Civic Hospital Area (Ottawa, ON)
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
I like this photo because of the juxtaposition of the curves in the rocker with the lines on the fence.  The rocker curves mimic the greenery - the leaves of the iris plants.  The shadow of the rocker makes you think of long days relaxing with a book and a view of the garden.  My friend has a small yard full of interesting things.   It is always fun to take my camera to her house and look for subjects to photograph.   If you are selling your home, make sure that your yard looks inviting and a place to relax.  If you are thinking of selling sometimes soon, get out with your camera and take as many photos of your yard as you can.   Remember to stage the yard before you take the photos to ensure that the weeds, tacky pink flamingos and wet clothes on the line are not in the shots.  
Comments 17
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Piper and Oliver - the Neighbourhood Yorkies Oops.  My credibility is in danger as I recently wrote about eradicating cats from my yard.  Okay, cats may not be better than kids but dogs are.  Here is a list of reasons that I recently received from another dog person.  Remember, dogs (and maybe cats) are better than kids because they:  (1) eat less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train, (4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6) don't smoke or drink, (7) don't want to wear your clothes, (8) don't have to have you buy them the latest ipod-pad-touch-phone, (9) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and (10) if they get pregnant, you can sell their children ...   Finally, for everyone who thinks they can sit in Hoover’s corner of the couc...
Comments 23
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
Some people have an idea of the neighbourhood where they want to live.   The fact is they may never have walked the streets of the neighbourhood and so won't know how people are keeping their yards, what are the traffic patterns, is there a flight path over the house and many many other things that a Buyer will only know if he or she steps out of the car and goes for a few walks in the neighbourhood. Last week I spent about three hours walking around my neighbourhood.  Of course, I had my camera and took about 350 photos.  I also got a chance to talk to people who were coming out of their homes.  I asked very politely if I could step on their property and take some close up photos of their flowers.  It is amazing what you will learn about the neighbourhood if you stop and "smell the ros...
Comments 23
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
I like the way this house is presented.         I took the photo while on a walk this week so you can see that the trees are not yet out, the flowers have yet to bloom and the grass is just now turning green. Once the trees are out it will be impossible to have a good photo of the house from this angle. I have walked past it over the years and would love to drop in and just tell the owners that they do a great job presenting their home to the public. I think the red brick is in good condition and is attractive.  The door and the shutters are painted black and the rest of the trim is white.  It looks fresh and appealing.   The house is not for sale but I bet there are people watching it to see if the owners ever decide to put a sign on the front lawn. One of the eye catching features of...
Comments 17
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
  On Wednesday I was walking home and saw the most wonderful coloured maple tree.  Oh, there are going to be some that will be better but this is the first tree in the neighbourhood that has fully turned and is now dropping its leaves. The sky was overcast and the day was hot and humid.   We were all hoping for rain.  Of course, like most days this summer, it did not happen.  This poor tree is likely very stressed from the hot dry summer we just had and the continuation of it into the fall.  Well watered and really healthy trees have yet to change colours. Today, September 23, is the first day of fall.  It is difficult to believe as it is very warm and humid.  Feels more like July.  I hope you are experiencing wonderful weather and that the fall will be mild and comfortable for all of ...
Comments 18
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
As agents, we are often asked by friends and relatives to look up the price of the house for sale on their street, find out how much they could get if they sold, asked for staging tips (even when I say I have no taste) and generally comment on the housing market.  I like doing these favours but they do get repetitive.  Sometimes friends ask for favours that have nothing to do with real estate - except by a very tenuous link.  I was never interested in photography until I started studying house photos and talking to the photographer that I hire for my listings.  Eventually this got me interested enough to ask for a Nikon DSLR, a camera recommended to me by my very talented niece.  Once I had the camera, I bought a couple of additional lenses, based upon the recommendations of the very ta...
Comments 27
By Valerie Zinger, Home Organizer
(House Proud Ottawa-Ontario-Canada)
  At least this is what women and appliance sale people say.  Before buying a new washer and dryer, check out the size of the new appliances and ensure that they will fit in the space you have available.  If your washer and dryer are tucked into a closet on the second floor, you may be surprised to learn that the new front load washers and dryers are significantly deeper than the older top load washers.  You may get them delivered and find out that there is no way that they will fit in the space you have available.     The same is true for refridgerators and stoves.  Did you know that there are at least 4 standard sizes of stoves?  So, you are going to replace some of your appliances before putting your house on the market or you are buying appliances for your new home BEFORE getting p...
Comments 46
Ottawa, ON Real Estate Professionals