Ottawa South has been going through a massive expansion over the past few years. A part of the city which seemed forgotten about for quite some time has now exploded and is booming. Not only are there amazing homes being built in the area but there are many parks, schools, and stores being erected as well. There is plenty to do in the area as well as it only being a hop skip and jump to downtown Ottawa. The areas in the South currently on the rise are: 1)      South Manotick - average resale price $465,626 2)      Riverside South - average resale price $355,343 3)      Stonebridge - average resale price $486,874 South Manotick is the most rural of all the “urban” parts of the city. The southern part of Manotick is booming and it’s no surprise with the combination of huge houses with eve... 02/21/2012

  Last night we went out for Valentine's Day (okay, a few hours before the stroke of midnight but so close to the 14th as not to count).  One of my favourite restaurants a few years ago was Allium on Holland Avenue.  For some reason, time passed and we had not been back.  In looking for a place to celebrate Valentine's Day, I suggested Allium.  Monday night is tapas night and that allows me to taste a few things without ending up with a huge plate of only one type of food.  I was not disappointed!  We had great service, wonderful tapas and then for only $4.00 a half of a Banoffee pie (see the photo from the Allium website above to realize that this was not a huge serving but JUST RIGHT.  I saw a Jamie Oliver television show where he made one of these pies and it stuck as something that... 02/14/2012

Beyond City Limits: Life in Ottawa’s Suburbs  Part 1: East of Ottawa The East of Ottawa has always been a popular place for families to settle. There is so much to do in the area that you never really need to leave it to find exactly what you are looking for. There are four areas in the East that are currently booming: Blackburn Hamlet - average resale price $261,162 Chapel Hill - average resale price $405,422 Convent Glen North - average resale price $292,571 Avalon - average resale price $351,124 Blackburn Hamlet is a very special part of Ottawa since it is surrounded by Greenbelt, and definitely won’t be getting much bigger. This community is perfect for people who are looking for that small town feel without being too far out of the city. What’s really great about Blackburn is the m... 01/31/2012

LOVE IS IN THE AIR…Win a spa manicure & pedicure basket from Beauticontrol by Joan Jesion or a Romantic ‘Tour of Italy’ Evening at Cuisine & Passion with executive Chef Marc Miron! How to enter: It’s simple! Comment on this post and tell us why you’d love to win! Want additional entries? Hop on facebook or twitter! 1) "Like" Christiane Lafleur - YOUR Real Estate Professional & leave a comment 2) Follow me on TWITTER (@Christiane_L) & tweet: I'd love to win #valentinesdaycontest w @Christiane_L (Would you? http://goo.gl/aTiDt) Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until February 13th at 10AM. Each unique comment you submit counts as one entry! The winner will be announced February 13th 2012 at 12NOON; just in time for a last minute Valentine’s Day Surprise - STAY TUNED!   For... 01/17/2012

It is a well know fact that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. They are the two most important rooms in a house since, if we’re going to be politically incorrect, women spend 99% of their time in the kitchen and men 99% in the bathroom, right? Well, let’s focus on what’s important and review some great tips on how to remodel your kitchens on a dime, without breaking the bank! Let’s start with cabinetry. I know it scares us all to think about having to tear down our old, shall we say “rustic” looking cabinets and replace them with sleek modern cabinets, but fear not, there is another way! Instead of paying between $5,000 to $20,000 dollars on new cabinets, why not paint and reface your existing cabinets? Sure it’ll take a little bit of elbow grease and time, but isn’t it worth the thousa... 01/16/2012

The year 2011 is over, the holidays are over and it's time to get back in to the regular routine. Have you been thinking about buying a home in Ottawa? You are not sure where to start, what to do, who to call, etc... There are so many options out there. How is the Ottawa Real Estate market doing? Where should I buy? What should I by? Do I call a realtor or a mortgage broker first? Why not come over and have a coffee so we can talk about the Ottawa Real Estate market. It will be an up close and personal event. If you go to a large event it can be a bit of a challenge to get all of your questions answered. This is why we have put this format together so that you can get the straight talk on real estate.   Visit CoffeeWithJean.com to register and reserve your spot. There is limited space a... 01/08/2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it’s 2012 already? A New Year means one thing for most people… Resolutions! How many resolutions have we all made (and broken) by now? Hey, it is the 6th, keeping that ‘no junk food’ resolution was really tough come day three! Well no need to fear unrealistic resolutions anymore. We have some great tips and tools you can use to set and achieve goals in 2012! The first rule, which may sound incredibly simple but is very important, is to set achievable goals. See, I should have known that not eating junk food would be impossible; alas it was a completely unrealistic goal! When trying to come up with achievable goals always think of the S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting Method: S. Specific & Written – Make sure your goals are clear and concise. Writing them never hurt... 01/06/2012

  For Christmas, I wish you Gifts under the tree, turkey in the oven and family and friends to surround you. And for every day, may you be granted Peace, Health, Happiness, Love, Joy and Laughter I want you to be safe and reading and writing on ActiveRain.  In that line, please be careful with candles this year.  I love candles and how warm and homey they make a room, how elegant a table and how wonderful a gift.  If you are going to be burning candles, please take a moment and read some candle safety guidelines published by the National Candle Association.   One of my tried and true rules is to ALWAYS trim or pinch off a long wick.  Keep it at about 1/4".  I always worried that it would burn off black smoke and stain the ceiling but it also is an issue for how the candle will not burn... 12/21/2011

Open House - 1494 Ridgebrook When: Saturday December 17, 2011 Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm   This beautiful renovated 4 bedroom home is ready for you to move in and enjoy. The brand new kitchen will be the "piece de resistance". It has been completely re-done and re-designed with new cupboards and granite counter tops. You have never seen a kitchen like this! There are gleaming hardwood floors on the main level and hardwood on the second level as well. It comes with all of the appliances. Neutral colours throughout makes it easier to decorate to your tastes, add a bit of color as needed. For further information; pictures, virtual tours, feature sheet, street view and mortgage calculator of this home make sure to visit our website link >> JeanRicher.com/72 12/16/2011

Today is the perfect day for trimming back tree limbs, especially those that are hanging dangerously over your or your neighbour's house.  Last year, Brain Madigan (my favourite lawyer and real estate expert in Canada) wrote a wonderful post about the Liability of Fallen Trees.   It is such a popular post that it is on the first page of google when I went searching for the legal aspects of fallen trees and branches.  I highly encourage you to read and follow Brian's blog.  He provides amazing advice. December is the perfect month in Ontario and most of Canada for cutting back trees.  It is cold and the leaves have fallen so the crew can see all of the branches that need trimming. The sap flow has slowed so the branches are denser and easier on the chain saw.  It is hard physical labour ... 12/09/2011

Yesterday I bought a bird.  We went to the Lansdowne Market.  Normally, the market ends in the fall but the Cattle Barn has been let to the local producers for a few Sundays.  The guidelines for the market are locally produced goods and food within a 100 mile radius - with the exception of fruit from Niagara.  It was a bit of a surprise to see how many crafters have rented booths.  It was the best of both worlds - shopping for food and for gifts.  There is one more Sunday (December 18th) left to go and get your baking, bread, meat, fall veggies and hand crafted goods.  I found a wonderful booth of wire-made ornaments, wall hangings and free standing birds.  I fell in love with a gorgeous little crow.  This is the photo of the little guy settling into the bookcase.  The artist, Denise A... 12/05/2011

Welcome to The Christiane Lafleur REAL ESTATE Team's CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY CONTEST :) How does it work?! From November 19th 2011 to December 15th 2011 you are able to make multiple entries to enter my Christmas Holiday contest. So... to be eligible to win a $75 gift certificate from HomeSense or Canadian Tire, you just have to comment on this post with what you would do with it if you won?! Top up on your decorating supplies?! More christmas lights? Purchase a gift for that special someone? The choice is yours! Feel free to comment as many times as you’d like until December 15th at 10AM.  Each comment you submit counts as one entry (as long as each entry has a different use for the gift card each time).  Do you want additional contest entries? Hop on facebook or twitter! 1) "Like" Christian... 11/18/2011

Are you ready for the Hot New Listing coming out next week?  ~ 4 bedrooms ~ hardwood throughout ~ brand new kitchen ~ granite counter tops ~ finished basement ~ corner lot ~ new fenceThis beautiful renovated 4 bedroom home is ready for you to move in and enjoy. The brand new kitchen will be the "piece de resistance". It has been completely re-done and re-designed with new cupboards and granite counter tops. You have never seen a kitchen like this! There is gleaming hardwood floors on the main level and hardwood on the second level as well. It comes with all of the appliances. Neutral colours throughout makes it easier to decorate to your tastes, add a bit of color as needed.More information will be made available on Tuesday with all of the pictures from the professional photographer. Ma... 11/18/2011

  Halloween comes only once a year.Why would you leave squeaky doors and drafty windows for Buyers to see and experience the other 364 days?   If your doors slowly close themselves or don’t close even when you pull them shut, it will look like a haunting. This is likely a level problem and not the intervention of the spirit world.  Adjust the doors and seal the frames around the windows. If you think your home has shifted, you may want to get a structural engineer in to take a look and provide an assessment before your home is on the market.   I love homes that are decorated for the seasons.  However, when you home is for sale, it may be prudent to reduce your decorations to a door wreath and pumpkins or vases of seasonal greenery.  Leave the For Sale sign on your lawn as the most impo... 09/26/2011

  On Wednesday I was walking home and saw the most wonderful coloured maple tree.  Oh, there are going to be some that will be better but this is the first tree in the neighbourhood that has fully turned and is now dropping its leaves. The sky was overcast and the day was hot and humid.   We were all hoping for rain.  Of course, like most days this summer, it did not happen.  This poor tree is likely very stressed from the hot dry summer we just had and the continuation of it into the fall.  Well watered and really healthy trees have yet to change colours. Today, September 23, is the first day of fall.  It is difficult to believe as it is very warm and humid.  Feels more like July.  I hope you are experiencing wonderful weather and that the fall will be mild and comfortable for all of ... 09/23/2011

There are many signs that seasons are changing.   One of them is the honking of the Canada Geese as they fly over my house.  In the spring they are flying north for nesting and in the fall they are heading south.  Doesn't that make you see that we are part of nature - heading to the cool in the summer and south (northerners are called Snow Birds in Texas, Arizona and Florida) in the winter.  The honking is a herald of the summer or winter to come.  I love the geese formation and the sheer volume of the their calls.   You can hear them when all the doors and windows are closed.  Of course, I am not fond of them close up - they are big, strong, protective and like to chase little dogs.  I am not sure that they make good eating as I have never seen Canada Goose on a menu.  Who wants to cho... 09/21/2011

  It is in your best interest to show off your home to its best advangtage – staging, decluttering, painting, etc.  It is also in your best interest to not disguise or hide problems.  A home inspection may reveal the faults or the Buyers may discover them upon possession and sue you for fraud.    A few years ago, I had a Seller who never hooked up the fridge to the water supply.  From time to time he made ice and put it in the bin so that that if you hit the ice button, you got some in a glass.  I suggested that he put a little tag on the fridge door (before the home inspection) saying that there was no water line to the fridge.  Up front and honest.  The other option was to hire a plumber and have the water line extended to that part of the kitchen (a not insignificant cost).  The fri... 09/19/2011

I have been so busy that I had not been able to take my camera for a walk (LOL) in the neighbourhood.  I found this photo in my files.  I took it September 15, last year.  We had a terrific fall and the flowers were beautiful.  I hope you enjoy it.    09/18/2011

I will be sitting through a home inspection in the next couple of days.  The home is in good shape so we are not expecting the inspection to turn up any major surprises.  These are Buyers who want to know how good the house it plus they want to renovate it.   They have a list of things that they want to do with the house.  It is always prudent to have a home inspection.  It could turn up those things that you, the Buyer, just cannot see when looking at a home.  Now, as the new potential owner, if you are planning on renovations, you might want to also bring in a contractor for a second review (and write this into the contract).  What you, your agent and the home inspector, might estimate as a cost to do some changes, your contractor should be the one to listen to for the costs.  He is ... 09/17/2011

  You have decided to sell your house and look around at all the things that you bought for the house.   You may want to strip out anything from your house that is not nailed down.     You would be surprised how many Sellers think this is okay.  Even the screens for the windows are taken, light bulbs in sockets, switch plates and the list goes on and on.  Every real estate agent can tell you horror stories of homes that have been denuded either before or after a sale.  Before means the price will drop and after means the Buyer may sue.      If you are asking premium price, Buyers will know it.  Getting your price while keeping all of the appliances, light fixtures, drapes, tracks and garden shed is not normally a successful strategy.    Make your sale by leaving things - On The House. ... 09/12/2011