Another day trip idea from Salt Spring Island, this time onto mid-Vancouver Island. Catch the ferry from Vesuvius Bay, on Salt Spring Island, and twenty minutes later you're driving off at Crofton, on Vancouver Island. There are many vineyards in the Cowichan Valley area, and the town of Duncan is the "centre", re shopping options. Check out Maple Bay, where the Grapevine Restaurant is (a super place for dinner), or head out to Genoa Bay (again, a great restaurant on the seaside, also for dinner). The cider and meadery is also in Cowichan Valley, and they, too, offer lunch and dinner (great menu) as well as "tastings". Some vineyards also offer restaurant options (Vignetti Zanetti and the Cherry Point Vineyard both do so), as well as tastings. If you haven't been to Cowichan Bay lately, there's the Masthead Restaurant, plus the Cowichan Bay Inn dining room, and the organic bakery there is totally wonderful (local cheese shop next door). If you decide to head "north" when you drive off the ferry at Crofton, instead of "south", you will encounter Chemainus, the town of murals. The tea room, there, in the old bank building, offers great coffee/tea/snacks, plus lunch. Ask about their dinner options, too. The Chemainus Theatre is a dinner theatre experience, and it's easy to get back to Salt Spring, on a Saturday, with the later ferry sailing. Meander through Yellowpoint area, too, just north of Ladysmith, and enjoy the Crow and Gate Pub (an authentic English style pub, with great lunch and dinner specials). Lots of studio tours/gallery tours, in the Cowichan Valley, plus a wonderful First Nations display, in the town of Duncan, just beside the Cowichan River. More ideas? See Li and ask for "Li's List"!
Looking for some "day trip" ideas? Here's one: take the ferry from Fulford Harbour, on Salt Spring Island, to Swartz Bay (the Victoria ferry terminal), which is about 10 minutes from Sidney by the Sea. Lots of book stores & art galleries to check out in Sidney itself, plus places to lunch or to have coffee/snacks or even to have dinner, if you stay over that long. Don't forget the vineyards on the Saanich Peninsula (tours & tastings), plus Butterfly World and the extraordinary Butchart's Gardens! If it's a rainy day, you might want to drive right into Victoria to the incredible B.C. Museum (an Imax , and also enjoy afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, right across the street. Lots of great shopping along Government Street, and don't overlook Munro's Books, a gem of a bookstore! So many great places to eat out, too (Niche, Lure, Cafe Brio among some choices!), and, if you plan to drive back to Sidney for dinner, before catching the ferry back to Fulford on Salt Spring, then there's always Haro's, in the Pier Hotel (good food/superb oceanview). More places to go/things to see? Call Li for "Li's List", and get some more specifics. Always interested in "your" picks, too.
In the sustainable view of consumerism, maybe we will see more renovations of homes, and less 'moving on' decisions? Homes in established neighbourhoods, with mature landscaping, and proximity to good community opportunities (schools being only one item), could end up being added onto in a creative manner, ending up with a totally different "look", and with a newly amenable floor plan, too, to suit changing family dynamics. Along with the demise of plastic bags (you do have a cloth bag that you reuse, right?), and the decision to walk or bike, as opposed to always taking the car (cuts emissions and keeps the use of costly gas lower, plus maintains your physical health), the use of xeriscape landscaping techniques (who needs all that water hungry grass, anyway?), we can also consider E type windows, energy efficient appliances, and a restructuring of a soundly built home so that it reflects 21st Century needs. Sustainability does demand some changes, and they're not always easy (at first). It's kind of like breaking any bad habit -- it takes 30 days to recreate the desire machine that lives inside us all, and to move its thermostat to a different temperature. To make changes, on a global scale, to stem the global warming challenge among others, it's essential that we change our own individual worlds, and perhaps the decision to stay put, and to renovate, rather than to move to the endless new, will be a profound way to look at housing. Our disposable 20th Century world view may be over!
I wonder how many other people look at the year on a September to September basis? Is it because of all those years of school, where it seemed that a new beginning always occurred in September, with the "back to school" promotions? January 1st comes and goes, and, yes, I sing Auld Lang Syne and watch the fireworks from the Seattle space needle, via t.v., and toast with champagne, and I know that the calender shows a "new year", but inside I know it's only half way through! September 1st is coming fast, and this year Labour Day Weekend is early...when it goes by, it's really autumn, not summer (no matter what the actual seasonal date change says!). So, let's see, what are some of my "beginning year" resolutions? Try to walk for two miles a day, four days a week, regardless of weather. File at the end of a day, so I never get out of control with that endless paperwork (what happened to the paperless world promise?). Phone 5 existing clients a day, just to touch bases, and to see how things are in their world. Send 10 emails a day, to existing clients, if they are on overload, and might find a phone call "interruptive" (private time being so valuable, now). Once a week, take another realtor to lunch, possibly even from another office, and find out how things are with them, in this different/downmarket cycle (it's called "networking", right?). Sign up for an interesting night school class, and make sure everyone there knows I'm a realtor (it's good to be seen to be interested in things other than "the biz"). Support something in the arts, or with a fundraiser to benefit a hospital, or coach a school team, or...you get the drift (give back to the community, genuinely). August 31st is the end of this year, with all its ups and downs. September 1st begins the "real" new year, with all its promises and potential. So...your resolutions are?
August 22, 2008.
Don't forget to catch the Photosynthesis show of Salt Spring's incredible photographers,
which runs through to Sept. 2nd, at ArtSpring. Inspiring!
Tomorrow, ArtSpring showcases Celeste Lovick & Chris Ellis, from Britain, playing their
passionate acoustic music, with a Celtic flavour. Enjoy!
Steffich Fine Art (in Grace Point Square), in collaboration with Michael Hames, is showing
a First Annual Exhibition of Historic Prints (there's an evening reception from 5 to 7
p.m., tonight, and the show runs through to Sept. 11th. New prints by Michael Hames will
also be on display.
Tonight, ArtCraft's Botanica showcase begins, with the artists in attendance, from 6 to 9
p.m. I'm happy to be the sponsor for this week long offering, which premieres the works of
Ulrike Benner, Maureen Procter, Jan Smith, Anna Gustafson. See you at the opening, this
evening!
The Fiddleworks 9th annual Fiddle Camp closes today -- you need to contact Jamie RT for
details about next year's events. Be a part of something incredible, on Salt Spring!
Only two more Sundays to enjoy brunch at Hastings House -- spoil yourself, here!
Tommy Hooper plays at Tree House tomorrow, and Valdy on Sunday, with Shades on Monday --
enjoy!
Have you been along to enjoy Jill Louise Campbell's original paintings, at her Merchant
Mews gallery? Catch her imaginative Salt Spring Island inspirations at her Ganges gallery,
too!
If you haven't managed to catch the Sculpture Tour, the result of Nick Hunt and Celia
Duthie-Hunt, of Salt Spring Woodworks, and hosted by Hastings House, don't miss this. You
can enter via Hastings House's main arrival parking area, or from the gated path off
Churchill Road. Give yourself some moments, to savour this display.
Needing to enjoy some tea and a pastry, afterwords? Try Rendezvous Cafe, and one of
Brigitte's amazing and authentic French creations, just opposite Moby's, at the Salt
Spring Marina location. You'll be back!
Enjoy the slow meandering end of the summer season!
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Successfully connecting buyers & sellers on Salt Spring Island & on all Southern Gulf Islands, since 1989. I offer superb market knowledge & work for the best interests of my clients. See Li!
I love my career, and have been a real estate agent on Salt Spring Island, also selling on the adjacent Southern Gulf
Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna, & water access only options, in between (Wise, Parker, Secret, Gossip, DeCourcy,
Phillimore Point), since 1989.
Living & working on a Gulf Island is very different from a "city scape". Boats & floatplanes are also a part of one's
work life, not just cars & highways (although the sea is just a highway, really).
I now work under the Vancouver Real Estate Board, and achieved Gold Award MLS recognition for the past ten consecutive years, while at the Victoria Board (MLS President's Award for same). In the various companies i've worked for, since 1989, I was always a 'top producer', and connected many sellers and buyers. Sales awards (at company levels, MLS/Board levels, & internationally -- references upon request) are an indicator, from one's peers in the industry, of excellence in customer service.
By the way, "Li" is a nick-name for Liane, and it rhymes with "see". Thanks!
Say hello to Bobbi, my "unlicenced assistant"! Jack Russell Terriers are "smart cookies",and Bobbi
is also a calm one (yes, it's true!). When you view property with me, she's sometimes along for
the ride -- I supply the cookies!
Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands are "governed" by the B.C. Provincial Government,
under the Islands Trust.
The Trust came into being in 1974, with a "preserve & protect" mandate, to keep the Islands as these
pristine and park-like enviroments, for the benefit of all B.C. residents, "forever". Two trustees per
Island (not representative of population, then) are elected every three years, in the B.C. civic elections,
to manage the Trust bylaws/official community plan, on each Island. These strong zoning/density bylaws
control (& effectively "cap") growth. Limited supply, and a strong buyer demand, usually result in higher prices, regardless of market trend in play at any given time. There will always be a low inventory of properties for sale, then, on any Gulf Island, due to this Islands Trust mandate.
There is no industry on the Gulf Islands. Salt Spring Island is the largest and best serviced of the Southern
Gulf Islands (Gabriola, Thetis, Galiano, Salt Spring, Pender, Mayne, & Saturna Islands are the ferry accessed
options), with a year round lifestyle, and all the amenities required in the 21st Century.
One doesn't "have to" leave Salt Spring Island for anything, but it's easy to go to Vancouver or to Victoria or to
mid-Vancouver Island locations, on day trips. There are three separate ferries that service the Island, plus
three regularly scheduled (year round) floatplane services, so it's very simple to do daytrips to major centres,
and to return easily to the Island's charm. In the "season", there's also a floatplane service from Seattle to
Salt Spring Island.
Low supply coupled with high demand, though, often results in price escalation. The internet erased geography,
and so the buyer profile for this area is mainly from out of province, and often from out of country.
Although the Islands Trust wasn't set up to create an expensive "enclave" area, it has had this result. As soon as
one "caps" growth, for whatever reason (in this case, for environmental protection reasons), and the buyer
profile is a global one (post-internet), which means more buyers than inventory, regardless of real estate market
trends, at any given time, one has an expensive buy-in locale.
Sellers and realtors do not set a market; only buyers do that. The Islands Trust, however, is responsible for a
no-growth policy that guarantees an escalating price point in the real estate marketplace.
I have the knowledge and the expertise and the strong negotiating skills to help you to have a pleasing experience, whether selling or buying.
This is a magical Island, and I look forward to introducing it to you.
Please ask for me, by name, when you visit Salt Spring Island. I have an office in "downtown Ganges". A quick call to my cell (250-537-7647) will allow us to connect. My office is located at: # 4 - 105 Rainbow Road, across from the Harbour.
P.S. "Li" rhymes with "see"! "See Li for Successful Solutions" is my promise to my clientele.
Look forward to meeting you!
Toll free: 1-866-405-9229
liread33@gmail.com
It's definitely different than selling in a city enviroment.
For one thing, I work in what is known as a secondary home or discretionary market. No one "has to"
move to Salt Spring Island or another Southern Gulf Island -- it's all by choice!
In a primary residence (city) area, there might actually be "comparables".
In a discretionary/secondary home marketplace, though, it's full of "custom" homes and even
undeveloped land will be its unique self, without any "comparable".
Difficult for an appraiser, then, as there is so much that is specific to each property, with no real equivalent
anywhere else on the Island, plus, with a limited inventory "ever" (there's that Islands Trust, and its cap on
growth), it means the listing inventory is never very large, and so the "solds" statistics aren't very informative.
Time lags are a part of all sales, too. First, the prospective buyer has to hear about this area and
then they make plans to travel here, to view.
The entire Coast is very appealing, and so often the Island gets "interviewed", and then so do
other coastal communities. One has to sell the Island, first, thus, before one can get around to selling
a particular property on it.
Two visits, then, if not three, become the pattern, and since the buyers aren't
"local", the time between trips can be as long as 5 to 7 months!
It can take, then, between one and four years to sell any property on a Gulf Island, including on Salt Spring
Island, and the main reason for this is because the buyer isn't "local", and the decision to purchase is a "choice",
both in the "where" and in the "when".
This time lag feature makes a "days on market" tag on an mls listing irrelevant.
In my area, there's a weekly local paper, and a monthly real estate supplement. Neither of these
are seen until the buyer arrives on Island, and so they do not offer an advertising vehicle that "brings"
a buyer. No one googles Salt Spring Island, or the Southern Gulf Islands, unless they're encouraged to
do so.
Print ads, then, in targeted venues, where the buyer profile lives, are still important in a
non-local/discretionary marketplace. If you think you saw an ad by me, in your area, you probably did!
I hope you responded, and went onto my principal website (www.liread.com).
We all do "floor duty days", but open houses don't work here, as the buyer isn't local. We're getting our
own radio station, but it's not up and running yet, so there's no t.v. or radio media spots, either. Signage
on a lawn (or up on a tree, if you're going by in a boat, and would see that more easily) is apparent, but,
again, not viewed until the buyer physically arrives on Island.
People don't move around on the Island; they arrive, they're here, then, if they have to leave
(usually only for personal reasons), they list. Then comes the search for the buyer,
who lives somewhere else in the world!
This non-local aspect to the buyer profile means that a realtor has to keep an eye on market
conditions in those buyer areas, as the B.C. market outlook won't have much relevance.
I wouldn't live anywhere else, though! This is an exceptional lifestyle choice!
If you drop into Salt Spring, please ask for me by name -- I'm the Managing Broker, of Sea to Sky Premier
Properties (Salt Spring), and I have an office in "downtown" Ganges Village (in the Clement, Murphy, Woodward law
office building, at the corner of the main road (Lower Ganges Road) & Rainbow Road. There's parking behind,
off Rainbow Road. My office (# 4 - 105 Rainbow Road) faces onto the main street, and enjoys a Harbour view. It's
adjacent to Stone Walrus Gallery). A quick call to my cell (250-537-7647) will connect us.
I look forward to meeting you, and to offering my expertise and my superlative market knowledge
and my strong negotiating skills for your benefit, during your search for your special Island gem.
Looking forward to your call!
P.S. Here's one of those "differences":
Selling real estate on Salt Spring Island & the Southern Gulf Islands is not like it would
be in a city or a town marketplace.
I was driving up a roughed in roadway, on a heavily forested acreage, recently, and
there, at the side of the roughed in driveway, were two baby racoons. The clients took
these photos, before we bundled them into my dog's car bed, wrapped in towels that I keep
for wiping off a muddy dog, on rainy days, so that we could deliver them to the Salt
Spring Wildlife Rescue Centre.
That was an interesting visit, too! Looking for a place to give a charitable donation?
Think of the Wildlife Centre -- on Lang's Road, it's not open to the public, and they have
a unique project there. Saving abandoned wildlife is one of them. (Yes, we did check with
the Wildlife Centre before we brought the babies in. Sometimes the mother is just off
foraging for food, but in the case of these racoons, they really were abandoned).
It was an adventure!
liread33@gmail.com
www.liread.com
Large list of satisfied clients upon request. Privacy is an important concern, especially in a small
community; I can supply references, but I prefer not to place same in this venue. Thank you!
With twenty years in the business, successfully connecting sellers and buyers on Salt Spring Island
and on the Southern Gulf Islands (Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Saturna & water access only islands
in between: Wise, Secret, Gossip, Parker, DeCourcy, Hudson, etc.), I bring to each sales transaction:
enthusiasm, expertise, superb market knowledge, strong negotiating skills, and a sincere desire to create
a successful buying or selling experience for you, the client.
Referrals are welcomed and are cared for.
"See Li for Successful Solutions" is my promise to my clientele. ("Li" rhymes with "see").
P.S. No one wants the cell tower near them, on this beautiful and quirky Island, and so when you call my
cell (250-537-7647), you might get the voice mail Please leave me a message. I do return all calls, asap, & will
find a cell zone to do so!
Appreciated!
liread33@gmail.com
Toll free: 1-866-405-9229
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