Happy Canada Day – July 1, 2008
It is a blessing to live in this wonderful country. I am a proud Canadian. There is so much to love from sea to sea to sea. Just once in everyone’s lifetime, it would be wonderful to come to Ottawa and enjoy the day long celebrations. It makes you shiver to be in the crowd, enjoy the entertainment, see our glamourous Governor General and hear the speeches. The fireworks are awesome. It is Canada’s 141st birthday. This is Canada. We stand on guard for thee.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CANADA!
Indiana Jones finds Greely Ontario
This bouquet is for a mom, dad and little boy who visited a model home on Saturday, June 21. The house is part of five model homes being featured in Greeley (south end of Ottawa Canada). The address is 1486 Sandy Beach Court. Built by Villa Homes. See MLS® #695613.
As you can imagine, going up and down stairs, taking shoes on and off, and the summer heat can be tiring. It is always a concern when children visit model homes as the boundaries are different than when they are in their own homes. I have seen children running at top speed up and down stairs, touching walls and furniture with sticky fingers, bouncing on beds, opening and closing every door and slamming some – just because. However, not all children feel compelled to be free spirits. In the situation on Saturday, the mom asked the boy to sit down in the foyer (which was very large) against a wall and to make sure that his legs were not extended out to trip anyone. Once seated, he pulled out his DS Nintendo and started his game. I was curious about what he was playing. He was enthralled with Indiana Jones.
When his parents were ready to leave he put the game on standby, said good-bye to me and went on to the next home to continue his game.
Three Cheers for Indiana Jones, mom, dad and the boy who behaved.
Zingers #5 – Have you got the guts?
Are your gutters so packed with debris that things are growing in the muck? There is definitely no market for a house with little maple trees growing in the gutters. Not only is it unsightly but it also risks water penetration into the house. Clean gutters allow water to run away from the house.
Have some guts.
Three More Things to do to Your Ottawa Front Door Before Listing
Continuing on an earlier blog about painting your front door, I would like to add three more things for you consider doing to the front door before listing.
For your front doorway – if you add a couple of these things you will make a significant impact. Remember, buyers will step into your home through the front door and this and your front yard are where you are making the first impression. Some of these little improvements will cost less than $50.00 but will make an impact of $100s.
I like this picture. You can see the house numbers, the mailbox is new (even if the old one is still stuck in the corner), there are flowers and the glass looks clean. The stairs are wide and debris free. If this house were for sale, the entrance would welcome in a buyer who would have positive feelings before entering.
New doorbell. Start by making sure that the bell works. I ring the doorbell at each house that I visit with my clients. I am not testing if the doorbell works (I just don’t want to walk into a house with the owner coming out of the shower). If the bell doesn’t work, we will know this and start judging your home, before we have stepped over the threshold. Now that it works, you can pump of the house appeal with a funky new bell the ringer and the sound. I know you love your pug but a pug doorbell may not be to everyone’s taste, nor will the false barking or the Battle Hymn of the Republic. If you go to Preston Hardware or other stores with special hardware you can spend hours deciding on how to jewel up your door. I found the Doorbell Factory website that allows you the fun of shopping from your computer. While based in Texas, it appears that the company will ship to Canada. There are lots of wonderful bells available. Just remember, you will be leaving it behind and it will have to appeal to a group of buyers that you have never met. Be careful.
Mail box. Look at your mailbox. Even if your mail is delivered to the central box, you likely have a mailbox by your door for flyers and newspapers. If the box is rusting, lid does not close, newspaper holder is bent and the box looks cheap, please replace it. Again, this is part of the first impression of your house. While we are on the topic of mail, if you hate flyers and have pasted a sign on your door or mailbox discouraging people from leaving flyers, remove it now. I want your house to look welcoming and a negative message from you, in print, right at the door is not a good idea. You want us to think that you and, by extension, your house are loving, welcoming and warm.
House Numbers. It is so important that we can find your house. Are your house numbers visible? Are they large enough to see from the street. Please do not leave rusty little numbers hidden under the mailbox. For a few dollars, you can buy and install some nice big house numbers that are appealing and the buyer can see.
Make a good first impression.
Photo credit Front door @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/gideonstrauss/2480910923/in/photostream/
Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Canada ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email valeriezinger@royallepage.ca
Zingers #4 – Get the edge
To give your house an edge and increase curb appeal, edge your lawn around the walks, trees and flower beds. Fresh edging hints that you have been caring for the house and yard. While this may be a couple of hours of work, it will be an excellent return on your invested time.
Edge out your competition.
The Door to Your Ottawa House Listing
Paint your door. What? Paint wood? Most men will think that you will be struck dead from painting a wood door (or any wood in the house for that matter) but…
Consider painting your front door. When I was in Ireland I fell in love with the doors painted in high gloss primary colours. What a treat!!!! You are going to or living in the house with the yellow (or red, or green or blue) door. From a long line of row houses, it will be apparent which one is yours by the colour of the door. In Ottawa, where row houses are so popular, where the same builders have built every house on the block or neighbourhood, you might want a way to distinguish your home from others. Get together with your neighbours and think of painting each door a different colour. Imagine the impact! Think of what fun it would be to take your door to a new level of interest with bright red or yellow or green. The Irish have it right – row houses with each door painted a different colour. 
All right, maybe the primary colours are not going to work but… you can step away from the white metal door or bland wood door and into a world of some colour. The people at the paint shops can give you help in choosing colours. Remember – If you are going to paint your door, be ready for the comments from your neighbours and do as professional a job with the primer and paint as you can. Have some fun. After all, it is just a door to your house and not the entrance to the Louvre. Okay, one caveat, if you are living in a house with an historical designation you may not be able to apply your creativity to colour choices but then, you already know that.
Photo credit: Strikingly painted front doors, Infirmary Road @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/pnh/112184498/
Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Canada ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email vzinger@royallepage.ca
Zingers #3 – Wipe Your Hands of It
To punch up your bathrooms, buy some new fluffy white towels. Before showing your home, hang the towels in all of your bathrooms. Do not use these towels until after your home has sold.
Fluff and puff your bathroom.
Neighbourly Ottawa -To Be or Not To Be – In Blackburn Hamlet
Spend some time thinking about a move to Blackburn Hamlet.
The “Hamlet” is one of two neighbourhoods completely surrounded by National Capital Commission Greenbelt and other non-residential property.. The other is Bells Corner. Imagine that part of your drive home is through some greenbelt areas. Access is via Innes Road which cuts through the Hamlet or off the 417 to Montreal Road to Bearbrook. The closest neighbourhood is Chapel Hill.
Look for properties on MLS® in areas 2301, 2302 and 2303.
If you like to cross country ski, run, walk, hike or bike, you will love living in Blackburn Hamlet. There are trails galore. This is a community of about 8,500 people who like to get out and enjoy life.
A family can live in one of many styles of affordable houses. In 2007 there were 55 MLS® Listings that sold – 5 semi-detached, 19 row units and 31 detached houses. For these 55 units, the average unit had 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, listed at $277,955, sold for $272,729 and was on the market for 25 days.
Things are increasing in 2008. By mid-May, 10 properties were for sale and 17 were sold. Of those sold, the average list price increased to $316,665, average sold price $312,447 and the listing was on the market for an average of 20 days.
Photo Credit: Hamlet through the trees @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicmcphee/19996784/
Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Canada ~ Ph. 613-723-5300 ~ Email vzinger@royallepage.ca
Zingers #2 – The Price is Right
The right price for your home is what a reasonable buyer will pay in the current market in relation to same or similar properties. Your price as an owner, whether too high or too low, is often a reflection of your emotional value of your home. Objectivity is essential. A REALTOR® can give you an unbiased opinion.
Ask me for a comparative market analysis.
Zingers #1 – Smokin’ Hot is Not
Before you put your house on the market, stop smoking in the house. If needed, wash and/or repaint the walls and ceiling and shampoo the carpet. No room spray will mask the odour of stale cigarette smoke. Open your windows before visitors arrive.
Don’t let the smoke get in the buyers’ eyes.
Welcome
My name is Valerie Zinger. I am a Realtor in Ottawa. I look forward to listing your property or helping you find your home.
Phone: 613-723-5300 Click here to contact Valerie by Email at:
vzinger@royallepage.ca-
