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When you are selling your home, you want it to look as clean and attractive as possible. A home that is well-staged is going to sell for a higher price than one that is cluttered and overflowing with the owner's belongings. So, follow these tips to declutter your home for photos and open houses, to ensure that you are putting your best face forward!

Ask a Real Estate Agent

To get started on this seemingly monumental task, take some time to discuss your options with a real estate agent. In addition to helping put your home on the market, a real estate agent will have the knowledge and experience to see your home through the eyes of the buyer. They will ensure that you stage your home perfectly for a successful sale.

Nix the Clutter

When showing a new home, the first rule of thumb is to make sure that the house is clean and clear of clutter. When you are living your life from day to day, it is easy to overlook things that you use on a regular basis, and it’s these things that you need to keep out of sight. If something on the counter or tabletop is functional rather than decorative, place it in a cupboard or drawer before an open house or photo session. The idea is to offer a clean visual that allows potential homeowners to visualize the home with their own belongings in it. 

Everything Has a Place

One excellent way to maintain your home clutter-free is to ensure that everything on the floors and flat surfaces has a specific place that’s out of sight. Organize your cabinets and drawers so that each item belongs in a particular place. This means washing your dishes as they are used and doing your laundry in frequent small batches so that it doesn't pile up.

If you have children or pets, sealed storage containers or cubbies are an excellent way to organize their belongings. Then, when you are prepping for a next-day showing, you don't have to scramble to find a place to put everything. After a day or two, it will become a habit to have everything where it belongs, saving everyone time and stress.

Wide Open Spaces

Remember, your open house should appear as clear and spacious as possible to allow the potential homebuyer to imagine how they will fit in. This means less furniture is more. Consider renting a temporary storage unit for unnecessary tables, chairs, and other furniture. Think of your house as a blank canvas waiting for the imagination of the new homeowner. 

Clean, Clean, and Clean Some More

Your house will sell largely based on appearance, so cleanliness is key. In addition to containing the clutter of daily life, be sure to keep your house looking spick and span. The cleaner your house looks, the more attractive it is to your potential homebuyers.

Once you've done the job of clearing the surfaces, have a cleaning service thoroughly clean your counters, cupboards, floors, baseboards, and windows. After the cleaning, it will be easier for you to maintain your home's cleanliness for the next open house or photo op. 

Wash your windows thoroughly, both inside and outside. Can't reach the higher levels? Hire a professional window washer to do the work for you. Clean windows are a must to make your home sparkle! You want your home to have as much natural light as possible, and it is amazing how clean windows make the space feel more open!

The Devil's in the Details

Finally, be sure to complete minor repairs, such as repairing loose doorknobs, replacing old or mismatched cabinet handles or smoothing and repainting chipped surfaces. Small details can have a big impact on the way your home is viewed by a potential homeowner. Fix the little problems now to ensure that your home is in the best possible condition for your showings.

Keep your house clean and clutter-free, and see what a difference it makes. With your sparkling clean home good repair, your house is guaranteed to be at the top of the market!

Congratulations to the winner of Day 11 the Indigo Prize pack - Renee Snow 


Please contact Bettina to arrange for pick up of your prize 778-998-9645

Congratulations to our Day 10 Winner of Italian Cooking Class with Marzia of Bella Cibo - Denaye Dorge

Please contact Bettina to arrange pick up of your prize 778 998 9645

Congratulations to our Day 9 Winner of the Oxygen Yoga Walnut Grove Certificate and the Half Moon Yoga Mat -Mike Dirk

Please contact Bettina to arrange pick up of your prize 778 998 9645

A little late in the day...but never too late to announce a winner.

Congratulations to Brittany Plummer ....all your efforts paid off and you are the winner of our pair of snowmen! 

Pleae give Bettina a call to arrange to pick up your prize 778-998-9645.

Congratulations to our Day 7 winner of a Home Depot Gift Card Liane Bisaillon

Please be sure to give Bettina a call to arrange pick up 778 998 9645

Congratulations to our Day 6 winner of a Sugar'd Cloverdale gift card Carina Jansen-Styner

Please be sure to give Bettina a call to arrange for pick up 778-998-9645

Day 4 gift card from Emilio Finatti's Pizzeria is Nick Swain 

Day 5 Deep cleaning from Mistress of Clean is Linz Nagata 

Sorry for the delay here are the first 3 winner of the 12 Days of Christmas Contest

Day 1  Wine Package from Domaine De Chaberton        Kristie Pavle

Day 2  Apple Barn Apple Cider                                               Joanne Moran

Day 3  Gift Package from La Belle Vie                                  Kirsten Fisher 

Congratulations to the  winners!

Please contact Bettina Reid to claim your prize 778 998 9645

3 Steps to Protect, Prepare, and Repair Your Home From Weather Damages 

Would you know what to do if your basement flooded tomorrow? Inclement weather can lead to a variety of problems for homeowners. Those problems can be costly, not to mention stressful to deal with, which is why being prepared is important for anyone who owns a home. So before the next storm hits, be sure to take care of these steps to keep your home protected: 

Inspect Your Roof After Storms 

With inclement weather, roof damage can be common. Deciding whether to repair your roof before you sell your home, or selling it with a damaged roof, all depends on whether or not you want high dollar offers on your home. By repairing a roof ahead of time, your home’s value can increase by $2,800, plus you may receive more offers on your home. Some signs that your roof has been damaged by weather, or other elements, can include leaking in the attic, buckling shingles, and growing moss, all of which may warrant a roof replacement. When deciding whether to replace your roof, you should also find out if your homeowner’s insurance covers damages. Weather-related roof damages usually qualify for coverage under most homeowner’s insurance policies, so you should be able to get help with repairs to your roof or any other parts of your home damaged by snow, ice or hail. Just be sure to take photos of any weather-related issues and file your claim ASAP to increase the chances of your claim being approved and any repairs being taken care of right away. 

Check Your Flood Insurance Coverage 

Recent reports show that flooding is becoming an increased risk throughout Canada, and the prevalence of floods is predicted to grow as time passes. This means that now more than ever, Canadian homeowners need to be prepared to weather the potential home damages that floods can cause. According to Allstate, flood waters can wreak havoc on electrical systems, damage structural elements and even cause toxic mold developments throughout affected homes. Worst of all, homeowners who fail to purchase additional overland flood insurance could be left paying for flood-related damages on their own. That’s because most homeowner’s insurance policies do not provide benefits for damages related to flooding, whether that flooding is caused by the weather or other factors. You can protect your home from flooding by getting appropriate overland flood insurance, but you can also use damage prevention steps to minimize the effects that floods have on your home. Make sure electrical systems are mounted high enough to avoid being impacted, and then be prepared to use other measures when a flood approaches. 

Prepare Your Home for Other Weather Risks 

Severe weather in B.C. can range from blizzards to high winds to thunderstorms, so the potential for weather-related damage to your home always exists. Since the winter season can bring the most risks for severe weather, taking steps to properly winterize your house can help mitigate the need for repairs after winter storms hit. Insulating your attic, clearing rain gutters and trimming dead tree branches are all simple home maintenance tasks you can complete to help protect your home. Staying safe from winds can require other measures as well. In the event of a wind storm, a tornado or a hurricane, be sure to securely close shutters or place protective layers over windows. If you happen to live in a mobile home, it’s also a good idea to seek shelter elsewhere until the weather passes. Dealing with storm damage after a wind event is never pleasant, but if you find damages to your roof or other property areas, you should also be prepared to ensure that any repairs are taken care of properly and in a timely manner. 

Knowing how to protect and repair your home from weather damage can save you a lot of time, stress, and money. So be a responsible homeowner by preparing your property ahead of time, and taking the right steps to repair problems whenever inclement weather strikes. Above all, know how to keep your family, including pets and people, safe during a weather disaster. Because at the end of a storm, property can always be repaired or replaced. 

Here is another great article written by a company in the US GH Clark on how to repair a roof from beginning to end: GH Clark They show you the varipus types of roofing to choose from. 

Photo Credit: Unsplash

Cleaning. It’s not a task that we all enjoy, but it is one that has to be done. After all, if we let ourselves get too behind, then our homes end up full of bacteria and germs; potentially making us sick. However, when searching for the dirtiest place in your home, you might end up surprised by the answer. I can assure you; it’s not the room you think. Below, I’ll tell you exactly where that place is, as well as provide you with some seriously handy cleaning tips.

Where is the Dirtiest Place in Your Home?

Before you say the bathroom shower or toilet, let me stop you right there. The dirtiest place in your home is actually the kitchen, and when you think about it, it’s not that much of a surprise. There are so many places for bacteria and grime to gather and fester, and therefore it is easier to get sick if the cleaning is neglected.

Sponges, chopping boards, counters; all of these are prime places for bacteria. Spending some time each day washing the dishes, countertops, and chopping boards will keep germs at bay, as well as changing your sponge on a regular basis. Additionally, you should also try switching to a steam cleaner instead of a mop and bucket as these are actually much more effective at killing bacteria.

Where are Popular Places That Dirt Gathers?

What about the rest of the home? Dirt and germs like to gather everywhere, but what are some of the more prominent places? Here’s a quick list to show you some of the top locations you should be prioritising when you clean:

-        Bathrooms

-        Mattresses

-        Couch cushions

-        Pet beds

-        Carpets

-        Light fixtures

-        Doorknobs

It’s so easy to overlook these locations, especially things like light fixtures. However, it is these little features in our home that gather the most dust. Similarly, a mattress should be cleaned once a month to get rid of bed bugs, dander, and any germs that are lingering in the material.

Most of these things only need to be cleaned on a weekly basis, and carpets are much the same. If you have pets, you will need to vacuum them more regularly, something I’ll look at in the next section.

Top Cleaning Tips for Your Home

I have got some fantastic tips and tricks for keeping your home clean with minimal time and effort. The first is that you should invest in a good quality vacuum cleaner; one that works for your home. If you have pets, you need one that has been designed for animal hair. If you only have carpets or hard floors, you will need a model that is able to cope with them. You also need to think about the attachments, as they can come in handy for things like stairs and tight spaces.

White vinegar will become your best friend, and that’s no exaggeration. Bleach is massively overrated, and natural products actually work just as well; if not better. White vinegar can be used neat, diluted with water, or with baking powder, and it can do the following (as well as more):

-        Deodorise clothing in the wash

-        Remove stains from various surfaces

-        Work as a disinfectant

-        Clear limescale from taps and showerheads

Steam cleaners are also amazing, and you need to invest in them. Not only are they inexpensive and easy to use, but they are much more hygienic than a traditional mop and bucket. The steam kills 99.9% of bacteria and removes grime quickly. The pads are usually washable as well, saving you even more money in the long run. Some can even be used with carpet for those that want it.

To Conclude

It can be shocking at first when you realise where the most dirt gathers in the home. However, it doesn’t take long to ensure that it is nice and clean at all times. All you need to do is take a little time out of each day so that you can prep and cook in a hygienic environment. Want to learn more about the germs in your home and how to combat them effectively? Will Tottle has written an excellent and detailed guide on the topic that you can read here

Ah, moving. It is the worst. Moving is hard, stressful and expensive. If it weren’t because we had to look forward to a better place to live, it would be pretty much intolerable.

Yet, many of us might scoff at the idea of hiring a moving company. We prefer to do it ourselves with the help of unsuspecting volunteers who can be bribed with “free” food and drinks. Now all you need is a good friend with a pickup truck, and you have everything you need to start your DIY moving plan, right?

If only it were that easy. Though it is true you can save some money if you go the DIY route, it will still be an expensive process. Add to that the planning and stress of the whole experience, you might find yourself regretting your decision. 

Other things to consider before opting to DYI your moving plan are safety and insurance. Picking up huge boxes and moving furniture might be too strenuous on your body, especially if you are not used to that kind of work. It would be troublesome if you or one of your volunteers injured themselves. Insurance is also an important thing to consider. If something happens to any of your property or the truck, it will be insured if you decided on a reputable mover. (Regarding insurance, customers need to discuss the details with the mover of their choice beforehand.)

The good news is there you can hire a moving company for a multitude of things. You can pick and choose the services you need and decide on a moving company that best fits your moving plan. 

Different types of mover services include:

• Van lines: These are the traditional movers. They will load your stuff in the trailer and drive to their destination.

• Moving Containers: They will leave a trailer in your house so you can load all your stuff. Later, you can call them and they will take the trailer to the destination of your choice. 

• Full-service movers: They will do everything for you, including packing, loading, moving, and reassemble furniture.

• Moving helpers: If your issue is not transportation, you might reach out to a team to help load all your stuff.

With all the options available, we are sure you will find the services you need. And, hopefully, make your moving experience a lot more enjoyable. For more information and tips on moving and how to choose moving companies, click here.