The Botto Team

Enjoy our JULY Real Estate & Community News HERE.

In 1962, my family came to North Vancouver and bought a home in Westlynn - for $27,900 !   At that time, telephone numbers had letter-prefixes, "Lynn Valley Centre" had not yet been built, and Cockney Kings Fish & Chips were serving fish & chips wrapped in newspaper at the site of what is now Petro-Canada at Lynn Valley Road & Mountain Highway.

The building of Westlynn Terrace was just underway - 265 homes on 80 acres of land - and described as "creating its own character as a community of large family homes and attractive gardens, with broad, paved, fully serviced streets and an atmosphere of quiet dignity".

Most homes were on  60' x 125' lots, priced between $17,950 to $23,500, and "standard features" were wall to wall carpet, built in oven & range, double carport, shake roof & colored plumbing - !  Bring on the Cerulean Blue, Avocado, and Harvest Gold fixtures!

If you scan the photos attached, you may find a house like the one YOU grew up in - and we'd love to hear your comments on the memories you have from the Lynn Valley & Westlynn of the 1960's !

What does “I’m home” mean to you? Is it family, comfort, style or relaxation? Is it gardening, a favourite room, or cooking dinner? Royal LePage would like to know what you love about the place you call home.   Post a photo of a favourite moment at home HERE to enter the Royal LePage #IMHOME Contest and share it on social media with the hashtag #IMHOME!

Enter to win great prizes!

From June 16, 2015 to October 5, 2015, share your photos and be entered for a chance to win:
• A $2,500 Grand Prize home shopping spree at Hudson’s Bay, Home Depot or Best Buy Canada, awarded at contest end
• A $250 gift card of your choice*, awarded monthly
• A $25 gift card of your choice*, awarded weekly

How to enter the Royal LePage #IMHOME Contest
Entering the contest is as easy as sharing a moment at home of you with your friends and/or family or on your own! Upload up to 5 photos a week. Share the contest for an extra entry. Use the hashtag #IMHOME when sharing on social media.
Full details and contest rules and regulations are available HERE, but keep these guidelines in mind:

• Be in the photo!
• Keep it PG
• Get consent from everyone in the photo
• Exclude brands and logos
• Make sure your photo is in JPG or PNG format and does not exceed 5 MB
• Read and agree to the rules and regulations of the contest

Show us what #IMHOME means to you! Enter today!

You may have asked yourself this question before you begin a renovation project… 

Home owners are investing more money in home renovations than ever before.  Whether a small cosmetic change, or a major professional renovation, many homeowners are investing time and money to make their residences more functional , comfortable, and stylish.

Although considered by many to be an added inconvenience and expense, building permits and building inspectors are actually important safeguards that help ensure you get sound workmanship and good value for your money, plus they addresses safety concerns and add value to the home !

A building permit is issued by the local municipality prior to beginning work and ensures that your project conforms to local building codes and bylaws. Your project will later be inspected by a qualified building inspector who ensures that the project is consistent with the plans submitted for the permit.

All these measures are of benefit to you, your neighbors, and subsequent homeowners.  After all, who wants to find out after you’ve already built a new deck that’s it’s too close to your neighbor’s property, and that they can require you to move it over by three feet? What if this happens after you’ve sold your home? Yikes.

In addition to ensuring that your project used the correct materials and conforms to safety standards, the benefits to you and your family are obvious. If you’re working with a professional contractor, it is their responsibility to obtain the permit prior to commencing your work.  BEWARE the contractors that suggest a permit is not required – especially for electrical, gas, plumbing and structural work !!  If the contractor implies the job will be cheaper without the permit, you should seriously consider another opinion.  Permit costs, as a function of the total price of a renovation are minimal. 

Think of it as an ‘insurance policy’ !  If you are well organized submitting the required information to the municipality, the process is not long.  If you use a contractor to do the work, consider a local contractor with experience dealing with the local municipal authorities.

We check permits for every home we list or sell – and you as a homeowner must disclose whether work was done with or without a permit.  The risk is that the local municipality can require that you undo work done without a permit, whether it appears well done or not !  The prudent way to go?  Obtain permits for work requiring permits.  Not sure what is required ?  Check out the North Shore’s Municipal web sites:

North Vancouver District

North Vancouver City

West Vancouver District