Open House in Ottawa

It was raining and I insisted on continuing with an Open House in Ottawa. Sure a sunny day would have been more pleasant and cheerier. So the Open House Signs were distributed to strategic locations by 9 am. I visited the house to check on Temperature. I lit the lights and added some soft music and finished by closing all toilet lids. Who wants to see the toilet bowl even if it’s an expensive $600 toilet! These actions allowed me to return at 2 pm; the open house start time, and have everything ready to go. Next, I picked up the cake; all boxed with curled frilly ribbons and chilled the Champagne. I like that part. I placed the glasses, Champagne bucket, paper plates and forks in the car. I added the table cloth and candle holders. Hey! don’t for get the elegant tapered candles and lighter!

I printed all my feature sheets. On the back, I printed all relevant homes in the area that recently sold or are active. Good for comparing. I had a small nap so that I’d be fresh and engaging when prospective Buyers entered the house. The rest is as you see in the video! About 28 visitors in total with four people interested in the house. That’s good for everyone.

After the Open House clean up and lock doors. Visit people with enquiries…and pick up all the signs. before dinner.

MARTIN ELDER BROKER Keller Williams Ottawa Realty www.martinelder.ca

Ottawa Kitchen Design Trends

Have you noticed the glossy magazines featuring kitchen makeovers? Like, this is the most important room in the house! My wealth and affluence are showcased in my kitchen renovated with the most up to date gadgets colours textures and appliances. Like what happened to the garage with the Porche and the Harley parked outside? Aren’t they a show off? They are a display of your affluence but they’re passe brother. If you wanna be hip you gotta have the sleek dark brown wood cupboards and counters. Granite counter tops, island, Garland gas cook top, and electric convection oven, stainless ventalator, tumbled glass back splash, halogen pot lighting, oh, my lord the list goes on and on with stainless this and porcelain that Pogenpole this and Ladylux Grohe to top it off. It’s like another language. What has happened in the evolution of the domestic kitchen?
I’m going to look at the changes in kitchen design trends throughout the last century in the next couple of coming Blogs. Stay tuned, there are surprises! Kitchens are fascinating and they reveal a lot about our changing social stereotypes. Have any questions?

Two Summer Goals: International Air Rally and Rallying for Cornerstone Women’s Shelter

The International Air Rally is taking shape so too is the Rally to raise $5000 for Cornerstone Women’s Shelter. I’ve already raised $815. in pledges. People have written cheques and have donated online using their VISA card. Everyone receives a 100% tax deductible receipt for their contribution. So give generously. Call me and find out how to make your donation. I’ll pick up your cheque personally!

Now for the Air Rally. It turns out the distance has grown to 5800 nautical miles and that doesn’t count the 900 miles to Russell Manitoba where the Rally begins. I’m still looking for an IFR pilot to join the crew. That will make it easier to fly through nasty weather and keep on track. Other crew members are Deborah Hind and Chris Gallant.

Deborah is delighted to join the crew as navigator and fact finder. This is very important in a rally as it’s not speed that counts but accuracy and the ability to answer the most unusual questions about aviation and geography. Deborah will also tend to lunch detail as it’s do-it-yourself lunches on this air liner! Deborah also teaches Yoga and she has a presence that is healing and calming. I suggest many of the other Rally participents will be doing stretches and meditation when we land. Hey, that’s a good thing!

Chris is a visitor to Canada from Great Britain. He’s been travelling for several months now and expects to join up with us in Manitoba. He is a professional photographer. It’ll be great to record our experiences and revisit people we meet along the way in photos.

Now for the last member of the crew. She’s a silent partner so to speak but I hope she never goes silent on me. Introducing our trusty 1966 Cherokee Six. She is old but after a long life in Northern Ontario banging around the bush and transporting fish and moose, she is ready to fly us half way around the world!

I’ve just received the new ignition wires, spark plugs and we’ll do an oil change before we go. I have a new battery and the new 406 ELT emergency beacon locator to be installed. I’ll be adding the new streamlined wheel pants that apparently add to the speed of the airplane. I’ve hear the wheel pants add 6 naughts to our speed. I suppose that’s not much but considering the distance we’re traveling it would reduce our flight time by 3 hours! That’s like going to Toronto from Ottawa for free. I’ve order a number of other comfort additions to the airplane like door seals and new sun visors. I can’t wait till it’s all installed. There is still some repairs and upgrades to be completed on the radio gear. Cross my fingers, I hope is it completed in time for take off!

We’ll need to add survival gear as we’re travelling over rugged inhospitable ground. Life jackets, tent, mosquito netting for each person as well as lots of dry food to eat during the long time aloft. Chocolate is my favourite, followed by chocolate cookies. I also like chocolate covered coffee beans. I’ll bet the British fellow Chris, likes crumpets so I’ll pack some for him. Debbie likes Soya nuts so she gets a survival bag of those.

Letter to Home seller in Singapore

https://martinelder.ca/ Thoughtfull Agent in Ottawa comments of the Ottawa East, Cardinal Heights, Beacon Hill areas:
We last spoke before Christmas when the lawyers were on holiday. I hope your questions about family and the house have been answered. About Power of Attorney documents, Capital Gains tax, Inheritance and Principal Residence Status. All this legal stuff is painful when a parent is suddenly lost.

Here is a little update on the residential market since you returned. Market listings sat in December and increased in number. There were few buyers with two elections, a challenge to the Canadian government and a falling stock market. The US people elected a popular leader and world gas prices dropped faster than most people could hope. Consumer confidence was very low. So have things changed since last December?

Sales in Ottawa have picked up pace in January and appear to be increasing for February as if there was pent up demand from a poor fall in 2008. The government has pitched in with incentive plans to help homeowners maintain their homes and the mortgage interest rates have crept downward to the 3.5 – 4% range for short term rates. All this augers well for a strong spring market in Ottawa which is a distinctly Ottawa phenomena as the rest of the country is experiencing a much slower housing market. I suggest prices in Ottawa will see a year to year increase of 4% whereas Toronto has not been as fortunate. Housing sales volume will decrease, suggesting steady demand but only the better homes selling while others languish on the market and some moving toward the rental side. This means well prepared homes will do well. Staging and fresh paint will be helpful in the sale strategy. Vacancy rates have also decreased.

Cardinal Heights has several bungalows for sale. One renovated Crownhill home sold at $284K but there are three other recent homes just on the market. The Ottawa bus strike was a costly and painful experience for people here. With the increased employment at the NRC a lot of people will be looking for a home closer to work. Currently cars park along the streets all day because the NRC parking lot full. I guess the parking bylaws are being suspended for now. I feel there are plenty of 3 bed bungalows in the neighbourhood but not many with usable bedrooms and bathrooms. Your’s is special. There is a demand for good bungalows and your home will command a premium.

I hope you are well. I enjoyed a great skate along the Rideau Canal last week end. There was a cheerful air about the thousands and thousands of eager skaters. Saw one vintage soldier from Parks Canada firing his flint lock musket to the delight of skaters. There was lots of colourful sights along the Landsdown stretch of open ice.