Painting is a great way to refresh the looks of a room. Sometimes when a home is being prepared for sale, the dark colours can be daunting. People are keen about painting the walls of their home on their own, without hiring a professional. In this case, majority of them accomplish the task in a hassle-free manner and do the job with as much perfection as a professional. Still, there are a number of people who end up painting the room too dark, making the walls look very dull. If case you are one of them, you must be wondering how to tone down dark paint, without causing any damage to the original paint. In the following lines, we have listed a simple technique that can be used for toning down dark paint.   How To Tone Down Dark Paint   Things Required  Faux finish glaze Light colored pa... 07/13/2009

Condo's have more benefits then you may realize. Especially when starting out as a first time buyer. Think of it this way, you have no roof to worry about, no new windows! You don't have to cut grass or shovel the snow!! You will also save on having to purchase outdoor yard materials such as a lawn mower or heavy duty shovel for those Canadian winters!! They are also quite affordable. So if you are considering purchasing a condo..read this!! Before you start1 Hire a professional realtor to help with the buying process. It costs you nothing, since the seller pays the commission. 2 Make sure you have a good lawyer. 3 Seek financial qualification, to determine how much mortgage you can afford.4 Crunch the numbers with your financial backer; you'll need extra money for closing costs, moving... 07/13/2009

Learn how to avoid making your home a turn-off when you're looking to sell.In many cities across Canada, the real estate market has cooled noticeably from the heady days of a year ago. There is a growing inventory of houses on the market, and buyers are much choosier than ever before. If you're planning to sell, it's important that you put your very best foot forward, if you want to sell quickly and at a decent price.Toronto real estate agent Matt Dawson of Chestnut Park Real Estate has seen some amazing blunders by sellers. Here's his take on some of the biggest buyer turn-offs, many of which could be avoided -- or at least mitigated-- with a little care and forethought.1 Wacky paint coloursSome buyers can overlook strange decor choices and picture the house painted white or in tastefu... 07/13/2009

Recently a younger friend of mine (and I'm talking in her fifties) was diagnosed with cataracts and has to have them removed. She drives a lot for her business and the doctor told her she should be wearing good quality sunglasses to protect her eye outside. I know we drive a lot as well. Here is some information on sun damage to your eyes.   Potential Effects of UV Radiation on Eyes   UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can damage the eye, affecting surface tissues and internal structures, such as the cornea and lens. Long-term exposure to UV radiation can lead to cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelids, and other eye disorders. In the short-term, excessive exposure to UV radiation from daily activities, including reflections off of snow, pavement, and o... 07/13/2009

With the dog days of summer comes a hot-weather interpretation of "business casual" at some offices: midriff-baring tops and mini skirts on women and flip-flops and T-shirts on men. After more than a decade of business casual dress codes at most accounting firms and other companies, employers are starting to wonder how they got to this point. Shouldn't it be obvious that stomachs should be kept under wraps? Apparently it's not obvious to everyone, and some employers are issuing new guidelines to better define what they mean by "business casual." Some are eliminating it altogether. Suby, Von Haden & Associates, a CPA firm in Madison, Wis., had a casual dress code on Fridays from 1997 until 2000 but has discontinued it, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. "Client expectations and meetin... 07/08/2009

  Jennifer Zammit, A.C.C.I.Office: 519 649-6900Cell: 519-933-5201jenniferzammit@realtyexecutives.comrealtyexecutiveselite.com I can grant a wish! Dear Homebuyer/Homeowner, I'm not a genie, and I don't possess a magic lantern. However, I have learned the importance of creating a clear expectation of what is to be done. Part of my job, as a professional real estate associate with REALTY EXECUTIVES, is to listen to my customer's "wish list," and then work to find a home that grants those wishes. With each new customer comes a whole new set of "wishes." Some want a home in the country with five bedrooms and a family room big enough to play volleyball in. And, others want a small home in the suburbs with two bathrooms and a formal dining room. In order to accommodate all of these wishes, I'v... 07/08/2009

You may think that, once the home is conditioned and priced properly, that just about any agent can do the job. Well, I'd like to raise my hand and volunteer to explain why you need to be as careful about choosing your real estate agent as you are about choosing the price or staging efforts for your home. There are at least four things we do at REALTY EXECUTIVES that justify the commission that we charge. Here's a quick summary. We adequately research the market and the marketplace to be sure that you price your home and prepare it properly for sale in order to obtain a satisfactory offer to purchase. We protect you against errors and omissions by our knowledge of real estate law and our adherence to a strict CODE OF ETHICS. We insist that all contracts for the sale of real estate be i... 07/08/2009

  Dear Homebuyer Chances are, if you pick up a local newspaper, glance at a "Homes For Sale" magazine or search the Internet, you'll see our constant promotions and marketing efforts. Each year, we plan a campaign to be sure that buyers and sellers know the good work we do here at REALTY EXECUTIVES. We know that success requires that we spend thousands of dollars per year in a variety of promotional and advertising campaigns. But, at the end of the year, when I review the sources of my business, I am continually surprised that the largest share of our business continues to be from repeat customers and referrals. So, I'd like to thank you in advance for your recommendations and support. It means a lot to me and the people who will be buying or selling a home as a result of your confidenc... 07/08/2009

The first half of 2009 is over already! The real estate market, like most markets has been interesting. Experts can't agree if we have seen the worst or the worst is yet to come. One positive indicator is that sales activity has picked up this past quarter.White Oaks home prices in April through June 2009 look remarkably similar to prices for the same period in 2007.. At first glance that may sound bad, but 2007 was a pretty good year   For the full report in PDF format. Download hereFor all your London, Ontario real estate information, visit www.LondonHomesAndCondos.com 07/08/2009

Learning something new everyday is our number one priority. We make it a point to find new opportunities and avenues to learn from. The best way to do this is to learn from the best! If we want to be the best, we have to do what the best does! Being a part of such a dynamic and knowledgable team like Realty Executives Elite Ltd in London ON makes this easy! Everyday in our office we are surrounded by what we perceive as "the best in the business!" ( and I am sure we are not alone in this perception.) So we have access to some of the most informative brains out there. And the greatest part about it is, they are all ao willing to share!! Being able to work so closely with such successors has made is possible for us (the rookies) to excel and provide our clients with quality service just a... 07/08/2009

Purchasing a home can be a very overwhelming experience for anyone... especially for a first timer.. there are so many things you don't think of.. that wouldn't dream of thinking of. You have never been involved in this type of transaction before and in most cases, you have no idea how real estate/home buying even works. I have compiled a check list of important things to be aware of and things you should do while preparing for you first home purchase. These things are merely suggestions based on experiences I have had with First Time Buyer's in the past. "Am I Ready To Buy A Home?" 1. Speak with a Mortgage Professional about a Mortgage Pre Approval. This will help you get an idea of what you can afford, and what type of down payment, if any, you require. ( Feel free to contact me for m... 07/08/2009

Dear Friend: Adding the right ingredients in just the right order is the way a great cook prepares a signature dish for an important event. We work hard as a REALTORS to add all the right ingredients professionalism, preparation and persistence - to help buyers get ready for their most important event ever: moving into their new home. My goal is to help buyers and the sellers get together. Our  signature is our  commitment to do the very best that we can. Please let me know if you or a neighbour would consider selling your home in the near future.   Sincerely,   Dan and Rachael Polakovic Sales Representatives Realty Executives Elite Ltd Brokerage www.two-realtors.com   07/08/2009

Item 2008 Average Sale Price * 2009 Year to Date % NORTH Total Detached North $276,945 $272,659 -1.5% Total Condo North $187,166 $186,909 -0.1% Bungalow North $198,077 $198,460 0.2% Two Storey North $305,420 $297,816 -2.5% Ranch North $316,452 $303,046 -4.2% Townhouse Condo North $177,658 $172,211 -3.1% SOUTH Total Detached South $246,540 $242,372 -1.7% Total Condo South $135,533 $132,040 -2.6% Bungalow South $182,260 $177,854 -2.4% Two Storey South $307,993 $310,220 0.7% Ranch South $269,538 $270,491 0.4% Townhouse Condo South $135,678 $135,592 -0.1% EAST Total Detached East $185,453 $187,496 1.1% Total Condo East $138,301 $138,977 0.5% Bungalow East $156,468 $149,856 -4.2% Two Storey East $228,487 $243,947 6.8% Ranch East $195,682 $185,914 -5.0% Townhouse Condo East $117,113 $119,485... 07/08/2009

  June sales jump nearly five per cent Last month, 946 homes exchanged hands in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), a 4.5-per-cent increase over June 2008. This includes 767 detached homes (up 6.5 per cent from June 2008) and 179 condos (down 3.2 per cent from June 2008). Year to date, 3,296 detached homes and 756 condos have been sold - down 11 per cent and 20 per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2008. Sales in St. Thomas are stabilizing - 90 homes exchanged hands in June 2009, a 32.4-per-cent increase over June 2008. The average residential price year-to-date in St. Thomas is $180,079, a two-per-cent decrease over last year. Listings in St. Thomas have remained about the same with 115 in June 2008, compared to 116 during the ... 07/08/2009

As supplied by London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS®342 Commissioners Rd. W., London, Ontario  N6J 1Y3 http://www.lstreb.com/ News Release For Comment: Joe Hough, President, 519-670-6011 For Background: Katherine Low, Director of Communications, 519-641-1400  LONDON - May 1, 2009  April home sales improve Last month, 804 homes exchanged hands in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), including 666 detached homes (up 1.8% from April 2008) and 138 condos (down 26.6% from April 2008). Year to date, 1,840 detached homes and 414 condos have been sold - down 15.1% and 26.9% respectively compared to the same period in 2008. "April sales have increased by 20% over March - that's great news, especially in a tougher economy," says Joe Hough, LSTAR... 07/07/2009

Ok I admit I have an older Blackberry with the roll thing on the side. I could get a Pearl but I just hate changing phones once I get used to them. My biggest beef is when I'm looking for a call or email that is pages down. I practically have carpal tunnel from rolling that side thing with my thumb. Alas, here are a few tips for what are more than likely the biggest quirps you might have: Most Popular Tips and Tricks Turn on the backlighting Press Power button. Switch to another program Hold the Alt key and press the Escape button. Continue to hold the Alt key and select a program. Release the Alt key to switch to that program. Exit a screen or dialog box Press the Escape button. Insert a period Press the Space key twice. The next letter is capitalized. Insert the at sign (@) and period... 07/07/2009

Driving is one of the most dangerous things you do, because so many variables are not in your control – the weather, the pavement, other drivers... Practice these driving safety tips and save a life: Always pay close attention to traffic and other drivers. Don't use your cell phone or text messaging, or key information into a GPS unit while you're driving. Keep your attention on the road, not on other passengers. Don't assume that you know what other drivers will do. Always keep an eye on “the other guy”, and leave yourself plenty of room to get out of harm's way, if you need to. If you're not sure about an intersection, yield. If the signal is out, that is treated as a four-way stop. But not everyone will stop. Be careful, be aware, and be ready to stop if you need to. Don't speed. Dri... 07/07/2009

Thanks to all of the support of our clients we have won the award of TOP TEAM for 2008.Without your support we would have no team!So thanks to all of you and here's to TOP TEAM 2009! Dan and Rachael Polakovic Sales Representatives Realty Executives Elite Ltd Brokerage 07/07/2009

                            The Following is an excerpt from the most inspiring book I have ever read. And I am a "self help" book JUNKIE! Especially when it comes to entrepenuers and ways to improve in my business and in real estate in general. The book is titled THINK BIG AND KICK ASS IN BUSINESS AND IN LIFE!" By Donald Trump. The entire book is chalk full of great tips and and power boosting, make you wanna run out and be the next Donald Trump stories and scenarios. But this specific paragraph hit a nerve. Maybe because I was struggling with a huge career choice at the time I read it so I could relate. I don't know. But it rang so true in my life and gave me the power to make the best decision I have ever made. Some background. I am a young mother of two. My children are very young (... 07/07/2009

  LONDON - July 2, 2009 June sales jump nearly five per cent Last month, 946 homes exchanged hands in the jurisdiction of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR), a 4.5-per-cent increase over June 2008. This includes 767 detached homes (up 6.5 per cent from June 2008) and 179 condos (down 3.2 per cent from June 2008). Year to date, 3,296 detached homes and 756 condos have been sold - down 11 per cent and 20 per cent respectively compared to the same period in 2008. Sales in St. Thomas are stabilizing - 90 homes exchanged hands in June 2009, a 32.4-per-cent increase over June 2008. The average residential price year-to-date in St. Thomas is $180,079, a two-per-cent decrease over last year. Listings in St. Thomas have remained about the same with 115 in June 2008, compa... 07/07/2009