If you are interested in selling your Ottawa area home in the shortest possible time for the most possible money, call Bill today at 613-288-2455, or visit our Ottawa real estate website.

There are a number of items in the 2009 budget that will positively affect first-time home buyers as well as existing homeowners.

First-Time Home Buyers

There are two initiatives that will benefit first-time home buyers:

The first item is a $5,000 increase in the RRSP Home Buyers’ Plan withdrawal limit. The limit, which used to be $20,000 will be increased to $25,000, allowing for a greater opportunity for first-time home buyers to accumulate that all-important down payment amount.

The second item is up to $750 in tax relief directed to first time home buyers.

Existing Homeowners

There are two additional initiatives for existing homeowners:

The first item is the Home Renovation Tax Credit.

This initiative will provide homeowners with a maximum $1,350 income tax credit on eligible home renovation expenses between $1,000 and $10,000 for work performed or goods acquired between January 27, 2009 and February 1, 2010.

The second item is the ecoENERGY Retrofit Program. This program proposes to spend $300 million over the next two years supporting home retrofits.

As you can see, the four housing initiatives brought forward by the 2009 Federal Budget can only stimulate Ottawa’s real estate industry. Things are definitely getting better!

For more information, visit our Ottawa real estate website.

* Federal Government budget information obtained from http://www.budget.gc.ca/2009/plan.

We are holding the following open houses on Sunday, April 5, 2009 from 2-4 p.m.:

Ottawa Open Houses

55 Grady Crescent, Ottawa

39 Banner Road, Ottawa

Manotick Open House

5486 Fee Street, Manotick

Stittsville Open House

3 Eagle Rock Way, Stittsville

To view photos of these hot spring real Ottawa real estate listings, visit our website.

Now that spring is here and the snow is gone, many people are venturing out into the nice weather to find that perfect home to buy. If you think your Ottawa area home may be that perfect home for someone, consider the following suggestions for preparing your home for sale, which may make your home even more appealing to a potential buyer:

1. Outside Your Home

The first thing a potential buyer will do when they arrive at your home is to assess the exterior of your home. Stand on the sidewalk. How does your home look? When a potential buyer arrives at your home, what they see is their first impression. Make sure that your house number is clearly visible from the street. Spring is a great time to wash windows and doors. Sweep any walkways as well as your driveway in order to remove any debris. Rake the leaves in your yard to make it “spotless”. Are there any brown spots in the grass? How about using some environmentally-friendly fertilizer or even some new sod to spruce it up? Do you have a stone walkway or raised flower beds. Ensure that the walkway is level and the flower beds are weeded. Boiling water is a great way to remove persistent weeds from in between stone walkways. Do you have garden lighting? Ensure that they are all in working order and are firmly implanted in the ground in an upright position, as winter tends to take its toll on these items.

2. Front Entrance

Now that the potential buyer has appraised your front yard, they will approach your front entrance. It is welcoming? Will they be able to think of it as their home? A container of colourful spring flowers may help create a welcoming atmosphere. Ensure any windows at your front entrance are cleaned on both sides. Also, make sure your outdoor light fixtures are in working order and that the light bulbs have been replaced. Is your front door in good condition? Remove any scratches or scuff marks or re-paint, if necessary.

3. Fresh Air

Fresh, clean, spring air lends a feeling of cleanliness to any home. Try opening some windows prior to a showing. While you are at it, ensure that all windows are clean on both sides and clean the window tracks as well. A potential buyer may test each window to ensure that it works. Make sure it does. If you have screens for your windows, clean them and install them. If you have storm windows, now may be a good time to remove them.

4. Inside Your Home

Next, the potential buyer will view the inside of your home. It is tidy and free of clutter? Are all visible surfaces dust-free? Are all floors vacuumed, swept and/or washed? Use a damp cloth to wipe down all baseboards. Remove all cobwebs from the corners of unused areas of your home. Have you had a chance to wash bedding, curtains, and pillows? Are there fresh towels and soap in each bathroom? A potential purchaser may check each water connection, each toilet, and each light fixture. Do they all work? They may also check your basement, as well as your attic. Be sure to keep these areas tidy.

5. Your Backyard, Garage, and Outbuildings

Once a potential buyer has seen your home, they will want to see the yard, garage and any outbuildings. Is your yard free of clutter and outdoor toys? Is your deck in good condition, or should it be stained or re-painted? Do you have a fence? Does it need to be painted? Ensure that your flower and garden beds are weeded and free of debris. Rake your lawn. Be sure that your garage doors all work and that any external light fixtures are in good working condition. Replace all light bulbs.

Once you have completed these preparations, your home should be in top condition for viewing by potential buyers. Each step that you complete may bring you that much closer to an offer on your Ottawa area home.

The Renaud Otten Team has three experienced Listing Sales Representatives ready to meet with you at your convenience: Bill Renaud, Ray Otten, and John Donald. John Donald, a Listing Sales Representative with over 16 years of real estate experience, offers this advice for a quick spring sale, “Make sure your home sparkles.”