Daily Informative Updates on
New Residential Real Estate & Construction News
for Vancouver Island Communities

Comox Valley Realtor Tina Vincent, PREC, is "Your Comox Valley Connection." Realtor Tina Vincent blends traditional real estate services with modern, innovative marketing to help Vancouver Island home buyers and sellers achieve their goals.

Tina Vincent, a realtor with Royal LePage in the Comox Valley uses her experience in interior design and new-home construction to provide home-staging services for her clients and bring unique ideas to marketing clients' homes. She works to find the right residences for her clients, ensuring that families find not just houses, but homes. Tina is also a Brookfield specialist ready to help with your military posting or relocation.

Tina is friendly and knowledgeable and works to find the right homes for her clients. Whether you're looking for a single-family home with room for the family; a patio home or bungalow; a home with a secondary suite; rural property with room for the horses and animals; or an executive home in Crown Isle, Tina's expertise will help you find the perfect home. She works with home buyers and sellers in Courtenay, Comox, Cumberland, Parksville, Qualicum Beach. and Campbell River.

Whether you're moving, relocating, or storing big-boy toys and office equipment, AA Mini Storage in Nanaimo has the solution for your storage needs!

Nanaimo's AA Mini Storage features a variety of self-storage options for businesses and households, including vehicle and RV storage, heated units, and drive-up storage units.

These Nanaimo self-storage rental units range from 5x5x5 to 20x30, so you’ll find the perfect spot to store almost anything, including furniture, household items, business equipment, house contents, boats, vehicles, and RVs.

AA Mini Storage provides multiple levels of security, including video surveillance and gated access. Friendly and helpful resident managers are on site, and units are available seven days a week. With drive-up doors on units 10x10x10 and larger, your storage locker is always accessible.

When you need additional short-term or long-term storage space for your home or business, AA Mini Storage is your "go to" storage facility in Nanaimo. Call 250.758.7422 for more information, availability, and pricing.

Woodcote Mews townhomes offer the opportunity to own a new three-bedroom, two-bathroom Comox Valley home for well under $200,000. Prices on the final three remaining new townhouses at Woodcote Mews have been lowered to only $189,900.

Seventeen of these 1,320 square-foot duplex homes on Cumberland Road in Courtenay have already been sold. The remaining three townhomes have all been completed to lock-up, ready for finishing to the buyer's specifications. The developer will complete the interiors of the units based on the new owners' selected colour schemes.

Woodcote Mews has been popular with young families, empty nesters, and those looking for a Vancouver Island vacation home. These new Vancouver Island duplex homes feature a spacious layout, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Each townhome is finished with a quality appliance package including a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washer, and dryer. A small private yard is at the back of every unit, and there is a common outside area for all residents to enjoy.

For more information, view the Woodcote Mews video or contact Scott Fraser, PREC, at 250.334.3124.

Featuring 26 condominiums and 42 patio homes, The Gales in Ladysmith, BC, offers unparalleled luxury set amongst a backdrop of spectacular ocean and mountain views.

Homes at The Gales are designed and built in West Coast contemporary architectural style and floor plans are open, ideal for entertaining. Warm earth tones throughout complement the coastal landscape. High-end finishing and attention to detail throughout each home are hallmarks of this spectacular new development.

New homes at The Gales are priced from $499,000 to $599,000. For more information, contact Realtor Keith Mazurenko of Coast Realty at 250.245.0545 (local) or 1.866.315.0545 (toll-free). You can also contact Keith via email or use the "Send Message" below. We guarantee you'll be blown away by The Gales!

Residential lots and new custom homes are selling at Stone Manor Estates, a new Vancouver Island real estate development minutes from downtown Duncan in the Cowichan Valley.

With Phase 1 nearly sold out, selling in Phase 2 has commenced. New homes in Phase 2 will sport the distinctive craftsman and heritage styles that proved so popular in Phase 1, but Phase 2 upgrades include several building lots backing onto green spaces, a no-through road, and a cul-de-sac. Prices for single-family residential lots range from $137,900 to $169,900, while two duplex lots are priced at $184,900 and $189,900.

As Canada’s only Maritime Mediterranean climatic zone, the Cowichan Valley offers a unique, mild microclimate and the warmest mean year-round temperature anywhere in Canada. More than 20 wineries have planted roots here, along with an abundance of artisan producers, organic produce suppliers, and slow-food chefs. The residents of Stone Manor Estates relish the Cowichan Valley’s natural beauty and easy access to lakes, marinas, and recreational activities, without sacrificing the convenience of city living and close proximity to shopping, restaurants, schools, and community services in Duncan.

For more information on Stone Manor Estates:

• visit their website;
• view the Stone Manor Estates lot plan;
• call 250.597.1952; or
• stop by the open house at the Sales Presentation Centre, now open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 p.m.

Double A Safety Services supports the Vancouver Island construction industry by helping businesses maintain and energize the integrity of their safety program.

Based in Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Double A Safety Services brings experience in workplace safety from large and small construction projects to help companies of all sizes with safety training, evaluation, development, safety documentation, and due diligence procedures.

Double A Safety Services can help you with safety training, evaluating current safety procedures, program development, safety documentation, and due diligence procedures. They’ll also work with you to ensure that your company’s safety documentation meets BC Construction Safety Alliance (COR) and Occupational Health & Safety (OH & S) compliance requirements. Double A Safety Services can also assist companies with work practice development to industry best practices, incident investigation, workplace safety inspection services, HSE safety manual development, and claims management.

Double A Safety Services can work with your business to develop a health and safety program to the best industry standards for your company. Call 250.914.4699 today for a free consultation.

The Ridge at RiversEdge is a new residential community located in Courtenay on Vancouver Island. Fringed by the Puntledge River, The Ridge at RiversEdge is a unique development in which each house is perfectly suited for its individual lot, yet still complements neighbouring homes to create a harmonious community with impressive curb appeal. The gentle sound of the river and the forested parkway along two sides of the development intertwine to create a magical setting for residents. Need more reasons to buy a home at The Ridge at RiversEdge? We have ten great ones!

• Location, Location, Location - Second to none on the southwest side of the Puntledge River.
• Unique Development - The Ridge at RiversEdge is unique. Southwind Developments Corporation is the only company in the Comox Valley that controls the entire development and building process from start to finish. For projects Southwind undertakes, they buy the raw land, service it, build the homes, and warranty each home for 10 years. You know precisely what your neighbourhood will look like. That’s the secret to Southwind’s success.
• Preplanned Neighbourhood - The Ridge is a preplanned single-family neighbourhood on private property on a no-through street where all homes are single-level ranchers, so no two-storey homes will look down on your property.
• Green Space - You're surrounded by nature at its finest, just a few steps to the beautiful walking and biking trails along the spectacular Arden Greenway, the Puntledge River, and Puntledge Park.
• Backyard Privacy - You'll never have a neighbour in your back yard.
• Protected Investment - Your investment is protected by a registered Homeowner Schedule of Restrictions designed to enhance quality of life and increase your home's future value.
• Target Market - The target market (but not restricted) of adults 45 years and older offers a quality neighbourhood in which people can truly enjoy a quiet lifestyle.
• Private Ownership - The Ridge at RiversEdge is private property consisting of 24 homes with the street and streetlights the only common areas. This bare land strata covers Robert Lang Drive and its boundaries only. You own your own home and property.
• Proximity to Developer - The owners of Southwind Homes reside at RiversEdge. They live in the neighbourhood so you can feel secure knowing that they'll be around for any and all issues that may arise during the 10-year warranty period.
• Price - Lowest-priced new homes anywhere in the Comox Valley. Considering the quality of workmanship and materials, Southwind provides the very best product for your money.
• Dedicated Realtor - Your RiversEdge specialist is Realtor Art Meyers of Royal LePage In the Comox Valley.

For more information on The Ridge at RiversEdge, call Art at 250.207.1879. You can also view a site plan, information package, slide show, virtual tour, or commercial online. Experience the magic of RiversEdge—you'll love it!

It was warm and sunny today, around six degrees Celsius, when we visited The Ridge, a new subdivision in Courtenay​, BC. Located in the picturesque Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, The Ridge offers residential lots for sale that feature spectacular ocean and mountain views.

During today's tour of The Ridge, we saw a flock of trumpeter swans flying in formation overhead, against a beautiful backdrop of blue sky and the Comox Glacier. Just one look at the picture and its stunning setting will send your imagination soaring and visualizing your new home at The Ridge.

Lawmar Contracting has built a new show home at The Ridge, which is now open for viewing. To book a tour, please call Lawrie or MaryAnne at 250.338.6337. For more information regarding the residential lots for sale at The Ridge, call Bruce Clapham, of Buckstone Investments, at 250.650.8588 or email theridge.bruce@mail.com.

Open houses at Railside Lane in Courtenay will continue to be held throughout December 2013, every Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., including December 21 and 28.

Drop by to see these beautiful new move-in-ready patio homes and townhomes; blinds and appliances are included! Choose from among eight new homes with floor plans that range in size from 1,272 to 1,660 square feet and offer two or three bedrooms.

Homes at Railside Lane feature hardwood floors, heated tile floors in the en suite, custom lighting, and more. Garages and additional driveway parking are also included. Prices start at $249,900. This project is centrally located in the City of Courtenay on Vancouver Island, BC, and is within walking distance of Courtenay's main street, parks, schools, shopping, trails, and more.

To tour the townhomes and duplexes at Railside Lane, be sure to drop by their open house at 3 - 1620 Piercy Avenue, held Saturdays from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. See you there!

Elemental Energy Advisors (EEA) in the Comox Valley continues to work with local cities, municipalities, builders, developers, and owner-builders to help implement energy-conservation strategies and systems in new residential properties. Owner Cristi Sacht and her team offer a wide variety of energy-efficiency consulting services complemented by extensive training and experience.

EnerGuide Labelling Service

EEA offers the EnerGuide Labelling Service, an affordable and recognized rating system administered by the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada. Planning for energy efficiency during the design phase of a home is key to investigating options and making educated decisions.

"An EnerGuide rating provides a standard measure of your home's energy performance, showing you and future buyers exactly how energy-efficient your home is," states Sacht. "The rating is calculated based on standard operation assumptions that allow you to compare the energy performance of one house to another. A rating of 0 represents a home with major air leakage, no insulation, and extremely high energy consumption, while a rating of 100 represents an air-tight, well-insulated, sufficiently ventilated house that needs no annual energy purchases."

If you proceed with Energuide labelling, EAA offers an on-site visit once the home is built, including a building-envelope test to check for air leakage and ventilation.

"Doing so ensures a healthy living environment," says Sacht. "Once the file is complete, we start the incentive application for you by filling in the majority of the data, and then you complete it."

Building for Energy Efficiency

Other options for energy-efficient construction programs through EEA include:

• Built Green BC;
• ENERGY STAR for New Homes;
• BC Hydro's Power Smart New Home Program; and
• Fortis BC's New Home Program.

The process of initiating these programs is simple, and the EEA team can begin the evaluation with nothing more than a copy of your building plans.

"We'll prepare a computer model, offer a no-obligation projected EnerGuide rating, and help you determine whether building with an EnerGuide 80 standard in mind is financially feasible after factoring in applicable builder incentives," says Sacht. "We make it simple and painless!"

2013 Energy Incentives

Incentives available for the rest of 2013 through BC Hydro and Fortis BC are still set at $2000 per single-family dwelling that achieves an EnerGuide 80 minimum rating. There are additional incentives for:

• appliance packages - $150;
• natural-gas-fired boiler - $1000;
• EnerChoice Approved natural-gas fireplace- $300;
• ENERGY STAR high-efficient natural-gas water heaters - $200 to $1000; and
• row houses, townhomes, and duplexes - $200 for achieving an EnerGuide 80 rating.

For builders completing several projects per year, the savings can really add up.

Additional Services

EEA is expanding their knowledge and services with the addition of a Building Envelope Evaluation and Efficiency Consultation package for existing homeowners. This services costs $150 and includes:

• a building-envelope evaluation with their blower door unit
• identifying areas of leakage and offering potential solutions; and
• presenting options to help save money on your utility bills.
• Have your options calculated in annual dollar savings and annual energy savings. 

"We'll calculate annual dollar and energy savings for you," states Sacht. "Knowledge is power, and that applies to your home as well."

So, build your home the smart way with EEA's team of Certified Energy Advisors. Whether you're building a new home or renovating an older residential property, the EAA team can help you conserve energy and save money. Send your building plans or questions to info@elementalenergyadvisors.ca or call 250.830.8000. Follow them on Facebook or Twitter as well.

After months of planning, fundraising, volunteer recruiting, and hard work, the Women Build component of Habitat for Humanity’s build project in Courtenay handed over the keys for its second Piercy Avenue duplex to the new owners.

The ceremony, held on October 26, 2013, was an emotional one, the realization of a dream that saw first light a mere 18 months earlier when Habitat Vancouver Island North presented the idea of a Women Build project to Cristi Sacht, owner of Elemental Energy Advisors, an energy-efficiency consulting company based in Courtenay. Sacht, who subsequently took on the role of Women Build coordinator, loved the idea of women helping women better their lives.

"People were absolutely ecstatic about becoming a part of this,” says Sacht. “The fact that it was the first Women Build in the entire province and we did it in our little town of Courtenay is absolutely fabulous.

When the initial goal of building one Habitat for Humanity home in Courtenay evolved into a three-duplex endeavour, Sacht realized she’d need an army of women to tackle the project. Nine teams, comprising six to 40 women each, have contributed thousands of volunteer hours since the project’s inception. Over $60,000 was raised, and monetary contributions have been complemented by in-kind donations of service and supplies.

The three-duplex project at 1580 Piercy Avenue is designed to give six local working families a hand up to own their own home. Families who receive a home must demonstrate need, have children, and spend 500 hours giving 'sweat equity' to build their home. In return, they own a home with no down payment and a no-interest mortgage through Habitat for Humanity.

Sporting their signature black overalls, pink hard hats, and pink shirts, Women Build teams worked on the duplexes from foundation to finishing. However, there was no shortage of supportive men on-site to help build or guide them through the inevitable rough patches. Some companies even donated entire crews of men to unite in the effort.

"It isn't about excluding men — it's about involving and empowering women," points out Sacht, who adds that generations of women have taken part in the build. “My girlfriend, her daughter, and her mom have built houses and been a part of major renovation projects. That's just the kind of girls they are.”

Four of the six families have taken possession of their new homes. Volunteers, both individual and corporate, are still needed to help complete the remaining two units. Landscaping and fencing the property will resume next spring, as will driveway paving. To volunteer, please call Habitat Vancouver Island North at 250.334.3777 or visit www.habitatnorthisland.com.

Are you confused by BC's regulations for forklift training and certification? You're not alone.

In simple terms, WorkSafe BC regulations state that employers must provide forklift training for employees. The actual guidelines are more complicated, however, so we've summarized them for you here. (If you prefer to read the regulatory information in its entirety, refer to OHS Section 16, Mobile Equipment and CSA Standard B335-94, Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training or click here.)

Section 16.4: Competency of Operators

1. A person must not operate mobile equipment unless the person:
(a) has received adequate instruction in the safe use of the equipment.

Section 16.7: Standards

(j) Lift Truck Operator training: CSA Standard B335-94, Industrial Lift Truck Operator Training

CSA Standard 7.1.1: Frequency of Courses

Refresher courses shall be held:
(a) at intervals not exceeding two years; or
(b) in case of accident or incidents attributable to operator error.

In a nutshell, a license is not required. However, you must ensure that your employees have been trained to current standards and have the documentation on hand to prove it.

To make your life easier, WesternOne now offers IVES Operator Certification Training that includes theory, practical training, and evaluation. The training is a win-win for both employer and employee. When an employee successfully completes the training, he or she receives a certificate and wallet card. The employer, in turn, receives copies of all documentation, including theory and practical test records. To find out more, call Greg Phelps, IVES Certified Trainer, at 250.667.0665 or WesternOne in Courtenay at 250.331.0748.

WesternOne​, your one-stop shop on Vancouver Island for tool and equipment rentals and sales, is North Vancouver Island's only authorized Polaris ATV and Ranger/RZR Utility Vehicles dealer. WesternOne is also Vancouver Island's exclusive dealer for Polaris snowmobiles. Factory-trained and factory-certified Silver/Gold technicians are on hand for any servicing or repair need, and financing is available. For more information, call 250.339.4518 (local) or 1.877.339.4518 (toll-free). You can also use their Request a Quote online form.

December in the Comox Valley brings cooler weather, but it doesn't change the beautiful views from The Ridge in Courtenay on Vancouver Island. Snow-dusted mountains complement expansive skies for a beautiful backdrop as far as the eyes can see. Migrating trumpeter swans heading to a warmer location fly directly overhead. The location is breathtaking, and you'll see it all from your new home at The Ridge.

The residential lots for sale at The Ridge feature panoramic mountain and ocean views. Construction of new homes in Phase 1 of this new community is underway by Lawmar Construction and Brando Construction. Lawmar has a spectacular show home located on Lot 18, while Brando is building one on Lot 4 that will be open next spring.

Lots at The Ridge have just been released, and there is still a great selection of desirable lots for sale. Come visit this picturesque part of Vancouver Island for yourself; marvel at the mountain and ocean view lots; and then visualize your dream home. For more information, please call Bruce at 250.650.8588 or email theridge.bruce@mail.com.