Beautiful property and home for sale on 3515 Baker Dr. in Fort St. James

Beautiful property and lovely inviting 4 bedroom log home backing onto Sowchea Creek. This property and home has something for every one. Gorgeous west facing sun deck has been wired for a hot tub. Property is fenced and cross fenced for horses. 16X24 foot shop is 220 wired and has wood stove. Other features include a two stall 12x12 barn, wood shed and swing set. Exterior logs were refinished in 2008. The upstairs bathroom was recently updated and no expense was sparred. The kitchen features beautiful tile counter tops with eating bar, open to the dining area, great for entertaining. The large living room with fireplace is perfect for family gatherings. $279,000.00  Properties like this are rare, call Chris at 250-614-3727 or Barbara at 250-960-8614

to book your viewing.
Chris Lodge

"INTERIOR SOLUTIONS", new interior design business in Prince George

If you've ever been overwhelmed, frustrated or just don't know where to start to get your home looking the way you want it to there's help out there for you. Derek Lovell, an extremely creative, talented and knowledgeable designer has opened his own interior design business called INTERIOR SOLUTIONS. I have worked with Derek on a few decorating  projects and find him to be very gifted when it comes to designing and decorating interior spaces. Derek is also a good listener and easy to work with.
Some of the services Derek is offering are: Residential and Commercial holiday decor, Clean sweeps which is a complete interior overhaul, Staging, Paint color consultations and Interior design.
Derek can be contacted at Interior Solutions, 250-640-7582

New Listing in Burns Lake

5.07 acres of pristine, waterfront and spacious home with a million dollar view just minutes from downtown Burns Lake. This is the type of property that passes from one generation to the next creating lasting family memories along the way. the house has a nice open floor plan, great for entertaining, a bank of windows on both levels provide amazing views of Tchesinkut Lake. Features include custom made teak cabinets and built-ins, main floor laundry, 200 amp. service plus a generator in the event of a power failure, beautiful full brick fireplaces up and down, RSF wood and electric furnace, new roof in 2010 with 30 year duroid shingles, new continuous eavestroughing, attached garage wired for welder. $600.000. Call Chris at 250-614-3727 or Barbara at 250-960-8614 for more information or to book a viewing.

New Listing! 4536 Valley Crescent, Prince George, B.C.

Steal of a Deal! The perfect home for a young family! Located in desirable Foothills, close to D.P. Todd Secondary and Foothills Elementary Schools, this 4 bedroom, 2 bath home has benefited from many updates including windows, doors, laminate and renovated main floor bath. Recently painted in modern colours; other features incl. large laundry room, storage shed, fenced back yard and the list price includes all appliances. Don't let the preserved wood foundation scare you off, an engineers report for the PWF is available and PWF homes tend to be cosy and warm. Call Barbara @ 250 960-8614 or Chris @ 250 614-3727 to view.

New listing: 1885 Hemlock, Prince George, B.C.

Attention all investors and home buyers looking for a mortgage helper. This home is in a great location and has had many updates including new furnace in 2010, flooring, siding and new windows upstairs, roof is under 10 years old. Laundry rooms on both floors. This is a great investment property, upstairs is currently rented out.  MLS#  N214369. $192,000.00 Please call Chris or Barbara at 250-614-3727 or 250-960-8614 to book your viewing now.

Chris Lodge

Price Reduction on 2639 Stones Bay Rd., Fort St. James, B.C.

Good morning everyone, I have just received a $30,000. price reduction on this amazing lake shore property on Stones Bay Road in Fort St. James. This property is truly gourgous, 1.36 acres of southern exposure waterfront property on desirable Stones Bay Rd. Please call me at 250-614-3727 for more information.
Chris Lodge 

Good time to put your home on the market!

People often ask us "When is the best time to put your home on the market?" and there are pros and cons to every season. Larger numbers of Canadians prefer to buy their homes and other real estate holdings in the spring and fall. In Canada, we're big on negotiating our deals around the school year of children. A large portion of sales occur around August and September, just before parents enroll their kids in schools.

But people buy homes at any time of the year. Of course, spring tends to bring out more buyers and there is usually fewer homes listed during the winter, but that means less competition for the buyers and for the seller. We can make your listing appealing to buyers regardless of the weather. We're also Home Stagers and can give you tips on how to make your home and yard very attractive and inviting to potential buyers at any time of the year. If you're considering putting your home on the market but don't feel fall or winter is the right time please give us a call and and we can discuss how we will market your property to its full potential no matter what the season and come up with a plan of  action to get your house sold.

Please call Chris or Barbara, your full service Real Estate Team at 250-614-3727 or 250-960-8614
Chris Lodge

New Store in Prince George, B.C.

I just visited a funky new little Home Decor shop in Prince George, it's called Beverly's Home Decor on fourth. She carries home accessories, candles, pottery, glass wear, pillows, linen, furniture and occasional items. If you're into home decor like I'am you'll enjoy this unique, fun and interesting shop on 1144 4th Ave., phone 250-614-1884. It's so nice to see new businesses popping up in our city, please get out and support them.

New listing: 3451 Necoslie Rd., Fort St. James, B.C.

A truly rare find, spectacular property, panoramic views, 135 acres with 80 acres in full production, fenced and x-fenced, spacious 3 bdrm.custom built home, 4000 sq. ft. shop, 400 amp. elec. air and welder plugs, heated floors, 16' doors, 18' ceiling. New Wood Master wood boiler heats the house but a diesel boiler is also in place. Beautiful kitchen with island and new slide in electric range, new central vac, new wateer softener and reverse osmosis water filter in kitchen, huge treated wood deck on SW side of house. Property not in ALR. On school bus route and just minutes to downtown Fort St. James, $589,000. Call Chris at 250-614-3727 or Barbara at 250-960-8614 to view this amazing property.

Three beautiful properties for sale in Fort St. James!!

If you're looking to buy a home or property in Fort St. James I have three amazing properties for sale.

1. 4227 Roberts Rd. $629,000. This is a beautiful custom built home situated on 2.07 acres on Stuart River.

2. 5493 Stones Bay Rd. $515,000. Gorgeous home at Stones Bay.

3. 2639 Stones Bay Rd. $259,000. Beautiful southern exposure waterfront  property on Stones Bay Rd.

If you would like to view any of these properties please give me a call at 250-614-3727

Posted by Chris

Move it

Moving to your "Dream Home" shouldn't seem like a "Nightmare", creating a to-do list can make the process much less stressful, expecially if you start early. Here are some suggestions:

Preparation:

Have a yard sale or donate items to charity.

Arrange for pet care on the moving day.

Clean rugs and drapes.

Check with your municipality and properly dispose of hazardous household material (e.g. old paint cans, bbq propane tank).

Plan:

Provide change of address to:

Canada Post.

Canada Revenue Agency.

Financial institutions, insurance companies, lawyer.

Credit card companies.

Motor-vehicle licensing and registration.

Subscriptions (magazines, newspapers)

Memberships (e.g. gym, library).

Health care (e.g. doctor, dentist, veterinarian, medicare).

Schools.

Friends, relatives and your employers.

Transfer records (e.g. schools, medical) if applicable.

Arrange for the disconnection (old home) and hook-up (new home) of:

Utilities (e.g. hydro, water, gas) and meter readings.

Cable or satellite

Phone and internet

Services (e.g. alarm company, lawn care, cleaners).

Pack

Hire movers. Research companies, get referrals from friends and arrange for estimates before making your choice.

If possible start about 3 months in advance.

Get packing supplies (e.g. boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, markers etc. )

Pack and move irreplaceable items yourself.

Disconnect and clean appliances if you're taking them.

Remove fixtures and window coverings.

Pack an "open first" box containing any essential items you will need immediatley (e.g. toilet paper, light bulbs, scissors etc. ).

Ensure you have enough cash to cover incidental expenses (e.g. snacks) on moving day.

New listing, 5493 Stones Bay Rd., Fort St. James, B.C.

What a beautiful home on amazing lake shore property with a million dollar view of Stuart Lake. This home has been completely renovated over the past two years. It boasts an open concept design with gorgeous everything from the beautiful cherry cabinets, granite counter top, hardwood floors to the walk in showers, two fireplaces, pantry and so much more, seeing is beleiving. This is truly a one of a kind home and property. $515,000. Call 250-614-3727 to book your viewing now

New listing, 2639 Stones Bay Rd., Fort St. James, B.C.

If you've been dreaming about owning waterfront property on Stones Bay Rd. here's your dream come true. 1.36 acres of beautiful southern exposure property on Stuart Lake. Live in the cottage while you build your dream home. This is one of the last available lots on Stones Bay Rd., don't miss out on it!! $259,000. Call 250-614-3727 to view.

New listing, 4227 Roberts Rd., Fort St. James, B.C.

Wow! This custom built home is truly beautiful. Situated on 2.07 acres on Stuart River with your own dock and private backyard. This home has a gorgeous kitchen with built-in maple cabinets, hardwood floors, sliding glass doors to the patio, built in ovens, gas cook top, eating bar plus a beautiful view of Stuart river.Dining room has a built in buffet and hutch plus a wet bar. Master bedroom has a large ensuite, fireplace and large walk-in closet. Laundry rooms on both floors plus a large pantry. Family room off the kitchen has a large built in cabinet area and sliding glass doors onto the patio. Other features include a games room with wet bar, gym, storage shed, built in vacume system, fire pit and sprinkler system. $629,000. To book your viewing please call 250-614-3727

Positive Outlook for Prince George and Northern B.C.

The following article comes courtesy of Nathan Zurowski at LendingMax Mortgage Corp., Prince George, B.C.

nzurowski@lendingmax.ca. Website address is: www.nathanzurowski.com

After reading the article I'm sure you'll feel alot more positive about Prince George and the northern half of British Columia. Please open the following link.

http://www.journalofcommerce.com/cgi-bin/home.pl?rm=print_story&story_id=45377

Hope everyone has a great B.C. Day long week-end! Barbara

Good time to buy a home.

If you've been thinking of buying a home for awhile but have been sitting on the fence I think it's a good time to get serious before interest rates increase. We're hearing from all the mortgage specialists that interest rates are expected to go up soon and just a 1% increase can make a big difference to your mortgage payment. There's a lot of inventory on the market to choose from at competative prices. Don't hesitate to give me a call if you would like more information on the Real Estate Market .
250-614-3727

Buying a Condo - Tips on Getting the Best Value

Hi everyone, this article was emailed to me today by Wayne Campbell of Invis Capital North Mortgages in Prince George. I think it's well written and worth passing along. Thank you Wayne!
The receipt of Wayne's email was very timely as yesterday I had taken an offer on a condo. It was the intention of the Buyer's to live in the unit for a couple years and then keep it as rental property when they moved on to a house. In the process of negotiating their offer the listing Realtor advised me that the other owner's in the Strata are considering a by-law that would prevent rentals. Knowing my Buyer's plans I informed them of this possibility and they decided not to go any further with their offer. We are now considering other housing options.

If you're a first-time homebuyer, a current homeowner looking to downsize or a parent considering buying a secondary property for kids moving for school, chances are you've considered condo ownership.

When looking for a condo, finding the best value is all in the combination of the place, the price and the monthly fees. When calculating how much they will loan to you, mortgage lenders count half of your monthly fees, along with other factors such as property taxes and heat expenses.

Hereare some tips to help condo-shoppers get the best value for their purchase:

1. Know what your fees cover. Along with maintenance of the building and common areas, some condominiums will include part or all of your utilities or property taxes in your fees, while others keep them completely separate.

2. Check the reserve fund. The corporation responsible for the condo development should have a reserve fund that's large enough to cover the cost of repairs to the building's common elements. A status certificate (or Estoppel certificate in some provinces) will show any planned developments that could increase your monthly fees or require a special one time assessment. You can find similar details in the condo corporation's annual meeting minutes.

3. Think twice about upscale amenities. Keep in mind that building features like pools, saunas, deluxe fitness areas or large common rooms typically require higher condo fees to cover the upkeep. Consider whether you'll really use these features enough to make the extra cost worthwhile.

4. Check the regulations. Make sure you're aware of any bylaws governing your condo development that could affect your lifestyle. For example bylaws may restrict household pets, gas barbecues, working from home or renting the unit to a tenant.

5. Consider your neighbours. Is the building mainly occupied by owners, or renters? Residents who own and have a vested interest in the building may be more careful about upkeep.

Tips for Home Sellers

Staging your home can make a number of small changes to a property that can dramatically shorten the time it takes to sell your home.

Here are my 5 favorite tips for getting a house ready to sell:

1.  Stash your keepsakes and keep your home clutter-free:

Your treasured keepsakes may look like clutter to potential buyers. It distracts them from appreciating the house itself and can lead home buyers to reject your property. Decluttering is essential. If you're having a tough time parting with things, rent a storage locker so you can keep your beloved items while you're selling the house, and then have them delivered to your new address after the move.

2.  Avoid wandering eyes:

You want to make sure that little problems in a room won't cause a potential buyer to focus on one flaw after another, thinking about all the work they'll have to do and how much less they should offer you because of it. You want them to see the bigger picture and imagine thmeselves living there. Do a walkthrough to spot these typical problems. Look for chipped paint on the door frames, which can be filled with "white out." Peeling wallpaper should be glued back down. Ensure there are covers on all electrical outlets and light switches, and replace any that are cracked. Repair drippping taps and moldy caulking. These little things make a big difference in the buyer's mind.

3.  Color is your friend when it's time to sell a house:

In most cases, white walls look cold and sterile. If you have to repaint a home's interior or some rooms in a home, choose a pleasing color palette that allows each room to flow nicely into the next. All colors should go together. Try to repeat one signature color throughout a home. Maybe the feature color in one room can be used as an accent in the others, through accessories or throw cushions.

4.  Make a big impact with a little art:

By strategically using art, you can enhance a home's perceived value, draw the eye away from tiny flaws and give an otherwise uninteresting space a focal point. Don't just throw things on the wall where an old picture hook happens to be. Position art at eye level and use pieces that are appropriate to the size of the wall. Art with a large frame on a small wall can make the entire area seem smaller. Avoid religious art or anything edgy that could be offensive to some potential buyers.

5.  Reduce drive-bys:

Curb appeal helps draw perspective buyers into your home. If the outside of a house looks unkempt, it creates an impression that the property is not cared for. To enhance curb appeal:

Ensure the lawn is freshly cut and that leaves are raked. In winter, snow should be shoveled from the driveway and walkways.

Make the entrance more welcoming with a seasonally appropriate urn or hanging plant.

Repair or replace any obvious defects. Often this is cheaper to do than a prospective buyer will imagine.

Make sure the walkways and porches are swept clean and garbage and recycling containers are tucked away at the rear of the house or in the  garage.

Ensure the exterior gets a good pressure wash and the decks are scrubbed clean. It's a good alternative to painting. Once everything's clean, you might discover it doesn't need to be repainted at all; perhaps just a touch-up will do.

These a just a few of the many things that can be done to improve your home's appearance and to make it more appealing to homebuyers. While the steps can be time consuming, the results are worth it.

"according to inernationally recognized home staging expert Debra Gould, The Stagin Diva"

http://www.stagingdiva.com

     

     

Go Canucks Go!!!

Can't wait for the hockey game, I've got my white towel ready to wave. I have a feeling the Canucks will be drinking out of the Stanley Cup tonight. Go Canucks Go.

Many new listings of homes for sale in the Prince George area

If you're thinking of buying a home now is a good time to do so. In the past three days alone there have been sixty eight new listings in the Prince George Region. We are also seeing many price reductions on homes that have been on the market for awhile. Whether you're upgrading, downsizing or you're a first time home buyer there's plenty of inventory on the market to choose from. Interest rates are also low so it's a great time to buy.

Hi everyone, I want to tell you about the new raised vegetable bed I've put in my back yard. I've always wanted to have a small vegetable garden, nothing that requires a great deal of work but one that makes me feel I am at least trying to cultivate some of the food we consume. Putting in the bed was not a solitary venture, I had lots of help, beginning with obtaining the rough sawed 2" x 10" fir boards. Those came from good friends in Fort St. James; Joyce and John Helweg who have a small sawmill. Next, delivering the lumber to my house in Prince George; for that I asked more Fort St. James friends; Sharon Buck and Earl Christian who were coming into town to visit their Grand daughter. Now, we're logging as the boys in the 'Fort would say. A spot was chosen for the bed, right next to the newly planted raspberry patch and last week-end with the help of Simon and Josephine Nyandwi, new friends from Burundi, the sod was removed from the site and hauled to the City compost. On Monday evening Joyce was in town so we put the lumber in place to frame the bed and nailed it together with the few nails I had on hand. Then it was decided that perhaps the frame should be reinforced and screwed together so on tuesday evening my Grand daughter; Alex took care of that part of the construction and we were ready for the soil. 1 1/2 yards of outdoor garden soil was purchased from Art Knapps and arrangements made to have it delivered. Thomas; a helpful, good natured young man who works at Art Knapps showed up last night just before 6 and in no time the bed was full of the most beautiful black dirt to be seen. So, now, everyone is standing back and waiting to see what I can grow. Since it's so late in the season I'll probably just plant swiss chard, yellow beans, early yellow squash and probably a few onion sets. But, next year, watch out, my little raised bed on Douglas street will be the envy of the neighbourhood. There's no one so optimistic as a northern gardener with good friends!

Great Antique Store in Prince George

Many of you may not know this but there is a wonderful little antique store in Prince George, right on the corner of 6th. Ave. and George St.. They have some wonderful pieces and seem to bring in new stock on a regular basis. Stop by and visit this little jem of a store in the heart of our city.

Living close to where I work

As I was sitting eating my lunch at home today I was thinking how wonderful it is that I can be home in five minutes from where I work. Not only do I not have to pack a lunch or spend money going out for lunch but I also save a lot on gas. There are many beautiful areas in the central area of Prince George. If you're working in the downtown core it might be worth while to look at Real Estate in this great part of the city.

Home Inspectors

If you're thinking of buying a home make sure you get a home inspection. When we're talking home inspections we first need to understand that the Home inspector is there for your protection. They are there to walk you through the property to spot things that you and I woulden't normally spot. Something you should also remember is this.......Home Inspectors cannot see through the walls of a home. They cannot tell you if there are issues inside the walls, such as structural problems, mold, bad insulation ete. They are there to inspect the property to make sure that there are no issues that might cost you great expence to remedy.
Kelly Skar

Quote of the week:

"What we can or can not do, what we consider possible or impossible, is rarely a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beleifs about who we are."
Tony Robbins

Another satisfied client!

May 5, 2011

To Whom It May Concern:

I have had the pleasure of working with the dynamic duo of Barbara Robin and Chris Lodge from Team Powerhouse Realty not once, but twice!!

If you are considering these ladies to assist you with the sale or purchase of a home, do not hesitate!!!

Both Barb and Chris are experienced, knowledgeable and friendly. They seem to have a finger on the pulse of market trends at all times and use that edge to get their clients the best possible deal.

Always helpful, no detail was too small for their attention. We could always count on the ladies to return texts, emails and phone calls promptly. Their customer service is fabulous and it's often hard to believe they have other clients.

They used every tool at their disposal to expedite the sale of our home. We were so pleased with all the Open Houses and miscellaneous marketing strategies they employed. They literally did everything they could to keep our home "actively" listed.

Three cheers for Barb and Chris!

Sincerely

Mr. and Mrs.R. J. Cairns

Email address:

My email address is  chrislodge.teampowerhouse@telus.net

Team Powerhouse Sales are up!!

Team Powerhouse Realty sales are up 30% from this time last year , which means that we have been very successful selling properties. If you're thinking of buying or selling please give me a call I'd love to go to work for you.

Does a quick offer mean you priced too low?

Tips for Home Owners
There are generally three pricing strategies a homeowner can go with when selling their home: optimistic, realistic, and motivated. An optimistic pricing strategy is basically a nice way of saying "over priced". This strategy is employed by many homeowners who just want to try and see if they can get their price, and is followed by a series of price reductions. A realistic price is one that is in line with recently sold comparable homes and your current competition. A motivated homeowner may price their home below market value to generate a quick sale or to try and get multiple offers.

Following these definitions it is easy to understand why a homeowner might think they under-priced their home if they get an offer (or two or three) after just a day or two on the market. However, a quick offer does not necessarily mean you've priced your home too low.

The first few days that your home is on the market should be your busiest, if not there is something wrong with either your price or your marketing. Why? all the buyers that are alreaady looking for a home like yours are going to come and see your home as soon as they can - they've already seen and dismissed all the other similar homes for sale. They've done their research and will be ready to make a decision quickly. If you're well priced and marketed, and your home shows well, there is a good chance you will get an offer  from at least one of these buyers.

If you don't get any bites from these buyers, you may have to wait for new buyers to enter the market. These buyers are just starting their search, and need to see all the homes they can afford that meet their basic needs. They need to do their research so it takes them longer to make a decision.

So in the end, a quick offer probably means you were priced well, you were well marketed, and you did a good job getting your home ready for showings and fewer interruptions to your family schedule.

by Sara Maclennan

Preparing your home for sale

Recently I have had several clients ask me if it is worth there time and effort to invest in updating there home before putting it on the market. I feel the most important thing is to have your home absolutely spotless and clutter free. A lot of sellers will spend a small fortune preparing their home for sale and then the buyer will go in and totally change things to their liking, so my advice to my clients is yes, take care of the obvious and necessary upgrades but as far as putting in a new kitchen, flooring and bathrooms I would leave that for the new buyer.