Brit's Blog

Back To School Tips & Tricks

Staying organized is crucial for families, whether at the same school or a new one. A family "command center" centralizes important items like bills and homework, preventing clutter and misplaced items. Setting up a functional space, whether in a home office or near the entryway, can help families stay organized and efficient. Choose a location. Make a list of items for a family ‘command center’. Grab some organizers. Plan it out. Install and enjoy.

Family

'Command Center'

Creating a designated space for family items improves home organization and efficiency. It can also act as a drop zone when you enter or leave your home to keep you and your family from misplacing important items.

Idea:

Install an acrylic wall calendar to keep track of appointments and after-school activities, a faux-leather folio to drop mail and permission slips into, brass hooks to hang keys and a kraft paper roller for jotting down to-do's.

Organize

Your Entry

Start your day with a well-organized entryway, complete with hooks for jackets, purses, and backpacks. Utilize decorative bins to hide and store items such as umbrellas, shoes, hats, gloves, sports equipment, and any other essentials your family requires before heading out. Establish a routine where family members put away their backpacks and gear as soon as they return home.

Streamline

Your Bathroom

Keep mornings running smoothly with an organized bathroom. From hot tools to skincare products, place everyday essentials into wire baskets under the vanity. Now, you can grab what you need in a flash. Keep your family’s morning essentials, like hair products, in a bathroom caddy to make things a breeze to find.

Arrange Your Closet

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As summer temperatures rise and heatwaves become more frequent, the idea of lounging by a luxurious pool in your own backyard can seem like the ultimate dream. But is life truly better poolside? Before you take the plunge into buying a home with a pool, there are several important factors to consider.

Does a Pool Fit Your Lifestyle?
First and foremost, think about whether owning a pool aligns with your lifestyle. If your family enjoys spending leisurely summer days in the backyard, a pool might be the perfect addition. However, if your summers are packed with vacations, sports practices, or other activities, you may not use the pool enough to justify the expense and upkeep.

Practical Considerations

Pool Suitability
Evaluate if the pool suits your needs in terms of size, style, and type. Think about the location, shape, and maintenance requirements. A small, above-ground pool might require less upkeep than a large, in-ground one, but it might not provide the same aesthetic appeal.

Pool Condition
Assess the condition of the pool carefully. Are there any signs that major repairs are needed soon? How long will the pool likely last before significant investment is required? A pool inspection can help uncover any hidden issues, especially with in-ground pools that can be more challenging and expensive to repair or replace.

Important Questions to Ask
– When viewing a home with a pool, consider asking the following questions:
– Is the pool builder’s warranty still valid?
– How often was maintenance performed on the filter and the entire pool?
– What type of sanitization system is used, and are there any issues with it?
– Is the heating system operational?
– How old is the pool, and have there been previous issues?

The Cost of Pool Ownership
Owning a pool comes with ongoing costs for maintenance, repairs, utilities, insurance, and equipment. These expenses can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars annually, depending on factors like pool size, equipment efficiency, and how frequently you perform maintenance.

Maintenance and Safety
Regular maintenance tasks include:
– Skimming debris
– Cleaning the strainer basket
– Scrubbing the pool walls
– Vacuuming
– Testing water quality

Ensuring pool safety is crucial, as the homeowner is responsible for any accidents. The time commitment and diligence required for pool upkeep should not be underestimated.

Resale Value
A well-maintained pool can enhance a home’s appeal, especially in regions with hot summers. However, the added value depends on the pool’s condition and the buyer’s preference. Some potential buyers may see a pool as an asset, while others might view it as a liability due to the associated maintenance and costs.

Personal Anecdote: A Splash of Reality
I have talked to a few clients and they generally came to this consensus: ‘Take it from someone who once thought a pool would be the pinnacle of summer fun. I remember my excitement when we bought our first home with a pool. For the first few weeks, it was a dream come true—my kids splashed around, and we hosted weekend barbecues. But soon, the reality of constant cleaning, balancing chemicals, and unexpected repairs set in. While it was indeed a joy during those sweltering days, the hidden work and costs made me appreciate the full commitment required to keep that slice of paradise pristine.’

In conclusion, while life poolside can be incredibly rewarding, it comes with significant responsibilities and costs. Carefully consider whether it fits your lifestyle and budget before making the investment. If you decide to take the plunge, a well-maintained pool can offer years of enjoyment and potentially increase your home’s value.

Hidden Gems: Benefits of Buying In A Less Popular Location

Given the price of housing in Canada today, it’s not surprising people are willing to consider less sought-after locations in search of affordability. But in addition to saving money, many buyers are finding these “hidden gems” are great places to call home, as they typically have benefits they hadn’t even thought of before they made an offer.

Buying on a Bus Route or Busy Road

If you’re willing to compromise on location, you can get a newer home, a larger lot, and lower property taxes for the same money as a more ‘ideally located’ neighbourhood. Noise concerns and traffic are now being trumped by several benefits:

• Shorter Commutes: Living on a bus route or busy road often means quicker access to public transportation, reducing your commute to work or grocery stores.
• Priority Snow Plowing: Your road will likely be plowed first after every snowfall, ensuring that you’re never snowed in.
• Environmental Impact: By using public transportation more frequently, you can reduce your environmental footprint by leaving the car at home.

Proximity to an Airport

If you’re okay with the hum of airplanes departing throughout the day, living near an airport can offer unique advantages:

• Time and Stress Savings: You’ll save time and reduce stress when it comes to flying, as you’ll be just a short drive away from the terminal.
• Income Potential: Increase your income potential by renting out part of your home to short-term business or holiday travelers. The convenience of your location can be a huge draw for guests.

Up-and-coming Neighbourhoods

These often overlooked areas usually give buyers more home at a lower price and can often see:

• Pride of ownership: Those who can see the vision of where a neighbourhood is headed and have the ability to jump in now can ride those home values up over the years together with neighbours that take care of one another;
• Investment Opportunity: Gives the buyer the ability to invest in renovations that add real value to their home; and
• Above-average Increases in Property Values: Up-and-coming neighbourhoods are often the best investments as the neighbourhood becomes more popular.

Being next to a school, hospital, or fire station

Families, listen up! If you have younger children, buying next to a school can save a lot of time and money as they can walk to school and gives them a sense of responsibility. However, people who like peace and quiet tend to prefer a home that isn’t too close to a school, hospital, or fire station. But living across the street from some of these facilities can make life a lot easier for busy families when you think of features like:

• Close proximity: the density of parks, playgrounds, libraries, and daycares are much more nearby schools;
• Lower Home Insurance: Proximity to a fire station reduces your insurance premiums;
• Potential for Higher Resale Values: As population density continues to drive demand for schools and bus routes, future buyers with families of their own one day may pay more for this accessibility; and
• Emergency Response Time: Quick access to fire or medical services in the event of an emergency, response times are significantly decreased.

Remote or suburban areas

Many buyers previously steered clear of remote and suburban areas, opting for more central locations. However, there has been a shift as some buyers now actively choose these neighborhoods for a slower, more peaceful lifestyle.

In a world saturated with constant stimulation, numerous buyers are opting for rural living to enjoy a more peaceful environment. Suburban areas offer additional space, bigger houses, and greater affordability.

Apart from tranquility, rural living offers benefits such as:

• Lower property prices: Compared to urban regions
• Strengthening of Relationships: A strong community bond
• More Space: Greater lot sizes and living spaces suitable for growing families

Concerned about missing the conveniences and activities you are accustomed to in the city? Remote areas may be a wonderful place to raise children, with easy access to nature and a close-knit community.

In conclusion, while less popular locations may come with perceived downsides, the upsides can far outweigh them. From financial savings to lifestyle improvements, these hidden gems offer more than meets the eye. So next time you're in the market for a new home, consider looking beyond the usual hotspots—you might just find your perfect match in an unexpected place.

Want to Know More - Go To Neighbourhood Guide Here

It seems only poetic to start my neighbourhood insights with the one in which I grew up.

With Kelowna expanding, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a quiet neighbourhood that still lies within city limits. 

Look no further. Ellison, a neighbourhood with rural community charm on the edge of a bustling city. The Ellison community is founded upon a heritage of agriculture, rural acreages and scattered residential neighbourhoods within scenic valley terrain.

Time seems to slow in this community just 15 minutes from all of the downtown action, and reflects within the tight knit community of retirees, empty nesters, working farms and families, all of whom work together to keep the agricultural vibe alive!

Ellison is home to large lots featuring extensive outdoor spaces and Ellison Elementary, which make these homes perfect for the littles in your life. They are moderately priced, even with the larger lot sizes. Ellison is on the east side of the airport and the northern end of Kelowna. The wandering streams and arid grasslands support many small farms, wineries, and agritourism. 

When picking your community, it is important to consider your lifestyle. Ellison is perfect for the family who wants a country lifestyle with close access to city amenities, the airport (Kelowna International Airport), and the educational opportunities offered by the University. The University of British Columbia Okanagan and Kelowna International airport are both within a 10-minute drive and are both greatly expanding each year. UBCO welcomes over 12,000 students each year and Kelowna International Airport has become one of Canada’s busiest airports. Therefore, if you’re looking for a potential rental or investment opportunity, Ellison may be the perfect choice for you. 

For the outdoor enthusiasts or those who want to bring a little adventure to their lives – Mill Creek Regional Park holds space to many of my childhood memories. From hiking trails, horse back riding, mountain biking to waterfalls, there is something for everyone. 

Choose Ellison today – your welcome oasis from the hustle of city life.

How strange the word sounds to ‘downsize’. In a culture of bigger, better and more, this concept is foreign and opposing to the majority of society’s beliefs. 

Society has taught us that big houses filled with new and shiny toys means that we are successful and have made something of ourselves; and this should make us happy, right?

As we shine a light onto mental health now more than ever, we have started to look at what comes with the bigger, better, more complex and the toll it actually takes on our life satisfaction and overall happiness. 

So, what would really happen if we gave ourselves permission to pursue smaller? Maybe we could find contentment with what we have and meaning in simplicity. 

Downsizing has the potential for many benefits – haven’t you heard, ‘less is more’. Owning a smaller house can be mentally, physically and emotionally freeing and is a core concept of minimalism. Minimalism is a way of life that enables you to live with less obligations and stress, giving you more time and energy to dedicate to the things you truly enjoy.

While these all sound like positive rewards that would be desirable to many people, we must overcome mental obstacles and emotional barriers. The sentimental values we place on things greatly hinder this evolution. It can be difficult to enact downsizing when certain items and spaces hold memories we don’t want to forget. 

Now I’m not saying to get rid of every sentimental item you own. If it is useful or brings you real happiness then it could be worth keeping. Words I like to live by are ‘save the best – toss the rest’ and ‘keep one to represent many’. While a group of objects may remind us of a person, place, era, or feeling, other kinds of reminders are present in our lives that will bring about these feelings and memories as well. It doesn’t mean that we’re rejecting people we cared for by letting these items go. Your home and items are mere triggers of the memories and that’s what gives us that feeling of reminiscing. A way to help cope with any guilt or sadness when choosing to discard a sentimental item would be to give sincere thanks to an item. Take a moment to soak in the feelings and memories it may trigger and then let it go. For those items that you just can’t bare to let go, take pictures of the item, place the photograph in a photo album that you can display. Finally, give thanks to that item and then again, let it go. 

Go ahead, give yourself permission to live larger in less space.