Rick White Sutton Group West Coast Realty

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Helpful New Buyer Hints

Scout The Neighborhood Before Buying

Choose a neighbourhood that matches your desires and needs. Visit area on three separate occasions (Saturday, Sunday and Monday) and at different times of the day. Ask neighbors about the neighborhood city services, schools, shopping, recreation, noise, safety, traffic flow etc.. 

If You Purchase A "Fixer Upper" Tackle one project at a time

The temptation when you buy an older home is to try to do too much at one time. Fixing the porch, remodelling the kitchen, replacing the fence, updating the bathroom, re-doing the landscaping and painting might be too much to try at one time. fence. Before you know it, you and your family may find yourself NOT enjoying your new home for an extended period of time because your entire house AND yard up. Ultimately it will all come together, but there may be a lot of added stress with everything going on at once.


Keep a Homeowner's Journal

Purchase and maintain a journal record of repairs, invoices, plans/sketches, estimates and all other paperwork pertaining to the house in it. Storing all your house information in one handy place makes life easier for the homeowner and can be a sales 'plus' when selling the house later.

Get to know your house before making big changes

It is suggested that you live in and enjoy your new home for 12 to 18 months before planning and undertaking any major renovations. Keep a running record of desired changes and adjust over time. As you get to know your surroundings, you may find that your perceptions of what needs to be renovated may change.

Check the furnace filter and in "nooks and crannys"

Checking behind the furnace filter, bathroom fan motors, underneath appliances, in attics spaces, in crawl spaces, behind the furnace, under sinks, behind drawer and doors, behind hedges and other less visible locations may reveal whether the previous owner took care of regular maintenance.

Don't be afraid to DIY [Do It Yourself]

Tell yourself it is OKAY to try some repairs and renovations yourself. Many household jobs are manageable with a little ingenuity, elbow greese, research and a few simple tools. Success may vary, but you can always bring in a professional tradesperson to correct or finish a job. Often, you will complete the job quite nicely while saving money, learning a new skill and enjoying a great sense of accomplishment.

Finish projects . . . Now

Make sure you use the proper tools and follow the old adage of "Good" "Better" "Best" when purchasing materials. Complete or get help to finish avery project in a timely manner so you can enjoy the results. Don't learn to live with incomplete projects. The last couple of pieces of trim can linger for years!

Budget for trouble

When you buy an older home, check out the furnace, hot water tank, plumbing, wiring, windows, doors, roof, gutters and other structural attributes. Not everytning will need to be replaced right away, but be sure to lay out both short and long range plans for addressing items that will need attention. Repairing the funrace before it fails in winter, or replacing the hot water tank before you have guests in the home will be apprciated by all. Having a plan will allow you to set priorities while making repairs and adjustments in a timely manner without being a financial shock.

Verify everything

It is important to insist on full written disclosure from the seller about remodeling, repairs, old damage, leaks, mold and other elements that are signficant to your safety and comfort in your new home. Check with the city authorities regarding the property permit history, zoning, prior uses, homeowners' association restrictions and anything else you can find out.


Try to get a home warranty or price reduction for anticipated issues

 
A warranty can save you from unanticipated expenses related to a faulty dishwasher, inefficient furnace, plumbing leaks and roof issues.

Offer to buy the tools and yard equipment too

Buying a home from owners who are downsizing may give you the opportunity to purchase garden tools, tractors, snow blowers and other needed tools in general.

 
 
  
 
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Kitchen Design Considerations:

Designing or remodelling a kitchen can be a daunting task. Whether you’re starting from scratch, completely refurbishing or making a few minor renovations, some basic know-how and handy tips will help make your kitchen design project a success.

  • Stay focused on your needs and lifestyle
  • Choose complimentary cabinets, counters, appliances, furniture and lighting
  • Choose design elements for comfort and design
  • Aim for a combination of function and style

Today's kitchen remains the heart of the home, the social hub where family and friends gather to

eat, meet, relax and celebrate.


A traditional kitchen kithcen layout should have three basic work centres or "stations":

  • Food preparation area
  • Cooking area
  • Clean-up area
Kitchen Layout
  • When planning kitchen layout it is important to observe the natural "flow" in the kitchen.
  • In what order are tasks done?
  • How many people cook or prepare food at the same time?
  • When you come home from shopping, you put the food away in the fridge and the pantry.
  • Later, you take it out to rinse it, chop it and prepare it, then you cook it on the stovetop or in the oven.
  • Finally, you serve it at the table.
  • If the work stations are arranged to follow this order, your kitchen tasks are made easier.
  • If more than one person is cooking or preparing food at the same time, a double sink will prove very useful. 

The triangle and other functional shapes 

  • For many years, kitchen designers used the triangle principle as the ideal layout.
  • Three most important elements in a kitchen – the refrigerator, cooktop and sink
  • Thess elements should be laid out so that each represents one of the points of a triangle.
  • Ideally the total perimeter of the triangle, should be between 15 and 26 feet.
  • No distance should be longer than 9 feet
  • The shortest distance between the sink and the cooktop – should be between 4 and 6 feet.
  • Traffic flow through the kitchen should not pass through the work-triangle area.

Open Plan Kitchens

  • Popularity of open-plan kitchens has led designers to rethink the idea.
  • Current trend is to merge the kitchen with the adjoining dining room
  • Many new homes are built on this model
  • Traffic flows more freely
  • Easier to manage tasks
  • Open space lets in plenty of natural light.
  • People can circulate freely and are not confined by four walls.
  • Open-plan kitchens are often laid out in an "L" or "C" shape, occasionally an "F" shape. 

Choosing the right appliances

  • Choose carefully to meet your family's varied real needs.
  • Kitchen appliances should be arranged in a logical layout
  • The oven should ideally be near the pots and pans,
  • The refrigerator close to the pantry
  • Space permitting, a popular choice is to have a separate cooktop and a wall oven
  • Choice of range hood must be suitable for the type of cooking, whether electric, gas or induction.
  • The location of your hood will depend on whether or not it is vented to the outside.
  • The style of hood has an impact on the overall look of the kitchen
  • Consider microwave placement depending on frequency of use, cooking style and physical attributes
  • Dishwashers raised by about a foot for easier access. 
  • Wine fridges are another lifestyle trend that is strongly influencing kitchen design 

Lighting

  • Pot lights are popular because they are always in style and can be dimmed to change the mood.
  • They are perfect for the ceiling and above the sink, as well as under cabinets.
  • Dimmable pendant lamps are a good idea over an island or peninsula
  • Above the table, a striking chandelier will add 'wow' factor and echo the style of the dining room. 

Finishing touches: designers’ trade secrets

  • An efficient kitchen is a well-organized kitchen.
  • Pull-out spice racks
  • Wall-mount utensil racks
  • Slide-out shelves for pots and pans drawers
  • Soft-close dampers for cabinet doors
  • Be mindful of the move toward universal design
  • Kitchen designers are increasingly incorporating a walk-in pantry. 
  • A small countertop may be included to keep the coffee machine and toaster out of sight. 

Materials and colour

  • Have fun choosing your decor style.
  • Large floor tiles lend a contemporary feel
  • Mouldings around the ceiling create a more classic look
  • Pale colours will make the room appear larger.
  • Durable, noble materials like wood and natural stone make sensational countertops. 
  • Renovating the kitchen is an investment.
  • A well-designed kitchen that is both chic and functional will increase your home's resale value.

Call, text or email anytime for help wth your real estate nee


Mobile: 604.828.3847                eMail: rwhite@sutton.com                 www.rswproperties,ca

 

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Guiding Principles For Owners of Tenanted Residential Properties

www.rswproperties.ca          rwhite@sutton.com

 

  • Treat the property as a business. Dont think that ll you need to do is buy it, rent it and forget it.  Decisions will need to be made from time to time regarding maintenance and upgrades, rent reviews, new leases, etc. Even if you hire a property manager that will do the work, they can only do what is instructed.
  • Unwittingly breaking a law. Make sure you understand landlord laws, your responsibilities and liabilities, and the ins and outs of leases.
  • Get pre-approved first. Talk to a mortgage expert before you start your search so you know how much you can qualify for and you know what you are going to require.
  • Factor in running costs. Consider all of the related costs of ownership including, bu tno tlimited to insurance, property taxes, repairs, special levies and strata fees if applicable.
  • Work with a buyer’s agent. Work with a trusted real estate agent that has experience and knowledge on buying investment properties. Buying an investment property is about numbers while buying your own home is about an emotional purchase.
  • Do not buy a property sight unseen. Conduct a personal site inspection yourself, or have your real estate agent who knows exactly what you want. This is a big investment surely you can take the time to inspect it.
  • Check out the property adequately. Having the property professionally inspected can help avoid unexpected expenses. There are many potential problems with any home that you are not likely to pick up yourself.
  • Have access to enough funds to cover unexpected expenses. Plan for emerging issues such as the property sitting vacant for a period of time, budget for mortgage payments in the event that they increase and have access to lines of credit or cash to cover the cost of a new roof or furnace.
  • Establish and follow a proper and efficient maintenance schedule. All properties have fixtures and fittings that wear out or are damaged whihc is why you should haave a preventative maintenance routine.
  • Have a long range plan for your investment. If you expect to get rich quick, you may be tempted to set the rent too high and lose your tenants. Research comparable property rent rates and be reasonable.
  • Do not become a slave to the property. Decide how much your time means to you. If your investment property becomes a second full time job, is it really worth it? Factor in the cost of a property management company, if necessary.
  • Check the property and tenants periodically. Ask for references and follow them up. Run credit checks. If applicable, drive by the prospect’s current property and see how well it’s cared for.
  • Conduct regular financial analysis. All business owners regularly review their financials by creating monthly and annual statements of receipts and expenditures. Conduct an annual market appraisal to see how the value of the property is going. Sometimes it is strategic to sell off some assets and purchase new ones. 
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