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Joanne Hardy
RESULTS THAT MOVE OAKVILLE!
Monday, September 16, 2013
Selling your home with a realtor - Or go it alone?
If you have decided that now is the time to sell your home, you might be thinking: should I hire a Real Estate Sales Representative or do it alone. Have you ever considered repairing your own car? Anyone can buy the tools and parts. However, most of us just do not have the knowledge, training, experience or the expertise and commitment of time to do the job properly. Besides, there are plenty of experienced professionals to do the work for us.........To read more click here
Joanne Hardy
Joanne Hardy
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Sell Quicker and for More by Staging Your Home - Part 2
Staging your dining room as if you were preparing for dinner party. It helps the potential buyer visualize themselves in the home with their dining room.
Before
After
For more information Contact Joanne Hardy jo@oakvilleproperty.com
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Fabulous Home in The Heart of Old Oakville
This rare find offers the complete lifestyle alternative to a condo or the perfect family home...Surrounded by million dollar homes, this home will wow!
For more details and to see this home call Joanne Hardy 416-230-1425.
Monday, April 15, 2013
A beautiful weekend to avoid spring cleaning!
Spring weather is on its way, It is the perfect time to enjoy the patio with your family and friends. If you do decide to stay in for a little bit, here are some tips for Spring Cleaning! I might save the practical application for next weekend though!
Let Spring Cleaning Come Naturally
Did you know that your home can sparkle this spring without using any chemicals? Choose from a wide array of eco friendly cleaners on the market or simply make your own with household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Here are a few tips to help you become a natural when it comes to spring cleaning:
The Bathroom
Want to bring out a natural shine to your sinks, toilets, and tubs? Create a gentle scouring paste by mixing 4 tbsp baking soda with 1 tbsp water. Generously sprinkle either table salt or baking soda into the sink or tub and use the cut end of half a fresh lemon as a scrubby-pad. Rinse with hot water and your ceramics will be gleaming! Undiluted lemon juice can also be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.
The Kitchen
Vinegar, a natural antibacterial, has a high acid content which makes it an effective alternative to caustic cleaners for the kitchen. Mix together 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new spray bottle and you have a natural solution that will clean stovetops, appliances, countertops (except marble), and floors. For troublesome stains, add a touch of baking soda to the mix.
To help remove finger marks from stainless steel appliances use a microfibre cloth or try a dab of baby oil on a clean cloth. For microwaves, put a few slices of fresh lemon in an uncovered bowl of water and cook on high for about three minutes. Grease and dirt should wipe away easily.
Windows
Let the sunshine in by washing away winter’s grime. Fill a bucket with 25 per cent vinegar and 75 per cent warm water. Put on rubber gloves and soak an old cotton towel in the solution. Rub on windows, and then scrunch up some old newspaper to buff up a shine. If there are any streaks, simply finish off with a dry cloth.
Fabrics and Carpets
Have a stubborn fabric stain? Dab white vinegar onto the stain followed by a mild soap solution such as all natural dishwashing liquid and water. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and blot with a dry towel. Salt can also be used to soak up fresh carpet stains such as red wine, coffee or ink. Simply pour salt on the wet stain, let dry, and then vacuum. Natural ingredients can not only get rid of stains, they’ll help eliminate odours from fabrics too!
Again, I'd save all these tips for after company goes home! Enjoy the chocolate eggs and ham.
"Joanne Hardy"
Let Spring Cleaning Come Naturally
Did you know that your home can sparkle this spring without using any chemicals? Choose from a wide array of eco friendly cleaners on the market or simply make your own with household ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice. Here are a few tips to help you become a natural when it comes to spring cleaning:
The Bathroom
Want to bring out a natural shine to your sinks, toilets, and tubs? Create a gentle scouring paste by mixing 4 tbsp baking soda with 1 tbsp water. Generously sprinkle either table salt or baking soda into the sink or tub and use the cut end of half a fresh lemon as a scrubby-pad. Rinse with hot water and your ceramics will be gleaming! Undiluted lemon juice can also be used to dissolve soap scum and hard water deposits.
The Kitchen
Vinegar, a natural antibacterial, has a high acid content which makes it an effective alternative to caustic cleaners for the kitchen. Mix together 1 part water to 1 part vinegar in a new spray bottle and you have a natural solution that will clean stovetops, appliances, countertops (except marble), and floors. For troublesome stains, add a touch of baking soda to the mix.
To help remove finger marks from stainless steel appliances use a microfibre cloth or try a dab of baby oil on a clean cloth. For microwaves, put a few slices of fresh lemon in an uncovered bowl of water and cook on high for about three minutes. Grease and dirt should wipe away easily.
Windows
Let the sunshine in by washing away winter’s grime. Fill a bucket with 25 per cent vinegar and 75 per cent warm water. Put on rubber gloves and soak an old cotton towel in the solution. Rub on windows, and then scrunch up some old newspaper to buff up a shine. If there are any streaks, simply finish off with a dry cloth.
Fabrics and Carpets
Have a stubborn fabric stain? Dab white vinegar onto the stain followed by a mild soap solution such as all natural dishwashing liquid and water. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and blot with a dry towel. Salt can also be used to soak up fresh carpet stains such as red wine, coffee or ink. Simply pour salt on the wet stain, let dry, and then vacuum. Natural ingredients can not only get rid of stains, they’ll help eliminate odours from fabrics too!
Again, I'd save all these tips for after company goes home! Enjoy the chocolate eggs and ham.
"Joanne Hardy"
Monday, April 8, 2013
Global blog - Hopskotch Through Continents
Check out how they do real estate across the globe!
I’d like to start off by saying, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of property that borders on two continents?? You could have one foot in Europe and the other in Asia…well sort of, if you’re in Istanbul. Mind you, if you’re planning to buy in this city, you should have a substantial down payment…like 90%??!! Most residents of Istanbul don’t use mortgage services at all, and if any financial help is acquired, it is in most cases a small loan. How do they buy real estate and have that much cash on hand?? Wait for this…They SAVE it! If they can only afford a small apartment with the money they have…that’s what they buy. Then they save more and when they can afford to upgrade they do. A world away from the real estate business here in Oakville, where a large portion of the transactions taking place require financing. At the end of the day, we could use a few saving tips from our friends out in Istanbul. To me That is Not Average.
Check out more international blogs at http://www.yourglobalblogger.com/
"Not Your Average JO"
I’d like to start off by saying, who wouldn’t want to own a piece of property that borders on two continents?? You could have one foot in Europe and the other in Asia…well sort of, if you’re in Istanbul. Mind you, if you’re planning to buy in this city, you should have a substantial down payment…like 90%??!! Most residents of Istanbul don’t use mortgage services at all, and if any financial help is acquired, it is in most cases a small loan. How do they buy real estate and have that much cash on hand?? Wait for this…They SAVE it! If they can only afford a small apartment with the money they have…that’s what they buy. Then they save more and when they can afford to upgrade they do. A world away from the real estate business here in Oakville, where a large portion of the transactions taking place require financing. At the end of the day, we could use a few saving tips from our friends out in Istanbul. To me That is Not Average.
Check out more international blogs at http://www.yourglobalblogger.com/
"Not Your Average JO"
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Energy Efficiency Checklist
In this era of rising energy prices and global warming, it makes sense that our homes should be as energy efficient as possible. An easy way to do this is to know where your home is likely to lose energy and then take corrective action to minimize the impact.
I have an energy efficiency checklist that I would be happy to share with you free of charge. That way, you'll be ahead of the game when it comes to energy conservation.
Home Energy Checklist
What You Can Do Today...
- Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid the risk of accidental scalding.
- Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less!
- If you own a waterbed, make sure you make your bed today. The covers will insulate it and save up to one-third of the energy it uses.
- Begin using energy-saving settings on your refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer/dryer.
- Make sure you check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it expires.
- Examine your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents. These new bulbs can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60- to 100-watt bulbs used several hours a day. Measure the clearance in your fixtures to make sure they will accommodate compact fluorescents, which are slightly larger than incandescent bulbs.
- Clean or replace the filters in your furnace, air-conditioner and heat pump.
...This Week
- Visit the hardware store. Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and compact florescent bulbs.
- Rope caulk your leaky windows.
- Assess your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are required, or if there is a way to make them work more efficiently to provide the same comfort (or better!) for less energy.
...This Month
- Look over your electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
- Crawl into your attic or crawlspace and inspect for insulation. Is there any? How much?
- Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
- Seal up the most noticeable air leaks in your house - the ones that whistle on windy days or that feel drafty. This includes windows and doors, but also unnoticed culprits like utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, as well as unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. All the little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you ever realizing it!
- Install a clock thermostat so you are able to set times for your house temperature to be lowered, such as when you are out during the day, and through the night.
- Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or local energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.
...This Year
- Insulate. If your walls aren't insulated, have an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to snuff.
- Replace aging, inefficient appliances. Even if the appliance has a few useful years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model is generally a good investment.
- Upgrade leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or to boost their efficiency with weather stripping and storm windows.
- Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house - especially on the west and south sides. Know that you are making a difference!
I have an energy efficiency checklist that I would be happy to share with you free of charge. That way, you'll be ahead of the game when it comes to energy conservation.
Home Energy Checklist
What You Can Do Today...
- Turn down the temperature of your water heater to the warm setting (120F). You'll not only save energy, you'll avoid the risk of accidental scalding.
- Check if your water heater has an insulating blanket. An insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less!
- If you own a waterbed, make sure you make your bed today. The covers will insulate it and save up to one-third of the energy it uses.
- Begin using energy-saving settings on your refrigerator, dishwasher and clothes washer/dryer.
- Make sure you check the age and condition of your major appliances, especially the refrigerator. You may want to replace it with a more energy-efficient model before it expires.
- Examine your incandescent lights for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents. These new bulbs can save three-quarters of the electricity used by incandescents. The best targets are 60- to 100-watt bulbs used several hours a day. Measure the clearance in your fixtures to make sure they will accommodate compact fluorescents, which are slightly larger than incandescent bulbs.
- Clean or replace the filters in your furnace, air-conditioner and heat pump.
...This Week
- Visit the hardware store. Buy a water-heater blanket, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and compact florescent bulbs.
- Rope caulk your leaky windows.
- Assess your heating and cooling systems. Determine if replacements are required, or if there is a way to make them work more efficiently to provide the same comfort (or better!) for less energy.
...This Month
- Look over your electricity and fuel bills. Target the biggest bill for energy conservation remedies.
- Crawl into your attic or crawlspace and inspect for insulation. Is there any? How much?
- Insulate hot water pipes and ducts wherever they run through unheated areas.
- Seal up the most noticeable air leaks in your house - the ones that whistle on windy days or that feel drafty. This includes windows and doors, but also unnoticed culprits like utility cut-throughs for pipes ("plumbing penetrations"), gaps around chimneys and recessed lights in insulated ceilings, as well as unfinished spaces behind cupboards and closets. All the little, invisible cracks and holes may add up to as much as an open window or door, without you ever realizing it!
- Install a clock thermostat so you are able to set times for your house temperature to be lowered, such as when you are out during the day, and through the night.
- Schedule an energy audit (ask your utility company or local energy office) for more expert advice on your home as a whole.
...This Year
- Insulate. If your walls aren't insulated, have an insulation contractor blow cellulose into the walls. Bring your attic insulation level up to snuff.
- Replace aging, inefficient appliances. Even if the appliance has a few useful years left, replacing it with a top-efficiency model is generally a good investment.
- Upgrade leaky windows. It may be time to replace them with energy-efficient models or to boost their efficiency with weather stripping and storm windows.
- Reduce your air conditioning costs by planting shade trees and shrubs around your house - especially on the west and south sides. Know that you are making a difference!
For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.
Joanne Hardy
Friday, March 29, 2013
Buying Oakville Property
Buying an Oakville property is buying into a community that enjoys diversity while enjoying a rich cultural heritage with many waterfront events and festivities. This community has no qualms with letting new comers know they would love to have them. If you are looking for a wonderful place to bring up healthy children, Oakville has some of the best schools and can provide a safe place for your children to play, while providing you and your spouse the best any city has to offer if you are looking to start a family or making plans to retire.
And, when you finally find that Oakville property that is just right for you, don’t waste any time putting in an offer; after all, with all the great things this community has to offer, property doesn’t stay on the market long around here.
And, when you finally find that Oakville property that is just right for you, don’t waste any time putting in an offer; after all, with all the great things this community has to offer, property doesn’t stay on the market long around here.
For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.
"Joanne Hardy"
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