Are you considering selling your Kanata home or condo during the final months of winter, or in early spring?  Selling a home in the winter presents a unique set of challenges.  Follow these tips to get the most out of your Kanata real estate holding in a winter sale.

• Let the light shine in

Since it gets dark so early in the evening, you can’t rely on any natural light.  Brighten dark rooms with spot lights placed behind furniture.  Open drapes, pull up blinds and turn on the lights.  Remember to turn off the television. 

• Clear a path

Ensure there is a clear path from the sidewalk to your front door and keep it clear – even if it still snowing out.  Remember to place a mat near the front door to hold wet boots.

• No scents make good sense

Due to various allergies, refrain from using scents, deodorizers, candles, perfumes or air fresheners.  If you bake cookies or simmer apple cider, be sure to have some snacks available for those who are tempted by the smell.

• Make your home sparkle

Clean garbage and recycling, polish all chrome, clean all dust and cobwebs, wash bedding for a fresh smell, wash windows, vacuum daily,, dust light fixtures and fans and consider re-caulking tubs and sinks.

• Create a mood

Create an inviting environment using these ideas: place vases with winter flowers around the house; hang plush robes in the washrooms; place two champagne glasses near a champagne bucket on the coffee table for a romantic setting; place a breakfast tray with coffee cup, saucer, napkin and newspaper on the master bed; tie wash cloths with ribbon and place in basket in the washroom; toss afghans on the arms of sofas.

• Let the music play

Have some inviting jazz or classical music on continuous play throughout your home.

• Serve comfort food

Consider keeping on a pot of soup, apple cider or hot chocolate, enticing visitors to stay a while.

• Let you home be warm and inviting

Turn up the heat a degree or two and encourage potential buyers to linger on a cold day.  Light the fireplace (if someone is available to tend it) for additional warmth and coziness.

Now that you know how to make your home “sellable”, give us a call so we can start introducing your home to potential buyers.  Contact one of our professional sales representatives today at 613-288-0090 or visit our Kanata real estate website for more resources and information.

And so it becomes a challenge to remember how lucky we are and how important
it is to spread that luck to those who need it most. In previous years, the
Renaud-Otten Team has thanked past clients by sending them a token of our
appreciation in the form of a Christmas CD. This year, however, we wanted to do
something that would both add value to our past clients and make a difference in
our community. Therefore, in lieu of holiday souvenirs that add value only to
us, we have arranged to feed 300 families on Christmas Day through the
Shepherd’s of Good Hope and their excellent “Feed a Family of 4 for a Day”
program.

This holiday season, the Ray Otten and the Team would like to extend thanks
to all of our past, present, and future clients. We hope this donation on your
behalf is as valuable to you as it is to those who need it most. Furthermore,
should you wish to donate, details can be found here at: http://shepherdsofgoodhope.myshopify.com/products/feed-a-family-of-4-for-a-day

All our best in 2012.

Sincerely,

Ray Otten and the Team

October 2011 home sale statistics

A total of 809 residential homes were sold in October 2011, which is very close to the number of homes sold in 2010.

The average sale price of a home in Kanata and the Ottawa area in October was $362,341 which is up 3.5% over last year.

Condominium sales were up 14.5 % over 2010 as 253 Kanata and Ottawa area condos were sold, however, the average price of those condos was $259,316.  This represented a decrease of 1.5% over last year.

It is interesting to note, however, that condos are enjoying an increasing popularity in the Kanata and Ottawa area housing market, with residential real estate holding its own.

In Kanata, you can celebrate Halloween and Christmas in the same week!

The Briarbrook and Morgan’s Grant Community Association is having it’s first annual Halloween decorating contest.  You can nominate your favourite house (including your own!) until Wednesday, November 2nd by emailing halloween@bmgca.ca and prizes packages will be awarded to the top three homeowners.  Good luck!

Halloween is not even over yet and already the Christmas preparations are under way!  Get a head start on your gifts and baking at the Trinity Presbyterian Church on November 5 from 9am-1:30pm.  The Holly Berry Christmas Bazaar and Art Show features crafts, baked goods, a silent auction, gourmet foods in the Café as well as an art show for that truly one of a kind gift.  Have fun!

As always, we are your resource for all things Kanata – including real estate.  For information on buying or selling a Kanata home, visit our Kanata real estate website or contact one of our professional sales representatives at 613-288-0090.

Well, Sens season has started again!

Here is the Scotiabank Place Fall lineup for October:

• October 7-9: Michael Jackson, The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil
• October 11: Ottawa vs. Minnesota
• October 13: Ottawa vs. Colorado
• October 15: Kings of Leon
• October 17: Avril Lavigne
• October 18: Ottawa vs. Philadelphia
• October 20: Ottawa vs. Winnepeg
• October 22: Ottawa vs. Columbus
• October 23: Jeff Dunham
• October 27: Ottawa vs. Florida
• October 28: Selena Gomez
• October 30: Ottawa vs. Toronto

As you can see, there truly is something for everyone!

Have fun!

Ottawa real estate agents sold 1,329 home in August, which is an increase of almost 21% over August of 2010 (1,099 homes were sold).

The 1,329 homes that were sold can be further divided up as follows:

• 1,044 residential homes, and
• 285 condominiums in the Ottawa area.

The average sale price of a home in Ottawa was $337,372, which includes both residential and condominium units.

The average sale of a residential unit in August was $360,405. which represents an increase of 6.3% over August of 2010.

The average sale of a condominium unit in August was $252,999, which is 3.1% higher than condos sold a year ago.

Board President, Joann Tibbles notes that home were on the market longer in August than they were in July, but attributes that to the low interest rate leading to more buyers and, therefore, a longer selling time.

For more information on Ottawa’s changing housing market, contact one of our professional sales representatives at 613-288-0090.

Are you a hockey fan?  Has it been too long since the last Sens game?  Well, you can get your hockey fix and support a local charity at the same time on Saturday, August 13, from 7 – 11am.

Greco Kanata is sponsoring a charity event in support of the Foundation to Support Obesity in Children.  Visit their Kanata location for a chance to meet NHL All Star Dan Boyle.  NHLers Claude Giroux and others will also be on hand.

While you are there, be sure to try out a Greco lean and fit class.  All classes will be free during the event, even for non-members.

Have fun!

Well, it is the first day of summer – yahoo!  Everyone is looking forward to some fun in the sun, beach time, gardening, swimming, water skiing, hiking, camping and….no more school!

This Canada Day, be sure to check out everything that has been planned to make it a special day in Kanata.  Join 30,000 of your fellow Kanata residents at Walter Baker Park for fun, such as:

• CSMA Kanata Canada Day tug of war challenge
• The Hazeldean Mall – Crossing Bridge Square Family Fun Zone
• Princess Story Time
• Midway Rides
• Fireworks display
• much more!

Also, be sure to enjoy musical and entertainment acts, such as:

• Sloan
• Capital Missfits
• Carleton University’s Chemistry Magic Show
• Canadian Sport Martial Arts Academy
• Enchanted Entertainment
• Go Long
• Holy Trinity Rhythm & Blues Band
• JED, the Mechanical Bull
• Mountaingoat Yoga
• Open Sky
• Plush Garden
• Rock the Arts
• The All Saints Juggling Team

For more detailed information on what’s going on, visit the Kanata Canada Day website.

As always, we are here to answer your Kanata real estate questions.  Contact one of our professional sales representatives at 613-288-0090.

Have a great week!

The Kanata vacancy rate is up over 2% for the 1st quarter in 2011, as compared to the last quarter in 2010.  This is expected to settle down as government and non-high-tech firms begin to move in to the area.  Read more in today’s Ottawa Citizen:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Vacancy+levels+hold+steady/4574289/story.html

For up-to-date information on today’s Ottawa and Kanata real estate market, visit our Kanata real estate website or contact one of our professional Sales Representatives at 613-288-0090.

The Renaud Otten Team would like to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season. We hope Santa is good to you all!

Ho ho ho!