Realestock Blog

Moving can be rotten and irritating. The Realestock blogger is moving this week and has spent the better part of the month stressing about details small (running cable to the bedroom) and large (there are NO CURTAINS YET).

If you’re moving soon, enjoy our 10 moving tips:

1. Label boxes in priority order: A-B-C makes moving easy as… well, you get it. Labeling boxes of high priority as A, middling priority as B and low as C means that it’s quick and easy to locate the boxes you need to unpack first. Who wants to unpack the blender, the cookie sheets and the turkey pan you use once a year because the box was labeled ‘kitchen’ before finally finding the ‘kitchen’ box you really need right away – the one with the coffee maker!
2. Pack early: Nobody like packing. However, starting a month early on infrequently used items (books, seasonal ornaments, etc) means you can pack two boxes a day. That will equal 60 boxes in a month - far better than trying to pack 60 boxes in a weekend.
3. Be Generous: (to your local charities) Moving is the perfect time to get rid of old items you never use or that your children have outgrown. Instead of paying to move them, and then returning them to dusty disuse, donate old clothes, toys, knick knacks and kitchen supplies to those less fortunate and give the items the second lives they deserve.
4. Plan your space: Take a detailed floor plan of the new space and measurements of your furniture. You’ll know ahead of time if you have room to take large pieces (such as beds and desks) and if you’ve already worked out a preliminary floor plan, it’s much easier to start slotting the big items into place.
5. Unpack the bed first: if nothing else, you will need to sleep in your new home!
6. Don’t try to get it done in one day: Make your first priority handy things like kitchens, workspaces and the bedroom. If all your art isn’t up on the first day, it’s not the end of the world. Form before function should be the unpacking mantra.
7. Pack an overnight bag: Making your toothpaste & pajamas easy to find will greatly reduce your moving stress – nobody want to be in a rush to unpack because they can’t take a shower or change their underpants until they do.
8. Keep children and pets in mind: moving is stressful for kids and animals – try to set them up a safe, quiet area where they can safely be out of your hair while you unpack.
9. Don’t fret over your diet: Pizza and beer are well deserved and guilt free after a day of schlepping boxes. Never forget that!
10. Recycle & clean: find the local recycling depot before you arrive at your new home so you know where you can take your empty boxes and discarded packing material. Nothing drags out the feeling of moving more than living with stacks of empty boxes and waste you don’t know where to take.

Photo: Powerhouse Museum

Comment (1)

New year, fresh start? If you’re thinking of moving, or waiting to make a big move in the new year, selling your home is the first step. So, how can you make your goals a reality? Here are some simple tips to make your home sell.

1. Price it right: The first step to selling a property is setting it at the right price. Prices should be set against the prices similar properties are selling for – not what they’re being listed for. In a buyers market, a competitively priced house will sell long before one going for more than the market will bear. There are people who want to buy, but they want to buy at the right price.
2. Fix it up: Nobody wants to buy a property with a huge to-do list built right in. Even small repairs can put off buyers, so get a critical friend to come and help you see what touch ups and repairs need to be done.
3. Make it look great: This is just common sense – tidy, remove clutter and clean the crap out of your home. Stage your furniture to show off your home’s best assets – you’ll impress buyers and show off the best assets of your home.
4. Offer incentives: Adding too many premiums can make sellers look desperate; however incentives like help with closing costs can encourage buyers. If you want to make your realtor work for you, offering a bonus on the commission for a speedy sale can work wonders.
5. Be prepared and be flexible: Have a plan in place – know ahead of time what price cuts you’re willing to agree to, and what you won’t. When you plan ahead, you’ll be able to move quickly on the offers you receive.

Thanks for reading the Realestock blog in 2010. We’ll be back in the first week of 2011 with even more great tips, tricks and industry advice!

Photo: The Truth About Mortgage

Comment (1)

Now that Halloween decorations are packed away, but it’s probably too early to haul out the Christmas stuff (anyone caught putting out Christmas decorations before December 1st in my home is summarily flogged), your home might look a little empty. Is there a way to change your decor for winter in a way that doesn’t scream “CHRISTMAS IS COMING!”?

Fortunately, there is. Here’s some easy tips to make your home a cozier, winter-ready wonderland without the cheese factor.

Citrus Fruit

Not just for stuffing in stockings! A bowl of oranges or satsumas can make a stunning, edible centerpiece that’s a step away from a traditional winter display.

Fuzzy, furry & Warm

Switching out pillowcases, blankets and rugs for fuzzy covers and rugs with a longer pile can make everything seem so much more snuggly, which means warmer, softer and more seasonal. Cozy knitted throws draped over sofas and armchairs add texture and winter appeal by brining to mind sweaters.

Switch Accessories

Take out seashells, straw, and light coloured vases and switch them for pottery, earthenware or dark coloured brick-a-brac for a dramatic look. Or, go the opposite way - go all white and pick up the crispness of the season and keep your home looking fresh

Lighting

Everyone assumes candles are the perfect winter decor, but they can make your home feel even darker than it is if you’re not lighting the rest of the house properly. Light some candles to make you feel cozy, but keep the lights on too - it’ll brighten up your rooms at the time of year you need the extra wattage the most.

Mix up Colours

Forget forest green - echo the colours found in nature to add some seasonal punch to your decor. Mustard, pomegranate and earthy browns can look rich, warm, inviting and seasonal. Pile nuts or pinecones into glass jars, bring in some winter branches and add some touches of gold to your decor. It’ll look rich and seasonal, not tired and cliche.

Comment (0)

It’s fall! While most people profess that their favorite season is summer, Fall has a lot of fans. Fall is my favourite season by a big margin (more sunshine than spring, less humidity than summer), and that means I always want to get into the Fall spirit by decorating my house. 

That said… I prefer a more minimalist approach to décor. All my furniture is white. Lines are clean. Clutter is forbidden. I might love fall, but I’m not going to start making Martha Stewart style pinecone bouquets and sticking them around my home, or suddenly feeling the pull of big wooly plaid blankets draped over all my furniture. First of all, who has the time for that? Secondly… just no.

So, if you’re like me, how can you feel like you’ve got a bit of fall in the home, without going full Little House on the Prairie?

Here are some fun, LOW HASSLE ideas, from my own mind and the internet:

1. White Pumpkins

They used to be rare, but nowadays they’re popping up in local grocery stores – white pumpkins, sometimes called ghost pumpkins are a neat way to get the shape of the season, but in a new way. You can:

• Line up white mini pumpkins on a mantelpiece
• Turn white mini pumpkins into votive candle holders
• Cut off the top and remove the seeds from a full sized white pumpkin. Don’t carve it though! Put a flower vase into the pumpkin and display some seasonal blooms - (note, these won’t last more than a few days inside – best done for a special occasion!)

2. Pinecones

Yes, I realized I just disparaged pinecone crafts, but this is as easy as it gets. Take a contemporary, low silver bowl or tray and then fill it with the nicest pinecones you can find. Looks seasonal, not kitchy.

3. Branches and sticks

Trees and wood grain have been big design trends for a while now, so don’t pay for artfully arranged, carefully chosen dead branches from a florist, go pick your own out. They’re plentiful this time of year, and FREE. Besides, what says fall more than a branch without leaves? The easiest way to bring the outside in. Best yet? These displays don’t need water.

Photos: Pumpkin Vase, Martha Stewart.com; Branches, Vastu Design Clique

Comment (0)

Comment (0)

Selling real estate can be a big headache. Finding a realtor, showing the house, entertaining offers… then worrying about taxes, fees and other administrative details can make the process seem far more complicated than it needs to be.  So, if you want to sell your home, doing your homework before you get onto the real estate listings can save you a lot of hard work and sleepless nights.

Comment (0)

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

Comment (0)

Comment (0)