Creating Curb Appeal is very important in a tough housing market when there is a lot more competition.  If you want to be among the first to sell, you have to make your home stand out in a crowd.  You don’t have to completely overhaul the exterior of your home in order to sell.  Just pick and choose what you think will have the most impact and go from there.  Here are 11 simple ways to improve your home’s curb appeal for maximum impact:

1. Start with the most obvious things – If you can only do a few things to spruce up the exterior of your home, start with the most glaringly obvious.  For example, if your garden is overrun with weeds, the front lawn hasn’t been cut in awhile and remnants of last spring’s garage sale are still on the front porch, mow the lawn, pull the weeds and get rid of the mess.  A messy front yard will be the first thing a potential buyer sees and it might tell them not to look any further.  You don’t have to have a prize-winning rose garden to attract potential buyers, just a yard that looks tidy and well cared for.

2. Add planters – Adding planters (even store bought, ready-made ones) can go a long way toward creating the perception of a well loved home.  In winter time you can replace the plants with decorative sticks, branches or dried ornamental grasses.  These ideas not only add colour to a porch or patio, they’re eye-catching and give the impression you spend time improving your surroundings.

3. Ensure consistent window treatments – Matched blinds and curtains can add a lot to the perception of quality and thought put into a home.  This creates a consistent and uniform look on the exterior of the home.  It is also very important to wash your windows; this is something that has an impact on the inside as well as outside of your home.

4. Wake up your driveway – Since the driveway is one of the first things prospective buyers will notice, it’s a good idea to freshen it up.  Adding a sealer can refresh a tired driveway.  In winter time remember to have the snow removed and clear any ice build-up on the driveway and walkways.

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5. Add cedar mulch – Adding red cedar mulch goes a long way to freshening up flowerbeds even in early Spring when plants are small or non-existent.  Mulch comes in several colours, but red is great for its nice punch of colour.

6. Create a welcoming porch – An empty porch can look stark and cold.  If you have a porch large enough to accommodate furniture, set up a welcoming grouping such as two exterior club chairs and a table or a bistro set for dining.  It’s also a good idea to add some colour with plants in containers.

7. Put down new sod – A lawn in poor condition does not create a good first impression and is something you should consider replacing if you’re trying to sell your home.  It’s a lot faster to put down new sod instead of seeding and waiting.

8. Add mature plants – When working on flowerbeds, adding larger mature plants or shrubs is a lot easier (and in some cases, less expensive) than buying several flats of annuals.  Larger more mature plants also tend to have a greater impact.

9. Spring for new accoutrements – Adding a new mailbox, house light and house number is a cheap and cheerful way of updating your home’s exterior.  Big box stores like Home Depot and Rona usually stock simple yet stylish, well-priced options for these items.

10. Repaint – Giving the exterior of your home a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for curb appeal.

11. Replace windows – Replacing windows is expensive but has a definite impact on curb appeal.  It can make your home look polished and give the impression you’ve upgraded more than just the windows.
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For this article and more great tips on creating curb appeal, go to www.styleathome.com, “11 curb appeal ideas”, By: Jessica Padykula.

As a real estate salesperson, I meet people everyday who don’t quite understand what it means to work with a Realtor®. The real estate industry has advanced in many ways over the past few years.  As a consumer, it is important to understand the many benefits of hiring a Realtor® to work with you throughout the entire home buying and selling process.  The following are terms and definitions as described by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA).  I trust that this will answer any questions you may have about the real estate industry.  Feel free to forward me any other questions you may have.

Honesty and Integrity
Most real estate professionals in our province are members of the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) and only members of OREA can call themselves REALTORS®.  When you work with a REALTOR®, you can expect strict adherence to provincial laws, which includes a Code of Ethics.  That code assures you will receive the highest level of service, honesty and integrity.

The Agency Relationship
When working with a REALTOR®, it is important to understand who the REALTOR® works for.  To whom is the REALTOR® legally obligated?

REALTORS® are governed by the legal concept of “agency.” An agent is legally obligated to look after the best interests of the person he or she represents.  The agent must be loyal to that person.  A real estate brokerage may be your agent – if you have clearly established an agency relationship with that REALTOR® with a representation agreement.  But often, you may assume such an obligation exists when it does not.  REALTORS® believe it is important that the people they work with understand when an agency relationship exists and when it does not – and understand what it means.

In real estate, there are different possible forms of agency relationship:

1. Seller Representation
When a real estate brokerage represents a seller, it must do what is best for the seller of a property.  A written contract, called a listing agreement, creates an agency relationship between the seller and the brokerage and establishes seller representation.  It also explains services the brokerage will provide, establishes a fee arrangement for the REALTOR®’s services and specifies what obligations a seller may have.  A seller’s agent must tell the seller anything known about a buyer.  For instance, if a seller’s agent knows a buyer is willing to offer more for a property, that information must be shared with the seller.  Confidences a seller shares with a seller’s agent must be kept confidential from potential buyers and others.  Although confidential information about the seller cannot be discussed, a buyer working with a seller’s agent can expect fair and honest service from the seller’s agent and disclosure of pertinent information about the property.

2. Buyer Representation
A real estate brokerage representing a buyer must do what is best for the buyer.  A written contract, called a buyer representation agreement, creates an agency relationship between the buyer and the brokerage, and establishes buyer representation.  It also explains services the brokerage will provide, establishes a fee arrangement for the REALTOR®’s services and specifies what obligations a buyer may have.  Typically, buyers will be obliged to work exclusively with that brokerage for a period of time.  Confidences a buyer shares with the buyer’s agent must be kep confidential.  Although confidential information about the buyer cannot be disclosed, a seller working with a buyer’s agent can expect to be treated fairly and honestly.

3. Multiple Representation
Occasionally a real estate brokerage will represent both the buyer and the seller.  They buyer and seller must consent to this arrangement in writing.  Under this multiple representation arrangement, the brokerage must do what is best for both the buyer and the seller.  Since the brokerage’s loyalty is divided between the buyer and the seller who have conflicting interests, it is absolutely essential that a multiple representation relationship be properly documented.  Representation agreements specifically describe the rights and duties of everyone involved and any limitations to those rights and duties.

4. Customer Service
A real estate brokerage may provide services to buyers and sellers without creating buyer or seller representation.  This is called “customer service.”  Under this arrangement, the brokerage can provide many valuable services in a fair and honest manner.  This relationship can be set out in a buyer or seller customer service agreement.  Real estate negotiations are often complex and a brokerage may be providing representation and/or customer service to more than one seller or buyer.  The brokerage will disclose these relationships to each buyer and seller.

Who’s Working for YOU?
It is important that you understand who the REALTOR® is working for.  For example, both the seller and the buyer may have their own agent which means they each have a REALTOR® who is represeting them.  Or, some buyers choose to contact the seller’s agent directly.  Under this arrangement the REALTOR® is representing the seller, but may provide many valuable customer services to the buyer.  A REALTOR® with a buyer may even be a “sub-agent” of the seller.  Under sub-agency, both the listing brokerage and the co-operating brokerage must do what is best for the seller even though the sub-agent may provide many valuable customer services to the buyer.  If the brokerage represents both the seller and the buyer, this is multiple representation.

Code of Ethics
REALTORS® believe it is important that the people they work with understand their agency relationship.  That’s why requirements and obligations for representation and customer service are included in a Code of Ethics which is administered by the Real Estate Council of Ontario.  The Code requires REALTORS® to disclose in writing the nature of the services they are providing, and encourages REALTORS® to obtain written acknowledgement of the disclosure.  The Code also requires REALTORS® to submit written representation and customer service agreements to buyers and sellers.

REALTOR® is a registered trademark of REALTORS® Canada Inc., a company owned equally by the Canadian Real Estate Association and the National Association of REALTORS® and refers to registered real estate practitioners who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association.

Article printed September 2008, OREA

The Ottawa housing market has been buzzing with activity during the past couple of months. Traditionally, the Spring market is launched as the snow is melting. During this past year we saw a bit of a delayed reaction to the housing market, as the poor economy results in the last quarter of 2008 caused many home-buyers and sellers to proceed with caution. I had my own condo for sale in Ottawa during the winter months of 2009. When the month of March approached we were sure that buyers would start showing up on our doorstep, then April passed and May hit! May was an extremely active month for those in the real estate industry as phones started ringing off the hook with first-time homebuyers who were ready to take the plunge. The super low interest rates definately played a role in the number of buyers and sellers who entered the Ottawa housing market.

According to the CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association) website, the average price of an Ottawa home in June 2008 was $298,336. The results for June 2009 show an increase to the average Ottawa home sold – $307,793! This increase is both encouraging and exciting for the Ottawa housing market. We have proven, once again, that the housing market in Ottawa can remain stable…and even show growth…during some of the lowest points in the history of our global economy.

For more information, visit CREA website: Home Sales Rebound in Second Quarter

In today’s Ottawa home selling market it’s important to make your Ottawa house or condo stand out above the rest. Here are a few tips as you begin the selling process.

Walk across the street and view your house as a Buyer would. What grabs your attention first? Second? What looks great? What could be improved?

Compare your house with others in the immediate neighbourhood. How does it stack up? Would someone, who had not been on your street before, be drawn to your house first, or to someone else’s? Why?

Shop your “competitors”; that is, look at comparable houses in your area that are now for sale. In what ways does the competitor appear better? In what ways is your house better?

What can you do to increase the perceived market value of your house? Here are some suggestions: (1) Replace aging appliances, including the furnace or hot-water heater. (2) Repaint interior rooms, trim and the outside of the house. (3) Implement “staging” ideas to make the house look bigger inside and to give it a neutral atmosphere that will enable Buyers to imagine themselves living there.

Don’t forget about the outside grounds. Ensure that all extra items have been picked up and stored away or discarded. Keep the lawn trimmed, leaves raked and snow shovelled according to the season. Replace dying or scraggly shrubs with new ones. Keep garden beds weeded. Dress the outside of the house with hanging flower baskets or other splashes of colour.

Based on what you have learned about your competition, and what you have been able to achieve in improving your Ottawa house or condo’s appeal, price the house realistically. Even the most beautiful house in the world will not sell if its price is higher than Buyers are willing to pay.

Consider taking extra steps to ensure that your house wins in a side-by-side comparison. For example: (1) Do a pre-listing Home Inspection, and fix any problems that are revealed. (2) Offer a Home Warranty. (3) Offer other Buyer incentives.

To ensure that you’re never caught unprepared by a last-minute request to show your Ottawa House or Condo, keep your home in move-in condition at all times. A few weeks of maintaining this discipline may shorten the sale period by months!

Be flexible in the showing times that you allow. Not all Buyers will be able to accommodate your preferred showing times. Help them to see your house by providing access when Buyers need it.

For more Great Tips on getting your Ottawa Home ready to Sell -

Contact Rebecca TODAY!