RL14 - Real Estate: The Oakville Beaver, W ednesday February 22, 2006 RO YAL L e PAGE Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Broker Personal Service ^Positive Results For personal service call me today. I w ill be happy to sit down with you fo r a confidential chat regarding your real estate needs. Preparing your garage for spring time use With spring comes springcleaning, and with that dreaded chore comes the ritual of cleaning and organizing the garage. To most, this is an arduous task that is avoided at great lengths, but it shouldn't be. Top 10% Royal LePage Agents Nationally Toronto RtalEitfte Board / > The Oakville, Milton FRANCES WEDLAKE About Your Home in helping me achieve the President's Gold Award for 2005 ...I look forward to being of service in the future! Bill JJames, Bus: 905-338-3737 Sales Associate Em ail: billjam es^ sy m p atico .ca D `rect: 905-5i 0-2391 7 . Cardamom I M ' i Ht ROYAL LEPAGE Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Broker I f lf l l u M M IIN l'h v . f f l · . t Vv . m a .r y @ m a r y c a r ia m o iie x o m w v w .m a r y c a r d a m o n e . ^ ln y Saf§§ R epresentative BRONTE 2Br; Upgraded; Fabulous Bldg Amenities MLS 1072142 HAMILTON WEST IB r; Updated; Walk to Mac University MLS 1071944 SOUTH BURLINGTON 4Br; Hardwood thru-out; Close to schools MLS 1 0 6 9744 BRONTE 2Br; Upgraded; Fabulous Bldg Amenities MLS 1 0 7 0744 WEST OAKVILLE 3.3Br; Upgraded; Quiet locale MLS 1070340 WEST OAK TRAILS 4 + lB r; Gleaming Oak Hrdwd;Fin LL MLS 1071696 SOUTHWEST 3Br; Fabulous private lot MLS 1071662 SE OAKVILLE 3+2Br; Mature Lot;Loads of Updates MLS 1072045 OLDE OAKVILLE 3Br; Large mature lot; Fab Hardwood MLS 1070189 Learn More & Take a Virtual Tour of These H orns! SOUTH BURUNGTON 3Br; Burlington Heritage Award 2006MLS 1 0 7 0114 OLDE OAKVILLE 4 + lB r; Completely Renovated MLS 1071703 Visit www.MaryCardamoHe.com Be organized storing, you should purchase shelv Organizing a garage is a simple job ing, cabinets, pegs, hooks and plastic that can improve a household's life in storage containers. many waiys. Also, make room for future storage For instance, if your house is on from the area you've just cleaned out. the market or may be shortly, a clean, For the items you are-sure you will garage can improve the selling keep in the garage, decide where and process. Many buyers have a large how you want to store them. garage space on their wish list, and an organized garage can make the area An example: look much bigger than it really is. For example, all gardening tools A well-structured garage also and paraphernalia should be stored in reduces the risk of a home fire, since one place, next to the door nearest most fires begin in the garage. the yard. By having^inflammables and stor Keep £ bucket of sand in the age materials tucked safely away, the garage to stick your tools is after risk of fire is greatly reduced. using, this will clean the dirt off the A clean garage also provides you tools and keep them from rusting. with options in terms of how the If you have a workbench, hang space is used. Rather than using the your tools on hooks attached to a peggarage as a room to store junk, a board above the bench. garage can easily be made into a On your shelving, store paint, gar workroom, a workout room, a laun dening supplies and other small dry room or even a playroom. items. Remember to utilize hanging Organization is key. space; this serves as a good place to The best way to get started is with hang sporting equipment such as a reality check. bicycles and large items such as a lad Determine how much room you der. have to work with and what your Since a vehicle is stored in most budget is. garages, make sure you leave space This is also a good time to research on either side of the garage so you building code and permit require can open your car doors without suf ments. fering an unwanted scratch. You also need to decide if this is a Keep a bucket in the garage where task that you have the time and skill all car care products such as rags and to undertake yourself, or if you'll have sponges can be stored. to hire a contractor. A contractor can be hired for any For the kids: type of garage assignment, from an If you have kids, it is a good idea to addition to simply organizing your have a sage area in the garage desig boxes. nated to storing toys and equipment. If you decide to go at it alone, the Make sure it is a nice place that your best way to start the process is by kids have easy access to. holding a garage sale. By following some of these simple Plan your sale for two weeks from tips to cleaning and organizing your the time you begin the garage garage, you can ensure that once cleanup, this way you'll have a target summer arrives, you will already have date in which you must have every one job off your "to do" list. thing sorted and cleaned. Every effort has been made to A spring garage sale is also a great ensure the accuracy of this article. opportunity to earn some spare cash However, the information provided is by selling those trinkets that have general in nature and those with spe been taking up valuable room. cific questions should seek profes To determine what should be sold, sional advice that meets their partic discarded, or kept, set up four differ ular requirements. ent boxes during your cleaning Frances Wedlake is a Sales marked, keep, sell, throw away and Representative with Royal LePage hold on for one year. Real Estate Services Ltd. She can be Try to sort one section at a time, reached at 905-845-4267. Visit her which will make the job much easier. website at www.franceswedlake.com. Now that you know what you'll be