Staging A Home In Winter

Although the winter months are a not-so-popular time to sell a home, many benefits will be favorable towards selling one during this season. A huge plus is reduced competition. At a time when demand is high for homes in Kelowna, you are more likely to sell yours within a short period. Here are a few tips for you to stage your home during the winter season and make your property a show-stopping spectacle for potential buyers.

Keep your abode cozy

During a showing, it’s always important to keep the house warm for potential buyers. Raising the temperature to 70 degrees will maintain a comfortable climate inside your home. This can help potential buyers to focus on the property’s features more comfortably. 

The curb appeal still matters

Winter months are hard to rely on flowering plants to have that perfect curb appeal. One option is to have cold-weather plants. You can jazz up your front door by giving it a fresh coat of paint and have some outdoor furniture that looks cozy and inviting on the front porch as the eyes of anyone visiting your home will naturally focus on what’s at your entrance.

Clear walkways and driveways

As a seller, it’s important to keep the walkways and driveways clear especially if it has snowed during the winter. It’s important to put down salt if there is excessive ice on the ground. Ensuring the safety of potential buyers during a viewing is very important when selling your home.

Lots of lighting

The first impression of a home at all times is a home with natural light in abundance. This can be a challenge during a gloomy winter day. It’s essential to have the spaces well-lit where natural light is difficult to reach. 

Get Organised

Winter can be tough on your floors. No one wants to see muddy footprints during a viewing. Have lots of floor mats to wipe the mud off the shoes or choose to provide disposable shoe covers for viewers. It is also essential to store your winter gear in an organized manner. Having your coats hung and shoes laid on racks will go a long way. Through occasional sweeping, vacuuming, and a mop between viewings, you can make your home look the best for every prospective buyer.

Winter months are a perfect time to sell your home as real estate agents are less busy and could give you additional attention and help market your property at a time when competition is less. If you are thinking of selling your home Quincy and Vrecko Associates are happy to provide you with an evaluation at no cost! To learn more about the benefits of listing with us, click here.

Every time you drive down the Pandosy/Lakeshore stretch you are reminded that at one time Kelowna was just a sleepy beach town with small markets and beach access as far as the eye could see. Over the past few decades, the city has seen tremendous growth with new urban projects making many consider a permanent relocation to this ever-growing city.

Movala development site

The Pandosy/Lakeshore area has always been regarded as the crown jewel of Kelowna. As we wait for the roadways to catch up, we are seeing new multi-family developments popping up regularly in this area. In the next two to five years the area as we know it will be even more different than remembered. With the onset of the redevelopment of Hiawatha RV Park, as well as the recently started Movala and soon-to-be-constructed Aqua development near Truswell, it is apparent the changes are rapid, whether we are ready for them or not.

From a perspective of growth and vitality, it feels somewhat exciting to watch the once-sleepy beach town grow into a small yet vibrant city. It doesn’t come without a tinge of sadness for what Kelowna was and a hope that we can preserve the character of the agriculture, lifestyle, and beach life that many have come to know and love.

In 2008 we saw the addition of Playa Del Sol, a resort-style condo building that featured an outdoor pool and deck in one of the most sought-after locations just across the street from the famous Hotel Eldorado and Manteo Resort. Whether we were fully aware or not, the redevelopment of Lakeshore as we knew it had begun. 2015 brought The Lakeshore at Manteo, an 18-unit townhouse development with a pool on the lake; fast forward to 2017, Kelowna saw the highly anticipated completion of Sopa Square after many delays. The well-captured artsy feel in the Pandosy/Lakeshore area is evolving to feature high-end living, a stone’s throw from the beach.

Hotel Eldorado

As residents begrudgingly try to make their way to and from Upper Mission the changes are coming fast and furious. Movala’s construction began after residents of the RV park enjoyed their last summer kitty-corner to Gyro Beach. Caban by Cressy will begin construction quickly although it is entirely sold out. Hiawatha RV Park has been removed and the giant open space will become rental-only condos developed by Mission Group. A roundabout is being installed to help with the flow of traffic, disrupting it in the interim. As we near Truswell, the wallscape speaks about the ingenious Aqua Boat Valet facility that is purely holding space for the upcoming multi-building Aqua development featuring three buildings and an indoor boat storage facility. It will also feature a new boardwalk which would bring new life to the existing boardwalk connecting the El Dorado and Manteo and hopefully more waterfront dining that is surprisingly scarce, given the size of the waterbody we are so lucky to reside amongst.

The implementation of the Resort District is unfolding all around us and brings mixed feelings for many and the resounding hope that we will be able to preserve the character of the once small farming and beach community while it transforms into a larger city. What do you feel about the transformation of Pandosy/Lakeshore?