Tara Matthews

(778) 834-7355

5 Minute Tips: Prep Your Home for Viewing


You have potential buyers coming but you’re already running late for work. What can you do in 5 minutes that will have the most impact?


1. Tidy the foyer / front entrance.

The front entrance is the first impression of your home. Put away your family’s shoes, hats, jackets, mail, etc.


2. Turn on lights and open the curtains.

Brighter homes look larger and more welcoming. Your real estate agent would be happy to turn off the lights and close the curtains after the prospective buyers have left, if you ask them.


3. Give the powder rooms a once-over.

Put the toilet lids down, wipe any hair and toothpaste spills from the sink, and put away toiletries.


4. Remove personal items.

Quickly go through your home and remove personal items such as family photos, bills and jewellery. This will help potential buyers picture themselves making the home their own.


5. Shake off your welcome mat.

Make sure your welcome mat is clean, free of leaves, bugs or other outdoor distractions that have a habit of accumulating.

This quick and easy task list will help you present your home to buyers in the best light, and it will ensure your mind doesn’t wander back to your house throughout the day with worries that you did not leave your home as clean as you could have.


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When shopping for a new home, it's a good idea to try and see the potential of the property you're viewing. It may not be exactly what you're looking for "as is", but it may have the potential to become your dream home after some redecorating or renovating.


The challenge is, judging how much work is required. You don't want to buy a home with the expectation that it requires a $20,000 renovation, only to discover that it really needed three times that much!


That’s where a good REALTOR® can help.


I can help you get a realistic estimate of the cost of repairs, upgrades, and renovations, and even recommend some reputable interior designers or contractors.

That way, when you see a home with "potential", you'll be able to make a more informed decision.

Want more tips on finding and buying your next dream home? Call me today.

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Often overlooked  for the dramatic effect it can have on any living environment . repainting of walls gives you a  29%  better  return than other popular renos.  Whether you  go neutral with splashes of colour or wam and dramatic, trends  include  a  mix   of  strong   colours.  Mixed with nature-inspired neutral-energy colours l ike orange, aqua, sage and blue, along with neutral palates  leaning  toward  bisque.   fawn ,  gray   and walnut.

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Nothing beats the feeling of curling up around a fire on a cold  winter's night.

Not to mention the comforting feeling of hearth and home that a fireplace adds to a room.

Installing or upgrading the fireplace in your home will generate 11% greater return on investment than  the average return on other popular renos.

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Let's face it. Life can get complicated, complex and stressful very easily. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to simplify your life, especially at home. Here are some tips from the experts:

  • Don't be ruled by the TV guide. Instead, select what you want to see and then record those shows. That way, you can watch them anytime.
  • Prepare some meals in advance that can simply be heated up as needed. That reduces a lot of "after-work, gotta-get-dinner-ready" stress.
  • Create a weekly dinner menu. It takes some time to prepare, but it allows you to shop effectively, and greatly reduces the stress of figuring out what to cook each day.
  • Don't accumulate stuff you don't want or need. Give those things away.
  • Simplify your cleaning by dividing tasks into ten minute chunks (such as vacuuming the living room.) Then fit those tasks in here and there whenever you have ten minutes.
  • To avoid clutter, adopt the "touch it once" rule, which simply means putting things where they belong right away.
  • Think of the home-related chore you hate doing most. Can you outsource that to a local company, or a neighbour looking for some work?
  • Limit the time you and others in your family spend checking emails and text messages. Consider having an hour or two each evening that's "no screen" time.
  • Develop healthy routines, such as evening walks and family board game night.

These are just a few ideas. If you want to simplify your home life, you can probably brainstorm several other strategies and habits you can try. The idea is to make your home an enjoyable place to be – for you and your family.

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Pollutants that most often affect indoor

air quality (IAQ) are either biological

(living organisms, like mould, bacteria

and dust mites) or chemical (usually

from outside air, indoor combustion,

and common household products). To

improve IAQ, homeowners are advised

to both prevent them from entering the

home and to eliminate them from the

inside. A proper system can do both. In a

sealed home environment, most incoming

air can be directed by circulation fans

through a mechanical filtration system

that eliminates the bulk of common

airborne offenders. Even if windows or

doors are frequently opened, the air can

be channeled through the system. In

addition, electronic air cleaners can be

very effective at removing pollutants from

the air in specific rooms. A third portable

type called ion generators are also

common, but they should not be used if

they create harmful ozone gas as a byproduct,

as it can make breathing all the

more troublesome. If you’re unsure of the

best treatment for your home, consult a

reputable IAQ professional.

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