Kirsten Mason, Author at Kamloops Real Estate Blog

Kamloops Home Inspections: Fire Escape Emergency Plan And Your Family’s Safety

March 17, 2010 Kirsten Mason Home Inspection Information

Introducing a new contributor to the blog, Parker Bennett of Rest Assured Home Inspections. Feel free to post any questions here for Parker.

Many Kamloops parents probably wouldn’t think of pulling out of the driveway with the kids unbuckled or letting their four year old take a bike ride without a helmet. As a parent you want to prepare your kids to be as safe as possible, but have you planned to get them out alive in the event of an emergency?

The truth is last year Firefighters in Canada were called to over 50,000 residential fires and a recent study revealed that 70% of Canadians have not yet put together a fire escape plan. Are we really giving our kids a chance in the event of a fire without some basic information about what to do in the case of an emergency?

In addition to properly working smoke alarms, the best defense against a fire is a well-rehearsed, escape plan. Having your family ready for a fire can save precious seconds in the event of a real emergency.

Practice Makes Perfect
A fire escape plan should be designed and practiced twice a year. Make the drill fun for the family by practicing with time trials, there’s nothing like a little competitive spirit to drive the efficiency of your escape plan.
The Canada Safety Council recommends these steps to prepare for a family fire drill:
•   Draw a floor plan of your house.
•   Mark two ways out of each room.
•   Establish a meeting place outside the house.
•   Be sure each family member has the plan and knows the escape route.
•   Post your fire escape plan on the fridge or family bulletin board.
•   Hold a fire drill for your family once or twice a year. Vary the drills, to      practice escaping from different fire sources.
•   Make sure your baby-sitter understands your fire escape plan.
•   Everyone should know NOT to re-enter the home.

All Kamloops homeowners should take the time to check all smoke detectors and design an escape plan to get out alive. Test your kids from time to time with an emergency fire drill and keep everyone up to date with the plan to get out alive.

Parker Bennett, Rest Assured Home Inspections

P. 250-372-7375 E. [email protected]

Kamloops and District Real Estate Associations Statistics For February 2010

March 2, 2010 Kirsten Mason Kamloops Real Estate Statistics

The Kamloops and District Real Estate Association has released it’s latest statistics. Kamloops residential sales are up significantly over February 2009. The median sales price for Kamloops is also up. In February 2009 the Kamloops and District median residential price was $294,000. For Kamloops only it was $295,000. In February 2010 the median residential sales price for Kamloops and District was $320,000. For Kamloops only it was $334,500. Keep in mind the median price can be skewed by a number of high value property sales. To view the February 2009 statistics click here. Click on the image below to enlarge.

Kamloops Real Estate Comparative Analysis by Property Type February 2010

Kamloops Real Estate MLS activity Statistics, February 2010

Kamloops Real Estate MLS Activity February 2010

Kamloops Real Estate Sales by Subarea February 2010

Kamloops Construction Continues, Single-Family and Commercial Building Permits Are Up In 2010

February 15, 2010 Kirsten Mason Kamloops Real Estate News

This article appeared in the Kamloops This Week on Friday, February 12, 2010 and was written by Jeremy Deutsch.

The building train in the River City kept a-rollin’ all month long. Construction in the city for the beginning of 2010 is keeping pace with the strong finish that marked the end of the previous calendar year.

The number of single-family building permits issued by the city in January hit 13, compared to just two in January 2009. That helped spur the overall construction value for the month to top $13 million, compared to just $3 million the previous January. The city also handed out $8 million in commercial-building permits for the month.

The positive numbers are a surprise, said David Trawin, the city’s director of engineering and development. “It’s gearing up to be a good spring.” he said noting another 13 projects worth more than $1 million are already being reviewed at city hall for February. Trawin said the flurry of activity is a result of the warm winter, which kicked off the construction season early. He expects permits to drop off as spring turns into summer.

Last year, the city recorded $160 million in construction activity, surpassing expectations. This year, it’s forecast to issue $120 to $130 million in permits.

The strong month is mirroring the number of housing starts in Kamloops.

According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 21 new single-family homes started construction in January, up from six the previous year.

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