The Guy With The Dog

An exceptional home with recent renos on a premium lot. Brand new kitchen with thoughtful improvements in design and flow and finished with high end appliances and granite. Hardwood on main and upper, lower level is fully finished with recent bedroom and full bath that is spa inspired. Five beds, four baths, a main floor den and second floor loft, plus a fenced and landscaped yard. Pride of ownership and lots of wow factor throughout!

Choice end unit on a supersized lot! A unique layout with a gorgeous living room thanks to walls of windows. Open feel to kitchen, eat-in and family room. Kitchen has upgraded oak cabinets, a beautiful peninsula option and top notch appliances. Upper features three bedrooms, master with the “oasis bath” luxury option plus a loft space. You are going to love the fresh paint, the wraparound porch, the location, and the tastefulness of this one! Don’t miss!

An elegance and sophistication that belies its “starter home” status. Just a beautiful presentation here with an open, airy feeling, well scaled spaces, and a modern palette. Fabulous kitchen with Island and access outdoors overlooks the living and dining room and begs to entertain. Inviting fireplace, vaulted ceilings and open loft add to the architectural appeal. A complete package with appliances and pride of ownership included.

A rare opportunity to own a piece of Ottawa’s history! This is an award winning restoration of the historic École Guigues. A fantastic space with 12 foot ceilings and 8 foot windows. This particular loft is unique in being a corner unit with a private roof top terrace. Bathed in natural light, views of the city, and steps to all that Ottawa has to offer. Not to be missed!

Gorgeous! You will see a designer’s influence from the moment you walk in to this home. From the fixtures to the flooring, this is an absolute standout! Main is open concept with hardwood floors and an upgraded kitchen complete with granite. Upstairs features four well scaled bedrooms, engineered wood flooring and wait ‘til you see the spa inspired master ensuite. Lower is finished with rec room and den. Tasteful and turn key!

In the heart of Westboro – a fantastic opportunity! Commercially zoned century home (TM1-1), beautiful hardwood and ceramic floors and hardwood staircase. Main floor features renovated kitchenette and powder room. Second level has vaulted ceilings and a full bathroom. Upgraded electrical and furnace, two hot water tanks (one owned, one rented). Don’t wait – this won’t last long!

Remarkable attention to detail in this 2700 sq ft exquisite single family home. Nothing has been left to chance and has been upgraded from the fabulous kitchen with granite through to the recently finished basement complete with a bedroom, den, and recreation room. Landscaped with interlock and pergola; perfect for those summer dinners. Upper level features a grand master with large ensuite. Nothing to do but move in. Call for a viewing.

From the pages of  Better Homes and Gardens  this one sparkles and inspires. A choice location that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. A fantastic layout with nine foot ceilings, main floor den,  sunken family room and architectural nuances to hold your interest. Master is nothing short of a retreat. Finished with hardwood, pot lights, beautiful fixtures, and decor.   Landscaped front and back, fenced and ready to entertain.

Blending country living with the city.  Magnificent sized lot complete with heated swimming pool and sauna creates your own oasis. Only minutes to Ottawa central, Kanata and Barrhaven.  Built in the mid 1970′s and lived in by original owner, the room proportions are generous and the layout is functional. Plenty of space to entertain both summer and winter.  This is your cottage and city home in a central location.  Come see for yourself!

This is first timing or downsizing in style! A complete transformation that will make you proud and your friends green with envy. Tasteful, modern palette, open airy feel and attention to detail throughout. Chef’s dream kitchen with stainless appliances, wood cabinetry and potlights. Spa inspired bath, laminate floors and balcony with phenomenal views of the city and more for you to discover! Just an ideal location with recreation and all the conveniences at your doorstep!

A lifestyle on offer here and a fantastic space to enjoy. Twelve foot ceilings, 9 foot doors, hardwood floors, granite counters, modern fixtures and decor. Entry closet with built ins, open living space with access to extensive balcony. Fireplace with built in shelving and storage. Master with his and hers closets and patio doors onto the balcony. Gas bbq hookup, 6 appliances, window coverings, covered parking and locker!

Opportunity knocks to create your family’s dream home within walking distance to everything Westboro and Wellington Village has to offer!  4 Beds, 2 baths anchor this single home with well proportioned rooms and a 50 x 100 foot lot.  Live in it as is or renovate to your taste…this is a chance to own in a great location with a price that won’t break the bank.  Call for a viewing.

Nestled in an ideal location and tastefully updated, this is one to see! Three beds, two new baths, a finished lower level, and a fenced yard complete with two tier deck. Fabulous interlock entrance to greet you. A modern palette, laminate floors,  and updated fixtures. Separate living and dining plus an eat in kitchen make for a smart layout.  Mostly new windows, roof was new in 2010 and the list of improvements goes on.  Come see!

Nothing is nicer on a cold winter night than curling up beside a warm fire. Gas fireplaces can offer a clean burning option with a convenient click of a button. A recent survey of household energy use found that 23% of Canadian single- and semi-detached and row housing reported having a gas fireplace and of those, 22% reported using them every day once the temperatures dip. Depending on the size and location of your fireplace, the added warmth can help ease the heating burden on your furnace, causing it to turn on less frequently. But will that save you money? Not necessarily, according to research undertaken at the Canadian Centre for Housing Technology.
The study tested gas fireplace use and its impact on both furnace use and total gas energy consumption in a controlled certified research house. Researchers wanted to find out if operating a gas fireplace would reduce total gas consumption. It also looked at whether running the furnace fan continuously had any benefits on heat distribution to rooms away from the fireplace compared to having the fan automatically turn on only when the furnace was required to provide heating for the house.

The results showed that, while the furnace came on less frequently during fireplace use, total gas gas energy consumption overall actually increased by approximately 10 to 16%. This is because the gas fireplace, which had a measured efficiency of only 76%, was offsetting the operation of the furnace with an efficiency of 94%. The study also found that even when the fireplace was not in use, overall gas energy use was 6% higher compared to the control house because of the gas consumed by the small, but continuously running, pilot light.

While running the furnace fan continuously was expected to distribute heat from the fireplace to the other rooms more effectively that when run intermittently, the researchers found that operation of the fan had very little influence on the temperatures in other rooms in either mode. In fact, not only was there no  difference in heat distribution, continuously running the furnace fan actually increased daily electrical energy use from 6kWh to 11kWh, which can be significant given that typical Canadian homes use a total of 15 to 30 kWh per day.
Gas fireplaces are a wonderful way to enhance the beauty of your home, providing warm ambience during our cold Canadian winters. However, using your high efficiency furnace as the main method of heating your home will save you energy and money in the long run.

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Views of the Ottawa River highlight this immaculate 2 bed 2 bath unit.  Complete with much sought after ‘extra’ parking spot and located on the 14th floor, this is a gem! Recreation centre, outdoor pool, reading room and party room combine with a central location close to shopping, public transit and river walks.  Call for a viewing today!

Immaculate! Tastefully renovated with fresh paint, new hardwood and carpet throughout with an added bonus of fully updated bathrooms. Located in a great neighborhood central to bus routes and the Queensway Carleton Hospital.  Two well proportioned bedrooms up and a wood burning fireplace on the main level, perfect for those cozy nights in. Parking at your doorstep rounds out this fabulous package. Come see!

A fantastic opportunity to claim a piece of the city as your own! An ideal home for first timers and downsizers. Rarely offered, the Columbia boasts an open concept feel. This one is unique in that the third bedroom has been left open/loft style. Main floor highlighted by hardwood floors, beautiful windows, a breakfast bar, and patio doors to the fenced and landscaped yard. Basement is unspoiled, appliances are included. Just turn key!

A choice location and tasteful improvements make this a standout amongst its peers. Situated on a quiet cul de sac with direct access to Centrepointe parks and paths. Brand new ceramic entrance. Tasteful berber throughout the home. Kitchen with new tile, backsplash and granite. Ensuite totally remodeled and gorgeous. Newer windows and hvac system, a smart layout, well scaled spaces, squeaky clean and a well run condo corp. Turn key!

An outstanding home and a choice location. Countless improvements to tempt and inspire. Main floor has fantastic flow with separate living and dinning spaces, a sunken, 2 storey family room, a 3 sided gas fireplace and a kitchen with granite, pot lights and more. Three beds up, master with renovated ensuite and walk in closet. Lower level finished recreation room. Landscaped front and back with stamped concrete and gardens. Just Wow!

A handsome, well proportioned home with countless updates that reveal pride of ownership and wow, wait till you see the yard! Extensive interlock and landscaping up front. Inside greets you with beautiful tile, combined liv-din with a wall of built-ins separating the family room. Kitchen with eat in and access to an entertaining size deck. Three beds in maple hardwood, 2 with walk ins, master with updated en suite. This is worth a look!

If you had your pick of locations, this would be it. Cited on an over sized lot with a small park out front and little drive by traffic. An elegant home, beautiful gardens and quality improvements. Three beds up, master with updated en suite and walk in. Fantastic family room with soaring ceilings, large windows and cozy fireplace. Main floor living and dining in hardwood. Lower finished with rec room and full bath. Worthy of a look!

This is a beauty! Super popular  home with features galore. Four beds up, master with a luxurious  ensuite and walk in. Second bedroom with vaulted ceiling and massive windows. Main is open concept, hardwood floors, sunken family room, separate den, fabulous kitchen and eat in space. Wait till you see the basement. Home theatre, built in bar with beer taps, steam shower, stone finished fireplace plus… You won’t want to leave this one!

This is Central Park’s best selling townhome, rarely offered for rent! A great 3 bedroom layout with an open concept main, master with walk-in closet. Main bath features a roman tub and separate shower. Lower level is finished with a fantastic family room and an additional full bath.

Cute as a button! With 2 good sized beds and 3 baths this is a perfect opportunity to get into a great neighborhood without spending a fortune. Fully finished lower level with bath is perfect for those Saturday night movies or simply more space for the family. Hardwood throughout, no rear neighbors and close to shopping and parks, the location is brilliant. Book a viewing today!

While it looks like interest rates will remain low for some time, there has been a large swing from variable to fixed-rate mortgages over the past year, says a new report by the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals.
CAAMP’s annual report on the state of the residential mortgage market, released last month, suggests that 79 percent of the new mortgages taken out this year have been fixed-rate, 10 percent have been variable, and 11 percent are a combination.

That’s a significant shift from prior years, during which fixed-rate mortgages generally accounted for about two-thirds of the total, while variable or adjustable-rate mortgages were about one-quarter.

Canadians are likely locking in because of the very small difference between interest rates for variable-rate mortgages (which are in the neighbourhood of three percent) and five-year fixed-rate mortgages (which are closer to 3.2 or 3.3 percent, after discounts that the banks typically offer), the report says.

“The current spread of about one-quarter of a point is negligible compared to the average of 1.7 points during 2010 and 2011,” it says. Meanwhile, the average mortgage interest rate for homeowners has fallen to 3.55 percent, from 3.94 percent a year ago. For homes bought this year, the average rate is 3.26 percent.

The report, which is based in large part on an online survey of 2,018 Canadians by Maritz, also found that about six percent of homeowners took equity out of their home in the past year. The average amount is estimated at $49,000, implying that $30-billion of equity has been taken out during the year.

But 87 percent of Canadians have at least 25 percent equity in their homes. Sixteen percent of mortgage holders have increased their payments, 15 percent have made lump sum payments, and 6 percent have increased their payment frequency.

Watch out for this one, its a bit of a Charmer! Great curb appeal a beautiful 50 x 115 lot and a lovingly maintained quaint little bungalow to call home. The main floor is bright and airy with beautiful windows, refinished hardwood, updated bath and kitchen and a very generous living room. Separate side access to the lower level that is currently rented with an open living space, 3 piece bath and generous storage.

A fabulous family home that you are going to be so proud to call your own. From the fantastic curb appeal and tasteful landscaping that welcomes you, to the brand new carpet and fresh paint, this is turn key. An open layout, well scaled principle rooms, a master suite with walk in and luxurious bath. A contemporary palette, hardwood and tile throughout the main, gas fireplace, 9 foot ceilings and a fenced yard. This is the one to pick!

Wow! A beautiful renovation top to bottom with attention to detail at every step. Several points of distinction make this one a unique opportunity. End unit with fourth bedroom and a beautiful oversized fenced lot with a large deck that provides a sense of peace and tranquility. Hardwood and tile throughout main two floors. A fantastic kitchen renovation with opened spaces. Spa inspired main bath. New windows, doors, just about everything… Top shelf!

Beautifully updated and efficiently configured, this is one of the nicest of its kind.  Complete with sought after parking attached to property and freshly updated kitchens and bathrooms.  Refinished hardwood, new paint throughout and ample yard space.  This 3 bed and 2 bath townhome can’t be compared.  Call for a viewing.

To all our family, friends and supporters, The McCann Team has set a lofty goal for ourselves this year and time is flying! We thought we would have a little fun as we stretch for the finish line. For every referral we receive between now and December 31st your name will be entered into a draw for a dinner for 2 at Stephen Beckta’s latest creation THE GEZELLIG RESTAURANT in Westboro.

In addition to the ballot offering above, for every referral that translates into a transaction, your name will go into the bonus round that we affectionately call “the sure thing” – resulting in dinner for two at Gezellig every time.

Don’t know about GEZELLIG? Well known Ottawa sommelier and restauranteur (Beckta’s and Play Food + Wine) is opening his third culinary playground on the corner of Richmond Rd. and Churchill Avenue in the heart of Westboro. It promises to be a new fave spot for Ottawa foodies! It is due to open in just a couple of weeks now!

Events in November in Westboro and all of Ottawa worth barking about.

2 restaurants are opening in Westboro – Gezellig and Fratelli Fish House

Tricks for Treats | October 1 – 29 @ Masters ‘n Dogs (Westboro)

Wickedly Westboro | October 27 | www.westborovillage.com

Ottawa Wine + Food Festival | November 9 – 11 | www.ottawawineandfoodshow.com/

Ottawa Pet Expo @ the CE Centre | November 10 + 11 | www.ottawapetexpo.ca/

This one will make you blush. A choice end unit with a modern vernacular and a thoughtful layout. Crisp interlock on the extended driveway sets the stage. Amazing interlock patio in the backyard. Inside, modern paint and fixtures, hardwood on the main, newer carpeting elsewhere and tasteful choices throughout. Useable/separate liv/din rooms plus eat in kitchen. Lower level bathed in light thanks to an open staircase and extended window. Master with walk in and ensuite. Central vac roughed in. Lots more here!

This spring, my associate, Jeremy Irving, asked if I would bike to Kingston with him on the Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour. After a full complement of excuses and posturing I agreed to go with him.

What you focus on and who you surround yourself with can be powerful influences. I keep playing this thought in my head as a I look at my boys, Aidan and Emmett. I encourage you to take a look at your surroundings and see if your focus and influences are your personal best.

A Feng Shui bedroom, a retro bathroom, a cottage kitchen; there are so many creative ways to perk up the look of your home. But if the costs of your next home reno just aren’t adding up for you, it’s time to get equally creative with ways to save, and it starts with supplies. Here are seven tips to help you save on building supplies for your next big project:

1. Time it Right | Upgrading your kitchen or bathroom? The new year is your best time to buy. Building a deck or a gazebo for your garden? Aim to buy in late summer or fall. Time your project after the season is over, because that’s when stores discount their supplies to make room for the next season’s materials.

2. Don’t Underestimate Estimates | Get at least three estimates for your project to ensure you’re getting the best value. Ask each contractor to break their quote down between labour and materials. Make sure you’re not charged for any materials that go unused or can be returned.

3. Think Outside of the Box-store | When shopping for supplies, get creative. Think liquidation stores that often have low-prices on overstocked materials, classified ads where people may have leftover supplies, and second hand building supply stores.

4. Don’t Pay for the Load | Having a store transport your building supplies can be very expensive. If possible, transport the supplies yourself or rent a discount truck or trailer to save on costs.

5. Save on the Small Things | If a contractor’s quote exceeds your budget, negotiate a better price by offering to take care of some of the smaller tasks that you have the skill set to take on. Perhaps you can help with the clean up, the painting, the picking up of supplies, or even the light demolition duties if you’re willing to get a little dirty.

6. Use the Internet for Hard-to-Find Fixtures | Can’t find the perfect pot lights, retro curtain rods, or the most fitting faucet? The Internet puts a huge selection of hard to find products at your fingertips. Look for specials with daily deal sites, seek out coupon and promotional codes that can give you deep discounts during checkout, and ensure you’re comfortable with the company’s return policy and shipping costs before you buy.

7. Ask and You May Receive! | Never be afraid to ask for a discount, especially when making large or bulk purchases. If working with a contractor, ask for a better price if you offer to give them a testimonial, or write a blog for their website with before and after photos of your project.

Article source: Real Estate News, October 2012

A fabulous home and absolutely worthy of your “short list”. A contemporary layout, combined liv/din with hardwood, kitchen with eat in overlooking the family room with beautiful windows and gas fireplace. Three well scaled bedrooms, master with ensuite and walk in plus a huge bonus room with vaulted ceilings and natural light from both sides. Lower is nicely finished with a rec room and a full bath. A fantastic value and turn-key!

On Sunday, August 26, over 120 dogs jumped into the outdoor pool at Dovercourt Recreation Centre near Westboro in Ottawa’s west end. The sun was shining, the tails were wagging and donations were pouring in for Hopeful Hearts Dog Rescue, the charity chosen to be this year’s recipient.

We had the great fortune of being this year’s sponsor for the event as we are the ongoing sponsors of Dovercourt’s Friday Night Free Swim program. This event was right up our alley and Gus (the dog with the guy) was happy to be an ambassador among his new friends.

The day could not have been the success it was without the help we got from some other dog-centric people and companies in the area. Carol The Dog Trainer - http://carolthedogtrainer.ca/, was there showing us all how she could get even the most distracted dogs to jump through a hoop and advertising her upcoming Dog Manners classes at Dovercourt (find out about that here).

A huge thanks goes to Masters ‘n Dogs (formerly Bark and Fitz on Richmond Road) for helping out with the On-The-Spot dog spa and for donating prizes that were raffled off. They even went around to visit all the participants and offer them treats. Thanks, too, to Pawdicures by Kate.

We hope to make a splash with you all again next year!

See our photo gallery here

This is exceptional. Boasting over 1700 sq ft above grade, and built on a wider footprint allowing for a layout that is truly unique. Professionally landscaped front and back, fenced, eavestrough, updated and turn key. Three bed three bath configuration. Main features a den, a great room w/fireplace, kitchen with island and eat in. Generous bedrooms, master with soaker tub and walk in. Lower is unspoiled with bathroom and central vac rough-in. 5 appliances, central ac, alarm. Wow, right?