Clair Whittington

If you’re like most people, when it comes to getting decorating ideas for your Regina home, you probably turn to magazine pictures or furniture catalogues for inspiration. While these well decorated rooms are beautiful, they are also very safe. Try breaking out of your decorating rut to achieve the unexpected with a few rules, all of which were made to be broken!

Symmetry isn’t always best. While wall art and mirrors should stay balanced, when you balance accessories, it looks boring. Try using the same items mixed up, or find a unique way to group several items. Keeping in mind that less is more, you may even want to take a few things out of your room and bring the remaining pieces together in a new way.

On your dining table, place settings don’t have to match. As the holidays approach, you may be looking for a fun new way to present your entertaining table. Try choosing one unifying element in your table decor (like one color, a texture, or a theme) and mix it up. The informality a mixed table setting creates can make time with family and friends more comfortable.

All of your furniture doesn’t necessarily need to match the scale of your room. While it may be true that large furniture can crowd a small room, one oversized piece, like a sofa, can add substance to a room - just make sure you don’t go overboard (all the rest of the pieces should be in scale with the room). And, if you have smaller rooms, you can immediately make them appear bigger by eliminating clutter.
You don’t have to keep all your decor within one style. Contemporary and traditional furnishings can go nicely together and create a layered look, if they are mixed well. Make sure you choose one look that will dominate the space, and use eclectic pieces as accents.

For more decorating tips, read this online article. And if you’re ready to find a home to house all your decor, give me, Clair Whittington, a call! In the meantime, visit my website for more tips on home buying. I look forward to working with you to find your perfect home!

With the state of the current economy, the days of rubber stamped mortgages offered by banks with little proof of income are over. Looking to buy a Regina home and don’t have the money to simply write a cheque? You’ll need a mortgage, and keeping some key things in mind will help you find success in this new era of tightened lending.

Be ready to verify your income. While banks used to be content with a job letter before offering a loan, now they are also requiring a pay stub (or even two), and a T-4 or a notice of assessment. If you work over time, be sure to check with your lender to see if that income can be counted toward your mortgage qualification - it doesn’t always, since it isn’t guaranteed or as common anymore.

Work to maintain or raise your credit score. If you have very poor credit, getting a mortgage will be more difficult than it has been in the past. Those who have less than excellent credit will likely qualify for a mortgage, but will pay a little more in interest rates. If you have poor credit, or little down payment (you’ll need at least 5%), it might be a good opportunity to use the upcoming months to save more and pay down debt. When you re-enter the real estate market, you’ll be in a much better position to secure a mortgage.

Self-employed? Be ready to provide ample documentation to prove your income is within reasonable bounds for the size and type of business you do. If there are disparities between taxable and real income, lenders can refuse to provide a mortgage. Make sure the income you state is within those reasonable bounds if you’re stating your own income.

Educate yourself on the variety of mortgage options. If you do your homework, you’ll have a much better chance to choose the right mortgage for you, and give yourself the best opportunity to have everything the lender needs to make your approval process quick and easy.

If you’re not sure how much you can afford, visit this website to calculate a reasonable mortgage for your situation. And if you’re ready to begin your home search, give me, Clair Whittington, a call! I’d love to help you find the right home for you and your budget. Visit my website to learn more about how to choose the best home for you!

As colder weather is coming to Regina, we spend more time indoors and many of us use fireplaces to keep our homes warm. With this season, comes an increased threat to the possibility of fire or carbon monoxide poisoning. Follow these tips to prevent disaster and keep your family safe.

• Hunt for hazards. Prevention goes a long way - look around your home for hazards and remove them. Consider moving combustible chemicals outside, like paint thinner or gasoline, if you store them indoors. Or use a metal cupboard in the garage. Make sure there is nothing flammable near your furnace, fireplace, or barbecue that could catch fire.

• Get your fuel-burning appliances checked and cleaned. Every year, be sure to have your furnace, hot water heater, and fireplace/wood-stove professionally serviced.

• Never leave candles unattended and be sure to keep them clear of flammable materials, like curtains.

• Check to make sure you turn off your stove top, oven, and barbecue after use. Keep cooktops clear and do not wear loose fitting clothing around stoves, as they can easily catch fire.
• Make sure your home has operational smoke detectors - all homes built after 1997 are required to have them hardwired into the electrical system. Each level needs to have at least one smoke detector, and adding one for every sleeping area is a good idea. Also, be sure the batteries are good by testing the detectors monthly.
• Ensure that you have fire extinguishers that are all-purpose rated on hand, and you know how to use them. Put one in every vulnerable room, like the kitchen, garage, and workshop, and store them upright in a place where they won’t freeze.
• Develop an evacuation plan and discuss it with your family. In the unfortunate event that your home is affected by fire, you’ll want to be prepared. Put together a supply kit that will get you and your family through the first 72 hours of an emergency, and talk about the best ways to get out of your home, including a meeting spot once you’re out.

Find more information about emergency preparedness at www.redcross.ca and www.getprepared.ca.

If you’re in the market to buy or sell your Regina home, give me, Clair Whittington, a call. As your local Regina real estate professional, I have expertise in Albert Park and Grand Coulee. I’d love to help you find the perfect home for you and your family!

Do you want to live more eco-friendly? There are plenty of ways to get started, and the best place to start is in your own Regina home. By following the tips and tricks listed below, you’ll be on your way to a greener life each and every day!

To Save Water and Keep Our Supply Clean:

• Never leave the tap running while brushing your teeth or shaving, and shorten your shower time to six minutes. For bath time, only fill the tub halfway.
• Don’t flush tissues, paper towels, cigarettes or other trash down the toilet - it wastes several gallons of water.
• Dispose of household chemicals at local drop-off centres, and cut down on the amount you use around your home.
• Choose biodegradable products whenever you can, and avoid chemical pesticides and fertilizers in your yard and garden.
• Clean up paint, oil or gas (check your vehicle), or other chemical spills right away, and store garbage around your home properly.

To Save Energy:

• Only run your diswasher and clothes washer when it’s full, when possible wash in cold water, and use the air dry setting rather than drying with heat.
• When you purchase new appliances, choose Energy Star models - some municipalities will even offer rebates, if you do.
• Install a programmable thermostat and lower it at night or when you’re not home during the daytime.
• Caulk around doors and windows to prevent drafts and leaks.

To Improve Air Quality:

• Avoid scented products and air fresheners, which are rarely eco-friendly, and may contribute to asthma or other respiratory illnesses.
• Use detergent and water rather than harsh disinfectants that might have noxious fumes. Try using baking soda, vinegar, and castile soap - they often work better than commercial cleaning products.
• Try burning a few drops of natural essential oil in a clay infuser to scent the air, and eliminate the need to deodorize by taking out your trash every day (or more, if necessary).

To Cut Down on Garbage:

• Recycle plastics, glass, and newspaper, instead of throwing these things in the trash.
• Reuse grocery bags, or purchase a cloth reusable bag and bring it with you to the store.
• Buy high quality items that are durable to eliminate the need to replace them, and don’t buy anything you don’t need.
• Purchase items in bulk whenever possible and store bulk food in reusable containers.
• Get involved in composting, either in your own garden, or through your city’s composting program.

To get started, take this fun quiz and see your eco-impact, then get started living a greener life today!

Whether you are thinking about selling your Regina home or would like to find the perfect home here for you, let me, Clair Whittington, be your Regina real estate expert! Backed by Exit Realty Fusion, Saskatchewan’s first ecobroker, I’m well equipped to assist you in finding the most eco-friendly home that will benefit you and the environment! Give me a call today!

All of us have heard people talk about the benefits of organization, and when it comes to our homes, many of us here in Regina in say we could use more. While often considered a lofty goal, decluttering our homes is more than simply creating coloured labels on boxes. Instead, organization can be a crucial first step to living a whole, complete life.

How does a little organization lead to a more relaxed and fulfilled life? So many of us get caught up in the lie that the more we own, the happier we’ll be. It's really quite the opposite - our level of happiness in life is determined by the quality of our relationships, not the quantity of our belongings.

Many people blur the lines between stuff and life - believing that losing some of your stuff translates into losing part of your life. Ask yourself if holding on to that trophy from high school really enriches your life, and if getting rid of it will truly diminish those fond memories. And, do you really need to keep that punch bowl you haven’t used in years just because someday you might need it?

Recognizing the connection between physical clutter and emotional clutter will go a long way toward freeing you up to be more effective, efficient, and happy. Eliminating clutter and getting organized removes the stuff that is standing between you and the best life you could be living.

If you’re ready to tackle the clutter in your home, start with these tips:

1. Start by doing a thorough inventory of things rarely used (how many times in the past year?) and take a second look at your available space. Get rid of things you haven’t used in the past year - chances are, you don’t need them anyway.
2. Invest in furniture that doubles as storage space (like an ottoman with wheels, which can be used as a stool, seat, tray, and storage).
3. Rearrange kitchen shelves and counter space so healthier foods and cooking utensils are more accessible and put fine china on top shelves or pack them away to make room for the dishes you regularly use.
4. Declutter your home office - clear your desk of unnecessary papers (throw them away or file them). An uncluttered work space maximizes your efficiency - you’ll get more done in less time.
5. Clean out your garage by removing broken or unused items and install a wall unit or another storage system to protect what you must keep.

More ideas can be found in this online article and the book It’s All Too Much, by Peter Walsh.

If you take inventory and realize you need to buy a home that better fits your needs, I’d be thrilled to be your real estate expert! Give me, Clair Whittington, a call! In the meantime, visit my website for more tips on home buying. I look forward to working with you to find your perfect home and enrich your life!