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HOME TIPS Preparing your home for guests No matter the occasion, parties are good opportunities to relax with friends and family, step outside the normal routine and just have a great time. Hosting a party at home requires some extra prep work, but the reward is often worth the labor. Before you throw your next gathering, try these simple tips to get your house prepped for company. * Pick up and plan ahead. When sprucing up the space where you'll be entertaining, make an effort to stow items away. Bring your shoes, bags and other items to private rooms like your bedroom to make room for your guests' belongings and put away fragile items to avoid unwanted accidents. Also, use this time to take inventory of your space. Do you have enough chairs for people to sit? Are you going to play music or have the TV on in the background? * Deep clean the public areas. Guests won't likely visit your bedroom, but thoroughly cleaning high-traf c areas, especially the entry way, bathroom, kitchen and living room is a must. Remember, the cleanliness of your home re ects on you, even to your closest friends or family; make sure you make a good impression. * Don't forget your pet's bathroom. You can often tell someone has a cat just by the smell of their home, according to a new survey by Wake eld Research. Replace your existing litter with Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Cat Litter and enjoy a sevenday odour-free home guaranteed. Clump & Seal features unique technology that forms a tight seal around odor and destroys it with powerful odor eliminators and Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. * Decorate your home with your own special theme. Add candles to set the mood for an evening cocktail party, set appropriate mementos on the mantel to commemorate the day or select a dessert option with colous to match the holiday, team or event you're celebrating. * Set up serving stations. People can get wild about food when attending a party so setting up established serving areas is your best chance to maintain order. Select an appropriate countertop or table to be home to the drinks and hors d' oeuvres. This will keep people out of the kitchen and prevent confusion. Preparation is key to entertaining at home with ease and in no time, guests will leave wanting to come back for more. To learn more about how Arm & Hammer Clump & Seal Cat Litter can have your guests thinking party, not pet, visit www. clumpandseal.com. (BPT) nh P NEW HOMES MANAGER BURLINGTON & OAKVILLE NEW HOME BUYERS' GUIDE EDITION OF AUGUST 1, 2014 53 | Friday, August 1, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Allan Roshko (905) 632-4444 ext. 233 aroshko@burlingtonpost.com SPECIAL FEATURES EDITOR Jane Muller (905) 632-4444 ext. 276 jmuller@metroland.com ADVERTISING/MARKETING CONSULTANT SPLASH SPLASH SPLASH this summer make a Marco Lopes (905) 632-4444 ext. 330 mlopes@burlingtonpost.com PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Karen Ironside (905) 632-4444 ext. 230 kironside@metroland.com Cover Design by Sema Quraishi SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Sema Quraishi squraishi@burlingtonpost.com 5040 Mainway, Burlington, Ont. L7L 7G5 · Fax: (905) 632-1121 www.insidehalton.com/printeditions BUILDING A GREATER GTA PRESS DEADLINES Bookings: Tuesday 5pm prior to publication Ad Materials: Wednesday Noon prior to publication BILD ® Building Industry and Land Development Association Visit their website at www.hhhba.ca Portfolio of New Homes and its advertisers are not responsible for errors made in advertisements or editorial. All prices are correct at press time, however, due to the lead time required to publish Portfolio of New Homes, prices and other conditions may have changed. Please note prices and conditions are subject to change without notice. The Burlington Post is a proud member of the HHHBA. $10,000 ALTRA HOMES Receive a 2 SPECTACULAR MODELS TO VIEW! * OPEN HOLIDAY MON 12-4 PHASE 2 NOW OPEN Bungalows and Bungalofts currently under construction and available in St. Catharines MAIN FLOOR LIVING AT ITS FINEST SAT & SUN 12 NOON - 5 PM, TUES - THURS 1-7 PM, FRI BY APPOINTMENT ONLY BILD ® ONLY 3 BUNGALOFT TOWNS LEFT! *Limited time offer, see sales associate for details. EXIT QEW AT GLENDALE AVENUE Welland Canal Parkway Hartzel Road BONUS PACKAGE w Rock ood A venu e High 406 way Glen A dale venu e $239,900 Bungalows, Bungalofts 289 362-6081 & 2 storey singles from the www.altrahomes.com MOVE-IN READY $ 290's Affordable Towns from the $ 230's