Find the place you really love

Pre-sale renovations that pay off, and the ones that don't

Not every dollar you spend before listing comes back at closing. Ross's construction background helps sellers separate the improvements buyers will pay for from the projects that only eat into profit.

Usually worth it

• Fresh, neutral paint in main living areas, hallways and the front entry.
• Repairs a home inspector will flag: dripping taps, loose railings, missing caulking, minor roof or eavestrough work.
• Lighting upgrades and new hardware, which are inexpensive and change how a room photographs.
• Curb appeal: tidy gardens, a clean or repainted front door, working exterior lights.
• Deep cleaning and decluttering, the cheapest improvement there is.

Think twice

• Full kitchen or bathroom renovations right before a sale, since buyers often want to choose their own finishes.
• Highly personal design choices.
• Large projects that need permits and could delay your listing date.

10 things a builder checks at a showing

Staging can hide a lot. These are the details Ross looks at when he tours a home with buyers. They don't replace a professional home inspection, but they help you decide which homes are worth an offer.

• Roof age and condition, flashing, and signs of ice damming, a real concern in Ottawa winters.
• Foundation cracks, efflorescence and moisture in the basement.
• Grading and downspouts that direct water away from the house.
• Window and door condition, seals and drafts.
• Furnace, air conditioner and water heater age, and whether they are owned or rented.
• Electrical panel capacity and any older wiring.
• Plumbing materials and water pressure.
• Attic insulation and ventilation.
• The quality of past renovations, and whether they look like they were permitted.
• Rural properties: well, septic, and the condition of outbuildings.

City or Valley? Choosing between Ottawa and the Ottawa Valley

The region gives buyers a real choice: urban neighbourhoods with transit and amenities, or Valley towns and countryside with more space and a slower pace. Here's how to think it through.

Living in Ottawa

• Walkable older neighbourhoods, newer family suburbs like Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven and Orléans, and downtown condos.
• Shorter commutes to downtown and federal workplaces, plus access to transit.
• A wide range of schools, recreation and healthcare close by.

Living in the Valley

• Towns such as Carleton Place, Almonte, Arnprior, Perth, Renfrew and Kemptville have heritage main streets and strong communities.
• More land and rural or waterfront options.
• Things to plan for: commute times, wells and septic systems, internet service, and winter road maintenance.

Buying your first commercial property: a checklist

Commercial real estate is judged on numbers and on the condition of the building. Ross brings both his market knowledge and his construction background to the table.

• Zoning and permitted uses, now and for your future plans.
• Current leases, rent roll, tenant quality and lease expiry dates.
• Operating costs, property taxes and any recent assessments.
• Building systems: roof, HVAC, electrical service, accessibility and fire safety.
• Capital work coming up in the next five to ten years.
• Value-add potential: renovation, conversion to mixed-use, or adding units.
• Financing requirements, which are usually different from residential mortgages.