ONLY CERTIFIED home builders should be allowed to build homes, according to officials with the Canadian Home Builders Association, But the group admits the idea is a tough sell in rural areas Where they run into the tradition of local families building their own homes — in some cases as a career. The association’s execu- tive vice-president Keith Sashaw says that way of life will have to change. The association’s goal is to have every new home in the province built by a certified home builder, and to have that home backed by a new home warranty. Sashaw says the process of home building is more complex than 20 years ago. And he said buyers dowa the road will pay the price of shoddy workmanship. Sashaw said the average home is sold after six to - seven years, but it will last for decades. “There are going to be Out & About 7-Eleven gets close - THE PLANNED 7- Eleven store on Lakelse Ave. has been granted a development permit by the city. Construction is expected to start very soon. The new outlet will use the ex- isting fuel tanks from the former Petro-Can station. The cily required it.be made an all-brick building | with a strip of landscaping along the Lakelse and Ot- tawa St. sides. Prices up REAL ESTATE dollar value sales through the multiple listing service in- creased by nine per cent for the first quarter of 1997 compared to the same period last year. That translates to $11.39 million in sales for Janu- aty to March, up over $10.42 million for January to March 1996. Number of homes sold worked out to 90 for Janu- ary to March this year, an increase of two over the same period in 1996. The average house sale price so far this year is $144,00 as opposed to -race senior building ‘materialize'soon. © ~ os ‘TERRACE STANDARD Business REVIEW Push on to certify builders The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 14, 1997 - A11” & WHO WILL be allowed to build a house may change if a home builders association gets its way. generations of people living in that home after those other people move out”’ Nobody would be happier to see only certified builders in action than City of Ter- in- spector Paul Gipps. He's the one who deals with less experienced builders who are often out 10 build their own home, then flip it on the market. Those homes often take up a lot of Gipps’ time epsur- ing they meet building code. House “I don’t dissapprove of people trying to make a buck,’’? Gipps said. *‘But ihey’re relying very heavily on the city building in- spectors to catch all their mistakes. And you know what? It's not our job.” The area that needs the most attention, he says, is the area he has no jurisdic- tion over: Thornhill. The unorganized area is notorious for construction problems because there is no program of building in- starts going strong HOUSING STARTS are a bit behind last year’s levels, but not very far. Senior building inspector Paul Gipps said there were 19 single-family homes and 25 multifamily unils started by the end of April. That’s below last year’s levels of 27 housing starts and 33 multi-family units to the same point in 1996, Gipps said the main difference on the multifamily side is that last year the Skeena Kalum Housing Society had begun construction of its 18-unit expansion carly in the year, He’s expecting some Gipps atiributed-the major multi-family projects to slower start in house construction to’ a later start because of a longer winter, and greater un- certainty in the market due to the troubles of Skeena Cel- lulose and West Fraser. “T think we’re doing fine,’’ Gipps said. ‘‘We’re on par with last year. We're just a little behind on our starting point because winter just hung on and hung on.’” He added that the number of permits coming in carly May has been incredible. “Tt’s just crazy this month with the number of peaple coming in to get permits,”’ He said there are also some indications of interest from developers who want to build larger multifamily projects, including an apartment building of more than 50 units, Terrace’s 27 multi-family units started is the highest number of multifamily housing starts in northern B.C. — exceeding both Quesnel and Prince George. The city’s single-family housing starts are second only to Prince George, which saw a 77 per cent increase from 1996 to 85 starts to the end of April, Prince Rupert and Kitimat have recorded two house starts and three house starts, respectively. Gipps said the short-term uncertainty of the forest indus- try may not be over yet. In the short mun it’s anybody’s guess,’’ he said. “‘But people are in it for the long run. And in the long run, this $132,100 in 1996. town is rocking.”’ SUNDAY MONDAY” TUESDAY. WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY’ - FRIDAY SATURDAY.” | K'san BC Royal House Saciaty Schizophrenia [Canadian Legion Can, Parenis Soci Nisga‘a Tribal tor French Ter. Anti-Poverty Council Ter. Hospice Sor. 4 [5 [6 |7_ [8 cose THQ anta Paraglegic Curling Club Terrace Terrace Karmade Ter. Peaks Terrace Kinsmen Club Community Minor Friendshio | Gymnastics } Crime Stoppers I" Nisga’a Tribal Terrace Band Hockey Society Club Ter. Anti-Poverty} Council Skating Club Art 1 1 Skeena 1 2 1 3 1 4 ] 5 ] 6 cen 1 7 sssocaton Junior Terrace Kermode | TeracePeaks € —torrace Pararlecie Asso Kinette Club Secondary Minor Friendship Gymnastics Little Theatre Nisga’a Tribal Search & School Hockey Sociely Club Terr, Anti-Poverty Council Rescue 18 119 |20 [21 [22 [23, 124,82 Order Big Rolary Glub Thornhill Junior] = Terrace Kermode Terrace of Royal Purple | Srothers & Big S Secondary Minor Friendship Blueback Terrace Ani Nisga'a Tribal | Terrace School Baseball Society Swim Club Poverty Counci Skaling Club T Teron, Poanoia|2 [27 [28 429 130, | Steam Senior Terrace Kermode Elkg Paepleg) Secondary Minor Friendship [Kilselas Volunteer! Terrace Anti- Nisga’a Tribal | $V. Snowmobile School Hockey Society Fire Dept. Poverty Council Associaton Sat. Afternoon Games Doors 11:30 a.m. Games 12:45 Evening Games Doors 4:30 p.m. Games 6:15 Thurs., Fri., Sat. Late Night Games Doors 9:30 p.m. Games 10:00 p.m. Family Bingo Every Saturday Afternoon Last Wednesday of the month is DOUBLE BINGO 4410 Legion, Terrace 635-2411 Bet TERRACE CO-OP FAMILY FASHIONS DEPARTMENT ! spection there to ensure homes built meet the B.C. building code. Gipps said it’s likely the largest single developed areca in the province where homes are being built without building inspection. “There are people build- ing and buying things there that don’t meet the code,’’ he said. ‘Vinyl siding and drywall can hide a lot of sins.”’ ‘Tvs unfortunate. People coming up from the Lower Mainland have no idea that it’s an area without building inspection. They just as- sume these homes have been inspected.” Certification and new home warranties would also help, said the home buijiders association’s Sashaw. He said about 60 per cent of new homes now being built in the province are covered by a warranty. But he said that figure is likely considerably lower in the northwest. The average premium for a new home warranty is about $275, he said, adding that figure goes up or down depending on the record of the certified builder. He said that system of premiums penalizes bad work and gives builders an incentive to do good work. They're trying to deter the provincial goverament from imposing more stringent certification or licensing re- quirements. And they say the best strategy is to demonstrate that the indus- try can police itself. The association counts 23 members in this region and 1,200 across the province. "May 15, 16 & 17 Save on every pair of Mens, | Ladies & Childrens Blue Jeans in Stock! All your favourite Brands ae, 2 ra Ba OUR REGULA LOW PRICES ee ~ wat . Cok Teraebpe yee Te Tee . i ve aN pU0 0 GOOLE ” for the right tires at the right price! BFGoodrich MICHELIN. ry BFGoodrich T/A Parformance Tires Kalum Tire Service 4808 Hwy. #16 West Terrace 635-4902 ren