in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, M ar ch 8 ,2 01 8 |28 A dverto ria l Five thrifty DIY fix-ups that will help sell your home W hen p reparing your hom e for the m arket, it's great to know there are so m e relatively in exp en sive im provem ents th at can m ake a big im pact with b u y e rs. A few w ell-p laced p ie c e s of decor and a clutter-free hom e are sim p le th in gs you can do on a budget to bum p up in terest in your hom e. Once the fu n d a m e n ta ls of a w ell-m aintained hom e are taken care of, th e se e a sy in itia tives can se a l the deal. Clear the decks: Coun ter sp a c e is extrem ely im portant for b uyers. Be su re to store kitchen and bathroom item s off the co u n te rs. P u rch a se sto r age b a sk e ts in se ve ra l d ifferent s iz e s to help you c lear the d e c k s in a hurry and m in im ize clutter. Brighten up storage sp aces: C lo s e ts and cupboard sp a c e are im portant se llin g fe a tu re s. You can m ake the m ost of w hat you have by purging un used item s and p ain tin g a light colour in sid e cu p b o ard s and c lo s e ts . Add ing battery-operated lighting is a lso an in exp en sive way to brighten a dark c lo se t. Replace interior room doors: Q u ick ly and in exp e n sive ly brighten hallw ays and room s by rep lac in g interior doors and hardw are. New white p anelled doors and hardware can q u ickly fre sh en the hom e. Look for s a le s at your local build ing centre. Tear up dingy broadloom: You m ay be p le a sa n tly su rp rise d by w hat's un d erneath. Even if you don't like what you se e , rep lac in g broadloom is one of the m o st e co n o m ica l im provem ents you can m ake when you co n sid e r over all return on your dollar. Paint: Even high-end interior p ain ts are a bargain when you look at what can be ach ieved with a fresh new fin ish . Opt for neutral co lo u rs in m atte or e gg sh e ll f in is h e s to cam ou flage flaw s in w a lls. Trim is b est handled with a white sh a d e of sa tin , se m i-g lo s s or h igh -g lo ss fin ish . A rtic le p rov ided by w w w .royallepage. ca. The value in having a real estate agent With the wealth of online resources dedi cated to helping you search for a new home or sell the one you own, you might be wonder ing if you even need a real estate agent in the first place. However, you may want to consid er why many homeowners choose to enlist the services of a real estate professional. A trusted real estate agent who comes rec ommended by others can increase your sat isfaction with the process of buying a home. These factors will help you determine the value your agent can provide. There's the internet, then there's the 'pipeline': While a quick search on the web is a great place to start, you'll want the in side track. A real estate professional will en hance your property search with a pipeline of properties. They, or others at their brokerage office, will also be aware of buyers who are looking within your area. Opt for the guided tour: When you tour a landmark or attraction your experience is enriched by someone who is familiar with the location who can guide you. As a community expert, your real estate "guide" can provide insights on historical market values, culture, and attractions, as well as local resources relevant to your interests and needs. A single point of contact: A real estate professional will help you determine how much house you can afford, alert you to po tential risks, help you find resources, and ne gotiate the offer. Often a seemingly simple transaction can grow legally complex and risky. Again, this is where the pipeline comes in, as your agent can help you locate trusted legal counsel, home inspection services, sur veyors, and lenders. Negotiating: A real estate professional can help you objectively consider the offer you plan to put forth. They can recognize the various strategies of a selling agent, which may serve to drive up the price. They can also provide insights that can help you submit a competitive offer on a home you really want. Article provided by www.royallepage.ca. D IA M O N D AW ARD 5015 Selling your property for Top Dollar or buying the right property for you at an Excellent Price is NOT Child's Flay It's Serious Business! T o p 3 % in C a n a d a dir: 416-540-7307 • 905-845-4267www.TheBiotts.ca What Lynne & Terry Blott know about real estate won't fit in this small ad. Call them today for a no-obligation consultation. You'll find their personal service fits your needs perfectly. But with Lynne & Terry Blott it can be as easy as One-Two-Three 1. List with highly knowledgeable and experienced real estate agents, Lynne & Terry Blott to get your home sold for Top Dollar. 2. Choose local area experts, Lynne & Terry Blott, who know all the benefits and features of Oakville's neighbourhoods... and most importantly will advise you on pricing when buying your next home. 3. Choose experience! Don't trust your home sale or purchase to an inexperienced agent. Let Lynne and Terry Blott's extensive negotiating experience work for you. LAKE VIEW FOR SALE ENNISCLAREII 2+BEDROOM „ WANTED virtual tours, more photos & floor plans @ theTHOMSONadvantage.ca r o y a l L e p a g e Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd., Brokerage DOROTHY THOMSON Broker (905) 339-7819 KEVIN THOMSON Sales Representative (905) 330-9019 (905) 845-4267 http://www.royallepage http://www.royallepage.ca http://www.TheBiotts.ca It's Serious Business! But with Lynne & Terry Blott it can be as easy as One-Two-Three