TIRED OF TOSSING AND TURNING AT NIGHT?

Healthy sleep habits can greatly improve our quality of life.

If all you’re dreaming of is a good night’s sleep, you’re not alone. Lack of sleep can take a massive toll on our mental and physical health. The following tips will help you get the sleep you need:

1. It's a No-Glo - Hide all light no matter how faint and turn off your smartphone at least 30 minutes before going to bed.
2. Chill Out & Warm Up - Keep the bedroom temperature cool and wear socks to bed to help your body evenly transfer heat to the extremities.
3. Light Bright - Take in all the daylight you can as it changes the melatonin levels in your body which causes you to sleep better when darkness falls.
4. Keep it Regular - Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. If you get poor sleep one night, don’t have a nap as it will affect your internal clock.
5. Stay Fit - Exercising early in the day can help you sleep better but avoid it at night. Instead, ease muscle tension with some light, relaxing stretches before hitting the sack.
6. No Worries - Write a to-do list before going to bed in order to flush out your thoughts and worries. Keep a journal beside your bed just in case your mind starts racing.

Lack of sleep can contribute to major physical and emotional health problems so it's important to consistently practice positive sleep habits. The above suggestions will help you peacefully drift off to sleep each night so you'll be much more energetic and productive throughout the day. Sweet dreams!

SETTING THE STAGE FOR A PERFECT SALE

You only get one chance to make a great first impression!

When you put your home on the market, your goal is to sell it quickly and for top dollar. Properly staging your home from day one will create an amazing impression that will generate a huge buzz!

Staging isn't so much an expense as it is an investment. Not only is your home likely to sell for a higher price but it will probably sell much faster which is important because homes that sit on the market can quickly lose their value.

Staging starts with an ultra clean, de-cluttered and de-personalized home. Buying a home is an emotional decision so buyers must be able to envision themselves living there which is why photographs, trophies and kids' artwork have to go.

A stager also ensures your home is inviting to buyers by enhancing the functionality and flow of each room. They can remove and store furniture so the house looks as spacious as possible and use lighting and other tricks to warm up the feel of your home. A properly staged home will also look much more appealing to those browsing online which will generate more showings.

If you want to stage your home yourself, you'll have to go beyond the basics. Start cleaning up the front yard, the porch, the garage and don’t forget the back garden. Buyers have a tough time visualizing themselves in unfurnished rooms so turn your craft room back into a bedroom or transform an awkward nook into a reading spot by setting out a comfy chair and lamp.

Great lighting will create a warm and welcoming ambience so make sure you update your light fixtures, lamps and light bulbs. Buyers will also be snooping through your cupboards and closets as storage space is often an important factor so don’t forget to stage those areas as well.

A well staged home is much more likely to make a great first impression and capture the hearts of homebuyers. Whether you pay a professional to stage your home or do the work yourself, staging is a worthwhile investment that will massively increase the odds of your home selling quickly and for top dollar.

KITCHENER-WATERLOO REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE

Typical November for home sales in Kitchener-Waterloo.

Last month a total of 425 residential properties sold in Kitchener-Waterloo and area through the Multiple Listing System (MLS® System) of the Kitchener-Waterloo Association of REALTORS® (KWAR).

Home sales in November were down 20.1 per cent compared to the same month last year, but on par with the previous 5-year November average of 424 sales.

November’s sales included 246 detached homes (down 30.9 per cent), and 99 condominium units (down 15.4 per cent) which includes any property regardless of style (i.e. semis, townhomes, apartment, detached etc.). Sales also included 52 semi-detached homes (up 67.7 per cent) and 27 freehold townhouses (down 3.6 per cent).

“Last month’s sales levels were typical for November,” says James Craig, President of KWAR. “The twenty percent drop compared to last year is relative to November 2016’s record breaking month”.

The average price of all residential properties sold last month increased 8 per cent to $445,363 compared to November 2016. Detached homes sold for an average price of $515,721, an increase of 8.9 per cent compared to November 2016.

During this same period, the average sale price for an apartment style condominium was $277,660 for an increase of 30.7 per cent. Townhomes and semis sold for an average of $369,678 (up 19.3 per cent) and $376,677 (up 15.1 per cent) respectively.

The median price of all residential properties sold in November increased 9.7 per cent to $415,000, and the median price of a detached home during the same period increased 12.1 per cent to $476,500.

REALTORS® listed 601 residential properties in K-W and area last month, a 22.6 per cent increase compared to November of 2016. The number of active residential listings on the KWAR’s MLS® System to the end of November totaled 740, which is 50 per cent more than November of last year, but still well below the previous five-year average of 1,318 listings for November.

“Kitchener-Waterloo’s housing market continues to be in favour of sellers, however with listings trending higher, we are seeing more balance,” says Craig. “While the majority of MLS® System activity is properties for sale, we are noticing more residential properties for lease,” commented Craig. “In fact, last month there were 42 residential properties leased, which is an increase of 83% compared to November of 2016.”