Home Builders Association to host free renovation seminar on Tuesday

Pondering home renovations? You may want to put next Tuesday on your calendar. That’s when the renovation council of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association is presenting its fall home renovation seminar.

The event, held in partnership with BC Hydro, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and FortisBC, will be held from 7: 30 p. m. to 9 p. m. at the Croatian Cultural Centre at 3250 Commercial Dr.

“Homeowners can be overwhelmed when planning a renovation, so GVHBA presents its popular free home renovation seminar to educate homeowners about the renovation process, including choosing a renovator, design and planning, contracts, municipal permits, and living through a renovation,” said GVHBA CEO Bob de Wit in a prepared release.

De Wit said $ 7.6 billion will be spent on home renovation and improvement in B. C. this year, of which $ 3.8 billion will be spent in Metro Vancouver.

“Home renovation continues to be popular and there is no shortage of unscrupulous operators taking advantage of trusting homeowners,” he said.

“Dealing in the cash- only underground economy to avoid tax, rather than working with a professional renovator, exposes homeowners to liability issues, possible disciplinary action by municipal bylaw officers, but most importantly, they may be putting their home and family at risk.”

Presenters include Metro Vancouver renovators, a construction lawyer, a municipal building official and a technical expert sharing the latest in “green” renovations.

Admission to the seminar and exhibit area is free, but pre- registration is required. To register, visit www.gvhba.org or call 778- 565- 4288. Attendees are asked to contribute a food item for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

Meantime, the GVHBA has also announced the launch of its 17th annual Coats for Kids campaign in support of the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau. In addition to the GVHBA office, 38 member companies at 64 locations in 14 municipalities will serve as coat drop- off sites from Monday until Dec. 7.

“Last year, the response to Coats for Kids was heartwarming as Lower Mainland residents donated more than 3,000 coats, scarves, gloves, blankets and new unwrapped toys and gifts for distribution to children, teenagers and adults,” said GVHBA chair Blake Hudema.

For the full list of drop- off locations, visit www.gvhba.org/coatsforkids.