If you've played the game Monopoly then you've probably picked up the Chance card that reads, "Take a walk on the Boardwalk. If you pass Go..."

That's good advice when shopping for a new home. When you see a property you like and you’re thinking of making an offer, spend some time walking around the neighbourhood. This will give you a better sense of what it's going to be like to live there.

After all, the last thing you want is to buy a dream home only to find out later that there are issues with the neighbourhood that make living there miserable.

If you have kids, see how far of a walk it is to local parks, playgrounds, schools and community centres.

If you commute, you might also check out the route from the neighbourhood to your place of work. Is there a left turn that is likely to get backed up in the mornings?

Also check out how well the neighbours take care of their properties. Homeowners tend to keep their homes looking good if they enjoy the neighbourhood.

As you walk, listen. Are there noises from nearby high schools, industrial areas, or highways that are going to be unpleasant for you? Find out if the neighbourhood is near an airport flight path, or if there is a railway in the
area.

If you get a chance, talk to some of the neighbours. Ask what they like most about living in the area. You're likely to get some candid – and useful – answers.

Finally, spend some time visualizing living in the area. Can you see yourself enjoying what the neighbourhood has to offer?

If so, then buying a home in that area will likely be a good choice for you.

Like heat, water and air conditioning, insurance is a home expense you have some degree of control over. In fact, there are ways to reduce your insurance costs by as much as 20%.

The thing to keep in mind is that insurance companies will often reward you – in the form of lower rates – when you do something to reduce the risk of damage to your property. That's why you can often get a discount when you install smoke detectors on all floors. Other discounts may be available if you get better door locks, an alarm system, upgraded wiring, and so forth.

Contact your insurance company and ask how you can lower your insurance costs. Sometimes just a few minor changes can save you a bundle.

When you’re shopping for a new home, you want to find a property that has all the features and characteristics you want. A large deck surrounded by picturesque landscaping ... a beautiful kitchen with gleaming marble countertops... a cozy finished basement with fireplace....

You should look for the ideal home. You deserve it! But some home buyers make the mistake of becoming fixated on finding the "perfect" property, and passing too quickly on those homes that don't quite measure up.

Why is that a mistake? Because some of those less-than-perfect properties have the potential of becoming your next dream home.

First of all, a home that is lacking some desirable features, such as a finished basement, will probably cost less. Those savings may be more than enough to cover any needed upgrade or renovation.

Secondly, if you look at a home in terms of its potential, rather than the features it happens to have now, there will be more properties available on the market for you to consider.

If you're determined to have a large wrap-around deck for entertaining, for example, don't cross homes that don't have this feature off your list. At least not yet. Instead, view these properties with an eye on potential. Is the backyard big enough to accommodate a large deck? How would a deck like that look if added to this particular property? How much would such a renovation cost?

There's no doubt about it. You want to find a home that has all the features and characteristics you want. If you work with a good REALTOR®, there is a good chance you'll find a property that has most of them.

But keep an open mind. Sometimes a "diamond in the rough" can – with an upgrade or renovation – become a home you'll treasure for years.

You might have hired a painter, plumber, or renovator several times during your history of home ownership. But how many times have you hired a decorator?

For many homeowners, hiring a decorator is a first time experience. That’s what makes knowing how to choose the right one so challenging.

Here's a tip: Clip photos from magazines of rooms that match the "look and style" you want. Pay particular attention to desired colours, decor, accents, furnishings, and themes.

Then, when meeting with a prospective decorator, see if there's anything in his or her portfolio that matches your clippings. If there is, then you’ll have a good indication that he or she can pull off the look you want.

Why is it so important to know how much you can afford to spend on a home?

Two reasons.

First, you don't want to buy a property and then find out, only after you’ve moved in, that you can't financially maintain it. That would mean having to resell it under stressful conditions.

Second, you don't want to settle for a property that's less than ideal, when you really could have afforded the "dream home" you've always wanted.

So how do you figure out how much you can afford to pay for your next home?

The first step is to talk to a good REALTOR®. He or she will help you gain a clearer understanding of how much your current home will likely sell for in today's market. That amount, together with other financial resources you might have (such as savings), will determine your down payment.

The next thing you’ll need to figure out is your mortgage. Your REALTOR® can help you find a lender who will take a variety of factors into account – income, credit rating, debts, expected down payment, etc. – to calculate the maximum amount of mortgage for which you qualify.

Say, through the proceeds of the sale of your home combined with your savings, your expected down payment is $90,000. If the lender authorizes a mortgage of $270,000, then you can afford a $360,000 home.

Of course, that doesn't mean you'll need to spend that much. In fact, a home that meets your needs in terms of property type, features, and neighbourhood, may in fact cost you less.

One thing is for sure. A good REALTOR® can work with whatever amount you can afford and show you homes on the market that most closely meet your needs.

Call me today - I will help you figure out your home buying budget. 

You will want to make the process of shopping for a home as productive and enjoyable as possible. After all, you'll be on a quest to find your next dream home. That's why it's important to take the right things with you: 

•          A digital camera, so you can take pictures of the features you like in the properties you see.

•          A notepad, so you can take notes.

•          Measurements of your largest pieces of furniture, so you can confirm they'll fit in the rooms of properties you like.

•          A measuring tape.

•          Some healthy snacks and beverages, (especially important if you're taking the kids along).

•          A map of the area, so you can check out local parks and other neighbourhood features.

•          Clear driving directions to each of the properties you want to see. 

One of the best ways to shop for a home, and actually enjoy the experience, is to work with a great REALTOR®. Contact me today to arrange your home viewing appointments.

When it comes to home security, most homeowners think about door locks and alarms. These are, of course, very important. However, there is also a lot you can do around your property to prevent the possibility of a break-in. 

One important part of home security is outdoor lighting. Your home doesn't need to be lit up like a baseball diamond at night, but your exterior lighting should illuminate your yard enough to be a deterrent to burglars. 

Some burglars hide around the property and wait for someone to arrive and open the door so they can use that opportunity to force their way into your home. 

Security experts suggest that you walk around your property and look for areas where someone could hide, such as behind tall shrubbery like a cedar hedge or behind a tool shed. Make sure these areas are well lit. 

Pay particular attention to lighting around exterior doors, especially the back door. 

Home security experts also recommend that exterior lighting be installed with a timed dimmer. The lights can then be set to cast a bright light in the early evening, and then a dimmer light throughout the rest of the night.

Lights installed with motion detectors can also be effective in certain areas. The sensors will cause the light to turn on or brighten when someone comes onto that part of your property. Generally, thieves will flee as soon as they see a light turn on.

Do you hide a spare key under the front door mat or in a flower pot? No matter how clever you think you are, experienced thieves know all the common hiding places. So, if you need to have a spare key available, put it in a small combination lock box and hide the box. That way, if a burglar finds the box, he still won't be able to open it and access the key.

If you're shopping for a new home, you're probably aware that there will be some costs over and above the purchase price. It makes sense to budget for these costs so you're not surprised – and unprepared – when you get the bill.

Most of these costs fall into a category that the real estate industry calls "closing costs." The most common types include land transfer tax, lawyer’s fees and disbursements, sales taxes, and for newly-built homes, utility hook-ups.

You should also consider other expenses you will incur, such as home insurance and moving expenses.

Of course, if your new home is a condominium, you’ll also have to account for the monthly condo fees.

Closing costs can vary depending on the type and location of your new home. A good REALTOR® can help you determine the costs you will incur.

These days, most people want to do their bit to help the environment. Unfortunately, not everyone is willing, or able, to install solar panels on their roof or implement an in-ground heat recovery system. 

Luckily, there are many smaller things you can do that can make a big difference. Here are some ideas that can help you "go green" easily and inexpensively. 

Get a recycling bin and learn how to use it. Most jurisdictions have a recycling program. You may be able to get a rebate on your recycling bin or even get it for free. Keep a list of items that can be recycled on your fridge door, so that everyone in the family can participate.

Get a kitchen compost bin. Find out if your jurisdiction has a compost pick-up program. If they do, get a kitchen compost bin. Composting can reduce landfill waste by as much as 32%.

Use energy-saving light bulbs. Low energy light bulbs have come a long way in recent years. Their consistent glow and brightness now rival their incandescent counterparts. By replacing regular 40-watt bulbs with energy-saving 8-watt bulbs, you could save nearly 50% of the electricity you used for lighting. Results may vary by brand. 

Shop for local produce. Many grocery stores and supermarkets offer produce – fruits, vegetables, – that are grown within a 100 mile radius. The short transportation distance, means significantly less fossil fuel is required to get the produce delivered to your local store. Keep in mind that some non-local produce, such as apples in the off-season, often need to be transported thousands of miles.

Let nature do the work. As an alternative to air conditioning, open windows and block out the passive heat gain from the sun with curtains. Do the opposite in winter. Strategically using curtains and windows can lower your energy bill by as much as 20%.

As you can see, you don't have to do much to have a "greener" home. Just a few little changes can make a big difference.

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.