Hope you all had a fabulous long weekend full of family and friends!  With Spring trying to blossom, many people are beginning to think about home renovations.  On May 17^th the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association will be hosting their free Spring Renovation Seminar - the details are to the left under Upcoming Events.  It is estimated that over $7 billion will be spent on home renovations this year and that 65% of that will be within the Lower Mainland.  This seminar is a great opportunity to meet renovators and suppliers to get ideas about the potential of your home. 

Every week I post a blog on our website about various topics such as Property Transfer Tax, interest rate and market updates, investment properties and so on.  To see more check out http://jamiemoimortgageteam.blogspot.com/

All the best!

Build a plan for a smart renovation

By: News Canada

Canadians love to renovate. A recent survey by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation found that 40% of households in 10 Canadian markets renovated their home in 2008. The same survey found that about three quarters of households used a contractor to do all, or at least some, of their renovations.

Everyone has heard a construction/ contractor horror story, either through a friend, family member or on a home improvement television program. Whether it is work not performed to code or customer specifications, projects taking longer than expected, or costs going way over budget, home renovations can be a stressful endeavour.  

"Spending thousands of dollars on your home is a big decision, so selecting the right contractor is an important step," said Wayne Ross, insurance expert at Aviva Canada. "And while stories of renovation headaches are frequent, there are thousands of reputable contractors out there. A little preparation beforehand will certainly ease the stress."

Ross offers these renovation tips to ensure homeowners finish their summer renovation projects with better success:

· Connect with previous customers: Ask your friends for referrals of contractors that they've used, especially on similar projects. Request additional referrals from possible candidates.

· Look for consistency and permanence: The ideal service provider has a physical business office and address and has been in business for a number of years under the same name.

· Do a legal check: Ensure contractors are licensed by your province and that they have insurance, meaning they are covered if they are injured during the project.

· Notify your insurer: Contact your insurance broker to discuss if any of the renovations will require an adjustment to your home policy.

As a mortgage broker with Meridian West Coast Mortgages, I aim to have referrals as our main source of my business.  This is why I wholeheartedly appreciate those who place their trust and loyalty in me by referring friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances. I want to reward your gesture!

This is my Referral Rewards Program which has 5 tiers to show you my gratitude for your referrals.  Whenever you refer a new client to me which results in a closed mortgage, I would like to offer you a gift. Here's an example.

1st Referral:  $50 Visa gift card

  2^nd Referral:  $100 Visa gift card

 3^rd Referral:  $150 Visa gift card

4^th Referral:  $200 Visa gift card

5^th Referral:  $250 Visa gift card

As a mortgage broker, I am able to help to arrange mortgage financing for residential property purchases, present options when a mortgage is up for renewal, and assist in refinancing current mortgages for a better rate or to access equity for my clients.  I appreciate you introducing me to those you know.

When you refer someone to me, I thank you.  It's that simple.