{ Posts Tagged ‘real estate’ }

6 things to avoid when renting an apartment

Do you rent? It’s been 8 years and I’ve had 12 apartments. Apparently that’s not enough because here I go again!

300px East 57th St Apartments 6 things to avoid when renting an apartment

Image via Wikipedia

Apartment renting
I’m still a renter. Don’t worry, I’m okay with it. I’ve had enough experience by now to know exactly what to look for. How to budget. What necessities I can’t live without. Which neighbourhoods I like. I’m a confident gal now.

The list
What’s become even more important is what I don’t want. Here’s my top 6 list of things to avoid when apartment hunting.

1 Carpet
It just loves holding onto dust, hair and dead skin. Not to mention sucking up stains.  Save yourself from the allergies or asthma and just avoid it. Some landlords will even remove it if you ask nicely. Or they will eventually. If you don’t rent it, that is.

2 Tiny ovens
As a renter, I’m not looking to invest in the latest appliances, so the ones in the apartment need to be up-to-date. Older apartments still have those ancient, half-sized ovens. Can’t fit a cookie sheet? Can’t rent it.

3 Single sinks
Ok, this isn’t an automatic deal breaker, but size does matter. I like to cook. This requires lots of pots, pans, dishes, and utensils. If it isn’t a double sink, it needs to be big.

4 Water damage
Sounds obvious, but the nightmares of ceilings falling and walls crumbling are real. So very real. Don’t let renovations and paint fool you.

5 Outlets
I embrace the age of technology. And you can’t be tech chic when the batteries are dead. Make sure you have enough outlets and that they’re in spots you can reach them once the room is arranged. Power cords running along floorboards is so not chic.

6 Middle of nowhere
I was raised in a city with public transportation. Convenient? Yes. Reliable? Not so much. I know how easy a delayed commute can ruin the start or end of my day, so I make it easy by being on a good, direct transit line. Not to mention nearby amenities. If I can’t walk to a grocery store or bank I’m probably not in the right spot.

Do you rent or own your home?

6 things to avoid when renting an apartment

prepping a house for sale and finding the perfect neutral paint

My mom is in the process of selling her house and as we prepare to put it on the market, we got some valuable advice from our real estate agent, Linda Turner with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty.

While the house is in great shape, the one thing Linda emphasized was the need for us to remove all the artwork on the walls; my mom’s an art-lover and there are paintings everywhere. But Linda encouraged us to remove the art, not only to depersonalize the space but to cover up all those holes on the wall. This meant we had to paint the entire main level of the house. Big job but we got it done!

“A fresh coat of paint goes a long way as an inexpensive facelift, wowing buyers immediately upon entering your home,” says Linda. “Keep tones neutral as this will give your rooms a spacious feel. Having said that, if one large principle room has a vivid colour on a feature wall and is accented with bright white trims (including crown moulding, upgraded baseboards and possibly French doors), this could prove to be a fabulous, eye-catching focal point of your main floor.”

It is also a good idea to depersonalize your home of family photos and to keep artwork to a minimum, she says. “This is particularly important on staircase walls. You want prospective buyers to concentrate on and remember all the fine details of your home. Selecting just one or two paintings that truly complement a room’s decor will also enhance the spaciousness of the room,” says Linda.

So – we set to the task of removing the artwork on the walls, filling the holes, sanding and repainting. Our search for the perfect neutral led us to find Sico’s Icing Sugar (6092-11) and we couldn’t be happier with the results. I love the colour; it’s a warm and delicious white. I’ve made a mental note of the name and definitely plan to use it again, likely to repaint my mom’s new home when she finds it.

dining room before prepping a house for sale and finding the perfect neutral paintPrepping the dining room: We removed all the artwork, filled the holes left behind and painted over the existing taupe paint.

dining room after prepping a house for sale and finding the perfect neutral paintThe final result: Fresh and clean, Sico’s Icing Sugar (6092-11) was a lovely choice!

It was a lot of work but Linda was right. All the rooms on the main level of the house now look fresher, cleaner and larger. We’re ready to put the house on the market and welcome prospective buyers.

Have you ever staged your home for sale? Got any tips to share?

real estate: dream cottage for sale!

As I’ve mentioned on this blog before, I’d choose the north shore of Lake Erie over the Muskokas for my slice of summer heaven any day, and here’s another reason why.

exterior1 real estate: dream cottage for sale!

Nestled along the base of a hill in the picturesque beach town of Turkey Point, Ontario, this dream cottage is currently listed on MLS at only $429,000. Bonkers!

exterior2 real estate: dream cottage for sale!

The landscaping of the 1,350-square-foot home is lush and brilliant (yes, that IS a palm tree in the foreground!), and the wraparound porch is almost too sweet to be true.
porch real estate: dream cottage for sale!

porch2 real estate: dream cottage for sale!

And — a rarity for many vacation homes at this price point — it’s move-in ready inside. In keeping with the beach setting, the decorating is light, bright and airy. I love the under-stair built-in storage!

staircase real estate: dream cottage for sale!

Love the robin’s egg finish on the kitchen cabinets, as well. And the full contingent of stainless steel appliances might just make your backyard barbeques a thing of the past. icon wink real estate: dream cottage for sale!

kitchen real estate: dream cottage for sale!

kitchen21 real estate: dream cottage for sale!All this, plus three bedrooms! What a gem…

Check out the full MLS listing here!

 

While you’re here, subscribe to this blog so you don’t miss out!

Follow Style Sleuth on Twitter!

designed to sell

Today`s real estate market is proving stressful for home buyers and sellers. How do you know when to buy and when to wait? What upgrades are worth the investment to attract potential buyers? What are the key considerations you should keep in mind before you buy or sell? styleathome.com checked in with Linda Turner, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty in Mississauga, Ont. and she revealed some secrets that will help you make the most of your move and get the most bang for your buck. Read the full story here: 10 secrets from a real estate agent. Plus, check out these gorgeous photos (below) of a Surrey, B.C. home that was designed on a budget to sell. You`ll want to check out those great ideas, too! Read the full story here: Sell this house: Budget-friendly decorating ideas

P.S. For more great decorating and design ideas, follow me on Twitter!

house1 designed to sell
house2 designed to sell
house3 designed to sell
house4 designed to sell
house5 designed to sell

condo buying guides

condo condo buying guidesBuying a condo is a big investment! And before you make your final decision, there are so many questions to ask. Do you know everything you need to know? In case you`re a) in the market and b) a little uncertain about all the costs involved, check out our condo-buying guide; it`s full of helpful information about real estate prices, maintenance fees and resale value. Plus, we`ve got 25 insider condo buying tips on everything from starting your research to making an offer (and everything in between). If you`re selling a home too, check out our 10 inexpensive home selling tips. We`ve got some great advice for giving your home a bit of extra flair to make it more attractive to prospective buyers.