34 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday December 28, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Curb your enthusiasm The Dan Cooper Team helps you add value to the front of your home Whether or not you're in the market to sell your home or just want to enjoy it for all its worth, curb appeal continues to add great value to your investment. According to the National Association of Realtors, it accounts for 49% of Real Estate sales. Before financing any major changes to your property, it's a good idea to address minor repairs and cleaning chores to give your home a rewarding face lift. Tidy Up · Make sure your yard is neat. Don't leave children's toys, garden tools etc. lying around. Clutter is very unattractive. · Edge gardens and sidewalks. · Mow & weed lawns. · Rake & dispose of leaves. · Trim trees & shrubs especially those that conceal windows or are perilously touching your roof. Wash Up · Remove mold and mildew from any surfaces. · Clean windows and gutters. · Pressure wash decks and dirty siding. · Clean the front porch and front door. Spruce Up · Invest in a fresh paint job if the time has come to boost the outward appearance of your home. · Paint your front door to add visual interest or replace it altogether. It may just require a new or polished doorknob or an attractive seasonal wreath/arrangement to welcome visitors. · Get a large, new welcome mat to cheer your guests. · Add atmosphere with outdoor lighting that enhances your driveway, sidewalks and other landscaping features. Get help if you don't have an eye for beauty. Adding Landscape Features · Invest in a new walkway: stained concrete, coloured concrete, stamped or imprinted concrete, pebbles or brick. · Let your travels inspire some of your choices i.e. stone DAN COOPER Real Estate ...The Bottom Line fences you may have seen in Scotland, wrought iron gates from New Orleans, etc. · Install a water feature in the front. Not only are they soothing, but they can be environmentally friendly as well. · If you have lots of land, maybe a gazebo will look great and give you a new space to entertain friends. · Try adding a wooden bridge over a creek or new stylish stepping stones through your garden. · Don't underestimate planting some new trees or adding a layering effect to your flower beds. By planting them in three rows: taller plants at the back, medium height plants in the middle and your shortest plants in the front, you add a dynamic element to any space. Couple that with a selection of complimentary colours and you're all set! real estate www.haltonsearch.com Interactive Sell on MLS Real Estate Brokerage with no additional fees or commissions $995 The very last box to pack Even the best move can cause problems, and more often than not, those problems arise on the first day in the mover's new home. Anyone who's experienced a move knows the problems that can be encountered-children can't or won't go to sleep without a favorite toy, someone needs a particular medication, or you can't find basic toiletries. After all, everything you own is packed up in boxes, and finding the exact location of small items can be a real challenge, particularly after a long, strenuous moving day. How do you avoid these easily avoidable problems? Try packing your key items last, in boxes marked First Night. Anything that is needed to make your new home function should go in these special boxes, including everything mentioned above plus sheets and blankets for the beds, pillows, a few dishes and eating utensils, lightbulbs, and a change of clothing. Other things to possibly include are baby diapers and formula (including bottles, extra clothes, etc.); pet food for your dog or cat; a telephone book; and some nonperishable food for breakfast on your first morning in the new house. Make sure your First Night box is plainly marked, so that it won't get lost in the moving shuffle. It should be the last box to go on the moving truck, and the first one off. 905-319-7707 Call James Boyd Broker of Record "Full Service Real Estate @ Private Seller Savings" www.portcullisrealty.com Happy New Year With best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008. Augy Carnovale***, Adrienne Lake**, Don Abma*, Sandy Abma*, Michael J. Allan*, Tom Au-Yeung*, Cindy Avis*, Michelle Bailey*, Kathryn Bandiera*, Don Bassindale**, Nancy Batchelor*, Carmen Bedard*, Doug Bedrosian*, Joan Beettam*, Gail Bird*, Stephen Bird*, Beulah Blain*, Monika Blewett**, Floraine Bowen*, Tracy Brace*, Judi Brokking*, Cassandra Bruyns*, Lorraine Bull*, Tammy Burley*, Paul Butler**, Greg Callaghan*, Mary Carr*, Norman Carr*, Penny Cates*, Grace Ceresa*, Claudia Chopik-Kovacs*, Brenda Clark*, Kati Cloke*, Florentina Coban*, Sue Coleman*, Sylvia Crompton*, Lesley Cumming*, Lisa Dale*, Ian Darroch**, Linda Darroch*, Barbara DeMarzo*, G. Walter DeMarzo*, John Dobko*, Sandra Doyle*,Len Duncan*, Jacquie Dunn*, Tracey Dunn**, Jerry England**, Liz Erskine*, Neil Everett*, Mel Fairfield**, Michael A Falcone*, Suzanne Farkas*, Bud Farris*, Wendy Farrow**, Joette Fielding*, Mary Foster*, Teresa Gale-Gamble*, Patricia Gauer*, Ruth Gibson*, Liliana Gonin**, Debbie Gonin-Braun*, Caroline Hamel*, Ishrani Henry*, Karen Holmes-Lane*, Allan Hoppener*, Mike Howarth*, Summer Humphrey*, Bryan Hune*, Terry Hutchison*, Christopher Invidiata*, Alex Irish*, Joe Irwin*, Paul A Jackson*, William Jenkinson*, Robin Jepson*, Michael Jones*, Rick Kedzior**, Susan Keen*, Mary Kelly*, Mary Koehler*, Veronica Koehler**, Marija Kolesar*, Jenny Kotulak*, Margy Koumbiadis*, Mike Koumbiadis*, Roula Krumme*, Magda Ladanyi**, Lisa Lanoue*, Cynthia Law*, Kirsten Leggat*, Yvonne Little**, Carolyn Lofquist**, Cindy Lowes*, Gianna Marcantonio*, Jennifer MacDonald*, Leslie MacDonald*, Scott MacLeod*, Angela Markusic*, David Marshall*, Korrie-Sue Marshall*, Joan McCoy*, Petra McCulloch**, Lezlie McDermott*, Murray McDonald**, Tom McDonald*, Suzanne McKenzie*, Angie McKinnon*, Guy McMurray*, Allan McWhirter**, Nadia Meco*, Janet Mills-Saundercook*, Gail Moreau*, Sherri Moro*, Vera Nadeina*, Lidija Naden*, Patti Natyshak*, Cathy Naumowich*, Don Naumowich*, James Neil*, Brett O'Neill*,Sally O'Shea*, Jennifer Palozzi*, David Papple**, Debbie Pearce*, John Pears*, Renate Penkett*, Carole-Ann Peterson*, Colleen Pickett*, Bill Pinto*, Rick Pipala*, Lloyd Pisapio*, Werner Pischel*, Barb Poretti*, Steven Porter*, Mark Pospisil*, Diane Powell*, Doriana Pressacco*, Louise Preston*, Derek Quinlan*, John Ratelle*, Cidel Rivera*, Rick Roman*, Judy Ross*, Kris Saric*, Jennifer Schaffer*, Mary Ann Schiralli*, Judith Shorney**, Richard Shorney**, Deborah-Lee Simpson**, Catherine Smith*, Lillian Smith*, June Smith*, Russell Smith*, Ralph Snelgrove*, Janina Sosnowski*, Don Stewart*, Kevin Stokes*, Joop Ten Thye*, Jennifer Teufel*, Neil Uttamsingh*, Paul Van Trip*, Nikol Van Trip*, Laura Van Zeyl*, Gentiana Vanta*, Nick Vassov*, Dean Vecile*, Al Volpe*, Sherry Wallace*, Alice Wardrop*, Hal Watson*, Angela Watts* Barrie Watts* Catherine Wellman* Gary Wheater* Getting Maximum Exposure For Your Home! 360° HOME INSPECTIONS DOWNTOWN UPTOWN 905.338.9000 905.842-7000 67 Lakeshore Road West 418-2 North Service Road East www.remaxaboutowne.com Qualify your Home for Sale or Purchase with the Help of a Trained Professional. Aboutowne Realty Corp., Brokerage Independently owned and operated 416-909-5986 fabior@cogeco.ca