Have you considered Foyer Appeal?

Richard Thyssen Broker of Record 

Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative
Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty Inc.

Direct: 519-495-1541

Office: 519-438-8000

Email: richardthyssen@kw.com

Website: www.thyssengroup.com

The most important part of my job is helping my clients enjoy their homes. There are many ways I do that. The first, of course, is helping clients find the right home at the right price and working with them to make sure the transaction goes smoothly. Beyond that, I also help by providing ongoing information and recommendations to ensure you’re getting the most out of your home. For example, many clients contact me when they have questions about the real estate market or need a recommendation for a good contractor. That’s why I try my best to always stay in touch. It’s one of the ways I help to ensure your home continues to meet your needs.

Getting a Taste of The Market

While you may not be seriously considering selling your home or looking for a new one, you might still be interested in what’s going on in the marketplace. After all, it’s nice to see “what’s out there” and find out more about some of the homes that are currently listed on the market. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s a good idea. Keeping up with what’s going on in the local market, will help you make better decisions about your own home, especially if you anticipate selling within the next year or so. Many people do this by reviewing listings online, ads in the real estate section of the local paper or dropping in on open houses. While these techniques are helpful, they don’t always give you the best picture of what’s really going on. A better strategy is to talk to me. I will give you the best information about properties available and where the local market is headed. As your Realtor, I can also satisfy your curiosity about how much particular homes have sold for in the area – which will give you a clearer idea of what your own home might get if it was listed today. Speaking of price, I can provide you with a free assessment of your home’s current market value, which will give you an even clearer idea of what you’re likely to get. Clearly, by working with me, you’ll have a source of advice and information that will help you make the best decision when the time comes to consider making a move.

Enhance Your Foyer Appeal

You’ve probably heard the term “curb appeal”. It refers to how your property looks when a potential buyer first sees it from the curb. Curb appeal plays an important role in the first impression a buyer gets of your home. There is another type of appeal you should also be concerned about – “foyer appeal”. Foyer appeal is all about the impression a buyer gets when he or she first walks through your front door. Think about it. What do you do when you enter a particular home for the first time? You probably take a quick look around while you’re removing your jacket or shoes. In fact, a lot of the impression you form about a home comes from the first look you get while standing in the foyer. Home buyers do the same thing. So when preparing your home for sale, it makes sense to make your home look as attractive as possible from the perspective of the foyer. There are many ways you can do that. Make sure the area is clean and uncluttered. Don’t have shoes and boots lying around. Make sure there is nothing obvious and unsightly in the foyer. Fair or not, buyers form lasting impressions from the foyer. So make sure that the first impression is a good one!

How to Decorate a Room on a Shoestring

It would be ideal if you could hire an interior designer and completely remodel your living room. But, let’s face it, that could be very expensive. That doesn’t mean you can’t make your current room look a lot better. Here are some simple, low-cost decorating tips that will accomplish just that. Put a covering over your worn sofa or chair. A simple throw blanket placed at an angle can make a dramatic difference. Plants, real or artificial, make just about any room look better. Just don’t overdo it. Don’t try to hide problem areas. Instead, accent them. For example, if the window sill is worn and aged, place a couple of antique-looking ornaments on it! Re-do the walls. Move pictures around. Consider adding other wall decor, such as plates and mini-shelves. Place your favourite hard-cover books around the room. Add illustrated books in the living room and cookbooks in the kitchen or dining room. Lamps, especially interesting looking ones, can go a long way toward enhancing a room. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Be daring. Sometimes just moving a picture or a piece of furniture can make all the difference.

Home Theatre Systems vs Moving

Richard Thyssen Broker of Record  Colleen Thyssen Sales Representative Keller Williams Lifestyles Realty Inc. Phone: (519) 495-1541 Email: richardthyssen@kw.com Website:  www.thyssengroup.com

Say you’re interested in learning more about home theatre systems, even though you have no specific plans to buy one. Wouldn’t it be nice to talk to an expert – without feeling pressured to make a purchase? Of course it would. That's why I always make myself accessible to my clients. I may not be able to help much in the area of home theatre systems, but I can answer your questions about the local real estate scene. For example, you may be curious about homes currently available for sale in a particular area. You may also be wondering how much your current property would sell for in today’s market. I consider it my job as your Realtor to be the expert you can trust – during moves, and in-between moves. So when you want to talk to your expert, don’t hesitate to give me a call, I'm here to help! Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record  richardthyssen@kw.com (direct) 519-495-1541  Understanding the Costs of Selling a Home If you’re planning on moving, you’re probably focused on how much your new home is going to cost. However, it’s also a good idea to understand the real costs associated with selling your current property. In fact, there are some costs and expenses you may not have anticipated. Here are a few examples: Home inspection. You might think you’ll only need a home inspection for a home on which you’ve made an offer. However, it might also make sense to have a home inspection completed on your current property in order to identify potential issues that might get in the way of a sale. Buyers feel more confident when considering a home that has had a recent professional inspection. Cancellation costs. There may be extra expenses associated with cancelling internet services, newspaper subscriptions, home security systems, and even lawn care services. Repairs. You should budget to get any maintenance issues, such as a broken door handle, dealt with before your home goes on the market. Staging. Tasks like getting rid of clutter, arranging for the carpets to be professionally cleaned, having the hedges trimmed, and doing other things to make the property look attractive to buyers all fall under the umbrella of “staging”. You can do much of this work yourself, or hire a professional. Moving. It’s a good idea to budget for the costs of moving. Even if you’re using a friend’s truck and planning to do most of the packing and hauling yourself, there may still be costs, such as packaging materials, gas, and perhaps even pizza for your crew. The Offer With Strings Attached You put your home up for sale. You work hard to make it look attractive to potential buyers. Then, you finally get an offer. But there’s a catch. The offer comes with a string or two attached… a couple of “conditions”. Should you be worried? First of all, don’t panic. It’s common for offers to come with a condition or two. Sometimes an offer is conditional upon the buyer securing appropriate financing, or your property passing a home inspection. These types of conditions are usually dealt with in just a few days and then the offer becomes firm. (In other words, you’ve likely sold your house!) However, there are some types of offers that can be worrisome. For example, a buyer may make an offer to buy your home “conditional” upon him selling his current home in a specific time period. Of course, there is the concern that the buyer won’t sell his home. Then the deal will fall through and you’ll have to put your home back on the market. As your Realtor, I can help you decide if a particular offer is worth accepting.

Putting a Price on Memories

You visit a garage sale on a sunny Saturday morning and find a bicycle that you think would be perfect for your child. You look at the price tag and it’s about twice as much as you would expect to pay. When you question the owner, he says, “That bike has a lot of sentimental value for me. I couldn’t let it go for less.” Chances are, you’ll pass on the bike. The owner sees the bike and happily remembers teaching his daughter to ride it. What you see is just a bike! You can’t buy someone else’s memories. This scenario sometimes plays itself out in real estate. A homeowner has fond memories of his home. He may have renovated the den himself and is proud of his work. He may delight in memories of family BBQs on the deck. That doesn’t mean the house will sell for more than its market value. So when you put your property on the market, make sure emotions don’t get in the way of pricing it properly. Fortunately, memories will stay with you, even without your house. You’ll be able to happily take them along to your next home.

notable, quotable... quotes! “Do your own thinking. Be the chess player. Not the chess piece.”Ralph Charell “Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.”Sandara Carey “Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” Marie Curie