March 2008

Two Easy Vancouver Home Improvements For a Faster Sale

by Maggie Chandler March 31, 2008 How We Market Your Home for Sale

Paint is your best improvement investment for getting a greater return on your money

Paint makes the whole property smell clean and neat.
If your house has chips, exposed wood or looks faded, it is time to paint.
If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated or an unusual colour, you may need to seriously consider replacing …

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Lions Gate Bridge Plunged into Darkness for Earth Hour

by Maggie Chandler March 30, 2008

The Aussies are basking in the success of Earth Hour, which was started in Sydney in 2007.

This year it started in Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday, to raise awareness that generating electricity from coal and oil that produce greenhouse gases which are contributing to climate change.

The lights shut down over 14 time zones and 25 countries, …

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Six Pre-Closing Expenses To Remember

by Maggie Chandler March 29, 2008 Buyers

Closing costs are a big part of the condo buyer’s budget but many buyers forget the pre-closing costs, which add up.

Are you hiring a mover? Most people do! Do you select a national company or the local hood guy? Or rent a truck and do it yourself
What insurance does the moving company carry? If you …

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Earth Hour In Vancouver

by Maggie Chandler March 28, 2008

On March 29, 2008 at 8pm join millions of people around the world by making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

All the City of Vancouver, B.C. Hydro and Vancity buildings have already committed to powering down for Earth Hour and …

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What You Should Know About the New FINTRAC Regulations

by Maggie Chandler March 28, 2008 Buyers

Starting June 23, 2008, changes to the federal Proceeds of Crime Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act impact how Realtors and their brokers conduct business.

FINTRAC The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, is the Federal Government Agency created to provide suspicious transaction information to police and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

FINTRAC collects and …

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Should I Sell First And Then Buy? Or Vice-Versa?

by Maggie Chandler March 27, 2008 Common Questions

It’s a first time sellers dilemma for Vancouver home owners.

A client called me last month and told me they’d had a baby and wished to move up to a larger condo. When I met her at a place she wished to view, we had an extensive conversation about the best way for her to get …

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Wordless Wednesdays

by Maggie Chandler March 26, 2008 Wordless Wednesdays

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Get Rid of Vancouver Realtor’s Conflict of Interest Once and For All

by Maggie Chandler March 26, 2008 First Time Buyers

Limited Dual Agency refers to a realtor representing both the Buyer and Seller in a Vancouver real estate transaction.

Unfortunately, not all Realtors fully co-operate, as set out under the MLS code of ethics, particularly when they have an opportunity to make double the commission. In many cases, they give our industry a bad reputation.

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Give Me One Minute – and I’ll Give You Three Secrets About Malcolm MacLean

by Maggie Chandler March 25, 2008 Coal Harbour

Malcolm A. MacLean was the first elected mayor of Vancouver, founded Stanley Park and the Vancouver Real Estate Board.

Let’s recognize a famous Vancouverite!

Born in Scotland in 1844 he lived in Ontario, Winnipeg (before the CPR) and had a summer home in Saskatchewan. He died in 1895.

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Here’s a Quick Way to Improve Vancouver’s Water Quality

by Maggie Chandler March 24, 2008

North Vancouver’s Capilano Creek was dammed in 1888.

This was two years after Vancouver was founded. “Former CPR surveyor George Alexander Keefer (1836-1912) (Keefer Street in Tinseltown) and his partners incorporated the Vancouver Waterworks Company. His nephew, George Henry Keefer, hiked up into the mountains of the North Shore looking for a suitable water source. He found …

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