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If you are considering selling your Gulf Islands
home or investment property, there are some steps you can take
to make listing and selling a smoother process:
1) If it needs it, tidy up your property. "Curb appeal"
or the view the potential buyer sees on that first visit, is vital.
Clean up fallen branches, take recycle items to the depot, dispose
of any old appliances or derelict vehicles. Inside, put away clutter,
and if practicable, repaint the interior to a neutral color. Make
it easy for a buyer to "see" their own belongings in
the house. Minor repairs should be done, and any odd jobs you
may have been putting off.
2) Have your water tested if you have a private well, so that
test results are available for the buyer. Also, you'll know ahead
of time if your well requires disinfection or a water treatment
system, and you can disclose that information to a buyer.
3) Find your septic tank and distribution box, and approximate
location of your septic field. Flag these so it's easy for the
buyer to see their locations. In most cases, you can get the original
septic permit information and sketch of your field from the Vancouver
Island Health Authority. If you haven't done it in the last few
years, or ever, get your septic tank pumped out and inspected
by an Authorized Inspector. Typically, you should pump out the
tank every 3 to 5 years depending on the amount of use. If the
septic field is malfunctioning, you should ensure it is repaired
as soon as possible.
4) If it is affordable for you, have a professional home inspector
come to your property and conduct an inspection of the buildings.
By doing this, you can identify problems before they become issues
with a potential buyer. If repairs are urgent, you can either
deal with them or disclose to the buyer that they need to be done.
The cost of the inspection is well worth it if it saves you some
headaches down the road.
5) Final occupancy permits can be a huge issue for many older
homes and newer homes which never obtained them. The Capital Regional
District has many old building permits on file, and you should
contact them if you do not have a final occupancy to find out
the status of your permit.
6) Find your property corner pins. On many older lots, the pins
may have rotted away or otherwise disappeared. While a only a
professional survey can pinpoint the exact dimensions of your
lot, flagging where you believe the corners to be is still very
helpful.
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If you are considering buying property in the Gulf
Islands…
Island living is quite different from the lifestyle
you may be used to. Although islanders enjoy more amenities than
they did in previous years, it's important to realize that our
lifestyle is (usually) very casual, and the process of getting
things done, from building a house to finding a gardener, can
require patience and persistence. For a detailed look at our community,
amenities and services, please check out www.mayneisland.com
. Our monthly publication, the Mayneliner, also contains a wealth
of information on local events and services.
The island enjoy a multi-tiered structure of governance.
The Islands Trust, created in 1974 is responsible for our Official
Community Plan (OCP) and land use bylaws (LUB), with a two-member
elected Trust Committee on each island. However, services such
as building inspection, animal control and bylaws such as noise
control, are handled by the Capital Regional District. You can
access the Islands Trust website at www.islandstrust.bc.ca
and the CRD at www.crd.bc.ca
The local government infrastructure can be difficult to navigate
for those unfamiliar with the process; consult with a local realtor
or builder for help finding your way through the maze of regulations.
Click here to view Rosemary's
Listings.
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