The Riz Team Blog

Homebuyers wishlist this holiday season. Don’t miss out!

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Here are some great tips from Waterloo Regional Police for keeping your home, and your family, safe for Halloween.

The night is here when the streets will be filled with ghosts and goblins, not to mention princesses and fairies. As always, there are a few important Halloween safety guidelines that should be observed to ensure the night runs smoothly.

Around the house…

-Many people enjoy transforming their homes into eerie scenes. Be sure to keep the path leading up to your door free of obstacles for the little ones, especially those with masks who might have trouble seeing in dim light.

-Keep pets indoors on Halloween to protect them from hazards and preventing them from being aggressive to visitors.

-Before you light those candles in your pumpkin, consider using inexpensive safety glow sticks. Nothing says spooky like a glowing green jack-o-lantern!

Costumes…

It is important that when helping a child pick out a costume, safety should be the main concern.

-Wear a light-coloured or bright costume, reflective tape or arm bands to heighten visibility.

-Wear a costume that is properly fitted to reduce the chance of tripping on it.

-Select a costume that is constructed from flame-retardant materials.

-Make sure your vision is not restricted. Consider completing your costume with make-up rather than masks. Masks may require that the eye-holes be cut larger for the sake of good peripheral vision.

-Shoes should fit properly even if they do not go well with a costume.

-If a child’s costume requires the use of props, such as a flexible-plastic sword, make sure the sharp tip is cut or filed round.

-Glow sticks are also an excellent method to increase a child’s visibility. You might want to consider creating a fun necklace with string to ensure they will want to wear as part of their costumes.

-Accessorize with a flashlight!

Before the kids hit the streets, it is important that parents be aware of the route that their children plan to follow. If you are unable to take them out yourself, consider asking another parent, an older sibling or babysitter to do the honours for you. Ensuring your child is wearing a watch also allows you to establish an agreed upon curfew.

Teach your children to recognize the places along his/her route where they can obtain help: Police Station, Fire Station or any other well indicated public place.

Although tampering of loot is rare, remind children that they must have their candy inspected by their parents or guardian prior to eating them.

Some Rules for Trick or Treaters…

-Bring a flashlight;

-Walk instead of running;

-Stay on the sidewalks (If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left-hand side of the street facing traffic);

-Avoid jaywalking

-Do not cut across lawns or take short-cuts;

-Take masks off when walking from one house to the next;

-Do not go inside houses and do not get into vehicles;

-Only visit houses that are lit;

-Stay away from animals you are not familiar with; and

-Vandalism is not just a ‘trick’ – it is against the law and has consequences.

Above all, have a safe and ghoulishly good Halloween!

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We all know the “location, location, location” adage.  Its part of what buying real estate is all about.  But, what actually makes a location great?

According to Jay Walljasper, author of The Great Neighborhood Book, a great neighbourhood is about community.  It’s about knowing your neighbours, feeling safe, and having pleasant spaces to be together.

Walljasper’s book offers lots of ideas for making your neighbourhood a better place to live and for building a stronger community:

Know thy neighbours.  Sit on your front steps and say hello as people walk by.  Have a chat with the person who pumps your gas or the retired lady down the street.  You’d be amazed at how people open up to a little friendliness.

Create a great gathering spot.  A nice playground with benches and shaded areas is a natural place for residents to gather.  Communities across Canada have worked together to raise money via personal and corporate donations to build spaces kids and adults love.

Make it an event.  Whether it’s a neighbourhood barbecue, a Saturday street sale, or an organized trick-or-treating event for the kids, getting your neighbours together to do something fun builds friendship and community.

Walk more, drive less.  Get out and enjoy the neighbourhood instead of sealing yourself off in a car.  Encourage walking by lobbying the city to widen sidewalks, add crosswalks, and traffic calming zones.

Be neighbourly.  Shovel your neighbour’s walk when they are out of town, offer an afternoon of babysitting to the single parent down the street, or welcome a new neighbour with an invitation to coffee.

Take back the streets.  If you live in an area where crime is a problem, organize a neighbourhood watch and walk around.  If you see anything suspicious, notify the police.  Criminals are deterred when there are too many people around.

Shop local.  Supporting your local merchants will ensure they succeed along with the distinctive flavour they add to your neighbourhood.  If you don’t have shops in your area, it may be due to zoning restrictions.  Lobby your city council to change zoning so that retailers can set up shop.

Take pride.  Take care of your neighbourhood the way you take care of your own property.  When you go for a walk, bring a bag to pick up litter.  Plant flowers in public places.  Spruce up the park swings with some fresh paint.

Take advantage.  Enjoy what your neighbourhood has to offer.  Hang out at the coffee shop, go for a walk or bike ride, relax in the park.  A great neighbourhood is only great if you take time to enjoy it.

It takes work to make things better, but everything you do will pay off through your enjoyment of your community – and increased property values.  For more ideas, consult The Great Neighborhood Book.  It’s an excellent resource that could spark some greatness is your neighbourhood.

21st Anniversary Wolle Christmas Classic
Food Bank Drive

(In support of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region)

 Saturday, December 6th, 2014

Royal LePage Wolle Realty invites you to share the spirit of the holidays by participating in our Christmas Food Bank Classic.  We will be sending invitations out soon for tickets, but for now we are reaching out for donations.

This year is the 21st anniversary of our event and we would like to make it our best year ever!

Once again, this year’s Christmas Food Bank Classic will collect FOOD and CASH donations for The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.  In the past 20 years, we have collected over 20,000 pounds of food and raised $83,000 for The Food Bank. Our utmost gratitude goes out to all our sponsors for their continued support.

Sadly, not everyone will be able to enjoy the holidays, as most of us will.  Each year, more than 85,000 emergency food hampers are distributed throughout Waterloo Region.  Approximately 46% of food hamper recipients are single parent and two-parent families.  About 15% of households have a part-time or full-time job.  24% are receiving Ontario Disability Support.  37% are children under the age of 18.  Putting food on the table will be just one of the many challenges they face not just during the holiday, but every day.

On December 6th we will collect food donations in lieu of admission for a private cinematic movie screening for our clients and their families which will feature a very special visit from Santa Claus, face painters and goodie bags for the kids.

But we would like to do better! That is why we NEED your help. Your corporate donation will help us make an even better difference!

Please join us in helping The Food Bank by making a generous donation of food or cash. A donation of $100 will provide 300 meals.  Donations can be made in person  at our office, mailed to our office at the address below or  below to donate online (please mark a special occasion  as Wolle Christmas Classic)   Please make your cheque payable to The Food Bank of Waterloo Region.  A tax receipt will be issued by The Food Bank for your generous donation. We will recognize all corporate donors on the day of the event and in local publications.  Donations will be accepted up to December 5th.

Our wish is for everyone to have a happy holiday!

At this special time of year, we would like to thank you for joining us in making a difference.

TO DOWNLOAD A PDF COPY OF THIS REQUEST:
CLICK HERE

For more information, please contact:
ROYAL LEPAGE WOLLE REALTY
842 Victoria St., N.,
Kitchener, Ontario
N2B 3C1
PHONE (519) 578-7300
FAX: (519) 742-9904
EMAIL: info@wollerealty.com

TO DONATE ONLINE: CLICK THE “DONATE NOW” BELOW AND MAKE SURE TO CLICK “MARK A SPECIAL OCCASION” THEN SELECT “WOLLE CHRISTMAS CLASSIC”

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We wish you and yours a relaxing, joyous holiday season and a happy new year!

Our 20th Christmas Classic raised $17,500 and over 2500 pounds of food for the Foodbank of Waterloo Region. Thank you to everyone who came out and supported us and great job to all the RLP Wolle Realtors for helping make this event happen!

Wishing all the fathers, grandfathers and fathers-to-be a Happy Father’s Day from The Riz Team!