Tragically Canadian Musings & Music

Spoiler Alert * This has nothing to do with Real Estate!

I grew up listening to the Tragically Hip. My first big concert was at the Metro Centre in Halifax in the mid 90s, a bunch of high school friends got tickets and hired a limo to transport us to & from the show. It was the first of many Hip experiences, and this past Saturday night was the last time I will ever see them perform a live show again. Gord Downies voice sang the soundtrack of my youth.

There is something fiercely Canadian about this band. They never broke into the American market and never seemed to really want to which increased their canuck appeal. Hailing from Kingston Ontario, they wrote about Canadian topics and political issues, they toured for 30 years and they remained wholesome and true to their roots. Perhaps we didn't want to share them, perhaps we didn't care. The truth is it never mattered if the rest of the world 'got it' because the subject matter was so truly Canadian that it was uniquely ours and ours alone.

Most people my age can tell stories about seeing this band, chance encounters, countless memories are related to specific songs or albums. I know more about Canadian history, folklore and geography from listening to their songs than I ever learned in school. I once interviewed for a job in Kingston ON, upon arrival at the airport I was immediately escorted on a tour of the town to see where each one of the band members had grown up before even talking about the job I had been brought for! The only time I ever camped out for concert tickets was for this band in Halifax, bundled up in blankets on the sidewalk in downtown Halifax overnight. I happened across them performing at a small bar in Denver, by chance noticing the name on the marquee outside and wandered in. To my amazement it was a small bar with very few patrons. I threw a Canadian flag on stage and Gord Downie wore it as a cape for part of the performance. The Hip fans of Canada are like a massive extended family and got that way because this band embraced and appreciated us. What's more Canadian than a warm welcome and open arms?

Gord Downie has always seemed an upstanding Canadian that has influenced history and how we perceive it for over 30 years. I have heard him called the unofficial Poet Laureate and the modern Shakespeare of Canada. He has created a sense of Canadian pride and unity that even the Olympics can't rival. I have always been a proud Canadian and a proud Hip fan, seeing this show has made me feel that pride run even deeper. So I want to thank The Tragically Hip for having a part in making and maintaining a little bit of what it means to be Canadian for many people, including myself. This is truly a spectacular place to live.

So You Wanna Be A REALTOR®?

When I tell people what I do, more often than not the response is positive. "Ohhhhh, I always though I would enjoy that as a career!" or "Wow! That must be great only working when you want to." 
FACT; it's not that easy. It doesn't require a decade of post secondary education either, but it does have it's specific challenges.

As with any serious career, work ethic is of utmost importance when choosing to become a REALTOR®. There are long hours, weekends, late nights & early mornings. You end up having to work around other peoples schedules and because of tight deadlines, overtime is sometimes the norm.
Speaking of ethics, we mush adhere to a strict Code of Ethics for this profession that is enforced and disciplinary action/fines can be levied should someone stray from the comprehensive rules that are set by the governing body.

You must be financially savvy and stable enough to sustain the reality of working very hard and not getting paid for weeks or months. There are significant fees, memberships and continuing education requirements that can add up. There certainly is opportunity for great financial gain as well, but it can sometimes be a roller coaster of feast & famine. You must be able to budget and be very organized with your bank accounts.

Multi tasking is a must, multiple clients with different needs and schedules, deadlines and necessary paperwork due dates, juggling different tasks constantly is the daily fare.

The ability to read people and adjust yourself to best meet their expectations is key. After a few years in this business I have an ability to tell weather someone is interested in a property within moments of them walking through the doors, without any verbal indication! An offshoot of this is being able to deal effectively with personalities that you do not get along with. As a salesperson you must read & communicate with buyers, sellers, service providers, lenders, appraisers, inspectors, family members of clients/customers... all of which are under pressure during your dealings, as well as feeling the stress yourself. And to top it all off, you must always be cool, collected and knowledgeable with a smile on your face.

Now on to the upsides! You do in a sense work for yourself so you can take time off whenever you want to, and make your daily schedule as you see fit. There are somedays that I work from home in yoga pants and my dog snuggles on my lap while I work on the computer. It's all about being able to judge your personal balance.

There is certainly the ability to make a great income, if you are diligent and self motivated. The sky is the limit on this one!

You have the opportunity to meet new people all the time and your daily routine is anything but. It's a fast paced, exciting career and you will never get bored if you work hard! The dreaded "daily grind" non existent!

I love what I do and I love talking to people about real estate, whether it be sales, strategy, or the job itself! If you have ever thought about getting into this industry, call me! I would be thrilled to show you what I do, bring you to meet the amazing Exit team and talk about how to get started.

Individuality is Important

 In Anglo-Saxon the meaning of the name Megan is: Strong and capable. I also fall under the astrological sign of the Taurus which is categorized as stubborn and strong willed. Although I don't normally take these things as 100% truth, they are interesting, fun and entertaining. And they ring true for my personality, somehow.

I have always been the type of person that thinks outside of the 'normal' parameters. My family would tell you I was an outspoken child from day one, and often went against what I was told. There are countless stories of me being a strong willed, opinionated girl that my family loves to tell when we get together, most of them quite hilarious even to this day after hearing them over and over. Moving on to my adult life I am still outspoken and I definitely have an original style, I do not like to blend in to the crowd, and I do not like being told to conform.

When I entered this profession, my intent was not necessarily to replace the current type of REALTOR® in the marketplace, but to (in some sense) reinvent the wheel as it pertained to me. I run my business differently, I don't adhere to the same-old ways of the past. I advertise in areas and markets often overlooked or brushed aside that are gaining huge momentum and purchasing power. We recently had a presentation on how to market to millennials (now, now, don't immediately brush this population off... reread the previous sentence please). It was a fascinating learning experience that solidified my ideas on where my business is going and how to gain even more success in the future. 

For the purpose of this blog let's say millennials are a very comprehensive grouping of anyone 18-35. This is a huge amount of soon-to-be and young professionals that are going to have monstrous purchasing power and clout in comparison to any other grouping very soon. This trend is going to continue for years to come, and these people will be starting & taking over businesses, buying real estate, consuming good & services, and generally in charge the marketplace very soon! Millennials absorb advertising differently than other groups, and in order to stay relevant to this consumer group there are very different criteria for making goods & services appealing & showing value.

Trends also show that there is a shift happening between the sexes, where women are consistently rising as a group that is purchasing more homes year over year compared to statistics from years past. Being aware of changing demographics is absolutely essential to maintaining a broad client base, and being able to work with anyone & everyone equally has never been more important. I vehemently support equality and fairness in my personal and professional dealings Every Single Day.

So let's suffice it to say that I am not your average Joanna, and I don't always stay inside the box. I enjoy a challenge and I love working with clients that are looking for someone with energy, creativity, and above average results! If you are going to be buying or selling in the future please feel free to contact me to discuss your individual needs!
902-680-2736

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!

I am a big believer in celebrating Birthdays! I like to believe that we each have a birthday "season", and I strongly believe mine spans 6 months before and after May 12.

It's fun to get special messages from people that you might not hear from as much as you would like, and it's fun to treat yourself to a special treat too! I will admit that I am in the office today as it is busy season in real estate and I just can't take an entire day off right now. And when I say busy, I mean BUSY! It has been an outstanding spring so far! There are the usual flurry of listings of course as is the norm for spring, but I am seeing a jump in the number of buyers this year. The more I talk to other REALTORs®, the more this is confirmed! Properties are selling after being on the market less than a week! I have properties that are getting multiple offers from different buyers!

In order to keep up with all this activity and not get burnt out, I am finding there is a balance between working really hard, and taking some time for yourself. So today on my birthday I treated myself to a pedicure this morning in between appointments and did some quick shopping for something sparkly and shiny (I am a bit of a crow in that I can't walk past anything glistening)!

If you are thinking of buying or selling this spring, don't worry, you haven't missed the boat yet so give me a call to discuss your needs. Let me help you make your next move, I am always here for you, no matter what day it is!

Odd Jobs

If you do the research, statistics will tell us that the average person will have between 8-11 different jobs in their lifetime.  I have had an interesting cross section of employment over the years and every job I had was a learning experience that enriched my skills in some way.

My first job - Teaching riding lessons at age 15. Since my mommy had to drop me off for lessons, my employer had the foresight to ask that I put together a public resume of sorts to highlight why a teenager not much older than most (and significantly younger than some) of the students was qualified for the position. There was some questioning at first but after a while the students and their families were quite happy with what I had to offer and the job was a sort of springboard for my lifelong passion for teaching and coaching which has allowed me to travel extensively in North America and abroad as an Equestrian.
Some of the people I met during this time are now clients in my current real estate career!

Most Extreme Job - As a professional athlete I experienced the most intense emotions related to my career that I ever will for certain. Having a partnership with an animal that does not speak requires you to communicate in non verbal ways. You must learn to listen to & understand your partner and convey messages in their language, not your own. This creates an amazing bond and trust in an animal 10x your size and exponentially stronger. Creating this language is different with each animal and can take trial & error. The end result being a mutual trust and familiarity that is unique with each equine partner. 

Working in the family business in the male dominated construction industry made me tough and able to stand my ground. I would routinely be sent out to carry out tasks that were more often performed by men, and would be scrutinized and questioned on my work during and afterwards. I have always been outspoken and in many cases the 'Old Boys' would brush off my opinions and directions as silly or "not the way things work around here dear." In order to be heard, I needed to be louder and more assertive than most. Challenge taken!

Most boring job - watering lawns at a construction site where a builder was developing a subdivision. My only task was to turn a hose on & allow the water to run for 30 minutes, then turn off and move to the next location to do the same thing.

Working in the fine dining industry made me appreciate the work that goes into sourcing, creating, producing and delivering a product or experience that exceeds expectations. Being part of a team where the sum is much greater than its parts is very rewarding. There is a certain high that is achieved from being very good at something and working seamlessly (and tirelessly) to produce that level of achievement daily.

Real Estate has been an amazing journey and continues to excite me. Starting this year off in great fashion I am feeling excellent about what's to come. I have learned a great deal leading up to this point in my career and I will continue to learn in the years to come! It's a very exciting time to be in this industry and I am looking forward to serving my clients in the future! Here's to 2016!
I am travelling to Moncton this week to attend the Atlantic Sales Rally and Awards Banquet for Exit, wish me luck, I am hoping to come home with some tangible recognition for my successes in 2015!

Home Emotion

Buying or selling a home can be a very emotional time. I encounter an array of individual reasons for people to move. Problem solving and working with people was one of the major reasons that I chose this career, it's the most challenging and rewarding things about what I do and I wouldn't change it for anything! Without being too specific (and this is only a glimpse at my daily experiences) I would like to share some of the most interesting stories I have been part of.

A retired couple have lived in their home for decades, raised their children there and made countless memories. It is time for them to downsize and they are looking forward to a lifestyle change. 
Along comes a young couple just starting out, they have completed their schooling and have jobs that can support a mortgage and set out looking for their first home together. I show them the property and they immediately like it, talking about offers and gathering information.
Negotiations are underway, excitement is mounting and he pops the question!! How much more thrilling can this get?! In the end the young couple take possession just in time to make it their own before their first Christmas in their new home and the older couple are able to comfortably step into the next phase of their lives.
 A fairy tale story that I was so fortunate to be a part of!

A young girl in age, but far more mature than most decides to take the leap and starts looking for a home. With a modest budget and enthusiastic attitude we start the search, often stumbling across pitfalls and discouragement but never losing hope. A roller coaster of a journey ensues with offers being made that never come to fruition, many unsuitable properties being seen and a long methodical process undertaken. Eventually we come across a property that is a far cry from what we had originally set out to find but ended up being 'the one'! Good things can come to those who wait and the negotiations, conditional period and closing went as smoothly as any transaction I have conducted!
Just a few months into her 20s, this young homeowner is already gaining equity and has a lovely home that fits her like a glove! Idyllic!

I was contacted to list a very unique home in a rural area. I knew it was going to be more challenging to find just the right buyer for this property... It had acres of land, completely off grid, only partially completed interior and required surveying tape and a paragraph of directions to find the driveway off a logging road, and it hadn't been lived in for some time. It was a charming place that had been painstakingly hand built from the ground up by the sellers during a time in their lives when their direction & path was very different.
Creative marketing and diligent site visits were necessary, as was a 4x4 vehicle. Over the course of the listing I was happy to do whatever was necessary to bring in buyers that would appreciate the property as the one-of-a-kind place it was. This meant meeting with renewable energy professionals and hauling a lawnmower up on a trailer to keep the encroaching vegetation at bay so that a potential buyer could find the property!
Not too long after listing, buyers  came forward that were looking for just such a spot and completed the sale! But my duties didn't stop there, I was even able to refer my client to a REALTOR® in her new location and they found a home perfect for the next phase of their lives as she was expecting her first child! 

Buying or selling a home is much more complicated than any other transaction we undertake. There are a multitude of factors that go into the decisions and often times multiple opinions and ideas. In order for things to go smoothly, one must be able to process layers of stressors ranging from monetary to emotional and everything in between. Multitasking when things seem overwhelming is difficult, and a professional in the field who understands these complexities is invaluable.
I thank each and every one of my clients that have trusted me with their most valuable assets and emotions. I appreciate every story that I have been a part of.

Positive Change & The Learning Curve

Keeping up with the evolving world of real estate can be a challenge. Continuing education is a must and the ability to adapt and change is paramount. Gone are the days of carbon copies, newspaper ads and handshake deals. If you want a stress free, smooth transaction, you had better enlist the help of an educated, up-to-date agent!

The housing market in Nova Scotia doesn't necessarily follow the boom/bust cycle like some of the more volatile areas in Canada, but it does have some ups & downs. In order to stay on top of the goings on, it is essential to have a team that is aware of new trends and is constantly upgrading their practices.

It is all too common to maintain an attitude of complacency and argue that 'this is how we have always done things'. I have never shared the idea of leaving well enough alone, but rather made efforts to try to find a better, more efficient and practical way of improving the status quo. Occasionally this causes some waves to be created around me, but that's exactly how the tides eventually change!


You see we have the ability to participate in change in every facet of our day, and can choose to make that change positive or negative. Perspective is everything and dictates how we digest information. The ability to evolve and grow is essential to leadership and being confident enough to make experiences educational is what can be the difference between making it and breaking it. Carrying on with outdated, inflexible practices simply because it worked in the past isn't necessarily beneficial, nor does it promote growth.
Why? Because it's 2015.

In this business I am fortunate enough to learn new things every single day. It can be overwhelming at times, but the more I learn about this business the more I want to find out! The team at Exit Town & Country have been participating in online sessions for the past few weeks geared towards being able to interact more effectively with people and understanding of personalities. This fresh perspective has been fascinating and has given me a new appreciation of the differences in people.

This business is highly people oriented and I am certainly grateful to be surrounded by colleagues & staff that are positive and enjoyable to be around. It's a huge benefit to work daily with this energetic bunch and be motivated to succeed & learn.

I am excited to maintain the upward growth of my business and continue to learn and expand my knowledge in the future! I am much happier climbing and learning, than simply coasting along.