Earlier this year, Netflix launched Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, a wildly popular series based on Marie Kondo’s bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. The series outlines, in a step by step guide, the Konmari method of cleaning and organizing and it has had everyone talking (and purging!) Second-hand stores have seen a surge of donations unlike they have ever experienced before and people are saying goodbye to many of their possessions with hopes of finding joy living in a more minimalist lifestyle. Whether you are preparing your home to list or just want to de-clutter, purging can
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How do you know if you’re ready to move? Besides deciding that it’s something you want to do in the new year, and planning for the big transition, how can you be sure it’s the right call? Has your family grown too big for the house? Perhaps it’s not by choice but due to work. Are you interested in downsizing? Here is a checklist you might want to review before you go looking for a new home. Looking For More Space? Homeowners often change properties because they outgrow it, this comes with starting a family, or expanding it. Whether this
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If your home is currently on the market, or you plan on listing in the next few weeks, here are some things to consider when it comes to showings. The Ottawa real estate market is still quite active this year so you want to ensure that you put your best foot forward for potential buyers. Embrace the season and work closely with your Realtor to get your home sold! Holiday buyers tend to be serious buyers The holidays are a chaotic time of year for everyone so keep in mind that people who are booking showings at this time are
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How to minimize your heating costs this winter As frosty temperatures fill the air, and snow begins to cover the ground, there is a lot to think about when it comes to your heating bill. As the cost of heating your home rises in the colder months, it’s time to think about what you can do within your home to reduce some of these costs. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you to reduce the cost of keeping you and your home warm this winter: Take advantage of the solar heat – During the day, use the
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It has been just over a month since cannabis was legalized in Canada. Now that the hype and excitement surrounding the ability to buy recreational marijuana legally has settled, many of us are still left with questions surrounding these new laws and what this means for home owners, buyers, and sellers alike. Here is what you need to know about cannabis legalization and real estate in Ottawa:  Home Buyers and Sellers While it may now be legal carry, smoke, and grow marijuana plants, there are many things to consider when you are in the market of buying or selling your
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Listing your home in the Fall; tips for selling your home in the Autumn months With this summer’s (extreme) heat behind us, and with nothing but clear skies and crisp fall months ahead!  We often hear sellers say “We’ll wait until Spring to list”, but as HGTV’s expert Scott  MacGillivray outlines in this recent blog, there are some great benefits of selling your house in the fall.  Summer holidays are over, the kids are back in school and you may find yourself with more time to plan your next move.   So, why not swap those hot summer months for a
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Every home has its’ own unique quirks and character, however, when it comes to purchasing said home, it is important that buyers are aware of any “quirks” that may actually be deficiencies. A deficiency in a home known to the seller is required to be disclosed to the buyer by law, ensuring that any future damage/repair costs cannot be something that the seller becomes liable for. When it comes to disclosing deficiencies in a home, there are two types of defects to consider – patent defects, and latent defects. A patent defect is an easily observed (obvious) defect. An example
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Buying a Home: Step by Step  Buying a home can seem like a daunting task in the beginning. There are so many options to consider, let alone finding that dream home. You may be wondering what the main things to consider when you’re going to buy a house, and how the process works? With so much information surrounding the housing market, we’ve created a short step-by-step process to help you with all your home buying needs! Finances The daunting and confusing aspect of buying a home always lands in the finance department. Mostly because finances on a large scale become
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Ottawa Real Estate Market Snapshot: May 2018:  While inventory is still lower than normal, the number of listings coming onto the market this month is typical spring activity! Have questions? Looking for specific neighbourhood stats? Message us!! The following are hightlights from the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s latest News Release read the full story Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board sold 2,279 residential properties in May through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System, compared with 2,294 in May 2017, a decrease of 0.7 per cent. The five-year average for May sales is 2,041. May’s sales included 485 in the
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The latest reports from OREB on the Ottawa Real Estate market show that in many areas the market is showing no signs of a significant summer slowdown.   The condo market continues to gain momentum as is the”lifestyle” market which includes homes over the $750,000 price range.   Average prices are up in most neighbourhoods across the city, with central and central-west neighbourhoods seeing a bigger jump in average sale price as compared to Ottawa east.   Savvy buyers are noticing that even though Ottawa is trending towards a seller’s market in many neighbourhoods it’s still a good time to
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