HAS SPRING SPRUNG?! OAKVILLE HOMES

Bring spring into your home with 10 ways to welcome the season.

Fresh Flowers
Welcome spring by filling rooms with fresh flowers. Whether it's bouquets of freshly cut wild flowers or pretty potted plants, nothing says spring quite like the addition of beautiful blooms.


Tea Party
A fun, casual tea party is the perfect way to welcome the new season. After months of cold weather that has kept you confined to the house, it’s time for a light snack and catch-up with close friends.


A Fresh Coat Of Paint
Give furniture, walls and the front door a spring pick-me-up with a fresh coat of paint. You can choose a vibrant new hue, stick with the tried and true or go neutral with a coat of white.


Back To The BBQ
Welcome spring by treating family and friends to the first backyard barbecue of the season. Clean the barbecue’s internal racks, change the rocks, make sure there's plenty of propane and get back to grilling!


Let The Air In
With the temperature outside heating up, leaving your home's windows and doors open is a pleasing way to circulate some much needed fresh air. If you want your house to smell like spring but are sensitive to seasonal allergens that may come blowing in with the fresh air, scented drawer liners will help recreate nature's most pleasing perfumes. Let the sun shine in with wonderful spring window treatments.

Get Organized
Make sure you have space to welcome spring into your home. Clear clutter from your display areas, closets, drawers and storage spaces and donate, trash or sell unused and unwanted clothing and household items.


Terrific Turquoise
Turquoise is one of this season's coolest colours. A pretty accessory in this vibrant shade is guaranteed to add personality and panache to your home decor. These terrific turquoise finds will let you easily incorporate this cheery colour into your home decor.

Lighten Up Your Linens
Say good night to warm winter blankets and hello to airy spring sheets. Replace heavy bedding with lighter linens that will brighten up the bedroom.


Tend To Your Gardens
Spring is in full bloom whether you lift a finger to help it along or not. Your garden, however, needs some love and care before its true beauty can be realized. Put down a thin layer of compost, trim shrubs and plant tulips and to help ensure a gorgeous garden this season.


Decorate Easter Eggs
A wonderful family-friendly activity, decorating Easter eggs is a seasonally appropriate way to get creative. Plus, they make for fun, unique displays that will brighten up any room in the house.

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REAL ESTATE 101 GLOSSARY "J" - OAKVILLE HOMES

Jalousie window
A window that consists of vertical rows of horizontal glass slats that operate together by a crank mechanism that connects all the slats.

Joint tenancy
Ownership by two or more people that gives equal shares of a piece of property. Rights pass to the surviving owner or owners.

Joist
A floor or ceiling support member supported by foundation walls, piers or beams. Subflooring is connected to floor joists.

Judgment
The decision of a court or law. If a court decides that a person must repay a debt, a lien may be placed against that person's property.

Judicial foreclosure
A procedure to handle foreclosure proceedings as civil matters.

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SPLURGE VS. SAVE? DECORATING TIPS - OAKVILLE HOMES

Where to spend and where to cut when it comes to home decor costs.

There are certain items in every room worth splurging on, while others are more fun and frivolous. Here, we break it down room by room to find out what can be purchased for less and what you should be spending a little more on. Shower curtains versus faucets? Duvets versus throw pillows? Lighting versus love seats?

Bedroom
Start with sourcing a good quality mattress. Sleep is important and you don’t want to compromise a good night’s rest for the sake of saving a few dollars. You also want to spend on your duvet cover and bedding. “Your bed is focal point of the room, so spend on good bedding that looks great.” You should also spend more on dresser drawers because they get lots of wear and tear. In general, be prepared to spend a lot on your bedroom, she notes. But you can save on extras like nightstands, reading lamps and decorative pillows. Rather than spending money on artwork, go with a beautiful headboard and stylish bedding instead.

Kitchen and dining room
If you can afford it, consider upgrading to stainless steel appliances, which look great and are a good idea for resale value. You also want to spend on faucets and taps and splurge on a beautiful countertop. When it comes to kitchen cabinets, go simple and affordable. The impact can come from unique hardware and handles that catch the eye. Visit antique shops and specialty stores to scout stylish, one-of-a-kind options.

Splurge on a good, functional dining table. It will get lots of use and will last last. Save on chairs since you may want to change them after a few years, plus you need more of them, which can get expensive.

Living room
If you can, splurge on your sofa. It gets enough use that opting for quality will save you money in the end. There’s no point purchasing something just because it’s cheap and then having to replace it two years later. A good quality sofa should last 10 years. Fabric, foam and construction are what determine the quality. When you sit down, it shouldn’t feel like you are sinking endlessly into it. The sofa should have a little bit of give, but the shape should hold.

Splurge on good lighting, which can do wonders to make a space look beautiful. Layer lighting for optimum effect, using overhead, ambient and floor lighting. Joanne also suggests splurging on art, which will help tie the room together. You don’t need a lot; one nice piece of original art is often enough to make a statement.

Save on accents (pillows, rugs) and on carpets. Carpeting should be viewed as a decorative item and accent colour, and something you should feel free to change if the mood strikes.

Bathroom
Spend on faucets and taps. Think of them as the accents of your wardrobe, like enhancing a simple black dress with great accessories like a belt or beautiful necklace. Even a plain sink and vanity can be dressed up with stylish faucet and ultra-modern taps. Also invest in a nice showerhead that will last. Not only will your morning showers improve, a quality showerhead is good for resale value.

If you’re thinking of renovating your bathroom, a shower stall with beautiful tiling makes for a relaxing and spa-like setting. Many people have been getting rid of tubs and opting for shower stalls instead.

Save on towels, shower curtains, toothbrush holders and other accessories you’re likely to switch up more often.

Foyer
The foyer is the first impression people have of your home.  A good place to splurge is on lighting. Think about pendant lighting, which hangs from the ceiling and adds both ambiance and architectural influence. You can also spend on one focal piece, such as bench seating that also works as storage, or a beautiful antique side table. Accessories such as mirrors, vases or small tables can be purchased with less regard for cost.

It can be tempting to overspend when decorating your home, even on the little things, but stop and think before you buy. Spend where it matters and save wherever you can to take a balanced approach to both your home and your chequebook.

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REAL ESTATE 101 GLOSSARY "I" - OAKVILLE HOMES

Income property
Property that is not occupied by the owner but is used to generate income.

Incurable defect
A defect in a property that cannot be fixed, such as an adjacent hazardous waste site, or that would cost too much to repair relative to the value of the property.

Infill development
Any significant new construction in an established area.

Infill housing
Home construction in established areas.

Inspection report
An examination of a home's exterior, foundation, framing, plumbing, electrical system, heating, air conditioning, fireplace, kitchen, bathroom, roofing and interior.

Insulation
Materials including cellulose, glass fiber, rock wool, polystyrene, urethane foam and vermiculite that slow heat loss.

Interest
The fee borrowers pay to obtain a loan. It is calculated based on a percentage of the total loan.

Interest accrual rate
The rate at which interest accrues on a mortgage.

Interest rate
The sum, expressed as a percentage, charged for a loan. Interest payments on most home loans are tax- deductible.

Investment property
Real estate that generates income, such as an apartment building or a rental house.

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