March 2014

Ask yourself these 10 questions 

to help narrow your search:

 

1.  Do you want a single family detached house, a duplex, a townhouse, a row house or a condo?

 

 

2.  Do you enjoy yard work?

 

 

3.  Do you travel a lot?

 

 

4.  Do you often entertain or have house guests?

 

 

5.  Do you need a lot of natural light?

 

 

6.  Are you handy with repairs?

 

 

7.  Could you live through a renovation)

 

 

8.  Are you comfortable with the notion of a condo board making decisions that will affect you?

 

 

9.  Do you want easy access to public transit?

 

 

10.  How close do you want to live to your neighbors?

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3 INEXPENSIVE ITEMS TO HELP KEEP YOU PROTECTED

3 Inexpensive Items To Help Keep You Protected When Mother Nature Strikes.

Backup Sump Pump ~$175
If your home loses power due to flooding, a battery powered backup sump pump will help keep the water out of your basement.  This is ideal if it's finished.

Gas Powered Generator ~$200
This is a great backup source to have on hand in case of a blackout.  A generator is especially useful for long power outages in the winter.

Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors ~$50+
Sever storms can result in secondary emergencies like fires and gas leaks, so outfitting your home with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every floor will help ensure maximum safety.

Kelowna New Construction Homes For Sale

EMERGENCY PREP

No one wants to find themselves in an emergency situation, so it's important to prepare your home as much as possible.  Since there's nothing you can do to stop Mother Nature, here are a few small, proactive measures you can take to help keep damages at bay.

1.  CLEAN THE GUTTERS

Overflowing gutters are one of the major causes of water finding its way into homes.  If your downspouts are leaky, in disrepair of non-existent, heavy snow and rain will go right into your foundation.  Cleaning your gutters and repairing your downspouts should be on your annual maintenance list, and consider investing in gutter covers or screens to keep leaves out.

2.  FIRE-RATE YOUR HOME

Proper fire separation between floors will help contain

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TOP 6 RENOVATION MISTAKES & HOW TO AVOID THEM

 

Scott  McGillivray is the host of HGTV's Income property.  He has done hundreds of renovations and has many great tips to help any home owner stay on the right path.  With so many home owners putting in income suites here in KELOWNA, here are 6 reno mistakes and how to avoid them.

1.  POOR PREPARATION
A proper renovation takes preparation - lots of it.  A detailed plan will help keep you on budget and on time.  Set out a very specific agreement with your contractor before the work begins and get everything in writing.  You should be able to see on paper how your renovation is going to play out before it even begins.

2.  BUYING BEFORE PLANNING
I can't stress this enough:  Don't buy materials or

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BC PROVINCIAL HOME OWNER GRANT

Any little bit of money savings is huge win!  Knowing what to expect and what is owing can save you a lot of stress down the road.

Am I eligible for the Provincial Home Owner Grant?

The Provincial Home Owner Grant is designed to help homeowners reduce their property taxes.

(a)You must be a BC resident
(b)You must own and reside on the property as your principal residence when you apply
(c)You and your spouse, together, can only claim one grant
(d)You may be required to prove your eligibility

If you turn 65 years old anytime during the current year, you are eligible to claim the additional grant by providing your date of birth on the application (Year/Month/Day).

There are two grant categories:
(a)The regular grant may reduce

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