Lakeshore Advance, 2013-05-15, Page 1616 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesda , May 15,2013
Curb appeal includes staging outdoor spaces
NewsCanada
(NC)—If you can't get
potential buyers in the door,
good luck selling your home.
This is especially true today
with so many homes compet-
ing on the niarket.1 tome stag-
ing has become a popular
trend for interior spaces, but
according to experts, the same
care needs to be applied to
the exterior.
"Home buyers weigh the
outside impression of a home
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s "IP his*,
especially when surfing real
estate websites and online
images of homes" explains
Priscilla Bergeron, Assistant
Brand Manager for Sikkens,
the industry leader in wood
protection. "You only have
one chance to make a first
impression. By spending a lit-
tle time and money on the
outside, potential buyers may
be more inclined to give your
home a second look, and
holx•fully, a better offer"
According to Bergeron, the
first sten In OVUM vclui.
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Sales
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Don Wolper
238-8810
1
outdoor spares the important
face lits they need is to update
your outside woodwork
weathered by the sun, rain
and snow. "You can give a
high end look to your front
porch, window trine, doors,
siding and backyard deck with
premium wood finishes. 'I hey
provide a rich, professional
touch to all exterior projects,
while preserving and protect-
ing the wood from the effects
of weather and aging," she
adds.
1lonle decks return about
70 per rent of their original
cost back to homeowners
when a house is sold, accord-
ing to Remodeling Magazine's
annual Cost vs. Value Report,
but that's only when the decks
are kept in top shape.
'l'o bring weathered wood
finishes back to life, Bergeron
recommends applying high
end wood finish products to
give a beautiful rich and pro-
fessional look to your wood-
work that will seduce poten-
tial home buyers.
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Choosing the right
perennials for your garden
NewsCanada
(NC) ----Plants that grow and bloom over the
spring and summer, become dormant over
the winter and then return in spring from their
established roots, are known as perennials.
'these plants are often regarded as the easiest
and most economical and way to maintain a
garden you can enjoy year after year. However,
the initial outlay for perennials can be some-
what pricier than annuals or biennials, so it's
important to choose your plants carefully.
"Gardeners find their hest success when
they purchase and plant perennials that are
appropriate to their particular climate, sun
exposure and soil conditions," says Carla Bou-
chard, a broker with Royal LePage Metro in
Moncton, N.B. "If you get these three factors
right, achieving a lush perennial garden that
offers years of low -maintenance enjoyment
and adds value to your home, is well within
your reach." Bouchard recommends these
three considerations:
Know your plant hardiness zone. Canada is
divided into roughly nine different planting
hardiness zones, ranging from coldest to
warmest. An Internet search to Agriculture
Canada's Plant I tardiness Zones Map will help
you to identify your particular plant hardiness
zone.
Know your soil. Most nursery -bought plants
will label the ideal soil conditions for optimal
growth. Some require well -drained soil to cir-
cumvent overwatering. Others require heavier
soils to retain moisture. In addition, there are
often considerations for acidity of the soil for
particular plants, anti it may be recommended
that you acid the appropriate organic material
to augment it. Consider purchasing a soil test-
ing kit to start and ask your local garden centre
for further guidance.
Know your sun exposure. Consider the leve
of sunlight your plants will receive throughout
the day in the location you have chosen.
Whether your garden is in full sun, partial sun,
shade or full shade, the perennial plants you
choose will grow best when they Match the
level of sun required.
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