Purchasing a home is not the same as buying a product off the shelf. You don’t simply pay the price on the tag and know it’s yours. You can’t just see a home for sale and say, “I’ll take it!”, especially if the market is...
If you’re thinking of selling your house, you probably have a lot of questions that need answers. In fact, asking the right questions is key to selling your home successfully and for the best price. ...
With the summer drawing nearer and the weather getting nicer, it is a great time to get out and check out the fresh farmers produce at one of the local Farmers Markets. Here are some of the local markets:...
In-ground or above-ground pool? Here are the top considerations On those long, hot days of summer, there is no better way to cool down and relax than by taking a dip in a refreshing pool. And when it’s your own private oasis, even better still! In-ground...
Explore Local Ottawa Area Gardens, Garden Centres & Nurseries Looks like it's shaping up to be a beautiful weekend! Great opportunity to spend some time with Mom exploring some of the local Ottawa area gardens and nurseries, get some inspiration and get started on your own...
Staying in Touch - May 2023 - Learn more about: the Ottawa real estate market, mortgages, events, what you need to know about Canada’s First Home Savings Account (FHSA), Canada’s real estate market: Buyers are back, but where is the inventory? and Improve Curb Appeal Instantly...
As you may know, curb appeal refers to how your property looks from the street, where potential buyers first see it. Your home’s curb appeal can have a big impact on the sale of your property. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a buyer to drive...
The spring market is off to a healthy start. Buyer activity picked up earlier than was anticipated in the first quarter of 2023, pushing home prices up over the final quarter of last year. As a result, home prices in Canada are expected to continue...
When it comes to putting money away to buy their first home, the federal government’s ‘tax-free in, tax-free out’ First Home Savings Account aims to give Canadians a helping hand. Here’s what you need to know about Canada’s First Home Savings Account (FHSA)....
Staying in Touch - April 2023 - Learn more about: the Ottawa real estate market, mortgages, events, Spring Cleaning: Tips to Refresh Your Home, Detail is Important in Everything We Do in Real Estate, and Reacting to Offers & more!...
Reacting to Offers in Real Estate. Plan Ahead so You Can React Quickly to Offers Once you have attracted potential buyers into your home with curb appeal, and impressed them with cleanliness and absence of clutter, the next step in obtaining the best possible price for your...
Easter weekend is a great time to spend quality time with your family and friends and enjoy early spring together. Here is a list of some 2023 easter activities in the Ottawa area....
Detail is Important in Everything We Do in Real Estate. We often forget how little things mean a lot and certainly in real estate we must organize ourselves when buying and selling a home. Making a list to follow saves time!...
Imagine moving to a neighbourhood that has something you really want, like a nearby golf course, more wooded areas, walking trails, or a faster commute to work....
So you've gone through your home and carefully decluttered every room and space. Feels great! Now the question is: What do you do with all this stuff? Read on for a list of places to donate your used items....
Spring Cleaning: Tips to Refresh Your Home Here are a few tips to help you freshen rooms, remove allergens, and brighten the look throughout your home this Spring. Clean Your Doormats Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. To refresh, hose off...
Your kitchen is the most frequented room in your home. So, it’s only natural that it becomes the focus of your renovation dream—from daydreams of marble countertops to pleas for top-of-the-line appliances. But you don’t need a costly renovation to make a big impact. Little...
Selecting a Building Inspector As the Ottawa real estate market has moved to a more normal market, purchasers have more time to view properties and potentially go back for a second showing on properties that they are interested in. In addition, conditions in a offer that...
Staying in Touch - January 2023 - Learn more about: the Ottawa real estate market, mortgages, events, Downsizing/Rightsizing, The Psychology of Clutter, Closing Costs and Budgeting for Your Purchase & more!...
As part of Heritage Week, the City of Ottawa recognized outstanding contributions to heritage conservation with the 2023 Ottawa Heritage Awards. Eleven projects in various categories were recognized in a ceremony at the ByTowne Cinema....
The Better Homes Ottawa – Loan Program is a City of Ottawa pilot loan program for home energy efficiency retrofits. It aims to support local residents to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. ...
Buying a house is a huge investment. It can be intimidating and overwhelming, especially if you've never done it before. Here are some tips for buyers to help you have a good experience....
It is hard for buyers to visualize where things would go and how they could work. By staging the home and showcasing how it could work for them, it makes it easy for them to picture themselves living in the home....
This Family Day long weekend there are a variety of fun-filled activities and events planned in the greater Ottawa area to enjoy with your family. From outdoor activities to museum adventures, in town and surrounding areas, there is sure to be something for everyone!...
Selling a home is one of the biggest transactions most people make. Selecting the right real estate agent to help you through the selling process smoothly and ensuring you get the best price is paramount....
With all of the variations in temperature we have been experiencing this winter, it's no wonder many of us are having issues with ice damming. Once you get a large volume of snow and you get a thaw, then you get ice-damming....
In addition to Winterlude, there are many local winter carnivals and activities in the greater Ottawa area to enjoy. From skiing to skating to enjoying local treats by the fire, there is something for everyone!...
When you are buying a property in Ottawa and surrounding Areas, one of the things that will likely be required is an appraisal. The appraisal world can be confusing as to when, if and why. Read on for more information!...
Staying in Touch - January 2023 - Learn more about: the Ottawa real estate market, mortgages, events, Downsizing/Rightsizing, The Psychology of Clutter, Closing Costs and Budgeting for Your Purchase & more!...
If you are thinking of buying a new build home or condo, there are many reasons to be represented by a realtor® who has specialized expertise and knowledge of Ottawa builders and the procedures in purchasing a new home....
If you were to put your home up for sale tomorrow, how would you determine the market value and what it would likely sell for? and how do you get the most dollars?...
Are you looking for some outdoor activities to enjoy with family and friends? There are many fantastic choices in the greater Ottawa area for all ages and abilities!...
Buyers want to be able to visualize living in their new home. Here are the top 3 improvements to focus on first to increase the sale value of your home....
There are many decisions to be made when obtaining a mortgage, two fundamental elements are term & amortization. Here are things to consider while deciding....
Staying in Touch - January 2023 - Learn more about: the Ottawa real estate market, mortgages, events, Downsizing/Rightsizing, The Psychology of Clutter, Closing Costs and Budgeting for Your Purchase & more!...
When you are planning to buy a new home in Ottawa and surrounding areas, it is important to budget for the costs associated with your purchase. There are costs at the time of purchase and costs at time of closing. There also different costs to...
There’s an interesting psychological characteristic of clutter. We tend to notice it more in other people’s homes than in our own. In fact, we may not even realize a room in our house feels cluttered and uncomfortable to visitors. That’s why making each room look...
Is it time to downsize? When people ask themselves, is it time to downsize? It is important to know that downsizing is not downgrading. It is about simplifying and changing your lifestyle to one that better fits you and your family. Think of it as rightsizing!...
Support Local - Fortune Farms Maple Syrup It's one of our favorite times of the year - maple syrup time! One of our local businesses that we are proud to support, Fortune Farms has been making maple syrup in Eastern Ontario since the 1840s, across six generations....
Sales in Stittsville While Stittsville has been growing in leaps and bounds into an active and bustling neighbourhood, those living in the area are committed to keeping it a community of caring people. Considered in spirit to still be a village, Stittsville offers its residents a...
Sales in Bridlewood/Emerald Meadows Nestled along the TransCanada Trail and the National Capital Commission Greenbelt, Bridlewood is located in South Kanata. As Bridlewood grew, the new housing development of Emerald Meadows expanded to the South to offer a variety of homes: townhomes, detached 2 storeys and...
Morgan’s Grant is on the west side of March Road, and Shirley’s Brook and Briarbrook are situated on the east side of March Road. These neighbourhoods offer their residents the best of everything Kanata has to offer, including a large variety of homes to choose...
Buying a home? How can Joan and her Real Estate Family help? Good brokers/sales representatives save you time and money. They know your community, they know what is important when buying and selling a home, and they know all the intricacies of the process, from finding a...
Kanata Lakes is popular with families and professionals, as it is centrally located in Kanata and in the district of many good schools. A range of homes is offered from townhomes through to larger 2 storeys or bungalows and adult style bungalows....
One of our local businesses that we are proud to support, Fortune Farms Maple syrup is a good welcoming gift for our Buyers and Sellers Fortune Farms (613) 256-5216 info@fortunefarms.ca Fortune Farms...
Look what we have sold in Bridlewood & Emerald Meadows Note: red squares represent all properties listed or sold by Joan Smith since 1996. Click Here to view a full list of homes we have sold in your neighbourhood! Your home is usually your biggest investment in your...
In these tough times, there are lots of women and mothers in less fortunate situations. Emergency women's shelters across Canada providing safe shelter to women and children fleeing from domestic violence have been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Operational costs for shelters are up...
We are thrilled to be sponsoring both the Minor Atom Rep B and Major Midget AA Kanata Blazers hockey teams this year for their 2019/2020 season! ...
We want to thank our clients for your continued support and trust in 2019 allowing us to have another amazing year. We are delighted to announce that we have received the Royal LePage Chairman's Club award based on GCI for 2019, representing Royal LePage's Top 1%...
We are again a proud sponsor of the Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic. Hosted at the Loch March Golf and Country Club, the 13th Jeanne Fuller Red Dress Charity Golf Classic will be strictly a "Ladies Day". The proceeds raised will support programming at...
Are you house hunting for bigger lots, with trees, established amenities and walk to top schools? Click on the photos below to learn more about Katimavik and Beaverbrook. Katimavik Beaverbrook...
Announcing the Royal LePage Hall of Fame! I am very excited and honored to be inducted into the Royal Lepage Hall of Fame! I want to thank Royal Lepage for helping me be successful over the past 49 years, looking forward to the future. I am delighted...
The Ottawa Business Journal reviewed the reasons for Joan’s success in it’s extensive article, “Award winner hits 25 years as top earner in real estate”....
