Courtesy of Blair Patton

Sutton Group Preferred Realty Inc., Brokerage

2008-2019, 2025

2020-2024

BLAIR PATTON Sales Representative

Direct: 519.630.9883 | Office: 519.438.2222 blairpatton@rogers.com | www.BlairPatton.com

2026 | ISSUE 3

A SIMPLE GUIDE TO BATHROOM WALLPAPER

Wallpaper is a wonderful way to quickly change the look and feel of a room. Bathrooms are a popular space for wallpaper because they are smaller, making it easier and more affordable to try out this design trend. When choosing wallpaper, look for a vinyl option that is easy to clean and can withstand moisture from the shower or bath. Bold, colourful patterns are especially popular in bathrooms, where one statement wall is covered and the remaining walls are painted a complementary colour. Be sure to prime the walls with a mould-proof primer to help the wallpaper adhere properly. Once the walls are clean and dry, apply the wallpaper using a high quality, mould-resistant adhesive. You may need to use extra adhesive around the edges of the room, particularly near showers, due to humidity. With the right materials and proper preparation, wallpaper can add lasting style and personality to even the smallest bathroom spaces.

Strawberry SPOON CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

• Cooking spray (for the cake pan) • 10 ounces strawberries, hulled and quartered (about 2 cups) • 1 lemon, zested and juiced* • 1 stick (113g) salted butter, melted • ½ cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar, divided

• ⅓ cup buttermilk • 1 cup all-purpose flour • ½ teaspoon baking powder • ¼ teaspoon baking soda • Vanilla ice cream, for serving

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Set oven rack in center. Grease an 8” cake pan with spray. 2.Combine strawberries, lemon zest, juice and 1 Tbsp sugar in a small bowl. Set aside. 3.In a medium bowl, stir together melted butter and remaining ½ cup sugar. Add buttermilk, flour, baking powder and baking soda. Stir until combined. 4.Scrape batter into prepared cake pan and spread into an even layer. Spoon strawberries (and juices) evenly on top of batter. Don’t push the strawberries down. 5.Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the top and edges are golden brown. The strawberry juices in the center of the cake will be bubbling. They will thicken while cooling. 6.Cool for about 5 minutes. Spoon warm cake into bowls, serve with vanilla ice cream. *Exact quantities of zest and juice will vary. Zest the lemon first, then extract the juice.

START WHERE YOU ARE. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. DO WHAT YOU CAN.”

ARTHUR ASHE

HOW TO TROUBLESHOOT FLICKERING LIGHTS AT HOME

When the lightbulbs in your home start flickering, you might be tempted to call an electrician. However, there are a few things you can check first to save time, energy and money. Start by replacing the light bulb. Most flickering issues are caused by faulty or loose bulbs. Make sure the bulb is screwed in securely and that it is compatible with the switch. Dimmer switches only work with certain types of bulbs, so using the wrong one can cause flickering. If that doesn’t solve the problem, inspect the light switch itself. An older or worn out switch may simply need to be replaced. Other potential causes include corrosion or loose connections within the light fixture. In some cases, replacing the fixture may resolve the issue and this is often a project you can handle yourself. Be sure to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions and always shut off the breaker before doing any electrical work.

WORD SUDOKU

Fill in the grid with the letters S, U, N, F, L, O, W, E and R, making sure no letter is repeated in every row, every column and within each mini grid.

There is a lot more to showing your home than decluttering. Aside from cleaning, removing personal items, staging and turning on all the lights, scents can make or break your home’s atmosphere. A warm apple pie scent may sound enticing, but you might want to reconsider. Overpowering scents can distract buyers, making them focus on the smell instead of your home’s key selling points. They also associate smells with cleanliness, comfort and freshness, which can influence perception of the home’s value. Lingering cooking odours, pet odors, smoke, garbage and artificial air fresheners can immediately turn buyers off of your home. Instead, remove odours whenever possible by opening windows, removing the source of the scent, deep cleaning and vacuuming. Using an air purifier can also be beneficial. The best scent is no scent because the goal is to let buyers focus on your home and not the smells. THE SURPRISING ROLE OF SCENTS IN SELLING YOUR HOME

SOLUTION

How can you drop a raw egg from a height onto a concrete floor without cracking it Concrete floors are very hard to crack.

What goes through cities and fields, but never moves? A road.

A man goes out for a walk during a storm with nothing to protect him from the rain. He doesn’t have a hat, a hood or an umbrella. But by the end of his walk, there isn’t a single wet hair on his head. Why doesn’t the man have wet hair? He’s bald.

It has keys, but no locks. It has space, but no room. You can enter, but can’t go inside. What is it? A keyboard.

AVERAGE HOME PRICE REMAINS STEADY

410 SOLD LISTINGS 38.9% SALES TO NEW LISTING RATIO 1,055 NEW LISTINGS 2,421 ACTIVE LISTINGS (residential inventory)

$561,600 all residential DOWN 13.3% year-to-year

Benchmark Price

5.9 MONTHS OF INVENTORY

London, ON – In February, 410 homes changed hands via the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) of the London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR). Although down 18.7% compared to the same month a year ago, the home sales jumped up from January, which saw 341 homes sold. “We’re encouraged by the uptick in sales,” said Robin Tiller, LSTAR’s 2026 Chair. “There is a lot of pent-up demand, and we’ll be closely watching the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate announcement scheduled for March 18.” Average sales price in February was $622,414, down 3.5% from February 2025 and on par with the $624,550 average price recorded in January. Statistics reflect market activity in February 2026 | Source: London St. Thomas Association of REALTORS ® | Market values stated are of the benchmark of London St. Thomas. Individual home market values vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

#7 in sales at Sutton for 2025

PLATINUM AWARD

The greatest compliment my clients can give me is the referral of family and friends! BLAIR PATTON Sales Representative Direct: 519.630.9883 | Office: 519.438.2222 blairpatton@rogers.com | www.BlairPatton.com

2025

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