It's easy enough to recycle your newspapers, paper, cardboard, bottles, cans and plastics into your household recycling bins, but what about some common household items that you really don't want to throw into your garbage? I was trying to find places to recycle my used batteries, light bulbs and plastic bags. 

Recycling rechargeable batteries and cellphones have been established for quite some time now. However, just this past June, the provincial goverment set up a program to recycle alkaline and single use batteries. I don't know why it took so long, but at least we have it now! You can drop them off at several locations, the most common places are: Home Depot, Rona, Future Shop, Best Buy and London Drugs. For more info check out www.call2recycle.ca.

It was a bit harder to find places that would take used light bulbs. Many places will take fluorescent tubes such as Home Depot and Rona but I just want to recycle the plain light bulbs! Edmonds Recycling will accept all types of light bulbs and batteries Their locations are in Langley, Surrey and Burnaby, open on weekdays during business hours - www.edmondsrecycling.com.

I wasn't able to find a specific recycling program that accepts used plastic bags but some grocery stores have a bin in front of their stores to recycle bags such as Wal Mart and Superstore.

The Surrey Urban Farmers Market has a battery and printer cartridge recycle station. This market takes place every Wednesday from 1-6pm until September 29, 2010. They are located at the North Surrey Recreation Centre near the Surrey Central Skytrain. Their website is www.surreymarket.org.

The general recycling depot that accepts all kinds of electronics, batteries, computers and more can be found at 120-13065 84 Avenue in Surrey, open on weekdays. This is for all of Greater Vancouver. Their website contains the items they recycle at www.electronics-recycling.com. The Recycling Council of BC has a plethora of information as well. There is a drop down menu on the right hand side of their website where you can select the items you want to recycle and where you can find a place to recycle them. That's very useful. The website is www.rcbc.bc.ca.

Hopefully that helps those of you looking to recycle some of these common household items. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at info@holmesteam.ca. Thanks for reading! Liz

For all your real estate needs, contact Greg and Liz Holmes - The Holmes Team to help you buy and/or sell your home! Call us at 778.834.9929 or email us at info@holmesteam.ca.

Hi everyone,

The Lower Mainland's real estate market has gone through a noticable change in the previous few months, with none more pronounced than July's activity. Throughout the year, the market has eased off from record sales that occured in 2009. In January, it started to become a more balanced market, but the shift to a buyer's market slowly began to occur. This was most evident in July, where just over 1,100 sales in the Fraser Valley occured during the month (down 39% compared to June 2010). The year-to-year comparison is down by almost half, but that's not surprising considering how incredibly hot the market bounced back last year. However, the significant decrease from June was more surprising to some sellers.

No doubt, July can be a funny month in this business of real estate. Certainly, it can be slow as people take vacations, enjoy the sunshine and don't think about real estate, especially in our gorgeous city. However, others are out shopping to find their next home in time for the beginning of school...alas, it seems this year more people did the former - they took time off from buying.

While the latest report isn't exactly great news for sellers, it's important to remember that it all depends on your situation. Sure, you might not be able to sell your home for as much as you had originally hoped, but if you are buying something bigger or "moving up" in the marketplace, you will be able to take advantage of lower prices for your new place compared to what you would have paid even a few months ago.

The last time we saw a buyer's market was at the end of '08 / beginning of '09. That was when news came out that sales/prices were down. We heard from people that they were going to "wait until the bottom before they jumped in to buy". The problem with that plan is that you don't know when the market will bottom out, until it has started to climb again. At that point, all the buyers rush to jump back in the market and all of a sudden the market heats up creating increased demand and multiple offers. We saw people who waited too long to get in the market the last time the market softened. Once we started shopping, the market had already begun to heat up...and buyers get discouraged because the deals they thought they could get had disappeared.

In my opinion, the best time to buy is when everyone else is not. Sure, the market may still be softening, but with the increase in supply, buyers have supreme choice in product and can shop around until they find the best deal. Plus, it's important to remember that prices are not decreasing at huge rates, but only a few percentage points from the beginning of the year - certainly not the drop we saw in 2008. So you can feel confident that you're still making a savvy investment.

So, my advice to people thinking of buying...take advantage of this opportunity right now and don't let it get away from you. Go out and get pre-approved so you can jump on a great, proven investment - real estate. I've recently seen some awesome homes go for much lower than I would have expected recently, so I know that opportunities exist right now. If you waited too long last time, I suggest you think about your plan and how to avoid disappoint this time.

Also, in the end, remember, in real estate it's all about location. Just think great neighbourhoods and proximity to amenities (ie-schools, parks, community centres, transit, etc). If you consider these options when shopping, your value will always be better than in less-desirable areas. I like to say that it's better to buy a lower-priced home in a great neighbourhood, than the most expensive home in a less-desirable area, as the neighbourhood itself can pull up/down the value of your home.

Feel free to contact us if you'd like more information and/or would like to discuss your real estate goals...we're always happy to help.

Greg & Liz Holmes
info@holmesteam.ca
www.holmesteam.ca

Here's the complete news release from the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board:

News Release: August 4, 2010

FRASER VALLEY HOME BUYERS TAKE HOLIDAY IN JULY

(Surrey, BC) – The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB processed 1,101 sales on its Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) in July, a decrease of 47 per cent compared to the 2,089 sales during the same month last year and down 39 per cent compared to June.

“Last year, we experienced the busiest July in our history and this year it was the quietest in a decade,” says FVREB President, Deanna Horn. “Although the real estate market typically slows in the summer months, we didn’t anticipate this level of change.

“We attribute it to a combination of factors, the beautiful weather, interest rates edging up and reaction to the Harmonized Sales Tax in BC – although the HST does not apply to resale housing, not everyone knows that,” explains Horn.

“The plus side of this market is highly favourable conditions for buyers – potentially the best they will be this year due to the significant volume of listings currently, which is already showing signs of decreasing.”

In July, Fraser Valley’s MLS® received 25 per cent fewer new listings, 2,355, compared to the 3,153 new listings received in June. At month’s end, the total active inventory was 10,852, 14 per cent more than was available in July 2009, however 2 per cent fewer than in June.

For the first time since January 2009, benchmark prices for the three main residential property types: single family homes, townhomes and condos, decreased compared to the previous month. The benchmark price for Fraser Valley detached homes in July was $510,470, down 1.5 per cent compared to June and 6.9 per cent higher compared to $477,420 in July 2009.

The benchmark price of Fraser Valley townhouses in July was $325,856, a 0.7 per cent decrease compared to June and a 6.9 per cent increase compared to July 2009 when it was $304,940. The benchmark price of apartments decreased by 0.8 per cent from June and increased 4.4 per cent year-over-year going from $234,178 in July 2009 to $244,368 in July 2010.

Here's a few tips/suggestions that we thought you might find useful when moving.

About a month before moving day:
- as a client of ours, you will receive a "Holmes Team After the Sale/Moving Checklist"
- call a moving company and book moving date
- notify post office for change of address
- notify school(s) of change of address
- contact your home insurance company to update info
- notify bank of change of address

A couple of weeks before moving day:
- contact your lawyer/notary to ensure they have all the information needed regarding the sale/purchase of your home
- arrange to have utilities disconnected at current home and connected at new home
- hold a garage sale to sell unwanted items
- arrange for transportation and care of your pets
- start packing and labeling boxes
- discontinue newspaper delivery
- plan to carry valuable documents/jewelery with you on moving day
- take down curtain rods, drapes and shelves

A day or two before moving day:
- confirm with Greg and Liz what time you will be leaving your home and moving to your new home
- clean fridge and oven
- finish packing personal items
- set aside items to go into your vehicle with you
- confirm contact information, address and moving time with movers
- verify that utilities have been/will be connected at new home

Moving day:
- have vacuum ready
- empty and clean out your fridge and freezer
- make a final inspection of house before leaving
- check all rooms, closets, cupboards and drawers
- get keys from Greg and Liz for your new place
- enjoy your new home!

If you have any questions about moving, feel free to contact us at info@holmesteam.ca or call us at 778.834.9929. We would be happy to help.

Yes, it's already that time of year again. It feels like summer has just started but the City of Surrey is ramping up to get us to plan and register ourselves and/or our kids for leisure activities for the fall.

Surrey tries to be as a green as possible, so that's why you won't see the leisure guide at your doorstep. Instead, go to their website at: http://www.register.surrey.ca/  to see the online version and also to register. If you prefer the paper copy, you can pick one up at City Hall, libraries, community centres and the YMCA (after July 17th).

Have fun!

Are you planning on going on holidays soon? Now that the weather is finally sunny and warm, and school is almost out for the kids, tis the summer season! Here are some tips to protect your home and save money (in the long run).

To decrease any chances of water damage from a running toilet, or leaky faucet, you may want to consider shutting off your water supply while you go away. If you have a fridge that has an ice maker, it might be a good idea to disconnect it, especially if you are going away for a long period of time. Sometimes the ice builds up and may potentially cause a problem with your fridge working efficiently and correctly. Don't leave your washing machine or dishwasher running when you leave - again you just never know if something happens.

Turn off any alarm clocks so that you don't annoy your neighbours! Turn off and disconnect computers, printers, iPOD docks and other items that continue to suck up your electricity and could potentially cause a fire. Check that the batteries in your smoke detectors are working or are replaced.

Cancel your newspaper delivery during your holidays. If you are expecting a package from canada post or fedex you may want to have a neighbour be a contact person for that delivery so that the package doesn't sit at your front door too long and acts as an indicator to potential thieves.

Ask a neighbour, family member or friend to check your home if you are going away for more than a few days. Have them check for any gas smells, water leakage, anything out of the ordinary.  Another option is to have someone you know house sit. It will give you relief knowing your home is being looked after.

These are just a few things to do to make your home safe while you are on holidays. Now go relax and enjoy your trip!

If you have any questions about real estate or are thinking of buying or selling a home, feel free to contact us at info@holmesteam.ca or 778.834.9929.

If you are planning on moving and you would like to be more "green" or environmentally conscious, here are some ways to make that happen.

Ask your friends and family if they have any cardboard boxes you can use. Or maybe you have some already that are hidden in your storage locker or garage. Check with your local grocery store, liquor store, hardware store and the like for boxes. They may be in different sizes but that doesn't matter, sometimes that works better for dishes or books etc.
 
At the office, photocopier/printer paper boxes are great boxes to use. They are not too big and are fairly strong too. Great boxes for stacking.

If you don't want to use cardboard boxes, another option is renting moving crates. These are reusable plastic crates that are typically crushproof and stackable. There's a cost to them, but usually the company rents them to you a couple of weeks before your move so you have them for about a month. They deliver them and then pick them up. No mess and no waste. Also check with your moving company, some of them provide this service as well.

What do you do about protecting your dishes, glassware or other breakables? You can use newspaper, used padded envelopes (from work) and old blankets and towels. (The latter may be a bit bulky whereas newspaper ink might get on your dishes).

Decreasing the amount of "stuff" that you have can help make your move easier on you. Hold a garage sale or put up items on Craigslist. Now, just remember not to accumulate too much stuff once you make your move! And the less stuff that you have, the smaller and lighter the moving vehicle will be and thus less gas that is burning.

Use environmentally friendly cleaning products. I like Method and Attitude products (which you can get at Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs and Superstore).

If you do use cardboard boxes for moving, think of recycling them or reusing to a friend or coworker that will be moving in the future.

Good luck with your move!
 
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact us. We provide our clients with resources and information to make moving less stressful and more manageable.

Is your home show ready? Before you list your home for sale, here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Remove clutter and clear off counters.
Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small, personal decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, remove out of season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Get rid of family pictures, trophies and knickknacks. Make sure to clean out the garage too.

2. Wash your windows and screens.
This will help get more light into the interior of the home as well as looks better.

3. Keep everything extra clean.
A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, clean the stove and fridge. Polish your doorknobs (inside and out) and address numbers.

4. Get rid of smells.
Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odours, smoke and pet smells. Open the windows to air out the house. Scented candles will help.

5. Brighten your rooms.
Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned out bulbs in closets etc. Clean the walls, or paint them with a fresh neutral colour. 

If you would like more tips for better home showings or if you are thinking of selling your home, contact us at info@holmesteam.ca or call us at 778.834.9929.

The Leisure Guide will be out starting May 21st and you can find them at the public libraries, city hall, parks and recreation centres. Or you can check out the programs online at http://www.register.surrey.ca/. 

Registration starts on Monday, May 31st so find out what interests you or what summer camps to put your kids in.

Are you planning on buying your first home? Or are you moving and will be refinancing your mortgage? We met with one of our mobile mortgage specialists today and she gave us some tips on improving your chances of getting a good mortgage. I also checked online and found some advice, so here's a compilation of top mistakes that hurt your credit score.

1. Paying bills late. Even paying just one day late can hurt your score. Mark your calendar or set up an automatic payment plan with your bank.

2. Not checking your credit reports. You really should try to do this once a year. Apparently there can be some mistakes on there or unfortunately, identity fraud, so it's prudent to do this. Check out www.equifax.ca or www.transunion.ca for more info.

3. Maxing out your credit cards. If you do that, it shows that you are using too much of your available credit. Try to give that credit card a break and use another one... but try to keep it at less than half of your available credit.

4. Using cash over credit. If you use cash, you can't show your lenders how well you handle debt. So then you don't have much of a credit history.

5. Applying for extra cards. Not a good idea as it may look like you are desperate for credit. Closing credit cards on the other hand is not a good sign either. You are ultimately shrinking your amount you are allowed to borrow. However, if you are concerned about identity theft, annual fees,etc, then by all means close the account.

If you find out that your credit score isn't very good, some mortgage specialists will work with you to improve your score. It may take 6 months to a year, but that is well worth it to get your financing in order to ultimately get the home you want.

If you have any questions about applying for a mortgage to buy a home or finding a good mortgage broker, feel free to contact us info@holmesteam.ca.

* Please note, this is general information only and should not be taken as specialist advice. If you need more specific information, contact your mortgage specialist/broker.

Although it may not seem like the most enjoyable thing to do, performing a spring tune up will not only make your home last longer, but more enjoyable to live in. If you are lucky enough to live in a condo or townhouse, then most of the maintenance to the outside of your home will be looked after. Here are some general tips you might like to read.

Check the roof for any curled shingles, around vents, skylights and chimneys for any leaks.

Clean fireplace of ashes.  Have the chimney inspected if this hasn’t been done in some time for any problems or potential problems.

Check attic for proper ventilation as well as any blockages in the vents, damaged soffits and wet spots in the insulation.

Clean and replace filters in your heating or air exchanger unit. You may also want to look at and clean the dryer vent, stove hood and room fans.

Inspect the siding and stucco. Look for cracks, holes, chipping that can leave the siding open to moisture and seal as required. Replace caulking if needed. Maybe it’s time to paint the house and give it a fresh look.

Clean gutters and drain pipes (of leaves etc) and ensure that they are directing water away from the house.

Seal doors and windows if required.

Prune trees and shrubs and check for proper drainage.

Check that all smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in good working order. Replace batteries as needed, or at least twice per year.

Check that your refrigerator door seals are airtight. If you have a coil back refrigerator, vacuum the coils, as it will run more efficiently with clean coils.

Do you have any leaky faucets in your kitchen and bathroom(s)? Replace washers as necessary.

It doesn’t take a ton of time to check these aspects of your home, but if you can fix them when it’s only a small problem, this will save you time and money before it becomes a home fix it emergency.

If you have any questions about how to improve the look of your home or other questions, just send us an email at info@holmesteam.ca.