Comox Valley Real Estate Blog

With summer in full swing in the Comox Valley it’s time to turn up the flame on the outside grill. Nothing compares to summer barbecuing; it’s easy and keeps the heat out of the house. The outside patio can become the second kitchen during the warmer months, when the options of tasty dinner ideas on the barbecue are endless. After being cooped up all winter long, it’s nice to escape the normal destination of cooking meals.

Barbecuing can provide many healthy, nutritious choices other than just the usual hotdogs and hamburgers. Grilling vegetables tends to give them a smoky hint of flavour and really brings out their sweetness. Seared salmon, halibut, and other fish can be quite delectable straight off the barbecue; whatever meat you prefer can be grilled to perfection.

Having an outdoor area where you enjoy meals together as a family or with friends can really make a summer memorable. Barbecues come in many different styles and varieties, and don’t have to be an extravagant purchase. It makes perfect sense to be outside enjoying the weather as much as possible; not slaving over a hot stove inducing uncomfortable temperatures inside your home.

Summertime is grilling time!

When your basement in your Comox Valley home is no longer a destination because it is filled to the brim with stuff, perhaps creating more storage might resolve the problem. The downstairs or upstairs crowdedness may be due to not having any outdoor buildings such as a garage or shed. Before you go spending wheel barrows of money for a new garage, investigate the possibility of adding a shed to your property. It can be a less expensive route, and it will provide you with shelter for your tools, bikes and other items that you don’t have room for in the house.

First you have to decide on a location that has a relatively flat surface to build on. The size of the shed can be based on how much area in your yard you want to sacrifice, and how much dough you want to spend. Pricing out building materials and costs before you start will eliminate any hidden expenses or surprises. If you aren’t a handyman or construction projects scare you, you will also have to factor in the wage of hired professionals.

A backyard shed may be your savoir to a quick and easy solution. Having no space to put belongings can be frustrating. Since when is a tricycle an attractive trinket to have in the living room?

It’s that time of year; when the patio furniture is released from storage and the barbecue gets fired up! The weather becomes inviting for outdoor dinner parties and casual entertaining. Get a head start on preparing the perfect space to enjoy.

If you already had a patio set from last year get it out and clean it up. If this is the summer to finally purchase one, you’re bound to find something special with all the styles and designs available in stores. Modern and comfortable outdoor furniture is sure to spruce up your yard, and provide an area where you can visit, eat, relax, and enjoy the fresh air.

 If you like to cook outdoors on your backyard patio or veranda you may wish to go big when buying a barbecue. Many styles have additional cooking space and side burners. Barbecuing for guests is a great alternative in the summer than cooking inside with your stove or oven which tends to give off heat.

 It can be quite simple to create an outdoor area you, your family, and your company can relish in. A table, some chairs, and a grill are all you might need. But why stop there? You may wish to elaborate and spoil yourself with a hot tub that can be enjoyed all year long. Fire pits are also popular amongst the world of patios.

So get started on your backyard playground, tis the season to soak up the sun and savour the beautiful outdoors.

 Who doesn’t dream of having their own swimming pool right in their backyard, especially during a heat wave. You can be ready for those summer scorchers without draining your pocketbook.  Above ground pools are an increasingly popular trend that is significantly cheaper than digging one in. They also cost less to run; using less energy. The old style pool where you needed a desirable lot, professional hire, and a fat wallet is not very accessible to a large part of the population.

 Today, the above ground pool is very durable and comes in many varieties, colours, and sizes. To enhance the look of your pool you may wish to add wooden panelling or a deck; people have this notion that above ground pools are unattractive but the designs available provide lots of stylish choices. Imagine spending an afternoon in the water, lounging on patio furniture, and enjoying a feast hot off the grill, without even leaving your home. You have to admit it, it would be nice. One huge advantage this style of pool has is the fact that it’s movable; if you ever sell your house, you simply disassemble your pool and take it with you.  Another feature parents with small children like is that once you remove the ladder you eliminate entry.

Maybe you have been missing out on a whole lot of fun because you didn’t even know installing a pool was a possibility.

Owning a home in the Comox Valley is a huge investment, and protecting it with the right insurance is very important. Over the years we accumulate valuables and priceless items; it is our responsibility to make sure all the ‘stuff’ within our homes is safeguarded adequately. Before you sign a contract for house insurance, reading every word of the policy is extremely crucial.

You might assume that you have certain coverage when you actually don’t, and in the case of a claim may not receive any compensation. This sadly happens all the time, so a little effort and research can go a long way.

Before you insure anything you must first know how much it is worth. You wouldn’t want to under estimate the value of your home.  One thing about Comox Valley real estate is that it is continually changing and prices for properties in your area might have gone up.

When you think about it, paying a small monthly fee for a premium that protects you and your family financially in case of an unforeseen accident, a natural disaster, or loss of health, it’s worth every penny.

Additional hardship after an unfortunate event shouldn’t be placed on anyone’s shoulders. So do your homework, don’t settle, and choose a home insurance policy that’s going to help you sleep better at night and keep you worry-free.

We all know that trees are good for enhancing air quality, and that many are cut down each day from commercial logging. So why not add to your landscaping presentation while lending a helping hand to the environment.

Planting trees, shrubs, and other vegetation can be enjoyable if you love to be outside and garden, and can also give your property a more welcoming, attractive look.

The best time to plant trees is actually in off growing seasons such as in early spring and mid fall. This is when the ground is cool and will allow a newly planted tree to establish strong roots. You want your tree to be ready to take advantage of stimulating rains and heat that the warmer months bring. From the moisture and warmth will come new growth. What’s wonderful about a tree is the fact that they need little maintenance and live long life spans.

Nurseries will have wide selections of different trees, bushes, and plants that you can decorate your yard with. They also are usually tagged with proper care and instructions, like how much space they need to grow or if they thrive in shaded or sunny areas.

Investing in trees can be a rewarding process, as they provide beauty, shade, possibly fruit or flowers, and environment improvements.

Nestled on the east coast of Vancouver Island and belonging to the renowned Comox Valley region is a place known worldwide for its delectable shellfish. Here you will find and taste some of the best home grown oysters. Fanny Bay is famous for its Pacific oyster farming establishment that supplies local demands and exports its goodies to other areas.

Rich with accomplishment and a friendly community, this little town is also spoiled with ocean front views and encounters. It is situated on Baynes Sound; a narrow channel that separates Vancouver Island from Denman Island which is another spectacular place considered part of the Comox Valley. Often in the early morning hours sea lions can be heard barking up a storm as they play and lounge around the nearby log booms. Heading down to the waterfront is sure to get you an up close and personal glimpse as they continue to bask in the afternoon sun.

Here you can take pleasure in true rural living without being too far away from urban cities and their amenities. Wake up in the morning and have breakfast on your private patio, go for a walk on the beach, head to Courtenay for some shopping, hit Fanny Bay Oysters on the way home, and then prepare a fresh seafood dinner to top it all off.  Life is good in Fanny Bay.

Basements don’t have to be the place in our homes that we never enjoy; there are endless possibilities that can eliminate all the reasons why we ignore them. If your basement is unfinished that’s a great way to start ……. with a blank slate. You can create something special, from an entertainment area complete with a bar, to a magical playroom where the kids can let loose. Instead of wasting a perfectly functional space by storing junk in it, or leaving it with studs exposed, open the flood gates to your imagination and see what you can come up with to complete your house. Ask yourself what type of room would your family benefit from most?

Or if you ever plan on putting your house on the market what kind of space would make it more desirable to buyers?

Basements usually have a couple components that tend to scare people away from making it over. Darkness is one of them. Windows if any, are small and don’t allow very much natural light in, but you can brighten up the area with great fixtures which will add more light and character to the room. Additional moisture can also be a downer, creating dampness and an environment for mold to grow. The right dehumidifier can help solve the problem.

So before you complain about wanting more room or think about adding an addition to your home, go downstairs and take a look around.

Getting the best possible deal when buying a Comox Valley real estate depends on how flexible you are. If you have no time frame, you are more likely to purchase a home because the price is right, not because you are running out of time. Many consumers shop the Comox Valley housing market during summer vacation when their kids are out of school and can be moved without interruption. But they want to find, buy, and settle into a new place before summer ends. The majority of sellers list their homes between March and August, so there tends to be more choice during the spring and summer seasons. Many other homebuyers are house hunting at this time perhaps for the same reasons you are, so the market might be a little bit more competitive than say during December or January. You might have to prepare yourself for the battle of bidding wars.

If you wish to steer clear of the competitors and have the opportunity to shop for a house at a slower pace, the winter months maybe the time to discover hidden jewels at a great price. Since this is also a less desirable time to sell the selection might be smaller, but from a lack of action sellers maybe more likely to make a satisfying deal.

Your deck needs to be sealed before you can use it.   If you are using cedar, oak or other type of lumber to build your deck, you need to make sure that you seal it after you complete it so that it is ready to rebuff the elements.  Sealing your deck is easy to accomplish and can be done in one day.

In order to seal your deck, you first have to make sure that it is clean.  In order to do this, you may want to power wash the deck.  You can rent a power wash machine to wash the deck and remove any dirt and debris from the wood.  If you have just finished constructing your deck, you will want to power wash the deck before you do anything else to get rid of the sawdust and other particles still stuck to the deck. 

After you have finished power washing the deck with the machine, you are then ready to seal it.  The deck should be completed dry before you attempt this job.  You need to get deck sealer and a roller to seal your deck.  You can purchase these products at your local paint store, home improvement store or hardware store. 

A deck sealer is a clear coated polyurethane paint that will make your deck more resistant to the ravages of the weather as well as make it easier to keep clean.  If you do not seal your deck, you can expect the wood to turn gray after about a year.  By sealing your deck, you can keep it from turning this color.

If you want to stain the wood a certain color, you should do so before sealing the deck.  Stain works well when it is applied to raw wood and settles right into the grooves.  You can do this by painting the stain on the wood and then wiping it off.  Allow the stain at least 24 hours to dry before adding the seal coat. 

Applying the seal coat to your deck is just like painting.  Make sure that you have a clean roller as well as a brush.  If you use a power roller, the job will go by much faster.  You can rent a power roller to seal your deck at most home improvement stores.