From the paint on your walls to the choices you make within your walls, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure the most wholesome environment for you and your family. Here are some things to consider in your quest for a healthier home.

• Green Your Clean: “Green” cleaners can do just as good a job as chemical-laden ones, to the benefit of your lungs and the health of your entire family. Research combinations of vinegar, lemon juice, baking soda and other common household items for healthier cleaning solutions. When considering store-bought cleaners, choose ones that say “petroleum free”, “biodegradable” or “phosphate-free”.
• Toss the Teflon: Reduce the use of your -Teflon-coated cookware to lower the risk of the harmful chemicals used to make these nonstick coatings accumulating in your body. Consider switching to stainless steel, anodized aluminum, copper-coated pans, cast iron or enamel-coated iron pans. If you can’t get away from the Teflon, then at least  keep the temperature low when cooking so as to reduce the release of harmful toxins.
• Say OK to Organic: We’re exposed to many harmful chemicals on a daily basis, so the switch to organic food is a sensible goal. While organic foods are healthier for our bodies, they may not be as healthy for our wallets, so cut the cost by researching foods that are worth the extra expense of buying organic. For example, you may choose to stick with non-organic bananas and melons as they have a protective layer of skin to protect the edible portions of the fruits from pesticides, while organic berries and peaches can be worth splurging on, as they are more vulnerable to chemicals.
• Banish the Bunnies: Breathe easier by controlling dust bunnies with regular cleaning, and consider replacing wall-to-wall carpeting, a top collector of dust and allergens, with wood, tile, bamboo, linoleum or other flooring options. If that’s not practical then maintain a rigorous vacuuming schedule and deep clean carpets and rugs on a regular basis.
• Go for Glass: Replace plastic bottles and containers with glass ones, and never microwave food in plastic containers.
• Get the Lead Out: If you have an older home, check with your local health department about how to test  your home for lead paint. Chips or dust from crumbling lead-based paint is known to cause health risks.
• Bug Off, Naturally: Don’t pollute your home and endanger human and pet health by tackling indoor bugs with harmful pesticides. The same goes for pest and weed control for your outdoor green space. Aim for non-chemical methods to create a healthier, greener environment both inside and outside your home.
• Breathe Clean with Real Green: Real plants inside your home look great while helping to create better air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and expelling oxygen. During this process, they also absorb indoor toxins that you would otherwise be breathing in. Consult with your local nursery for the plants most likely to thrive in your indoor light conditions.

Your pantry, your cupboards – whatever you call that part of your kitchen where you keep your food – it’s a fixture of your daily domestic life. Make it work better for you by getting it organized – and keeping it that way.

First, let’s get you motivated by looking at how an organized pantry pays off. You’ll save money by reducing food waste and more easily identifying what you do – and don’t – need to buy. You’ll save time, finding what you’re looking for and making grocery lists quicker. An organized pantry can also help you better understand or change your eating habits and meal planning. You might even find those meals tasting better because you’re working with fresher ingredients.

Start your pantry makeover by taking everything out of it (the perfect opportunity to wipe down your shelves). Of each items, check if it’s still good. If not, toss it. Be wary of dates on packaging though – they’re not necessarily expiration dates, and expiration dates aren’t always gospel. Don’t waste money throwing out perfectly good food. On the other hand, some foodstuffs, like spices & seasoning, don’t ever spoil but do lose their potency, at which time they should be tosses as they won’t do your meals any favours. Next, check if the remaining items will be used. If you haven’t used it in the last year, the answer’s likely no. Donate the unopened items to your local food bank.

What’s left is ready to be restocked in your pantry. But how and where you put everything back is key to realizing those benefits we talked about. Grouping similar items together (ie: Condiments, baking ingredients, canned goods, and grains) help you find what you need faster, and to see how much of an item you have available. Placing your most frequently used foodstuffs in prime pantry real estate (at eye level) saves time. Strategically placing certain items, like snack foods, where they can’t be seen or reached can help you with your eating habits. Ordering items by expiration date (the first to expire should be the last put away) helps reduce waste.

Having purged your pantry, you might find you now have all the room you need. But if it’s still cramped and you’re having trouble accessing or even seeing everything, take advantage of the many kitchen-organizing products available, from under-shelf storage to Lazy Susans to door-mounted racks. Take food out of the original packaging and put it in stackable square or rectangular storage containers to maximize space. If those containers are also clear and air tight, you’ll be able to see at a glance how much product you have left and your food will stay fresher loner, saving money and making your meals taste better.

Keep your new-and-improved pantry organized by going through it on a weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis – whatever works given its size and your household’s food consumption habits – taking out what you won’t or can not longer use, and regrouping contents. Now you’re cooking!

Thinking about pulling your home off the market during the holidays or waiting until they’re over to sell? Hold that thought while you consider these reasons why the holidays can be a great time to sell.

• Buyers who are out home hunting during this busy time of the year tend to be serious, motivated buyers. January is a popular time to start a new job, for example, so maybe they’re under a deadline to move; there are a number of reasons buyers may need to close on a new home before the end of the year.
• Because most people do wait until after the holiday season to put their homes on the market, you’ll have less competition from other sellers if you sell during the holidays. What happens when there’s less available inventory for buyers – serious buyers – to choose from? Prices go up, which is good news for those looking to sell.
• The emotional quotient. Dressed up in the sights and smells of the season – twinkling lights, greenery, and freshly bakes goodies – your home may never look and feel quite so appealing as it does at this special time of year, allowing you to capitalize on buyers’ emotions at a time when they’re already running high.
• Depending on the local market activity, selling your home now could mean being much better positioned as a buyer come spring. Your offer will be more attractive to sellers as it won’t be conditional on selling your home first, and you can close quicker – crucial advantages for a buyer when the market picks up steam in the spring.

Contact us today to discuss whether putting your property on the market this holiday season is the right move for you and your family!

Viewing prospective properties can be a minefield of unwritten rules. Answered here are buyers’ most frequently asked questions about open house and private showing etiquette.

• Can I bring my kid(s)? Of course! But should you? Unless you’re serious about a property, consider leaving them behind. You’ll get more out of viewing since you won’t be distracted, and you won’t risk your child(ren) possibly doing damage to the seller’s property or hurting themselves.
• Can I open closets, cupboards and drawers? Closets? Yes, absolutely! Cupboards and drawers? That depends. Are they permanently affixed to the property (ie: Kitchen cabinetry) Then yes! Are they attached to belongings the seller will take with them? (ie: Dressers & armoires) Then no. Rummaging through their contents? Never!
• What if I have to use the bathroom? If you can hold it, do. But if you just can’t wait, ask permission first – the seller may have designated a specific bathroom they’d prefer guests to use. And if you do go, make it quick and leave everything exactly as found.
• Is it OK to take pictures and/or record video? Unit it’s sold, that property that you’re wandering around is still someones private residence. So, the rule here is the same as for the bathroom: ask permission first. Understandably, some sellers have security concerns and may prefer you didn’t take images.
• Do I have to take my shoes off? If asked to do so, whether by a sign, a seller, or a salesperson, it’s just good manners to comply. Always be prepared for this request by wearing good socks or stockings under shoes you can easily slip off and on.