December 31st is a common “anniversary date” for business services. 

For example, many programs and services expire at the end of a calendar year. So, it’s a good idea to check and see if any expiration dates will impact you. 

Many company contracts for services or subscriptions automatically renew if you don’t do anything. So if you’ve signed-up for something you no longer want, be sure to notify the company in writing to let them know you wish to cancel. Note that there is often a notice period before which you will need to have notified the company. Check your contract details. 

Businesses also use the end of the year to increase prices. Check your mail and email for notifications such as, “As of December 31, 2013, our standard fee will increase by...”. Some companies, including banks, will send these notices out weeks in advance. If in doubt, contact the company directly. 

You should always know, in advance, the cost and terms of the products and services you use regularly.

When people renovate or remodel a room, they almost always overlook the
door. However, changing the style of an interior door, or adding a new one,
can dramatically change the look of a living space – often for the better.

The most common type of door is the traditional solid 6-panel door. But
there are many other choices available. Want to add light and a greater
sense of space to a room? Consider a door with glass panels. Do you have
an interior door that gets in the way when opened? Change it to a bi-fold
door, which cuts the distance of the swing in half.

There are also specialty doors that are designed to block noise, and sliding
doors that tuck neatly into the wall when opened.

Interior doors are typically much less expensive than their exterior
counterparts. So making the decision to upgrade or add a door to a room is
an affordable design option.

Visit a door showroom and explore what's available.

Remember the last time you visited an upscale furniture showroom? The
furniture and fixtures on display probably looked great. The colours and
textures jumped out at you. It was a feast for the eyes!

There is a good reason for this: lighting.

Of course, the quality of the products has a lot to do with how appealing
they look when on display. But smart retailers know that proper lighting is
key to making those products look their best. In fact, some retailers even
hire lighting consultants!

What does this have to do with selling your home quickly, and for the best
price?

Obviously, when showing your property to potential buyers, you want your
home to look its very best. Proper lighting can be a big help.

When preparing your home for sale, review the lighting in each room and
make sure the space is sufficiently well lit. You want the lighting to be strong
enough to prevent dark or shadowy areas, yet not so strong that it's
uncomfortable for the eyes.

As a rule of thumb, the total wattage of lights in a room should equal the
room's square footage times 1.5. So, if a room is 120 square feet and has
three light sources (ceiling light and two lamps) then the bulbs in each
should be 60 watts.

Pay particular attention to traditionally dark areas, such as the garage,
basement, and closets. Make sure those areas are well lit.

If you have a viewing scheduled during the day, take advantage of natural
light through windows. Open the curtains!

Finally, one of the most important areas is the foyer. Always make sure the
entrance has sufficient lighting. You don't want buyers to think they've
entered the home of classic TV's The Adam's Family!

Want more ideas for preparing your home for sale? Call today.