BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE 613-913-9915

Winter Approaches

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 16:31:00 GMT

The year's calendar days are slipping by like the wonderful warm weather we all enjoyed this autumn. With winter winds whispering their approach, I am beginning to think about Christmas and the time I'll be spending with friends and family over the holidays. I am especially looking forward to sharing special moments with my new grandson. His safe and healthy arrival was our true blessing of 2007. Henry Rowe Macdonald is our 11th grandchild and though his nick name is Hank - we call him Hank-The-Yank because he was born in Chicago!

I hope you have found time to prepare for the winter ahead. Yes, bedding the garden and winterizing the home is important, however, personal safety is paramount too such as putting a shovel and extra warm coat in the car trunk. I would also like to pass on to you a tip that I believe is especially critical, ICE (In Case of Emergency). A paramedic spearheaded the idea because he become so frustrated at the scene of an accident where the patient had a cell phone with lots of names and numbers - but no indication of who the key contact person was. Thus, the paramedic started ICE. Simply store a contact number in your cell phone under ICE. For more than one contact simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc. It really could save your life or put a loved one's mind a rest. ICE speaks for you when you are unable !

Reminder too that on Saturday, November 24th, around 5pm, jolly St Nick visits Carleton Place with the Santa Claus parade followed by the Carleton Place & District Hospital Foundation 10th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. For this wonderful weekend, all we'll need is a few dancing snowflakes !!

Sept 8 Community Events rockin' Carleton Place!!!

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 19:41:00 GMT

We've got a really exciting weekend coming up in the town of Carleton Place. On September 8th we'll have our annual Dragon Boat Festival which is always a smashing success! This year the lucky beneficiary of this not-for-profit event is the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital. The events will run all day, are free to the public and include the races, food, entertainment, face painting and more!

At the same time we will be having the "Sounds of Downtown" event- celebrating local artists, musicians and culinary delights. Just check out Bridge Street for all the excitement.

After the overwhelming success of our Harry Potter Midnight Madness, it's safe to say the folks in our town sure do know how to throw a terrific event- not to mention the fantastic turnout for Riverside Jam! I hope to see you there!

Real Estate Market Going Strong- Working with a Realtor

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:33:00 GMT

Well, the real estate market shows no signs of stopping its growth! New construction and resale prices are both continuing to grow. The rate of growth may slow down a bit, but the trend will still be towards strong real estate markets. With all this it can be confusing to try and determine whether the time is right to buy or sell, or both. This is why having a realtor working for you is such a good idea (not that I'm biased or anything!).

Making the decision to sell, and deciding how to price your property are a really big deal, and in a fluctuating market (knowing when it might slow down, and how much, and in which pocket areas) it can be downright intimidating. That doesn't even take into account deciding where to buy, how much you can negotiate the price and whether or not it's the right time to start investing in rental properties (hint- real estate is almost always a smart investment!). It's important for people to know that working with a realtor doesn't have to cost you anything when you're looking to buy, and can save you headaches, time and legal problems when you're the seller. Most importantly, it's handy to have an agent you can just get advise from without having to worry about cost!

On a personal note- my husband, Ernie and I have just recently bought the CP Cinemas and are loving owning the local theater! Come on by the cinema, watch a movie, have a popcorn and enjoy small town living!

Carleton Place Updates

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Sat, 05 May 2007 14:03:00 GMT

Hi! Here are a few updates on the Town:

1) The 1st release of info from the 2006 Census is out and shows the new population of Carleton Place is now 9,453 (a 4.1% growth from the 2001 Census). The next release date is Tuesday, July 17 and will be the data related to Age and Sex distribution of the population. The following release will be Wednesday, September 12 and will be the data related to Marital Status, Families & Housholds, Housing & Shelter Costs (including dwelling characteristics). Check back here on my website for those results as they are posted.

2) The results from the surveys and public meetings regarding the future of Carleton Place are out. Here is a link to the document: http://carletonplace.ca/admin/docs/uploads/Carleton_Place_Draft_Strategy.pdf This is well worth looking at because it is a refreshingly honest look at the strengths and weaknesses of Carleton Place as well as very specific plans and goals for where we want to go and how to get there. I think this Strategic Plan shows the dedication we have to responsible growth and the commitment our community has to bettering ourselves. I hope you take the time to read it over and get involved in making changes.

3) Upcoming Local Events:

Carleton Place and District Community Band Concert

Carleton Place

Sat. May. 12

The CPandD Community Band Concert has been rescheduled for Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Town Hall Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Emcee Wendy LeBlanc will include stories of our settlers. Special guests Gerald Kirby singing with the Band and fiddler Johnny Mitchell. Only 150 tickets available-$5. each or $10. per family. Available from any Band member or at 253-0846.

Contact Name:	Graham and Kerry Ingram
Contact Phone:	253-0846
Contact Email:	gcandelf@sympatico.ca

Passionate Pink People Garage Sale

Carleton Place

Sat. May. 12

Garage Sale
Saturday May 12th,2007
8am-1pm
109 Mississippi Road
Carleton Place
All proceeds to the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation
Please call to drop off donations

Contact Name:	Cheryl Shore
Contact Phone:	613-253-3815
Contact Email:	cshore@Carletonplacehosp.com

The Franktown Lilac Festival

Franktown

Sat. May. 26

Saturday, May 26, 2007
Centennial Hall - Franktown
(Bring Your Lawn Chair)

8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - Pancake Breakfast hosted by St. Paul's United Church

8:00 a.m. - 12:00 (noon)
Community Yard Sale at Calvary Christian Academy - Rain or Shine

10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lilac Lunch & Bake Sale at St. Paul's United Church. BBQ at Centennial Hall (11-2 p.m.)

12:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Horse Drawn Wagon Rides down Lilac Lane

4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Ham & Bean Supper hosted by St. James Centennial Hall

Live Entertainment
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Valley Rovers
4:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Smokey Rose

All Day
Craft Market, Children's Games & Activities, Various Garage Sales, Restored Antique Vehicle Display, Silent Auction, Barracudas Cheerleading Demo.

For more information please contact Cassandra McGregor at the Township Office - 613-257-1539.

Contact Name:	Cassandra McGregor
Contact Phone:	613-257-1539

Spring Cleaning and Me!

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 13:42:00 GMT

Ah, good old Spring Cleaning,,,is there anything more refreshing, more rejuvenating...more ridiculous! Seriously, I don't know about you, but for me, Spring Cleaning can take on mythic proportions when you get right into it. I have undertaken some major Spring Cleaning projects to refresh my home. We've just had the kitchen, dining room, and front hallway completely repainted and I cannot believe the difference! It feels like we added 3 or 4 extra feet to the kitchen just by lightening the colour- not to mention how much brighter it is.

Now that it's bigger and brighter, however, I'm noticing so many other things I want to change. I have too many knicknacks! So I went to IKEA, bought some additional shelves for all of the kitchen cupboards so I could clear off some counter space. As I was installing them (yes, myself- I'm a pretty handy gal) I glanced into the dining room and saw that the curtains and pictures don't match the new paint colour. Off I go shopping again.

The new curtains and artwork look much better but as I'm hanging them I can see the new paint in the hallway doesn't co-ordinate as well as I'd like with the colour of the stairwell... You can see how easily one thing leads to another- especially when houses are your passion. As I dust and scrub I decide to rotate knicknacks, as I rotate knicknacks I decide to create a "yardsale/donation" pile, as I do that I decide I need more storage- and it never ends!

Whether you're spring cleaning because you have to, because you're selling, because you're renewing your mortgage and getting a new appraisal, or for whatever reason, try and have fun with it (and if you can remember where to draw the line, good for you!)

Take care,

Brenda

Carleton Place 2006 Annual Review

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:18:00 GMT

The Town of Carleton Place has just published the 2006 Annual Review- in a very nice looking booklet- with a lot of great information to update everyone on the Town. Some of the key highlights include:

1) The municipality is projecting the 2006 fiscal year will end with a surplus

2) Property assesments that are used to determine taxes will not go up- provided no major improvements, additions etc... have been made to the property

3) Many key roads in Carleton Place have been repaved and repaired, as well as expansion of main thoroughfares in preparation for the expected growth with the HWY 7 expansion

4) New Commercial and residential construction is flourishing in several areas of Town with the addition of 133 units planned in one subdivision, 15 Townhouse units, 27 Townhouse units in another neighbourhood, 37 apartment units, and a new planned retirement home- all of this is in addition to the soon to be built Wallmart, Home Depot, Heritage Fitness Centre, New Rona and more! This was a record year as the Town experienced 12 million dollars of residential construction and 17 million dollars of commercial construction in 2006.

5) The Town of Carleton Place is very committed to public input on how best to manage the development and growth of the Town to make sure it is steered in the right direction. To that end they are providing as many opportunities as possible for people to have their say; public open houses, focus groups, interviews, fax, email, mail and online surveys.

All in all the booklet shows the commitment the Town has to being open and accountable for the money it spends and for the responsible growth of our community. I really believe this is an amazing place to live and it continues to get better and better.

On a personal note I would like to say that with the recent serious medical situation with a family member, we were all extremely gratefull for the speedy, quality care provided by the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital. The nursing staff has been phenomenal and my family truly appreciates all of the support and concern of our friends and neighbours. Thank you,

Brenda

Spring Season in Real Estate

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 16:44:00 GMT

I know, I know- it's not exactly Spring yet, but it is just around the corner. Spring is a notoriously busy time in Real Estate because it's a great time to list your house. Many people may decide to buy and sell at this time of year so it's a good idea to make sure your house stands out from the crowd. Here are a few tips for getting your house ready to sell (start now if you're planning a Spring listing).

1) Try to think of your house as a product- one that is going on the market to compete with other products- and be unbiased when you look at it.

2) It needs to be well-kept, clutter free, and look like it needs little or no work (if possible).

3) Try to fix and repairs needed before it goes on the market- buyers will have a difficult time picturing what something will look like after you've repaired/painted it.

4) Check your curb appeal and look critically at the property- check the lawn, driveway, gardens, paint job, windows, lighting, decks/fences, and gates to make sure everything works and is clean.

5) Work from the front door in- this is the first impression buyers will have of your "product" look through their eyes- be judgemental! Take a big sniff!!! Eliminate any unpleasant odours from pets, stuffiness, cooking etc...

6) Make sure all lights, doors, handrails work and are free of cobwebs and dust. Depersonalize the home by removing photos and personal memorabilia. You may even want to remove some furniture if it is making the space seem small and/or cluttered.

7) Buyers assign the highest priority to kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring. Do everything you can to make these areas look clean, spacious, and as up-to-date as possible.

8) Check all closets and cupboards aren't too cluttered- buyers will look! Make sure all windows, doors, drawers, faucets and drains etc open and close properly

9) Clean all appliances- inside and out. The cleaner and newer they look, the better. It will give buyers the impression that everything is well cared for and well maintained and therefore worth more. The fridge should have nothing stacked on top and no magnets or papers stuck onto it- this gives a crisp, clean presentation.

10) When showings of your property are happening, make sure all evidence of pets is cleaned up, blinds are opened, all lights are on, air out the house, empty all garbages and wash and put away all dishes.

Remember, the better your house shows, the more it will stand out from the crowd. You can make a big difference as to how long it takes to sell your house and what price it sells for. Lets have a great Spring season!

Take care,

Brenda

Let's beat the February Blah's

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 18:33:00 GMT

I know a lot of people can get a bit down this time of year and the February blahs start to set in (ok so maybe it won't be so bad this year since we didn't really start winter until half-way through January) so I thought I'd lighten things up with a joke or 2. They're not my jokes, I found them online and thought you might like them. Enjoy:

A client bought a new home and her agent wanted to send flowers for the occasion.
They arrived at the home and the owner read the card; it said "Rest in Peace".

The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After she had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry she was, the florist said. "Ma'am, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, "Congratulations on your new home".

Top 10 Household Things Adults Learn From Kids:

10) There is no such thing as child-proofing your house.

9) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "Uh-oh;" it's already too late.

8) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earth worms dizzy.

7) It will however make cats dizzy.

6) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

5) Play Dough and Microwave should never be used in the same sentence.

4) Super glue is forever.

3) No matter how much Jello you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

2) Pool filters do not like Jello.

1) A good sense of humor will get you through most problems in life (unfortunately, usually only in retrospect).

Let me know if you have any good "real-estate" type jokes or quotes (sorry only clean ones please- this is a family site

Take care,

Brenda

New Listing 219 & 219A WILLIAM STREET in Carleton Place

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 18:59:00 GMT

Carleton Place, Carleton Place - Announcing a NEW LISTING @ 219 & 219A WILLIAM STREET, a 3 bath, 3 bdrm duplex. MLS® #653929 $209,900 - HELP PAY THE MORTGAGE.

Property information

Growth in Carleton Place

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 06:00:00 GMT

This is certainly a community on the move! We're all excited to see part of the HWY 7 expansion is already open which just reminds us how easy that commute will be in a short while when the double-lane highway is completed all the way here.

With the construction on the new Home Depot, Wallmart and other box stores, we're certainly a community poised for booming growth and development. When you factor in how well prepared the town is for adding to our existing infrastructure (i.e. expanding main thoroughfares in town) and maintaining the vitality of our beautifull downtown core, it's obvious that we are one lucky municipality; with just the right balance of small town charm, exceptional regional facilities and easy proximity to Ottawa.

Now is a great time to be in Real Estate in this area!

My First Real Blog!

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 02:02:00 GMT

Well, I've been at home on the Internet for many years but never really did a blog before. Given the popularity of them now I figured I might as well give it a try.

Last year was a tremendous year in real estate and this year is already shaping up to be even better, especially here in Carleton Place and surrounding area.

With the expansion of HWY 7 to 4 lanes all the way here, Ottawa will be even less time away. We're getting all kinds of new stores including Wallmart, Home Depot, Business Depot, a bigger Rona and more. They're expanding the main roads in town to accomodate the new growth along with all kinds of other investments in infrastructure so we're really well prepared for the boom.

Market values are continuing their steady increase in the area and will only rise as the town groes. NOW is an ideal time to move to Carleton Place. It sure is an exciting time to be in real estate here in Carleton Place, it's a good thing I like to keep busy! Well I'll blog more later,

Brenda

2 Story For Sale in Downtown

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:00:00 GMT

GREAT OFFICE SPACE OR DUPLEX

• 2,400 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm 2 story "UP/DOWN DUPLEX" - MLS® #650778 $199,900

Downtown, Carleton Place - INVESTOR ALERT!! FORMER UP DOWN DUPLEX IS PRESENTLY BEING USED AS OFFICE SPACE FOR HI-TECH COMPANY. CAN BE RETURNED TO APARTMENTS (A 1 BDRM AND A 2 BDRM) - INCLUDES 2 FRIDGES AND 2 STOVES AND A WASHER AND DRYER (ALL AS IS CONDITION) C1 ZONING ALLOWS FOR MANY USES. DOUBLE DETACHED GARAGE, NAT GAS HEAT (FURNACE 2003) 1 FURNACE FOR BOTH LEVELS, 2 METERS FOR HYDRO. LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS APPLY. REGISTERED RIGHT OF WAY FOR PROPERTY IN BACK.

Property information

30 EMILY STREET in Carleton Place is Sold!

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 06:00:00 GMT

Carleton Place, Lanark County - The 3 story at 30 EMILY STREET has been sold.

Property information

2 Story For Sale in Ramsay Township

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Fri, 13 Oct 2006 06:00:00 GMT

SPACIOUS COUNTRY HOME

• 3 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "4 BEDROOMS ON 2ND FLOOR" - MLS® #648160 $279,900

Ramsay Township, Mississippi Mills - TRUE TWO STORY WITH 4 WELL APPOINTED BEDROOMS ALL ON THE SECOND FLOOR, HUGE KITCHEN WITH EATING AREA COOK TOP AND BUILT-IN OVEN. FORMAL DINING ROOM W/ HARDWOOD FLOORS, OVERLOOKS THE FOREST AND BACK DECK. LIVINGRM FEATURES WOOD BURNING FIREPLACE WHILE LOWER LEVEL REC ROOM HAS WOOD BURNING STOVE. THIS HOME ALSO FEATURES ON THE MAIN FLOOR - A FAMILY ROOM, LAUNDRY ROOM, POWDER ROOM (NEW FIXTURES 2005) AND A SUN ROOM. THERE IS A NEWER (4YEAR OLD) DOUBLE CAR GARAGE WITH INSIDE ENTRY TO THE BASEMENT. ROOF 4 YEARS OLD.

Property information

Bungalow For Sale in Drummond / North Elmsley

BRENDA MACDONALD-ROWE — Tue, 09 Nov 2004 06:00:00 GMT

COUNTRY LIVING

• 1 bath, 3 bdrm bungalow - MLS® #649989 $174,900 - GREAT VALUE

Drummond / North Elmsley, Lanark County - A SLICE OF PARADISE IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU. Great start up or wind down bungalow just minutes from Perth or Carleton Place. You will love the setting with mature trees, easy care perenials and even a fire pit area for the summer nights. The screened in porch will delight in the evenings and the front deck will welcome all visitors. The inside is bright, open concept living, dining and chef's kitchen. Three Bedrooms all have large windows and ample closet space. The large bathroom has the laundry conveniently located in an area behind the door. You will love the cupboards over the washer and dryer - they have pull out drawers for your convenience. The family room has wrap around windows so you could use it as sun room, features a wood stove which makes those winter nights real cosy.

Property information