Ottawa Neighbourhood MLS® Sales 2009 - Elmvale Acres

Posted on February 15, 2010 
Filed Under Comparable Properties Sales Statistics, Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

Elmvale Acres MLS® Areas 3701 through 3705

 

Residential              133 Units

Detached                 118 Units; Average Price Sold $303,616, Average DOM – 23

Row                              5 Units; Average Price Sold $371,200, Average DOM – 26

Semi Detached        10  Units; Average Price Sold $243,250, Average DOM – 46

 Condos                    27 Units

Average Price Sold $175,259, Average DOM – 33

 Multiple Family      1 Unit

Photo credit:  Adrice Smitton

What has been swept under the rug?

Posted on February 12, 2010 
Filed Under Listing and Selling Your Home, Things Buyers May Notice, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

The expression “to sweep under the rug” means to hide something in the hopes that no one will notice.  For some Sellers what is being hidden under an area rug is a damaged hardwood floor.  Maybe there are stains, maybe the wood is cracked, maybe the last sanding on the hardwood took off the veneer and there are spots where no hardwood exists.  Another problem that happens in all homes with area rugs on hardwood is sun damage.  The wood under the rug, not exposed to the sun, will remain a true colour.  The wood exposed is likely a lot lighter in colour.  When Buyers are looking at homes with seemingly wonderful hardwood floors, be sure to check under the area rug to get an indication of the true nature of the floors or write in a condition in the offer to have the floors refinished if there are problems. 

I love this room in the “Beach House”.  See the great area rug.  If this was on the market, I would like to know if the condition of the wood under the rug is as wonderful as that seen at the edges.  When buying a house, get as much information before making an offer as is possible. 

Photo credit:  Beach House Living Room @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerryanndame/3776968872/

Zingers #85 - Toilet tank and seat cover

Posted on February 10, 2010 
Filed Under Valerie Zinger, Zingers | Leave a Comment

What?  If you have them and use them, store them away until after you move.  I know that in summer the tank “sweats” but during the sale just towel off the humidity.  If the toilet seat is covered, buyers will think “granny decorating” and wonder what else has not been updated. 

Don’t flush away your move.

Ottawa Neighbourhood MLS® Sales 2009 - Alta Vista

Posted on February 8, 2010 
Filed Under Comparable Properties Sales Statistics, Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

Alta Vista MLS® Areas 3601 through 3609

 

Residential              258 Units

Detached                 207 Units; Average Price Sold $421,090, Average DOM – 34

Row                           41 Units; Average Price Sold $327,960, Average DOM – 29

Semi Detached         10 Units; Average Price Sold $285,788, Average DOM – 63

Condos                    73 Units - Average Price Sold $270,982, Average DOM – 54

Multiple Family      2 Units

Photo credit:  Adrice Smitton

 

What a waste!

Posted on February 5, 2010 
Filed Under Listing and Selling Your Home, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

Everyone has garbage.  What you do with your garbage when your house is on the market is an issue.  It is obvious that the household garbage should be emptied into the trash cans outside each morning before leaving for work.  Even empty, large garbage cans are an eyesore.  It amazes me how many people think that leaving a huge trash / garbage can in the middle of the kitchen is okay.  Now, as we get closer to having to green bin the kitchen waste, there is an increased opportunity for some type of offending sight or smell. 

Don’t we all think that the garbage is under the sink?  Even if you need an industrial size garbage can for your large family, during the house marketing period, get in the habit of using only the bin under the sink. 

 Remove your large bin.  It will make your kitchen look bigger and cleaner. 

 Photo credit:  Close @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/kellysue/986904611/sizes/o/

Zingers #84 - Towel dry

Posted on February 3, 2010 
Filed Under Valerie Zinger, Zingers | Leave a Comment

Buyers have aversions to other people’s bathrooms.  It may be a perception of germs or just our current phobias.  In any case, if you want your bathrooms to look extra clean, hang fluffy white towels before every showing.  New towels add a clean sanitary-looking touch.

Towel dry your sale.

Ottawa Neighbourhood MLS® Sales 2009 - Westboro

Posted on February 1, 2010 
Filed Under Comparable Properties Sales Statistics, Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

Westboro MLS® Areas 5001, 5002 and 5003

Residential              129 Units

Detached                 73 Units; Average Price Sold $465,602, Average DOM – 22

Row                         18 Units; Average Price Sold $393,527, Average DOM – 32

Semi Detached       38 Units; Average Price Sold $489,221, Average DOM – 55 

Condos                    35 Units  Average Price Sold $437,906, Average DOM – 71 

Multiple Family      2 Units

Painting Makes All the Difference

Posted on January 29, 2010 
Filed Under Listing and Selling Your Home, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

If your house is looking a bit tired and dated, the quickest way to make it attractive to Buyers is to paint the principle rooms in a neutral but modern palate.  A quick trip to a paint store will be invaluable.  Find the cards that show the trends and use one that will complement your existing furniture and furnishings but still let the Buyers notice how updated the rooms look. If you need colour in the room, look for a big picture, pillows and some accessories. 

Two trends that seem to be less popular are feature walls and painting techniques such as rag rolling and other special touches.  Putting sand in the paint does not fool Buyers into thinking there are no issues with bad walls.  Finding the faux suede technique fun is still no reason to inflict it on Buyers. Combing through the paint to make it look like linen or denim just means more time sanding the walls when a Buyer sees himself trying to get rid of the technique.  Classy, plain painting in neutral colours - voila  - the vanilla flavour of painting.

If your baseboards and window frames are in good shape, it could take as little as a half day to edge and paint a room.  Remember, red is not as popular as it once was and it takes up to four coats to get the right intensity.  Avoid anything requiring more than two coats.  Use a tinted primer and that will speed up the process.  If you have a good edging brush, try goingg without tape.   If you cannot get a nice clean line, tape before you paint and it will safe you hours of touch up work. 

Finally, if you accidently put paint on the ceiling, immediately remove it.  I have seen too many houses with bad paint jobs and the roller marks on the ceiling is always the first sign of an amateur job.  

Photo credit:  Brushes at the ready @ flickr.com/photos/alancleaver/4121413457/in/set-72157606825074174/

Zingers #83 - Black sheep of the family

Posted on January 28, 2010 
Filed Under Valerie Zinger, Zingers | Leave a Comment

Did your teenager, the black sheep in the family, insist on black/navy blue/blood red/forest green walls in his bedroom?  These walls are going to require three or more coats of primer and paint just so you or the buyer will not see the colour bleed through.  Start painting those walls now. 

Baa, Baa Black Sheep, have you any white?

Ottawa Neighbourhood MLS® Sales 2009 - Hintonburg

Posted on January 25, 2010 
Filed Under Comparable Properties Sales Statistics, Ottawa Neighbourhoods, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

Mechanicsville

Hintonburg and West Centre Town

(MLS® Areas 4201 - 4205)

Residential              135 Units

Detached                 71 Units; Average Price Sold $299,034, Average DOM – 27

Row                           33 Units; Average Price Sold $321,407, Average DOM – 24

Semi Detached       31 Units; Average Price Sold $327,364, Average DOM – 23

 

Condos                    42 Units

Average Price Sold $274,393, Average DOM – 20

 

Multiple Family      14 Units

Average Price Sold $380,142, Average DOM – 43

 

 

Photo credit:  Adrice Smitton

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