Even though communication has drastically changed around the world in the last few years, snail mail still holds a necessary place in our society. Perhaps instead of getting that letter from a loved one you get an email or facebook message. But for some reason it's still exciting when you do get something personally addressed to you other than bills or junk.... There's just something to be said about actually holding a note in your hand that can be cherished forever and not just seeing it somewhere on cyber space to be lost and forgotten.

I remember how much I looked forward to letters from loved ones and friends when I was growing up, when it was too costly to keep in touch by phone. A time when you could pour your heart out on paper and someone at the other end would really enjoy reading whatever it was that you had to say....

As of Monday January 14th Canadians will have to pay another 2 cents on top of the 61 cents that a regular stamp already costs us. 

For standard letters under 30 grams the domestic rate will go from 61 cents to 63 cents. 
For letters weighing between 30-50 grams the domestic rate goes up 5 cents from $1.05 to $1.10.

For standard letters, cards and postcards under 30 grams destined to the US the rate goes up 5 cents from $1.05 to $1.10
For standard letters, cards and postcards under 30 grams destined to foreign countries, the rate goes up 5 cents from $1.05 to $1.10

Registered mail rates have gone up as well.

For more details visit Canada Post's website in the following link:

Canada Post

No matter what the cost I don't imagine we will ever truly be able to do away with snail mail...and that's a good thing!

Well by now everyone knows the NHL is back and hockey lovers across North America are rejoicing...or are they?

The 1st games will be next Saturday January 19th. Even though I'm not a hockey fan, my husband was born a Habs fan and when he woke up Sunday morning to find out they had come to an agreement and there was going to be a season..it was like Christmas morning all over again for him. 

He would never give up hockey and looks forward to having the NHL back, but all over the media and social networking sites you hear of people who intend to boycott the NHL games. I have to agree with my husband boycotting won't hurt the NHL it will hurt all the people that have already been hurt by being out of work. The thousands of employees that work in the arenas around North America.

Will you be watching your favourite team?

By now just about everyone in British Columbia should have gotten their BC Tax assessments in the mail. If you still haven't received yours in the next few days you may want to contact the BC assessment office at 1-866-valueBC (1-866-825-8322). You can also check online at BC assessment where you can find your own BC assessment as well as compare to your neighbours or other homes in the area.

An interesting fact is   Over 98 per cent of property owners accept their property assessment without proceeding  to a formal, independent review of their assessment. that over 98 per cent of property owners accept their property assessment without proceeding to a formal, independent review of their assessment.

For more information on your BC assessment and how to file a complaint visit the following link:

http://www.bcassessment.ca/Pages/default.aspx

I wrote about this last January and shared some advice I had received from a colleague that used to work for BC assessments, if you are concerned about your tax assessment it might be worth a read:

BC tax assessments blog January 2012 

Just remember if you are considering an appeal you must file your appeal by January 31st, 2013.Over 98 per cent of property owners accept their property assessment without proceeding to a formal, independent review of their assessment.Over 98 per cent of property owners accept their property assessment without proceeding to a formal, independent review of their assessment.

A BIG Thanks to my cousin for today's blog idea....

One of my all time favourite movies was "Pay It Forward" with Kevin Spacey, Haley Joel Osment and Helen Hunt which came out in 2000.

As I had a few minutes this afternoon to see what people were up to on facebook my cousin wrote about Paying-It-Forward....I loved his idea and figured I would join in on the fun. I've always been a big believer in Paying-It-Forward and thought what better way to start off 2013.

The 1st - 5 people to comment on my cousin's Facebook status will receive something special (a book, a meal, a gift of some sort) and unexpected at some point in 2013. He's calling it 2013 Creative Pay-It-Forward, the idea is that it will be a surprise with no warning and the only catch is that those 5 people must make the same offer in their Facebook status. 

So here is our offer the 1st 5 people to comment on our facebook business page will receive something special from us...sometime throughout the year, out of the blue. In order to participate if we don't already know you personally then we are going to need you to send us a message with your contact details: name, address, email and phone number. Then show us that you have indeed shared the same post on your wall.

Last year a fellow colleague in Vancouver did something similar except he called it Karma week where he did 7 random acts of kindness to total strangers for 7 days straight. Knowing him I don't imagine he only did those 7 days, I am sure he practices that throughout the year. Ian planned on making this an annual event. 

To read last year's blog click the following link:

Karma Week by Ian Watt

Seems to be that time of year where everyone starts to make their New Year's Resolutions. The most common New Year's Resolutions every year seem to have something to do with exercising, losing weight, more family time, quit smoking, eat healthy, organize your home and work life, volunteer.... etc.

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog we have set our goals, but I wouldn't call them New Year's Resolutions. I haven't set any and I don't think that I will, for some reason they are too easy to break. After all, how many people actually stick to their New Year's Resolutions? I prefer to set goals and then if I achieve them great, if I don't then I can evaluate why I didn't and adjust accordingly.

We are curious what are your New Year's Resolutions? Will you stick to them? 

A look back at 2012....

The Bettina Reid Group went through a lot of changes in 2012. 

We start off each year setting our goals for the year. We set our goals as a team, our own personal goals within the team and our goals for outside of work. One of my goals was to start blogging every day except weekends. Blogging about the community, new businesses we have frequented or ones we are fond of, of course real estate related blogs and pretty much anything I fancied on any given day. I have wanted to blog ever since I can remember but kept over thinking things and struggled with what to write about. 2012 was the year to let go of that struggle and just DO! I did, I pretty much blogged a minimum of 5 days a week for 52 weeks straight. I did it and I am proud that I did....not truly because I am proud of writing my blogs. Which may have been interesting to some and not to others...I am okay with that. I am proud of myself because it showed me that I can do anything I set my mind to do. 

January started us off at a steady pace and by April we were busy enough to expand again. I hired another agent to help Kara out with all the new Buyers we were working with. In order to ensure we were able to give our clients the service we promise and the service they deserved. 

Then in June we hired a temporary assistant to help us with all the administrative details which freed us up even more to ensure our clients get 110% from us all the time.

In September we were back to our core with just myself and Kara....who has been an integral part of The Bettina Reid Group for the past 2 years. 

As great as our temporary assistant was, we knew she was only temporary....we bid her well in her career endeavours and welcomed our newest addition Lisa Speers. Lisa joined the team in November and she has already become a valuable asset to the Bettina Reid Group. She is helping to keep us both in line. :)

Then in the middle of October Kara added a new addition to her own family with a beautiful baby girl.

Looking back at 2012, in a year where the economy struggled and the real estate industry as a whole seemed to as well. We had our best year yet! We would like to Thank all of our clients for trusting us with their most valuable assets and helping us to reach our goals for the year. Without you we couldn't have done it!

We look forward to what 2013 has to offer and know it is going to be an amazing year with a lot of exciting things to come. 

Happy New Year 2013!!! From all of us at the Bettina Reid Group. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013. 

Property Brothers are coming to the Greater Vancouver area and looking for people looking to Sell their home but in need of a makeover. The only criteria to enter your home for a chance to win the Property Brothers home makeover is:

- That you live in the Greater Vancouver Area
- You live in a detached house that is over 2000 square feet with a driveway or double car parking
- Of course that you are looking to sell your home for top dollar but need a makeover before getting it on the market

Visit the Cineflix website to see how you can enter your home for the Property Brothers home makeover in the Greater Vancouver area:

Property Brothers

All of us at the Bettina Reid Group would like to wish you, your family and friends a safe and Happy Holidays. Wishing you the very best in 2013!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!