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of other half-implemented ideas like a homes services directory, discussion forum and articles database are either out of date or just plain non-working.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!

  

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.)

When you're on the hunt for your dream home, sometimes those old rose-coloured glasses can cloud your vision and make it difficult to see straight. But we should never forget that a home is a huge investment, and whether you're buying a new home or a resold one, there are certain things you need to consider before you fall in love with a property. 

Here are the best 7 tidbits of advice we could come up with for finding a dream home that doesn't disappoint. As always, let us know what you think of them and if you'd add any others in the comments!

1) Always Do Your Research

Whether you do it online, in newspapers or in person by visiting homes or model homes (with a realtor or without), it always pays to do your homework. This may seem like obvious advice, but all too often home buyers get so caught up in the excitement of purchasing a new home that they may skimp on some of the hard work. Don't be one of those.

2) You Can Pick Your Nose...

Always look for the cheapest house in the best neighborhood, because homes can be improved, but neighbours can't! When you buy for the area first, you are more likely to get the utmost bang for your buck in the long haul. This doesn't mean you should buy a house you hate in a burrough you love, but it's something to keep in mind nonetheless. 

4) Location, Location, Location

Like neighbours, a house's address is pretty fixed, too. You can change pretty much everything about your home after you buy it, in fact... except where it is located. Buying a home you love in an area that is inconvenient, dangerous or less than ideal is a short-sighted plan. Find a region you love first, then look for a home within it.

5) Compromise is Key

The sooner you come to terms with the fact that the perfect home does not exist, the easier this will be for everyone. Unless you're commissioning a custom home to be built on land of your choosing, there will always be a few things you don't like about every property you visit. Give and take a little, and aim to find the home that satisfies most of your needs and wants, not all.

6) Don't Fall In Love, If You Can Help It

No, I'm not talking about Cupid's Arrow, and Yes, this is easier said than done, but it is always best to stay as emotionally detached as possible when looking for and bidding on a home. This is, after all, a business, and there is no room in the deal room for emotion. 

If you do lose what you thought was your dream home when a deal falls through, don't fret, another one that's even better for you will come along soon!

7) Beware The Handy-man's Special

It might be refreshing to walk into a home that has been gutted and redone from top to bottom, but always remember to look closely at renovations to make sure they don't exhibit any signs of unprofessionalism. 

As we mentioned in our post about home inspections, professional inspectors are always wary of such renos, saying that they nearly always have code errors and other problems that could cause headaches down the road. Look out for crooked walls, oddly wired appliances and anything else that just doesn't seem right. Better to turn your back now on a house that looks great, but really isn't, than to look the other way and have issues down the road.

When looking to buy a new home, most people know the importance of hiring a good home inspector to make sure all is as it seems before they put all your money on the line. 

(If you are looking for a reputable inspector in Canada, you can try the directory at MyHomeInspector.ca, or the home inspector section of HomeFocus.com. In the US, the American Society of Home Inspectors online directory is a great starting point.) 

But of course, when prospective homebuyers are looking at many different homes, trying to decide on the best one, even if they want to be look out for red flags, it's just not practical to bring in an inspector for every property they fancy. 

So for this reason, we thought we would pick the brains of some experienced industry professionals to try and suss out the best ways that these home shoppers can watch out for trouble homes. Enjoy!

Advice from the Pros

We spoke with two established home inspectors in Ottawa, Ontario: Neil Card from Barrhaven Home Inspectors Inc. (pictured above left), and Francis Caza of Closer View Home Inspection Services (above right), and both had some really great tips to share.

When asked what prospective home buyers should watch out for when touring a home for sale, Card says they should always keep moisture and vegetation in mind.

"The biggest issues with homes are always water and tree damage," he says, "Get the water and trees away from the home and you'd have no problems. Homeowners should look out for hedges and plants up against the house, as well as big trees that are close to the home. As a rule, the circumference of the root system of a tree is double that of its branches, so they should keep that in mind always."

 

Card also says that improperly installed eavestroughing is a common problem with homes. 

"One of the biggest and most common problems I come across in my inspections is a minor one that has to do with downspouts," he says, "often they drop directly down onto the driveway, which in the winter can lead to snow and ice buildup and dangerous slippery conditions. It can also cause damage to the foundation of the home.  It's a minor thing to fix and very inexpensive, and it's better to fix it now rather than waiting 5 years, and then you need foundation repairs or a new roof."

 

Both Card and Caza recommend that every potential home buyer take a trip or two down to the basement to look for evidence of foundation problems and flooding. 

"Using all your senses, you should walk around the entire home outside and then in the basement and look at all the parts of the foundation," says Card. "Look for cracks in the walls, especially around the windows. Smell for must and mildew that might indicate flooding has occurred. Be wary if there are two dehumidifiers in the basement."

Caza agrees 100%. 

"The main concerns in basements is obviously moisture. You should always check all walls for any visible discoloration or evidence of water damage."

Renos Gone Awry

Another red flag that you should be aware of, according to both inspectors, is home renovations that look as though they may have been done by a ... less than professional individual. (Obviously these must be DIYers who didn't take advantage of our exhaustive guide to reno resources!)

"One thing that concerns (inspectors) is that in a lot of areas we'll find renovation work in homes that must have been done by the home owner or some other non-professional," says Caza. "This is especially worrisome when the renos involve plumbing and electrical work."

Card agrees that this can be a real problem. 

"I always look out for 'handyman' work. I can tell when a job is professionally done, and when we've got a 'handyman house' on our hands... which can be very scary," he says. "The home owner maybe didn't know what they're doing or what's going on, they do what they think is right, but it's often all wrong."

Both inspectors say that with their experience, they can usually spot such unprofessional renovation work in a single pass, but that home buyers can probably get an idea as well if they pay attention to things like crooked walls and doorways, poorly fitted doors or (more scarily) electrical outlets and switches in unusual places.

No Substitute for a Professional Inspection

Even though these tips from the pros may help you spot problem homes earlier in the process, both Card and Caza made a point of urging all prospective buyers to take the time to find and hire a reputable inspector when they find a home they love. 

"At the end of the day, there is a lot to see in a home and you don't know what you're looking for unless you're trained specifically for that purpose," says Card. "Something may look fine to the untrained eye, but on closer inspection may not be working, for example."

"Home inspection is very cheap when you look at the cost of buying a home - the few dollars you're paying is peanuts when you consider how much it could save you."

While this opinion is obviously slightly biased, I have to agree with the logic. If you're going to be making one of the biggest investments of your life, it obviously makes sense to spend the money (usually $200-$300) to ensure that you're not buying a money pit!

At least with these helpful hints, you'll be able to better narrow your choices and avoid those homes-from-hell earlier on. Then when you've decided to put in an offer on the home of your dreams, be sure to hire a professional to really scour the place. 

For what it's worth, if you're located in Ottawa, I would definitely recommend either of the gentlemen I spoke with for this post, as both really impressed me with their knowledge and helpfulness. You can reach Neil Card of Barrhaven Home Inspectors by phone at 613 421 4001 or by email here. Francis Caza of Closer View Home Inspection Services can be reached by phone at 613 913 9020, or by email here.

 

Do you have any more helpful hints on how to spot a bad egg home during a quick walk around? We'd love to hear your ideas in the comments as usual!

BUILDERS GIVING BACK 

It is often said that the homelessness problem in any given city, Ottawa included, is much worse than it appears. It's not just the stereotypical "homeless" we see lying on sidewalks in the downtown core who are under-sheltered. 

In reality, for each of these poor souls on park benches, there are several times as many people who are living with family, or in shelters, or even in crowded rental units, and often with multiple children and little money for other necessities like food and clothing. 

These are the somewhat more invisible "homeless" of our cities, and the ones that charities like Habitat for Humanity seek to help. And since homebuilders house people for a living, by definition, it is always refreshing to see builders step up to the plate and partner with Habitat to give back. 

That's what Ottawa builder Urbandale was doing this week, as they prepared to break ground on one of the local HFH chapter's two home projects for this year.

The two projects will house two families in need of help, in side-by-side homes in Orleans. One home has been sponsored by The Home Depot Canada, and the other by Urbandale.

The Urbandale home will house Angela Durant and her two sons Sherwin and Sheldon (pictured at left.) It will be built to the stringent R-2000 Environmental standard, which is a first for the National Capital Region Habitat chapter.    

Orleans (Otawa East) city councillor Bob Monette spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony earlier this week and encouraged the Durants to be hopeful for their future in the new home. 

"You'll notice the community you're moving into is a beautiful one," he said. "It's very safe and you'll feel very welcome here."

Indeed, as Platinum Sponsors, Urbandale has made a significant impact upon the future of this family, donating $75,000 towards the construction of their new family home. The builder has made this donation as part of its 50th Anniversary celebrations. 

As with all Habitat projects, the home, when finished, will be sold to the Durants on an interest-free mortgage that will be paid back in full. The family has also already begun the 500 hours of "sweat equity" required of participants in the program, helping out at fundraising BBQs, delivering flyers and the like.

Despite this generous donation from Urbandale, Habitat is still always in need of volunteers to help make their projects a reality. If you would like to participate in this build, either by doing a skilled trade, committee person or coordinator, they would love to hear from you. You can reach the Ottawa office at 613 749 9950 or via email here. 

If you don't live Ottawa, but would like to help this great hand-up-instead-of-out charity, you can find a chapter near you on their Canadian site here, or their American one here. 

Kudos to Urbandale for giving back to the community in such an apropos way.

A New Direction

With one successful multi-lot development under their belt and another underway, Ottawa builder Dharma Developments has announced that they will be bringing their eco-conscious, high-quality building style to the custom home market starting this winter.

Dharma impressed many with its first development, Powers Enclave, a 29-home neighbourhood in Stittsville, just minutes from Kanata Centrum, because of the quality of their construction and the durable products they use, as well as for their innovative approach to sustainable building. 

A new loft-style homes development called Orville Station is set to break ground next spring and has attained the lofty environmental designation of LEED Silver for its eco-friendly design. 

And this reputation for quality and innovation is exactly what is driving Ottawans to enlist Dharma's help in building their custom dream home, now that the service is being offered. 

"The feedback we've gotten so far from clients about why they're choosing us is because of our quality workmanship and our focus on green technology," says Dharma Sales and Marketing Manager Wendy Bissonette. "One potential client who viewed Powers Enclave recently was really impressed with the finishing detail and the attention we pay to the quality of products used in the home." 

   

The move into custom homes does not signify a shift in priorities for Dharma, says Bissonette. The company will continue to plan and execute innovative communities like Powers and Orville Station in the future. Instead, the new division is meant to complement their existing work, and help home owners who may already have their own lot or would prefer to live in an area outside Dharma's current communities to achieve their vision. 

"A lot of people have this dream of building their own home, but when they get to the point of actually doing it, they realize they don't know how," says Bissonette. "We want to be there as a partner for them and help them through the process." 

For Dharma, this business transition is partly about expanding their reach and keeping busy between major multi-lot projects, but it is also about making a contribution to the Ottawa community, a value that Dharma has always espoused (evidenced by their commitment to charity and the local arts community.) 

"Offering custom homebuilding for us is about being able to pass on the knowledge that we've gained with Powers Enclave  and Orville Station, in terms of LEED and green technologies," says Bissonette. "We want to help build smart homes that are efficient and as green as people want them to be - we always look at new technologies to be able to relay those options to our customers. With our custom homes, the client really has a blank canvas."

LEEDing The Way

This commitment to green building has set Dharma apart from other builders in the Ottawa market. While some smaller local homebuilders have been afraid to experiment with eco-technologies for fear that homebuyers wouldn't willing to pay the necessary premiums, Dharma has consistently led the way in offering stylish, environmentally friendly and affordable homes, proving that the combination is indeed possible.

And as is often the case, daring to be different has paid off for Dharma. Bissonette says more than half of the inquiries they are currently receiving for custom home quotes involve requests for green technologies, so it is clear that their reputation precedes them.

On every build, Dharma considers a strict set of eco-criteria in planning, design and construction, including but not limited to: 

• Use of building supplies that are locally available, contain recycled material and/or are themselves salvaged and recycled; 
• Use of durable products that won't end up in landfills in the near future; 
• Low toxicitiy in indoor materials; and minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) during construction.
  

But perhaps more importantly, "green building" isn't just a glorified checklist for this builder, it's a company mantra. 

Not only does Dharma try to make each and every project as environmentally low-impact as possible, but every employee is committed to the cause as well. As Bissonette says, it's the little things that make the difference. 

"We always recycle in the office, we power down lights and computers when not in use, we don't use paper plates or napkins unnecessarily, we all drive fuel-efficient vehicles. Each employee is very conscious of their impact, we all do our part for the environment in our own lives, and we bring that commitment to work, too."

For more information any of Dharma's developments, or about their new custom homes service, you can visit them on the web at www.dharmadevelopments.com, leave a comment on this post or send me an email and I will be happy to put you in touch with the custom homes team. 

For a detailed look at the few lots still available in their Powers Enclave community or to pre-order for Orville Station lots, head over to NHA.ca and take a look.