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June 2010- Apple Valley Scoop- 47RCMP EducateYouth on Dangersof Impaired DrivingWith warm weather approaching, thoughtsof summer vacation are on the minds ofstudents across Nova Scotia. Before schoolwraps for another year, RCMP officers acrossthe province are educating students onP.A.R.T.Y (Prevent Alcohol & Risk-relatedTrauma in Youth).The program takes the dangers of impaireddriving into classrooms. It delivers an eyeopening experience filled with simulationvideos and interviews from actual victims whosuffered serious trauma as a result of a crashor risky behaviour. It is designed to challengestudents to consider their actions and theimpact they can have on others in their familyand community.Students who recently obtained or willsoon be applying for their driver’s license areencouraged to attend the two-day programthat shows real-life scenarios with one clearmessage: if you drive impaired injuries andeven death can occur.By undertaking various educationalinitiatives on impaired driving, aggressivedriving and seat belts, the RCMP hopesstudents will take the necessary steps toprevent serious injury or death. To learnmore about the Nova Scotia RCMP, pleasevisit http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ns or theP.A.R.T.Y program please visit: http://www.partyprogram.com/home.aspxGun Amnestya success!The RCMP and municipal policing partnersfrom across Nova Scotia would like to thankcitizens for turning in unwanted firearms andammunition to police during the month ofApril. The amnesty collected 564 guns, fivecross bows and 19,613 rounds of ammunitionfrom across the province.You might be a car racer if...when something falls off ofyour car, you wonder how muchweight you just saved.Strength in NumbersREAL ESTATE...REAL ADVICEHave you heard? Royal LePage Atlantic hasbeen recognized as THE largest brokerage in AtlanticCanada (18th in all of Canada), in the recent 2010REAL Trends Canadian Top 200 national rankings.Our nearest competitor in Atlantic Canada wasranked 113th - quite an accomplishment!The Barnard Group supports the vision of RLPA;to be the Undisputed Leader in the delivery of RealEstate Advice to the Market. We’d like to start withthe question that seems to be circulating in ourindustry a lot lately: Why Use a REALTOR ® ?Selling your own home may seem like a goodidea but it is not as easy as you may think. Althoughthere are several challenges, we cannot cover themall here so let’s tackle the top two; getting theright price and understanding and completing thepaperwork. Before you go it alone, consider thefollowing:Do you know how to price your homeproperly? Pricing your home too high may scarepotential Buyers away; price it too low and youcould cheat yourself out of thousands of dollars. Wehave the experience and expertise required to do aproper market analysis.How are your negotiating skills? A goodREALTOR ® can cover their entire commission bynot leaving money on the table when it comes tosettling on a final price. The Barnard Group achieves96% of the listed price for our clients!How often do you process contracts? Wedeal with the same paperwork on a regular basis,numerous copies may be written before it all comestogether, which can complicate things.Did you know? The level of For Sale By Ownershas reached a record low at 11 percent, the shareof homes sold without professional representationhas experienced a downward trend since reachinga peak in 1997.We don’t charge upfront and arereimbursed only if the property sells.Our next issue will provide you with a localmarket update.Mike, Barb, Becky and StacyThe Barnard GroupSend us your questions for a future column.For more advice and information, contact us atany time by calling 902.681.3920, email info@thebarnardgroup.ca or visit our website at www.thebarnardgroup.caSource: REAL Trends, Inc. is a research, publishing andcommunication company serving the information needs ofthe residential real estate industry for the past 24 years.Source: 2009 National Association of REALTORS ®Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.A TEAM ofReal EstateSpecialistsProviding anAwardWinningExperience!902.681.3920info@thebarnardgroup.cawww.thebarnardgroup.ca