| Recent Blog Posts by Constantine Isslamow | ||
How to prepare your home for selling“You never get a second chance at a first impression.” We’ve all heard this expression before. And now, while you are preparing your house to sell, it should not be far from your mind.
While logical factors such as price and location narrow the pool of houses a potential buyer will look at, the ultimate decision to buy a particular house is fuelled by ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on January 11, 2010
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Home Theater SystemsSystems Are No Longer the Sole Domain of the Audiophiles
To some, home is simply a big television, but a home theatre is really a combination of video and audio components that achieves a theatre-like experience. Many people view home theatre systems as a luxury. However, home theatre is not just for audiophiles anymore. There are many simple home theatre systems that are easy to set up. Home ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on December 29, 2009
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Kitchen RemodellingRemodel That Kitchen!
How many times have you thought about remodelling your kitchen but talked yourself out of it because it just seemed like a lot of work? This may come as a surprise, but remodelling your kitchen brings great rewards. Rewards to the tune of 80-100% return on your investment!
It can seem overwhelming to remodel your kitchen. There seem to be so many things to consider ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on December 29, 2009
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The Seven Don’t s of Mortgage FundingIn the mortgage-funding process there is always concern on financing up to the day of closing. Buyers can inadvertently stumble, failing to keep their credit in good standing. In the excitement of purchasing their new home and with the additional things they know they will need to purchase (new furniture, draperies, artwork, lawn care equipment, etc.) they may prematurely make financial ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on December 29, 2009
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Highlight from the 2009 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and SellersCharacteristics of Home Buyers
Forty-seven percent of recent home buyers were first-time buyers.
The typical first-time home buyer was 30 years old, while the typical repeat buyer was 48 years old.
The 2008 median household income of buyers was $73,100. The median income was $61,600 among first-time buyers and $88,100 among repeat buyers.
Twenty-one percent of recent home buyers were ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on December 11, 2009
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Shopping for a holiday tree?Under ideal conditions, a fresh cut tree can last up to two weeks in your home. Follow these tips for choosing and maintaining a fresh holiday tree:
Buy from a reputable tree seller.
Inspect fresh trees by lightly shaking them or pulling on the needles. A fresh tree should hold its needles and show no signs of browning.
Make a fresh cut in the bottom of your tree when you get ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on December 5, 2009
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New Locks Go High Tech It's a familiar scenario. A family hits the road, headed to their vacation destination only to arrive and wonder: Did we lock the front door as we were leaving? No need to worry, thanks to two well-known lock companies that recently introduced innovative, high-tech door locks that allow homeowners to control access to their homes remotely. In September, Kwikset launched its remote access control ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on December 5, 2009
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How to Get an Offer on Your Home 1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range. 2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it. 3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on November 27, 2009
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Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home’s Exterior Make your home more appealing for yourself and potential buyers with these quick and easy tips:
1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows or architectural details.
2. Mow your lawn, and turn on the sprinklers for 30 minutes before the showing to make the lawn sparkle.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4. Install new doorknobs ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on November 27, 2009
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Getting your Home Ready for WinterWinter is stomping its way across the country and will soon be on your doorstep! (If you live in Manitoba or Saskatchewan, this warning is a little late!)
Here are some tips to "winter-proofing" your home - or, at least, ways to keep the season from doing serious damage.
Furnace Inspection
Call an HVAC professional to inspect your furnace.
Stock up on furnace filters and change them ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on November 15, 2009
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Keep Swine Flu out of your HomeAs the country is in the midst of battling H1N1, projecting your family and friends is top of mind for many
Pl ace disinfectant hand sanitizer in your living room, kitchen and washrooms when hosting an open house.
Carry individually packaged disinfectant wipes or travel sized sanitizer with you if you are visiting open houses.
Frequently wash your hands with soap.
When coughing ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on November 15, 2009
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5 Ways to improve your credit scoreWith mortgage markets still tight, it’s more important than ever to have a good credit score. Having a good score not only increases the odds of being approved for a mortgage, but it can also affect your rate, as the best interest rates are generally reserved for applicants with top credit scores.
Many consumers aren’t knowledgeable about their credit scores—or what impacts them. ...
Posted by Constantine Isslamow
on November 15, 2009
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