Royal LePage

Direct: 613.825.9710
Toll Free: 1.877.874.8055
Office: 613.825.7653

real estate protection

KEEP WARM THIS WINTER

This winter has been a cold one and sadly it’s not over yet!We often wonder why we would live in a place where it gets to -30 degrees.  We’re sure you’ve done the same! Although we can’t do anything about the weather, we can do various things the keep cosy in these freezing temperatures.

Image result for winter

Add Area Rugs
It has been said that up to 10% of heat escapes out from your floors, making area rugs a great addition to any room not just because of the colour and style they bring, but also for their practical use.

Use Your Fireplace
Fireplaces are the best when living in a cold climate. There is nothing like sitting beside the fire with friends and family, defrosting from the weather outside. It is important to have your fireplace (gas fireplace and wood burning) inspected before the winter season in order to ensure that it works and is safe.

Seal All Windows and Doors
Ensure that all of your windows and doors are completely sealed from the outside as this can dramatically increase your energy bills and make your home cold. This may seem like an obvious tip, yet most people tend to ignore the drafts of cold air coming from their doors and windows.  There are many do-it-yourself products to aid in this but at some point, you may want to look at replacing old windows especially if they are showing a lot of wear and tear. Learn more about Northern Lights Exteriors for exterior remodeling contractor that can offer various styles of energy-efficient replacement windows.

Change Your Sheets
Your bed: the comfy and cosiest place in your home. If you find yourself still a little chilly laying in bed during these dark and frigid winter nights, look to invest in some warm sheets. Flannel is a great material for warm winter sheets as it is thick and does a good job of insulating your body heat. If all else fails, add some comfy throw blankets too! Mattress thickness plays a crucial role as well.

Run Ceiling Fans Clockwise
This may seem like a silly idea but this actually works to keep a room warm. Hot air rises so when fans are circulating clockwise, they direct the warm air downward toward you.  In the Summer reverse the fan and it will pull cool air up from the floor the help cool the room.

Invest in a quality thermostat
There are a multitude of thermostats on the market today.  You can get everything from a simple older style one setting thermostat to high tech WiFi ones, with Thermostat Wiring Colors Code and  that you control from your smart phone from anywhere in the world.  Get the best that fits your budget.  It will help not only keep your home warm but reduce your energy costs and energy footprint.

LEST WE FORGET

LEST WE FORGET

LEST WE FORGET

OCTOBER MARKET UP IN OTTAWA

The upward trend in real estate continued as prices continues to rise.  These increases are great for the industry as they are moderate yet continue to show strength in the Ottawa real estate market.

For those interested in the Barrhaven market in particular, the average sale price in October of 2017 was $374,543 as compared to $362,626 in 2016 and $356,061 in 2015.  This is consistent throughout this year.

For more inform on your neighbourhood, give us a call or send us an email.  We’ll be happy to share this valuable info with you.
OCT 2017 Market snapshot graphic

HAPPY CANADA DAY! 150!

CANADA FLAG

Get your home ready for the busy season!

Selling your home is an exciting and bustling time. It’s a  lot like fishing.  You bait the hook and wait for buyers to come and bite. We get the home ready, our REALTOR® lists our home and then we wait! The piece of this process that many don’t touch on is how to maintain our show-ready home. Here are some ways to keep the a show home ready for any visits.

Start Packing
Before you paint, fix up, or repair anything, the first thing you should do so your home is show-ready is the simplify.  What do you absolutely need to survive for the next month? Once your  essentials needs are determined, begin to pack away all of the unimportant items. This decluttered will help you keep your home is showing shape.  Remember, buyers do not want to see how you live but want to imagine themselves living in what for now is your home.
New habits
Developing new lifestyle habits will keep you on top of the little chores that have a tendency to pile up. Start the day by making the beds, putting all dirty laundry in hampers, taking out the garbage and touching up the kitchen and bathrooms. When an interested buyer comes to call, it will serve you well to complete several small tasks ahead of time. The more that you do as you go about your day, the less you will have to scramble at the last second.

A place for small things
Go to your local discount store and purchase canvas bin or a wicker basket for rooms in the home that tend to get clutters such as play rooms, family rooms and children’s bedrooms. These will be invaluable as your “last second” spaces to toss any disorganised clutter  into when a buyer is visiting. Toys, accessories, mail, or the like will have a spot to quickly hide-away. Keep it coordinated with the room’s decor so it appears that it’s always been there.

Meal Time
For many of us, especially those who work from home or have small children, meal times always prove to mess up a lovely staged kitchen. Don’t be afraid of disposable cutlery and dishware during the showing process. This will cut down on dishes and give you more time to touch up other spaces before a showing.  It’s a small financial investment that can grow the value of your home by having it in tip top shape.
If you know there is a showing taking place later on in the evening, let’s for example say 6:30 to 7:30 pm. don’t cook foods with strong odours.  Fish, broccoli, fragrant spices such as chilli and curry can leave an odour i nthe home that some might find unpleasant.  While cooking any foods, keep the hood fan running and if weather permits, open a few windows.

Quick Tip
During busy periods for showings such as weekends, try treating yourselves to dinner out especially is there is a showing booked.

A showing checklist
Draft a checklist of last minute items to do before you head out. Put all the toilet lids down, close the shower curtains and read this shower guide to implement some improvements in advance, shine the faucets and sinks, hide away evidence of pets if possible, run the vacuum, turn on any scent devices (such as an oil diffuser or plug-in scents but be careful to not over do it), and make sure your home is bright with artificial and natural lighting. You may get a call for more showings while you are already out, so take along anything you may need for the next few hours.

With these tips in mind, the showing process should produce better results, less stress and a more pleasant listing and selling experience.

You can always contact us for more information on how to get your home ready and what we can do for you!

homesbyhartman@realtyagent.com or 613-825-9710

← Older posts Newer posts → « Older Entries Newer Entries »