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

W ES T OA K TR AI LS T Toll Free 1-888-645-4267 mary@marycardamone.com 905-845-4267 paolo@marycadamone.com 326 Lakeshore Road East Oakville, ON L6J 1J6TOP 1% IN CANADA MARY T.CARDAMONE* PAOLO CARDAMONE* B.A. MLS #2020438S #202 drooms; 3+1 Baths3 Bed ooms; 3 Hardwood; Great Room; GraniteG 2600 Sqft Exec Townhome; Designer Decor; Designer Deownho Low Condo Fee; Cal Shutal Shu tersee Backs Onto Private Ravine $649,000 JO SH UA C RE EK Visit www.MaryCardamone.com and Take a Virtual Tour! CO LL EG E P A K MLS #2021300 4 Bedrooms; 3+1 Baths 4 Bed Finished Lower Level; Custom Blt Som Blt Sauna Main Level Den & Solarium; Crown e own Mldg Renod Kitchen W/Washed Oak Caashed Oak Cabinetry Private Lush Ravine Settingh $799,000 GL EN A BB EY MLS 2024130202413 pletely Updated PenthouseComple ely Upda The Gr y Of Oakville; 3 Balconies Specanary Of Oakv 3 Balconies Spe tacular Views Of Harbour & LakeVi Harbour & 2838 Sqft Of Exquisite Living Spacet Of Exqui ng Spac Available for lease at $4,800/mth or $1,549,000 OL DE O AK VI LL E SOLD Happy New Year! Here wishing that the coming year s wishin is a glorious one that rewards all your is a future endeavors with success! Mary & Paolo w w w . o a kv ill eb ea ve r.c o m O A KV IL LE B EA V ER W e dn es da y, D ec em be r 2 9, 2 01 0 2 2 Top 10 things to avoid when selling your home over the holidays Vacation time and slower work schedules create an ideal time for open houses. However, as homes fill up with presents, decorations and visitors, sellers are often faced with the challenge of striking the right balance between cozy and crammed. Keeping your home tidy and sparingly deco- rated doesn't mean sellers can't celebrate the season in style, but remember that buy- ers are looking for just the right amount of sparkle. "Potential buyers expect that there may be some decorations, but when they arrive they are trying to envision how they would spend their day-to-day lives in the home," says Phil Soper, president and chief execu- tive, Royal LePage Real Estate Services. "Keeping the holiday decorations to the right level will be easier if you remember the goal is to bring out the home's structural charm," Soper adds. We know that potential buyers can be put off by a home that has too many personal items. So while trying to manage the Christmas clutter, sellers should also remove items that remind buyers that the home belongs to someone else. To assist sellers, Royal LePage compiled a top ten list of things to avoid when selling a home dur- ing the holiday season. Too many lights: A home will dazzle more if lights are kept to a tasteful mini- mum. Sellers should opt for white lights instead of multi-coloured flashing bulbs to provide a more neutral glow to a home. Forgetting to clear the snow: Snow can look beautiful on trees, but driveways and walkways should be cleared as soon as the flakes fall. Buyers should be able to move freely during an open house so it's impor- tant to remember all the outdoor paths and patios around your home. No life or landscape: Give buyers a chance to imagine the potential in your landscape. Frost-resistant plants like flowering kale or miniature trees allow sellers to liven up walk- ways without taking away the buyer's ability to envision his or her dream outdoor spaces Not cozy: Everyone appreciates a warm, cozy home - especially in the winter. Set the thermostat at a warm temperature for the whole day, and be mindful that some thermo- stats have low temperature pre-sets during the day when no one is at home. When the home is attended, fireplaces and candles could also be lit to create a comfortable envi- ronment throughout the day. Engage the senses: Simmering a pot of cider with cinnamon during open houses or showings will create a warm and festive feel- ing. Lingering odours: Be aware of those holi- day dishes that may leave a strong odour. If possible, wait until showings are completed before cooking those traditional favorites -- potential buyers will appreciate a neutral environment. Hiding a home's seasonal bests: Photos of the home's back and front yards, gardens and patios in spring and summer will show potential buyers what the house looks like when it is not buried under snow and when the leaves are still on trees. Don't let the tree take over: A smaller Christmas tree, with minimal decorations, will create the appearance of more space. A huge tree, on the other hand, will make the room look smaller, and busy decorations can intensify clutter. Presents should not be present: It is important to cut back on clutter when show- ing a home; hide the wrapped presents to keep them out of eyesight. Too many decorations: Remember, when selling a home during the holidays, less is always more. Whimsical ornaments can be great accents during the holidays, but be mindful not to go overboard. When it doubt, remove it! About Royal LePage Royal LePage is Canada's leading provider of franchise services to residential real estate brokerages, with a network of nearly 14,000 real estate professionals in over 600 locations across Canada. Royal LePage is the only Canadian real estate company to have its own charitable foundation; the Shelter Foundation which is dedicated exclusively to funding women's shelters and violence pre- vention and education programs. Royal LePage is managed by Brookfield Real Estate Services. An affiliated company, Brookfield Real Estate Services Fund, is a TSX listed income trust, trading under the symbol "BRE.UN." For more information visit www.royallepage.ca. What to look for when viewing a home You pull up to the curb and there it is the home of your dreams. Calm down. Take a deep breath and start again. The hardest thing to do when looking for a home is to remain objective. It is easy to fall in love with a home's appearance, but it's very important to look beyond the window dressing. Here are some things to consider when look- ing at a home: General upkeep First appearances do count. Is the home dirty and cluttered? Are the lawns uncut? Are the walls chipped and in need of paint? If the owner hasn't bothered to keep the house look- ing clean and attractive, what problems are lurking below the surface? Water leaks Water rots wood, undermines foundations, and leads to mould and mildew. Reshingling a house, or repairing a cracked foundation to stop water leaks, can be extremely expensive. It takes an expert eye to find most water leaks (which is why we recommend you have a house inspected before you buy). If you spot stains, bulges and other signs of water damage on ceil- ings or walls, make special note that there could be a problem. Appliances and fixtures Test the lights, faucets, toilets, furnace, air conditioning, and all major appliances that are to be included with the home. Floors Floors should be smooth, even, and solid. Soft springy sections, excessive squeaking, and unevenness are all indications that expensive repairs may be needed. Doors and windows Check that doors and windows fit snugly and operate smoothly. Look for flaked paint and loose caulking. Check for drafts. Drainage, grout and caulking Walk around the yard looking for areas where water might collect. Soggy areas near the foundation indicate poor drainage. If the grout and caulking around bathroom and kitchen tiles are loose and crumbling, there is a good chance water is finding its way into the wall or under the floor. Furnishings If you are not planning to replace all of your furniture, make sure it will fit into the rooms of the new house. Be sure to bring a measuring tape. Rooms can be deceptive. Storage space Make sure your new house has enough stor- age space for all your belongings. And that means more than just your clothes. Think of all the things that need to find a home. Rule of thumb: there's never enough storage space. Inspection Nothing can replace the expert opinion of a qualified home inspector. Inspectors can spot problems that the average person would never find and they can usually advise you on how much it will cost to make the repairs. A home inspection can help you determine whether or not you are going to make an offer on a house, and if you decide to go ahead, just how much that offer is going to be. Provided by www.royallepage.ca