— another factor to consider
when looking at a prospective
house and noticing any more
recent upgrades.
Taxes will be higher in British
Columbia. The provincial sales
tax adds seven per cent to most
purchases on top of the GST.
Taxes can add twenty to thirty
cents a litre to the price of
gasoline. There is also a property
transfer tax on home purchases
that typically adds one percent
on the first $200,000 and two
percent on the rest. There is also
a ‘Speculation and Vacancy Tax’
assessed on any property owned,
but not a full-time residence.
Such issues contribute
significantly to a higher cost
of living.
In a wet climate, it’s common
for wood to rot and for
carpenter ants and termites
Abutilon on my deck
double-glazed, in kitchen and
bathroom sinks, and in
showers. Cotton swabs and
forested, spider infestations
can be quite alarming.
I remember skipping back
In a wet climate, it’s common for wood to rot and for
carpenter ants and termites to be a hazard.
to be a hazard. One needs to
check regularly to make sure
insects haven’t made inroads
into your dwelling since they
love cellulose — wood, paper,
drywall covering, and so on —
and can eventually even
destroy supporting beams.
In winter, there may be mould
and mildew around windows
and doors that aren’t properly
mould removal products
can clean it, but eventually,
professional help may be
required. Don’t expect wet
towels and clothes to dry out
in a reasonable time in the
rainy season, either.
Management of wildlife can
be challenging. If your coastal
property is in even a slight
depression that is heavily
and forth along a neighbour’s
driveway one morning to avoid
countless giant slugs that had
appeared overnight. Raccoons
are ubiquitous, causing
considerable damage to houses
at times, even breaking into
attics. And gardens require
deer fencing, because there
are very few plants that are
comprehensively immune to
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