TIPS FOR PREPARING THE INSIDE OF YOUR HOME FOR SALE: 1) Get rid of all clutter!! Minimize minimize minimize!! Buyers simply cannot visualize your home as theirs if there is too much to look at! If you don’t use it – lose it! Put stuff in storage if you have to. Excessive ‘stuff’ shoved in closets and cabinetry = questionable storage space. Keep counters cleared, visually show every horizontal space. 2) Help your rooms look larger by removing excess furniture. The more & ... Full Article...

Selling your property is more than just selling bricks and mortar. You're selling a HOME and it has just as much to do with the interior decor as well as the condition of the entire home. Stand back and take a look at your home with ‘buyer’s eyes’. We get used to our décor and home set up – because it’s OUR home. When selling your property you must create your home to appeal to the Buyers. OUTSIDE As you drive up, critique the exterior including exterior of the ho ... Full Article...

There are more than 800 students within Parkland School Division that have diagnosed special needs. Parkland School Division provides a full range of specialized programs that serve students with behavioral, communication, intellectual, learning and physical disabilities. See their website: http://www.psd70.ab.ca/OurDivision/Pages/Default.aspx  

Kitchen updates rank among the most popular home improvements. A beautiful kitchen is inviting, the heart of the home and it's a good return on your investment. Whether a major kitchen remodel or a facelift you should get abouta 68-70% return on investment. Keep in mind not to over do it. The remodel should be in line with the value of your home. Set a budget of about 15% of the value of your home for this specific modeling project. Often times the facelift is easier not having tochange plumbin ... Full Article...

2012 Spruce Grove Community Clean up participation is taking place from April 23-30, 2012. This is a community fundraising opportunity for local non profit groups. There is a deadline for application of March 30, 2012 to apply. Contact Spruce Grove Public Works at 780 962 7584 if your group would like to participate!

  Edmonton, February 2, 2012: It was a typical January. The REALTORS® Association of Edmonton reports that housing prices in January softened and sales numbers were low as compared to the previous month. This January followed the usual trend with prices generally lower than the previous month and sales on par with December. However, except for the condo market, year-over-year prices and residential sales were up.   “We are predicting a slow but steady growth pattern for the market in 2012 ... Full Article...

Well winter has arrived with lots of snow!  I felt like a snow plow trying to leave our acreage. The snow was up to my bumper on my SUV!  We have been too spoiled this winter.  Drive safe out there Friends!

To Renovate or Not ..... That is the question? After years of working with buyers - there seems to be a majority that do have difficulty visualizing when they are viewing a prospective home that's 'busy' with lots of furniture & nick naks.  A sellers home that is full of stuff, or 'aggressive' colors may fit your lifestyle BUT through buyers eyes may be a deterrent. Kill the clutter, and some cosmetic renovations like painting will work best in your favor. A neutral, minimalistic home gives bu ... Full Article...

Moving to Spruce Grove?

Spruce Grove is a community within a short commute to Edmonton (less than 20 minutes!) that values healthy active living. Spruce Grove has more than 30 kilometres of trails woven through acres of natural forest.
 

We also have a fantastic recreational and sports facility called the
TransAlta Tri Leisure Centre which houses our water park, gym, rinks etc.
We also have a Sports Park, Henry Singer Ball Park and the Spruce Grove
Agrena. The City provides plenty of recreation activities for residents of
all ages. Healthy family living in a Caring Community.

 

Heather Joyes
CELL: 780 995 8580
* RE/MAX Hall of Fame 2009 *
RE/MAX Real Estate
16 Westgrove Drive
Spruce Grove, AB T7X 3X3

Hopefully Leads to Mild Spring!

Anyone I speak to can hardly believe the winter we've had. I can still see the grass poking through the snow - we've hit the third week of February and I don't even feel like I need a 'hot' vacation spot.
 

There optimism in the air for a busy spring in the Real Estate Market. Many of us have been busy with listings and working with buyers.
 

Market Evaluations are the first step to making good decisions on your next move. I provide complimentary market evaluations and am open to discussing your unique real estate needs.

A Few Tips for Staging your Home

There is a big difference between having your home decorated for your lifestyle and staging a home for sale. Staging has become an important tool when it comes to selling your home and your realtor may suggest it as a way to help your property appeal to a wider range of buyers. It usually results in a quicker sale and for more money. It is important to remember that buyers are looking at houses for a space suitable for them, and they need to see the home as that potential.

Curb Appeal

• The lawn and yard should be trimmed and flowerbeds weed free and looking their best.
• The walk ways clean and in good condition.
• Taking away any extra items, lawn ornaments etc… and put away yard tools to create an easy to keep impression.

Inside your Home

 

• It is best during the selling process to create a clean spacious looking environment.
• Arrange the furniture to create good flow through the home.
• Since you are moving anyway, why not start to pack up some of your personal items and extra furniture pieces now! It will save you some packing later on.
• In the Kitchen begin by removing items from your counter tops and put away dishes to let people see the counter space before showings.
   
• Living room, pack away things like family pictures and items that would prevent a potential buyer from seeing themselves and their belongings in the house.
• Some new toss cushions can freshen up the room.
• Bathrooms, clear away personal use items and put out some pretty towels and nice soaps.
• Bedrooms should be tidy beds made up and laundry put away.
• Closets should be neat and tidy pack up unneeded clothing and items to create a spacious feeling in the closet.
• Let the sun shine in open up blinds and drapery.
   

These are just a few tips on staging your home for sale. It takes a bit of work on your part or your Home Stager can do the work for you, by using what you already own and even bringing in furniture and accessories to stage your home with.

Remember ” Your home will never get a second chance to make a first impression”.

Written by Shelley Cronin

780-235-1800 www.shelleycronin.com

Email shelley@shelleycronin.com

How to Light up your Space Shelley Cronin Design

You can fill a space with wonderful pieces of furniture and accessories, but if it your room doesn’t have the correct lighting elements in it, your space can be left feeling feel flat, cold and uninviting, and not to mention dark.

The two main sources of lighting are Natural Light and Artificial light. Lighting can affect how a space is used and its character.

How you light your kitchen and bathroom is completely different than lighting your living room or dining room. It can also affect the way color in the room is viewed. Every space should include as many different sources as you can provide it is suggested at least 7 if possible.

• Natural light can come from Window or skylights
   
• Artificial light can be provided through Table Lamps, floor lamps, overhead pot lights, chandeliers, sconces, track lights and under mount lighting.

The different types of lighting used all provide different needs to a space.

• Ambient/General Lighting Illuminates a room uniformly and provide lighting for the whole room, (such as a light in the center of the ceiling).
   
• Task Lighting This is more local lighting like table lamps, desk lamps this provides a source of light for tasks like reading or cooking.
   
• Accent or decorative Lighting This is provided from sources such as candles, fireplace, chandeliers, or even a small spot light aimed at a piece of art work on the wall.
  

Lighting is often overlooked when building, remodelling or redecorating I have seen many homes where the lighting in the room is drastically overlooked and it is a very important part of design and can have a huge impact on your home.

Shelley Cronin
Shelley Cronin Design
Certified Interior Decorator
“life styled”
780-235-1800
scronindesign@gmail.com

Latest Market News from the Edmonton Real Estate Association.  Edmonton, March 2, 2011: It was 2009 all over again if the housing figures released by the REALTORS® Association of Edmonton are any indication. Prices for all categories of residential property sold in February mirrored prices in the same month in 2009 after showing pricing gains from January this year. Single family detached properties sold for $359,934 on average* in February; up 1% from January. The February price was down 3.1% ... Full Article...