barbados property news june/july 2012
DESCRIPTION
Barbados Property magazineTRANSCRIPT
BARBADOS
www.barbadospropertynews.com • June 2012 - July 2012 • Issue 81
Endorsed by the Barbados Estate Agents and Valuers Association Inc. Palm Court - Page 21
Island Gold- Page 23
Ron Karp Realty Ltd. - Inside back cover
Apes Hill - Page 24
PROPERTYNEWS
FREE&
ONLINE
7
B228734-bed / 3-bath home with heated poolSale Price BDS $545,500
B230903-bed / 2-bath home - great locationSale Price BDS $ 795,000
B88453-bed / 3.5 bath luxury townhousesSale Price From BDS $ 1,770,000
B230253-bed / 2-bath house - recently updatedSale Price BDS $ 700,000
B231103-bed / 2.5 bath home - large, lush gardensSale Price BDS $ 775,000
B232503-bed / 2-bath house - modern finishes Sale Price BDS $ 795,000
B231952-bed / 2-bath furnished penthouseSale Price BDS $990,000
B235053-bed / 3-bath villa on a breezy ridgeSale Price BDS $1,475,000
B234983-bed / 2.5-bath furnished townhouse Sale Price BDS $ 800,000
Looking to buy, sell or rent?We have these and many more properties available, just visit:
www.terracaribbean.com
To arrange a viewing or for sales information:Tel: (246) 434-9000 | E-mail:[email protected] | Rentals | Advisory | Property Management | Holiday Rentals
We Know Barbados
Ealing Park, Christ Church Walkers Terrace, St. George Clapham, St. Michael
Navy Gardens, Christ Church
Durants, Christ Church Mount Standfast, St. James Apes Hill, St. James
Hillbury, St. George Brittons Hill, St. Michael
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There is a tradition in Barbados that annual property repairs generally takeplace in the build-up to Christmas when homeowners go that extra mile toensure their property looks its best for the festive season and the return offamily members. But times may be changing as the current lull in the localproperty market has meant less people moving and in some instancespreferring to renovate and improve their existing home. This initiative is tobe welcomed as we could all take a more critical look at our homes and givethem a much-needed Spruce Up. There are certainly plenty of suppliers withinthe pages of Barbados Property News onlytoo willing to assist and provide advice andmaterials to complete the work.
Some homeowners switch off in thesummer months thinking people are
distracted by holidays rather than think about home improvements orselling. But this is not the case as lots of visitors are on island and fromtheir midst some lucky ones will buy a second home in BeautifulBarbados. Hopefully they will find it in this edition or in our sisterpublication Caribbean Property Magazine which was published at Easter.This annual glossy not only showcases some magnificent propertiesacross the region, but it includes many interesting guest articles in theBusiness and Finance Section.This is wedding time. Enjoy the wedding gift section on pages 36-38. Wehope it gives you some great ideas for the happy couple! Enjoy!Pamela Hiles Editor
6) 234-3815 [email protected]
Your mortgage has possibilities, whether you’re in the market for a new home or simply a renovation you can afford.
*Trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia.
Tel No.(246) 234-3815E-mail: [email protected]
Sandra E. PadmoreHome Financing Specialist
Discover what’s possibleCall Sandra today!
Finance up to a maximum of 30 years
Flexibility to meet when it’s convenient for you
Variable rates or fixed rate options Property and related insurance products
Online mortgage calculators
Editor’s Comments
If you would like to advertise in Barbados Property Newscall Pam at 228-9122 or 232-0692
Publisher – Hiltop Publications Ltd,11 Cottage Ridge, St George, Barbados,BB19071Tel (246) 228-9122, Fax (246) 228-0243Email: sportingb@caribsurf.comwww.sportingbarbados.comwww.barbadospropertynews.comwww.caribbeanpropertymag.comwww.caribbeanmortgageservices.com
Editor/Advertising – Pamela L Hiles
Design and Art Direction – 809
Distribution – Hiltop Publications Ltd,
Printing – Coles Printery
The Material and editorial contained in thispublication have been deemed accurate at thetime of going to print. The views expressed aseditorial are those of the Editor unless statedotherwise. No part of this publication may bereproduced without the consent of thepermission of Hiltop Publications Ltd.
On the cover: Palm Court
With 20 years under the belt inthe manufacturing of residentialfurniture for Barbados and theCaribbean, Wood House HomeFurnishings has grown to majorindustrial strength with plants inBarbados and Trinidad. Residentialfurniture is produced in Trinidad, andwe have just expanded our portfoliowith the birth of Wood House CustomCabinetry being manufactured inBarbados, producing the finest,
highest quality Kitchens, at surprisingly affordable prices!For years in Barbados, Kitchens of our quality, were imported from
Europe, as the experience, knowledge and equipment required tomanufacture this level of quality kitchen, at the quality and prices thatWood House Custom Cabinetry is able to offer, was not possible inBarbados. The investment in state of the art equipment, has enabledWood House to produce cabinetry that is equaled to that made in anyfirst world country in the world, at prices that Barbadians can afford.Wood House Custom Cabinetry has proudly provided kitchens to a
wide variety of customers, for both Barbadians and foreign residents,for residential and commercial installations. Our client base rangesfrom clients with smaller homes, affordable housing units, all the waythrough to world class prestigious homes on the west coast of the
island. Wood House Kitchens are truly for everyone, we design kitchensthat can be extremely affordable to kitchens that offer the highest qualityfeatures, that are available in the kitchen industry, lazy susans and pullout shelves, for the hard to reach items, the sky is the limit for what canbe added, to customize your dream kitchen! With our Design Team nojob is too big or too small!Heading the Design team is Tonya Blackman who is a registered
architect, and is able to assist with all your design needs, foraccessories, the choice of finish, to outlay, or she can work with theplans that may have already been provided for you. As quoted by oneof our very satisfied customers, “the only difference between a WoodHouse Kitchen and an imported one, is the name!”Most Barbadians have the concept that hiring a carpenter is more
affordable, but they are so wrong on this point. Can a carpenter offeryou a 5 year manufacturers warranty? Can he build all cabinets off siteand install within a matter of days. The answers to these questions andmany others is no! In addition to Kitchens, there is so much more that goes into a house.
There are closets, custom built vanities, laundry rooms, garage storageand of course home office and built in tv and entertainment units! Onceyou have the four walls and a roof, we can quote on everything else foryou. Remember estimates are free, just give us a a call at Wood HouseHome Furnishings, 420-5295 Ext 131, and we will be happy to set up anappointment, to discuss your needs. We will not be beaten on price!Or e mail us at [email protected]
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WoodhouseCustom Cabinetry
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Homeowners talk a lot about theuse of generators but when itcomes down to their presence inlocal homes there are relatively fewin place. They are certainly part andparcel of many publicestablishments, but despite theimmense benefits homeownershave been slow to embrace theiruse. There are two main reasons.Firstly, they are seen as anemergency device and insurancerather than provision so manypeople view them in the same
category as hurricane shutters, insurance and as an optional expense.Secondly, despite their acknowledged benefits most people don’t knowa lot about generators, their practical use and how they can becustomized to particular needs. Talius are the local agents for GENERAC and their management wentto great lengths to educate the local community last month with anexcellent seminar and display presentation at the Marriott Hotel inHastings. Both commercial and domestic generators were featured andthey also highlighted the growing range of portable generators andexplained their use and flexibility in times of crisis. There is a lot ofinformation to absorb when considering the purchase of a generator, butTalius has excellent and knowledgeable sales staff and their contribution
Talius AnswersMany Questions
Frank Moreno (left), Bob Cramer(right) and from Talius Philip Forster(centre).
Hurricane, Security& Sun Protection
is vital to the prospective buyer. After all, how do you calculate how muchpower you need and what type of generator best meets your particularneeds?Barbados has frequent power cuts and the threat of bad weather andhurricanes is part of everyday life for several months every year.Generators provide insurance when the power is down and we don’thave to look too far back to the last storm and the chaos it caused inmany parts of the island when electricity staff struggled to cope with theemergency. Worse still, our neighbours in St. Lucia had a horrendoustime. Generators in the home don’t provide all the answers, but they tickmany of the right boxes and if you wait until you are in an emergencysituation then you are too late! Home Standby generators provide 24/7power protection and are the safe solution to power cuts. Quite simply,when the power goes off the generator comes on. It provides completepeace of mind.Home generators may be seen as an option for homeowners, but if
your business depends on power then it is a no brainer to have back up.And this is particularly important for Internet users as many businessesstop when the computer is down because there is no comparablealternative.We live on an island where a power cut is a daily risk, even for a shorttime, and the need to be prepared has never been greater. In formertimes Barbados did not have the products or the expertise to provideback up, but thanks to companies like Talius all that has changed. For more information telephone Talius at 271 1245 for a free consultation.
SummerWeddings
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Barbados Property News Feature
Gift Ideas
Gajah1. Outdoor Lounger$1,419.002. Multi-colouredCushion $46.003. Wood & Glass Lantern$80.00
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3
2
2
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2
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Carters1. Weber Summit S670Grill – 500008905 –$9,445.59 nett.2. Keurig B60 CoffeeMaker – 250010124 -$486.00 nett. Alsoavailable are anassortment of K-cups.3. St. Tropez Dining Set– 700021201 - $1,852.77nett. Sort Your Stuff
1. Canvas Gown Bag-$43.75
2. Undersink Rack- $72.503. Dinnerware Storage -
$82.65
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3
2 2
1
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Designer Decor1. Abstract Print - $ 495.00 2. TC Vase 15" - $ 175.00 3. TC Pitcher 15" - $ 175.00
Do It Best1. Cuisinart Countertop Water
Filtration Unit $499.992. Cuisinart Compact Griddler
$244.99
2
3
Archer’s Hall1. Cabana Soy Candles$70.50 BDS VatInclusive.2. Blue Glass Shell Hors'd oeuvres Set$123.37 BDS VatInclusive3. Seahorse MarbleBoard Set$106.93 BDS VatInclusive
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Natz1. White RectangularServing PlattersSmall $51.17 Large $123.542. Double-Sided 2 x 3Cotton Rug - $108.933. Potted PhalaenopsisOrchid - $353.57
3
1
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Dwellings1. Mikasa Love StoryFrame 5x7 - $89.952. Lenox Sculpt 65 pcFlatware Set - $399.953. Lenox Opal InnocenceCarved Four Piece PlaceSetting - $169.95
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Carter’s Grove at Enterprise, just a few minutes from Oistins
New ten home development in quiet cul-de-sac
Three bedroom detached properties
Prices starting at BDS$ 346,000Plots 4,000 to 6,000 sq ft.
Special mortgage packages available
Four properties already under construction,
two reserved and four available to purchase.
For more information call 230 9215
Carter’s Grove
NOW
SELLING
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The Multiple Listing System has been officiallylaunched in Barbados by BEAVA Inc. (BarbadosEstate Agents and Valuers Association).Over 140 agents have been trained in the system
and those who had already signed up to have theirproperties listed on the BEAVA MLS site, joinedmembers of the board and specially invitedguests, chief among them, Honourable Ministerof Tourism, Richard Sealy, at a May 02 cocktail
reception at the residence of President Suzanne Davis. Globe Financecame on board then as a sponsor for the evening.That special celebration came after a near three-hour long sensitising
seminar earlier in the day for the general public at Hilton Barbados, whichsaw presentations by Wayne Berthin, owner of RealtyServer, host of theMLS and Howard Johnson, President of Jamaica Realtors Association, whohas been using the system with great success over the past two years.That morning session was part-sponsored by LIME who has come onboard as a partner for some of BEAVA’s future events. The MLS is new here to Barbados and therefore will have agents and
property owners across the island discussing the many benefits formonths to come and BEAVA has been fortunate to have quite a few agentswho are excited about this new way of doing business, least of all PatriciaGreenidge:“It’s a Roll Royce for owners or for anyone wanting to see or rent
property,” is how she describes the difference the MLS makes to herbusiness. “I think the exposure is more far reaching than most (local) realestate websites. In addition to that, the information required on thedescription of each property is more detailed and available, I think, thanmost real estate websites.”She adds that though listing a property on the MLS site could prove a
little tedious, once that was done, you just needed to sit back and reapthe sweets. To visit our website, log onto beavainc.com
BEAVA NewsMultiple Listing System Launched
BEAVA President Suzanne Davis (right) poses with (from left)Deborah Ramsay, Michelle Marshall and Melanie King at theofficial launch of the MLS.
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Property values in most sectorshave dropped in recent years evenif the Land Tax Departmentrefuses to acknowledge the fact intheir three-year assessment cycle.Of course, valuations is anopinion and if the Land TaxDepartment says the value hasgone up then their opinion is theonly one that matters. After all,
you can’t go to another Land Tax Department and since theAppeal Process is costly because it involves an independentvaluation then the outlay negates the potential saving.Unfortunately on this issue we have to suck it and move on! But while property owners may lament the fairness of this
situation, some of them may be making a bigger negative impacton their property value by simply ignoring some of the basicprinciples of good maintenance and housekeeping. Ashomeowners we get far too familiar with our surroundings andoften fail to see deterioration or give regular maintenance thepriority it deserves. This is apparent when it you want to sell yourproperty and the listing agent or valuer gives you a long list ofessential repairs needed to make the property salesworthy. Ofcourse, if you going to live and die in the same property then youmay not see the need!Homeowners should make regular inspections of their propertyand surrounds to ensure maintenance is up-to-date and thereare no skeletons in the cupboard. This is particularly importantin a tropical environment where the threat of termites and rot ismuch more prevalent than in temperate climates. Also, the needto keep gardens under control cannot be overestimated giventhat they could become a breeding ground for rodents, weeds,mosquitoes, African snails and burglars! First impressions are very important when someone is looking
to buy a property, but there are many reasons why a homeownershould maintain their property to a high standard irrespective ofselling. After all, you live in it 24/7 and you should take pride inits appearance. Also, a poorly kept property will not only losevalue, it will reduce the value of adjacent properties and bringdown the general standard of the neighbourhood. This isparticularly significant with newly constructed properties that areleft unpainted and with construction debris lying around theperimeter of the property for many years. Worse still, propertiesthat are unfinished for a plethora of reasons need to be dealtwith more effectively. This is an area where the Town and CountryPlanning Office should take a stronger approach. If a propertyhas been sitting unfinished for years perhaps it should be vestedand either sold or demolished and the site cleared. It certainlydoes the island no good as a holiday or potential second homedestination to have a landscape littered with derelict andunfinished properties. One of the lovely aspects of Caribbean architecture is the useof more vibrant colours. Tastefully painted houses of every shapeand size add to the beauty of the island and this is just asimportant with a chattel house as a luxury mansion. Visitors toCuracao and Grenada will be aware of the colourful landscapeprovided by brightly painted buildings and homes.No detached property or development is complete without
tasteful and well maintained landscaping. It hardly needs avaluer or selling agent to tell you the value it adds to the houseand at the other end of the scale how it takes away from aproperty if it is neglected. Barbadian homeowners havetraditionally renovated, repaired and refurbished pre-Christmas,but in the modern world it is an ongoing process and one thatshould not be neglected. The challenge is getting everyone onboard to think the same way and raise the bar all over the island.Spruce up your home and you will increase its Value.
Spruce Up Your Homeand increase its Value
