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.

Pivoting towards success.

PIVOT/PIVOTAL -
- any thing/person on which something/someone depends on vitally.
- the person in a line, whom the others use as a point about which to wheel or maneuver.
- of crucial importance. 

- a player who is at the centre of the offence.

There are moments in your life that are pivotal, times when everything you thought you knew gets tilted on it's axis and you are left a little (or a lot) off kilter. These are the times I relish.
I have had a few of these amazing moments when my entire plan & path were changed monumentally. Somehow I was able to take these crazy, tilting, shifting, abrupt realizations and run with them.

One of those times was at the age of 19. I had travelled as part of the Canadian team to Denver & San Francisco with teams of the top 5 equestrians from Canada, USA, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand & Australia. Up to this point I had ridden horses and competed in the Maritime provinces successfully but had never thought I had what it took to compete on an international stage.
The spine tingling, hair raising moment happened as I stood on the podium as the flags were raised and the National Anthem was played. I had never had such a clear vision of what I wanted to do before that moment, I wanted to see that maple leaf on display on the international stage and I wanted to (and actually felt I could) be the athlete who brought it there.

Reaching the top level of my sport wasn't so much a moment as it was a collection of realizations while competing alongside Olympians and heroes I had grown up pouring over in magazines and on VHS tapes. As one of only a tiny percentage of athletes worldwide that have been able to achieve at this level, I was overwhelmed more than once to have had the support and perseverance to make it that far coming from a very small town of a couple thousand residents in the Annapolis Valley.  

One such awakening moment was the decision to move home to Nova Scotia after being away for a decade. I had thought my fortune and fame (and happiness) hinged upon living somewhere more opportunistic, and the east coast of Canada could not provide that. The realization then had a little bit to do with coming to terms with a partner that wasn't right for me, but much more in seeing that opportunity doesn't reveal itself to you, nor does it depend on your external circumstances. In fact the revealing must be done yourself. Whether that means you do the digging and sifting to find it, or perhaps you have to take chances and allow yourself to be exposed to reveal what you are ultimately capable of as an individual.

A more recent turning point was during what could have been a completely devastating moment in my life. My partner (now husband) and I had purchased out first home a few years before and were working diligently at making it our own as it was a bit of a fixer-upper. While preparing for bed we heard something strange and realized we needed to call the fire department, there were tendrils of smoke wisping from the eves of the house.
We couldn't have imagined how significant it would turn out to be.  As we stood wide-eyed in the snowbank late at night in November and watched helplessly as thick, black smoke billowed from the four corners of the roof, I realized that I wasn't doing what I wanted to be doing on a daily basis. I wasn't completely fulfilled at my job (although I enjoyed it), I had been putting off a dream I had been fantasizing about since we bought the house. The next day I decided that I wasn't going back to my old job, I was going to take this time while the house was being rebuilt to invest in myself and get my real estate licence.

I suppose I should say that perhaps it's not the actual moments that I relish, but that they provided me with the complete clarity and ability to step back to assess what was/is legitimately important. Don't be fooled! These moments can disguise themselves as failures or have negative overtones, but the results of those times have provided me with the most amazing opportunity to fix things that I had let slide or brushed under the rug.
This is why I can say that occasional pivoting and abruptly changing direction can be the best possible course of action.

I Don't Need No REALTOR®!

Over the course of my career in real estate I have come across many people that balk at the thought of working with a professional in the industry. There are several reasons for this, some of them valid... And some of them entirely scary.

"I want to save money on the commission".
At face value this may seem to have some truth, but once you delve deeper into the idea you will find that a REALTOR® is there to protect their client in every way. A simple error or not fully understanding the paperwork could end up costing you majorly. Not to mention omissions I hear about all the time that are potentially catastrophic in terms of resale value down the road. There are PILES of paperwork that need to be meticulously filled out, carried out and investigations of things most people were entirely unaware of!!

"I know my property the best and can highlight it's assets."
While this may be true, a REALTOR® has a level, unbiased perspective on any property. Just because the home was custom built for you, doesn't mean it will appeal to everyone. Emotional value does not necessarily equate to monetary value. A great deal of homes that are For Sale by Owner are not priced according to market value.

A REALTOR® knows things that you don't. Whether you are moving from another country or another county, a professional will direct you to testing or investigations that you may have otherwise known nothing about. Things that could have a long term effect on your investment and well being.

Negotiating is tricky, especially when talking about a purchase of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Peoples homes are very personal and I often see sellers get offended by offers that were too low, and then end up put off by the process and unwilling to negotiate with the buyer further (down the road they end up negotiating favorably with a different buyer and settling on a sale price that would have worked before - opportunity slipped away on account of improper technique). Having access to historical stats and comparables is key, as well as being able to read people and be able to solidly back up any deviations above or below list price.

Last but not least - a local professional that relies on referrals and is held accountable by a Provincial and National Code of Ethics is far more reliable than a vendor that may skip the country after the sale is complete. You can rest assured that the appropriate level of disclosure was adhered to in the transaction if you enlist the services of a licenced professional.

Home is Where You Hang Your Hammer

I have lived in many places over the course of my lifetime, and in many situations as well! I have been awoken most mornings this summer by a construction crew either crashing through demolition work or banging away at construction. We are currently in the midst of an addition that rivals the footprint of our existing Victorian century home and this comes as the memories of an 8 month complete gut and rebuild are all but faded.

The disruption has come to a point where my morning routine includes the essentials like several strangers yelling at each other and country music blasting outside the bathroom window (which I have had to cover with a blanket, as the existing curtains were NOT providing the privacy needed). I have to admit though, the renovation is pleasingly coming together to the point that I can walk around in what will be the new 22' x 28' master bedroom and visualise where the 22' walk in closet will be... Swoon!
It's a dramatic love/hate relationship.

After much deliberation and research my husband and I decided on this project as it would seem that our relationship thus far has been consistently changing. Over our years together we have lived in 6 different communities in the Valley. 5 years ago we bought our first home together and since have renovated, landscaped and built on to that home! While I really do appreciate all the changes (once they are done), it has not been without a great deal of effort, planning and occasional headaches. I certainly have gotten a firm grasp on the foresight and issues surrounding making a house into a forever home. The truth is that more often than not, there is something that new buyers will want to change to make their new home really theirs. It may be painting, changing flooring, landscaping, increasing energy efficiency or bigger projects like changing layout or construction. In essentially all of these cases I can help as I have lived through them all!

If you are thinking about making a move I can help! Whether it be consulting on projects that will increase the resale value of your current home, or finding you a home for the future. Being a great REALTOR® is much more than just buying & selling.  

Professional Ink

I am always interested in hearing peoples opinions on tattoos and piercings, whether negative or positive. It fascinates me to get a glimpse of how someone chooses to decorate or adorn themselves, and the subsequent reactions that are generated.

Tattoos in the workplace have historically had very limited acceptance but recently have become more mainstream. There are statistics bouncing around that show...
30-40% of people aged 30-45 have tattoos
15% aged 46-64 are sporting ink
70% of tattooed people conceal their art at work
Generally speaking what most would consider "artsy" type careers are more accepting of body modifications and it can even be encouraged.

Personally I have been tattooed multiple times and I have several piercings. I have never been asked to conceal my tattoos or remove my jewelry at any workplace. I have received many compliments from people all over the world, spanning all age groups and backgrounds. My tattoo designs are not offensive in any way, and all are easily covered should I choose to do so. I simply carry my favorite artwork with me on a daily basis, rather than hanging it on a wall.  

I do get occasional comments on my appearance, given I have chosen a career where most of my colleagues are more conservative, it can be a surprise to some.
My feeling is that tattoos are a sign of an individuality, creativity, and an ability to think outside the box.
I am not afraid to show my personality as I am confident in myself and my abilities.
I have found that a fresh and unconventional approach garners more success and positive outcomes.

I would love to hear your take on this subject! Let me know what you think, comment or share!

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week.

It's been on of THOSE weeks, the ones that destroy everything in their path. They come ripping through like a tornado of destruction and leave you standing there in the wake, dishevelled and dirty, holding a broken flip flop to shield your eyes from the sun.

Blah, blah... "you have to experience the downs to appreciate the highs", whatever. I like to share my experiences with the world, whether it's been good or downright terrible, so here goes... for your comedic enjoyment... Megans Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Week.

Let's start with closings, they are usually fun and exciting, finally your buyers get to celebrate their long awaited purchase! But other times, they do not quite go so well. How about when the property is not clean? And I mean FILTHY DIRTY! The water was turned off and the place looks and smells like Mr Clean himself would head for the hills, not pretty. And it's always a bit awkward when the seller leaves too many personal belongings and items behind.

Last minute surprises are never good for anyone involved and I have had more than my share of them this week. Everything from last minute chimney extensions, to issues with property migration on vacant land taking WEEKS to complete, even losing my voice so that even a simple phone call was a disaster! About that... I lost my voice over the weekend, making me sound a bit hysterical at best. I was over 2 hours away from the main office and had to call in a favour to get some paperwork pushed through right away. I want to be fair here and say that the situation was a bit sketchy and I was feeling mildly uncomfortable, that combined with my unintentional voice-over for some rural low budget horror film, made my most excellent administrator feel as though I was in real danger. After I hung up, I proceeded back into the fully insulated steel building where my phone wasn't picking up any of the frantic calls from my husband, Broker, Sister-In-Law and various other genuinely concerned parties who were wondering if the local authorities should be dispatched in Colchester County. My sincere apologies to the people back in the Valley that I left in the lurch, it was never my intention to spread the panic as I did!

Let's touch briefly on taxes! Don't we all lament the HST that is added to most of our purchases?! We all complain, but it is a fact of life here for a great deal of items we purchase. But there are some purchases where HST is a grey area. There are some 'easy' rules on when and why HST applies to when dealing in Real Estate, but there are some surprises too. Surprises that nobody wants to hear about on the morning of closing. Through no fault of ours, the closing had to be extended and that's never a welcome last minute change.

The Real Estate Market tends to follow a pretty regular pattern of feast and famine, with swells and troughs a common occurrence. The key is to regulate these ups & downs so that you are not swept away in the currents. This can be difficult at times, especially when you are caught up in the manic part of the cycle. A few weeks later you can find yourself without much to do but listen to the crickets chirp. In a way, the constant change is exciting and if this is a career you choose to stick with, it becomes somewhat of a lifestyle. If nothing else, it makes for excellent blog inspiration and entertainment.  

Real Estate Fails

In keeping with my most popular Blog posts which feature my dry and maybe a teeny-weenie bit sarcastic sense of humour, I have come up with a bit of a guideline for any newbie or potential REALTORS® on the block. This industry has a pretty high attrition rate in the first few years from the time someone takes the course to passing the exam and eventually to getting fully licenced and starting to practice. The post below is a bit of a "What Not To Do" in this highly competitive industry. If you are looking for further guidance, give me a shout... I am happy to show you the ropes and get you on the best possible start!

The first rule of real estate - Do not constantly talk about real estate! People will get entirely sick of hearing about your open houses and great deals at social gatherings and non real estate related functions. Don't be THAT guy!

Take good pictures please - try to avoid getting your own image in the photo when there are mirrors, put the toilet seat down, do not include pictures of pets and sellers, be sure the pictures are in focus so that we can see what you are trying to show. Do not take drive-by pictures from inside your car.

Do not misuse "quotation marks" in a listing description unless you want to "scare people away" or "make them question" what you are talking about. Furthermore use proper grammar, punctuation and for the love of Pete, proof read and use spell check!!

Please do your research and know your stuff when selling a specific or unique property. If I call to ask the sizes of the box stalls in the commercial horse boarding barn you have listed, please do not respond with a meek "standard size?" Or when I ask what the fencing materials are, don't ask me for a multiple choice list of possible answers to choose from.
I know my stuff, you should too.

If you are going to wrap your car in advertising be sure to drive like a sane, reasonable member of society, not like a complete maniac/character in the video game Grand Theft Auto.
Your road rage face - it aint pretty.

Keep up with the times! We operate in a fast paced industry where time is of the essence. There is a vast amount of technology available to us all. Did you know that the technology in your smart phone far exceeds the technology that sent every Apollo mission to the moon and back?! Pay a teenager to teach you how to use this to your advantage, carrier pigeons are not the preferred method of information delivery.

Be professional, be yourself, be memorable.
Be part of a brokerage that encourages you and surround yourself with positive energy.
If you are thinking of a career in Real Estate, I want to help you!
Let's chat!

Is Sustainable Attainable?

There has been a great deal of talk lately about sustainable living and energy efficiency. Whether you are considering a new build or looking to retrofit an existing home, there are many options and even more opinions. What is important to know is that many measures can be taken at every level to make our homes more "green".

Let's talk about COST.
~Start up cost - most consumers complain that photovoltaic (solar energy) systems are too cumbersome and expensive with a 15-20 year payback (but consider what your current payback is as a comparison?!)
~Cost of NOT converting - with a photovoltaic system, you can lock in to todays power rate and it will never increase.
~Environmental Cost - Most electricity in Nova Scotia comes from burning coal! Our mainstream electricity isn't very clean.
~Studies have shown that a homes value is increased by $20 for every $1 reduction in annual utility bills through energy efficiency and supplemental electricity producing systems.

Technology is getting closer to making our dreams of sustainable living more attainable, and there are lots of things we can do to get closer to that goal! There are many ways of making a home more energy efficient such as replacing windows, insulation upgrades, digital thermostats, changing lightbulbs, replacing toilets and faucets and upgrading heating systems. (Did you know that burning wood as a heat source has net zero Greenhouse Gas emissions?!)

There are certainly larger scale upgrades that can be done to decrease or even eliminate your dependency on inefficient practices. Green design plans for homes can make a real difference in heating and cooling simply by taking advantage of the angle at which the sun hits the earth in our region. Lots of older homes have sharply pitched roof angles that lend well to solar panels of all sorts (I currently have a solar domestic hot water system on my century home). Rainwater catchment systems are low tech DIY and can save many gallons of water from being used for gardens and car washing.

It can seem overwhelming to negotiate these extra factors, numbers and stats surrounding these ideas can be mind boggling. I know the local experts in these fields, helpful websites and service providers. I am happy point you in the right direction and to chat more about your specific goals for a more sustainable home! I have sold 100% off grid homes and I currently use some of the options available and know how they work first hand, a trusted up to date professional can make all the difference in the world!
Let's Chat!

Jumping out of a Perfectly Good Plane

Complacency, Comfort, Procrastination... What's your excuse for not expanding your horizons? We all have a list of things we want to accomplish, and most of us have deferred things on that list to a later date. My bucket list includes travel to some exotic locations (New Zealand, South East Asia) and even trying my hand at some extreme sports. If you know me well, you are aware that during my 20's I participated internationally in the equestrian sport of Three Day Eventing (classed as an extreme sport, and tremendously difficult) I am no stranger to challenging myself while simultaneously calculating risk vs reward.

Another extreme challenge I have always wanted to try was skydiving (sorry mom!) It's not because I dislike planes or flying, but because I like to push myself beyond my comfort zone. It keeps things fresh and keeps me agile. I am not one to leave well enough alone. Challenges are not necessarily a bad thing, and can result in a much, much greater reward in the end...
As with anything in life, we should take a little of Column A and a little of Column B, stability and strong decision making power is also important.

When thinking about Real Estate transactions, it can seem like a daunting challenge, something that can get pushed to the back burner too often. But with the right team and resources behind you, little by little those tasks that might have seemed like mountains, become molehills. As humans we are capable of amazing things, things that are only a hindrance or blockade if we allow them to be.

Just like I would never go skydiving without the guidance of a professional, a pilot and proper equipment... You should never take on such a challenge as buying or selling a home without the proper team backing you. I can show you the path to overcoming what you thought was a daunting task, even make it enjoyable and exciting!

I know the professionals that you need on your team, whether you are buying your first home, expanding your income sources by acquiring a rental property or finding that perfect seaside retirement home. Let's talk about what you need to be able to take that next big step in your life, carpe diem!

Your plane may be perfectly good right now, but take a leap and imagine what amazing things you could do outside of it...

The Evolution of Listing

Real Estate like anything else, is ever changing and evolving. Buyers are becoming well educated and savvy by learning from the vast information sources the internet provides. As a REALTOR® it's extremely important to keep ahead of this quickly moving trend and provide information at the fast pace that consumers are demanding.
Once upon a time sales people had to rely heavily on printed ads and open houses to market their properties to potential buyers. While this still has a place in advertising, it's a shrinking generation that will be drawn in by these sorts of marketing. Nowadays consumers are shopping for properties from their desks and living rooms. With the availability of technology, buyers can virtually tour the neighborhood, front yard and even the home from their own location... IF YOUR LISTING ALLOWS THIS. Moreover, websites, social media pages and blogs must be mobile friendly for the majority of people that surf with smart phones and tablets.
My take on this "distance shopping" dictates the more information you can provide digitally to educate the consumer on your specific product, the less surprises there are in the end. Nobody likes a surprise or disappointment when they finally set eyes on the property that they have spent much time pouring over online.
Pictures produced with high quality equipment, professional lenses and flash show detail when taken properly. Video tours showcase the "feel" and "flow" of a property and allow the buyer to get a sense of the layout that is unmatched by still photos.
Feature sheets, additional pictures and information on the systems and costs to maintain a property are available at the touch of a finger when uploaded to cloud storage. No lag time in getting details to potential buyers who are, for the most part hungry for instant information when they have done their research and decided on a property.
Not to worry if any of this information is beyond your comprehension or ability. This is where a competent, tech savvy, up to date REALTOR® comes in... I am more than happy to discuss my marketing strategies with my clients to come up with a specifically tailored plan to deliver digital information to the target market for your property. I am always learning new marketing techniques to add to my repertoire.
Contact me anytime, I am available via text, calls, facetime/Skype, email, social media, snail mail, carrier pigeon, smoke signals and actual face to face meetings of course :)
Megan White 902-680-2736

Life Hacks for your Home!

Everyone wants to make their life easier and be more organized. I am NO Martha Stewart but these life hacks will help anyone stay on track and keep their home tidy. Here are a few ideas to get you started!

Use a walnut to cover scratches in your wooden furniture, rub on damaged areas to renew dings and marks.

Shower spraying all over and soaking the bathroom floor?
Fill a sturdy plastic bag with vinegar and secure with elastics to your showerhead, leave on overnight. It will dissolve the deposits and make your shower run like new!

Spaces between hardwood floors getting grimy?
Secure the lid of an old condiment container (spout) to your vacuum and suck up the bits down in the cracks! Works for the area between the floor and baseboards too!

Drill a few holes in the bottom of your garbage cans. This allows air in so that you can remove the filled bags more easily!

Use a wall mounted wine rack in your bathroom to organize rolled up towels, looks nice and saves space!

Use old CD racks in drawers to organize Tupperware lids and save tons of space!

Sprinkle a few drops of scented oil on the inner tube of the toilet paper roll. Keeps bathrooms smelling great with no effort!

Tidy up your hall closet! Use shower curtain rings on a coat hangar to keep scarves out of the way and neat.

The best life hack of all to help get organized and stay neat... Get rid of all the stuff that you don't use. The less things you have, the less stuff there is to get out of place and messy. Pack up seasonal items and store them away! Bag up things you don't need and donate to charity or have a spring yard sale, perhaps organize a neighborhood sale day to draw in more traffic!

Customer "Service" ?

WHAT HAPPENED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE!!??

As a rule I don't like to complain, but there has been something irritating me for a while now. It spans across almost every industry and is a make it or break it factor for me and where I choose to do business.
My background before Real Estate has been in several industries in customer service. I have held management positions in construction, fine dining, equine farms, retail... I know about customer service, and I expect it to exist when I am a consumer.
It seems there is a trend towards quantity rather than quality in many industries these days and I am not a fan. There seems to be a lack of "wow factor" to the point of it being a lack of any factor.

Personally I am an energetic, outgoing individual and I strive to exceed expectations when I am providing a service. (Mind you, these days the expectations may have been lowered due to a profound lack of examples of really great service.) I want to set that example of outstanding service and I suppose I may hold myself to a different standard than some.

Have you ever had such poor service that you feel as though your business wasn't important to the service provider? Have you felt like taking your business elsewhere? This is not uncommon unfortunately.
Now... Have you ever had such great service that you wanted to personally commend the provider? So good you wanted to spread the word about this great experience? THAT is what I strive for.
My clients are my first priority, I am excited about working with people everyday. I have chosen this career and I plan on being the best that I can be at it!

To me it does not matter where you work or what you do, it matters how much you care. I have had jobs that I did not enjoy, but I did them with energy and enthusiasm. We spend such a great deal of our lives working, why not put some effort into whatever it is that you do and perhaps that will come back to you in a positive way so that you gain enjoyment from a job well done. Even if it's a job you do not relish!

We choose where we want to do business and who we want to deal with every day. If you are in the process of choosing a REALTOR®, please do give me a call. I am always looking for new people to impress with my knowledge, skills and energy!

Megan White
902-680-2736

Century Charm

Falling in love is a sometimes a fickle journey and one that we can't always justify, especially when the subject of our affection is an old home.
I grew up in houses that it seemed were constantly undergoing some kind of renovation. Admittedly, our home probably had more done to it than most since indecision lead to one particular wall being torn down, only to then have it rebuilt and then TORN DOWN AGAIN!!
Personally I adore old homes, they offer so much more than a standard run-of-the-mill home. Character, uniqueness, charm and a lot of work are constants and to me are worth far more than the convenience, typicality and standard fare offered by a newer home.
I currently live in a home built in 1907. It is the first home that I truly felt was my own during my adult life. It took a fair amount of searching and a few stumbling points to get to where we are now, but over the years this place has continued to grow on me beyond the overwhelming feeling that we had found "the one" the very first time we walked through the front door.
The funny thing is that we were not looking for a permanent place when we bought it, people in town say it's haunted, we had a major fire which took 8 months to rebuild and two years later we are about to begin building an addition... There's one thing for sure when buying an older home, you need to be able to deal with a certain level of chaos and change.
In a world where we are rarely directly involved in the production of the food we eat, the clothes we wear or the homes we live in, I feel like involvement in the chaos of renovations can be a good thing, a grounding factor perhaps. Imagine having to build your own home from the ground up... The details that you would incorporate, the sweat equity that isn't quantifiable, the satisfaction of completion after tremendous hard work. I did not build my own home, nor will I ever, but it's very pleasing to see the workmanship and quality that went into some of the beautiful old homes here in Nova Scotia. I for one, appreciate the work it took to build one of these beauties and admittedly sometimes lament the work it takes to maintain one!
 
When did our culture start to value new over old?
Why are we producing things are not meant to last?
What's wrong with putting some hard work into sprucing up a great old home and making it into something to be proud of for years to come?
I love my century home, and am very proud to have restored it and given it a chance to hopefully last another century! If you share this energy and passion for older homes, contact me and let's get out looking at the amazing inventory of classic homes available in the Annapolis Valley! There is a huge array of homes on the market ranging from "complete overhaul" to "move in ready and updated"!
This area has it all, let's find "the one" that speaks to you!

Exit Stage Left - Budget Friendly Home Staging

 

I recently attended a home staging info session and gained valuable insight on the topic from a local professional. We all know how important it is to wow a buyer when they come to view a property, but staging can be much more in depth and multifaceted.
Personally as a REALTOR® I am very picky about the photos I take at a listing. In fact it can take hours for me to arrange and stage rooms for listing photos, depending on the size of the house and if there are outbuildings or stables. I have even returned for additional pictures when the sun was facing a different direction for better photos!
Here are a few of my pet peeve/cardinal sins when taking photos for a listing.
1) Leaving the toilet seats up - this is a point of contention in most relationships, let's not bring that into a listing!

2) Taking pictures of beds rather than bedrooms - I use appropriate lenses for photos so as to show features rather than furniture!

3) Declutter - kitchens especially - I go as far as removing all magnets and notes from the fridge and tucking away countertop appliances.

 

Now these are very easy things to do to make your home more appealing at first glance, let's delve deeper!

A fresh coat of neutral paint is something that can make a world of difference... Don't believe me? Listen to the buyers on those real estate shows comment on houses they view. Smoothing over wear and tear and freshening up spaces with paint offers outstanding value and appeal.

Get rid of extra stuff. And I mean it! Weekly agent caravans take me to multiple properties in quick succession and this makes critical evaluation of a property and it's marketability a snap. I can't stress this factor enough. Clear out knick-knacks and leave your closets almost empty so potential buyers are imagining themselves there, instead of being distracted by personal belongings.

 

I understand that we can't always spend thousands of dollars renovating a kitchen or bathrooms, but there are so many seriously effective things that we can do to make your property stand out in a sea of listings.

 It's one thing to take great pictures, but when a potential buyer steps into your home, there is an opportunity to wow them and that opportunity is waiting to be seized by careful planning and creative home staging.

With stunning before and after pictures to drive this fact home, market statistics and personal stories of sales, I am here for you when it's time to sell your home. I have thousands of dollars worth of professional camera equipment, GoPro video capabilities for posting on my YouTube marketing channel and digital equipment for making tech savvy listings that are available to low tech and high tech buyers worldwide at the touch of a button. Call today and let's discuss how to personalize your marketing campaign to make the most of your property.

Megan White
Exit Realty Town & Country
902-680-2736

The Best Time to Sell

"What's the best time to list my home?" - One of the most popular questions I get asked day to day.

There are several factors that go into figuring out the best way to market a property. The time of year is important with market spikes in the spring and fall, but if that is the only factor that drives a seller to list, many opportunities may be missed.
True, spring is a hot time on the market with a great deal of homes being listed in a short period of time. Lots of buyers are also looking meaning that your home will likely get shown often (as long as it is priced properly).
Let's stop for a moment and think about the advantages of listing before the big rush...
I have been chatting with many of the REALTORS® in the area lately, and the overwhelming consensus is that this has been the busiest January in a very long time. Buyers are aware of the interest rates being very low and are out looking for their next home. These buyers are not the "tire kickers" that we sometimes see in the spring.

These are serious consumers trudging through snowbanks and braving fierce winds to view your home.

They are out there to find a property to purchase now, not just curious about the neighborhood or spicing up the "Sunday Drive". While you may not have the quantity of showings that you might in the spring, the quality is there. Less showings resulting in more offers - WIN/WIN!

One of the stressful times during the buying/selling process is the time between the initial offer being presented and a binding agreement being fully agreed upon and signed by all parties. Time is always of the essence, but there is a heightened sense of urgency in the spring. This causes extra stress on everyone and can make the negotiations seem frantic for some. Consider this process in the winter, I have found that everyone involved feels a little less pressure during this time, and less pressure means more rewarding transactions. It is also easier to book appointments like home inspections and estimates for upgrades as the suppliers of these services are not as busy and have more time slots available.

Finally here at Exit Realty Town & Country we are about to launch an incentive program for clients wishing to list this spring. If you are interested in listing, give me a call I can let you know all about this really attractive give away!
Call me today and get a jump start on the spring rush, let's talk about a less stressful and more rewarding sale of your home!

Megan White
902-680-2736

Unicorns Love Dancing

 

 

 

Positive attitude can be hard to come by these days. Is it that we get the mid-winter blues this time of year? Perhaps It's a lack of vitamin D making us grumpy (although, I have noticed some people are negative no matter how much or little the sun shines around them). I can tell you one thing, I am getting fed up of the world around me bringing me down over and over. It's time to cancel out this negative energy!
I am not saying to bury our heads in the sand and pretend there are not things happening that deserve our attention, what I am saying is that sometimes it's up to us to be the bearer of our own good news!
But HOW you ask, with all the negative images and stories out there? How will I get around to giving myself a tiny pep talk each and every day? Here's my solution... make more passwords!
Change your settings on your computer, tablet and cell phone so that every time you activate one of these vastly time consuming devices you have to enter a password.
Tell me more Megan! This is something I can do!
Here's how it works. You password lock everything you own and use the same password for all your devices, change it every week so that multiple times per day/hour you are typing in this mantra. That's the key, the password is a mantra!
Something great to look forward to (VACATION IN FEBRUARY)
A silly one for a laugh (UNICORNS LOVE DANCING)
A positive affirmation (I AM TOTALLY HILARIOUS)
Maybe you need to solve an issue (WHERE ARE MY SLIPPERS)
A dream for the future (THIS YEAR I STOP RENTING)

The point is that repetitive positive thoughts, however small brighten your day and it's easy work them into your routine. Positive changes stem from positive thoughts.
Positive people produce positive results.
Positive outcomes rely on positive ground work.
Now looking into the future for this upcoming year, what kind of positive changes would you like to see? How are you going to get the ball rolling right now? Many peoples thoughts stay towards real estate... Becoming a homeowner, or perhaps generating more revenue with income properties, maybe you are dreaming of a bigger place with all the upgrades!
In any case, if your life could be made better through the purchase and/or sale of property, you should call me! Because really... what kind of a person do you want to work with on some of the most exciting decisions you could ever make about your life?!

Quality of Life

 

 

 

With the price of oil dropping drastically, the sustainability of work in the boom/bust industrial places like Fort McMurray and across Alberta is coming into question. Quality of life and opportunity are topics of great discussion... Here is my take on the matter.
A huge portion of the youth here on the East Coast get the feeling of adventure at some point in their lives, they want to step out and see what the world has to offer away from our sheltered, safe Annapolis Valley. I took a summer job in Denver CO when I was young that turned into a decade long adventure all over North America and even to England! Unfortunately many of these youth are staying away, lured in by promise of higher paying jobs and a faster paced lifestyle. For me it was opportunity, the ability to train with the best coaches in the world and compete at prestigious venues amongst Olympians and World Champions. In the end what brought me back was the quality of life here.
Funny, some may say we are in a permanent recession and the Maritimes are a "have not" area. I disagree, as it all depends on what is ultimately important to you. If you are looking for blaring nightlife, neon lights and a go, go, go extreme pace... this area is not suited. I will offer an appeal though, to the ever growing popularity of sustainable lifestyles and stopping the "glorification  of busy". These are people who want to know the farmer who raised their food, connect with their neighbors and the people in their community, the people who agree that quality of life is not directly correlated with income and net worth.
If this kind of life is what you are looking for, then I would argue that Nova Scotia is precisely where you should be. I have found that there is a sense of camaraderie, friendliness and caring that is hard to match, and impossible to quantify. We are polite and giving to excess (I often joke that an Annapolis Valley traffic jam is 4 cars at an intersection all waving each other through first.) 
Perhaps we need to re evaluate what it means to be successful, what is truly important to our well being and happiness. I suppose it's a totally individual thing, but societal pressures may lead us to ideas that are not necessarily sustainable for ourselves as individuals and for our fragile ecosystem.
Ask yourself next time you are thinking of moving..
What does quality of life mean to ME?
How can I be truly happy, and where can I make that my reality?
What kind of people do I want to be surrounded by?
If your answers point towards a more relaxed, people oriented place maybe you should consider a move to the Annapolis Valley.

If you do decide that living here is worth a leap of faith and perhaps some creative ideas about entrepreneurship, call me. Let's talk about the opportunities available here and start looking at what your dollar is worth in the local housing market. I made the move back and I could not be happier or more satisfied!
Let's discuss the possibilities!