As the weather warms, we naturally get the urge to make our homes fresh and bright.  Some current decorating trends support this look.

Bringing in color inspired by the outdoors through new paint, bedding, cushions and accessories is one of the easiest ways to have a big impact.

Greens, blues and yellows are nature’s most obvious colors. Creating a focal wall with a bold color or a nature inspired wallpaper is right on trend and not a huge commitment when you want to change it. Throw cushions are inexpensive and can totally change the look of a room by adding color and/or pattern.

Decorating with natural fibers, textures and elements give an instant hit of nature. Sisal type rugs, linen bedding and cushions, grass cloth wallpaper, cotton drapery panels, shells and pebbles all contribute to the feel. Real plants and fresh flowers should not be underestimated for their impact. Garden type accessories are available in many stores now and can really pull everything together.

Without spending a cent, you can brighten your home by rolling up heavy area rugs and exposing the flooring underneath. If the budget allows, you could replace with a light rug. Likewise, let in the light and view by removing heavy window coverings. Leave your windows plain or hang some inexpensive cotton ready-made panels. Finally, clear out clutter to open up space within your home and enjoy your new fresh, bright décor.

Mary Anne van Gaal

Otta Decorate!

mavangaal@ottadecorate.com

www.ottadecorate.com

Accredited member of CDECA

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•  Remember to update your pets tags and information with your new address as quickly as possible
• Contain all pets when the movers are present and while travelling to prevent injured or run away pets,
• Visit your vet to get your pet’s history and a check up before the move

CATS

• Before and after the move surround your feline with familiar objects – feeding and water bowls, toys, blankets, or their bed.
• Since cats are very sensitive to their enviorment, gradually introduce them to their surroundings by restricting them to one or two rooms at first.

DOGS

• Like cats, dogs, should be slowly introduced to their new suroundings. Then dogs should be leahed outside until they are comfortable with thei new area.
• If you are unable to stay home for the first few days after a move, consider arranging for a friend or pet sitter to come for a couple of hours daily to relieve the dog’s anxiety.

FISH

• Traveling is the most difficult part of the moving process for fish. Place fish in plastic bags with a mix of clean water from their aquaium and new water. The less the fish are crowded, the better. Put rubber bands around the top of the plastic bags and place the bags inside a dark, insulated cooler.
• Let the filter run a few hours before putting the fish back into their tank, try to limit their time away from their normal habitat to less than 48 hours.

BIRDS

• Make sure you have appropriate size containers for the bird and cover the bottom with a litter. Remember to secure the carriers with a clip outside. Keep the bird cool and protected from the sun or in winter, warm and protected from the cold.
• Bring a supply of old food and water and gradually switch over to new supplies.

RODENTS

• Small pets such as gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs amd rts are senstive to drasic temperature changes. Take care to keep them out of direct sunliht and cold drafts.

The whole sujject of location is a personal choice. Establish which location is best for you by using our checklist.

• Proximity to work: Are you willing to commute? Prior to purchasing do a test commute so you can accurately judge the amount of time it takes. Remember do this at the time of your actual commute as traffic patterns change during the day.
• Proximity to Schools: Are there good schools in the neighbourhood? Even if you don’t have children, this could be important for re-sale.
• Proximity to Other Amenities: Do you golf or use the gym regularly? Do your kids play hockey or take swimmming lessons. Check with your realtor about local facilities.
• Public Transportation: Do you have transportation options?
• Noise: Are you willing to live near an airport, or next door to a school or busy park? Is there alot of noise from traffic? Barking dogs?
• Safety: are there crime factors in your neighbourhood? Is the area safe for children playing? Nightime walks?

Do-it-Yourself Renovations

• Paint the Interior : $2000 Return: 50-100%
• Replace Carpeting w/Laminate ( approx 1000 sq. ft.) $3000 Return: 50-75%
• Install New Light Fixtures: $2000 Return 60-70%
• Groom Exterior Landscape: $2000 Return: 25-50%
• Replace Knobs, hardware: $2000 Return 75-100%
• Update the Entryway: $3000 Return 50-75%
• Replace Carpeting/Laminate w/ hardwood : $5000, Return 50-75%
• Build a fence/deck: $5000 to $10,000 Return 50-75%

Renovations the Require a Contractor

• Install a Main Floor Powder Room : Under $5000 Return: 80-100%
• Reno Bathrooms: $5000 – $8000 Return 75-100%
• Reno Kitchen: $12000 – $15000 Return 75-100%

Today’s market conditions are most greatly affected by one other leading condition – low interest rates. There is no ‘right or wrong’ month to sell your home, though traditionally the dead of January has a lower sales percentage. However, that is because there are are fewer homes listed during that time. Often, you are ahead of your competition by listing your home off season. As interest rates are expected to remain at record lows until at least 2013.  Sales statistics remain positive for the Ottawa market.

Keep in touch with your real estate professional for the current market conditions.

You’ve heard of home inspections prior to purchasing, but if you’re selling a home that’s more than 20 years old, you would be wise to have a pre-listing inspection.

Why spend the money?  If your peace of mind isn’t reason enough, then consider dealing with small problems prior to your property going on the market so that a potential buyer doesn’t walk away from your sale after their own inspection.  If your buyer believes that you haven’t taken care of the small problems, they may fear that other unwanted surprises could be in store.

New environmental issues that home inspectors look for are signs of mould, asbestos in the blown-in attic insulation and around pipes.  Do you have dark discoloration on your basement walls?  Chances are that there’s dampness there and they should be checked before you go on the market.  Inspectors have meters that can even detect moisture through the walls.

We highly recommend a pre-listing inspection.  Consider it an investment even if you’re not planning to sell right away.  Give us a call and we will direct you to a qualified inspector.

What’s best for your family?

• Co-ownership: Thinking of making your offspring co-owners of your cottage? The CRA views this as a taxable disposition of 50% of your property at fair market value. Capital Gains taxes on that portion are due right away.  The remaining 50% paid by your estate upon death of both Spouses. If you decide to buy a cottage with a child over 18 as joint owner and they marry, remember if there is a divorce the spouse may claim their share.
• Give (GIFT) your cottage to your kids while you’re alive?  CRA now treats Gifting as a deemed disposition of property on the day the cottage was gifted and capital gains taxes are due at that time and gifted at fair market value determined by a tax or real estate valuator.
• Principal Residence: Which one can I use? If you have lived in both your home in the city and your cottage in the country for at least a few weeks each year, you can elect either one as your principal residence. You may, however, only have ONE principal residence at a time. Thus, if your home had higher capital gains during the period of 1972 to 1986, and your cottage had higher capital gains during the period from 1986 to the present, you could claim your home as your principal residence during the earlier period and your cottage during the latter period to minimize your taxes. But the periods can’t overlap.
• Pay taxes with life insurance: The bill on the capital gains can be huge, so you need to make sure your kids can afford it. If they inherit the cottage you could take out a last-to-die life insurance policy for you and your spouse. This money will then be used to pay the capital gains taxes due at the time of death. In some cases, children who stand to inherit the property may even be willing to pay the premium on the policy.
• Put the cottage in trust for the kids: Unless you claim the cottage as your principal residence, you will still have to pay capital gains taxes. Probate fees, which range up to 1.5% of the value of the estate, are nothing compared to the capital gains taxes which can be as high as 47% of the taxable portion of the capital gain. While you may avoid probate by setting up a trust, be careful that you don’t spend more on lawyers than you would actually save on the probate fees. This should be looked into very carefully.
• $100,000 Capital Gains Tax Exemption: If this option was not elected by 1994, it’s too late. Check with parents to see if they have already used the exemption and on what.

 (The contents of all articles are not warranted by the sender and must be discussed and verified with your own counsel).