Thursday, June 30, 2011

Check it off the To-Do list...

Now is a great time to finish off the "Honey-Do" list. Take a look at what needs to be done. You'll probably see a lot of small repairs on your list. Tackle these first. If they're small jobs, it's easy to get them out of the way, and you'll feel less over-whelmed when you can cross a few of these items off your list. I always tell my clients that if it's a small repair, why not get it done? Especially when it comes to selling your home. Don't leave these repairs for the next owner because they're small. Get them done because they're small, and sell your home faster, and for more money!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

@AndreChinKW Is THE Man in Real Estate in KW!

Whether you're buying or selling a home, check out the the Chin-Magna team at Keller Williams! Just ran into Andre and he's got some prime listings to show you. BTSH is proud to be teamed up with such an amazing sales team - Contact Andre or Mike today for special deals with BTSH!


Monday, June 27, 2011

Let the light shine in...

Cleaning your windows means not only will they look good, but you'll actually save on energy costs. Studies show that cleaner windows let in more sunshine and light, and help to keep your energy bills down. Here are some tips to help make them sparkle:

1. Washing windows should be done on a cloudy day, to help prevent streaking. The sun dries the cleaning solution faster than you can clean it.

2. Newspaper really does clean windows best and it also applies a film that makes them resistant to dirt

3. Clean windows with a solution of water and vinegar (2 parts water to 1 part vinegar). If you have previously cleaned with commercial cleaners, add a 1/2 teaspoon of dish soap to the bottle for the best clean. Commercial cleaners often leave a wax type film on the windows that can't be removed with vinegar alone.

4. Use a cotton swab to get into the corners of the windows

5. When cleaning the exterior of windows, wash first with a squeegee or sponge and a bucket of water/vinegar to get the bulk of the dirt off, then wipe to a sparkling shine with newspaper

Friday, June 24, 2011

Humane Society Redesigned Education Room Coming Soon!

The Education Room at the KW Humane Society is almost complete, compliments of Beyond The Stage Homes! A fresh coat of paint and some updated accents are putting a fresh inviting feel into the room. Come check it out this weekend! They are having their adoption drive tomorrow 10:00-4:00. Already have a cat that you would like to have microchipped? Stop by between 10:00am and 1:00pm to have it done for only $25:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=115885315163525

For those that have been following my facebook posts, Baloo is still looking for his forever home! He is a sweet, 2 year old male neutered black cat that has been at the centre since May 11th. Did you know?? Black cats have the lowest adoption rate! If you know of anyone in the KW area looking for a great addition to their home, please send them to KW Humane Society to meet Baloo, or send them the link below:

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Houseplants for Natural, Fresh Air

In staging, I always advise my clients to remove any artificial air fresheners from their home when they list. While you want your home to smell wonderful, you want it to be light and inviting scents, however artificial air fresheners can be strong and overpowering, and for anyone sensitive to strong scents, these can actually be offensive. The other reason that I advise this is that these strong scents have a way of hiding other odours, and you want to your home to smell fresh naturally, so that potential buyers don't think they're in for any surprises.

The best way to achieve this is with houseplants. Houseplants with sweet-smelling blooms include gardenias, jasmine, and citrus. Herbs are also a great alternative, such as Basil or Rosemary. Houseplants will also help to clean the air that you breathe in your home. The natural filtration process within plants can remove up to 87 % of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the air, according to NASA research.
So go ahead - breathe easy!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

4 Bedroom 4 Bath Hespeler Home Staged by BTSH

List Price: $424,900
MLS #1193060

Check out the backyard on this one!! Incredible lot, professionally landscaped and backs onto a greenbelt. Beautiful! And that's just the outside!







Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Painted Ceiling and Wallpaper Create a Fantasy Bathroom

Is it wrong to say that my powder room is now my favourite room in the house? Often when I start a design project, I fear that the vision that I have won't translate into reality. Other times, it's better than I imagined it. Thanks to an amazing colour match by the team at Colour Your World in Waterloo, the ceiling turned out the perfect colour, and my first attempt at hanging wallpaper, while not exactly flawless, turned out spectacular. Although I chose a bold design route with this, you can achieve similar effects with a more subtle colour than pink. Dare to break from the norm - ceilings don't need to be white, and wallpaper is great is any room when done right. It is also easier than ever to apply and remove. Check out the amazing transformation of this small powder room in the before and after pictures!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Link to Shauna Lynn on Linkedin

Are we connected on Linkedin? If not, contact me today! Search Shauna Lynn Simon, Beyond The Stage Homes to start sharing information and contacts.

Friday, June 10, 2011

New Home? Renewing Your Mortgage? Need to Consolidate Debt?

I'm always known by friends and family as the person who has "a guy" for everything you might need. Well, if you're looking to purchase a new home, renew your mortgage, or just looking to consolidate some debt into your mortgage, I've got your guy! Contact Vince Vasco today to find out how he can help. As a mortgage agent, he has access to hundreds of lenders. Don't waste your time shopping around for the best rate, just go straight to my guy!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Declutter!! Clearing Your Home For a Clear Mind!

It's time for spring cleaning, do you have some areas that could use some attention? Read through the latest Producehersink article by Shauna Lynn for tips on how to tackle your clutter, one step at a time:

http://producehersink.com/2011/06/06/declutter-clearing-your-home-for-a-clear-mind/

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Looking to sell your home?

If you're looking to sell your home, team up with Andre Chin of Keller Williams and receive $50 towards any home staging services from Beyond The Stage Homes. Check it out!

Monday, June 6, 2011

Need Some Help with your Curb Appeal?

BTSH can help! When renovating your home, don't forget about the exterior of the home. Remember that this is the first part of your home that any visitor or buyer sees. Check out this amazing transformation!

Friday, June 3, 2011

1/2 Price Tool Rentals at Home Depot

No, this is not a sponsored ad, but simply some information that I thought that all home owners should know. Did you know that Home Depot offers half price tool rentals Tues-Thurs every week for 4 hour rentals? Thanks to Home Depot I saved myself a lot of agony and money by renting a rotatiller which I used earlier this week to prep my veggie garden, and look at the amazing results (I also included a before picture to give you an idea of what I had to tackle).! Don't spend all your money on a tool that you won't get more than a use or two out of, rent it from Home Depot instead.

www.homedepot.ca