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This month we’re thrilled to have Julia Stepanova, a local real estate expert who has done some great investments herself, and is on board to help guide us in our wealth building activities. Here’s Julia!
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A few months ago I had a 2 bedroom condo, in a brand new building in downtown Toronto, for sale. A very pretty unit in itself, but even after two price reductions and many showings it just WOULDN’T SELL. Whoever entered would say: “Wow nice view, big rooms, good floors, great bathroom and kitchen”. Yes I know, want it? … No.
It was as if it was cursed. So, sitting at my usual spot, a large green tea in my hand, an idea occurred to me. I called my clients and suggested to stage the unit. In a matter of two days, with the help of professional stagers the unit was transformed, the new design complementing the units’ qualities. The next day I had multiple offers and it was sold for $12,000 over the asking price. Most surprising was the fact that the couple who had bought it had been there a while ago and at the time paid no special attention to the unit. Now, they couldn’t believe that they have already seen it before.
Before Staging
a nice condo, but just wouldn't sell
After Staging
bright, sunny and sold over asking after staging
Creating an unforgettable image of your unit is necessary thus, staging is very important (it changes the entire atmosphere of a place). Some companies allow you to pick and choose furniture to fit your budget without using a stager. There are also some great books; the recently published “Staging for Dummies” by Christine Rae and Jan Saunders Maresh has a whole chapter dedicated to colour choice and offers advice on combining colors effectively, explaining the rules of a 60/30/10 ratio: 60 for walls,“Wall color is the most dominant space in the room and claims 60 percent of the color in the room. Remember the ceiling and floors are walls, too! You use the secondary color on the larger pieces of furniture and window treatments[30%] . Use the color on throw pillows, florals, art, and accessories [10%]”.
Now I must admit that the apartment wasn’t cursed, it just wasn’t memorable enough. But staging did the trick. And luckily I had my green tea, which always does the trick too.
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For more posts on women and real estate investing check out:
Women and Real Estate Investing
Julia is a real estate agent with Re/Max Condos Plus and you can find her here.
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Women and hairdresers have a very intimate relationship. They fix your hair and make you look gorgeous, and if you are like most women you talk openly about pretty much everything and share all your secrets while you are getting pampered.
But what if your eye starts to wander while at the salon and you spot another stylist that really fits your fancy. They cut so well, the colour is gorgeous, and everyone looks like supermodels and rockstars after they are done.
Would you cheat? Have your tried?
But more importantly would your salon let you?
Recently my husband came home from Fiorio Spa after a particularly bad haircut. And it’s not like he didn’t go prepared. He asked me to find a picture of a haircut I would like for him so he could get it from his stylist. I picked out two good haircuts he’d had before at the salon, in various angles and sent him away.
When he came back he had an ugly, not stylish or cool or anything haircut…just plain blah.
Later on in the week he told the story at a dinner party about his bad haircut. He called the salon and asked them to find him another stylist to try out since his favourite guy had left recently and his replacement didn’t give the kind of haircut my husband wanted. They agreet to let him try someone new and then set up a time for an appointment with “the new guy”. But when my husband arrived for his appointment he was stalled, and left waiting for way longer than normal. Why? Apparently they had paged his hairdreser to come and cut my husbands hair so he wouldn’t lose him to another stylist.
I was horrified when I heard this! And it seemed like such a dumb thing for the salon to do. He already had a haircut with this guy and didn’t like it, so why subject it to him again? Why not let him find a new guy at the salon, and at least keep the business in house.
But no, instead they pulled a sneaky move and now my husband is sure not to return.
What do you think? Is it okay to try and see another stylist in the same salon? Or is it better to just find a new salon altogether?
Photo Credit: ehow.com
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employee of the month...every month!
If you are like most women climbing the corporate ladder you have dreams that one day, you’ll have your own office, your own employees, and yes, your very own company. But what will that be like?
Recently I started my own business. It was a huge transition from the standard office environment, and for me a very welcome one. I always knew that I wanted to work for myself – partially because I’m an incredibly independent person, partially because I didn’t want to be held back by corporate culture, and partially because the very thing that makes you a great entrepreneur makes you a not so great employee for the vast majority of the companies out there. If you are a super motivated, forward thinking individual that loves to try new things, test things out, and always looking to advance there is often not a spot for you on the corporate ladder. Corporations exist because a lot of people are just doing what they always do, and that keeps things rolling along nicely. If you aren’t happy to just toe the line you either become a threat, an easy target, or you just don’t fit in and find yourself standing alone on an island at work. Or worse yet, you work at an intensely political environment where it’s more like a snake pit than an agreeable workplace – and in those places the entrepreneurial mindset does not work at all. And that very thing that doesn’t work in corporate cultures does WONDERFUL things for you as an entrepreneur. Quite frankly, you just get shit done. And you do it well. And it’s cool stuff that you get to work on.
There are some amazing things about owning your own business:
- You set the hours
- You figure out how hard you want to work
- You figure out who you want to work with, and who you’d rather not
- You don’t have to pussyfoot around irritating office politics; as an outsider you don’t have to care
- You don’t have to deal with a boss
- If you know a project will work you just go with it…often your gut will not lead you astray
- You get to feel proud of what you have achieved on a daily basis
- And best of all only you place limitations on your success. If you can break beyond your comfort zone and try new things, pick up the phone to make a few calls and keep it all together you’ll soon find out it’s pretty easy.
And then there are some not so amazing things:
- You may miss the company of having colleagues around
- It’s harder to bounce ideas of other people and build something great as a team…it’s just you, and the few friends that answer your calls for creative input
- You can so easily start working all the time! Last month I worked everyday (but it was worth it)
- If you are not outgoing making those cold calls, introducing your company or asking for business can be absolute torture!
- You may have dry periods where no work comes in and that means no money!
But overall working for yourself is truly amazing. The very simple things in life are so easy again; going to the doctor is now possible without seven cancelled appointments first because your office life took a priority. You can take a walk in the afternoon for an hour to brainstorm ideas, and it actually is work! If you are exhausted on Tuesday and the work is just not happening you can stop, and pick it up when the ideas start to flow again.
And it’s that exact freedom coupled with discipline that makes the entrepreneurs life a dream!
If you are interested in starting your own business be sure to read the following:
Introducing Fabulous and Fearless Female Entrepreneurs
Interview with Lisa Ng: Owner of Hello DJ
Interview with Ali DeBold: Owner of Chick Advisor
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Today is a guest post from Lily, our recent divorcee who is learning hapiness post divorce.
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Why is it so hard for us to jump in with both feet? When given the opportunity to start over so many of us end up back in the same path they were before.
Recently divorced and laid off, the world is my oyster; or at least it should be. I spent the first 30 years of my life with a very specific path, so much so that I stuck on my blinders whenever something popped up that could derail me (like marrying the wrong person). I had a plan, and come hell or high water I was going to execute that plan; only it was a bad plan, an un-executable plan, a plan that never no matter what I did would come to fruition.
So now I am at a crossroad, left or right? Get back onto the path I had before and just try again, or realize that things need to change, that I need to take some risks, try something new?
Sounds like an easy choice to an outsider; “get out there” people are saying to me “take some risks! Try something new! You’re being given a second chance at life!” but to me one road is paved with a guarantee of something, not necessarily happiness but contentment and the other is sheer uncertainty.
So ladies I ask you, when your life has been turned upside down, and all your plans thrown out the window, is that the time to go down the same, solid, well known path of safety or is it time to throw caution to the wind and step into the unknown for a chance at a whole new life?
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Get to know Lily better: Read her hit article that was posted earlier on Men Vs. Women: Who Brings Condoms
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It’s getting warmer, everyone is feeling social, the patios are packed, and the cocktails are flowing ever so freely!
Sounds like a great time, but the next morning you will be feeling anything but great!
Here Are 10 Sure Fire (And Fun!) Ways To Cure A Hangover:
1. Eat a bacon and egg sandwich. Salad will not help, you need to go for the heavy stuff!
2. Wear sunglasses. They will hide your bags and sleepy eyes, and will save you from getting a headache from the bright sun.
3. Stay horizontal. Sit on a lawn chair by the pool, lay in bed watching movies or plant yourself on the sofa and chat with your man. Don’t try to be too active, you’ll stir everything up, which is a baaaad thing when you have a hangover!
4. Don’t make plans. Who wants to go for a run, eat a fancy brunch or go shopping when you feel awful. Don’t commit to something if you need to be energized and feeling great to do it.
5. Drink lots of water before bed, when you wake up and throughout the day. You’ll get hydrated and recover much faster.
6. Advil is your friend. Take 2 before bed, or right when you wake up. Actually, when you have a hangover Advil is your best friend!
7. Drink fresh squeezed juice or eat a few oranges. They have lots of vitamins, minerals, and healthy fluids that will make you feel fantastic!
8. Go swimming! Surfers swear that a quick dip cures any hangover – trust the experts!
9. Take a nap. Rest up, relax and rest some more. You need a little time to recover so drifting in and out of sleep when you are hung over is a great thing!
10. Watch feel good movies! When you are hung over you feel slow, and sluggish – so play your favourite movies that will make you laugh, smile and feel all giddy…you’ll forget your hangover in no time!
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Girlactik is a relatively new beauty company, and their products are fresh, fun and are very regularly worn by celebrities on the red carpet.
We bought a few products to review and test out if the product is worth the pricetag.
Here are the final scores:
Naples Blush: 10/10 – this blush looks gorgeous on, is light, fun and brightens up the face in a subltle way that looks like you’ve just spent a week on vacation. It really does wonders! $16 US, available at select Sephora stores.
Black Eyeliner: 6/10 – this eyeliner applies easily, and has a roll up stick so you don’t need to sharpen it, but there doesn’t seem to be much of it! It’s pretty expensive, and considering how long our pencil eyeliners have lasted they should give more product. $17 US, available at select Sephora stores.
Sultry Shadow: 7/10 – this shadow looks great on and applies evenly, but there’s nothing that special about it. If you’re going to pay above and beyond Cover Girl prices you kind of expect more than Cover Girl…but we’re not sure we got it. $17 US, available at select Sephora stores.
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With all the craziness in the economy over the last two years even the top bosses are feeling insecure in their jobs…which doesn’t bode well for the underlings. Crazy deadlines, no praise, damnation for small errors, and ignored emails are tell tale signs that all is not well with your boss.
Here are some great tips on how you can deflect the bad energy that’s being downloaded on to you from the levels above.
Your boss says: It’s late I know, but have this ready for me tomorrow by 8am”
What she means: I know this is a crazy request, but my bosses are on my ass to get this done ASAP, so help me out and get it done!
What you do: Involve your boss in the process and ask her what she would do to make it a success – by asking her and getting her advice it’s harder for her to blame you later if things don’t go well.
Your boss says: Zip, zilch, and she never replies to any of your emails.
What she means: I’m really, really, busy and very, very stressed. Keep me in the loop, but don’t ask for direction unless it’s urgent
What you do: Don’t leave all the decisions in her hands. You can keep her in the loop, and tell her the actions you are going to take by a certain date – just make sure you’ve given her enough time to read the emails and respond if necessary. If you really need something set up a meeting so you can have your questions answered, but make sure you come in with clear questions and have strict objectives for your meeting. The last thing you want is for her to get annoyed because she thinks you wasted her time with an unnecessary meeting.
Your boss says: You haven’t finished that yet????
What she means: I’m stressed, very busy, have lots of pressure to make miracles happen. Since I’m overwhelmed and you’re standing in front of me, I’m taking it out on you!
What you do: Take it. Sorry, that’s the truth. Sometimes you’re boss is going to need to vent, and if you happen to be the unlucky person standing in front of her, than you just have to take it. Don’t get weepy, and don’t take it personal – we’ve all freaked out at someone because something else was bothering us.
*Image courtesy of Jewlzbailey
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For many women the dream of owning their own home, having a successful career, and some solid investments is very appealling. Recently we’ve been receiving loads of questions on investing, women and money, and how to build a solid little nest into a big bag of cash!
This month we’re thrilled to have Julia Stepanova, a local real estate expert who has done some great investments herself, and is on board to help guide us in our wealth building activities. Here’s Julia!
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When I was a money struggling student in England, my dream was to finally finish studying and to get a nice job. That day arrived: the end of university, but most importantly a job that provided me with a paycheck once a month. Like any other woman I spent it all on clothing and shoes! The next paycheck was used for new clothes and new shoes (a temptation impossible to resist). I soon enough realized that I was turning into a Carry Bradshaw; I mean how many shoes can I have? What happened to my dream of owning a home? I wanted to get married and have children, of course, but first on my list was building my own personal success and aquiring some solid investments including real estate. It’s an essential part of your life and makes you feel an accomplished woman.
Since those struggling years 10 years ago, I got married, I had a child and guess what? I own a unit that has tripled in price since I bought it! Talk about an investment! I rent it out and it provides me with an income that I spend on… yes, shoes, clothes, and spa treatments.
The thing is: real estate investing is easier than you would think, and can often reap some hefty rewards. If you’re not convinced check out this story here. It’s true that there is some risk associated, and there are no guarantees, but like any risk the reward can be huge, and all indicators are saying that things are a-ok in the real estate market here in Toronto.
Right now, Toronto real estate continues to move towards balance and for someone looking to buy that’s great news. There are lots of listings (i.e. choice for you) and now over 1,100 downtown condos for sale. The sale-to-list ratio (sales to active listings in a month) that was at one time over 80% is now down to 50% and will soon approach the 25-35% range of a balanced market.
If you have already been thinking of buying, go while the interest rates are still low and the market is turning into the Buyers market. Don’t be afraid, owning a home is one of the most liberating things a woman can do for herself.
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Julia is a real estate agent with Re/Max Condos Plus and you can find her here.
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Today’s article is a guest post from a Lily, a recent divorcee who is re-learning the dating ropes.
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I literally could not believe what was coming out of her mouth “why would I keep condoms at my house? That’s his responsibility”. I almost fell over. Now I am sure most of you are thinking that I must have been having a conversation with a sure-to-be knocked up soon 16 year old, but sadly no. I was talking to a divorced 32 year old woman.
At this age I was shocked to discover that people are still taking this attitude. A strong enough woman to leave her husband when she was unhappy, become a successful lawyer, and yet somehow does not seem to be able to take control of her own sex life. I got curious, perhaps I was a little too in control of my sex life, maybe I was the odd ball out with a box of condoms in my night table drawer (which by the way still seems to be full, but that’s a whole other post!) so the polling of my friends became my newest past time. I literally asked everyone I knew who was single if they had condoms at their house.
Pure shock, you have no idea how many woman still think it’s the guys job to bring the condoms. Newsflash ladies, if you don’t have condoms at your place your choices become, 1) no sex (bad choice when you are already at the point of needing a condom) 2) uncovered sex (do I really need to explain the reason for this being a bad choice?!). I don’t know about you but neither of these two options seem like good ones for me. So ladies, it’s 2010 if you’re going to have sex, be prepared, take control of your sexual destiny, and splurge the $12 and stick a box in your night stand, they last for years!
Till Next Time, Lily!
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Something that really helped me to move to a great place in my life was by unfriending a few people.
The true sign of an overdue friendship is when you know your friend does not have your best interests in mind. It could be subtle – like they call you and tell you gossip they heard people say about you, and they know it hurts your feelings – or major – like they have serious jealousy issues and you always feel like you’re in a competition instead of a friendship.
Another sign of a overdue friendship is when you don’t think your friend adds anything positive to your life. We’ve all had these people around us at some point, like the person who calls you to complain, and goes on for one hour, without asking how you are.
We have friends to enrich our lives. If you surround yourself with people that suck away your good energy, you are only left with the negatives..
Remeber that saying, “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are”? Friends are a representation of us – from value systems to senses of humour – and I make sure I chose mine very wisely now.
And that’s one of the little changes in my life that has made a huge difference overall.
