A new company based on the West Shore eliminates the worry while you’re away from your property for you and your neighbours.
UrbanConcierge Services provides peace of mind for owners who want to rent their homes out for short or extended periods of time, explained owner Chris Gunn, a Langford resident who launched the company last March.
“It’s exciting to start a business that helps people and fills a niche,” he said. “It gives a sense of security to the neighbourhood that the property is being looked after, and any issues that arise are dealt with promptly and professionally.”
UrbanConcierge Services handles bookings, calendar management, meet-and-greet and key services, full laundry service, in and out cleaning service, AirBNB and Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO), rental suite construction, handyman and renovation services, landscaping, fencing, decks and bridge accommodations.
Gunn works with Logan Wilson, a local real estate agent who provides references and referrals for five-star properties for international and local clients.
“We have our own set of rules,” Gunn said. “A signed agreement stipulates there is no partying allowed and no more than the number people listed on the agreement, for example. All the people we deal with are vetted through AirBNB and the owners, and we have our own insurance as a safeguard for owners.”
He believes his experience as a landscaper, builder-entrepreneur and with numerous other property-related tasks is an asset to his business.
“My dad, John, worked in building and planning with the City of Edmonton for 25 years,” he said. “That got me interested in creating services for people.”
Gunn stresses that UrbanConcierge is not competing with hotels, but is providing a different experience for people than what hotels offer, by providing more choice in location and surroundings.
“AirBNB has become a $30-billion a year business and I haven’t heard of one hotel closing because of it,” he added.
Gunn places a priority on using the best environmental practices and donates proceeds from all bottles collected from properties to local food banks. He is currently hiring more people as his client list grows, and is considering expanding into franchising in the future.
For more information, call him at 778-678-0123 or email urbancsv@gmail.com.
reporter@goldstreamgazette.com
Q: WHAT’S THE LATEST ON B.C.’S HOMEOWNER GRANT?
The B.C. government’s 33-per-cent lift in the threshold to qualify for the homeowner grant is geared to protect those at risk of losing the grant in the Lower Mainland, where property assessments jumps of 40 per cent were typical this year.
It also protects those in Greater Victoria, where assessment jumps of similar size have been seen.
The increase means the owners of homes valued up to $1.6 million – up from a ceiling of $1.2 million – will get the full $570 annual credit against their property taxes. For homeowners 65 and over, that grant amounts to $845. The targeted beneficiaries are those with homes previously worth perhaps $1.1 million that have jumped to $1.4 or $1.5 million, who would have lost the homeowner grant without the change.
GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE » MONTH TO DATE JAN. 9/17 COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD
» 65 / 539 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL, JANUARY 2016
» 130 / 934 -- NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL, JANUARY 2016
» 1,424 / 2,471 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL, JANUARY 2016