The March 2021 Ottawa Real Estate Board Stats are out!
Market Snapshot: The long-term inventory shortage continues to drive prices however, the number of residential properties sold in March of 2021 is over double the number of properties that sold just one year prior. The Spring market sure has sprung! If you’re considering a move we’re here to help answer any questions you have, in this market you’ll want a qualified, professional Real Estate Team to protect your interests, Call The Agent DK Team Today!
Buying a home is an exciting time for both new home buyers and experienced buyers alike. It is a fresh start, with new walls to build your life within. However, once the move begins, things can feel stressful, frantic, and exhausting, especially if there’s extra work to be done while boxes are being piled one on top of another. To make your transition go smoothly, we have compiled a list of 6 things to do before settling into your home. This will undoubtedly save you time and energy that could be put to better use come moving day.
Update Your Information Before officially moving into your new home, you should begin updating your address on your driver’s license, OHIP card, banking information, and any other services that require your place of residence on file. Additionally, you will want to inform your insurance providers to ensure that your home insurance is transferred and appropriate for your new home coverage. You will also want to touch base with utility companies before you move so that your home has electricity and gas set up under your accounts. Lastly, have any internet, phone, or television service providers in to get your systems up and running, primarily if you rely on a good connection to work from home. See here for a change of address checklist, to ensure you don’t miss informing anyone.
Make Your New Home Shine Before the big day comes, set aside some time or hire a company to complete a deep clean of the home. Ensure high-touch surfaces are disinfected, carpets are steam-cleaned, appliances are cleaned out, and that every nook and cranny is spotless and ready for a new life. If the home’s colours aren’t in line with your decor or aesthetic, or you want to rid the home of any lingering smells from pets or smoke, take this time to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls. By the time you move in, it will feel like you were the first family ever to own the home, and the hustle of moving-day will be a breeze.
Make a home maintenance schedule Home maintenance should never be something you skip on when it comes to homeownership. Keeping a regular schedule will ultimately help you protect your investment, and hopefully, minimize any high-cost repairs you may have to do. You can begin the work for this as early as your home inspection report comes in, as it might contain suggestions for work or repairs that should be completed.
Create and organize a filing system for any manuals or instructions, with clear outlines on how frequently you should have large items or appliances serviced or replaced and when to conduct seasonal maintenance. This is also an excellent opportunity to do your research and find a list of local plumbers, electricians, exterminators, landscapers, or snow removal companies that you may need to use in the future.
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
It is good practice for every homeowner to frequently check both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure they are in good working order. Before moving into your home, checking or replacing existing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or their batteries should be one of the first items to check off your list. Home Safety experts recommend changing the batteries every 6 months, so make sure to mark it on your calendar for semi-annual maintenance to be completed. If you are unsure how to test your systems, your local fire department may have some tips or offer free inspections.
Change Your Locks
Getting keys in hand for your new home on closing day is easily one of the best feelings when buying a new house. Everything is real, and a new adventure is about to begin. But for safety reasons, the passing on of keys should stay ceremonial. You never know how many copies of your house keys have been made and how many people may still have them in hand. This can be an easy fix by installing new deadbolts yourself or by calling a locksmith in to do it for you. Make sure if you get copies made that you only give them to necessary persons, and write them down, so you don’t lose track.
Get Familiar With Your Home
Once you become a homeowner, it is essential to get familiar with the systems in your home. Take the time to understand how everything works. Locate the furnace, air conditioning system, circuit breaker, and the home’s main water shut-off valve. Take note of these things during your walkthrough with your REALTOR ® or home inspector, and once in your home, inspect them yourself or hire someone to do a secondary inspection with you so that you know how best to care for your home and protect your investment.
Buying a home is a great accomplishment for many, but buying a cottage can feel like a dream come true. With aspirations of kicking back next to the lake and enjoying the solitude that comes with cottage life, residents in Ontario are now more than ever eager to find their own slice of paradise. While the luxury of this second property may offer an excellent way to break from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy some solitude, it is also an ample opportunity to earn income or to begin investing in Real Estate. But before you begin hours of globetrotting in search of the getaway home of your dreams, be sure to consider everything that owning a cottage entails; Speak with your THE AGENT DK TEAM for tips on where to look, what to steer clear of, or for help in finding you that dream getaway. These are all big decisions to be made, and you should wait until you have the knowledge and information needed to get the most out of your property so that you can enjoy it for years to come. In the meantime, here are some considerations that should be made when looking to purchase your first cottage.
What is your Goal?
Prior to your search, ensure that you understand your goal in owning a cottage: Are you looking for a summer getaway spot, or a 4 season cottage to visit year round; Do you desire solitude or is a community with neighbouring properties something that peaks your interest; Is water access a need, or does swimming and other water activities rank low on your list of must haves; and finally, is this property for personal enjoyment, retirement plans, an investment opportunity, or as a means to earn steady income. Once you know exactly what you want, you have a better idea of what it is that you should be looking for.
Costs
It is important to understand that the costs of operating a cottage differ from that of your primary residence. For instance, insurance alone can have higher rates due to the fact you are not there as often to check up on the home, and often have additional stipulations such as checking the property regularly in order to maintain the validity of the insurance policy. Other costs to consider when purchasing a cottage include hydro rates which may be delivered at a higher rate in rural areas, seasonal maintenance, property taxes, garbage disposal and recycling services, and the cost or availability of internet.
Access
Some cottages are very remote, making for unique factors in terms of accessibility. Before purchasing your cottage, it would be important to evaluate how you access the property throughout different seasons or any obstacles that may prevent you from enjoying your experience as a cottage owner to the fullest. Some potential hindrances include whether or not the property is accessible by land, the proximity in which you can park your car, the landscape surrounding the cottage, and whether or not you will have to climb stairs for water access.
Water and Septic Systems
As most cottages are located in rural areas, water systems and septic tanks usually coincide with ownership. Before purchasing your piece of paradise, be sure to understand whether or not the water available is safe for drinking, or if you need to bring your own supply each time you visit; If your cottage water supply runs from a well, you will need to incorporate in your expenses the cost to have the water tested regularly. If there is a septic system that the cottage uses, you should ensure that it is in good working condition and consider the costs that come alongside any regular maintenance; In addition, it would be good to receive proof of previous maintenance, inspections and approval reports obtained by the previous owners.
Amenities
Amenities are usually a big check on every homeowners list of requirements, but can often be prematurely dismissed when on the hunt for a cottage. Cross reference the importance of amenities alongside your list of goals in cottage ownership. If you are looking for a place to retire, you may want to have the essentials within a short drive; If you plan to rent your cottage out for vacations, certain amenities may increase the demand of your property allowing you to charge a higher rate than cottages without.
Rentability
If you are looking to rent out your cottage to others as a means of income through websites such as AirBnB, ensuring your space meets the needs of cottage goers is essential to your success. What would you be looking for when renting out a cottage for your vacation? Things like waterfront access, availability of clean drinking water, accessibility, direction, amenities, and internet access are commonly sought out by renters when planning their vacation. Be sure to take these into consideration when searching for your rural getaway attraction.
Local Laws and Property Restrictions
Once you have purchased your cottage, you may have big dreams to build docks, workshops, or expand and upgrade the dwelling to meet more modern demands. Unfortunately, with building restrictions, by-laws, crown patent and waterfront issues this is not always the easiest process to initiate. In some cases, despite having waterfront access right off of your property, you may not have exclusive rights to the shoreline. Look to your Real Estate professional or Lawyer for help navigating and understanding your rights as an owner in respect to cottage and lake associations, local legislations, and any other official plans or restrictions.
Mortgage requirements
Typically, those who are looking to invest in a cottage already own a primary residence. If this is the case, it is good to understand that you will need a minimum payment of 20% as your down payment on a second property. If your cottage does not have year round access, a larger down payment may be requested among other requirements in order to obtain financing from a lender. Securing a mortgage for a second property will depend largely on the type of property you are looking for, and your income to debt ratio. Be sure to speak with your bank or lender, or Contact The Agent DK Team for help with obtaining information on how to be approved for your second mortgage.
What a beautiful day in Ottawa! In the next few weeks, flowers will be sprouting up, and we’ll hear countless birds chirping and see them flying overhead on a regular basis. We’ll watch the rain fall poetically to renew the Earth surrounding us, and maybe we’ll take the kids and their laughter outside to jump in puddles afterward. Our walks throughout the neighborhood will require less layers with each passing week, and hopefully our fears will shed as well as we see hope continuing on all around us. We all need this shift in season and we hope that we see more positive changes ahead.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! This year looks a little different but it doesn’t mean you can’t still have fun and support a good cause.St. Patrick’s Day – Online Zoom Party put on by Rock da’ Houze! Saturday March 20, 2021 starting at 10PM (EST) until 2AM (EST) with a live DJ Performance from 10PM (EST) until 2AM (EST).
Rock da’ Houze is a proud supporter of Mental Health with 10% of all proceeds going to the Canadian Mental Health Association.Get your tickets today and don’t forget to invite your friends to join with you! On the day of the party cast your device to your TV and crank up the volume – you’ll be dancing all night.Get Ready to Rock da’ Houze buy getting your tickets here!
Stittsville is an extraordinary place to call home. One of the many advantages is that everyone is very friendly. As so many families are “new,” there is a real sense of building the neighbourhoods. The entire community pitches in to support local causes and charities, such as the Stittsville Lions Bottle drive for Childhood Cancer/Ronald McDonald House. New families are welcomed to the many clubs, activities and sports teams. The residents of Stittsville are an integral part of what makes this community feel so inviting and friendly. Small communities are unique because it is very easy to make new friends and have you feel at home.
Residents of Stittsville
Stittsville has a full range of residents from families with children, retirees, business professionals, couples without children, and singles. This diverse population is due to the many business opportunities coupled with attractive neighbourhoods and green space, schools, and public transportation. One reason for such a diverse group is the short distance to Canada’s largest technology park, located in Kanata North.
Many military families have also found the area a great place to call home while working at the National Defence Headquarters on Carling Ave and the Shirley’s Bay facilities. Many also work in other areas of Ottawa. Stittsville has many new neighbourhoods that have been specifically developed to cater to seniors. Other neighbourhoods are perfect for single people and families of all ages and lifestyles. Whether you are looking for a bungalow to downsize or a home for your growing family, Stittsville has everything needed to live a healthy and happy life.
Where To Live In Stittsville?
Stittsville has several wonderful neighbourhoods that have just the right home for all types of families; these include:
Old Stittsville, Main Street./Crossing Bridge
Fernbank Crossing
Edenwylde
Fringewood
Granite Ridge
Jackson Trails
Poole Creek
Timbermere
Fairwinds
Deer Run
Crossing Bridge
Bryanston Gate
Amberwood
Potter’s Key
Westridge
Events And Attractions
There are many events and activities in Stittsville. The Stittsville Village Association helps to organize many of the well-attended events such as the annual Parade of Lights (November/December), Canada Day (July 1), and Arts in the Park (June), Cinema under the stars as well as other activities such as the Weekly Walking Group throughout the year. Stittsville’s Carp Road Flea Market is a fantastic place to find just about anything. The Stittsville Public library has many excellent services and activities such as Virtual Genealogy Drop-In assistance and Online Tutoring and Homework Help for Children.
Stittsville is very fortunate to be just minutes away from The Canadian Tire Centre. It is the home of the Ottawa Senators. It also hosts many world-class musicians and entertainers and unique children’s shows like Disney On Ice and Paw Patrol Live. Located only minutes from this community is Ottawa’s largest outdoor shopping mall, Tanger,. There are several excellent golf courses in the area. However, the Amberwood Village Golf & Country Club has a special place in the life of Stittsville.
Stittsville’s Favourite Restaurants
There is a restaurant for every palette in Stittsville. No matter the restaurant, you will usually run into someone you know. There is an astonishing number of excellent restaurants offering everything from fine dining to pizza and subs. The ALE – the Amberwood Lounge & Eatery offers fine dining overlooking the beautiful golf course. Cabotto’s, located in a beautiful historic building, serves traditional Italian pasta dishes.
The Vietnamese Pho House offers very fresh and tasty meals. There are even several very friendly pubs in the area. The Barley Mow, on Main Street, has a great atmosphere and food. The Brew Revolution has British pasties and beer. At the same time, the Glen Scottish Pub and Restaurant is famous for its Scottish food. Looking for the Mediterranean taste, check out Classic Shawarma: It has donair sandwiches, various platters, combo options and family platters. If you are looking for a sweet treat, try the Red Gables Creperie. Napoli’s, NeXT, Quitters, Maverick’s are also great dining options.
Historic Centre
Stittsville has a long and fascinating history. It was a British Military garrison in the 19th century. The Village started as a small collection of houses and shops located at what is now the intersection of the Carp and Hazeldean Roads. The Village grew as it added a blacksmith, store and an inn. When the Village got its first post office in 1854, Jackson Stitt was the postmaster, so the Village was named Stittsville. After a devastating fire in 1870 that destroyed many farms, the few remaining buildings became known as Old Stittsville. The Village then became a railway centre, and the population increased. The connection of water and sewer systems in the early 1980s caused the rapid expansion of the area. The population has grown very quickly, and Stittsville remains one of the fastest-growing communities in the Ottawa Region. Many areas of natural beauty still surround Stittsville. One way to enjoy the area is to take a walk or bike ride along the Trans Canada Trail.
Full-Service Stittsville
Stittsville is one of the fastest-growing and exciting communities in Ottawa. It has everything you will ever need or want. Additionally, there is beautiful green space and the fantastic Trans Canada Trail. Stittsville has many employment opportunities in the area and nearby in Kanata. And a short drive to the Canadian Tire Centre. The transportation connections are outstanding with OC Transpo, and you are always close to the highway. Stittsville is a great place to call home. There are all the stores, large and small, you will ever need, there are community activities and excellent restaurants to enjoy with family and friends.
You will be proud to call Stittsville home
Call The Agent DK Team Today to find your Stittsville Home!
This year, the International Women’s Day organization’s message is “A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So let’s all choose to challenge. How will you help forge a gender equal world? Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.” At Royal LePage & The Agent DK Team, we celebrate women like yourself by raising awareness and celebrating their achievements. The Agent DK Team is proud to celebrate the Powerful Women on our team: Dani, Mel, Alena, Silvi, Freda & Xena! They are constantly moving goals and aspirations forward.
We are lucky to have them as part of our team!
How are you celebrating Women International’s Day? Celebrate International Women’s day with these events!
Staging is all about dressing up your home so that it looks its best to buyers. This can involve anything from rearranging furniture and doing some home improvements, to painting and redecorating, to even replacing existing furnishings and other items. The goal is to make key rooms look worthy of a magazine cover!
But is it worth the effort? Can’t you just clean and tidy and, perhaps, do a little painting?
Sometimes you can — especially if your home is in high demand and likely to get multiple offers.
However, in most cases, staging can help sell your property faster and for a higher price.
In fact, studies done by the home staging industry consistently reveal that staged homes sell for an average of 5-23% above list price. (That varies, of course, depending on the local market.)
Keep in mind that you don’t necessarily need to do extensive staging. You may, for example, be able to focus on only key rooms on the main floor — where buyers tend to form their lasting impressions — and then simply clean and declutter the other rooms.
When it comes to staging, you have many options. Each home is different and will have different staging needs.
We provide staging services to help get you top dollar! Call Ottawa’s Top Realtors – The Agent DK Team today at 613-883-5555 for more information.
Halloween will be looking different this year for sure but it doesn’t meant that we still can’t have fun with the kids. Here are some great ideas for the whole family to make new fun memories this Halloween. “Trick-or-treating is beloved because it is iconic. It’s one of those rites of passage as a kid that give us a bit of freedom and make it feel like, for one night, we’re running the show.
Market Snapshot: No Fall for September’s resale market as Ottawa saw 51% more properties sold over September of last year.
A continued increase in new listings and the demand for housing staying strong support the upward trajectory in the volume of properties sold. The new normal has made a change to our usual spring and fall market cycle that we typically see which will make it hard to predict if the momentum will continue.
If you’re considering a move we’re here to help answer any questions you have, in this market you’ll want a qualified, professional real estate company protecting your interests.
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or are selling your house yet again, you need a realtor that understands your needs. The home buying and selling process can be complicated as it is, and there is no need to cause yourself additional angst by picking a less-than-qualified realtor. Read on to discover a few traits you need to look for when selecting a real estate agent so you can confidently move through the buying or selling process.
Qualifications Broad Knowledge-Base Good Track Record Sympathetic to Your Needs
On the Agent DK Team we value our clients and strive to provide the best customer service possible!
Call us at 613-883-5555 for any of your Ottawa Real Estate Needs!
Getting ready for fall and winter can be a chore. However with a few simple tips and tricks, getting it done can be quick and will pay off for homeowners. Insuring the appropriate maintenance has been performed to keep your home in top shape before the snow flies is important.
There are a few major things to remember when it comes to cold weather. A large part of getting ready for fall is to prepare your outdoor landscapes for the harsh reality that is Canadian winter, including (but not limited to) storing patio furniture, wrapping cedar trees and putting away decorative items that could be damaged. Freezing water can cause damage to concrete, metal pipes, gutters and landscapes and the thaw/freeze cycle can worsen the damage. Cleaning gutters and downspouts is a task that should be completed.
Here are a few other tips, and suggested areas to focus on in order to winterize your home this year.
Market Snapshot: Ottawa’s resale market was still hot in August as we saw an increase in new listings.
Multiple offers continue to be a dominating factor in the resale market price increase. With a high number of active Buyers we are happy to see that the new listings numbers are on the rise as Sellers are ready to capitalize on their investments.
If you’re considering a move we’re here to help answer any questions you have, in this market you’ll want a qualified, professional real estate team protecting your interests. Message us anytime!
Moving is a task that few find pleasure in, as it requires countless hours of organizing, packing, and lots of heavy lifting. Unfortunately, when doing this through a pandemic with travel restrictions in place and physical distancing measures still active, it may feel like there could not be a more inconvenient time to relocate. However, with closing dates getting closer, putting off your move may not be an option to your avail, but you should consider a few things before you go:
Is your new town a hot-spot for COVID-19?
Will you be coming into close contact with others during your trip?
Are you or your co-travellers considered high risk for COVID-19?
All of these questions are important to consider when planning out your move to keep you, your family, and your new community safe by minimizing your risk of exposure. To ensure your move goes well despite these current circumstances, it is important to arrange things with more care than you may have originally thought to. Here are some steps you can take to make sure your move goes smoothly and safely during this unusual time.
Touch Base With Your Moving Company Businesses in Ontario are taking precautions to protect their customers as well as their employees, and moving companies are no exception. Many of these companies are taking a different approach to the way they work in respect to social distancing measures, this includes: estimates based on photos and videos; truck and equipment sanitation; and wearing masks and gloves while working with your belongings. While planning your move, you should make sure to touch base with your movers to ensure you understand the guidelines that they are following. In being aware of the processes beforehand, you can organize yourself to ensure the movers have the time and space they need to get the job done efficiently, while remaining physically distanced when you can.
Packing Supply Calculations Ensuring you have enough packing supplies while minimizing your trips to the store can be a tricky thing to do. Fortunately, companies such as U-haul have a free packing calculator right on their website to help you make an accurate estimate of all of the supplies that you will need to pack everything in your home. You can order directly from their website to receive all supplies at once, and choose between shipping and pick-up services.
Pack Your Own Stuff. While packing can be a dreaded task that we would much rather outsource to someone else, by doing it yourself you can reduce contact with moving personnel. As we are aware, the novel-coronavirus can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, so plan ahead to ensure your boxes are packed and untouched for this time frame before the movers arrive. Once you make it to your new house, try to avoid any unpacking for the same amount of time to reduce your risk of exposure.
Be Courteous Of Others If you are moving from or into an apartment or condominium, try your best to inform your neighbours so that they can avoid movement throughout common areas, elevators, and stairways during this time. Use doorstops to keep doors open and reduce contact with high-touch surfaces, and have hand-soap, sanitizer, paper towels, and disinfectant in a marked box to ensure they are the last on and first off the truck, making them readily available for everyone to use.
Welcome Home! Once you make it to your new home, be sure to disinfect all high-touch surfaces including door handles, cabinet and drawer pulls, light switches, and appliances both before and after your movers arrive, if possible. Secondly, set up your soap dispensers to ensure you have hand-washing stations available for use right away. Last but certainly not least, relax! You moved during a pandemic, and there is nothing you deserve more than a little downtime in your new abode.
