Please don't hesitate to reach out for detailed stats that are specific to your neighbourhood, or even if you're just curious about what the house down the street sold for – it'd be great to hear from you!

THE K-W SHOEBOX PROJECT

The Shoebox Project is a great way to give back to women who’ve been affected by homelessness in our community.

Special occasions such as Christmas can be particularly challenging for women who’ve been displaced from their homes and estranged from their families.

The Shoebox Project collects and distributes shoeboxes filled with gifts to women in K-W who’ve been impacted by homelessness to help lift their spirits during the holiday season.

This amazing grassroots organization was originally founded in 2011 by four sisters in the Toronto area and now reaches out to women all across Canada and the U.S. including right here in Kitchener-Waterloo.

It’s a small gesture but a shoebox filled with gifts is a powerful reminder for women living in shelters that they haven’t been forgotten about and that they are still valued and respected members of our community.

It’s easy to participate! All you need to do is fill a standard-sized shoebox with approximately $50 worth of items such as body wash, lip balms, socks, chocolate or a gift card. You can even add a personalized note for that extra special touch.

If you don’t have enough time to put a box together yourself, you’re now able to create a “virtual shoebox” where you can select and purchase a variety of online items that will then be packed into a beautifully designed shoebox for you.

The purchase of your virtual shoebox is completely tax-deductible and 100% of the funds will be used by volunteers to help get gift cards and essentials into the hands of some of the most vulnerable women in the K-W area.

This small gesture of kindness will make an immediate positive impact! The K-W Shoebox Project is a unique opportunity to give back as it’s a powerful reminder for women who are struggling in the K-W area that they haven’t been forgotten about.

NEGOTIATING YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS

Strong negotiating skills will help you get what you want in business, life and relationships.

You often don’t realize you’re using them but whether you're renting a car, asking for a raise or trying to get your kids to clean up their room, strong negotiating skills are an essential part of life.

Thankfully, negotiating is a skill that can be easily learned and eventually perfected!

Your success is partly based on how well you're prepared so it’s important to do your homework so that you’re able to counter any objections with logical facts and verifiable figures.

Also, never make assumptions but instead ask questions and listen to the other party’s perspective so that you can get to the root of their objections while gathering valuable information that may come in handy later.

No matter how good of a negotiator you are, there are certain scenarios where having a third-party negotiator on your side to act as a buffer is absolutely essential.

The home buying process definitely qualifies as it’s an extremely complex transaction that’s full of fragile emotions. After all, buying or selling a home will likely be one of the most significant financial decisions of your life.

In order to successfully negotiate the sale of a home, you not only need to understand local market conditions but you also need to be aware of certain psychological factors that may suddenly create uncertainty so that they can be identified and properly addressed before things fall apart.

If you negotiate with someone directly in such an emotionally charged situation that involves the sale of their beloved home, there’s a good chance that negative feelings will get in the way. It's hard to recover once that happens and oftentimes, the home of your dreams will be lost due to ego, pride or principle.

Price is usually the primary offender but it could also be a variety of other factors such as the closing date or which fixtures come with the home. Even a seemingly innocent comment about their decor can be easily taken the wrong way which can quickly lead to disaster.

Even if you consider yourself the world’s greatest negotiator, emotions can often tear things apart which is why it's important to have a real estate agent on your side to represent you as a third-party negotiator in order to keep emotions in check and the process on track.

Negotiations are only one important skill set that real estate agents specialize in so if you're thinking about relocating, please get in touch so that we can strategically plan your next move!

UPPER-LEVEL FIRE ESCAPE PLANNING

No one wants to think about the possibility of a house fire but it’s important to be prepared.

A house fire isn’t something anyone wants to think about but it’s important for you and your family to have a fire escape plan.

One very affordable and easy-to-use item that’s often overlooked are fire escape ladders.

This compact yet fully functional ladder will protect you and your family by providing a safe and reliable means of escape from the upper levels of your home.

You’ll first need to measure the width and depth of your windowsills and then purchase a separate fire ladder for each upstairs bedroom.

Once you’ve made the purchase, make sure every family member knows where they’re stored and how to use them. Hopefully, it’s something you’ll never need but it’s always good to be prepared.