RE/MAX Lake Cowichan Real Estate

Thoughtrons

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:08:00 GMT

In the beginning was the Word

(cosmic vibration, the creative life energy or vibratory thoughts of God) and the Word was with God and the word was God. Man's body of gross mater consist of tissues, constructed of molecules. Molecules are made of atoms: Atoms are formed by electrons and protons. Electrons and protons consist of intelligent life force-or lifetrons. Lifetrons can be further resolved into their source, the 'Thoughtrons' of God.

-The Bhagavad Gita

This is ancient wisdom, it feels like we are just getting up to speed or perhaps in this age of 'Google' we can now search out the bits and pieces of information that pull it all together.

I am proud of these young people who are standing up for the rest of us, their energy is changing the way the world is run, scientists don't really know what energy is they know its characteristics and have figured out a mathematical

calculation to describe it and they know it is a property of matter that makes

all things happen or at least has that potential. But it is these young people who are out there giving freely of that energy, that agent of change, fearlessly fighting for a better way.

So if atoms are essentially made of space or 'Thoughtrons' we just have to fill in

that space of good energy, call it LOVE, Call it GRACE call it God

May 2012 bring you Love and Joy and Prosperity

Sandy & Pat

Energy Efficiency Bulletin

Sandy Stinson — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 04:56:00 GMT

City Green Solutions - Energy Efficiency Bullentin

www.citygreen.ca

August 12, 2011

In this Issue:

· Provincial AND Federal Grants Available to Sellers and Buyers for a Limited Time

· Business Energy Efficiency Grants - Upgrade Your Office and Save!

· CRD Time of Sale Home Energy Labelling Pilot Project

· Grants for New Homes for Energy Efficiency

Provincial AND Federal Grants Available to Sellers and Buyers for a Limited Time

Across BC, home buyers and sellers can access thousands of dollars from both ecoENERGY and LiveSmart BC grants for energy saving upgrades to their homes, including $3075 for wall insulation, $2250 for basement insulation, $2000 for a heat pump, and up to $100 for each window, door, or skylight upgrade. If your clients ask about how to access grants for their upgrades, we can help! See our Home Energy Efficiency Grants page for details, and contact Glenys Verhulst, City Green Communications Coordinator, at 1.866.381.9995 x.110 for questions.

Businesses Energy Efficiency Grants - Upgrade Your Office and Save!

Eligible businesses can:

· Receive a free energy assessment

· Learn about upgrades that improve your work environment and deliver quick payback through energy savings.

· Receive utility and provincial grants for upgrading lighting, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration systems, and more.

Visit www.citygreen.ca/business to sign up your business for savings today!

CRD Time of Sale Home Energy Labelling Pilot Project

Sellers who would like to prove the efficiency of their home, or help close the sale by offering access to upgrade grants to buyers can now access FREE home energy assessements for EnerGuide Ratings, which can then be posted on MLS^®. See City Green's CRD Time of Sale EnerGuide for Houses Labelling Program page for details.

Grants for New Homes for Energy Efficiency

Did you know?

· Research shows that energy efficiency is increasingly important to buyers.

· Homebuyers can access a 10% Mortgage Loan Insurance Rebate from CMHC for energy efficient homes.

· Builders and developers can access up to $1700 per home in utility rebates for building energy efficient homes.

Learn more about our New Homes services on our website. To connect your clients with grants, contact Mike Young, Certified Energy Advisor with City Green at 1.866.381.9995 x126 or newhomes@citygreen.ca.

About City Green...

Our Commitment: City Green Solutions is an enterprising non-profit with a mission to excite, inspire and lead British Columbians in finding innovative home and building energy efficiency solutions. We are the only non-profit provider of the LiveSmart BC and ecoENERGY programs in BC.

Our Services: We offer home energy assessments and access to grants for existing home retrofits;EnerGuide Rating Service for New Homes; ENERGY STAR® for New Homes; Thermal Imaging; Sustainability Assessments for Business; Green Building Rating Consultations; Customized Energy Efficiency Outreach Programs; Research and Evaluation Services; and Energy Efficiency Education and Training. City Green has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Book a home energy assessment today!).

Winner of: Victoria Chamber of Commerce 2010 Business of the Year Award (26 to 75 employees), the Victoria Chamber of Commerce 2010 Innovation Award, and Business Award - 2010 District of Saanich Environmental Awards. Read more!

Home Sales to Climb Eight Per Cent in 2011

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:27:00 GMT

BCREA Housing Forecast Update - First Quarter 2011

Vancouver, BC – February 23, 2011
The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA)

released its Housing Forecast for the first quarter of 2011 today.

BC Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales

are forecast to increase 8 per cent from 74,640 units in

2010 to 80,900 units this year, and increase another 4

per cent to 83,950 units in 2012.

“British Columbia housing markets are returning to

normalcy after two years of volatility,” said Cameron

Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. “Employment and

population growth will fuel consumer demand over the

next two years. However, higher mortgage interest rates

and tighter credit conditions for low equity home buyers

will limit home sales to below the ten-year average of

87,600 units.”

“Total active residential listings in the province declined 14 per cent since last spring. However, the

inventory of homes for sale is expected to edge higher as the number of new listings to the market

advances during the first two quarters of 2011,” added Muir. “Regional market differences continue

in the province, with Vancouver trending into a seller’s market, while the Okanagan, Kootenay and

Kamloops markets trend from a buyer’s market toward balanced conditions.”

The average MLS® residential price is forecast to increase 2 per cent to $517,000 this year and

remain relatively unchanged in 2012, albeit declining by 0.4 per cent to $515,400.

Let's Talk

Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

MORTGAGE RULES CHANGE March 18, 2011

Sandy Stinson — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:28:00 GMT

The rules change again, hopefully for the last time, it is hoped that this latest tightening of the belt will suffice to hinder the possibilities of a Canadian mortgage meltdown. This further 5% decrease of your mortgage monies buying power rounds out a list of changes including generally reducing the 40 year mortgage to the 30 year mortgage. This will affect mortgages with loan to value ratio's over 80% . Canadians will only be able to borrow 85% of the value of their homes, during the last meltdown that seemed to be the crux of the problem, people were borrowing more than the value of their homes as well as more than their historically accepted 30% of income on housing . The federal government is also withdrawing backing on using our homes as equity for lines of credit.
It seems to me the concern now is on rising inflation which could possibly induce higher interest rates.

"Going the extra mile"
Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000
www.remaxlakecowichan.com

CONSIDER STAGING YOUR HOUSE

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:27:00 GMT

You decorate to make your home a reflectionof yourself.

You stage your house to present it in a waythat appeals to potential buyers, in order to SELL!

Statisticsshow:

Vacant properties stay on the market longer than occupied (furnished) properties.

90% of buyers can not envision the “potential” of a property and staging helps show what the space can really be like.
Staging does help sell properties and sell properties faster.

KEYELEMENTS OF STAGING (this is not an exhaustivelist)

Clean – make your house as close to spotless as possible from top tobottom.

CurbAppeal

Create a good first impression and makesomeone want to come inside your house.

Is your house exterior in good repair?(paint if necessary)

Is your entrance inviting? (attractivefront door, no rusty mailbox or rusty stair rails, etc.)

Do you have attractive, simple landscapingthat is easy to maintain? (no overgrown shrubs covering the front of the house.)

Decluttering/Organizing

Less is more but too little isuninviting. Find the right balance.

Create an open, spacious and brightenvironment.

Start packing before you list your house (youwill have to pack eventually).

Remove most items from table tops, dressertops, bathroom vanities, etc.

Remove most items from kitchen counters –leave coffee pot, plant, bowl of fruit. Remove items from walls and leave a fewstrategically placed pictures and mirrors.

Organize your closets so they are only 2/3full. (Don’t make it appear that you have insufficient storage space bycramming things into closets. Ifnecessary, pack away your off-season clothing).

Define a room so buyers know its purposeimmediately. If it’s a dining room, don’t have children’s toys, musicalinstruments, computers, etc., in the room.

Depersonalizing

Remove things that are a personalreflection of who you are such as family photos (leave one on your bedroom dresser),trophies, certificates, collections such as spoons, dolls, souvenirs,children’s growth charts, etc.

Neutralizing

Make your décor appeal to everyone.

Walls and floors should be neutral incolour. Use soft shades of taupe, grey or beige.

You can add some “punch” with colouredthrow cushions.

Clean or replace carpeting and removewallpaper.

Provide an updated contemporary appearance(paint wood panelling).

Create a spa-look in the bathroom withfresh white towels and white fixtures (tubs can be re-glazed inexpensively).

For window coverings, use light colouredcurtains or no curtains at all if privacy is not an issue.

Creatinga Focal Point

Create a point of interest in each room andthen arrange other items in the room around it. Examples of focal pointsinclude:

Living Room –fireplace, window with a great view, television.

Dining Room –table, china cabinet, art work.

Bedroom – bedwith fresh neutral coloured bedding.

Kitchen –cupboards, countertop (update your wood cupboards by painting an “espresso” orwhite colour and adding contemporary hardware).

Replace yourcountertop if necessary (consider a laminate that resembles granite).

Don’t overfill a room with furniture.

Contributed by Brad Bergen

Let's Talk!
Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

SOME TINY TIPS TO HELP YOU THROUGH THIS TOUGH ECONOMY

Sandy Stinson — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 15:38:00 GMT

When you are going through Hell, Keep Going! Winston Churchill

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY ATTACH YOURSELF TO A CAUSE THAT YOU HAVE A PASSION FOR IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS DO SOMETHING CREATIVE TO HELP YOU STAND OUT IN THIS DEPRESSED MARKET, GIVE EXTRA VALUE, GO THE EXTRA MILE, BIG BREATH

BE REALLY GREEN , WALK THE WALK, TRY AND BE CONSCIOUS OF IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS ARE DELIGHTFUL AND SURPRISING

IN MY BACK YARD! : COMPLEMENTS OF 'THE TIPPING POINT' APPARENTLY WE AS HUMAN BEINGS CAN ONLY RECOGNIZE AROUND 150 - 200 FACES AND KEEP IT ALL STRAIGHT, WE SEEM TO BE GRAVITATING BACK TO THAT CONCEPT WITH OUR LOVELY FARM MARKETS POPPING UP ALL OVER BC, THE DISTANCE WE HAVE TO TRAVEL IS LESS, THE SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT THAT IS SO PREVELENT HERE ON VANCOUVER ISLAND PARTICULARLY IN THE COWICHAN VALLEY AND THE AWARENESS OF THE ZERO MILE AND HUNDRED MILE DIETS HAVE ROMANCED OUR SENSE OF GRACIOUS LIVING AND WE ARE EMBRACING IT , AND IT DOES NOT COST A LOT OF MONEY, AND IT SLOWS THE WORLD DOWN A BIT '

BE MORE SENSITIVE TO YOUR CUSTOMERS NEEDS

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK YOU SEE SOMEONE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 46 AND 65. CONSIDER THE IMPLICATIONS IN YOUR PARTICULAR BUSINESS

GOOD COMMUNICATIONS ARE VITAL IT IS SO VERY EASY TO MISS-COMMUNICATE, , BE A PROBLEM SOLVER , IN THIS AGING POPULATION THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WILL PAY YOU FOR IT AS IT HAS BECOME TO DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MANAGE ANY MORE, AND THEY HAVE SOME DISPOSABLE INCOME

DISCOVER YOUR PASSION, WHAT YOU ARE GOOD AT AND WHAT COMES EASY TO YOU MIGHT BE A GOOD PLACE TO LOOK, OR AT LEAST SOME VARIATION OF CERTAIN ASPECTS OF IT

BE GRATEFUL FOR WHERE YOU LIVE THE ISLAND IS INDEED A VERY SPECIAL PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK

HANG IN THERE, LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES AND WHEN THINGS GET BETTER AS THEY ALWAYS DO YOU WILL BE HONED AND FITTER , PERSISTENCE ALWAYS WINS THE DAY

ALL THE BEST
SANDY STINSON
(250) 749-6000

Alternative Housing - Straw Bale Homes

Sandy Stinson — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 23:51:00 GMT

When you think of building with green materials, straw should be very near the top of the list. It grows so fast and often, if not used for animal bedding or garden mulch, becomes a waste material.

Building homes with straw was first seen in the Nebraska sandhills and the pioneers there would often get together as a community for the "barnraising". Other building materials would have been scarce and expensive so it became a perfect material for the early settlers to use.

Today, this type of building is enjoying renewed popularity and the techniques have been refined.

Often a wood frame is built first, making the structure far more stable. The straw used has to be very dry to eliminate any chance of rot or mould, but once the bales are ready to go, the building goes up quite quickly, with very little skill needed and no special tools.

Since the straw bales are so thick, they act as excellent insulators against the elements, keeping the place warmer in winter and cooler in summer. When all the bales are in place, they are usually wrapped with stucco netting and later plastered. Find more info. at www.thelaststraw.org.

Let's Talk!

Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

Livability

Sandy Stinson — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 02:16:00 GMT

In order to stay alive inside we need to stay active. If you research Stats Canada for best areas of livability, in Canada, according to days when a normal person would go outside I came up with four hotspots: Vancouver Island, Vancouver, Southern Ontario and the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. I have lived in three of these spots, Vancouver, great if you like a city, I grew up in Southern Ontario and even way back then we often had smog alerts and days when we could not swim because of the water quality,plus you could cut the air with a knife on those hot humid days, I know nothing about the Annapolis Valley but it sounds lovely and has well priced homes, and then my favorite Vancouver Island where I have lived for the past 35 years. The Island is quite diverse, although it is all a Rain Forest some parts are dryer or colder than others. The Cowichan Valley where we live enjoys some of the highest temperatures on the Island, Courtney has the Ski hills and the Ocean, further up North enjoys amazing fishing and remote areas but a little too much rain for me. I love our access to Victoria and Nanaimo, I seldom get off the Island unless it is to visit friends. As long as a person gets away for a couple of weeks in the dreary winter months this is Paradise! I remember visiting Mom and Dad in Ontario when the kids where little and Dad said 'Don't those kids know enough to come in out of the Rain" and I realized that that is exactly the trick for Island Living, just put on your appropriate apparel and away you go. The weather is so changeable on the Coast that we often layer our clothes then we are ready for anything. Some of my most memorable evenings have been out on the Lake in a Kayak in a light mist and then home to cuddle up in front of the fire.

Lets Talk!

Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

Alternative Housing - Cob Homes

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 01:11:00 GMT

Probably the greenest way of building is using the materials at hand. One very old method that has made somewhat of a comeback is making a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water. and "sculpting" a house. The mixture is called cob and was very popular in England in the 19th century.

Traditionally, the cob was mixed with the feet, but modern cob builders usually rely on machines to do the job. The building requires no forms or cement and the method is very free form, making each dwelling an original. It is easy to leave spaces on the inside walls that serve as shelves and storage.

Repairs are easy to do and these buildings really have stood the test of time. Many of the older homes in England have survived for many decades in good shape, even in a rainy climate. Since the cob mixture is a good insulator, the homes stay warmer in winter and remain cooler in summer.

For more info. on cob home building, a good book is Building Green-A Complete Guide to Alternative Building Methods by C. Snell and T. Callahan 2006.

Let's Talk!!

Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

TEN TOP SELLING TIPS FOR AUGUST OF 2010

Sandy Stinson — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 20:43:00 GMT

1. Price it correctly, go over the solds in your area and discuss them with your Realtor who has likely seen the inside of them, do a drive by for a first impression of the curb appeal and compare it to your home, and know that in this market many people do not want to reduce their asking price however they will take much less when a offer is presented to them, this is a buyers market today and not the time to test the waters price wise.

2. Stage your property to its best advantage, clutter cuts equity and ugly costs you twenty thousand. There are lots of local people who will come in and help you, your Realtor can often suggest someone who will help you stage and not even charge you until the house sells. Staging helps you get more money, I would like to suggest that only 30% of people are good at seeing past your furniture and decorating schemes.

3. Consider a loc box, the easier it is to access your property the more Realtors you will get through and the better chance you have of selling for top dollar.

4. Put up a for sale sign, I know it feels like a private matter at first but all the neighbors will know soon enough and they just might like to have their friend or relative in the area so they might be your biggest resource.

5. Absorb all feedback, if one person is saying it it is likely that more are thinking it. If you hear that your brightly colored wall that you just love is turning off potential buyers chances are that they are not the only one.

6. Accentuate the Positive: Selling and moving is right up there is the top three stressors of life, ask your Realtor how they would change things if it was their home, what would they do different to get a sale, ask your friends and family and try and listen carefully this is no time to let your feelings get in the way.

7. Patience is a virtue: Ask your Realtor to go over the local sales and prices and days on market every few months, if you see that similar homes are selling at similar prices find another Realtor if not, reduce your price, especially in this market it is all about price.

8. Flexibility is fundamental : No showings or offers mean the price is too high, no amount of marketing in the world is going to make a over priced house sell, you may get lucky in having the only place of your type on the market at that time and get a premium but apples being apples no one is going to pay twice as much for a similar product. As long as you are buying and selling a similar house in a similar market it does not really affect the bottom line.

9. Remember all those old House and Garden tips, clean is queen, smell is very important, it conjures memories, bake something good or at least throw some cinnamon on the burner before you leave the house so the the Buyer can come in and feel at home. We often have buyers tell us that they want this or that and buy something completely different because it felt like home.

10. Get three Realtors in to give you a estimate, don't be fooled just because one gives you a higher price he may then start a system of going down in increments till you feel beat up, go with the one that you are going to be comfortable working with and who has a proven track record of strong sales. You will be spending a lot of time together in the months ahead.

Let's Talk!

Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

What Are We Doing Growing Grass?

Sandy Stinson — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:12:00 GMT

It seems that almost every home owner wants a huge expanse of bright green grass in front of their house and out in the back yard as well.
Sure it looks good, but at what expense and labour?

Levelling the lawn area, seeding, watering, cutting, raking, fertilizing and weeding are all chores that come with our insistence on having lawns, and for what?

Wouldn't our time and resources be better spent on using the land we own to grow food? Nowadays, food that has to travel to us gets more and more expensive as gas prices climb. Plus, we are never really sure what kinds of pesticides or herbicides they may contain.

How much less grass would we have to cut if part of our yard was vegetable boxes, a row of berries, a few fruit trees and a patch of rhubarb?

It would be great to see new home builders use some of their left-over materials to build garden boxes, a cold frame or trellises and start the new home owner on the path to growing more food than grass on his property.
Let's Talk!

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Development of Solar Panels

Sandy Stinson — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:17:00 GMT

The science of storing and using the sun's energy is still developing. The first photovoltaic cell was made by Alexandre Becquerel. It was able to absorb the rays from the sun and emit electrons. Really, the first solar panel on a small scale.

After scientists found a way to connect many of these cells and store the electrons in a series of batteries, solar panels were on their way to becoming a useable energy source.

Among the first applications were experiments in the space industry. Space engineers needed a source of power to run electronics devices on satellites and space vehicles while not adding to the overall weight on take off (as regular fuel would).

The 1990s saw an increase in the production and uses of solar panels, plus efforts to reduce their cost to consumers. California has led the way in subsidizing the switch to solar power by developing efficient mobile uses for it. It is becoming more and more common to find appliances in RVs and boats, among many others that are run on solar power.

Currently, the worries about global warming and the detrimental effects of burning fossil fuels has led to a greater interest in solar panels and green energy. Also, reports keep coming in that warn of the depletion of oil and coal on the planet and this just might force our hand to fully use the clean, renewable energy of our sun.

In future years, more governments will follow California's lead by offering incentives to switch homes and businesses to solar power.

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Our Sun: A Powerful Source of Energy (Part I)

Sandy Stinson — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:41:00 GMT

Throughout history, the Sun has been revered for its warmth, power and ability to support all living things on the planet.

The construction of the Pyramids in Egypt and Mexico, Stonehenge in England and many other ancient monuments were based on following the Sun's path across the sky.

We take it for granted, but without the sun's power the temperature on Earth would be so cold that the planet could not support any form of life.

Early tribes switched from a hunter-gatherer society when they learned the skills of planting and tending crops. They paid attention to the sun's path in the heavens and grew their crops accordingly. With a steady supply of food available and without the need for so much travel, settlements and villages evolved. The inhabitants had the spare time and stability to develop Art,Music, Science and Culture and our modern society began to take shape.

Science especially would prove to do the most to change our lifestyles throughout the ages and it would be centuries before the next step; harnessing the Sun's energy would be developed.

“Let’s Talk”
Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Grey Water

Sandy Stinson — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:53:00 GMT

Grey water comprises 50-80% ofresidential waste water!
It is water that has been used for bathing,showers, dishwashing, and laundry (It excludes sewage)

A grey water system is especiallyimportant in drought areas.

The added bonus is that muchless water enters the sewage treatment plants.

Phosphate rich soaps and cleanersin your grey water are really pollutants. They accelerate algae growth inour waterways, which eventually leads to oxygen depletion for fish and marinelife.

Luckily, these same"pollutants" are nutrition when you use your grey water forirrigation of fruit trees, landscaping plants and garden beds.

A very informative book forinstalling systems is "The New Create an Oasis with Grey water" byArt Ludwig. It will help building professionals and homeowners to workwithin building codes to include grey water systems in new construction or remodeling.

When you consider the amount ofwater we are talking about, this could be one of the most advantageousimprovements you could do for a greener environment.

“Let’s Talk”

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Rain Gardens

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:48:00 GMT

For those of us with a low lying spot on their property, a Rain Garden can be a great benefit.
Most homes have gutter systems which divert run-off water in times of heavy rain. It ends up going through a storm drain where it can pick up all kinds of pollutants as it drains.Instead, channel the water onto a low-lying place on your property where you have set up your Rain Garden.
A good size is about 10 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet. For about $75 you can top dress the area with a cubic foot of top soil mixed with 2 cubic feet of sand. (add rotted compost as you make it).
Then talk to your nursery owner about adding plants that like low-lying damp areas or better yet, take a walk and find out which native plants like these kinds of conditions and transplant them. As your Rain Garden grows, it will become a beautiful focal point for your property.
Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Lighting Your Home: Change Those Bulbs!

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 16:07:00 GMT

The sooner you replace your incandescent (regular) light bulbs with compact fluorescents (CFL's) the sooner you start to save money on your hydro costs. One CFL bulb usually costs $2-3 and lasts around 10,000 hours. During its lifetime, it uses only about 27 kilowatts to generate as much light as a 100 watt regular bulb. The $3 CFL uses about $22 in hydro so the total cost is $25.

In comparison, the regular bulb costs $.50 and will only last 1000 hours. You'll need $5 worth to last the 10,000 hours and it will use 1000 kilowatts of electricity during its lifetime, around $80 worth. When you do the math, CFL's will give you considerable savings and are more eco-friendly due to their reduced hydro usage.

Start by replacing your most used bulbs first, gradually replacing all of them around your home. It won't be long before you start noticing a difference in your bills and the added bonus is that you won't have the inconvenience of changing light bulbs nearly as often. No matter which kinds of bulbs you are using, everyone in you family should get in the habit of turning off any lights that are not needed. You should also consider using lower watt bulbs in areas that do not need a great amount of light. Think Green!

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Efficient Home Hot Water Heating

Sandy Stinson — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 01:22:00 GMT

If your home still has an older hot water heating system, there are a few things you can do to conserve energy and cost.
Turn down the temperature to warm setting (120degrees).
Insulate the water tank and as much of the lines as possible so that they don't cool down quickly between uses.
Use low-flow fixtures for taps and showers.

When your existing system needs replacing, consider"on-demand" or "tankless" hot water heaters.
They have been used in Europe for over 50 years with considerable savings on energy costs and reduction of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
The savings is achieved by eliminating energy wasted by warmed water sitting around unused in a storage tank.
The tanks also take up quite a bit of space and many only have a life expectancy of 10 years before you have to replace them.

It is worthwhile to check on grants and rebates for BC homeowners to help offset the cost of a new system.

To discuss these options call 1-877-732-9888. Website www.homeperformance.com

Keeping it Green.

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Making your Older Home Greener

Sandy Stinson — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:47:00 GMT

Think of your house as a system.
To improve its energy efficiency, tackle the outer shell of the building first.
This would include attics, outerwalls, windows, doors, then try to make improvements on your heating or cooling systems, lighting, hot water and appliances. Installing proper insulationslows the rate of heat leaving your home so that less energy is required. Often blown-in insulation cangreatly improve your comfort while saving you money and being less harmful onthe environment. Planting shade trees and shrubs,especially on the west side of the home will keep your place from heating upduring the summer, reducing the cost of air conditioning. Deciduous are best because theywill allow the sun to come through during the winter months. Doing some comparison shopping onthe newer window and door products can also do a lot to make your older homemore green.
Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

A Diamond in the Rough

Sandy Stinson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:28:00 GMT

Sometimes you run across an unexpected deal while you're looking for a home. Not every place will be thoroughly de-cluttered, cleaned and staged for the market.The home owner may live far away, or has lost interest in his place and wants to sell as quickly as possible.This gives you bargaining power with the owner and it's a great way to get into the Real Estate market.Look at older homes which do not have structural damage or need a lot of expensive professional attention from plumbers or electricians. A building inspector can help you here.
Try to imagine the house de-cluttered, a fresh paint job, old carpet ripped out, new window treatments. These are cosmetic, inexpensive fix-ups and you can turn the place into a real gem with a little elbow grease and a paint brush. You will not only pat yourself on the back for getting a great bargain, but the improvements will increase your home's value right away.
Good Luck with your house search!
Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Sightseeing by Houseboat

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:20:00 GMT

Lake Cowichan is one of the largest bodies of fresh water on Vancouver Island. It's long narrow shape make it perfect for cruising on a houseboat.

You'll float by green rollinghills, sandy beaches and cottagers enjoying a swim. Drop anchor any time and head to shore for a hike or picnic. Everything you need will be at your fingertips. No need to head back to dock. You can prepare food in the kitchen, BBQ on deck, have a cold one from your fridge or snooze listening to the waves lapping.

Houseboats are also and ideal way to check out properties and imagine how it would be to live at the lake.

If you are seeking a recreational/investment property there are opportunities to use your home as a vacation rental to help offset the costs. Contact your realtor to discuss the potential investment opportunities in this beautiful area.

Sandy Stinson (250) 749-6000

Life on the Lake

Sandy Stinson — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:42:00 GMT

If you're not from the area, you might appreciate living at Cowichan Lake even more than someone who was born here.
You may come to the lake for a visit, then go home and you can't help but start making comparisons.

There are so few places left on the planet where you can slip away from a pristine shoreline in your boat or kayak (even in the month of February!) and enjoy looking out toward a lush green shoreline where water birds are feeding, view a fish or two jumping and if you're lucky even see an otter stretched out on a dock. Some days on the lake are downright magical, like catching sight of a soaring eagle, or gazing into a sunset the colour of a glowing pomegranate.

Those of us lucky enough to live here feel truly blessed but even if you live elsewhere, what a perfect place to retire. There are many opportunities to have this peaceful lifestyle either after you finish working, or own a recreational property to enjoy while you're still working.

It's never too early to plan ahead. Where would you like to spend your leisure years? Think about joining us up here at the Lake. It could be a win/win situation because the more people we attract from diverse locations, the more new ideas and new ways of thinking are brought into our community.

Sandy Stinson

(250) 749-6000

Small Town Sentiments

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:58:00 GMT

You can concentrate on all the things that aren't available when you live in a small town. It's true, that everything you're used to in city life won't be at your fingertips in a small community. But the things that really count are all there. You really have to get out, attend the community events, walk through town and trails, sit at a local cafe and relax, enjoy a simpler less hectic pace of life.No one knew this better than Lake Cowichan's reporter/photographer Doug Marner. Doug left us suddenly due to a stroke on Valentines Day at 54 years old: way too young. But while he was out there, reporting for our town's Lake Cowichan Gazette, there was hardly ever a sports or social event where you didn't see Doug. And he didn't just zoom in, grab a picture or two and disappear. He became a welcome part of every get together, smiling, talking to everyone and relishing the togetherness of the town.I last saw him covering a night of great music sponsored by our Radio Station CICV at the local Lion's Hall. He was doing what he loved best; reporting on music events. As usual, he walked in with the big grin, stopped to chat to everyone in between snapping a few pictures. It was evident that he was so happy that Lake Cowichan had a venue to showcase the local musicians. Right to the end, he represented everything that is special about small town life, and I will think of him with great fondness whenever I go out to any of our town celebrations.

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Rain Barrels-A Great Idea

Sandy Stinson — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:29:00 GMT

Installing a rainbarrel at your home will give all kinds of benefits. It is an emergencywater supply when the hydro is out.

It provides manygallons of chlorine-free, oxygen rich water which will benefit your garden andhouse plants.
Watering with warm rain barrel water reduces shock andeliminates a condition called "damping off" when watering newtransplants.

Rain barrels divertwater away from the foundation of your house.

They cut down on yourwater bill.

They can help preventflooding and limit run-off in an overburdened sewer system.

Rain barrels reducedemand on the municipal water system, very important when we are havingextremely dry summers.

Tune in again formore of the many benefits of having a rain barrel.

And remember to ThinkGreen!

Sandy Stinson
(250) 749-6000

Waste Reduction

Sandy Stinson — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:06:00 GMT

When building, measure and calculate at least two times to eliminate anyleft-over materials.

Order lengths and sizes that suit the project so that very little ends upin the scrap heap.

Do your homework on local green materials for all your projects. If thematerials have to be transported long distances, the fuel consumption andexhaust fumes produced negate your green intentions.

If you are tearing down an existing structure, consider any usefulmaterials that might be sold or donated to a building recycler. ex. windows,doors, bricks, hardware, lumber. There are more and more of these sites poppingup all over North America, and while you'reout there, check and see if there are any materials which may suit your nextproject.

"Build it Green"

Sandy Stinson

Green Building Products

Sandy Stinson — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:39:00 GMT

Many building products on the market claim to be green materials, butdon't live up to their claims. Read carefully and don't be afraid to askquestions.

Try to choose products that contain recycled material. They notonly reduce the strain on landfills but reduce the need to use extra rawmaterials. Any way we can lessen our use of natural resources willbenefit all of us.

Another great choice is using rapidly renewable products such as cork andbamboo, or wood products made from fast growing trees such as alder.

Choosing products that are durable also fits in with our greeninterests. These types of products stand the test of time and requireless money and materials for replacement or repair.

Happy Green Building!

Sandy Stinson & Pat Duringer

(250) 749-6000