Alt-tag: Three potted plants on a coffee table
With better weather, more cheerful moods, and a boost in energy levels, there comes the craving for a change. As the days are slowly getting longer, you might find yourself ready to rearrange your living space to better suit the waking of nature. After a long, gloomy winter, your humble abode undoubtedly needs a bit of TLC, regardless of how well you’ve taken care of it in the past few months. It might even be the case that you’re moving into your starter home soon and are fantasizing about arranging the perfect fresh start. Whatever your circumstances, you’re likely in need of some inspiration as to what you are supposed to do. If so, here are 7 ways to prepare your home for spring.
1. Start with a clean slate
Spring cleaning is an obvious first task on our list. After all, most of us tend to be a bit more forgiving to dust, cobwebs, and overall dirt when the weather is made for cozying up on the couch with a hot cup of tea. But there are no more excuses! The sunshine seeping through your windows will soon uncover everything you’ve been neglecting over the winter.
So, gather your cleaning supplies and put on your cleaning clothes. Be thorough and make sure to visit those oft-forgotten corners – even if you have to move a few furniture pieces to do so. A spick and span home will surely motivate you to tackle more projects and thus completely transform your living space.
A good spring clean is all the more important if you’re just moving into your new home in Ontario. If you want to have an easy and stress-free experience regarding your relocation, aside from hiring a competent team of movers, you might want to consider investing in professional cleaning services too. This will enable you to dedicate more of your time to settling into your brand-new property.
2. Rid your home of the unnecessary
Decluttering is another project the spring season was made for. Depending on your habits and how often you take the time to go through your belongings, this could turn out to be a pretty demanding task.
If you’re overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, it might be a good idea to begin with your wardrobe. Since most people tend to store away their seasonal garments, this is the perfect chance to reassess everything. Once you purge your clothes, move on to other parts of your home – your kitchen drawers, cabinets, bookshelves, and other nooks and crannies are probably hiding a lot of items you don’t really need anymore. By getting rid of the unnecessary, you’ll free up space and make your home feel more open and fresh!
3. Rearrange and reorganize
An excellent way to bring a sense of change and innovation into your home without spending exorbitant amounts of money is to rearrange your furniture. Don’t be afraid to mix things up – you can always put everything back if you don’t like the end result. This is a good opportunity to finally see what it would be like if your home office was facing the window or if your couch was in a different corner of your living room.
While you’re at it, consider reorganizing your possessions too. We all have those closets we’re too ashamed to open in front of visitors, so why not turn them into something you can be proud of?
4. Wake up your interior décor
Finally – the fun part. The spring season brings with it many new home design trends, and there is no reason not to explore them in your own living space.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you need to revamp your home entirely. A few strategic changes should do the trick. If you’re craving a transformation, consider repainting your walls. Additionally, you might want to hang new wall art, add a few decorative pillowcases and throws, and spruce up your living space with some fresh flowers.
5. Check up the exterior
Ontario winters can be pretty harsh, and our homes are definitely not spared. With that said, it’s imperative to begin the new season by ensuring that everything is the way it should be when it comes to your house’s exterior. Here’s what you should check and repair if needed:
- Roof – Inspect for damage, cracks, and leaks.
- Gutters – See if there are any holes and remove branches, leaves, and anything else gathered in them.
- Siding – The walls might need a fresh coat of paint.
- Windows – Aside from cleaning them thoroughly to let the sunshine in, you should replace screens with holes and fix any chipped paint or broken seals.
6. Start a garden
Starting a garden is an excellent way to prepare your home for spring. Not only will this provide you with a quality way to spend your afternoons, but you’ll also be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor in a matter of months.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t have a yard in which you can freely dig away – indoor gardens are fun too!
7. Refresh your outdoor sitting area
Finally, the last thing you need to do to prepare your home for spring is to bring your outdoor sitting area back to life. Thoroughly clean your outdoor furniture, bring out a few planters, set up a fire pit or a grill – the options are endless. Once you’re done, make sure to invite a couple of friends over and welcome the spring season the way it deserves!
Final thoughts
Now that you know how to prepare your home for spring, all that is left is to roll up your sleeves and get down to work! No time for procrastination – the season of new beginnings is steadily approaching. Once you check off all the tasks on your to-do list, you’ll finally be able to fully reap the benefits and positive vibrations of your new and improved living space.
Photo used: https://unsplash.com/photos/csVPdj60E1A
Alt: A small house
Are you a young business professional intent on taking advantage of the favourable interest rates? Is your family growing, and it’s time to settle down in a place you can call your own? Or are you merely tired of renting and want to feel like the place you live in is really yours? At the same time, you may feel like you are throwing your precious, hard-earned money away on rent, while you could be investing it in your property. Purchasing a starter home is a way out and an excellent solution. Also, it is a good option for those with a more modest budget. However, it is also a good way to start building your equity. Still, there is a lot to consider before buying a starter home, and we are here to help you.
What are starter homes?
Perceive a starter home as a middle ground between being a renter and purchasing a forever home. It is an excellent way to smoothly and virtually imperceptibly transition into the homebuying process. Still, make no mistake, buying a starter home is buying a home. It is the first house you can afford to buy. But, you are moving upmarket. And the starter home is what will enable you to purchase a bigger and more luxurious place later down the road.
The difference between a starter home and your dream home is that it may not have all the great features you want from your forever home. Still, it suits your and your family’s current needs and it will provide some luxuries. These are typically smaller and less expensive properties. Also, they are primarily for people who plan to stay there for about five years. So, young couples, professionals at the start of their careers, young families, and anyone who won’t be needing a six-bedroom mansion soon.
So, if you can’t wait to throw a housewarming party and gather friends in your new home, look at our list of essential factors to consider before purchasing your first home and get there faster.
Factors to consider before buying a starter home
Purchasing a house is one of the most substantial investments people make in their lives. Although starter homes are more affordable, they are still the most significant investment you will have made up to that point. Also, not many life events can compete with the thrill of purchasing your first home. It is the first tiny bit of this planet you can call your own. And it is a considerable accomplishment. So, since this is your first real estate investment, there are things you will have to consider before you run to your lender and put an offer on a place.
The space you need
We have already established that starter homes are smaller, which makes them more affordable. So, while you may compromise on the space a bit, you will still live comfortably in it.
As we have mentioned, starter home buyers typically plan to live there for up to five years. Thus, consider how your needs will change in the next couple of years and pick a home that will be able to accommodate them. That way, even if you outgrow your starter home, you will still be able to live there until you can buy your forever house.
Furthermore, consider the outdoor space you want to have. If you like to spend your time outdoors, you will want a nice garden and a beautiful patio. This feature will also be an excellent selling point when you decide to put your home on the market and purchase a new home for yourself.
Location
Location is everything in real estate. It determines your home value and the quality of life you will have there. And starter homes are not an exception. After all, they are called starter homes for a reason. You will have to sell it one day, and you should ensure you can do it successfully.
So, you will probably want to buy a home that is close to your work, restaurants, nightlife opportunities. It will ensure that your needs are satisfied and future buyers will be interested. The good rule of thumb is – buy a house that has everything prospective buyers might want.
Your budget
You have probably already realized that purchasing a starter home doesn’t differ much from the home buying process in general. Therefore, like all homebuyers, you also have to consider your budget. Firstly, you must understand that being able to buy a home does not necessarily mean that you can afford to own a home. So, even purchasing a starter home may not be a sound financial decision.
Buying a home implies paying a monthly mortgage, covering registration costs, paying for property taxes, home insurance, etc. Moreover, it means that all the necessary maintenance becomes your responsibility. If the home you purchase is not in great shape, it could become a money pit that demands extensive renovation. Therefore, carefully inspect your finances, and even more importantly, choose the home you want carefully before making any definite decisions.
Understand the housing market in the area you plan to buy
When it comes to real estate, considering the housing market before buying anything is crucial. This is something your real estate agent can help you with. But the bottom line is this – purchase a home in the area where home prices tend to increase. Growing prices indicate that the market is strong and that you will probably profit when the time to sell comes.
The alternative is rather bleak. If the housing market in the area is not that strong, you risk depreciation, which means you may lose money when you decide to sell.
The advantages of buying a starter home
Purchasing a starter home has several significant advantages, many of which we have already mentioned. When you decide to invest in one, you will:
- stop spending money on rent, but start investing in your property
- get a springboard for building equity and savings
- get an opportunity to make a profit if the market appreciates
- have a property to rent if you decide to keep it
- save a lot (you will pay less for the down payment, monthly mortgage, utilities, property taxes)
- not have to stay in that place long-term
- most likely sell it quickly when the time comes.
The disadvantages of buying a starter home
As usual, where there are upsides, there are also downsides. And we have to go over them too, so you can make an informed decision:
- It is still a time and money-consuming process (consider closing costs, agent’s fees, moving expenses).
- In seller’s markets, where inventory is low and prices high, it may be simpler and more affordable to simply continue renting.
- Starter homes are a temporary solution, as the name suggests. If you outgrow it quickly, you may have to move sooner than anticipated, so the whole ordeal becomes more expensive.
The bottom line
Even with all the downsides of buying a starter home, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages by a long mile. If you do your research well and consider all the essential factors before you make any decisions, you can turn it into a profitable investment that will move you up the market in a few years.
White and Red Wooden House With Fence · Free Stock Photo (pexels.com)
More than 400 women in this city have put their money where their mouths are by supporting an all-female philanthropic program that’s helping to transform the way mental illness gets diagnosed, treated, researched and publicly discussed.
The Women for Mental Health initiative was celebrated at a reception held Wednesday at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. There, attendees toured the hospital’s new brain imaging centre and checked out its state-of-the-art PET-MRI unit designed to help people, suffering from major depression and other mental illnesses, get better faster.
So high is the suicide rate that if you added up all of its victims, globally, it would be like erasing the population of Ottawa every year. “That’s totally unacceptable but we’ll be in a better position to change that now,” Dr. Pierre Blier, director of The Mood Disorders Research Unit, told some 70 attendees.
It was the unexpected and shocking 2010 suicide of 14-year-old Daron Richardson, daughter of popular hockey player-turned-coach Luke Richardson and his wife, Stephanie, that motivated Nancy O’Dea to lead Women for Mental Health. “Because it felt so close to home,” the luxury property realtor and former nurse explained in her heartfelt speech.
Watch the video and read the full article on ottawacitizen.com.
Are you getting ready to move and cleaning out closets, bookshelves and family rooms?
The Rockcliffe Park branch of the Ottawa Public Library is hosting the annual Book Fair to support the Library. The Fair is APRIL 11TH FROM 10- 5 pm AND April 12th from 11-5.
They would appreciate your donations of books in both official languages as well as CD’S , DVD’S or vinyl.
If you could arrange to drop them off at this branch before April 7th or have them come to pick them up please call 613 580 2424 EXT 277623.
Supporting the local library is greatly appreciated!
We are in the throws of winter and thus far in Ottawa, in contrast to previous years the weather has not been so bad. The snow is just enough to cover gardens and have minimal damage come spring and it seems to have not diminished the interest in real estate.
Generally, January is the month we use to prepare for the surge of the of up coming spring market. In the last two years however, Ottawa has not experienced much of a spring market. Yet here we are just into February 2015 and there are more than 100 listings coming onto the MLS system almost daily with added benefit of increased buying activity all suggesting spring like conditions.
Why is this happening earlier than expected?
I do not have a crystal ball, but there are several variables that may be having an effect on our market, which has proven to be sensitive to Government decisions in the past.
Interest rates for certain must be influencing buyers. With the sudden and surprising move by the Bank of Canada to make yet another adjustment down to the over night lending rates, mortgage rates seem to follow and this may be spurring many to take action where they have been previously fence sitting.
Of course, oil prices dropping for us in Ontario leaves more disposable income in our pockets at least for the short term. The dropping dollar combined with the downward movement of oil may be just what the Dr. ordered for the sputtering Ontario manufacturing sector.
Ottawa is seeing growth in the high tech industry and the building of the transit has created thousands of jobs for many years to come.
This is all good news on the buying side yet we are seeing increases in inventory in housing on the resale side as well.
There has been some discussion of maybe an early election, could this be spawning early starts out of the gates for sellers who want to avoid what they are anticipating to be a stormy spring in politics? The federal budget has been postponed and pushed out to the spring and there is meant to be a continuation of the senate inquiry this spring as well. What ever is the case, there is lots going on this January in real estate and it is welcome to our industry in Ottawa.
There certainly was never a better time to buy in the upper end in the condo market. Luxury buildings that in the past have seen big prices are now far more attainable for buyers. Older buildings tend to be in stronger locations, offer more sq footage and an opportunity to re design it the way you want it.
The higher end of the market had been stagnant for some time. Since May 2014 there have been 4 sales over 3M which is fantastic because we had not seen sales over 3M in Ottawa in almost 24 months.
It feels like the dam has broken and the pent up frustration of both buyers and sellers has been released for now.
If you are looking to sell in the spring perhaps now is the time to start meeting realtors and preparing your home for sale.
If you have lived in your home for a long time you have likely accumulated quite a collection of things that you may no longer need. Children’s toys, old sports equipment, monitors that you have not used for years,lots of books, etc. Now is the time to go to the attic or basement and begin the task of sorting. Some items will go to to children, some to grandchildren, some to the garage sale, some to charity and so on.
The next thing to do is to walk around and see what needs to be repaired. Do you have cracked windows, cracked plaster, water damage, tired and worn carpets, flooring etc? If yes, to any of these, it is advisable to have a professional come and do the repairs. If you are a professional contractor perhaps you may have folks you can call on. Most people opt to “do it themselves” and it unfortunately often looks like it. In the end you do not end up saving any money. In fact, by doing it yourself depending on your day job, it may have ended up costing your self money in the loss that buyers may penalize you for a poor or rough job.
First impressions are the ones that last.Most realtors have the ability too see past some of the roughness but I believe it is always best to try and put your best foot forward where possible.
Have a few agents come in to meet with you. A referral is perhaps the best place to start. Knowing someone who has had a positive experience is a good indicator. Not all agents are for all people and fit is important as it may be a long relationship. Trust, confidence, marketing plans and market conditions, are all considerations. When the market is performing poorly, higher priced commodities are most often the first to be affected.
The two most critical variables in real estate are price and time. All the marketing in the world cannot sell a property that is at the wrong price, so staying well informed, adjusting your expectations are key to getting your home sold.
At Exceptionalproperties.ca we are all committed to getting the most amount of money, in the least amount of time in the current market with the fewest hassles for your home and valued asset. Please call us. We would be pleased to meet with you to offer a free home evaluation.
