David Ractliffe, Sales Representative in Victoria, BC

CONTACT INFO

David Ractliffe

Sales Representative

Phone 250-479 3333	Cell 250-882 3283
Pager 250-479 3333	Fax 250-479 3565
Email

About
Listings
Philosophy
Tips For Buying & Selling
Recommended Links
Crea News

Hobbies:

Urban Planning and Development, World History

Community Interests:

United Way, Children's Miracle Network

Listings Supplied By MLS.ca:

Community

I believe that knowing our neighbours and interacting in our communities is the best formula for happiness and security. With this in mind, I visit the neighbours of all the homes that I sell and pre-introduce the new purchasers before they even move in. I find this helps smooth over what can be a very stressful transition.

Family

My family is the driving force behind everything I do. My energy and enthusiasm is mirrored and reflected in my two young sons. They enrich my life so profoundly -'I couldn't be happier.'

Real Estate

Victoria is a very vibrant city with new home construction, grand character homes, new condos, acreages, waterfront lots - the sky is the limit. With even the smallest detail, I will work to find it for you.

Selling

Researching Real Estate Online

'Let your fingers do the walking' has taken on a whole new meaning when it comes to researching real estate in the 21st century. The Internet is becoming an increasing important source of information and a time saving tool for homebuyers. It empowers them to gather information about housing issues and current market conditions as well as allowing them to preview numerous listings at the click of a mouse and survey current mortgage rates.

Home shoppers benefit in particular by being able to research homes before meeting with a real estate agent. Typical questions such as: Are there good schools nearby? How far is it to downtown or to work? Is the home construction suitable to its geographical area? Researching areas of concern can provide a sense of control over what is for many people the largest purchase of their lives. Also by weeding out homes that don't meet basic criteria, they can save themselves and the agent a great deal of time. The Internet makes research faster and more convenient than ever.

The following are some ways to maximize the research potential of the Internet when you search for a home.

In general…

Among the many purposes of the Internet from entertainment to education, it is a dynamic advertising and marketing tool. Remember that the truthfulness and quality of the information you find on the Internet can vary. Always consider the source. It's wise to check out more than one source in order to cross check information.
Some websites require personal details before a consumer can proceed and view certain information. If you are not comfortable with this don't feel obligated to divulge any personal information.

Conducting research…

The Canadian Home Builders Association website (http://www.chbabc.org/) serves those in the home building industry however it also provides valuable information to consumers regarding home design. In addition, the website lists topics in their technical library from masonry to finishes to energy efficiency which the public can access in person at their Burnaby, British Columbia location.
The Internet is an excellent way to find out about a new neighbourhood. There are three common online avenues to information about communities: type in e.g. www.nameofthecity.org (or .com), search for the town city hall or chamber of commerce.
Many online listings include an address with a postal code. If you aren't familiar with the address you can use the postal code to get an idea of the home location. In your browser type www.yahoo.ca and click on maps. When you enter the postal code, Yahoo will provide you with a detailed map of the location.
If you are interested in finding out about local services such as landscapers, architects, recreation facilities, etc., visit www.yellowpages.ca or www.superpages.com and type in your criteria. Along with the telephone number and addresses, some businesses will even include a website link and a map.
To find a property appraiser in your area check out the Appraisal Institute of Canada's website. An appraisal can provide an accurate assessment of market value when a home is bought or sold, a new home is being constructed, when a mortgage is required etc.
With a dizzying array of mortgage products on the market, online research can provide details about obtaining a mortgage as well as current rates. Many lenders include online mortgage calculators, worksheets to help you figure out how much you can afford, details of promotions as well as online applications.

If you're in the market for a new home you've likely already visited or plan to visit online listings on www.mls.ca. These listings generally provide details on the square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, age, location, and other aspects of the home along with a photo. You will also find the name of the listing agent.

Technology is not replacing customer service; an online listing doesn't mean an online sale without a human element. In fact, Internet shoppers are more likely to use real estate agents than non-Internet shoppers. Eighty-seven percent of web home shoppers use a real estate agent or broker, while 76 percent of traditional buyers work with an agent, according to an American study conducted by the National Real Estate Board in 2000. The Internet is a channel for delivering property information; as a consumer you need not sacrifice any of the services you'd expect from a profession real estate agent.

Sales agents help potential buyers determine their specific home requirements, provide qualified information about the local market, prepare an offer, provide information on home inspection and more.

Happy (and knowledgeable) house hunting!

Buying

First Home, First Hints

Congratulations! You're about to move out of an apartment into your first home. What a great move, but you need to know a few things and buy a few things. Remember there will be no "building manager" to take care of things for you - you're it!

First things first. Let there be light, but where is the fuse box? Does it use fuses or just switches? (Hint: Label each switch with white tape and black letters so you can see them easier in the dark.) It's a good idea to turn the switches off and on a few times so you're used to how stiff they can be.

Water, water everywhere. Find the turn-off valve inside the house so minor floods don't become major. Make sure you know where the toilet turn-off valve is. Can you turn off the outside faucets in the winter? (Hint: you may have to leave one outside faucet dripping during the cold months so you don't burst the pipes during freezes.) Find the water meter and make sure it is functioning. If your garbage disposal stops working, find the red reset button on the unit under the sink. Before you turn it back on, check with your fingers to see if anything is blocking the blades, and then press the reset button. (Hint: Remove your fingers and the offending objects from the blades before turning the disposal on again…duh.)

Keeping warm and toasty. It's important to find the furnace. What kind of fuel does it use? If you have an oil furnace, ask how often you need to refill it and who refills it. Do you have a maintenance contract for repairs? If not, can you get one? If you're going to have to replace or clean the filters, where do you get them? (Hint: buy a couple of them, you never seem to need to replace them when the store is open.) Find the reset button and label it. Does the furnace have a fan for cooling the house in the summer? Where are the thermostats for controlling the temperature? No matter what the source of energy for your heating, find the main shut off valve.

Curl up by the fire. But make sure the fireplace flue is cleaned every one to three years, depending on how much you use it. Otherwise, the chimney may not draw well and "smoke gets in your eyes", which is not as romantic as the song. A clogged chimney can cause a fire, which is not cool.

Nothing like a long hot bath. Check the water heater to see if it has a pilot light. If it goes out, how do you re-light it? Find out how to set the temperature and decide what temperature you should set it to.

Your very own washer and dryer. Clean the lint tray on the dryer every load or two, or it will build up and slow down the drying process. Also, too much dry lint can cause a fire. If your washer drains directly into a utility sink, place a filter on the end of the hose to keep from clogging your sink.

How about a tall cold one? At least twice a year, clean the water tray under your frostless refrigerator, and vacuum the coils at the back now and then to keep it cooling effectively. (Hint: Check the seals around the doors of your refrigerator to make sure no cool air is escaping. If there is moisture on the rubber seal, you've got a faulty seal.) Now pop open the cold one and toast your new home.