An accessory building, also known as your dream shop, can be valuable when it’s done properly. Now that you’ve finally received permission to build it, there’s a few things you need to be aware of before you start!

First, what is an accessory building? It’s defined as ancillary and subordinate to a permitted principal use or building on the same lot. That basically means that they’re an accessory to the main building on the lot and are not meant to be another principal building. Examples of an accessory building can include a shop, greenhouse, shed, boathouse, storage building, or a private studio, among others. Any of these structures will have a specific set of guidelines to adhere to, as an accessory building. Now that you know what your dream shop really is, it’s time to go to city hall to start the permit process. In the Comox Valley, you’ll need to head to the CVRD Planning Department.

During the planning and permit process, you’ll find out the limits on your new building. Accessory buildings are limited to specific heights. In the Comox Valley, an accessory building are generally limited to 6m, measured from the average natural grade of the peak of the roof, depending on where the building is located on the land. An accessory building is also limited by setbacks on property lines. Property setbacks for the Comox Valley area can be found by using the CVRD’s iMap2.1 tool. You should then confirm the property setbacks with the planning department. You’ll also find out about your maximum lot coverage, which is a percentage stated on your zoning bylaw. Maximum lot coverage is basically just a measure of how much impervious space you can have on your lot. All of these restrictions will be important when submitting the paperwork for your accessory building, so make sure you’ve done your research and have planned accordingly. Be thorough! You don’t want your permit to be denied because of a technicality. If you need clarification, contact the planning department to confirm.

Once you’ve got the details sorted out and you’ve submitted your paperwork, you can expect approximately 3 – 5 weeks before your plan may be approved. Then you can put your plan in action and start building that shop! Accessory buildings can add really add value to your property when you sell, especially when they’re done right and permitted properly. They can also be something to consider when you’re buying too! If you aren’t buying a home with an accessory building already in place, all of these limits should be questions to think about. It will be important later if you decide to build. If you do want to construct a shop or other building on the lot later, all this information can be found during the buying process. Having this info ahead of time will prevent you from ending up with an accessory building the size of a doghouse when you do go to build it.

Have fun building your dream shop! If you are thinking about buying real estate in the Comox Valley, and you’d like to build on the lot in the future, we can help you get the information you need. If you’d like to know what your property is worth and you’re thinking of selling, we can help with that too! Contact us today!

The E&N Railway line is an important piece of Comox Valley’s history and it is also a surprising part of Comox Valley real estate. Originally called the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway, the line was built in 1884. The name is apt, as the original line was intended to go between Esquimalt and Nanaimo.  A couple of years later, in 1886, Sir John A. MacDonald drove the last spike at Cliffside, near Shawnigan Lake. One of the most notable things about this particular line though, is that it was an integral part of the agreement that brought BC into Canada. Intercolonial railways were already part of the Constitution Act of 1867. When Canada was looking to bring British Columbia into the country, BC was promised a part of this railway in exchange for joining the rest of Canada. In this particular time, that meant significant growth potential, since railways represented import and export of important resources.

On the Island, the original line wasn’t extended as far north as the Comox Valley until 1914, when Courtenay was added. With railways still providing a boost to trade, this allowed the Comox Valley to bring its vast array of natural resources into the global marketplace. While the line is no longer active ,it still lives on as a multi-use path called the Rotary Trail. Instead of train cars, the path hosts a variety of pedestrians, from bikers and runners to pups and families.

“Tying” It In To Comox Valley Real Estate

What does this have to do with Comox Valley real estate? Land titles for many homes in Comox Valley real estate still hold the E&N notation on them, all the way from the year 1899! Historically, this notation on the title allowed E&N to come into the land and further develop the railway as they needed to. This notation gave them access to lumber and other resources on land, as well as affording them the opportunity to build on the land in other ways, such as workshops. Now, with the land being developed for residential use, this notation doesn’t have the same relevance in Comox Valley real estate as it once did. However, it does make a good case for reviewing your title.

Notations like these are just one of several things you can find on your land title. It’s important to read and review your title so you know what’s going on with your property. Aside from notations, land titles give a clear picture of who owns the land and has the rights to it. In the event of any questions of ownership, this document is legal proof of the owner, so it’s especially important to make sure it’s up to date. Making sure your title is registered and current also allows for an easier transfer of ownership when you’re selling your property to someone else or buying another person’s property. This is important to consider if you’re planning on getting into the Comox Valley real estate market, as this will save you time!

Railways do have ties to Comox Valley real estate and the E&N railway is a special piece of history for our beautiful region. Looking to sell your property or thinking of buying in the Comox Valley real estate market? Have a question about land titles or the transfer of ownership during a sale of real estate? We can help and we’d love to hear from you. Contact us today!  

With so many realtors available to sell your house, why choose us? We’re glad you asked. We love our work, and nothing makes us more excited than seeing your property sell. One of our beliefs is that details make the difference, so we have carefully organized our selling process to help you sell your house. So, how do we do it?

We Sell Your House With Experienced Staging.

A consistent image is a must have if you want to sell your house. To do this, we offer you experienced staging to maximize a potential buyer’s experience with your property. When buyers envision themselves in the space, it helps to cement a positive impression of your property. By offering experienced staging as part of the selling process, we help enable prospective buyers to view your home with its best potential. This makes the difference when they’re narrowing down a property to place an offer on.

We Sell Your House With Professional Photos And High Quality Listings.

In today’s digital world, online perception is an incredibly important part of the selling process. First impressions for online listings are key to attracting potential buyers to your property. Quality is a distinguishing factor when it comes to online listings, making a difference when you want to sell your house.. Sharp, high resolution images and in-depth, detailed descriptions stand out and attract attention, while easy-to-navigate listings allow users to linger and discover what makes your property so special. This is why we offer professional photos and high quality listings as part of our selling process. When you list with us, we make sure that your property makes the right first impression so you can sell your house.

We Sell Your House By Pricing For The Market.

With the housing market so competitive in the Comox Valley, putting the right price on your property is really important. Pricing too high will result in potential buyers taking other opportunities, and pricing too low can be costly for you as the seller. That’s why we offer competitive listing prices as part of our selling process. We have plenty of experience in selling, and we know the market, which allows us to put the right competitive price on your property. This works to get you the most value when you sell your house, and helps to attract a greater number of potential buyers.

Our selling process is all about the details. When you list with us, you can count on a high quality online impression, competitive pricing, and experienced staging to help you sell your house. Thinking of listing your property? We’d love to help! If you want to know what your property is worth in today’s market, contact us today!