Close to what matters!  Situated in popular Findlay Creek, this distinctive 3 bedroom 3 bathroom end unit built by Tamarack is ideal for all types of families or singles.  The Huntington model boasts 2121 square feet of living space.  Adding to the appeal of the location is the wide variety of nearby parks, schools, shopping and public transit.

As you enter the home you will notice that the foyer entrance is generous in size and allows for a fair sized closet to accommodate all of you outdoor clothing needs along with enough space to allow for a sitting bench.  There is a two piece powder room and inside entry to the garage off the foyer area.  Note:  The garage is an oversized garage measuring 13’ x 20’.

Hardwood flooring compliments the main floor living room and dining area.  The open concept and free-flowing living space is designed for both ease of entertaining and day-to-day comfort.  The bright and spacious kitchen has an abundance of cabinetry and counter space, ceramic backsplash and an island that easily accommodates a sitting for four.  A generous sized pantry offers additional space for your kitchen supplies.  Pot lighting, stainless steel appliances, gas fireplace and easy access to your backyard add to the appeal of the main floor living space.

A staircase leads to the upper level where you will find three bedrooms and a bright loft area.  The loft area can be used as a secondary tv/sitting area or even an office space.  The choice is yours!  The elegant master bedroom is generous in size and is enhanced by a 5 piece spa-like ensuite bathroom with soaker tub and separate shower area.  The master bedroom also has a large walk-in closet to suit all of your clothing and storage needs.  The secondary bedrooms are also ample in size with good sized closets.  A large four piece main bathroom completes the second level.  Note:  Laundry room with upper cabinets is conveniently located on this floor.  Washing machine and dryer are included.

The lower level offers an additional 411 square feet of living space and has been finished featuring quality Berber carpeting.  The space is large enough to accommodate a tv/sitting area along with a play area.  There is also an area beside the stairs that can be turned in to a small computer or study nook.  Abundance of storage space is found in the utility room.

This classic Campeau built home was located on a picture postcard kind of street, actually you’ll find most of Queensway Terrace South like this. It is the kind of neighbourhood where people moved into their homes in the 60’s, raised their children and retired here. Today, you’ll find that the same type of buyers are moving into this neighbourhood with similar long-term intentions. Great location, reputable schools and easy access to the Queensway and transitway allows you to live here with all the perks of the City.   Queensway Terrace South is still reasonably priced allowing first time home buyers the opportunity to call this neighbourhood “home”.  Want to find out more about the neighbourhoods in your City? Contact me at diane@ottawaonthemove.com and I’ll be happy to share my knowledge of this amazing City I call home.

I came across this article and thought I would pass it on to all of you – let me know how your deck turned out and what you used!

In the summer, there’s no better place to be than relaxing on the deck. So it’s not surprising that many homeowners choose to build one. If you’re planning to do so this year, make sure you do it safely and according to the Ontario Building Code, which means going through the proper planning, permit and inspection process. Plus, without too much extra effort, you can also make your deck an environmentally friendly one.

Building any structure on your property requires a building permit, which must be obtained from the City of Ottawa (or your local municipality). In order to obtain your permit you’ll need to submit site plans and drawings of your proposed deck, so proper and detailed planning is essential in order to meet Building Code criteria. For example, decks of a certain height off the ground are required to have a railing for safety.

Once you’ve got your permit and work is underway, you will need to have the deck inspected at various points in the process to ensure the safety of the completed structure. The city’s website, Ottawa.ca, has some terrific resources including a building checklist and inspection information – click on Licenses and permits.

Good planning also saves you time when you’re ready to purchase your building materials. Thanks to your detailed drawings, you should already know how much decking and what type of trim you will require. Choosing which type of decking to use is where the “green” considerations can get confusing. There are basically four types of decking material commercially available, and each of them has merits and drawbacks for the environment:

Natural wood decking has the advantage of being eventually biodegradable; however, much of the wood sold for decking (such as western red cedar, redwood, teak and ipê) is not sustainably harvested and comes from old-growth forests that are not renewable. Look for recycled wood or decking that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Treated lumber is pressure-treated with chemicals to prevent it from decaying. Many of the chemicals used in the process are toxic, and the wood cannot be burned or recycled once it reaches the end of its useful lifespan.

Composite decking is made from a blend of recycled plastic and wood fibre, waste products that would otherwise end up in a landfill. However, because it is a blend of biological and technical material, it will not biodegrade and cannot be recycled once it meets its useful end.

High-density plastic decking is made from plastic waste (such as milk jugs) and can easily be recycled again once its lifespan is over. It is not as strong as wood, so it can be used for low-load applications.

Natural and treated wood can be stained and sealed in various colours and finishes; look for products that have low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and low toxicity. Composite and plastic decking comes already coloured, but may weather and fade with time just as stained wood will.

If you plan carefully, shop thoughtfully and build safely, your new deck will be a place of outdoor enjoyment for you and your family and friends for years to come. A great deck also increases the appeal of your home upon resale.

The President’s Pen column was prepared by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and first appears in the EMC community newspapers.

Read a very interesting article in the National Post regarding the HST and the renovation industry…thought you might find this interesting!

 “The home renovation industry, which contributes $20-billion and 195,000 jobs to Ontario’s economy,  may have some hidden challenges when it comes to the HST.

Figuring homeowners will rush to get projects in under the deadline and avoid the tax, the government has also added a May 1 deadline clause. Essentially, any project that involves permanently installed goods ordered by May 1, but not completed by July 1, is subject to the whole 13% tax.

But if the work is completed before July 1 it will be taxed at the current 5% GST.

The clause was added because the “government doesn’t want a rush of renovations ordered on June 30, allowing homeowners to escape paying the HST,” explains Brian Wurts, an analyst at Price Waterhouse Coopers. “The government doesn’t want to lose all that money.”

It’s a clause mainly for contractors who pre-bill, he adds, and putting the window far enough before the HST’s real launch date will prevent them evading the tax.

The tax will also add almost 8% to a renovation bill. Currently, homeowners pay only 5% GST for services, which includes labour. PST on the bill – covering the materials – is hidden within the GST total. But with the HST, labour and overhead will be subject to tax, bumping the overall invoice tax to 13%.

Imagine you order a deck built, and the job comes out at $10,000. Your contractor pays $1,000 for materials. Pre-HST, your total is $10,500 (cost plus GST), while your contractor pays $1,130 (adding $50 GST and $80 PST to his $1,000 materials bill). The building materials cost is rolled into your project costs. After the HST, though, your total is $11,300 (13% HST), your contractor pays $1,130 for materials, but gets reimbursed for the $130 from the government. The contractor may then reduce your bill by that $130. In the end, you still end up paying more, though not the full 8% face value of the HST.

Some fear the new HST will drive contractors underground as more and more customers try to avoid paying more tax. That’s what happened after the GST was introduced in 1991. And even though homeowners are accustomed to that tax by now, projects done under the table still account for about 37% of the province’s home renovation business, according to the Ontario Renovators Council.

Others think the tax will ultimately reduce the number of nefarious contractors, who won’t be able to claim the tax they pay when they buy building materials for a client’s project. The costs will have to be passed on to the customers, ultimately negating much of the apparent discount in the under-the-table bill, potentially making those contractors less desirable.

One employment-generating effect of the tax, Mr. Wurts thinks, is the amount of renovation likely to start before summer hits: “That new roof will cost 8% more as of July 1, so if people have projects they want done, they’ll be planning to have it done before.”

For more information on the HST, visit http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/en/taxchange/index.html or call 1-800-337-7222.

Read more: http://www.nationalpost.com/homes/story.html?id=2420607#ixzz0cPbR39Lh

If you plan to work with a real estate professional but don’t currently have a relationship with one, now is the time to find the person that you’d like to work with. Ask family and friends for recommendations, call some of the people whose names appear on For Sale signs in your area, or check out the Ottawa Real Estate Board’s online roster of members at http://www.OttawaRealEstate.org. Feel free to interview several professionals; it’s important to find someone you mesh well with, who understands your wants and needs and communicates in a style that works for you. Many real estate professionals participate in social media networks like Facebook and Twitter or maintain a blog, and checking out those places is another good way to get a feel for how they like to work.

If you’re planning to sell your current home in the spring, the long dark winter evenings can be a great time to take stock of what’s in your home and do some de-cluttering. Not only does it feel liberating, but it makes your home easier to show to potential buyers. If you’re not sure where to send items that your family is no longer using, consider posting them on give-away websites like Freecycle or Used Ottawa, or set them all aside for a yard sale in the spring. Gently used clothing can go to shelters; warm winter clothing in good condition is always in high demand.

Winter’s also a good time to plan home updating projects, so if you think a fresh coat of paint or some new flooring might help generate interest in your home, head to the store and start checking out sample colour swatches now. That way you’re way ahead of the rush to renovate when the snow begins to melt.

If you’ll be searching for a new home come the warmer weather, now is also a good time to start thinking about the neighbourhoods you’d like to live in, investigating the services and amenities in those areas, and making your list of must-haves, nice-to-haves and deal breakers. That way, when it’s time to start looking in earnest, you and your real estate professional will have solid criteria to work with and can hit the ground running to find houses to view that are suitable for you and your family. A couple of great websites to use in your search: http://www.OttawaRealEstate.org (for properties listed on Ottawa’s MLS® system) and http://www.REALTOR.ca (for properties listed on MLS® systems across Canada).

As with so many things in life, proper preparation makes the process simpler and much more enjoyable.
From: The President’s Pen column which was prepared by the Ottawa Real Estate Board and first appeared in the last issue of the EMC community newspapers.