Reaf Estatei. The Oakville' Beaver, W e d n e s d a y / F e b ru a ry 2 2 , 2 0 0 6 - R L 1 3 Your house staging checklist What are cost-effective ways to make my home more appealing to buy ers? According to a recent Royal LePage House Staging Poll, the attitudes of Canadians toward the currency of their homes' decor differ from industry experts. -Most agree, however, that house staging - preparing a house for sale using cost-effective and non-invasive methods - is part of their selling and buying criteria. The following list of house staging tips were provided by Timothy Badgley, Interior Designer and Owner of Acanthus Interiors: Look at your home as though you're seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and . uncluttered? Steam clean carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, heating and A/C vents and light fixtures. Pay special attention to your bathroom and kitchen - make sure that tile grout is mildew free and baseboards scrubbed. Clean the refrigerator and stove as well as the washer and dryer (inside and out). Have a yard sale or take old furni ture, clothing and knick-knacks to Goodwill. Organize shelves, put away items and purge your home of unnec essary items. Make sure that your kitchen and bathroom counters are free of small appliances and personal effects. all-season plants. Doggie don'ts "Love me, love my pets," doesn't apply when selling your home. T^ke your pets with you when your house is being shown, or at least keep them out side. Pets under foot will quickly put a damper on an otherwise positive show ing. While making sure that your house is odour-free and spotless applies to everyone, pet owners need to take special care: Don't forget about your backyard. A house showing doesn't always end at the backdoor. Beyond size and layout, potential buyers can also be influenced by the state of your yard. Keep the lawn, hedges and flowerbeds mani cured. Buy exterior storage containers to hide gardening tools, kids toys and pool supplies. Lastly, interested buyers may decide to look inside your shed, so make sure that it is organized and clean. "Sell Your House In Less Than 60 Days Create the illusion of space To make your home seem more spa cious, it is key to de-clutter and re organize. Start by removing excess fur niture to make rooms feel more open and replacing any items that are not appropriately sized for the room. Clean and organize your closets and remove excess clutter from all areas of your home. Strategically placed mirrors can also help to create the illusion of more space. Ensure that the decor of your home is modern and tasteful. Use neutral tones on your walls and floors and add colour with removable items such as throw pillows or bed ding. Steer away from too many personal touches to create a minimalist and contemporary space. Guaranteed!" Call 905-849-3303 F or A F R E E 16-Page Report On Everything You N eed To Know To Sell Your H ouse For Top Dollar In Less Than 60 Days Guaranteed... Oakville --If you're going to be selling your house in the next 3 to 6 months, this is the informa tion you need now to give you an unfair advantage over the com petition. You get everything you need to know in this FREE 16-page Report. Learn the proven secrets to selling your house in less than 60 days guaranteed. Find out how to: Avoid the embarassing mis takes that cause your house to sit on the market month after month and finally sell for thousands less than it's worth. II Sell your house in as little as 24 hours --without even putting it on the market! Make your house show like a model with the inexpensive shortcuts of top interior decora tors! Make and extra $500 to $1000 more when you sell your house by using a surprising 25 cent upgrade! Don't lose out on getting the house you really want because your house is. sitting on, the mar ket unsold. Take action now to make sure *you have the edge when you put your house on the market and sell your house for top dollar in less than 60 days guaranteed! Call 905-849-3303 For Your FREE 16-Page Report Today. Dan Cooper, Associate Broker, Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., 338-3737 Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Broker Office: Direct: 905. 338.3737 De-personalize your home Make your home "anonymous," so that buyers can envision it as their potential home. Put away any family photos, sports trophies, collectibles, knick-knacks and souvenirs. This will also help to remove clutter and create more space. $224,360 PENTHOUSE LOFT! Call Kate 905.849.3357 FIRST TIME BUYERS! Call Kate 905.849.3357 INVESTMENT PROPERTY! Call Kate 905.849.3357 Freshen-up Adding a fresh coat of paint and lay ing new carpet will clean and brighten up your home. Choose neutral colours and make it consistent throughout the home. If you choose to wallpaper, make sure that the paper is properly applied, your colour choice is neutral and pat terns are kept to a minimum. RAVINE LOT! CallKate 905.849.3357 GREAT FAMILY HOME! Call Kate 905.849.3357 BACKS ONTO GREENSPACE! Call Kate 905.849.3357 First impressions count Like a first date or job interview, the first impression of your home is the most important. Walking into a home with fingerprinted screen door win dows or cluttered entranceways, can influence the potential homebuyer's decisions. Likewise, strong odours can ruin a sale, so pay close attention to pet, cooking and cigarette smells in your home. Light delicately scented candles or have cookies baking when showing. QUIET CRESCENT IN GLEN ABBEY! Call Kate 905.849.3357 GREAT CURB APPEAL! Call Kate 905.849.3357 SOLD FOR 98% OF LIST PRICE Call Kate 985.849.3357 Curb appeal Homebuyers decide whether or not to look inside a house by the appear ance of your home's exterior. Paint or wash the outside of your home. Check your gutters andrchimney and make necessary repairs. Keep your lawns trimmed and flower beds weeded. Use urns to define walk spaces and ensure that window boxes are full of healthy O SOLD FOR 97% OF LIST PRICE Call Kate S05.S4S.535T SOLD FOR 98% OF LIST PRICE Call Kate 005.040.335T Catf %aU fo r your ffome Market ` Evaluation