Jerry Hay, Broker
(705) 790-1367 – jerryhay@royallepage.ca

Royal LePage First Contact Realty Brokerage
299 Lakeshore Drive in Barrie Ontario L4N 7Y9
Independently Owned and Operated

http://www.lakelandrealtymuskoka.com
Betty Murdoch, Broker of Record / Owner
Lakeland Realty Limited, Brokerage
Res: (705) 687-6484
e-mail: bmurdoch@lakelandrealtymuskoka.com

Produced by http://www.sellwithpictures.com and music by http://www.danosongs.com

Let the light into your home!

People do like light especially natural light. Here are a few tips:

• Open all curtains and/or blinds
• Move large furniture away from windows so you get the full light
• Stronger light bulbs in the darker rooms without windows (furnace, laundry etc.)
• Make sure your windows are clean – clean windows add sparkle to your rooms!

The more light – the better!

Next Post – Follow your Nose!

Having a clean house makes all the difference. Yes, it can be hard when you have children and pets but if you do a total clean – top to bottom, then it is just maintenance. This all should be done before the real estate pictures so that you can showcase your home at it’s best!

Here are a few tips:

• Kitchens – clean counter tops, sinks and floors and clean sliding glass door (they can be a collector of fingerprints and dog nose prints). The kitchen cupboards should be clean inside and out. People will open them to see the size so keep them tidy!
• Appliances – even if they are not being sold with the house they should be sparkly clean. If they are being sold with the home, then the insides should be spotless as well. People will open your oven and/or fridge to see what shape they are in.
• Hallways – should be clutter free.  In the foyer, keep shoes, jackets etc. in the closet. When people enter your home for a showing, they don’t need to be tripping over shoes etc. at the front door. Remember, the foyer is their first impression.
• Bathrooms – clean counter tops, toilets, sinks, bathtubs and showers. Tile brings value to your home so make sure there isn’t a build up of soap scum. Having iron spots etc. in your toilet takes away from the value as this will alert people to a water problem. You need to keep the rings on your fingers and not in your toilet.
• Bedrooms – beds should always be made and night stands should be clutter free. Laundry should be in a laundry hamper or kept in the closet. People will open your closet doors to see the size and any special features (organizers, storage, shelves etc.) so keep your closets clean and tidy. Put seasonal clothes into suitcases or bags and put them in your storage area in the basement or a designated closet.
• Windows – should be clean and sparkly – especially if they lead to a nice patio or backyard. Clean windows make all the difference! Having dirty windows will give a room a grimy feeling.
• Animals – keep litter boxes clean! There is nothing worse than walking into a house and getting a wiff of a dirty litter box. Keep litter boxes hidden. You can put them in a basement corner or another non-traffic area. You can put up curtain partition so that people can’t see it. Keep pet hair to a minimum as people with allergies will shy away from homes with animals.
• Carpets – clean carpets are a must! Have your home professional cleaned before inviting purchasers in – they will smell better and be stain free.

A clean house lets the buyers know that the home is well cared for. If they enter the home and they see a dirty,  messy, stinky home they will have the impression that the home has not been maintained. An unmaintained home could mean larger problems – plumbing, electrical etc. and the purchasers will shy away.

Happy cleaning – it is worth the extra effort!

Next week: Part 5 – Its all in the lighting!

Prospective buyers are looking for signs of neglect.  They believe if the home owners haven’t taken care of the day to day maintenance of a home, then there might be underlying problems of a larger nature.  My tip to you is to take a look around and make sure that the little things are done such as:

No Light Switch Cover

• missing light switches and/or electrical covers
• door handles
• door and/or windows that do not close properly
• taps dripping and toilets running
• cupboards not closing properly
• light bulbs burnt out
• peeling wallpaper
• missing trim
• chipped paint in visible areas
• missing closet doors or closet doors that do not close properly
• stains in the carpet in visible areas

You might not notice these things anymore but other people will! Taking care of the little things will make your home look well kept and maintained.

Next: Part 4 – A Clean House gives a Great First Impression!

Just a few tips to have your main picture look its best:

• Lawns should be mowed, leaves rakes or snow cleared
• Add some colour to the front entryway with a hanging pots or planters.
• Make sure all your garbage cans are stored away
• Remove any toys from the driveway.
• Clear under decks – when taking pictures of the entryway make sure that it doesn’t show what is stored under it.
• Make sure that your front door, porch and railings are clean – a little bleach helps!
• Clean up dead plants – make sure that your garden looks its best!

Part I CLUTTER!

Here are a few tips in getting your home ready for real estate pictures:

• Get rid of clutter – this is the most important one!! Clean counters, tables, coffee tables and wall units. Clutter really attracts the eye and takes away from the beauty of the home.

• 

  Clutter

• Get rid of the bright coloured items! If you have children’s tables, chairs etc. that are a bright colour – they tend to attract the eye. These items are welcome in the recreation room / playroom or the children’s bedrooms but not in the main living areas.
• Boxes or small storage units – stack them in one area or the spare bedroom. Better not to take a picture of the spare bedroom than have boxes or storage boxes in each room. Better yet – stack them against one wall and this way the photographer can avoid that wall when taking the picture.
• Bathroom Clutter: We all have clutter in the bathroom – toothbrushes, creams, toothpaste etc. Before the photographer arrives (or potential buyers) put all the clutter into a small box which can easily be stored in the bathtub or linen closet. It will make all the difference.
• The Foyer: This is the first impression! Clear away shoes, coats and other items to make your foyer look clean.
• Family Pictures: These are wonderful memories and keepsakes, but they tend to clutter the room

Next up:  Your Main Picture!

Our social media department will take care of designing your social media campaign to your business needs and targets.  We will then set up a schedule to management your blogging and posts making sure that they are connecting with the right channels.

Go to: http://www.your-social-media-marketing.com or our blog at: http://marketing.your-social-media-marketing.com