Kimberly's Blog

Haverhill Home Staging Sold to Real Estate Investor Group

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:33:49 -0700

Haverhill Home Staging Sold to Real Estate Investor Group

TORONTO, July 29 /CNW/ - Home Staging Corporation of Toronto, Canada is pleased to announce it has acquired the Haverhill Staging Group of Companies, which includes The Haverhill Institute of Staging & Design, and Haverhill Home Staging Services.

Home Staging Corporation is a private investor group established for the purpose of developing a home staging company that will be a dominant player in the fast-growing field, with adequate size and clout to compete with national brands.

Jason Meretsky, CEO of Home Staging Corporation, chose Haverhill as its first acquisition target due to its size, profile and growth. "The Haverhill Group of Companies possessed the characteristics we were looking for. There's strong brand awareness, a North American presence and a significant addressable market".

"All the information we researched supported the fact home staging really works and is a nascent market with tremendous growth prospects", said Meretsky, who is a corporate lawyer by profession and a board member of Homeserve Technologies Inc, a public company that provides services and technology products for business-to-business clients whose customers are engaged in the move or home-ownership lifecycle.

Home Staging Corporation's new management team will replace the company founders and includes incoming President, Michael Sweetnam, a ten-year veteran in the real estate service industry with management and executive positions at Teranet, Canada's largest land registry operator. "With the financial capital and added business acumen, Haverhill is well-poised to scale its operations and be the dominant provider of home staging services" said Mr. Sweetnam.

Founded in 2007, Haverhill Staging is North America's largest and fastest growing home staging company providing end-to-end home staging training and professional services.

For further information: Michael Sweetnam, President: 1-888-978-2433 Ext. 2250

A Note to My Home Seller: Tissue Boxes are Not Accessories

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:09:57 -0700

With all of the homes I have had the privilege to either consult on or stage there is one common theme that seems to come up time and time again. The debate about tissue boxes and whether or not they belong in the decor of a home when you are selling.

Photo: Kleenex.com

Tissue boxes are not accessories and should not be out on display while your house is on the market. "But they come in so many decorative boxes now". Well yes they do but....

Photo Clorox.ca
When we are selling a house we do not want there to be distractions. Tissue boxes are such a distraction. Potential buyers do not want to come through a house that has tissue boxes all over the place. Why you ask??? Well they really don't want to be reminded of being sick and that is what tissue boxes do. Yes, they look more decorative now than ever and fit into many decor themes but let's leave them tucked away during the selling process.

If you think they need to be out in the open for what ever reason, then consider tucking them away for open houses and showings. This little trick will go along way as to not distract potential buyers.

Photo: Kleenex.com

Happy Selling!

I Want to Be a Home Stager

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:38:56 -0700

Like many of your out there I get lots of phone calls and emails from "budding" Home Stagers. I thought I would put together a Frequently Asked Questions post to help any aspiring stagers out there.

Q. Do I have to take specialized training to be a Home Stager?

A. While technically no you do not have to. I believe it does give you the fundamentals of the job, whether you have design experience or not.

Q. What is the best training program?

A. Well, this will depend on you. There are many training programs out there. Each offering something different. Think about what your goals and aspirations are for your future business, also what type of learning do you do best. Programs range from day classes, to complete correspondence or a mix of both. Do you research to find out which one best suits you and your goals.

Q. Do I have to be "certified" or "accredited"?

A. No. Currently there is no "official" governing body that "certifies" or "accredits" Home Stagers. The terms are used by various training companies to signify someone has taken training with them.

Q. Will I be able to make lots of money in my business?

A. Just like starting any business, it takes time to actually make a profit. Most business take between 3 to 5 years to really see profits. If you are lucky enough to have another source of income while you are building your business this will be beneficial. Remember you will be spending lots of hours in the beginning, marketing and networking that you will not be paid for.

Q. I currently have a full-time job, do I have to quit it?

A. No, many Home Stagers keep their full-time jobs while starting their businesses. When you business gets busy enough you can then at that time decide to transition into your business full-time.

Q. Do I have to move things during a job or will there be people to do this for me?

A. Technically, it is a stagers job to move furniture, accessories, pack and declutter items in a home.

Q. Do I have to have tons of furniture and accessories to rent?

A. No, but it can help if you are going to be staging vacant and can become another stream of income for you. My best advice: if this is the route you choose to go only buy what you need when you need it. There is no point in investing money into inventory if is going to sit in storage. Remember, storage is going to be an added expenses of running your business.

Q. How do I get "known"?

A. Network, Network, Network. Join networking groups, start a blog, talk you anyone you can about your new business. Always carry and hand out your business cards

Q. How do I build my portfolio when I have had any paid jobs?

A. Start by staging rooms in your own home or the homes of friends and family. If you were lucky enough to take a training program where you had to stage houses as part of your course you can use those photos as well.

Q. Can't I just use photos from the Internet or stock photos?

A. No. You should never in any way every use someone else's photos or stock photos. You will be misrepresenting yourself and run the risk of violating someone else's copyrights. You should only use photos of work you have completed yourself whether in your portfolio or website.

Q. How do I set my Fees?

A. See what others are charging in your area and work from there. Remember to set your fees high enough to cover your operating expenses but not too high that you price yourself out of the market. On the other hand don't try to undercut others in your area by setting your fees so low in order to attract business. It will backfire and you don't want to be known as the "discount" stager. It will be difficult to raise your fees later. "NEVER WORK FOR FREE"

These are the most common questions that I seem to get asked. I hope I have been able to answer the questions that may be on the minds of others thinking about entering this field.

If you have any others please feel free to post them.

This is One of My Favorite Things!!!

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:47:08 -0700

As a Home Stager I carry an arsenal of tools with me on a job. Yes, it is amazing sometimes how many tools we do have.

One of my favorite tools is The Hang & Level^TM.

This plastic device makes hanging art a breeze. The device is a combination art hanger and level all- in- one. It eliminates the use a measuring tape, pencil and torpedo level.

Need to hang an art grouping? No problem. The Hang and Level makes it much easier to ensure your pictures are aligned and even.

It is so easy to use and in a couple of steps your artwork is hung! I can't live without mine.

It is a great tool Home Stagers, ReDesigners, Decorator's, Designers and of course the Do-it-Yourselfer!

What is your favorite tool???

Top Reasons to Hire a Home Stager

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:18:06 -0700

Are you thinking about selling your house but are unsure where to start? Consider hiring a Home Stager to assist you getting your home ready. Here are some ways Home Stagers help and reasons to hire one:

Professionals with Experience

They know what works, what doesn't and how to package your home for the best performance on today's market

May have experience in other areas that can assist you with setting up your new home:

Color consultants

Organizers

Decorating and Design

Can look at your home through "The buyers eyes"

Assist you with all aspects of your job:

Consultation

Planning

Staging

Furniture and accessory rentals

Trade referrals

Open house assistance

Real Estate knowledge

Capable of working with your budget and time frames

Ease your stress

When you are ready give us a call

Top 10 Home Staging Tips

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 07:52:13 -0700

1. Neutralize

From wall color to decor keep it simple - you can add bursts of color with accessories

2. De-clutter

Start packing away excess nick-knacks, small kitchen appliances etc. - leave rooms with an open and airy feeling

3. Depersonalize

Starts packing up personal collections, certificates, photos - buyers want to envision themselves living in the home

4. Make Repairs

Fix holes, cracks in walls, ensure all of the "small" items are taken care of

5. Clean, Clean, Clean

Home must be spotless - Q-tip spotless

6. Remove Odors

This includes, pet odor, cooking and cigarette smoke

7. Pay Attention to the Outside

It is just as important to have the outside of your home well maintained and taken care of as the inside. First impressions are everything!

8. Lighting

Ensure the home is bright and airy - open windows, replace burnt out or missing bulbs in fixtures

9. Stick to it

The time your home is on the market may seem like an inconvenience to keep it looking show room perfect. "Small inconvenience now for a long term gain." It will all be worth it!

10. Hire a Professional Home Stager

A Stager can assist you with all of the above plus be able to look at your house through "the buyer's eyes"

"Stop the Stink"

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:51:12 -0700

"Stop the Stink"

If you live in Pickering or the very surrounding area pay close attention. The fight to stop a Sewage Odour Control Facility built in Pickering is still ongoing. This facility is being proposed by York Region.

This is a 25 acre project slated to go into the area of Altona Road and Third Concession in Pickering. Studies have shown that no one can guarantee that this facility will not emit foul odours into the air.

Wind studies have shown that air travels south east over the facility most of the time. There are no promises that the emissions expelled from the 40 foot stack will not reach our neighborhoods.

What does this mean for us in the community? We don't really know all of the long term effects from this? What could possibly happen to our property values? What about new housing developments that are in the area?

I sure don't want to look out of my windows to see this 40 foot stack in the air or smell it.

There are many ways to get involved:

•· Go to the website for full and up to date information www.stopthestink.ca

•· Sign the petition

•· Contact your regional and city councilors

•· Attend the meetings and fundraisers

There is a vast array of information on the website. I just wanted to bring it to light

"Stop the Sink"

Do We Take it For Granted?

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:35:55 -0800

I was watching Property Shop on HGTV last night. Part of the focus of the show was on Agent Safety. The agents in the office were buzzing about news that a Real Estate Agent had been murdered. Tatiana Londono, the office's broker brought her team together to discuss the issue and also discuss a time when she had been attacked while showing a condo.

This really got me thinking. Do we take our own personal safety on our jobs for granted? It really doesn't matter if you are a Real Estate Agent or Home Stager safety should be at the top of our list!

As an instructor I am always discussing the safety issues that come along with the Real Estate Industry. It is not to say we have to always have to be looking over our shoulder but just be aware.

Here are some tips:

Always be aware of your surroundings and who is in those surroundings

Home Stagers:

Never use cutlery on tables

First off it adds to the clutter of the space
It can be easily accessible by children who may be visiting the property's with their parents
Can be a potential safety hazard

Never Use Kitchen Knife Blocks

They don't look very aesthetically pleasing on the counters
Can be used as a potential safety hazard or weapon

When staging any home when the homeowners will not be there:

Ask the homeowners or the agent if they are expecting anyone to show up at the home and what time they are expected to be there.
Never answer the door unless you are expecting someone
Always lock the door behind you when you have entered the home
Always let someone you know where you are going to be that day and the expected length of the job
Make sure you cell phone is fully charged and keep the charger with you just in case

Agents:

Make sure your office or someone close to you knows your appointments for the day

When conducting open houses

Ensure the knife blocks etc have been tucked away
Lock the door to the home so potential visitors will have to ring the bell first - this will help you control the flow of traffic coming into the home
Make sure everyone signs in.
Keep your cell phone charged and keep the charger with you

This is just a friendly reminder for all not to take our personal safety for granted.

~~Kimberly~~

Thank You for Your Vote!

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 05:40:25 -0800

I just wanted to thank everyone who took the time to vote for me for the RESA Professional Stager of the Year 2007. It was an honour just to have been nominated.

I would like to congratulate Kate Hart of Hart & Associates Staging and Design for her win in this catagory.

Thanks again,

Kimberly Uksik

Jumping on the Campaign Trail

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 06:49:17 -0800

Well first of all I must say what a great honor it was to see someone nominated me for the 2007 RESA Professional Stager of the Year! I am nominated with a wonderful group of people whom I look up to and have had a lot of fun getting to know over my last year here on AR!

Here are some of my philosophies when it comes to Staging.

1. I have a no-nonsense approach to Home Staging. I don't believe in recommending things unless they are absolutely necessary. I try to keep costs down for my clients and keep it simple.

2. I believe in continuing education and have attended many seminars the past year on staging, color (colour), business and design.

3. I feel the best when I can pay it forward and help out other stagers. I love assisting new stagers get off on the right foot with their businesses and hope to do more mentoring in 2008 and beyond

4. I have worked very hard over the last year on the Television Show HouseCapades getting homes ready for the their filimngs. I am a Lead Stager with them.

5. I was awarded the 2007 HouseCapades Preferred Stager of the Year and the award for Highest Selling to Asking price for one of the houses I assisted on.

6. I am a member of the Canadian Staging Professionals(TM) and The Real Estate Staging Association where I hold the position of Ontario-President and Durham Region Chapter President.

To vote for me please visit this link: http://www.realestatestagingassociation.com/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=304550&module_id=33063 and click on vote now!

Thanks to all of my supporters and good luck to everyone who has been nominated.

1 Quart of Primer + 1 Quart of Paint = Such a Difference

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:46:48 -0800

A couple of weeks ago I was asked to consult on this house that was going onto the market. I didn't do a full staging of this home but the homeowner took my recommendations from the consultation report and ran with them. She did such an amazing job throughout the rest of the house. I was asked to come back and help with the kitchen. I had made recommendations to change the hardware on the cabinets and paint out the wood to match the cabinets. I was truly amazed by these results. Within a couple of hours the cabinets were transformed

Cabinets Before

Cabinets After:

Although this room was not staged the visual impact of the cabinets was amazing and really opened the space. It just goes to show that sometimes the smallest changes give a big impact.

Ask a Designer Day

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:22:54 -0700

I just wanted to announce that I will be a featured Designer at "Ask a Designer Day" at the ICI/Color Your World store in Pickering, Ontario. I will be there answering all colour related questions. Time will be limited to 15 minutes per person in order to allow everyone to be able to get their questions asked.

I used to be the Shop at Home/Decorating Consultant for this store so I am so happy to be able to work with the Store Owner Again.

It should be a great Day!!

When: Saturday September 29, 2007
Time: 9:00am to 5:00pm
Location: ICI/Color Your World Store - 705 Kingston Road, (Whites Road & Highway #2 in the Lonestar Plaza) Pickering, Ontario

Kimberly Uksik of Elite Home Decor Wins Two Awards

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:20:16 -0700

On September 6, 2007 I received two awards for my work on the Television Show HouseCapades.I am a leader for the teams that stage the houses that are presented on the show. It airs every Sunday at 11:00am and 11:30am Eastern Standard Time on WUTV Fox 29.

The awards were:
Most Preferred Stager 2007
Highest Selling to Asking Price 2007

Thank you to the producers and creators of HouseCapades as well as all of the wonderful people I have had a chance to meet through this project.

See you in 2008!!

The Design Whisperer?? The New Phrase for Home Stagers???

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:06:03 -0700

I was watching the TV show Buy Me on Tuesday night and the agent involved with selling the house kept referring to getting the "design whisperers" in. Design Whisperers?? This intrigued me I had never heard this term before, so I kept watching Well, she was referring to the staging consultants that she had brought in to stage the home.

With all of the names out there I thought well here is another one to add the the list. Anyone else heard of this term before. I actually "googled" it and it did not come up with anything.

Anyone else heard of this? I think that this would be an even harder term to describe than Home Stager.

Paint Colour & Home Staging

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Sun, 20 May 2007 21:29:17 -0700

I know when you think of getting your home ready for sale and you think of painting you invoke thoughts of boring, builders beige and neutral. It does not have to be boring but there are reasons why Home Stagers will recommend neutral colours for you home. The main thing is to not have the paint colour of a room be the focal point. When getting your home ready for sale you want potential home buyers to concentrate on the space not the stuff or the colour of the space.

A neutral palette will make your home feel more spacious and open. It doesn't have to be boring using warm neutral tones throughout the home give a professional Home Stager the canvas to create great inviting spaces. Here is some insight into what certain colours provoke in feelings.

Red (Warm): Red tends to be a colour we pay more attention to. We associate red with love, danger, desire and fire. It can raise blood pressure and make the heart race faster.

Orange (Warm): This colour will warm a room but is less dramatic than red. It can make you feel energized and can be used to grab your attention. It has been known to symbolize balance, warmth and welcoming.

Yellow (Warm): Yellow can be invigorating, giving you the feeling of energy and strength. it can also increase the metabolism and enhance concentration.

Green (Cool): It can be calming and soothing, represents nature and the environment. It can give you a feeling of relaxation and balance.

Blue (Cool): It can be used to help you mentally relax, suppress the appetite and is known for peace tranquility, stability, water and cold.

Violet (Cool): Can be known for wealth, status and royalty. It purifies thoughts and feelings. It can also inspire the imagination.

When getting your home ready for sale a Professional Home Stager will try to neutralize the space as to try not to invoke any feelings from the colour of a room. Your favourite colour maybe blue, it may not be that of the potential buyer.

Professional Home Stagers use lifestyle selling techniques in order to get your home ready for sale so that it will appeal to a broad range of home buyers and not a select few. This will help you to secure a faster sale and usually for more money than if your home wasn't staged. Your Home Staging Consultation will include a complete colour consultation of your home.

Once you move into your new home we can assist in colour and decor advice to make your new house a home.

Kimberly Uksik, CSP is a Professional Home Stager and the driving force behind Elite Home Decor. We service the Durham Region and Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. Please contact us at (905) 391-3536 or at www.elitehomedecor.com

Follow Up to: Attention Agents!! Email or Snail Mail.....

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Sat, 19 May 2007 16:07:42 -0700

In my recent blog Attention Agents!! Email or Snail Mail.... I asked the agents what are they looking for in marketing material from us. The results surprised me. I had though email would be the way to go but it was the least liked option among agents.

The majority advised that if we are going to send them something do it through the mail or drop it off to their office. The only catch is you have to make it stand out. It has to be something worth while and must catch their eye and make them want to read it.

I am posting this information to make all of us aware. Email campaigns are cheaper than direct mail but most agents advised that they will delete it without reading it or hope their spam program picks it up.

Next time you are thinking about sending out another email campaign think again. Unless the agent has requested the information or has requested to me on your mailing list.

Happy Marketing!!

~Kimberly~

Safety for Stagers and Agents....

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Sun, 13 May 2007 17:23:58 -0700

Recently I visited a few open houses and was surprised at what I observed. Here are just a couple of things to keep in mind when showing a home and staging.

When staging any home when the homeowners are not there ensure you have everything with you and lock the door while inside. This is for your own safety. This could also come in handy for agents who are doing open houses. It will allow you to know who and when people are entering the house.

Remember, if you are going to set the table as part of your staging - do not under any circumstances use the cutlery. This also goes for the knife blocks in kitchens. Make sure they are put away particularity for showings and open houses. This will help to protect the agent showing the home.

In this day and age we never truly know who we are going to meet and keeping in mind these little things that we may not think about will make our jobs a lot safer for all.

~Kimberly~

Great "Green" Product for Cleaning Stainless Steel

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Sat, 12 May 2007 13:24:32 -0700

I was in my local Kitchen store this morning and came upon a terrific product for cleaning stainless steel and glass. It is called the e-cloth. It is a micro-fibre cloth that all you have to do is wet it, wring it out, wipe the surface dry and your done. It does not leave streaks and the best part is you do not have to use any harsh chemicals.

The website for the cloth is www.e-cloth.com.

~Kimberly~

Staging Training: No I am not "Certified" - My Story

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Sat, 12 May 2007 13:20:18 -0700

I am merely posting this as an insight into the world of staging training courses. This is not meant to offend or put anyone off.

Last year after finishing courses in interior decorating I decided to open my own home decorating business. This was going well. I was looking for more to be able to add to my list of services and I sought out Home Staging. Although I already knew how to decorate I thought "there has to be more to staging" I was right.

I researched many different training options looking for the one to give me the right tools and balance to get my business going. I chose Canadian Staging Professionals(TM) or CSP. I learned so much from my training. We learned about real estate and how it works, what sells what doesn't, business, marketing to name a few. I even had to wright exams!! Yes, I had to pass two exams to be able to call my self a Canadian Staging Professional. Some might say it is a fancy, dancy name but I am truly proud of it and the organization I belong to. The biggest thing I learned from my training: "Staging is not Decorating" and there is a difference.

The question now being am I "certified". Well, no I am not. As many of us know there is no governing body to which Home Stagers can look to for certification and accreditation. This is not to say that there won't be in the future. We are just on the "ground breaking" ceremony of this industry and it will grow and prosper if we let it. I don't try to portray myself my company as something I am not and I don't discredit anyone who has not taken a training course.

It is buyer beware in the world of staging training. My best training that I have had over and above what I learned in my three day course: the school of "hard-knocks" and everything I have learned from all of my wonderful staging friends here on Active Rain.

Staging is hard work and I applaud all of my fellow stagers for taking on this industry.

Just my two cents.

Thanks for reading,

~Kimberly~

I Challenge You..to Work Your Business

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:45:20 -0700

After reading some very inspirational Blogs this week "Out of the Blue...or Was it?" by Lucie Quigley, "Are You Working Your Business" by Melissa Marro and "How do you market yourself?" by Alyse Bromberg I had one of those light bulb moments! Why am I not keeping a proper record of what I am doing? I do for most things like my newspaper add or emails but what about all of those little day to day things that we take for granted? Giving your business card to someone, talking to the check out clerk at the grocery store. I tend to forget about the little things but they are all working my business.

How many of you keep a detailed account of what you do on a daily basis to move your business forward? I hadn't though about it until now. From here on in I am going to just jot down on my calendar everyday all the things I have done to "work" my business. For those who feel that business is slow or are sitting waiting for business to come to you this may be a good exercise for you.

Here is my Challenge...I challenge you to keep track of the things you do to work your business and review it over the next week. You may be surprised as to how much your have done or shocked to see how little. It will help you review what you need to do or work on.

Just to give you a start here is what I recorded for yesterday:

wrote in my blog
followed up with an agent who had been interested in my services
checked out new listings in my area
left my post card in the doors of these homes
contacted the agents via email regarding my services

Things I plan to do over the next week

attend open houses
meet with other stagers in my area to discuss getting the word out more about staging
finish off my power-point for Agents
refine my marketing package
get my newsletter done to go out to Agents
follow up with Agents that I contacted this week

Challenge on!! Happy Marketing!!

~Kimberly~

What Colour Is Your Office...

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 06:44:20 -0700

I was browsing through my old House & Home Magazines and came across this article that was done by Melanie Rice. It has an overview of what colour your office should be. Where do you fit in??

Creative People like graphic designers should use colours like Orange and Teal
Massage Therapist or psychologist should use colours like light pale blues or greens
Sales and Marketing people should use Red, yellow or orange or bright green
Lawyers and researchers should use burgundy, purple or dark blue
If you would like a stress free environment you should use neutral grey or taupe.

How do you fit this category? I think that I have a cross between being a sales person and creative person but my office is a shade of red so I guess that I am getting ready to sell, sell, sell!!

It makes you think about colour in all aspects of our lives.

~Kimberly~

Average Size of a Home In Durham Region

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:59:51 -0800

Hi Everyone,

My main market is the Durham Region(Ontario) I have been trying to find out the average size of a home her in square feet and have come up with nothing.

Does anyone know where I may find such information, if it exisits? I have tried google and other real estate sites but just don't seem to see the information I am looking for.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

~Kimberly~

New Promotion...mmmm chocolate

Kimberly Uksik ~ Durham, Toronto, On. Home Stager (Independent) — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 14:21:01 -0800

I have just returned from the Interior Design Show here in Toronto and came across a unique promotional item.

One of the vendors was giving away these small boxes with their logos on the front. Inside was a chocolate with a logo on it. I thought it was a terrific idea. We have been bouncing ideas around my other blog of Open House Survival Kits. I thought this might be something that could be added or used as another promotional item for your company.

I am not sure of the exact cost of these as they are custom but I thought they might be interesting. They are made by a company called Taylor & Grant. They are available in both Canada and the US. They also have a wide range of other items in their online catalogue.

Here is what the chocolate looks like:

Happy Marketing!

~Kimberly~