There’s a fair amount of mis-information out there about what is considered ‘safe’ wiring in the home.  Aluminum wiring, knob & tube, 60 amp service panels, upgrades without proper permits …

We have found a service that can tell you what needs to be done to make your home safe.  They have advised that after over 5,000 inspections, knob & tube is generally never a problem, and neither is aluminum wiring, if properly connected.  Most of the problems they encounter are from poor ‘handy man’ jobs, deteriorated wiring, improper connectors & unlawful upgrades.

POWERCHECK Electrical Safety Services is an impartial, third party inspection service.  They only do inspections, and do not preform repair work.   They will examine the electrical system in your home and provide you with an accurate Electrical Safety Assessment which will come in very handy when it comes time to insure your home.

Through a comprehensive analysis of the electrical system by an expert, the safety of the electrical system is determined. The home is then described as Low, Medium, High, or Extreme Risk. This provides an opportunity to easily understand the electrical safety of the home. If hazards are identified, they are clearly laid out in the report, so that an independent electrical contractor will know exactly what actions to take to make the house safe.  All PowerCheck agents are Master Electricians (or equivalent) and/or retired Electrical Inspectors; all with decades of experience in home electrical systems.

The assessment itself takes about 90 minutes in the home. It consists of an 80-point examination and is non-invasive, and comes with an easy to understand safety report, sent to the home owner within one business day.   This comes at a very reasonable cost: the standard rate for a single family home is $380, plus tax.

Want to have some peace of mind and make your home electrically safe?  Visit their website at www.powercheck.ca

Buying or selling a home in today’s real estate market can be an emotional experience, but it needn't be a trying one.  

In the video presented here, REBGV President Darcy McLeod takes a look at the housing statistics for September 2015.  In particular, you will see how changes in the supply of homes for sale can impact the market.

The two factors that impact our market most are inventory, and interest rates.  With  inventory at less than HALF of what we normally see at this time of year, and today's best 5 year rate at 2.54% fuelling the fire of already amazing demand, it makes sellers nervous (if we sell, where will we go ?), and buyers frustrated (we're in Competition, AGAIN ?)

The good news is, we have solutions for you -  with over 50 years' experience under our collective belts,  we have helped our clients reach their goals in all types of market conditions. 

Some basic strategies:  

Be ready - we'll walk you through the best way to be organized and ready

for your purchase or sale, so that nothing is a surprise.

Start "Window Shopping" Now - get a comfort level with current inventory & prices, before you post the "For Sale" sign in your yard.  You'll feel better having this information.

Leverage our Client Base - we don't just wait for MLS - we have over 700 families that we are in contact with that may have a home that matches your needs.

Consider Personal vs. Market Timing - there are lots of ways to 'massage' dates that are important to you, or the family you are buying from.

Have a "Plan B" - maybe there's an interim rental possibility if the next right home for you is just not out there yet.

When you've made the decision to sell your home or buy a new one, call us and we'll outline an effective plan that takes into consideration all of your needs and goals.

Take advantage of our experience and quality of service through each step of the transaction.  Whether you are moving across town or across the country, you can expect the best from us.

Interesting News today regarding proposed changes to the Strata Property Act, courtesy of News Talk 980 CKNW.

As we see buildings continue to age, there have been occasions where there is a desire to sell to a Developer. There's one case in North Vancouver that we know of that has been ongoing for many years, because at this time, under the current Act, 100% of the owners must agree to the sale in order for it to move forward.  Ultimately, court action has been taken, as not everyone was in agreement.  This case is still ongoing.

The Province is proposing moving the percentage of owners in agreement from 100% to 80% agreement.   This is a lengthy process and will not have immediate effect.  We'll see where this goes!

READ MORE  HERE 

Come one, come all, to our Pumpkin Patch at LYNN VALLEY VILLAGE ! 

RAIN or SHINE, bring the family to the Community Room beside the Library at Lynn Valley Village, on Saturday, October 10^th, between 11:30 am and 3:30 pm, and enjoy the Celtic sounds of “Crooked Road Band”, while you warm up with coffee or hot chocolate and pick your pumpkin for Hallowe’en! 

Back by popular demand is the very talented Melanie Dawn, makeup artist & face painter!  Melanie arrives at 12:30 and will be there until 3:30.

We look forward to celebrating the season, and our neighborhood, with you !