I recently was privileged to watch my daughter Amanda go through the process of buying her first house with her fiance Chris. They live 2 hours apart so they would sit at the computer each night, one in Barrie and one in Brantford,  looking through MLS listings and deciding together while on the phone which properties would make it onto their "must see list" for that weekend. Five seconds max on each one. If the first picture did not have the curb appeal they clicked through to the next listing. If the first picture was appealing, it was the same procedure with the interiors. Loud colours, clutter, furniture misplaced...they clicked through to the next listing. Sound familiar? We tell our clients how critical Home Staging is to attract potential buyers, but to see it in action was a rea... 08/11/2008

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners the importance of showing the purpose of a room. This room was immediately off the front foyer and was being used as a catch all instead of as it's intended purpose, a dining room. All I did was remove the piano and chair, declutter and add a dining room set and new lighting. Now potential buyers come into the home and immediately see how they could be enjoying dinner with family and friends in this home. The fireplace and bookcase are now the focal points of the room instead of more clutter in the room. The Realtors job of marketing this home in Barrie is much easier now that Advantage Staging has returned the room to it's intended purpose. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. 08/10/2008

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that buyers want to be able to see the intended purpose of the room and not be distracted by your personal belongings. A Master Bedroom should be marketed and Staged as a retreat from a busy day, a place to rejuvenate and be ready for a new day. In this property in Barrie, all I did was add neutral bedding and curtains, two lamps of an appropriate size, romantic artwork and decluttered. Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless.       08/10/2008

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners how to create a "gift wrapping room" where none existed before.  To create more perceived value and space in a property, I suggested to the homeowner that a "gift wrapping" room was created. Everyone wants one, but hardly anyone has one. I suggested that an unused portion of the basement be Staged into a gift wrapping centre. Using an existing table and chair from Ikea  and gift wrapping materials, this is the result. The homeowner purchased the peg board for under  $ 10.00.  My client is the star here. I gave her a suggestion during the consultation and this is what she came up with. Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the  competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. 08/09/2008

Invest now in real estate....or forever hold your peace.! Just a reminder of what we do...as I have had recent discussions .... Mana Investments and its affiliate, Mana Real Estate help others understand investment real estate by simply doing it. We do it through;  joint ventures;  utilizing RRSP's as a 2nd mortgage on investment property; or through other partnership arrangements ( the team approach).  As well, this blog is designed to inform, educate, and enlighten anyone who wishes to further themselves by investing in real estate. The information here on investing strategies is free for all to learn and apply. Our focus is mainly on properties and joint ventures that cash flow. Experience has taught us that cash flow acts like a hedge against a downturn in the markets.  That is, if ... 08/08/2008

Couple of days ago, on my way to Toronto, I stopped at one of the coffee shops in south Barrie.  This company offers the best French Vanilla and super fresh made sandwiches...  I walked in and there were line-up everywhere: to the counter, to the touch screens where you order your food, to the cash registers.  With 6 people working this crowd, I should be in & out, I thought.  Then I noticed the chaos!  The woman behind the counter was screaming at the young guy, because she could not find lettuce, his hands were shaking and the sandwich he was working on was falling apart.  Knives were thrown on the floor and no one had time to pick them up.  Three other workers were wondering aimlessly in the store trying to look busy.  When the screaming woman behind the counter politely asked the ma... 08/07/2008

For Sale by Owner. In recent years we all have noticed the increased number of those signs sprouting on our lawns... The reason: KEEPING THE COMMISSION in your pocket. Saving money is on everyone's mind and some succeed in doing so by selling their home on their own. However many homeowners shoot themselves in the foot by choosing to go that route. It all sounds great in the beginning, in fact it looks amazing, especially in a strong, aggressive, upward market. But how does it really work if things slow down drastically? What happens when little tiny element goes out alignment? Oh, let's see: the obscenely high gas prices, for example? What happens with those doing it on their own? What's happening to the For Sale by Owner crowd? Without current access to the market data, many of them a... 08/07/2008

It's a wise thing to be informed and so, each chance I get I try to do just that. Our latest monthly office Lunch & Learn provided thrills and chills down my spine yesterday. We were lucky to have a guest speaker form CMHC who came in with hot new news and information pertaining to the up to the minute events in our local and not so local market. Just as other Barrie homeowners, the Realtors in this beautiful city are uncertain as to where the market will go... Well, we got an eye opener, yesterday. According to the Statistical Data gathered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (www.cmhc.ca) the market is now entering the balanced stage. Considering however, the latest gas price changes and the fact that for last 6 months we (the Realtors) have noticed the steady decline in sales ... 08/01/2008

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that Staging can create "rooms" within rooms to increase the perceived value of a property. All I did was Stage the fireplace and writing desk by adding props and accessories and then did a declutter of the room. Now the master bedroom in this property in Barrie is not just a place to sleep. It is now seen as a retreat destination from a busy day. Cuddling up in front of a romantic fireplace or writing notes at the desk. Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. 07/31/2008

 this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that Staging is done to market the purpose of a room to appeal to the widest range of potential buyers. This allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in the home and entertaining in this room. In this dining room in Barrie, all did was declutter, supply a fresh floral arrangement, and add 3 pieces of artwork that clearly shows that this room is used for entertaining and good times with family and friends. Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless.     07/31/2008

Huge $4.65 Million Dollar Injection into Georgian College. The Province of Ontario will boost Georgian College in Barrie with a 4.65 million dollar expansion into a renewable energy technologies program. Construction will begin in 2009 on adding 16,197 sq ft building to the Barrie campus to house the program.  Its part of the $1.5 billion skills to jobs action plan the province has promised to boost skilled workers in Ontario. The new program will add a total of 700 new students to the College. From a real estate prospective, look for upward pressure on real estate market values as well as increasing demand for the student rental market.  The increase in values will come from teachers/service oriented people moving into the area to fill the added jobs. ( reducing  housing stock inventor... 07/29/2008

In this example I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that you can Stage a Master Bedroom to create a retreat for the adults in no time at all. Staging a master to appeal to the new buyer is achieved by taking away the distractions and letting them concentrate on the feeling of calm that is evoked in the room. Now after decluttering you can actually see the detailed molding and coffered ceiling in the room, important selling features in this property. Before they were not noticed due to all the distracting clutter. In this Master Bedroom in Barrie, I added accent cushions, changed the 1 large piece of artwork for 4 pieces of artwork, purchased new lamps, changed the pillow cases with ones that the client owned and decluttered. Time involved 40 minutes, lamps, artwork and accent c... 07/23/2008

In this example of  Staging I would like to show Realtors and Homeowners that you can make a dramatic change in marketing a property for sale with minimal investment. Now the room is warm and inviting. After decluttering there were no distractions to the features of the room. In this boy's room in Barrie I flipped the duvet from a striped pattern to the neutral side, swapped out a lamp and added some books under the lamp to give it height and scale, removed one tablecloth from the table and added three accent cushions. Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. 07/23/2008

One of your listings has been on the market for some time now. Your Client is getting anxious, and you start to feel uneasy… There is still no serious activity. During the Agent’s Open House and at the Office Tour you heard those pesky comments about… pet odours. You know well what they all are talking about. During your very first visit to this home, you have noticed it yourself and you’ve seen the litter box smack in the middle of the family room floor. The dog food was there too, a little bit in the bowl and the rest all over the floor. When you came to stage the home and take pictures, everything was nice and tidy, but you could still smell… the SMELL. Obviously, others can smell it too. So, how do we address little issues like this, how do we talk about the problem with the homeown... 07/22/2008

In this example I wanted to show Realtors and Homeowners  that Home Staging can be done on a very limited budget to get maximum impact when marketing a home for sale. The boys bedroom in Thornton was given a complete makeover by changing the bedding to a neutral colour, adding one lamp  in the room and hanging one piece of artwork that the Homeowner had in another location in the house. Advantage Staging will market your property to stand out from the competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless. 07/21/2008

This before and after example is to show the average homeowner that you do not need a large budget to Stage a property for sale. Decluttering and taking your own furniture from another room and rearrange it to show the purpose of the room and how a potential buyer might use the space. In this 10 x 17 livingroom in Barrie I created a TV viewing area, a reading nook and a small computer workspace. Three uses in what previously appeared to be a small room without a focus. Advantage Staging will market  your property to stand out from the competition every time. Investment, minimal. Impact, priceless.   07/20/2008

We are surrounded by ecologically conscious ideas, Earth-safe cleaning products, recycled this and that, and I’m all for it! I truly am! I was raised in the country where 30 years ago we collected newspapers, and glass bottles and deposited them to special depots. Then we would get a coupon valid for a purchase of… toilet paper. Those lessons stayed with me, and I happily embraced the whole recycling and composting ideas and implement them into the daily routines of my family’s life. All my lights are outfitted with energy saving light bulbs, there is a compost bin under my sink and two big compost containers in the back of my yard. Like most other people I separate my paper, glass and plastic from my garbage and remember to turn off the lights when I don’t need them. But let’s look at ... 07/19/2008

Using Your RRSP to Invest in Real Estate From the calls I have been receiving lately, there seems to be some confusion on how you can use your RRSP contributions for real estate investing. So let's start by discussing the first two most common ways to use your RRSP for real estate. First - The most common is through a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust). This is a typical passive investment that you can get through any mutual fund company. It is a publicly listed company with normal SEC rules and guidelines. Like most mutual funds, there may fees attached. Two- Using your RRSP as a second mortgage. This way is not as common, but is just as secure as a REIT. The similarities between a REIT and a RRSP second mortgage are that all real estate ownership has the risk of market fluctuations (... 07/18/2008

Summertime, Ice Dance teams from Mariposa School of Skating practice at the East Bayfield Arena, so after dropping my son off, I have an opportunity to enjoy an early morning walk in the area. The streets are quiet and empty, (we are talking 6:00am, here) and I can take in the crisp air and smell of fresh cut grass. I walk fast, and try to get a good workout, walking a different route every time. Today, I came into the area, I never visited before and, to be honest, I was very impressed. Cassandra Dr, just East of Sister Catherine Donnelly School. Here, the lawns were beautifully manicured, edges trimmed and planting beds covered with mulch to keep the weeds in check. Two homes caught my eye and I had to pause and take in the beauty of their setting. Facing each other, those two corner ... 07/17/2008

We talked about the safety of your children, previously. Today I would like to mention valuable possessions that may need protections, while your home is listed for Sale. We all heard about stolen paintings, jewelery and other valuables. How do we protect our belongings form disappearing when the house is offered for sale? Sometimes it is quite tricky to get Clients to cooperate in this matter. We are all proud of the things we have. On some level, we want people to know that we have them. And this is where the things get difficult… Some of those valuable things are part of the decorating scheme of our home, and removing them for safety reasons will diminish the look and perhaps the attractiveness of the home. Homeowners simply forget that their valuable things that maybe part of the de... 07/15/2008