NEATNESS COUNTS FOR WINTER LISTINGS….or how to attract buyers in the winter.

Planning on selling your home during the winter, take into mind what the prospective buyer will be looking for, remembering Prince George is a winter City.

Normally the exterior lawns and gardens are a big attractant for most Buyers. Since they will be under cover for the next three to four months, be sure you have photos available to your Realtor of what the home looks like in the summer. In addition, a well shovelled driveway and walk way are very inviting to prospective home buyers. It gives a positive first impression. Think of the alternative, trudging through the deep stuff. You can only imagine what the first comments would be on entering the house, never mind being stuck in the driveway, heaven forbid.

Now don`t get me wrong, shovelling snow is no fun, but in a quiet market we are talking the difference between selling and not selling a home, take the high road. It is your home to sell and yours to benefit from.

Cheers and happy shovelling
Ron J Davis
250-961-7653

WEATHER STRIP STREET SURVEY

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

FIFTY PERCENT OF HOMES HAVE INADEQUATE WEATHER STRIPPING !!!!

When I host an open house I like to drop off notices/invitations in the neighbourhood to give everyone in the area a heads up about increased traffic for the coming Sunday afternoon. Usually I drop them in the mail box, but since this is a fairly new neighbourhood, they have super boxes, no mail box.
My alternative is to stick the invitation in the doorway between the door and the weatherstripping at eye height. It works every time.
The object of the this blog though has nothing to do with my street walk about, it is about the different states of degradation of the weather stripping on the front door of each of the fourty homes I visited. shOCKing to say the least….imagine a hole 3 inches square in your front door. That is what the poor spacing would add up to in about 25% of the homes……brrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

check your weather stripping now!!!

BUYERS …save time and money when choosing a house.

In most cases, it is the Seller who is paying any finder fee, including Realtors commission. Thus the best thing to do when starting the on the ground search for a home is to “hire” a REALTOR® to help you unlock the doors of what house hunting is really about, what you don`t see.

Start reading real estate ads in local papers. Let your REALTOR® know what you like. Visit areas you’re considering and get a feel for them. Make note of the surrounding schools, shopping and recreational areas. Keep an eye out for not-so-great things like large industrial areas, railway tracks and airports. Visit during the day and at night.

‘Open houses’ are a great way to see inside the homes of your potential neighborhood. The hosting REALTOR® probably knows the local market inside and out, and will be happy to answer the questions– don’t be afraid to ask!

If you’ve been very good, you’ve armed your REALTOR® with your Dream Home Checklist Even if you’ve just talked about it, your REALTOR® knows what you’re looking for.

REALTORS® have access to an incredible house-hunting tool called the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS® for short). You can view information about MLS® listings at www.REALTOR.a, the public advertising portal. Your REALTOR® will start sending you listings of potential homes right away. Most listings will have multiple photos, and some even have moving 360-degree views! You’ll be amazed how fast and easy it is to zero in on your favourite few homes.

If you and your REALTOR® have done your homework, and used MLS® listings to scout ahead, you only need to visit a handful of homes to make an informed and wise selection.

Walking through a potential home is a thrill, but try not to lose your head. Don’t let a giant kitchen island or swanky hot tub distract you from your real goal, finding a home that meets all your needs and fits your budget.

That’s why we’re arming you with this comprehensive House Hunting Checklist. Print it out and be sure to take it with you to homes you’re serious about buying. Good luck and happy hunting!

Ron J Davis – 250-961-7653

ADJUSTABLE OR VARIABLE RATE MORTGAGE – no place to start for first time home buyers

Adjustable rate mortgages are quite frankly sold to consumers who are unlikely to be able to repay the loan should interest rates rise. In the U.S.A., extreme cases are characterized by the Consumer Federation of America as predatory loans. Given the state of the interest rates in Canada at the moment, it would be prudent for those taking out a mortgage today to lock into a rate for as long as they can, assuming they can afford the current payments. Personally, I would plan on the inevitable; increased mortgage payments at the end of the contracted term and would plan accordingly with savings put away for that future date. Conservative, yes. Wasteful,no.

As usual, the more informed the consumer, the better decision maker they will be. For one of the best sources of mortgage information in Canada check out Financial Consumer Agency of Canada

Ron J Davis
250-961-7653

Economics 101

The value of a home is only what the market will bear.

What Canadian Homeowners Should Know About Upcoming Changes To Furnace Standards

          Resources Canada (NRCan) want homeowners to be aware of a new national minimum energy performance standard for gas furnaces that will go into effect on January 1, 2010. As of that date, gas furnaces manufacturered for most residential applications must have a minimum fuel efficiency level of 90%. These furnaces achieve this level of efficiency through high efficiency “condensing technology” where the products of combustion are exhausted from the living area by a plastic vent pipe commonly routed through a side wall.

          The implementation of this standard is part of Canada’s ongoing efforts to address climate change and improve the environment. High efficiency condensing furnaces (minimum 90% efficient) are also cost-effective for homeowners in that fuel consumption will be reduced by about 12% when compared to furnaces at the current minimum standard (78% efficient). The dollar savings will depend on the size and construction of the home. In addition to these savings, the furnace installation may be eligible for an ecoEnergy Retrofit grant from the federal government and complementary provincial grants in some parts of the country. Additional financial assistance may be available through the Home Renovation Tax Credit.

           If a high efficiency gas furnace is being installed in your home for the first time, it will typically require changes to the home’s venting system and in some cases, the venting of the hot water heater. Depending on the home, the additional costs should be offset by future fuel cost savings from the new furnace. Where through-wall venting is more complex (e.g., narrow, attached houses with front and rear obstructions, closely spaced doorways and large windows or fullwidth porches and/or decks), the changes to the venting system may be more expensive.

           Homeowners should also be aware that gas furnaces manufactured before January 1, 2010 with efficiencies of less than 90% can still be sold after January 1, 2010. If you are considering replacing your furnace, we recommend that you contact a licensed heating, ventilating and airconditioning (HVAC) contractor who will assess your specific situation and recommend solutions for your home.

Reprinted courtesy of the The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada.

Home Inspections Are A Necessity in 2009

 Finding a home inspector

When walking through a home you’d love to buy, it’s hard to put aside your emotions and really ‘see’ what kind of shape it’s in. Now that you are buying, it’s time to see everything. Home inspections rarely cost more than a few hundred dollars, and their service can save you from unpleasant surprises when you move in.

Your offer to buy may be conditional upon a satisfactory home inspection

This is an increasingly standard condition on any resale home. If the seller doesn’t want you closely examining the home before you take possession, you have to wonder why.

Go with a qualified professional

Make sure your inspector is a member of The Canadian Association of Home Inspectors(BC). It’s your guarantee they have the training and experience for the job. Your REALTOR® can recommend several home inspection companies to choose from.

What will they check during the inspection?

Lots of stuff. Plumbing and electrical systems, the roof, visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and the integrity of the foundation. They check for nasty stuff like lead paint, asbestos, mould, outdated and dangerous wiring, and they’ll look for evidence of pests like mice or termites. A good inspector should make you feel like you’re watching a CSI detective.

Join the inspection

There’s no better way to get familiar with your new home than this three-hour checkup. If any problems are detected, you’ll see them firsthand, and you’ll also learn some maintenance tips from a genuine pro.

You’ll get it in writing

Their report will summarize the condition of your home. If there’s anything that needs work, the home inspector will provide an estimated cost for the repairs.

Home inspection for a new home?

New does not equal perfect, and construction quality can vary greatly from builder to builder. In some provinces repairs and corrections in new homes will probably be covered by a government or industry sponsored warranty program, so bad news doesn’t necessarily mean it will cost you.

For a list of local Prince George Inspectors call Ron J Davis – 250-961-7653

Reprinted compliments of  How REALTORS® Help

Are mobile homes an alternative for housing in prince George

Tired of renting, but can`t afford the payments of a house just yet?
Then look at the option of buying a mobile home with land. You get the privacy you want and can build equity in your property to take the leap to a house. Seems simple enough, but as with all major purchases it comes with some risk.

The two biggest downsides are
-the assumption that the value in the home will grow, but that is market driven. You should understand where the market is going regarding mobiles before you make the purchase.
-the assumption that home insurance and financing will always be available for the property. Did you know that most finance companies do not look at mobiles if they are over 25 years. A morgtage is almost always declined and an alternate form of financing may be in order. If you are planning to buy and re-sell in a few years you should know this downside before you take the initial leap.

Ron J Davis
250-961-7653

Stats show increases across the board

As you can see from the graph above unit sales are starting to increase, and the fastest to recover are the properties under $200,000.
For more detailed information, contact Ron Davis at 1-250-562-2100

Buying a Strata Property

The term Strata in British Columbia encompases all types of general names that are used in the public domain; apartment, townhouse and condo to name a few.
The listing Realtor has a general duty to be familair with property they are marketing. Strata lots are unique and require extra diligence. The process and cost of obtaining the necessary information is supplied to the owner but generally is not kept for any period of time. It is up to the listing Realtor to supply the proper documentation for all prospective buyers who request it.
If buying a Strata, your Realtor should be aware of the standard of care required to ensure that there are no surprises after the purchase. Expect volumes of information to read if you are serious in buying into a group situation like a Strata Corporation.

Ron J Davis

250-961-7653