Bin: a container or enclosed space for storage.

Bins in all their forms, whether used for storage or for refuse (garbage, trash, etc.) disposal, are generally good but an abundance of them can be bad and we all know that they can be down right ugly.

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The Good....

Storage

Whether you are using plastic, metal, cardboard or wood, while your house is on the market each room should have one attractive storage bin; a place to quickly place any items that may have been left out before a showing.

Refuse

All recycling and garbage containers should be hidden from plain site; under the counter, in a closet, etc. If they can not be hidden then ensure that they are EXTREMELY clean, unobtrusive and blend with the decor.

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The Bad...

Storage

Too many visible storage containers will leave a potential buyer with the feeling that there is not enough storage available in the home itself. Ensure all non-essential (and I mean life maintaining essential) are stored off-site; in a self storage unit, your new home or at a friends or neighbours.

Refuse

When not at the curb for pick up, do not leave garbage and recycling bins on your front porch or anywhere that they can be seen from the street. Buyers do not want to be reminded of the day-to-day chores that buying a home will require.

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The Ugly...

Storage

Avoid using plastic bags and old product boxes for storage. They just make things look disorganized and cluttered.

Refuse

Be EXTRA diligent in keeping garbage and recycling containers clean; ensuring that they are not an assault to the eyes or the nose.

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With regards to bins, remember less is more.

Architecture: the character or style of a building.

Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most prominent architects of the 20th century, once said, "Organic architecture seeks superior sense of use and a finer sense of comfort, expressed in organic simplicity."

Basically, don't fight your surroundings; enhance what you have already have.

There are nearly an endless list of architectural styles; Neoclassical, Tudor, Victorian, Prairie, Craftsman, Mid-Century Modern, Mediterranean Revival, and Post-Modern just to name a few. Unless you're willing to undertake a major renovation go with what you've got.

Let's look at a few of the styles mentioned above.

Tudor

Exterior

Emphasize the decorative wood work

Interior

Go for a more natural cottage-like feel: warm cream coloured walls and furniture with a slightly rustic feel

Prairie

Exterior

Ensure landscaping is minimal and neat to allow the striking features of the style to be visible.

Interior

As this is an organic open concept, go for soft green, browns and creams with understated furniture and geometric art and accessories.

Mid-Century Modern

Exterior

Mid-century modern homes are normally designed to appear like a sculpture jutting out of the landscape. The softer the landscape; grass, mosses, flowers, weeping trees, the more striking the house will look.

Interior

Furniture should be comfortable and colourful but clean lined, walls should be in shades of warm whites or greys; think Ikea.

Post-Modern

Exterior

Emphasize the front entrance and soften the hardscapes with plantings, neither of which has been done in this photo.

Interior

Almost any style will work but it should be understated and needs to be consistent throughout the house.

One thing many home owners neglect to take into consideration is that many of the showings are going to be at night. This is especially true from late fall to early spring when there is less daylight.

I can walk from the bedroom to the kitchen, start the coffee and make it back to my office at 5:30 in the morning without turning on a single light; this has been my home for over 10 years, I know where everything is. Do not expect potential home buyers to be able to negotiate your property the same way you do. At all times as much light as possible should be provided throughout your entire property.

By reviewing the information below and following the recommendation you can make your home feel welcoming, bright and cheery day or night.

Exterior Lighting

Use low voltage or solar lighting

Along all paths and walkways

As spot lights on trees or water features

Update light fixtures

Replace dated fixtures

Ensure that the maximum allowable wattage is being used

Interior Lighting

Let the light shine thru

Dust all light bulbs and clean all shades.

Fluorescent tube lights are for the office

If you have any surface mounted fluorescent fixtures, replace them with a fixture that can use halogen or compact fluorescent bulbs.

If you have any recessed fluorescent fixtures, talk to a professional about having it removed and enclosed before replacing the fixture.

Spooky shadows are for Halloween

Wait until about 2 hours after sunset and then turn on EVERY light in the house; this includes closets, the range hood, under and in-cabinet lighting, etc.

Ensure all bulbs are working and at their maximum allowable wattage.

Check for strange shadows or reflections. If they're being caused by the light fixture itself, replace it. If there's a piece of furniture that is blocking all or some of the light, move it.

There should be a consistent light level throughout the house; if a room has no overhead lighting (very common in living rooms) then ensure that there are enough floor and table lamps or wall sconces to illuminate the entire room.

Out with the old, in with the new

Any fixture that is more that 5 years old and is not an antique, should be honestly evaluated for its esthetic appeal.

That brass fixture with the white globe lights in the bathroom could be easily replaced with...

A brushed nickel and frosted glass up-light.

For a showing, don't forget about mother nature

Along with every light being turned on, all window coverings should be open. The only exception to this is rule is if the view is particularly unattractive, then a roman blind partially raised or a closed sheer would be appropriate.

Writer Edward Abbey once said, "You can't study the darkness by flooding it with light." but you can sell a house.

With all the buzz (and rightfully so) about "curb appeal"; you may feel like the Honey-Do list just seems to get longer and longer. The key is to prioritize; the place to start is "street appeal".

Curb appeal is what appeals to potential buyers as they arrive; getting out of their car from the curb and walking up to the house.

Street appeal is what a potential buyer can see from their car as they drive by or waiting at a traffic stop.

Even when your house is not being shown, potential buyers are still out there and could drive by at any time. There is a home for sale on a route I regularly take thru town that only mows the lawn about once every 2 weeks, has paint peeling from the garage door that you can see from the street and has this huge ugly stump in the corner of the front yard. If that's what I can see driving by, why would I want to stop? An un-manicured lawn, overgrown shrubs and garage doors with chipped paint could make potential home buyers drive on by.

There are 3 main areas to concentrate on: the house's worst and best features, and the yard.

Improving the Worst

You want to minimize distracting features as much as possible. Below are some common issues that can be resolved simply.

Do you have a hydro box or fire hydrant on your property?

Always double check with the local by-laws but many will allow you to enclose 3 sides of utility box with shrubs or lattice.

Does your garage stick out so far that you can't see the front entrance?

Add an archway or pergola to the side of the garage that leads to the entrance of your house. Hang a few baskets of flowers to say 'welcome'.

Emphasizing the Best

To help detract from any feature that you do not have control over, emphasize your home's best features.

Expansive window?

Ensure that they're clean, that there is no chipping paint and that any window coverings that can be seen from the street are attractive on the reverse side. What about adding some window boxes filled with seasonal plants?

Large porch?

Ensure that there is a welcoming seating area and that's it's well lit at night.

The Yard

Before you decided to sell, you had the luxury of maintaining your property at your own pace; but now you are tending the yard for it's future owner.

Hire a local teen or a lawn maintenance company to cut, rake, edge and water the lawn at least once a week. The same goes with snow removal in the winter.

Ensure all trees and shrubs are cut back to expose the house from the street. If this is not possible then at least ensure that they are trimmed and not looking overgrown.

Flowers, flowers, flowers. Even if you don't have a front yard garden you can put out planters and hanging baskets.

Remember, one step at a time.

Always try to subtly stimulate all five senses for your potential buyers; sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell.

Sight

You know that 'curb appeal' is essential when a potential buyer is pulling up to your home. That same 'first impression' happens with every door that is opened, every corner that is rounded and every staircase that is climbed.

Go outside your own front door, shut it and close your eyes for at least 30 seconds.

Open your front door.

What do you see? Did you think, "Wow, that's great!"? If not, then you have some staging to do.

Now repeat this test with every room in your home.

Hearing

Play a cd of instrumental classical or jazz to provide harmony thru the house; helping to blend in the traffic driving by or the neighbours kids playing in the backyard.

Taste

In this case 'taste' is referring to your decorating choices.

Pare down or store away your collection of dolls, dishes, figurines, etc.

Try to ensure that there are no more than 3 colours in any one room.

Touch

It's strange thinking of someone touching things in your home but hopefully it's about to be their home so make it touchable.

Thoroughly wash all doorknobs, cabinet, cupboard and closet hardware, and hand rails

Smell

A common misconception is that baking cookies or bread can help sell the home. Unfortunately,due to dietary restrictions or allergies, this may actually put some people off.

You want to have a neutral smell throughout the house.

An air cleaner/filter is best and a soft scent is fine but people should not be able to identify it.

Your goal is to have the potential buyers become new home owners; so leave them with a sense of home.