Home Sweet Ottawa Military Relocation

CAF & U.S. Navy Veterans · Approved BGRS / SIRVA Supplier

Just posted to Ottawa?
You've got someone who's done it.

I'm Dwayne Desveaux — a 25-year Canadian Armed Forces veteran and an Ottawa REALTOR® approved on the BGRS/SIRVA third-party supplier list. Alongside my wife Mallory, a U.S. Navy veteran, I help CAF, RCMP, and federal families turn a tight-timeline posting into a smart move. No guesswork, no wasted HHT days.

Book a no-pressure call Read the BGRS/SIRVA guide
Dwayne Desveaux, CAF veteran and Ottawa REALTOR Mallory Desveaux, U.S. Navy veteran and Ottawa REALTOR

Dwayne & Mallory DesveauxTwo veterans · one team

25 years in uniform BGRS / SIRVA approved DND & RCMP relocations HHT specialist eXp Realty Brokerage

Your posting, start to finish

The relocation, laid out like a mission timeline

A posting runs on deadlines. Here's the sequence from the day your message lands to the day you get your keys — so nothing catches you off guard.

1

Day 0 · Message received

Your posting message lands

The clock starts. Register your file and don't sit on it — your priority status depends on moving quickly.

2

First 21 days

Register & book your planning session

Activate your file in the relocation portal and book the planning session that unlocks your funding picture.

3

Before you fly

Lock in your team

Choose a REALTOR® and lawyer already on the third-party supplier list. This is the step most people rush — and regret.

4

5–7 days

House Hunting Trip (HHT)

A sprint, not a marathon. We pre-tour by video, shortlist before you land, and use every day on the ground.

5

Offer & close

Offer, inspection, paperwork

Comparable sales, substantiating documents, inspections — handled and uploaded so your file stays clean.

6

Move-in

Keys & welcome home

You settle into the right neighbourhood for your base, your commute, and your family.

Posted to Ottawa? Start here

5 places military families should have on their radar

Before you fall in love with a house, figure out where you're actually going to work. In this guide I break down Munster, Richmond, Carp, Russell and Kemptville, five communities that can make a lot of sense depending on your DND work location, commute and family priorities.

Read the full companion guide Find your DND work location Compare neighbourhoods

Quick advice from Mallory

Where should military families live in Ottawa?

There is no single “military neighbourhood” in Ottawa. Your DND work location, commute, HHT timeline and family priorities can completely change which communities make sense. Here are two quick takes from Mallory for families planning an Ottawa posting.

Start with the posting, not just the house. The right area depends on where you will actually report to work and how you want your family to live day to day.

Watch on Instagram →

Ottawa gives CAF families a lot of choices. Narrow them down by commute, budget, schools, amenities and whether buying or renting makes sense for this posting.

Watch on Instagram →
Compare Ottawa neighbourhoods Find your DND work location Plan your HHT

Start here

Free guides for your Ottawa posting

Everything below is written for one person: a CAF or RCMP family staring at a posting message wondering where to even begin.

GUIDE 01

The BGRS / SIRVA step-by-step guide

What to do first, how your benefits actually work, and how not to leave money on the table.

Read the guide →
 GUIDE 02

The House Hunting Trip playbook

How to win your 5–7 day HHT, from pre-trip video tours to the offer.

Plan your HHT →
 GUIDE 03

Best Ottawa neighbourhoods by base

Where to live for Carling, Leitrim, Uplands and more — with video tours of each.

Explore areas →
 POSTING MAP

DND locations in Ottawa — interactive map

Carling, Colonel By, Startop, Leitrim, Uplands and more. Find your work location before you choose where to live.

Open the DND locations map →
 GUIDE 04

Relocation FAQ

Straight answers on choosing your own agent, the REI, BGRS becoming SIRVA, and more.

Get answers →
 CLIENT STORIES

Real Ottawa relocation experiences

Real reviews and client stories from CAF families, military referrals, buyers and sellers we've helped in Ottawa.

Read their stories →

Who you're working with

Dwayne Desveaux in Canadian Armed Forces dress uniform with his wife Mallory and their two sons
Two veterans, one family — we've lived the military move ourselves.

Meet the team behind Home Sweet Ottawa

Dwayne Desveaux
Dwayne Desveaux
CAF Veteran · REALTOR®

25 years in the Canadian Armed Forces — ten in the infantry as a paratrooper, fifteen as an intelligence officer. Now an Ottawa REALTOR® approved on the BGRS/SIRVA third-party supplier list, guiding CAF and RCMP families through their posting.

Mallory Desveaux
Mallory Desveaux
U.S. Navy Veteran · REALTOR®

Fourteen years as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy. As a licensed Ottawa REALTOR®, Mallory understands a military move from both sides of the border — including U.S. service members and families PCS-ing to Canada.

"I spent 25 years in uniform — ten in the infantry as a paratrooper, fifteen as an intelligence officer. I've packed up a family on a posting message myself. When I sit across from a CAF family, I'm not reading the IRP off a website. I've lived it."

— Dwayne Desveaux, CAF Veteran & Ottawa REALTOR®

"I spent fourteen years as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy. So when a family moves across the border — a U.S. service member PCS-ing to Canada, or a Canadian family heading home — I understand both systems from the inside. You're not explaining your world to me. I've lived it too."

— Mallory Desveaux, U.S. Navy Veteran & Ottawa REALTOR®

What military families say

Don't just take our word for it

★★★★★

"I worked with Dwayne while we were both in the military. He answered all my questions and pointed me in the right direction. He and Mallory really are the ideal duo — we found the perfect place for my family within our timeframe, and I don't think the process could have gone any smoother."

Sebastien M. · Ottawa · former military

★★★★★

"Looking for a thorough, professional realtor? Mallory was the one for us. She understood exactly what we were looking for and guided us to the perfect little home for my family in Ottawa — always responsive, and a genuinely nice person. I'd recommend her to the whole military community."

Kevin F. · Ottawa · former military

★★★★★

"We used Mallory to purchase our retirement home on a lake. From the moment we contacted her she listened to our requirements, knew every property inside out, and walked us through the whole process. We'd highly recommend her."

Susan F. · Ottawa

★★★★★

"Mallory went above and beyond to help me secure my dream home in Pembroke in just a few days, negotiating to save me a substantial amount. Her punctuality, military background, and fun-loving nature made the whole experience truly exceptional."

Nathan N. · Pembroke

★★★★★

"Mallory helped us buy our home from across the country in a quick timeframe and made it stress-free. As first-time buyers, any worry we had was put to rest by her professionalism and resourcefulness."

Chris G. · Ottawa · first-time buyers

Let's make this posting the easy one

A quick call, no pressure. Tell me your COS date and your base, and I'll tell you exactly what to line up first.

Book a call with Dwayne