10 Reasons to List Your Home This Month Is selling your property the furthest thing from your mind? Well, here are some reasons for listing your property that you might not have considered. 1. Your property may be worth more than you think. (It’s difficult to determine market value on your own. I can calculate it for you. Give me a call.) 2. You might qualify for a better home than you anticipate. 3. Perhaps you are tired of your current property and want a change. 4. There may be homes on the market in a neighbourhood in which you’ve always wanted to live. 5. Your current property may no longer meet your needs. 6. Your neighbourhood may have changed in ways you don’t like. 7. You might be ready to downsize or upsize and you no longer want to put that off. 8. You may want to sell in the fall, so you can have a fresh start in a new home in the new year. 9. Depending on the type of home you’re considering, you could end up with lower mortgage payments or no mortgage at all. 10.You might want to move to a home that’s more conveniently located near work, family and hobbies. Of course, you may have your own reasons for listing this month. Why not discuss them with a real estate expert? Me. I can answer your questions and explain the options available to you.

I just sold this Condo at 203 1429 MERKLIN STREET, South Surrey White Rock, BC White Rock.

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BBQ Safety Tips You Should Know According to a recent study, the average homeowner pays more attention to kitchen stove safety than they do BBQ safety. But, the fact is, a BBQ mishap can be just as devastating. So, it pays to know the latest safety tips. • Keep BBQs at least 8 feet away from your house. • Check for venture tube blockages regularly. (Spiders are notorious for spinning webs in there.) • Clean the grill frequently to prevent flare ups. A grease fire on the grill can continue burning even after you’ve turned the BBQ off. • Don’t position your BBQ close to foliage, such as under a tree or next to shrubs. • Never BBQ in an enclosed area, such as a garage, even if the space is well ventilated. • Avoid leaving the grill unattended, especially when cooking greasy foods such as sausages, beef burgers or steaks. • Do not let children BBQ. Finally, make sure your BBQ is turned completely off after use. It’s a good idea to double-check this when making the rounds and locking up your home for the night. Experts say you should treat a BBQ as you would a camp fire — with care.

3 Reasons to Talk to a Realtor Today You might naturally assume that it is most important to talk to a Realtor when you’re selling or buying a home. But there are many other circumstances in which it makes sense to give me a call. Here are a few examples. 1. When you’re at the “thinking about it” stage If you’re just thinking about selling your home, and haven’t made a firm decision yet, you might feel uncomfortable calling a Realtor. Don’t be. In fact, I welcome your call. We can discuss what your current property will likely sell for on today’s market, and determine the type of home you qualify to buy. That way, you’ll have some clarity and be able to make a more informed decision. 2. If you’re nervous about the selling process If you haven’t sold a home before, you might be concerned about what’s involved in the process. You might even worry that putting your home on the market is going to be a lot of work and create a lot of turbulence for you and your family. Fortunately, selling your home doesn’t need to be scary. In fact, a big part of my job as a Realtor is to make the process as smooth and trouble-free as possible. So if you have concerns about selling your home, you should give me a call. 3. If you have questions You likely have questions about the local real estate scene from time to time. You might have questions like: “How much did that home around the corner sell for?”; “Is now a good time to make a move, or should I wait until the market changes?”; and, “How much is my current home worth?” When you have questions like those, you don’t need to dig for answers on your own. You can give me a call. As an expert in the local market, I can give you the answers you need.

This Simple Question Can Save You a Lot of Money Imagine this scenario... You purchase a new home and move in. A few weeks later, you hear a strange rumbling sound. It’s the furnace. It’s only a year old, yet it’s sputtering like it’s twenty. You realize you’ll have to call in an HVAC contractor to get it fixed. You’re thinking, “Ouch! This is going to be expensive.” Well, maybe not. You see, since that furnace is relatively new, it might be covered by its original warranty — even for you, the new owner. But a warranty is useless if you don’t know it exists. Recent studies suggest that upwards of 50% of people pay to get items fixed that were actually covered by a warranty. So, when purchasing a new home, be sure to ask this simple question: “What warranties do you have for items, materials or workmanship in this house?” Warranties are common on new stoves, fridges, washers, dryers and other big ticket appliances. Some such warranties are transferrable, which means they are still in force when the items pass from one owner to another. Even less expensive items, such as electronic thermostats and automatic garage door openers, may be covered by a transferrable manufacturer’s warranty. If the home you’re purchasing is relatively new (say, less than 10 years old), the builder’s warranty may also still be in force. That can be handy if a structural problem arises. Even recent renovations, may have come with a labour and/or installation warranty of some kind. As you can see, warranties are everywhere! The more you’re aware of them, the more you’ll save when something needs repair or replacement.

What Do Interior Designers Do? If you want to transform a room into something that’s functional, beautiful and perfectly matched to your taste, then you might want to hire an interior designer. It’s an interior designer’s job to come up with imaginative ideas that will wow you. It’s a myth that interior designers just deal with paint colours, décor and furnishings. In fact, according to the Interior Designers Institute, these professionals have the training needed to handle all aspects of a renovation or remodeling project, including selecting and managing contractors. They can direct a project from beginning to end. If you want to renovate your basement into a stunning home theatre and gathering place, an interior designer can: • Draw out several concepts for you to choose from, • Purchase the best building materials, • Hire the contractors, and • Manage the project. He or she can even pick out classic movie pictures for the walls! There are many professional associations that have “Find an Interior Designer” links on their websites. In the U.S. check out the Professional Association for Interior Designers (www.asid.org). In Canada, it’s the Interior Designers of Canada www.idcanada.org

"Failure doesn't mean you're a failure, it just means you haven't succeeded yet," says Robert Schuller who popularized “Possibility Thinking”.

I just sold this Townhouse at 60 15588 32 AVENUE, South Surrey White Rock, BC Grandview Surrey.

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No Homes for Sale in the Area You Like? Here’s What to Do... Imagine there’s a neighbourhood you’d love to live in someday, but, every time you drive through, you rarely, if ever, see a For Sale sign. It’s as if homes get gobbled up by buyers the moment they get listed. It’s true, properties do tend to sell quickly in desirable, in-demand neighbourhoods. Does that mean you’re destined to either hope for a lucky break or miss out on ever living there? Fortunately, no. There are practical things you can do to increase your chances of getting into that neighbourhood. Your first step is to find out the kind of new home you can afford. You want to get your financial ducks in a row so when a listing does come up in the area, you’re able to respond quickly. Find out the average price range of homes in the neighbourhood. Then, if necessary, talk to your lender or mortgage broker. The second step is to get your current property ready for sale. You don’t necessary need to list it now, but you want to be in a position to do so quickly, if necessary. You may need to clean up and declutter, get repairs done, and spruce up your home in other ways. The third step is to talk to me. You see, listings in popular neighbourhoods often move fast. By the time you see them advertised on the internet, they may be gone. I can closely monitor listings in that area for you, so the moment one comes up that meets your criteria, you can be alerted. This greatly increases your chances of getting that home. So if there is a dream neighbourhood you’d love to get into, give me a call.

Painting Techniques that Bring a Hallway to Life Some people don’t give hallways much thought when painting and decorating. Instead, they focus on rooms. The fact is, a great looking hallway can have the same, if not more, impact than the most eye-catching family room or bedroom, especially when you need to go through the hallway to get there! Here are some painting tips that can bring a dull hallway to life: • Paint the hallway the reverse of the rooms around it. If the rooms are dark, use light colours in the hall. If the rooms feature simple colours, consider being more dramatic in your choice of hallway paint. • In a longer hallway, using two shades of the same colour on perpendicular walls can make the space seem less tunnel-like. (The darker shade goes on the shorter walls.) • Darker colours can work well if the space is well-lit and there are few, if any, shadows cast. • If you decide to paint the halls white, select an off-white or eggshell white. Avoid stark white as it will reflect light in a way that’s unpleasant. One more tip: Pictures can go a long way in making a hallway look inviting, regardless of the wall colour. Good luck with the painting!

I just sold this House at 6820 181 STREET, Cloverdale, BC Cloverdale BC.

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I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, 110 5375 205 STREET, Langley, BC

Glenmont Park 55+ very well maintained Bright open 2 bdrm, 2 bthrm unit. Beautiful engineered hardwood in livrm, dinrm & hall, updated lighting & crown moulding throughout,gas fireplace. Kitchen has tile floor with a brand New DW, Bathroom has a new high end jetted walkin tub. In - Suite laundry has a newer stacking washer/dryer in a large open laundry room. Mbrdm features a large W/I closet & Patio access from both the bdrm & lvrm. Large deck that over looks a beautiful quiet park like setting. Storage locker conveniently located on the same floor. Guest suite, exercise rm, rec rm,RV parking and much more. Central location- close to shopping, recreation & all amenities. Short walk to Seniors centre.

I just finished uploading this Condo for sale, 307 15368 16A AVENUE, South Surrey White Rock, BC

RARELY AVAILABLE - OCEAN BAY VILLAS This 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo shows extremely well. Located on the 3rd floor with a huge covered deck. Open floor plan with 9' ceilings, great kitchen with large eating bar and gas fireplace in living room. Amenities include bike room, gym, games rooms and guest suite. Close to shopping, recreation and transit. Well maintained building: Pets are welcome - some restrictions, rentals allowed. Open house 2-4 on June 24th and 25th. A pleasure to show!

Going “Green” in Your Garden or Flower Bed There has been a lot of emphasis lately on the importance of “going green”. That simply means being environmentally-responsible. You likely already recycle, use energy-efficient lights, and turn down your thermostat when no one is home. Yet, most of us don’t think about the garden or flower bed when we “think green”. We should. Here are a few practical things you can do to tend to outdoor plants — without negatively impacting the environment. • Pull weeds instead of using a weed killer. • Avoid strong pesticides. (Products that target only one or two types of insects tend to be less harsh.) • Don’t use flower bed ornaments (i.e. gnomes) that might bleed colour dye into the soil. (Ask your garden centre before you buy.) • Be careful not to leave hand spades, trowels, and other garden tools lying around, especially over winter. They can rust, which contaminates the soil. These tips may seem minor, but if you want to be environmentally conscious, every little bit helps!

I just sold this Condo at 1103 1473 JOHNSTON ROAD, South Surrey White Rock, BC White Rock.

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I just sold this House at 19755 68A AVENUE, Langley, BC Willoughby Heights.

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I just sold this House at 16179 8A AVENUE, South Surrey White Rock, BC King George Corridor.

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I just sold this House at 14 2250 CHRISTOPHERSON ROAD, South Surrey White Rock, BC Crescent Bch Ocean Pk..

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I just sold this Condo at 506 1480 FOSTER STREET, South Surrey White Rock, BC White Rock.

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Does Your Home Insurance Cover Everything? When you suffer damage to, (or the loss of), your home or its contents, you expect your insurance company to help you out. And, most do a good job of doing just that. Still, it’s a good idea to review your policy with your insurance advisor and find out what’s covered and what isn’t. You don’t want to discover that your policy will not cover the cost of repairing the damage caused by a flood in your laundry room. Pay particular attention to coverage in the case of water damage. Some insurance policies don’t cover floods and sewer backup unless an additional rider is purchased. Also, check liability limits. Ask your advisor to recommend an appropriate level. Finally, make sure you know exactly how much your home is insured for. Are you covered for the full replacement cost? Are you comfortable with that coverage or the actual cash value? Having the right insurance gives you peace-of-mind and is an important part of enjoying your home. Keep in mind that experts advise you to review your insurance with your advisor. Ask lots of questions. Make sure you understand your coverage fully. By the way, if you’re looking for an insurance advisor, I’m well-connected in the local “home” industry. I may be able to give you a couple of names of good, reputable professionals. Give me a call