Tips & Advice
From choosing the right builder to maintaining and decorating your home, our tips and advice answer all your questions. New homes, renovations, decor, gardening: in Ottawa, we cover it all.
New Homes
If you're looking to buy a home, start by discovering the many Ottawa-area communities, on the Ontario side, and who is building homes in each one.
The answer isn't simple, but Ottawa kitchen specialist Deslaurier Custom Cabinets walks you through the process.
Don’t forget to include the closing costs on a home when you go house shopping. Those costs are something you'll typically have to spend up front, just like your down payment, moving costs, and hookup fees for utilities.
Buying a new home that’s to be built for you – often referred to as a production home or tract home when it’s not a custom-designed one – shares many similarities to buying a resale home. But there are also significant differences.
Purchasing a home can be a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be. We live in a world where there are so many tools and resources available to us; you simply need to know which ones to use and how to use them.
When you purchase a new home, you’re entitled to a Tarion New Home Warranty and as part of that, before you take final delivery and are handed the keys, you, along with your builder, will complete a Pre-Delivery Inspection (or PDI). Here are some helpful things to know.
If you’ve just pocketed a set of keys for a new house, it doesn’t mean you’re off the hook as far as home maintenance goes. It's key to keeping your home like new. And meeting your responsibilities diligently will keep you from having to deal with the kind of really nasty, expensive home maintenance surprises that kept you out of the used housing market in the first place.
Tarion administers the new home warranty act, has information on all registered Ontario builders including customer service records, and offers advice on home buying.
This housing industry group includes members who are builders, renovators, service providers and more. The membership directory is searchable.
Home Improvement
Before calling in the repair service to deal with a furnace that's not working or not working properly and for more information on heating system maintenance, check these handy tips from Enercare.
If there's a renovation in your future, be sure to read this comprehensive guide on the 7 tips from industry pros, including TV's Bryan Baeumler, to keep your project on track.
Low-humidity air in your home during the winter makes you uncomfortable, irritates skin and nasal passages, and can even damage wood furniture. Learn about solutions.
Renovations can be expensive and lengthy, and hiring a RenoMark contractor can help protect your home, your family and your bank account.
A fresh coat of paint is a simple way to give your home new life. Amsted president Steve Barkhouse shares his top tips.
This housing industry group includes members who are builders, renovators, service providers and more. The membership directory is searchable.
Trying to decide whether you can tackle a renovation on your own or should hire someone else to do? The Canadian Home Builders' Association offers 6 questions to ask yourself, plus lists tasks to avoid and advice from other homeowners.
Consumer Protection Ottawa offers tips on how to learn to protect yourself, particularly when hiring a roofer.
Decor
Along with some great tips, this blog gives you detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to paint a room. Even if you're not a beginner, you'll find helpful ideas.
Outdoors
In a changing climate, eco-conscious gardening is more important than ever. Here's what you need to know about doing it right.
Tips on creating a successful vegetable gardening, including a list of seven easy-to-grow vegetables.
This housing industry group includes members who are builders, renovators, service providers and more. The membership directory is searchable.