Spring is just around the corner, so why wait any longer for the full colour of spring!

‘Tis the season where the trees start to awaken and the sun is rising earlier.  I think I speak for most when I say that we are eager for Spring to arrive. A fresh coat of paint inside your home? Why not! That could be the easiest way to get a jump-start on Spring.

The multitude of paint chips at any store would be a daunting task.  However, with the help from experts at Para Paints, things got a little easier.  Not all home owners have access to a professional designers eye so Para Paints ‘Colour Trend Palette Postcards’ for 2014 make the task more comfortable. This tool is formatted as a handy passport and all of the trends evoke a sense of escape or renewal.

“Beach House’ is a colour trend combination that brightens with cheerful yellows, matching grey neutrals and accent colours of bright  blues and greens.  Para Paints chosen colour of the year, Plantain Chips (PF52), is the perfect feature for the beach house inspired room.

These newest palettes provide the inspiration for refreshed  and rejuvenated rooms without the guesswork of choosing complementary colours.

“It can be expensive to completely redo a room, so the trick is to find a starting point for a colour refresh in your existing decor scheme,” says Garry Belfall , the senior brand Manager at Para Paints. “The 2014 Colour Trend Palette Postcards are designed to help people see how vibrant colours and complimentary neutrals can work together.”

A refresh on any room in your home  is a sure way to kick-start a new season.  It can be as simple as switching out one or two of your colours choices from an accent wall, rug or even couch cushions. It can make a world of a difference.

(Royal LePage Homeowner Newsletter – Vol 19 Issue 3 March 2014)

(Para Paints  www.para.com )

(NC) The home selling season is about to heat up. If you’ve decided to enter the market, you’re in good company, says Phil Dorner, president of the Ontario Real Estate Association.

“Spring tends to see an increase in real estate

listings, but it also brings out the buyers,” Dorner explains. “In order to achieve the best possible results, careful planning and know-how are required in the home selling process.”

Here is a simplified breakdown of some of the steps involved in selling a home:

Consult an expert – A Realtor will help you set a price, develop a marketing plan, make your home more ‘saleable’, and act on your behalf during negotiations to ensure your interests are protected.

Set a price – Choosing the appropriate list price for your home can lead to a timely sale, so it’s important to get it right the first time. The price should be realistic – neither too high nor too low.

Prepare your home – The house should be clean and clutter free. If necessary, hire a professional stager to help make a notable first impression and enhance its appeal. Everything in your home should be in working order – make repairs where necessary.

Market your home – A marketing plan may include holding ‘open houses’, advertising and most importantly, networking. Your Realtor will relay information about your home to a vast network of potential homebuyers in your market.

Receive an offer – Once you receive an offer you can either, accept, reject or “sign back” or “counter” the offer.

Negotiate the sale – Most offers require some negotiating. Once both parties have agreed on the terms of the sale, the next step will be preparing a contract.

Close the sale – At the “closing” meeting, ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Your lawyer will assist you in the legal transfer.

“Once you’ve closed, prepare to vacate your home and make a list of all the items you will need to turn over to the new owners,” says Dorner. “Finally, celebrate.”

More information is available at www.wedothehomework.ca.

www.newscanada.com

(NC) If the thought of the reawakening real estate market excites you, you may be ready to buy a home. Aspiring homeowners will need to have a few things locked down before taking the plunge.

“Above all else, homeownership needs to make sense financially,” says Phil Dorner, president of the Ontario Real Estate Association. “Market conditions, mortgage rates, investment opportunities – all of these factors are important, but they should not be the only reasons for buying a home.”

According to Dorner, you’ll know you’re ready to buy a home when:

You’re familiar with the market – You’ve discussed options with your Realtor and you’re familiar with home prices in the neighbourhoods you’re considering.

You know how much you can afford – You’ve worked out how much is required for the down payment and closing costs, as well as monthly mortgage payments and other expenses like utilities, insurance, property taxes and maintenance.

You have the money for a down payment – You have at least five per cent of the property value saved and ready to put towards a down payment.

You have a reliable income – You have consistent cash flow to cover monthly expenses.

You have emergency savings – If your income is unexpectedly interrupted, you’ll be able to make your mortgage payments.

Your debts are under control – Your debt-to-income ratio is where it needs to be in order to secure a mortgage through a lender.

Your credit history is in good shape – You’ve spent the last several months, or years, building or perfecting your credit in order to help secure a lower interest rate on your mortgage resulting in a lower monthly payment.

You are prepared for the responsibility – You are familiar with all of the maintenance that a home requires and you’re prepared to deal with it.

“If you checked all or most of these points, you may be ready to buy a home,” says Dorner. “It’s a big step, but it’s also an enjoyable and extremely rewarding one.”

More information is available at www.wedothehomework.ca.

www.newscanada.com