1367 sq ft
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 1
Price: €785,850, approx $1,073,958.30 CAD

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Real Estate investment has taken a real beating in the past two years. With sluggish markets just beginning to claw their way back, the question the smartest investors are asking is not, “what properties are for sale” but “where is it worth buying?”

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Most people and realtors will tell you that summer is the best time to buy and sell real estate, no matter what kind of property you have – condo, house, investment property… The popular assumption is that with enough sunshine streaming in, and with a well kept garden, the house will practically sell itself.  The problem with lazy thinking like that is no amount of sunshine or flowers will elevate a property above others – summer, as a whole tends to be pretty indiscriminate. So what can be done to make a property appeal over all others during the busiest real estate season of the year?

Image: I See Modern Britian, Flickr

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