Kimberley Pacholko CSP™

I recently had the pleasure of revisiting Designers Walk in Toronto, Ontario. It has been years since my last visit. For those who are in the Interior Design and Interior Decorating fields it is a must see.

Designers Walk®

Designers Walk® is a thriving commercial centre of highly venerated showrooms for the interior design industry. They provide the design professional with the opportunity to source and purchase exquisite products, available to their clients only through a design professional

Resource Centre

With over 90 companies on display, covering over 11,000 square-feet of space, the DW Resource Centre offers hundreds of distinctive premium product brands in kitchen & bath, appliances, lighting, flooring, paint, tile & stone, home & office furnishings and much more-all under one roof. Open to the public and the trade, this "shared showroom" concept provides a one-stop sourcing experience.

I attended a series of well attended and informative seminars. One that I found particularily interesting was hosted by Samantha Pynn of Pure Design. She was speaking on eco-friendly fabrics. I had no idea that there were so many options now open to the eco-conscious amoung us. She showed us many beautiful bamboo and hemp fabrics produced by Robert Allen and Beacon hill. Check out these web sites to learn more. www.robertallendesign.com www.beaconhilldesign.com

If you are the kind of person that likes to keep up to the latest trends in home fashion then designers walk is the place for you. Check out this link to learn more about Toronto's Designers Walk and the various showrooms located there. http://designerswalk.com/home

Kimbereley Pacholko is a Home Stager/Gardener/Soft-scape Landscaper located in Whitby, Ontario. She can be reached at: White Swan Properties (905)-725-7926 or e-mail info@whiteswanproperties.ca

Landscaping to Sell Verses Landscaping for Ones Self in Ontario's Durham Region

I have been landscaping (soft-scape) in Ontario's Durham Region professionally for 5 years now. One thing I have observed is the confusion that sometimes centers round landscaping to sell verses landscaping for ones self. Is there a difference? If so what is it? Is landscaping a good investment from a resell stand point? What types of landscaping projects bring the greatest return on your investment? I will try to address these questions for you here.

First of all YES there is a difference between landscaping to sell and landscaping for ones self. In the former:

Landscaping to sell:

• You are advised to choose flowers colours that are more visible from a distance. Like reds and yellows. (Rather than the pinks and purples).

• Your plantings should be fuller than normal.

• Low maintenance yards are the order of the day. You may need to remove some perennial flowerbeds and replace them with grass or ornamental shrubs.

• Big emphasis should be placed on beautiful hanging-baskets and urns. Small little pots and ornaments should usually be removed.

• Beautiful built -in BB-Q's and other elaborate and expensive stone and landscape should usually only be under taken for properties in higher price ranges; and even then only if other homes similar to theirs offer these up-grades.

• Do not let your personality shine through, rather choose generic designs and colour schemes that will appeal to a broader base of people.

• Now is not the time to invest a lot of time and money into soil work.

Landscaping for ones-self:

• Go with what you love and what you have the time, budget and skill to maintain.

• Try to choose colour schemes that harmonize with the house and colour harmonies that are pleasing in and of them-selves. But other than those guidelines the sky is really the limit. Let your personality shine through.

• Pay special attention to how you plan to use this outdoor space. Put your money into the areas that are of greatest value to you ie: If you love perennials and gardening put your time and effort into creating elaborate flower gardens. If your passion is entertaining, decks or patios along with BB-Q's and dining areas are your better bets. If you have young children large flat grassy areas will be the order of the day.

• Do not over plant. This will lead to not only potential plant disease but will create a lot of unnecessary work in the near future thinning and moving things around.

• Pour your time, money and energy into your soil quality. Make sure you have a deep layer of top soil and be sure to amend it yearly with lots of compost.

Is landscaping a good investment from a resell stand point?

This really is a loaded question. The answer depends on the value of the home, the type of landscaping undertaken, and your particular target market. If you are re-landscaping with the intentions of selling in the near future then follow the above guide for landscaping to sell. If you are not planning on selling for some time but still would prefer to landscape your property with an eye towards future resale value then do a combination of the 2 lists. Design it still to your liking and needs but do not do anything to wild or out of the norm like carve all your trees into totem poles or paint all your sideways yellow (like the wizard of OZ).

What types of landscaping projects bring the greatest return on your investment?

• A great lawn is always a good investment. It adds immeasurably to the curb appeal of your home in part because visually it takes up a lot of space.

• Tree-scaping can add substantially to your home value, not to mention desirability.

• Excessive flower gardens tend to turn buyers away. Many love the look but are just too busy to maintain them.

• Beautiful and well maintained walkways and driveways tend to be a good investment.

• Out-door lighting is also tends to be another good investment.

Take a drive around your community some time. Pay special attention to the curb appeal of each home you pass. Take a picture of the ones you find particularly appealing or right down what it is you liked about it. Chances are if you found it appealing others will as well.

Kimberley Pacholko is a Certified Staging Professional^TM, Professional Gardener and Soft-Scape Landscaper

Located in Ontario's, Durham Region you can reach her at White Swan Properties(905)-725-7926 or e-mail her at: info@whiteswanproperties.ca

Home Staging tips for Whitby home owners! How to add curb appeal to your property!

I recently took an afternoon to drive around the different residential neighbourhoods of Whitby, Ontario. My goal was to study effective curb appeal. I went armed with my camera ready to take photos of any properties I felt had great curb appeal . I must admit that I was disappointed to discover that many of the homes in Whitby lack in this regard.

The homes with the nicest appeal tended to be in more affluent neighbourhoods, like McQuay, Cochrane and the Cullen Garden district. This is partly because these homes have larger landscaping budgets but also because their plantings are still very young and not yet over grown.

If you are ever in the Hamilton area check out the little town of Dundas, just to the west of Hamilton. Now this is a community with great curb appeal.As you drive from home to home through the residential neighbourhoodsyou will be met with immaculate lawn after immaculate lawn, beautifully landscaped yards and attractive well maintained homes. Every once in a while you will spot a deer in someones yard. It makes you want to get out of your car to take it all in.

Enhancing your properties curb appeal may not be a big priority with you now. But when it comes time to sell, enhancing your properties curb appeal will become a necessity, if you want to receive the maximum value allotted for your home. Properties with great curb appeal beacon to potential buyers to come inside for a closer look; and I might add they are entering your home in a positive state of mind, not a ready to find fault, or in a discount mind set.

Following are a few Home Staging tips to bring your properties curb appeal up to snuff:

1. Tame that jungle. Neatly trim all bushes, shrubs and trees. Make sure they are not blocking walkways or windows. Remove and replace any overgrown or sickly bushes and shrubs with healthier versions that are in better proportion with your property.Edge your flower beds and lawns it really does make a tremendous difference.Make sure your lawn is green and thick and neatly mowed. Discard any sickly plants especially in hanging baskets and pots and replace them with healthier versions. Reds and yellows are great colours to add to draw attention to your property and to enhance it's curb appeal when you are selling. (And please do not forget to remove the weeds! There really is no excuse for this when your home is on the market.)

2. Add 3 hits of black. Adding 2 black urns full to overflowing with beautiful seasonal flowers along with a black doormat is an inexpensive way to add some charm to your front entryway. In the winter you can fill the urn with Christmas greens and in the spring with tulips and other spring bulbs.

3. Use 3 colours only in a 60%-30%-10% ratio.

4. Paint your front door in a contrasting colour. Good colour chooses for front doors are black, red, ometimes aqua. Depending on the colour of your siding or brick.

5. Add some new door casings. To dress up a front door try adding some new elegant door moldings. Choose a style that is in keeping with the homes architectural styling. This little addition can really make your front entrance rock.

6. Add shutters to windows. For an instant face lift try adding some new shutters to the windows.

7. Mulch-up those flower beds.

8. Repaint metal railings and rusted urns. Tremclad makes a great rust paint for this purpose.

9. If your yard is still lack luster have it professionally landscaped. Exercise a little caution here as many landscaping projects are very expensive and will not bring you a good return on your investment in such a short amount of time.

10. Remove old fabric awnings. They tend to look dated and tired.

11. Pay special attention to the lighting. Up-dating your homes exterior lighting will help to make it look newer and well kept. It will also improve safety around the home.

12. Up-grade door hardware and mail boxes. These finishing touches go a long way towards creating a positive first impression.

13. Remove all boats & trailers from your driveway. A clear unobstructed view of your home is necessary for passers by. While you are at it clear away all building materials, garbage and children's toys as well.

The goal of creating a great curb appeal is to get the buyers to want to come inside. Make it as appealing as your time and budget will allow.

Kimberley is a Certified Staging Professional^TM, Interior Decorator, Professional Gardener and Soft-scape Landscaper located in Whitby, Ontario.

You can reach her at: info@whiteswanproperties.ca or phone: 905-725- SWAN

To Stage or not to Stage? Is no longer a very effective question. With research clearly revealing Home Stagings effectiveness not only in getting homes sold faster (an average of 50% faster and as much as 89% faster according to a 2008 RESA study) but often for higher returns(as much as 10% more. With 65% of buyers willing to pay more for a home that is move-in ready.)

Home Staging has become a powerful marketing tool employed by fast-track Real-Estate agents, enlightened home Builders and informed Home Sellers.

Check out these Home Staging links to learn more:

www.realestatestagingassociation.com/

http://www.homegain.com/download/max_guide.pdf

http://www.mv-voice.com/morgue/2000/2000_03_24.ralmstag.html

http://www.royallepage.ca/CMSTemplates/AskRLP/Selling/SellingTemplate.aspx?id=1045

http://www.csptraining.com/pages/?cspid=1494

The better question in today's fast paced and ever changing real-estate industry is whether to hire a Professional Home Stager of to stage your-self?

Home Staging is no longer an option it is becoming a must, if you want to keep up and compete with other similarly priced homes on the market. Deciding whether to hire a Professional Home Stager or to stage your-self will depend on a few things:

1. Your Budget: Although hiring a Professional Home Stager has proven to bring a good return on your investment there are times when a person just does not have the financial resources available to them.
2. Time Available: Depending on the condition of your home staging it to sell may require more time and energy than you can afford.
3. Physical Limitations: Home Staging is physically demanding. If you have any physical limitations you may need to hire a professional.
4. Your knowledge and understanding of Home Staging: Professional Home Stagers take years to master their craft. A good home stager studies up on current market trends. They are masters marketers not decorators. Decorating your home (or show-casing it as they call it in the industry) is merely a marketing tool. Furniture placement, colour schemes, lighting, kitchen and bathroom designs etc. are all scientifically determined and are not/and should not be based upon personal preference or taste.

Whether you choose to stage your home your-self or to hire a Professional Home Stager is up to you. JUST DO IT!

Remember if you are not STAGING your home to sell your competition probably is!

Kimberley is a Certified Staging Professional^TM, Interior Decorator, Professional Gardener and Soft-scape Landscaper located in Whitby, Ontario.

You can reach her at: info@whiteswanproperties.ca or phone: 905-725- SWAN

As a Certified Home Staging Professional located in Whitby, OntarioI know all too well the challenges faced by Realtors® and Home Stagers alike in this regard.

Selling the concept of Home Staging to a client can at times be difficult. Home Staging is still a relatively new concept and there is still a lot of ignorance and uncertainty surrounding it. The key to your success will lie in your own faith in Home Staging and in that of educating your client. If you are not totally sold on the concept yourself you will have a difficult time selling this very effective service to your clients. I truly believe that Home Staging is a concept whose time has come. You can either choose to embrace it, like computers, black berries, twitter and e-mail, or you can remain in your fear and ignorance and fall behind.

A Realtor® located in Ajax, Ontario called me this morning and shared with me the difficulty she was having trying to sell the concept of Home Staging to her clients. She expressed that they all seemed to feel there was nothing wrong with their homes and the concept of spending time and money fixing up a home they plan to sell sounds crazy to them. I am sure that this is a common problem experienced by many Realtors®, not only in the Durham Region but all across North America. Getting home owners to understand that it is in their best interest to make certain improvements to their home begins with educating them on what Home Staging is and what Home Staging can do for them. There has been several studies done on the effectiveness of Home Staging. Get some books on the subject, study up on the various research that has been done and talk with professional stagers in your area to get some accurate information, tips and advice.

Check out these links for some great staging facts, tips and statistics.

http://www.canadianstagingprofessionals.com

www.realestatestagingassociation.com/

http://www.homegain.com/download/max_guide.pdf

http://www.mv-voice.com/morgue/2000/2000_03_24.ralmstag.html

http://www.royallepage.ca/CMSTemplates/AskRLP/Selling/SellingTemplate.aspx?id=1045

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=pg&p=moving/Sell_Your_House.html&ln=cstln4&drd=drd9&cm_mmc=search_yahoo-_-Lowes%20Moving-_-Selling%20A%20Home-_-selling%20home

http://www.frontdoor.com

Some good books on the subject are:

Home Staging the winning way (by: Barb Schwarz)

Do Your Own Home Staging (by: Tina Parker and the Self-Council Press)

Dress Your House for Success (by: Martha Webb)

Home Staging for Dummies(by: Christine Ray & Jan Saunders Maresh)

Remember that Home Staging is a win win proposition. Realtors®and home owners win when the home sells faster and often for more money. Home buyers win by purchasing ready to move into homes that are in a good state of repair with on trend decors. Bankers, neighbours and home inspectors also all benefit when a home has been properly staged.

If you would like more information regarding Home Staging and how to sell the concept to your clients feel free to contact me for more information.

Kimberley is a Certified Staging Professional^TM, Interior Decorator, Professional Gardener and Soft-scape Landscaper located in Whitby, Ontario.

You can reach her at: info@whiteswanproperties.ca or phone: 905-725- SWAN