SOLD LISTINGS

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What to do this Weekend

Things to do in Ottawa this Weekend!

Looking for something fun to do? In spirit of the eventful year our capital has had so far, there's even more great events for you to partake in this weekend! Like the Santa Shuffle 5K Fun Run at Lansdowne, or outdoor skating at the SENS Rink of Dreams.

Click here for the full list of this weekend's events!

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Ottawa: Project Give 2017

This holiday season, help give hope and health to those in need in Ottawa. This Friday, Dec 1 join CBC Ottawa for their annual charity drive, Project Give in support of the Ottawa Food Bank.

Click here to see how you can donate.

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Considering selling your home over the holidays?

Are you thinking of selling over the holidays?

Putting your home up for sale during the winter holiday months can seem… daunting, to say the least. Present shopping, decorating, and family can be overwhelming on their own without throwing in open houses, getting ready to move, looking for buyers and finalizing a sale.

However, there are a lot of benefits to selling during this time.

Check out this blog on why it’s a great idea to list over the winter holidays!

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Make this a Merry Christmas!

It’s Toy Mountain time again! Together we can brighten the life of a child, and make them smile this Christmas!

Drop off your new, unwrapped toys at my office: 12B-6081 Hazeldean Rd., Stittsville ON

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Ottawa’s Exciting Grey Cup Festival

November 21st - 26th Grey Cup Events

This Sunday, the Calgary Stampeders and Toronto Argonauts will go head-to-head in the 2017 Grey Cup final in Ottawa! Leading up the big game comes the 105th Grey Cup Festival.

The lineup includes tailgates to family fun, and offers both free and ticketed entertainment.

Click here for the list of Festival Events.

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Why it doesn’t always PAY to sell your home yourself

With today’s hot real estate market, it may be tempting to consider listing your home yourself, without the assistance of a real estate professional; it is often seen as a way to increase profits since no commission will need to be paid out but in reality, this is not often the case. If you choose to sell your home “For Sale By Owner”(FSBO), there are many factors to consider including additional costs and stress, so it is always advisable to list with a Realtor who knows what they are doing; you may actually make more money by doing so!

Here are just a few of the reasons why you should hire a Realtor:

You may not get top dollar

How do you price a home without access to ALL the information - There is a lot that goes into pricing a home including comparing your home to others that have sold in your neighbourhood. Only Realtors have access to that information so you could be left guessing.
Homes that are FSBO tend to sell for less than those listed with a Realtor – Buyers often expect to pay less for a FSBO home for a variety of reasons: buyers expect a bit of a deal since the seller is not paying commission to a Realtor and Buyers must pay more out of pocket in legal fees to get the paperwork signed. Along with pricing issues, this can lead to a lower sale price.

Marketing can be challenging

Realtors have access to many marketing tools that you do not - It takes a lot more than putting a sign on the front lawn to market a house. You may think that promotion through social media will ensure your FSBO sells quickly but this is often not the case; unless you luck out and find that one of your contacts is interested in your home (which is statistically unlikely), what happens next? Realtors have a much wider social media reach and followers who are looking to buy a home! Realtors also have websites and spend time and money to drive traffic towards them. Your listing is far more likely to be seen if you list with a Realtor.
Getting your listing on the MLS System – The MLS is where all Realtors and many potential buyers search for listings. It is how your listing will get seen. If you list your property with a Realtor, it will be listed through MLS. There are FSBO Service Providers out there who can get your listing on the MLS, but do your research! Make sure that your listing will appear on the right real estate board’s site and take into consideration the upfront cost of these services.

Do you have time?

People won’t buy your home unless they can see it – Are you available to host showing of your home at any time of day; if you choose to sell your home yourself, it will be up to you to host the showings. Can you take time off work for daytime showings? Are you available on weekends? If you list with a Realtor, they will take of that for you.
Marketing takes time – All those things mentioned above take time; do you have enough time to work on all the marketing and organizational tasks that go along with selling a home?
Longer time on market – homes that are listed FSBO tend to sell less quickly than those which are listed with a Realtor. Do you have that extra time?

There are many added costs to keep in mind

Professional photos – Getting your photos done with an experienced photographer is incredibly important as you want your home to stand out online (where most people do a large chunk of their home search). A Realtor will cover these costs for you but if you go it alone, you will have to cover this yourself.
Advertising – To ensure the home is seen by as many potential buyers as possible, you will likely have to pay for advertising and this can add up quickly.
Legal Fees – If you list your home yourself, you will not have a Realtor to do the paperwork with you and you will need to rely on your lawyer a little more than you would otherwise. Lawyers are not cheap so this can be costly.
MLS Listing – If you choose to get your home on the MLS, this will cost your upfront as well to do with a FSBO service provider.

***Remember, if you list your home with a Realtor, you will not need to pay them a penny until it closes!

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Ottawa Winter Survival Guide

Ottawa Winter Survival Guide: Tips & Tricks

Well, that time of year we all dread has snuck up on us chillingly fast. Here are some Winter Survival Tips on what you should carry with you to help get you through. Whether you’re new to Ottawa or have simply erased any and all previous winter memories, this list can help you out.

Click here to see Ottawa's Winter Survival Guide.