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.

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.

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.

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.

Like heat, water and air conditioning, insurance is a home expense you have some degree of control over. In fact, there are ways to reduce your insurance costs by as much as 20%.

The thing to keep in mind is that insurance companies will often reward you – in the form of lower rates – when you do something to reduce the risk of damage to your property. That's why you can often get a discount when you install smoke detectors on all floors. Other discounts may be available if you get better door locks, an alarm system, upgraded wiring, and so forth.

Contact your insurance company and ask how you can lower your insurance costs. Sometimes just a few minor changes can save you a bundle.

When you’re shopping for a new home, you want to find a property that has all the features and characteristics you want. A large deck surrounded by picturesque landscaping ... a beautiful kitchen with gleaming marble countertops... a cozy finished basement with fireplace....

You should look for the ideal home. You deserve it! But some home buyers make the mistake of becoming fixated on finding the "perfect" property, and passing too quickly on those homes that don't quite measure up.

Why is that a mistake? Because some of those less-than-perfect properties have the potential of becoming your next dream home.

First of all, a home that is lacking some desirable features, such as a finished basement, will probably cost less. Those savings may be more than enough to cover any needed upgrade or renovation.

Secondly, if you look at a home in terms of its potential, rather than the features it happens to have now, there will be more properties available on the market for you to consider.

If you're determined to have a large wrap-around deck for entertaining, for example, don't cross homes that don't have this feature off your list. At least not yet. Instead, view these properties with an eye on potential. Is the backyard big enough to accommodate a large deck? How would a deck like that look if added to this particular property? How much would such a renovation cost?

There's no doubt about it. You want to find a home that has all the features and characteristics you want. If you work with a good REALTOR®, there is a good chance you'll find a property that has most of them.

But keep an open mind. Sometimes a "diamond in the rough" can – with an upgrade or renovation – become a home you'll treasure for years.

You will want to make the process of shopping for a home as productive and enjoyable as possible. After all, you'll be on a quest to find your next dream home. That's why it's important to take the right things with you:

• A digital camera, so you can take pictures of the features you like in the properties you see.
• A notepad, so you can take notes.
• Measurements of your largest pieces of furniture, so you can confirm they'll fit in the rooms of properties you like.
• A measuring tape.
• Some healthy snacks and beverages, (especially important if you're taking the kids along).
• A map of the area, so you can check out local parks and other neighbourhood features.
• Clear driving directions to each of the properties you want to see.

One of the best ways to shop for a home, and actually enjoy the experience, is to work with a great REALTOR®. 

Ever wonder why "kitchen parties" naturally occur every time you have a get-togeher?

Well.... it's because the kitchen is the hub of every home.  It's where we get nourishment and refreshment, gather and regroup after a busy day.  It is a room with real value for every family.  Kitchen upgrades can really deliver with a 44 % higher return on investment than the average return on other popular renos.

When is the best time to sell your home?

If you've been thinking about selling your home, you might be waiting until the "market is right". After all, if the local market suddenly booms, your property will likely sell for a higher price.

That may be true. However, there are other factors to consider in your decision to list.

For example, will you be buying a new home as well? If so, then the higher selling price will probably be offset by the higher cost of the new property.

In addition, there may be characteristics of your home that will help sell it quickly and for a good price – today – regardless of the market conditions.

Everyone knows the value of a first impression.  Landscaping the front and backyard of your home will give you a 7% better return on your renovating dollar over the average retum on other popular renos. Increasing your curb appeal can be as simple as adding containers of brightly coloured flowers. An other idea would be to add a low maintenan ce garden for blocks of colour and texture. Also consider a simple water fixture in the backyard to add ambience.

Removing Stains From Rugs And Carpeting

Something has just spilled on your favorite rug or carpet. There's a stain forming. You're worried. Will you be able to remove it? Will the stain set and stay forever?

Luckily, there's a good chance you can completely lift just about any kind of stain – if you follow a few guidelines.

The first rule of stain removal is: act fast. The fresher the stain, the easier it is to lift. So when you notice a stain of any kind, start to work on it right away. Don't wait.

Begin by trying to dry blot the stain. Avoid the temptation of using a wet cloth or detergent, at least at this stage of the game. Blot the stain gently with a clean, dry cloth or absorbent paper towel. Be patient. It may take several minutes before you see any results.

If dry blotting doesn't completely lift the stain, mix up a combination of one glass of water with one teaspoon of lemon juice. Again, take a clean cloth or paper towel, wet it with the water/lemon mixture, and gently blot the area (test on an inconspicuous area first). Wait five minutes, then try dry blotting again.

You may have to repeat the above process a few times.

Using a vacuum cleaner directly over the affected area can also help lift more of the stain.

If, after all your efforts, some of the stain is still there, place a couple of sheets of paper towel over the stain, with a few books on top to maintain pressure. Leave those there for 24 hours. Check every hour or so. If you see stain on the paper towels, you know it's working.

If all else fails, consider calling in a professional cleaner. They know all the tricks and can often perform a miracle for you!

It is very rare that someone buys something without selling something first, and vice versa. If you are a homeowner and you’re looking for the right time to sell your house so you can buy another, you may be concerned that the price of your current home is dropping. But let’s take a closer look at that: assume the value of the house you are selling drops by 10 per cent. Let’s also assume that you plan to buy another home (whether upsizing or downsizing). The key to remember in a downturn market is that the person selling their home to you is going through the exact same thing. In other words, if the value of your home dropped 10 per cent, so too did the value of the new home you are buying. Focus on what your bottom line “net” is, rather than what you thought or had hoped to sell your home for.

conclusion: in most cases, the net effect of a market correction is zero.

Pick up any newspaper today and no one could blame you if you got a little worried about the state of the economy or the fear of a pending maket correction in Canadian real estate.

What if Greece defaults?  What about the "fiscal Cliff" in the US?  Are Canadians taking on too much debt?  Have mortgage rules gone too far?  Is there a housing bubble about to burst?  What if there is a market correction?

The real question is, do Canadian homeowners or prospective buyers need to be concerned?  Every time there is talk about a market correction in Canadian real estate, the tone is quite negatiave.  But let's take a closer look at that situation: rather than argue about whether we may have a market correction, let's analyze what it really means to Canadians if there is one.

FIRST TIME HOMEBUYERS:

If you are a first time homebuyer, you have likely felt the pinch of the rising cost of housing, and the new mortgage rules certainly haven't helped any either.  So a slight market correction would be welcome news for you.  You can still get into homeownership with only five per cent down, but since your maximum amortization is now limited to only 25 years, a drop in pricing is exactly what you'll need to be able to get into this market.

CONCLUSION:

A market correction is a good thing for you.

Home safety is more than locked doors and alarms

When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in.

One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars.

Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your home.

Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery, like a cedar hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit.

Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back door.

Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night.

Lights installed with motion detectors can also be effective in certain areas. The sensors will cause the light to turn on or brighten when someone comes onto that part of your property. Generally, thieves will flee as soon as they see a light turn on.

Do you hide a spare key under the front door mat or in a flower pot? No matter how clever you think you are, experienced thieves know all the common hiding places. So, if you need to have a spare key available, put it in a small combination lock box and hide the box. That way, if a burglar finds the box, he still won't be able to open it and access the key.