Current trends and the outlook for housing market fundamentals suggest activity will remain strong through 2021, resulting in a record number of sales. That said, activity is forecast to begin returning to more typical levels over time. 2022 is expected to see fewer MLS® transactions compared to 2021, while remaining above all other years on record.

Over the past several years, record levels of international immigration (not including 2020), low interest rates, and an increasingly middle-aged Millennial cohort have all fueled strong household formation and housing demand in Canada. Recall that prior to COVID-19, the number of available listings nationally was already at a 14-year low and the national number of months of inventory on the eve of the lockdowns had fallen to below four months (seller’s market territory). COVID-19 has only served to supercharge trends that were already present.

The pandemic has changed the relationship that many people have with housing. For many, home has been everything over the last year. It has resulted in an increased desire for a place of one’s own, for more spacious properties and bigger yards. At the same time, the calculus around home’s proximity to work, typically one of the biggest factors in choosing where to live, has changed considerably this year, and probably to some extent forever. As a result, strong first-time home buying activity is teaming up with a surge in existing owners choosing to pull up stakes and move in recent months.

Add in record-low mortgage carrying costs and you have a recipe for record, or at least historically strong, levels of MLS® activity in all parts of the country. The flip side of that coin are people for whom the pandemic has been a reason not to engage in the housing market over the last year, particularly on the supply side. Inventories are down across Canada, more so than ever before, while at the same time demand is setting almost unbelievable monthly records. This dynamic is playing out on the price side in the form of rising prices everywhere. This in turn, may be pulling even more demand forward from the future as buyers feel increased urgency to lock in current prices at record low mortgage rates.

Economic activity has been stronger than expected over the winter months. While mortgage interest rates declined throughout 2020 and are still near all-time lows, inflationary fears have surfaced to start 2021. That said, at this point the Bank of Canada is signaling that it wishes to keep interest rates low over the remainder of 2021 and through 2022. Additionally, mass vaccination of the population is not far off, which will trigger a reopening of the hard-to-distance sectors of the economy that have struggled most with the virus, and a re-acceleration on the immigration front as well.

The national average home price is forecast to rise by 16.5% on an annual basis to just over $665,000 in 2021. This reflects the current unprecedented imbalance of supply and demand, currently at less than 2 months of inventory nationally to begin 2021. Conditions are now favouring sellers to some extent in virtually all local markets. The vast majority of Ontario markets are now into weeks of inventory. As with the annual sales figures, CREA believes this average price forecast to be well on the conservative side, in relation to current monthly data.

On a monthly and quarterly basis, sales are forecast to begin trending down towards more typical levels through the latter half of 2021 and into 2022. Limited supply and higher prices are expected to tap the brakes on activity in 2022 compared to 2021, although increased churn in resale markets resulting from the COVID-related shake-up to so many people’s lives will likely continue to boost activity above what was normal before COVID-19. Indeed, it is possible that many of the moves associated with changes related to increased remote work won’t play out until a little further down the road when we have more certainty about what the future will look like post-COVID.

National home sales are forecast to fall by 12.6% to around 614,000 units in 2022. This easing trend is expected to play out across Canada as higher prices and a lack of available supply impacts all areas of the country, as previously pent-up demand in exhausted, and as the urgency to purchase a home base to ride out the pandemic fades along with the virus itself.

The national average price is forecast to edge up by just 2.1% $679,000 in 2022 as the current demand-supply imbalance unwinds.

How To Pick The Right Realtor To Sell Your Home

Selling your home is one of the most exciting, and stressful things one can do! A great realtor will not only make selling your home fast and easier but will help you sell your home for more.

Thankfully finding qualified realtors is easier than ever. With a quick search, you can find hundreds of realtors in your area who could sell your home. But how do you pick the right realtor to sell your home? A great realtor will have the experience, a unique marketing strategy, and make it seamless for you to sell your home as soon as possible.

Learn more about how to find the right realtor to sell your home below!

Experience

When looking for a realtor to sell your home you will want one with experience in your local market, and selling homes similar to yours. Selling homes can be a complicated process, but working with a realtor who has experience in the type of homes you are selling will make the process easier.

Every type of home has its own nuances and customer market. You will want a realtor with experience in your local market and the type of home you are selling so they know the proper way to highlight and attract potential buyers.

A quick look at their sold home portfolio can help you determine if they have experience selling your type of home. Make sure to look at how long they have been selling homes in your market as well. This will tell you how experienced your realtor is in your area!

Realtors with experience may be able to sell your home faster and for more by having a deeper understanding of potential homebuyers, and pitfalls in the sales process.

Referrals and Reviews

Realtors love referrals, and for good reason. According to Zillow research, more than one in five sellers find their agent because of a referral. A referral is a sure-fire way to know that this person offers superior service.

That’s why when you are looking to sell your home, ask your friends and family for recommendations. Your friends and family will want to make sure you get the possible service, so a trusted referral can go a long way.

If you can’t get referrals from friends or family, reviews are a great way to find a realtor to sell your home. You can see the good, the bad, and the ugly, of local realtors in your area. Reviews are extremely useful tools to help you identify a great agent as you can see how they handle their clients, on either end of a transaction.

Additionally, reviews and referrals will show the expertise and professionalism of a realtor. Good reviews will show how well they handle their clients and their properties. This sneak peek can tell you if they have the expertise, and ability to sell your home!

Interview Your Realtor

Before you sign with a realtor, you should always interview a potential realtor. Selling your home can be a long and stressful process, but if you choose the right realtor can be a quick and easy process.

When you interview and meet with your realtor you want to have a complete picture of what selling your home will look like. Ask about previous experience, clients, and the ins and out of how THEY sell a home.

Some questions you should ask a potential realtor are:

• How long have you been selling in this real estate market?
• Do you work with sellers or buyers more?
• How many active clients do you have at a time?
• What’s the best way to contact you?
• How will you market my home?
• How often will you update me?
• Can you give me references?

These questions will help you know how a realtor works, and how they plan to sell; your home. Having a seller-agent relationship is important as you want to make sure your communication skills are on point.

You can clearly set expectations of how your home will be sold and know you are picking the right realtor for your property.

Next Steps

After you have interviewed potential realtors for your home, it’s important to set clear expectations for how you want to sell your home. Therefore you should meet with your realtor and discuss the best marketing for your home.

When you meet make sure you discuss the following:

• Discuss Why You Are Selling
• Selling And Marketing Strategy
• Cover Important Details and Paperwork

You should always clear about why you are looking to sell, and what your ideal time frame is. This will help your realtor to determine how aggressive your selling strategy should be to get the offer that best collides with your expectations.

Your realtors should provide important paperwork and have a plan for how to sell your home. Professional photographs of your home make it easy for you to market your home digitally. Some realtors will offer open houses, so make sure to discuss your comfort level in how they market your home.

Your realtor will also make sure to set clear expectations on how to sell your home and come to decisions on the right list price, and the length of the contract if your home isn’t sold in a certain length of time.

Summary

When selling, it’s critical to know how to pick the right realtor to sell your home. Your realtor should be an expert in selling homes like yours in your area, and make it easy and sell your home with minimal hassle. Finding the right realtor requires a bit of groundwork, which can pay off if it removes frustration and makes it easier to sell. That is why you should do the following to find the right realtor to sell your home.

How To Pick The Right Realtor To Sell Your Home

• Experience:Make sure you choose a realtor with experience in your market and sell your type of homes. These realtors will have better insights on what the market is looking for and the best strategies for selling in your area.
• Referrals and Reviews: Always ask for a referral or review when you are looking to sell your home. Friends and family can offer a unique insight on how a realtor operates, and how they perform that can tell you if they would be the right fit for selling your home.
• Interview Your Realtor:When you have a few realtors in mind to sell your home, take the chance to interview them! This interview should cover their experience in selling in your area, how they plan to market, and the best ways to communicate with them. You can see if you and your realtor are a match made in heaven, or if they might not be a good fit.
• Next Steps: Once you have decided on the right realtor to sell your home, have another meeting to go over the final details of selling your home. This includes signing a listing contract, how they will market your home, and an ideal listing price.

About the Author: Catherine Way graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s in Advertising. A freelance content marketer for industries such as photography, mortgage, and real estate. She has written for Silver Doctors, The Paper Source, Active Rain, and Progressing Income. She enjoys creative outlets like writing, designing, dancing, and modeling. She currently writes and makes content for Prime Plus Mortgages: Real Estate Note Investing

Making the decision to become a homeowner is the easy part since buying a home is a great investment in your future. For many people, it’s no problem to keep up the monthly mortgage payments and other costs associated with home ownership. But what usually holds first time buyers back is the initial down payment required to obtain a mortgage.

How much can you afford?

The first thing you need to determine is how much house can you realistically afford? It’s a good idea to talk to a REALTOR® for help in this area. A REALTOR® is skilled at helping people make their dreams of home ownership come true. He or she knows how to assist you in assessing your needs and wants and can then match them with homes in your price range. As well, he or she will help you understand property financing, taxes, insurance and the process you will go through as a first time buyer to complete a real estate transaction.

Your REALTOR® can also offer advice on ways to save your down payment faster. He or she will likely suggest you take advantage of government programs such as an RRSP loan or the Ontario Home Ownership Savings Plan (OHOSP). Another option your REALTOR® can help you explore is a high ratio mortgage. A high ratio mortgage requires a smaller down payment than a conventional mortgage because it is insured by the CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation). Talk to your REALTOR® for details on how these programs work.

Once you know your price range and have a down payment plan in the works, your REALTOR® will work with you to find the “home of your dreams.” For most people, their first home is more modest than the true home of their dreams, but it is a start and will be much more affordable.

When you have found the right home, your REALTOR® will be there to negotiate on your behalf to get the best purchase price possible. He or she will make sure your interests are covered in the purchase and sale agreement and will help with all the details required to complete the transaction.

A REALTORS® knowledge, expertise and negotiating skills will ensure your first time home buying experience is a dream come true and not a nightmare.

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association

One person’s ideal neighbourhood however may vary greatly from another’s. But, regardless, there are some needs and wants that generally do not change. The distance from your new home to schools, churches and shopping, for example, will not only affect how you and your family settle into your new home, it will also draw or turn off a perspective buyer.

A good first step is to enlist the services of a REALTOR® who works in the area you are thinking of moving. REALTORS® are very familiar with the communities in which they work and can answer many of the questions you will develop during your search.

Check the lifestyle

A home is a part of a larger community. And some are more desirable than others. Some communities are geared more to young families, others to older adults and still others to singles or an eclectic mix of residents.

Never buy in an unfamiliar community or neighbourhood unless you have spent some time there both during the week and on weekends, day and night. Drive and walk around. Talk to store owners and people you meet on the street. Ask what they think of the neighbourhood.

If there are vacant tracts of land where you plan to buy, check with local authorities to see what the proposed land use might be. The last thing most homeowners want is the development of a mall or a high-rise office building across the road from their newly-purchased property.

Don’t let particular things in a home that appeal to you override its location and potential subsequent resale value. When analyzing a potential property, ask yourself if you can imagine living — not just in this home — but in this neighbourhood for quite a long time.

Remember that someday you may have to sell your home to someone else and things that may not be important to you — such as distance to schools, shopping, doctors and work — may be important to other buyers.

Location, location

In addition to finding the right neighbourhood, consider the immediate homes around the particular property you want to buy. Are they well maintained and worth the same or more than the home you are considering?

Is the location a quiet area or a major traffic thoroughfare? What kind of privacy does the backyard provide? Does it get the morning or afternoon sun? If there is no house behind you, who owns the property and how will it be developed?

Homes located further away from the centre of an urban area are generally cheaper. Are you prepared to invest the time and money it takes to commute and how long of a commute are you prepared to commit to? Is there public transit and good access to major highways nearby?

If you have kids in school, what kinds of schools and services are available? Will your kids have to be bused to their school? If a school is close by, will they have to cross any major intersections?

Being close to a school, on the other hand, may have some drawbacks — few owners want the noise and disturbance of being located right next door.

Finding malls, grocery and specialty stores in urban, residential areas is rarely a problem. But in neighbourhoods further away from urban areas, you may need to drive to the nearest convenience store. And getting to the local grocery store, pharmacy and other support services may require an even longer trek.

It’s great to be located near parks and recreational facilities, but few homeowners appreciate the high cast of tennis court lights beaming into their back yard. If the home you are considering backs onto such property, drive around the area and see how often the baseball diamonds, soccer fields, swimming pools and skating rinks are being used and when.

More serious concerns are having such things as gas stations, airports, railway tracks, commercial developments, major highways and cemeteries very close by.

Finally, if your heart is set on finding that one-of-a-kind 150-year old Georgian home, you’re not going to find it in a newer development. If you want large bedrooms and bathrooms, narrowing your search to an older part of town where homes are generally smaller, may prove disappointing.

Before making any decisions, think of your lifestyle and how a particular location would enhance or detract from it.

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association

Tools

To start with, a new homeowner needs to have on hand a ‘basic tool kit’. A number of basic tools are a must C a metal hammer, screwdrivers with a variety of heads, a small saw, electric drill, adjustable wrench, pliers and measuring stick. Sandpaper and an assortment of screws and nails are also very handy. These tools will help with simple repairs such as securing loose tiles, adjusting a door, installing a lock, etc.

Meters

Once you’re equipped to perform the most basic repairs, take a look around. Do you know where your gas/electricity and water meter are located? Usually these are found outside the home by a side or back wall. This makes it easy for the meter reader who can take the readings without bothering you. Sometimes these meters, especially the water meters in older homes, are located indoors — usually in the basement.

As new homeowners, it’s a good idea to check your meters on a weekly or monthly basis. This will help you gain an understanding of seasonal increases and decreases in consumption and enable you to take measures to become more energy/water efficient.

Plumbing

Another area where a little knowledge can go a long way is in the plumbing system. House plumbing is divided into two separate parts. One is the fresh-water system that provides cold and hot water from the various fixtures throughout the house; the other is the drainage system that carries waste out of the house.

The fresh-water system can be completely shut down by closing the main valve, which is usually located in the basement near where the underground water line enters the house. Most lines that branch out from the main line also have individual shut-off valves so water can be turned off to one area without disturbing the flow in another. Most plumbing jobs require at least the partial shut-off of your home’s water supply.

Meanwhile, the drainage system connects all the plumbing fixtures to a main sewer line that carries waste out of the house to a sewer or septic tank. The main sewer line extends above the roof of the house to allow gases to escape. The opening of this pipe, above the roof, is called a vent and must never be covered or allowed to become clogged with debris.

Electrical

Knowledge of your home’s electrical system is also valuable in case you have to turn off all power in case of an emergency, such as a fire. You should know the location of the main electric switch in the house and how to use it. You should also know the location of the fuse box or circuit breaker and how to reset a breaker or replace a fuse in case one blows.

The main switch, along with the circuit breaker panel or fuse box, are located near the electric meter at a point close to where the power lines come into the house. They may be in the basement, utility room, or even the kitchen. The older the home, the more likely it will have a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker panel. Always replace fuses with ones of the same capacity.

Heating

Another important aspect of your new home is its heating system. The more familiar you are with it, the less likely you might find yourself cold on a winter’s day. Heating systems are usually fueled by oil, gas, electricity or wood.

Gas-fired and oil-fired heating systems have burners and should be inspected regularly, usually once a year before the start of the heating season. Gas burners have pilot lights. You should learn to re-light the pilot light on your gas burner in case it ever goes out. You should also know the location of the gas shut-off valve so you can turn off the gas in case the burner doesn’t light or you smell gas escaping.

Heating systems operate in a variety of ways. The better you understand your system, the safer and more efficient you can make it.

Hazards

Fire in a home is a major hazard that all new homeowners should be aware of. Early detection is the key to protecting your family and keeping damage to a minimum. Ensure your home has smoke detectors installed in hallways and bedroom areas. Smoke detectors sound an alarm when smoke is in nearby air, even if there is no intense heat. Ideally, you should have a smoke alarm in each bedroom.

If you have a gas-fired heating system or a fireplace in your home, it’s also a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors in the bedroom areas. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless toxic gas that, at high levels, can cause flu-like symptoms and even death.

While carbon monoxide detectors are not a substitute for proper care and maintenance of your home, they provide a good second line of defense by sounding an alarm when carbon monoxide reaches an unsafe level.

When we purchase a home, most of us want to turn it into a safe and secure haven for our families. The more we know about the home we have purchased, the more efficient and effective we can be.

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association

The real estate business is somewhat unique in that it is not confined to one particular set of dealings. Instead, it encompasses a number of professions: financial, legal, governmental, building trades, and of course, real estate itself.

So, from A for amortization to Z for zoning regulations, here is a quick run-through of some the important real estate terminology you’ll encounter:

Amortization: The number of years it will take to pay off the entire amount of a mortgage. In Ontario, most mortgages are amortized over 25 years.

Appraisal: An estimate of a property’s market value. This is used by lenders to determine the amount of your mortgage.

Assessment: The value of a property set by the local municipality. The assessment is used to calculate your property tax.

Assumable Mortgage: A mortgage held on a property by a seller that can be taken over by the buyer. The buyer then assumes responsibility for making payments. An assumable mortgage can make a property more attractive to potential buyers.

Blended Mortgage Payments: Equal or regular mortgage payments consisting of both a principal and an interest component.

Broker: A real estate professional licensed in Ontario to facilitate the sale, lease or exchange of a property.

Bridge Financing: Money borrowed against a homeowner’s equity in a property (usually for a short term) to help finance the purchase of another property or to make improvements to a property being sold.

Buy-down: A situation where the seller reduces the interest rate on a mortgage by paying the difference between the reduced rate and market rate directly to the lender. Or, the difference can be paid to the purchaser in one lump sum or monthly instalments. A buy-down can make a property more attractive to potential buyers.

Closed Mortgage: A mortgage that cannot be prepaid, renegotiated or refinanced during its term without significant penalties.

Conventional Mortgage: A first mortgage issued for up to 75 per cent of the property’s appraised value or purchase price, whichever is lower.

Debt Service Ratio: The percentage of a borrower’s gross income that can be used for housing costs (including mortgage payments and taxes). This is used to determine the amount of monthly mortgage payment the borrower can afford.

Easement: A legal right to use or cross (right of way) another person’s land for limited purpose. A utility’s right to run wires or lay pipe across a property is a common example.

Encroachment: An intrusion onto an adjoining property. A neighbour’s fence, shed or overhanging roof line that partially or fully intrudes onto your property are examples.

First Mortgage: The first security registered on a property. Additional mortgages secured against the property are termed ‘secondary’.

High-Ratio Mortgage: A mortgage for more than 75 per cent of a property’s appraised value or purchase price.

Listing Agreement: The contract between the listing broker and an owner, authorizing the REALTOR® to facilitate the sale or lease of a property.

Mortgage: A contract between a borrower and a lender where the borrower pledges a property as security to guarantee repayment of the mortgage debt.

Mortgage Term: The length of time a lender will loan mortgage funds to a borrower. Most terms run from six months to five years, after which the borrower will either pay off the balance or renegotiate the mortgage for another term. Payments are calculated using the interest rate offered for the term, the amount of the mortgage, and the amortization period.

Multiple Listing Service (MLS): A comprehensive system for relaying information to REALTORS® about properties for sale.

Open Mortgage: A mortgage that can be prepaid or renegotiated at any time and in any amount without penalty.

Partially Open Mortgage: A mortgage that allows the borrower to pre-pay a specific portion of the mortgage principal at certain times with or without penalty.

REALTOR®: A trademarked name describing real estate professionals who are members of a local real estate board and the Canadian Real Estate Association.

Transfer Taxes: Payment to the provincial government for transferring property from the seller to the buyer.

Vendor Take-Back Mortgage: A situation where sellers use their equity in a property to provide some or all of the mortgage financing in order to sell the property.

Zoning Regulations: Strict guidelines set and enforced by municipal governments regulating how a property may or may not be used.

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association

Get the most from your space

Redecorating a small bathroom is a common design problem. If you can’t expand the room, either by building an addition or by incorporating space from a nearby bedroom or closet, here are some ideas to help you get the most out of the space you have.

There are many ways to give a bathroom a facelift. You can make it visually larger by decorating with light colours. Large prints and bold stripes tend to overpower a small room. Stick to small prints whether you are painting or wallpapering. Limit your accessories. Remember, less can be more!

Try to create a sense of continuity. Bathrooms are chopped up enough by fixtures, so paint and wallpaper walls and ceiling the same colour.

When choosing a wallpaper make sure it is a good vinyl, that isn’t prepasted. Wallpaper paste is water based and if the shower isn’t ventilated properly, the vapour may cause the wallpaper to lift from the wall. When you paste by hand, use an oil-based glue.

Update your fixtures

Whether you are bold, colorful, soft or subtle, there are fixtures available that will reflect your persona and express your style. Everything from hand painted porcelain fixtures complete with matching gold plated faucets, to a variety of natural fixtures including granite, marble, onyx and teakwood are available. Leading manufacturers now work in harmony to create colour coordinated bath products.

If your colour fixtures are outdated, and new ones are out of the question, consider having them refinished. White is always a classic and an excellent choice.

Shower curtains can also make a room visually larger. Choose a clear shower curtain with a solid colour fabric curtain. And mirrors are another good trick to visually expand your space. A long mirror with plenty of lights increases the visual space and prevents having to jostle for mirror space when two people are using the bathroom.

Storage solutions

If you are planning to change your fixtures, you may want to consider replacing your vanity and sink with a pedestal sink. This will give you more floor space, but you will lose some storage space. Storage space problems can be solved in a variety of ways. Wall-mounted cabinets are a great way to hide bathroom clutter, without taking up valuable floor space. Units can be installed above the toilet, above the mirror or in the deck space below a raised bathtub. If you purchase a low profile toilet, there will be even more room for wall-mounted storage above. Choose cabinets that are no more than six inches deep so they don’t get in the way.

Extending your counter-top over the back of the toilet is known as a “banjo top” counter. Be sure there is enough clearance space to raise the tank top should it require service. Open shelving between the toilet and vanity creates handy storage space, looks less bulky than closed storage space, and eliminates the need for clearance for a cupboard door.

A plastic coated wire mounted on a pegboard above a low profile toilet is another way to create storage space and works well as a decorative element.

If you don’t have room for a shower stall, try installing a rounded shower base in the corner of a small bathroom, leaving no corners to jut out into valuable floor space. A folding door eliminates the need for clearance space between the pedestal basin and door. If your bathroom is too narrow for a standard vanity, ask your designer or contractor to build a bank of cabinets half as deep. Install a bump out sink because a regular drop in bowl won’t fit in this type of cabinet. Since lower cabinets will be shallow, you won’t have to reach as far for supplies.

Both light and ventilation are important in a bathroom. Light expands the space and prevents shadows. Ventilation keeps air circulating. A combination fan forced heater/ventilator/ceiling light allows all three work separately or together. This eliminates the need to buy three different fixtures.

Whatever your decorating style, there are a host of new patterns, colours and designs available that will reflect your particular tastes and serve to make your bathroom more functional.

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association

In reality, most people’s closets fall well short of this ideal. And few of us stop to consider the full potential of the closets we do have — tiny as they may be. To understand their true potential, take a good objective look inside the closets you already have — and the empty spaces that could be turned into closets or cupboards.

Closets are not the sort of thing most of us like to face. By their very nature, they invite us to avoid them. As long as the living space looks good, what’s inside the closets doesn’t really matter. It is said that both home and self improvement often start with your closets. The more effective and organized your closets are, the more effective and organized you feel.

The main things to consider when organizing your closets are budget, space and lifestyle. Even the tiniest closet can be maximized, and not necessarily at a high price.

Also, the contents of a closet don’t necessarily have to fit the contents of a room. A hall broom closet can be turned into a pantry; a kitchen nook can be turned into a place to hang a wardrobe.

And you don’t have to just hang things in closets. You can add shelf units, baskets, bins, or whatever fits, to store things in. Consider an air plane, a boat or a mobile home, where space is at a premium. Storage spaces are found above, below and to all sides of furnishings.

Here are a few more ideas to consider:

• Make your closets serve a variety of purposes. Try adding a shelving unit to a clothes closet where you can store pantry goods and other items.
• Always try to incorporate a variety of shelving units in a closet. These give you space to store small items such as shoes, scarves, handbags and even books.
• The ceiling space in closets is seldom used. Consider adding a shelve or a compartment to store bulkier items such as luggage or blankets.
• Before re-organizing a closet, take everything out. Set aside anything you haven’t worn or used in a year. Consider donating these items to charity. Those you no longer use but want to keep should be stored separately in the attic or some place out of the way. Clearing out a closet is the first step in creating more space.
• Invest in a shoe rack that can be incorporated into your closet. Whether it sits on the floor or hangs from the door or is part of a shelve unit, a rack will not only keep your shoes together it will give the whole closet a more organized appearance.
• Plan to store your out-of-season clothes out of the way in boxes or elsewhere. Use the closet only to keep those items you wear regularly during a season.
• If you dislike the smell of mothballs but want to ensure your closets smell nice and don’t attract moths, try hanging a sachet of dried rosemary flowers or a mixture of cinnamon and cloves. There are many fresh-smelling deodorizers and perfumed papers to choose from on the market as well.
• If closet space is still tight and there are few open spaces in your home that can be turned into closets, try adding an armoire or wardrobe. This was the furniture piece used for storing clothes back when there weren’t built-in closets. It’s still a popular and practical item in many homes today.
• Try turning an entire wall in a room into a storage area. There are many systems available that can be easily installed. You can close them up by adding doors, or keep them open and airy.
• Kitchens are where you can be most creative in finding extra storage space. To get the best use of kitchen closet space, store as much as possible outside the closets. That means hanging anything that can hang from the ceilings and the walls. Custom-design closets and cupboards for the specific goods each will hold. This may include drawers for knives, shelves for different size cans, jars, etc.
• Adding a shelving rack to the inside of a closet door can make even the shallowest closet seem deeper.
• In a child’s room, don’t limit yourself to the space inside the closet. Use lots of bins, stacking baskets and shelving units throughout the room to store and toss things in.

Source: Ontario Real Estate Association