• 5 Ideas for an Improvised Headboard,Terry Kruse

    5 Ideas for an Improvised Headboard

      When you’re prepping your home for sale, you might not have the time or resources to buy a new bedframe and headboard if you don’t have one already. But do you need one? Here are five fast ways to create an alternative headboard that will still give your bedroom a finished look before the buyers come. Use wood for a rustic look. There are lots of ways to use wood to create a temporary headboard. Whether it’s slabs of reclaimed wood mounted on the wall or a light-coloured sheet of plywood for a minimalist Scandinavian look, you just might find you have all the materials sitting around in your basement! Prop up an oversized piece of art. This is an easy and versatile trick that really allows you to match your new “headboard” to the style of your room. Whether it’s a bold black-and-white abstract piece or an oversized piece of framed wallpaper in a neutral pattern, you’ll find there are endless options. Put up a shelf instead. This works especially well in small spaces! A minimalist shelf, either wall-mounted or a floor unit, can be a great way to sneak in some extra storage and finish off the space above your head. Use stick-on decals. If you think decals are just for kid’s rooms, think again. Online you can find stick-on decals that fit every kind of style, from urban and minimalist to lush and botanical. They’re also a great way to dress up an unadorned wall. An oversized wall mural can be a great headboard substitute too. Hang a textile. To add some texture and warmth to a room without a headboard, try hanging a textile above your bed. This could range from a macramé wall hanging to a contemporary-patterned rug, to an artful tapestry.

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  • 4 Potential Reno Ideas Best Left Alone,Terry Kruse

    4 Potential Reno Ideas Best Left Alone

      If you’re set to do some home renovations, there’s one thing you want to make sure of—that you’ll ultimately get a good return on your investment (ROI). Some Canadians go all out on upgrades of their humble abodes, and that’s terrific if you plan on spending many years in your home. But there are some renos that might be best left undone if you’re concerned with ROI, or if you’re an investor looking to fix and flip. Have a look at these four things you might NOT want to do: A fix that’s too nice. This particularly applies if you’ve bought an income property or a property you’d like to fix up and resell. It’s also prudent advice if you’re not planning on staying in your home for the long haul. Don’t go overboard on the fixes. Of course, you’ll want to stay away from shoddy materials, but installing marble countertops, elaborate chandeliers and top-of-the-line crown molding when you’re planning on selling or renting the property won’t do your pocketbook any favours. A home office might be sweet, but… Spending a lot on creating a home office can actually be more detrimental than beneficial for your home. In fact, statistics show that it can actually decrease your ROI by 5 per cent. While you’re working at home, give yourself a comfortable space, but don’t spend a lot, and make sure it’s easily convertible into another type of space if you decide to put your home on the market. The massive master. The master bedroom is one room that’s also best left undone unless you plan to spend years in your home. You can easily lose about 40 per cent of your investment by sinking too much into this space. So, if you’re planning on renovating it, do it because you want to enjoy it yourself, not because you think it will pad your bank account if you go to sell. In-law suites. If you want grandma and grandpa to come live with your family, by all means you might want to think about revamping or adding a space to accommodate them. Don’t do it, however, because you think it will add to the resale value of your home. It likely won’t. Actually, this is another of those renos that can decrease your ROI by about 5 per cent. Having said that, here are some great reno ideas that will give you a terrific ROI: A kitchen remodel, up to 85 per cent; a deck or patio, up to 80 per cent; new siding, up to 80 per cent; replacing the windows, up to 77 per cent and remodelling the bathroom, up to 65 per cent.

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  • Elevating Your Listing With Staging,Terry Kruse

    Elevating Your Listing With Staging

      Staging is all the rage these days. Having a professional touch added to your home as you prep it to sell or rent seems like a no brainer, but how do the numbers really stack up? After all, in Canada, staging can run anywhere from a couple hundred dollars for a consult to an actual percentage of your home’s selling price. Make Buyers Want to BuyAccording to statistics, 81 per cent of buyers say that a professionally-staged home helps them visualize the space as one they could call their own, thus increasing their chance of making an offer. Additionally, staged homes reportedly stay on the market for 73 per cent less time than an unstaged home. Sell for More Than AskingWhile not everyone loves the idea of shelling out extra money for a professional stager, studies show that a staged home can sell for more than asking. Selling for more than 6 per cent of the asking price, for example, could mean an extra $50,000 or more in your pocket depending on which Canadian city you’re selling in! The bottom line? When you’re selling something as large and important as your home, wouldn’t you want to do everything possible to get it sold as quickly as possible and for as much as possible? That’s where staging comes in. And, with very real numbers to back it up, it’s definitely something worth considering.

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