Every year, the New Year arrives, brimming with possibilities. Promises and resolutions are abundant. A new year means New Year’s resolutions and more often than not they are usually more personal. But, why not make some New Year’s resolutions for your home? Don’t waste a minute of your time and start now! They say home is where your heart is but a lovelier, better organized, and more comfortable place to live will surely work wonders. 

Here are 4 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home:
#1 – Organize and Declutter

Get Rid of unused items and be thoughtful about what you bring into your home. Decluttering an entire home is a big job. The best way to tackle it is in stages—focus on one room, one space, or even one zone within a room.  I recommend donating your stuff AS you’re decluttering. … Consider donating the ‘good stuff’ instead of enduring extra work and frustration trying to sell it.

Remember this: Your stuff is not ‘too good to donate‘ — so let it go and get on with life.

#2 – Create a Safe Place

Before you know it, you’re surrounded by toxic air you can’t notice with any of your senses. Install your carbon monoxide and fire detectors on every floor. Keep at least one fire extinguisher & fire blanket somewhere in your home.

Establish an emergency exit plan with your family.

#3 – Minimize your Bills

When it comes to saving money, small changes can go a long way. Certain changes in your home could substantially reduce your electricity bills, as well as helping the planet. Install LED bulbs and turn off lights when you leave the room. Investing in an energy monitor can really show you where your power (and your money) is going. 

Simple things, like unplugging chargers when you’re not using them, can also make a difference.

#4 – Create a System for Cleaning

Make a weekly to-do list for cleaning the house. Creating a routine is one of the best ways you can keep you home for the long haul. Sticking to both a morning and evening routine and keeping up with a weekly cleaning schedule will do wonders for your home. 

Rather than putting tasks off for a later time, just push through and get it over with now. This is also a great way to increase your productivity each day! Keep clutter to a minimum and keep your home looking and feeling just a little bit tidier. This is the first step to keeping your home clean.

We provide you full access to our exclusive staging, decluttering, moving, packing & cleaning services!

Looking for the perfect family home in Vaughan? Get in touch, we know the local market inside and out!

Winter is one of the seasons that allow us to showcase our properties in a cozy and inviting light, so why not make the most of it? It’s essential to brighten up your home for Winter open houses and visits. Make sure every room is well lit!

Once temperatures begin to dip and the holidays arrive, both home buyers and inventory drop off sharply. Yet even though the cold weather months aren’t the best time to sell, sometimes circumstances demand it. If you’re one of the unlucky few trying to sell your house during this time of year, take these special measures to make your listing stand out.

Here are the best ways to make your home stand out during winter.

#1 – Stay warm

This is not the time to save a few bucks on your heating bill. You want to create a feeling of welcoming warmth and you can’t do that with a chilly house. If the home is vacant, keep the heater on a timer so the property is warm during showing times.

#2 – Lighten up

It’s even more important to make sure each room is well-lit during the darker winter months. Table and standing lamps are quick fixes for a dim room.

#3 – Highlight seasonal features

Build a fire. Arrange some plush throws and fluffy cushions on the sofas in your finished basement. If your home has features that make it a cozy place to spend the winter, be sure to highlight them..

#4 – Show off your landscaping in photos

To help prospective buyers look beyond winter’s snowy or brown lawn, and envision the property in warmer months, display photos of the house taken when things were green and blooming. Make a few flyers or a photo album and leave them out (and open) where buyers are sure to see them.

#5 – Clear the way to a sale

Make sure the driveway, walkways, and porch are safe and free from snow and ice. Be sure to shovel your deck and patio so buyers can walk out and imagine enjoying them in warmer times.

Purchasing a home might not be at the top of everyone’s list during this time of year, but there are still people out there on the hunt. Follow these tips for a successful house sale this winter.

Looking for the perfect family home in Vaughan? Get in touch—we know the local market, inside and out!

Property Spark researched hundreds of Canadian groups & teams’ social media channels and went through a certain process to select the best. Property Spark began with finding Canadian groups & teams through different mediums and then looked at objective data regarding the Canadian real groups & teams’ social media presence across various social media channels. Lastly, PropertySpark made sure that all the Canadian Real Estate groups & teams who made it to the final list have great social media presence based on subjective variables.

They’ve been ranking top agents, groups and teams on social media since 2016 we are extremely honoured and very proud to be chosen as one of the Top 40 Canadian Real Estate groups & teams that are the best of the best when it comes to social media for Real Estate in Canada.

The importance of social media for real estate really can’t be overstated. Social media is an absolute goldmine for real estate businesses. It’s important to have a diverse content calendar. Grow and engage your followers with these contents.

Property photos

Social media for real estate is highly visual in terms of content. Stunning, high-res property photos are central to so many real estate business’ social strategies. Not only do eye-popping photos encourage “likes” and shares, but also compel followers to get in touch.

Success stories and client testimonials

One of the biggest benefits of real estate social media posts is the ability to highlight success stories to connect with clients.

Company milestones

Beyond social, awards and accolades are another way to highlight real estate business’ track record. We’re not shy about talking up our business’ accomplishments, But instead, we are proud of our achievements no matter how big or small it is.

Industry and market news

Helpful content and industry reports are one way of keeping clients in the loop. This shows that you’re an active participant in your industry.

New listings and properties

Perhaps the most obvious type of post to publish is your latest listings via photos and captions. Don’t forget to incorporating multiple photos of each listing and using the contact information as a sort of call-to-action.

Home tips and renovation ideas

Renovation ideas and inspiration are both fair game for your prospective buyers and past clients alike. Any sort of educational content on home maintenance serves multiple audiences and once again highlights your know-how.

Looking for the perfect family home in Vaughan? Get in touch—we know the local market, inside and out!

Let’s spread amazing joy throughout the neighbourhood with holiday lights this year! It’s beginning to look a lot…different than holidays of the past. But if there’s one tradition that can brighten a socially distanced celebration, it’s decorating a house with lights. Even the smallest display can go far in lifting spirits and in lighting up this holiday!

To help 2020 end on a lighter note, Here are top design tips for decorating this holiday season.

#1 – Don’t forget to decorate your backyard

You don’t only have to show love to the front porch! Bring the cozy vibes to the backyard with plenty of cushions and plush throws around a fire pit. Then hang cafe string lights. This look is stylish and understated enough to keep up throughout the season. You don’t have to have the most lights on the block (but if you want to, go for it—we’re not stopping you) to have the best-dressed house in the neighbourhood on Christmas. Get up and decorate to spread the cheer, even if it’s four bushes in your yard.

Clean Up Your Landscaping

You don’t need to go all out with Christmas decorations to make your front porch look pretty and inviting… With clean, simple landscaping and lantern scones, your front porch will look dressed up, but you won’t be dreading the day you have to throw out the holiday wreath.

Decorate Your Outdoor Fireplace

Your outdoor fireplace deserves the same treatment as your indoor mantel. Deck it out with a garland, then place a bowl of red fruits near it for a color pop.

Make Your Gifts Glow

Garland and wreaths strung with lights are standard, but colorful green presents are a bit more unexpected. This set adds color to a classic white bench.

DIY Lights

For something especially festive, considering DIYing some oversized felt Christmas lights. If your door is painted a bright color, match some of the “lights” with it, but keep the others on-theme for Christmas.

Make A Snowman

It won’t cost you anything, and it’s actually fun to make. The only downside? We can’t guarantee Frosty will last until Christmas day.

Get Lit!

And of course, for a classic outdoor Christmas decoration scheme, you can’t forget your lights. Avoid tangled extension cords (and extreme electricity bills) by unraveling a strand of sun-powered lights instead. After charging all day, they’ll automatically light up at night.

#2 – Use artificial foliage for greens that stays full all season long

Don’t skimp on foliage. Inexpensive wreaths and garlands may look fine at night when they’re illuminated, but during the day they can appear flat. If you want a home to look elegant, then you want three-dimensional wreaths and garland. Bows can also be beautiful and really pop, It’s important to consider the placement as well as the quality of the décor. Homeowners must take care to make sure garland is uniformly wrapped around columns, and wreaths should be large enough to fill an entire window. When purchasing decorations, artificial greens is recommended over real wreaths or garland. Pre-lit, artificial decorations stay full all season long, whereas ‘live’ plants can go limp or are not as robust.

#3 – Make sure your lighting is symmetrical and balanced

Be strategic in the placement of lights, which can be used to highlight a home’s features and hide imperfections. Wherever you install lights, that’s where the eyes will go. So if you have a tree that is too large or you really just want to focus on your home, use the lights to support that design. Maintaining a balance is also important. One common mistake is homeowners lighting up some bushes on the right and not the left. Make sure you have symmetry in your design. Avoiding getting too experimental with your display, there’s certainly a place for creativity. 

Decorating with white lights offers a warm nostalgic look. But there’s a place for multicolored lights too – especially for families that want to involve kids in the decorating process. Outlining the home in white and using crimson bows, or wrapping bushes and trees in red lights is one option. When a compromise can’t be reached with the kiddos, you can always give them free reign of the backyard – one of the most overlooked spots for lights.

Skip the stress and stay safe – consider hiring a pro!

It’s all fun and reindeer games until you discover the string of lights are – astoundingly – even more tangled than last year. With the new work-from-home hustle and virtual student wrangling, homebuyers may want to have someone else check hanging holiday lights off their list.

Hiring a professional service to install lights not only saves time, but many designers also know installation secrets for a magical display that can’t be replicated on your own.

Nothing ruins the holiday like an unexpected injury – which is why safety is another important consideration when deciding if it’s time to call in the pros. Hanging holiday lights often involves ladders and working with electricity – two areas many professional installers have special training in.

Looking for the perfect family home in Vaughan? Get in touch—we know the local market, inside and out!

Vaughan is not only a beautiful place to live in the Spring and Summer, but it is also a bustling community during the Winter months with activities for the whole family. 

It is always good to know what activities are available for you and your family during the Winter season, especially during these unprecedented times impacted with special regulations in the midst of a pandemic.

So what can you do in Vaughan during this winter holiday season? Here are 5 ideas that you may enjoy!

#1 The Holiday Nights of Lights – Holiday Lights Spectacular Event. 

Every year during the Christmas Season, Vaughan has some gorgeous light displays on private homes and buildings around the city and surrounding areas. But one of the newer attractions is put on by a private organization with multiple partners featuring a 1 Million led light display that will provide memorable eye candy for all who visit.

The colorful light extravaganza includes animated lights and synchronized music presented in a drive-thru format lasting approximately 30 minutes depending on the pace of the vehicle.  The experience is truly immersive and fun for the whole family. This year it runs from November 20 to January 7, 2021.  

Don’t have a car? No need to worry, Nights of Lights has partnered with Facedrive to allow the eco-friendly ride share option to allow visitors to still enjoy the event even without your own vehicle. Read more about the Holiday Nights of Lights event. https://www.nightsoflights.ca/index.html 

#2 Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing

Vaughan has some great outdoor activities for all seasons. But when the snow begins to fall, some of the most amazing activities come alive in gorgeous settings.

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are two great experiences for families, and others that love physical activity outside in the fresh air. 

In the Vaughan area there are several great locations to strap on your snowshoes or cross country skis and take to the snow. These include the Kortright Center for conservation located on Pine Valley Drive, https://trca.ca/parks/kortright-centre-for-conservation/, and another is the Boyd Conservation Area with the Humber River valley https://trca.ca/parks/boyd-conservation-area/ portions of this conservation area are closed, so a phone call will help to provide direction on open areas.

What if you have never been snowshoeing before? A quick Google search provides lots of great options for equipment and lessons in the area. 

#3 The City of Vaughan Toy Drive 2020

A great way to celebrate the holidays, is to bless others with the blessings you have received. One opportunity that occurs yearly in Vaughan is the City of Vaughan Toy Drive.  https://www.vaughan.ca/events/festive_celebrations/General%20Documents/Toy%20Drive_Poster%202020_8.5×11.pdf

Though this is less of a physical activity, the experience of helping others can be truly rewarding and helpful to those that just can’t provide for their children the way they desire this season. Donations of new unwrapped toys for children under 18 years old are accepted at locations across the city including all community centers, fire halls, and public libraries. 

#4 Outdoor Skating Rinks In Various Vaughan Locations

Skating is a fun activity that the whole family can enjoy. Outdoor skating adds the benefit of fresh cool air, quaint evening lighting, open space with good social distancing, and the desiderated sips of a warm cup of hot chocolate to complete the experience. 

There are many options available for outdoor skating rinks including those run by the City of Vaughan:

• Chancellor Community Centre

• Dufferin Clarke Community Centre

• Father E. Bulfon Community Centre

• Garnet Williams Community Centre

• Vellore Village Community Centre

Outdoor skating normally runs from December to mid-March each year.

#5 Christmas at Kortright

Kortright is a conservation centre with beautiful treed grounds that come to life during the Holiday Season. The forest is lit up with magnificent colorful lights, and there are friendly elves to greet you. The experience is for all ages. https://www.todocanada.ca/christmas-kortright/ 

In the late Winter, the Kortright Conservation Centre also runs a maple syrup festival with pancakes, maple syrup, and a historical tour https://maplesyrupfest.com/kortright/.

 One of the most important winter safety tips is to keep yourself warm. Provided you have an indoor location to retreat to, it is fairly simple to maintain a safe body temperature even in the cold weather. Adding touches of extra warmth and coziness to your home to combat the dipping temperatures outside is a must. Some changes are small, and some require a bit more effort, but it’s worth the investment. After all, cozy never goes out of season.

Here are Few Things You Should Consider To Cozy-Up Your Home:

#1 – Invest in a Portable Fireplace

Warm-up fall and winter days with a cozy fireplace that everyone can enjoy. What could be better than getting comfortable after a long day in front of a warming fire? Fireplace options don’t stop indoors. To enhance your outdoor patio area, a trendy fire pit is just what you need when you enjoy the company of family and friends.

Traditional Free-Standing Fireplace

A traditional freestanding fireplace is perfect for timeless classical decor. Intricate embellishments complement the classic chestnut finish. 

Super Contemporary Fireplaces

Innovative ultrasonic technology creates a realistic flame and smoke effect. The sleek style of the ultra-contemporary fireplace is a dramatic addition to a contemporary home.

Trendy Outdoor Firepits

An eye-catching outdoor firepit is a welcome addition to the outdoor patio. Lighting up a wood-burning fire is an easy way to create a focal point in your outdoor living area and extend the outdoor living season by taking the chill out of fall air. If you live in a community that prohibits a wood-burning outdoor fire pit, choose a propane-powered firepit instead. 

Find a huge selection of exciting fireplaces and firepits at Ashley Homestore one of  Vaughan’s Best Furniture Stores! 

#2 – Create Tabletop Centerpieces and Add Seasonal Scents To Your Space

While winter isn’t typically a great time for gardening, bringing clippings of cold-friendly plants or other natural elements into your home can cozy up any space in an instant—especially when they’re paired with a festive candle for extra warmth and light. Adding to your home’s visual landscape isn’t the only way to make it feel cozy. Diffusers offer natural aromatherapy and help humidify the space.  Keep the space feeling cozy and warm. 

#3 – Update Your Bedding

Adding comfort to your bedroom in the form of heavier textiles means your home is ready for winter. Cotton flannel, velvet flannel, or heavyweight cotton sheets are all warm alternatives to your average thin bedding and can make your home cozier.

#4 – Use Softer Lighting

Make your home feel cozier during those long winter days, there’s no time like the present to upgrade your lighting. By implementing softer lighting, you will provide a warmer environment to relax in after work.

Looking for the perfect family home in Vaughan? Get in touch—we know the local market, inside and out!

To obtain a “wow” factor when decorating your home, you must have something that is unexpected. Many homes have similar items, such as beige walls, furniture in a neutral colour, and wall to wall carpeting. Create that “wow” factor by accentuating a spectacular natural feature in the room like oversized windows or a fireplace and adding something unexpected like a contrasting fabric, a touch of eye-catching colour, or an oversized work of art.

When you want to add those special touches that can make your home a showstopper, follow these 5 basic decorating tips to make your home stand out from the crowd:

1. Introduce Boldness

Many of today’s homes feature a neutral colour palette of soft grays, whites and beiges. A bold, bright and eye-catching fabric on accessories like throw pillows and rugs gives the space instant drama. Select florals, graphic patterns or bold geometrics in black and white to attract attention. Paint one wall in an interesting colour, or add texture with natural brick or stone.

2. Go Big!

Choose large pieces of artwork and accessories that add to the room, especially if your home has a more contemporary feeling. Edgy contemporary, mid-century modern, Hollywood glam, and coastal style furniture do well with large scale paintings, massive area rugs, huge lighting fixtures, and oversized pieces of sculpture. Keep in mind that one large, statement piece is infinitely better than several smaller pieces.

3. Create a Focal Point in the Room

We know that decorating a room around a focal point adds immediate interest and defines the character of the room. A free-standing fireplace, an elaborate bar, or a cabinet with interior lighting to highlight a collection can become the focal point and add high visual impact. A game table in the entertainment space can become a focal point, just as an executive desk is the attention-grabber in a home office and a large cabinet commands attention in a dining room.

4. Personalize your Space

Include unique items to personalize the room and give them individuality. A traditional stunning grandfather clock can add interest to a home with modern style. Choose an unusual item like a baker’s rack, a floor mirror, or a dramatic folding screen to make your home unique.

5. Choose Quality

Quality shows, and you will want to express your good taste by selecting pieces with elegance. Choosing top quality pieces for the room is especially important when you select your furniture. Investing in name brands with a reputation for exceptional construction and timeless designs can give you the durability and beauty that will last to protect your investment.

Your home deserves only the best and here are the Top 3 of Vaughan’s Best Furniture Stores to shop in decorating your home: Ashley Homestore, La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries, Stoney Creek Furniture.

Choose the strategies you can live with to give your home that wow factor. After all, as much as you would like to impress your guests, at the end of the day you should look forward to returning to a home that is a welcoming refuge and reflects your personality.

Looking for the perfect family home in Vaughan? Get in touch—we know the local market, inside and out!