Prosperity Goldfish - 8 Gold and 1 Black

Posted on July 3, 2009 
Filed Under Buying Your New Home, Listing and Selling Your Home, Valerie Zinger | 1 Comment

Are you buying, selling or staying in your Ottawa home?  No matter what, who could not use more prosperity in their lives?

Are you attracted to fish and aquariums?   If so, buy 8 goldfish and 1 black goldfish to put in the aquarium.  In Feng Shui, 8 represents prosperity, thus 8 gold fish.  The ninth fish, black, represents bad luck and misfortune.  This fish will absorb or receive the bad luck in the house.  If one of the fish dies, replace it as quickly as possible. 

If you are not fond of aquariums, you can bring some of the same type of prosperity into the house with a poster showing the 8 gold and 1 black fish.  On the posters, these will be depicted as koi fish.  If you have no place for the poster, then you might want to put a fish ornament on your coffee table.  There are placement issues.  If you visit a shop selling Chinese artifacts or take out a library book on Feng Shui, you will get the information on where to place the aquarium or poster or fish ornament. 

 There is nothing fishy about prosperity.

Photo credit:  Koi are Koi @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/35188692@N00/2252690725/

 

Happy Canada Day - July 1, 2009

Posted on July 1, 2009 
Filed Under Ottawa Today, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

 

 

 

Britannia Ottawa - Sales in 2008

Posted on June 29, 2009 
Filed Under Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Sales Statistics, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

 

 

The sales in 2008 for condos in Britannia all occured in three buildings on  Greenview Avenue, Poulin Avenue and Regina Street.  The beauty of Britannia is the sense of being in a small village and so close to the river.  This is a great community for walkers.  In 2008, the MLS showed the following sales (noting that DOM means Days on the Market):

 

 

 Residential Sales:  45 units

Condominium Sales - 25 units

If you have any questions or are looking for a home in Britannia, call me.

Photo credit:  Pools of Tulipes by J.J. Zinger

 

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

Get Moving - Middle of the week

Posted on June 26, 2009 
Filed Under Moving, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

If you have options on the days to move, see if you can arrange your personal life to coincide with a move in the middle of the week move.  You will get a better rate and have more time and focused attention from the movers.  If you are renting a truck, the rates and availability are better in the middle of the week. 

It is true that that moving companies often hire from day labour centres for loading and unloading vans.  While these men may be strong, they may not have a lot of experience getting heavy and awkward furniture into stairwells, elevators, around tight corners, etc.  Ask a lot of questions about the move from prospective movers. 

This is really a case of……..

Mover Beware

Photo credit:  Allison and Lee’s Moving Van @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/loyaldefender2004/2487530201/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Zingers #54 - Rolling in dough

Posted on June 24, 2009 
Filed Under Valerie Zinger, Zingers | Leave a Comment

From the return on the sale of your home.  This is what happens when you make improvements in your home.  In most cases, spending some money before selling your house will result in an improved sale – sooner and at a better offer.

 Spend a few bucks to make a lot of dough.

Bridlewood - Sales in 2008

Posted on June 22, 2009 
Filed Under Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Sales Statistics | Leave a Comment

Bridlewood is the community between Eagleson Road and Richmond Road.  People in Bridlewood know that, when the Senators are playing, they take the longer but quicker route down Richmond Road and avoid the 417.  Homes in this neighbourhood have been built over the past 30 plus years.  There are recent builds as well.  There have been many different builders in this community - Cadillac Fairview, MacDonald, Tamarack, Urbandale, Coscan, Holitzer, Valecraft, etc.  If you have a favourite builder, there is a good chance that there will be his/her homes in Bridlewood.

In 2008, sales were brisk with an average Days on the Market of 24. The MLS listings show sales as follows: 

Residential Sales: 162 units as follows:

Condominium Sales - 3 units

If you have any questions or are interested in seeing homes in Bridlewood, please give me a call.

 Photo credit:  Adrice Smitton

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

Get Moving - Your LIFO Box

Posted on June 19, 2009 
Filed Under Moving, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

 

What should you have in your “last on the van, first out of the van” box?  These are the things that you are going to want first.  There are some things that a just necessary in an empty house (before the boxes are unpacked). If you are not moving locally, you will want a box that will be the first thing you open at your new house so that you can have a drink of water and use the washroom.  Here are some items I consider important for your LIFO box:

 

Your LIFO Box will save your sanity.

Photo credit:  Bright red tea kettle (brand new) @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickey_glitter/2205306872/

Zingers #53 - Table Dancing

Posted on June 17, 2009 
Filed Under Valerie Zinger, Zingers | Leave a Comment

You might want to show off how big your diningroom is by taking out the leaves in your table and pushing in the chairs.  It looks like a lot of walk-around space.  In fact, as long as there is some room, leave the leaves in the table.  Most Buyers want to know if a crowd will fit around the table at Thanksgiving.    

 Whether dancing or eating off it, your table should be big.

Craig Henry/Woodvale - Sales in 2008

Posted on June 15, 2009 
Filed Under Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Sales Statistics, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

The community is inside the green belt.  It is bordered by the rail tracks on the north and Hunt Club West on the south, Greenbank on the east and Woodroffe on the west.  Being inside the greenbelt means quicker access through the 417 to downtown.  There are mostly detached homes in the neighbourhood with building beginning in the early to mid-80s and some newer Minto homes built in the past decade.  This established neighbourhood has parks, schools, churches and transportation access.  Many of the homes are custom built by such companies as MacDonald, Garand and Regional.  The majority of condos are townhome style and are situated closer to Woodroffe (and Algonquin College).

Last year the MLS system shows 38 sales in the neighbourhood as follows:

Residential Sales: 38 units as follows:

Condominium Sales - 16 units

Photo credit:  Adrice Smitton

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

Get Moving - Pick your Packers

Posted on June 12, 2009 
Filed Under Moving, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

If you are going to pay for a move (rather than be moved by your company), decide how much you want to pay to have your things packed.  Most companies will not insure things they have not packed.  If you can, pack all the non-breakables yourself.  Now decide what of your breakable items would you want to replace if broken (such as the glass on your pictures and the crystal collection from your wedding. 

Go to a moving company and buy some moving boxes, sturdy tape and the large roll of unbleached paper.  It is not costly and the packing paper is superior to newsprint that will stain all of your things with ink.  Do not fold your boxes open or closed.  Use the tape.  If you fold, then it will be impossible to slide the boxes one on top of the other. 

Packing books and papers?  Remember that these weigh a lot so keep your smaller boxes for printed material.  Use the large boxes for bedding, winter coats, pillows, etc. 

Now that you have packed some of your own stuff, get the movers in for any really valuable dishes, glasses and crystal.  Have them pack your framed artwork. 

Pack your papers and pick your packers.

Photo credit:  boxes @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/emmajane/65585561/

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