My Brother

“Larry, this is mom.  Ron is in surgery in Vancouver.  He has cancer.”

Imagine getting this phone call about your little brother… perhaps you have already received a similar call about a friend, co-worker, or family member.

My younger brother was 25 at the time.  Diagnosed with lymphoma he was in surgery having his spleen and lymph nodes removed.  I am blessed that nearly 30 years after that conversation with my mom, I was able to speak with him on the phone last evening about coming over for a visit to see me.

Working now for the Canadian Cancer Society I have a much better understanding of what a family can do when they get this news.  Initially I went through a very normal pattern of emotions:  fear, anxiety, helplessness, despair, and anger.

I have found that many people want to do something fairly quickly.  We don’t want to stand on the sidelines while our loved ones are fighting for their lives.  Many people make time and volunteer for their cause.  Some will donate money on the spot.  We all want to do whatever it takes to help and to make us feel we can personally be involved.

However, later on with the perspective of time and healing we look for deeper and more meaningful ways to contribute.  I have conversations everyday with people who want to make a planned charitable gift.  Everyone has a cause they want to support and for many that is the fight against cancer.  I engage in meaningful conversations with them to better understand their charitable motivation and to encourage them to carefully consider the impact that they want to make.  Then we discuss the best method (or combination of methods) to make a planned gift.  It could be as simple as changing a beneficiary designation on an RRSP to a charity, to making a gift of a life insurance policy, or updating their will to include their charity or cause of choice.

There are significant tax benefits that come from giving; but I find that these are always secondary to that more profound interest of “doing something for my little brother”.

I offer my specialist support at no obligation to individual donors and to professional advisors and their clients.  Please feel free to contact me if you would like to have a conversation about making your own impact… no matter the charitable cause that inspires you.

Larry D. Amstutz, CHS Charitable Giving Advisor Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division Charity Reg. # 11882-9803 RR0002Tel: +1 604 675 7351 Cell: +1 778 867 5015 565 West 10th Avenue Vancouver, BC V5Z 4J4

Fight the Flu – 3 Easy Steps

Spread the Word…Not the Flu

It’s flu season again and adults over 65 are particularly vulnerable to the flu and its complications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza is a major cause of hospitalization, disability and even death for older people. Every year about 9 out of 10 flu-related deaths occur in adults over 65. Because the immune system may decline with age, traditional flu vaccines sometimes don’t work as well in elderly people. For these people, a higher-dose version is also available. The higher dose triggers the body to produce more antibodies against the flu virus.

Fight the flu with 3 simple steps:

1. Get flu shots.

A yearly flu vaccine is the first and most important step to protecting not just yourself but those in your care against flu viruses. Both you and the person in your care should be vaccinated, ideally in later summer or fall, before the flu season starts. A yearly vaccine is needed because the flu virus changes year to year; each year’s vaccine is made to protect against the three most common viruses for that year. The most serious complication of flu is pneumonia, so, in addition to age, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, COPD, diabetes or heart disease are at especially high risk.

2. Stop the spread of germs

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue and toss it after use.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Hand washing is the NUMBER ONE way to reduce spreading germs.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least24 hours after your fever is gone(without the use of fever-reducing meds) except to get medical care or for other necessities. While you are sick, it is important to limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.

3.Use flu antiviral if a doctor prescribes them.

Prescription antiviral do not prevent or cure the flu. They are sometimes given to make the flu milder and possibly prevent serious complications. They work best if used within 48 hours of first symptoms (cough, sore throat, fever, aches and stuffy/runny nose), but may be given later if the person is very sick or is at high-risk of complications. Antiviral is not  a substitute for the flu vaccine.

Source: National Council on Aging; CDC

Heather Martin, CDP
Comfort Keepers
Helping you stay Happier, Healthier & At Home
Serving Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Delta, White Rock and Surrey South of Fraser Hwy
14-1480 Foster Street
White Rock, BC V4B 3X7
Tel: (604) 689-8609/(604)541-8653
Cell: (778) 997-5685
Email: heathermartin@comfortkeepers.ca

 

Settling an Estate by an Objective Unemotional 3rd Party

In many families settling an estate can be quite difficult and take a long time because the family members don’t get along with one another, don’t speak with each other or just don’t trust each other. This can make an executor’s job that much harder. How would you react as an executor if one of the beneficiaries accused you of hiding something? Are you able to remain objective when there are long-standing issues between you and your siblings? Will you continue to move the estate forward if someone threatens to challenge the terms of the will in court? Is someone bitter because they weren’t selected as the executor? Are the beneficiaries second-guessing your actions and decisions?

The list of possible issues can go on and on… every family is different… so the executor needs to remain objective and unemotional. Either that or the executor can hire someone to assist who will communicate with everyone else. How can these difficult situations be diffused? Better yet, how can we prevent them from arising in the first place? Really, it isn’t that difficult, but it can feel impossible if you’re caught up in the emotion.

The top 3 solutions are these: communication, communication, communication. Beneficiaries deserve to receive frequent status updates, including what has recently been accomplished, what is still left to do, and where any pitfalls may lie. All reports provided should be clear, complete and easy to understand. In a word, transparent.

Next, the financials. Eventually, the beneficiaries will be provided with the financial reports and asked to pass the accounts, so another idea is to provide interim financial reports. You will likely prepare a list of assets & liabilities for probate, so you could start by providing that report. Next, all bank transactions should be recorded, so you could also provide that list. Then there’s the list of revenue & expenses… this report could also be provided, which should clearly show all of the expenses incurred by the estate since the date of death.

What else? Do not procrastinate. It’s so easy to do, with all of the other obligations we have in our lives. If you believe you’ll have to justify your every action, sometimes it’s easier to just put it aside and do something else, but then that task stays on your mind, preventing you from relaxing. Don’t procrastinate, just continue to be objective and complete the task now, not later.

People tend to not tell their ‘story’ to anyone acting professionally and objectively. I rarely hear unreasonable statements. People tend to keep their comments/questions brief and factual. It’s this objective person who can maintain an open dialogue with family members. Not only will beneficiaries say more, they’ll also hear more.

Most importantly, let’s remember why we’re doing this work in the first place: we’re respecting and fulfilling the final wishes of the deceased. Yes, settling an estate can be a big job, but it doesn’t have to be a negative one. Remain objective, professional and unemotional, and the estate will be settled before you know it… without conflict.

Gregg Medwid is the owner and president of Executor Support, a firm based in Coquitlam, BC with expertise assisting executors and administrators in settling estates. The project management expertise and customer service focus Medwid brings to Executor Support ensures questions are answered and help is given when it is most needed.

This article is in no way intended to substitute for competent legal advice.

Gregg Medwid, Owner
Executor Support
gregg@executorsupport.ca
604-999-2106
http://www.ExecutorSupport.ca

Don’t just listen, mirror!

What is the main reason that relationships fail?

Communication. Yes, thats right! Misunderstood, negative, and avoided communication derails relationships. Good news! There is a simple technique I teach to couples that dramatically improves communication in peoples relationships, so get excited!

Maladaptive communication

A leading factor for relationship breakdown.  f you think about your own relationships, something small can sometimes turn into a big miscommuncation. People come into to see me when they feel like they have not been able to work these miscommunications out on their own at home. The Imago Intentional Dialogue helps couples connect and communicate in a safe and structured manner. This relationship tool has three parts: mirroring, validation, and empathy. Let’s break down mirroring:

• Mirroring: repeating back what you heard your partner say, using their words verbatim as much as possible, to convey active listening and being available and present
• Check out: “Have I got you?” making sure you are getting your partner, and giving your partner a chance to clarify anything or say again what they want you to get
• Keep going: “Tell me more” listening in a way that makes your partner want to keep talking, managing your own reactivity, and letting your partner flush out what they need to express to you

The Important Things:

• Note that the listener doesn’t just get railroaded with the couples dialogue, as the listener also has a legitimate grievance , but the point is that it’s the listener’s time to listen. If the listener has some issues and wants to talk to their partner, you can initiate a couples dialogue at a later time.
• It’s about practicing listening to each other. It can be incredible to feel heard and to feel validated about whats going on for you. Its an awesome tool to learn, and I challenge you to try mirroring your partner, family, or friend, when they are frustrated with you about something.

So, the simple technique of mirroring dramatically improves communication in peoples relationships. This is just PART of the couples dialogue. An Imago therapist facilitates the full dialogue, helps couples deeply explores important issues, and teaches and encourages validation and empathy.

• How is your communication? Do simple issues turn into a big fight? Is your relationship ok most of the time but you have a couple hot issues to work through? Do you have pervasive issues but wants to resolve things?
• Something to think about: I recommend coming to counselling as a preventative measure and learn how to manage conflict when it comes up
• You do not want to wait until a big issue comes up, like an affair, which leads to longterm counselling or, even worse, divorce, which is very expensive and painful.
• Last but not least, prioritize your relationships!

Grace McDonald, M.A., RCC, RMFT
Registered Marriage & Family Therapist
Registered Clinical Counselor
www.gracemcdonald.ca
T 604-873-9355  F 604-874-9355
FB Grace McDonald Counselling
Twitter @GraceSMcDonald

Owning Shares in a Company When You Die

What happens to your company when you die? Does it die with you? Live on? Who will supervise and pay the staff? Or, perhaps the deceased was a 1-person-show… no staff… does that mean we can just ignore the company? Are there partners? Other shareholders? Was the company incorporated, or was it a sole proprietorship? Or, perhaps the deceased didn’t run his/her own company, but rather played the stock market, meaning there are shares in a few publicly-traded companies. Every scenario is different, so this article will touch on a few of the more common issues.

Sole proprietorship – These companies are usually very small, often times a 1-person-show. Typically, with the death of the owner, the company dies with them. There may well be assets and liabilities which will need to be dealt with, 3^rd parties who need to be contacted, staff, customers, unfilled orders… but likely everything will likely be on a smaller scale. The good news is that there’s no corporate entity to dissolve or sell, and any revenue & expenses of the company are included in the deceased’s final personal tax return.

Small, incorporated company – Small doesn’t necessarily make it easy. First thing, find the Minute Book, which might be in the deceased’s office or the lawyer’s office. This will provide a breakdown of the corporate ownership, information about directors and officers and, hopefully, information about how shares owned by the deceased are to be treated. You will need to determine the value of the company, possibly with professional assistance, so that you can determine the value of the deceased’s shares. After probate has been granted, the shares can be transferred as set out in the Minute Book. For instance, they might get sold back to the company at fair market value or for the original purchase price. Or, they might get transferred to other shareholders. Again, the sale price is important. You will need to determine if the deceased owed money to the company, or vice-versa, as this will impact the list of assets and liabilities. Someone may need to be brought in to run the company, especially if there is staff, customers and unfilled orders.

Publicly-traded shares – You will need to determine the value of the shares as of the date of death, so just look up the closing price for each company on the date of death, multiple by the number of shares, and that’s the value. Those are the easy ones. The tough ones are those ancient certificates you find in the safety deposit box, where the company has been bought and sold numerous times, amalgamated with other companies, and the name has been changed. You will need to do some research to find out the current name of the company, or find out if/when the company was de-listed. Researching old companies can be quite a chore. After probate has been granted the shares will need to be transferred to the executor or someone else, which requires you to find out the name of the transfer agent and then fill out a few forms. Sometimes the transfer fee is more than the shares are worth, so you will have to decide if you even want to bother.

Gregg Medwid is the owner and president of Executor Support, a firm based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, with expertise assisting executors and administrators in settling estates. The project management expertise and customer service focus Medwid brings to Executor Support ensures questions are answered and help is given when it is most needed.

This article is in no way intended to substitute for competent legal advice.

Gregg Medwid, Owner
Executor Support
gregg@executorsupport.ca
604-999-2106
http://www.ExecutorSupport.ca

Say Goodbye to Clutter (part II)

Last week I shared with you the first part of “Say Goodbye to Clutter” and as promised, here is the second part with the next 5 steps:

1. Never Leave Home Empty Handed

Once you have determined what your categories are, it is essential to follow through on the exit strategy. If there is a clothing donation drop on your way to work, take a bag with you as you leave in the morning. When does the recycling truck come to your area? Make sure those bags of mixed paper and shredding are out there every week. Call the charities and find out when they will be in your neighborhood, and plan your de-cluttering around their schedule. Don’t leave bags and boxes parked in your hallway or garage for indefinite periods.

2. Resist the Urge to Rent External Storage

Storage facilities have a specific purpose in the downsizing process. You might want to use it temporarily to house excess furniture or artwork while you are staging and showing the home for sale. Storage lockers fall on the heading of postponement tactics. The danger is mostly to your pocketbook. Storage is an ongoing expense. It is better to deal with items of questionable value before making the move.

3. Call Your Kids

How much of what is crowding your house is actually yours, and how much are storing for other people? If your children have moved out, have them decide if they want to take all the things they left behind or have them make other arrangements for them. You can’t let other people hold you back from achieving your objectives.

4. Ask for Help

If you feel you are not up to the task, why not ask a trusted friend, family member or a professional to assist. Choose someone who is objective and decisive and not involved emotionally with your possessions. Downsizing is a great way to bond with family members as an opportunity to honor the past and share the stories.

5. Make it easy. Get it done

Whether you choose to sell, donate or toss, choose a method that causes the least wear and tear on you. This can be an exhaustive activity, performed best in stages and small chunks over a period of time. Use the Internet extensively to find resources for distribution of unusual objects or substances. Garage sales can be effective, but they require a great deal of planning, pricing and a fall-back plan for those items that don’t sell. Connect with charities that will pick up your clothing and household goods. Ditto for consignment. Give your friends and family deadlines for taking the stuff you have saved for them. Reward yourself with a new purchase that you have been postponing because you did no have enough room.

Once you have run the gauntlet, the rewards of de-cluttering are manifold. It saves your money, as there is less to move. It saves you time. Everything you own requires time and attention. Less stuff translates to more time for you. It also reduces the stress associated with a major change. And, finally, when you are ready to downsize to a retirement community, townhouse or condo, settling in will easier.

If you have any question, simply comment below or even better, contact us at Good Riddance! We’d love to hear from you.

Susan Borax
E: goodriddance@shaw.ca
P: 604 421 5952

Susan Borax and Heather Knittel
Co-author of Good Riddance: Showing Clutter the Door.
Good Riddance Professional Organizing Solutions
Practically Daughters Senior Move Managers

www.goodriddance.ca

Old Friends

“Truly great friends are hard to find difficult to leave and impossible to forget….”

As we go through our daily routines, old acquaintances may come to mind. You may wonder how they are, where they are living and whether they had a family.

Occasionally the stars fall into position that reunites us with those soles under the most unexpected circumstances. I will relate a couple of true stories.

While driving Harvey home from the doctors and due to a tight schedule I pre- arranged to pick up Joan from her appointment at the dentists as well. Harvey waited in the car while I retrieved Joan and escorted her to the car. She commented that she thought she recognized Harvey sitting in the front seat. I made the standard introductions and then Joan announced that she knew Harvey. Harvey is blind but is excellent at recognizing voices. They both shrieked with joy. They used to be neighbors many years ago. They spent the balance of the trip catching up on whose-who!

Jack had advanced Parkinson’s disease and lived in a supported living facility. Communications with Jack were difficult at times as the disease had affected his speech. After an outing to his standard appointment he directed me into a residential neighborhood and a condo subdivision. I understood that he wanted to stop in the driveway of one of the units. He urged me to knock on the door while he waited in the car. Uncertain of the outcome I obliged. A confused elderly woman answered the door. I introduced myself and told her that Jack was waiting in the car to say hello. In a flash she vaulted the stair case and ran to the car in her stocking feet. There was an emotional reunion with hugs, kissed and tears. I later learned that they too had been neighbors for many years but had not seen each other since Jack moved into care.

To witness these unexpected reunions is special. Who do you think about from time to time but can’t bring yourself to pick up the phone? These chance meetings are rare; reconnect before an opportunity passes.

Mike Oakley
President of Home James Services for Seniors
www.homejamesforseniors.ca
E: mike@homejamesforseniors.ca
P: 604 928 7789

How much time does it take to settle an estate?

Settling an estate after someone dies can take a considerable length of time to complete, usually longer than you anticipate. Can it be settled in 6 months? Maybe, but it’s unlikely. 12 months? Sometimes, but in my experience it takes 12 – 18 months to settle most middle-class estates. “But I just have to cancel a few pensions and close the bank account”, you say. There is usually more to it than that, so without boring you with all the finer details, let’s talk about some of the time-consuming tasks.

The funeral is over now, family members have gone back home, and everyone is beginning to settle back in to their daily routine. But not the executor… that person’s role has just started. Since the will likely needs to be probated let’s begin with generating a list of assets and liabilities, including the values as of the date of death. This is an iterative process, requiring you to communicate with numerous companies and, since most of these companies require a copy of the death certificate, one will have to be mailed to them, or you will have to attend in person. Here are a few questions to get you thinking:

• Where are the bank accounts, and what are the balances?
• What is the outstanding balance on the mortgage of the house?
• Are the monthly condo strata fees up to date?
• Have property taxes been deferred?
• What is the value of the Canada Savings Bonds and/or GIC’s? Hint: need to determine accrued interest.
• If the person was self-employed, what is the value of the corporate shares?
• Are there any assets and/or debts outside of Canada, such as a home in Arizona or Florida? Don’t forget about timeshares. You may have to file for probate again in these other jurisdictions.
• What is the coin collection worth? Art? Hockey cards? Jewelry?

OK, the list of assets & liabilities is finished and you (or your lawyer) have prepared the probate documents. In my experience the probate registry usually takes 2 – 3 months to process the documents. Sometimes sooner, but don’t bank on it.

While you’re waiting for the Grant of Probate to be issued, we can prepare the home for sale, including deciding what to do with all of the possessions. Some things can be given to family members, some can be sold, and other items will need to be thrown out. Complete any necessary work in the home, such as painting and carpet cleaning.

If the deceased was self-employed there may be a company to manage. Someone will need to oversee the staff and there may be customers requiring attention. This company likely has value, so the executor needs to ensure the value is maintained. Consider professional assistance.

The terminal income tax return will need to be filed and, possibly, a Trust return for the estate itself. Each one will take time for Canada Revenue Agency to process, and you should also request Tax Clearance Certificates, again, each taking time for CRA to process.

Well, so far, so good. Although we’ve been at it for a number of months now, at least everything is progressing. But wait! One of the children is upset because he was written out of the will, so he files a lawsuit to challenge the terms of the will. Now all bets are off because it’s anyone’s guess how long it will take to settle this estate. Don’t kid yourself… this is becoming all too common, especially with the ever-increasing value of estates.

Now it’s time to distribute the proceeds of the estate. The assets have been sold, debts paid, tax returns filed, and lawsuits settled. Before distributing the money, the beneficiaries need to pass the accounts, meaning they need to approve the expenditures. This can be quick & easy, or long & drawn out. By the way, you were maintaining detailed bookkeeping records, right? Sorry, I forgot to mention that little detail earlier.

In addition to everything described above, the executor likely has other obligations, too, such as family and work. The executor may also have to research how to settle an estate in the first place, may be uncomfortable using a computer, and might simply procrastinate. But the clock keeps ticking while the beneficiaries are waiting.

To summarize, settling an estate can take a surprisingly long time and it can be very time-consuming.

Gregg Medwid is the owner and president of Executor Support, a firm based in Coquitlam, BC with expertise assisting executors and administrators in settling estates. The project management expertise and customer service focus Medwid brings to Executor Support ensures questions are answered and help is given when it is most needed.

This article is in no way intended to substitute for competent legal advice.

Gregg Medwid, Owner
Executor Support
gregg@executorsupport.ca
604-999-2106
http://www.ExecutorSupport.ca

Bookkeeping Requirements When Settling an Estate

There is more to settling an estate than just probating the will, selling the house and distributing the proceeds to the beneficiaries. I wish it were that easy! Many people understand that the T1 Income Tax Return needs to be filed for the year of death, but many people are unaware that the estate itself may also need to file an income tax return, known as a T3 Trust Income Tax Return. The accountant will need to be provided with the list of assets & liabilities and the list of revenue & expenses, so these figures need to be documented.

When I speak of bookkeeping requirements, I’m referring to the following:

1. List of all transactions in all bank accounts. In other words, generate a long bank statement that covers many months. I tend to re-create the bank statements, replacing any ‘bank talk’ with easy-to-understand English descriptions, and the new list of transactions shows where every penny went;
2. List of all revenue earned and expenses incurred. An example of revenue is interest earned in the bank, and an example of an expense is the realtor commission for selling the home. Where appropriate I also include cheque numbers and brief descriptions to add context; and
3. List of assets & liabilities. This is the list you would have generated in order to apply for probate.

Creating such financial documents doesn’t need to an onerous task, but the documents do need to be complete, accurate and easy to understand. Keep it clear and simple.

In addition to the tax returns, the beneficiaries need to Pass the Accounts, meaning the beneficiaries need to review and approve the expenses of the estate. In order to add context for the beneficiaries and to keep everything as transparent as possible, I like to also include the list of assets & liabilities as well as the list of bank transactions. All of this bookkeeping data should be provided to each beneficiary.

Some estates are considered to be insolvent, meaning the value of the debts exceeds the value of the assets. In these estates the creditors will receive either nothing at all or only cents on the dollar, but either way, the creditors deserve to receive proof of your statement that there are insufficient funds. The financial documents will need to be provided to each creditor, along with a covering letter explaining the insolvency.

If all of this sounds a little tedious, well, it is. So, here are a couple of ideas which can simplify matters. Firstly, separate your own money from the estate’s money by using an Estate bank account, leaving you with fewer accounts to manage. Next, if the deceased had numerous bank accounts, close all but one of them as soon as possible. Again, this simplifies matters. Lastly, since executors need access to available cash in order to pay expenses, often times it is helpful to open a Line of Credit. Invoices can be paid from the LOC, and the interest expense gets charged to the estate.

Gregg Medwid is the owner and president of Executor Support, a firm based in Coquitlam, British Columbia, with expertise assisting executors and administrators in settling estates. The project management expertise and customer service focus Medwid brings to Executor Support ensures questions are answered and help is given when it is most needed.

This article is in no way intended to substitute for competent legal advice.

Gregg Medwid, Owner
Executor Support
gregg@executorsupport.ca
604-999-2106

A Quick Glance of Home Elevator

 

Do you know that the first home elevator in North America was installed in 1929? Only 25 years ago, home elevators became more popular.  People realized that other than mobility, transportation advantages, convenience, and residence value, another advantage of having a home elevator is that they require minimal maintenance.  Moreover, is it not awesome to have an elevator in your house?  Imagine a day when you do not have to climb all those stairs to get to your room after a long, tiring day.  Magic happens with just a press of a button 🙂

Based on your aesthetic tastes or other practical needs, you can choose from solid wood panels to clear glass panels for the cab interior. A home elevator can be installed inside a drywall hoistway or from a self-standing and self contained clear glass hoistway with colourful aluminum extrusions.

A Self-Standing Glass Hoistway              A Drywall Hoistway

There are four common types of home elevators, each having distinct pros and cons on features and costs. Make sure that you are very well-informed about these kinds so you are better pre-loaded with weighing benefits and drawbacks relative to your budget, space constraints, and possible legal restrictions.

Hydraulic Home Elevators

Hydraulic home elevators are often classified as being the optimal purchase, primarily as they may be the safest of the four types. As a result of its features, it is very reliable during emergencies including earthquakes and fire incidents. However, this type requires a machine room located in the basement, and must be placed on top of the house’s cement foundation. In comparison to other forms of home elevators, installing this may take a relatively longer period of time. Another concern is the smell caused by hydraulic oil.

Electric Home Elevators

Counter-weights are utilized for this type of home elevator. If the home is inside the seismic zone locations (Vancouver is at Seismic Zone 4 which is the same as California), this is not the sort of elevator for you. Although this type does not use oil and saves space by operating with no machine room, the suspension characteristic of such home elevator makes this difficult to rely on during earthquakes.

Overhead Winding Drum Elevators

Like the counter-weighted type, the Overhead Winding Drum home elevator does not require oil, and therefore it is environmentally friendly. Also, it does not need counter weights to work. However, noise from the gear box of the machine could be a nuisance. Furthermore, the ride quality of a gear motor system has no advantage over a hydraulic system because torque control is difficult at slow levelling speeds.

Vacuum Home Elevators

They are operated by way of a pneumatic vacuum that creates suction which leads to its disadvantages — noise. It requires less installation charges than hydraulic elevators. However, when compared to other types, its carrying capacity is low at a maximum of 525 lbs. If you prefer this, you should refer to legal rules in order to understand if this sort of home elevator is allowed for residential application. Please note that Canada Elevator Code B44 does not specify this type among the four.

No matter what you select, you could always approach elevator professionals or call up companies and manufacturers of home elevators for more information. Quality and safety should invariably be the most important factors when deciding upon a home elevator. Remember, although costs could possibly be challenging to handle, with such high quality home elevators, you’re still making a worthy investment on your property.

I love elevators.  They are simply awesome and definitely one of the best inventions ever, in my opinion.  If you have any questions about elevators, please feel free to drop a question in the Comments box below or contact me directly.  I am more than happy to answer.

 

Ben Lean
President at Canada Home Elevator Inc.
105-568 Seymour Street, Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 3J5
Tel: 604 971 3882
Email:info@canadahomeelevator.com
www.CanadaHomeElevator.com