Where are you celebrating Canada Day this year? Come join me at the largest Canada Day celebration in Western Canada. This year’s celebration features: world class entertainment, great food, games, amusement rides and a spectacular fireworks finale. It's free admission too!
Musical guests include Surrey band Good for Grapes, country singer Crystal Shawanda and headlining at 7:30 p.m. is Sloan. 

Gates open at 10 a.m. Fireworks start at 10:15 p.m. at the Cloverdale Millennium Amphitheatre (64th & 176th) - you'll find free public parking at the Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino and Cloverdale Agriplex.
This is an awesome way to spend a fun day with the family. Hope to see you there!

You may think that having to deal with multiple offers on your home is a wonderful problem. After all, there are so many buyers clamoring to purchase your property!

The challenge, however, is picking the best offer – and that isn't always the one with the highest price.
Most offers come with conditions, such as "conditional on securing appropriate financing" or "conditional on the sale of our current property." You have to consider both the price and the conditions when choosing which offer to accept.

There are other considerations, too. What if someone makes a great offer on your home, but they don't have a pre-approved mortgage and they haven’t put their current home on the market? That kind of offer is risky because it is more likely than an unconditional offer to fall through.

So there's a lot to think about when you're in the seemingly enviable position of dealing with multiple offers. How do you select the right one? The answer is to have a good REALTOR® by your side to help you make the right decision!

Want more tips on finding and buying your next dream home? Call me today.

What is interior design? As the name implies, it's all about designing a living area – such as a bathroom or basement – while taking into account your needs, tastes, and budget, as well as the characteristics of the space itself.

If you've ever sketched out an idea for a renovation – to add a wall, install hardwood floors, or paint – then you've done interior design, as least at an amateur level. Home improvement contractors, when they make suggestions about how to renovate a room, are also acting as interior designers.

According to the Association of Registered Interior Designers, "Interior Designers will analyze your needs and budget, prepare and present conceptual solutions and then manage the implementation of the project."
Although hiring an interior designer may seem like a luxury for many homeowners, it can actually be quite affordable. Plus, consider that your interior designer can manage your project from concept and design all the way through to a finished renovation – including managing the renovation work itself.

How do you find a good interior designer?

In Canada, check out Interior Designers of Canada at www.IDCanada.org. In the U.S., visit the American Society of Interior Designers at www.asid.org. Both websites have search tools to find qualified registered interior designers in your area.

When reviewing possible interior designers, take a close look at their portfolios, which are usually in the form of pictures of completed projects. Consider the style of work they've done for other clients, as it is likely that’s
what you can expect for yours.

According to an article in The Epoch Times by Lloyd Princeton, it's also important that you get along with the interior designer. You'll be working closely with that person. If you have a gut feeling that you're not going to like him or her, then you won't be satisfied with the result – even if the design is actually good.

When shopping for a new home, it's a good idea to try and see the potential of the property you're viewing. It may not be exactly what you're looking for "as is", but it may have the potential to become your dream home after some redecorating or renovating.

The challenge is, judging how much work is required. You don't want to buy a home with the expectation that it requires a $20,000 renovation, only to discover that it really needed three times that much!

That’s where I can help - by getting a realistic estimate of the cost of repairs, upgrades, and renovations, and even recommend some reputable interior designers or contractors.

That way, when you see a home with "potential", you'll be able to make a more informed decision.

Want more tips on finding and buying your next dream home? Call today.

Let's face it. Life can get complicated, complex and stressful very easily. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to simplify your life, especially at home. Here are some tips from the experts:

Don't be ruled by the TV guide. Instead, select what you want to see and then record those shows. That way, you can watch them anytime.
- Prepare some meals in advance that can simply be heated up as needed. That reduces a lot of "after-work, gotta-get-dinner-ready" stress.
- Create a weekly dinner menu. It takes some time to prepare, but it allows you to shop effectively, and greatly reduces the stress of figuring out what to cook each day.
- Don't accumulate stuff you don't want or need. Give those things away.
- Simplify your cleaning by dividing tasks into ten minute chunks (such as vacuuming the living room.) Then fit those tasks in here and there whenever you have ten minutes.
- To avoid clutter, adopt the "touch it once" rule, which simply means putting things where they belong right away.
- Think of the home-related chore you hate doing most. Can you outsource that to a local company, or a neighbour looking for some work?
- Limit the time you and others in your family spend checking emails and text messages. Consider having an hour or two each evening that's "no screen" time.
- Develop healthy routines, such as evening walks and family board game night.

These are just a few ideas. If you want to simplify your home life, you can probably brainstorm several other strategies and habits you can try. The idea is to make your home an enjoyable place to be – for you and your family.