Steve_P

I can't answer for your other points, but real estate agents DO NOT charge the purchaser.

Their fees come from the seller via commission on the agreed selling price. Usually 7% on the first $100,000 and 3% on anything above that. Commission is also negotiable so the 7%, 3% is not set in stone.

Nickola

So Souvenier.....is there something I should know about Ottawa in January

I see your in Qubec[is that right?] would we be better living there and commuting to Ottawa?????? thats if the interview goes to plan.....

It cant be any colder or more miserable than South Wales......can it?

dbd33

Ha!

jcexit

A Realtor will not charge you a penny to act for you in the purchase of a property. They will get paid by the listing broker.

iaink

Lets just say you should pack your thermals. All of them. If you time it right you might be there for winterlude which is a lot of fun. Only if you really like to pay more tax Ha! Wont be wetter thats for sure!

Souvenir

Nickola: Ottawa in January is very, very cold. Really cold. February is probably worse. It's a place to go "from", not "to".

The tax situation in Quebec would probably be good for you (kids) but unless your whole family can speak French, I wouldn't look north of the Ottawa River for now, if I were you.

iaink

You sure about that Souvey, I heard that PQ had (much) higher income tax levels and that in general property taxes were higher too, but that was from a no kids POV.

Souvenir

I believe it to be true. There is no doubt that personal taxation is higher here (no idea about property tax) but the "running costs" of kids are much lower. The tax breaks are substantial.

I read in our local rag recently that a "middle class" couple, both working (80k combined) and with young kids would be financially better off in Gatineau than in Ottawa.

No kids? Stay in Ontario.

Snave

Nickola - in Ottawa today it is a high of -4. A HIGH!!! Not even Cwmbran gets as cold as that.
p.s. say "Hi!" to the dentists in Henllys - I was there for 25 years.

Hudman

The posts here have probably scared you off, a lot of resentment aimed towards realtors is based on the old green-eyed monster seeing what they perceive are vast profits, plus the British propensity to moan & chunder under our breath but not confront services that they are not happy about.
In most good sized realtors there will be upwards of 40-50 members so find somebody who you feel happy with, you will probably spend quite a bit of time with them so if you aint happy move on.
Also the HI postings have been negative, again based upon ignorance of the scope of HI's reports. None of the moans or anecdotal tales have been with-in the scope/standards of practice of profession. They are not code compliant Inspections or designed to undertake specialist destructive examinations.
Unfortunately the language is a bit of an arse covering exercise, but being N.America folk are wary of the old litigation, example A Home Inspector described a roof as cedar shingle, it was in fact an inferior spruce or something, however he was sued because of his description and had to supply cedar roof at his expense.
HI's suffer from first in last out syndrome. Being first in homeowners will soon forget HI advice, problems are usually discovered by contractors who will usually blame HI's for not finding them, especially in case of roofs & basements will recommend the most expensive solution, as they are do not want to risk any call-backs for leaks which being the last one out they would be responsible for, net result a repair recommended by HI turns into $5000-$6000 nightmare.
Finally as stated good realtors will give you a list of at least 3 HI's, so if any push for a particular Company I would be wary.

Frank'n Sense

If you want to get away from the weather - what about coming to BC. Here in Vancouver at least, we rarely have snow at ground level - it stays where it should - on the ski hills. That way you get to play in it - and you don't have to shovel it. As one of my friends from Toronto said - at least you can't shovel rain. The rain will remind you of Wales - I met my wife, Sue, at Swansea university - in the horizontal rain.

Warmly,

Frank

Souvenir

Not to mention the fact that first thing this morning it was -18, with a windchill of -21. Winter doesn't start for a couple of weeks yet. Despite that, I have just spent about half an hour shovelling the snow from my driveway.

And this year, I am hurling it as far across the lawn as I can, instead of just piling it up by the side like I did last year.

Now, where did I put my heart pills?

Steve_P

Back in 1972 I was sent down to Ottawa for 18 weeks of training.

Around the first of December it started to snow and there was a fair bit. We noticed a neighbour out with his snow blower clearing his sidewalk. He was blowing the snow toward his house, nothing unusual there. However he didn't stop at the edge of his sidewalk, he kept going across his lawn until he was nearly at the house. Now that we thought was strange.
However after a few more snowfalls it became obvious to us that there was a good reason for what he was doing. Had he stopped at the edge of his sidewalk originally he would have run out of places to put the snow by the end of December.

Also at the beginning of winter the city came around and placed long steel rods with what looked like little stop signs on the tops of them on each fire hydrant. Presumably so that in case of fire the fire department can find them. I don't know if they still do that.

Included in my training there was a course in weather observing. Our instructor told us that Ottawa has its own private low pressure area centered over it all winter.

Added to the joys of the massive amounts of snow was freezing rain once a week. We had to chip a quarter inch of ice of the windshield before attempting to drive.

Snave

OK then - a bit off topic from the OP's question - can anyone recomend a Home Inspector in the Ottawa area?