Archived blog posts for : 2016

The Cost of Waiting to Buy a Home - December, 2016

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Darin Germyn

Posted in: Cost of Waiting to Buy , Darin Germyn , Macdonald Realty LTD , Waiting a Year to Buy a Home

Did you hold off purchasing a home for whatever reason?

Saving some more money for a down payment?
Waiting for a raise at work?
Exiting a rental agreement?

The average detached home in the Fraser Valley (Abbotsford all the way to North Delta) in the last calendar month, year over year, went up over 30.5% from November 2015 to November 2016.

Check out the infographic below.

The biggest question potential purchasers want to ask themselves is, "Is waiting really the best option?"

If you are saving for a down payment, can you save more in a year than the property's price is raising? Likely not...

The numbers are staggering and intimidating, yet the best thing you can do is know what is possible in your current situation. Have you talked to a bank or mortgage professional about financing? Have you spoke with your Realtor regarding a purchase? If not, now may be a good time to get pointed in the right direction.

Until next time,

Darin

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How to Watch Out for Poisons in Your Home

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Darin Germyn

Posted in: Chemicals , Darin Germyn , Macdonald Realty LTD , Poisons

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90% of exposures to poisons occur inside the home. Almost all are preventable, if you follow some simple guidelines.

Look for the poison label on products you buy. Visually, it’s a skull and cross bones, often (but not always) with the word POISON above it.
Don’t make assumptions. Sometimes a seemingly innocuous product, like a shampoo, can contain poison or other ingredients which are harmful if swallowed.
Avoid mixing different cleaning products together. When chemicals are combined, they change. Combining some cleaning products can even create toxic fumes.
Keep all medication, even the non-prescription kind, out of reach of children. Never leave medicine on the bathroom counter.
Never use pesticides inside the home unless the product is clearly labeled for indoor use. Then, use only as directed.
Never use a charcoal grill or barbeque indoors, no matter how well ventilated you think you’ve made it. Doing so can easily cause carbon monoxide poisoning.

One final tip. Pay attention to the expiry date of products, especially cosmetics and cleaning liquids. As chemicals age, they change and can emit harmful fumes.

Until next time,

Darin

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What Does a Property Surveyor Do?

Posted on December 7, 2016 by Darin Germyn

Posted in: Darin Germyn , Land Surveyor , Macdonald Realty LTD , Property Surveyor

Property Surveyors, sometimes referred to as land Surveyors, play a vital role in the real estate world. They are the professionals who determine or confirm the exact boundaries of a property.

Will you need to deal with a Property Surveyor when selling your home? You might.

Sometimes the mortgage lender will ask for a land survey, especially if your property is older and hasn’t changed hands in many years. You might also be asked for one by the buyer if there is any confusion about the size and boundaries of your property – or if significant changes have been made to it in recent years.

This is nothing to be concerned about.

A qualified Property Surveyor will do the appropriate inspection and measurements on your property and issue you the survey. (It looks a little like a blueprint.)

Property Surveyors are highly trained and licensed. In the United States, the profession is represented by the National Society of Professional Surveyors, with each state having its own governing body. In Canada, Professional Surveyors Canada (PSC) represents the profession nationally, and most provinces have their own professional associations.

Before getting a new land survey, make sure you don’t already have one. Hopefully, you’ve stored the paperwork that relates to the purchase of your home. Look through it. A valid land survey might be right there.

If you have questions about land surveys, call today.

Until next time,

Darin

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The Cost of Waiting to Buy a Home - December, 2016

How to Watch Out for Poisons in Your Home

What Does a Property Surveyor Do?

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