Making the first impression.

When a prospective buyer walks into the house for the first time they usually form a first impression very quickly. Make sure that you make it a good first impression. Here in these photos you can see that we mad a huge difference in what people see when they first walk into the house. Believe me this can set the tone for the rest of the showing of your home and you want that tone to be a good one.

For more information or if you have any question feel free to contact me at any time.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

Oakville staging in the family room.

Again too much furniture can close a room in but the other thing with this room is the area rug. As you can see the area rug in the before picture made this room look busy and by simple changing to an area rug that is a little more plain and uniform in color really made this room pop and seem more open. There are a lot of things that can be done to make your home look and feel more open and organized. for more information please fell free to contact me with any questions.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

Staging your Oakville home to sell.

As I have said in the past, one of the easier rooms to stage is the kitchen. There’s no furniture to re-arrange, except the eat it table and chairs. Counter tops should be clear of appliances, spice jars, utensils, and knickknacks. Here I did a total swipe of the counter tops leaving it all clean and de-clutterd, Make sure appliances sparkle. All of this done = MORE VISIBLE SPACE!
There are 2 thoughts on refrigerators one of them is keeping the front free of all refrigerator magnets, children’s artwork, photos,etc. The inside of your refrigerator should never be considered part of the staging project, but don't forget to keep it clean clean and pleasant smelling. Some will open the door especially if the appliances come with the house. The old open box of baking soda tucked in the back works well.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

Too much furniture can close a room in.

Sometimes just remove some furniture can make the room appear much more welcoming. Don't be afraid of open space, let the home buyer use their imagination on what they would do if it was their dining room. Again we keep talking about clutter and by removing a few things or moving them around can make a huge difference. Here this room only needed a few tweaks and we achieved the results we wanted.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

Don't Block the room off with furniture.

You want the room to flow and not have obstacles in the way of movement or the line of sight. Here you can see that the chairs were in the way of the fireplace's line of sight. Not only does the room flow better but it also gives the illusion that it is bigger. Again it is very important to clear surfaces from any items you have on display to give the room a clean look and let the potential buyer imagine their personal items in the room.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

This weekend...

There is something to be said about living in Oakville and looking at Oakville Housing as a property investment that is sound. Oakville boast some of the prettiest park lands in all of the Greater Toronto Area and has miles and miles of pristine trails and paths, which are used daily by residents from one to one-hundred and one. These natural oases are the backdrop for meeting and enjoying company, wearing off everyday stresses, and obtaining regular exercise in a setting that is filled with birds singing, trees blowing, and animals scurrying in and out. It is a wonderful place to share old times or to create new ones.

For more beauty offered by Oakville, check out the Love of the Arts Festival this weekend.

6th Annual: For the Love of the Arts Festival


Arts, Cultural, and Community

Start time: Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 11:00AM

End time: Sunday, May 16, 2010 - 4:00PM

Oakville Town Hall

1225 Trafalgar Road
Oakville, ON


A free event featuring visual arts exhibitions, live performances, and activities. Learn about the many arts, cultural, and community groups operating in Oakville. Discover how you can; enjoy a show, become an engaged citizen, or pursue your interest in dance, music, painting, sculpting, weaving, photography, or poetry. The possibilities are endless!

"Not Your Average JO"

Staging your Oakville home to sell.

The first thing people see when they walk into a home is the foyer or hallway. Making sure this area is free of clutter and is as open as possible to allow for free movement give the people an easy feeling when they come into your home is very important. As you can see in these before and after we accomplished just that. Removing the large area rug and replacing it with a smaller one at the door entrance. Removing clutter on the floor and at the front door including shoes and coats and keep surfaces clear of any unnecessary items. As you can see here we reomoved a couple plants that were on the hutch at the front door making the area much more tidy.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

Staging another Beautiful Home for sale in Oakville

Location of the property, sale price of comparable homes in your neighborhood and today’s market conditions are factors that are out of your control. But you do have control of the desirability of your property. Remember home staging can fill the imagination of a prospective buyer. Stay tuned for details on how I staged this home and tips for you to get your house ready to sell.

For more information and to sign up to my newsletter click here.

"Not your average JO"

HST Info for you

Have questions about the toll HST will have on your pocketbooks?

Check out the link below:

http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/pdf/taxable.pdf

For more information on HST in Canada, http://www.hstincanada.com/2010/04/ontario-hst-transition-rules/

Check out what Oakville businesses are doing for YOU!

Businesses in Oakville understand the value of the tourist dollar and enjoy the fact that more than 1.4 million tourists flock to their fine city yearly investing more than 88 million dollars in local restaurants, theatres, performing centers, shopping, shows, and buying up Oakville housing deals and properties. It is a great place to do business for everyone.
Whole Foods is an example of a business in Oakville that is doing something fun for us to enjoy.

Check out the Town of Oakville Make Your Move Recipe Contest Cook Off.

The details are below:


2:00 PM, Sunday, May 02, 2010

Plan to attend as Whole Foods Market hosts the finalists in the Town of Oakville Recipe Contest Cook Off. The top three "Chefs" in each category will prepare their recipes to be judged by Chefs from participating local restaurants. Contestants will be judged on the following:

* Nutritional content/analysis

* creativity

* ingredients selected

* taste and appearance

* knowledge

The overall grand prize winner will have their dish sold in the Prepared Foods Department at Whole Foods Market with profits being donated to the local food bank.

http://wholefoodsmarket.com/storesbeta/oakville/

Check it out!

"Not Your Average JO"