Vancouver Island Real Estate Information

Four Great Reasons to Move to Vancouver Island

There are so many wonderful points about Vancouver Island that inspire people to buy Vancouver Island real estate. The lifestyle has so much to recommend it and most people fall in love with its charms. Here’s four of the best things about Vancouver Island.

Climate
You just can’t beat the Vancouver Island Climate. With an extended temperate season, and protected inland areas, both the coasts and the lakes have some of the mildest weather in Canada. This is a major draw for people looking to escape the more brutal climates in other parts of the country by buying Vancouver Island real estate.

Stunning Scenery

The number one reason people move to Vancouver Island and it’s clear why that’s the case. Vancouver Island boasts some of the most spectacular mountains, lakes, coastline, forest national parks and countryside Canada has to offer. Added to that, the fairly sparse population of the island means this scenery is largely unspoiled and utterly breathtaking.

Activities Galore
Those purchasing Vancouver Island real estate are often choosing to do so because of the huge range of adventure activities the island has to offer. As well as the beach walking, hiking, and skiing, other popular activities include rock-hounding, ATV riding, zip lining, whale watching, snow shoeing, kayaking, boating and a plethora of other activities for intrepid visitors.

Great Cities
From capital city of British Columbia, Victoria, to bustling port city, Nanaimo, the cities of Vancouver Island offer all the glamour of big city living, while being close to the rural splendour of Vancouver Island’s coast and countryside. Victoria has even been voted Canada’s most cultural city with its great cuisine, music scene, art and nightlife, yet another reason to buy Vancouver Island real estate.

Getting Grass as Green as it Can Be

You may not think about it often but our lawns play a very important role in the environment. They provide plenty of oxygen, help reduce pollution, and can even act as a sound barrier. Everyone wants to maintain a healthy lawn that makes their property attractive and inviting, but the list of benefits extends way past cosmetic advantages.

Keeping your lawn adequately watered, free of nutrient stealing weeds, and properly fertilized will assist you in achieving spectacular, green turf. Your family will appreciate a nice place to play and entertain. Unlike concrete and other surfaces grass remains cool which makes for a perfect place to lay on a hot summer’s day. It’s like your own personal air conditioner!

Some people either love to mow their lawn or despise it; since it is a very crucial part in keeping your grass thriving someone has to be in charge of this regular ritual. Well trimmed sod will absorb and preserve the nutrients they need, remain moisturized for longer reducing the frequency of watering, eliminate growth of fungus, and help in the fight against insects.

Before you skip out on a little yard work, keep in mind the favourable aspects your lawn can provide, that go further than your property line.

Buying a Home and Its Neighbourhood

When searching for a house on Vancouver Island the number one priority is obtaining the perfect home for you and your family. You want to discover what an area proposes before making any offers; when you purchase a house and its property you also obtain a new neighbourhood. The characteristics of a neighbourhood may impact any decisions you make. For example, if a gorgeous home was located on a high traffic street and you have small children perhaps that would persuade you not to pursue this particular property. You may want to be close to where you work, or certain amenities such as recreational facilities, retail stores, and businesses.

If you just moved to the area and are unfamiliar with the localities, this is when a Realtor becomes very handy and knowledgeable. They will guide you in the direction of what you want in a home and a neighbourhood, and steer you clear of any undesirable locations. If you are exploring a region on your own, keep a look out for red flags in the form of vandalism, neglected houses, over grown yards, and other unappealing aspects. Even if you maintain your own property’s appearance, its value can be affected from the surrounding distastefulness.

Kitchen Combos – Multipurpose and Mouth Watering

If your Vancouver Island home isn’t blessed with this very appealing layout already and you are contemplating a kitchen remodel, perhaps you should consider a kitchen combo. Having a kitchen and dining area in one can satisfy many different purposes and functions. A wide open floor plan is popular in today’s modern kitchen design; along with stainless steel appliances, rich looking cabinetry, granite counter tops, and lots of seating. An Island with high stools around the cooking area lets family and friends be part of meal preparation. Have quality time with the ones you love while carrying out daily requirements.

Out are the days when kitchens were closed off from other rooms with suffocating walls. Spruce up your kitchen with a new and improved look. If you are a chef at heart then make this your special workspace; accented with your personal edge on interior design.

Watch out living room, the kitchen is now a popular place to entertain, play, and enjoy a variety of activities. With a complete makeover your family’s favourite area in the house will be the wonderful, innovative kitchen and dining room. The endless ideas and style themes are sure to get your creative juices flowing and the ball rolling. Many home and interior decorating magazines offer fresh inspiration. Start your journey off with an appointment with an experienced contractor.

Garage Gadgets Galore – Tackling the Chaos

We all know how quickly a garage can go from organized to complete disarray. As we collect more garden tools, machinery, sporting equipment, and other items we would rather store out of the house, the disorder can get out of hand. Thinking about confronting the enormous mess in our garages can be tiresome in itself, but we will welcome the organization when it comes time to find something we wish to use. Not being able to locate what you are looking for can be extremely frustrating.

To make tools visible and easy to find, installing shelves and racks in your garage can be very helpful. Hanging things on hooks and nails will keep your floor area clean and will designate a special spot for each tool, making it accessible in a time of need. Separating items and devices into categories and then storing them together also creates a sense of organization. Put everything you would use in the summer collectively, and continue with each season’s paraphernalia.

Having your garage in order is just as important as maintaining the interior of your home, because organization of all our ‘stuff’ makes a world of difference.

Deer, Deer Go Away

Planting a Vancouver Island garden takes plenty of effort, hard work, and dedication. It’s a wonderful, fulfilling past time that reaps many rewards such as delicious home grown fruits and vegetables. So it can be very frustrating and maddening when you discover that your newly sprouted plant life has been devoured by deer. These very cute mammals can be your garden’s worst enemy; an average deer can eat six to ten pounds of vegetation. It’s not their fault that your garden is a mouth watering buffet, and you should never try to harm any wildlife in your area even if they are being a nuisance.

The answer to your problem is as easy as putting up a fence to keep the deer from nibbling on your babies, so they have the chance to grow. The recommended height for deer fencing is eight feet tall, which seems really high but eliminates the chance of them jumping over it. There are specialty designs of fencing that are invisible so that it does not impose on the attractiveness of your yard; no cage appeal here please.

Also leave it up to your pet to discourage deer from stepping foot on your property; dogs are great to have in a situation like this.

Allergens Aren’t Welcome Here

Your home on Vancouver Island should be a place you can seek refuge from any given thing at any time. Many allergens are in the air with the arrival of spring and summer; once trees, flowers, and grass are in full bloom. These irritants can bother people with sensitivities to them. If you are one of these sufferers, the last thing you want is a home that is over run by dust, dirt, mites, and outdoor particles. There are precautions you can follow that can help eliminate allergens in your home to keep you comfortable and happy; and chase away those sniffles, sneezes, and watery eyes.

The first thing you can do to improve the air quality in your home is dust. Dust can collect in all places, especially in upholstery or fabric materials. Be sure to release this dust build up as much as you can. The trick is to use a wet cloth when dusting so you aren’t just moving the dust around and into the air.

If you have extreme allergies and you have carpet throughout your home you may want to think about exchanging it for floors such as hardwood. Carpets trap bacteria, grime, and other harmful particles that regular vacuuming doesn’t always get rid of.

What Sells Your Home

The Vancouver Island real estate market has always been a place of competition as sellers try to make their homes stand out from the rest. But what makes buyers say WOW…. and what makes them say YIKES? How a home is staged for buyers and open houses is very important. You want to present the highlights and best features of every room and demonstrate what each one has to offer. Showing your house with personal items and cluttering objects everywhere is a big NO-NO. Crowded rooms will not allow potential buyers to envision what they wish from a home.

Once you place your home on the market your real estate agent, advertising, and open houses will make the presence of your property known, and immediately get the ball rolling. As a seller it’s your job to get the interior and exterior of your home ready to sell.

Get rid of some unwanted household items that have been taking up too much space and storage by hosting a garage sale. Depersonalize each room as much as you can. Having a clean and tidy house welcomes people into your home; dirtiness and disorganization can be a real turn- off. You want to sell your house within a reasonable time frame and receive desirable offers; increase your chances and prep your home to impress.

Choosing Crafty Cabinets

As a Vancouver Island homeowner changing or upgrading your house can be a real roller coaster adventure. The kitchen and bathroom are the most common areas people give a personal makeover. They are both very important rooms in the household. Now the kitchen is where you can spend a lot of money and not feel bad, because it tends to be the place where your family comes together after a long day apart. You want this space to portray all the things you love, whether it is rich wood accents or modern granite countertops.

In the world of cabinets there are many choices, especially since the rainbow of earthy tones can add a diversity of warmth to your home’s kitchen. Your colour scheme may revolve around the preferred type of wood you have chosen. This decision will most likely determine the cost also.

Stronger, more desirable woods obviously will be more expensive then softer, less popular woods. Not wanting to go the cheaper route for this renovation is understandable, putting into consideration just how much traffic kitchens and their cabinetry get. You want to obtain the look that best suits your sense of style; taking your time on picking cupboards that you love and that can conceal all your kitchen gadgets is worth the extra effort.

It may seem like a simple thing to choose, but when you get out there and see all the striking selection you might have a hard time settling on just one type of cabinet.

Walk In Closets

Once you have had the luxury of organized closet space it’s hard to go back to itty bitty storage areas. Walk in closets can be a dream come true in your Vancouver Island home, especially for the female population who tend to have more clothes and shoes. They are usually accented with plenty of built in drawers and shelves, cubby holes, and lots of hanging potential; perfect for the master bedroom and for spouses to share.

It can be simple to add a walk in closet to your home. If your master bedroom has the square footage or if a small room without a purpose neighbours your master bedroom the design possibilities are numerous. If you are tired of stuffing things wherever they will fit, or have just run out of room completely this may be the solution to your cluttered problems.

A walk in closet will allow you to see your belongings out in the open so that they are easy to find. The organization that will come with this type of storage luxury will help keep your personal space tidy, in order, and arranged for trouble- free every day routines.

You can find many plans online to build yourself or if you would rather a contractor, they can guide you towards the closet that is right for your home’s layout and that will meet your expectations.