There are few things more traumatic than a home burglary. That's why it makes sense to invest in good locks and, if necessary, a good alarm.

There are also ways to work with your neighbours to prevent these crimes

from occurring. In fact, police say that watchful eyes are one of the best 

If you are looking for something fun to do this weekend...check out Surrey's Fusion Festival. As their tagline describes they are "The Ultimate Celebration of Music, food and culture" One of the best multicultural festivals in the province.

Coming from Brampton, Ontario we had the opportunity to grow up in a very multicultural community. In Brampton they put on a pretty exciting multicultural festival each year similar to Toronto's Carabana. Brampton's festival is called Carabram, the main difference being that the festival is a little smaller with fewer countries participating and held across the city with each location being specific to each participating country, offering a wide range of cultural experiences. 

Surrey's Fusion Festival does a good job of bringing people together to experience the same idea just being held all in one location at Holland Park.  The festival is held over 2 days Saturday July 19th and Sunday July 20th from 11:00am - 10:00pm each day. They have 4 stages with hundreds of performers to entertain the crowd. Bruce Cockburn will be performing, for those of you that know who Bruce Cockburn is. :) As well, taste the flavours and learn about some of the amazing cultures that make up this big, beautiful city of ours. There's lots to do and see for the whole family.

For more information visit the festivals website at the following link:

Surrey's Fusion Festival

If you love Fireworks and you are proud to be Canadian then you do not want to miss out on the Celebration of Lights Fireworks Festival in Vancouver. The 3 day festival that starts Saturday July 26th, July 30th and then the finale is set for Saturday August 2nd. 

The Festival is a competition between teh United States who hosts the first Saturday night's event, then France hosts the one on the 30th and the Celebration of Lights Fireworks Festival finishes off on the last Saturday with Japan. All countries promising to put on a spectacular show. 

The Celebration of Lights Fireworks Festival is Vancouver's largest offshore fireworks competition in the World attracting over 400,000 people each year to enjoy the show from English Bay.

The fireworks start at 10pm, be sure to get down early to save a good spot to sit and enjoy the show!

5 Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly 

There are several reasons why you may need to sell your home quickly. For example, a job change may require a speedy relocation to another city, or you may have purchased another property and don't want to be stuck too long with two mortgages.

Here are some tips that can help get the sold sign on your front lawn sooner.

• Be realistic with price. If you set the listing price higher than the current market value of your home, then you're not going to get many, if any, viewers. You want the list price to be attractive, which means listing at the current market value.

• Get things fixed. You probably don't have time for a major renovation. So just make sure everything in your home is in good working order. Deal with any obvious maintenance issues, such as a leaking faucet or a gate hanging precariously on one hinge.

• Ensure your home shows well, inside and outside. Eliminate clutter. Trim hedges. Make sure every room has adequate lighting, especially the basement. Imagine that a special guest is visiting your home, then clean up and prepare accordingly.

• Be flexible with viewing times. You want as many potential buyers as possible to see your home. So don't restrict viewing times to just Saturdays. Make sure your home is as "available" as possible for showings. This may cause you and your family some inconvenience, but the reward will be selling your property sooner.

• Work with a good REALTOR®. Find an agent who understands the area and the local market well. He or she will be able to recommend a variety of strategies that will help sell your home faster, and for a good price.
  
  Of course, there's no way to guarantee that you'll sell your home within the time frame you want. But these tips will certainly increase the chances that you will.

  Looking for a good REALTOR® who knows the area well? Call today. 

When Someone is Upset with You

It may be a co-worker who feels slighted because of something you said at a meeting, a driver you inadvertently cut off on the way to work or a neighbour who's upset because your tree has branched too far into his yard.

It's almost impossible to go through life -- or even a week -- without someone becoming upset with you. It happens.

So how do you deal with it?

There's an easy technique recommended by de-escalation experts called the balloon technique. It works like this:

Imagine the other person's anger is like a balloon filled with air. If you get angry back, all you're doing is adding more air to the balloon.

Instead, simply let the person vent until he has communicated his frustration completely. (If he asks questions, say you prefer to hear him out fully before answering.)

Letting the other person vent with little or no interruption will help to "deflate the balloon" thereby de-escalating the tension. Then you'll be in a better position to deal with the situation. 

Most Common Moving Mistakes

Moving can be one of the more exciting phases of our lives, especially if you are moving to the Fraser Valley! Whether you are relocating to a different residence in the same area or to a different community altogether, moving is both an exciting and arduous process. There are literally thousands of meticulous steps that can be taken to ensure the smoothest possible transition. However, taking each step is overkill and it is best to take a more subtle approach and prioritize. Due to the deluge of moving information, tips, blogs, YouTube videos etc, sometimes it’s best to know what not to do in preparation for a move.

Nine Weeks Before

1. Failing to do adequate research.

By this time you should really be sifting through the web and all of its valuable information regarding any queries you may have about moving. 

1. Hoarding.

Use it or lose it! There is no need to keep old stuff that you will no longer have use for. Old possessions can be easily replaced. If you are overloaded with trash, there are multiple junk removal services that can help you get rid of your trash fast!

1. Not making copies of important records.

Due to the chaos that can be moving homes. It’s highly recommended that you make copies of any important archives that you may have such as medical records, financial statements, birth certificates, and school records.  

Six Weeks Before

1. Not ordering supplies in advance.

By ordering all the bubble wrap and boxes in advance you will be able to cross one more task off your list making things just a little less stressful as moving day approaches.

1. Wasting food.

Limit the groceries. There are exceedingly high chances that your freezer holds a lot of food that you may not have been aware about. Try to clean out the pantry and freezer one meal at a time.

1. Not keeping a detailed expense record.

Moving is expensive! Some employers will provide relocation packages that may help cover the cost of moving. Whether it be a flat rate or percentage, make sure to pay extra close attention to your expenditures. 

Three Weeks Before

1. Not booking a high quality moving company in advance.

Moving companies tend to be the busiest during the beginning and end of the month so if your moving day is planned around one of these time frames make sure to book well in advance!

1. Failing to notify important parties.

Obviously you may want to let your utility, cable, and water provider know that you will be relocating and no longer needing their services. In addition, it is important to notify banks, schools, and any emergency contacts of your upcoming move.

1. Not separating the “valuables.”

Any type of valuable that is easily transported and has significant value should be accounted for and transported personally with you. 

One Week Before

1. Not refilling important medications.

Better be safe than sorry on this one. 

1. Not packing a personal suitcase.

Sometimes your belongings will become shuffled in the fray of moving. Thus, having a personal suitcase is absolutely essential to the process. 

1. Not confirming with the moving company.

For a high quality moving company it would be rather unlikely for them to either forget or omit your reservation, save an unforeseen emergency. Therefore it would be best to double check just to be safe. 

One Day Before

1. Not defrosting the freezer.

This is one of the more common mistakes that can be made during any move and it can be a time delaying, therefore costly nuisance as movers are typically hired by the hour. 

1. Being unprepared for the movers.

It’s considered kosher to provide at least 10% tip and as they are lifting heavy objects around it would be nice to have some refreshments for them. 

1. Not taking inventory again.

Channel your inner accountant. The more meticulous you are, the greater the probability that you will be able to have a successful move and not leave anything behind!

Good Luck!

Guest Blogger - Jaron Clinton 

I am so excited Vancity is now providing cheque deposits using your mobile device. No more cheques sitting in your wallet for weeks or even months because you keep forgetting to go into a branch to make a deposit. (Of course, I mention this because I was one of those people.) There is very little reason for me to visit my community branch when my paycheque is paid directly into my account (like most people nowadays) and all my bills are paid online.

Vancity is certainly not the first banking institution to do this but it is good to see they are ahead of some of the major banking institutions. There are a number of credit unions across the province that provide mobile cheque deposits, Westminster Savings, Prospera and Envision Financial to name a few. In this age of technology it is surprising to see that there are more credit unions with this technology even though they have no where near as much money to spend as the big Banks do. I could be wrong but CIBC seems to be the only major Bank that I could find that offers this outside of the credit unions. 

If you are lucky to bank with a banking institution that offers photo depositing. All you need to do is login to your mobile app whether on IOS (iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch), or Android devices. Once you have logged in choose the deposit icon, snap a photo of both the front and back of your Canadian cheque and voila the funds will be deposited into your account. You may not have access right away, all depends on what kind of holds your banking institution has on your account. If you need the funds immediately you may still need to do it the old fashioned way and visit your local branch. 

They do ask for security reasons that you write on the back of the cheque before snapping a photo “For deposit only to [your account number and branch number].” Then of course ensure that you personally sign it.

After you have uploaded it, it is a good idea to keep the cheque on file for no more than 4 months writing “Deposited” across the front. Then after 4 months destroy the cheque. 

For a list of the credit unions that support mobile deposit visit the following link: 

Deposit Anywhere

In this day and age where time is money…now you not only save time. You save the gas money it takes to go to a branch and you can do it from the comfort of your home, car or wherever you get the cheque from on the spot. Even better you get to do it any time of day you want!

How to Be a Savvy Home Viewer

If you're planning on finding your next dream home, then you're probably going to view several homes on the market that meet your criteria.

You will want to make the right purchasing decision for you and your family. So, it's wise to be savvy when viewing properties for sale. Here are some ideas on how to do that.

Bring a notepad. Take notes, not only of the home's characteristics, but also of how you feel. For example, can you imagine yourself happily cooking up a storm in the kitchen? Do you see yourself entertaining family on the back deck? 

Bring a measuring tape. Will the furniture you plan to bring fit? Your dining room suite? Your home fitness equipment?

Ask about maintenance. Is the property in a good state of repair? Will anything need to be replaced soon, such as the windows?

Bring a camera. Take lots of pictures of the home's exterior features. Don't make the mistake of thinking you'll remember how everything looked.

Check out the area. Do other homeowners take good care of their properties? This shows pride of ownership. How is the noise level? Is

Make a list of compromises. For example, are there only two bathrooms instead of three and, if so, can you live with that?

Make a list of bonuses. What features does the home have that, are not a necessity, but would be nice to have? For example, an

Remember your budget. Is the price within your range? Can you afford to buy this home?

The savvier you are when viewing properties on the market, the more likely you will be to find your next dream home. 

Surrey residents are about to share in Richmonds fun by hosting our very own Night Market. Starting next Saturday July 5th running until the end of August at the Cloverdale Exhibition Grounds. It will run both Friday and Saturday evening from 6-11pm. Parking is FREE and entrance is only $2 for adults children under 10 are FREE.

I am looking forward to checking out this multicultural event where there will be a variety of local foods, services and goods being sold. As well, as entertainment for the whole family. My family still hasn't made it to the Richmond Night Market, but we will be sure to check out this one. A variety of food vendors will be on site for you to sample delicious treats from around the world - as a self professed foodie, that's what I am looking forward to.

They are expecting over a 1000 people a night 

For more information on the Night Market whether you want to go with your friends and family or to participate as a vendor, visit their website in the following link:

Night Market
 

I am not a big fan of fast food...when I think of fast food I think of McDonalds, Wendy's, KFC and the like. But food carts aren't always the greasy fast food that never sits well in your stomach. Many can have gourmet food that you would find in a restaurant...which is why we will stop by the 3rd annual Food Cart Festival that starts this Sunday and runs every Sunday from 12pm-5pm until end of September.

The Food Cart Festival is located at 215 west 1st between Olympic Village and Cambie Bridge. The site is next to the Seawall and a short walk from Canada Line's Olympic Village Station, the Aquabus Spyglass Doc, and major bus routes along Cambie, Main and West 2nd Ave.

There's much more to the festival than just your choice of over 20 food carts. There is live music, local vendors and fun for the whole family! 

We visited the Food Cart Festival twice last year. We tried the best grilled cheese sandwiches, that were oozing with cheese. Looking forward to trying some more great food again this year!

Admission is $2, children under 13 are free. Family of 3 or more is $5

Vancity is a presenting sponsor for the event and because of this Vancity members get in for free. One of Vancity's core values is to support local businesses and that is why they have sponsored the Vancouver Food Cart Festival

For more information on the Vancouver Food Cart Festival visit the following link:

Vancouver Food Cart Festival

Pack your memories away

Items that remind us of special people, events, milestones and interests are an important part of what makes a home a home. Pictures on the fireplace mantle, for example, showcase family and friends that are important to us. You might also have trophies, certificates, greeting cards, and other mementoes on display in key places.

Of course, all of those things add warmth and meaning to your home.

However, if you're preparing your home for sale, it's a good idea to pack those memories away - at least until you've sold your property and moved to your new home.

Why? Because those pleasant mementoes that mean so much to you may actually turn off potential buyers.

You see, when buyers view your property, you want them to be able to clearly picture themselves and their families living there. That's difficult to do if everywhere they look they see reminders that this is your home!

So, to help sell your home quickly, make it look great, but not personalized. Think of the showroom displays you see set up in furniture stores. Those displays are most appealing when they enable you to easily picture yourself, with that furniture, in your home. You probably wouldn't feel that way if it looked like the furniture belonged to someone else.

Of course, buyers will know you currently live in your home. But helping them imagine themselves living there will help you sell your property faster – and possibly for a better price.

Need more tips on preparing your home for sale? Call Today!