Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association

Home builders association offers free renovation seminar

Mon, 07 May 2012 19:09:44 GMT

The Canadian residential construction industry contributes more than $100 billion worth of economic activity every year. Many folks assume the lion's share of that expenditure is in new homes. They would be wrong. About 60 per cent of those dollars are spent on home renovations.

So rather than move - notwithstanding that a new home is, in fact, the ultimate renovation - many homeowners are choosing to stay put and invest some cash to improve their outdated digs.

This year, B.C. homeowners will spend $7.8 billion on home improvements - from minor fixes to lavish whole-house makeovers. My wife and I recently toured a posh $6-million, top-to-bottom renovation in Vancouver. I'm still talking about the wow factor. My wife is fed up hearing about it.

Renovation can be a rewarding process. For others, not so much. Amazingly, some homeowners spend more time planning a $5,000 cruise than they do researching a $100,000 home renovation.

From time to time, I receive calls or emails from bright people sheepishly confessing to doing something dumb. Like the executive who gave $12,000 to a contractor to start construction on a small addition. The shyster did some preliminary work, then disappeared, never to be seen again.

To help homeowners make informed decisions, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association - in partnership with BC Hydro, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and FortisBC - is presenting its annual spring renovation seminar on May 15.

This popular free event, which includes a pre-seminar exhibition and discussion area, featuring 40 renovators, designers and suppliers of home-improvement products and services, will again be held in the Croatian Cultural Centre at 3250 Commercial Drive.

The exhibition area will be open from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.; the seminar runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Attendees will be guided through the various stages of the renovation process, including design and planning, legal and contracts, selecting a renovator, municipal permits and inspections, and living through a renovation.

Renovating a home in consideration of aging-in-place requirements will also be discussed. We all close our minds to the fact debilitation might be just around the corner, but emerging mobility challenges need to be acknowledged. Growing up might be optional, but growing old is mandatory.

Presenters include a construction lawyer, municipal building official, a technical expert sharing the latest news on resource and energy-efficient renovations, and award-winning renovation contractors.

The seminar moderator will outline the benefits of RenoMark, an industry-led national program designed to provide greater confidence to home-owners when hiring renovation contractors.

In order to be accepted into the program, contractors are obliged to abide by a 10-condition code of conduct, including contracts, warranties, liability insurance, and compliance with WorkSafeBC regulations. (Visit www.gvhba.org then click on the RenoMark icon at the top right side of the page.)

Although the seminar is free, pre-registration is required, and attendees are asked to contribute a non-perishable food item for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. Register online at www.gvhba.org or call 778-565-4288. Public transit is nearby and there is ample free parking.

Karen Charters was one of the first homeowners to register for the upcoming seminar, so I called her to introduce myself, find out what she hopes to learn, and what type of renovation she is planning.

Charters, who is divorced and lives with her adult kids in a mortgage-free Surrey home, said she is attending the seminar to learn a little something and to discuss her renovation plans with contractors.

"I recently had a new roof installed and it was a very stressful experience. I got three quotes, yet I was in complete paralysis over who to choose. I couldn't make a decision because I couldn't interpret the scope of work and I didn't have anyone I could speak to for advice. All I felt was pressure, pressure, pressure. A single woman, I was afraid I was going to get ripped off," Charters said.

"My house needs attention. I don't plan to sell and move, but before I start anything, I need to seek advice on what things cost and what I should be tackling first. Right now I am considering new windows, freshening up my master suite, and I really need to update my kitchen," she said.

Charters wants to make her kitchen larger by knocking out the wall of the adjacent dining room. "I am tired of being crammed in my tiny kitchen and only using the dining room twice a year," she said.

I told Charters she needs to protect herself and avoid dealing with the underground cash economy.

"I don't want to deal with the underground economy because there is no recourse if things go wrong. All the work on my house will be above board. I pay my taxes so everyone else should, too. I am looking forward to the renovation seminar," she said.

Charters said that since she no longer has a mortgage, she intends to methodically dip into her job jar when she has the funds to pay for her various home improvements. Prioritization is a good plan.

More than 300 homeowners registered for the fall seminar, so register as soon as possible.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:09:03 GMT

Renovation seminar offers free advice

To help homeowners make informed renovation decisions, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association – in partnership with BC Hydro, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and FortisBC – will present its popular free spring home renovation seminar and exhibition on Tuesday, May 15 in Vancouver.

Pre-registration is required. For details and to register, visit www.gvhba.org or call 778-565-4288.

Patient approach to planning

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan has always impressed me as a strong leader who cares about his community, encourages economic, social and cultural opportunities that benefit residents and businesses, and supports the creation of well-designed residential and commercial development.

Corrigan’s recent state-of-the-city address touched on many successes, and outlined his plans for affordable housing initiatives, parks, transportation options and environmental sustainability.

Corrigan said Burnaby embraces a long-term policy perspective to achieve its community-planning goals. "This approach provides certainty to our development community, staff and citizens. We do not make ad hoc decisions. Instead, we take a patient and persistent approach to planning," he said.

Costly ticket to ride

Meanwhile, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, who, like Corrigan, cares about the well-being and managed growth of his municipality, recently announced a $4 billion-plus development plan.

There is, however, a wrinkle. Brodie said developers in Richmond’s City Centre will be expected to contribute $7,800 per condo sale to fund construction of the Capstan station on the Canada Line.

In the end, condo buyers will likely pick up much or all of the $7,800 tab. I talked with a cash-strapped first-time home buyer who believes he and his fellow condo buyers already pay enough to TransLink through remittances of fuel tax, property tax, bridge tolls, parking tax and AirCare fees.

Here’s the thing, is it reasonable to expect that a community benefit such as a Canada Line station should be funded by the entire tax-paying community, not just buyers of new homes? Just asking.

Growth spurt in Metro

According to Statistics Canada, building permit values for residential and non-residential construction totalled $1.6 billion in Vancouver last year. Surrey followed with $1.2 billion, then Burnaby with $606 million, Richmond with $417 million and Coquitlam with $391 million.

Interest in home buying remains strong in Vancouver

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 18:30:30 GMT

There are a lot of numbers in this column, a necessary evil when reporting on housing statistics, so please bear with me as I wade through them.

The next time you are out and about, take a gander at how many construction cranes are at work throughout Metro Vancouver. They have become an enduring component of this region's landscape.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., housing starts continue to rise along with the cranes. During the first quarter of 2012, starts improved 22 per cent from the same three-month period last year - 4,631 versus 3,808. Most of that strength was in the multi-family sector.

To me, construction noise is the sweet sound of jobs for thousands of hard-working men and women. The year-to-year starts differential generated an additional 2,304 full-time jobs for one year. Or as workplace economists like to call them, person-years of employment. Good news by any definition.

Home builders, and their trades and suppliers, have come a long way since the dark days of 2009, when only 8,339 starts were recorded in Metro Vancouver, a difficult situation that left many tool belts hanging idle. Production improved to 15,217 in 2010, then to 17,867 last year. This positive performance - doubling since 2009 - has forced some gloom-and-doomers back to their burrows.

So far this year, sales have commenced on 19 new concrete projects, according to MPC Intelligence. About 65 per cent of the 3,800 condos have already sold. Hot spots include North Vancouver, New Westminster, Burnaby and downtown Vancouver. Proximity to transit is a key factor for buyers.

The 18th annual free seminar for first-time homebuyers, held in Surrey on April 3, attracted 654 young people eager to learn how to confidently take that important first step on to the property ladder.

Darn the Canucks! They played at home the night of the seminar, so 150 people who registered and didn't show up likely watched the game instead. Or perhaps they bought a home before the seminar.

Organized by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association, the two-hour seminar featured housing experts who helped to demystify the entire home-buying process. Presenting sponsor was the Homeowner Protection Office, branch of BC Housing. RBC Royal Bank was the patron sponsor.

Many of the seminar attendees took the time to answer 26 questions on a prepared survey. The responses will help to define the needs and expectations of today's typical first-time homebuyer.

The survey data will be tabulated and analyzed by the number-crunchers at CMHC's housing research centre in Ottawa, and when I receive the report, I will share the results with Sun readers.

Meanwhile, since I was antsy doing nothing at home one recent evening, I reviewed the answers to five survey questions and thought I would share them with you in advance of the main report. And just for fun, I compared them to the responses from the young folks who attended the seminar 10 years ago.

So, noted in parentheses following this year's numbers are the percentages from 2002, a year in which 13,197 housing starts were recorded and, according to Landcor Data Corp., the average price of a Metro Vancouver home (single-detached, townhome, condo) was $280,266. Today, the average price is $651,630.

Following are the questions and responses: What is your current housing situation?

Rent, 74 per cent (80). Live with parents, 26 per cent (20).

With whom will you be buying your home?

Partner/spouse, 65 per cent (68). Alone, 19 per cent (26). Family member, 13 per cent (4). Friend, three per cent (2).

When do you intend to purchase your home?

Within one year, 39 per cent (46). Within six months, 24 per cent (37). Two to three years, 23 per cent (9). Don't know, 14 per cent (8).

What type of home do you plan to purchase?

Townhome, 34 per cent (8). Single detached, 28 per cent (30). Low-rise condominium, 21 per cent (42). High-rise condominium, 17 per cent (20).

What are the major obstacles preventing you from buying a home?

Housing prices, 40 per cent (43). Down payment required, 23 per cent (19). Qualifying for a mortgage, 12 per cent (N/A). Economic uncertainty, 11 per cent (6). Job security, eight per cent (11). Can't find the home I want, six per cent (21).

Those 2002 property neophytes would have had access to a five-year mortgage rate of around 5.5 per cent. Today, five-year money can be borrowed for about three per cent by qualified homebuyers.

Bottom line, the increase in real estate values and reduced mortgage obligation mean the equity in those 2002 homes has increased over the years, along, in most cases, with income levels. And to think seminar attendees' apprehension was palpable when they walked into the room a decade ago.

Over time, owning a home is a sound investment, despite the expected peaks and valleys. My first house cost me $38,500. And ask long-time homeowners in, say, East Vancouver, White Rock or Steveston if they are happy they purchased a home when they did. I'm betting on the affirmative.

Two faces at the recent seminar were familiar to me. One young guy is my optometrist, the other is a gal from my local Safeway.

Both share a goal - to buy their first homes in Vancouver.

I intend to ask them for updates on their home-ownership quests. I'll let you know how they did.

Where will our children live?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:53:02 GMT

Gordon Gibson has impressive credentials. Harvard Business School. London School of Economics. MP. MLA. Order of B.C. Author. Columnist. Special assistant to Pierre Elliott Trudeau. All weighty stuff.

Too bad he carries the NIMBY torch like he is about to triumphantly light an Olympic cauldron.

In a recent Sun column, Gibson, whose own grand home sits in leafy Shaughnessy, wrote that growth should be slowed in Vancouver; that we don't need to accommodate everyone who comes from away and would like to live here; that folks who want to live in Vancouver should instead be directed to Surrey, Chilliwack or beyond, and that the city's "quiet places" should be preserved.

Nowhere in Gibson's raise-the-draw-bridge musings about slamming shut the door on urbanization and densification did he mention the thousands of young people who struggle to take that important first step onto the property ladder. Not once did he ask the question: "Where will our children live?"

Earlier this week, more than 860 Vancouver-area property virgins registered for a popular first-time home-buyer seminar presented, for the 18th straight year, by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association. Why should their needs and aspirations not be given serious consideration and respect?

And why should it be viewed as heresy to express that neighbourhoods in which single-detached homes are the dominant form could be considered for gentle and careful densification, including stacked townhomes, low-rise condos, fee-simple row houses and ground-oriented quad homes?

There does, of course, need to be structured rounds of meaningful and non-shrill public consultation, with as much podium time given to the YIMBYs (yes, in my backyard) as the NIMBYs.

Most folks, particularly the experienced generation, are at ease in familiar surroundings. Their homes, neighbourhoods, friendly pharmacist, barber, grocer are as comfortable and dependable as a pillowy recliner.

Over time, needs change, and those once-content people discover that another type of home, preferably in the same neighbourhood, might be better suited to their current or emerging lifestyle needs, diminished mobility among them. The sale of their home will also provide a windfall profit for long-term neighbours.

And many young people, when the time comes to vacate the family nest, also prefer to remain in the community where they grew up - where their families, friends, support systems and jobs are located - but they are, alas, forced to look elsewhere because there are few ownership and rental options nearby.

Our two daughters and two grand-daughters live in Ontario and, sadly we seldom see them.

The notion that development creates population growth is a misconception. Development simply accommodates an increase in population. Blame the stork for some of that. No people, no development. But you can't block people from relocating to a very desirable part of this great country.

Besides, it's too late to divert attention away from Vancouver. During the spectacular 2010 Winter Olympics (thanks again, John Furlong!), more than three billion sets of eyes were focused on us. The secret's out: Lotus Land by the Sea is a special place, unresolved affordability issues notwithstanding.

The City of Vancouver reported its 2011 population was 603,502, and it is expected to jump to 673,000 in 2021, then to 740,000 in 2041. (Interestingly, some demographers have Surrey's population matching, even surpassing, Vancouver by 2041, perhaps sooner.)

There is more developable land remaining in downtown Vancouver than one would think, and some out-of-the-box thinking can come up with more ways to use that available land more efficiently, but it is high time that housing innovation in the uptown areas was given more than just a cursory glance.

Where's the harm in subdividing one large lot into three narrow lots, then constructing three well-designed, compact, energy-efficient family homes on those lots? Or building, along arterial roads and adjoining side streets, attractive low-rise condos, complete with ground-level retail, and public transit nearby? Or duplexes with secondary suites in the basement with laneway houses out back?

Former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan quickly weighed in on Gibson's column with a Sun opinion piece of his own.

"I usually agree with Gordon Gibson, but not with his suggestion that Vancouver should just say no to growth and let him live a quiet life ... the world is experiencing a powerful tide of urbanization," Sullivan wrote.

At Shifting Suburbia, a discussion presented by the Forum for Urban Design, Ara Hovnanian, a prominent builder of single-detached and multi-family homes in the U.S., said the downturn forced his firm to be creative, and he is now building multi-generational and multi-household houses that can accommodate cash-poor boomerang children, aging grandparents and mortgage-helper renters.

Georgia Tech architecture professor Ellen Dunham-Jones believes you can't change options without modifying the laws that created suburban development as we know it. "Change the regulatory structure and you change the city," she told delegates at the Shifting Suburbia forum.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Mayor's Task Force on Housing Affordability, of which I am a member, recently released its Quick Start recommendations, which are initial steps the city can consider taking while the full report is being developed by the task force over the next three months. (Not everyone is onside with all Quick Start points, but that's to be expected in a multi-opinion democratic process.)

"Our work to address affordability is targeted towards a broad range of citizens who feel the impacts of high housing prices every day," said task force co-chair Olga Ilich, acknowledging there is no magic solution to achieving housing affordability in Vancouver, but that some goals can be reached.

Because of the opinions publicly expressed by the likes of Gordon Gibson, Sam Sullivan and Olga Ilich, passionate writers of letters to the editor, and prolific social-media participants, the conversation and buzz about housing affordability and sustainability have intensified. Everywhere I go, personally and professionally, I am asked about housing issues - a topic as hot, it seems, as the Canucks.

At the end of the day, the solutions to housing affordability and choice need to be bold, innovative and meaningful enough to survive the test of time, even if they disquiet some people in the process.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:24:32 GMT

An Ovation for housing excellence

The finalists for the third annual Ovation Awards have been announced by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA). The awards recognize excellence in new home and renovation design, construction, accessibility, sustainability, affordability, energy efficiency and heritage restoration.

Expert judges from outside the Metro Vancouver region selected the finalists in 41 categories. Topping the list are Kenorah Construction & Design (15 finalist placements), ParkLane Homes (13), My House Design/Build Team (nine), Intermind Design (eight), Portrait Homes (seven), and G. Wilson Construction (six).

Presenting sponsor is FortisBC. Patron sponsor is the Homeowner Protection Office, branch of BC Housing.

Winners will be announced April 28 at the Ovation Awards gala in Vancouver. Visit gvhba.org/ovationawards for the list of finalists and links to their websites.

Digital generation

I had an opportunity recently to attend a presentation by Mitch Joel, one of the top 100 online marketers of the world.

Three statements Joel made resonated with the audience. Today's children will grow up in a world without a keyboard or mouse; 84 per cent of consumers are likely to check online reviews prior to making a purchase; and more grandparents than high school students are on Facebook.

Geez, I need to catch up - I'm still having a hard time saying goodbye to my three-inch floppy disks.

Help for first-timers

With mortgage rates at historical lows, many young men and women, with a little help form the Bank of Mom & Dad, are stepping onto the first rung of the homeownership ladder.

But they need a little help to de-mystify the process, which can be somewhat daunting for neophytes. More than 600 people have registered for the GVHBA's 18th annual free first-time homebuyer seminar April 3 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey.

Major sponsors are the Homeowner Protection Office and RBC Royal Bank.

Be an informed homebuyer. Register online at gvhba.org or call 778-565.4288.

10-year-old helps homeless in a big way

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 20:34:56 GMT

Just when you believe the world has gone to hell in a hand basket - evidenced by constant reports of lawlessness, financial collapse and social unrest - along comes a little boy with an enormous heart.

Robbie Dudra is a diminutive 10-year-old hockey fan who was shocked at what he saw on the way home from his first Canucks game. Homeless people. Lots of them. Dispirited and unkempt.

Little Robbie couldn't understand why so many people didn't have homes. After all, he lived in a nice home with his mom, dad, brother and two sisters. Wasn't that the way it was supposed to be?

"I felt really sad and confused, like, why didn't they have a home? Mom and dad said the people didn't have any money to afford a home, so I wanted to help them get what we have," said Robbie.

Unable to block out the graphic images of such despair, Robbie decided he had to get more involved.

This kind-heartedness and empathy for less-fortunate individuals did not surprise the Dudra family. In the past, Robbie donated his allowance to a wonderful organization he had heard helps to feed hungry men, women and children - the Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver.

To raise cash, Robbie set up a cold-beverage stand in front of his house. One hitch: There's not much foot traffic in Dudra's neighbourhood. At day's end, he was discouraged he only made a few dollars.

When Robbie said he wanted to plan something bigger, his parents and siblings encouraged him.

He and his friends enjoy skating, so Robbie organized his own Skate for the Homeless. His mom, Kim, emailed Lyn Tyler, booking manager at the Surrey Sports and Leisure Complex. Tyler embraced the idea, got approval from her boss, then set aside two hours of free ice time on Feb. 10.

The Dudra family researched groups that assist the homeless, and Robbie was shocked to learn there are homeless people in Surrey, not just in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. In fact, a homeless count conducted last year determined there are 400 homeless men, women and children in Surrey. (Across Metro Vancouver, the homeless population is 2,650, virtually unchanged from 2008.)

Robbie decided all the money he raised would be donated to the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society, a group that provides grants to community groups. Some of the grants contribute to providing safe, affordable housing, while others ensure that people have the economic and social supports they need to bring stability to their lives. Since 2007, the society has granted $1.7 million.

The Dudras switched into high gear. School chums were recruited to make posters and post them around the school and in the community. To help promote the event, the principal at Rosemary Heights Elementary School allowed Robbie to spread the word via the school's intercom system.

I must say, the event was expertly organized. The Dudras paid for the required event insurance and a bulk purchase of hotdogs, soft drinks and potato chips to stock the makeshift refreshment table, staffed by Stephen, Samantha and Annika Dudra. Donation boxes were also strategically placed.

Entering the arena, I saw Robbie, wearing skates, fussing around the welcome table, making sure all the participants were doing their assigned jobs. When I was introduced to Robbie, he looked up and, with a smile on his endearing face, said: "Hi, thanks for coming to support us. Where are your skates?"

I didn't skate that day (alas, I couldn't locate my old Gordie Howe CCMs), but more than 150 folks did have lots of fun - from a tiny tot to an 80-something former major-junior hockey player.

One participant, Ron, who didn't reveal his surname, read about the event in the local paper, and wanted to support the cause. Ron had been homeless and battling additions before fighting hard to shed the demons and take back his life. Robbie skating with Ron, a non-skater, was a sight to behold.

Robbie was delighted with the donation total of $1,200, more than double what he had envisioned.

"I liked to see the people having fun while they helped a good cause," he said. "I thought it was cool that so many people, even strangers, came over to say they were proud of me for organizing this."

Kim was also proud of her community-minded son, and his sibling helpers. "It's nothing like anything we have done as a family, so Robbie was a little overwhelmed by the magnitude of the event," she said. "Hopefully it will inspire other children and their families to get involved."

So, what does Robbie want to do when he grows up? He was quick to provide the answer. "I want to be a police officer because I like helping people and I think that would be a good job for me."

Next time you fret over the state of the world, picture Robbie. The future will look much brighter.

Seminar will clear the fog for first-time homebuyers

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:39:39 GMT

For three nights running, I awakened suddenly, bolt upright, in a clammy, cold sweat.

Recurring nightmare? Well, kinda. A carefree 20-something working stiff, I had just bought my first home, and I fretted endlessly over whether I had made the right decision.

Thanks in large measure to the Bank of Mom & Dad, a down-payment of $10,000 allowed me to take that all important first step onto the home ownership ladder. The purchase price was $38,500.

My property virginity was gone, the nail-biting vexation subsided, and the home's value increased significantly over time. The rest, as they say, is history.

By the way, I repaid the $10,000 I borrowed, with interest - an English tea trolley mom coveted.

There's a lesson here, kiddies. Pay back your parents. They likely need the cash these days.

Shortly after she got married five years ago, our eldest daughter experienced her own modern-day home-purchase thrill ride - higher prices, lower mortgage rate than dear old dad. Since then, she and her husband - a frugal couple - have improved their home, and have two beautiful daughters.

The real-estate market in Metro Vancouver does indeed present challenges to young people just starting out. But today's buyers have a wide variety of home types and prices from which to choose - townhomes, low-rise condos, high-rise condos, even some single-detached homes on compact lots.

Although it is not billed as a comedy, HGTV's House Hunters often causes me to chuckle, particularly the episodes filmed in locations where developable land is as cheap as borscht.

A recent show featured a Texan couple in their mid-20s choosing their first home from three options. One 3,000 sq.-ft newly built home was sited on a one-acre lot. Asking price was $240,000.

The husband growled that the lot wasn't fenced for his dogs, and he wanted a three-bay garage, not two. His bouffant-haired wife, upon touring the huge, well-equipped kitchen, could only lament the lack of stainless-steel appliances. And the luxurious master suite was inadequate for her needs.

Again, the asking price was $240,000. For a brand new home. On one acre. Golly, y'all can almost hear Gene Autry singing Home on the Range in the background. The folks in the Lone Star State sure live in a vastly different real-estate world than our young people.

Meanwhile, back here in Lotus Land-by-the-Sea, many diverse factors must be considered when buying a home, so it is no surprise first-timers need a little help de-mystifying the process.

How do you match wants and needs to financial resources? What location is preferable?

What are the mortgage options? How much can be withdrawn tax-free from RRSPs?

How does the provincial property transfer tax exemption benefit first-time buyers?

What are the rules associated with B.C.'s newly announced $10,000 first-time new home buyers bonus? What's involved with condo pre-sales?

Does the HST affect the purchase price of all homes? How about legal considerations, closing costs and home warranties?

Those and other key questions will be covered by a panel of experts at the 18th Annual Seminar for First-time Home Buyers, presented by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association on Tuesday, April 3 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey.

Speakers are Robyn Adamache, senior market analyst, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp.; Wendy Acheson, vice-president and registrar, Homeowner Protection Office, branch of B.C. Housing; Narrinder Dhanoya-Bhangu, vice-president, Pacific region, Genworth Financial Canada; Inde Sumal, vice-president of residential mortgages, B. C. region, RBC Royal Bank; Eugen Klein, president, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver; Tom Reeves, assistant vice-president, National Home Warranty; and Aaron Lightman, associate, Farris & Company LLP.

Seminar moderator Shayne Ramsay, chief executive officer of B.C. Housing, says homebuyer education and awareness are important first steps toward owning a home. "For the Homeowner Protection Office, a branch of B.C. Housing, this seminar is a chance to link prospective home buyers to helpful consumer information and resources," he said.

RBC Royal Bank's Inde Sumal says seminars such as this help consumers to make informed decisions. "My colleagues have expressed to me they wish they had similar seminars in their cities. This is the largest seminar of its kind in North America and we are proud to be part of it," he said.

Personally, having access to the kind of information that will be available at the seminar would have saved me from some sleepless nights and anxious days when I purchased my first home.

Seminar attendance is expected to be as many or greater than the 750 people who attended last year. Doors open at 6 p.m., allowing time to view builder displays and other home-related exhibits.

Admission to the popular seminar is free thanks to the generosity of the presenting sponsor, the provincial Homeowner Protection Office, branch of B.C. Housing; patron sponsor RBC Royal Bank; and corporate sponsors The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp., Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Genworth Financial Canada, National Home Warranty, CKNW, 99.3 The Fox, AM730 and Classic Rock 101.

Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.gvhba. org or call 778-565-4288 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon-day to Friday. Registrations will also be accepted via voicemail during evenings and weekends. There is ample free on-site parking, and public transit is right at the corner.

Although there is no fee to attend the seminar, please consider bringing one or more non-perishable food items for the Surrey Food Bank.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:08:05 GMT

Province Increases Rebate Threshold

B.C. Finance Minister Kevin Falcon recently unveiled the HST transition rules for new housing, alleviating the uncertainty around how the HST will revert back to the PST/GST system. Falcon also increased the new housing rebate threshold to $850,000 from $525,000, and raised the maximum rebate grant to $42,500 from $26,250.

The measures, which were applauded by officials from the province’s residential construction industry, capture 90 per cent of all new homes in B.C.

Four days after Falcon announced the HST changes, he delivered, in his budget speech, more good news for first-time homebuyers — a one-time personal tax credit of up to $10,000 on newly built homes.

This move is designed to help property virgins step onto that first rung of the home ownership ladder and stimulate construction related
jobs.

Home & Garden Show

The popular B.C. Home & Garden Show runs today through Sunday at B.C. Place Stadium.

Headliners include HGTV’s Bryan Baeumler and the W Network’s Hillary Farr. Also popular will be the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association Renovation Gallery, presented by FortisBC. Professional renovators will be on hand to showcase and discuss their latest home makeovers.

Visit bchomeandgardenshow.com for more.

Housing starts

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC), housing starts throughout the Metro Vancouver region improved slightly in January compared to the same month last year.

The 1,555 starts reported by CMHC were an eight per cent increase over January 2011. Not surprisingly, the strength remains in the multi-family sector, where 1,285 starts were recorded. Last year, 17,867 starts were recorded in Metro Vancouver, a decent 17 per cent increase from 2010.

The 2011 starts total generated more than 50,000 full-time jobs in the residential construction sector.

Homebuyer seminar

The GVHBA’s 18th annual first-time homebuyer seminar, presented by the Homeowner Protection Office, branch of BC Housing, will be held April 3 at the Bell Performing Arts Centre in Surrey. Patron sponsor is RBC Royal Bank. Register early online at gvhba.org.

Finally, something involving the HST has been done right

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:37:10 GMT

I have in my office a large lapel button that reads: "It's not right or left. It's right or wrong."

If somehow this fact has escaped you, Canadians relish being divided along right-left ideologies.

Moreover, B.C. is as polarized as it gets. Until the John Cummins' Conservatives arrived on scene decked out in head-to-toe bravado, the choice of governance was either Liberal or NDP, right or left.

Or it's non-union or union, where the public perceives philosophies as being right or left.

Answer me this. Why can't the standard by which initiatives are judged be based simply on whether they are right or wrong? This would stimulate dialogue that would resonate more with the electorate.

For me, the opportunity to join a union didn't present itself. My sister retired from a union job. My dad worked in both union and non-union jobs. He didn't go for right-left nonsense. He defended his country alongside union and non-union men and women because it was the right thing to do.

My employer, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association, is a non-partisan organization. Didn't used to be, but it has for some time not hitched its wagon to any particular political doctrine.

The association's board of directors is comprised of supporters of various political parties, yet no directors have played that personal hand at the board table, knowing it wouldn't be welcomed.

I do not belong to a political party. And, although political fundraisers would be ideal events to network and press the flesh with policy-makers, I steadfastly, and respectfully, reject all invitations.

Provincially, there are pleasant, intelligent, civil and caring men and women on both sides of the legislature. I occasionally wonder who among them feels uncomfortable voting in favour of something they believe is wrong, or against a measure they know is right. Moral sense is powerful.

So, where am I going with this? Ah, yes, HST, the controversial acronym that causes some folks to LOL, and brings on PBP - proctodynia by proxy, otherwise known as a pain in the backside.

Anyway, so as not to belabour the issue, the HST started its journey in 2009 and will fade away on April 1, 2013. We are all aware of the twists and turns, the mistakes made, and the angst caused.

I have roundly and persistently criticized the rollout and management of the HST as being among the worst handling of public policy I have seen in my more than 46 years in and around the media.

A couple days after I first hinted, in my June 6, 2009 Vancouver Sun column, that HST was likely being planned for B.C., Nova Scotia was electing its first NDP government, a majority, no less.

At that time, Canada's Ocean Playground had an HST of 13 per cent. A year later, on June 30, 2010, and the day before B.C.'s HST was implemented, Nova Scotia raised its HST rate to 15 per cent.

Apart from muted protests from business sectors, not much of an offensive was launched by Nova Scotian taxpayers. Lawmakers didn't have to dodge bullets because no one was shooting. I wondered how they got away with raising the HST three points higher than B.C., and escaped without harm.

Turns out Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter explained exactly why his province needed the tax hike. That's much better than passing out refreshing purple Kool-Aid to an unsuspecting electorate.

Last summer, at a community sustainability fair of all places, I had an opportunity to speak with Pam Birdsall, MLA for Lunenburg. We got around to discussing HST. Birdsall wondered what all the fuss was about in B.C. and I asked her to explain how her government sold the HST to taxpayers.

"Nova Scotia's population is less than one million, so it's difficult for government to generate revenue. We asked taxpayers to tell us what was important to them. Health care and education topped the list. We told them we can't enhance services without raising taxes. They understood it was the right thing to do," said Birdsall, who is also the co-owner of a successful retail business.

Anyway, back to B.C. I acknowledged from the start that HST would benefit some industry sectors, that it would enhance competitiveness, create economic growth and generate jobs. I also expressed emphatically that the HST needed major adjustments related to new homes and home renovation.

When the referendum was launched, association members were advised to consider both sides of the HST argument, which we provided without comment, then urged them to vote their conscience.

Which brings us to last week's announcement by Finance Minister Kevin Falcon.

A significant missing link to the move from HST to PST/GST was the announcement of the transition rules. There was a great deal of uncertainty around this issue. Clarity was needed, and fast.

Falcon told our association leadership in November that he was working as quickly as possible, that he was waiting for federal authorities to finish their work, and that he was as frustrated as we were.

Last week, Falcon unveiled the transition rules, and much more. Effective April 1, 2012, the new housing rebate threshold will rise from $525,000 to $850,000, capturing 90 per cent of all new homes in the province. He also raised the HST rebate from $26,250 to $42,500. New secondary recreational homes will be eligible, as well. Homebuyers should check details with their builders.

I was among the first to applaud these significant changes. They were a long time coming but, as it has been said, it's not always about how one starts. It's how one finishes that's worth remembering.

When Falcon and I shook hands following the announcement and media scrum, I smiled and told him that despite all that went wrong with the HST, he did the right thing.

Fill your head with ideas for home, garden

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:24:19 GMT

Housing junkies take notice. Following an appearance at the Vancouver Convention Centre last year, Western Canada’s largest consumer home show returns to BC Place on Feb. 22 for a five-day run.

The convention site, albeit an outstanding host, served as the B.C. Home & Garden Show’s temporary home while the stadium was given an extreme makeover, including a retractable lid.

If you haven’t yet visited the new-look stadium, the home show will be an ideal event to experience the improvements. I can see why the B.C. Lions expressed such a glowing endorsement of the venue.

The show will feature more than 425 exhibitors showcasing a wide range of home-related products and services. I am always intrigued by the innovative design and technology that debut at the show.

Over the years, I have swiped from the home show many ideas I can incorporate into our own home or outdoor space. And, whether I need it or not, I always purchase a little sumthin’ from an exhibitor or two, risking serious eye-rolls from my long-suffering, yet amazingly accommodating wife.

When the lovely Carolyn became The Missus, she was well aware I was an unrepentant housing junkie. Actually, the tipping point came when, without meds of any kind, she agreed to be married at the home show, among thousands of strangers. The bonus is we get to celebrate anniversaries at the show every year.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., B.C. homeowners are expected to spend about $7.6 billion on home renovation, improvement and repair this year, 12 per cent of the Canadian total.

The Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association Renovation Council will have a prominent presence at its popular Renovation Gallery, presented by FortisBC. Showgoers can view award-winning home renos and discuss their dreams with renovation contractors, designers and suppliers.

You won’t want to miss the 1,450-square-foot display home showcased by Karoleena Homes. The Kitsilano, like many innovative show homes featured at the show in the past, is a factory-built beauty.

The show offers lots of star power, as well. Celebrity contractor Bryan Baeumler of HGTV’s Leave It To Bryan will be there (I wonder how the Beav feels about that show title). The popular Hillary Farr from the W Network’s Love It Or List It also promises to be a crowd-drawing headliner.

For the gals, there’s Tomboy Tools’ Lori Mitchell, who says her secret to releasing the inner diva is found in the tool box, prompting her menacing slogan, “pick up a hammer and let your ponytail fly.” The amicable Mitchell will also share her home-improvement techniques for women.

For the guys, there’s the Ultimate Man’s Backyard, sponsored by The Province. This manly man exhibit will feature an outdoor kitchen, putting green, and a hot tub large enough for the whole team.

Graeme and Tammy Huguet, the award-winning hubby/wife renovation partners from My House Design/Build Team, and parents of five daughters, will be on stage to share their family’s experiences with home makeovers, including tips on how to survive living in a construction zone.

Presented by Kenorah Construction & Design, Designlab can help homeowners figure out their personal style before starting a renovation. Through mood boards, quizzes and hands-on help, showgoers’ style will be dissected into the anatomy of good vs. bad design. Sounds like the ’60s.

On display will be more than 9,500 square feet of attractive and inviting gardens. You might want to pack a camera. Local landscaping experts will be on hand to share their insights on how to turn barren mounds of dirt into blossoms and blooms. With a little help, anyone can develop a green thumb.

Don’t miss The Vancouver Sun Gardeners’ School presentations. No garden discussion worth its salt would be complete without experts Brian Minter, Art Drysdale, Carolyn Herriot, Ciscoe Morris, Vancouver Sun’s own Steve Whysall, and a large supporting cast of local specialists.

The Outdoor Entertaining Stage will be the place to learn how to turn up the heat on your patio or deck and take your entertaining to a new level. The presentations by local culinary experts will focus on trends in food, cooking, beverage pairings, outdoor décor and party planning.

The kind-hearted folks at Habitat for Humanity will explain their initiatives at their interactive display. Consider adding a dollar to your show admission to help support this worthwhile cause.

This year, I will be participating in the HGTV stage presentations. Certified Aging In Place specialist John Quinton and I will tag-team to talk about how homeowners can efficiently and cost-effectively adapt their much-loved homes to accommodate current and emerging mobility challenges.

More than 10 million Canadians, roughly a third of the country’s population, are aged 40 to 59. The leading edge of the baby boom generation turned 65 last year, and there is much to consider and plan for the housing needs and expectations of this silver tsunami. Indeed, time flies, doesn’t it?

Tickets to the home show can be purchased online.

Visit www.bchomeandgardenshow.com to purchase tickets and view details on show features, dates and hours of operation.

You can’t beat the B.C. Home & Garden Show for fun, excitement, ideas and limited-time offers that can’t be refused.

Tsawwassen's mall developments a smart move for community

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:04:08 GMT

NIMBY: Not In My Backyard.

BANANA: Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything.

NOPE: Not On Planet Earth.

Those three anti-development acronyms surface occasionally in communities across the country, including Tsawwassen, where it seems there is always someone grumbling about growth issues - despite the fact many parts of the world would welcome a boost to their economy with open arms.

For example, a year ago there was much angst expressed about a local landowner's proposal to build 1,900 homes on one-third of 538 acres, while the remaining two-thirds of the parcel would be dedicated to community parks and farmland. Sounds to me like a win-win situation. But this issue is not resolved, as some residents want to raise the drawbridge to keep out development.

Recently, more Delta residents joined the chorus, this time slagging Tsawwassen First Nation's plans to build two shopping malls on 180 acres, which together will include 1.8 million square feet of retail space - 20 major retailers, and nearly 200 smaller shops, restaurants and kiosks. The first shovel is expected to turn the earth this summer, while the grand opening is scheduled for mid-2015.

Having no say over development of neighbouring first nations land has upset some South Deltans. Although they are entitled to express their strongly held opinions, the last time I checked, the land is not theirs. It belongs - down to the last stick and stone - to the Tsawwassen First Nation. Period.

Frankly, why would they expect to have a say in the decisions of a neighbouring local government such as the Tsawwassen First Nation? The good folks in North Delta have no say in business dealings across Scott Road in Surrey, and South Surrey residents have no voice in White Rock development.

One detractor even had the temerity to utter this derogatory comment to a reporter. "I call it a race to the bottom - shopping malls destroy natural areas and, inside, wages go down until they bring in foreign workers." I even emailed the reporter, requesting confirmation of the quote. I received it.

This xenophobic foreign-labour remark is an affront to decent, hard-working folks everywhere. My dad was a foreign worker who, in 1951, toiled daily at two jobs - scrubbing noxious mixing vats at a paint factory on the afternoon shift, then sweeping floors at a second factory on the night shift.

And compared to first nations people, aren't we all foreign workers?

I have been told that many Delta residents are looking forward to the development, so they will no longer have to drive many miles to the nearest mall of any substance, which is in Richmond.

The malls are expected to attract out-of-area customers, and possibly from the nearby ferry terminal. Moreover, market research has demonstrated the development will increase visitation to businesses in "downtown" Tsawwassen and Ladner as the community becomes a new shopping destination.

Delta residents - from teens to active seniors - will be able to secure employment close to home. The development will generate 1,200 person-years of construction employment. And the stores, restaurants and other businesses are expected to employ 4,500 full-and part-time workers.

Future development will include industrial and commercial zones, new homes of various forms, and recreation facilities, creating even more employment. It promises to be a complete community where families can live, work, play and shop. That's a positive, healthy environment on so many levels.

Project managers claim there will be a strong commitment to corporate responsibility and sustainability practices during the construction and operation of the property. To reduce the project's overall impacts, the building shell will be built to inter-nationally recognized LEED green standards.

First nations across Canada are known for developing first-rate projects, and partnering with competent, experienced individuals and corporations to ensure success. A key operations partner in the Tsawwassen development is Ivanhoe Cambridge, a respected leader in this specialized field.

Elsewhere, other examples include Nk'Mip in Osoyoos, North America's first aboriginal owned-and-operated winery; Spirit Ridge, South Okanagan's only 4.5-star vineyard resort; and Alberta's River Cree Resort and Casino, which features two hockey rinks and a nine-storey, 255-room hotel.

Looking south, the Choctaw tribe is the fourth largest employer in Mississippi, while the White Mountain Apache in Arizona has developed economic success with interests such as forest products and recreation.

That said, poverty and joblessness among aboriginals in Canada and the U.S. are sad facts of life. During the last homeless count in Surrey, for example, 95 of 388 were of aboriginal descent. Leaders like Tsawwassen Chief Kim Baird are doing their best to break this demoralizing, destructive cycle.

Job-generating projects such as those proposed by the Tsawwassen First Nation should be applauded, not condemned. And the NIMBYs, BANANAs and NOPEs should get over themselves.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:56:33 GMT

Moving in to Squamish

The town of Squamish is often perceived to be a place for Vancouver folks to pull off the road to take a bathroom break, top up the gas tank, and grab a burger and fries on the way to Whistler.

These days, many Vancouver families not only stop in Squamish, they live full time in this growing community that offers many amenities and opportunities to pursue a healthy, active lifestyle.

Since 2000, about 1,900 new homes — condos, townhomes and single-detached — have been built in Squamish. This population growth provides an economic boost to the town and its businesses.

A builder recently said he took a two-year break from building homes, but said there is a growing buzz around town these days, and he believes 2012 will be a good year for Squamish overall.

The vastly improved Sea-to-Sky Highway has lessened commute times significantly. An associate said it has taken him longer to drive from his downtown Vancouver office to UBC in rush hour than it takes to drive to his home to Squamish — a little more than 30 minutes, keeping to the speed limit.

The bonus, he says, is the awe-inspiring and stress-reducing scenery he enjoys twice daily.

B.C. Home Show

Western Canada’s largest home show runs Feb. 22- 26 at B.C. Place Stadium. The B.C. Home and Garden Show returns to the iconic stadium following a stint at the Vancouver Convention Centre while the stadium was given an extreme makeover.

The show will offer 425 exhibitors showcasing home-related products and services. B.C. homeowners are expected to spend $7.6 billion on home renovation, improvement and repair this year.

Members of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association will be in attendance at the association’s
Renovation Gallery, presented by FortisBC. Showgoers will be able to view award-winning home renovations and discuss their projects with renovation contractors and designers. I will be joining contractor John Quinton on the HGTV Stage to discuss aging in place, including advice on how homeowners can adapt their homes to accommodate emerging mobility challenges.

The leading edge of the baby boomer generation turned 65 last year, and there is much to be considered about the needs and expectations of this “Silver Tsunami.” Visit bchomeandgardenshow.com for details and to purchase discounted tickets online.

Giving thanks for living in a place of solid construction

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 18:35:43 GMT

I extend to readers a belated welcome to 2012. Before you read further, do something for me — and yourselves. Walk to the nearest lawn, get down on your knees, then plant a big kiss on the ground.

A scattering of thorny issues notwithstanding, we Canadians have it pretty darned good overall.

Recognizing we remain challenged by predicaments such as homelessness, housing affordability and health care, acknowledge, too, that we are not experiencing the malaise in which other countries find themselves. Our economy, financial institutions, real estate and employment are relatively sound.

A longtime colleague in North Carolina was abruptly fired, Grinch-like, just before Christmas. A Mississippi friend’s work week was sliced from five to three days, his pay reduced accordingly. Ten thousand people lined up, in sweltering conditions, to get into an Atlanta job fair. On and on it goes.

Besieged American builders are not only battling a moribund economy, they are forced to duke it out with lawmakers who, instead of rolling out the red carpet to a key industry, are initiating more impediments to progress. As it is, the homebuilding industry is one of the most regulated in the U.S.

Not nearly as polite as their Canadian counterparts, American builders are mad as hell at meddling policy-makers and they’re not going to take it any more. Well, not laying down acquiescently, at least.

Denise Dersin, editor in chief of Builder magazine, recently wrote that California home builders in San Joaquin Valley are forced to pay a smog fee, under an “indirect source rule.”

Apparently, builders are responsible for the smog created by folks who drive to work, take their kids to school, sports events, grocery shopping, doctors’ appointments, etc. You know, the daily grind.

The municipality, loathe to charge taxpayers for fear of retribution at the voting booths, figures it is easier to force builders (more accurately, homebuyers) to pay the smog fee – $500 per new home.

Dersin says an angry and stymied senior official from the Washington D.C.-based National Association of Home Builders is telling lawmakers to “just shut up.” Another frustrated builder told Dersin he is not looking for help from legislators. “I just want them to get out of the way,” he said.

The builders’ angst is understandable. Check out these roller-coaster statistics. U.S. housing starts peaked at 2.1 million in 2005, then crashed to a record-low 554,000 in 2009. There was a faint glimmer of hope last year when starts inched back to 592,000, but it’s still a long way from recovery.

And don’t even get me started on the sad impact of heavy job losses, foreclosed homes and the 12 million upside-down households whose mortgage burdens are greater than the value of their homes.

I could go on and on about American issues, but north of the 49th parallel is the home of the action.

When I reflect on goings-on in the local homebuilding industry just two years ago, I shudder. There were only 8,339 housing starts in Metro Vancouver in 2009, a whisker away from the worst total since the 1960s. Doomsayers, including some prominent pundits, warned the worst was yet to come.

The worst, whatever that meant, didn’t happen. In fact, what did occur was a formidable turnaround that left the negative nellies blubbering among their flawed spreadsheets and fractured crystal balls.

The year ended with 17,867 housing starts in Metro Vancouver, up 17 per cent from 2010 and up 114 per cent from 2009. Last year, the residential construction sector generated more than 50,000 full-time jobs on work sites and in the local businesses that manufacture all manner of building products and materials.

And nearly $4 billion was spent on home renovation, improvement and repair in Metro Vancouver.

All this produces a positive ripple effect on the local economy, as the workers spend their wages in their community. They pay taxes, and they buy homes, vehicles and a host of other consumer goods.

This year, the local housing market is expected to plateau somewhat, with no dramatic drops or sharp spikes. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. predicts 18,000 starts for Metro Vancouver, 28,500 for B.C. and 186,750 nationally.

There are, of course, risks that might play a key role, such as hikes in interest rates, the impact of residual economic challenges overseas and in the U.S., and the negativity emanating from scaremongering commentators, many of whom don’t know as much as respected experts have forgotten.

Last year, multi-family starts again reigned supreme over single-detached starts — 14,181 versus 3,686. The last year singles trumped multiples was 1988 — 9,287 versus 8,614. Interestingly, total starts for that year were almost identical to last year’s result, but the pendulum has clearly swung to multiples.

In fact, although common practice in Europe and North American cities like New York, I believe the current generation of Metro Vancouver homebuyers might be inclined to live their entire lives in some form of multi-family housing — town houses, row houses, low-rise condos, highrise condos.

Initially, this inclination will be tied to affordability. But, over time, buyers — first-timers to empty nesters — will appreciate the convenience of a low-maintenance, lock-it-and-leave-it condo lifestyle.

Single-detached homes hold special appeal for families. Compact yards, detached garages, finished basements, open main-floor family areas, in-law suites, superb kitchens, baths and master retreats, and custom features will secure detached homes a place in the housing spectrum for years to come.

Looking ahead, circle Dec. 21 on your kitchen calendar. That’s when the Mayan “Long Count” calendar marks the end of a 5,126-year era, and we will transition into a new world age cycle.

Hold on a second, it is just me or did you also notice that the lengthy Mayan transition timeline is freakingly similar to the drawn-out HST transition period? Only with more chanting and less ranting.

It is going to be an interesting year, on so many levels. I look forward to seeing it all unfold.

Coats for Kids a successful GVHBA initiative

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:10:16 GMT

Warm-hearted individuals contributed more than 3,000 new and gently used coats, as well as scarves, mittens and new toys, to the 16th annual Coats for Kids campaign, presented by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA) in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, an organization whose outreach helps to provide a brighter Christmas for families in need.

The popular campaign ran from Nov. 21 to Dec. 9. In addition to the GVHBA office, 28 association members at 45 locations in 13 municipalities served as drop-off locations.

A repeat and enthusiastic participant was Kelly MacIntosh, acting assistant deputy warden at the Surrey Pre-Trial Services Centre.

MacIntosh contributed clothing last year, mostly coats his daughter and her friends had outgrown. This year, MacIntosh's co-workers at the B.C. Corrections Branch wanted to join the campaign.

Last week, MacIntosh and correctional officers Jim Pyke and Jose Domingo showed up at my office with 76 coats, 97 scarves, 49 pairs of mittens, 16 toques and an assortment of winter pants and boots.

The officers said all the scarves and 25 pairs of mittens were made by the inmates in the Surrey facility's tailor shop. The inmates also make baby blankets for distribution at transition houses.

All clothing from MacIntosh's Surrey group was donated to the Surrey Christmas Bureau.

Custody staff at B.C. Corrections take an active role in other community events, causes and organizations, including Cops for Cancer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Ride2Survive, Haiti Relief, and the Cythera Transition House Society, which supports women and their children.

High-fives to the folks who participated in and donated to Coats for Kids, including elementary schools and sports teams. A cold winter is expected, so your generous contribution of clothing will keep warm many children, teens, men and women.

Mayor's housing initiative blazes no trails

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:43:38 GMT

During his inaugural speech two weeks ago, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson announced he planned to create a blue-ribbon panel that will examine the impediments to housing affordability, then recommend steps to develop workable solutions. He said the process will not happen overnight.

Although I applaud the mayor's commitment to addressing this critical issue, I can't help but reflect on the 1993 movie, Groundhog Day, in which comedian Bill Murray's character, a frustrated weatherman, wakes up each morning to find he is repeating the same day over and over again.

For decades, housing affordability has been studied over and over again. Eminently qualified commentators - brilliant scholars, industry leaders, respected think-tank organizations - have all contributed thought-provoking data. And, Lord help us, even clueless nitwits chime in occasionally.

The people who served on previous housing affordability panels, task forces, forums, workshops, etc., would occupy all available seats in Rogers Arena, maybe BC Place Stadium. I can tell you that the voluminous reports produced could be used to paper the stadium's new roof a couple times over.

And I wonder how many reports filled with reasonable recommendations related to market housing, rental housing and homelessness are piled on shelves, never to see the light of day. The people who contributed much time and resources to those reports should feel choked by this dead-end outcome.

Anyway, Mayor Robertson's initiative, albeit noble, is not a trailblazer. Four recent, and seemingly decent, initiatives spring to mind, although I am sure there were others in the past year or so:

November, 2010: Canadian Home Builders' Association of B.C. presented a housing affordability symposium where industry and government representatives presented solutions to address barriers to affordability. A second symposium is being planned for early 2012.

April, 2011: Vancouver hosted a stakeholder workshop entitled Talk Housing With Us, attended by housing industry representatives, academics, advocates, associations and government agencies.

July, 2011: Vancouver council approved its housing and homelessness strategy, which addresses all key points along the housing continuum, including shelters, rental housing and home ownership. It is expected that the mayor's new panel will build on the output from this housing strategy.

September, 2011: Simon Fraser University hosted an affordable housing workshop that attracted the who's who of architects, planners, developers, politicians, community leaders, advocates, homebuyers, academics, bloggers, media and others.

To be effective, the mayor's panel - which will be co-chaired by competent and knowledgeable developer Olga Ilich - must include more than a few miracle workers, and some who have the courage to tell elected officials in all levels of government that their actions often make housing unaffordable, what with the high level of federal, provincial, regional and municipal fees, taxes, levies and assorted other charges imposed on the development and construction of new homes and rental housing.

And, while they're at it, the panel should recommend improvements to the snail-slow approvals and permitting processes.

It remains to be seen if blue ribbon can trump red tape.

Groups make a real and lasting difference to homeless people

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:51:33 GMT

Brrrr, we're officially 20 days from winter, God's cruel joke on Canada. With the temperature steadily dropping, my lovely wife's frugal and conservationist nature is becoming more apparent.

Painfully predictable is her response to my endless grumbling about the house being too darned chilly and her steadfast reluctance to crank up the thermostat: "Put on a sweater if you're cold."

I despise cold weather. One reason I moved from Toronto to Lotus-Land by-the-Sea 18 years ago was to escape trudging through deep snow, scraping thick ice off windshields and wearing goofy toques.

When I examine the three paragraphs I just wrote, I realize how trivial my concerns are compared to the challenges of homeless men and women who don't have the luxury of adjusting a thermostat.

It breaks my heart when I read a Vancouver Sun story on the plight of cold, wet and hungry people who are turned away from extreme weather shelters because there are no beds. BC Housing and community organizations are doing admirable jobs addressing this issue.

When my thoughts drift to the issue of homelessness, two images are vivid.

One, my kid brother lived by his wits on the streets of Toronto for 30 years, on and off. Mark died two years ago, a predictable victim of the destructive demons that possessed him - from alcoholism to substance abuse and from conning anyone within earshot to stealing anything within arm's reach.

Although he marched to the heavy beat of his own drummer, he was a gentle man. I miss him.

Two, a few years ago, during nasty weather conditions, I drove past a well-known mattress store where the interior was lit up like a Christmas tree. Outside, under the covered doorway, were two people, asleep in fetal positions. I didn't need a camera to capture the image. The stark contrast between comfy pillow-top mattresses and the rigours of homelessness is forever embedded in my mind.

The Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society, of which I am a founding board member, recently announced the recipients of its 2011 annual grants. Nearly $200,000 was awarded to nine Surrey-based agencies to support individual projects that will provide solutions to homelessness.

The annual grants are provided from a fund established by Surrey in 2007. Surrey was the first municipality in B.C. to establish a fund dedicated to homelessness and housing. Nearly $1.65 million of the $10 million fund has been granted during the past four years.

There is no shortage of media reports on what needs to be done to address homelessness, yet there seems to be little interest in the success stories. Not one media organization attended the Surrey presentation. Too bad, because they missed an opportunity to speak with a young woman and young man who both conquered their demons and now live clean, healthy and productive lives.

Shelley, 37, grew up in foster homes. She was popular, pretty, skilled in sports and a good student. She was out of foster care at 16, then began her slide. She waitressed and danced on the side for easy money. Anything to earn a living, and feed her habit. She liked the lifestyle, until it started to take her down. Shelley lived on the streets of Surrey and Vancouver's Downtown Eastside for 17 years.

Thanks to South Fraser Community Services, Shelley now has a safe home of her own. Although it is a small place, it is a big deal to her. The following are Shelley's own enthusiastically expressed words, unedited so you can experience the passion she feels for this significant milestone.

"This first place I got, it was my own. I got my furniture together, I got my pots and pans, I did the shopping. It was weird, you know, having the key in my wallet, like, that's huge. That's my first key to my own house, with my own stuff. My bathroom toiletries, my clothing, everything. My pictures. I have my family wall up there, and I have some artwork that people gave me. I have my TV, and my own food, my own cooking ware, my own little clock, you know, it's huge, right. I never had this before. I always lived in a hole in the wall where I did my dope and stuff, but today it's where I go to bed, and where I wake up, and I don't have to worry any more, right. I don't have to worry."

Shelley is now enrolled in school, is free from addictions and is hopeful for a bright future.

Lindsy, in his mid-30s, has spent nearly half his life on the streets, although he said he would sometimes manage to keep a roof over his head. Lindsy voluntarily placed himself in a recovery facility.

He is now employed, maintains his own apartment and is proud to say he is clean and sober.

Shelley and Lindsy believe that sharing their experiences will help others deal with their challenges.

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts stresses the solution to homelessness is longterm, supportive and sustainable housing.

"Since 2009, together with our community partners, we have taken more than 350 people off the street and into housing with the supports they need. Together, we are helping people build healthy, financially independent lives," she said.

For example, a $30,000 grant was awarded to Sources Community Resources Society's Surrey Rent Bank, a program that prevents and reduces homelessness for low-income individuals and families by providing loans for rent, security deposits and utilities arrears, and financial literacy workshops.

Other grant recipients included the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, Launching Pad Addiction Rehabilitation Society, Surrey Urban Mission, Lu'ma Native Housing Society, Options Community Services Society, and the Peace Arch Free Dental Clinic.

Please consider contributing to organizations that help to make a positive impact on the lives of men, women and children throughout the year. Many of those folks work tirelessly with limited resources.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:51:25 GMT

Addressing Rentals

Earlier this month, a B.C. coalition of industry, non-profit and government leaders signed the Canadian Rental Housing Charter, a plan to increase the supply of affordable rental housing across Canada.

The 10 founding members of the coalition, including yours truly, envision a future where there is a sufficient supply of adequate, safe and affordable rental housing for people with a range of incomes.

“The coalition calls on all levels of government, the private sector and the non-profit sector to work collaboratively to address the critical shortage of affordable rental housing,” said Wayne Wright, coalition co-chair and Metro Vancouver Housing Committee chair.

Good investment

According to a recent survey conducted by the Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals, 87 per cent of B.C. respondents believe real estate is a good investment.

Also, while 46 per cent of those surveyed across the country agree that Canadians are taking on too much debt, most agree that mortgage debt is good debt.

Well, no debt is best, so my advice to homeowners, particularly first-timers, is set aside some cash to pay down your mortgage.

The survey found B.C. mortgage holders were more likely to have paid more than the minimum mortgage payments in the past year (36 per cent vs. 32 per cent nationally).

Home sweet home

Family fact: Within six months of arrival in Canada, 17 per cent of immigrants buy homes.

Bold statement

It wasn’t exactly Occupy Coquitlam, but some folks did camp out in order to make a bold statement.

Six families braved a chilly night on Coquitlam’s Burke Mountain recently in order to be first in line to purchase a new single-detached home at Morningstar Homes’ Amberleigh community.

The first release of 10 homes sold shortly after 8 a.m., then Morningstar released four more homes, which were purchased well before noon. The 3,000-plus square feet homes were priced from $649,900.

Meanwhile, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. announced there were 14,982 housing starts in Metro Vancouver during the first 10 months of 2011, a 19 per cent increase from the 12,584 starts recorded during the same period last year.

The CMHC reported the strength was in the multifamily sector (11,890 starts).

Housing coalition advocates for affordable rental supply

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:06:42 GMT

Province columnist Jon Ferry opined last week that “the seemingly pointless Occupy Vancouver protest is sucking up huge amounts of media attention.” I am not going to wade into the debate on the merits or missteps of the Occupy movement, but I certainly agree with the media observation.

Last week, I drove by the Occupy camp on my way to a nearby news conference called to announce the signing of a Canadian Rental Housing Charter, whose primary goal is to increase the supply of affordable rental housing across Canada.

Three network cameras were in position at the Occupy site, waiting for something, anything, to happen. No network cameras were at the news conference. Pity.

The Canadian Rental Housing Coalition, co-chaired by Metro Vancouver Housing Committee chair Wayne Wright and Urban Development Institute executive director Maureen Enser, has been working diligently on this important issue for nearly two years.

The coalition’s founding members include senior officials from the B.C. Apartment Owners and Managers Association, Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association, B.C. Non-Profit Housing Association, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, Co-operative Housing Federation of B.C., Canadian Home Builders’ Association of B.C., Vancity, and the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre.

The coalition also has the support of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce.

The supply of new rental housing is failing to keep up with demand from a growing population. Currently, rental housing makes up more than 30 per cent of the housing stock across Canada.

More than 40,000 people, comprising 16,000 households, move to Metro Vancouver each year. Of these, just under two thirds buy a home, while the remaining 6,500 households need to rent accommodation.

Yet only about 600 purpose-built rental units are added to the rental pool annually.

“The coalition calls on all levels of government, the private sector and the non-profit sector to work collaboratively to address the critical shortage of affordable rental housing,” said Wright.

Enser said the economic importance of affordable rental housing in this country cannot be overstated. “New rental construction creates vital, well-paid jobs, and sufficient supply is intrinsically linked to business investment and location decisions,” she said.

Nicky Dunlop, executive director of the Tenants Resource and Advisory Centre, said renters are struggling to find quality rental housing in major cities across Canada. “In Vancouver, people are being forced into inadequate housing, often in need of significant repairs, and are experiencing frequent moves. All this is destabilizing for families and individuals,” she said.

The coalition’s nine goals are to:

1. Help develop a national economic strategy that includes an adequate supply of rental housing as an essential element.

2. Reinstate federal tax incentives to stimulate private market rental housing.

3. Increase the viability of non-profit and co-op housing construction through direct capital investment and long-term, low-cost financing.

4. Increase the supply of federal, provincial and municipal land for affordable rental housing.

5. Modify property assessment practices that over-value rental properties relative to other forms of residential use.

6. Review all provincial taxes, including property transfer tax, to ensure they do not impede the delivery of rental housing.

7. Encourage municipalities to adopt policies that support rental housing construction. For example, increase density where appropriate, reduce or eliminate charges and fees, reduce regulatory requirements and streamline approvals.

8. Facilitate a long-term commitment from industry to support innovation in the design, financing and construction of affordable market rental housing.

9. Foster a long-term commitment from the non-profit sector to work with the public and private sectors to develop and maintain adequate, safe, secure and affordable rental housing.

I am proud of the exemplary spadework this coalition has completed, and kudos to Metro Vancouver for its involvement, but no one is even close to dancing in the streets. Many influential organizations are involved, but we need strong political will to take this worthwhile initiative to the next level.

New-home buyers need tax relief now

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 17:58:51 GMT

Folks sometimes ask if I ever grow weary of talking and writing about the taxes, fees, levies and development charges imposed on the residential construction industry, costs which are passed along to the end user – buyers of new homes and condos, and families renovating or repairing their homes.

Sometimes I do, but I continue to advocate for housing affordability and choice, and for solutions to the challenges of homelessness and individuals at risk of being homeless, because I have faith that maybe the message will sink in to some influential policy-makers and lawmakers who give a damn.

When I reflect on the significant economic benefits generated by a running-on-all-cylinders B.C. residential construction industry, I speculate what would happen if this engine sputtered to a stop.

My mind wanders back to a 2004 mockumentary, A Day Without a Mexican. This short satirical film dramatized what would happen to the California economy if all the Mexicans – both legal and illegal – suddenly disappeared from the workforce. As you can imagine, the impact was immediate and far reaching. Although a tad hokey, the movie got people thinking about unappreciated contributions.

You can see where this is going, right? I thought about what would happen if everyone directly or indirectly associated with the B.C. residential construction industry abruptly left their jobs.

Last year, residential construction’s economic impact provincially was $14.9 billion, or $57.3 million a day based on 260 work days. The recent shipbuilding selection announcement is expected to be worth $8 billion to Vancouver Shipyards (Seaspan), spread over 20 to 30 years.

When it was announced Seaspan would build the ships, Premier Christy Clark rightfully gushed: “It’s paid off for all the people who work here who now have some certainty around their employment. It’s paid off for the families in the secondary industries that depend on shipbuilding.”

I was delighted to hear of Seaspan’s $8-billion lifeline, and the positive impact the contract will have on its employees and secondary industries. But allow me to emphatically repeat the economic impact of residential construction in B.C. – nearly $15 billion a year, or more than $57 million a day!

So when the premier uses phrases such as “certainty around employment” and underscores the benefits to families in secondary industries, I just wish she would also apply those encouraging words to residential construction and the families who depend on that industry for their livelihoods.

The premier and her government must find ways to alleviate the uncertainty surrounding the HST transition rules and immediately provide some tax relief for buyers of new homes. Until the HST is put to rest, the net cost of new homes must be balanced.

If not, some laid-off construction workers might be taking crash courses in the shipbuilding trades.

Adjustments to new housing rebate threshold needed

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:13:04 GMT

When is a 20th anniversary not a good reason to pop the cork on a bottle of bubbly? Apparently, when it involves a promise of tax relief from the federal government.

Does anyone remember life before the harmonized sales tax? (It seems like a lifetime ago when Gordon Campbell told British Columbians the HST was going to be wonderful for them.)

When the goods and services tax (GST) was introduced by the federal government in 1991, a commitment was made to adjust the rebate thresholds to reflect changes in housing prices.

The goal was to protect housing affordability in areas of high housing costs, such as the Lower Mainland.

"The government will review these thresholds at least every two years and adjust them as necessary to ensure they adequately reflect changes in economic conditions and housing markets," said the federal government of the day - with a straight face, no doubt. Brian Mulroney was prime minister.

Since that commitment, housing prices have increased significantly. In fact, Statistics Canada's New House Price Index has increased by more than 56 per cent since 1991. Freezing thresholds at 1991 levels has meant an increasing number of households no longer receive a full or even partial rebate.

In Vancouver, almost none (0.1 per cent) of the purchasers of new single-detached homes completed in 2010 qualified for the full GST housing rebate. In contrast, more than 75 per cent qualified for the full rebate in 1991. In Abbotsford, none qualified last year, while 99 per cent qualified in 1991, when the feds announced to great fanfare that the GST would not pose a barrier to housing affordability.

On behalf of homebuyers, the homebuilding industry continues to press this issue, year after year.

Happy 20th anniversary, new housing rebate threshold. You're really starting to look your age.

Home-renovation seminar well worth the time; Primers on WorkSafeBC regulations, RenoMark program among valuable information dispensed

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:45:50 GMT

It amazes me how safety-conscious parents constantly warn their darling children to not run with scissors, jump off furniture or stick straws up their noses, yet they allow some stranger to renovate or repair their houses without checking to see if he is compliant with WorkSafeBC regulations.

Falling off a six-metre ladder, then doing a face plant on to a concrete sidewalk, will definitely leave a painful mark, and might burden the homeowner with substantial health care and loss-of-income costs.

You see, if a homeowner hires a contractor who is not covered by Work-SafeBC, and a worker is injured - or worse - the authorities will likely place the responsibility squarely on the homeowner. Scary stuff, huh? Sure, I suppose you could take a chance that nothing will happen at your house, or would you rather learn how to protect yourself from a possible home-improvement nightmare?

To help homeowners demystify the renovation process and make more informed decisions, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association - in partnership with BC Hydro, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and FortisBC - is presenting another of its popular home-renovation seminars.

To be held Nov. 22 at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, the seminar will guide attendees through the various stages of the renovation process, including design and planning, legal and contracts, selecting a renovator, municipal permits and inspections, and living through a renovation.

Presenters at the 90-minute seminar include award-winning renovation contractors, a construction lawyer, municipal building official, and a technical expert sharing the latest in green technology.

Condominium owners contemplating renovations to their units will learn about the special considerations often imposed by strata councils and their management companies. Approval is required for any renovations affecting other condo owners or common property in the building.

Attendees will also learn about Reno-Mark. To be accepted into this industry-led national program, contractors are obliged to abide by a 10-condition code of conduct. Infractions are taken seriously. If contractors don't play by the rules, they risk being turfed from the program until they comply.

An exhibition area - featuring more than 40 RenoMark renovators and suppliers of home-improvement products and services - will be open from 5: 30 to 7: 30 p.m. to allow homeowners ample time to discuss their renovation plans with the experts before the seminar program begins.

Although builders consider a new home to be the ultimate renovation, what with all the new products and leading-edge technology available these days, folks are spending big bucks to give makeovers to their tired, poorly performing older homes. More than $7.8 billion will be spent on home renovation, improvement and repair this year in B.C., about $4.4 billion in Metro Vancouver alone.

With that much money at play, it is crucial that homeowners do their homework before they sign a contract with a qualified contractor. And they should definitely avoid the underground economy, where cash deals done under the radar run the risk of exposing homeowners to the aforementioned liability issues and close scrutiny from municipal bylaw officials and provincial safety authorities.

Although admission to the seminar and exhibit area is free, pre-registration is required. Register online at www.gvhba.org or call 778-565-4288. There was a full house at last year's fall seminar, so register early to guarantee a seat. Public transit is nearby and there is ample on-site parking.

Please consider contributing a nonperishable food item or two for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. These days, more folks - including seniors and single moms - rely heavily on food banks.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 20:27:22 GMT

Housing Starts Boost Full-Time Employment

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC), multi-family housing starts continue to rise in the Metro Vancouver region (up 39 per cent), while single-detached starts remain below last year’s total (down 24 per cent).

Total Metro Vancouver starts for the January-to-September period were 13,260, up 19 per cent from the 11,137 starts recorded during the same nine-month period last year. Vancouver led the pack with 2,862 starts, while Surrey (2,530) and Richmond (2,141) were a close second and third, respectively. The increase in housing starts generated an additional 5,944 full-time jobs for one year.

Let’s hope the uncertainty created by a lack of clarity on HST transition rules doesn’t impede this fine progress.

U.S. foreclosures

American lenders foreclosed on 196,530 properties during the third quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the U.S. national unemployment rate for 20 to 24 year olds was nearly 15 per cent in September, higher in some states. All this has likely helped to fuel the civil unrest that is pervasive in the U.S. these days.

Home renovations

With more than $4.4 billion being spent on home renovation, improvement and repair this year, and a similar amount expected in 2012, careful planning is required to demystify the renovation process.

To help homeowners make informed decisions, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association — in partnership with BC Hydro, CMHC and FortisBC — is presenting an evening home renovation seminar Nov. 22 in Vancouver. Expert presenters will guide homeowners through the various stages of the renovation process. For details on this free seminar, visit gvhba.org.

Chinese buyers

Chinese homebuyers are a major force in Metro Vancouver, but we are not alone in attracting their interest and cash. The U.S. National Association of Realtors reports that buyers from China make up nine per cent of the $41 billion in international sales of American homes. Only Canada, at an impressive 23 per cent, is higher. The most popular states are Arizona, California, Florida and Texas.

Those numbers from China could soon jump. Next month, North American real estate fairs will be held in five major Chinese cities. Attendees will learn details from experts about property purchase laws, emigration, education and investment opportunities available in Canada and the U.S.

Moving needn't be a stressful experience

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:39:43 GMT

Moving needn't be a stressful experience

An informed consumer and experienced, professional movers can ensure the transition to a new home is a smooth one

There have been times when I experienced a bothersome combination of body pain, tension headaches, sweating and trouble sleeping. Thinking back, these symptoms of anxiety were commonly associated with getting married, starting down a new career path and - wait for it - moving.

Moving is one of life's most stressful experiences. My wife, Carolyn, and I had occasion to move some of our belongings to a family home in Atlantic Canada, and I was determined I wasn't going to fret over what might happen to our stuff as it travelled nearly 5,000 kilometres across the country.

But fret I did. I mean, how can you not worry yourself sick about rough handling, bumpy roads, en route theft and blackmail-like overcharging? I was sure the furniture would arrive bruised and battered, the glass and china smashed into shards, and the rest of the goods damaged beyond repair.

And horror stories abound about moving scams, including disreputable movers demanding more money before unloading your furniture. Or the original mover farms out the job to another company whose workers look like 98-pound weaklings, smell like a brewery and have six teeth between them.

To be clear, Carolyn didn't worry for one second about the move. She could give cool lessons to a cucumber. Worrying is a man's job, a responsibility I take seriously. Carolyn suggested that instead of brooding over all the scenarios that likely won't happen, why not entrust the move to a professional?

She was right, as usual. I called Williams Moving & Storage, a business founded in 1929 and still owned and managed by the Williams family. In business for 82 years, they must be doing something right. Estimator Jim Froese visited us, explained the various services and charges, outlined insurance options, suggested a container would be the best option for us, then provided a written estimate.

A few days later, we agreed to the conditions and the adventure would soon be underway. On moving day, two guys showed up on time with a container, tape and lots of blue padded blankets. The three-by-three-metre container resembled a fibreglass capsule, complete with a rubber-rimmed weatherproof door.

The two movers were personable, soft-spoken guys. Al Foster has 27 years of experience; his crew partner Blaine Wheeler has 15. They knew how to perform their jobs so well they hardly said a word to each other as they methodically, and carefully, loaded the container as if it were a jigsaw puzzle.

They wrapped all the furniture with padded blankets. Everything was taped and strapped to the walls to ensure nothing would move. With loading complete, I could see that every inch of space was used.

Our container was weighed before it left the Williams yard.

When it went back with all our stuff inside, it was weighed again. Ouch! Long-distance moves are costed out, among other factors, by weight and distance. Here's a hint. If you move across the country, take only what is meaningful to your family. Before you leave, sell or give away the concrete lawn ornament and hide-a-bed couch.

I wanted to learn more about the process, so when the truck left I met with Jim Williams to ask a few questions. Jim is the third generation of his family to run the business. His son, Zach, will follow.

The elder Williams has done every physical task his employees do - from driving, packing the trucks and containers, to wrapping china. Moreover, Williams has an annual Don the Coveralls day, when office staff and management leave the comfort of their desks to join the crews on their trucks.

Williams also put in place a comprehensive staff-training program run by experienced proficiency experts. His staff seem to appreciate the attention: the average employment duration is 19 years.

Then there's a program called Know Your Crew. All new hires are subject to background checks. "It's a key component of our service," said Williams. "I wouldn't want someone showing up at my home, being with my family, without their backgrounds being checked by the company I hired. Do your due diligence and know who you are dealing with in advance," he cautioned.

On average, North Americans move only four or five times in their lifetimes. And despite the wealth of information online, many consumers still don't seem to fully comprehend the moving process.

"I had a phone call from a nice lady who said, 'I think your company picked up my furniture and the truck hasn't arrived at my new house.' She didn't have a phone number, driver's name, details about the move or documentation. Not even the colour of the truck. I couldn't help her. The guy eventually showed up, but she put herself through an enormous amount of unnecessary stress," said Williams.

Williams said for tracking purposes, each container is outfitted with a global positioning system (GPS), and there is daily verbal contact with the truck drivers.

"It's a very efficient system. Experienced, certified personnel handle the containers, which along the way are stored in facilities that have strict security protocols. And a numbered seal remains in place until the container is opened by the client at the final destination," said Williams.

Our container - which was securely pinned in place on a truck equipped with an air-ride suspension - made stops in Calgary, Winnipeg and Toronto before arriving in Halifax nine days after it left Vancouver.

When it arrived in Halifax, the container was transferred to another United Van Lines member company, Burgess Transfer, founded in 1947. The owner, Larry Burgess, assured me his crew, comprised of brother Dan, his son Ben and a student helper, would deliver the container at 9 a.m. the next day.

Despite the 100-kilometre trip, and slow traffic along the route, the crew arrived on time.

In Vancouver, I took a photo before the container door was closed, then I took another photo after I broke the seal and opened the door. The photos were only slightly different, indicating the load didn't shift. And there were no dings or scratches on the furniture. Nothing broke or vibrated apart.

Sadly, our beloved golden retriever Ginger didn't make it. Alas, there was plenty of kibble and water for the trip, but who knew the container was going to be airtight? Honest oversight, right?

(Just kidding, folks. Seriously, forget the angry emails. Sit, stay, there was no dog. No dog!)

Whether you are moving across the country or just down the street, do your homework. I initiated our moving experience fearing the worst, but in the hands of professionals, we experienced the best.

Four-day Home + Design Show at Vancouver Convention Centre has it all: Celebrities, food, exhibitors, interactive displays and expert advice

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:11:07 GMT

Disaster DIY host Bryan Baeumler joins star-studded lineup, Four-day Home + Design Show at Vancouver Convention Centre has it all: Celebrities, food, exhibitors, interactive displays and expert advice

Three significant events will capture my attention this month: Thanksgiving, the World Series and the Vancouver Home + Design Show, to be held Oct. 13 to 16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

During the four-day show, 18 presentations are scheduled at the Urban Barn Design Stage. It's a one-stop-shopping approach to gaining insight to the hottest trends in renovation, design and technology.

Presenters include HGTV stars Bryan Baeumler, the engaging host of HGTV's Disaster DIY and the upcoming new series, Leave it to Bryan; Jillian Harris, design expert on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; Janette Ewen, co-host with Ty Pennington of Inside the Box; outsidethe-box designer Alykhan Velji; kid-friendly space designer Erik Lauzon; technology expert (or geek) Sean Peever; and personable contractor Ramsin Khachi.

If good food is your passion, start licking your lips. Corbin Tomaszeski, star of the Food Network's Dinner Party Wars, will demonstrate the perfect menu for entertaining. Eric Pateman and Jennifer Todd from Edible Canada will discuss the benefits of using fresh products from local producers.

(By the way, folks, our local farmers, food processors and cottage-industry owners would appreciate your business and support. At the spur of the moment, I took a relaxing road trip through rural Surrey and Langley on Sunday and was amazed at the broad range of farm-related enterprises.)

An advocate of sustainability and champion of West Coast cuisine, young executive chef Quang Dang will share his creative approach to modern cookery. Or if grilling on your deck suits you, barbecue experts Brian Misko and Ronnie Shewchuk will fan the flames with a friendly burger competition.

Other local culinary experts sharing the Fortis BC cook-like-a-pro stage include: Todd Bright, Karen Barnaby, Bruno Feldeisen, Lee Parsons, Nathan Fong, and Alessandra and Jean Francis Quaglia.

More than 325 exhibitors will showcase the latest and greatest home-related products and services. I enjoy walking the aisles to learn what's new, and just when I think I have seen it all, something completely different will catch my eye. That's the thing about this popular show - it's never stale.

When it comes to home shows, I have always been like a kid in a candy shop. My long-suffering and understanding wife - the lovely and talented Carolyn - knows I will either arrive home from the show with a bag or two of goodies, or a head full of great ideas to incorporate into our own home. Whether you want to refresh an older home, add personal touches to a brand-new home, or find the ideal accessory to brighten a rental suite, the show will be the source of solutions to fit any budget.

My favourite interactive exhibit - no surprise here - is the 1,000-square-foot Renovation Gallery, presented by the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA) and Fortis BC.

The gallery will include photo displays and information on some incredible home makeovers, costing from a few thousand dollars to more than $1 million.

Renovation contractors, designers, architects, decorators and suppliers will be on hand to discuss their projects and offer free advice. All are GVHBA members and all contractors on duty participate in RenoMark, a national program that compels members to abide by a 10-condition code of conduct. Visit www.renomark.ca for details.

According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., B.C. homeowners will spend approximately $7.8 billion on renovation, improvement and repair this year, with $4.4 billion of that total spent in Metro Vancouver.

If some of that spending is attached to your renovation plans, you might want to consider attending the Vancouver Home + Design Show next week. You'll have plenty of company.

Visit www.vancouverhomeshows.com for details on show hours, admission, public transportation, participants and sponsors. Drop by the Renovation Gallery to say hello. I look forward to seeing you.
*********************************
The GVHBA Renovation Council recently conducted a mini-survey of 90 homeowners who indicated they are contemplating renovations to their homes. Their intentions are noted below.

Two-thirds of the respondents plan to renovate within the next 12 months.
Kitchens and bathrooms were clearly the first renovation choices of most respondents.
Half the respondents will spend more than $50,000 on their renovations.
Only a third of respondents will require financing assistance when they renovate.
Nearly 90 per cent of respondents will consider buying Energy Star appliances.
Gas furnaces and gas water heaters were preferred by respondents.
Windows were the top choice for energy-conservation upgrades, followed by insulation.
Most respondents were interested in learning more about improving indoor air quality.
Most respondents wanted to learn more about adapting their homes to changing mobility needs.
Nearly two-thirds of the respondents will consider "green" components in their renovations.
Nearly two-thirds of the respondents expect to hire a contractor to do the work, and 75 per cent of that group will consider a contractor who is a member of the RenoMark program.
70 per cent of the respondents indicated it is very important to have a signed contract that clearly spells out the roles and responsibilities of both the homeowner and renovation contractor.
The respondents believe the most important considerations when hiring a contractor are references, price, experience, trustworthiness, quality workmanship, liability insurance and reliability.

Bits & Bites by Peter Simpson for METRO

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:19:47 GMT

Home Show Features 325 Exhibitors

The Vancouver Home + Design Show will be held Oct. 13-16 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. This annual show features more than 325 exhibitors, live stage presentations from industry insiders, and the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association’s Renovation Gallery, presented by FortisBC, where showgoers can view home makeovers and get free advice from design and renovation professionals. Visit vancouverhomeshow.com for show details.

Harmonized sales tax
The HST will disappear in B.C. in early 2013. Meanwhile, with the uncertainty created by the delay in drafting the rules governing transition from HST to the old PST/GST system, some homeowners considering renovations might turn to the underground economy to avoid paying tax. Big mistake! Homeowners should insist on written contracts that clearly define the responsibilities of both the homeowner and contractor, including cost, project duration, municipal permits, liability insurance, tax remittance, safety compliance and warranties. To do otherwise exposes homeowners to risk. For more on professional renovators, visit gvhba.org.

Bluetree Homes
A new kid will soon take up residence on the newhomes block — Bluetree Homes. Headed by Ben Taddei, Bluetree is part of the well-respected ParkLane/WesGroup family of companies.

Red tape reduction
Red tape can be defined as “an obstructive official routine or procedure; timeconsuming bureaucracy.” Alas, the approvals and permitting processes in some Metro Vancouver municipalities reflect that definition. One city, however, is trying to mitigate red tape and roll out the red carpet. Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts formed a Red Tape Reduction Advisory Committee. “We know that unnecessary red tape stifles investment and is the source of frustration and wasted time. We need to strike a balance between eliminating bureaucracy and ensuring we do not compromise on the important regulations that are in place to protect residents and preserve our quality of life,” said Watts.