CENTURY 21 Ace Agencies Ltd. - Blog

Unexpected Vehicle Acceleration

Len Visser — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The following is not about Real Estate but I came across this in a communication from BCAA . . . it's worth sharing.

"Recent publicity surrounding Toyota's recall of vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals provides a good reminder that it's important to know what to do if your accelerator pedal ever gets stuck, or your vehicle accelerates for no apparent reason. If you ever find yourself in that situation, BCAA recommends the following:

- Stay calm, but act quickly.

- Keep looking at the road ahead. Looking away from the road to see what's wrong with the pedal will greatly increase your chances of crashing.

- Be sure your foot is completely off the accelerator. Some stuck accelerator crashes have later been found to be the result of an honest mistake-the driver thought he or she was pushing on the brake.

- Put the vehicle's transmission in neutral or, in a vehicle with standard transmission, depress the clutch. Do NOT turn off the engine. Doing so will cause the power assist to steering and braking to disengage and make it difficult or impossible to steer, and harder to brake. Plus, turning the key too far could possibly lock the steering wheel.

- Steer the car to a safe place and stop, and then turn off the engine. If stopped by the side of a road, turn on emergency flashers and put out reflective triangles if you have them. If you're unable to get the vehicle off the roadway, allow it to come to a stop and turn on emergency flashers. Do not restart the vehicle. Call for help using a cell phone, or wave down a passing vehicle, if safe to do so.

Vehicle owners should also regularly check to ensure floor mats or loose wiring are not interfering with any pedals, (accelerator, brake or clutch). Anyone who has ever experienced a problem with rapid or unwanted acceleration should have it checked by a qualified auto technician as soon as possible.

Owners of recalled vehicles should also adhere to any notices as soon as possible to ensure the safe operation of their vehicle. If you choose to drive a recalled vehicle and notice any problems with the accelerator, (i.e. hard to press, slow to return or is unsmooth during operation), BCAA recomends you pull over to the nearest safe location, shut off the engine and contact your dealership. Alternatively, members can contact BCAA for roadside or towing assistance."

Let's hope this problem doesn't happen to anyone else and I hope this advice is of use.

Good Time to Buy?

Len Visser — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I've been asked that question a lot lately. Pretty much normal given the market fluctuations of the past year and all the 'rebound' news that's been coming out.

My comments will be from two perspectives. First, from the I need a roof over my head perspective. You need shelter . . . available options, rent or own. Generally speaking, Buying is the better of the two options for a number of reasons such as the current low interest rates and the investment over time angle. What else would a real estate salesperson say? Well, buying isn't always the best option depending on your situation. For example, if your work includes the potential to move you to another location your needs might be better served by renting. If you do not have sufficient job income history you may not yet be able to qualify for a mortgage. Down payment . . . many situations require at least 5% down so you may need to get into a saving mode first. The fact is Buying isn't always the best way to go. Talk to your Realtor at Century 21. Discussion and analysis of your needs and financial situation will help sort the question out for you.

Second, is it a good time to invest in Real Estate. Again, I would say yes but qualify that with a question - what are you trying to accomplish? Are you looking to 'flip' property, maybe after doing a renovation? Are you trying to generate a certain level of income from you investment? How long of a term are you thinking of for this investment? All these questions and maybe more need to be addressed before the first question about timing can properly be answered. Again, discuss with your Realtor. They can help you sort out a strategy even if that strategy is simply to answer the question . . . is it a good time to buy Real Estate?

Online Real Estate Searches

Len Visser — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Stats show that over 75% of folks looking for real estate information now begin their search on the Internet . . . so, it figures that this would be the place to market a property for sale. How on earth would a person go about doing that?

Century 21 has and is using a marketing system to do just that . . . and, it works! If you are thinking of selling your real estate, give us a call. We look forward to the opportunity to explain this new marketing system to you. The system is not complicated. As a matter of fact it is quite straight forward, practicle, targetted, cost effective, and just plain effective. Truely a win / win for you, the client, your realtor and your real estate company. Check it out . . . all it takes is a phone call or email to set up your confidential interview.

2010 - What's On The Agenda?

Len Visser — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What will the Real Estate Market do in 2010? As usual, that's the million dollar question. Here's what I see from my perspective - in 2009 the real estate market finished very strong, mostly driven by low interest rates, bouyed by a rebuilding of consumer confidence. The stock market has cautiously rebounded as well and looks like it will continue to do so as long as the indicators don't show anything that register's too far from the expected. Canada's banking system remains healthy . . . the best in the world; the Canadian dollar is a bit too close to par with the U.S. dollar to get the manufacturing and forestry sectors humming; inflation seems manageable, (at least at this point); energy demands are strong; folks, in general, seem to have found a spending balance. To me, all these things indicate a cautiously strong general economy for 2010.

That cautiously strong general economy should translate into a steady real estate market without any 'land rushes' but with a steady, manageable growth in housing starts and in market sales. Of course, like always, segments of markets from area to area could perform quite differently than the over-all market . . . both out perform and have difficulty. That's where your Realtor and their imput come in. Be sure to speak frankly with your Realtor about your plans so they can advise according to what you are trying to accomplish.