Tips Archives - Karen Donnan | Realty Difference

Beauty has its price

Written on January 12, 2021.

Part of the charm of where you choose to live are the beautiful trees that are on your property. The cascading, towering and colorful effects are beautiful not to mention the shade they provide, and the prospects for years to come. My home property sits among many trees and over the years I have...

Being Thankful

Written on October 7, 2020.

In the spring I was challenged to enjoy where I was. With the beauty right around me and not alot of time, I was inspired to sell my little summer place and re-invest into my own slice of heaven right at home (thank you Wenda…I just needed a little nudge). So when the prospect came up of buying...

#tiredbeforelistdate

Written on February 8, 2019.

TIME IS TICKING! We always think we have more of it then we actually do. It’s no different when we consider getting our home ready to list. I suggest to clients that they start a year ahead of their scheduled timing. Some upgrades or areas to be tended to require a certain season and can’t...

Pondering his best options

Written on January 15, 2019.

Some clients come into your life and they say, “Just tell me what you want me to do.” Can I just say, you’re a dream to work with! This client is just one of those clients. His trust that we had his best interests at heart in gaining his full financial potential in the least amount...

How to PRE-Prepare Your Home for Sale

Written on June 22, 2018.

If you’re anything like me, even if you know you won’t be moving for quite some time, there is an ever-growing list of “To Do” items rattling around in your brain. You *know* you have lots to do before you can even think of listing your home, but even getting started feels...

Not very often….

Written on April 11, 2018.

Having clients that say to you ….“whatever we need to do Karen…” doesn’t come along very often but when they do, they are an absolute dream to work with…. it certainly makes my job of buying and selling at the same time go smoother. As I also stage my own listings,...

Sisterly Advice

Written on March 14, 2017.

“Being the Selling REALTOR® on your sister’s house”…..well, there’s two schools of thought you could possibly report on that. Thankfully, I can only comment on the fact that it was a positive experience. I hope she can say the same. I’ll let you in on the end of the listing story …..”and it...

The Military is on the move!

Written on March 7, 2017.

I LOVE WORKING WITH MY CLIENTS!! Sellers need to move….and they have a home they need marketed to the best it can be! Every Seller needs the same ….. that’s my mission in working with them….. to Be The Difference! In spending time with my clients, I seek to understand how...

False Start

Written on January 26, 2016.

Listing your home without being ready is like that false start in a race that gets you disqualified. The outcome in the world of real estate is either a lack of interest or a sale lower then you anticipated. Allow my clients testimonial and pictures to speak for itself: “During and prior to...

Video: what is normal for interest rates?

Written on November 19, 2015.

Buyer’s or Seller’s Market?

Written on May 17, 2015.

A buyer’s market and its opposite, a seller’s market, are terms defined by a statistical measure. Buyer’s Market In most Canadian markets, a buyer’s market occurs when the sales-to-listing ration is 35% or less (or approximately 7 sales to every 20 listings). This is a market when there are more homes...

The downside of DIY

Written on May 10, 2015.

There are lots of stories online and in print touting the benefits of selling your home yourself, without using a real estate salesperson. Do-it-yourself property sales companies promise that you’ll save thousands of dollars in commissions. What most home sellers on that path don’t know, however,...

Managing humidity in your home

Written on April 8, 2015.

If you’ve lived in Kingston for any amount of time, you’ve probably noticed how actively we manage the humidity in our homes! Buyers new to our area tend to see dehumidifiers as a sign of trouble, but we point out that almost every home has one. Even brand new homes with hi-tech ventilation...

Pebbles on the Beach

Written on August 20, 2014.

Some projects don’t take any explanation past a picture. Although this project wasn’t for staging purposes, it has all the ingredients for a great outcome in the world of design….great new feel with not a lot of investment. This summer trailer had all the makings with great bones...

HST and Home Sales

Written on May 20, 2014.

Resale homes are exempt from HST, with very few exceptions. For example, if the home being purchased was first bought by a corporation and therefore GST was never paid on it; or if the home has been substantially renovated from its original structure, it will be subject to HST. The Canada Revenue...

I know it’s in there somewhere!

Written on October 21, 2013.

“Honey! What a great piece…let’s buy it! We have just the spot for that! We need that too! ” And….after awhile of good intentions to do something with what you’ve bought (and thinking you have the space), you have a house full and can’t see the floor anymore. After...

Historical gem ……

Written on October 21, 2013.

Think the 1700’s, downtown Kingston, and Irresistible Homes……although I was not obviously alive in the 1700’s I had the pleasure of working some magic on this gem that was built in the 1700’s, and it was about to go on the market. Historically designated, little change...

The first time around…..

Written on May 6, 2013.

Staging is about appealing to the masses. Although we have our own concept of what appeals to us, everyone is different. When your house goes on the market, the style usually lends itself to a certain decor. Although we need to keep that in mind, we need to stage it to appeal to as many different...

While the cat’s away…..

Written on May 1, 2013.

So it’s the beginning of the week …..and I get a call to consult with some clients and subsequently probably stage their home. They mention to me when I get there that this is a quick decision to list their home “this week” before they leave for a holiday on the weekend. The...

The Grandeur of Old….

Written on April 26, 2013.

I love old homes but “old” definitely comes with its challenges….. As a Realtor, I cringe when home inspection day comes. You never know what you’re going to find, and as a result your buyer may be crushed with the knob and tube found, along with the insulation full of asbestos. As...

Just tweaked….

Written on April 25, 2013.

We live differently than what we list. I encourage my clients to make a mental / emotional break from their house once they make the decision to sell. Many memories are made in your home to emotionally tie you to it, so I tell them…”Have one last party and celebrate the time you had here……...

A good handshake…..

Written on April 24, 2013.

There are times in life where you meet particular people and think, “That’s a real quality person, and I’m so blessed to have met them.” I know that this has nothing to do with staging and design but it is very note worthy as its the Realtor of the next staging project that...

Explosion of Green!

Written on April 22, 2013.

So now that I’ve given you a taste of staging….I’m going to switch gears a little into the world of design. Many people equate design with the need for a lot of money to accomplish it. I want to challenge you on that and ask you to think beyond the box. One of my favorite areas...

Get ready….get set……STOP!

Written on April 22, 2013.

So this happened a few years ago, but it’s too good not to tell you about as I begin to blog….. A few years ago, I was asked to list a girlfriends house to which I was of course delighted. My friend liked things ‘simple’……white walls, simple, clean lines, were...

Guinea Pig…….

Written on April 21, 2013.

I know I’m looking backwards here a little but in order to catch you up to where I am today, I think I need to tell you where I came from. Some houses that I stage or design are just downright memorable…..and this is one of them. But first let me introduce you to the Realtor that listed...

Getting started

Written on April 20, 2013.

After many people asking…..“so what house are you working on this week?” I decided to jump into the world of blogging……so keep up as “Irresistible Homes” takes you door to door, so to speak, into the world of staging and designing. What really prompted me...

Staging vs. Decorating

Written on July 23, 2012.

Selling your home means selling a lifestyle, but not necessarily your own. In home staging, you’re striving for a look that is fresh and welcoming yet not really taste specific. People with varying tastes need to feel that they can make the home their own if they purchase it. Staging vs. Decorating:...