Mike Andruff leads one of the topfirms in the Vancouver real estate industry. To find homes for sale in the Marpole Vancouver real estate market, be sure to visit Mike and his team at VancouverPropertyFinder.com.
It's important when you're selling your home to have the outside space looking its best, no matter what season it is. Naturally, during the cold, wet months this can be a challenge. But as spring approaches, it's a good time to invest in some handy gadgets that will make quick work of improving your curb appeal.
Say you're getting ready to show your home, and you've put a lot of hours into creating a beautiful spring landscape. There are sweet-smelling flowers, tasty vegetable plants, and thriving shrubbery. Next thing you know, gophers and moles are destroying all your hard work.
To get rid of pests humanely, pick up a Solar Underground Pest Deterrent. Harnessing solar power, this garden gadget will oust your resident pests without adding harmful chemicals to the environment—and without raising your electric bill.
This device features a garden spike made out of weatherproof aluminum, with a solar panel sitting on top. It works by producing sonic vibrations that drive away underground pests within a range of 94.5 feet. The Pest Deterrent will work for about 8 hours before needing to be recharged by the sun, and it works both day and night.
If grazing deer are munching on your prized plants, there is also the battery-operated Deer Chaser. Like the Solar Pest Deterrent, the Deer Chaser uses ultrasonic sound and light to deter deer from your lawn. No electricity and no chemicals are needed with this great device. The range of the Deer Chaser is approximately 25 feet.
What if your beloved pet is the one being a pest? Barking dogs can be intimidating and annoying to buyers who are trying to inspect your home. If you can't find a dog-sitter and you don't want to muzzle your pet, try one of the new ultrasonic bark control units.
Available in collar form or as discreet stand-alone units, these devices are activated by the sound of barking. They emit an irritating noise that only dogs can hear, every time they bark. The noise, while not harmful, is so abhorrent to dogs that they stop barking immediately. As soon as your open house is over, you can turn the device off and enjoy a pleasant conversation with your pooch.
If your property is looking drab from the winter weather, but you don't have time to plant a garden from scratch before your next open house, there is a fabulous new invention that makes gardening as simple as watering a carpet.
The Fragrant Garden Roll is a mat that has been pre-seeded with a variety of popular flowers. You just cut the mat to your desired size and shape, lay it out where you want the flowers to grow, and water it frequently. Flowers will bloom in record time.
There's a similar product called Roll N' Grow Miracle Garden that works the same way, with about 1,000 seeds in every mat. The seeds are embedded in mulch, so the mat actually inhibits weed growth, without the use of chemicals. The mat is also 100% biodegradable, so you don't have to worry about harming the environment with this product. You can decorate the edges of your driveway, create attractive flower beds, and add blooms to potted plants. These roll-out gardens are an excellent way to enhance your home's curb appeal, without a lot of effort or expense.
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Helpful Guidelines in Buying Miami Homes for Sale
By: Mark Ferrer | 19/12/2009Miami is home to several affordable properties. From new construction condos to foreclosures and conventional Miami homes for sale, buyers and future residents have a lot of options to choose from. And if you're planning to move to the city, here are some tips to help you choose the best property.
Catch a Miami Rental Property Even With a Bad Credit
By: Mark Ferrer | 19/12/2009One of the main concerns of people nowadays is credit score. It has indeed become crucial to have a stellar credit score; even a reasonable score can hurt your chances. Even if you're looking for an apartment like a Miami rental property, you still need to have a good credit score otherwise landlords will likely skip your application. But even with a bad credit, you can still snag a decent apartment if you consider these options.
Top Considerations When Looking for a Miami Office Space for Rent
By: Mark Ferrer | 19/12/2009Office spaces are multipurpose commercial real estate properties that are essentially useful for businesses that require maximum space for their operations. In Miami, there are a lot of commercial real estate properties for starting and expert investors. And if you are looking for a Miami office space for rent, make sure you read these considerations to help you set everything right off the bat.
Miami Restaurants for Sale – Investing Tips and Concerns
By: Mark Ferrer | 19/12/2009Miami is home to a wide-range of culinary delights. From Cuban to Mexican and European to Italian, the variety of cuisines in the city is diverse. And if you are thinking of investing in the city’s thriving smorgasbord of restaurants and dining ventures, get yourself a good serving of Miami restaurants for sale to help you choose the best property for your next business. Yet investing in a restaurant is not as easy as it seems. Here are some helpful considerations you should think about.
Greece Real Estate Scenario
By: Antonis Saridakis | 19/12/2009The year 2009 was not a good one for real estate projects. As the world’s economy stagnated so everyone wanted to sell but there was no one who was willing to buy. Developers were optimistic about their prices but the buyers were unwilling to accept these unrealistic prices especially at a time when market was collapsing. Most of them wanted to buy at “crisis prices” which are sometimes almost equal to the cost price.
What to Expect When You Purchase a Holiday Home in South Africa
By: Elizabeth McLachlan | 19/12/2009South Africa has some of the world's most sought-after holiday destinations and offers buyers great opportunities to invest in a steady and resilient market. One of the most exciting and exclusive holiday homes in South Africa can be found along the Atlantic Seaboard. Here are a few things to consider...
Get Good Deals on The Woodlands Texas Lake Property for Sale
By: Clint Jhonson | 19/12/2009As the number of Texas foreclosure homes for sale goes up, investors who are very savvy in the real estate business as well as retirees keep their eyes on The Woodlands Texas lake property for sale. If you are one of those people who have been scanning The Woodlands Texas new homes for sale then you might be looking for lakefront homes too. There are plenty of choices to make if you know where to look.
Putting Up Your Real For Sale
By: Allen | 19/12/2009If you have a real for sale, especially in the current economic downturn, you really have to use all your marketing skills. Right now, it is a buyer’s market. The first thing that you need to do is to do some home staging. This is essential to attract the buyer by showcasing the home’s best features.
Renting out your Home for the 2010 Olympic Games
By: Mike Andruff | 18/08/2009 | Real EstateTo give you an idea of how many people are expected to attend the Games, there are 1.6 million tickets available for events at the Olympics, with another 250,000 tickets available for the Paralympic Games. Estimates suggest that there will be about 25,000 volunteers and 10,000 media representatives in addition to more than 6500 athletes and officials.
Laneway Housing in Vancouver
By: Mike Andruff | 18/08/2009 | RemodelingThese living spaces are known as laneway houses, and have become part of the landscape in several cities, including Toronto and Montreal. Approved laneway units must be less than 750 sq. ft, and can be up to 1 1/2 stories tall. There must also be 16 feet of space between the back of the house and the front of the laneway suite.
Attracting Buyers with Wood Floors: Adding Beauty and Value to Your Home
By: Mike Andruff | 28/05/2009 | Interior DesignDue to the nature of wood grain, solid wood planks cannot be used in areas prone to dampness like below-grade rooms or bathrooms. Engineered flooring has thin slices of wood layered and glued together to make a strong sandwich of wood that resists warping due to moisture. As a result of this strength, engineered floors can be used in below-grade rooms.
Lofts: Is This Trendy Home for You?
By: Mike Andruff | 28/05/2009 | Real EstateLofts can also be "raw" or un renovated spaces that you can purchase for the purpose of renovating yourself. These unfinished lofts may be completely amenity-free but can be a worthwhile purchase if you want full creative control over how your living space will look.
7 Great Spots for a BC Vacation Home
By: Mike Andruff | 20/05/2009 | Real EstateFor those looking for an exceptional ski-getaway, Big White is an excellent choice. Great for families and singles, this is the largest ski-in/ski-out resort village in Canada. The resort boasts 15 lifts to access 2,765 acres of prime skiing, with the longest run being 7.2 km.
Hiring a Contractor
By: Mike Andruff | 20/05/2009 | RemodelingMake a Short List: Create a list of about five hopefuls using a combination of referrals from friends, or other people in your area who have had work done. A call to your local home builder's association may also provide you with names of local contractors.
Relocating to Vancouver: A Guide to Vancouver's Economy & Real Estate Market
By: Mike Andruff | 15/04/2009 | Real EstateClearly, Vancouver is a very special city. It offers residents breathtaking views of the mountains, inviting beaches, and ample green space. Vancouver has become a premier destination for real estate buyers from around the world.
Relocating to Vancouver: Fresh Urban Living
By: Mike Andruff | 15/04/2009 | Real EstateYes, it does rain a lot here, but most residents agree that occasional rain is better than having to endure the freezing temperatures that most areas of Canada are privy to in the winter months--or the high humidity and scorching heat that other provinces experience during the summer. Vancouver's weather can be grey at times, but it is almost always gentle.