Betsy Carstairs

I feel like I've just taken a 1st year course in roofing! It all started last year when my friend had drips of water dropping on her arm as she was sitting comfortably on my living room couch. The roof was only 11 years NEW, so could not understand how this could be happening. Well, this was not to my dismay a "1 off". The roof was not leaking per se, more like weeping on the winter days w ...

This was a article I read in the Pillar to Post news letter & found it very useful.....     You lie on them, your kids play on them, but floors are one of your home's dirtiest surfaces. These three green ideas are the ones experts say work best (without harsh chemicals) – so you can save on cleaning products and save the planet. CarpetsJust have your famil ...

Oprah's guests are saying it's possible! Yes, for even the most disorganized and messiest households!! I've watched her makeovers, read the books and NOW this week it was time for me to take action!!! Friday last I had a colleague take my phone calls and hired a friend to come over and keep me on track. I was amazed at what we accomplished!! Kitchen was cleaned, 1 hour of gardening transf ...

Last Friday I attended the West Coast Leaf's 22nd Annual Equality Breakfast in celebration of International Women's Day. It is one of my favorite events. Approximately 1000 women (and some men) attended this fundraiser at 7:00 YES! AM!! to network and power coffee with some very interesting women. This year's keynote speaker was Mary Walsh who created the award-winning series "This Hour Ha ...

Yesterday I went to preview a new home developement in Coquitlam's Burke Mountain neighborhood. Belmont Walk in the foothills is a Polygon development. The attached homes start in the mid $400,000 range for 1750 square feet on up to the 2600 square foot homes in the mid $500's. The detached homes are 3000+ square feet with prices starting in the mid $600's. These are very beautiful homes wi ...

I read this article in the Canada Realty News & thought it worth bringing to new home buyer's attention. I remember the 1st home we purchased had many extra costs that we had not budgeted for. Christmas that year was a new baby in a cardboard apple box bed & tree reduced to $5.00 on Christmas Eve. $5.00 was all we had extra that month so we felt fortunate to have our tree. So be prepared. Bu ...

We are proud to announce that this Sunday, March 22, 2009, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM we will be hosting an Open House at 1352 El Camino Dr in Hockaday, Coquitlam. This is an opportunity to visit this excellent 2 storey for sale in beautiful Hockaday. Please come with any questions you may have. In the meantime you can take a virtual tour of this Hockaday 2 storey ...

Vancouver is such a beautiful city when the sun shines! Yes, and so often we are on the inside of the window on these magical days. Well, yesterday was one of those days - sunny, cold (yes, very cold) and crisp ... so, it was out of the office and off to the beach!! I needed to have a catch up visit with my brother Bill in between his latest visit to Buenos Aires, and his next trip to the ...

Here is a great savings for home owners who have been wanting to renovate, install new windows or, like me put on a new roof. Delaying doing my leaking roof just saved me over $1,000!!!!!!! & the new  quote ( due to the down turn in the economy) is down 15% over this time last year so even more savings.  Hurrah.  Here is the information on this new government tax credit that came out January ...

  Property Tax - Deferment Program If you or a family member are disabled, a widower or over the age of 55 you may be able to reduce your monthly housing costs with this government program.Homeowners aged 55 years and over may defer the payment of annual property taxes on their principal residence. The Property Tax Deferment Program is a low interest loan program that assists qu ...