Hunt Club (Ottawa, ON)
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
A number of people who have posted a Meme have talked about how long they have been married.  It reminded me that my friend and I have both been married (to different guys) for 25 year.  When we celebrated her anniversary, I looked through my photos for something that would convey her love for her husband.  This photo of a magnolia tree in bloom was taken at the Experimental Farm in Ottawa last summer.  The framing is from Picnik.  I am going to have so much fun with my photography hobby this year. It is also a prelude for the flowers to come on Valentine's Day. 
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By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Buyers talk about finding 'the' house, about a feeling when they are in some homes and sometimes they talk about karma.  What they are really saying is that the home appeals to all of their senses,  If you are putting your house on the market, look around your home for anything dead in the house and either toss it or pack it away for your next home.  What should you take away? Stuffed animals and fish.  Some basements are a museum to the owner's hunting and fishing exploits. Skins.  You might be surprised how many people have animal skins hanging on the wall or on the floor.  Why alienate animal activist Buyers?  Dried flowers and dried flower wreaths.  You may have saved your wedding bouquet but that was then and this is now.  Put the flowers away.  Use fresh flowers, fruit and beauti...
Comments 90
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
No, not the newspaper (What is black and white and read all over?) but colour.   Every room in your home should have a touch of black for impact.  This could be a picture frame, a black bowl or tray or a black ottoman.  If you are buying bathroom fixtures, you will not offend the senses with a bit of white. This is the absence of colour.  Sometimes it is more difficult to find white things but they  have an impact.  Find a way to add a bit of red to the family room or living room, even just one flower.  Just a touch of red goes a long long way.  Buyers have their "seeing sense" on high alert when they are looking at your home.  You want them to find things that are pleasing to the eye.  You won't want the buyer seeing red over your decorating. Photo credit:  Black, White and Red Folk A...
Comments 28
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
    I am a little hesitant to promote a single store but Lee Valley is one of Canada's most wonderful stores.  Things can be purchased from the website and shipped all over Canada and the US (and overseas to our wonderful other AR members and readers).  When the flyer came with the newspaper, I was thrilled to look through it and realized that we have many of the nifty little gadgets and tools available.  Here are just a few:  A slice precision paper cutter (no scissors) for cutting out articles in the paper or wrapping paper or any little paper bits.  $6.95  It works! Brick Clip fasteners that allow you to hang things from bricks (such as wreaths) and can be used inside or outside $9.50 The ubiquitous Stainless Steel Rasp and Zest Holder.  We use it all the time for grating hard cheese...
Comments 21
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
You, the Buyer, need to find a middle ground.  Don't be rushed into a purchase from which you cannot easily escape and don't freeze from indecision.  Yes, you have a little wiggle room to change your mind after you have made an offer.   You can possibly back out if the building inspector finds significant faults, if your banker will not give you a mortgage or if you do not sell your current house (when all of these are part of the contract).  These three items are the usual conditions on a sale.  If, on the other hand, you cannot get a pen to an offer because there just maybe something better, it is time for you to reevaluate.  These types of Buyers are two ends of the buying spectrum.  There are Buyers who find a house and the no other house except that specific house will do.  The ot...
Comments 43
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Selling a house with children is not easy to do.  Not that children are lined up to be viewed and included as chattels but that all the paraphernalia that is synonymous with children is open for viewing. Okay, there are days when I am sure the Sellers would gladly throw in the children as part of the deal but, I think, that is illegal. A while ago, my Buyers and I were looking at a home that was immaculate in every nook and cranny.  Based on the two children's bedrooms, it was apparent that there was a toddler and a baby living in the house.  Both rooms were wonderfully decorated - not too many items, not too many toys strewn about and no smelly baby things.  What was more wondrous was the family room.  There were no toys in sight.  Just when we thought that this was a family that fun ...
Comments 44
By Roch St-Georges, Real Estate Agent | Agent Immobilier
(EXIT Realty Matrix LTD., Ottawa, ON)
What happened in Hunt Club, Hunt Club Woods and Hunt Club Western Community, Ottawa during the month of April 2010? The neighborhoods of Hunt Club, in Ottawa saw a total of 10 sales in April 2010. The average days on the market of the homes sold in April 2010 in Hunt Club, was 14. The longest days on the market was 30 and the shortest was 6 days. The average price of homes sold during the month of April 2010 in Hunt Club was $334,290. The highest priced property sold during the month of April in Hunt Club was $585,000 and the lowest was $202,000. Compared with April 2009 homes in Hunt Club are selling much quicker. Average days on the market of homes in Hunt Club, Ottawa during the month of April 2009 was 27 days. The longest days on the market was 47 and the shortest was 1 day. The hig...
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