Happy Wednesday everyone! I was at Queen Elizabeth Park recently and thought it would be nice to share my experience. What are your favourite parks in Vancouver? Maybe I’ll pay a visit and write about it next! If you want to hear more about this one, read on!

Quarry Gardens

This beautiful garden is just west of the Bloedel Conservatory, and it is gorgeous when you see it from the railing! It’s home to specimen trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and so much more. There’s even a stream and cascading waterfall in the gardens to add to its beauty. I would highly recommend taking a look over the railing and then strolling through, you won’t regret it!

Arboretum

Did you know that Queen Elizabeth Park was Canada’s first civic arboretum? I didn’t know either until I read up on it! The first plantings were done all the way back in 1949 on the north slopes. First, larger trees such as ponderosa pines, subalpine spruce, and douglas firs were planted, and the most special of all is the coast redwood, which could grow to be one of the tallest trees in the world. It’s along the north and northwest end of the park, so take a visit next time!

Bloedel Conservatory

Last but not least, I headed into the conservatory to take a look at the tropical trees, flowers, and birds. Due to COVID, you do have to purchase tickets online and wait for your time slot, which is a full 45 minutes inside the dome. The staff usher you in and then you are free to explore during your visit. It is totally worth it and the views were a sight to see!

A leading Vancouver-based chiropractic clinic, Neuro Lounge, in Yaletown has announced a new partnership with BrainTap, the health tech company. Through the new partnership, more Vancouver residents will have access to high-quality stress-reduction solutions. BrainTap is a cutting-edge tech solution that allows immediate access to specialist audio programs or light sessions to help with stress reduction and anxiety management.

Programs available include Sleep RX, which is designed to retrain the brain to restore natural sleep. This forms a fundamental building block in the quest to overcome stress-related issues.

Clients can also try the Optimal Health plan, which helps them break unhealthy habits and develop better practices for a more balanced lifestyle.

Alongside this, the most popular program is a “Freedom from Addictions” program which takes a whole health approach to addictions. This program addresses the imbalances in the mind, body and behaviours that contribute to addictions.

All of these programs have been devised with the goal of improving mind body balance, retraining behavioural patterns, and living with more daily energy.

The Neuro Lounge is offering clients an introductory trial as part of this new partnership announcement. This includes two BrainTap sessions, two Neuro Stress heart rate variability tests, and a post-trial assessment. The clinic explains that their core goal is to help patients reverse the negative effects that stress can have on their health. They offer a holistic treatment program comprising Chiropractic Bodywork, PEMF, Red Light Therapy, and now the new BrainTap solution.

A spokesperson for the clinic states: “Dr Pajak has a unique approach using modern treatment options such as BrainTap, red light therapy, and network chiropractic. He aims to help people optimize performance of their body and mind through natural, gentle, and relaxing therapies that restore the body’s natural ability to function and heal.”

Summer is approaching quickly! ! You might have a lot more time on your hands, and you’re likely spending that time at home. If you are considering the benefits of fixing up your home to make it more appealing to potential buyers, or just to have a nicer place to live in the era of social distancing, you should know that not all DIY home improvement projects will offer homeowners a solid return on their investment. Here are 3 things that you need to know before breaking out the toolkit, read on!

Painting… Your Front Door?

Believe it or not, a super simple project such as just painting your front door can have big returns. Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, says “A glossy coat of exterior paint can really amp up your curb appeal.” When it comes to the type of paint though, the devil is in the details. Painting your front door black, in particular, could add as much as $6,000 to your home’s sale price, according to Zillow’s research.

Change Your Lighting Fixtures

Another relatively simple change a homeowner can make is to replace light fixtures with smart lights. “Not only are you going to save money on your power bill, but you’re going to sell your home seven days faster,” Pendleton said, citing additional research from Zillow. Change the light bulbs, as well as the lamp shape and size to maximize your returns as well.

Replace Indoor Flooring

There are also cheaper, easier alternatives to major home improvement projects such as replacing the flooring in your home. A Zillow survey found that 87% of real-estate agents suggest cleaning the carpets before listing a home. Many homeowners will switch out the carpet anyway, so rather than investing in installing new, a homeowner can rent a carpet cleaner from their local home improvement store and refresh their carpets in a cost effective manner.

Have these tips helped you pick your next summer DIY project? Let us know below with a comment and tell us what we should blog about next!

Home speculators beware! As proposed back in November 2020, Vancouver plans on tripling the vacant home tax this year. The council voted to increase the tax to 3% of the assessed value for 2021. The tax, which places a penalty on underused homes, was put in place to help encourage more efficient use. If you want to know how this will affect you, read on!

Impact.

The City’s vacant home tax appears to be making a big impact, with the total number of units falling. In 2017, the first year the City had a vacancy tax, there were 2,538 homes found vacant without exception. By 2018, that number fell to 1,989, and finally down to 1,893 in 2019. When including the number of exempted homes that transitioned to tenanted use, this added over a year of housing supply. Although the low rate of, or negative, price appreciation also tends to contribute to more efficient use as well.

Why is it Tripling?

The tripling of the tax might seem like Vancouver’s politicians just have big hearts, but it may be the City getting ahead of bigger problems. The pandemic’s acceleration of work from home (WFH) and shuttering of local shops has lessened the importance of expensive urban hubs. So far this has been a big gain for the suburbs, and more affordable cities. Without more incentives, such as more affordable housing, the long-term viability may be impacted. No one wants to live in a City with expensive and hard to find housing, to be next to Starbucks, when they’re paid the same to work anywhere now.

What it means for you.

If you don’t have any vacant properties, this increase will only benefit you as the city will have more funds for city projects. However, if you have empty investment properties, this is a reminder to consider your options. A 3% tax, especially on expensive properties, can be expensive, so if you want to get ahead of the curve and sell your property, contact us and we will help you every step of the way!

New trends, technologies and styles are always emerging in the kitchen. As one of the most used rooms in the house you want to make sure this space is up to date with new trends! The kitchen is also often a space that needs a quick revamp every once in a while too. If you are looking to refresh your kitchen with some new 2021 trends then keep on reading!

WOOD BURNING STOVES

Wood burning stoves are becoming increasingly more popular in people’s homes for cooking and heating. These types of stoves use wood as a source of fuel rather than gas or electricity. There are many different styles to choose from when incorporating a wood burning stove into your kitchen. For the

most part these types of stoves give the kitchen a vintage look. The benefits to using a wood burning stove is that the fuel needed is extremely renewable and sustainable. Whether you are using logs, wood chips, or lumber yard waste the materials are widely available and eco-friendly!

LARGE ISLANDS

Many people have been finding more uses for their kitchen island than just holding their daily mail and car keys. Now more than ever the kitchen island is multi-functional doubling as a home office or classroom. Many people have been resorting to a larger style of kitchen islands in order to better utilize their space. Islands are a great way to break up the space in the kitchen and they provide extra countertop and storage. Not to mention they're a great spot to socialize with the family!

WOOD FURNISHINGS

Not only are wood stoves becoming more popular in the kitchen so are wood finishes such as cabinets, chairs, plates and islands. This trend gives the kitchen a warm and cozy vintage feel. Add wood paneling to your kitchen cabinets to neutralize your space or wood chairs for a more natural look. Wooden accessories are not just a trendy addition to your kitchen they are also eco-friendly!