Ways To Boost Natural Light at Home.

Bringing natural light into your home is both economical and enjoyable. The level of natural light in your rooms can really affect your mood. Those blessed rays, filled with sunlight and vitamin D make you feel positive. So, it’s natural that bright rooms make us feel happier, more alive and vibrant. Plus, you get to save a little cash and reduce your energy usage by increasing your home’s natural light.

There's not a lot you can do to increase the amount of sunlight coming into your home — unless you're planning on a major remodel. But if you're low on natural light, there are a handful of small things you can do to be sure you're using it to your advantage.

Let’s check out some of the ways to increase and maximize the natural light in your own home:

Use mirrors & other reflective surfaces in your décor

Shiny surfaces—especially mirrors—reflect light. Place them strategically to fill your home with new spots of brightness. Mirrors close to your windows amplify natural light by bouncing it into your space, making windows feel bigger and brighter. You can use smaller mirrors to line the backs of bookshelves, or arrange several of them on one wall. Another idea is to buy furniture with glass, chrome, or mirrored accents.

Pay attention to paint

Paint color, and finish have a big effect on how bright your room looks. Lighter colors reflect natural light better than darker tones. If you prefer a darker palette, remember that shinier finishes will help brighten things up. This is especially true for ceiling paint. White ceilings are popular because they reflect ambient light down into the room. Boost this effect by choosing a ceiling paint with a satin or high-gloss finish.

Work with your windows

Some window treatments, such as Roman shades, block sunlight even when they’re open. But sheer draperies hung on rings are easy to open fully to let in light. Hang a single drapery rather than a double set. Venetian blinds are also a good choice. They allow you to control the amount of light that comes in, and you can angle them to direct the light into a particular area.

Keep it Clean!

Keeping your windows clean to allow in the maximum amount of natural light. It may sound simple but cleaning windows, blinds—even lampshades, and bulbs makes a big difference. Tip: wash windows on a cloudy day to minimize streaking.

Move your furniture

Inadvertently blocking windows when arranging your furniture can cut into a room's natural light. Rearrange your space to keep natural light sources free and unobstructed. Keep larger pieces toward the center of the room. Even knick-knacks on a windowsill block a surprising amount of light.

Add a Skylight

This is a pricey option up-front, but because a skylight can help naturally heat a room, it could save you boatloads on your electricity bill over time! If you’re ready to take the plunge and add a skylight to a room, hire a contractor for the job – don’t try this one yourself!

Think outside of your home

For best results, don’t forget to maintain your outdoor spaces. Trim hedges or branches away from the windows. Also, carefully consider the placement of porch swings and other patio furniture. These steps will increase natural light inside your home.

Boost up the look of your home and add more cheer and health by following above tips. AJ Lamba Team walks with you through every step of your life’s most important decision to buy or sell home. Contact us today at 905-502-9944 for all your real estate queries.

What's Your Home Worth?

What is the worth of my home? What price shall fetch me good return? Am I making a correct decision to sell my house or was there any inadequacy in evaluation of my property?

If these are some of the queries that are bothering you, you are simply few steps away from knowing your answers. Firstly, you need to understand what is meant by the term Free Home Evaluation, which often pops up on any real estate website. Free home evaluation or Comparative Market Analysis is a comparative report that gives you the price of all the properties similar to yours in a given neighbourhood; this enables you to estimate an approximate figure at which you can close the deal with the proper assistance of a listing agent.

There are indeed some very quick ways over the internet that can give you the results in just few minutes. But BEWARE, as there lays a great deal of suspect and inaccuracy, when it comes to real estate information, and most particularly, the home values. The equity in your home is equivalent to any other investment that you closely follow, then, why not be vigilant and carefully monitor your house property.

There are several important aspects that you need to consider and reconsider while selling your home, one of them is PRICE at which you list your property. It’s true that we want the most for our property. But the most educated decision would be not to list your home at an exorbitant price as it will lead to loss of interest among the prospective buyers even before they see your property. There will be unnecessary delay and ultimately you will be forced to come down on the price. Similarly, it won’t be a sound decision if you list your property very low, this usually happens when one is uninformed and misguided on evaluation of its property.

Other important aspects to ponder upon are legal and tax issues, as there are contracts as well as closings that you need to handle. If you are a layman in this area, it’s better to seek expert’s advice, as the slightest slip on your part can lead to serious consequences. Further, the financing option that you decide on whether to refinance or get a new mortgage; all these are crucial facets of home selling process, which essentially requires expert’s assistance.

We are there to help you analyze your home property as well as present market situation, and come up with a unique solution by finding the perfect price to sell your property quickly with our proven marketing plan. Having a great deal of experience in this domain, we assure you the best professional service. All you need to do is, fill up a simple form and our team will get back to you shortly with a comprehensive report. We reassure you that the information provided to us will be highly confidential, will not be furnished to any third party unless you approve it and will solely be used for the purpose of home evaluation.

AJ Lamba Team provides complete assistance to all your real estate needs and queries. Contact AJ Lamba Team today at 905-502-9944 for any query on buying/selling your home.

MOVING SUPERSTITIONS: WAYS TO BOOST YOUR LUCK IN YOUR NEW HOME

People are often skeptical when it comes to superstitions and different ways of securing good luck for certain occasion. But why not take into consideration some interesting ideas that can help you for a successful move to your new home and give you an extra reason to celebrate the new stage of your life. There are plenty of superstitions revolving around moving into a new house, and it is really up to you whether you will take them seriously or as something to laugh at.

But bringing new luck into your new home and life is a natural wish, so here are some very useful and common traditions that one can think of when seeking for a blessing of a new home:

Filipino Superstitions:

• When you move to a new house, always enter first with a loaf of bread and a new broom. Never bring an old broom into the house.

• The salt should be sprinkled in all the rooms and across the door sills, so evil spirits will never  enter.

• Pick your move-in date very carefully. Regardless of contract exchange, escrow or lengthy    chains, you should move in when the moon is waxing. Avoid Fridays, Saturdays and rainy days.

• The number of steps on a staircase should not be in multiples of three. Count off the steps as oro (gold), plata (silver), and mata (death). The last step must not fall on mata.

• When moving into a new home, scatter coins in the living room so prosperity will reign.

• Bees found inside the house will bring fortune and good luck to its occupants.

 

Chinese Superstition

• Number four in an address is bad mojo, especially if it’s written on the letterbox (the word for    ‘four’ sounds like the word for death in Cantonese and Mandarin.
  

• Properties that sit on curved roads or facing a ‘T’ intersection will invite bad fortune.

• Having an eight  in the listing or rental price is a sign of good luck and prosperity. $888,888     would be a cosmic goldmine!
  

• In the Chinese Feng Shui philosophy, your new home must have windows facing the east for the sunrise in order to have good luck.

Spain Superstition

• One of the biggest superstitions in Spain is their unlucky day: Tuesday. There is old Spanish      proverb that goes: ‘En martes, ni te cases, ni te embarques, ni de tu casa te apartes’. Translated  means, on Tuesday, don’t get married, embark on a journey, or move away!
  

• If you give anything with a sharp blade or point it could mean a doomed or broken relationship  for the people receiving the gift. Note to self: No knife sets as wedding presents.
  

• This is a strange one but the Spanish would never put a hat on the bed as it brings bad luck.

• Now this could bring you good luck, or at least protect you from evil spirits entering your house. It lies in the ability that the cactus has to absorb moisture from the atmosphere and any other evil spirits that may be lurking around outside.
  

• It is very bad luck in Spain to walk into a room with your left foot forward. If you accidentally do this then you can counter act it by signing the cross three times!

India Superstition

• Indian tradition holds that boiling milk and rice in a pot until it overflows helps bring purity and long life to the homeowners.
  

• Bring a cow into your new home and wrap a flower garland around its neck.

• Thursday is the luckiest day to move into a new home. Fridays, Saturdays and rainy days are     considered unlucky.
  

• Never sweep and clean the house vacated as this signifies scooping the wealth off the house.

Jewish Tradition

• According to an age-old Jewish custom, the first items brought into a new home are bread and   salt.

• Before moving into a new home, some have the beautiful custom of inviting a group of youngchildren to study some Torah in the house.

• It is recommended to bring some Jewish books and a charity box into the home even before the movers bring in the rest of the boxes. This establishes the Jewish flavor of the home.
  

• Tuesday is the most propitious day of the week for scheduling the actual move, Mondays and    Wednesdays are inauspicious days to plan a move.

You don’t need magic tricks or superstitions to find the right home. You need to consider a lot of important factors when purchasing/selling a home. An experienced agent can work wonders. Contact AJ Lamba Team today at 905-502-9944 for any query on buying/selling your home.

MUST HAVES OF LUXURY HOMES

The word luxury brings to mind plenty of conveniences such as, pools, saunas, in-home gyms, backyard tennis courts, game rooms, and fully-stocked kitchens. The motivation to buy a luxury home isn’t simply conspicuous consumption. What matters for consumers today is the experience a home offers, and, quite frequently, amenities make that experience possible. Today, the number of amenities that can be incorporated into homes has increased exponentially.

Bigger used to be better in the luxury-home market. Not anymore. These days, buyers of million-dollar homes want less square footage than in years past. Status is no longer predicated on size of home, but more location and amenities. The more the better, with high-tech, outdoor living spaces and professional-style kitchens leading the list.
Here are some of the must haves that you need to consider while going for multi-million dollar homes:

 

THE SMARTHOME

Technology is an inevitable part of everyone’s life today. And this applies to home owners too. Nowadays it’s possible to be able to control your entire home from your iPhone. Lock or open your doors, turn on your air conditioning, dim your mood lights, and even watch your security cameras all without having to lift more than a single finger.

OPEN FLOOR PLANS

“Open” floor plan exactly, but it’s the buzzword that everybody wants. Grand entryways with large two-story staircase and expansive, airy open floor plans are wanted by many home owners.

OUTDOOR LIVING

Some 40 years ago, outdoor living meant camping.  Pools and tennis courts have been traditional luxury mainstays, but outdoor living is an entirely new concept, dramatically altering landscapes and turning the land surrounding the house into a kaleidoscope of gardens, terraces and patios for adults and children to play. Meditation gardens are designed for yoga; and simple cottage gardens evoke childhood memories.

WATER BODIES

One of the most expensive homes sold in 2010 featured a swan pond. Koi ponds, fountains and waterfalls enlivens sight and sound. On everybody’s wish list are cocktail pools — small pools that look pretty and are the ideal backdrop for drinks.

ENTERTAINMENT

State of the art movie theaters are becoming more and more prevalent in multi-million dollar homes. Home owners are also looking for amenities such as indoor basketball courts, indoor pools, and lavish sports bar set-ups that feature televisions and liquor storage.

LOCATION

Location is the crown jewel of home ownership. Everyone desires their little piece of paradise, whether that means a gated community, acres of land between you and your nearest neighbor, or a private beachfront. Some people enjoy living in a private location away from prying eyes, whereas others enjoy the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Building your home where your feel most comfortable is a must in the decision making process.

Wondering how to find the perfect home to fit your king-like lifestyle. Start your luxury home search with AJ Lamba Team with properties ranging from brand new custom built developments to stone mansions and grand estates. Call us TODAY for any queries for buying/selling of luxury real estate.

Reconsider Your Home Features With Pets

If you are a type of person who can’t imagine living without a your pets. But nor do you want to give up on your sense of personal style in order to accommodate your four-legged friends. Then here are some amazing ways to have a beautiful home. Just consider how you really live, then design and furnish your home in pet-friendly ways.

Choose hard surface floors

You need hard-surface flooring to keep pet-occupied rooms in proper shape. Choices such as laminate flooring, stone or ceramic tiles, or painted concrete might be easier to keep clean and stain-free than carpet. Such floors are also cooler in hot weather, an important consideration for pets with thick or long fur.

Carpet-Cleaning Tips

Extend the life of your carpet by keeping your pet’s claws clipped to avoid pulling up carpet fibers. Vacuum regularly to rid the carpet of hair and other debris. Brush your pets often to keep their hair from reaching the carpet. And keep a bottle of non-toxic pet-specific cleanser on hand to remove stains and odors before they have a chance to set. 

Pot Plants and Flowers in Vases

If you’re a fan of bringing the garden inside, think twice if you have a cat or a dog. Not only can animals dig and chew on your plants but some popular inside greenery is actually toxic to pets.Geraniums, tulips, aloe vera and corn plant can all be toxic to some animals. Lilies are also known to have bad effects on cats and some dogs if ingested. Be sure to research a house plant ahead of bringing them home. When you do find a safe house plant, consider using decorative stones over the soil to help reduce digging, exploring and cats using it as an extra ensuite kitty litter tray.

Low Coffee Tables

In many fashionable homes, a low coffee table with reading material and a few select decorative items are staples. But in homes with animals, disaster can very easily strike at the whip of a tail as it clears everything from the surface of the table. Many wine glasses have been broken from the excitable wagging of a Labrador near a stylish table.

Neutral Toned Upholstery

Pale colours, such as pastels, may have a luxury look about them, but they’re notorious for showing up fur. Looking for darker colours, depending on the colour of your animals’ fur, may be a way to help reduce the visibility of their hairs and stains. Consider furniture with removable covers you can wash and bleach  easily  as needed, particularly if you choose to keep the classic light colours in your home.

Buying/Selling homes with pets takes some extra work and research. Keep your beloved pets safe and happy. Contact AJ Lamba Team today at 905-502-9944 for any real estate needs. Your concern is also our priority.