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Top Tips to Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal This Fall
Curb appeal is something that you should always be conscious of, especially when trying to sell your home. Not only is the exterior of your home the first thing that prospective buyers will see when they come to view it, but it can also help your home stand out in a crowded market. Whether you’re looking to sell right away, or simply want to make some updates to improve your home’s visual appeal, boosting your fall curb appeal is a great way to do so.
We’ve highlighted a few ways you can help your home stand out and impress anyone who walks or drives by.
Fall Curb Appeal: Keep Leaves at Bay
One of the easiest ways to increase the curb appeal of your home this fall is to simply keep up with the yard maintenance. Not only will this help your yard look even better come springtime, but it can also help catch the eye of potential buyers and others driving by. Raking leaves as they fall is a great way to keep your front yard looking clean and tidy, and doing other tasks such as giving your lawn lots of water and applying fertilizer in the fall will help your lawn’s health in the long run, and will have it growing in even lusher in the spring.
Draining irrigation lines is also important, as this will help preserve them for warmer weather and will keep any remaining water in the lines from freezing and expanding, which could damage your irrigation system.
Decorate the Front Porch
Fall time is one of the best times to get all of your seasonal decorations out, especially for holidays like Thanksgiving and Halloween. Adding some fun and intrigue to your front porch can help boost your home’s curb appeal, as it will help make your home feel more lived in and adds personality. People are more likely to remember a well-decorated front porch than they are a home that had no decorations displayed.
Try adding a few decorative pumpkins or gourds to your front porch area to coincide with the fall holidays, or plant a few fall-themed flower pots with flowers such as mums.
Light It Up
As the days get shorter, it’s going to be important that your home is well-illuminated this fall. Not only will lighting your home up ensure that people can easily find it should they be coming to view it, but it can also help deter things like break-ins. The more illuminated your home is – both inside and outside – the more it will give the impression of someone being home. This is not only a great way to boost your home’s curb appeal this fall and winter, but will also help keep your home and property safe.
It’s especially important to ensure that all paths and walkways are well-lit and tidy, to avoid tripping or slipping hazards with the rain and snow that often accompanies fall weather.
Repaint & Highlight The Front Door
Updating your front door is one of the easiest ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and add character and charm to your home. A fresh coat of paint can either soften your front porch, or add a well-needed pop or colour. Fortunately, painting is relatively simple and is a DIY project that can be done easily in an afternoon or a weekend, for a relatively affordable price. Greens, blues, and reds are popular front door colours and if you take the time to find a colour that will be complimentary to your home’s siding or exterior, it can make a huge difference.
Regardless of whether you’re trying to attract potential home buyers or simply want to inject some new life into your home’s exterior ahead of the darker, colder months, boosting your home’s curb appeal is a great way to start.
Thinking about selling your home? We can help! Contact Max Carbone today to be put in touch with one of our experienced real estate agents.
Preparing Your Home For Fall & Winter
As the weather begins to cool and the leaves start to change, many people start thinking about how they can prepare their homes for the change in seasons and upcoming colder months. Taking the time to properly prepare your home for seasonal changes is a great way to check if there are any repairs that need to be made or equipment that needs to be replaced before the snow settles in.
If you’re wanting to prepare your home for fall and winter but aren’t sure where to start, we’ve put together this blog post to help you out.
Clean Your Gutters
To avoid running into blocked gutters during the spring snow melt, taking the time to clean out your gutters in the fall is a great way to get rid of any debris that might cause issues down the road. Things such as leaves, twigs, and other debris that get blown around have the potential to clog up your gutters and downspouts, so being proactive and cleaning them routinely will help keep them clear and avoid potential water damage to your home.
Test Winter Tools & Equipment
There is nothing worse than waking up to the first snowfall of the year, only to find that your snowblower isn’t working properly or your snow shovel isn’t where you thought you left it last year. Taking the time to test your winter equipment in the fall months is a great way to ensure that when the snow falls, you can efficiently clear it from your sidewalks and driveways. It might also be a smart idea to install any Christmas lights before the snow begins to fall.
Clean & Store Outdoor Patio Furniture
While it might be tempting to just pull in the cushions from your outdoor patio sets for the winter, it’s always a good idea to give your outdoor furniture a thorough cleaning before the cold months set in. It is also recommended that you store your furniture properly to help minimize the environmental wear and tear that comes with cold Canadian winters.
Drain Outdoor Faucets
Before the cold winter months set in, it’s always a good idea to disconnect any outdoor garden hoses and drain outdoor faucets. This will help prevent any water that may be stuck in the pipes from freezing and potentially damaging the water pipes within your home. In some instances, you may want to look at installing outdoor faucet covers to help protect them from the cold winter elements.
Whether you’re a first-time homeowner looking to protect your new home from the elements or looking to establish more of a fall/winter maintenance routine, following these steps will help you better prepare your home for the upcoming cold weather.
Are you looking to buy your first home? We can help! Contact Max Carbone today to be put in touch with one of our experienced real estate agents.
Real Estate Report: January 2023
Local Residential Market Sales Sees Slower Than Usual Start to Year
KELOWNA, B.C. – February 6th, 2022.
Residential real estate sales started the year off with nearly half as many sales activity compared to the same month the year prior, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS® (the Association).
A total of 552 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region in January representing a 48.6% decrease in sales compared to the bustling market of January 2022.
“This dampening in sales activity is not unexpected given current market conditions. Specifically, the cost of borrowing has risen over the course of the year and weighs heavily on homebuyers’ plans,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Lyndi Cruickshank, adding that “demand is still strong, but high interest rates will likely continue to make for a slow first quarter in real estate activity.”
New residential listings saw a slight uptick of 7.1% within the region compared to January 2022 with 1,430 new listings recorded. Overall inventory saw a healthy increase of 99.8% with 6,208 units currently on the market at the close of January.
“Despite an increase in inventory, there is still a lack of affordable housing which is compounded by the high interest rates,” notes Cruickshank, adding “we are seeing buyers and sellers holding off on their real estate intentions as their money just doesn’t get them as far as what it used to.”
The benchmark price for single-family homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, South Okanagan and Shuswap/Revelstoke regions all saw some modifications in year-over-year comparisons, with a mix of increases and decreases depending on the various home types. The benchmark price for single-family homes saw decreases across all areas compared to January 2022, with the highest percentage decrease in the Central Okanagan; down 7.9%, coming in at $976,800.
The average number of daysto sell a home, always a good barometer to watch, increased to 86 days compared to last month’s 75 days. It’s important to note that the average of days on market is for the entire Okanagan region and that the indicator will vary depending on home type and sub-region.
Given the high stakes on such a significant financial transaction, home sellers and buyers can benefit from the knowledge and skills of a practiced REALTOR®. Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® is a member-based professional organization serving approximately 2,600 REALTORS® who live and work in communities across the interior of British Columbia including the Okanagan Valley, Kamloops and Kootenay regions, as well as the South Peace River region.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® was formed on January 1, 2021, through the amalgamation of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board and the South Okanagan Real Estate Board. The Association has since also amalgamated with the Kamloops & District Real Estate Association and the Kootenay Association of REALTORS®.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
Real Estate Report: December 2022
Local Residential Market Closes the Year at Slower Pace
KELOWNA, B.C. – January 5th, 2022.
Residential real estate sales concluded 2022 with softened sales activity for the month of December, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS® (the Association).
A total of 572 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region in December representing a 42.8% decrease in sales compared to the number of units sold during the unusually strong market of December 2021.
“After a very strong first half of 2022, we began to see market activity moderate amid consistently rising interest rates imposed by the Bank of Canada,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Lyndi Cruickshank, adding that “although inventory levels remain tight, the high interest rates will continue to subdue market activity in the coming months.”
New residential listings saw a decline of 20.7% within the region compared to December 2021 with 651 new listings recorded. However, the overall inventory saw a 93.5% spike with 6,001 units currently on the market at the close of December 2022.
“Looking to 2023, we anticipate inventory will continue to accumulate, as compared to recent years, with all signs pointing to more balanced conditions with buyers and sellers benefitting equally,” notes Cruickshank, adding “real estate professionals will continue to support buyers and sellers as they navigate the real estate markets across the region.”
The benchmark price for single-family homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, South Okanagan and Shuswap/Revelstoke regions all saw moderate decreases in year-over-year comparisons. The benchmark price in all other housing categories saw minor to moderate increases compared to December 2021, with the highest percentage increase in the townhouse category for the North Okanagan; up 13.8% compared to December 2021, coming in at $574,400.
The average number of days to sell a home, always a good barometer to watch, increased to 75 days compared to last month’s 65 days. It’s important to note that the average of days on market is for the entire Okanagan region and that the indicator will vary depending on home type and sub-region.
Given the high stakes on such a significant financial transaction, home sellers and buyers can benefit from the knowledge and skills of a practiced REALTOR®. Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® is a member-based professional organization serving approximately 2,600 REALTORS® who live and work in communities across the interior of British Columbia including the Okanagan Valley, Kamloops and Kootenay regions, as well as the South Peace River region.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® was formed on January 1, 2021, through the amalgamation of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board and the South Okanagan Real Estate Board. The Association has since also amalgamated with the Kamloops & District Real Estate Association and the Kootenay Association of REALTORS®.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
Real Estate Report: November 2022
Local Residential Market Cooling Down Heading into Holiday Season
KELOWNA, B.C. – December 5th, 2022.
Residential real estate sales for the month of November in the region saw sales dip heading into the holiday season, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS® (the Association).
A total of 844 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region in November representing a 48.4% decrease in sales compared to the number of units sold during the hyperactive market of November 2021, with a decrease of 15.6% compared to last month.
“Although the numbers seem far below what we have become accustomed to, comparing sales from this year to last year would be like comparing apples to oranges,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Lyndi Cruickshank, adding that “comparing to a typical seasonal pre-pandemic November would represent a more accurate comparison over the frenzied market over the last few years, which would show that we are currently not that far off from an average November.”
New residential listings saw a moderate decline of 4.6% within the region compared to the same month last year with 1,357 new listings recorded. However, the overall inventory saw a healthy 85.3% boost over the availability in November 2021 with 6,980 units currently on the market; providing more options to buyers.
“While it’s great to see that the number of active listings is higher than it has been for a long time, the market remains tight as new inventory seems to be flattening,” notes Cruickshank, adding “this is not unusual for this time of year as sellers hold off on listing while they are enjoying the holiday season.”
The benchmark price for single-family homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and South Okanagan regions all saw increases in year-over-year comparisons, with the exception of the Shuswap/Revelstoke area that saw a 4.4% decrease in single-family benchmark prices. The benchmark price in all other housing categories saw minor to moderate increases compared to November 2022, with the highest percentage increase in the condominium category for the South Okanagan; up 16.4% compared to November 2021, coming in at $422,800.
The average number of days to sell a home, always a good barometer to watch, increased to 65 days compared to last month’s 64 days. It’s important to note that the average of days on market is for the entire Okanagan region and that the indicator will vary depending on home type and sub-region.
Given the high stakes on such a significant financial transaction, home sellers and buyers can benefit from the knowledge and skills of a practiced REALTOR®. Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® is a member-based professional organization serving approximately 2,600 REALTORS® who live and work in communities across the interior of British Columbia including the Okanagan Valley, Kamloops and Kootenay regions, as well as the South Peace River region.
The Association of Interior REALTORS® was formed on January 1, 2021, through the amalgamation of the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board and the South Okanagan Real Estate Board. The Association has since also amalgamated with the Kamloops & District Real Estate Association and the Kootenay Association of REALTORS®.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
Real Estate Report: October 2022
Local Residential Market Inventory Slowly Building Back Up
KELOWNA, B.C. – November 4th, 2022. Residential real estate sales for the month of October in the region saw an increase in inventory while sales held steady, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS® (the Association).
A total of 1,001 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region in October representing a 43.8% drop in sales compared to the number of units sold during the seasonally uncommon strong market of October 2021; dipping only 7.6% compared to last month.
“Unlike the last two years or so where we saw buyers’ and sellers’ expectations drastically unaligned from each other, a shift from the frenzy earlier this year coupled with the winter seasonal slowdown is bringing some equilibrium to the market amidst rising interest rates,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Lyndi Cruickshank, adding “motivated buyers’ and sellers’ expectations are able to come closer together, resulting in a much more positive home buying and selling experience.”
New residential listings saw a decrease of 9.8% within the region compared to the same month last year with 1,689 new listings recorded. However, the overall inventory provides more options to buyers with a 67.5% increase over the availability in October 2021 with 7,450 units currently on the market.
“It’s nice to see active listings starting to build back up again,” notes Cruickshank, adding “however, we are not quite out of what is considered a seller’s market and into a balanced market.”
The Benchmark Price for homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and South Okanagan regions saw increases in year-over-year comparisons across all home categories, while the Shuswap/Revelstoke region was the exception showing a decrease in the single-family home category while seeing increases in townhome and condominium benchmark prices. The benchmark price for single-family homes in the Shuswap/Revelstoke lessened 4.1% compared to October 2022, coming in at $673,300.
The average number of days to sell a home, always a good barometer to watch, increased to 64 days compared to last month’s 50 days. It’s important to note that the average of days on market is for the entire Okanagan region and that the indicator will vary depending on home type and sub-region.
Given the high stakes on such a significant financial transaction, home sellers and buyers can benefit from the knowledge and skills of a practiced REALTOR®. Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
SPOOKTACULAR SPOTS IN KELOWNA FOR TRICK-OR-TREATING
Halloween To-Do’s in Kelowna
Halloween is a fun opportunity for children to get dressed up in costumes and for adults to indulge in fun with the little ones. Whether you want to find a corn maze or go pumpkin carving, we know that your child’s highlight of the season will be trick-or-treating!
If you are looking for some safe, fun family-friendly spots to go trick-or-treating in Kelowna, check out C21Kelowna’s list of fang-tastic neighbourhoods below!
Kelowna Trick or Treating
If you are more interested in indoor or trick-or-treating events, also check out the following list courtesy of: https://www.dotheokanagan.com/trickortreating-hot-spots
SPOOKTACULAR PUMPKIN WALK – Kelowna (outdoors)
Free Event
When: Oct. 30 | 5 PM – 8 PM
What: Dress up and walk to paths lit up by jack-o-lanterns. Vote for your favourite!
Where: Mission Creek Regional Park, 2363 Springfield Rd
Click HERE for Facebook
Kelowna Pumpkin Patch
HALLOWEENIE AT GRIZZLI WINERY – Kelowna (indoors)
Free Event
When: Oct. 31 | 2 PM – 6 PM
What: FREE, safe, ‘lights on,’ family- and pet-friendly indoor event. Balloon twisting, colouring and trick-or-treating. Dress up!
Where: Grizzli Winery, 2550 Boucherie Rd
FALL FESTIVAL AT WILLOW PARK CHURCH – Kelowna (indoors)
Free Event
When: Oct. 31 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
What: Dress up in a fun family-friendly costume and collect lots of treats along the indoor candy trail with over 40 collection stops. There will also be bounce houses, hot chocolate, balloons and more! This event is perfect for younger children as it is a non-scary event.
Where: 439 Hwy 33 (Rutland)
A SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN AT THE EAST KELOWNA MARKET – Kelowna (indoors/outdoors)
Free Event
When: Oct. 30 | 10 AM – 2:30 PM
What: This market Sunday will be filled with all sorts of spooky surprises to have a fang-tastic day! Come check out over 75+ artisan, crafters, and food vendors to shop, eat, drink and be scary! Special treats for children along with a family monster walk outside of the hall filled with ghosts, witches, and other spook-tacular things! Don’t be a scaredy cat! Come dressed up to enter a best-dressed costume contest!
Where: 2704 East Kelowna Rd
Halloween in Kelowna
Real Estate Report: March 2022
Residential Real Estate Market Heading Into Seasonally Busy Spring Fling
Residential real estate sales for the month of March saw a slight uptick over February sales showing signs that the typically busy spring market has commenced in the region, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS®.
A total of 1,898 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region, marking a 25% decrease compared to a record-high number of units sold in March 2021. New residential listings coming onto market in March saw a decrease of 7% within the region with 2,871 new listings recorded compared to the same period last year yet increased 55% compared to last month’s 1,850. The overall active listings clocked in marginally below last year March’s active listings with 4,018 listings that is a nearly 3% decrease in year-over-year comparisons.
“It is encouraging to see that in the month of March we saw a slight increase of sales, as well as an upswing of new listings compared to February, which is seasonally expected for the local real estate market as we head into the warmer spring months,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Kim Heizmann, adding that “the spring fling seems to have been kick-started which is great news for buyers and sellers, however, new listings are still not coming on to the market at the rate needed to meet demand.”
“Without a drastic supply of housing coming onto market, the lack of inventory will continue to impact buyers and sellers in the coming months,” noted Heizmann.
The benchmark price for homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, South Okanagan, and Shuswap/Revelstoke regions had double-digit percentage increases in year-over-year comparisons for another consecutive month across all home categories, with the greatest increase being for single-family homes in the South Okanagan. The benchmark price for single-family homes in the South Okanagan recorded a 37.6% increase compared to March 2021 coming in at $731,400.
The average number of days to sell a home, always a good barometer to watch, dropped down to 46 days from 54 days last month. It’s important to note that the average of days on market is for the entire Okanagan region and that the indicator will vary depending on home type and sub-region.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
Real Estate Report: February 2022
Lack of Supply Continues to Drive the Residential Real Estate Market
Residential real estate demand across the Association region remains strong heading into the seasonally busy spring months despite a persistent lack of inventory in the region and throughout the province, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS®.
A total of 1,516 residential unit sales were recorded across the Association region, marking a 15% decrease compared to a record-high number of units sold in February 2021. New residential listings coming onto market saw a decrease of 12% within the region with 1,850 new listings recorded. The overall active listings were also far below last year’s February active listings showing a 19% decrease in year-over-year comparisons.
“The persistent lack of new listings coming onto market is far from adequate to meet the demand of buyers locally and those coming from other markets,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Kim Heizmann, adding that “we are seeing the mismatch of inventory versus demand taking a toll on buyers as they show signs of fatigue in having to compete in a seller’s market where lack of supply is putting upward pressure on pricing, and further on affordability.”
In the South Peace River region, there was a total of 38 residential unit sales recorded in February, with 229 overall active listings, a decrease of 26% compared to the same time last year. The average price for single-family homes and apartments both saw increases in year-over-year comparisons, coming in at $267,712 and $41,333 respectively, while the average price for mobile homes declined 9% to rest at $37,750 in the same period.
“The lack of housing supply continues to be the key driver of real estate market performance with homebuyers and sellers having to navigate through a high demand and low supply situation,” noted Heizmann.
“Instead of looking for quick fixes to dampen housing demand, government policies should focus on measures that could bring more housing to the market, as outlined in BCREA’s recent white paper – A Better Way Home. Providing more options for buyers can help soften competitive market conditions and provide much-needed inventory after months of supply drought,” says Heizmann.
The average number of days to sell a home, always a good barometer to watch dropped down to 54 days. It’s important to note that the average of days on market is for the entire Association region and that the indicator will vary depending on home type and sub-region.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
Real Estate Report: January 2022
Active Listings Remain At All Time Low For Local Real Estate Market
Real estate professionals continue to support buyers and sellers in navigating the lack of inventory in residential real estate markets across the region from Revelstoke to Eastgate Manning Park and into the South Peace River region, reports the Association of Interior REALTORS®.
Residential sales for the entire Association region for January 2022 saw a 10% decrease compared to the same month last year with 701 units sold this month and 782 units sold in January 2021.
“The persistent lack of inventory on market makes for challenging times for buyers and sellers,” says the Association of Interior REALTORS® President Kim Heizmann, adding that “not only are new buyers frustrated at finding a home but sellers are frustrated at the lack of active supply hindering their ability to move on to a new property as well.”
“The value of working with a professional real estate agent really does make a difference in navigating the complicated buying and selling process, under any circumstances, but especially during these challenging conditions,” says Heizmann.
The supply of active residential listings dipped 38% across the Association region compared to the 2,787 active listings in January 2021 coming in at 1,721 this year. New listings also saw a downtick with 824 new listings for January 2022, compared to 1,094 units during the same month last year.
The benchmark price for homes in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, South Okanagan, and Shuswap/Revelstoke regions continued their upward double-digit percentage increases in year-over-year comparisons for another consecutive month across all home categories.
In the South Peace River Region, where benchmark pricing is not available, the average price for single-family homes hit double-digit increases while inventory in the same category saw a double-digit decrease of 43% in year-over-year comparisons.
Contact your local REALTOR® to find out more about the real estate market
and how they can help you achieve your real estate goals.
