Choosing Outdoor Lighting to Improve Your Home's Curb Appeal

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Well-executed exterior lighting can enhance the architectural detail of your property and makes your home look beautiful in the evening adding an abundance of curb appeal.   Aside from aesthetics, good exterior lighting can give you and your guest’s added security and peace of mind when entering and leaving your home.

Much of the success of exterior lighting depends mainly on its design. Professional lighting designers often talk about “moonlight effect.” That’s a naturalistic look that features light no more intense than that of a full moon, but still strong enough to make beautiful shadows and intense highlights.

A well-lit front entrance enables you to greet guests and identify visitors. Wall lanterns on each side of the door will give your home a warm, welcoming look while assuring the safety of those who enter.

Install a single fixture above the garage door to provide lighting for safety and security. Consider installing a motion sensor on these fixtures or a photocell that turns the lights on at dusk and off at dawn to save energy.

Another important factor is making your home secure and safe from intruders and animals. Good lighting around the entire perimeter of your home can be a deterrent in itself. Illuminate any side of the house that would otherwise be in shadows. Spotlights installed on your eaves will accomplish this, or, for a more dramatic look, consider ground lights pointed up to graze your walls.

Steps, paths, and driveways should be illuminated to make sure family members and guests are able to move about easily and safely after dark. You can install path lights or post lanterns or attach lights to the side of the house.  Low-level path lights, which spread circular patterns of light, will brighten your walkway while highlighting nearby flower beds, shrubs and ground cover. Low-level path lights can also be used to define the boundaries of long driveways.

If you have added exterior features like a swimming pool, an exterior porch or entertaining space, ensure these areas are well lit as well.

Choose lighting fixtures that look beautiful, but also throws light a good distance away from your home. This will help illuminate dark areas and aid your vision to see outside from inside your home. If you have a large property, floodlights installed on the corners of your home will help throw light further than average wall sconces on the exterior of your home.

Another consideration to keep in mind is to select outdoor light fixtures that are energy efficient and made of durable material to suit the harsh outside temperatures during the hot summer days and cold winter nights.  In most cases, fixtures made of cast aluminum are a very durable option.

Contact me at www.kimlouie.net to chat about real estate!

9 Tips to Help Sell Your Home in a Slow Market

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Selling a house in a slow real estate market can be difficult. In times like these, it's not enough to simply list your home and wait; you actually have to sell your home. No one really wants to sell anything when the market is bad, however, it's not impossible to sell your house in these conditions. It just takes a positive attitude and a different kind of game plan.

Even though the market's not favourable to sellers and widespread economic recovery may be months, even years off, there are a number of tactics available to increase the likelihood of a sale.

1. Know your market
One of the most important things you can do to get your house sold is to learn your market, the value of your property and your competition. Most sellers operate in the dark, simply offering the property for the price they want, without regard to what other homes have sold for and are currently selling for. Undervaluing or overpricing your home can cost you tens of thousands of dollars.

2. Price your home right
With homes sales slowing and prices plunging, there's little doubt that selling for a good price in today's market is going to be tricky. The median existing-home price dropped more than 7% compared with the same month last year, according to the National Association of Realtors. So if you try to ask as much for your property as your neighbour got a year ago, you're going to turn off potential buyers. Instead, price your home conservatively by looking at similar houses currently on the market. Also, look at the homes that aren't selling. Chances are those owners priced their homes too high.

If you really want to stimulate a sale, you should underprice your property by just a little. Trimming the price by a few thousand dollars can generate more foot traffic and create a buzz. 

3. Make your home presentable
Keep your house looking good at all times, repair things that are broken, and replace things that are rundown. Add a fresh coat of paint (neutral colours preferred), freshen up landscaping, trim trees, clean up clutter and remove personal items, so that prospective buyers can picture themselves in the home rather than seeing you there.

To guarantee a quick sale, consider using a professional home staging service. Your property must make a strong, positive impression. Staging a home is the cheapest way to make a house look different from your competition so it becomes the most memorable one that the buyer saw. 

4. Market your home aggressively
In addition to using the multiple listing services, advertise in local papers and be sure to include beautiful photos. Each photo should showcase something interesting and unique about the property.

Place numerous signs and flags in front of your home so that your house is easily seen. Consider placing a well-designed flyer in front of the house. Make sure the flyer has great photos of the property from all angles, inside and out, as well as a link to a web site where people can take a "virtual tour."

5. Be flexible with showings
It only takes one Buyer to get your home sold. Don’t make your Realtor feel as though their request for a showing is an inconvenience.

6. Play up your home’s best features
If you have fireplaces, make sure that you have fires burning so that there are a beautiful warm glow and the sound of crackling. If you have a gourmet cook’s kitchen, have some great-smelling treats baking in the oven. Turn on soothing music. Set all lights and lamps if the home looks dark or feels heavy. Lighting is crucial. Do the same as if you were having a formal dinner party- the house will certainly sparkle. 

7. Offer buyers incentives
A low price may be incentive enough for some buyers, but others might be holding out for something more. This is where creativity can really take over. Perhaps you can throw in a new set of kitchen appliances, or a 3-day paid vacation in Mexico. There are a ton of incentives that speak to the heart of the buyer; be creative and see which one speaks to yours.

8. Offer flexible terms
Often, the best way to sell a home more quickly in a buyers market is to adjust the terms of the sale instead of the price. While it may sometimes be necessary to adjust the asking price downward or to negotiate a lower price with the buyer, sometimes offering help with closing costs or extended settlement date, will go a lot further.

9. The first offer rule
If you get an offer within the first few weeks, the tendency is for sellers to try and hold out for a better offer. This is generally a mistake. The biggest fish usually bite first, so keep in mind that your first offer will often be your best. 

Lastly, keep a positive attitude!

Contact me at www.kimlouie.net to chat about real estate!

Freshen Up Your Home for Spring!

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Spring season invites changes to your home with fresh decorating ideas. Now that we have a sneak peek at spring, it is the perfect time to kick off the season by adding a little freshness to your home. Here are a few tips that will have you and your home feeling renewed in no time.

Pare down and organize
No need for excess, spring is the perfect time to thin things out. Start with closets by pulling out clothes and shoes you have not worn in a while, and donate them so that someone else may get some joy out of the items. The same goes for books and magazines and anything else that's been accumulated. Remember to tackle the pantry, fridge and medicine cabinet too, and discard or recycle what is no longer needed.

Once everything is pared down, organize what is left. Baskets, decorative boxes, and bowls are a great way to keep a sense of order to everyday things. After a good clean up, your space will get an instant lift and you will feel refreshed and lighter too.

Rotate art and rearrange furniture
Separate art into summer and winter piles. Hang the lighter, pastel colours for spring and summer, and put the deep, oil paintings in storage. Every six months, rotate your pieces. This way, you enjoy your art with new vigor, and it’s something you can do in minutes.

Simply switching the placement of a sofa set, or repositioning the TV can make you feel like you have a whole new room. If you don't have much room for movement, change and update the smaller things, like pillows, throws, and lamps. Remember, even a small change will do you good and help brighten up your home.

Give your home new colours
Nothing brings the feel of spring in like the colours and textures of the season. Keep a spring garden in mind and pick the colours and flowers you like the most from the spring garden colour palette. Choose the ones that look best with your overall colour schemes that are already in place.

Nothing says spring more than fresh flowers. Make sure to be consistent with creating arrangements. Choose a colour scheme, like all white, instead of mixing bouquets. Use the same type of flower in one glass container with a beautiful white satin or grosgrain ribbon wrapped around it.

The infusion of brighter colours and fresh flowers and plants reinforce your seasonal changes and give your home a new relaxing look and feel.

Brighten up the windows
New updated window treatments can make one of the most profound changes to the look and feel of a room. Spring calls for delicate colours and soft fabrics. Choose something light and airy, like a soft drapery or sheer window shading.

Let the sunshine in, and if you are worried about privacy, can place room-darkening blinds that you can adjust for a look and feel that is tailored to your unique needs. In addition, sunscreen window shades are especially popular options that will prepare your home for the glare of the sun and the heat of the upcoming summer.

Soothe the senses
Spring is not only a colourful season but a fragrant one too. Bring the aroma indoors. Scents have a profound effect on mood.  Infusing scent into your décor with diffusers, candles, fresh cut plants/flowers, or incense can change the overall feeling of a space. Purchase an inexpensive bouquet of flowers.  Split flowers up by colour, and place each bunch in small vases around your home.

Update accessories
Just as you’d add a scarf or necklace to enhance an outfit, do the same with your home. Dress your home like you would yourself. Look for great accent pillows in bright colours. Put away the winter throws and drape light, bright throws on your sofa. Pick out spring-hued vases or candles to boost a cocktail or dining room table.

Beautify your bedroom
Bright new bedding can do wonders for your personal space. Tuck away the heavy, winter flannel comforter and pull out crisp linens with a decorative bedspread. Bring in the spring with floral-designed spreads or colourful solids. Don’t forget accent pillows for added style and comfort.

Contact me at www.kimlouie.net to chat about real estate!

Home Sales Slide for Second Month in Waterloo Region

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There were 511 residential sales in March through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR), a decrease of 5.7 per cent versus the same month last year, and down 7 per cent compared to the previous ten-year average for March.

“The activity on detached homes continues to be strong,” says Brian Santos, KWAR President. “But the average number of sales in March was brought down by fewer semi-detached, townhomes and condos. I think this can be credited to the lack of inventory and options buyers have in those segments of the market.”

Total residential sales in March included 325 detached (up 3.2 per cent), and 45 condominium apartments (down 11.8 per cent). Sales also included 116 townhouses (down 14.7 per cent) and 25 semi-detached homes (down 37.5 per cent).  

The average sale price of all residential properties sold in March increased 3.4 per cent to $505,855 compared to March 2018.  Detached homes sold for an average price of $585,668 an increase of 0.8 per cent compared to March of last year. During this same period, the average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $320,857 for an increase of 7.5 per cent. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $372,003 (down 1 per cent) and $422,360 (up 6.4 per cent) respectively.

The median price of all residential properties sold last month increased 3.9 per cent to $474,900, and the median price of a detached home during the same period decreased by 0.8 per cent to $540,400
“Sale prices across Kitchener-Waterloo and area experienced increases in March,” says Santos. “While pundits are focussing on affordability challenges, this also reflects the greater attribute of livability and how Waterloo Region offers a great quality of life.”

REALTORS® listed 797 residential properties in K-W and area last month, a decrease of 4.8 per cent compared to March of 2018, and a decrease of 4.5% in comparison to the previous ten-year average for the month of March. On the other hand, the total number of homes available for sale in active status at the end of March totalled 819, an increase of 5.4 per cent compared to March of last year, but still well below the previous ten-year average of 1,371 listings for March.

Santos contends restrictions brought on by the B-20 mortgage stress test have pushed buyers into lower price points. “It’s difficult for buyers who are trying to find a house under the $500,000 mark – because demand is strongest in that range.”

Contact me at www.kimlouie.net to chat about real estate!