A PORTRAIT OF A CARPORT

Improve the dark, dingy look of a carport
Wide-spaced trellis planted with vines adds interest
By Suzanne Rowe
The Montreal Gazette

Here lives a beautiful young family.

I chose this house mostly because of its carport. People don't quite know how to improve this dingy space.

Aside from the obvious option to convert it to a garage, a less-expensive alternative is to close off the right side and the back with horizontal stained wood planks leaving a door for the backyard. My option is to build a widespaced trellis from ceiling to ground all the way to the back. Stained white and decorated with one natural climbing vine, these psychological walls will provide a perception of privacy while adding ornamental value. A white enclosed ceiling would complete the newer and cleaner area. Adding two hefty square posts on each side of the car port will redefine the structure and give it visual strength.

I've also incorporated two similar posts right under the floating triangular shaped roof, giving it a sense of solidity, depth and interesting architectural detail. The screen door has to go into retirement.

A tall wooden flower box stained the same tint as the bricks would bring a different texture to the facade. A smaller shallower one could also do the trick just fine if respecting the width of the window above.

If, in the future the roof requires replacement, using a colour similar to the bricks would give the optical illusion that the house is taller. A very dark chocolate brown for the roof could be appealing if the front door is also painted the same colour in a semi-gloss finish.

A walkway from the street is a good addition to the one near the driveway. Two big square slabs would be placed side by side to form a rectangle. They would be repeated all the way but leaving in between a gap of about one third of the size of one tile. To soften the lines, tiny mosslike ground cover would spread throughout the spacing and bloom with miniature white flowers in June. A hedge consisting of lovely white Campanulas perennials would great their guests to their lovely home.

On the left half and in front of the foundation, the lawn will be removed to form a rectangular-shaped flower bed.

Three evergreen shrubs could be planted to furnish the new area under the triangular roof area and at the same time hide the awkward brick transition.

On the left corner, three pyramidal evergreens frame one side of the house while making it look wider.

A handsome shrub on a stem is at its best when displaying its snowball-shaped clusters of flowers. Any small ornamental tree with white flowers would do.

For a different and more dramatic look - budget permitting - an evergreen Juniperus Scopularum "Tollenson's Blue Weeping'' would steal the show.

Vegetation (from left to right):

- (3) Thuja Occidentalis 'Smaragd' (evergreens)
- (1-3) Heuchera 'Palace Pur-ple' (perennials)
- (3-5) Hemerocallis X Hy-brida 'Apricot Beauty' (perennials)
- Weigela Samba (shrub)
- (3) Taxus X Media 'Hicksii' (evergreens)
- Campanula Carpatica (per-ennials, white, hedge)
- Arenaria Verna (ground cover)
- Tropaeolum Majus (an-nuals, flower box)
- Viorna on stem (small ornamental shrub)
- Parthenocissus Quinque-folia (climbing vine)

GOOD ADVICE WHEN SELLING!

A guy's guide to a spiffy abode
Barbara Mahany
Chicago Tribune October 31, 2011

We’re not pointing fingers or anything, but let’s just say we might have strolled into more than one apartment in our time in which the fellow in charge of cleaning was, well, clearly otherwise preoccupied.

Exhibit One might have been the kitchen sink, piled high with a good month’s worth of dirty dishes, spaghetti sauce now permanently splattered to the wall, a la Jackson Pollock. Or maybe it was whatever lurked behind the bathroom door. And made us slam the door, dash down the hall and bang on some stranger’s door in search of a salle de bain not quite so, um, pungent.

Fact is, plenty of males we know need help in the cleanup department. And we are here, mop and dustbin at the ready, to leap to the rescue. We enlisted the expert advice of Nicole Sforza, senior home editor at Real Simple magazine and a clean freak who knows her way around all the nooks, crannies and dust holes that might trip up a lesser soul.

Herewith, our Guy’s Guide to Housecleaning, headlining the top 10 tips for a spick-and-span abode. Or, as Sforza put it: “How to minimize the gross factor.”

1. DITCH THE TOILET BRUSH, DUDE. No really. You do not want that nasty thing festering in the holder, over there in the corner. “Minimize the concept altogether,” says Sforza. Go with disposable toilet brushes. Swish, and ditch. (Or ditch ‘em altogether: Next time you find yourself in need of Alka-Seltzer, well, your toilet bowl could use two, too. Just pop ‘em in the bowl, let the bubbles do their thing, and 20 minutes later, flush it all away.)

2. HIDE THE GOODS. Keep a bottle of all-purpose cleaner in every room in your house, but hide it. Under the couch. Beneath the sink. You name it.

3. CUT THE BIG SCREEN FIXATION. Do not, do not spritz any sort of cleaner on your big screen, boys. Ditto for the computer screen or any electronic gizmos that sport a dusty patina. Instead, next time you haul a load of laundry out of the dryer, grab the old dryer sheet (yes, the one that just came out of the dryer) and wipe down your screens, all of ‘em.

4. BE STILL MY DUSTER HEART. Yes, the hand-held shaggy-haired wandy thingy is the next best thing to that genie in a bottle. You don’t need any spray. Just swipe the duster on any surface and you’ll clear the decks of dust. But beware: When the duster starts to turn a greyish colour (say, how you look when you glance in the mirror on the morning after a big night out), it’s time to toss it out.

5. LEAVE IT WHERE YOU’LL TRIP OVER IT. The tile cleaner, that is. Tuck it between the shower curtain and the shower liner (if you have one), so you’ll remember to spritz the tile walls every time you suds up.

6. HIDE ALL BUT THE ESSENTIALS, when it comes to the bathroom at least. Toothbrush? Toothbrush holder? Razor? Rusty can of shaving cream? Why do you think medicine cabinets come with doors? Shove ‘em back there, and forget ‘em. If you’re lucky, no nosy body will stick her nose in there and sniff out your unsightly ways.

7. VROOM, VROOM GOES THE VACUUM. Just because you have thick rugs or shaggy carpet and can’t see the dirt, don’t think it’s not down there. Plug in the vacuum, and suck it up. Sforza’s tips: Don’t pretend you have no vacuum; remember to overlap your path; and a mini hand vac never hurts — you can swipe up a rug in no time.

8. THE BATHTUB. We could spend weeks on this sorry pit, but let’s start easy. If you’ve remembered to put a hair trap over the drain, know this: You do have to clean out the hairs. And pouring a shot of white vinegar and a clump of baking soda down that drain will never ever be a bad idea. Have at it, Mr. Volcano Man.

9. MOVE OVER, MICROWAVE GRUNGE. You’re gonna love this: Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water (a squirt of lemon scores you extra points); zap for five minutes, till the inside of the ‘wave is all steamy. Wipe it down with paper towel and you’re back in business, splatter-free.

10. TIME TO HIT THE KITCHEN SINK. Once you suds through the month’s worth of dirty plates and bowls, you will notice that there is a sink down there. It will need a shine. Take half a lemon and swipe it all over your sink’s surface, and if — and only if — you have a garbage disposal, make it purr: Stuff a half lemon down there and crank it up. Your kitchen will smell like a citrus grove. Well, maybe.

AND NOW FOR SOME TRICKS TO GET YOU IN THE CLEANIN’ GROOVE:

—INVITE FOLKS OVER. Yes, sir, surest way to force you to clean is to consider the faces of your friends when they realize what a slob you really are. Sorry, tough love is the only way sometimes.

—SPEED CLEAN. Set a time limit, something tolerable, say, 20 minutes. Crank the timer. Rush around like a crazy man. See how much real estate you can cover before the gong goes off.

—STICK TO COMMERCIAL BREAKS. Got a long night in front of the big screen? Well, put those commercials to good use, and commit to cleaning while the ads whir by. By the time you click it off for the night, your home sweet home could be shinin’.

—A GREAT PLAYLIST IS A HOUSECLEANER’S BEST FRIEND. We’ll let you compile your own.

Photo By: Christian Yanchula

ADVICE TO SURF THE WAVES OF MORTGAGES

Brokering the best mortgage deal
Experts able to navigate through choppy waters
By Denise Deveau
For Postmedia News March 30, 2011

Cheryl Hutton and Aaron Coates always thought getting a mortgage would be a challenge.

But within 18 days of visiting a mortgage broker, they were able to close a deal on a new townhouse in Calgary without a hitch.

Now in their early 30s, both have careers in the theatre, something Hutton says has been a bit of a sticking point with banks.

"In our industry, we never fit the paperwork guidelines (for the banks). For some reason people don't think we pay our bills."

Although it was their first home purchase, Hutton says it was surprising how easy the whole process was once they had someone who could walk them through it.

"He sat us down, told us what our options were, showed us that it was possible, and explained all the steps we needed to take. If it wasn't for him, we may not have made the leap," she says.

Sorting through a mortgage process and negotiating rates can be overwhelming for first-time and seasoned homebuyers alike.

That's why people such as Hutton and Coates turn to brokers to do the legwork for them.

Yet mortgage brokers will tell you that a good number of homebuyers out there don't really understand what they do.

"Part of the challenge we have in our world is that people aren't really sure what a mortgage broker is," says Gary Siegle, regional manager for Invis Inc., a mortgage brokerage firm in Calgary.

Brokers should not be confused with "rovers" -mortgage specialists attached to a specific financial institution who visit customers outside of banking hours, he explains.

"They only deal with that bank's product. A broker, however, is an intermediary whose job is to make a match between a lender and a borrower. We represent the individual, not the bank."

About 30 per cent of mortgages in Canada are done through a broker, says Perry Quinton, vice-president of marketing for Investor Education Fund, a Toronto-based, non-profit financial information service.

"The reason more people don't know about them is because the banks are so visible," he says.

"It's easy to gravitate to them when you have your savings accounts, credit cards and investments there already."

Going for the comfort factor could cost you though, she adds.

"A broker has access to different lenders including banks, and can shop rates and features. A half per cent may not sound like much, but that could make a difference of about $20,000 for a $250,000 mortgage amortized over 25 years. Any little bit helps."

For anyone considering a broker, Quinton advises people to do a bit of groundwork first if they have the time.

"It helps to educate yourself about options and what you can afford. Look at all your living expenses, including student loans and credit card debt. Chances are you are understating those."

Another thing to look into is the different types of available mortgages and features, including interest rates, payment frequency, amortization, cash back programs, and the ability to make lump sum payments.

"Knowing these things before you go in can save you a lot of money," she adds.

Photo By: alfcfishing

GEARING UP TO LIST IN THE SPRING?

Home not selling? Clean, paint and pare price
March 2, 2010
Jennifer Wilson-Speedy
YOURHOME.CA EDITOR

If only selling a home was as simple as putting up the "For Sale" sign. Instead, it's an emotional process balled up with agonizing financial decisions and life changes that only get more stressful the longer the property's on the market.

Sofie Allsopp helps Brits make over their homes to speed up the sale of stagnant properties in Unsellables UK ,an across-the-pond rethinking of the Canadian Unsellables series.

This season, Allsop says, brings "new people (and) some really great properties" – at least, once they've cleared up the filth, clutter and worn-out decor.

"I'm always amazed when people's houses are dirty when they put it on the market."

In addition to the general turnoff that is grime, clutter "makes a house look so much smaller," she says, recalling an episode where the newlyweds' house was piled so high with boxes "you could barely see the floor."

These kinds of messes not only eat away at valuable floor and counter space but also hinder prospective buyers' ability to envision their own belongings in the home, which is often a key step in their decision making.

So, if you're preparing to sell, it's worth the effort to pare down before the first showings, including stowing family photos and mementos. Allsop also recommends putting oversized or extra furniture into storage to help make rooms feel larger.

Plus, she notes, cutting down on clutter now means less packing when moving day comes.

Faded decor is another Unsellables no-no. Often in houses that have been lingering on the market, "everything just looks a bit tired and unloved," says Allsop.

As a result, paint is "one of the most important things to do before you put in on the market," she says, suggesting sellers opt for "pale but interesting" colours, such as muted greens and blues, to help create a fresh look without imposing a bold, and potentially intimidating, personality on the space.

Sellers must also consider their furniture placement. Paring down will help open up spaces, but pieces must also be arranged to emphasize the home's flow, which means natural walking paths and doorways shouldn't be blocked. Try to showcase the flexibility of the space too. For example, convey that the home office could also be a bedroom by adding a small bed.

To prevent your home from languishing on the market, Allsop says one of the most important steps is getting a real estate expert to help you set a realistic price. She says a lot of the time people list their homes for too much money – and it ends up sitting for months until they lower the price.

In addition to delays for the sellers, listings that sit on the market also lose appeal with prospective buyers.

"If a house has been on the market for a few months, people will keep seeing it in their (web) searches and it will start to feel stale," she explains. "Price it for sale."

And, she adds, don't forget to give your home's exterior a little TLC – she notes that will be the photo on your Internet listings.

"You have two seconds to impress before someone clicks on to the next house," she says. "No one looks at a home with an overgrown yard and says, `This is the house for me.' "

Mowing the lawn, painting the front door, stowing the garbage bins and putting out some flowers "will instantly make the front of the house look smarter."