It's somewhat ironic that in the three months of this blog's life so far, we've looked at ways to do all sorts of things using online tools and resources... but we've yet to talk about different ways to use the internet to find a new home, which is our bread and butter!

Mostly, the reasoning for this is that we want New Home News to truly be a resource for prospective home buyers and sellers, and not just to be viewed as a publicity engine for our Ottawa new home search engine New Home Association.ca (it isn't.) 

But since we are experts when it comes to leveraging the web in your home search, we would be remiss if we ignored the topic altogether. And so, here are the top 3 resources we've come across online to help those of you in the Ottawa area find your dream home. 

1) NewHomeReviews.com

While the design of this site is a little mid-nineties and some of the content has not been updated in a few years, there is still some value to be had for Ottawans in search of a new home by visiting this site. Namely, NHR boasts a pretty comprehensive directory of Ottawa builders, including a phone number, physical address, web site and brief bio for each one. 

The directory is really the only valuable resource on the site, unfortunately; a gaggle of other half-implemented ideas like a homes services directory, discussion forum and articles database are either out of date or just plain non-working. Nonetheless, aside from this blog's own exhaustive list of Ottawa builders, the NHR directory is one of the best ones online. 

2) New Homes And Condos Online

The online complement to the popular Traders Corp (publishers of Auto Trader, etc.) publication New Homes and Condos, this site offers a way to search for new homes by region, type of home and price. The site serves all of Ontario, including Ottawa and he selection and variety of model homes for Ottawa is pretty good, but not great: an open search for all models pulls in about 60 results.

The presentation and functionality on this site are really clean and easy. The only potential downside of the New Homes and Condos service is the way it displays results: Basically, you are presented with a list of models from different builders that match your search query, but instead of providing more in-depth information about each one when you click on it, all of these results actually redirect to the specific builder's own website, where you will have to start from scratch, find the model and proceed from there. 

3) New Home Association.ca

What, did you think we were going to leave our own service out? Well, if we didn't believe that NHA was truly useful to potential new home buyers in Ottawa, we wouldn't waste our time going to work every morning, so it stands to reason that we would include it here!

When you visit our site, you're presented with a splash page that invites you to choose a region. Currently, we serve Ottawa and Gatineau, but an upcoming expansion will involve all of Ontario. In any case, once you've chosen Ottawa, you'll come to the home page where with one click, you can search for your dream home by price, region, type of home, builder or specific development, very similar to the options offered by New Homes and Condos (see above.)

Where we feel we offer additional value is in two areas: selection and convenience. Firstly, an open search of all our models returns literally over a thousand results (compared to 60 on NHaC.) That's what we call variety. 

Secondly, all your searches and comparisons can be done right on NHA.ca, because we have uploaded all the information you could ever want about each and every model onto our own database. No need to leave and visit builder websites here there and everywhere. That's what we call convenience.

We're working on all sorts of added features as well, such as builder profile pages, a home service directory, and much more. Of course, you just need to stay tuned to this blg to hear all about the new functionalities as they're rolled out.

Well, what is your unbiased opinion, valued reader? How does our service stack up against the competition's? We'd love to hear what you think in the comments. 

We're working hard to make NHA.ca the number one destination for new home searches in Ottawa, and eventually all of Ontario and beyond. We hope you like the fruits of our labour so far!

  

Finding a realtor that meets your needs can be quite a task. In fact, about a month and a half ago, we tackled the issue briefly when we offered 3 Helpful Hints for Dealing with Realtors. But many people still wonder - How can I really get to know potential agents and see if I want to trust them with my home? 

For that purpose, we've put together a 5-Question Quiz that you should ask any potential realtor before signing any papers. 

1) Tell Me A Bit About Yourself

This may sound like the opening gambit of a job interview, but then, well, that's exactly what this is, isn't it? Asking an open-ended question allows the realtor express to you what he or she thinks is his or her greatest assets. See if you agree.

2) What Is Your Specialty?

You don't want to hire a condo expert to sell your turn-of-the-century home, or vice versa. Ask this question to see what types of homes they are most familiar with. And by the way, don't accept "I sell everything" as an answer... everyone has a specialty (or should.)

The same goes for regions within a city. Ideally, you want a realtor who is familiar with the very area where your home is located.

3) Do You Belong to Any Organizations?

There are many organizations and certifications that realtors can belong to and or hold in Canada and the US. The answer to this question will give you an idea how well-connected your potential realtor is, as well as how committed they are to the profession.

4) Do You Work Full Time as a Realtor?

Speaking of commitment to the profession, you would be surprised to know how many realtors do their gig as a part-time affair. If you want full-time attention (hint: You do), this is a good question to ask point blank.

 

5) What Are Your Numbers?

As we mentioned before on this blog, a realtor with good sales numbers is a realtor you probably want on your team. Asking potential agents flat out how many homes they have sold in the past year will give you an idea of their talent (and or commitment, see above.) Also, watch out for shifty eyes and other telltale signs of lying on this one to be sure you're getting the straight goods.

There are obviously many other things you may want to ask any potential realtor, but there 5 questions will provide a solid base to decide whether someone is a good fit to sell your home or not. So go ahead, administer the quiz and see who passes with flying colours!  

 

For the second installment of our Eco-Renovation series (the first one on environmentally kind painting tips is here), we've culled a list of 5 great tips for all kinds of different home improvement projects, all of which aim to make them that much more earth-friendly. Enjoy, and we hope you put them to good use during your next project!

1) Reduce, Reuse, Reshingle?

If you're a fan of natural wood shingles, try re-shingling with reclaimed redwood shingles, a product made with the stumps of old growth trees. They are available at most major hardware stores, although you may pay a bit of a premium over regular wood shingles.

2) Say No to Poison Lumber

Most people don't realize that that greeny tinge in pressure treated wood is given to it by a toxic blend of pesticides that is injected into the lumber and can often leech out into the surrounding environment. If you're building a deck, or some other exterior wood project, consider asking for CA-B Pressure Treated wood, which is pressure treated, but without the harsh chemicals.

3) Go EnerGuide

This may seem like a no-brainer, but the simple act of making your next appliance upgrade an EnerGuide certified one will help the environment tremendously over the long term... and save you money as well.

4) Insulate Au Naturel

Rather than using fiberglass insulation, which is bad for air quality and difficult to dispose of, consider using all natural cotton-based insulation instead. Again, there is a slight premium associated with preferring this variety, but the R-Values are comparable and the ecological footprint much smaller.

5) One Man's Trash...

When you're ripping out old building materials for a renovation, remember that what you no longer need, someone else may be able to make use of. Bringing un-wanted building supplies to a Habitat for Humanity's ReStore location near you is a great way to give some renewed life to what was essentially your trash. There are two locations here in Ottawa, the locations of which are listed on the local HFH chapter website here. 

Do you have any other great green reno tips that you'd like to share with our readers? If so, drop us a note in the comments!

SELL THAT HOUSE

In this installment of Sell That House, we're going to look at one of the importance but often-overlooked aspects of the home-selling process, the staging. For those who haven't heard of the practice, home staging is the art of making a home look... well... buyable, for lack of a better term to those you are showing it for. 

Some people will hire a professional stager to come in and take care of their home before having an open house, and many real estate agents recommend going this route. It especially makes sense to do this if you've already moved out and the house is empty; a stager can and does usually provide his or her own furniture to make the rooms look luxurious and comfortable. 

But if you don't have the budget to hire a pro, or just feel like tackling the challenge yourself, we're here to help. Here are our top 5 ways to start staging your home like a trained professional. Follow these guidelines, and you'll have your home off your hands in no time!

The Hit List:

1) Just Because It's Called a Fixture...

One of the biggest mistakes made by DIY home stagers is to skimp out on replacing outdated fixtures before showing the home. In the grand scheme of things, spending a few dollars to replace your door hardware, faucets and 70s-era light fixtures will be  well worth it.  Skipping this step altogether will leave prospective buyers thinking you and your place are dowdy and out of touch with current trends. 

2) Clean Means Cared For

When prospective buyers enter your home, you better believe that they are going to notice every dust bunny on the floor and scuff mark on the wall... and worse, they'll extrapolate from every imperfection and assume your home is in much worse condition than it is if it isn't spic-and-span.

Bottom line: When your home is on the market, it must be spotless at all times and ready for a showing. If you have to pay a cleaner for that period to keep it that way, do so - it will be worth it when your home sells that much faster!   

3) Less is More

A common mistake made by homeowners, when they are trying to make their home look good, is to clutter every room with oversized furniture, knickknacks and decorative pieces. When you're trying to sell, try to remember the popular adage: K.I.S.S, Keep It Simple Stupid!

The more things you stack into every room, the smaller and less homey the room, and the house as a whole, will look.

4) Fur Better or Worse

You might think that your little Muffy or Fido is God's gift to humanity, and that all prospective homebuyers will share your love of pets. They won't. 

If you have pets, make sure to vacuum up fur ardently and erase all evidence of pets living in the home before showing it, so as not to defer potential buyers who aren't fond of animals, have allergies, etc.

5) Taste is Personal

By far the most common and largest error made by homeowners when trying to ready their home to be shown is to allow themselves to be blinded by personal taste.

When it comes to staging your home, neutral is the word of the day. You may think that your 4-green motif in the dining room is the cat's meow. Others might not be so enthused. 

You might think that the faux Picasso prints on the hallway wall bring the space to life. Browsers with a realist penchant will be turned off. (Now if you've a genuine Picasso print, then you can probably leave that hanging...)

As much as it pains you, the less personal you make the space before showing it, the better. This allows each new visitor to better imagine how they could and would make each room their own. 

After all, the sooner you sell this house, the sooner you can buy a new home and start decorating the rooms in that one any way you like!

Many of our readers, both on and offline ask a lot of questions about how to go about doing eco-friendly renovations. When we looked at online resources for do-it-yourself renovations a few weeks back, we highlighted The Green Home Guide, which is a great site for planning out ecologically-conscious home projects. But since this is a topic of such interest among our readers, we'd like to start our own on-going series here as well offering tips and tricks for making your renovations as green as possible. Today's topic? Paint.

Every renovation involves painting at some point. Whether you're doing a freshening coat, or building an addition to your home, at some point the walls are going to need some colour! That's why we want to start today with a look at how you can make this part of the reno earth-friendly.

Just to Clear the Air

When it comes to paint and the environment, the main consideration is the level of VOC's in the product. Volatile Organic Compounds are toxic fumes that leech out of the paint when you're working with it and afterwards. Many of these are thought to be carcinogens when exposure is prolonged. Obviously, the lower the level of VOC's in a paint, the better it is for both the earth... and your lungs. 

Paint companies have been making low and no-VOC paints for some time, but independent testers have found that each brand varies in the amount of smell they emit, regardless of labeling. 

One brand that has come up several times in our review of many comparative studies, however, is called Aura by Benjamin Moore.  So keep your eyes peeled for that one, available at any Benjamin Moore retailer. 

Other brands that have received top marks from independent testers are True Value Easy Care and Glidden Evermore. True Value is a US-only hardware store, but Glidden's should be available at any Color Your World location or ICI affiliate in North America.

What Goes Around...

While VOC's are the most common measure of a paint's ecological standing, another issue to consider is the life-cycle of the paint production process: the very system of creating paint (and disposing of it later) can be harmful to the environment in and of itself. 

One innovative company I have come across that tackles this issue is called Boomerang Recycled Paint.

Based out of Quebec, this company uses patented technologies to take unused, unwanted paint and mix it together to form completely recycled product for commercial or residential use. 

The color selection is more limited than most paint lines because of the challenges of combining multiple paint varieties into one can, but other than that, the paint is largely the same in finish and durability as any of the paints that go into it. And of course, you can rest easy in the knowledge that by using Boomerang, you're keeping toxic paints out of landfills, and that virtually no pollution was created to produce the product. Oh, and a a bonus, because of the savings of reusing discarded product, their prices are very competitive too!

You can visit their web site, linked above, to see if Boomerang serves your area.

Now the floor is yours: Are there any other Green-Painting tips that you'd like to share? If so, let us know in the comments, and we'll update the post with any additional tricks!

This year, Ottawa builder Richcraft is celebrating its 25th anniversary and as with all anniversaries, this one is a great time to reflect on the journey that has brought them to this point. So today, let's take a look at what the last quarter century has meant for one of Ottawa's most successful home construction companies.

Kris Singhal, the millionnaire CEO and owner, says the ride hasn't always been an easy one. 

Singhal grew up in New Delhi, India one of eight children of a lawyer. He and his wife Manju studied and prepared for a better life in Canada, and arrived in 1974. He was the only one of the siblings to emigrate.

He worked hard and continued formal studies, and in less than 10 years in his new country, he was established as a Canadian.

The Singhals had an upper-middle-class income, a secure job in government service at a management level, and could look forward to an indexed pension. They could make annual trips to New Delhi to visit family, and replace the family compact car every six years. Their two daughters could attend university.

What more could he want?

Fateful Decision

It was then that they decided to build their own home... without really knowing how. 

"At that time, if you sent me to the store to get a two-by-four, I wouldn't have known where to look, or what one looked like," says Singhal. 

But he never lacked confidence, and always believed that if somebody else could do something, he could too. (It just might take him a little longer.)

To save money, he decided not to buy from an established builder, but instead to buy a lot and build his own home on it.

Campeau Corporation was selling lots around the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, so they bought one. To build the house, they hired a contractor, and Singhal was there every day, watching and learning. The land was swampy and they had the unexpected and costly problem of building on a slab.

But finally, the day came when they could stand in front of their finished dream home.

Sadly, however they had to sell it almost immediately. They had built a home that, with all the cost overruns, was just out of their reach. Luckily, though, it sold quickly.

A Eureka! Moment

When it was all said and done, they looked at their bank account and had an epiphany...  They had just made a pile of money.

With that realization, Singhal asked for, and was granted, a one year leave-of-absence from his government job. They bought two more Hunt Club lots and got permission from Campeau to build two copies of the popular Bennington Ultra with 3,000 square feet of luxury living. He invested in a white hardhat and went to work as supervisor. The hours were long, but the new job gave him a feeling of freedom that no 9-5 would allow. 

A year later the houses were sold for handsome profits, and their bank account said they were on the right track. It was 1983, and they decided to give up job security and pension plan, and ride the rocket instead.

Sleepless in South Ottawa

When asked to give an example of the sleepless nights of an entrepreneur, Singhal admits: "I still have them. I look around me and I can't believe I've done this. I can't believe I've got so many people dependent on me to keep making decisions. Right decisions." 

He goes on to point out that there are 75 people employed at their 2280 St. Laurent Blvd. headquarters, and estimated there must be about 3,000 subtrades working with them.

Early on, he first placed a small ad in the Ottawa Citizen to sell his homes. He soon had as much work as he could handle, building custom homes for people who already owned the lots. That way, no large outlay of cash was needed.

Then came some sleepless nights after he sat down over a lunch with Campeau vice-president Vic Whittaker, and watched him scribble out a deal on a paper napkin. Singhal went to the meeting hoping to get some building lots. He left with a huge tract of land that is now the heart of the Hunt Club subdivision. The deal on the napkin was worth $14 million. For a man who didn't have that kind of money, it was terrifying.

Whittaker remembers that day, and says that's the way deals were done. His orders were to sell the land. Hardest part of the sale was convincing Singhal that the napkin, presented to the right bank manager, would close the deal.

Kris Singhal now found himself steering a corporation that had just blasted into hyperdrive. He talks about being frightened then, but there's no sign of fear now as the confident CEO sits in his polished headquarters, routinely making multi-million dollar deals. Often there isn't even a napkin. He can close a deal by telephone.

Richcraft homes are in singles, rows and highrises. It's getting difficult to maintain a count. Richcraft is one of the city's major players in the world of land banking, owning the majority of land in the city available for new construction.

Singhal is determined to never again let himself be caught thinking inside the box, as he had been accustomed to doing in his government job.

Aiming to Be Part of The Family

His mind is still reaching over the walls of Richcraft to the living rooms of those who buy his homes.

He thinks back to his year as a start-up contractor and says he doesn't want to ever forget what he learned from a happy customer who was impressed by his battered Chevy Malibu. It was to her a selling point that made her accept him as her builder. In her mind, home builders were a flashy lot. She wanted somebody she could trust, afford and work with.

"Building a home for somebody makes you almost a member of the family. There's a trust factor."

And here at New Home News, that's what we like to hear: builders aiming to create consumer trust, and that's what we're trying to help do with our free New Home Association builder-finding service, too.

(This story originally appeared in the Homes section of one of our partner publications, the Ottawa Citizen - interview and writing by Dave Brown. It has been edited for this blog's audience, but the original article can be accessed online here.)