BEAT THE RUSHThinking about putting your home on the market this year? If so,you'll want to start gathering information and getting market updatesnow. The right buyer for your home may already be looking, so ifyou're ready to sell now, let's talk!

Get a head start on the competitionby calling today for tips on howto effectively prepare your homefor sale. By planning ahead, you'll

RE/MAX have time to get ready on both aFirst Realty Ltd., Brokerage physical level (by cleaning, purging CREA'sChief Economist, Gregory1154 Kingston Road KI dd "H I tivitand organizing your home), and on ump, a s, ome sa es ac IVI yPickering,ON L1V1B4~-------'-~------+-+-----:rfu' rarrcia I Ieve liby putrtr..-7lg •.•ymo'""u"r~~---Lo""vLerl.-:J.t.Wh.e.,paSi..co.uple-l)LmontllS----t---j

paperwork in order and researching suggests buyers are confident thatsales of properties similar to yours, the Canadian economy will remainin your area). relatively unscathed by global

economic risks, since every homepurchase is a homebuyer's vote ofconfidence in the future."

for some time to come. Homebuyersclearly see the opportunitiesthat the current interest rateenvironment presents."

Steve HudsonReal Estate Sales Representative

Office:Fax:Email:Web:

905-831-3300905-831-8147steve@stevehudson.cawww.stevehudson.ca

Gary Morse, Canadian Real EstateAssociation (CREA) President,notes that our housing marketcontinues to be active. "Interestrates are at low levelsand are likely tostay that way

Greetings! You're receiving thisnewsletter with hopes that you findit informative and entertaining. February is a great time to take

stock of your home-selling andhome-buying needs. Please callwith your questions, and for help inorganizing your real estate plans.

If you're thinking of making a move,or are just curious as to real estatetrends in your area, please feel freeto call at any time. It's always goodto hear from you!

All the best,

Steoe- Huc:/£O/1/

Each office is independently owned and operated.

FOR SMALL ROOMS

• Choose furniture that's not only small in size, but openin design - think sofas and chairs with exposed legsand without arms, tables with glass tops and bookcaseswithout backs. Don't place furniture where it willobstruct pathways or views: the further the eye can seeinto a room, the bigger it will seem to be.

• Flooring should unite spaces, not break them up,lending small spaces uninterrupted visual flow. Connectrooms with continuous hardwood floors or carpetingthroughout your home, and, where rugs are desired ornecessary, opt for one solid-print area rug instead ofhaving several smaller, patterned ones scattered around.

• Be col or-conscious. Light, soft hues - whites, creams,pale blues, greens and yellows - help lend-small rooms asense of airy spaciousness. Also opt for a monochromaticcolor scheme - when colors contrast, you lose some ofthat visual unity, mentioned above, that's key to trickingthe eye into believing the space is bigger.

• Speaking of light. window coverings should be gauzy,so as to let in as much natural light as possible. Centraloverhead lighting has the effect of "pulling" walls in, soscatter light sources around the room - recessed lightingis ideal for small rooms. Take advantage of mirrors toreflect windows and artificial light sources.

FOR LARGE ROOMS

• Unlike small rooms, where furniture should be positionedagainst the walls to avoid breaking up the space, in largerooms, furniture should be brought out from the walls,directing traffic around the room's perimeter, and placedin distinct groupings serving different purposes, likereading, talking and watching television.

• Go big and bold. Think large scale, in your furniture, inyour artwork, in your plants, in your light fixtures, andin your patterns (do avoid vertical and horizontal stripes,though - they'll emphasize the room's height or width).Proportion is key. Opt for heavy, rich, textured fabrics fordrapes and pillows, and thick, plush rugs.

• For your walls, pick a warm, dark hue. If you preferwallpaper to paint. consider something textured orembossed (remember: large patterns). Paint your ceiling;if you have high ceilings, use a shade darker than yourwalls and consider installing moldings a few feet below -both tricks help "lower" the ceiling.

• Avoid stark lighting - halogen and fluorescent lightsaren't exactly cozy. For an intimate atmosphere, youwant soft, warm, ambient light (in addition to any tasklighting needed for whatever activities you use the roomfor). Think low-wattage incandescent light. lots of tableand floor lamps, and wall sconces.

Volume 8, Issue 2 3 ~ 0

Pricing your home competitively is key to getting it

off the market sooner - as is not wasting time and

energy on the wrong kind of buyer. So who is the

right kind of buyer?

The right kind of buyer is one who's serious aboutbuying. They're not looky-Ioos or tire-kickers, onlyattending open houses because they're just dying tofinally get a look inside a neighbor's place, or to getsome reno and decor inspiration for their own homes,or because they have extra time on their hands on aweekend afternoon.

The right kind of buyer is one who's not only able toafford your property, but who is financially preparedto purchase it. They're ready to make an offer. They'vebeen pre-approved and pre-qualified by a lendinginstitution, meaning they won't present a stumblingblock mid-transaction due to financing problems.

The ideal kind of buyer is a buyer who can make a cleanoffer - that is, one with no or minimal contingencies.While an inspection contingency is typical and .shouldn't turn sellers off, a buyer whose offer isconditional upon the sale of their home might not bethe right buyer for you.

So how can you distinguish the right kind of buyerfrom the wrong kind of buyer? That's where your realestate sales representative can help. It's part of theirjob to screen buyers on your behalf, weeding out poorprospects and focusing on those who are more likelyto facilitate a quick, smooth sale - saving you time,energy, and even money.

Even seasoned homebuyers can sometimes findthemselves suffering a case of cold feet after signingan offer to purchase a home. Below are somestrategies to help you cope with buyer's nerves.

• Remind yourself that your feelings are a normalreaction and that you're far from the only homebuyerwho's ever doubted, in the face of an imminent closing,that they made the right choice. You've made a big

y natural to second-glJess '}illUOO£-----

after having done so.

• Stop shopping! Unless you've reason to believe the dealmay fall through (e.g., due to the home-inspectionresults), continuing to look at real estate listings canonly serve to further confuse you and exacerbate yourdoubts. Fact is, you'll always find properties whose grassseems a little greener, so once you've committed to aproperty, it's best to step away from the Internet andclose those classifieds!

• Review your search criteria. If you made a "needs vs.wants" list before you started home hunting, now's thetime to pull it out and go over it again. Taking stockof the criteria that served to narrow your search downto this home will help remind you that you made thewisest decision possible, given your needs and budget.

• If you didn't make a list prior to home-hunting, makeone now. Write down everything you love about thehome and its location. Also write down any concernsyou have. Committing your thoughts to paper canput things in perspective - helping you realize yourconcerns lack merit, for instance.

jJ MIXPaper from

FSC responsible sources

._,~"'" FSC" C018297

Everyone likes to save a few bucks, but when it comesto home repair and renovation, it doesn't always pay totake the do it yourself approach. Below are five projectsbest left to the professionals.

• Roofing. The risk of injury is reason enough to leaveroofing projects to the experts, but in addition,mistakes here can quickly lead to more serious andexpensive problems, like water damage, mold, andfoundation issues.

• Electrical work. Safety is a concern here too: onemisstep could result in electrical shocks and fires. Evenif your handiwork poses no physical threat, poweroutages and shorts could arise, and your house mightnot be up to local code, posing problems should youdecide to sell it.

• Plumbing. A plumbing project gone wrong might notbe as big a safety issue, but it can certainly wreak alot of damage. A botched plumbing job can lead toleaks, which can in turn lead to problems rangingfrom rot and mold, to a more expensive water bill, tofoundation issues.

• Window installation. Improper installation couldresult in air leaks, as well as making your house a lesscomfortabie ana more-expensive piace to iive.

• HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).Inefficient HVAC systems can result in poor indoor airquality, unstable temperatures, and more expensivebills. Safety is also a concern, as electrical and chemicalcomponents are involved in HVAC repair, which mayrequire permits and meeting certain building codes.

Remember, doing a big home maintenance job yourselfisn't always as easy, or as economical, as it may appear.

The information and opinions contained in this newsletter are obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but their accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors and omissions or for any damages resulting from the use of the publishedinformation. This newsletter is provided with the understanding that it does not render legal, accounting, or other professional advice. Not intended to solicit properties or businesses listed for sale and agency agreements in place with other real estate brokers. Whole orpartial reproduction of this newsletter is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. 0 Market Connections Inc:1l2012, Phone: (800) 387-6058.

Lien - A legal claim placed by a creditoron a piece of real estate to secure the

payment 01 a debt. A lien _giv_~~jtsholder. __ --=the right to sell the property to satisfy

the debt if it's not otherwise paid; whenthe debt is paid, the lien is removed.

When buying a property, it's importantto ensure, by means of a title search,that there are no liens against it thatcould prevent securing your clear title.

Terminology lip

Compliments of Steve Hudson RElMAX First Realty Ltd., Brokerage

Steve HudsonReal Estate Sales Representative

whether YOlkare buyinj or selLiJtj tV houce; I ai«.here- toassist:YOlka;u;lyour fauUly witIv .ayour real estate-needs.Please- fed f~ to caLt uce- witIv aI1f 1UMtWn£. Iwokftrwardto ~ witlvyoU/.

Office:905-831-3300

Fax:905-831-8147

steoe. HuMOPVEmail:

steve@stevehudson.ca

4 P-275935