Imagine your coffee maker switching on by itself, staying on for hours, overheating and becoming a fire hazard. That’s not science fiction. As more and more appliances incorporate WIFI, the opportunities for hackers to play havoc with your home gadgets increase.

How do you prevent that from happening? Here are some safety tips:

• If your gadget uses a password to access the settings, change that password frequently. Ideally, change it once every 3 months.

• Some gadgets, such as alarm systems, come with their own connection to the internet. Learn how to turn that connection off if it becomes necessary to do so.

• Don’t leave an internet-connected appliance or other gadget on constantly unless it’s necessary. For example, you don’t need your home speaker system connected to your digital music providers all the time.

• Baby monitors with video are a common target for hackers. Use a password unique to that device and change it often. Never leave the monitor on when not in use.

• Never share passwords with anyone unless it is absolutely necessary. Most home WIFI systems have a “guest” feature with a separate password and limited access. Use it.

In this age of internet connectivity — from coffee makers to stereos and even washing machines — it’s smart to play it safe. Know what’s connected and protect yourself.

*Morris Marketing*

Yard work isn’t always pleasant, but it can be more rewarding if a portion of your outdoor space is dedicated to an area where you can lounge and relax after all your work is done.

The size of the area is not as important as the atmosphere it provides. It could be as simple as a chaise lounge surrounded by silken drapery hanging from an umbrella or makeshift frame.

Alternatively, your personalized nook might include cushioned wicker furniture beneath an overhead canopy, or a bench tucked into a secluded alcove made of rough-hewn boards. Consider surrounding your private getaway with plenty of potted plants and hanging flowers.

The location of your dream oasis should be based on its desired effect. You may want it tucked away, out of view, to provide complete privacy so you can enjoy a good book and a refreshing beverage. Or, you can create a sense of intrigue and anticipation by setting your respite at the end of a pebbled path.

If the view is important, position your oasis so you can survey your garden, observe a bird feeder, or relax in the presence of a tranquil fountain.

*Morris Marketing*

Here’s a surprising statistic. Less than 30% of window replacements are the result of the old windows being worn, broken or otherwise in need of replacement.

Clearly, there are other good reasons to consider new windows!

One of the most popular motivations is cosmetic. Brand new windows have a huge impact on the overall look of a home, both on the inside and the outside. New windows can improve curb appeal — an important element when you sell a home. From the inside, new windows can dramatically improve the look of a room.

Another reason to replace windows is to address energy costs. Modern windows are packed with technologies that lower heating/cooling bills. From low-e/argon to special spacer bars to high-insulating construction, these technologies can provide savings you’ll notice, especially if you’re
replacing very old windows.

A third reason is window style and characteristics. Simply put, you may not like your current windows! You may want more glass and less frame to enhance your view. Maybe your windows pull up (vertical sliders) when you’d rather have them open like a door (casements). Perhaps you’d like fancy blinds in-between the panes of glass. Replacing windows lets you get
exactly the look and features you want.

Will new windows boost the resale value of your home? They might, at least a little. But there’s one thing for certain: upgraded windows definitely make your home look more appealing to buyers.

*Morris Marketing*

Do you have only a few weeks to search for your next dream home? Don’t panic. There are things you can do to find the perfect (or, at least, almost perfect) property — without getting too stressed out!

Consider these tips:

Pre-arrange your mortgage. You want to be able to make a good offer on a home right away, without worrying about financing. So, talk to your mortgage advisor or lender about getting a mortgage preapproval. Sellers will take your offer more seriously if you have financing in hand.

Decide what you want. What type of home are you looking for? What type of neighbourhood do you want to live in? The narrower your focus, the less time you’ll waste looking at properties that don’t fit your needs.

Be open to possibilities. There are probably terrific homes on the market — right now — that are close to what you’re looking for. So be prepared to consider properties that are less-than-perfect. Remember, what a home lacks today may be remedied with a renovation later on.

Be flexible with your schedule. When you see a home you like, schedule a viewing immediately, even if it’s at an inconvenient day/time, such as a
weekday after work. Finding a great home, quickly, is worth some inconvenience.

Get alerted to new listings. As they say, the earlybird gets the worm. So arrange to be alerted to new listings the moment they come on the market. That way, you can see these properties right away. Want more tips on finding a home, quickly? Give me a call. (416) 779-8732.

*Morris Marketing*

There are many situations where playing the waiting game can pay off. For example, you can delay booking a flight and hold out for a last-minute deal, or you can wait for a grocery item to go on sale so you can stock up and save.

Does it make sense to play this same game when selling your home?

If you try to “time the market,” you could end up gettingm ore for your home. But, you might also get less! In the meantime, while you’re waiting, good opportunities to sell at a reasonable price may pass you by.

The stakes are high when you’re selling your home. If you wait for stewed tomatoes to go on sale, and they don’t, you won’t feel a big hit. However, if you wait to sell your home and the market of eager buyers dries up, there could be a significant financial impact.

That’s why you need to be very careful about trying to time the market. Yes, it can sometimes be smart to wait a few weeks, and in some cases even a few months before you list, but you need to make that decision based on good information and even better advice.

Remember, if you’re not only selling but also buying in the same market, the advantages of “timing” might cancel each other out. If you sell when the market is high, you’ll also be buying in a high market.

What’s the good news? In most cases, the best time to sell your home is when you’re ready to sell, regardless of the market.

*Morris Marketing*

On moving day, you’ll have a big task. You’ll need to get your possessions from your old property to your new one — ideally without delays or damage!

Surprisingly, many people underestimate the time and costs involved in doing that. Careful planning and budgeting are crucial to ensuring moving day goes smoothly.

You basically have three options:

1. Hire a moving company to handle everything.
2. Hire a truck and crew, while doing some of the work yourself (For example, you can pack and help with loading.)
3. Do it all yourself by renting a moving van and getting friends and family to help.

If you’re going with option one, get quotations as early in the buying/selling
process as possible. Services, costs and quality vary widely among full service moving companies. If you’re going to do some or all of the move yourself, the best place to start is by making a list of what you’ll need. In addition to renting a moving van, or hiring a truck and crew, there are many supplies you may require. For example, you’ll need boxes, protective fill and/or wrapping (i.e. bubble wrap), markers for labeling boxes, packing tape, and more.

You may decide to rely on friends to help load the truck on moving day. That’s fine. Just be sure you have enough people to do the job within a reasonable timeframe, and confirm everyone’s attendance at least a couple of days before.

*Morris Marketing*

If you’re thinking of listing your property, one thing that might be holding you back is concern about preparing your home for sale. You may be wondering how much work there will be. Is it going to take a couple of months? A couple of weeks? A few days? That, of course, depends on the state of your property.

However, regardless of how close your home is to “show time” ready, there is plenty you can do to reduce how long that preparation takes. Consider these ideas:

• Sell stuff online. The less cluttered your home seems to buyers, the better it will show. So, make a list of items you want to sell, and then list them on one of the many local online market websites. Price items fairly and, chances are, you’ll get rid of everything in a day or two.

• Have a repair day. Go through your home and make a list of everything that needs to be fixed. Then, schedule repair people to all come on the same day. Voila! In one day, all needed repairs (or, at least, most of them) are done.

• Get staging advice. Instead of guessing at what changes you need to make around your home to make it look its best, get expert staging advice. You’ll find out exactly what the experts suggest you do, and you’ll save a lot of time and money. (By the way, I can provide you with that advice too.)

• Ask before making big improvements. Are you planning to convert a wood
burning fireplace into a gas unit to help sell your home? Before doing any big improvements or renovations like that, talk to me. You don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on an unnecessary project.

• Hire help. You don’t have to do everything on your own. Get the help you
need. For example, hire a painter, a cleaner, and/or a junk removal service.
Those will significantly shorten the time it takes to prepare your home for
sale and save you a lot of work. Also, the costs of those professionals may
be off-set by the increase in the sale price of your home.

Bottomline: Preparing your home doesn’t need to be overwhelming and timeconsuming. Contact me for more ideas to help get your home ready for sale, quickly!

*Morris Marketing*

There’s a reason why there are “kitchen and bath” stores, and even design magazines devoted to these rooms. A well-staged kitchen and bathroom can
make the entire home look better. So, it’s no surprise that professional home stagers pay particular attention to these spaces.

What do these pros have to say about bathrooms?

Professional stagers advise that you start by taking a picture of the room. Looking at that picture will give you a better sense of how others see your bathroom and reveal what needs to be changed. Then, de-personalize it.

When you’re showing your home to buyers, you want the bathroom to resemble a guest bathroom. So, no shaving kits, toothbrushes, sticky notes to self on the mirror, etc.

Stagers also recommend that anything worn be replaced. This will likely include the shower curtain and mats, which tend to wear and stain quickly.
Hang fresh new towels on the rack. (If you’re buying new towels for this
purpose, choose white.) Put an unused bar of soap or hand cleaner next to the sink. Make it look like a freshly stocked hotel bathroom.

If required, paint the walls. Off-white colours, including beiges and light greys, work well. As you can see, it doesn’t take much to stage your bathroom and make it look its best for buyers.

Looking for more staging tips? Call today! (416) 779-8732

*Morris Marketing*

Lighting plays an important role in staging your home for sale. It impacts the look and feel of a room, and contributes to the impression buyers will form about that space. With that in mind, let’s look at lighting mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

The first is too much lighting. If the lighting is too bright, it can make the room seem sterile and harsh. You want the lighting to create a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Decorating experts recommend that all lights have shades or coverings, so there is no tiny sun shining in a buyer’s face.

Another mistake to avoid is too little light. Check areas of your home that look dim. Brighten them up by adding a new lamp. Pay particular attention to closets and hallways.

Finally, make sure all lights are working. Try all the switches. Check outside lighting, where a burned out bulb can often go unnoticed. If a light bulb is flickering, it may be dying, so replace it.

Improving lighting is one of the easiest ways to make your home look better to buyers.

*Morris Marketing*

Imagine you’re selling your home and an offer from a buyer comes in. You’re excited. Your home might soon be sold!

What happens next?

Typically, we will review the offer together. There will likely be several things about the offer that need to be carefully considered. The most common are:

• The offer price.
• Evidence the buyer is financially able to purchase the property.
• Conditions on the offer, if any.

If the offer price is far less than you anticipated, there might be an opportunity to counter-offer at a higher price. This is part of the art of negotiation, which is an important step in selling your home successfully. The buyer’s ability to afford your property is also important.

Ideally, you’ll want to see a Pre-Arranged Mortgage Certificate from the buyer’s lender, or some other evidence that there won’t be any financial problems closing the transaction. The amount of the deposit is also key.

Finally, you’ll want to look at conditions. The most popular condition requires that your property pass a home inspection, but there may be others. Obviously, an offer with no conditions is ideal.

*Morris Marketing*