If you’d like details on the legalization of Cannabis and the potential ramifications on financing and insuring your home, please contact your service provider.
See the link below for Cannabis laws and regulations.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/cannabis/laws-regulations.html
Ensure your home is prepared for the cold winter months looming. Tick these five items off your list, so you can rest easy knowing your home is ready to weather the winter season.
Easy, no! Profitable, done correctly, yes! So what does it take to make good money on a flip in this market? First of all, work with a great realtor to help identify a desirable neighborhood or a neighborhood on the rise. I like to focus on the broadest market possible; family homes, level backyard, close to good schools. Find a home that has no curb appeal, I mean, it’s just ugly. Successful flippers can see past the neglected yard, dirty and outdated interior to the solid structure, awesome layout and future curb appeal. Know your numbers on what you need to buy it for to make a profit and negotiate ruthlessly. Your realtor should have sharp negotiating skills and excellent market knowledge to help you achieve a successful outcome. Your goal should be to purchase it at a price that allows for renovation, financing, legal, accounting and commission costs, plus profit and bringing it back to the market for less than $600,000. If you don’t get the price you need, walk away and find another home.
So now you own the home and time is money. Tick tock, tick tock. You have already lined up the tradesmen, permits and financing, it’s time to get to work. Religiously follow the “Golden Rule” of every flip, know your buyer and control your costs. Focus on areas of the home that invoke emotion such as an updated kitchen, bathrooms and open living area infused with natural light. Aim for impact without going overboard. A good realtor can advise you on where to invest your money wisely and assist with staging the home to create that all important “WOW” factor.
Stunning photography, virtual tour and a social media plan guaranteed to generate a buzz in the market has been completed, price has been strategized and you are ready to list. Announce your home’s exciting return to the market with a VIP Open House and a multi-media marketing blitz.
Because your home looks fantastic and checks all the buyer’s boxes, you receive an accepted offer. Congratulations, your home has sold at a profit. You are now an experienced real estate investor ready to search for your next “diamond in the rough.”
Home insurance protects your most valuable asset, but that doesn’t mean it should cost more than it has to. What if you could take just six simple steps and save literally hundreds of dollars per year off your insurance costs?
1. Shop Around
This is such good practice yet for some reason we blindly renew year after year without questioning whether we are getting the best coverage at the most competitive rate possible. Companies will work hard to earn your business.
2. The Power Of One
If possible, keep your varied insurance premiums with one company. Many insurers will offer discounts for carrying multiple policies.
3. Consider Increasing Your deductible
You may go years without a claim and the substantial savings from the lower annual premium may more than make up for the higher deductible if you do eventually have a claim.
4. Don’t Over Insure
Read your coverage thoroughly and identify coverage that may not apply or to the extent currently insured. Discuss with your insurance agent potential areas to save.
5. Install Precautionary Measures
Insurance companies reward low risk customers with lower premiums. Discuss with your insurance provider about installing security, water mitigation equipment and safety measures that decrease the likelihood of a claim.
6. Did you know you can save money if you have a good credit score?
Discounts are now available with a positive credit check score. This will not impact your credit rating and may save up to 30% on your premium.
Insurance companies will work hard to keep your business. An annual check in with your trusted insurance provider will ensure you are receiving a customized and competitive policy that best fits your needs.
Stay safe!
This blog started as indoor safety tips, but even I became bored. Let’s face it, install a smoke and carbon monoxide detector, have a plan to get out in case of a fire and you’ve pretty much got it covered.
Okay, now onto the fun stuff. Who wants a wine cellar inside their home? That’s right, a wine cellar, why not? We do live in the Okanagan with fantastic wines on our doorstep. If you love wine then a wine cellar is a no brainer and you don’t even need to own a mansion to have one.
A very cool, budget friendly and easy to build wine cellar with room to hang out for you and your friends can be yours.
Step 1: Buy wine. Actually this is step six but you’re going to need a glass or two to keep you company along the way.
Step 2: Choose the right location in your home.
Avoid rooms with lots of natural light, preferably a dark area in your basement with enough space to accommodate a good size wine rack and comfy chairs
Step 3: Cooler is best.
Ideally the temperature for your wine cellar should be no higher than 15 degrees celcius but let’s keep it real, your wine isn’t going to sit on the shelf long enough to spoil. J Add extra insulation if you want but first consider installing an insulated door and weather stripping and see if that does the trick.
Step 4: Wine rack
You can find affordable wine racks online but if you would rather do-it-yourself, there are a number of online guides that can show you how to build your very own rustic wine rack sourced from old pallets, old dresser drawers and wooden crates.
Step 5: Decorating the space
Buy a barrel at a garden supply store as a cool side table adding great character to the space. Drape an imitation grape vine along the wall and wine rack. Throw in a colorful area rug and comfortable seating with ample cushions. Add muted lighting with a vintage stained glass lamp and soft music, decorate with prints and artifacts from your travels. Personally, I love the Tuscan look, terracotta tiles and lots of colour, but whatever works for you.
Step 6: Buy copious bottles of your favorite wines.
Step 7: Invite friends over to help christen and share the space.
Step 8: Take a beginner wine appreciation course and enjoy.
Another year past, and my kids, another year grown! In fact, my son just turned sixteen, which was an exciting event for our family. Of course, we spoiled him a bit (you only turn sixteen once!) and among other things, we decided to give him a gift certificate to help with the purchase of his first car. While most of his friends had received help from their parents, our son was okay with getting there on his own. He wasn’t expecting any help from us. You can just imagine the surprised look on his face when he saw his gift, it was so genuine and awesome. I knew we had made the right choice, sharing in his car buying endeavor.
Of course, my son and I share a love for beautiful cars. We’ve spent time perusing dealerships, test driving the odd high-end vehicle, and of course lots of shop talk! It’s been on our bucket list to test drive a supercar. So I decided to look into what kinds of rentals the Okanagan has to offer.
Here is what I came up with:
Kelowna Exotic Car Tours & Rentals
At Kelowna Exotic Car Tours & Rentals, you can rent a super car for the day or go on a guided tour where you’ll have the opportunity to drive four different super cars over the course of an afternoon. For more information, you can email [email protected]
August Luxury Motor Cars
You can rent exotic cars from August Luxury Motor Cars, however they are currently restructuring their rentals division. For more information on their supercar rentals and rates contact [email protected]
Kelowna Performance Rentals
You can rent a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder from Kelowna Performance Rentals, for details and rates go to http://kelownaperformancerentals.ca/ or call 250.215.5247
Enterprise
Enterprise has a luxury rental collection, but not much information is available online. You’ll have to contact them via their form on their website for pricing and availability. You can visit their website at https://exoticcars.enterprise.ca/en/index.html# for more information.
I cant wait to scratch this one off my bucket list!
Aahhhh the promise of another hot Okanagan summer is finally just around the corner. Barbecues, tennis and hanging out at the beach. In fact, going to the beach is what draws most visitors to our corner of paradise. There’s the well known hot spots of course, Kalamalka, Kin and Paddlewheel Park beaches, but there are so many more. Some are well known, beautiful Jade & Juniper Bays, others are tiny hidden gems, perfect for a peaceful family picnic away from the crowds. With over thirty nine lake accesses, there is something for everyone. For a detailed map and links to all the best beaches in the North Okanagan CLICK HERE
It’s a great question. “If there are so many Buyers out there and it is sooooo easy to sell a home, why would I pay a realtor to sell it for me? Crazy!” “Why don’t I just bang a sign in the lawn, sit back and watch it sell?”
It’s true, no one needs a realtor, some people choose to list their home “For Sale by Owner”. If they’re lucky legally, it can sometimes work out and it’s certainly cheaper. Odds are, if it does sell, it will likely sell for less… but hey, you’ll have sold it yourself and not payed ANY commission. So then why do so many informed sellers choose to use a realtor, even in a sellers market? It’s a bit redundant isn’t it?
As a professional Realtor, I am at work in this industry every day! I have access to the latest sales data for comparable homes, possess an in depth understanding of neighborhood values and contract law. I have extensive experience at marketing, negotiating, and selling homes. A top realtor with a strategic and well executed listing plan, will net you more money with a higher sale price, protect you legally and guide you through the process while helping you to understand each step along the way. This means your left with more money in your pocket, your protected legally and the process is much less stressful. Listing with a competent realtor in any market, just makes sense.
If you’re looking for more information on the Okanagan Real Estate market, or have any questions or concerns regarding hiring a Realtor, call me anytime. I love what I do, and am happy to help clients better understand the process, so that everyone is comfortable and informed along the way.
Spring has sprung in the Okanagan! For most of us that means we’re day dreaming of the beautiful summer nights ahead of us, and the excitement of getting outdoors for everything! Along with the lead into the warmer weather many of us start to put our outdoor spaces back into place. For some of us that just means bringing out the patio set and filling the pool. For others, it can mean a whole new adventure into creating an amazing rustic outdoor space. If you’re like me, and you are always looking for new ways to enjoy the outdoors, you’ve come to the right blog! Today I am going to talk about different ways we can rethink our outdoor spaces in an earth friendly and budget conscious manner. There is no shortage of creative ideas being shared across social media, here are a few that I found exciting:
This fun idea can be done by anyone, there are many sites, like Pinterest or private blogs that give step by step instructions on how to create a pallet garden. The unique thing about pallet gardens is that they can be made in small spaces, indoor or outdoor spaces, mounted on walls etc. You can make both vertical or horizontal versions and it’s a great way to recycle used pallets. Some people use them to grow their own herbs, while others just like the rustic look a pallet garden creates. Want to know how to make a pallet garden, check out: http://www.growingagreenerworld.com/creating-a-pallet-garden-step-by-step-instructions/
Rustic, cost effective, and creative! Pallets can also be used to create outdoor patio furniture, with a little time and elbow grease (and maybe some help from Pinterest) you can create amazing outdoor spaces for very little money. Here’s a little inspiration to get you started if you’re interested in building your own outdoor space on a budget:
Lastly, if you are wishing you had an outdoor space but happen to be a renter or just need to build on a budget, a pallet deck can be another great way to add to your outdoor space in a non-permanent way. To learn how to build your own rustic pallet deck check out: http://hoosierhomemade.com/how-to-build-a-wood-pallet-deck
As an earth-friendly individual, I am really drawn to ideas that are both a little unconventional and cost effective. While I am not sure if I’ll get the chance to jump on-board with building my own pallet creations this year, I hope that some of you reading this find some inspiration from this blog and find your own ways to reclaim old materials into useful décor!
You’ve probably seen signs around the area for Open Houses. You may have even attended a few. These are open invitations for potential buyers to drop by on a certain day and time, to check out the property and get more information.
When you’re listing your home for sale, you might wonder whether you’ll need to have an Open House. To answer that question, you’ll need to consider the pros and cons. An Open House has many advantages.
A good realtor works hard for the Seller and pursues every opportunity to achieve a sale at a higher price. When interviewing realtors prior to listing, ask about their Open House strategy and what they will do to make your home stand out from the crowd.
With thoughtful planning and execution, Open Houses are a very effective tool that can put thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.
