There’s nothing worse than bad DIY

June 20th, 2009
No one wants to pay for bad DIY work.

Hiring an expert renovator will pay off.

Remember when buying, fixing and flipping a house was all the rage?

A couple of years ago, I was looking for an investment property in Cobourg and found what appeared to be a winner: a renovated house with a great price.  On the Internet, the photos looked great.  “It’s been renovated from top to bottom,” the agent old me when I called for details. I couldn’t wait to get in for a tour.

At first glance, it looked as good in person as it did online. On closer inspection, however, I knew this flip had flopped.

The paint job was awful. Brush marks. Drip marks. Wall paint on the ceiling and the baseboards. It’s the kind of paint job that would result if I decided to pick up a brush and a roller (which I wouldn’t, because I couldn’t draw a straight line if my life depended on it) and call myself a painter.

The bad paint job also accentuated the fact that the baseboards were crooked. And the nail holes had not been filled in before painting.

In the kitchen, the backsplash tile work was sloppy — shaky, smeared grout lines took away from what could have been a great feature. No doubt the same DIY tile guy or gal installed the bathroom tile, too. The floor tile chosen was beautiful. Too bad an amateur installed it. Not only were the tiles out of alignment, a section right in the middle of the floor looked like someone was trying to frost a cake. Grout three inches wide and two inches thick whipped up into in a swirly peak. I mean really, did they think no one would notice?

The MLS listing boasted built-in storage cupboards in the master bedroom.  They looked nice.  Too bad the carpenter didn’t leave room for the cabinet doors and drawers to open! Lack of skills rendered them useless.

With red flags everywhere pointing to a bad flip job, I asked the agent if the wiring and plumbing had been updated before the drywall stage. She couldn’t answer that question. Had the work been inspected?  She couldn’t answer that question either.

When I expressed my opinion that this was one of the worse DIY jobs I had seen, the agent, a young 20-something woman, replied in a snooty tone:  “At this price in Cobourg, this is what you can expect.”

Really? I would have preferred to buy the house in its worn state and have it fixed up right.

My former Ottawa hairdresser, who bought condos and townhouses on the side in the hopes of making it rich in real estate, also believed that anyone buying a “renovated” home shouldn’t have anything to complain about.

I toured one of his DIY townhouses: the laminate he had installed on the floors was like walking on springs. The laminate on the stairs leading from the living room up to the kitchen/dining area was a total mess (he must have skipped Carpentry 102). There was no railing on the stairway, and no railing at the end of the eating area — just a drop down to the living room below. Two safety rules broken.

In the bedrooms, he thought he would save a few bucks by leaving the clothes rods and shelves out of the closets. “It doesn’t cost much,” he told me. “They can do it themselves.” He had also painted the entire townhouse a brilliant white — fine for baseboards, but not something anyone could live with on the walls without wearing sunglasses 24/7. It would drive anyone crazy. Why this colour, I asked? It was cheap and, he figured, buyers could re-paint after they moved in.

I wondered what he was thinking.

Townhouses in that area of town attract first-time buyers on a low budget. They want to move right in without spending a cent (because they don’t have any spare cash for home improvements). They’ve worked hard to put together a downpayment on a home and they rightfully don’t expect to get bad DIY for their money.

I toured the place because my hairdresser wanted my opinion on why he couldn’t sell it. I gently told him he should get out of the DIY business.

For all you amateur flippers and home improvement do-it-yourselfers:  there is nothing worse than bad DIY.  You might think your crooked backsplash is better than no backsplash, but a buyer will disagree. All he sees are dollar signs. He is thinking about all the time and money he’ll have to spend ripping out your handiwork and starting all over again.

Bad home improvements make for entertaining TV (think HGTV’s Disaster DIY), but if you’re selling your home, it’s best to call in the experts before you waste time and money.

The cash you spend getting it done right will come right back at you, because buyers will pay for quality. They won’t pay for crap!

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Attention book lovers: Declutter for a cause!

June 15th, 2009

Got bookshelves groaning under the weight of too many Stephen King or Harlequin Romance books? Have more than one copy of your favourite Alice Munro novel hanging around? Are your floors collecting dust because you have nowhere to put all those biographies you’ve become addicted to?

Well, here is your opportunity to declutter your home and feel good about it, too!

Grab your gently used books and stash them into boxes or sturdy shopping bags and drop them off at Windsor Crossing in the former Nike store (across from Guess, at the end closest to Highway 3) July 9, 10, 11 and 12 from noon to 4 p.m. Or you can drop them off in central Windsor at 1562 Bernard Rd. (between Seminole and Reginald). No need to knock: just place them on the front covered porch and Marian Drouillard, the organizer of the 2009 Windsor Terry Fox Run, will take care of the rest.

Books are being collected for a giant Used Book fundraising event on July 18-19 at Windsor Crossing. The outlet mall has generously donated use of the former Nike store for the community event, all proceeds of which will go to the Windsor Terry Fox Run.

For all you book hoarders in Wheatley, Leamington and Kingsville without transportation, here’s an incentive to get decluttering: you can donate your books without leaving your home! All you have to do is get your books ready and I will pick them up. Just drop me an email with your request and we’ll arrange a pickup date.

You’ll be amazed how good it will feel to declutter for a cause!

For those who just can’t live without hundreds of books around them, no problem: You can acquire more July 18-19 at the Giant Used Book event! A donation of $2 will get you a hardcover book, a large softcover can be yours for a $1 donation and those softcover novels you love taking to the beach or the backyard? A mere 50-cent donation will get you a great read!

As a bonus, you won’t have to feel guilty about bringing more stuff into the house because all the proceeds go to charity, plus … you’ve followed one of my favourite decluttering rules: Get rid of something before you bring something new into your space.

What are you waiting for?  We need books!  Start decluttering!

About Terry Fox Run
The Terry Fox Run, held in communities across Canada each year, depends solely on donations to raise funds for cancer research. It is one of the few Canadian grassroots charities that sees $0.87 of every dollar donated go directly to research. The 10-kilometre walk/run will be held on Sept. 13 this year, so mark your calendars! And stay tuned for more details here. For information on The Terry Fox Foundation, check out www.terryfoxrun.org.

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Why smelly shoes are bad for your soul

June 13th, 2009

I’ve been reading up on feng shui, the ancient Chinese art, and am happy to report that a clean, uncluttered home — the Zen look — is at the top of the list of must-haves for good feng shui.

Good feng shui in the home is when you have placed your furniture and objects, like mirrors and fountains, in the proper positions so that they invite positive energy (chi) into your life. If not done right — watch out! — you can inadvertently cause everything from divorce to illness.

Practitioners use the “bagua,” a road map detailing nine zones representing major areas of life, to determine how to set up a room so that it benefits from positive energy flow. These areas are:

Prosperity
Reputation/Fame
Love/Relationships
Creativity/Children
Family
Health
Travel
Knowledge
Career

According to the experts, each area of the home or office represents one of the life areas listed above. Once you have your map, and understand what each area means, you can begin to redecorate your home. For example, adding a vase of fresh flowers to the “family gua” of each room in your house will help improve your family relationships.

Sound too complicated? It can be. But if you’re anxious to get some positive energy flowing through your home now, without attending feng shui school, start with these 3 tips:

1. Good feng shui starts at the door, where career and opportunities come into the home. Clear the entranceway of clutter, especially shoes, to allow chi to flow right in. If chi picks up the scent of shoes, it will carry it through the house, putting your family at risk of illness.

2. Declutter! Too much furniture can block the flow of existing energy and prevent new energy from bringing opportunities your way.

3. Chi adores a dust-free home — yes, chi is a clean freak!

Oh, and that reference to divorce? Well, apparently you can keep your marriage safe by leaving the mirrors off the walls opposite your bed. Why? According to feng shui beliefs, mirrors in these locations will invite a third party into your relationship. Sounds like the makings of a messy divorce. Definitely not good feng shui!

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When there’s nowhere to hide …

June 10th, 2009

Chances are, on the only day of the week that you’ve decided to live like a slob, you will be surprised by unannounced guests knocking at your door.

Does this sound familiar?

“Coming!  Be there in a jiffy!”

That big bowl of ice cream and bag of chips you were eating in the middle of the day? These get hidden in the pantry cupboard after you turn off the TV and wipe the dust off the coffee table with your sleeve, then shove into the nearest closet the stack of laundry sitting on the couch ready to be folded. Next, you run into the kitchen and sweep the dirty dishes piling up on the counter into the dishwasher — or the oven if the latter is full. And just before you make your mad dash to the front door, you push crumbs from the morning’s breakfast, along with that big ball of pet hair rolling around on the floor, under the rug.

“Hi! What a nice surprise!”

I confess I have been guilty of this hide-’em-quick emergency cleanup a few times — after all, nobody can be guest-ready all the time! Unfortunately, these tricks don’t work when you’re selling your home.  Which is why you might want to supervise any bedroom cleanups assigned to teenagers.

Buyers love checking out closets — the bigger the better — and you can be sure a closed door won’t stop them from taking a peek. So where to put all that clutter you or the kids removed from the dressers and the floor?  If there’s no room in the dresser, pack it up and put it in storage. Just don’t throw it in the closet!

Other doors buyers will look behind:

- Kitchen cupboards/pantry. Since the cupboards come with the house, they have a right to check them out. So be sure to organize your cupboards before your Open House.  You don’t want buyers to think there isn’t enough cupboard space — even if there really isn’t.

- Bathroom vanities. Again, they come with the house, so buyers will want to see how much space they will have for their stuff.  Don’t embarrass yourself by leaving personal items on view.

- Linen closets. Make sure the closet isn’t so stuffed that sheets and towels will come tumbling out when a buyer opens the door.

- Laundry closets. Don’t leave dirty laundry, or items you’ve set out to dry, on the washer or dryer. Buyers will want to take a closer look at the appliances if they come with the house.

All of this, of course, means there is nowhere to hide … well, except for the attic.  That’s one place I have never seen anyone but the home inspector check out.

Have a favourite “ran around cleaning like mad for unexpected guests” story? Share it here!

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Did you see that naked nymph?

June 4th, 2009

I’ve been to many, many Open Houses over the years in my quest for the perfect investment. And many times I’ve left feeling like that horrified person in Munch’s famous Scream painting.

Once, I visited a house filled to the brim with a doll collection. Everywhere I looked, these scary doll eyes seemed to follow me. I knew this house wasn’t on Elm Street, but why did I feel like I was in a Chucky the Doll horror movie?

At another house, the owner apparently thought prospective buyers would warm up to the place if they were greeted by stuffed animals in every room. For him, this was art at its finest. Moose heads. Birds. A bear skin — I guess the bear got away. True, the guy was a taxidermist, but really, who wants to look at a stuffed eagle sitting on the dining room table? Not me!

My favourite “art” display was found at a house in Kanata. Seemed the owners were au naturel art lovers. There was a painting of a naked woman over the bed in the master bedroom. There were naked nymph statues in the dining room and in the bathroom. There was a very naked iron artwork couple on display in the livingroom. Boobs and bums everywhere you looked!

Did I buy the house of nymphs or the house of dolls or the house of dead animals?  No. Why? Because I was so distracted with the homeowners’ personal collections that I didn’t see what I was there to see: the house.

What would go into hiding if you depersonalized your home?

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Is that a fridge or an art gallery?

May 29th, 2009

Judging by the TV real estate shows, a fridge or stove just isn’t worth having unless it’s stainless steel. So if you have stainless steel appliances, flaunt them — don’t hide them under clutter!

Yes, I’m talking about that big thing called a refrigerator that, in most kitchens, is disguised as a) a children’s art gallery   b) a family portrait gallery   c) a magnet message board   d) all of the above.

“You can’t even tell the colour of my fridge,” says “smile,” a blogger on Yahoo Answers. “It’s nothing but artwork and school reminders. lol”

If this sounds familiar, then start decluttering.

When house hunters come calling, they want to see what they’re getting — dents and all — so you might as well strip the fridge of its clutter and show it in all its glory from the get-go.

Decluttering does have its benefits. Let’s face it, there is nothing pretty about our big North American fridges, even if they are stainless steel! That’s why in today’s modern high-end kitchens, refrigerators are disguised as cabinets.

By keeping the front free of photos, notes and artwork, you are actually taking the focus away from the fridge and giving yourself the opportunity to direct viewers’ eyes to your kitchen’s best selling points — like that new backsplash or fancy faucet.

Now that’s smart!

So what’s coming off your fridge when you declutter?

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A Welcome Wagon full of flies

May 23rd, 2009

When I woke up and the gazillions of Sturgeon Creek flies (those brain-challenged flies that look like mosquitoes on steroids) that had been clinging to the road side of my new house for three days were almost gone, I thought maybe the neighbours were exaggerating about this two-week fly horror.

Well, they were right.  It was when I opened the curtains to the sliding doors on the lakeside of my little rancher that I realized — they’re baaaaaack!!  There were so many of them that I could barely see out the windows. Even the deck and the picnic table on it were covered in flies!

Welcome to lakeside living, said my new hairdresser, Brad, the owner of Salon 22 in Kingsville. From my description, though, it seems there are more flies at my house in Leamington than down the road in Kingsville. Of course, everyone in the salon was only too eager to regale this newcomer to Lake Erie living with tales of worse to come. They said gigantic fish flies (some call them June bugs) will arrive any time now — and could blanket my house for up to 4 weeks!  Bonus: they stink like dead fish!

For someone who likes a clean house, lakeside living is becoming an eye-opener.  I thought the spiders and their web-building games were a nuisance.  But at least I could sweep the webs away with a scoping broom (I have since been informed I should call Butch to spray for spiders twice a year). With the Sturgeon Creek flies, I have determined that a power washer is the only thing to get their dead carcasses — and green poop — off my light blue siding and white window sills.

I might need extra tools in my cleaning arsenal, but I figure it’s all worth it to live by the lake.  After all, that’s why I moved to Leamington.  So bring on the fish flies — I’m armed and ready!

If anyone knows any tricks to keep all those flies away, please let me know.

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Caution: Sentimentality can lead to clutteritis

May 19th, 2009

The Merriam-Webster dictionary people describe “sentimental” this way:
1. a: marked or governed by feeling, sensibility, or emotional idealism b: resulting from feeling rather than reason or thought — i.e. a sentimental attachment.

Sentimental attachment is the leading cause of clutteritis — the word I use to describe the habit of gathering things and then hanging on to them for life.

While men are not immune from clutteritis (we all know men who can’t stop collecting tools, for example), experience has shown that women have clutteritis down to an art.  The majority of women are afflicted with clutteritis when the first child arrives. That’s when the sentimentality gene really kicks in.

The result? You might find it in your own home:  report cards for every child for every year they went to school; the children’s first drawings; crafts the kids made in school or at summer camp. Most mothers have boxes and boxes of this stuff stored somewhere in the house. The most sentimental have some of this stuff on display for all to see, even though little Billy might not be so little anymore.

For example, my mother-in-law places a wooden log with a hole scooped out for a candle and plastic holly glued to the bottom in a place of honour on the living room coffee table each Christmas. The centrepiece was crafted by my husband, Gary, now in his late 50s, when he was in grade school!

I am certain my mother-in-law has seen many other centrepieces over the years that she would prefer to grace her table. But sentimentality prevents her from throwing away the pitiful log and its original (now bent and dusty) red candle. No doubt my mother-in-law finds me an odd duck because I don’t think the log is adorable — but hey, I never had children, so it’s not my fault I’m not sentimental!

My policy on gifts is to enjoy them for as long as they bring pleasure — which for me usually means they are useful, or are beautiful to look at and/or are in style — then discard them. That means throwing out, or giving away, a crocheted orange and brown shag rug from the 1970s, not keeping it in a box in the basement (or, heaven forbid, on the floor at the front door) just because someone I like made it for me more than 30 years ago.  I might pull out a fond memory of that old shag rug from my fuzzy brain now and then, but it doesn’t mean I have to look at the rug itself for life.

How do you decide which gifts stay for life and which don’t?

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Why pets and buyers just don’t mix

April 14th, 2009

Seems everyone has a pet these days. And for many, pets rule. No room of the house is out of bounds for these furry family members. They are welcome on sofas, beds and even countertops. And why not? You love your pets. And it’s your house, right?

Trouble is, not everyone loves cats and dogs and birds and snakes or whatever is your favourite creature.  Many people are allergic to pet hair. Others are afraid of dogs — even cats, and certainly pythons. Still others just don’t like how a house smells when a dog lives there.

I mention this because what to do with your cat or dog or bird will have to be given some thought before you invite prospective buyers into your home. You don’t want to turn a buyer off by the smell of kitty litter or a sweaty dog sprawled on the living room couch. And you certainly don’t want Rover to growl at, or bite, someone who just might be the buyer you’ve been waiting for!

If you’ve scheduled an Open House, plan to send the pets to family, friends, a kennel, cathouse or even a fancy day spa before house hunters show up at your door. And don’t forget to send the dog bowls and toys with them.

It may be your house, but when your home is on the market, it’s the buyers who rule.

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How to keep your glass shower clean and shiny

April 12th, 2009

Those modern glass showers look great, but they can be a pain to clean. Save yourself time and effort with these tips:

To cut down on the number of cleanings, get yourself a shower squeegee. In our house, the rule was that the last one out of the shower was in charge of squeegeeing the glass shower walls.  This will remove moisture from your bathroom, which will help keep mould away, while wiping away some of the soap and shampoo before they dry into a filmy scum. Using the squeegee will also prevent unsightly water spots.

Of course, the squeegee can’t eliminate all the scum, so at least once a week, you or someone in your family should get scrubbing. The good news is that soap scum can be removed with little effort, thanks to the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Use the Original, not the new Bathroom With Febreze Fresh Scent sponge with soap suds.

With a lightly wet sponge, simply clean the scummy areas of your glass shower using a circle motion. Dry with a cotton towel and you’re done. How easy is that?

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