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BC kamloops HOME & C O N D O
L I V I N G
J U LY
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HOME MEDIA GUIDE PAGE 6
HOME ENERGY SAVING TIPS PAGE 4
REAL ESTATE MARKET UPDATE PAGE 5
KEYSTONE AWARDS PAGE 2
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AWARD WIN NING Every year, the home-building sector takes the time to recognize excellence within the industry. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association Central Interior (CHBA CI) Home Builder Awards of Excellence, known as the Keystone Awards, recognize achievement in a plethora of categories, from new home building, landscaping, kitchen, interior design and energy-efficiency. Matt McCurrach, president of the CHBA CI, said the awards are an opportunity for people in the industry to gain recognition for their hard work. “You kind of glaze over what you see when you drive down the street every day. You don’t see what’s in the backyard. You don’t see what’s through the front door or the windows, but there are a lot of creative distinct homes around here,” he said,
noting that the Thompson-Nicola is home to quality multi-million- dollar houses. The awards recognize industry professionals throughout the ThompsonNicola and are open to all companies involved in the residential-building industry, whether they are a CHBA CI member or not. Projects and products built, renovated, developed, created or marketed in the Interior between Jan.1, 2012, and Aug.8, 2014, are eligible. The deadline for entries is midnight on Friday, Aug. 8. W h i l e i t ’s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r companies to be recognized, it’s also an opportunity for the public to see what is award-winning, McCurrach said. The awards program is also a good place to find inspiration for a project or renovation about which homeowners or buyers might be hesitant. People can also learn who the
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industry leaders are and who comprises the top suppliers and the best sub-contractors. “If they win an award, the industry sees that, but the public also sees that,” McCurrach said. “So, if someone is looking for a good business to deal with, they can look at the awards program.” The 32 categories include seven dedicated to new homes, eight dedicated to renovations, six dedicated to design, five dedicated to marketing and six special awards, including best public/ private partnership, best sub-trade, best supplier and customer-choice awards. Last year, Meranti Developments, Sun Rivers Construction and Motivo Designs Group took home awards for single-family detached homes. Tenth Ventures won the award for best multi-family development for Belmonte Garden Homes. Phase one
of members’ cottages at the Sagebrush Golf and Sporting Club by DW Builders was named the best resort development. The 2013 Y Dream Home won the award for energy-efficiency a n d T R U S c h o o l o f Tr a d e s a n d Technology was recognized as the best public/private partnership. McCurrach said award winners often go on to claim trophies in provincial and national categories. Last year, the CHBA CI and Thompson Rivers University School of Trades won the award for excellence in public or private partnership for the 2013 training house at the Kelowna CHBA Central Okanagan regional home builder Tommie Awards. The Keystone Awards Gala will take place on Saturday, Sept.27 at Thompson Rivers University Grand Hall.
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Homes
& C O N D O S
CONTENTS This month in Kamloops Home and Condo living, find the latest in home technology in our home-media guide, a real-estate update, some energy-saving tips for when you’re away from your home, what you need to know about home-warranty insurance and changes coming to the B.C. Building Code and what myths you might believe about home insurance.
On the HOME FRONT For the new homebuyer or the tenured homeowner, Kamloops Home and Condo Living is the guide for enjoyable living. Love your home and everything in it with the help of this tailored resource, which brings you the help of the city’s premier home outfitters and builders. Whether you’re renovating your current space, on the market for a new one, renting or building something brand new, take advantage of new ways to make the most of your surroundings. The experts are at your fingertips with everything you need to know about creating the space you want to live in. Find something for your condo or home, new or seasoned, and ideas for every room, from your kitchen to your closet.
BUILDING DREAMS New decor or furniture can turn your lived-in den into a brand new abo de. Some new lighting? Different paint colours? New landscaping? Or maybe you need to take out that wall or add that kitchen island you’ve always wanted? Whatever you’re thinking of trying, start here. Learn about the hottest styles and local trends in today’s homes and who to talk to. Also, get up to date on the state of the real estate market in and around Kamloops and learn about the newest developments in the city. This month read about Everything you need to the most cutting-edge home know about outfitting technology, from homeyour home exactly how theatre setups to fully you want it, today. automated smart homes. Yo u r h o m e i s y o u r sanctuary. Make it the place you want to return to.
A look at the capabilities of home automation and the latest in home audio on page 6.
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HOME ENERGY SAVING TIPS FOR SUMMER TRAVELLERS Did you know home appliances and electronics still draw power whether you’re using them or not? If you’re planning to travel this summer, consider giving them a vacation, too. Turning them off, down or even unplugging will reduce energy waste and give you the added benefit of a lower energy bill when you get home. Dave Walton, director of home ideas for Direct Energy recommends the following tips for summer travellers: Control the air. Allowing the temperature in your house to increase by a few degrees when no one is home could save a significant amount on your summer energy bills. If you have a programmable thermostat, keep the temperature high while you’re away and set it to automatically lower before you arrive home. Adjusting the thermostat from 22 to 24 degrees C over an eight-hour period during the day and again overnight could save you approximately three to five per cent on your hydro bill. Unplug vampire electronics. Vampire electronics are the household appliances and devices that mindlessly add to your energy bills even when they are turned off. Things like cellphone chargers, microwave ovens, DVD players, televisions, computers and
gaming consoles all draw electricity when not in use. Even the average older home desktop computer uses about 311.0 kilowatt hours annually when in standby mode, costing approximately $24 a year. Cover the windows. Before you leave for your holidays, remember to close the curtains and drapes, especially on south-and west-facing windows. This will help block out the high summer sun and stop the home from getting too hot inside, causing your AC to come on unnecessarily. S e t y o u r l i g h t s o n a t i m e r. B y u s i n g a t i m e r, n o t o n l y a r e y o u b e i n g m o r e e n e r g y efficient, you will also be making it look like s o m e o n e ’s h o m e w h i l e y o u ’ r e o u t o f t o w n . S t a y c o n n e c t e d w h i l e y o u ’ r e a w a y. That home-away-from-home can be great, but how will you know if a problem arises? Learning thermostats allow homeowners to monitor what’s going on, no matter where you are. You can get a message to your phone if your home is too hot or too cold or receive information about how often the equipment has been coming on so you can better monitor the temperature you set. — News Canada
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Real Estate M A R K E T
SALES UP 20 PER CENT IN JULY Residential real-estate sales were up 20 per cent from last year for the month of July. Residential sales totalled just over $94 million in July, versus last year’s nearly $79 million, said Ingrid Pfeiffer, president of the Kamloops and District Real Estate Association. There was also a 15 per cent increase in unit sales. After a slow start to the year, Pfeiffer was relieved to see the latest numbers. “We’ve caught up which is nice,” she said. “I knew it was coming. We just had a slow start this year and now we’re up.” Although the British Columbia Real Estate Association was reporting a 24.9 per cent increase in residential sales for the month of June provincewide, Kamloops was still down eight per cent from the previous year. Pfeiffer attributed the slow start to the bad winter, but now that summer is in full swing, people are “moving about.”
“This is the time of the year where people want to get moved and get settled,” she said. Most sales were in the $280,000 to $320,000 range, which is normal for the Kamloops market, Pfeiffer said. But in both June and July there was an increase in sales of high-end homes. There were 12 sales over $600,000 and 11 sales in the $560,000-$600,000 price range. Brocklehurst saw the most sales, followed by South Kamloops, Sahali and Aberdeen. Pfeiffer said Sahali is normally the most active area, but Brocklehurst has been selling very well for the last two months. The median price for a home in Kamloops is $367,000 and Pfeiffer is calling the current state a buyer’s market. After peaking in 2007/2008, prices have come down, she said. “ I t ’s a p e r f e c t t i m e f o r a f i r s t t i m e h o m e b u y e r, ” s h e s a i d . “ I n t e r e s t rates are low and prices are stable.”
INGRID PFEIFFER President, Kamloops and District Real Estate Association
healthy landscapes, healthy living Xeriscaping in Kamloops
Xeriscape means “water conservation through creative landscaping”. Landscapes suited to our semi-arid climate conserve water and have an advantage over pest problems. Apply these principles to any garden style and have a healthy, high quality landscape: 1. Planning and design: Group plants according to their water use. Slope hard surfaces to drain to planted areas. Avoid steep slopes – create terraces instead. Use groundcovers on gentle slopes. 2. Good soils: Organic matter is an excellent soil amendment. It improves moisture holding capacity in sandy soils and helps to loosen clay soils. 3. Appropriate plant selection: Drought tolerant plants thrive here. There are many beautiful trees, shrubs and flowers with low water needs. 4. Practical turf areas: Replace unused lawns with other plants. Use hard-surfacing for play courts, patios, and walkways. 5. Water wisely: Water deeply, but infrequently to encourage deep rooting and drought-tolerance. 6. Mulch: Apply a layer of organic matter to: protect roots from elements, enrich soil, and control weeds. 7. Proper maintenance: Your landscape will require less maintenance over time. Visit the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at McArthur Island or the Harrington Road Booster Station at 790 Harrington Road for inspiration. Contact: Integrated Pest Management Coordinator healthylandscapes@kamloops.ca 250-828-3888 kamloops.ca/ipm Colonial Countertops Kelowna 1630 Innovation Dr 250-765-3004
www.kamloops.ca/ipm
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2 0 1 4 HOME
The capabilities of smart-home automation are limitless. Controlling all the electronic components of your home has never been easier. These days, technology for your home is doing much more than entertaining — it’s making living easier. Programming can be done to make the electronic components and systems in your house work together, giving you the ability to control it all with the touch of a button. “It’s limitless. Whatever the mind can dream up the programming can pretty much be done,” said Danielle Byrd, store manager at Andre’s Electronic Experts. Byrd called Control4 the premium product in home automation. It can integrate everything from lighting, music, video, climate control and security and co-ordinate it all with your smartphone or tablet. For example, you could wake up in the morning and touch one button to have your lights slowly come on, your morning radio station start playing, your blinds open and your heat or
air conditioning turned on. At night, you could initiate the sequence in reverse just as easily. You could have sensors put on cupboards to monitor if an elderly parent is taking their medication, or on doors to know when a child has entered a room.
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In-wall and portable touch screen intercom systems can allow you to communicate with people around the house. Of course, you can use Control4 technology to manage all the inputs and outputs of your hometheatre installation with ease.
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MEDIA GUIDE “ A L L
T H AT
W I T H
Control4 also has an app for controlling the systems in your home from anywhere and sends alerts to your device — while you’re at work or on vacation. “It can be pricey, but it can be as little or as much as you want and you can add and change the programming at any point in time,” Byrd said, adding that, although the popularity of home automation is accelerating, it’s hitting a certain market because of the expense. In terms of security, there are a variety of products, such as security cameras and customizable key pads you can control and view remotely through your smartphone. As does Control4, Byrd said security systems allow you to program different lock codes for your doors and know when people are arriving and leaving, such as a teenager coming home from school while you’re at work. When you arrive home with an armload of
T H E
T O U C H
O F
groceries, you can also disarm your system and unlock your doors before you get to the front step. As for entertainment, both Byrd and Lance Yam in the audio department at Andre’s said Sonos is the latest and greatest in home audio. Sonos is a system of HiFi wireless speakers and audio components controlled by an app on your devices. “They are the only one on the market right now that is doing this to this extent,” Byrd said. “Others are trying to jump on board, but they are years behind.” Sonos speakers can be put anywhere in your home and controlled individually — up to 32 individual zones can be managed. They also offer other components that connect to your home theatre and turn it into a musicstreaming system. You get access to a wide variety of music
A
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services through the Sonos Controller App and have the ability to play from your own media library on your device. “We cannot keep this stuff in stock,” Byrd said. “A lot of people are in homes that they don’t want to run wires through, but everyone wants music in every corner of their house and they want to be able to control it off their smartphone.” Curved OLED TVs are leading the way on the visuals side. The screens are flexible and, Byrd said, eventually these TVs will transition between being flat and curved, depending on the viewer’s preference. All the brands have 4K technology — the best resolution you can get on a TV. “The picture quality surpasses everything that is out there by far,” Byrd said. “The contrast, the blacks and the whites are just out of this world.”
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About two years ago, the rules changed to limit Canadians from refinancing more than 80 per cent of the value of their homes. This has greatly limited people from being able to access some of their equity. So, what about trying to improve the value of your home? Is it time to redo the kitchen or install newer and more efficient windows? If you are currently sitting at 75 per cent loan to value what are your options? We can look at refinancing your mortgage considering t h e a f t e r- i m p r o v e d v a l u e o f y o u r home to access more mortgage money. Here’s how it works: You currently own a house worth $350,000, with a mortgage of $262,500. You could refinance it right now for up to $280,000, giving you $17,500 to do your improvements. You would like to spend about $35,000 on improvements that will increase your house value to $380,000 (note that not all improvements will increase value dollar for dollar). You are now able to increase your mortgage to $304,000, which is 80 per
cent of the new house value. This will give you $41,500 to do the improvements. If you would like some more information about this program or anything else about mortgages, call 250-374-3010. Our services are almost always at no cost to you. Here are the top 10 improvements and the percentage of costs that is added to the value of the home Bathroom 75-100% Kithcen 75-100% Interior paint 50-100% Exterior Paint 50-100% Roofing 50-100% Furnace 50-80% Basement reno 50-75% Rec room addition 50-75% Fireplace addition 50-75%
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Home
I N S U R A N C E
DEMYSTIFYING COMMON HOME INSURANCE MISCONCEPTIONS For most Canadians, their most valuable asset is their home. And yet, too many have only a vague understanding of the insurance policy that covers their house and contents. Unfortunately, many find out too late — when they have an expensive claim denied — that their understanding of their policy is based more on misconceptions than on fact. The P&C experts from Desjardins Insurance would like to help you by clarifying some of the common misconceptions about property insurance. M i s c o n c e p t i o n 1 - Yo u r home insurance will cover any type of major loss. The typical home-insurance policy will cover a fire loss, as well as damage caused by lightning, windstorms, hailstorms and even tornados. However, damage from earthquakes is not covered by standard homeowners’ insurance. You can purchase special
coverage, though the cost can vary considerably depending on the risk in the area where you live. Not surprisingly, earthquake coverage is more expensive in Vancouver than in Winnipeg. Standard homeowners’ policies in Canada also exclude flood damage. However, policies generally cover other kinds of water damage, for example, from a broken water main on the street or a burst pipe in a house. Misconception 2 – I will receive full market value for my house if it burns to the ground. The value of a home-insurance policy is usually based on the cost to rebuild the house, not to sell it on the marketplace. Replacement costs will include the material (lumber, roofing shingles, siding material, carpet, drywall, etc), labour costs, architectural services and so on. It is important, if you do any renovations or additions to your home, that you let your insurance
®
company know, as this could change the replacement cost of your home. Misconception 3 – I will automatically get full replacement value for any personal belongings that are damaged. No, depreciation would be factored in, which could reduce the value considerably unless you had optional replacement-cost coverage. In that case, you would be able to replace the item with a new one with the same or similar features. In addition, valuable items such as jewelry or artwork are usually subject to a payment cap, unless additional coverage is purchased. Misconception 4 – Renters who don’t own any fancy stuff don’t need insurance. Not true. You’d be surprised how much it costs to replace even basic contents, such as furniture, kitchen supplies, clothing and electronics like computers, TVs and cellphones.
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Plus, you need to ask yourself if you could afford to rent a hotel for a few weeks if your apartment needed major repairs. If not, then tenant insurance is a must. This insurance protects your property and also covers you in case you accidentally cause damage to the property of others. It’s simple, affordable and definitely necessary. The Desjardins experts advise homeowners to periodically review their insurance policies to ensure their coverage is up to date. If it’s been a long time since you knew what was in your policy, take some time today to read it over. Then speak to your insurance provider if you have any questions or concerns. They will also be able to tell you if additional c o v e r a g e i s n e c e s s a r y. F o r m o r e information about property insurance, visit the Desjardins Insurance website at www.desjardinsgeneralinsurance.com. — News Canada
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Home
W A R R A N T Y
Like many things brand new, a new home comes with a warranty. Home-warranty insurance in B.C. protects new homes against construction defects such as materials and labour, building envelope and structural defects. B . C . ’s H o m e o w n e r P r o t e c t i o n A c t requires that all new homes constructed under building permits applied for after July 1, 1999 to be covered by home warranty insurance. The Homeowner Protection Office put together a guide to home-warranty insurance in 2013, which indicates homeowners are expected to be familiar with their home-warranty insurance policy and are also responsible for carrying out maintenance. Builders are responsible for arranging home warranty. Matt McCurrach, president of the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior said there is an advantage to using a professional builder because they are required under legislation to provide a warranty on new homes. “For every home, they have to have a warranty backer and it’s not easy to do,” he said. “It’s not easy for a builder to go out and get a warranty c o m p a n y t o c o v e r t h e m . Yo u h a v e t o h a v e a good history before they will even look at you, so the consumer has got that on their side.” The insurance protects homeowners from a range of construction defects for designated periods
of time — two years on labour and materials, five years on the building envelope, including water penetration, and 10 years on the structure. This is known as the 2-5-10 warranty and the cost is included in the price of your home. Be aware that the warranty doesn’t cover everything. Design, materials or labour supplied by you, the owner, or someone other than the builder, landscaping, roads and curbs, septic tanks and fields and non-residential detached structures are excluded. Normal wear and tear, damage caused by anyone other than the r e s i d e n t i a l b u i l d e r, d a m a g e caused by insects or rodents, acts of nature and failure to carry out proper maintenance are also excluded. For more details on 2-5-10 home warranty insurance, find the Homeowner Protection Office’s Guide to Home Warranty Insurance in B.C. at http://www.hpo.bc.ca/files/download/ Bulletins/GuideToHomeWarrantyInsurance.pdf
TOP 10 SECURITY TIPS FOR YOUR NEW HOME Moving to a different neighbourhood is an exciting adventure, but it’s also a stressful time as we check off, one by one, all of the tasks necessary to turn a new house into a home. Be sure to add security measures to your list say advisers in this field. Police investigations show that many intruders actually have a key. Always assume that several other people probably have a key to your new home, therefore replacing the entry locks as soon as possible is as important as hanging the drapes, placing the furniture in your rooms, and purchasing decor enhancements. Take a look at this handy To p 1 0 c h e c k l i s t , c o u r t e s y of Schlage, a leading name in door security hardware:
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DRYWALL • STEEL STUDS • STUCCO • TOOLS INSULATION • ALLAN BLOCKS PAVING STONES • T-BAR CEILING Big Box Store Prices Quality Products You Need Staff you can actually see with professional advice 6 6 0
K i n g s t o n
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2 5 0 - 3 7 6 - 5 7 8 1
1. Examine all doors and windows to make sure the frames are sturdy and reliable. Get them
fixed if they are in need of repair. 2. Change the exterior locks with the most advanced deadbolts and front entry handlesets available. The new ANSI Grade 1 Touchscreen Deadbolts operate by simply entering a code to lock and unlock it, no keys required. Fully-loaded features include the auto-lock option, built-in alarm, kick-in and anti-pick resistance. This electronic deadbolt is smart as well. Once synced wirelessly with a Z-wave service provider, it will give you a menu of home control from your web-connected devices. 3 . To u r t h e n e w h o u s e with a critical eye looking for broken or aging door frames, flimsy window locks, and broken locks. Even the most beautiful locks can be quite affordable.
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Energy
E F F I C I E N C Y
The energy-efficiency requirements for new h homes built in B.C. are changing in December. The B.C. Building Code will include a new section with vario various insulation and mechanical requirements. Improving energy efficiency in buildings reduces costs for owners and ensures the re design and construction minimizes energy d use and the production of greenhouse gases. u For houses and smaller buildings, the B.C. Building Code already has a minimum B rrequirement for insulation in exterior walls, aattics and basements, and requirements ffor water efficient plumbing fixtures. The new requirements that come into eeffect on Dec.19 will expand on the existing provisions and require builders to consider all provision parts o of the building, a spokesperson from the M Ministry of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing indicated. Inside the house, heating, cooling and hothea water equipment will need to meet new efficiency requirements. The provisions set a minimum standard for the performance of doors, windows and skylights. The additions will not
� from page 10 4. If the house has an alarm system, change the access codes and advise the alarm service of your new ownership. Did you know that the most advanced electronic deadbolts come with a built-in alarm? See schlage.com. 5. Walk around your yard at different times of the day to judge shadows, deterrent lighting, and the safety of entering and exiting from different doorways. 6. Sensor lights or dusk-
to-dawn lighting deters criminals while you’re sleeping. 7. Trim back bushes and trees to prevent thieves from hiding. Store ladders in a l o c k e d g a r a g e i m m e d i a t e l y.
have a dramatic effect on the appearance or cost of a house and many are common practice for builders. The provisions were created in close consultation w i t h i n d u s t r y, a m i n i s t r y s p o k e s p e r s o n s a i d . The B.C. Building Code only applies to new construction, so the new provisions will only be present in new buildings or additions to existing buildings. Energy efficiency is an important consideration when buying a home, as a more efficient home can save power and heating costs. Homeowners should remember that new buildings are designed to work as an efficient system — and that includes its occupants. O n c e t h e h o m e i s b u i l t , i t ’s u p t o t h e homeowners to learn about these systems and how they are intended to work. The biggest change will be that all tradespeople working on a building will need to be aware of how their work affects the performance of the building. This includes plumbers, electricians and mechanical contractors, who have not typically been involved in this process. The Homeowners Protection Office, a branch of B.C. Housing, held seminars throughout the province this past spring to introduce the changes to builders and tradespeople.
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8. Hire only accredited tradespeople; ask for their credentials and references.
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TIMELESS
9. Find out emergency service phone numbers and locations. 10. Join the local neighbourhood watch.
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