Open House Etiquette

Open House Etiquette for Kelowna Real Estate

With the weather finally warming up and Summer just around the corner, its no surprise that there will be a lot of open houses to visit. With that being said, if you are new to open houses or have not been to one in a long time, check out our guide below for open house etiquette for Kelowna Real Estate.

Respect people’s property

couple entering open house in Kelowna

Respect people’s property

When you start viewing open houses, it’s normal to get excited and want to view every last bit of the home. This could be your new home? If you are walking into an open house, just like you would with a showing, it’s important to respect people’s property. In the end, people could still be living in the home and it’s important to respect their personal belongings. If there are doors closed, kindly ask the realtor on duty if you can enter that room.

Wait to discuss the home till you leave

If you have comments about the home, it’s not a bad idea to wait to discuss it with your spouse/family until you leave the home. Again, this is someone’s home and what you may not like may be very special to them! Remember, you never know who could be in the home with you during the open house, and if you are planning on making an offer, it may be smart to keep your comments to yourself!

Couple entering open house in Kelowna

Be polite!

Be polite

When you are at an open house, be polite to the real estate agent. The Kelowna real estate agent is there to answer any questions you may have! If you are already working with a real estate agent, kindly let them know so they are aware! It’s never a bad idea to say hi, smile and thank them on your way out and always remove your shoes if there is a sign at the front door!

If you are interested in purchasing Kelowna real estate, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of knowledgeable real estate agents have years of experience helping Kelowna home buyers find their dream home. All you have to do is pickup the phone and give us a call, we will do the rest. Call 1-778-760-2860 today to begin your Kelowna home search.

3 Space Saving Ideas for your Glenmore Condo Bedroom

Condos – a great way to get into the real estate market. The one thing that you give up by purchasing a condo is space. Your bedrooms are smaller than a Kelowna home and your living room has become a small intimate space. Well today, we are going to focus on bedrooms, specifically in a Glenmore condo and how to save some precious space. Glenmore is the perfect spot for first time home buyers and feature great starter condos! If you are trying to spruce up your bedroom but don’t know where to start because your limited on space…. we’ve got you covered! Here are three space saving ideas for your Glenmore Condo bedroom.

Bed with Drawers

bed with drawers in small Glenmore condo

Invest in a bed with drawers

There are a few key things that you need in a bedroom. Dresser, bed and end tables are generally what comes to mind! Then the bedroom is built up from there. If you are struggling to find space for a dresser, fear not! There are great beds out there nowadays that have drawers underneath your mattress. Under the bed is generally unused space so use it to your advantage and purchase a bed with drawers! Problem solved!

Add Hooks On Your Closet Walls

Another spot in bedrooms that is generally not used is the wall behind your clothes in your closet. No one would ever think to use this wall as it is hidden with your clothes. What better spot to hang hooks for things such as hats, scarfs and belts?! Not only does it help save on space, it keeps things out of sight so your bedroom in your Glenmore condo doesn’t look crowded.

modern bedroom with headboard and bookshelf

Multifunctional furniture for your Glenmore condo

Multifunctional furniture

Now, we’ve established that you are low on space. So the best possible thing you could do for your Glenmore condo, is purchase multifunctional furniture. When you are low on space, you’re also limited as to how much furniture you can have in your bedroom. There are plenty of fun pieces to add…. try a bedside drawer that also has a garbage can inside, bookshelf as a headboard or even modern bunk bed with a desk underneath. There are so many unique pieces nowadays!

Well, there you have it! If you were struggling to style your Glenmore condo bedroom, start with these great tips! If you are looking for a Glenmore condo in Kelowna to put our tips to the test, contact us! We are a real estate team dedicated to helping home buyers purchase their perfect home. We work with first time home buyers and have experience selling in Glenmore and beyond! We want to work with you to purchase your first condo in Kelowna. Contact one of our Kelowna real estate agents today! Call 1-778-760-2860!

Hiring a Kelowna Real Estate Lawyer

When you are looking to purchase a Kelowna home there are plenty of steps you need to take. It starts with finding a Kelowna real estate agent, then you move onto finding a home then comes the legal portion… finding a Kelowna real estate lawyer. If you are getting ready to purchase a Kelowna home, here are a few questions to ask when you are searching for a Kelowna real estate lawyer.

How long have you been practicing real estate law?

gavel on book for real estate law

How long have you been practicing real estate law?

One of the first things to ask your Kelowna real estate lawyer is “how long have you been practicing law?” You want someone who is knowledgeable with real estate transaction and can put your mind at ease. Feel free to ask your Kelowna real estate agent for some recommendations. They often have a few Kelowna real estate lawyers that they work with and trust will do a good job.

Are you familiar with my Kelowna real estate purchase?

Every purchase is different. There are different documents to review, and its important that your Kelowna real estate lawyer is aware of what to look for and spot any red flags for you. The best thing you can do is sit down with your Kelowna real estate lawyer and discuss what you have purchased and provide them with any documentation that you have been provided. They should let you know right away if this is something they are comfortable with and have handled before.

Kelowna real estate lawyer preparing paperwork

What do you charge?

What do you charge?

Every Kelowna real estate lawyer charges in a different way. They all range in price. It is best to get in contact with the firm to ask exactly what the fees are when processing your real estate transaction. Moving to a new home is expensive so it’s important to know ahead of time what the fees will be so you can budget accordingly.

If you are looking for a Kelowna real estate lawyer, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. We work with some of the top lawyers in Kelowna. We have great recommendations on who we know will do a great job! Contact us today 1-778-760-2860!

Luxury Real Estate with a Pool

When purchasing Kelowna luxury real estate, it seems that a main selling feature is the pool in the backyard. The idea of jumping into a nice refreshing pool after a hot day sounds better and better. Summer is just right around the corner. If you are looking to invest in Kelowna luxury real estate with a pool, here are a few things to consider first!

What is the monthly pool maintenance cost? 

piggy bank sitting beside a luxury real estate pool

What does a pool actually cost?

Maintaining a large pool in the backyard of your Kelowna luxury real estate can be a lot of work. Ensuring that the pool is kept clean and safe to swim in is important! You can find a company who will take care of the cleaning for you. This will come at a cost of course. On top of regular cleaning and pool maintenance there are other things you need to worry about! Pool chemicals, filtration systems and other pool related products you will need to ensure you account for! 

Will you use the pool enough?

If you are a family who loves to travel, if you go on frequent business trips or you like to go on spontaneous trips with your significant other, one thing to consider is if you will be using the pool as much as you think. If you have a family cabin that you tend to visit all summer long, will you have time for your new pool? It may seem like a great idea for you but in the end, if it is going to cost you more than you will use it… is it really worth it to you?

home with coins in front

How will your pool affect your resale value?

Will it affect the resale value?

One of the main things to consider is resale value for your Kelowna luxury real estate. If you are thinking of selling your Kelowna luxury real estate in the years to come, consider what the pool could do for your resale value. If you are interested to see what a pool will do for your resale value, contact a Kelowna real estate agent. A Kelowna realtor can help you understand what your luxury real estate is valued at.

If you are looking to purchase Kelowna luxury real estate, contact Quincy Vrecko. Quincy is the luxury real estate agent for Quincy Vrecko and Associates, RE/MAX Kelowna. Quincy is knowledgeable with the Kelowna luxury real estate market. He brings over 28 years of luxury sales experience and knows the ins and outs of the real estate market. If you are looking for a luxury real estate agent in Kelowna, contact Quincy directly today! Call 1-250-863-8810!  

Risks of Selling a Kelowna home Yourself

It’s time, you are ready to get your Kelowna home on the market and you want to sell it. You have thought of the two ways to list your Kelowna home. Do you go through a Kelowna real estate agent or do you sell your Kelowna home yourself? There are definitely pros and cons to each situation. If you are contemplating selling your Kelowna home yourself, start by asking yourself these 3 questions first!

Are you familiar with the Kelowna real estate market?

house for sale with sign in front lawn

Are you familiar with the Kelowna real estate market?

First step in order to sell your Kelowna home is to ensure you are familiar with the Kelowna real estate. Real estate changes all the time, the market is always changing. Your home could be valued differently in the next 30 days to keep up with the ever changing real estate market. It’s important that you understand how the Kelowna real estate market works so you can sell your Kelowna home properly.

Will you be able to market your Kelowna home?

When you list your own Kelowna home, you are taking on the advertising job for it. That means, marketing your home to people not only in the community but all over to ensure you reach the most amount of buyers. Just putting a for sale sign in the front lawn will limit your potential buyers. When you hire a Kelowna real estate agent, you get full exposure on plenty of websites, social media and other marketing platforms.

man and women sitting across from the table negotiating home sale

Are you prepared to negotiate your sale?

Are you prepared to negotiate?

When you hire a Kelowna real estate agent, they come with negotiating experience. Kelowna real estate agents have experience working with home buyers and sellers and are aware of how to negotiate properly to ensure you get the best price possible for your Kelowna home. If you aren’t confident negotiating your Kelowna home, a Kelowna real estate agent may be the best option for you.

If you are ready to list your Kelowna home for sale, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. We are a team of dedicated real estate agents who help home buyers and sellers through their real estate transactions. We have a strategic marketing plan to ensure our listings reach the most amount of buyers, we are familiar and study the Kelowna real estate market and have years experience negotiating Kelowna real estate. If you are looking for a Kelowna real estate team, we are ready to help you! All you have to do is pick up the phone… leave the rest to us. Call 1-778-760-2860!

Kelowna Real Estate: How to Survive Multiple Offers

You walk into a Kelowna home, it ticks off every box, you want to make an offer on this beautiful Kelowna real estate. Here’s the thing, three other people are interested in the same Kelowna home and want to make an offer as well. The question is, what do you do? How can you survive this multiple offer situation and be the one who wins this bidding war? Well the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have three great tips on how to survive your next bidding war.

Get pre-approved

mortgage application sitting on desk

Get pre-approved for a mortgage in Kelowna

If you are serious about buying Kelowna real estate, then the first step is to get pre-approved. We cannot say it enough how important it is to get pre-approved before beginning your search for Kelowna real estate. Don’t waste your time searching for something that may not even be in your price range. Set yourself up for success. Get pre-approved and show the home owner that you mean business!!

Get personal

From the sellers point of view, they are just getting a few contracts in hand with names on the top. The sellers have no idea who you are, so what makes your deal more enticing than the others? Adding that personal touch! Write a letter and give them an idea of who you are, what you loved about the home and why this home would be the perfect fit for you and your family.

couple getting handed keys to their new Kelowna home

Work with a Kelowna real estate agent

Work with a Kelowna Real Estate Agent

Last, but certainly the most important point of all.. work with a Kelowna real estate agent on your Kelowna real estate purchase. Kelowna real estate agents have dealt with many multiple offer situations. Some may have a few tricks up their sleeve. Leave this up to the professionals and just sit back and watch your contract get signed. Work with a professional Kelowna real estate agent, they will get the job done!

If you are looking for Kelowna real estate, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. We are a team of highly trained real estate professionals who have worked with many Kelowna home buyers during a multiple offer situation. Our dedicated team of real estate agents will work for you to ensure we get you in the Kelowna home that is perfect for you and your family. Contact our team of real estate agents today. Call 1-778-760-2860!

Three things to do before listing your Kelowna downtown real estate this Spring

The snow has melted, the days are getting longer and the sun has been shining. With Spring in Kelowna making its appearance, it’s no surprise people are getting ready for this new season. If you are looking to list your Kelowna downtown real estate this upcoming Spring, here are three things to do before the for sale sign goes up on the front lawn.

Spring Cleaning for your Kelowna downtown real estate

lady cleaning her Kelowna home

Spring Cleaning for your Kelowna downtown real estate

To start, it’s important to get a deep clean in. In the Winter, your home most likely had closed doors and windows all season. It’s time to freshen up your home. Give your Kelowna downtown real estate a deep clean, the deepest clean it has got this year. Nothing turns off buyers more than a dirty home! If you need a bit of guidance on where to start, check out our two recent blogs – Spring Cleaning & Spring Cleaning 2.0. These two blogs will give you a handy checklist of the main areas of your home to focus on.

Fresh Coat of Paint

One of the most inexpensive ways to add value to your home before listing your Kelowna downtown real estate is a fresh coat of paint. Dark rooms can make your home look crowded and small, freshen up with a neutral lighter colour. Don’t just focus on the interior, this goes for the exterior as well. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. If you haven’t had the exterior of your Kelowna downtown real estate painted in a while, maybe it’s time to freshen them up as well!

Curb Appeal!

Kelowna home with great curb appeal

Curb appeal is important!

Now that the snow has melted, you can now focus on the exterior look of your home. You would be surprised as to how many people will do a driveby of your home before contacting their Kelowna real estate agent to view the interior. If the exterior does not jump out at them, there is a good chance, they won’t spend the time looking inside. Make your home stand out, plant fresh flowers and put out your patio furniture! Spring is here!

If you are looking to list your Kelowna downtown real estate, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Our team of dedicated real estate agents are knowledgeable in the real estate market. We would love to stop by, let you know what your home is worth and give you some pointers on things that you could do to help show your home better. We are dedicated to ensure your home sells for the highest price possible in the lowest amount of time. Call one of our knowledgeable real estate agents today to start your home selling process. Call 1-778-760-2860 today!

Top 15 Kelowna Real Estate Questions

Purchasing Kelowna real estate is likely the largest investment you will make in your lifetime. With that being said, there tends to be key questions that people ask when looking for Kelowna real estate or are just inquiring on the market. We’ve compiled a list of the most asked questions for Kelowna real estate. So, if you are looking to purchase Kelowna real estate, here is what most people ask before beginning the process.

  1. What is the Kelowna real estate market up to?
  2. What is my home worth?
  3. Buy Kelowna real estate or Sell Kelowna real estate first?
  4. Can I purchase a Kelowna home without a down payment?
  5. How much do I need to save before purchasing a Kelowna home?
  6. What is the best time of year to purchase a Kelowna home?
  7. What is the best time of year to sell a Kelowna home?
  8. Is there a benefit in hiring a Kelowna realtor?
  9. Is staging a Kelowna home before selling worth it?
  10. I’ve heard about the new mortgage rules, what does this mean for me?
  11. I want to purchase my first Kelowna home, where do I start?
  12. What are closing costs? How much do they cost?
  13. How many homes should I see before making an offer?
  14. What if I change my mind after putting an offer in?
  15. What separates you from the competition?

These are all really good questions to ask! As stated above, purchasing a Kelowna home will likely be the biggest investment you make, it’s important that you understand the process. If you are looking for answers on these important questions, look no further. Contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates, your real estate experts. Our team of dedicated real estate professionals have years of experience helping people buy and sell real estate in Kelowna. Talk to a professional real estate agent today. Call 1-778-760-2860 to get your questions answered today.

Top 3 Things Luxury Home Buyers look for in Luxury Real Estate

When you list your Luxury home for sale, you want it to attract the most amount of home buyers. With that being said, the question is, what are the luxury home buyers looking for in luxury real estate in Kelowna? Trends in home design and technology change frequently. The trick is knowing what is coming and going. What are the top three trends in luxury real estate in 2018? What are the luxury home buyers looking for?

Home Automation & Smart Home Systems

smart home automation system

Home Automation & Smart Home Systems

Convenience is key when purchasing luxury real estate. Home automation and smart home systems are a must when purchasing Kelowna luxury real estate. There are plenty of home automation and smart home systems on the market, which one is right for your luxury real estate? Our team can help you decide which home system is perfect for your Kelowna luxury real estate. We featured our three favorite on a recent blog. Check out our blog here.

Outdoor Oasis

In Kelowna, we are in no shortage of beautiful hot weather in the summer months. With warm weather, comes the urge to be outside for every waking hour. Kelowna luxury buyers are looking for their outdoor oasis when looking to purchase a new home. Saltwater pools, outdoor kitchens and living space all paired with an amazing view of Kelowna. What more could you ask for?

luxury home gym with top of the line equipment

Luxury home gyms

Luxury Home Gyms

Lastly, home gyms! Luxury home gyms are growing in popularity. What a convenience having a gym in your Kelowna home! With luxury home gyms growing in popularity, it’s important you invest in the latest and greatest workout equipment for your new space, along with other things to reward a hard workout. Check out our recent blog on the three things you should add to your luxury home gym. These will make your luxury home stand out!! Check out our blog here.

If you are looking to purchase Kelowna luxury real estate, contact Quincy Vrecko of Quincy Vrecko and Associates. Quincy has over 28 years of luxury sales and can help you with your next home purchase. Years of real estate experience paired with his strong negotiating skills, Quincy is the luxury real estate agent you want on your side. Call Quincy today! 1-250-863-8810!

How to Buy a Kelowna Home without added Stress

Purchasing a Kelowna home can be stressful. It doesn’t matter if it is your first, second or tenth time purchasing a home. The trick is to know how to not add stress to an already stressful situation. Our team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates have a few tips for you! Here is how to buy a Kelowna home without the added stress.

Give yourself plenty of time to search for a Kelowna Home

hourglass sitting on a table

Give yourself plenty of time

One of the reasons people get stressed is timing. If you are rushing to find a Kelowna home perfect for you, chances are you will get stressed. Give yourself plenty of time (or as much time as you can) to find the perfect home for you and your family. Buying a Kelowna home is one of the largest investments you will make in your lifetime. Choose wisely! Don’t rush and take time to find something that will fit your needs and wants.

Get Pre-Approved

Another reason people tend to get stressed when trying to search for a Kelowna home – MONEY! Do yourself a favour and talk with a Kelowna mortgage broker before even beginning the search for a Kelowna home. Figure out what you can afford and what you can’t. Don’t get stressed putting an offer in on a Kelowna home to find out you can’t get financing. 

a Kelowna realtor meeting with a couple outside a Kelowna home

Hire a Kelowna realtor

Hire a Kelowna Realtor

As stated above, purchasing a home is a large investment, one of the largest purchases you will make in your lifetime. The best decision you can make for the home buying process is to hire a professional. A Kelowna realtor knows the market, some in fact, study it daily. Why not hire someone who knows the market, can help spot red flags and ensure that you are making the right decision? The smartest thing you can do is to put your trust in a Kelowna realtor who will assist you with this large purchase. Stress, be gone!

If you are looking for a Kelowna realtor to help you with your home purchase, contact the team at Quincy Vrecko and Associates. On top of giving you expert advice on the real estate market, our team of dedicated agents are committed to finding you your next Kelowna home. To begin your home search, all you have to do is pick up the phone and call us! 1-778-760-2860!