Hiring The Right Moving Company...

How do you select the best moving company for your needs?

• Ask for recommendations from friends or other professionals in the local real estate industry.

• Beware of fly-by-night operations. They may seem like a bargain, but you get what you pay for.

• Does the company provide you with a written estimate and contract? (Beware of movers that just give you a price over the phone.)

• Ask if they are covered by insurance, and what their policy is regarding lost or broken items. Make sure you receive a copy of their insurance certificate.

Finally, always ask what circumstances would result in extra charges being applied. The number one complaint received about movers by the Better Business Bureau is unexpected extra charges. 

Questions about moving? Give us a call today!

The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair would not be complete without the Cloverdale Rodeo Parade. 

HomeLife wouldn't miss being a part of the parade and once again will be handing out candy to the crowd as our office marches in tomorrow's parade. Most years Kara and I take part in the parade, but unfortunately this year neither of us will make it. Which is why we made sure we still did our part for the Cloverdale Rodeo by handing out chilli in the 17th annual Chilli Cook Off this evening. Already the Cloverdale Reporter posted the above shot from our fun filled evening. Of course, our chilli was the best. 

The parade starts at 10:00am tomorrow Saturday May 17th. Be sure to get there early to get a good seat for the kids as the streets fill up fast. 

For details on the route visit the following link:

This past weekend my husband and I were looking for something different for lunch and have been wanting to try Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria  and we were more than happy that we did. 

Ever since moving here from Ontario 9 years ago, the one thing we have been missing is a good pizza made in an oven...not cranked out on a conveyor belt. We had never seen pizza made on a conveyor belt before. Growing up next door to Italians most of my childhood I can just imagine my friends Italian Mamas cringing at the thought of pizza being made that way.

We have heard of a few places in Vancouver that use real ovens of some sort...but unless we are heading into the city that doesn't help us on this side of the bridge. Well look no further when you are looking for pizza you must try Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria 

The last time we had a pizza this good was when we visited Grimaldi's in Brooklyn New York a few years ago. Grimaldi's is known worldwide for their pizza. So much so, like us and everyone else that visits you must wait in line just to get in...from open to close...that is how good they are! I am pretty sure we waited an hour just for the experience and to say we did it. But it was well worth the wait.

A Canadian owned company trained in the art of making Neapolitan Pizzas. They import their 00 Caputo flour and tomatoes straight from Italy and are not shy to tell you so when greeted at your table. Then choose from one of their designed pizzas or make your own and place your order where they will cook your pizza in their bell oven for 90 seconds at 900 degrees. Pretty impressive and absolutely delicious. 

We are self confessed foodies and when we find a place we love we want to share it with everyone. To see for yourself visit their location in Morgan Crossing you will not be disappointed. For more details visit the following link:

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria 

For those who know me, I am pretty big on reducing waste, reusing what I can and recycling as much as I can. Sometimes drives my husband crazy. I hate to throw something in the garbage if it can be given to someone who will put it to good use. Needless to say our garbage bin always has very little in it.

Recently one of the ways we've been trying to reduce our waste is by using glass mason jars instead of plastic containers. I love them, they are perfect to store just about anything and will last much longer than plastic containers. I even found reuseable lids instead of canning lids.
 
This week in honour of Earth Week - Willowbrook Mall and Kin's Farm Market will be giving away to the 1st 250 people a FREE bag of locally grown produce in return for a donation to the Heart & Stroke Foundation. Who doesn't like to get something for FREE and even better when it is something good for you, all while supporting a good cause.

For more information visit the following link:

Willowbrook Mall 

What will you do to reduce your carbon footprint???

Cloverdale's Brickyard Station just got a new Physiotherapy and Sport Injury Clinic with a fantastic Physiotherapist. Mylee Ross has been treating my soccer playing daughter for the last couple years and she swears by her. Mylee knows exactly how to help and what to suggest to help her. If you play a sport or have a child that does then very likely you will know exactly why we sought out her help in the first place. 

Thankfully my daughter never had any major injuries over her youngers years and hopefully as she goes into adulthood won't get any.....But she was one of the lucky ones as many of her teammates over the years sustained not just one injury or another but many. That's not to say she didn't work her body hard and come out with many bruises, aches and pains. That is where Mylee came in. My daughter knows her body well and knows when she needs her help.

If you are looking for a good physiotherapist whether you live in Cloverdale or not my family highly recommends PhysioStation Sports Injury Clinic   for more information check out their website at the following link:

PhysioStation Sports Injury Clinic  

About a month ago I had clients treat me to lunch at a very good Indian restaurant in Delta located in a little strip mall on 120th St and 82 avenue - Tasty Indian Bistro. 

Until I approached the restaurant, I wasn't sure what to expect. As I mentioned Tasty Indian Bistro is located in a strip mall, there are many strip malls along the 120th Street corridor, I am sure with many great restaurants. Had I not been invited for lunch I would never have spotted this one. Once inside I was completely impressed with the ambiance and decor. We sat near the window at a table similar to the one in the photo above on a very comfortable bench. Throughout the restaurant there are plenty of booths for more intimate meals and tables available for larger groups. The perfect setting for any occasion.

Most importantly the food was amazing. I have always been one to try just about anything at least once. I let my clients order and they ordered a variety of food I have never tried before....all of which was delicious.

Ever since I have been craving Indian food and wanting to go back. My husband and I both enjoy Indian Food but have never known what to order. Over Christmas we were invited to a colleagues home where they introduced us to Paneer and a delicious Lentil dish. So this past weekend after a long day of showings with clients I did not feel like cooking and thought this was a perfect opportunity to pick up Tasty Indian Bistro take out food. I wanted to see if my family would like all the same dishes my clients ordered. As well, my husband and I eally enjoyed the Paneer so we had to get that too. I ended up with a lot of food not realizing just how much food it would be....for 3 of us. Needless to say we had enough leftovers for days. :) Not a single dish went to waste.

What did we order.....Chili chicken which was full of vegetables, Butter chicken (just in case my family didn't like anything else), Vegetable Samosas with a delicious chick pea side dish (we couldn't have Indian Food without samosas), Dal Makhni (Lentil dish), Kadahi Paneer (which everyone describes as Indian cottage cheese- but really is nothing like it. Looks more like a type of tofu, but much more delicious), Aloo Gobi (a vegetable dish), Raita (yogurt dip) and of course roti to dip into every dish! 

I know that's a lot of food...but we wanted to try a few dishes in order to know what to get next time. 

I highly recommend if you like Indian Food to check out Tasty Indian Bistro, for more information on their restaurant visit their website at the following link:

Tasty Indian Bistro

Getting the most from an Open House

Have you ever attended an "Open House" advertised in your area or in a community you like? Most people have. Even if you're not serious about moving, viewing a few properties in a neighbourhood you like is a great way to get a sense of the market.

Who knows? You might stumble upon your next dream home! To get the most out of an open house, follow these guidelines:

• Most open houses will have a handout available containing the list price and other property information. Be sure to keep a copy.

• Don't just view the rooms. Explore the entire property, including the backyard.

• Don't be shy about asking the listing agent (or whoever is hosting the open house) questions about the property.

• Ask about the area. Are there schools nearby? Where is the nearest park or playground located?

• Ask about potential required repairs and renovations. For example, if the furnace is more than 15 years old, it may need to be replaced soon.

• Walk around the neighbourhood. Try to get a sense of what it's like to live there. If possible, chat with a neighbour.

  Finally, if you become interested in the home, be sure to advise the listing agent that your own REALTOR® will be following up. Otherwise, the listing agent might assume that he or she will be representing you.

  Looking for a good REALTOR® to have by your side? Give us a Call today. 

Canada Post once again raised the cost of our stamps...but not just by a few cents this time...This time they not only went from $0.63 to $0.85...but only if you buy them by the book or coil. If you want just one stamp it will cost you a $1.00. I guess it's supposed to be an incentive to purchase more than one stamp at a time. Although I wonder how many people will instead stop mailing cards and letters altogether.

That was the 1st thing my husband said this morning was that he didn't think it was worth sending out Christmas cards this year with how much more it was going to cost.

Canada Post has increased the cost because revenue from using postal services has decreased with the increase in the use of technology. Gone are the days of sending family and friends letters when you can keep in touch with skype, email and social media. But I would guess this increase will decrease the use of postal services even more. For those of us that need to use their services for business, this unfortunately will not change. Although I am sure it will be used more wisely.

For more details on all the rate increase please visit their website:

Canada Post 

Foods that boost your energy

Many people order an espresso or reach for an energy drink when they need a boost. However, there are other foods that can give you a similar increase in energy and are, arguably, a lot healthier. Here are a few examples:

• Coconut oil. It contains high quantities of medium chain fats, which are a quick source of energy. Click on the following link for some great uses for Coconut Oil:
  101 Uses for Coconut Oil 

• Honey. It tastes sweet because it's a natural form of sugar. As we all know, sugar gives you a quick boost.

• Iron containing foods. Lack of iron in your diet can leave you feeling sluggish. Adding more beans, spinach, and lentils to your diet – perhaps in salads – can help boost your iron levels.

• Nuts. Almonds, cashews and other nutrient-rich nuts are the ideal quick snack for an energy boost.

• Dark chocolate. It’s great news for chocolate lovers, but keep the portions small.

  Finally, not drinking enough water can also rob you of energy. In fact, water may be the best energy-boosting "food" of them all.

Why (and How) Should I Clear the Clutter?

There are many considerations when you are planning to sell your home and move. The longer you have lived in a house, the more difficult your job will be. Staging will not only help you sell your home faster and for more money, it will also help you to claim your own personal freedom.

Eliminating clutter is the hardest part of the moving and staging process. But it’s better to do it before than after you move. Many people are held captive by their belongings. They stay in too-big houses, carry too much insurance, clean, tend and store these items, heat and cool all these “things” they feel compelled to keep. They are prisoners of their stuff.

 You can break free! Every single item in your house will need to be evaluated, especially if you are planning to move to a smaller dwelling. Start in a single room. Trying to do all the rooms at once will be overwhelming and may leave you feeling defeated. Start with a little-used room, a closet, even a junk drawer and begin!

The trick is to never handle an item more than once during this process. Once you pick it up, evaluate it for one of the following categories, and act accordingly:

Trash – It needs to be thrown away. No question. Put it in the garbage.

Donate/Sell – Designate a spot for these items. 

Rehome – These items would be important to someone else in the family. Relocate them.

Essential – These are the items that are essential to you on a daily basis. Pack them for the move.

Don’t skip anything merely because it doesn’t take up much room. Evaluate it all. If you decide to deal with it later you will have to pack it, haul it, store it, and have it hanging over your head until you unpack it and evaluate it. Chances are, you won’t want to keep most of that stuff anyway.

Handling it once and now means you’re free of an obligation to do so later, or to live in a smaller house with walls of boxes awaiting your attention, or pay for storage space to keep these items. Why go through all that when there’s a better way?

Watch for these electrical hazards in your home

Electricity in the home is so commonplace that it's easy to forget how dangerous it can be. According to the American Institute for Preventive Medicine, an electrical shock can knock you unconscious, cause a serious burn, or even stop your heartbeat.

Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to reduce the risk.

• Install safety plugs in outlets that young children can reach. 

• Never plug in anything with a frayed or otherwise damaged power cord.

• Never use a plugged-in computer, hair dryer, or other electrically-powered item near a filled sink or bathtub. This includes phones with power cords.

• Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or while standing in water. (Water is a remarkably efficient conductor of electricity.)

• Always turn off the appropriate breaker before doing any electrical work, such as installing a new light fixture.

When replacing a broken light bulb, turn off the breaker first. Although the glass is broken, the filament may still be conducting electricity.

Finally, unless you're an expert or an electrician, never do any major electrical work on your own. Hire a professional. 

The Real estate market has certainly started heating up for the typical Spring surge and the news release out from our Fraser Valley real estate board today confirms that. 

Kara and I have been quite busy helping our clients with not only the sale of their homes, but with purchases as well. We have noticed if a home is priced right it isn't sitting long forcing buyers to make a decision quickly before someone else does and they lose out on their future home. Today's news release has us leaning towards a balanced market which is good for both buyers and sellers. Prices don't seem to be going down, but they don't seem to be going up too much either. The key thing is that well priced homes are selling. 

To read more on today's news release click on the following link:
Fraser Valley Real Estate Board

If you are looking to buy or sell your home, please feel free to give Kara or myself a call and we would be more than happy to help!