real estate guide - october 30, 2015

FALL / WINTER 2015-16

RESOURCE GUIDEReal EstateYour complete resource guide for everything real estate.

2 REAL ESTATE RESOURCE GUIDE

604.820.1456101 – 7057 Beatty Dr, Mission

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THE ABBOTSFORD NEWS 3

For many it goes by “the City in the

Country” or the “Raspberry Capital

of Canada”, but for others, Abbots-

ford is simply considered home. It

fi ttingly suits all names by off ering

a balance of urban convenience,

expansive greenspace, a network

of trails and parks, and unparalleled

agriculture off erings. People don’t

just move to Abbotsford for its rea-

sonable housing market but also for

the many activities available in the

surrounding areas.

“As the third most diverse commu-

nity in Canada, we are fortunate to

enjoy a wealth of cultural events and

activities that serve to enhance our

quality of life and help to make us a

complete community,” says Abbots-

ford Mayor, Henry Braun.

Some of those community assets

include the Abbotsford International

Airport, the University of the Fraser

Valley, the Reach Gallery Museum,

recreation and entertainment facil-

ities, all of which contribute to a

superior quality of life for residents.

According to Braun, one of the most

exciting undertakings happen-

ing right now in Abbotsford is the

update to the Offi cial Community

Plan (OCP) – a project they are call-

ing Abbotsforward.

“Once completed, the OCP will

serve as a roadmap for growth and

development in our community for

years to come, however, in order for

us to imagine the Abbotsford of the

future, we needed to understand

the Abbotsford of today,” he says.

“For example, did you know that 65

percent of Abbotsford residents also

work in Abbotsford?”

It’s proof that people are building

their lives here.

“Even though we are a ‘City’ it still

has the small town feel; a feel we can

identify with,” says Yvonne Hayden,

Director of Business Development at

Tourism Abbotsford, on why people

love living in Abbotsford. “This com-

munity is open to newcomers, and

people take the time to say hello.

Even though some of us think that

Abbotsford is busy – comparatively

speaking it is not that busy – our traf-

fi c is really a dream, [there is a] good

variety of shopping and services,

and wonderful parks and trails.”

There is no doubt that Abbotsford

is evolving from a small commu-

nity into a vibrant focal point of the

Fraser Valley, all without losing its

charm.

What’s not to love?

Find all of the information on the

Abbotsforward project at

www.abbotsforward.ca

Why more people choose Abbotsford


The community of Abbotsford is

evolving into a regional hub city

for the Fraser Valley. This, according

to Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun

when asked was one of the biggest

changes he has noticed over the

years.

Showing healthy signs of progres-

sion mixed with aff ordable housing

is proving to be enticing for buyers.

According to Jorda Maisey, presi-

dent of the Fraser Valley Real Estate

Board, of all the communities in the

Fraser Valley, Abbotsford saw the

biggest increase in sales in Septem-

ber.

The variety and selection of town-

home developments - attached,

detached, rowhomes, and so on

- has boomed in the last fi ve years.

“People love the price, convenience

and amenities,” says Maisey, with

detached homes also proving to be

an appealing option.

“In September, the benchmark price

for a detached home in Abbotsford

was $481,800 compared to Greater

Vancouver’s $1,179,700, meaning it

cost 59 percent less to buy a typical

home in Abbotsford compared to

a typical home in Greater Vancou-

ver.” Sales of single-family detached

homes were up 42 percent com-

pared to September 2014, and

town homes and apartment sales

were also higher than last year.

“We attribute the thriving mar-

ket to Abbotsford’s aff ordability

and liveability, bolstered by low

mortgage rates and B.C.’s strong

ph: 604-852-2234 fax: 888-869-4876

Growingout of your

current home?

33787 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford BC www.ValleyRealtyAbbotsford.com

House too small?Give our team a call!

Call YOUR LOCAL FULLservice Real Estate company

604.852.2234VALLEY REALTY

Whether you are buying, selling or renting we are ready to

help you with your move!Know your rights

and obligations when purchasing a rental

property. See page 20 for details.

Housing Market in Abbotsford

Considered Healthy


economy,” she says.

Abbotsford is second only to Mis-

sion for aff ordability in the Fraser

Valley. Maisey says that a typical

single family home in Mission costs

about $75,000 to $80,000 less than

in Abbotsford, whereas townho-

mes are about the same.

According to the experts - senior

economists at BC Real Estate Asso-

ciation and Canada Mortgage &

Housing Corporation (CMHC),

they’re forecasting home sales in

the Fraser Valley will decrease in

2016 by 6.5 percent, while prices

will continue to rise, but at a slower

rate of three to fi ve percent.

CMHC’s dedicated forecast for

Abbotsford-Mission paints a

slightly diff erent story, predicting a

3.5 percent increase in homes sales

and modest price growth of 1.4

percent for that area.

Overall, the real estate market in

Abbotsford is considered healthy,

given that the demand for detached

homes and townhomes has been

brisk. In September, it took only

15 days on average for a detached

home to sell in Central Abbotsford,

which is why, according to Maisey,

it’s so important for buyers to have

an expert guide them and ensure

they’re prepared for when the right

home comes available.

The next best areas for price are

further afi eld in Chilliwack or on the

Sunshine Coast.

The most accurate refl ection of

home prices is the MLS® Home

Price Index Benchmark Price,

which refl ects the price of a ‘typical’

home with characteristics ‘typical’

to that area. Average prices can

be quite misleading because they

can be easily skewed by sales of

higher-end or lower-end homes.

To confi rm REBGV statistics, visit

rebgv.org.

Write YourSuccess Story

Helping You is What We DoCall Today For Your

FREE MARKET EVALUATION

SERVING MISSION, ABBOTSFORD AND THE CENTRAL FRASER VALLEY

Pat: [email protected]

Deb: [email protected]

33174 First Avenue, Mission | www.patvale.com

Wheeler Cheam

People love the price, convenience and amenities.


With frigid temperatures fast

approaching, the winter months in

British Columbia are the most chal-

lenging for your home.

“They are colder, wetter and darker,”

says James Dobney, president

of James Dobney Inspections - a

commercial and residential build-

ing inspection company that has

inspected tens of thousands of

homes since 1986.

Fortunately, there are steps that

homeowners can take ahead of the

big freeze to create a more energy

effi cient home, all while remaining

safe and comfortable.

“The age old saying, ‘an ounce of

prevention is worth a pound of cure,’

certainly applies,” says Dobney.

He has provided a list of sugges-

tions to help save costs and avoid

issues by winterizing the interior

and exterior of your home.

Outside:

Disconnect and drain all garden

hoses and shut off the water to your

outside faucets if they are not the

“frost-free” type.

Clean out your gutters (or drains on

fl at roofs) and make sure the water

from your downpipes is directed

into your perimeter drain system

or away from your house. This will

lessen the possibility of basement

or crawlspace leakage.

Clean all exterior drains in stairwells

and driveways.

Install a non-slip surface on all

More than just another pretty facedrealtor.

LITTLE OAK REALTYEach offi ce independently owned & operated

DAN KEELEY604-859-2341 | dankeeley.com

®

Prepare you r home for winter


exterior stairs and have de-icing

compound ready for your stairs and

walkways.

Check the bulbs in all exterior light

fi xtures and consider installing

motion sensor lights. Your entrances

will be darker and slipperier than at

any other time of the year, so good

visibility is important.

Have your roof checked for missing

or damaged shingles. Your roof is

most vulnerable to leaking in the

winter and it is the most diffi cult

and expensive time for repairs.

Close your crawlspace vents. You

don’t want your waterlines to freeze.

Service your snowblower and fi nd

your snow shovel.

Trim any tree branches that over-

hang your roof or utility lines.

Inside:

Have your heating system serviced

(check fi lters if you have a furnace).

Have your chimneys, fi replaces and

wood burning stoves inspected and

cleaned if necessary (especially if

you use a wood stove for heating).

Check your smoke and carbon

monoxide alarms (replace them if

they are ten years old).

Check your fi re extinguishers and

make sure that all family members

know where they are located. Many

fi re extinguishers have a pressure

gauge; if yours has one, ensure that

the gauge’s needle indicates that

the pressure is in the proper oper-

ating range. Most of the time, the

correct pressure will be marked in

green on the gauge.

Examine your door and window

weather-stripping and caulking and

improve them as needed. Upgrad-

ing your weather-stripping is one

of the most cost eff ective ways to

improve comfort and lower your

heating costs.

If you have a problem with con-

densation on your windows in cold

weather, control the humidity level

(use bathroom and kitchen exhaust

fans) and raise the glass tempera-

ture by keeping blinds and curtains

open and the heat on in all rooms.

(604) 850-9647

www.mollymaid.ca

Contact us today for a free, no-obligation, in-home estimate:

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Open Houses, Post Construction and Staging Cleans

Move-in/Move-out Cleans DaleKlerKler604.615.6598

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Offi ce: [email protected]

®

Little Oak RealtyIndependently Owned and Operated

THE RIGHT CHOICE!Life is full of choices...make me one of them!


Abbotsford parks a nd tra ilsoff er endless exploration

Nature is a source of pride for

Abbotsford, evident by the number

of well-maintained trails, parks and

playgrounds available in the area.

“We have 157 parks in Abbotsford

along with 66 sports fi elds and

numerous trails and hiking paths –

including the city-wide Discovery

Trail network that winds its way

across our entire city,” says Abbots-

ford Mayor, Henry Braun.

Whether you prefer to walk, run,

bike, or rollerblade, the extensive

trail system is perfect for a day out-

side and is a chance to marvel at the

many ponds, creeks, towering trees

and meadows right in your neigh-

borhood.

“People love to have a place to

experience the outdoors and we

have such a wonderful variety all

across our community,” says Yvonne

Hayden, Director of Business Devel-

opment at Tourism Abbotsford.

What’s yourhome worth?

Call today for your freemarket evaluation.

604.615.0619

[email protected] | anthonydehaan.com

® Little OakRealty

My Focus TodayYour Equity Tomorrow.

Call me for a FREEMarket Evaluation

Nancy OlsonSales Associate

Medallion Club Member

®

Little Oak Realty Ltd.Each Offi ce Independently owned and Operated

604.820.0555www.nancyolson.ca


The Tourism Abbotsford website

contains extensive profi les on each

of the trails, including features,

amenities, and detailed information

about what makes each location

special and worth exploring.

The Albert Dyck Trail:

The dog-friendly trail provides a

leisurely stroll around the outer rim

of an average sized man-made lake,

which hosts the Abbotsford ski club.

Delair Park:

Off ering paved and gravel terrain;

the park has a covered picnic area,

playground, tennis courts, soccer

and football fi elds, and baseball

diamond.

Downes Bowl Trail at Clearbrook

Park

There is lots of activity here, with

mountain bike trails, soccer fi elds,

cross-country running and a base-

ball diamond all adjacent to the

main walking trail.

Ellwood Park:

Known primarily for its baseball dia-

monds, fi eld lights and scoreboard,

this is the perfect place to catch

a game. There is also a large play-

ground onsite.

Fishtrap Creek Trail

This trail has an abundance of

nature including creeks, wetlands,

and islands. There are many look-

out points to enjoy fi sh and wildlife

spotting, as well as picnic shelters

that overlook the water.

McKay Creek Trail:

Walk, jog or ride a bike, this pet-

friendly trail is ideal to get active or

enjoy a stroll with the family. Inter-

esting facts about the area, includ-

ing the fl ood of 1990, can be found

along the way.

Mill Lake Trail Loop:

It’s the ultimate wildlife walk, with

plenty of ducks, geese, and eagles

in their natural habitat. There are

several playgrounds and a water-

park for children.

Willband Creek Trail at Willbank

Creek Park:

This park has two small lakes, a vari-

ety of trees, and beautiful views of

surrounding mountains. Plus, it’s

located near blueberry fi elds, Lepp

Farm Market and Historic Clayburn

Village.

Explore them all or pick a couple of

favorite trails to revisit. Whichever

you choose and during whatever

season you prefer, the joys of the

great outdoors in Abbotsford are

always available just beyond your

doorstep.

For more information, visit

tourismabbotsford.ca

ProfessionalAssurance Since 2006

www.WestCoastHomeInspections.net

Arne Larsen604.897.2763

[email protected]

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12 REAL ESTATE RESOURCE GUIDE THE ABBOTSFORD NEWS 13


Courtesy of Daniel Grice, a convey-

ancing and estate planning lawyer at

Integra Law Group in Abbotsford.

Buying a home can feel like a rol-

lercoaster ride. You spend months

fi nding the perfect home, locking in

a mortgage rate, and fi nally remov-

ing all of the subjects. Closing is just

a few legal considerations away:

Costs: If this is your fi rst home and

under $500K, you may qualify for a

fi rst time home buyer’s grant, oth-

erwise you will need to set aside an

extra 1-2% of the purchase price for

the Property Transfer Tax (PTT). In

addition to your down payment,

you may need additional funds for

legal fees, home and title insurance,

property taxes, strata fees, and GST

(on new homes).

Title: Property law allows owners

to register as either joint tenants or

tenants-in-common on title. I often

recommend couples purchase

a home in “joint tenancy”, which

means if one owner dies the survi-

vor receives the home without hav-

ing to probate a will. Some fi rst time

home buyers purchase the home

in one spouse’s name to preserve

the other’s fi rst time home buy-

ers grant. If one spouse previously

owned a home, you may purchase

property as “tenants-in-common”

with one spouse owning 99%, so

the previous owner only pays PTT

on 1%. Tenants-in-common do not

automatically inherit a home, rather

it will fall under a will or intestacy

rules.

Trust Agreements: Some seniors

put a child on title to avoid probate

fees down the road (there are risks).

Blended families with children from

previous relationships may look at

ways of letting their spouse con-

tinue to live in the house, while still

ensuring their own children receive

a fair share of the estate. In both

cases, a lawyer can draft a trust

agreement to state what should

happen to the home on death,

including when the home should

be sold and requiring the proceeds

of the sale to be fairly divided

amongst children and/or step-chil-

dren.

Power of Attorney: As a real estate

lawyer, I recommend anyone pur-

chasing a home have an enduring

Power of Attorney (POA). Spouses

often assume they can sign sale or

refi nancing forms for each other.

However, under the Land Title

Act, each owner requires a POA or

an expensive court order if either

owner becomes incapacitated.

I often remind clients that your

home may be your family’s inheri-

tance, so pay attention to your title.

Daniel Grice • Joshua Bach • Clayton Loewena small firm with great service

No Will? Old Will? Call us: 604.859.7187

101-2776 Bourquin Crescent W., Abbotsford | integralaw.ca | 604.859.7187

Wills and CodicilsProbating EstatesPower of AttorneysDisability Trusts

Representation AgreementsCohabitation Agreements

Business SuccessionsNotarizations and more...& Real Estate Transactions

Home Ownership:Who’s on title?


Whether this is your fi rst home

or fourth, really understanding

your mortgage and how it works

is crucial. After all, it’ll probably be

the biggest loan of your life!

What Is a Mortgage?

In the most basic sense a mortgage

is a loan to buy a property. The

process of securing a mortgage

means lender approval based on

your income, credit rating and

other debt.

Understand Your Fixed Costs

Before you decide what you can –

or should – spend on a mortgage

it’s important to take stock of your

habits and your true fi xed costs. Be

honest with yourself when putting

together your household budget,

if you’re going to be miserable

without your daily premium cup

of coff ee, then along with your

student debt and car payments,

consider that a fi xed cost.

Be PITH Safe

According to the CHMC (Canadian

Housing & Mortgage Corpora-

tion), your monthly housing costs

should be less than 32% of your

gross monthly income. These are

considered your PITH or Principle

and Interest (of your mortgage

payments), Property Tax, and

Heating bills.

Get A Mortgage You Can Aff ord

If you pass the PITH test, the

second test of what you can aff ord

mortgage-wise is that your entire

monthly debt load (car payments,

credit card debt, student loans,

etc) should be less than 40% of

your gross monthly income. The

CMHC even has a handy Mortgage

Aff ordability Calculator on their

site: cmhc.ca.

Paying Off Your Mortgage

Once you’re approved for a mort-

gage and buy your home (congrat-

ulations!), now you have to actually

start paying off the loan. There

are several factors involved in this

like your interest rate, payment

schedule (monthly, twice a month,

every two weeks, or weekly) and

your amortization period, which is

the amount of time you’ve selected

to pay back the mortgage (usually

ranging from 15-25 years).

Picking The Right Interest Rate

The interest rate at which you

select to pay off your mortgage

varies from “fi xed”—whereby the

rate will NOT change for the term

of the mortgage, and is generally

a bit higher but considered more

stable, or “variable” whereby the

interest rate can fl uctuate with the

current state of the market.

Finally, owning a home can truly

be an amazing thing. Thankfully

there are many resources out there

to help make the process a smooth

one like mortgage brokers and

fi nancial advisors, so remember,

you’re never alone through this

daunting process!

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GORD HOUWELINGGord Houweling was born and raised in the Fraser Valley. For 30 years he and his wife Betty, and their 4 children, dairy farmed in Chilliwack. In 2001, Gord was approached by Greg Walton to join the BC Farm and Ranch Realty Corp team.Gord made the choice to join BC Farm and Ranch – BC’s Leader in Agricultural Proper-ties; a decision easily made because that is where his roots and knowledge lie. Over the years he has used his knowledge and exper-tise of various types of farming to list farms and ranches for sale across British Columbia as well as fi nding the perfect property or agri-business for prospective buyers and investors.Gord will provide his clients with honesty, knowledge, and expertise; and is proud to be your British Columbia agriculture connection.tion.

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Improve Your Credit Score

Courtesy of Vancity Credit Union

When you are buying a home,

your credit rating (or score) is very

important in the approval process.

The higher your score is, will also

mean you can receive the best

interest rates available to you. Many

buyers are unaware of their score –

good or bad. The fi rst step is to check

into your credit score to make sure it

is accurate, and secondly to fi nd out

what your rating actually is. You can

obtain your credit information on

line, or through your fi nancial insti-

tution. If you have had issues in the

past which has aff ected your credit

rating, here are a few ways to bring

it back to a better standing.

Make all your monthly payments no

matter how small.

Many people think that if they make

a larger payment then necessary

in one month then they are not

required to make a payment the

following month – this could not be

further from the truth – you must

make a payment each and every

month unless your balance owing is

paid in full.

Always make your payments by the

date required, any day after that

may result in a mark against your

credit.

Do not go over your credit limit, this

will automatically result in a credit

score reduction (this also includes

any interest charges).

Keep credit seeking to a minimum.

Each time you fi ll out a credit appli-

cation the creditor will do a credit

check - multiple checks in a short

period of time, may lower your

credit score.

If you have never obtained a loan,

or a credit card, you will need to fi nd

a way to establish credit by either

using a co-signer for a loan or taking

a credit card with a low limit until

you have proven yourself as credit

worthy.


[email protected]

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LITTLE OAK REALTY

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FREE EVALUATIONS CALL JOHN

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Why not give theWhy not give the BALLBALL a CALLCALL??

Carole Ball

www.caroleball.com604.859.2341

TOP 3% OF REALTORS IN THE FRASER VALLEY BOARD (F.V.R.E.B.)

RE/MAX Little Oak Realty #9 - 2630 Bourquin Cr. West, Abbotsford

EACH OFFICE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED

Courtesy of Allen Unrau,

Landmark Realty

“Aging in Place” is what’s happening

now with the Boomer generation.

They don’t seem to want to pick

their suite in Seniors Housing any-

time soon.

Aging in place is all about keeping

their independence. (like in the

1960s and 70s)

In other words, they have decided

to stay in their present home, as

they grow old.

This means they may need to make

some design changes and modifi -

cations.

So, will a modifi ed home be harder

to sell when they actually need to

move on?

Here’s the good news for Boomers

and Seniors:

As the population wave ages, uni-

versal design for “aging in place”

will become more of the norm, and

modifi ed homes may even become

more desirable than those without

the appropriate changes.

In fact it might actually increase the

resale value of a good percentage

of homes in the near future as the

huge population of Boomers turn

into Seniors.

Here are the basics of “Aging in

Place design”

■ ”Backing” in place to easily install

grab bars in the future

■ Changing soaker tubs to walk-in

showers

■ Slightly taller toilets

■ Slip resistant fl ooring in rooms

with faucets

■ Additional lighting in certain

rooms

■ Adjustable height countertops in

bathrooms and kitchens

■ ”Wheelchair-friendly” doorways

and bathroom fl oor plans

Funny thing is ..... most of these

modifi cations would also suit a

younger family as well.

Will remodeling your house for “Aging in Place”:

destroy its value?


Courtesy of Sita Mulder

Valley Realty

I am sure you have heard hor-

ror stories of rental homes being

trashed, tenants not moving out,

items being abandoned, and lots of

clean up. It is a very real risk when

purchasing a home that is occu-

pied by a tenant. A rental property

is like buying any other property, it

comes with some real risks. Educat-

ing yourself of your responsibility

will be crucial to ensure you have

a smooth transition to home own-

ership.

In order to be protected when pur-

chasing a property that has tenants

for the purpose of your own family

to reside in, it is so important to

make sure that you or your real-

tor representative is educated in

regards to the Residential Tenancy

Act, when written in your contract

of purchase and sale you can ensure

that the Seller has provided proper

notice to the tenant (in accordance

with the Residential Tenancy Act),

and that the required compensa-

tion comes from the sellers/land-

lord pocket, and not yours, the new

buyers, pocket!

If a rental property is sold, there are

two ways a tenancy can be ended

if, in good faith, the buyer plans to

occupy the unit or use the property

for another purpose:

1. The buyer makes a written

request to the seller to end the

Know your rights a nd obligations

when purchasing a rented property!


604.855.7393abbyhomes.ca

LighthouseR E A L T Y L T D

Service thatexceeds

expectations. Always.

JOANNEBANDSTRA604-807-4290 | abbyhomes.ca

Conrad Warkentin Michael Burke Kam Grewal

Providing legal services in the PrPrPrPrPrPPrPrPrrPrPrPrPrProvovovovovovovovovovovovovovididididididddididididdininininininininininininngggggggggggggg leleleleleleleeeeeeegagagagagagagagagagagagagagallllllll seseseseseseseseseseseseservrvrvrvrvrvrvrvrvrvrvrvicicicicicicicicicicicicccesesesesesesesesesesesese iiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnn thththhththththtththththeeeeeeeeeeeeeFraser Valley for over 50 years. PPrPrrrPrrovovovoovovovididididddiddinininnninininnngggggggggggg leleleelelegagagagagggggagagg llllll sesseseseeses rvrrvrvrvrviciciciccicci eseseseseses iiiiiiinnnnnn thhththththhhtheeeeeeFrFrFrrrrFrasasasasasasasasasasasasasa ereeeeerrereereree VVVVVVVVVVValaalalalaalaalaaaalleleeeeeleeeeeleey yyyyyyyyyy foofofofoofofofoooorrr ovovovovovovovovovovovovo ererereerereereeree 55555555555550 0000000000000 yeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeearararararararaaraaara s.s.s.s.ss.s.s.s.ss.s.s.FrFrFrFrFrFrFrrrrrF asasasasasasasasasssererererererererererere VVVVVVVVVVVValalallalallalalala leleleleleleleleeeeyyyyyyyyyyy fofofofofofofoffoffoffoorrrrrrrrrr ovovovovovovovovovovovoverererererererreereee 5555555550000000000 yeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeyeeyearararararararararrrrssssssssssfofofofofooooofoor rrrrrr ovoovovooovovovoo

Our experienced lawyers are ready to assist you with the following matters: o Buying and selling real estate

o Real estate development o Incorporating a company o Wills and powers of attorney o Business transactions and contracts

33832 South Fraser Way Abbotsford, B.C. V2S 2C5

(604) 859-7171

www.rosborough.com(604) 859-7171

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tenancy before they take pos-

session of the property (this can-

not be a condition of sale) – the

existing landlord then must give

their tenant a Two Month Notice

to End Tenancy for Landlord’s

Use of Property.

2. Once the buyer takes possession

of the property, they can serve a

Two Month Notice to End Ten-

ancy for Landlord’s Use of Prop-

erty. With this option you, the

buyer are now the landlord.

As a buyer of a rented home, in order

to protect yourself and your family,

educate yourself, and ensure that a

qualifi ed representative is ensuring

the proper dates and clauses are

put into your purchase agreement.

When purchasing a rented property

make sure the suffi cient days have

been negotiated for the completion

and possession date, or you may be

taking over a rented home.

Important questions you as a

Buyer of a rented property should

ask your agent or the seller/sellers

agent when purchasing a rental or

previously rented property;

■ Was there a formal tenancy

agreement?

■ Was there a formal walk through

inspection completed?

■ Was there a security deposit col-

lected from the tenant?

■ Are you as the buyer allowing

suffi cient time for the tenant to

vacate the home?

■ Is the seller/landlord preforming

a fi nal walk out inspection with

the tenant?

■ Is the seller/landlord ensuring

the home be left clean and clear

of debris, or tenant belongings?

■ Are you allowing suffi cient time

before your possession of the

home for the seller to clean the

property after the tenant has

vacated?

Knowing your rights and responsi-

bilities when purchasing a rented

property is what is going to ensure

your experience is a smooth one.

Keep in mind that home buying

should be fun, exciting, and an

extremely joyous time in your life.

Don’t let your experience be any-

thing less than that! Educate your-

self, know your responsibilities, and

ask the right questions.


MISS MILLYHOUSE CLEANING SERVICES

Walls / windows Move-in / move-out cleaning New home clean-up ICBC / DVA claims

Before / after party clean-up Real Estate sale clean-up Spring / Fall clean-up

*$15 off fi rst visit and $15 off third visit604-996-8470 missmil ly.ca

FREE ESTIMATES GIFT CERTIFICATES

$$3030offoff**

Call Duncan now to bookyour Home Inspection

604.864.1196Duncan Buss, RHI

Carpeting has long been a reliable

fl ooring option for home owners to

keep rooms looking good and feel-

ing comfortable underfoot. There’s

something to be said about having

a plush, warm cushion on the fl oors

of a home. Carpeting can help buf-

fer sounds and minimize injuries

from falls. Walking around on a

padded surface may minimize back

and joint pain as well as feel more

comfortable when going barefoot.

Despite all of the advantages to

carpeting, some people continue to

avoid it when doing renovations or

shopping for a new home for a vari-

ety of reasons, many of which are

rooted in myth.

Myth: Carpeting contributes to

allergens constantly circulating

throughout the home.

Fact: Carpeting is actually better

at trapping allergens and dust in its

fi bers than smooth-surface fl oors.

That means with carpeting, there

are fewer particles airborne and

circulating. Regular vacuuming can

remove trapped allergens.

Myth: Carpet is a source of indoor

air quality problems.

Fact: Regular cleaning and vacu-

uming of carpet reduces the num-

ber of allergens contained within,

which makes carpet no more likely

to contribute to air quality issues

than any other type of fl ooring.

Myth: Carpet has formaldehyde in

it.

Fact: Formaldehyde was removed

from the carpet-manufacturing

process in 1978. It is unlikely any-

one still has original carpeting from

35 years ago, and even if that is the

case, the formaldehyde would have

dissipated by now.

Myth: Carpeting is made from a

host of chemical products.

Fact: Carpeting is made largely

from nylon, wool, polypropylene

and polyester. These are the same

materials used in clothing, which

you wear against the skin. Polypro-

pylene is one of the safer plastics

that does not contain BPA and is

used in some baby bottles.

Myth: Mold grows under carpeting.

Fact: Unless you have a fl ood or a

leak that is keeping carpeting sat-

urated, mold will not grow during

regular use. Elevated humidity lev-

els in a home also may contribute to

mold growth. Remove the moisture

and you will avoid mold issues.

Myth: Thicker carpeting will wear

longer and better.

Fact: It is not the thickness or

plushness of the carpeting but the

density of the fi bers that will be a

telling clue of durability. Carpet that

is woven densely will last for many

years.

Myth: Carpeting can never be truly

clean.

Fact: No surface can be 100 per-

cent free from dirt. But with proper

cleaning, carpeting can be just as

clean as other fl ooring materials.

Common MythsAbout Carpeting


C U S T O M B U I L T R O W H O M E SS TA R T I N G AT $ 3 3 9 , 8 0 0

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C T M B I L T W H O E S

CUSTOM BUILT ROWHOMES/STARTING AT $339,800


BRICK ROWHOMESC U S T O M B U I L T R O W H O M E S

S TA R T I N G AT $ 3 3 9 , 8 0 0

Abbotsford / McCallum and Highway 1 / Showhomes open daily

ASTONROWHOMES.COM

real estate guide - october 30, 2015

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