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44 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 26, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com NEWS & from INFORMATION Staged to Sell Oakville, Ontario -- September 2008 -- Research shows that well staged homes sell approximately 32% faster than non-staged homes. They also sell for 3 to 10% more. Homes which are properly staged; that are warm, cozy, romantic and have sex appeal, sell fastest. To sell your home speedily, you PETER TULLOCH must sell more than just two OMDREB President bedrooms, two baths and so many square feet with a garage. You must sell a lifestyle...one where buyers' can imagine themselves raising their families or entertaining their friends; where they can relax on the patio or listen to their favourite music; where they imagine themselves preparing gourmet meals and celebrating those special life moments. "As a seller, you may want to hire a professional home stager or stage your home yourself," remarks Peter Tulloch, President, Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board. "Naturally, if you do it yourself, you should have a plan, some guidelines and a checklist to follow. Using the service of a local REALTOR® will definitely help you in making the right decisions. They think like your potential buyers and they will help you feature the positive things about your home, while minimizing the things that aren't so positive." When staging your home for sale, the key is to try --without having to spend huge sums of money in the process -- to stage it so it stands out in the market. Do a through cleaning and de-cluttering, update the décor, and make all necessary repairs. Create focal points - ones that buyers will remember about your home. Change how the rooms are arranged, furniture, photos, lighting, flowers, etc. Stage both the interior and exterior areas to create interest and desire. Remember, when you are preparing your house to sell, you want to make the right first impression. That is where home staging comes in. At the front door, you want to capture the potential buyer's attention and draw out a "Wow!" From HGTV's Designed to Sell - 98% of the houses staged have sold over the asking price. As any experienced REALTOR® will tell you - you no longer can think of the house as your home ­ it is now something that you want to sell and you need to present it as such. It is not easy, but removing your personal feelings from the place that has been your home is vitally important in being able to successfully prepare it for sale. In essence, your house has become nothing more than a commodity that you want to sell to the highest bidder as quickly as possible. Once you begin to see your home through the eyes of potential buyers, the better your chance of selling your home quickly--and at a better price. Sources: The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board International Association of Home Staging Professionals HGTV Designed to Sell House league champs Oakville ­ August Sales Results In the month of August, Oakville registered a decrease in the number of residential properties sold by 22% when compared to August 2007. The market did buck the national trend though by recording a healthy increase in the average sale price by 5.8% and also in the median sale price by 9.5%. Peter Tulloch, OMDREB President notes, "Residential sales might have declined in Oakville, but we can expect that residential real estate market here will continue to experience healthy activity, albeit at a more moderate pace." UNDEFEATED RED: After going undefeated (12-0-2) in the Oakville Soccer Club's under-14 girls' house league Red Division, the Red team pulled out a 2-1 victory in the playoff final to win the Oakville Cup championship. Members of the team are Astha Bhardwaj, Kimberly Lesiuta, Carly Ritcey, Trisha De Souza, Amanda Griffin, Morgan Farris, Matti Saidyfye, Michelle Johannesson, Kelsie McNeil, Celeste Van Ameringrm, Taylor Henrikson, Bronwyn Evans, Amy Pike, Sydney Cudmore, Holly Weston, Nicole Lilakos and Julia El Safty. Ray Weston and Debbie Saidyfye coached the squad, which was sponsored by The Oakville Beaver. Oakville No. of Residential Sales Average1 Sale Price 2007 2008 % change 300 $504,019 $396,000 234 $533,450 $433,500 -22% 5.8% 9.5% Median2 Sale Price 1 The average home price is found by adding the value of all sales and dividing by the number of homes. 2 The median sale price is the midpoint of all sales. Source: Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board The Oakville, Milton and District Real Estate Board serves Oakville, Milton and surrounding communities with more than 1,400 REALTORS®.Your local REALTOR® can provide you with the data and services you need to make informed real estate decisions. To find out more about the REALTORS® in your area, and how you can benefit from the array of services a REALTOR® can provide, visit www.omdreb.on.ca or www.howrealtorshelp.ca. or call OMDREB at 905.844.6491 VIPERS STRIKE: The Purple Vipers upset the regular-season champion Orange Crush 2-1 in the playoff final of the Oakville Soccer Club's under-11 girls' Red Division final.Tenessee Turner and Tegan Duncan scored for the Vipers, who were second in regular-season play with a 6-5-3 mark. Other members of the team are Emily Richmond Didi Santoso, Lauren Catani, Hannah Delany, Tristan Vella, Rita-Lynn Lirantzis, Julia Rees, Claire Merrick, Jasmin Kaur, Alex Mehta, Ciara Weber, Laura Wirkowski, Alex Brown and Emily Cestra. Chris Turner and Simon Brown coached the Vipers. For products to help people with vision loss live independently visit cnib.ca or call 1 800-563-2642. , 38-4589G_LOCAL_6.7X2.2_E.indd 1 6/17/08 11:07:08 AM OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY 2-4 OPEN HOUSE SUN 2-4 276 Malvern Rd., Burlington OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 2-4 2430 MEADOWRIDGE DR. $849,900 $769,000 Turn Key redesigned 4 level backsplit, close to the lake in Burlington. Decor includes "Old" plank flooring, 7" baseboards, 18th Century style panelling, large crown moulding, custom milled tongue and groove ceiling, hand made Williamsburg lighting and door hardware. Three bedrooms each having high end ensuites. Brand new kithchen with quartz countertop and BRIAN walk out to private treed lot backing on to Greenbelt and Tuck MILLAR Creek. Call to view this unique house before it's gone. Sales Representative 2113 ROSEHILL Fabulous detached home in West Oak Trails, featuring hardwoods throughout, brand new berber, main floor office or den, open concept great room and kitchen with vaulted ceilings, 2+1 bedrooms, double car garage, beautiful finished basement with huge media room, built-in home theatre, surround sound, raised seating, fabulous laundry/work room. Please visit sarahlogue.ca for more information. INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED ·Fernbrook built - Wedgewood Model ·3540 Sq. Ft. ·Huge kitchen w/granite island center ·18 ft. ceiling w/custom fireplace in living area ·Partly fin W/O basement ·4 BR - Solid oak staircase ·Double coffered in dining and living area Sales Representative FARID BAGH Sales Representative SARAH LOGUE REMAX REALTY SPECIALISTS 905-272-3434 ROYAL LE PAGE MEADOWTOWNE REALTY BROKERAGE 905-878-8101 RE/MAX ESCARPMENT REALTY INC., BROKERAGE · 905-639-7676