House Hunting Tips for Spring Buyers

Spring is the house-hunting season in Ottawa. If you are planning to buy, chances are you have already started scouring the MLS or are taking advantage of the early-to-market open houses. Open houses are a perfect opportunity for those preparing to buy to get a feel for the market trends and conditions. If you are not already working with a relator, Team Elder Home Sales would like to share a few house hunting tips for spring buyers. These tips come from our years of experience and are often areas home buyers overlook during the early stages.

Neighbourhood + Community
Buying a house goes beyond looking at the four walls and property. Buying a home means becoming part of a community and connecting with the neighbourhood. When visiting an open house, it can be advantageous to walk the block. Look at the neighbouring homes – are they well cared for? If possible, visit during the peak periods (morning or evening rush hour) and during off-peak hours – how heavy is the traffic? Active transportation lovers will want to explore the closest transit stops or accessibility to local trails and parks. Have kids? Make a point to see if there are parents pushing babies in strollers, kids out playing or a nearby park or school. Finally, look to the proximity of shops, entertainment and other key services you or your family members may want or need.

martin elder real estate ottawa westSpring Run Off – Exterior Checks
While many of us are drawn to the interior layout of a home, the exterior condition can give off warning signs. When visiting an open house, take time to tour the exterior. Yes, the ground may be damp or muddy, but trust us, the trip will be well worth the time. Check the foundation for signs of parging deterioration or cracks. Look at the hardscaping elements – are the pavers still level during the thaw? Do the retaining walls need work? Patios and decks can look tired after a long, snowy winter – but if a deck feels like a springboard, it probably needs some attention. Other key exterior elements to review include the garage door and trim (does it need paint or repairs), the windows and sills (look for signs of cracks, gaps and failing seals), the condition of bricks and/or siding, the roofing material(s), and the state of the driveway.

Big Ticket Items
After doing an exterior walk-around, buyers should take the time to ask the listing agent for the age or repair history on the big ticket items. While most times this information is provided on the Feature Sheet, it pays to double check. The list of big ticket items include the roof, the windows, the doors, the HVAC system (heating, ventilation and air conditioner), the plumbing system, the electrical system, the well (if applicable), the septic system (if applicable), the hot water heater, the carpet/flooring, and appliances, if included in the sale.

Signs of TLC
Signs of a well-cared for home include cleanliness in the most overlooked places. That’s right – check out the baseboards (admit it, no one loves cleaning baseboards!), regularly caulked kitchens and bathrooms, spic and span toilets and sinks, dirt-free window sills and tracks, and odour free closets and basement.

Use Your Nose
When touring a potential new home, try to use your nose. While some walls and floors may need a good scrub, other stubborn odours can be hard to eliminate. Home buyers rank mould and mildew as the most offensive odours, followed by pets (urine), food scents and tobacco. Keep in mind serious odours embedded in carpets, walls or window coverings may require extensive repairs or overhauls.

Team Elder Home Sales hopes these House Hunting Tips for Spring Buyers helps you make the most of your early home visits. If you would like help planning your move, want free Ottawa real estate information, assessments or advice, get in touch with Martin Elder today.

MARTIN ELDER REAL ESTATE GROUP
Phone: 613-236-5959
Westboro Office: 613-722-3733
Cell: 613-296-8065
Email: Martin.Elder@hallmarkottawa.com

370 Dominion Ave.

Yes! Nicely renovated & redecorated! This must be the 2 bed, 2 bath condo unit you’ve been waiting for. Located on the third floor at treetop level, no waiting for the elevator. You have quick access to the main floor reception & garage levels. Freshly painted in neutral tones, hardwood floors in living and dining room, tile in kitchen entry foyer, hall & bathrooms. Oh, love the two bathrooms! One with walk in shower with Stainless Rolling Glass Enclosure, Granite Vanity & LED lighting. The Second bath has a soaker tub & wide granite vanity. The kitchen has newer cupboards & soft task lights. Newer appliances & laundry included. I love the spacious balcony nearly 40 feet long to view the Westboro neighbourhood & bird watch. Utilities included in the condo fee, Water, Hot Water, Heat, Air Conditioning, Electricity, lots of additional amenities: Party Room & Guest Suite, Indoor Pool, & Outdoor BBQ. Lovely new energy efficient windows will be installed soon. Attractively priced ! Hurry !

Directions: Richmond Road, North on Berkley to Dominion Park on Richmond Road near the Pharmacy and walk to the Barclay or park in front of the building.

For more information please call Martin Elder 613-296-8065 or melder@hallmarkottawa.com

Westhaven Crescent, Westboro/Hampton Park

Here’s a chance to own an affordable, prized end unit with the extra wide side yard that features a paved private parking at back and storage shed with electricity, and fencing with a private gate to the walking trail. The unit comprises approximately 1,290 square feet plus a finished basement for family room and utility room. Appliances include a Gas Cook Stove, Gas Hot Water Tank and Gas Dryer. Three bedrooms and bath are on the upper level and a spacious, Open Concept, living room dining room on the main level. Upgrades include Newer Windows, Natural Gas High Efficiency Lenox Furnace, 2007 and Central Air Conditioner, Newer Privacy Deck and brick paver walk way, Back Fencing and gate. Roofing Soffits, facia and eves trough have been recently replaced. The exterior brick walls have been repointed and portions of the back drive have been repaved. Hardwood flooring through out.

 

The Westhaven community is an attractive collection of 19 Row Style homes and a number of detached and Semi Detached homes on the Crescent. It’s close to shopping facilities at Hampton Park Plaza as well as a short walk to the shops of the Westboro. Buses stop on Clare Ave and Kirkwood and the Westboro Station is an easy walk. Parking is located at the back but a convention with the City of Ottawa allows parking in front of each unit. There is a maintenance fee of $160 per year for snow removal a the back and sides of the properties. Call for more details!

Ottawa’s Ice Dragon Boat Festival at Winterlude 2017

We are hours away from the very first Ice Dragon Boat event in North America. Yes, you read that correctly – an ice dragon boat festival! Dragon boats will be racing down the frozen Rideau Canal Skateway in Ottawa, as part of Winterlude 2017 and Canada 150.

With team names like “Frosted Flakes”, the “Polar Pandas” and the “Gallery Girls”, you can bet spirits and excitement will be at an all time high. So be sure to bundle up, bring the family, and enjoy a day at the lake. Dow’s Lake, that is! All the details, from where to park and starting times, are now posted at http://www.icedragonboat.ca/

Hope to see you there, getting your cheer on!

Advance Signs of Strong Spring Real Estate Market in Ottawa

[et_pb_section admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”]

ottawa real estate market conditionMartin Elder shares the latest edition of Westboro Highland Park Community News.

With Ottawa West and Ottawa South considered prime hot spots for buyers, all signs are pointing to a strong spring market in the communities known as Hintonburg/West Centretown, Ottawa West/Tunney’s Pasture and Westboro/Hampton Park.

If you are planning a move, now is the time to prepare. Connect with Martin Elder today at 613.236.5959 or email martin.elder@hallmarkottawa.com to discuss your options.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Selling Your Home During An Ottawa Winter

With more home sellers and home buyers looking to get a jump on the spring market, the days of “no listings in January” are long gone. Instead, agents are providing guidance and resources to ensure a home can be marketed – regardless of the season!

Selling Your Home During An Ottawa Winter

Grey skies, freezing rain, snowstorms. Ottawa is notorious for long, harsh winters, and yet, it is also home to a long list of amazing things to see and do. Therefore, if you plan to sell your home during the mid-winter chilling months, you will need to spend a few extra minutes making your home welcoming and attractive.

ottawa real estate winter shovel showingEmbrace the Shovel
While you may have grown accustomed to entering and exiting your home via the garage during the winter, potential buyers will be using your driveway and walkway. Make a point to have your driveway cleared and walkway shoveled after every showfall. If freezing rain is the flavour of the day, be sure to use a traction or ice melter product. Remember: First impressions count!

“Welcome Home”, Cheerfully
In the deep winter months, there is nothing more refreshing than visiting a home with a vibrant, seasonal display. From a tasteful wreath, to urns or potted displays, there is no shortage of creative ways to bring colour to the front step of your home. Thankfully there is an abundance of inspiration on websites like Better Homes & Gardens or Pinterest. If home décor is not your forté, never fear – stores like Costco Canada, Home Depot, Lowes, Rona and other retailers have a wide assortment of displays certain to enhance the curb appeal of your home.

ottawa winter home sales curb appealGet Staging
On the heels of the exterior décor elements comes an invaluable interior décor suggestion: staging. Winter is bleak and dreary, therefore to ensure you can get top dollar for your home, staging is a necessity.

Real estate agents and professional stagers know how to make your home look appealing to potential buyers. It could be something as simple as a pop of colour with vibrant sofa cushions or repositioning furniture to enhance the natural light entering your home. Imagine the pride you will feel knowing your home is picture perfect!

If your real estate agent does not include staging as part of their marketing package, it would be best to seek referrals for a home staging company in your area.

Goodbye Shadows, Hello Sunshine
Daylight hours are limited during the winter, so home sellers must take advantage of the natural light. Real estate agents will always do their best to schedule daytime visits where possible. This means before leaving for the day, you should make a point to open your blinds and curtains – it’s time to let the sun shine in!

On the rare occasions when the sun is shining, you might have noticed how dirty your windows look. Turns out in the spring, summer and fall, nature’s beauty tends to block the natural sunlight from fully hitting your windows. Once winter hits, every imaginable fingerprint, streaking or residue from glass cleaner will be visible. Where possible, spend a few extra minutes to keep your windows clean. The same applies to your window screens. If they are accessible from the inside, use a vacuum attachment to provide a gently yet effective cleaning.

winter ottawa home sellers tipsHeat It Up
We are all feeling the heat from the rising utility rates, but when it comes to selling a home for top dollar – frugality is not a good selling tool. Always turn up the heat in your home before you leave for showings. Prospective buyers will appreciate walking into a warm, cozy home.

In the event you have a gas fireplace, either turn it on immediately before a showing or ensure your real estate agent knows how to turn it on. While wood fireplaces certainly create the ultimate feeling of comfort, you should never leave a wood burning fireplace unattended!

Let There Be Light
Not every potential buyer will be able to see your home during the day. For this reason, it is critical to ensure all the light fixtures, lamps and bulbs are in perfect working order and give off as much light as possible.

To capture the eye of the “drive by” clients, setting up a selection of indoors and outdoor lights on a timer is a great trick. It makes your home look inviting and ultimately enhances the curb appeal.

Selling your home during an Ottawa winter is indeed possible. By taking the time to look at your home from a buyer’s point of view, you can highlight quality elements and draw attention to popular winter-only features like a fireplace. If you have been contemplating the sale of your Ottawa home, let’s connect and discuss ways to best market your home.

Martin Elder 
Phone: 613-236-5959
Westboro Office: 613-722-3733
Cell: 613-296-8065
Email: Martin.Elder@hallmarkottawa.com

 

Real Estate Commissions

Housing prices have been making headlines for the last few years. And with the soaring prices comes the discussion around affordability and whether Realtors charge too much in real estate commissions. From comments about “outrageous fees and for what?” to “my last realtor did so little work”, it is a topic I have had to address on more than one occasion. For this reason, I wanted to share some insight into what a real estate agent does to earn their commission.

Work Week

Did you know most Relators work a minimum of a 40-hour work week, some escalating well beyond this number to ensure they are accessible at all times? Real estate transactions can cause a lot of fear and worry, so a Realtor needs to be proactive and readily available to answer questions or concerns.

ottawa real estate commissionsNumber of Sales

Week in and week out, a Realtor works hard to close a deal. Yet according to statistics, 1 in every 5 Realtors does not close a deal in a year. This is not an indicator of disinterest or unwillingness to work, but a reminder there are so many agents to choose from – therefore the pool of homes for sale or available buyers is heavily diluted. So what is the average number of sales? For most Realtors, it is six.

Cost of Doing Business

By now you’re probably thinking – six sales, that’s a lot of commission! Unfortunately, this is where we get into the cost of doing business.

First, there are Realtor commission splits. In Ontario, the rule of thumb is 5% of the sale price – which is then split between the two Realtors at 2.5% each. Then comes the Office Splits (payment to the Brokerage). Next up, the government wants to ensure we pay our taxes! Thereafter, we have the costs for transportation (car, gas, insurance, maintenance); Dues to OREA, CREA and others; MLS Fees; Relator License; Professional Fees; Business Insurance; Continuing Education Fees; Marketing and Advertising (signage, feature sheets, website, social media, direct mail, etc); Office Expenses (Phone, Mobile, Internet, etc); Assistant for busy office; and Fines.

According to the US field data (updated December 2016), “the median gross income of REALTORS® was $39,200 in 2015”.

So while it can be easy to say real estate commissions are too high and Realtors are making too much money, there are indeed plenty of factors driving the average 5% here in Ontario. If nothing else, consider this: Higher home sale prices means there is more money for the home seller.

Operation Big Turkey Returns in 2016

operation big turkeyFounded in 2004, Operation Big Turkey provides a festive meal at five locations across Ottawa on Christmas Eve. Run by a non-affiliated group of volunteers, with food prepared by Algonquin College’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, Operation Big Christmas serves up more than 2000 meals to those in need on the one night. Best of all, no reservations are required.

This year, Operation Big Turkey will be serving turkey dinner or a lactose-intolerant vegetarian lasagna with a cake dessert at the following locations: Overbrook Community Centre, Carling Recreation Centre, Ron Kolbus Centre, Albion-Heatherington Recreation Centre, and Jack Purcell Community Centre.

Be sure to follow along on Twitter at @OpBigTurkey or search for #operationbigturkey on social media.

Christmas in Canada’s Capital

render's tree farm ottawaIt’s Christmas in the Capital. And you too can get your very own Christmas tree!

My good friend David Render operates a Christmas tree farm in Oxford Station, which is located about 40 minutes south of Ottawa off the 416 highway. It’s a small operation that began in 1966. David nurtures and prunes every tree for 12 seasons before they are ready for cutting.

I like walking along the rows of fresh green trees, you can tell he cares for them. Just before Christmas I go for a friendly visit. David has the trees bundled in his barnand ready for transport. He also provides hand saws for those hearty families who prefer the tradition of choosing their own special tree in the field.

A visit to Render’s Tree Farm is a fun activity and it is joyful to see David center stage offering philosophical insight.

Render’s Tree Farm opens for the season on November 25, 2016. For more information, please call 613-277-5842 or visit www.renderstreefarm.com

Winterizing Your Home

home ottawa winterizingWithout a doubt, winter has arrived in Ottawa. Which means if you have been procrastinating about getting your home prepared for winter – there is no time left to make excuses!

Winterizing Your Home

Given the volume of tasks one needs to accomplish “around the house” during a given year, the Martin Elder Real Estate Group offers these handy tips and reminders.

Exterior Inspection

  • Walk the exterior of your home, paying close attention for minuscule cracks and crevices. All exposed entry points, especially around pipes, should be sealed.
  • Weather stripping can be applied around doors to prevent drafts.
  • Caulk windows and doors
  • Basement window wells can be covered on the exterior with a plastic shield and on the interior with window plastic.
  • Summer screens (if utilized) can be removed and replaced with storm windows.
  • Rake all debris and vegetation away from your foundation.
  • Secure any crawlspaces
  • Inspect windowsills for rot

Plumbing & Components 

  • Drain all garden hoses
  • Turn off water supply to exterior taps
  • Insulate all exposed plumbing pipes
  • If your air conditioner has a shut-off valve, turn it off.

Roof, Gutters & Downspouts

  • Worn our roofing should be replaced before the snow flies.
  • Gutters should be cleaned and downspouts should be tested with a hose to ensure water flows away
  • Leaf guards or gutter guards are an excellent way to keep gutters clean
  • Downspout extensions are affordable and help move water away from your foundation.

Furnace Inspection

  • Have your duct work cleaned
  • Be sure to replace your furnace filter. Buy spares and replace and/or clean the filter monthly.
  • Consider replacing an outdated thermostat with a programmable model.
  • Be sure to keep the area around your furnace well ventilated and free from obstructions.

Fireplace 

  • Install or Clean a chimney cap to ensure birds or rodents are not nesting
  • Have a chimney sweep remove creosote and soot build-up and inspect the fireplace damper
  • Prepare log pile
  • Store wood in a dry place, away from the exterior walls of your home.
  •  Check tuck-points and condition of chimney brick mortar.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

  • Confirm with the City of Ottawa (or your local municipality) about smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector requirements
  • Change all detector batteries when daylight saves ends
  • Always install a carbon monoxide detector near your hot water header and/or furnace
  • Regularly test all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
  • Replace all expired fire extinguishers

Winterize Your Seasonal Gear

  • Lawn mowers and edge trimmers should be drained of gas
  • Clean off, dry and store all summer-specific gardening tools
  • Have snowblower tuned-up
  • Place snow shovels in convenient and easily accessible locations
  • Purchase bags of sand, pickling grit or other traction products