Therese Catana Sales Representative

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Therese Catana Sales Representative 📍 Ottawa
🏠 Sales Representative, Bennett Property Shop Realty
🔑
☎️ 613-295-0911
💻 [email protected]

You find the home, your offer is accepted, and everything seems to be moving along — until the appraisal comes back lowe...
10/09/2026

You find the home, your offer is accepted, and everything seems to be moving along — until the appraisal comes back lower than what you agreed to pay.

So… what happens next?

When you’re financing a home, your lender may require an appraisal to help determine the property’s market value. If you agreed to purchase a home for $750,000 but the appraisal comes in at $725,000, the lender may base its financing on the appraised value rather than the purchase price.

That $25,000 difference doesn’t simply disappear.

Depending on the situation and the terms of your agreement, the buyer may need to bring additional funds to closing, explore financing options with their mortgage professional, or potentially renegotiate with the seller. What options are available can also depend on the conditions included in the offer.

This is one reason why the highest offer isn’t always the strongest offer — and why understanding comparable sales and market value matters before deciding how much you’re willing to pay.

In a competitive market, it can be tempting to focus only on what it takes to win the house. But it’s just as important to understand what happens after your offer is accepted.

A strong offer isn’t just about getting the keys. It’s about making sure the numbers make sense all the way to closing. 🔑

Thinking about buying in Ottawa? Having the right team around you can help you understand the numbers, the risks and your options before you make an offer.

When buying or selling a home, most of the attention goes to one number: the price.But sometimes, the closing date can b...
10/08/2026

When buying or selling a home, most of the attention goes to one number: the price.

But sometimes, the closing date can be an important part of the deal too.

For sellers, the ideal closing date might line up with the purchase of their next home, help avoid temporary accommodations or simply make their move much easier.

For buyers, timing can matter just as much. Maybe your lease is ending, you’re selling another property, your mortgage arrangements need to line up or you’re trying to avoid carrying two homes at once.

That’s why an offer isn’t always just about who is willing to pay the most.

If two offers are close in price, but one gives the seller the closing date that works perfectly with their plans, that flexibility could make the offer more attractive.

And for buyers, understanding a seller’s preferred timeline can sometimes give you another way to strengthen your offer without necessarily increasing the price.

There are also plenty of details that need to happen before closing day, from financing and legal work to insurance and the final walkthrough. Choosing a realistic date gives everyone time to get those pieces in place.

Price gets a lot of attention, but the strongest deal is often the one where the terms work for everyone.

Buying or selling in Ottawa? A good strategy looks at the entire offer, not just the number at the top. 🔑

Here’s the thing: spending $25,000 before listing doesn’t automatically mean your home will sell for $25,000 more.The go...
10/07/2026

Here’s the thing: spending $25,000 before listing doesn’t automatically mean your home will sell for $25,000 more.

The goal isn’t to renovate everything. It’s to put your money where buyers are most likely to notice it.

Start with repairs and maintenance. That leaky faucet, damaged trim, cracked tile or unfinished project you’ve learned to live with? Buyers will notice. Taking care of the obvious issues can help your home feel well maintained from the start.

Next, think paint. A fresh, neutral coat can completely change how a home photographs and feels during a showing without the cost of a major renovation.

Then look at the kitchen and bathrooms, but don’t assume they need to be gutted. New hardware, lighting, faucets, paint or a few strategic updates may be enough to make the space feel significantly fresher.

Don’t forget the exterior either. Curb appeal creates the first impression. Landscaping, a freshly painted front door, exterior cleaning and small repairs can make a bigger difference than you might expect.

And finally, leave room in the budget for presentation. Decluttering, cleaning, staging and professional marketing can help buyers see your home at its best.

What wouldn’t I automatically do? Spend the entire $25K on a highly personal renovation just because you love it.

Before putting thousands into your home, ask: Will this help buyers see more value, or am I renovating for myself right before I leave?

Sometimes the smartest pre-sale improvements aren’t the biggest ones. They’re the ones that make the entire home feel cared for, updated and ready for its next owner.

Thinking about selling in Ottawa? Before you start renovating, let’s talk about where your money could have the most impact. 🔑

Thinking you need a brand-new kitchen or a major renovation before you sell? You might want to hold off. 👀🏡Buyers often ...
10/01/2026

Thinking you need a brand-new kitchen or a major renovation before you sell? You might want to hold off. 👀🏡

Buyers often start forming an opinion about a home long before they’re looking closely at countertops and finishes.

They notice the natural light. How the home smells. Whether it feels clean and cared for. If the rooms feel crowded. The chipped paint they spotted walking in. The burnt-out lightbulb. The front entrance that either felt welcoming or didn’t.

Individually, these things might seem small. Together, they shape how someone feels about the home. ✨

That’s why preparing to sell doesn’t automatically mean renovating.

Sometimes, fresh paint, a deep clean, fewer pieces of furniture, brighter lighting, small repairs, and a little attention to curb appeal can make a much bigger difference than an expensive project completed simply for resale.

Before putting money into upgrades, it’s worth figuring out which changes buyers in your market are actually likely to value. 🔑

Thinking about selling? Let’s walk through your home before you start renovating and decide what’s worth doing, what can stay exactly as it is, and where your time and money are best spent.

Square footage can tell you how big a home is. It can’t tell you whether it works for you. 🏡A bigger home isn’t automati...
09/30/2026

Square footage can tell you how big a home is. It can’t tell you whether it works for you. 🏡

A bigger home isn’t automatically a better home. The right layout, location, storage, outdoor space, commute, and even how you naturally move through the rooms can matter far more than the number on the listing.

The same goes for selling. Sometimes the home that once fit perfectly simply doesn’t fit the way you live anymore.

Real estate decisions tend to become a lot clearer when you stop asking, “What am I supposed to want?” and start asking, “What would actually make my everyday life better?” 💭

Because ultimately, you’re not buying square footage.

You’re choosing where a lot of your everyday life is going to happen. 🔑

You love the house. The layout feels right. You can already picture yourself living there. 🏡But before you make an offer...
09/29/2026

You love the house. The layout feels right. You can already picture yourself living there. 🏡

But before you make an offer, it might be time to pull out the measuring tape. 📏

Room dimensions can be deceiving during a showing, especially when a home is staged or furnished differently than yours. A room that feels spacious might look very different once your own furniture moves in.

Start with the spaces where size matters most.

🛏️ Primary bedroom: Will your bed fit comfortably with nightstands and enough room to walk around?

🛋️ Living room: Consider your sofa, TV placement, coffee table, and the natural walkways through the room.

🍽️ Dining area: Make sure your table fits with enough space to actually pull the chairs out.

💻 Home office: If you work from home, check that there’s enough room for your desk, storage, and equipment.

🚗 Garage: Don’t assume your vehicle will fit comfortably, especially if you also need space for bikes, tools, or storage.

And don’t forget the things you’re planning to bring with you. That oversized sectional, king-size bed, or dining table you love could completely change how a room functions.

A few measurements during a showing can help you determine whether a home simply looks like a good fit or actually works for your everyday life. 🔑

Save this one for your next showing! 📲

Selling your home for $800,000 doesn’t mean $800,000 is going into your pocket. 👀🏡It sounds obvious, but one of the bigg...
09/25/2026

Selling your home for $800,000 doesn’t mean $800,000 is going into your pocket. 👀🏡

It sounds obvious, but one of the biggest surprises for sellers can be just how many expenses are tied to selling and moving.

Beyond your remaining mortgage balance, there may be real estate commissions, legal fees, mortgage discharge or prepayment costs, repairs, cleaning, moving expenses and closing adjustments to account for. And if you’re purchasing another home at the same time, there’s a whole other set of costs to prepare for. 💰

That’s why I always recommend looking at the estimated amount you’ll walk away with, not just what your home might sell for.

Knowing those numbers ahead of time can make a big difference when deciding when to sell, how much you can put toward your next home and what your overall moving budget should look like. 🔑

Thinking about making a move? Let’s run through the numbers before the sign ever goes on the lawn. 📲

🏡 Thinking about listing your home? Give me 10 minutes first.Before a home hits the market, I like to look at it through...
09/24/2026

🏡 Thinking about listing your home? Give me 10 minutes first.

Before a home hits the market, I like to look at it through a buyer’s eyes. You don’t always need major renovations or a huge budget to make an impact, sometimes, it’s the small details that change how a home feels the moment someone walks through the door. ✨

Here’s what I’m looking at during a quick pre-listing walkthrough:

🧹 First impressions: Is the entryway clean, bright and welcoming?
📦 Clutter: Are countertops, shelves and high-traffic areas feeling too busy?
🛋️ Furniture: Does the layout make each room feel open and functional?
💡 Lighting: Are there burnt-out bulbs or darker spaces we can brighten up?
🖼️ Personal items: Can we simplify the space so buyers can picture themselves living there?
🔨 Small repairs: Loose handles, chipped paint and little fixes can make a difference.
🌿 Curb appeal: What does a buyer see before they even open the front door?
👃 The details: Cleanliness, scent and overall presentation all contribute to that first impression.

The goal isn’t to make your home look like nobody lives there. It’s to showcase the space in a way that helps buyers see its full potential. 🔑

Preparing to sell? Let’s walk through your home together and figure out what’s worth doing, and what you can skip before that “For Sale” sign goes up. 🏡

🏡 How much cash do you actually need to buy a home?Hint: it’s more than just your down payment. 💰When you’re getting rea...
09/22/2026

🏡 How much cash do you actually need to buy a home?

Hint: it’s more than just your down payment. 💰

When you’re getting ready to buy, it’s easy to focus on saving for the down payment but there are several other upfront costs that should be part of your budget.

Depending on your purchase, you may also need to plan for:

💵 Your deposit when submitting an offer
⚖️ Legal fees and disbursements
🏠 Land transfer tax
🔍 Home inspection costs
📊 Appraisal fees, if applicable
🚚 Moving expenses
🛡️ Home insurance
🔑 Adjustments and other closing costs

Having a clear picture of these expenses before you start shopping can help you set a realistic budget and avoid unexpected costs when it’s time to close.

Buying a home is a big financial decision, but you don’t have to figure out every number on your own. The earlier you understand the full cost of buying, the better prepared you’ll be when the right property comes along. 🏡✨

Thinking about buying? Send me a message and we can talk through what you should be preparing for before you start your search.

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Ottawa, ON

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+16132950911

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