Listing Your Ottawa Home - Exclusions

If there is one huge tip that I can give to home sellers it is this:  Do not have any exclusions in your lisitng.  Exclusions are those things that could be included in the sale but that you, the home owner, have decided to take with you after the sale.  Often these are things that make the house presentable.  Here is passage from a listing that shows what the homeowner is showing off but not including: 

“above exclusions include curtains/rods in Master bdrm and 2nd bdrm, mirror in EB, stained glass inset at front door.”

Many Buyers will focus on what is NOT included rather than what is included.  Is this what you want?  I strongly recommend Sellers take down their precious curtains and rods and buy some roller blinds to put in the window (and make sure that they patch and paint the holes from the rods), replace the irreplaceable mirror with art or with another, less expensive, mirror that will be left with the house.  Finally, the stained glass should stay or be removed and replaced with window wallpaper, if privacy is an issue.   

If you decide to sell your home tonight, take time to ensure that what Buyers are seeing is what they are getting.  This is a case of WYSIWYG -

What you see is what you get.

Photo credit:  Stained glass window of birds nesting there … @  http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/3355936980/

Zingers #68 - Habitat for all of humanity

If there are any surplus building materials in mint condition that you have from renovating or from finally cleaning your basement and garage, consider donating these to the Habitat for Humanity stores.  We are all concerned about the environment.  Keep your still good things from filling landsites.

Reduce, reuse and recycle.

Ottawa Real Estate Availability Today - Bridlewood

If you are looking for a home in Bridlewood MLS® area 9004, the following property types and price ranges are available* as of this morning:

*These statistics are derived from the Multiple Listing Service® and do not include those properties available through other means such as private sales and transfers.

If you are interested in more information or want to know what becomes available on a daily basis in this area, please contact me at vzinger@royallepage.ca .

Housewarming Gifts - 3 Ideas for Ottawa Friends with a New Baby

First - what is a baby if not new?  In any case, this is a common expression so…..

You may have friends moving because the baby needs to have a room and some toy space.  Have you ever seen how many things parents receive as gifts for their child?  How about their own personal temptation to buy out the toy department?  Giving them a gift is going to be a bit more of a challenge.

1.  A babysitting and restaurant gift certificate for an evening out without the baby.  You can swoop in, take care of the baby for 2 hours (hopefully between feedings and diaper changes) and give the stressed parents a120 minutes of relief.

2.  Assuming that this is a bigger house, with more electrical outlets and cupboard doors, then go to the safety gadgets section for door barriers, plastic plug protectors and door hinges that open only by adults.  I have also seen the doorknob covers that require pressure before a door can be opened.  (Hint:  When you are selling your house make sure that the real estate agents will be able to open all the cupboards and doors.)

3.  A couple of frozen casseroles that the parents can heat up and eat quickly while they are unpacking.  You may also want to include some wine, plastic plates and cutlery.  Tie it all up in a brown paper grocery bag and colourful ribbon.  If you cook the casserole and package it in tin foil containers, then you will not have worry about getting the containers back (or just give the containers as part of your gift).

Babysit, protect and feed.

 Photo credit:  Wine Bottle and Glasses @   http://www.flickr.com/photos/crouchy69/3753750409/

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