I™ve just sold a Single-family property at 2827 McBride Ave in White Rock. Come and visit my site to see other properties in that area. If you are interested in looking for or selling your home, please Contact Me.

Fifty years ago, kitchens were the heart of every home. Today, the appliances may be high-tech and the fixtures sleek and shiny, but the old-fashion sentiment is returning. Now more than ever, kitchens are the gathering place for the whole family. Decorated warmly, they invite you in and keep you cozy as you share the events of your day.

Unlike 50 years ago, the cost of renovating your gathering place now averages $15,000 to $40,000. And what does that buy you? A $15,000 kitchen includes low- to mid-range cabinets, a laminate counter, and perhaps a new floor. Move into the $40,000 range and the cabinets are hardwood, the counters are granite, the floor and backsplash is tile, and the lighting controls look like the control panel of a 747. But is it worth spending all that money if the other kitchens in your neighborhood are more middle-of-the-road?

White Rock Housing Market Information

If you™re concerned about recouping the cost of your kitchen remodel, you can contact me for advice and information on White Rock housing market. You may find that your home is in the upper-end of values in your neighborhood. If that™s the case, you™ll get a lower return on your renovation than if you owned the home worth the least in your neighborhood.

Before embarking on a major home improvement, consider the option of moving to a home that has a new kitchen and the other amenities that your current home lacks.

Remember that remodeling a kitchen is stressful. It will take you a month or more to complete. That means you™ll relocate your kitchen, perhaps to your dining room, for a month. Your refrigerator will be there “ perhaps a stove, microwave, your pots and pans, and all of your food. It will be messy. Ripping old cabinets off of the wall, cutting holes in the ceiling, and preparing the floor will also make your entire home dusty even if the kitchen is sealed.

Remodeling a kitchen is best done when the weather is moderate. Then your living space expands to include your yard and what may become your best friend during the process “ your gas grill. Your other new best friend will most likely be the pizza delivery person.

Contractor Questions

Ask your friends and neighbors if their contractor:

• Completed the job on time.
• Finish the job on time and on budget.
• Kept regular, reasonable hours.
• Was a professional they would hire again without hesitation.

When you meet with a contractor. make sure you ask:

• How long have you been in business?
• Does your company carry Workers™ Compensation and liability insurance?
• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?

The last question is very important. Quality contractors work almost exclusively through repeat and referral business. A contractor who puts up his sign in one neighborhood and completes quality work, can stay for an extended period of time through referrals.

Hire a Good White Rock Contractor

Unless you™re a whiz at do-it-yourself, you will want to find a contractor. I have been recommending Doug Cheetham at MC Painting and Renovation for a few years now. They have been in business over over 23 years and are a quality organization.

Take Time to PlanIt™s important to take your time to ensure that your kitchen will meet your needs today and in the future. Many new houses in White Rock include an island that separates the kitchen from either the dining room or family room. This open floor plan allows the cook to participate in family activities without feeling excluded. When remodeling your kitchen, consider removing an entire wall to help your home flow better and appear larger and brighter. This will not only help your kitchen™s functionality, it will improve its value since homebuyers always prefer light and airy spaces.

And make sure you think about technology “ even in the kitchen. Include at least one phone jack, plenty of electrical plugs, and a cable hookup for that flat panel television you always wanted.

Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck

To realize maximum increase in value from your kitchen renovation, consider these tips:

â–º Select a counter surface carefully. Just as hardwood floors say quality, so do granite countertops. When you put your home on the market, granite countertops will give a quality feel to your entire kitchen. But remember, granite requires periodic sealing. Laminates are the least durable, but also the least costly (and new dramatic colors are available). Some solid surfaces can incorporate seamless sinks which make cleanup a breeze.

â–º Beware trendy kitchen cabinet finishes. There™s a myriad of finishes available from washes to faux. But just as people grew tired of Harvest Gold appliances from the 60s, these finishes will likely mark a kitchen as outdated in 10 years. Traditional medium wood finishes or white cabinets don™t go out of style. And with a simple hardware change, they can be made new again.

â–º Choose your floor carefully. Vinyl floors are the least expensive and the least durable. New laminate products on the market are growing in popularity, but nothing wears like tile. To make your kitchen look larger, select 12×12-inch (or larger) tiles and have them set on a diagonal. Be sure to choose a neutral color. Hardwood is another popular choice. Just make sure hardwood suits your lifestyle as it doesn™t work very well with a young family.

â–º Installing a tile backsplash adds a touch of class, even with a laminate countertop. You can also add accent tiles to create a dramatic effect.

â–º Lighting really makes a kitchen. Unlike 50 years ago when there was one light in the middle of the room and another over the sink, new kitchens include several recessed lights in the ceiling and under-cabinet lighting to create a warm, inviting feel. Adding many small lights brightens a dark kitchen, even with darker cabinets and countertops.

I™ve just sold a Single-family property at 1320 131st Street in White Rock. Come and visit my site to see other properties in that area. If you are interested in looking for or selling your home, please Contact Me.

Check out this new Single-family property that I just posted on my Web site. It is at 15612 37A in White Rock. This Single-family property has 5 bedrooms and 4 baths. Beautiful 3 level craftsman style home in Morgan Creek. Home features large great room with beautiful river rock fire place, large kitchen, plank hardwood flooring on upper 2 floors, and 4 bedrooms upstairs. Large south facing landscaped backyard has covered deck. Workshop off garage offers great extra storage. Basement offers 1 bedroom suite with separate rec room. Great family home in a great neighborhood. .

The movers have just left and you’re surrounded by boxes of stuff that looked great in your old house, but you haven’t got a clue how it will all come together at your new White Rock home. Well, now is the time to literally “think outside the box.” Just because a furniture piece worked one way before doesn’t mean it can’t have an even better use in your new White Rock home.

Moving to White Rock: Contact me today – 25 year area resident!

To make a warm, inviting environment, professional stagers ion White Rock / South Surrey suggest you maximize the use of the furniture, art and accessories you already own. You might be surprised at the new looks you can create with your existing furnishings and accessories.

What better way to make your White Rock house into your home than by surrounding yourself with the items you’ve collected over the years. Your new White Rock home is giving you the advantage of a clean slate, so revel in the many possibilities.

Fresh Ideas

Analyze your belongings. Consider using some of the furniture in a fresh and altered presentation. A favorite living room chair may be more at home in a bedroom; a dining room cabinet may work nicely as a focal point in the living room; a dresser can make quite a statement in a foyer.

Are you short a side table in the living room? Look to your bedrooms for a nightstand that might fill the role nicely. A day bed could serve double duty in a family room.

Downsizing? Moving Up? Moving North or South?

Each change leads to different decorating challenges. When downsizing, it is really advantageous to utilize usual pieces in unusual ways. Small rooms can take a very large piece of furniture so don’t discount that family armoire too soon. You can still keep your favorite buffet, if it fits, in the entry. An upside-down umbrella stand may make a great home for a plant.

If your new White Rock home has a larger living room, avoid spreading your furniture out too far to fill the room. Consider two groupings: perhaps a primary one for conversation, and then a smaller, more intimate area for a dinner for two or a reading area. This arrangement will help maintain a feeling of warmth and coziness.

If your move has brought you to a different climate, you will need to address some decorating style differences. In the warmer regions like White Rock or British Columbia in general, especially during the hottest time of the year, you’ll want to be more of a minimalist. Your color palette is likely to be lighter. In cooler climates, your palette is likely to have darker tones and heavier fabrics. The easiest way to introduce the color changes is with flowers and pillows.

Shopping in Your Own Accessories Store

As you unpack your moving boxes, try placing your art, lamps and accessories in one room, preferably in groups of like items or similar color. By doing this you will create your own “store” of goodies to use when adding the decorating details to your home.

When hanging your art, place complementary subjects together, or group works by the same artist. You can create interesting arrangements by mixing in plates and other objects.

Whether you™re putting the final touches on a mantle, creating a tablescape or filling a curio cabinet, remember to group your collections together for the greatest impact.

Contrast gives punch. On your tabletops, consider mixing rough surfaces with smooth; matte finishes with reflective ones; and high items with low ones. Hard-covered books are great for creating varying heights.

If you empty your “store,” it™s time to make a wish list of the items you would like to have. This list will be much shorter if you have indeed maximized the use of your existing furnishings. When you do go shopping for new things, to help you make correct color matches take the arm protectors from your sofas and chairs. They make convenient, portable color swatches. And, if possible also take a small piece of your carpet, an extra tile or piece of counter top.

Enjoy creating your new decor and remember that your creation is a work of art in progress. Keep working with it until it feels right.

Decorating Your New White Rock Home: Invent a New Look with Existing Furniture

I™ve just sold a Single-family property at 15626 37th Ave in White Rock. Come and visit my site to see other properties in that area. If you are interested in looking for or selling your home, please Contact Me.

Kids and construction projects may seem an ill-fated match, but they go together as well as a hammer and nail.

One White Rock couple I know decided to involve their three children, aged 12, 11 and 10, when they replaced an old patio with a master suite and family room. They decided to do most of the work themselves and thought they could best proceed if their children were active participants, not bored bystanders.

Moving to White Rock: Contact me today – 25 year area resident!
Four months later, the renovation job ended on schedule, thanks in part to their children, who handled a range of tasks. Now the couple recommends the total family approach to anyone facing a major remodel, or less complicated work. “Our children learned the value of doing something yourself.”

Choosing Good Projects for your White Rock home

Getting the kids involved is easy. Experienced parents say that successfully involving children in remodeling requires a realistic appraisal of what youngsters can safely do, patience to teach them proper technique and a watchful eye to head off trouble.

Of course, extra hands help speed a project along. And a team effort also helps forge stronger bonds between family members, and enables children to learn valuable, lifelong skills and respect for their homes “ something often taken for granted.

How to Involve Your Kids in Your Remodeling Project

Here are a few tips for spurring your child’s participation without risking their safety.

• Lose your fear: Sure kids lose concentration, make mistakes and keep messy rooms. But that doesn’t mean they™ll be a liability to your project. Indeed, their success depends on how well you train them.
• Give clear instructions: Make sure your instructions are clear and that children understand that while remodeling can be fun, it’s not a time for goofing off. Once they’ve started a task, shun the micromanagement approach. A few well-targeted comments are far more likely to bring results than a steady stream of instructions that may only serve to undermine a child’s confidence.
• Be safe: Proper safety equipment and techniques are a must. Don’t be careless about either, lest you wind up with an unwanted trip to the emergency room and a traumatized child.
• Build a connection: Sanding a few boards is fine. But children relate best to a project when they’re participating at all levels. If children sit in on the planning stages, by the time work begins they fully understood what their parents were up to and why.
• Keep it simple: Want to guarantee disaster? Start your kids with something complicated and difficult. They’ll grow discouraged and you’ll spend more time correcting them than advancing your work.
• Take a break: Time away from the construction gives children (and parents) a new burst of energy and makes them more eager to help.
• Stay low-key: Give your kids a guilt trip for not helping and you can be sure they’ll head in the opposite direction the next time you ask them for help.

A little bit of planning and supervision goes a long way. Including your children in your remodeling project will help you build your family connections and your home. Enjoy the satisfaction of accomplishing a task together.

Thanks – and remember to check out PilarOsing.com!

Although relocating to White Rock or anywhere for that matter can be one of life’s challenges, it can also be an adventure. By guiding your child through this experience with knowledge and patience, the transition can be greatly eased.The home you are moving from may be the only one your child has ever known. Moving can be especially troubling for children, because of loss of familiarity, not only of their home, but everything around it: neighborhood, friends, parks and schools. A lot of distress can be avoided if parents understand and address their child’s concerns and needs.

Kids Concerns about Moving

What are your kids concerned about?

• Preschool children tend to worry about being left behind or separated from their parents.
• Youngsters aged 6 to 12 can be concerned with how their daily routines will be affected.
• Teenagers are concerned primarily with fitting in and having their social life disrupted.

Most kids will have lots of questions – answer them in a positive way and be understanding of the fears your kids are facing. Focus on things for them to look forward to in the move to White Rock, the beach, the great parks, or meeting new friends.

Familiarize Your Kids with White Rock

Let your child know what the new White Rock house will be like. If possible, take them on a visit of the new White Rock home and neighborhood. Or take lots of pictures or videotape to show your child to help them feel more comfortable with their future surroundings.

Check out local websites to get the skinny on the White Rock / South Surrey community.   Then sit down with your family and get a feel for it.   Here are some good sites to look at:

www.city.whiterock.bc.ca/

WhiteRockOnline.com

crescentbeach.bc.ca

On Facebook – Follow White Rock Families

Before you move, try to connect your child with a pen pal in White Rock so your child will have someone to interact with and learn about the area.

Get information on the schools and childcare in the new area. If you can, visit the school with your child and meet some of the teachers.

Involve Your Child in the Moving Process

Involve your child in the moving process. Have them pack some of their favorite belongings in a special box. Younger children can decorate the box however they like. Be sure to keep this special box close at hand during the move so you child has a comforting sense of the familiar.

Make plans with your child on how to decorate his or her new room. This could also be a great time for change: maybe let your child pick a new paint color or a bed set.

Create Continuity for Your Child

Ask your children what some of the favorite things are in their life are now and make some those things happen in White Rock.

Leaving friends behind may be one of the harder things your child has to do. Throw a going-away party with their friends, take lots of pictures and create a scrapbook for your child to look back on.

Help your child make an address book with their friend™s addresses and give them a stationary set or prestamped cards so they can stay in touch.

Just think, when you relieve the stress your children are feeling, you reduce your own stress and are able to focus more on other aspects of your move.

Presented by PilarOsing.com.

I™ve just sold a Condo property at 214 15313 19th Ave in White Rock. Come and visit my site to see other properties in that area. If you are interested in looking for or selling your home, please Contact Me.

Check out this new Executive home in Morgan Creek that I just posted on my Web site. It is at 15626 37th Ave in White Rock. This Single-family property has 4 bedrooms and 4 baths.