Tips on Home Inspectors

The Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI) has established the most widely recognized standard of quality for home inspections nationwide. Regardless of where you do business in Canada, from British Columbia to Newfoundland, there is a CAHPIProvincial/Regional Association ready to provide you with a list of the most qualified and competent home inspection professionals in the industry.

CAHPI Home Inspectors are:

• well education and highly trained
• experienced and knowledgeable
• communication specialists
• objective, honest and ethical
• reliable and professional

A qualified Registered Home Inspector will examine the home’s major systems including…

• Electrical
• Plumbing
• Heating
• Roofing
• Foundation
• Interior & Exterior

The home inspector will not make the buying decision for you. An inspector can provide you with the information you need to help make that decision wisely.

You will benefit most from your inspection if you can be at the house during the inspection. The home inspection is the perfect opportunity to become familiar with the house. Do not hesitate to ask questions. A good inspector will be glad to take the time to explain proper maintenance and operating procedures for many of the building components.

Home inspection is a unique discipline requiring special training, knowledge, and communication skills that differ substantially from those of other building professions. Non affiliated home inspectors are generalist with a comprehensive knowledge on many systems. Membership in a CAHPI provincial organization assures that a professional home inspector has demonstrated the ability to meet or exceed the CAHPI standards of practice.

What does this mean for you? Peace of mind and more protection for you. You can be assured when you hire a member of a CAHPI provincial/regional organization to inspect your home, you are hiring a professional with proven ability, experience and impartiality. To find an inspector in your city, click on the association for your province.

CAHPI – British Columbia
CAHPI – Alberta
CAHPI – Saskatchewan
CAHPI – Manitoba
CAHPI – Ontario
AIBQ – Quebec
CAHPI – Atlantic

Check out our website for more great tips! www.canaterra.com

Tips on Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Choosing an agent or realtor should be something you undertake only after you have done some research. After all, this person is going to help you make one of the most costly decisions of your life, so take some time to make the best decision you can. Whether you are buying or selling a home, you need an agent with whom you can comfortably work and who will do the most capable job for you.

1. Talk to family and friends. Get the names of agents who are
known and trusted.

2. Check local listings to learn which agents represent properties like the one you wish to sell or buy. Some agents specialize in condos. Some specialize in high end properties or helping first time buyers.

3. Make appointments with a number of agents. Let them know your goals in terms of budget and time frame. These appointments will help you to learn more about the personality of each agent as well as how comfortable you are with them.

Find an Agent in:

The Maritimes

Charlottetown: http://www.elwynsrealestate.com.

Fredericton: http://www.exitadvantage.ca/

Halifax: http://www.sellhalifax.com.

Labrador: http://www.remax.nf.ca/

St. John’s: http://www.skymarkhomes.ca

Sydney: http://www.century21.ca

Quebec

Montreal: http://www.murrayandcompany.com.

Quebec City: http://www.u-r-home.com

Sherbrook: http://www.jacinthe-dube.com/fr/index.asp.

Shawnigan: http://www.openrealestate.ca/.

Trois-Rivieres: http://www.suttonquebec.com/.

Ontario

Hamilton: http://www.hamiltonagent.com/.

Kingston: http://www.kingstonpropertyforsale.com/.

Kitchener: http://www.search-kitchener-homes.com/.

London: http://www.london-on-home-search.com/.

Ottawa: http://eottawarealestate.org/.

Toronto: http://www.torontogreathomes.com/.

Trenton: http://www.ontariotopagents.com/agents.php?.

Waterloo: http://www.marketking.ca/.

Manitoba

Brandon: http://www.businessinmanitoba.com/.

Boniface: http://www.manitobarealestate.com/.

Dauphin: http://www.remax-western.ca/.

Winnipeg: http://www.relocationwinnipeg.com/.

Saskatchewan

Moose Jaw: http://www.skhomes4sale.com/.

North Battleford: http://sk.athomecanada.com/.

Prince Albert: http://www.alvinwiegers.com.

Regina: http://www.regina-realestate.com.

Saskatoon: http://www.woutersrealty.com/.

Alberta

Calgary: http://www.connect2agent.com/.

Edmonton: http://www.zenonhomes.com/.

Lethbridge: http://www.connect2agent.com/.

Red Deer: http://www.inreddeer.com/.

British Columbia

Campbell River: http://www.remax-western.ca/

Cranbrook: http://www.cranbrookrealestatesearch.com/.

Dawson Creek: http://www.mostreferred.ca/.

Kamloops: http://www.connect2agent.com/.

Kelowna: http://www.thepropertysource.com.

Maple Ridge: http://www.mapleridgehome.com/.

Nanaimo: http://www.remax-western.ca/.

Nelson: http://www.rhcrealty.com/.

Prince George: http://www.ziprealty.com/.

Sidney: http://www.vi-realestate.com/.

Terrace: http://www.remax-terrace.bc.ca.

Vancouver: http://www.pointgreynow.com/.

Victoria: http://www.vreb.org/.

Yukon Territory

Watson Lake: http://www.connect2agent.com/.

Whitehorse: http://www.remax-actionyukon.com/.

North West Territories

Yellowknife: http://www.connect2agent.com.

Nunavit

Iqualuit:  http://www.connect2agent.com.

Check out more great tips on Canaterra’s Expert Page!

If you want to be added to this list, come post here and I will add you!

AMAZING deal!

Hi everyone, just wanted to post and let you all know about our great deal being held over for another month! Get in now, and you can save hundreds! Are normally reasonable prices are roughly $75 a month for use of our classic website, mobile website, texting service AND iPhone app! Pheew, that’s quite a mouthful! But now we are running our deal celebrating the Tommie Awards, that is all those above services for only $16 a month! Thats HUGE savings! Get in now, before its too late!

See more about our services and regular pricing here:

http://canaterra.com/page_idp27.php?aboutus-advhere

Going for Gold

Hi all! Well we are all very excited here at Canaterra, the Gold Tommy Award Ceremony is coming up this Saturday, January 30, and we are all crossing our fingers that they see fit to give us the Gold! Wish us luck!

iPhone App Launch

Canaterra™ Launches iPhone Real Estate App

Mobile customers gain access to full property listings on the go; mobile real estate listing service creates new opportunities for builders, buyers, and sellers.

Kelowna, BC – Insert Date, 2010 Canaterra Property Pages Inc.® announced today the launch of its free iPhone application available to iPhone and iPod touch users directly on the iPhone App Store. The Canaterra iPhone App is only the second Real Estate app to be launched in Canada. The mobile application will allow home seekers to search property listings under a number of different searches and gives the opportunity for specific and targeted mobile advertising. Understanding that consumers rely on their phones for more than just making calls, Canaterra’s app for the iPhone will give Canaterra.com a broader and more dominant position in the real estate listing market. Canaterra has created an app that is accessible for the most typical iPhone and iPod touch users who demand a fast mobile computing experience. The app is available to view on the App Store at this direct link:http://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/id348997123?mt=8

The Canaterra app benefits from an operating platform that was created from the ground up to take advantage of a streamlined listing service that delivers a wealth of listing data from a growing inventory of properties for sale. The simple user interface allows even first time users to find exactly what it is they are searching for. Accolades to Nicolas Morin, Department Head at Centre for Arts & Technology – Kelowna for building the Canaterra iPhone App. Nicolas instructs upper level web programming languages and develops and maintains the database for the school. Nicolas freelances as a software developer and is in third year of a Bachelor of Science majoring in Computer Science.

In addition to it’s iPhone app, Canaterra offers a mobile website that enables any mobile phone with internet capabilities to search for real estate listings, anywhere, anytime.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPod and iTunes are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the U.S. and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc.

New Texting Service Ready To Go!

Get real estate information quickly

It’s fast, easy, and allows agents and home seekers to get in touch within seconds. Just as websites act as a medium between clients and realtors, Canaterra’s texting services act as a medium on a more mobile level. Home buyers could use this service to quickly get information about a listing and request a call back. Realtors could respond quickly knowing that the potential client is available.
For more information, visit:
http://canaterra.com/page_idp45.php?pda-text

Silver Tommie Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canaterra.com awarded prestigious Canadian Home Builders Association Silver Award for Excellence in Website Design

“We are honoured to be recognized by our peers for creating a website to showcase Developers’ and Builders’ new projects across the country; receiving the Canadian Home Builders Associations’ prestigious Silver Award for Excellence in Website Design is a stamp of approval” says Karen Thompson, President and Founder of Canaterra.com.

The Canadian Home Builder Association Awards represents excellence and are judged by a distinguished panel of highly qualified judges from across the country. Canaterra is a member of the Canadian Home Builder Association in a number of provinces.

Canaterra’s vision is to provide a collective and comprehensive national real estate listing service while remaining affordable and independent. Canaterra’s service is an important part of an effective marketing strategy for Canadian Home Builders Association Builder Members to successfully sell property in today’s market.

Karen Thompson remarks “Canaterra’s simple, memorable name was chosen specifically to mean ‘Canadian land.’ With no regional preference, home seekers will find that Canaterra.com is a gateway to local listings no matter where they search in Canada.”

Canaterra offers a range of easy-to-use services that Thompson is confident will keep Canaterra “top of mind” to home seekers, Developers, and Builders from coast to coast. Canaterra’s online website is complimented by a texting feature in addition to a mobile website and a soon to be released iPhone App, which both provide the ability to link back to sellers’ websites and access contact info from each listing. No matter which medium is used, buyers can conveniently keep in touch with local markets. By providing collective listing statistics currently unavailable in the market, Canaterra will be able to offer information that is important for pricing and trends.

Canaterra’s National Real Estate Listing Service is specifically designed to connect buyers and sellers.

Tommie Award

Last night at the Kelowna Art Gallery the Canadian Home Builders Association of the Central Okanagan held the 2009 Tommie Silver Finalists cocktail party.

Our President + CEO Karen Thompson, and Executive Assistant Bev Kealty were in attendance last night and were ecstatic to see Canaterra honoured with a Silver Tommie Award for Excellence in Website Design. Having been selected as the best website by CHBA Central Okanagan last night means a lot, and as if that was not enough we are now in the running for a Gold Tommie at the award ceremony on January 30th.

Canaterra was built to showcase developers and builders projects from coast to coast so that home seekers could find new developments in one place. It seems that we have done just that and have now been recognized for doing so.

As for the Gold Tommie at the end of January, we will keep you updated.

Keep your fingers crossed!

12, 11, 10 Count Down to our Texting Service Launch

Texting Service to be Launched November 30, 2009 Did you know that each Canaterra Classic site listing will come with a texting feature? Ensure your listing is up in order to take advantage of our November 30, 2009 launch date. Give your customers more ways to connect quickly and conveniently with you when they are ‘on the go’! Our listings are just pennies a day and our texting feature will be available at no additional fee. It’s simple to start and is pre-loaded into each listing – all you have to do is decide whether you wish to purchase a vanity name or go with the Canaterra listing number (at no cost) and order your sign! We will have templates available for toppers and hangers and, for a nominal fee, will work with you to create a sign for your specific needs. This tip brought to you by the Staff at Canaterra. Canaterra – ‘connecting buyers, builders and sellers from coast to coast’.

DID YOU KNOW?

-       we are a custom search engine; a real estate listing service ‘connecting buyers, builders & sellers from coast to coast™’ – our focus is on builders’ NEW home listings.

-       that we listened to home seekers & builders when creating this new home directory.

-       each listing has; photos, a virtual-tour option, links to city/agent/builder/project websites, logos, floor plan option, mapping, About-Our-Area, open-house & notices, property description, a built in feature sheet, a pre-loaded mortgage calculator, contact info including email, phone numbers, sales contact names and builders/developers, and About Us feature.

-       that home seekers have a choice of for sale or for rent/lease searches – quick, map, advanced, new buildings only and open house.

-       that advanced search includes our unique keyword search – key in the first few letters to search for a feature, builder, developer, street, building, project or sales person; or further refine a search by neighbourhood, features or price.

-       that we have a Save to Favourites and Profile Matching/Alert feature.

-       that our website is built on a dynamic, powerful platform taking advantage of the latest in Google® SEO tactics.

-       that we have a classic website which pushes listing information to our handy mobile website and coming Fall 2009 to our iPhone® App – truly ‘Real Estate Online & On the Go™’.

-       that coming Winter 2009, each listing will have a convenient texting feature.

-       that listings are customized, uploaded and managed by the lister.

-       that for a nominal fee we offer our personalized Canaterra Care Service & will upload, manage & update your listings monthly for the term of your listing.

-       that our listing fees are just pennies a day.

that we are members of a number of CHBA associations across Canada.