Events in Kelowna this November

November is just around the corner and there is quite a few events in Kelowna this November! Check out what Kelowna has to offer by attending an event in our beautiful city. From wine events in Kelowna to plays in Kelowna, we’ve got it all!

events in Kelowna, wine tenders mixoff

Head over to the Winetenders Mixoff!

Winetenders Mix Off

On November 2nd, head on down to the Laurel Packinghouse for the 2017 Winetenders Mix Off! This amazing event runs from 7-9:30pm and is put on by the Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery. Sample the night away! This event features live music, appetizers and of course cocktails produced by the bartenders competing to win Winetenders Mix Off Champion for 2017! For tickets or more information visit their website.

Glow Night

On November 18th from 6-8:30pm at the Parkinson’s Rec Centre, bring the whole family down for a Glow Night! This event is free and fun for the whole family! Dress up in bright neon colours and wear white to GLOW! Enjoy a night full of dancing, DJ and games. You won’t want to miss this one. For more information, visit https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/news-events/city-calendar/family-glow-night

two wine glasses with wine being poured in them

Sip Sip Hooray! Cedarcreek After Hours!

Cedarcreek After Hours

Stop by Cedarcreek Winery located on Lakeshore Road in Kelowna on November 17th from 6:30-8:30pm! Cedarcreek After Hours is an event hosted by Cedar Creek Winery. This intimate gathering is located in their wine shop. Your ticket includes one glass of wine and canapes. Enjoy a fun evening with live music! What a great way to start off your weekend. For tickets or more information visit Cedarcreek’s website!

This November is full of events in Kelowna. These are just a few we want to feature! If you are looking for events in Kelowna not only in November but all year round visit, check out Tourism Kelowna’s website. They have a full list of new, recurring and one time events in Kelowna you don’t want to miss! This is just three great events that are happening in our city of Kelowna next month. Stay tuned for great events happening in December you don’t want to miss.

 

Make West Kelowna your Home

West Kelowna, our friendly neighbour, just a hop, skip and a drive over a bridge away!  It is the second most populated municipality in the Central Okanagan. This rapidly growing community has a wide range of activities for you and the family to enjoy. From hiking and biking to wine tours and much more, you’re sure to find it in West Kelowna.

Housing in West Kelowna

Home located in West Kelowna with large backyard and pool

1421 Pinot Noir Drive – Previously listed with Quincy Vrecko

More and more people are heading over the bridge to purchase real estate and in turn the housing market is rapidly growing.  Mission Hill, Shannon Lake and Lakeview Heights are just a few popular neighbourhoods in West Kelowna. Lakeview Heights is one neighbourhood that has been rapidly growing over the last few years. From luxury homes with stunning views of the Lake Okanagan to family homes perfect for your growing family. 

Wineries

West Kelowna is also known for their amazing wineries. From Mission Hill to Quails Gate, you are sure to find some amazing wines out that way. The wineries are within close proximity so choose a weekend and grab a few friends and enjoy a tour of the spectacular wineries. If you are looking for a weekend getaway that isn’t too far from home but relaxing enough to be able to unwind and enjoy yourself, the wine trails in West Kelowna are calling your name.

couple hiking up a hill

Hiking Trails in West Kelowna

Hiking Trails

There is no shortage of hiking trails in our province that’s for sure! Check out the great hiking trails that West Kelowna has to offer. If you enjoy a more difficult hike, check out Crawford Falls! The waterfalls are just spectacular and so rewarding after the intensity of the hike! Another great place for a walk/hike is Rose Valley Regional Park. Great place to bring your dog for a walk or birdwatch. Whatever it may be, Rose Valley Regional Park is the place to be!

If you are looking to make a change and you want to make West Kelowna your new home, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our dedicated team of real estate professionals are ready to assist you with your next Kelowna home purchase. Call 1-778-760-2860 today!

October Agenda: What to do in Kelowna

October has officially creeped up on us and we are just a few short months away from 2018! If you are trying to find things to do this October, you have come to the right place. Check out our three top ideas of what to do in Kelowna this October.

Visit a Pumpkin patch

mom and daughter sitting in field of pumpkins

Visit a local pumpkin patch!

October and pumpkins tend to fit in the same sentence! This October visit a pumpkin patch such as McMillan farms. McMillan farms is probably one of the most popular pumpkin patches in all of Kelowna! Get lost in their exhilarating corn maze, pick up a pumpkin to carve or purchase some beautiful gourds and multi coloured corn to decorate your dining room table with!

Visit Arlo’s Honey Farm

Located in South East Kelowna is Arlo’s Honey Farm. This little hidden gem is perfect if you are looking for something to do in Kelowna this October. If you are looking for a great educational tour on all things bees as well as a close up of a working hive, this is the spot to be! They are open 11-4PM up until October 14th then by appointment only from November to April. Arlo’s Honey Farm not only has amazing 100% pure honey but they also sell a wide range of produce as well. Check out this amazing spot and support local!

couple walking on a trail

Go for a nice hike or walk on one of our beautiful trails

Go for a nice hike/walk

For the more adventurous type, a nice afternoon hike or walk may be the perfect thing for you to do this October. The weather is great for a hike or walk! Some of our favorite hiking and walking trails are Crawford Falls, Mission Creek Regional Park and Knox Mountain Park. In Kelowna, there are plenty hiking and walking trails. Enjoy them while the weather is great and enjoyable before we get our first snowfall!

Kelowna is full of great outdoor and indoor activities. There are endless things to do in Kelowna. Keep yourself going and entertained through this beautiful fall that we are going through. Enjoy it while it is here as winter is not far from making an appearance.

If you are looking for Kelowna real estate that are within close proximity of activities indoor and outdoor, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of professional Kelowna real estate agents are ready to assist you with your next Kelowna home purchase. Call 1-778-760-2860! 

How to Prepare for the Fall

You have done it! Your Kelowna home is for sale!

Now here comes the hard part, you want to prepare your home and yard for the fall but are unsure of how to do it without making your home look bare! While your Kelowna homes for sale, you want to ensure it is in the best shape to set up a sale but you also want to ensure your home is prepared for the upcoming season!

Keep your Kelowna yard clean from leaves

lady raking up leaves for her Kelowna homes for sale

Keep your yard free of leaves

A hard task to keep up with but something very important! The fall season brings beautiful colourful leaves but the leaves fall onto your beautiful yard. Make sure your Kelowna home is in tip top shape by keeping your yard free of leaves. If you can’t keep up with your leaves everyday, we recommend keeping at least your front yard clean and free of leaves. A lot of potential buyers will do a drive by of your home before contacting their Kelowna realtor for a showing.

Keep up to date on your home maintenance

Just because your Kelowna homes for sale does not mean you should stop on your home maintenance for the idea you think your home will sell quickly! Your Kelowna home could take some time to sell or it could sell quick and have a longer possession. You do not want to delay on necessary maintenance to keep your home in its best shape. Ensure you get your furnace checked and filters changed before the cool weather comes quickly!

diffuser on a end table with lamp beside

Keep your Kelowna home smelling fresh

Keep your Kelowna home smelling fresh

In the summer time, we tend to keep our doors and windows open and allow in the summer breeze. In the fall, it tends to be a bit cooler and we close all of our doors and windows. The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates, recommend letting in some fresh air before your showing. If weather allows, open up some windows to allow a cross breeze and freshen up your home!  If weather doesn’t allow for you to open your windows to freshen up your home, a simple diffuser shall do the trick!

With fall just around the corner it is time to ensure your Kelowna homes for sale is in its best shape! Keep up with your regular home maintenance and read our Livingroom DIY article , freshen up your home with the cool fall breeze and keep your yard in tip top shape! For more information on how you can prepare your Kelowna homes for sale contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of professional Kelowna real estate agents want to ensure your Kelowna home is in the best condition it can be to prepare for your sale! Call 1-778-760-2860!

Weekend DIY: Kelowna Living Room

The weekend is approaching quickly! Are you looking for something to do this weekend? Why not give your Kelowna living room a facelift. Try out one or all of these great living room DIY projects this weekend.

Style your bookshelf

modern living room with neutral tones

Style your bookshelf in your Kelowna living room

Do you have a bookshelf that is just in your Kelowna living room collecting dust? Another great weekend DIY for your Kelowna living room is to style your bookshelf! Adding things such as decorative objects or a pop of colour is sure to add that extra pop to your living room!

Reupholster an old chair or couch

Do you have an old chair or couch in your Kelowna living room that needs some updating? Quick weekend DIY that you can do to give it a refreshing look is to reuphoster it! If it is an old chair, try adding a fun print to add a pop of colour and print to your Kelowna living room!

 

collage wall on wall behind grey couch in living room

Collage wall behind living room couch

Add a collage wall

Is there a wall in your Kelowna living room that is lacking something special? A great way to liven it up is to add a collage wall. Take photos of your family and add some decorative objects such as a big letter of your last name and hang it all on the wall that is lacking something special! The key to a great collage wall is to have the objects and pictures not lined up but scattered around!

If you are updating your Kelowna living room to prepare it for sale, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. On top of giving you expert real estate advice, we want to ensure your home is in perfect condition to set your sale up for success. This starts with small updates such as the ones listed above! Call one of our knowledgeable real estate agents today, 1-778-760-2860!

Add Colour to your Kelowna Bedroom

Is your Kelowna bedroom lacking a pop of colour? Are you struggling to make updates to your Kelowna Bedroom? The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates are here to help! If you are looking to add a bit of colour to your Kelowna bedroom, you’ve come to the right place!

Add an Accent Wall to your Kelowna Bedroom

purple accent wall in Kelowna bedroom

Add an accent wall behind your bed

One way you can add that pop of colour to your Kelowna bedrooms is by adding an accent wall. The best spot to add an accent wall to your bedroom is behind your bed. For a more subtle pop of colour try one solid colour. For you daring couples out there, try adding a unique print!

 

Add colourful decorative objects

Another idea on how to add colour to your Kelowna bedroom is by adding colourful decorative objects! If you love the neutral colour look to your bedroom, adding some soft pastels can really transform a room! Right now, pastels and greenery are the new thing. They don’t require you to switch out your existing neutral decor as the greenery and soft pastels are an easy addition to any neutral bedroom!

neutral bedroom with a pop of bright pink accents

Switch out your bedding to add that pop of colour

Switch out your bedding

If you want to experiment with colours but are unsure of what colour you want, switch out your bedding for an easy and temporary fix! There are plenty of different, inexpensive bedding options you can try. This goes for seasonal as well. If you are looking to switch out your bedroom decor for the season, switching out your bedding is an inexpensive way that can be your best option!

If you are looking for different ways to spruce up your bedroom decor, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates! Our team of professional real estate agents want to ensure your home is in its best shape in order to tee up the right sale! Call one of our knowledgeable associates today 1-778-760-2860!

Pay off your mortgage quicker with these simple tricks

Purchasing a Kelowna home is a great accomplishment but one of the biggest accomplishments after the fact is to pay off your mortgage. If you are looking to pay off your mortgage quicker than you have come to the right place! The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have some great tips on how to pay off your mortgage!

Add onto your monthly payment by rounding up

hand stacking coins on a table

Round up your monthly payments

One of the ways you can pay off your mortgage quicker is by rounding up your monthly payments. For example, if you are paying $1270 per month, round up your payments to $1300 a month. That is only an extra $30 a month that you have to put away which is not even a dinner out for two! The more you can put away each month the better, but even the smallest amount of money can make the difference!

Put away extra money to pay off your mortgage quicker

Did you get a raise from work? Just received a generous birthday gift? Did you win the lottery (okay, I know, we all wish). Put any extra money into your mortgage. This money is extra that you were not necessarily expecting and you may have not budgeted for. This adds up, it will help pay your mortgage off quicker!

sitting at computer looking for ways to pay off your mortgage quicker

Look for ways to pay off your mortgage quicker

Switch to Bi-Weekly Payments

One of the easiest ways to pay off your mortgage quicker is by switching to bi-weekly payments rather than sticking to monthly. By switching to bi-weekly payments you will pay more times per year and resulting in a decrease of how long it takes you to pay off your mortgage. You know what that means right? You are paying off your mortgage quicker!

If you are looking for more ways to help pay off your mortgage quicker contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. We work with some of the top mortgage brokers in Kelowna. We recommend before making any changes your mortgage options, consult with a mortgage broker to ensure that it is the right move for you and your mortgage!

Moving to Kelowna with children

Moving is hard.  Not only on you as the designated packer, organizer, cleaner and mover but also on the whole family. Change can be good for everyone especially your little ones! One of the hardest things for moving to Kelowna can be preparing your children for what is to come. The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have great tips on how to prepare your children for your next move.

Discuss what is coming up before moving to Kelowna

parents and son unloading moving truck

Discuss what is coming up before moving to Kelowna

One of the best things you can give your children during this move is information. Is this the first time they are moving? They may not know what to expect. Inform your children why this is important for your family at this stage in life. If the move in within the city, take your children to the neighborhood and show them around. Bring them to a nearby park or nearby attraction! If the move is a distant move and you can’t show them the city until the move use the internet! Show photos of the Kelowna neighbourhood, use Google Maps to show the street your new Kelowna home is on and view videos of parks and attractions.

Keep them busy!

Are you planning on redoing the children’s rooms? Something that can keep your children busy during a move is letting them plan what they want their new rooms to look like. Give them some control over what they want it to look like. Narrow down some colour ideas for the walls and let them decide what colour they like best. Even though you narrowed down what you want the room to look like, they feel like they have some say if they can have the final decision.

couple walking in door of home

Narrow down your home choices and then involve your children

Involve your children in the process

If you have older children, it may be a great idea to involve them in the house hunting process. Get them excited for what is to come. If you have narrowed it down to one or two choices, excite them by showing them what could be their new room or playroom. If you are planning on renovating the house, tell them the fun ways you plan on doing it! Do you plan on knocking a wall down or fixing the yard so there is room for a trampoline? These kind of ideas can excite your children and also let them have something to look forward to.

Moving can be stressful especially when you are relocating to a new city. If you are planning on moving to Kelowna, check out our handy relocation guide. There is so much to do in the Okanagan so use our guide to get yourself familiarized with the city! From our team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates, welcome to the city of Kelowna.

Tips on How to Buy a Home in your Twenties

Some may say that one of the biggest accomplishments is to buy a home. They dream of the day the real estate agent hand over keys to their new home. Some may never get to experience that, some may experience that later on in life. The team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have some great tips on how to buy a home in your twenties.

Start with your Credit 

person sitting in front of desk on calculator looking for ways to improve credit to buy a home

Start improving your credit score

One of the hurdles that people in their twenties reach is having little to no credit. So, begin working towards improving or building up credit. Best way to avoid this is to apply for a credit card with a low balance and just continue to pay it off every month. Start using your credit card rather than your bank account for things and establish a credit score rather quickly! Make sure you pay your balances on time to keep up with the credit score you are working towards!

Get pre-approved for a mortgage to buy a home

There is no sense on beginning to look for homes without knowing exactly what you can afford. Once you are pre-approved, you will know what you can afford. We strongly recommend getting pre-approved for a mortgage for a few reasons, check out why should I get pre-approved for a mortgage for more information.

mason jar with coins inside with sign "down payment"

Start saving now!

Save for the next year, no excuses!

If you are truly serious about buying your first home in your twenties, it will require a lot of savings. Start now, no excuses! Start by figuring out how much you need to save up in order to make your dream to buy a home come true. Once you know approximately what you should save, divide that by how many months you want to and you have what you should be putting away each month. It is all worth it!

If you are ready to take the next step of buying a home, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of real estate agents have years of experience assisting people with purchasing a Kelowna home. We are ready to help you with this big step! Call 1-778-760-2860 today! 

Things to do in Downtown Kelowna this September

We’re into the second week of September. Are you struggling to find things to do in Downtown Kelowna this September? We have put together a great list of things such as where to eat or where to take the kids for a hike! No more searching countless websites for ideas, the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have you covered!

Hike Here → Knox Mountain 

lady sitting on top of a mountain with her hands behind her head taking in the view

Knox Mountain in Downtown Kelowna

If you have lived in Kelowna or currently live in Kelowna, you are most likely aware of Knox Mountain. Knox Mountain has stunning views from their two lookouts. Located in Downtown Kelowna, this hike is moderate depending on where you decide to start from. Regardless of where you begin or end, you are sure to see some amazing views of all of Downtown Kelowna.

Shop Here → Downtown Kelowna on Bernard 

Summer is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean shopping Downtown has to! Take advantage of the nice fall weather about to come and stroll down Bernard this September. Home to lots of family run and small businesses. Support local! 

Eat Here → Krafty Kitchen + Bar

Located on Lawrence Street in Downtown Kelowna is Krafty Kitchen + Bar. More on the high end of restaurant’s in Downtown Kelowna. This farm to table restaurant is home to Kelowna’s only duck fat fryer… yes you read that right. For a full menu check out, https://kraftykitchen.ca

Sip Here → Sandhill Winery

If you are looking for a great winery to sip on local wine, head over to Sandhill Winery. Located in the heart of Downtown Kelowna down on Richter Street is this stunning winery. Act fast, the tasting room is only open until September 30th from 10:30-5:30PM.

http://sandhillwines.ca/Tasting-Room/

boardwalk with view of Okanagan Lake in Downtown Kelowna

Waterfront Boardwalk in Kelowna

Walk Here → Waterfront Boardwalk

This is a given, if you want to take an afternoon or evening stroll after dinner head to Waterfront Boardwalk. The boardwalk downtown is great for everyone in the family. You can walk for quite a while on the boardwalk and to top it all off it is along the Okanagan Lake the whole time!

Summer is coming to an end and the weather is going to start to drop more than it has already. Enjoy all that is left of this warm weather and take advantage of all that Downtown Kelowna has to offer. If you are interested in making a change in your lifestyle to accommodate the Downtown Kelowna living, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of real estate agents have years of experience and are ready to help you find your next Downtown Kelowna home. Call 1-778-760-2860 today!