I like this photo because of the juxtaposition of the curves in the rocker with the lines on the fence.  The rocker curves mimic the greenery - the leaves of the iris plants.  The shadow of the rocker makes you think of long days relaxing with a book and a view of the garden.  My friend has a small yard full of interesting things.   It is always fun to take my camera to her house and look for subjects to photograph.   If you are selling your home, make sure that your yard looks inviting and a place to relax.  If you are thinking of selling sometimes soon, get out with your camera and take as many photos of your yard as you can.   Remember to stage the yard before you take the photos to ensure that the weeds, tacky pink flamingos and wet clothes on the line are not in the shots.   06/15/2013

Top 10 Home Renovations  One of the most frequently asked questions that I come across when speaking to homeowners is: "What are the renovations/improvements that will bring me the most return on my investment?" After much research, reading tons of articles and also being in the real estate field helping Sellers and Buyers in Ottawa for many years, I've compiled the following list of information on the Top 10 Home Renovations. There is always a slight difference of opinion on the return to the homeowner. But basically, the TOP 10 remain fairly close regardless of whose survey the information has come from or which article you chose to read. There's a great chapter in The Canadian Home Find Seller's Guide which is dedicated to this topic, as well as a closer view of which renovations act... 01/11/2013

The builder will usually offer you a selection of cabinet doors and hardware.  Even in what seems like the smallest kitchen, this could mean a lot of doors, drawers and handles.  Upgrades will cost a lot of money.  If you like the model home, you may be tempted to duplicate what is there, including that wonderful back splash  Before you agree to upgrading think: Ensure you like the kitchen layout and that the boxes are well made.  Changing the doors and drawers will be a lot less expensive than changing the whole configuration, including the boxes.  You might want to wait on this upgrade. Drawer handles and hardware may average about $10.00 each with the builder, if you upgrade.  You know you can get them less expensive when there is a sale at the big box store or when you want somethin... 12/01/2012

Whether it is a whole development, a high rise condo block or a few lots that a builder owns, there are always going to be preferred or premium sites.  Is it worthwhile to contemplate this upgrade?  Yes.   It may be the view.  It may be the ravine with no back neighbours.  It may be backing onto a golf course.  It may be the top floor corner unit with spectacular city views.  These are going to have value.... to you and to future buyers.  How else do you explain the long overnight lone-ups to put money down on a lot or condo?  Location, location, location. Before writing the cheque, do your homework.  Find out the future developer or city plans for building around you.  What industry is planning to move in and will that huge field behind the house really be a golf course or just more ho... 11/25/2012

At the photo composition class last night, the instructor, Gilles Comtois, provided a critique of the students' photos and gave us some hints and tips on how to improve our photography.  I took one of my favourite photos, thinking that the doorway was a good frame the view of the lake.  While he liked the photo, he explained that the lawn chair on the right was a bit distracting and that the photo could be more appealing by cropping out the symmetry.    Here are the before and after cropping (no other photo finishing used).   After cropping, the texture of the door on the left is more apparent and the view of the lake more intersting.     If we or our photographers spend some time looking at the photos for listings, the viewer (and internet shoppers) will be more attracted to what they ... 11/06/2012

While my American neighbours wait for the polling stations to close and the results to be tabulated, it must seem like it is like waiting until the cows come home.  This idiom means a very long time.  The cows went out and only returned when they wanted to be milked.  It could have been a long wait. Photo of my neighbour's lawn ornaments (some people have flamingos).  11/06/2012

Bananas seem to be the perfect fruit.  Portable. Easy to peel.  Tastey.  Good in bread.  Good with peanut butter.  Oh, the list goes on.  If you are not allergic to bananas, then you are probably consume a few a month.  However, did you know that there are some things that bananas can do that may just make this your favourite fruit:.  I have not idea if these are really true (my personal disclaimer) but the banana is at least worth eating and trying to see if you are less SAD, lost your craving, calmer, don't have to hit you wart with a Bible, and feel cooler.  Don't forget, you can have the BANANATUDE here on the Rain.  Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan. Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help... 11/05/2012

Today is the first day of Financial Literacy Month here in Canada. I have a personal interest in financial literacy that comes from my previous life as a Certified Financial Planner when I worked for one of Canada's big five banks. I believe that we all need to understand and take control of our personal finances since no one has more of an interest in our financial security than we do.  One of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is financial freedom, and to that end I would like to discuss a few topics that will help you achieve that goal. However, before we can even consider the end-goal, we need to know where we are today. We need to have a crystal clear understanding of our current financial health.  As a financial planner, I would often ask people to tell me "approximately" wh... 11/01/2012

Look at this lovely door in a Georgian row of homes in Ireland.   I wonder what the neighbours would say if the owner decided to change the door colour every year.   Personally, I think the 'classic' look is lovely but it is also predictable and a bit boring.  It does go with the style of the home.   However, why not paint it in the bold colours rotating around the colour wheel every year.   Picture that door bright yellow or deep red or orange.     It could be that the neighbours will call you crazy but you are having fun and hurting no one.    GO FOR IT!                 Photo credit:  Black door Photo credit: scans - Teoria da Cor: 1 - o circulo cromatico     10/29/2012

By now, most home owners in the City of Ottawa have received their Property Assessment Notice from MPAC. We've had some strong market growth in Ottawa over the past few years, so most likely your assessment will show a significant increase over the 2008 value, when the last assessment was done. Now, most home owners will be happy to see that the value of their home has gone up over the years, but inevitably the big question becomes ... "Will my property taxes be going up?"     The answer can't be known for sure at this point since it will depend on any budget increase that the Ottawa City Council approves for 2013. But what we can do is figure out the relative impact that this assessment will have on your property tax bill.     If you look along the right-hand column on page 1 of the Pr... 10/26/2012

Do you just sign on the dotted line?! Today a wonderful post showed up in my facebook feed... A great friend and mortgage broker that I work with, Jacquie Bushell received her mortgage renewal and shared her personal experience with us.  I'm sure many of you have received this letter in the past or will be receiving it in the future. Do you just sign on the dotted line? This is why you SHOULD NOT!!  Don't EVER feel pressured by your bank or lender and please check out all your options when it comes to your mortgage renewal! It could save you thousands of dollars.  A huge thanks is being sent to Jacquie for this fabulous post & reminder : )   Yesterday, I received my mortgage renewal for a property I have owned for 5 years. I pay my bills on time, every time! I have excellent credit. I h... 10/05/2012

This home is ready for the golfer! A custom built home with open concept is waiting for you. This home offers a bright kitchen overlooking your beautful back yard. Lots of windows let the warm sunshine come in for a visit. Gleaming hardwood floors throughout makes this home easy to maintain. The pride of ownership is evident throughout the entire house, from the main level, to the second level and even in the lower level. You will also notice how well this property has been extremely well maintained around the entire property as well. The Bearbrook golf course is in it's back yard, which means no rear neighbours but the property is also lined with beautiful mature trees for your privacy. Take a look at the video below for all the pictures and also a few sounds of your back yard. You wil... 09/30/2012

09/04/2012

We all know one or two expressions related to lemons.   If life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.   This house is a real lemon (meaning defective in someway). The real problem with these expressions is that lemons are good.  Not only to they add taste to food but they are useful in so many ways.   Drop some lemons into the food garburator to clean it and improve the smell. Diluted lemon will help fade stains We all know to add lemon to honey when we have a sore throat. According to Real Simple, you can shine the interior of a copper cookware by sprinkling a lemon wedge with salt and then scrubbing the interior. Every stager knows to include a bowl of lemons in the kitchen, they are real and they last a long time.  If you cut a lemon in half and then put them in a dish cut side up, the r... 08/21/2012

A number of local real estate agents send out packets of Forget-Me-Not seeds.  Such a great name for those flowers that other organizations, such as the Alzheimer's Society, does the same.  When you, the homeowner, get the seeds, there is almost no way that you can throw away the seeds.  Sure, you didn't ask for them, you didn't want them and you sure as shooting are not going to plant them but..... This is called clutter - to the homeowner.  With all clutter you can keep it, toss it or give it away. This is called a great marketing ploy - to the real estate agent.  People keep those seeds for years and every time they see the packet they also see the real estate agent's card/name printed on the packet.     Photo credit:  Forget-me-nots 08/20/2012

Last evening we were with friends.  At some point the hostess started talking about Victorian architecture.  She said that the reason that there were niches in the staircases of those homes is because the staircases were circular or winding.  People died in their homes and there had to be room somewhere in the stairwell for the coffin to be able to turn.  I was surprised but it seemed to make sense.   To write this post, I did a little research and there is a myth debunk site that said that that those niches (often referred to as coffin coves) were purely decorative and, in fact, had nothing to do with coffins.  The author indicated that dead people could be carried down the stairs and THEN put in the coffin.  Well, that seemed to make sense as well.   In the world of important issues ... 08/19/2012

  Very quietly, on the eve of our 50th wedding anniversary, I confided to my husband that I was having an affair. He turned to me and asked "Are you having it catered?" And THAT my friend is the real definition of growing old.     Author Unknown. Roger Mucci wrote today about what happens on the 40th wedding anniversary.  If I were a husband I would be a little concerned.   08/16/2012

Here is a simple little test to do when you are out shopping for a cottage, ski chalet or summer home.  Take out your cell phone and try to call a friend.  We all think that there are communication towers everywhere and that cell phone reception (and the accompanying data transmission) will work throughout North America.  Not so.  Telephone companies need to know that there are sufficient users to warrant having a communications tower installed.  In addition, the range for some towers may not go too far with geographic interference such as hills and mountains.  Of course cities and towns will get reception but not in remote and sparsely populated lakes and mountain areas.  If you are in real estate and need to be constantly available to clients, rule out areas with no cell phone recepti... 08/08/2012

Can you guess what this contraption is? This is a television aerial.  It may be the only way to get some television and only locally broadcast television.  What is missing is the cable.  You know, the three hundred plus stations (of which 290 are useless) that you get at home. Are you like me and need a news fix every morning.  Well, with this aerial, you might get the local news and then again, it might not be working because of the wind and clouds and gawd knows what else.   So, if you are buying a cottage, ask about the television reception.  It could be that you won't get any and then you will be  forced to talk to your family and guests.  If you can get a couple of stations, you will start seeing shows that you would never have bothered with at home.  Then again, maybe you can cut ... 08/06/2012

If you are out shopping for a cottage make sure you understand the drinking water sources.   1.  Is there a well? How deep and has the water been recently tested?  You will want to take a sample and have the water tested yourself.   2.  Is the cottage on municipal waterlines?   Wow and good for you.  Of course you will be paying for that in water bills but the convenience may be worth it.   3.  What happens if the only water is from the lake?  Of course you will want to run a line into the lake for all the non-potable needs (showers, dishes, washing).  You may even decide that you will drink that water once it has been filtered.  Make sure you have the water tested from time to time.  You may decide that boiling the water that you drink will be sufficient.  Again, have the water tested... 08/04/2012