Real estate buyers have many different options these days. Some buyers know exactly what they want when they start searching. They’re positive that they want a traditional two-story house, or a small one-story home, or a sleek condo. Other buyers aren’t so sure. They don’t know exactly what type of Burnaby real estate appeals to them. They can’t decide if they’ll be happier in a house or a condo. If that sounds like you, here are some things to consider as you decide what type of home to buy.

How much maintenance do you want to do?

If you live in a condo, you’ll only be responsible for maintaining that condo. You won’t have to worry about fixing problems in the building itself. You also won’t have to deal with any of the landscaping. All you have to do is take care of everything behind your front door. On the other hand, a house does come with a lot of maintenance. Whenever something goes wrong, you’ll have to be the one to take care of it. You’ll also have to deal with lawn care. Some people like having those responsibilities. They want to landscape their yard and take care of problems in their home. Other people would much rather leave that all to someone else. You should think about what category you fall into as you start looking at real estate.

How much space do you want?

One of things you’ll likely have to give up if you buy a condo is space.  For many people, the idea of downsizing has a lot of appeal.  Keeping that in mind, you’ll also give up the space that comes with having your own yard, so consider the shared or communal spaces that condos may provide, such as a gym, a pool or a rooftop garden. If you’re someone who doesn’t need excess space to be happy, a condo will work well for you. If you do like to spread out, then a condo might feel restrictive.

What type of neighbourhood do you want to live in?

Many condos are built in busy, urban neighbourhoods that are full of shops and restaurants. Sometimes these shops and restaurants are built to service the people living in the condos. If you love being surrounded by activity at all times of the day, a condo will be perfect for you. However, if you like having peace and quiet when you come home, you might be better off with a suburban house where you can escape from the bustling city.

As you can see, some people are better suited to condo living, while others will be much happier in their own house. It all depends on what you prefer. If you like the idea of a low-maintenance, compact place in a busy area, a condo is right for you. If you want space and a quiet neighbourhood, you’ll happier in a house. If you’re ready to start looking for your dream condo or home, check out our listings or give us a call. We’d be happy to help you start your search. 

If you’re looking to spruce up your Burnaby real estate, a new landscaping plan could do the trick. Even if you just have a small yard, you can still create a beautiful garden out of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Here are a few ways to make your yard look brand new.

3 Landscaping Ideas for your Burnaby Home

Create a Theme

An interesting theme can help you create a memorable garden. There are a variety of things you can use as an inspiration for your theme. You can focus in on a certain region of the world, and only buy plants that grow naturally there.  For example, you can create a Japanese garden full of sculpted bonsai trees, bamboo, and orchids. If the idea of using a region doesn’t appeal to you, you can use nature as your theme. You can buy plants similar to the ones seen in the forests near your home. Or, you can use the beach as your inspiration and create a backyard full of the types of plants normally found near the ocean. Having a theme will help you focus your creativity so you can create a beautiful yard.

Make an Edible Garden

If you love vegetables, fruit, and herbs, why not grow your own? An edible garden can be filled with herbs to spice up your food. You can also plant fruits and vegetables that are native to your area. Food always tastes better when it’s grown locally, and you can’t get more local than your own backyard.

Go Simple

Sometimes, simple is better. This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of time to maintain your yard. However, even though you’re using fewer materials your yard doesn’t have to lack creativity. There are many ways to make a yard beautiful and easy to take care of. One way to do this is to use stones. You can create a stone garden that features rocks of many different shapes and textures.  If stones don’t appeal to you, you can use plants that don’t need much care. A quick search online will tell you what low-maintenance plants are natural to your area. A simple garden can easily be just as beautiful as one that must be tended often.

These ideas will help you start landscaping the yard of your dreams. A perfectly landscaped yard is easy to create as long as you have a plan. With a little hard work, your yard will be beautiful. If you have any questions about landscaping or anything to do with Burnaby real estate, please feel free to contact me.

Pets can be messy creatures, but in my time working with Burnaby real estate, I can see firsthand that they can also bring a lot of joy to a family. They are a lot of work, and not to mention the time and cost it takes to keep them. While many people with pets seem to live happy lives, they can also create quite the hassle for some. Keeping all of this in mind, is a pet really worth the extra effort? Here are some points to think about when making your decision.

5 Questions to ask yourself when considering a pet

Consider your lifestyle

Do you work from home or at an office? Do you have a steady working schedule, or a volatile one? A pet, such as a cat or dog, requires a lot of attention. They have to be cleaned and loved. Ask yourself, does your current lifestyle fit with the respsonsinilities of owning a pet.

Decide what kind of pet

Some pets need more care than others. For instance, a dog will definitely require multiple visits to the bathroom per a day, while cats can easily find their litterboxes on their own. If you are seriously considering a pet, get one that will match your lifestyle. Another thing to consider is how much space a pet will take up.

Set up a trial period

If you're thinking of getting a dog, try borrowing your friend's dog and taking care of it for a couple days. This will not only get you used to the idea of having a dog, it will also be a good way to see if you can manage having one.

Estimate the costs

Remember that pets are an added expense. Calculate how much money and time you would need to set aside for your pet and include this is in your budget. If it's a lot more than you bargained for, perhaps you are not ready for a pet yet. Always consider contigency costs for vet bills and unexpected ailments.

Discuss responsibilities  

If you live with a partner or have kids, you have to talk about who will be in charge of taking care of the pet. It is good to split the responsibilities of feeding, grooming and walking the pet so you won't get overwhelmed. A house pet is a shared responsibility, and should be treated as such.

We hope that these questions can help you and your family make the right decision. For more information on our current Burnaby listings or for selling and buying advice please contact me.

You are ready to start looking for a place, and are in need of some real estate services. Good real estate agents can be hard to find especially when you have no leads or don't quite know what you're looking for. So what traits make up the perfect agent?

What to Look for in a Real Estate Agent

They are professional

This is the first quality you should look out for. Professionalism is not only seen in how the agent looks, but also in how they behave. An unprofessional real estate agent only cares about the sale. A good agent treats you as a respected client and shows sensitivity to you needs.

They have excellent communication skills

Acting as an intermediary between real estate buyer and seller, a real estate agent needs to have excellent written and verbal communication skills. It is crucial that they follow up with you on pending criteria and are able to clearly explain things whenever a problem arises. They must be in constant communication with you to give you updates and provide you with all the relevant information.

They pay attention to your needs

They are attentive from the beginning, and give you the best customer service you deserve. They ask you what your requirements are and do their best to deliver them within your budget. They show you that they are listening to you, and offer you valuable advice in your search.

They are knowledgeable

They know the ins and outs of the real estate market. They know the product they are selling you and they know exactly how to market it. And most importantly, they know their client's and customer's time frame and is able to match the two up.

They give you references of their past clients

Consider it a good sign when your agent does not hesitate to give you contact details of their previous clients. This means that they have developed a good relationship with them. By reaching out to these references, you will get a better idea of the agent and so you can gauge whether they are a good fit for you.

We hope that the tips mentioned above come in handy while looking for an agent to work with. To work with an experienced and professional real estate team, please contact us for any assistance regarding Burnaby real estate - we'd be glad to help!

Renting is the cheaper option for most people nowadays, but it's not always the most flexible one. When you own your place, you can do whatever you want with it, whenever you want to. Size may also be a big issue with rentals, as you're forced to be extra resourceful in using your limited space. Here we list some issues you may find with renting. If you can't live with them, then maybe it is time to reconsider your options and start looking at Burnaby's real estate options.

Reasons why you may want to Buy Instead of Rent

You can't customize your space

You're on a lease, which means that your space is technically not your own. You're just borrowing it on a contract basis, and aren't allowed to paint the walls or renovate the place without the consent of your landlord. You could put up decorations, but you'll have to make sure that they can easily be removed.

Space is limited

If you're renting a place, chances are that it's a part of a larger complex of buildings. This means that room is limited, and there's not enough internal storage space. You may face problems with overcrowding, especially if there are a lot of people living with you.

Furnishings are older

Most likely, your rented space has been lived in before. Nothing is really new, although things have hopefully been well-maintained. Utilities like bathrooms, lights, kitchen and furnishings are older, and might not function as well as you would have hoped.

Mail is difficult

You'll have a mailbox, but it might be a tiny one, so your box will fill up quickly. Or in other cases, your mail could easily get damaged and bent out of shape. If you have a shared mail area, even packages go to a central area. This increases the chances for stolen/misplaced mail.

Lack of privacy

You're living in a complex with other people you don't know. If you're lucky, your neighbors are courteous and respectful. However, there's always gonna be a lack of privacy. Walls may be too thin, and outdoor noise levels will bother you.

If you would like to have a look at the current options in Burnaby real estate, please contact us for additional information on any of our listings or to discuss what you are looking for. We'd be gald to help!