High Hydro bills?

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:53:27 GMT

It is that time of year where expenses can be high. You might have racked up some bills over Christmas or perhaps you have reduced hours at work and are just on a tighter budget in general.

With the winter comes higher heating costs and there are a few suggestions I can offer that may help.

1) Call BC Hydro and ask them to put you on the equal payment plan. With this program they look at the hydro costs for your property over the last year, they break that down into a monthly payment and at the end of the year you either pay the difference or are credited the difference. This is a great way to know exactly what your hydro expense will be every month. The average hydro bill for most homes is around $120/month give or take depending on the size and energy efficiency of the home. Paying $120/month beats paying a $600 bill for January and February.

2) Consider installing programmable thermostats so you can be sure to keep your temperature down at night while sleeping or while away from the house. If you are renting your landlord may be willing to invest in this upgrade to the house.

3) If you are not able to upgrade your windows then you can buy kits which cover them in plastic to assist in being more energy efficient. As a tenant you may want to consider doing this to help reduce your heating costs for older homes.

If you are a homeowner there are many energy efficient upgrades that you can make to your home and perhaps it needs to be gradual rather than incurring the cost all at once.

We have no natural gas on Pender so many homes are heated with baseboard heating. Some have electric furnaces or heat pumps and there are a few that use oil or propane.

Why are there less available rentals in the summer months?

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:44:40 GMT

Why are there less available rentals in the summer months?

The Pender Island rental market definitely has some seasonal trends. It can be very difficult to find available rentals during the summer months. Most people secure their rentals in the spring if they plan to be here in the summer.

There are a few reasons why there are less available rentals on Pender in the summer...

Many people that have second homes here like to use their homes in the summer months so if they have been renting their home during the off season these renters now need to find a new home. Some of these renters can be at an advantage because they are already on Island and will be able to network to increase their odds of finding a place.

The next reason there is a shortage is because the summer months bring increased employment. Many people come to Pender and just stay for the summer while they are working. The increased amount of renters decreases the available inventory.

Another factor that has an impact on the Pender rental market is the Pender real estate market. We have a lot of visitors in the summer so this is a time that home sellers take advantage of. Renters of these properties either decide to find a new place to live because of the uncertainty of their future living arrangement or the home they are living in sells and they are forced to find a new home.

There are home owners that rent their homes out only for the summer months, they do so because they feel they can get a premium rate during this time. We used to have a lot of weekly rentals, they are not permitted in the North Pender bylaws but they still are present in our market. These home owners can receive the same rent in one week that they would normally receive for an entire month during the off season. South Pender does permit weekly rentals.

My advice to those needing to come to Pender during the summer months - plan ahead, try to secure your rental property before May.

My advice to those wanting to move to Pender Island but have the freedom to choose when - consider moving in the fall when there can be more inventory and more variety is available to suit your needs. You may also get a better rent for the off season if the home owners use their property in the Summer. In turn you will be able to experience Island life and determine if it is right for you. With this arrangement you will also have several months to secure a new property that ideally suits your needs.

Charmaine Harris
Managing Broker & Owner
Coastal Life Realty Ltd.
Licensed for real estate sales and property management

Specializing in Pender Island properties
Direct:             (250) 629-9998
Cell:                 (250) 539-0656
Toll Free          (866) 329-9998
Fax:                 (250) 629-6877
http://www.coastalliferealty.ca

Rental Market information

High Hydro bills?

Why are there less available rentals in the summer months?