Recent Blog Posts by Grant Wiebe

Professional Real Estate Photography - More Than Just Making Your House Look Pretty

When I first started hiring a professional photographer to shoot our real estate listings about 6 years ago, very few REALTORS® in my area (Kelowna, BC, Canada) were doing it.  I probably wouldn't have done it either, but my good friend (who was an accomplished photographer) was branching out his practice and specializing in architecteral real estate photography.  ...

Kelowna Century 21 Realtors Lead the Charge Again at the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay

I had the opportunity last weekend to participate in the Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay for the Kids at Kelowna's Apple bowl.  This annual event raises money for both Easter Seals Camp Winfield and the Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs Camp Arrowflight, two deserving charities that help local kids overcome challenging circumstances and have live-changing experiences at camp. Our local Century 21 team ...

Saying Goodbye to my Movember Friend

Well, It’s the last day of “Movember” and it’s been a good run.  I’ve grown a healthy mustache and had a lot of fun raising some money for Prostate Cancer Canada.  It’ll be kind of sad to say goodbye to this new friend who’s made his home on my face this month – I’m sure my wife won’t mind. Throughout this month I’ve been ...

I'm Like The Littlest Hobo with Pants

Recently, I was meeting with some clients of mine after an intense month-long period in which I listed and sold their current home and then shopped with them to find and acquire a new home that better fit their needs.  It had been an intense process and after all the late nights of negotiations and house shopping road trips, we had become friends.  We were going through the important ...

The Effect of HST on Real Estate in BC

This is a repost from Peter Borszcz's BC Law Blog: http://bcrealestatelaw.blogspot.com/ .  Peter is a great lawyer in Kelowna, BC specializing in Real Estate and Corporate Law. --------------------------------------------------------------- HST will be chargeable on every supply of real property (including mobile homes and floating homes) in Canada. However, Used Residential Housing is ...

Why is Kelowna's Mount Baldy Still Bald?

Someone asked me the other day: "why isn't there anything on Mount Baldy" - referring to the appropriately named bald hill in the centre of Kelowna (just north-east of Dilworth Mountain), not the ski resort in the South Okanagan.  My answer, "because then they'd have to change the name", didn't seem to suffice so I thought I'd better look into it... The 127 acre property on which Mount Baldy ...

My Favorite Kelowna Sight

After being born in Kelowna and living here most of my life, my favorite Kelowna sight isn't Okanagan, Kalamalka, or Woods Lake, it's not the golf courses, the orchards, or the downtown Kelowna waterfront... (the list goes on). My favorite Kelowna sight only happens a few times per year (due to the relative scarcity of winter sunshine in the valley and intermittent snowfalls) and it takes my breath ...

Alien Invasion in BC January 1, 2010 - Your Help is Needed

I've heard a number of rumours of an imminent alien invasion centered in the Canadian province of British Columbia beginning January 1, 2010.  These extra terrestrial beings are evacuating their home planet, Moate Roalah, prior to its destruction at 12:00 AM (earth time), January 1, 2010.  You see, the planet Moate Roalah's calendar is exactly 10 years behind Earth's calendar ...

An Affordable Kelowna Condo with one of the Nicest Patios You've Ever Seen!

Click here to go back to the listing page

New BC Body Armour Laws - Weird?

BC has introduced new legislation to restrict the sale of body armour to fight gang activity. Does this seem weird or is it just me? Grant Wiebe - Kelowna Realtor http://GrantWiebe.com 250.869.2279 Century 21 Assurance Realty

Century21.ca blows away the competition!

In terms of internet marketing, Century 21 Canada is leaving the competition way behind (See: http://www.century21.ca/brandpower). With 3 times more unique visitors per agent than the nearest major competitor, our investement of time, effort and money to be best online has definitely paid off. Contact me to find out how this will transale into a more profitable and enjoyable Real Estate experience ...

Big Tech News! ;-)

"I'll buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by Apple"

A "Novel" Institution

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website: Thanks to my great parents and many years of education, I am literate.  However, I am definitely not a “reader”.  For most of my life, when asked what my favorite book was, my answer has always been: “The Outsiders”.  In addition to my heart for the underdog and my adolescent desire to be bad yet ...

Changes Coming to Rutland Lions Park

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website I recently attended a City of Kelowna open house regarding plans for changes to Rutland Lions Park (on Gray Road behind Plaza 33).  This is a beautiful green space in a very central location but it is in need of some improvements to make it a more “friendly” place for Rutland residents to kick back. I’m ...

Mountain Bike Skills Park Coming to Rutland

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website The City of Kelowna has just announced that it will be building Kelowna’s first Mountain Bike Skills Park on a 3.4 hectare site at 1960 Hollywood Road South, adjacent to the Mission Creek Greenway.  This will add to the already extensive list of top-notch recreation facilities in the Rutland area: Kelowna Family Y, Mission ...

Bean Scene Opens in Rutland

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website: I stopped in at the new Bean Scene location on Rutland Road next to Outbound Cycle.  They’ve done a great job creating a really nice coffee shop vibe - just like their other Kelowna locations.  They told me they plan to have local musicians playing there in the future which should make for a great new Rutland hot spot. ...

Rutland Lions Park Open House

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website: Residents are invited to provide input on concept plans for the upgrading of Rutland Lions Park.  Features proposed for the park upgrading include a renovation of the cenotaph area, asphalt pathways, sidewalks, lights, and landscaping.  City staff will be available to answer questions and receive your comments. 4 - 8 PM, Thursday, ...

Is Rutland a High Crime Area? RCMP Superintendent Bill McKinnon Speaks About Crime and Policing in Rutland

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website: In my role as a Rutland area REALTOR®, I regularly come across people looking for a good Kelowna home at an affordable price.  These people sometimes have concerns about living in Rutland because they have been told by someone (a relative, service station attendant, or a fellow airplane passenger) that Rutland is not an area they ...

Rutland Residents Association Annual General Meeting

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website The Rutland Residents Association will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 7 PM.in the Pool Room at the Rutland Centennial Hall (180 Rutland Rd N) Mayor Sharon Shepherd will be the guest speaker.  Executive board elections and year end reports are on the agenda. Everyone who lives in Rutland is welcome ...

If you build it...

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website:   My friends Pat & Kara Aylard live in the Scotty Creek neighborhood in Ellison and this year they decided to turn their driveway into an ice rink.  Their kids are starting to get into hockey and Pat grew up playing on the community rink in Mara, BC (North of Enderby) and he wanted try and give his kids a similar experience. ...

Rutland History Book on Sale for Christmas

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website: I highly recommend this book for any current or past Rutlander.  I've got it and I love it!

Rutland Christmas Eve Services

Excerpt of www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website: For many families, a Christmas Eve tradition is to attend a Christmas Eve service at a local church.  Churches tend to anticipate many visitors for this occasion and plan a service that is appealing to people of all levels of religious participation and commitment. Here in Rutland, we have many great churches; click here to look at ...

Rutland Streetscape Design Open House

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website The City of Kelowna is looking for your feedback on the aesthetics of the new transit exchange and the creation a more pedestrian-friendly environment in the surrounding area with bicycle storage, seating, public art and landscaping. Click here to download City of Kelowna PDF

Santa Came to Rutland

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website Thanks to the Uptown Rutland Business Association for putting on a great Christmas Light-up Celebration this year.  Santa arrived in the vintage Rutland fire engine, the Vedanta Choir was great, and hot chocolate and cookies were enjoyed by all. Photo courtesy of Evelyn Vielvoye

A Sticky Situation

Excerpt from www.Rutlanders.ca - Rutland's Community Website I’m thankful that the Rutland Coopers is so close to home when... My 2 year-old son finds a bottle of wood glue in the basement and squeezes it all over the brand new carpet.  I need a carpet shampooer in 10 minutes...