3 Things to consider when purchasing your home

It’s time! All the dreams and goals have come down to this moment and it is time to purchase your first Kelowna home. All of your Pinterest boards of home decor, room ideas and kitchen goals are all about to come out on the table. It’s time to get down to business. It’s easy to get off track when you are purchasing your first home. So the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have put together a list of 3 things to consider when you are looking to purchase your first Kelowna home.

Is it the right time?

home with buyers market keychain

Is it the right time to buy?

The first thing to consider is, is this the right time to buy? The market can shift back and forth from a sellers market to a buyers market. The question is, what is the real estate market doing when you are ready to purchase real estate? That’s a great question for your Kelowna realtor. As soon as you are ready to start the home buying process, chat with a Kelowna realtor to figure out when the best time to purchase!

What do you need and what do you want?

Next up, figuring out your needs from your wants. This is important to do before starting your home buying process to avoid disappointment and over-paying. Sit down, and write down the top 5 things that are most important to you and that you need in order to purchase the Kelowna home. Things such as bedroom count, bathroom count, size and location. These are just a few main things to consider when making your list. Then make a list of your wants. Things such as colour of kitchen cabinets or type of flooring. Think of these things as something you could change in the future. Separating your needs from your wants will make it a lot easier when it comes down to searching for Kelowna homes.

young man with money floating in air around

Are you financially ready to purchase a Kelowna home?

Are you financially ready?

Lastly, but probably the most important is… are you financially ready for this big step? A home purchase will likely be one of the biggest purchases you make in your lifetime. Don’t make the mistake of going through the whole home searching process to find out later that you are not qualified to purchase a home. The best thing to do before even looking into a Kelowna realtor, is getting pre-approved. Go in, talk to a mortgage broker and see what you are qualified to buy. Then, find the perfect home in that price range.

If you are looking to purchase your first Kelowna home, you need a great Kelowna real estate team who will work for you to find you exactly what you need! Get in contact with one of our knowledgeable real estate agents who are dedicated to helping you find the perfect first home. We have dedicated buyer’s agents who have years of experience helping first time home buyers. All you have to do is pick up the phone, leave the rest to us. Call 1-778-760-2860 to begin your first home search today!

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Hello Spring! Oh how we have missed you. You know what we haven’t missed? Spring cleaning… We all know it’s coming! So, the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have put together a handy Spring cleaning checklist for your Kelowna home to hopefully help you get through this time. Regardless, crank the tunes, open the windows and enjoy this new season ahead!

Bathrooms

  1. Vacuum the floors and wipe down the walls in the bathrooms
  2. Go through your bath towels and discard any old or ripped ones
  3. Scrub the tub and shower
  4. Wash interior and exterior windows
  5. Go through the cupboards, empty out and wipe down then discard old makeup, shampoo or other empty bottles.

Bedrooms

  1. Go through dresser and closet and get rid of clothes you did not wear
  2. Wash all linens and clean your mattress
  3. Wash all mirrors and clean interior and exterior windows
  4. Thoroughly dust each surface, including lamp shades and furniture
  5. Declutter!! Check out our blog on how to declutter your home.

Kitchen

  1. Clean out the refrigerator and freezer (yes, this includes the deep freezer)
  2. Clean all appliance surfaces
  3. Mop floors
  4. Wipe down the cupboards, inside and out
  5. Get rid of tupperware that are missing lids or are cracked

Family Room

  1. Dust all furniture and lamp shades
  2. Clean sofa and loveseat
  3. Wipe down all electronics
  4. Clean carpets/mop floors
  5. Clean walls and baseboards

There you have it, a checklist for four main parts of your Kelowna home. If you are interested in seeing a checklist for your garage, kids playrooms, office, and basement check back in a few weeks for a blog featuring those four rooms!

If you are looking to list your Kelowna home, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. On top of giving you expert advice on the real estate market in Kelowna, our dedicated agents have years of experience buying and selling Kelowna real estate. All you have to do is pick up the phone to start the process today! Call 1-778-760-2860 today!

3 Things to ask before hiring your Kelowna Home Stager

Welcome to our new series, “3 things to ask…” where we are going to layout 3 different things to ask before hiring a company for your Kelowna home. First up, Kelowna home stagers. What should you look for? What should you ask? Hiring someone to do work on your Kelowna home can increase the value, if done properly. That’s why we are here to help! What are the top 3 things you should ask before hiring a Kelowna home stager? Let’s take a look!

  1. Take a look at their portfolio – ask for a few photos of their previous work. Be sure to ask for before and after photos. Do you like their work? Would you pay to have them stage your home? You’ll have a good idea after viewing their portfolio. Ensure that these photos are not just “inspiration” photos, but actual photos of their work.
  2. Preferred Vendors List – do they like to work with a certain group of vendors? A lot of home stagers will work closely with other Kelowna companies such as painters and window cleaners. They have worked with these companies in the past and know that together, they make a great team. Do you see anyone on the list you know you’ve had a bad experience with? Check it out before you make your decision. As for painters and window cleaners, we will be featuring them in our new series, check back for 3 things to ask them!
  3. Their pricing – what do they charge and what is included? Have a Kelowna home stager come by your home to do a consultation, most stagers do this for free. They will come by your Kelowna home and let you know of what they think needs to be either fixed or worked on. Then they can come up with a preliminary budget for your review. Some of the things on the list, you may be able to tackle on your own. Leave the large projects for the Kelowna home stager – they are the professional!

If you are looking for a home stager, then contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. We work with some of the top stagers in town that do an amazing job on our Kelowna home listings. Our team of dedicated real estate professionals want to ensure you hire the best team for your Kelowna home. Contact our agents today and we can get you in touch with some of the best Kelowna Home Stagers. Call 1-778-760-2860!

Childproof Your Home: Kelowna Real Estate

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Protecting your child in your Kelowna real estate is important. It is essential to childproof your Kelowna real estate to ensure your little ones are safe in your home. First off, keep in mind that every child is different. Some babies like to climb, some like to pull themselves up on items in your Kelowna home and others like to open anything they can and pull all the items out! Regardless of what your baby likes to do, here are some helpful tips on how to childproof your Kelowna home!

Mounted TV’s

two men mounting a tv to the wall

Mount your TV’s

First off, TV’s in your Kelowna real estate. With the amount of time we spend with our little ones watching shows or having a family movie night, it’s time to ensure that your TV is properly secured. The best thing you could do is mount your TV on the wall. This keeps your TV high and up out of the child’s way. The last thing you want is in the middle of a movie, your little one to pull the TV towards them!

Secure your cabinets

Next up is your cabinets. This could be bathroom cabinets, kitchen cabinets, or even drawers in your bedrooms. It’s no surprise that children will try and get into anything and everything that they can. There are plenty of items you can purchase to secure your cabinets and keep them closed. Most importantly, keep your cabinet with harmful liquids such as cleaning supplies out of reach of your children! We’ve even seen parents put their cleaning supplies in a closed container inside a cabinet just in case their little one gets in! Don’t forget to also fasten any dressers or heavy furniture to your walls to ensure they don’t fall forward!

toddler sitting in front of electrical outlet in Kelowna real estate

Cover up your electrical outlets

Electrical Outlets in your Kelowna Real Estate

Last but certainly not least is electrical outlets. There are so many stores that carry electrical outlet covers for a great price! Outlets are normally within a baby’s reach, making it easy for them to get hurt. Be proactive, cover them up now before an accident happens!

If you are ready to make the step and purchase Kelowna real estate, contact our team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of dedicated agents wants to ensure you make the best investment for your family! One of our knowledgeable real estate agents will help you find the perfect Kelowna home to suit your needs. All you have to do is pick up the phone to start your home search today. Call 1-778-760-2860!

Lake Country: What to do + Where to go

Lake Country is a city just north of Kelowna and south of Vernon. It is home to approximately 13,000 and is no shortage of great things to do. Lake Country has amazing views of Lake Okanagan, home to beautiful wineries and great restaurants. If you are looking to try a few new things to do, head up to Lake Country to give these places a try.

Drink Here → Gray Monk Winery

wine glass and red wine bottle sitting on a barrel

Drink here!

If you are craving some of the delicious Okanagan wine look no further. Check out Gray Monk Winery located in Lake Country.  The Heiss family moved to the Okanagan in 1972 and that’s where their story begins. This award-winning winery is known for having amazing local wines that have won awards year after year. We can’t even pick a favorite, there are so many great choices at this local winery.

Eat Here → The Jammery

If you have lived in the Okanagan for over a minute, odds are you have heard of the ever popular restaurant, The Jammery. They offer breakfast and lunch options and a wide variety of amazing jams to purchase. Some of their food items were featured on Canada’s You Gotta Eat Here tv show. Stop by, enjoy some amazing food and grab some jams to bring home.  

kangaroo in a field at Kangaroo creek farm

Go here!

Go Here → The Kangaroo Creek Farm

Now, although this isn’t open for the season yet, we couldn’t write a blog about Lake Country without throwing this one in. Keep this one in mind for next month on opening day. If you love animals, this is the spot for you. There are things to do for all ages including feeding kangaroos and holding baby joeys! This spot tends to get very busy over the summer months and are packed full of visitors from all over. March 17th is opening day, head to the Kangaroo Creek Farm and bring the family, this is something you do not want to miss out on!

Well, there you have it! Lake Country is home to great restaurants, amazing award-winning wineries and fun excursions. If you are looking to make Lake Country your home, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our knowledgeable team of real estate agents are ready to assist you with your next Lake Country home purchase. Our team of dedicated agents are knowledgeable on what the real estate market is doing in Lake Country. We can’t wait to help you find your next home! Call 1-778-760-2860 today!  

Last Minute Valentine’s Day Gifts under $100

Uh oh, you forgot! It’s Valentine’s Day and you have nothing planned or a gift ready to go? Fear not, the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates know how hard it can be to find things for your loved ones last minute that’s why we have created this list of the top three last minute Valentine’s Day gift ideas under $100. They won’t even know you forgot it was today…

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea under $25.00

couple exchanging gifts

Valentine’s Day gift idea under $25.00

If you are looking to spend under $25.00 on a Valentine’s Day Gift, we’ve got the perfect one for you! Show your significant other you love them by gifting them with some coffee and a new mug! Head to your local coffee shop or a coffee shop your significant other tends to spend their mornings at. Purchase a nice mug, and inside the mug place a gift card for the coffee shop, add some chocolate and some nice wrapping paper and voila! You have a gift under $25 for Valentine’s Day!

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea under $50.00

We’re moving on up! A great gift idea for that special someone under $50.00 is a gift basket full of their favorite things. Our favorite things to put in a gift basket are, gift cards to restaurants and clothing stores, favorite snacks, a bottle of their favorite Okanagan wine or a new book! Whatever your significant other loves, put it in the gift basket! There are endless possibilities as to what you could add. Have fun with it and they won’t even know you forgot…

Google home mini

Valentine’s Day gift under $100.00

Valentine’s Day Gift Idea under $100.00

Last but not least is the final gift idea! If you are looking to spend under $100.00 on a Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other, try a new gadget! It is always fun to get a new toy and this one is fun for the whole household. One of our favourite gadgets are the new Google Home Minis. It can play music, tell you jokes and the list goes on!! Most electronic stores carry the Google Home Mini and they come in a few different colours.

There you have it! A few gift ideas for you. They won’t know you forgot and we won’t tell. From the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates, we want to wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day. We hope you all have an amazing day with your significant others, friends and family.

3 Home Staging Mistakes to avoid when selling your Kelowna Home

If your Kelowna home is up for sale, or you are looking to list, you know the importance of ensuring your home is in tip top shape. That being said, are you making one of these home staging mistakes? When you have your home up for sale, avoid making these mistakes to ensure your home sells for top dollar! 

Forgetting the Small Touches

glass jar with flowers in bathroom on counter

Don’t forget the small touches

When a potential buyer comes through your home, they are going to try to imagine themselves living in your home. From the first moment they walk in till the minute they close the door. Home sellers tend to forget the small things that could really make their home stand out to a potential buyer. Make your home feel welcoming. Put some flowers in the bathrooms, put a fruit basket on the kitchen counter, hey, even bake some chocolate chip cookies to make your home smell delicious! Whatever you do, don’t clutter your Kelowna home. You want to make sure the home still feels light and airy, but also adding in those special touches.

Over Staging your Kelowna Home

When you are ready to start staging your home, you may start thinking off all of the possible things you could do with each room. Keep in mind there is such a thing as over staging a room. Try to limit how much you place on bookshelves, end tables and bathroom countertops. You want your home to look inviting and neat. Over staging your home could give off the impression it is cluttered.

modern furniture in Kelowna home

Don’t overcrowd a room

Too much furniture

People tend to think that they need to fill a room up with a bunch of furniture in order to make the room feel full. Too much furniture, or clutter, could make the room actually feel smaller. Try to limit the amount of furniture in the room, opt for modern and smaller pieces rather than large bulky pieces. You’ll be surprised as to how open and large your rooms look by just taking away a few pieces and pulling the furniture away from the walls and towards the centre of the room.

If you are ready to list your Kelowna home, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. On top of giving you expert advice on the real estate market in Kelowna, we can help you to ensure you aren’t making one or all of these home staging mistakes. Our team has years of experience buying and selling Kelowna real estate. We would love to list your Kelowna home. Contact one of our knowledgeable real estate agents today. Call 1-778-760-2860!

February Agenda: What to do in Kelowna

Another month comes another agenda of things to do in Kelowna. February is a short month, so we have to cram more fun activities into less days. If you are looking for something to do to fill up your February calendar…Check out these three activities for fun things to do in the beautiful city this month.

Frozen in Time: the Musical

little girl dressing up as a princess

Enjoy Frozen in Time the Musical

On February 4th at either 1:00PM or 4:00PM head over to the Kelowna Community Theatre in Downtown. Join the Snow Queen as they tell a magical story of their journey through a winter adventure. This show is full of surprises! You can expect some interaction and of course sing-a-longs! If you are looking for an activity for your younger children, this is it! Have your little ones come dressed in their favorite princess and enjoy the show! For ticket information, click here.

Snowed in Comedy Tour

Another great event hosted at the Kelowna Community Theatre in Downtown Kelowna. On February 9th enjoy the 10th year of this Comedy Tour. This comedy tour has performed in Australia, the U.S., France and Switzerland. You do not want to miss this! One of Canada’s largest comedy tours, this show of international comedias brings you unique and hilarious content. For a full list of comedians in this tour and ticket information, click here.

hockey game of the Kelowna Rockets

Enjoy a Kelowna Rockets game

Kelowna Rockets

We have yet to mention heading to a local Kelowna Rockets game for one of our agendas… are we crazy? This February, head to the Prospera Center and cheer on our local hockey team. This month they are playing 8 home games that you and the family can enjoy! To purchase your tickets, see a full game schedule and for more information, click here.

If you don’t live in our beautiful city, you may not be able to enjoy these amazing monthly activities. Make this your next adventure. Kelowna features stunning beaches, amazing wineries and beautiful weather. If you are looking to make the move, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of dedicated real estate agents are ready to assist you with your Kelowna home purchase. Contact one of our knowledgeable real estate agents today. Call 1-778-760-2860! 

Top 3 Luxury Waterfront Home Sales in Kelowna for 2017

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2017 was an amazing year for luxury real estate in Kelowna. The top three luxury waterfront sales in Kelowna for 2017 all sold for over 5 million dollars. Let’s take a look into what the three registered luxury waterfront sales were for 2017. We have broken it down into Kelowna, West Kelowna, and Lake Country.

5570 Lakeshore Road – Kelowna, BC

luxury waterfront home located in Kelowna

5570 Lakeshore Road – Listed with Caldwell Banker Horizon

First up is 5570 Lakeshore Road in Upper Mission. This luxury home in Kelowna sold for $5,975,000 after 274 days on the market. This little piece of paradise features over 500 feet of private waterfront and is set on 3.18 acres of privacy. Sandy Beach, a licensed dock, and boat moorage are just a few key features of this waterfront luxury home. This luxury property features a main home and a secondary home perfect for visiting family, or guests both complete with 3-car garages. 

16414 Carrs Landing Road – Lake Country, BC

Next up is 16414 Carrs Landing Road located in Lake Country. This luxury home in Kelowna sold for $6,400,000 after 30 days on the market. An interesting fact about this home is that is it one of the only two in BC to be recognized by Global TV as one of the top waterfront properties in Canada. Proximity to the Okanagan Lake, and one of the finest lakeshore property in Kelowna. Featuring over 7500 square feet of living space, 6 bedrooms, and 7 bathrooms, you can not duplicate this internationally recognized private lakeshore home in Kelowna.

luxury waterfront home located in West Kelowna

1475 Pritchard Drive – listed with Caldwell Banker Horizon

1475 Pritchard Drive – West Kelowna, BC 

Last but certainly not least is 1475 Pritchard Drive which sold for $7,000,000 after 152 days on the market. This luxury waterfront home is located in West Kelowna and is less than 20 minutes from Downtown Kelowna. The outdoor living area is complete with a saltwater pool, hot tub, outdoor kitchen, and 284 feet of beachfront on Lake Okanagan. This luxury home features 5 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and over 4500 square feet of living space. Vaulted ceilings, open concept, breathtaking views, and a kitchen with high-end appliances are just a few features of this luxury waterfront home.

For more information on these top three luxury waterfront homes sold in Kelowna or any luxury real estate listings, contact Quincy Vrecko. Quincy Vrecko is a luxury real estate agent. He has over 28 years of experience in luxury sales. Whether you are looking for a luxury waterfront home, penthouse, or luxury real estate, Quincy is knowledgeable in all aspects of the luxury real estate market and can assist you with your next luxury home purchase today. When you are purchasing luxury real estate in Kelowna, work with a professional who knows the luxury real estate market. Call Quincy directly, at 1-250-863-8810!

Kelowna Real Estate: How to Budget for Kelowna Home Renovations

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Sometimes the hardest part of renovating your Kelowna home is figuring out how to budget properly. You have endless ideas of how to update the kitchen, add a bit of color to your family room, or rip out the carpet in the hallway but it all boils down to “how much is this going to cost?” If you are looking to do a Kelowna home renovation and are looking for ways how to budget properly, check out our top three tips and tricks.

Do your Research and Establish a Budget

couple planning their Kelowna home renovations

Do your research

One of the easiest ways to budget for your home renovations is by setting a budget in the first place. Here is the hard part… stick to it!! Every small thing you add can and will slowly add up in the end and you will end up way over what you initially budgeted for. Do your research on items you want to update and find out approximately what the renovations are going to cost. Stick to that plan and don’t go way over your budget because you see a set of handles for your doors that would look way nicer but are an extra $20 a handle.

Get Quotes for your Kelowna Home

Once you have an idea of what kind of things you want to update in your home, contact a company to get you a quote. If you have an idea of what you want, it will be way easier to quote you on the project. Don’t go to just one company, try to find three quotes for each project. For example, find three painters, three tile installers, etc. This will give you variety and will help when you are trying to stick to a budget.

painters in Kelowna home

Account for hidden costs

Account for Hidden Costs

When we budget for home renovations down to the penny, we often forget to add in some extra money just in case. Sometimes what can happen when renovating is you discover a hidden issue that has to be fixed. Most of the reason home renovations end up costing you more is due to those little hidden issues that arise during the middle of a renovation. To help with this, budget 10-20% of your budget towards unforeseen costs.

If you are in the process of beginning your home renovations, contact one of our Kelowna real estate agents first! Renovations can add value to your Kelowna home if done properly. We want to ensure that the money you are investing in your Kelowna home will only help you when it becomes time to sell. Speak to one of our knowledgeable real estate agents at Vrecko Real Estate Group today. Call 1-778-760-2860!