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April
2007
This Issue:
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Lock Bumping
Thieves can get into your home with a method called lock bumping.
Watch the video, it will scare you into looking at your own home security
measures. Some locks are harder to pick than other but it isn't always
the cheap lock that is hardest to pick . I spoke to a local locksmith and
he told me most new locks have 5 pins, the locks used in the video had only
2 pins. I had all my locks updated just to be safe and rest easy. Locks like
Schlage, Medeco and Primus are not able to be bumped. Good exterior lighting
is also a good deterrent to home invaders.
 Watch
the video (utube video)
Real Estate Market in Nanaimo heats up in 2007.
I wondered if it was just me or if everyone else selling
real estate felt things were getting a little crazy. I asked around the
office and everyone is having a tough time keeping up with the pace of
new inquiries. I have never had so many out of town buyers' asking about
land and homes in Nanaimo. I have just this week got phone calls from Texas
and Ireland. E-mail inquiries are pouring in from all over the world but
mostly from other Provinces.The parking lot being half full at night and
on weekends might have been a clue. The number of single family homes sold
is actually down from last year but prices are going up fast and the number
of lots and condos sold is up about 50%.
See the statistics for March that were
just released this week. (Click
Here for Nanaimo Real Estate Stats from the MLS)
10 Great features for your next kitchen renovation
With 20+ years in hotel and restaurant management I have
seen many kitchens. Some of the commercial ideas are filtering down into
home kitchens. Below are some of my favourites.
Double Ovens - One is necessary
two is a luxury most avid cooks can appreciate. Wolf ovens that cost $4000-$7000
are now appearing in home kitchens.
Hot Tap - This tap puts out
180 degree water on demand. Home Depot stocks 2 models (don't buy the one
with the flimsy handle. There are so many styles and colours available now.
Deep kitchen sinks - with a Kitchen
tap with high arc to fill big pots and a pull out spray nozzle
. 
Countertop Range - Whether you
choose gas or electric this is a hot way to dress up an island for a Tepanyaki
Bar feel.
Stainless Steel Compost Bucket - Mine is from Lee Valley and
I love it. It keeps all the smells in the bucket and is easy to clean.
Water tap over the Range - Almost
every kitchen I ever ran had this simple and inexpensive feature. Great for
filling pasta pots or making soup. No drain is required. You can buy an inexpensive
unit from a commercial food equipment dealer like Russell Foods or Neptune.
Wine Fridge in the Island - Life
is too short to drink cheap wine and while we are at it wine that is improperly
stored. If you are in a house full of kids you can stock juice and water
just like a hotel mini bar only cheaper.
Custom Cabinets -
The new breed of kitchen cabinets has more functionality than our Grandmothers'
kitchens.
- Drawers that extend all the way
- An appliance Garage that has a roll top cover to hide the day to day
appliances. I suggest beefing up the power to these areas and put in a
kill switch in the cover to prevent coffee burners etc being left on.
- Tray storage cabinet next to the oven for bake pans and serving trays.
- Appliance Garage with extra power and heavier
breaker (beef up that 15 amp wire and breaker to 20 amps)
- Recycling Drawer - This feature makes being green
easier and more practical.
- Cabinet hinges that close silently with a piston.
- Glass cabinet doors to see everything or even open cabinets.
- Open wicker basket drawers for onions and spuds.
Walk-in Pantry - This can take a little extra room but sure makes those
Costco runs easier.
Kitchen Island - You can
choose Corian, Granite, Sandstone, Maple cutting board or just plain old
arbrorite to top
this must have in any kitchen. Con cider having your counters at different
height for varying kitchen tasks.
PDAHomes.ca is
launched and live! www.pdaHomes.ca
a new PDA / mobile phone capable real estate web site
 With
new technology comes new innovations in internet marketing of real estate.
I have been working on a way of marketing my clients homes in new and innovative
ways. I bought a TREO 680 PDA Phone last month and finally got my new web
site that is customized and formatted to be viewed on cell phones and PDA'S.
The new mobile site is designed for and optimized for PDA phones and pocket
pc computers. It is one of the first mobile realtor sites in North America
to have this feature.
An Inconvenient Truth
I bought a family member An Inconvenient Truth "the
movie"for
Christmas. I had heard it was a must see movie but until I saw it
this week I had no idea how incredible it was. It will scare you green! The
movie makes it clear we are both victims as well as accomplices in the earths
destruction. If you only see one movie this year...this should be the one.
I
thought I might do my bit to make the world a little greener by suggesting
you all see this movie or read the book. I also have several ideas on how
it may effect you to change small things in your home. This movie is available
for rent and for sale at both Rodgers and Blockbuster. I saw it on Satellite
TV.
Make your home more earth friendly, 10 simple tips to save
the planet.
1) CFL - No I am not talking about Canadian Football
League. CFL bulbs are more efficient bulbs for lighting. Switch all the incandescent
light bulbs over to compact florescent bulbs (cfl). They use 60% less energy
so there is also a cost saving.
2) Move your thermostat down 2 degrees in the winter
and up 2 degrees in the summer. You should swap out that old thermostat for
a newer digital one that is more accurate. Almost half the energy we use
is to heat and cool our homes.
3) Composting - If you do not already have one, start
one. It takes only a small corner of the yard and as a bonus you get rich
black nutrient rich soil back in return. You will use less fertilizer on
the lawn and keep biodegradable matter out of our land fills. I got a stainless
steel bucket from Lee Valley and put all my vegetable ends and coffee grounds
in it.
4) Clean or replace your furnace filter often. Replacing
or cleaning a dirty filter can save 350 pounds of co2 per year from hitting
our atmosphere.
5) Program your new digital thermostat to go down at
night and while you are away. You can even have your hot water tank programmed
to go off during the day and heat up just before you get home.
6) If you really want to save on energy replace your
worn out water tank with a new high efficiency gas heater that is tank-less.
7) Use a cloths line or cloths rack in the summer instead
of the dryer.
8) Get serious about recycling at home. We also have
a recycled home building products outlet you can either buy building materials
or empty out that garage. The store is located just off just off Mostar Road
on Boban.
9) Buy local products. If you buy local products it
saves on fuel costs and supports our local farmers.
10) Buy fresh foods - Fresh is better for you and it
takes ten times as much energy to produce frozen food as fresh.
Get Green and Send this link to 10 friends www.dougbelcher.com/real-estate-blog/april-2007-blog.htm#inconvenient
truth
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