Zingers #19 - Trap a Buyer

Posted on October 1, 2008 
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You might not trap a buyer if you leave ant traps and mouse traps in view.  We all know that those pesky critters can get in any house in Ottawa but why advertise that you are in the throes of a vermin battle.  While your house is for sale, put away the mouse trap and the ant traps.

 Trap your buyer using only a quality house and good taste.

Sometimes it is not about real estate (2)

Posted on September 29, 2008 
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What do prisoners use to call each other? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cell Phones

Photo credit:  Cell phone madness @http://www.flickr.com/photos/adrianblack/1225514850/

Four Rs of Residential Real Estate

Posted on September 26, 2008 
Filed Under Buying Your New Home, Listing and Selling Your Home, Valerie Zinger | 1 Comment

1.  Remuneration - Buying or selling a home involves payments for the house, the realtor, the movers and all other service providers such as building inspectors, lawyers and insurance people.

2.  Research - Not many people buy the first house they see.  A lot of time is spent by buyers and sellers in researching locations, current market conditions, community services (schools, playgrounds, shopping) and comparable properties.

3.  Respect - When entering into a business transaction, such as buying and selling a home, respect for and from all parties eases the process of making a deal.  It remove negative feelings from becoming part of the procedure.  

4.  Reality - No matter how valuable we think our homes are, the market determines the value.  The reality is that we can not always set the final price and the timing of a sale.  The market will speak louder than the property owner.  The other reality is that we cannot always find our dream home and that some concessions will likely be made in the purchase of a home.

READER RESPONSE:  I welcome any of your contributions to the  “Rs” of residential real estate.

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

Zingers #18 - Candy is Dandy

Posted on September 24, 2008 
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…But weed killing is quicker.  If you can no longer use chemicals to fight the annual weed battle, get out the knives and boiling water.  Start pulling up the weeds.  A field of yellow dandelions may be attractive while they are in flower but that lasts only a few days and then you have a yard of weeds.   

Get up, get out and get rid of weeds.

Sometimes it is not about real estate…

Posted on September 22, 2008 
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What did the fish say when it hit the cement wall? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 ”Dam”

Photo credit: Like a fish out of water @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/colodio/114891127/

Buying at the Right Price - Principle of Diminishing Returns

Posted on September 19, 2008 
Filed Under Buying Your New Home, Valerie Zinger | 1 Comment

No matter the offering price that the home owner has chosen, the right price for you (the buyer) is what you are prepared to pay and the owner is prepared to accept.  How do you get to that price?  There are several principle of value that consciously or sub-consciously play in arriving at the price. Here is one of the Principles

The Principle of Diminishing Returns says that adding more of something valuable reaches a point where the cost of the thing exceeds the return on the thing added.  

What does this mean?  In a three bedroom home, adding a bedroom in the basement may add value to the home that is at or exceeds the cost of construction.  However, adding a fifth or sixth bedroom is unlikely to see the same level of return on the cost of construction.  If there is a spa tub in the home, it could increase the value of the house but if there are three spa tubs, there may not be a corresponding difference in value.  For you, the prudent buyer, remember:

More is not necessarily better.   

Photo credit:  tubs @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/celinet/269850055/

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

 

Zingers #17 - Cesspool of Mosquito Breeding Slime

Posted on September 17, 2008 
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The lovely pond you installed in your backyard can become a cesspool if you do not maintain it.    Make sure that buyers like this water feature.   Keep the pump working; add some fish and a couple of water lilies.   

You will go from slime to sublime. 

Ottawa House Hunting - What is moving in Sandy Hill

Posted on September 15, 2008 
Filed Under Neighbourly Ottawa, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

 It was winter when I last wrote about Sandy Hill.  I want to see what has been selling and at what prices since the beginning of this year.  Note that the statistics are drawn from data available to real estate representatives on the Ottawa Real Estate Board Multiple Listing Services.  The data does not include homes that have been sold directly by owners or transfers of ownership not conducted through the MLS process.  I have included sales in MLS area 4003 and 4004.

Residential  Properties - Detached (15), Row (15), Semi(10)
40        Listings Available
       32        Sold
         0        Conditionally Sold
         8        Active
For the 32 properties sold:
The average number of days on the market was 17
The average price paid was $432,747

 

Condominium Properties - I Bdrm (2), 2 Bdrm (27), 3 Bdrm (9)
 38          Listing Available
           25         Sold
             1         Conditionally Sold
           12         Active
For the 25  properties sold:
The average number of days on the market was 27
The average price paid was $294,796

 

Multiple Family Dwellings - Duplex UD (1), Triplex (3), Fourplex (3)
  7          Listing Available
             3         Sold
             2        Conditionally Sold
             2         Active
For the 3 properties sold:
The average number of days on the market was 45
The average price paid was $648,667

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa, Ontario ~ T. 613-723-5300 ~ E. vzinger@royallepage.ca

Buying at the Right Price - Principle of Progression

Posted on September 12, 2008 
Filed Under Buying Your New Home, Valerie Zinger | Leave a Comment

What is the right price for a house? 

No matter what the offering price is that the home owner has choosen, the right price for you (the buyer) is what you are prepared to pay and the owner is prepared to accept.  How do you get to that price?  There are several principle of value that consciously or sub-consciously play in arriving at the price. Here is one of the Principles

The Principle of Progression says that, where properties are dissimilar, the poorest/smallest property will benefit in value from its proximity to the larger more expensive homes on the street or in the neighbourhood.

What does this mean?  If there are two very similar homes but in different neighbourhoods, expect to pay more for the house in Rockcliffe than the house in Hintonburg.  The smallest house on the best street in the neighbourhood will be more valuable than the same house two streets over. 

If you buy the worst house on the best street, expect to pay a bit more.

Photo credit:  Small house, Big house @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/brewbooks/417171235/

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

Zingers #16 - Rub a Dub Dub…

Posted on September 10, 2008 
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If your new house has a whirlpool bath, clean it before using it.  Run hot water until it covers all the jets plus a couple of inches.  Add a cup of bleach and run the jets.  Run them off and on for three hours.   Drain and repeat one more cycle or until there is no more dirt.  

Only you in the tub.

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