Ben Guimond's Newsletter

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BEN GUIMOND REALTOR® Cell: 204-782-1586 benguimond@remaxonegroup.com BenGuimond.com

4-756 Pembina Hwy, Winnipeg, MB R3M 2M7

Volume 17 | Number 11

CUSTOMIZING GENERIC

FURNITURE PIECES Furniture from a big box store is great - it’s affordable, easily accessible, functional and a blank canvas for you to customize. Imagine if everyone in your family received the same piece of furniture and free reign to adjust it to suit their needs. Each unit would look and function completely different. That’s the benefit of purchasing simple furniture pieces that are rather generic to begin with. As your decor and tastes evolve, you can change them rather easily. From paint, to peel and stick tiles, to hardware and feet, the options are really endless. Then, if you grow tired of the piece or it’s no longer functional, you can change it again, sell it or donate it without feeling guilty. Therefore, before your next big purchase, consider buying something you can personalize yourself. Look online for inspiration or head to your local craft supply or home improvement store to see what inspires you.

CHEESY BROCCOLI SOUP IN A BREAD BOWL

Courtesy of tasteofhome.com

Yields: 6 servings | Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 45 mins

INGREDIENTS • ¼ cup butter, cubed • ½ cup chopped onion • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 4 cups broccoli florets • 1 large carrot, chopped • 3 cups chicken stock • 2 cups half-and-half cream • 2 bay leaves • ½ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon pepper • ¼ cup cornstarch • ¼ cup water or additional chicken stock • 2½ cups shredded cheddar cheese • 6 small round bread loaves

DIRECTIONS 1. In a 6-qt. stockpot, heat butter over medium heat; sauté onion and garlic until tender, 6-8 minutes. Stir in broccoli, carrot, stock, cream and seasonings; bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are tender, about 10-12 minutes. 2. Mix cornstarch and water until smooth; stir into soup. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally; cook and stir until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Remove bay leaves. Stir in cheese until melted. 3. If using bread bowls, cut a slice off the top of each bread loaf; hollow out bottoms, leaving ¼ inch-thick shells (save removed bread for another use). Fill with soup just before serving. 4. Serve soup with toppings as desired.

Optional toppings: Crumbled cooked bacon, ground nutmeg and pepper ,additional shredded cheddar cheese

Edith Sitwell (Sept 1887 - Dec 1964) was a British poet who published her first poem in 1913 which started a life long career where she received the Benson Medal of the Royal Society of Literature.

WINTER IS THE TIME FOR COMFORT, FOR GOOD FOOD AND WARMTH, FOR THE TOUCH OF A FRIENDLY HAND AND FOR A TALK BESIDE THE FIRE: IT IS THE TIME FOR HOME. - Edith Sitwell

TIME FOR AN ANNUAL FIREPLACE INSPECTION

Before the temperatures drop and you start using your fireplace to warm your home, industry experts suggest having it inspected. An inspection will ensure your fireplace is safe to use, is performing efficiently and complies with local codes and standards. An inspector might also suggest tips on how to prolong the life of your fireplace and how to keep it burning clean to keep your emissions and environmental impact low. This annual task should be performed by a professional but that doesn't mean you can't keep an eye out for potential issues throughout the season. Look for any signs of damage to the exterior, if dust or debris has collected in or around the fireplace, if

the flame isn't consistently blue or shows irregular flickering patterns and other changes in typical function. These are signs that something could be amiss and should be checked out as soon as possible.

SNOW SHOVELLING TECHNIQUE

Even if it's your thousandth time shovelling snow, it doesn't hurt to review proper snow shovelling technique. Like any activity, be sure to stretch and warm up before starting. Stretch your arms, legs, shoulders and back and then march in place for a few minutes to loosen up your body so you're less likely to get injured. Take frequent breaks if the snow is heavy or your area to shovel is large. Remember to stay hydrated and don't shovel on a full stomach; wait a couple of hours after eating. As for technique, aim to push the snow out of the way rather than lift it. Shovel small amounts at a time, especially if the snow is particularly deep or wet to prevent injury. Keep your core engaged (tighten your stomach muscles) when pushing or lifting and avoid twisting your body. Keep your feet hip width apart for balance and hold the shovel close to your body and near the base for maximum leverage and to reduce lower back strain. Always bend at your knees and lift with your legs instead of your back.

Can you solve Cannoli’s Conundrum?

SUDOKU The 9×9 square must be filled in with numbers from 1-9 with no repeated numbers in each line, horizontally or vertically. Furthermore, each of the 3×3 squares can't have any repeat numbers either.

Solution:

SURPRISING SNOWFLAKE FACTS

A snowflake can take hours to fall from a cloud to the ground as they tend to float down from about 1.6 kilometers to 6.4 kilometers per hour.

The largest snowflakes ever reported were in Fort Keogh, Montana in 1887 and were reported to be around 15" wide!

Snowflakes are extremely cold, water droplets that freeze onto a pollen or dust particle in the sky forming an ice crystal. As this ice crystal falls to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the crystal building new crystals and thus the snowflake.

SOLID OCTOBER REAL ESTATE MARKET RESULTS THROUGH TEN MONTHS OF 2024

$265,083 condo

$379,310 attached

$427,237 detached

1,665

927

AVERAGE SALE PRICES

404

212

247

90

single family detached condo

attached

single family detached condo

attached

ACTIVE LISTINGS

SOLD LISTINGS

residential attached homes up 27%, and condominiums up 24%, resulting in the second-best October on record for condominium MLS ® sales.” Year-to-date all MLS ® sales of 12,822 were up 12%, total MLS ® listings of 20,692 were up 2% over 2023. Year-to-date residential detached MLS ® sales of 8,848 were up 10% and the average price of $423,217 was up 6% when compared to last October. Condominium MLS ® sales of 1,923 were up 11% and the average price of $275,777 was up 6% over last October. Year-to-date residential attached MLS ® sales of 885 were up 18% and the average price of $365,218 was up 10% over last year. Statistics reflect market activity in October 2024 | Source: The Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board | Market values stated are of the average of Winnipeg and surrounding region. Individual home market values will vary and are affected by factors such as location, size, interior and exterior condition. Please call to get an up-to-date evaluation of your home.

Winnipeg, November 7 2024 – October saw all MLS ® sales of 1,337 up 19% over October 2023. Active MLS ® listings of 3,624 were down 10% over October 2023. Residential detached MLS ® sales of 927 were up 19% while the average price of $427,237 was up 7% when compared to October 2023. Condominium MLS ® sales of 212 were up 24% and the average price of $265,083 up 2% over last October. "October marks the third month in 2024 when MLS ® sales across the three main property types were at or above 2023 and the 5-year average, and the fourth consecutive month with MLS ® sales increases over 2023 and 2022,” said Daphne Shepherd, 2024-2025 President of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate Board. “October MLS ® sales across the main three property types all saw double digit increases over October 2023 with residential detached homes up 19%,

Start your journey home.

BEN GUIMOND REALTOR® Cell: 204-782-1586 benguimond@remaxonegroup.com BenGuimond.com

Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker or Mortgage Specialist, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed by: dmsmarketing.ca Copyright© 2024 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material. The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA. Privacy Disclosure: We respect your privacy. The sponsor indicated on the front panel provides a complimentary subscription of this publication to you, a valued client. If at any time or for any reason you do not want to receive this publication, please contact the sponsor using any of the contact info on the front panel, and your personal information will be removed from the mailing list immediately. Without response to this cancellation offer, we assume your implied consent and permission to continue provision. Disclaimer: This publication is distributed for the purpose of information only. It is not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract by a real estate firm or under contract with another Broker or Mortgage Specialist, nor is it intended to cause or induce breach of any existing agreement. Distributed by: dmsmarketing.ca Copyright© 2024 All Rights Reserved / Printed on recyclable material. The trademarks REALTOR ® , REALTORS ® and the REALTOR ® logo are controlled by CREA and identify real estate professionals who are members of CREA.