You've lived in your North Toronto home, townhouse, or condominium for years and you're thinking of selling. Here are 5 simple ideas from Gitta Levi of Century 21 Heritage that will help you net more money for your North Toronto real estate.

1) Dining Room Set

 You're dining room may lack the pizzazz it takes to actually welcome potential buyers.  Is it lacklustre? Do the chair backs need repair? By changing the existing chairs to contrasting yet complimentary ones, you can totally change the look. Install two armchairs or wingbacks at either end of a long rectangular traditional table for a new look.  Or, pair leather highbacks with a lighter oak table. Ornate chairs such as Queen Annes look fantastic with a modern mirrored table.  Try funky round backed chairs for a rustic walnut table. Once you add a new rug to the floor of your North Toronto home, be it a modern "sisal" with traditional furniture, or an ornate Persian rug with modern furniture, the look is new and fresh.

And here's an added tip: once your North Toronto home is ready for sale, set your table for a dinner party.  The look will welcome those Buyers coming in to see your house, townhome, or condominium.

2) Kitchen Counters

To update your North Toronto kitchen and give it a timeless appeal, replace the ornate edged, carved or curved countertop or island with a clean stylish square edged one.  Suddenly your "dated" kitchen will take on a modern look.  You might want to consider a stainless steel, or a "leathered" granite--fabulous new looks for your North Toronto real estate!

Once the counters have been changed, dressing them with "clean looking" accessories, such as clear glass/plexiglass or stainless steel, will complete the modern look.

3.  Adding Light to your Halls

Getting more light into the hall of your North Toronto home can be achieved by replacing standard interior doors with etched glass inserts.  The etched glass will allow light into the hall from other rooms, yet still offer you complete privacy in your North Toronto house, townhouse/townhome or condominium.

By adding large mirrors along the wall across from the doors (whether by hanging or leaning), you will visually "widen" the hallway of your North Toronto property, creating an airy effect.

Try painting the walls a similar colour tone to your flooring, as well as hanging a series of overhead lighting.  Once you have less definition, the space in your North Toronto home will look larger.

Rugs in the hall? A series of small rugs will have the effect of shortening a long hall, as one long rug will lengthen it. 

4. Lighting

Modernizing your North Toronto property can be achieved by simply changing the existing lighting. Inadequate overhead lighting makes a room look "blah".  Try a dramatic chandelier--today's new chandeliers are made of stainless steel mixed with glass/crystal.  They can be the focal point of any room, including bathrooms in North Toronto homes. Today's chandeliers feature a mixer of fabrics over lightbulbs, small crystals, stainless steel, and come in all shapes and sizes.  Nothing makes a statement more than one large dramatic light fixture!

5. Kitchen Hardware and Accessories

If changing the kitchen counter still doesn't add that modern look to the dated kitchen in your North Toronto real estate, try replacing faucets, cabinet pulls or backsplashes. 

Today's choices for backsplashes include small "subway" tiles, from either ceramic, glass, or tumble stone.  They help achieve a casual look for your kitchen. Large scale, high-gloss glass backsplash tiles will give the kitchen a modern look.  And for the daring, try a stainless steel backsplash.  Although the costlier of your options, it gives the kitchen a very trendy, clean look.

For pulls, consider oiled bronze hardware, pewter, brushed or polished stainless steel, all depending on if you want a casual or more trendy look.

In terms of faucets, sharply angled or geometric faucets will add to the contemporary look of your North Toronto home, although gooseneck varieties are still popular.

If your cabinets are still in good shape, a paint job may be all that it takes to make them look good.  By slightly sanding the existing cabinetry, and painting them the colour of the walls, you will "paint them out" of the equation, and let the hardware and accessories stand out.

These small changes will add pizzazz to your North Toronto real estate, whether you live in a detached house, a semi, townhome or condominium!