Vancouver, BC

Welcome to our first edition of Vancouver Secrets. Some fun and really interestings postings regarding the secrets and history about Vancouver, BC. We're excited to share!

Who doesn't like buried treasure?

The story goes like this,

In 1942 there was a robbery at the Bank of Montreal on Main Street (it still stand today, though no longer a bank)... The thieves made off with $56,500 (which back in 42 was a whole bunch of money!)

3 Years later, a woman approached the police who claimed that at least half of the money was buried in Stanley Park. (She knew this because her boyfriend had taken her to the hiding place one night) How totally romantic, right?

Unfortunately, shortly after, the boyfriend was shot and killed.

She described that the burial spot (for the money, not the bf) was "in a clearing in a clump of trees, bordering the cricket pitch at Lower Brockton Point".

The police dug for days with no success.

The case was closed and the money was never recovered.

Fast forward to today - 60 years later. The cricket field is still there, as is a clump of cedar trees with a little clearing...

Is the $28,000 still there? Could be - who knows! Are you going to try to find it? *Before you grab your shovel, please take into consideration that it's kind of against the law to start digging up city property...*

Either way, it's sort an interesting story about Stanley Park and the first of many Vancouver Secrets to come! I hope you enjoyed!

What's Hot this Year in Home Decor? This Vancouver Home Stager went to Investigate-Part 2

WOOD AND ROOTS – Twisted, gnarled roots are all the rage this year and serve well as bases for glass coffee tables, and console tables. Their interesting shapes serve as a naturally beautiful but functional piece of art. The addition of wood also gives the eye a rest from all the shiny, sparkly accessories that are de rigueur. The combination of matte and shiny objects creates depth and interest.

NOSTALGIA – What’s old is new again. I’m transported in time when I see an old-fashioned clock or turn-of-the-century camera or compass. A jar of buttons or a tattered, block-printed book speak to me of my grandparents and all the good memories they evoke. Time was slower and simpler back then. These items make me feel good. The store, Noir, has many of these items. I love the stacks of old books on these bookshelves, coupled with a cloche, an old-fashioned typewriter, and whalebone. Placing these items in a staged home would certainly speak to home buyers on a different level.

INDUSTRIAL CHIC – Yes, industrial chic is still with us. Rustic metals, rivets, found objects from old factories – all this remains in fashion. I love the naked, hanging Edison light bulbs.

For more hot home decor trends for 2012, check out What's Hot this Year in Home Decor Part 1!

WHAT’S HOT THIS YEAR IN HOME DÉCOR? THIS VANCOUVER HOME STAGER WENT TO INVESTIGATE

We recently attending the Furniture Show in Las Vegas and viewed, first hand, cutting edge furniture and accessory trends. Here’s a little of what I found.

BLING – We were not disappointed. There was so much sparkle and bling, we could have used a pair of sunglasses! Not a problem, as I’m a huge fan of anything shiny that catches the light. This adds a bit of elegance, luxury and femininity to any décor. Silver mercury glass is still a hot commodity and looks lovely with a faux candle inside to make it glow.

UNDER THE SEA – The colour blue is very ‘au courrant’, especially soft sea foam blues, turquoise and aqua. Anything textural, such as coral, shells or sea sponges abound. Whether used in a bathroom or on a living room coffee table, combined with books and flowers, there always seems to be a place for sea-themed, textural items.

GLASS – Clear, shiny, ephemeral, see-through or cloudy, glass adds a certain fragile quality when combined with other more opaque objects and textures. Glass really takes off this year and is displayed in some amazing colours and forms. I love the glass curlicues and hanging glass chains.

MIRRORS AND OTHER REFLECTIVE SURFACES – Mirrors abound this year, but not just the “mirror, mirror on the wall” kind. Mirrors are also found on furniture, whether small side tables or complete mirrored armoires. Silver, hammered metals, and smooth, shiny metal surfaces in lamps and accessories add to the light and reflection in a room.

At Exit Stage Right, we'll be incorporating many of these 2012 trends into our home staging decor. Keeping properties for sale looking fresh and up-to-date is extremely important to buyers.

I presented an article from Jamie Sarner today (Toronto), and I think Vancouver deserves its share of articles as well. Without further ado - Jay Banks and market results from Vancouver!

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“The MLS® HPI is a national collaboration intended to give the public a more reliable and comprehensive tool to understand home price trends across the country,” Rosario Setticasi, REBGV president, commented on the launch of the new MLS® Home Price Index (MLS® HPI) replacing the MLSLink Housing Price Index, which had been used by Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley REALTORS® since the mid 1990s.

The MLS® HPI benchmark price for all residential properties in the Greater Vancouver Area has experienced a growth of 5.7 per cent over the last year, climbing up to $660,600 since January 2011, and a slight 0.1 decrease compared to the previous month. The benchmark price for all residential properties in the Lower Mainland is $593,300 — less than 5 per cent more than in January 2011.

Last month’s new listings count was by far the highest January total in Greater Vancouver history since 1995. New listings for detached, attached, and apartment properties amounted to 5,756 — reaching a 19.9 per cent growth compared to January 2011, when new listings reached 4,801. This represents a vast 253.3 per cent increase compared to December 2011, which recorded merely 1,629 sales.

Residential property sales reached 1,577 on the Multiple Listing Service®, falling 4.9 per cent behind December’s 1,658. This represents a 13.3 per cent downturn compared to January 2010 sales, which reached 1,819.

Detached property sales (659 units) experienced a 16.9 per cent decrease compared to January 2011 (793 units) and a 6.5 per cent decrease compared to January 2010 (705 units). The benchmark price increased 11.3 per cent from January 2011 to $1,034,700.

Apartment property sales (657) decreased 7.9 per cent compared to January 2011 (713) and 26.3 per cent compared to January 2010 (891). The benchmark price increased by 2.4 per cent from January 2011 to $371,500.

Attached property sales (261 units) experienced a 16.6 per cent decline compared to January 2011 (313 units), and a 20.2 per cent decrease compared to January 2010 (327 units). The benchmark price decreased by 0.5 per cent since January 2011 to $468,000.

Written by Jay Banks - Vancouver real estate

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Vancouver Home Stager Attends Real Estate Staging Association Conference 2012 Las Vegas

One Conference all Vancouver Home Stagers should be attending is the RESA (Real Estate Staging Association) Conference. This important Conference brings together Stagers from across North America to exchange information, brain storm, share current trends and update skills. I was very excited to attend my 3rd RESA Conference and thought I'd share a few special moments.

Although the Conference is held at the Treasure Island Hotel, I have a special place in my heart for the Venetian Hotel across the road, and decided to hang my hat there for the duration.

My morning started with a quiet, zen moment by the pool at the Venetian, drinking my coffee and contemplating what was planned for the rest of the day.

The Venetian Hotel calms me. I love all the ornate ceiling ornamentation, and enjoy being serenaded in the elevators and hallways by tunes from Phantom of the Opera, and contemporary Italian ballads.

Once at the Conference, it was great to reconnect with Stagers from across Canada and the United States. We have a wonderful time catching up with our personal lives, as well as hearing how the Staging industry is clicking along in various parts of our respective countries.

From top left: Cathy Lee-CL Design Services, Lori Kim Polk-Premiere Home Staging, Janice Sutton-1st Stage Property Transformations; Jackson West-JacksonLaneWest.com, Me (Sally Weatherley, Exit Stage Right); Margaret Gehr-Chicagoland Home Staging; Lori Kim Polk-Birthday Girl!; Tori Toth-Stylish Stagers, Susan Evans-Home Suite Home Staging; Susan Evans, Lori Kim Polk, Peg Barcelo-Jackson-Fluff My House Home Staging, Me!

The RESA Conference offers wonderful, motivational speakers and industry experts. This is media darling Cathy Hobbs, sharing tips on how to leverage your way with television appearances. She was a fountain of information and gave us great insight into the media world.

The Conference is also a great platform on which to present industry awards, recognizing those individuals and companies who have excelled this year. Here is a photo of Kathy Nielsen, Georgia Interior Solutions, being honoured for a staging award. Congratulations, Kathy!

The Real Estate Staging Association Conference is something not to be missed. This Conference is too important in taking our Staging businesses to the next level, thereby serving the public to the best of our ability. After all, the name of the game is to help home owners sell their properties as painlessly and successfully as possible!