There is no Ottawa Real Estate out there for me…

Maybe you have not found “your” house.  You have been out looking on Open House days and with me at scheduled appointments.  So far, there is nothing for you.  I want you to hang on to hope.

No two houses are identical.  Even if built by the same builder and at the same time, each house is on a different lot.  At minimum, the view is slightly different and the address is not the same.   We might have to see a lot of houses that seem similar to find “your house”.

Over 14,000 Ottawa homes sold last year. Shopping for a house is a bit like shopping at Winners.  What you see is what is in stock.  There is no back room full of available houses waiting for the stock to go down before they come to the market.  It also means that a better house may be available next week or may never be available.  What we know is that just because we didn’t find something this week does not mean that there will never by anything right for you.  Each day new houses come up for sale on the MLS.  We are going to look at them until we find “your house”.

Bidding is a requirement.  Buying a house is a bit like going on EBay.  You have to put in an offer for the house to be in the running to get it.  If you don’t get it, then we keep shopping.  I want you to really like the house but not love it so much that you have to get it at all costs.  What do you think is a reasonable offer and have you any flex for a counter offer?  Pre-determine your maximum.  Stay cool in the offer - counter offer process.  This may mean that at some point you walk away from the house.  Okay, so this just means that we are back shopping. 

Self-qualify.  Each time we see a house, think: “Is this right for me?  What do I have to have?  Is there something that bothers me but that I can live with?  Should I adjust my list of “must haves and nice to haves”?   Think again about the neighbourhood.  “Am I prepared to go further out of the centre of Ottawa and get more house for the same or less money?”  ”Am I willing to do renovate in order to live closer to the centre of town?”  After a few visits, we will rethink your requirements and narrow the search.  I would like to set a target of 12 good visits of houses that meet your criteria and you will find something you want.

Don’t give up.  When we moved to Ottawa, my husband wanted to live in an older centrally located neighbourhood.  We spent the entire summer looking for a house.  I was ready to pack up and go back to Winnipeg.  I rethought my criteria several times.  First it was the sticker shock, then it was the crumbling condition of old houses, then it was hot water radiator heating and so on.  It was just too much.  At one point I was on the bus (yes, public transportation) going to work.  Suddenly, tears sprung from my eyes.  I was overwhelmed - no friends, no house, new job, no Safeway Lucerne yogurt and humidity to kill a westerner.  One day of tears and then we were ouStuck Accordina Bust continuing the search.  Three weeks after the bus meltdown, we found a house. 

There is a lot of stress in moving.  With my experience, I can help you through some of the best and worst of the search.  

Don’t Get Stuck in Your Thinking

Photo Credit:  Stuck Accordian Bus by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/allie-in-wonderland/2102492616/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email: vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Stay on the Sunnyside of Life ~ Open House March 16, 2008 ~ 339 Sunnyside ~$525,000

339 SunnysideI will be hosting an Open House on Sunday, March 16.  The townhouse is located at 339 Sunnyside in Old Ottawa South.  It is a half block from Bank Street.

I am looking forward to this event as this will be the first Open House for this address.   Luigi Aiello, one of the top salespeople in Royal Lepage Gale, has this Listing.  When we toured the home earlier this week, the builder, Kelly Hembruff, showed me the many features of this wonderful residence.  If you are looking for a unique, ultra-modern home this will be the place for you.

The picture you see is of the front of the building.  It is not yet complete as there will be three tempered glass panels installed - one between the driveway and the front door, one along half of the balcony on the second floor and the third rising vertically from the second to the third floor.  It will be stunning when completed.  The building will be ready in about a month. 

There is approximately 1500 square feet of space.  I think this would be ideal for a single person or a couple.  There is no yard to maintain so weekends are free to go to the cottage, Montreal or Toronto.  There are two bedrooms on the third floor, an open space on the second floor that includes the kitchen, dining and living space and an office / family room on the main floor just as you enter.  If you have a home-based business this room would be a dream come true.  Clients and customers would be able to have appointments with you by stepping into the front door.  The basement will be completed with 40 oz carpet over radiant heated cement.  This room could be used for relaxation, a mini-gym or fancy storage.  

I like this townhouse.   It could be because the architect, James Colizza, also designed my home and I know that the design and construction are first rate.

Come see 339 Sunnyside on the 16th or call me for an appointment.

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph.  613-723-5300 ~ Email vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Get Your Butt to Ottawa

Have you been considering a move to Ottawa.  Well, now is the time to get your ___ to Ottawa. 

Musical RideOne of my favourite things about Ottawa is the accessibility of the RCMP stables where the horses of the Musical Ride are kept.  

You can tour the stables, see the horses, visit the tack shop, and generally get a good dose of ……. national pride. The RCMP website    has information about the Ride and the formations:  ”Months of training, practice and many kilometres/miles around the riding school make horse and rider one. The horses must not only appear in the Musical Ride, but on Parliament Hill, in parades, special events and have the ability to travel and adapt to different environments, not to mention, hours of petting and photo-taking that the horses must patiently endure.”map-to-the-rsmp-stables.jpg 

I know I would not be too happy if someone took a picture of my backside. 

When you live in Ottawa people come to visit and you get to be the tour guide.  After many times of seeing the same thing, I now drive my friends by the stables and the yard.  We get out, we pat a horse (if it comes to the fence), we take a picture and voila - the musical ride revisited.  To get to the stables, the RCMP site provided this simple map. 

If you would like a different kind of ride around Ottawa to look at homes not horses call me today.

Photo credit:  Riders on the Hill  by:http://flickr.com/photos/nikkis_pikkis/1096203786/in/photostream/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ email:  vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Neighbourly Ottawa - Sandy is Dandy

Ottawa Real Estate Neighbourhoods: Sandy Hill

If you are looking to buy a house in Ottawa, Sandy Hill might be just what you are looking for.

The Neighbourhood.  This neighbourhood is bounded by the Rideau River on the east, the Rideau Canal on the west, Rideau Street on the north and the Queensway / 417 on the south.  This is a very eclectic neighbourhood.  The hilly and sandy soil means buildings are low.  The variety of housing is huge. 

Approximately 12,000 people and 30 embassies.  Many of the large estate homes, built in the early part of the 20th century, have been converted for use as Embassies.  It is interesting to walk in the area and see the flags of these countries flying.  One conversion, that I like, is the  facility now used for the Cordon Bleu Cooking School .  The house construction began in 1874 by Scottish lumberman James Mather. It has gone through many uses and conversions and continues to be a beautiful building. 

Sandy Hill for higher education.  The University of Ottawa, sitting on the west side of Sandy Hill, is the draw for student housing.  Faculty live in the area as do people wanting the ability to walk downtown or to the Byward Market for work and pleasure.  The more expensive housing is generally located on the east side, near the Rideau River.  House hunting here is fun because every type of housing is available with many wonderful and sometimes quirky features behind those closed doors.  Be ready of surprises.

 Photo credit:  IMG_1472 on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/lachlansands/2142131187/

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

 

Five Remarkable Ottawa Differences in Real Estate

Here are five things that people moving here have noticed as different.

Brick Houses.   Especially if you come from Newfoundland and the west, you will notice that Ottawa builders have made liberal use of bricks in construction.  Oh, you will find stucco somewhere and you will find clapboard and siding but brick has been the historical material of choice.  When you live here you will learn never to paint exterior brick and to expect to have to re-point brick every few decades.

2 Licence Plates - The Ministry of Transport did not issue you a plate and a spare.  You, by law, are expected to install both - one on the front and the other on the back of the car.  It was a bit of surprise, when my front plate went missing (okay, I snapped it right off the car when I scraped the curb while parking), that I was expected to go to the Motor Vehicle Branch and get another plate - at a cost.   It is now $20.00.  If you have vanity plates, it is $94.20.

Brown Paper Bags - For the first week I was in Ottawa, I noticed several people walking around the streets holding small brown paper bags.  My experience in Winnipeg led me to think that these held a mickey of some type of booze.  I first suspected an error in judgement when I noticed that there were more and better dressed drunks in Ottawa than in Winnipeg.  Surprise!  Those bags held hot, greasy, wonderful french fries from one of several Ottawa Chip Wagons.  Here is a photo from Flickr of my favourite chip wagon at the corner of Bank and Lisgar. 

Taking the Bus.  While there is public transportation in all the major cities, the use of public transportation by the government sector is impressive.  Buses coming to the downtown area are full of public servants, from Assistant Deputy Ministers on through the various organizations.  I have never seen a Deputy Minister on the bus - they have cars and drivers.  In the west, it is a sign of hitting upon economic hard times if you take the bus.  The people in Toronto and Montreal sneer at our public transportation system but Ottawa users find it reasonably good.  Certainly, reading your BB mail or briefing materials on the trip out to Kanata is better than driving your car on the 417 in rush hour traffic.

Canada Day.  Ottawa is the nation’s capital and Canada Day is wonderful.  Everyone goes to Parliament Hill at least once for Canada Day.  It is a long day of events, a recognition of our great country and a display of our pride.  If you don’t go to “The Hill” then you will find street parties, community parties and other private events happening all over the region.  It is wonderful. 

These are just five things that you may notice as differences. 

Let me help you find a home that can really make a difference for you. 

Photo Credit: Lisgar Street - Kent to Bank 6, by http://www.flickr.com/photos/dugspr/731314680/

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

 

Neighbourly Ottawa - Be “Civic” Minded

The Civic Hospital -  MLS District 4504.

Location.  The Civic Hospital Area is bounded by the Queensway / 417 on the north, Bayswater on the west, Carling Avenue on the south and Island Park Drive on the west.  Driving downtown takes 8 minutes from starting the car to parking.  Simply by walking to Preston Street or Wellington Avenue you will have over 3 dozen options of where to dine.

Neighbourhood.  There is a feeling of true neighbourhood - wide tree-lined streets with houses set several feet apart and yards varying in size from infill lots to property that extends from one street through to the next.  This is a friendly neighbourhood where people know their neighbours.  Help is available just by asking.  I am surprised at the number of neighbourhood parties from a friendly drop by for wine to Christmas and Canada Day events.

Knock Knock.  Who is there?  Many single people and young families have moved into the neighbourhood.  As families grow, people are renovating rather than moving out of the Civic Hospital area.  Some homes were built in the early part of the 20th century while others are currently under construction.  A new trend is to buy, level and build.  There is a range of housing from condos, multiple family and large and small homes. 

It’s the big one, Elizabeth.  You cannot ignore the hospital as part of the community.  I have told my husband how comforting it is to know how close the Heart Institute is as we get older.  I will be able to just wheel him up the hill in one of our office chairs and save the bother of waiting for an ambulance.  About those sirens, there are none.  Ambulances turn off the sirens so that they don’t wake up the hospitalized.  It is very quiet.

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

Get Moving: Is Ottawa Shelving Another Paper?

What’s on your shelf?

As part of planning your move, and something you can start buying before you move in, get shelving paper. 

The Lost Art.  You might think that lining shelves is a lost art but I highly recommend doing it.  Before every move, I go out and buy several rolls of plastic coated, non sticky, installed-on-damp-shelf, contact/shelving paper.  You can find it at most hardware stores, including the Dollarama stores around Ottawa. 

Acres of Paper.  Before my last move, I found a checked paper (that was useful because it gave me cutting lines) and bought 10 rolls.  Once into the job, I had to go out and buy another 15 rolls.  Mind you, at a dollar a roll, this was not a huge expense.  The shelves and drawers in your kitchen and bathrooms require a surprisingly enormous number of square feet/metres.  The good news is that, if you get the right type of shelving paper, you only have to do it once. 

Why, why why.  Lining shelves takes a lot of time, a bit of money and sense that maybe you are too fussy.  Unless your new home is truly new, someone else has had time to spill unknown substances and mark up the drawers and shelves.  Moving in is the perfect time to put down the paper.  There is nothing in the cupboards or drawers and you are going to want to clean these before you put your things away.  I have done this in every house I have lived in and every time I said it would be the last time.  Now I know that it is part psychological as I believe it is more sanitary and part forward thinking. 

Line now to save later. When you go to sell your house at a later date, the shelves and drawers will look good.  Potential buyers are notorious inspectors.  They love to open drawers and cupboard doors. Imagine how positive they will feel when they see clean lined shelves.  When you are moving out, all you have to do is pull out the lining and, voila, the shelves are clean.  There will be less work and time saved as you leave.

Valerie Zinger ~Ph: 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Get Moving: A Front Door Mat and an Ottawa Locksmith

Between the time of buying your new house and getting possession, there are some things you can do to get organized and ready.

Door with welcome matNew Front Door Mat. Before moving, have some fun and buy new front and back door mats. You won’t have to worry about getting them to fit. Most door mats are small so that they fit in front of the doors. While sizes vary, they are about 3 feet wide. These are for you, the movers, your family and your friends to use. The movers will put drop cloths down inside the house but not outside the door. Moving day is about having a lot of people traipsing in and out of your house. On a dry warm day, this might not be a problem but not everyone moves on ideal days. Get some mats.

Locksmiths and alarm codes. On the day you get possession, the sellers are required to provide their lawyer a key to their house. Your lawyer will get the key and provide it to you, the buyer, when the paperwork is signed. Now the house is yours. While most sellers will try to scoop up all the extra keys to their house to give to you (sometimes leaving them on the kitchen counter), there is no guarantee that they have got all of them. People seem to give out their house keys and the alarm codes to family members, friends, neighbours, cleaning staff and other professionals that may need access to the house. I finally tossed keys from my house in Calgary, five moves later.  Call a locksmith to come out and rekey the lock. It would be good to do this within the first few days. The alarm codes and making these changes depends upon the company that has the system and whether or not you assumed the contract.

Sleep easy. It would be a terrible surprise to wake up in the middle of the night and hear someone unlocking the door. Find a locksmith and change the locks.

Photo credit:  Door with a welcome mat by:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/h3h/400307697/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph: 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

Neighbourly Ottawa - My Hint about Hintonburg

According to the April 2007 enRoute Magazine, Hintonburg is one of the top ten emerging neighbourhoods in Canada.

Opportunity knocks. This is a neighbourhood undergoing change.

Where. Hintonburg is bordered by the O-Train line on the east, the transitway on the north, Holland Avenue or Island Park Drive (depending on who is doing the definition) on the west and the Queensway / 417 on the south.

Get back to Hintonburg. You can get home from downtown in less than 10 minutes by car, be back from your cottage in the Gatineau cottage country by crossing the Pont Champlain / Island Park Drive bridge or crossing the Pont Chaudière, a little further east. If you are out in Kanata or in Orleans, your exit is at Parkdale and minutes later, you are home. Wellington, the main street through Hintonburg brings you directly back from the Parliament Buildings when you go west and back from Westboro when you go east. This is a great location, accessible from all parts of the city.

Be ready.Hintonbury is at the edge of revitalization. According to the April 2007 enRoute Magazine, Hintonburg is one of the top ten emerging neighbourhoods in Canada. Old houses, new condos, infill housing, the Parkdale Market, the Urban Element and the Great Canadian Theatre Company provide just some of the mix - old and new.

Now serving 7,500 people. The Hintonburg Community Association is active and ensuring that the needs of the community are being addressed. Residents of Hintonburg live in single family, multiple family homes, condos and apartments. This has been a mature stable area since it was established in the late 1800s and now finds itself going through change. The growth in demand for condos in the urban areas has resulted in construction on available land in Hintonburg. People are looking to move to Hintonburg.

Like the Glebe, housing will be upgraded as young professionals and people in the arts see the opportunities to renovate and make this community their home.

Take a look at Hintonburg (MLS Map Districts 4202 and 4203).

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph: 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

 

Ottawa Real Estate: 7 Reasons to Work with Valerie Zinger

I think we not me. I firmly believe that real estate is not about me, it is about we. When we work together as a team it will work best for you.

Current and contemporary. I bring a creative and innovative approach to real estate as you can tell just by reading this website/blog. The website is dynamic and changing just as I will be dynamic and open to change to meet your needs.

From houses to homes. I love transforming houses into homes. I know how important it is to find the right home, not just a house.

Ottawa and beyond. I have lived in Ottawa for 11 years and I know our city well. Yet, I have also lived in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, and Calgary so I bring knowledge of different cities to what you are looking for. If you are moving to Ottawa from the west, we have an instant connection. At the same time, the people of Newfoundland have embraced me as one of their people - I am open and friendly. Yes, I talk to people in elevators (strangers when we started the trip and friends when it is finished).

I am connected. I work with a first class brokerage, Royal Lepage Gale. I am backed by the Brokers and the sales people in the company. Their generous provision of time, advice and direction means that you are getting decades of experience for your unique sale or purchase. There is a team providing support.

Fresh perspectives woven with experience. You get the freshness of a new realtor woven together with vast experience in leadership, government, and management.

I put you first.

Valerie Zinger ~ Ph: 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

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