When you are looking for a home, it’s important to understand the BC Building Code to ensure those homes that interest you are built and/or renovated to the current standards and requirements.

The BC Building Code is a provincial regulation establishing minimum standards and requirements for safety, health, accessibility, fire and structural protection of building or facility from water and sewage damage for all new construction and building alterations.

Examples of the B.C. Building Code:

Bedroom Window – generally requires every bedroom in a house and a small multi-family residential building to have an outside window that is equipped as an emergency exit.

Existing Buildings – they are not expected to be brought up to the current standards of the BC Building Code except under the following conditions: if the building is altered of renovated, if the building’s use or occupancy changes, and finally if a building’s components are replaces.

Temporary Buildings – if it is authorized by authority having jurisdiction, it may not need to conform to the BC Building Code. It is recommended to check with your local government building department.

For more information regarding the BC Building Code, click here.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact us at 604-588-4466 or email us at info@brokersmart.ca

 

 

As summer is sneaking up on us, you may be starting to think about how to get your lawn green this season. With Scotts Lawn Service Best Practices for a green lawn, we share 3 tips for you.

1. Understanding the Elements of a Green Lawn 

Below the surface of that picture-perfect green grass, there are many factors that determine and contribute to a healthy lawn. These factors include:

• Nutrients available in the soil
• Soil type and pH
• Thatch and turf density
• Turf damaging insects
• Turfgrass diseases
• Lawn environmental conditions (shade/sun)

A healthy, balanced soil will contain 45-50% minerals, 25% water, 25% air, and 2%-5% organic matter. The soil is responsible to improve water retention, deepen root systems, and improve nutrient storage and release.

2. Maintenance is Key

In order to grow a perfectly green lawn, patience, commitment and expertise are key to success. Every lawn does have the potential to turn into the perfect shade of green, however the level of maintenance is what sets the lawns a part. Proper maintenance requires professional-grade fertilizers, preventing insect damage, and weed control treatments. The dependents are climate and soil type.

3. Trust the Green Lawn Experts 

Expertise is important as they know exactly how to get your lawn green. Lawn maintenance is a science and when combined with the knowledge of the experts, you are on your way to having the picture-perfect lawn!

 

For more information regarding lawn maintenance from Scotts Lawn Service, click here.

The Fraser Valley housing market was reported to have a healthy balance this past month. The Fraser Valley Real Estate Board (FVREB) have released the April Statistics report.

Key Stats: 

• Total Sales Volume reported a 17.0% increase compared to March 2014
• Active Listings: 9,400 – a 7.0% decrease compared to April 2013
• New Listings: 3,153 – an increase of 6.8% compared to April 2013

 

Benchmark Prices: 

• Detached Homes: $566,000 – an increase of 3.4% compared to April 2013
• Townhouses: $298,700 – a consistent price compared to April 2013
• Apartments: $196,300 – a decrease of 3.7% compared to April 2013

 

The President of FVREB, Ray Werger says, “There’s a lot of optimism right now. It will take a few more months of numbers, but our 2014 market is already on track to outperform last year. A measurement we rely on to gauge the health of the housing market is the ratio between sales and active listings and in April that number was the highest it’s been in our region in three years. Last month, that ratio for both single family detached homes and townhomes was 21 per cent, meaning for every 100 homes available, 21 sold. That’s a strong, balanced market.”

Werger adds, “In some of our areas we have an oversupply of condos and you’ll see that reflected in prices. Generally, prices of benchmark or typical apartments have decreased over the past year. However, both buyers and sellers need to be aware that it depends on the community and the age and quality of the condo.”

To see the full FVREB April Statistics Report, click here.

All statistics are from the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®)

 

If you have any questions regarding the above, please give us a call at 604-588-4466 or email us at info@brokersmart.ca