British Columbia

Snow in June!! It started out a very chilly June 25 /07. I’d left my windows open overnight & awoke to a brisk temperature in my home. On my way out this morning, I was surprised to see white atop the mountains that line the valley. At higher levels up to 13cm (about 6in) were reported.

Conversely several weeks ago we suffered temperatures hitting 40’C! The weather is unusual all over it seems. However having lived here in Kelowna for 40 years (that will date me!), I’ve seen unusual weather many times before.

There has always been a non-stop flow of people moving into the Okanagan. It is desirable especially to Retirees, Vacation Home Owners, families wanting to get out of the big cities & generally people attracted to the various amenities, four season activities, the scenic vistas, & ..............

.............the weather!!!

Working with the public, I have often had opportunity over the years to meet folk disappointed with their actual experience with the weather after they'd moved here. I usually chuckle & say, "they told you that summers are always hot, it hardly rains, winter is mild & it never snows - well if it does snow it melts right away .......right?"

I know the scenario. They've been misled for the 'sale' & not done their homework.

Generally summers are hot; winters mild. However I've yet to see a winter without snow. I've three times seen the 80 mile long Okanagan Lake freeze over to temperatures of 30' below F. Not far away is the internationally popular Big White Ski Resort; it's biggest attraction - knee deep powder!

We have been fortunate generally with our weather here & haven't experienced any devastating extremes. It's highly pleasant living here amid spectacular valley vistas.

Well the sun is shining now & is forecast to follow through the week. A little excitement & change makes life interesting!

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -- Albert Einstein

Deborah Pearce owner and webmaster of LIVING SPACES is a Kelowna Business Woman, established with locals and internationals in various aspects of Interiors, Art, and Business for over 20 years. The contact link at Living Spaces website may be used for service enquiries. Also find over 100 ARTICLES on Staging, Art and Interiors.

Deborah's blog frequently features interior design, real estate, community, environmental, internet, art and human interests.

I recently came across a company with a service that impressed me. This service is very beneficial for people like us with our hectic lives. The company is called Send Out Cards and has already made my life noticeably easier.

People receive very few real notes or cards in the mail anymore. Email greeting cards are common and widely available free of charge but no longer have much of an impact ... in fact they ' r e sometimes perceived as a nuisance. A real life, personalized card or postcard that' s actually delivered is very different. It stands out from the ‘ b ills ' and ‘ j u nk mail ' , which are all most people get by snail mail these days, and is warmly received.

VERY BRIEFLY here ' s how this works. As a customer you can log into your website account, choose a post card or greeting card from a huge selection of thousands of cards in many different categories (or custom create one yourself with the Picture Plus feature), personalize your message, and click send. That ' s it. Send Out Cards does the rest!

They print the card, stuff it in an envelope, address it, put on a real stamp (not postage meter), and mail it ... all for less than half the price of just a card alone in a typical card shop. The recipient typically will receive your card in the mail in about 4 -8 days . This of course is subject to normal mail delivery times plus about 24 hours for production.

One of many things I respect about this company is that as good as the product already is, they are constantly improving by regularly adding new cards and features!

CLICK THE LINK TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS GREAT PROGRAM! i LOVE IT!

The grizzly facts about bare rooms - observations of a wild Home Stager

By Jackson West

As a home stager, I secretly growl with frustration when I encounter vacant homes sitting on the market. Many of these listings lie dormant for extended and unnecessary lengths of time. Top Realtors and leading builders agree that selling an empty home is much more difficult than selling one that is furnished. Due to popular home design shows on television, today’s buyer has higher standards and wants a home that is "move in" ready. This has contributed to the success and popularity of home staging in recent years.

For most people the decision to buy a home is complex and is often based upon untamed emotion. Effective home staging ensures buyers identify with the space and aspire to the desirable lifestyle portrayed. This is precisely why builders use model homes and show suites to effectively sell properties. These days savvy Realtors and homeowners realize that in order to maximize selling price, vacant listings must be staged.

If you are selling a vacant listing, bear in mind the disadvantages of presenting empty rooms. Perhaps the greatest drawback to selling vacant properties is that every negative detail is in plain sight. Buyers scrutinize the condition of walls, flooring, and fixtures when there is nothing else to capture their attention. Bare rooms magnify echo and are uninviting. Without structural focal points they appear boring. It is often difficult for potential buyers to gauge the functionality, size and scale of a room without furniture to provide a point of reference. Challenging floor plans can be a deal breaker, leaving buyers wondering about possible furniture layout and available space. Not only does effective home staging make rooms appear larger, it also helps buyers form the necessary emotional connection to their potential home. The streamlined furniture placement employed in home staging guides the buyer and provides a necessary sense of flow between rooms.

Most buyers view several properties before making a decision to purchase. A property that has been properly staged entices buyers to linger, interact, and remember the prospective residence. It is crucial that a space stands out from the competition and remain in the minds of potential buyers if you wish to attract multiple offers. People are often hesitant about purchasing an empty home because they assume that since the owner has already moved they are eager to sell or worse yet that there is something wrong with the property. A vacant listing may also imply that the property has been for sale for an extended period of time and encourages potential buyers to present a lower offer. Bottom line, staged homes sell sooner and for maximum profit.

Still not convinced? Consider this empty living room in a house staged by Jackson West of Reveal Estate Home Staging.

This vacant room lacked a focal point, felt hollow and showed the signs of everyday wear and tear. It is the first room potential buyers viewed as they entered the house and didn’t make a great or lasting impression.

After identifying the demographic of potential buyers, the home was successfully merchandised. Staging created a necessary and inviting focal point, visual depth, and eliminated the cold echo in the room. The placement of simple, quality furniture and accessories added a sense of sophistication and transformed this house into a warm, inviting home.

People don’t buy houses, they buy homes. Consider the advantages of having your vacant property professionally staged.