HOW TO KEEP YOUR HOUSEPLANTS LEAN AND GREEN

A few houseplants will offer your home a breath of fresh air!

Houseplants are visually appealing and also improve our home's air quality by adding oxygen and removing harmful pollutants.  Here are a few hardy plants that will thrive in any environment:

1. Spider Plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are great for beginners as they’re almost impossible to kill and they also look great in hanging baskets.
2. Cast Iron Plants (Aspidistra elatior) are foolproof as they only require dim light and don’t need much water.
3. The Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderana) simply stands in water and has been used by the Chinese for centuries in the art of feng shui to create harmony in the home.
4. Accidental drowning is a leading cause of death for houseplants.  Water them thoroughly but make sure there are drainage holes so excess water can escape as you don’t want your plants to be sitting in water.

Improper lighting is another reason why promising young plants become statistics.  It's important to match the lighting needs of plants with the amount of light you have to offer.
Houseplants are a simple and cost-effective way to infuse natural, serene style into your home.  Better yet, research suggests they reduce stress and cold related illnesses and also increase our energy levels so go out today and outfit your home with some of nature's lean mean green machines!

KITCHENER-WATERLOO REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE

Kitchener-Waterloo home sales were steady during August.

A total of 483 residential sales occurred through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR) in August.

This was 19.2 per cent below August 2016’s record breaking 598 units sold but still ahead of the previous 5-year August average of 473 sales.

Residential sales last month brings a year-to-date total of 4,876 residential units, an increase of 3.7 per cent compared to 2016.  “I think we’re seeing some stability return to the market” says James Craig, President of KWAR.  “Last summer’s record setting sales was unsustainable and created a market that no one enjoyed.”

Residential sales in August included 286 detached homes (down 18.8 per cent), and 105 condominium units (down 30.9 per cent) which includes any property regardless of style (i.e. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc.).  Sales also included 50 semi-detached homes (up 25 per cent) and 32 freehold townhouses (down 34.7 per cent).

The average sales price of all residential sales increased 10.1 per cent to $441,992 compared to August 2016.  Detached homes sold for an average price of $519,910 for an increase of 5.9 per cent while the average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $294,787 for an increase of 26.5 per cent.  Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $338,191 (up 13.4 per cent) and $351,233 (up 17.3 per cent) respectively.

REALTORS® listed 589 residential properties in K-W and area last month which is on par with August of 2016.  Inventory levels continue to be low at just two months of inventory at the end of August.  The number of months of inventory represents the time it would take to deplete current inventories at the current rate of sales.  The long term average of months of inventory for KW and area is three and half months.  Last month there were 800 active listings on the KWAR’s MLS® System, compared to 760 in August of last year.

The average days on market in August was 26, compared to 33 days a year ago.  On a month to month basis, it took three additional days on average from list to sale date in August compared to July.  “While the tight supply in the market continues to favour sellers we are pleased to see more inventory coming online; the steady rate of sales continues to reinforce that Kitchener-Waterloo and area remains an attractive place to invest in homeownership.” says Craig.

THINKING BIG IN SMALL SPACES

With a little help, you can still live large in a small space!

If you live in a small space, it’s important that you don’t feel boxed in.  The following tips will help transform your cramped quarters into something more expansive:

1. Shady Solutions - Painting walls a soft shade and the ceiling bright white will give the illusion of added height.


2. Is That a Door In Your Pocket? - Installing pocket doors is an easy and inexpensive way to create lots of extra useable space.


3. Lighten Up - Keep window areas clear of heavy drapes to expand wall area and let the sun shine in as it helps a space feel larger.


4. Mirror Mirror - Strategically placed mirrors will create the illusion of added space and they’ll also reflect light into adjoining rooms.


5. Cut a Rug - Having the same type of flooring throughout your home will make it feel more spacious so avoid using too many area rugs.


6. Hide & Seek - Maximize every hidden space you have by using shelving pockets behind doors or bed risers for that all important under the bed storage.


7. Cut the Clutter - Have a place for everything so that the surfaces in your home don’t get cluttered.  Storage baskets for example are great for hiding remotes & magazines.


8. Open Up - Arrange your furniture so you can see as much of the floor as possible.  Rooms with blocked views can feel cramped so move furniture away from entrances.

Whether you're getting ready to put your home on the market or you just want to create more space for yourself, these easy and inexpensive tips will help give you a little extra breathing room.  By thinking big and getting creative, you can comfortably live large in even the smallest of spaces.

PREPARING FOR THE REAL ESTATE ROLLER COASTER

Never wear your emotions on your sleeve during the real estate ride.

Selling your home is a huge financial transaction that can trigger a roller coaster of emotions.  When you're being tossed around at every turn, you need to hang on and stay on track.

Although you’ll likely have a strong connection to your home, try not to get offended if a potential buyer wants to rip up your kitchen or paint over the wood trim.

Also, never take comments personally.  It’s natural for people to complain when they're interested in something so while criticisms may seem negative, they’re actually a sign that the buyer’s interested in your home.

If you receive a “low ball” offer, remember that it’s often just a starting point but be aware of tactics such as “low balling” where an attractive price is initially offered only to be adjusted at a later point on the basis that circumstances have changed.  Recognizing these strategies will help you keep a balanced perspective.

If you’re able to generate multiple offers, make sure you consider more than just the price.  There’s nothing worse than accepting a conditional offer just because it's over the asking price only to have it fall apart a month later when you could have accepted a firm cash offer that was almost as good.

It’s completely natural for both buyers and sellers to experience a wide range of intense emotions as they navigate through the complex real estate process.  However, if you hop on the real estate roller coaster with a competent agent by your side, you’ll not only enjoy the ride but you'll look forward to doing it again!