The Prairiehaven is a thoughtfully designed two storey layout that balances open living space with practical day to day function. From the moment you enter the home, the layout is designed to feel spacious and connected while still offering dedicated areas for work, relaxation, and family life.

The front entry opens into a wide hallway that provides plenty of room for a bench or storage, making it easy to manage coats, shoes, and everyday items. Just off the entrance is a convenient two piece powder room for guests.

From the garage, you step into a functional mudroom that includes a large closet and space for the washer and dryer. This keeps laundry and outdoor gear contained in one area of the home and away from the main living spaces.

Further into the main floor, the Prairiehaven features a dedicated study. This space works well as a home office, study area, or quiet workspace for anyone working from home.

The heart of the home is the great room, where soaring ceilings create a dramatic open feeling. The space offers plenty of room for an entertainment setup while still maintaining a comfortable atmosphere for everyday living. The dining area connects directly to the great room, creating a natural flow that works well for both daily meals and entertaining.

The kitchen features quartz countertops, durable plank flooring, and a layout designed for efficiency and conversation. One of the standout design elements is the open to below feature that visually connects the main floor to the upper level and enhances the sense of space throughout the home.

Upstairs, the primary bedroom is generously sized and includes a walk in closet along with an ensuite that can be customized depending on your preferences.

The second floor also includes two additional bedrooms and a full bathroom, making the Prairiehaven a practical option for families or anyone who needs additional space for guests, work, or hobbies.

The Prairiehaven combines open design, functional spaces, and modern finishes to create a home that works well for both everyday living and entertaining.

The Seville is a bungalow plan with just over 1,400 square feet of living space, designed around practical storage, clean sightlines, and a layout that functions well day to day. This walkthrough highlights how the spaces connect, where the storage is concentrated, and how the bedroom wing is arranged for privacy and flexibility.

A Spacious Front Entry With Direct Garage Access

The front entry is notably wide, creating a comfortable arrival space for daily use and for guests. From the entry, you have convenient interior access to the double attached garage, which is a key feature for Winnipeg winters and for everyday loading and unloading. A large front closet is positioned near the entrance, offering enough capacity for coats, footwear, and seasonal items without overflowing into the main living area.

Kitchen Design Focused on Storage and Work Space

The kitchen is arranged to prioritize storage and usability. Cabinetry provides strong day to day capacity, and the layout supports efficient meal preparation with clear counter space. A large island anchors the room, adding both work space and a natural gathering point. This island also helps define the kitchen within the open living area while keeping the main floor feeling connected and bright.

Dining Area With Patio Doors to the Future Backyard

Adjacent to the kitchen, the dining area is positioned for easy flow between cooking and entertaining. Patio doors open from the dining space to the future backyard, bringing in natural light and creating a straightforward connection to outdoor living. This placement supports seasonal use, whether that means deck plans, a grill setup, or simply a bright dining space year round.

Primary Bedroom With Walk-In Closet and Ensuite

The primary bedroom is sized to accommodate a full bedroom set comfortably and is separated from the main living area in a way that supports privacy. The suite includes a walk-in closet and a private ensuite, which adds both convenience and long-term livability. The layout keeps the primary features together without cutting into the main living space.

Two Additional Rooms and a Full Secondary Bathroom

In addition to the primary suite, the plan includes two more rooms and a large secondary bathroom. These rooms can be used as bedrooms, a home office, guest space, or a combination, depending on your needs. The secondary bathroom is placed to serve both rooms efficiently and to support visitors without requiring access through private areas.

A Bungalow Layout Built for Everyday Function

Overall, the Seville delivers a straightforward bungalow layout with emphasis on storage, circulation, and a bedroom wing that offers flexibility. The entry and kitchen are particularly strong features, and the patio door placement adds light and outdoor connection without complicating the floor plan.

Next Steps

If you would like the spec package, current pricing, or details on available timelines, reach out directly.

Tabitha Baete
Tabitha Lynne Baete Personal Real Estate Corporation
Real Broker
204-330-1103

You find the one.

Not the person you gave up on years ago. The house.

Perfect kitchen. South-facing yard. Closet space that respects your retail therapy. Maybe even the kind of pantry that makes you think, “I could become the type of person who labels jars.”

And then you click.

Under contract.

Instant emotional whiplash.

You never even saw it in person, but somehow your brain is acting like you got dumped in public. You are spiraling like it ghosted you after three dates. You are replaying the listing photos like they were wedding pictures. You are doing mental math on a house you never owned, in a neighbourhood you never lived in, with a future you never had.

So what is that?

It’s not heartbreak. It’s loss aversion.

Why Losing a House You Never Had Feels Like Betrayal

Loss aversion is the tendency to feel losses more intensely than gains of the same size, which makes people prioritize avoiding losses over achieving equivalent gains.

Even when you did not truly “have” it.

Your brain does not need a signed offer for emotional attachment. It needs a story. The second you saw that listing, your mind started building a tiny life inside it.

Here’s the kitchen where I would cook.
Here’s the yard where I would sit in the sun.
Here’s the closet where I would finally stop stuffing winter coats into places they do not belong.

You were not just looking at a house. You were looking at a version of your life that suddenly felt clear.

And when it disappeared, you did not just lose a property. You lost the “almost.”

That “almost” hits harder than people expect, because it is pure possibility. No repairs, no compromises, no awkward showing times, no negotiating. Just a clean fantasy with good lighting and a wide-angle lens.

Then, boom. Gone.

The Spiral Is Normal, But It’s Also Useful

When a listing disappears quickly, it can feel like a personal rejection. Like you are late. Like you missed your moment. Like the market is mocking you.

But there is something valuable in that moment, even if it is annoying.

Because now you know.

That house was never yours, but it clarified what you are actually chasing.

Not in a vague “three bedrooms, two bathrooms, maybe a garage” kind of way. In a specific way.

South-facing yard.
A kitchen layout that makes sense.
Closet space you do not have to negotiate with.
A vibe, yes, but a practical one.

When you get a clear hit like that, it sharpens your criteria. You stop drifting through listings like you are browsing a menu you will never order from. You start recognizing patterns. You get faster. You get more decisive.

You move from “we’ll see” to “Let’s go see it.”

That is a shift.

What To Do Next (So You Don’t Keep Losing Them)

If this is happening to you, here’s the simple truth: the market rewards readiness.

Not perfection. Readiness.

That means a few things, depending on your situation:

1. Make sure your financing is actually ready.
   Not “I talked to someone once.” Ready ready. Pre-approval in place, numbers understood, and you know what you can do quickly when the right one hits.

2. Tighten your non-negotiables.
   If everything is a must-have, nothing is. Decide what matters most, and what you can live without.

3. Be set up to move fast.
   The best listings do not wait for your schedule to clear. The good ones appear and disappear like they are allergic to hesitation.

4. Stop treating showings like a commitment.
   A showing is a look, not a marriage proposal. You can view it without pressure. The point is to be in the game.

Mourn the Pantry, Then Move

Yes, it stings. Losing a listing you loved is annoying and weirdly emotional, especially when you did not even step inside it.

But don’t stay stuck there.

Mourn the pantry. Mourn the south-facing yard. Mourn the closet that looked like it could hold your entire personality.

Then take the useful part with you.

Because the right one has not hit your inbox yet.

And this time, you’ll be ready.

Money, time, and energy are among our most valuable resources, especially when selling a home. As you prepare your property for listing, it is important to consider which improvements or repairs are unlikely to yield a worthwhile return on your investment, such as:

 · Window treatments. Unless they are worn or damaged, don’t change them, as buyers may have their own preferences.

· Appliances, unless they are broken or very outdated, in which case, consider buying used.

· Floors (except in the case of very noticeable damage). Rather than replace hardwood, refinish it, and deep clean other types of flooring.

· An aging HVAC system — if it’s still functioning well, don’t replace it.

· Minor electrical or plumbing issues, such as switches that don’t work, dead outlets, or a faucet that drips a bit before stopping.

· Code violations that were allowed earlier. The building code is constantly changing.

· Minor cosmetic fixes, unless you are handy. However, if the cost of the repair is likely to exceed the potential return upon sale, or if you risk making further damage fixing it yourself, leave it as is.

 Pro Tip: Before you sell, consult with a seasoned and experienced REALTOR®, such as myself, who can provide you with an expert opinion of what’s not worth changing before selling, based on insider, up-to-date market and neighbourhood-specific data and trends.

Many homeowners today are indecisive on whether to buy and sell now or wait
it out. Waiting on the sidelines, hoping that either prices or rates will have a
significant drop, is always an option. However, that can take months to happen
and may not be a viable option, depending on whether you have the luxury of
time.

Firstly, review your finances in detail to determine if you can afford to buy
what you want now, factoring in all housing-related costs and closing costs.
Look at recent comparable sales where you currently live and where you
want to buy.

Reasons to wait could be if home values in your area are dropping, and/or
inventory is increasing considerably; if your finances are tight; if you are
expecting a sizable bonus or inheritance soon that could help with your down
payment; or if you want to pay off debts to qualify for loans with better terms.
Ultimately, life goes on, whether the timing of a move is perfect or not. If rates
drop significantly after you buy, you can always look at refinancing later.

Let’s set the scene.

You are scrolling listings. You find the one.
Open concept. Big backyard. Dream kitchen.
Your heart says yes.

And your bank account says… you are not even pre-approved yet.

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is one of the most important first steps in buying a home. Yet so many buyers skip this part. They head out to showings, fall in love with a house, then scramble to figure out if they can actually afford it.

That is backwards. Like packing for the airport after you have already boarded the plane.

So, how does pre-approval work? Let’s talk about it.

What Is Mortgage Pre-Approval?

First, this is not scary, permanent, or some life-altering commitment.

Pre-approval is simply a letter from a lender or mortgage broker saying, based on your income, debt, down payment, and credit score, here is how much you could borrow to buy a home right now.

That is it. It gives you a clear picture of what is realistic before you start house hunting.

How Do You Get Pre-Approved?

You contact a mortgage broker or your bank. Someone who does this for a living.

They will ask for:
✅ Income details (pay stubs, T4s, employment letter)
✅ Debt info (car loans, credit cards, student loans)
✅ Proof of your down payment (savings, RRSPs, gift letters)
✅ They will check your credit score

And yes, they will look at your bank statements. And maybe your Starbucks bill. No judgement. Well, maybe a little.

Why You Need Pre-Approval Before House Hunting

A lot of buyers think they can just look around first and worry about pre-approval later.

Bad idea.

Without pre-approval, you are guessing at your price range. You risk falling in love with homes you cannot afford, wasting time, and potentially missing out on homes you can buy because you were not ready.

Even worse, you might write an offer and then discover your financing will not come through.

Bottom Line:

Get pre-approved first. House hunt second. Regret, ideally never.

If you want a little more info on how to get started, or need a great mortgage broker, DM me any time. I will point you in the right direction.

Tabitha Baete
Tabitha Lynne Baete Personal Real Estate Corporation
Real Broker
204-330-1103

You ever try selling a house with your ex while you are both still living in it?

It is... an experience.

Think about it. You are listing the home, and the emotional baggage, at the same time. You are staging your living room, but no one is really speaking. You are arranging throw pillows, but every single one feels like a battle for control.

And do not get me started on the thermostat settings.

Here is what most people do not tell you. The house is not the only thing being sold. It is the last shared thing. And suddenly, every lightbulb, every curtain rod, every stray toaster becomes a symbol of something much bigger.

It is emotional warfare, disguised as home prep.

So how do you actually get through it?
Here is my advice.

1. Pick your battles and lose most of them, strategically.
You are selling peace as much as you are selling square footage. The fewer skirmishes, the better your home will show.

2. Keep the focus on the goal.
The sooner you sell, the sooner everyone moves forward. Lingering on minor details will only stall progress.

3. Bring in neutral third parties, starting with your Realtor.
When no one can agree on what stays, what goes, or what gets packed away for staging, I step in. My job is to guide both parties toward a result everyone can live with. Literally.

Because here is the thing. Peaceful listings sell.

If you are in this situation and need expert help to navigate the sale, with less drama and more results, reach out anytime.

Tabitha Baete
Tabitha Lynne Baete Personal Real Estate Corporation
Real Broker
204-330-1103

Let’s clear something up right out of the gate. The number one mistake sellers make before their home even hits the market?
It’s not forgetting to vacuum the baseboards.
It’s not leaving up the glittery “Live, Laugh, Love” decals.
And it’s definitely not your kitchen’s questionable paint colour, although we should probably talk about that at some point.

It’s price.
Just price.

This is the moment where sellers everywhere collectively sigh and say, “Well yeah, but my house is different.”

Spoiler alert. It’s probably not.

Here’s the thing. Pricing a home isn’t about choosing a number that feels right or matches what your neighbour got two summers ago. It’s not about what you need to get out of it, or how much you’ve spent on upgrades, or what your cousin’s coworker thinks it’s worth.

It’s strategy.
Not wishful thinking.

When sellers get emotionally attached to a number, it stops being a plan and starts becoming a gamble. And not the fun kind with poker chips and tiny umbrellas in your drink. The kind where the stakes are your time on market, your negotiating leverage, and in many cases, tens of thousands of dollars.

Why overpricing hurts more than you think

Let’s say you list high.
Buyers scroll past.
Showings are quiet.
Weeks pass.
You adjust the price.
But now the listing feels stale. The excitement is gone and you’re playing catch-up instead of creating momentum.

Buyers assume something is wrong. Other agents start saying, “That one’s been sitting a while.” Offers, if they come at all, are below asking and full of conditions. You might end up with less than if you had just priced it right in the first place.

This isn’t because your home isn’t beautiful or worthy.
It’s because the market rewards accuracy, not optimism.

The right price creates demand.
The wrong price chokes it.

The market moves fast

Once your home is live, you don’t get a redo on first impressions.
You can’t explain your pricing logic after buyers have already moved on.
That window of peak interest? It’s short.

The longer your home sits, the more questions people ask.
Why hasn’t it sold?
What’s wrong with it?
Should we wait for another price drop?

Buyers aren’t waiting around. They’re comparing your home to every other one they’ve seen. If it doesn’t make sense on paper, they scroll on without a second thought.

So what’s the fix?

Work with a professional who’s not afraid to tell you the truth about where your home fits in the current landscape. Look at what’s sold, what’s sitting, and what today’s buyers are actually willing to pay.

Because pricing isn’t just about the number you want.
It’s about the result you need.

And the right number?
It sets everything in motion.

Let’s be honest: most of us don’t need more space…We need our space to work smarter.

When you think of massive backyards, what comes to mind?

Probably something like a sprawling mansion in Tuxedo, a gated estate in the country, or maybe a public park that technically doesn’t count but feels like a dream backyard when you're walking your dog.

But what if I told you… that some of the biggest residential lots are actually hiding in plain sight?

Yep. Right here in southern Manitoba, you can still find big, beautiful backyards without having to sell a kidney or move hours from the city. Whether you’re dreaming of a garden oasis, a play structure your kids won’t outgrow in five minutes, or—hey, no judgment—a secret underground bunker, extra space is still out there. You just have to know where to look.

Let’s start with one of my favourite hidden gems: Grande Pointe Meadows.

Just a quick drive from Winnipeg, this community is serving up lot sizes that most urban neighbourhoods could only dream about. We’re talking a third of an acre or more—that’s enough room for a trampoline, a firepit, a raised-bed garden, a hockey rink, and still have space left over for your dog to run laps. Fewer neighbours, more privacy, and peaceful prairie sunsets? Yes, please.

And the best part? You’re not giving up city access. You’re still close to everything you need, from groceries and schools to shopping and entertainment. Grande Pointe Meadows hits that sweet spot: wide-open space without sacrificing convenience.

Now, if you're determined to stay inside Winnipeg city limits, all hope is not lost. Enter: Charleswood.

This west-end neighbourhood is a bit of a time capsule—in the best way. Developed before high-density housing became the norm, Charleswood is full of larger lots, mature trees, and a semi-rural vibe that feels more countryside than city… while still being totally city. It's where people go when they want more space and a sense of established community.

So whether you're upsizing, planting roots, or just tired of playing Tetris with your lawn furniture, there are options. You don’t have to choose between space and location—you can have both.