Courtesy of Nella Zourntos

Nella Zourntos Sales Representative, MCNE, ABR, SRS your dream, your home ...my commitment

Direct: 613-697-8339 Office: 613-721-5551 nellazproperties@gmail.com www.NellaZProperties.ca

Volume 16 | Number 9

INTERIOR MAINTENANCE PROJECTS FOR FALL

Every spring we prepare our homes for the upcoming summer season and in turn each fall for the winter season. Whether you tackle these home maintenance tasks all in one weekend or spread them out over a few weeks, here is a quick list of some of the more commonly forgotten home maintenance tips for fall. • Change the direction of your ceiling fans (they should turn clockwise to circulate warm air). • Deep clean inside all appliances including your microwave, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, etc. • Pull out all those same appliances and clean behind them, under them and in those areas you don’t want to clean, but should like the fridge coils, dryer vents and washing machine filter. • Inspect and clean windows, screens and weatherstripping to ensure no drafts will cool your home this fall and winter. • Defrost the freezer and give it a good deep clean. • Clean (or replace) the hood fan filter above your stove. • Replace the batteries and check that the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working. • Replace summer gear (water toys, sunscreen, flip flops, etc.) with fall or winter gear (rainboots, gloves, touques, etc.) • Launder winter sheets and blankets to prepare for those cool nights on the horizon. By having a clean home with all the necessary winter items at hand, you’ll be able to ease into the fall and winter a little bit easier.

TWO STEP MUSHROOM PORK CHOPS WITH SWEET POTATOES

INGREDIENTS 4 well-trimmed pork chops 1 tbsp canola oil 1 can CAMPBELL’S® Condensed Low-Fat Cream of Mushroom Soup ½ cup water 2 cups sweet potato, cut in 3/4" (2 cm) chunks ½ tsp garlic powder DIRECTIONS 1. Brown pork chops well in heated oil at medium-high heat in skillet – about 4 minutes per side. 2. Add soup mixed with water and sweet potato, garlic powder, parsley flakes and oregano. 3. Simmer, covered, until pork chops are cooked through – about 10 minutes. 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes, crushed ½ tsp dried oregano leaves, crushed

RECIPE TIPS To change things up, try this recipe twist - Chops with Carrots 'n Peas. Reduce water to 1/4 cup. Add 1 cup each, matchstick-cut carrots and frozen peas with ½ tsp dried oregano leaves, crushed for the same simmering time.

Courtesy of www.cookwithcampbells.ca

Lucille Ball (1911 to 1989) who is likely most known for her iconic role in I Love Lucy, was an American actress, comedian and producer. She was a pioneer for women in the entertainment industry and was the first female to own a major studio (Desilu Productions which she started with her former husband Desi Arnaz).

THE SECRET TO STAYING YOUNG IS TO LIVE HONESTLY, EAT SLOWLY AND LIE ABOUT YOUR AGE. -Lucille Ball

ADD A RAIN CHAIN TO YOUR HOME Originating in Japan, rain chains have recently been gaining popularity in North America. Essentially, a typical plastic or aluminum rain downspout, is replaced with a rain chain for an antithetically and auditorily pleasing option to help water flow off of the roof. Rain chains carry water from the gutter down and away from the roof. They can be used in place of current downspouts or in addition to downspouts if water needs to flow into a garden or flower pot where a downspout isn't located. There are two main types of rain chains. The first includes small cups or containers placed evenly along a chain so water fills the top cup and spills over into the subsequent cups and eventually into a rain barrel, plant pot, garden or drain. The other type is a more traditional chain where water simply flows down the links instead of in cups or containers. Overall, either style is low maintenance as there isn't really the space or opportunity for leaves and other debris to collect in the small cups or along the chain. Made typically from aluminum or powder-coated metal, rain chains won't rust. However, that rustic look can be created by using copper chains and pots as they will patina over time.

Rain chains can be purchased online, in specialty garden centers or even local home improvement stores. They are also a great DIY project for those who are crafty and have access to metal or aluminum.

BACKYARD CHICKENS

Gone are the days of having to own an acreage, hobby farm or farm to raise chickens as many municipalities across the country now allow homeowners to keep hens in their backyard. If this is something you may be interested in, first consult with your local bylaws to see which guidelines you will need to follow and if there are any licenses you need to obtain. Some areas have pilot projects in progress while others have broader rules and regulations in place. If you get the green light, raising backyard chickens can not only provide eggs, but also entertainment, fertilizer, pest control and educational opportunities. On the other hand, chickens are known to be noisy and smelly, so they can pose some problems too and aren't always welcomed by neighbours. As with welcoming any other pet or livestock into your life, it's not a decision to be made lightly and takes thorough research and planning before they even set foot into your coop.

Some things to consider aside from the obvious food, shelter and veterinary care include: • how will you keep the chickens safe from predators (not just owls, racoons and coyotes, but neighbourhood cats and dogs can also attack some breeds of chickens) • how will you keep them active (yes, they need to be entertained for their overall health and happiness) • how will they spend their retirement years (chickens tend to live about eight to ten years and only lay eggs for about four or five of those - depending on breed).

JOKES

Q: Why can’t you say a joke while standing on ice? A: Because it might crack up!

Q: Why was Cinderella thrown off the basketball team? A: She ran away from the ball.

Q: What nails do carpenters hate to hit? A: Fingernails.

Q: What did the light bulb say to its mother? A: I love you watts and watts.

NUMERATOR Each oval contains a different number 1-11. Follow the clues to find the correct location of each number in the Numerator diagram. Note: 'Left' or 'Right' is from your point of view and means any location along the same horizontal line whereas 'Above' or 'Below' means any location along the same vertical line.

Clues: Number 8 is below 1 and right of 3. Number 7 is above 11 and left of 2. Number 6 is below 10 and left of 1.

Number 5 is below 9 and left of 7. Number 6 is right of 4.

Courtesy of www.puzzlechoice.com

Solution:

Ottawa Resale Market Stalls in August, Supply Challenges Persist

$425,968 condo

$709,739 freehold

UP 1.0% year-to-year

UP 0.5% year-to-year

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

2,228 NEW LISTINGS

PROPERTY SALES Freehold: 903 Condo: 293

MONTHS OF INVENTORY Freehold: 3.0 Condo: 2.2

DAYS ON MARKET Freehold:31 Condos: 29

Nella Zourntos Sales Representative, MCNE, ABR, SRS Give me a call at 613-697-8339 to find your dream home. “Sales activity was up marginally on a year-over-year basis in August but remained well below the historical average for this time of year,” says Ken Dekker, OREB President. “There is no shortage of demand given increased immigration and the large Canadian population cohort entering the market. The lack of suitable, affordable housing is a hindrance. High borrowing costs and economic uncertainty are impacting both sellers and buyers, which we expect will continue to result in further market fluctuations.” Ottawa, September 2023 - Members of the Ottawa Real Estate Board (OREB) sold 1,196 residential properties in August through the Board’s Multiple Listing Service ® (MLS ® ) System. August’s sales included 903 in the freehold-property class and 293 in the condominium-property category.

The average sale price for a freehold-class property in August was $709,739, an increase of 0.5% from 2022. The average sale price for a condominium-class property was $425,968 an increase of 1% from a year ago. August’s new listings (2,228) increased 7% over August. Months of Inventory for the freehold-class properties has increased to 3 months. Months of Inventory for condominium-class properties remains on par with August 2022 at 2.2 months.

Stewart Roofing is a family-run business that believes in providing top-quality workmanship backed with the best products in the industry to give our clients peace of mind with every roof installed. FOR A QUOTE PLEASE CALL: 613 864-0131 stewartroofingottawa.com | info@stewartroofingottawa.com Days on market (DOM) for freeholds have increased to 31 days and days on market for condos have increased to 29 days. Statistics reflect market activity in August 2023 | Source: OREB ® Ottawa Real Estate Board | Market values stated are of the average of Ottawa and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

Review me on Google or Rate My Agent . I pride myself on client relationships and hearing about how I did would be priceless to me!

Each Office Independently Owned and Operated. Absolute Realty Inc. Brokerage 102 - 31 Northside Road Ottawa, ON K2H 8S1

Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker or Mortgage Specialist, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed by: dmsmarketing.ca Copyright© 2023 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material. The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker or Mortgage Specialist, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed by: dmsmarketing.ca Copyright© 2023 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material. The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.