Preparing Your Home To Sell!

Some tips and tricks for showing your home in it's best light:

- Clean up, dust, and hide the clutter.

- Pack away any personal items in cupboards or closets. This may include photo frames of
family and friends covering the surfaces of your home.

- Any toys that belong to your children or your pet should be put away, as well as your pet's
food and water bowls.

- If any repairs are needed to be done to the walls or furniture, have them done in advance.

- The bathrooms should also be clean and tidy, with a clean set of matching towels on the towel
rack.

- Turn on the lights! If you don't think the lights in your home are bright enough, you can
always buy a few floor lamps.

- You can lighten up a dark room or dark furniture with colourful pillows and throws, or neutral
area rugs. If you still think some places are too dark, let the photographer know so they can
bring extra lighting.

- Open up the drapes and blinds. It will look good from the inside of the house and the outside.

- Clean the windows to get rid of all dust and visible streaks.

- If you can, get rid of any extra furniture from the bedrooms. The rooms should look as simple
as possible, so as not to look small.

- A vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen or living room table never hurts to add some colour.

- Don't forget about the exterior! Put away garbage cans, prune the bushes, and make sure the
lawn is mowed.

- If necessary, have your driveway power-washed.

- If needed, have touch-ups done the the exterior paint job.

- If you have a garden, make sure to weed it, and also check the weeds in your driveway and
patio.

- Make sure your gutters, roof, and the rest of your property is clear of twigs, leaves, and other
debris.

- Wind up exterior hoses, and put away any outdoor children's toys in the garage.

- If you have a pool or hot tub, uncover it, and make sure it is clean.

- Check to make sure the address numbers on your house or mailbox are straight.

- Think like a buyer. Think about what made you purchase your home and show off its best
assets. Be prepared. Know ahead of time which rooms will be photographed so you can set
them up properly.

- Before the photographer arrives, move all vehicles out of the driveway or away from the front
of the house. This is to ensure a great exterior shot, and also any interior shots that might
include the view of outside.

- Lastly, clear the people and/or pets out of the house as much as possible to make the process
easier for the photographer. Everything will run quickly and smoothly this way.

A Piece of Heritage

Over the years Markham has become a safe haven for Heritage Homes. In a town increasingly blanketed with housing developments and subdivisions, the Markham Heritage Society was able to preserve some of our heritage by keeping a lot of homes from being demolished.
While many heritage homes are scattered all over Markham, one pocket was uniquely created for that purpose. Heritage Estates, which is located off 16th Ave just west of Markham Rd. has become a sanctuary of last resort for threatened historic houses and is very unique in North America. Created by the Town of Markham, the neighbourhood includes 38 homes and has room for 5 more. Among these are a number of homes built by the Berczy Settlers, their descendents and some of the Pennsylvania German Settlers attracted to Markham by the existing German settlement.

The lots in the town owned subdivision are sold to owners of heritage buildings at below market value with the caveat that the heritage properties are relocated to the site and restored. The savings on the price of the building lot is designed to offset the cost of relocating the structure to the subdivision. The sale of the lots is also conditional on the completion of period landscaping as part of the restoration to insure that the buildings sit on those lots are keeping with the historic nature of the building.
For more heritage homes locations visit the following website: http://www.historictours.ca/default.asp


Did you know? Heritage property owners get tax relief
A number of Ontario municipalities have initiated programs to provide tax relief, grants and loans to heritage property owners. Under the Ontario Heritage Act, municipalities can not only pass bylaws to formally designate properties of cultural heritage value or interest, but they also have the authority to offer financial relief to designated heritage property owners such as Heritage Property Tax Reduction Program, Heritage Loan Program, Commercial Façade Improvement Grant and Commercial Signage Replacement Grant.
Note that programs vary from one municipality to another and may exist in one, while not in another. If more authoritative information is required, reference should be made to the relevant legislation or to the municipal office in which the property is located. In all cases however, to be eligible for the programs the property must be designated under Part IV (individual property designations) or Part V (heritage conservation districts) of the Ontario Heritage Act.
For eligibility check with the town of Markham: http://www.markham.ca/Markham/Heritage/

Alon Hillel
Sales Representative
www.GetBenczik.com