Make your home more appealing for yourself and for potential buyers with these quick and easy tips:

1. Trim bushes so they don't block windows and cut down on light.

2. Buy a new doormat.

3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.

4. Put new doorknobs on your front door.

5. Put a fresh coating on your driveway.

6. Edge the grass around walks and trees.

7. Keep your garden tools out of site.

8. Be sure kids put away their toys.

9. Buy a new mailbox.

10. Upgrade your outside lighting.

11. Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.

12. Polish or replace your house numbers.

13. Clean your gutters.

14. Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.

15. Buy new pillows for the sofa.

16. Buy a flowering plant and put in a window you pass by frequently.

17. Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.

18. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones

      that let in more light.

19. Buy new towels.

20. Put a seasonal wreath on your door.

Want more tips?? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

Townhouses straddle the gap between family homes and condos. 

While townhouses have always been a third category of residential real estate, their scarcity has meant few opportunities for buyers to compare them to condos.

The main difference between a single-family detached house and a townhouse are the shared walls between units. The attached units are necessary because, as the name implies, most townhouses are found closer to town, where land values are typically higher than in the suburbs.

But what they give up in property size, they make up by being close to amenities.

"We chose our townhouse because of its proximity to downtown and the Cook Street Village," says Larry Sims, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Coast Capital - Oak Bay. "We had always talked about downsizing and this [property] is just a half-hour walk to downtown."

He and his wife, Sharen Warde, who is also a real estate agent, found out about the townhouse by chance while looking for a property for a client. "We went to get brochures and ended up buying one."

Townhouses are scarce because most developers can build more condos on a given piece of property, maximizing their profitability. In the case of Sims' development, the developer went for a "less is more" philosophy.

"When we looked at the property, we immediately saw that a low-rise, twostorey project would be ideal," says Mike Miller, president of Abstract Developments. "It had a more human scale from the street."

The low-rise scale also benefited the project's neighbours, since elimination of an extra storey meant their properties would receive more sunlight. "The design was sensitive to their concerns," said Miller.

"When the site was rezoned, we received overwhelming support from the community."

The property, named Terra Verde (Green Earth), has also won praise from the building community. It recently won a SAM award from the Canadian Home Builders Association and was a finalist in last year's CHBA Vancouver Island CARE Awards. The project is similar to Terra Rose, another townhouse project by Miller, which received a Gold Georgie Award for Best Townhouse Development in 2006.

The project is classified as executive West Coast Contemporary. The 16 units are each approximately 1,555 square feet, with three bedrooms and three baths.

Sims and Warde's townhouse features an open-concept living area on the main floor with two patios. The front patio is entertainment-sized and the rear is large enough for a bistro set and a small garden with space to grow herbs.

The master, second bedroom and laundry are on the upper floor, while a third bedroom or den is below. A skylight in the stairwell provides ideal lighting for paintings, creating an unexpected mini-gallery of the couple's art collection. Glass panels instead of balusters on the stairs allow occupants in the dining room a clear line of sight into the living room.

According to Sims, the only feature that might concern a potential buyer when they decide to sell would be the two flights of stairs. The property has a secured underground double garage, which is unusual. While desirable, it requires occupants to make a trek up and down to get to their vehicles.

But there are few properties offering parking for two vehicles downtown.

"There are plenty of condos in town, but none with parking for more than one vehicle," says Tony Joe, a real estate agent with Re/Max Camosun. "If that is an important factor for somebody considering downsizing with two vehicles, there are few options."

He estimates townhouses account for only 20 per cent of his business. One of the reasons may be because of cost.

A townhouse is more expensive to build because land is more expensive to procure downtown. An executive townhouse, with its higher-end features, even more so. For $800,000 - about the selling price of Warde and Sims' townhouse - a buyer can get a much larger house on the West Shore.

Joe says that $800,00 is at "the high end of the price range." But the former president of the Victoria Real Estate Board adds, "That's not to say it is overpriced. If this property was a single-family house in the same area, I estimate it would sell for about $1.2 million."

Due to the success of Terra Verde, Miller is planning another project in the area.

"Townhouses fill the need of the downsizer," says Miller. "They may be smaller than what they have been used to, but people seem to react positively to doing more with less - as long as it is in the heart of downtown."

Article provided by : The Victoria Times Colonist
Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Houses+city+living/6611503/story.html#ixzz1us9aBi4V

Selling your property and buying a new home can be a potentially intimidating experience... so much so that these jitters may even prevent some people from making a move!

It doesn't have to be that way.

A big part of the stress of selling and buying comes from not understanding the process or having unanswered questions. You might worry about how the state of the market will affect the value of your purchase over the long term or what you would do if you found your dream home before receiving any offers on your current property.

That's where a good REALTOR® comes in. He or she can explain the process to you, answer all your questions, and show you how to make your move go smoothly.

Looking for a good REALTOR®? Call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group today!!

Canadian employment rose by 58,000 jobs in April following a blockbuster March in which employment increased by 82,000. Despite large job gains in the past two months, the national unemployment rate edged up 0.1 points to 7.3 per cent as more Canadian were looking for work. 

Employment in British Columbia expanded by 19,700 in April, including 16,700 full-time positions. The BC unemployment rate fell by a surprising 0.8 points to 6.2 per cent. BC employment growth is up 2.1 per cent through the first four months of 2012, a marked improvement on the weak job growth of 2011. 

The Canadian economy has added 150,000 jobs over the past two Mont's, a rate of job growth that may firm up the Bank of Canada some decision to raise interest rates this Fall.  That said, we anticipate a gradual increase in rates with the Bank of Canada testing the water with one or two 25 basis points rate hikes over the fall and winter. 

Information provided by www.bcrea.bc.ca. 

Canadian housing starts soared 14 per cent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 244,900 units. The jump in starts was driven by a big increase in multiple-unit starts in Ontario and Quebec. New home construction in BC urban centres rose over 6 per cent from March 2012, registering 22,100 starts (SAAR) in April.  On a year-over-year basis, housing starts were 1.6 per cent lower than April 2011.

Housing starts were flat on a year-over-year basis in Vancouver at 1,332. A decline in single family starts of 19 per cent was offset by a 7 per cent increase in multi-family starts.  Abbotsford new home construction was up 60 per cent year-over-year in April due to increased activity in multi-family construction. New home construction in Victoria was off 5 cent compared with April 2011.  Finally, new home construction in Kelowna fell 51 per cent on a year-over-year basis due to much weaker activity in both the single-family and multi-family segment of the market.

Information provided by http://www.bcrea.bc.ca/. 

Most people feel confident about the basics of home security. For example: Keep all doors locked. Have a light on in the house while away. Never hide a key outside in an obvious place, like under the mat.

• Yet, almost a million and a half properties get burglarized in North America each year. So how can you prevent that from happening to your home? Here are a few less known home security basics:
• Actually, never hide a key outside. Thieves know all the hiding places. Instead, make sure all family members have a key.
• Two-thirds of home burglaries occur during the day. So be extra vigilant about making sure doors and windows are locked while you're away during the day.
• Surprisingly, most thieves are not daring. They are 2.7 times more likely to target a home without an alarm system.
• Thieves will attempt to force entry through sliding-style doors and windows first. So make sure these have a locking bar or extra bolt lock.
• Surprising, 40% of household burglaries do not involve forced entry. The thief is able to slip in through an unlocked window or door.
• Don't show off possessions! An imported racing bike parked next to the garage, or expensive audio equipment clearly seen through a window, is an invitation to burglars.
• Take a look at the lighting and landscaping around your property. Are there spots where a thief could easily hide? If so, make some changes.
• When planning a trip, have a trusted neighbour pick up newspapers, flyers and anything else that may accumulate at your door.

Your local police department may have more tips and special programs for keeping your home secure. Give them a call. For all your real estate questions, call the Dion-Ivans Real Estate Group!!

The housing market has not yet rebounded to pre-recession prices, when buyers seemed to be stepping over one another to bid up the price of homes. Today's sellers may be lucky to get asking price, with the reality being a certain percentage below. However, that doesn't mean sellers should accept bottom-of-the-barrel offers. There are still ways to get the best price possible on an offered home.

With sellers hoping to get the most possible for a home and buyers interested in spending the least, it's sometimes a battle of wills when it comes to hashing out a confirmed price in the world of real estate. Sellers who wonder whether they'll struggle to get a good offer can hedge their bets in the right direction by employing a few strategies.

- What you see is what you get: It's difficult to change first impressions. If a potential buyer pulls up to a home that doesn't give them "warm and fuzzy" feelings immediately, it may be hard to eventually sway opinion of the home even if it's pristine on the inside. Individuals do judge a book by its cover, which means that effort should be put into making a home's exterior as appealing as possible. Landscaping should be neat and lush. There shouldn't be any obstacles leading to the front of the home. Items that look in disrepair should be mended. Curb appeal does matter.

- Use a real estate agent: Many people forgo this step, thinking they can sell their home just as well without an agent and not have to pay commission in the process. A real estate agent is schooled in the process of negotiating the price of an offered home. In fact, the more a home's selling price, the higher the agent's profit. That's incentive right there. Furthermore, agents know the average prices of similar homes and can help a seller price and market a property correctly. That may add up to a faster sale (and a better offer).

- Price it competitively: Some sellers think the higher they price their home the more money they'll get for it. The fact is, the longer an overpriced home sits on the market, the less appealing it will appear to buyers. Individuals looking for a home may repeatedly see the listing and wonder what's wrong with the home. Even if it's the best home in the neighborhood, it may be seen as a red flag that's best avoided.

- Give people what they want: Buyers often prefer updated kitchens and bathrooms. Most buyers out there are not looking for "handyman specials." They want a relatively turn-key property. A kitchen or bathroom that is an eyesore can repel potential buyers. Home shoppers may be more inclined to go closer to asking price if some of the bigger-ticket items are already completed.

- Don't be an open book: If a buyer knows that time is of the essence or the home is "priced to sell," he or she may sense that desperation, almost guaranteeing a low-ball offer. Sellers shouldn't let on too much about their reasons for selling or make it seem like they'll be in dire straights if the home doesn't sell quickly. Selling a home under duress is not likely to cause prospective buyers to pony up.

- Don't be afraid to counter-offer: A buyer who is excited to get an offer on a home in a slow market, but feels the offer is below value, should definitely counter-offer. While the buyer may not accept the counter, he or she may make another offer that is more to the seller's liking

Information provided by EMC News. Call the Dion-Ivans Group today for more information!!

These days, homes are at a greater risk of water damage than ever before. Heavier precipitation and less predictable weather patterns increase the chance of unwanted water entering our homes.

Water damage is serious business. It is a drain – financially, emotionally, even physically. Just one inch is all it takes to destroy sentimental or irreplaceable items, or to create structural damage that can depreciate the value of your home. The bacteria and mold it can leave in its wake can affect air quality in your home and create potential health risks.

The best way to deal with water damage is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

Here are some easy things you can do outside your home to help keep you safe and dry.

• Disconnect downspouts from the municipal sewer system. Extend downspouts at least 6 feet away from your basement walls and drain away from your house towards the street or backyard..

• Install a rain barrel to minimize the amount of surface water that could enter your home

• Grade the earth or hard surfaces around your home to slope away from your foundation.

• Before temperatures drop to freezing, turn off the water supply to outdoor taps and faucets, then open the taps to drain the water completely. Leave taps in the open position until spring.

• Keep gutters and downspouts clear of leaves and other debris – clean them out at least once a year – late fall is a good time.

With a little know-how and some routine maintenance, you can stay ahead of the wave and keep unwanted water out.

Information provided by: Craig Hostland of Pilar To Post - 250-765-4134   

1. Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually 2-4 weeks ahead of the move.
2. Notify our charge cards, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.
3. Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the  move.
4. Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.
5. Cancel the newspaper.
6. Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
7. Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
8.  Note the weight of the goods you’ll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight. Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.
9. Check with your condo or co-op about restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits.
10. Have a “first open” box with the things you’ll need most—toilet paper, soap, trash bags, scissors,hammer,screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.

Plus, if you’re moving out of town:

1. Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family and your pets. 
2. Get copies of children’s school records for transfer.
3. Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.
4. Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.
5. Let a friend or relative know your route.
6. Carry traveler’s checks or an ATM card for ready cash until you can open a bank account.
7. Empty your safety deposit box.
8. Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you’re moving in cold weather.