The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

TUESDAY, March 29, 2011 8 Pages HOME STAGING How to get your home ready for sale on the cheap PAGE 3 GARDENING TIPS Get the kids outside-- make gardening fun for them PAGE 4 HOME, LAWN & GARDEN Special pullout section Rona to open local store Rona will officially open its Georgetown satellite store tomorrow (Wednesday) at Knolcrest Centre (348 Guelph Street Unit 8). The store carries a wide variety of home improvement essentials and is open Monday-Friday 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Riley McAneney (right) is the store manager and is ready to serve customers along with staffers, from left, Laura Halaquias, Dave Murphy, Michael Ziatyk and Kevin McCafferty. In addition to home improvement products, the shop will offer numerous services for both homeowners and contractors. Photo by Ted Brown Homeowners today want big home improvement results... but without a big budget. So, how do you achieve such lofty goals without the financial investment? Enlist the help of a handy hubby or a bro that's a pro. But, since time may be limited for your "free labourers," find quick projects that can provide the biggest impact for both aesthetics and functionality. Kitchen equipped While a full remodel can be time­consuming and expensive, there are several quick updates that can achieve impressive results. Kitchen faucets, such as a high­arc pulldown faucet in a stylish finish, such as stainless or oil rubbed bronze, can offer both easy­to­use functionality and a striking visual impact at the sink. And once you've added your new faucet, be sure Handy helpers stretch home improvement dollars that you coordinate the rest of the finishes throughout the kitchen. Add new knobs and pulls­ or for a more economical solution, add a modern metallic finish to your existing cabinet hardware with Krylon stainless steel finish or oil rubbed bronze spray paint. This quick and inexpensive detail will make a big impact on the aesthetics of the room. Bathroom basics As you move your crew to the bath, focus on the vanity and walls. Since the look of furniture continues to be popular for bathroom vanities, simply recycle an old dresser with a new coat of spray paint or stain and add a beautiful bowl sink. Next, painting the walls is easy enough for even the most novice DIYer; however, choosing the colour can sometimes be the most difficult part. Cool, light colours can help make a smaller room look larger or create a serene feeling, while darker colours can create a warm, cozy environment. Patio pleasures Nothing makes a backyard more enjoyable than a beautiful patio area to relax with your (hard-working) friends and family. Luckily, you don't need to purchase new patio furniture to make your outdoor space look new. Instead, apply a fresh coat of stain or spray paint to your existing wood or metal furniture for a stylish and updated look. No matter what your skill level, by enlisting the help of some friends and family, in no time at all, you'll have a new and improved home that didn't cost you're an arm and a leg­ just an I.O.U. to your handy helpers. --www.newscanada.com Book your Pool Opening TODAY! 71 Mountainview Rd. N., Georgetown 905-877-3660 tritonpools@bellnet.ca Winter Hours: (until April 1st) Thurs. & Fri. Noon-6pm, Sat. 10-2