The same guideline holds true for storing food.  When you decide to sell your house, start using up your food supply.  Why pay to move it?  Also, the fewer things stored in your home, the more space that appears available.  I recently showed a home where the owners must have owned shares in pasta companies.  There was pasta in several kitchen cupboards, in boxes on the stairs to the basement and in two separate food storage areas in the basement.  Oh wonder of wonders, some containers of pasta seemed to be more decorative in nature than edible.  To my Buyers, the fact that food was being stored everywhere just seemed to say that the kitchen was too small.  You can avoid this negative reaction by reducing your stock and keeping same and similar things together.  

Eat, toss or food bank your surplus.

Photo credit:  Front Dried Calabresi Penne @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/avlxyz/3009654715/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

Volkswagon had this slogan and so should you when you are parking cars in your driveway.  Think of a small number like 1.  When Buyers drive by a house for sale and there are 4 cars piled in the driveway, they wonder what is wrong with the garage.

 Small in number and, maybe, small in size.

Are you attracted to fish and aquariums?   If so, buy 8 goldfish and 1 black goldfish to put in the aquarium.  In Feng Shui, 8 represents prosperity, thus 8 gold fish.  The ninth fish, black, represents bad luck and misfortune.  This fish will absorb or receive the bad luck in the house.  If one of the fish dies, replace it as quickly as possible. 

If you are not fond of aquariums, you can bring some of the same type of prosperity into the house with a poster showing the 8 gold and 1 black fish.  On the posters, these will be depicted as koi fish.  If you have no place for the poster, then you might want to put a fish ornament on your coffee table.  There are placement issues.  If you visit a shop selling Chinese artifacts or take out a library book on Feng Shui, you will get the information on where to place the aquarium or poster or fish ornament. 

 There is nothing fishy about prosperity.

Photo credit:  Koi are Koi @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/35188692@N00/2252690725/

The sales in 2008 for condos in Britannia all occured in three buildings on  Greenview Avenue, Poulin Avenue and Regina Street.  The beauty of Britannia is the sense of being in a small village and so close to the river.  This is a great community for walkers.  In 2008, the MLS showed the following sales (noting that DOM means Days on the Market):

 Residential Sales:  45 units

• Detached - 36 houses / DOM 31
• Row - 2 Units / DOM 32
• Semi-detached - 7 units / DOM 36
• Average Price - $307,604
• Final Price Range - $180,000 to $620,000
• Average Number of Days on the Market - 31

Condominium Sales - 25 units

• Average Price - $226,644
• Final Price Range - $162,000 to $345,000
• Average Number of Days on the Market - 27

If you have any questions or are looking for a home in Britannia, call me.

Photo credit:  Pools of Tulipes by J.J. Zinger

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

It is true that that moving companies often hire from day labour centres for loading and unloading vans.  While these men may be strong, they may not have a lot of experience getting heavy and awkward furniture into stairwells, elevators, around tight corners, etc.  Ask a lot of questions about the move from prospective movers. 

This is really a case of……..

Mover Beware

Photo credit:  Allison and Lee’s Moving Van @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/loyaldefender2004/2487530201/

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

From the return on the sale of your home.  This is what happens when you make improvements in your home.  In most cases, spending some money before selling your house will result in an improved sale – sooner and at a better offer.

 Spend a few bucks to make a lot of dough.

In 2008, sales were brisk with an average Days on the Market of 24. The MLS listings show sales as follows: 

Residential Sales: 162 units as follows:

• Detached - 162 houses
• Row - 29 Units
• Semi-detached - 2 units
• Average Price - $306,283
• Final Price Range - $198,000 to $545,000
• Average Number of Days on the Market - 24

Condominium Sales - 3 units

• Average Price - $203,333
• Final Price Range - $194,000 to $210,000
• Average Number of Days on the Market - 7

If you have any questions or are interested in seeing homes in Bridlewood, please give me a call.

 Photo credit:  Adrice Smitton

Valerie Zinger ~ Ottawa Canada ~ 613-723-5300 ~ vzinger@royallepage.ca

What should you have in your “last on the van, first out of the van” box?  These are the things that you are going to want first.  There are some things that a just necessary in an empty house (before the boxes are unpacked). If you are not moving locally, you will want a box that will be the first thing you open at your new house so that you can have a drink of water and use the washroom.  Here are some items I consider important for your LIFO box:

• Coffee, tea and sugar
• Kettle
• A few mugs, plastic glasses 
• Paper plates and plastic cutlery
• Plastic garbage and food storage bags
• Toilet paper
• Kleenex and paper towels
• Light bulbs (Some previous owners take all the bulbs!!)
• Cleaning rags and brushes
• Remember, you are not likely moving liquids so buy - milk, juice, water bottles, cleaning liquids, bottle of wine
• Snacks - you might new to carb load once you start the heavy lifting
• Tools such as a hammer, screw driver and plyers. 

Your LIFO Box will save your sanity.

Photo credit:  Bright red tea kettle (brand new) @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickey_glitter/2205306872/

You might want to show off how big your diningroom is by taking out the leaves in your table and pushing in the chairs.  It looks like a lot of walk-around space.  In fact, as long as there is some room, leave the leaves in the table.  Most Buyers want to know if a crowd will fit around the table at Thanksgiving.    

 Whether dancing or eating off it, your table should be big.