It's the time of year where sellers start to question their home being on the market over the Holidays, or potential sellers question whether or not they should list now or wait till the New Year. There are pros and cons with each depending on how you look at it.
Listing around the Holidays can seem like a bad idea at face value, but think a little harder here... Buyers looking at this time of year are focused and motivated, why would anyone want to be spending precious December days house shopping if it wasn't entirely necessary?!
Your home is likely going show very well, having some kind of festive decor, think how cozy it is to walk into a decorated home with the soft lighting, smells of delicious treats cooking, and twinkly sparkle that this season brings a home both inside and out. Just make sure that when you add the Holiday decor, you remove other things to make space, you don't want your home to look like it's bursting at the seams!
November is a drab month outside, the leaves are gone, the grass is muddy and dull, the weather is grey and damp. Then in December all of a sudden the first snowfall arrives and everything looks and feels so fresh and crisp! Add a wreath and some boughs for greenery and some tasteful lights/candles in the windows and your home is transformed into the next hot spot for Holiday gatherings or cozy evenings relaxing. December is an excellent time to appeal to buyers desire to see themselves in their next home. I remember distinctly when we viewed the home we bought (in June) exclaiming where the Christmas tree was going to go as soon as we saw the living room (we hadn't even offered at that point and had been in the home for all of two minutes). Emotions play into purchase decisions, there is absolutely no doubt.
Yes, I know it is hard to imagine someone coming through to view your home in the midst of December, but usually with all the drop ins and guests, we keep our homes in tip-top tidy shape this time of year, so what better time to show prospective buyers your home than when it looks it's very best!?
Over the last few years I have had excellent success with selling properties in/around the Holidays. And I'll let you know, that I have very keen buyers looking for properties right now that can't find exactly what they are looking for. If you are thinking about selling in 2018, contact me right now to see if your property might fit one of my qualified buyers, maybe I'll save you all the hassle and sell it without even having to list!
Call me! 902-680-2736
Tuesday, December 05, 2017
Friday, December 01, 2017
Tax Assessment vs Market Value
I'll do my best to keep this post informative, but interesting to read. I try to stay away from too many posts about the boring blah, blah, blah part of my job, but I have been getting many buyers feeling like the tax assessment of a property is going to give a likely reflection of the market value. NOT TRUE!
Let's start by defining the two - Tax Assessment is the value assigned to a property by the government in order to determine the yearly taxes due. The taxes may be levied on a Capped Assessment which means, although the actual assessment of the property may increase over time, the taxes will be based on a set amount for that owner. Tax assessments creep up over time but normally do not jump significantly unless building permits are drawn on the property or the property sells.
Market Value is the cash value of the property based on current market conditions, historical sales and improvements and upgrades to the property which are immediately reflected in an increase in Market Value. Market Value fluctuates significantly and depends on things that surround the property but may not be directly part of the property.
Now let's compare the two - say a property has been in the same family for 20 years, they have done numerous small improvements to keep it updated and maintained the property very well. The tax assessment will likely be very low compared to the market value because it has not sold recently or had major renovations done to justify an assessment increase. This home compared to similar homes in the area that have sold recently it is on par with what's fetching a good price and therefore worth about the same amount as the very similar properties nearby.
An excellent example here in the Annapolis Valley is farm land. Cleared agricultural land with high soil quality, access and improvements such as irrigation and drainage is worth in the tens of thousands per acre! Lets say we had 50 acres of prime cleared land on the Valley floor in Kings County, it's market value could be nearing $500,000 while the tax assessment is going to be probably less that $20,000.
The moral of the story is that Tax Assessments do not necessarily reflect what a property is worth. If you want a professional opinion on what your property is actually worth in todays market, I would be happy to assist you in determining that!
Call me! 902-680-2736
Let's start by defining the two - Tax Assessment is the value assigned to a property by the government in order to determine the yearly taxes due. The taxes may be levied on a Capped Assessment which means, although the actual assessment of the property may increase over time, the taxes will be based on a set amount for that owner. Tax assessments creep up over time but normally do not jump significantly unless building permits are drawn on the property or the property sells.
Market Value is the cash value of the property based on current market conditions, historical sales and improvements and upgrades to the property which are immediately reflected in an increase in Market Value. Market Value fluctuates significantly and depends on things that surround the property but may not be directly part of the property.
Now let's compare the two - say a property has been in the same family for 20 years, they have done numerous small improvements to keep it updated and maintained the property very well. The tax assessment will likely be very low compared to the market value because it has not sold recently or had major renovations done to justify an assessment increase. This home compared to similar homes in the area that have sold recently it is on par with what's fetching a good price and therefore worth about the same amount as the very similar properties nearby.
An excellent example here in the Annapolis Valley is farm land. Cleared agricultural land with high soil quality, access and improvements such as irrigation and drainage is worth in the tens of thousands per acre! Lets say we had 50 acres of prime cleared land on the Valley floor in Kings County, it's market value could be nearing $500,000 while the tax assessment is going to be probably less that $20,000.
The moral of the story is that Tax Assessments do not necessarily reflect what a property is worth. If you want a professional opinion on what your property is actually worth in todays market, I would be happy to assist you in determining that!
Call me! 902-680-2736
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
"Balloons All Filled with Rain"
"Late breaking story on the CBC, a nation whispered 'we always knew that he'd go free"
Canada is mourning the loss of one of our greatest citizens today, Gord Downie, frontman of the legendary rock band The Tragically Hip. I have blogged before about the impact that the music of this band has had on my life and education about Canadian politics, geography and social injustice. Whether you enjoyed the music or not, I don't believe anyone can say he wasn't iconic and didn't do his part to educate and make an impact.
"With illusions of someday,
casting a golden light.
No dress rehearsal, this is our life"
The death of a celebrity can hit some people harder than others. There are often questions of how one can be so deeply affected by a person you may not have ever met. I would answer that Gord Downie represented much more to his fans. For me personally music speaks volumes, and the Hip was the soundtrack to my teenage years. Everyone knows 'that' album that you couldn't get enough of the summer between high school and adulthood (Phantom Power), 'that' album the first band you ever saw live was promoting at your first concert (Trouble at the Henhouse), 'that' album that you stole from your older sibling because you thought they were so cool (Up to Here), that time you brought your non-Canadian friend to the see best band on earth (In Violet Light)... The first time you camped out for tickets... I could go on and on with this...
"We live to survive our paradoxes."
There is something special about an artist that can remain relevant for over 3 decades and will inevitably continue to grow in popularity, although they never really broke into the worlds stage they way that they sold out stadiums across Canada consistently. I think this only made their appeal greater to Canadians. Gord sang about Canadian topics, but not the pretty, proud and fluffy ones. He sang about the raw & shadowy darkess that lurks in our not so distant past and continues to be an issue even today. I learned more about Canadian history from his music and poetry than any class or textbook, and I thank him for revealing more about what it truly means to be Canadian.
"There's no simple explanation
For anything important, any of us do.
And yeah, the human tragedy
Consists of the necessity
Of livin' with the consequences
Under pressure, under pressure"
Thank you Gord, your music will live on inside me.
Canada is mourning the loss of one of our greatest citizens today, Gord Downie, frontman of the legendary rock band The Tragically Hip. I have blogged before about the impact that the music of this band has had on my life and education about Canadian politics, geography and social injustice. Whether you enjoyed the music or not, I don't believe anyone can say he wasn't iconic and didn't do his part to educate and make an impact.
"With illusions of someday,
casting a golden light.
No dress rehearsal, this is our life"
The death of a celebrity can hit some people harder than others. There are often questions of how one can be so deeply affected by a person you may not have ever met. I would answer that Gord Downie represented much more to his fans. For me personally music speaks volumes, and the Hip was the soundtrack to my teenage years. Everyone knows 'that' album that you couldn't get enough of the summer between high school and adulthood (Phantom Power), 'that' album the first band you ever saw live was promoting at your first concert (Trouble at the Henhouse), 'that' album that you stole from your older sibling because you thought they were so cool (Up to Here), that time you brought your non-Canadian friend to the see best band on earth (In Violet Light)... The first time you camped out for tickets... I could go on and on with this...
"We live to survive our paradoxes."
There is something special about an artist that can remain relevant for over 3 decades and will inevitably continue to grow in popularity, although they never really broke into the worlds stage they way that they sold out stadiums across Canada consistently. I think this only made their appeal greater to Canadians. Gord sang about Canadian topics, but not the pretty, proud and fluffy ones. He sang about the raw & shadowy darkess that lurks in our not so distant past and continues to be an issue even today. I learned more about Canadian history from his music and poetry than any class or textbook, and I thank him for revealing more about what it truly means to be Canadian.
"There's no simple explanation
For anything important, any of us do.
And yeah, the human tragedy
Consists of the necessity
Of livin' with the consequences
Under pressure, under pressure"
Thank you Gord, your music will live on inside me.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Crazy Good
Have you ever noticed people that are 'crazy good' at something? Those people that really change the game that they are in. It doesn't matter what that thing is they excel at, it could be athletics, it could be writing, it could be advertising, surgery, wine making or anything! Those people that are really making strides in their industry are a little crazy most of the time.
They are crazy about their work, they are crazy good at what they do, they are a little crazy in that, most times they think about their product or service a little bit differently. The really successful people are the ones on the leading edge of their field. I am willing to bet they are faced with more than a couple raised eyebrows and surprised faces when they pitch their ideas sometimes. Perhaps asked "are you crazy?" once or twice.
But those payoffs... right?
You see, in order to stand out, you must break out of the norm, the boring same-same mentality. In my line of work, standing out is very important. My listings have to stand out, my marketing has to stand out, and I have to stand out in a sea of other professionals in my field. What makes you different, makes you good. Maybe I am a little manic about my job at times, maybe my ideas have been called crazy now & then, maybe I am just what you need in order to stand out in a saturated market.
You would be crazy not to hire me ;)
They are crazy about their work, they are crazy good at what they do, they are a little crazy in that, most times they think about their product or service a little bit differently. The really successful people are the ones on the leading edge of their field. I am willing to bet they are faced with more than a couple raised eyebrows and surprised faces when they pitch their ideas sometimes. Perhaps asked "are you crazy?" once or twice.
But those payoffs... right?
You see, in order to stand out, you must break out of the norm, the boring same-same mentality. In my line of work, standing out is very important. My listings have to stand out, my marketing has to stand out, and I have to stand out in a sea of other professionals in my field. What makes you different, makes you good. Maybe I am a little manic about my job at times, maybe my ideas have been called crazy now & then, maybe I am just what you need in order to stand out in a saturated market.
You would be crazy not to hire me ;)
Friday, September 15, 2017
The Fall Market Update
Everyone seems to be talking about the seasons changing lately, while the days are still warm & muggy here in the Annapolis Valley, they nights are getting cooler and the leaves are starting to turn. Personally I am a summer person, it never gets too hot for me. Fall signals the 'impending sense of doom' of winter lurking behind those pretty maple leaves on the trees.
In real estate the fall season is always a very busy time, second only to the famous and much anticipated spring market. I often get sellers asking if it is a good idea to list this time of year, and my answer is always a resounding YES! While the spring market brings more traffic and a flurry of activity, the fall market brings more serious buyers and quality over quantity in terms of showings.
Once families get back into the school year routine and summer vacations are wrapped up, the buyers that intended on purchasing this year are reminded that winter is coming, and that purchase is going to take some time to process. Now is the ideal time to get that ball rolling with the plan of being settled in the new property before the snow flies.
The fall is an excellent time to put your property on the market as photos are inevitably going to be great, buyers are keen, and properties are still selling better than they have in a long time. Many people have commented this year that they have noticed many more SOLD signs around that years past. The market is hot right now, if you are thinking of buying or selling get in touch with me for a meeting to discuss your future plans!
902-680-2736
meganwhite.ca
In real estate the fall season is always a very busy time, second only to the famous and much anticipated spring market. I often get sellers asking if it is a good idea to list this time of year, and my answer is always a resounding YES! While the spring market brings more traffic and a flurry of activity, the fall market brings more serious buyers and quality over quantity in terms of showings.
Once families get back into the school year routine and summer vacations are wrapped up, the buyers that intended on purchasing this year are reminded that winter is coming, and that purchase is going to take some time to process. Now is the ideal time to get that ball rolling with the plan of being settled in the new property before the snow flies.
The fall is an excellent time to put your property on the market as photos are inevitably going to be great, buyers are keen, and properties are still selling better than they have in a long time. Many people have commented this year that they have noticed many more SOLD signs around that years past. The market is hot right now, if you are thinking of buying or selling get in touch with me for a meeting to discuss your future plans!
902-680-2736
meganwhite.ca
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Private Sales & Saving Money
I have come across a notable trend recently that begs to be discussed. We all know that buyers & seller like the idea of saving money when dealing in real estate by not enlisting the services of a REALTOR®. While this can be the case, often times it is not and I am seeing a sad trend emerge as of late.
I have been asked to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for several sellers recently where the home owners had purchased the property through a private sale and are now asking for my services to sell the property some years after the fact. Several times now sadly, those CMAs have come back lower than the price the owners bought the property for. In thinking that they were saving money by not paying a commission, they were unknowingly spending too much on the property only to find out a few years later that it's not worth what they had thought. This can be devastating.
This year has shown a significant rise in the number of properties sold and the trend is now pushing away from a flooded buyers market edging towards more balance. A trend towards more balance should edge the property values higher than a few years ago when the strong buyers market pushed prices down due to saturation of inventory.
The news that a property isn't worth what a seller thought it was is not fun to deliver. I don't enjoy it one bit. That's my two cents worth this morning. Want to discuss this or any other real estate issues more? Get in touch, I am always available!
I have been asked to do a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for several sellers recently where the home owners had purchased the property through a private sale and are now asking for my services to sell the property some years after the fact. Several times now sadly, those CMAs have come back lower than the price the owners bought the property for. In thinking that they were saving money by not paying a commission, they were unknowingly spending too much on the property only to find out a few years later that it's not worth what they had thought. This can be devastating.
This year has shown a significant rise in the number of properties sold and the trend is now pushing away from a flooded buyers market edging towards more balance. A trend towards more balance should edge the property values higher than a few years ago when the strong buyers market pushed prices down due to saturation of inventory.
The news that a property isn't worth what a seller thought it was is not fun to deliver. I don't enjoy it one bit. That's my two cents worth this morning. Want to discuss this or any other real estate issues more? Get in touch, I am always available!
Monday, August 14, 2017
Time to Toooot the Horn!
It's been a while since my last blog, a very long while! I apologize to my followers (if I have any left!) 2017 has been a banner year and between taking care of my clients, keeping up with continuing education and courses, and trying to take a little time for myself here & there, I've been swamped!
This year has been nothing short of stellar for my business having achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation once again for selling over 25 properties in a year. I also have been recognized as the #1 Agent in my office for 2017 and the #2 Exit agent in the Annapolis Valley! Lastly I have hit a sales volume achievement level for the 2017 calendar year only 6 months in that I hadn't ever reached in years past!
(toooot tooooot tooooooooooottt - insert sounds of me tooting my own horn here) I don't mean to brag, but I believe in celebrating achievements when they happen! I love celebrations!!
I could not have gotten to this place without my clients and customers trusting me with likely the biggest financial transactions of their lives, I have never taken this job lightly and I know that there are many many other agents in the industry to choose from. I thank all my clients from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work together to achieve their goals and create a reality of their dreams!
I feel very fortunate to wake up every morning to go to work at a job that I truly love, I am extremely thankful for the support I get from my broker and team at Exit, and my wonderful husband Jesse who understands my passion for this work and encourages me tirelessly.
All in all I am feeling pretty pleased with life right now. I apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, I was too busy living it up and enjoying the good vibes!
This year has been nothing short of stellar for my business having achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation once again for selling over 25 properties in a year. I also have been recognized as the #1 Agent in my office for 2017 and the #2 Exit agent in the Annapolis Valley! Lastly I have hit a sales volume achievement level for the 2017 calendar year only 6 months in that I hadn't ever reached in years past!
(toooot tooooot tooooooooooottt - insert sounds of me tooting my own horn here) I don't mean to brag, but I believe in celebrating achievements when they happen! I love celebrations!!
I could not have gotten to this place without my clients and customers trusting me with likely the biggest financial transactions of their lives, I have never taken this job lightly and I know that there are many many other agents in the industry to choose from. I thank all my clients from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to work together to achieve their goals and create a reality of their dreams!
I feel very fortunate to wake up every morning to go to work at a job that I truly love, I am extremely thankful for the support I get from my broker and team at Exit, and my wonderful husband Jesse who understands my passion for this work and encourages me tirelessly.
All in all I am feeling pretty pleased with life right now. I apologize for neglecting my blog for so long, I was too busy living it up and enjoying the good vibes!
Monday, March 27, 2017
Have you got what it takes?
Have you ever thought about getting into real estate as a career? Not sure exactly what that entails? Whether you are a licensed REALTOR right now or you are thinking of starting from scratch, I want to help you! You don't have to be in Nova Scotia or even Canada, I can help you anywhere in Canada or the US!
When I bought my first home, I was SO excited. It was such a phenomenal time in my life and I could barely even think about anything else that was happening. I would run the gamut of extreme anticipation through to extreme anxiety on the daily. I was in awe of this being a career that one could be a part of on a daily basis. But my REALTOR didn't really 'get' my wants and needs. I decided on this as a career because I thought I could do it better. I never intended on modelling my business after the 'old boys club' that had been on the scene for so long, I wanted to make it my own. So I found a brokerage model that fit with me and my plans for the future.
Fast forward to now, I have won several awards, both locally and internationally and I could not be happier with my choice. I love the people I work with, I love working with the public and sharing my knowledge, and I love being directly in the drivers seat for my personal and financial goals. I started out with Exit as a supreme rookie having never had any other real estate dealings other than the purchase of my own home several years prior to getting my license. But I made it this far because I reached out to someone I barely knew who was in the business.
When I was first toying with the idea of doing this I had no idea where to start, who to talk to or what I should be thinking about long term. I met more than one dead end and negative reaction to my inquiries. This didn't stop me though, I kept on looking and asking until I found someone that had the time and answers I was looking for. I want to be that person for you! If you would like to have a confidential chat with me about the pros and cons of this career, I am here for you. I can meet with you personally at my office so you can see how things happen first hand, or I can make sure you get a personal meeting with a broker in your area/province/state or region.
Please share this with someone you know that has mentioned this line of work as a personal choice, and reach out to me if you have any questions at all! I am always available, just ask! It's not as hard as you might think, with the right team on your side.
902-680-2736 call/text
exit@meganwhite.ca
When I bought my first home, I was SO excited. It was such a phenomenal time in my life and I could barely even think about anything else that was happening. I would run the gamut of extreme anticipation through to extreme anxiety on the daily. I was in awe of this being a career that one could be a part of on a daily basis. But my REALTOR didn't really 'get' my wants and needs. I decided on this as a career because I thought I could do it better. I never intended on modelling my business after the 'old boys club' that had been on the scene for so long, I wanted to make it my own. So I found a brokerage model that fit with me and my plans for the future.
Fast forward to now, I have won several awards, both locally and internationally and I could not be happier with my choice. I love the people I work with, I love working with the public and sharing my knowledge, and I love being directly in the drivers seat for my personal and financial goals. I started out with Exit as a supreme rookie having never had any other real estate dealings other than the purchase of my own home several years prior to getting my license. But I made it this far because I reached out to someone I barely knew who was in the business.
When I was first toying with the idea of doing this I had no idea where to start, who to talk to or what I should be thinking about long term. I met more than one dead end and negative reaction to my inquiries. This didn't stop me though, I kept on looking and asking until I found someone that had the time and answers I was looking for. I want to be that person for you! If you would like to have a confidential chat with me about the pros and cons of this career, I am here for you. I can meet with you personally at my office so you can see how things happen first hand, or I can make sure you get a personal meeting with a broker in your area/province/state or region.
Please share this with someone you know that has mentioned this line of work as a personal choice, and reach out to me if you have any questions at all! I am always available, just ask! It's not as hard as you might think, with the right team on your side.
902-680-2736 call/text
exit@meganwhite.ca
Tuesday, March 21, 2017
Furrry Babies.
No I am not talking about human babies, I am talking about fur babies! Our pets are family in most cases and become a factor when buying and selling property believe it or not!
I am obviously very interested in selling equestrian properties, and these are the ultimate choice of buyers wanting the best for their animal friends. Then there are the rest of us, statistics show that MILLIONS of Canadian households have at least one pet. Personally I grew up with dogs, cats, horses and ponies that lived on the same property as my family. My brother and sister both had a pony at one point, but that was short lived as my brother tried to trade his pony for a motorbike by making a sign to place at the end of the driveway. My equine obsession brought me across 46 states, 7 provinces and even across the 'pond' to England.
You could say I am an animal lover.
I don't current own any horses, but I do stay active in the horse community and frequent the local barns to ride and teach. My constant furry companion is a miniature dachshund named Frankfurter, he is a fiercely loyal and obsessively loving little force to be reckoned with. I thoroughly enjoy his pointy little nose poking into whatever I am doing.
I go in a lot of houses and I talk to a lot of people about their ideal home and very often pets are a priority in choosing a property. Things like proximity to a busy road, fenced yards and pet friendly flooring are common topics of discussion. I have one property listed inhabited by a very self assured Jack Russell who believes that he is the king of the castle whenever I show the home! He comes to greet everyone and proceeds to 'show us around' when buyers arrive.
At one showing a while ago, we were told not to let the cat outside, a very cute mottled black, grey and orange - striking looking animal to say the least. We had a good look around the property with the buyers two young girls in tow, they were fascinated with the cat but obeyed when told not to touch. Towards the end of the viewing, we head outside for a final recap and out of the corner of my eye I see the odd coloured feline just beyond the fenced in pool area. Not sure how it got out, and not wanting to be caught, we teamed up to herd it back inside... Meanwhile I can't shake a nagging feeling that we had been so careful not to leave any doors open. I tuck the kitty under my arm to stow back in his/her designated bed on the windowsill (can you guess where this is going...?) I get to the cats perch only to find an identical animal already there! WHOOPS! Bring the outside cat back outside, leave the inside cat where it is and get out of there before a feline fight ensues!
Do you have a special needs pet that would require adjustments to your real estate needs? Tell me about your furry family members!
I am obviously very interested in selling equestrian properties, and these are the ultimate choice of buyers wanting the best for their animal friends. Then there are the rest of us, statistics show that MILLIONS of Canadian households have at least one pet. Personally I grew up with dogs, cats, horses and ponies that lived on the same property as my family. My brother and sister both had a pony at one point, but that was short lived as my brother tried to trade his pony for a motorbike by making a sign to place at the end of the driveway. My equine obsession brought me across 46 states, 7 provinces and even across the 'pond' to England.
You could say I am an animal lover.
I don't current own any horses, but I do stay active in the horse community and frequent the local barns to ride and teach. My constant furry companion is a miniature dachshund named Frankfurter, he is a fiercely loyal and obsessively loving little force to be reckoned with. I thoroughly enjoy his pointy little nose poking into whatever I am doing.
I go in a lot of houses and I talk to a lot of people about their ideal home and very often pets are a priority in choosing a property. Things like proximity to a busy road, fenced yards and pet friendly flooring are common topics of discussion. I have one property listed inhabited by a very self assured Jack Russell who believes that he is the king of the castle whenever I show the home! He comes to greet everyone and proceeds to 'show us around' when buyers arrive.
At one showing a while ago, we were told not to let the cat outside, a very cute mottled black, grey and orange - striking looking animal to say the least. We had a good look around the property with the buyers two young girls in tow, they were fascinated with the cat but obeyed when told not to touch. Towards the end of the viewing, we head outside for a final recap and out of the corner of my eye I see the odd coloured feline just beyond the fenced in pool area. Not sure how it got out, and not wanting to be caught, we teamed up to herd it back inside... Meanwhile I can't shake a nagging feeling that we had been so careful not to leave any doors open. I tuck the kitty under my arm to stow back in his/her designated bed on the windowsill (can you guess where this is going...?) I get to the cats perch only to find an identical animal already there! WHOOPS! Bring the outside cat back outside, leave the inside cat where it is and get out of there before a feline fight ensues!
Do you have a special needs pet that would require adjustments to your real estate needs? Tell me about your furry family members!
Tuesday, March 07, 2017
Love Trumps All
Buying or selling property can be extremely emotional, and I see it every day. I get excited about my job, and to be entirely frank here, part of the reason I wanted to get into this profession was because my REALTOR® when I purchased my last home was... less than enthusiastic about the transaction. I am not sure if we didn't have a large enough budget for her to get excited about us, or if she was just too busy to really listen to what we wanted, or if she was just more reserved than I am used to. The truth is I was a little disappointed that she didn't 'get' how monumental this was for us.
Recently I have been involved with 2 sales of inherited lands representing the seller. One of those parcels had been in the same family for over 100 years. When even contemplating selling this type of property, emotions run high and there is more at stake than other sales. I get it. It takes a great deal of tact, understanding and compassion in these cases, and I always try to put myself in my clients shoes in any sale. Often times these sales involve one or two actual clients, but a whole slew of family members and everyone has to have an opportunity to say what they need to say, in turn.
Another recent negotiation for buyers came together after much deliberation and a very long period of time between the first showing and subsequent offers being made. 3 generations of family members were involved and even some in laws and "outlaws". It eventually came together favourably for all parties and I made the triumphant phone call to my buyers to congratulate them (Oh Man, I love making that call!!!) I got both buyers on speaker phone and announced their victory, much fanfare and whooping ensued followed by a brief recap of details. Congratulations all around, many thank yous and then the sign off, in her emotion filled euphoria the buyer (who has been a friend for almost 30 years) squeaked out a jumble of words, followed immediately by laughter and an explanation... she was so excited she had professed her love for me! This made me burst into laughter and I reciprocated, to much more laughter and giggles...
You see there is something so deeply personal about trusting someone else with the largest single transactions most of us ever make in our lives, which is intrinsically linked to the emotional centres of our brains, we can't help but feel connected at the time.
Are you ready to fall in love again? Perhaps not with me ; but with a property that makes you want to shriek and blurt out jumbled professions of loooove?! Call me, I am ready to take that emotional journey with you!
Recently I have been involved with 2 sales of inherited lands representing the seller. One of those parcels had been in the same family for over 100 years. When even contemplating selling this type of property, emotions run high and there is more at stake than other sales. I get it. It takes a great deal of tact, understanding and compassion in these cases, and I always try to put myself in my clients shoes in any sale. Often times these sales involve one or two actual clients, but a whole slew of family members and everyone has to have an opportunity to say what they need to say, in turn.
Another recent negotiation for buyers came together after much deliberation and a very long period of time between the first showing and subsequent offers being made. 3 generations of family members were involved and even some in laws and "outlaws". It eventually came together favourably for all parties and I made the triumphant phone call to my buyers to congratulate them (Oh Man, I love making that call!!!) I got both buyers on speaker phone and announced their victory, much fanfare and whooping ensued followed by a brief recap of details. Congratulations all around, many thank yous and then the sign off, in her emotion filled euphoria the buyer (who has been a friend for almost 30 years) squeaked out a jumble of words, followed immediately by laughter and an explanation... she was so excited she had professed her love for me! This made me burst into laughter and I reciprocated, to much more laughter and giggles...
You see there is something so deeply personal about trusting someone else with the largest single transactions most of us ever make in our lives, which is intrinsically linked to the emotional centres of our brains, we can't help but feel connected at the time.
Are you ready to fall in love again? Perhaps not with me ; but with a property that makes you want to shriek and blurt out jumbled professions of loooove?! Call me, I am ready to take that emotional journey with you!
Wednesday, March 01, 2017
When The Cat's Away...
Once upon a time, when I was a much younger girl, it was a great treat to have my parents house to myself when they went away on hockey tournaments with my brother. I would plan to have my friends over, we would stay up late with no adults enforcing their lame curfews on us! We would order pizza and play loud music (sorry about all those blown speakers Dad!!) It was a time to let loose and test the boundaries of our youth. It was a time to celebrate!
But alas, the tables have turned.
Right now I am home alone, my husband is away on business in Atlanta for the week. It's getting a little out of control (obviously, I am writing a blog at 9pm!) My how the times have changed, I worked hard today, putting more than a few kilometers on my car and sorting through a massive pile of paperwork of offers, counter offers and closing inspection reports for 3 ends! Don't get me wrong I absolutely love my work but it was a BIG DAY!!
Moving on to this evening, I am in my yoga pants, eating homemade soup and snuggling with my ever cuddly dachshund who is like my little shadow at home. I have no desire to stay up late or get foolish this weekend, in fact I am looking forward to sleeping diagonally across my bed with ALL the pillows, perhaps taking my coffee in the hot tub in the morning, and puttering around my house in complete silence! Oh The Joys I Have Come to Appreciate!
In my old age I have become more peaceful with being alone and I don't feel it necessary to fill my days with constant entertainment. In my line of work, I find that I am constantly having to be "ON". I have to have the right answers to never ending questions and queries from my clients and the public. I never know when I might run into a prospective client so even running to the grocery store means making sure I am presentable. My car is fully wrapped with my logo and a larger than life headshot so I can't speed or yell at frustrating people on the road... As a recognizable figure where my face and name is my brand, I must always make sure that I present the right image, and that can be exhausting for a girl that grew up as a tomboy in a barn!
I am finding now that after years as a professional athlete, working in the service industry and having several management positions, I am well suited and enjoy a public sort of life and my personality would never allow me to do otherwise! Perhaps I am mellowing, perhaps I am (gasp) growing up, and perhaps I am just peaceful in my own company... But having my evenings silent, home alone with a fire going, making food and going to bed early sounds pretty darn delightful for this week!
But alas, the tables have turned.
Right now I am home alone, my husband is away on business in Atlanta for the week. It's getting a little out of control (obviously, I am writing a blog at 9pm!) My how the times have changed, I worked hard today, putting more than a few kilometers on my car and sorting through a massive pile of paperwork of offers, counter offers and closing inspection reports for 3 ends! Don't get me wrong I absolutely love my work but it was a BIG DAY!!
Moving on to this evening, I am in my yoga pants, eating homemade soup and snuggling with my ever cuddly dachshund who is like my little shadow at home. I have no desire to stay up late or get foolish this weekend, in fact I am looking forward to sleeping diagonally across my bed with ALL the pillows, perhaps taking my coffee in the hot tub in the morning, and puttering around my house in complete silence! Oh The Joys I Have Come to Appreciate!
In my old age I have become more peaceful with being alone and I don't feel it necessary to fill my days with constant entertainment. In my line of work, I find that I am constantly having to be "ON". I have to have the right answers to never ending questions and queries from my clients and the public. I never know when I might run into a prospective client so even running to the grocery store means making sure I am presentable. My car is fully wrapped with my logo and a larger than life headshot so I can't speed or yell at frustrating people on the road... As a recognizable figure where my face and name is my brand, I must always make sure that I present the right image, and that can be exhausting for a girl that grew up as a tomboy in a barn!
I am finding now that after years as a professional athlete, working in the service industry and having several management positions, I am well suited and enjoy a public sort of life and my personality would never allow me to do otherwise! Perhaps I am mellowing, perhaps I am (gasp) growing up, and perhaps I am just peaceful in my own company... But having my evenings silent, home alone with a fire going, making food and going to bed early sounds pretty darn delightful for this week!
Monday, January 23, 2017
Bonkers for Cat Forts
I have had a Bonkers past week. Bonkers because I negotiated FOUR accepted offers on listings for my seller clients. Bonkers because I have several new listings coming up and buyer clients looking for properties. Bonkers because sometimes my line of work takes me on the most ridiculous of adventures.
Bonkers, but I love it!
It is pretty awesome to have this much business on the go in January. I am thrilled to be able to bring good news to my sellers and so excited that we can get things done in the dead of winter when usually there is very little happening. I have been chatting with other agents and it may be that the weather has been cooperating and it's been hovering around freezing without any "Polar Vortex" weather like in years past.
*It may be that I have turned into a real estate sorcerer and I cannot be stopped. Only time will tell.*
The craziest thing that happened this week though was getting a call from a Buyer that I had shown a property to that was vacant but had a few semi-feral barn cats still hanging out as the owners were not able (through no fault of their own) to take with them when they left. These cats are fat and the neighbours have been supplying them regularly with food & water, they are spayed and vaccinated as well, but just too wild to catch.
The Buyer was losing sleep over the cats, and wanted to go back to the property to fashion some cat forts for them. No problem with me, I do this kind of thing all the time. LOL!
She arrived with a truck full of cardboard boxes, bales of straw, blankets and pet beds!! We lugged the gear up into the hayloft where the cats had been nesting in leftover hay and got to work. A short time later we had fashioned a large cat condo for them to pile into together, it was pretty great I must say! Then we thought that maybe they don't get along so the next project was to construct several smaller, single family homes in various locations around the space so they could have their privacy if need be.
After a while of both of us fluffing blankets, filling beds with straw and finding the ideal location for each abode, we got to laughing about what kind of crazy animal lovers we must be in order to go to such lengths. It was actually a really fun time, and I will for sure be stopping in to see how they are enjoying the cat-forts ASAP.
The buyer though informed me that when I go to check them out - if it looks like the cats have rejected the homes, that I should just tell her the opposite! Felines are fickle as we all know!
There's never a dull day in this line of work! Bring it on!
Bonkers, but I love it!
It is pretty awesome to have this much business on the go in January. I am thrilled to be able to bring good news to my sellers and so excited that we can get things done in the dead of winter when usually there is very little happening. I have been chatting with other agents and it may be that the weather has been cooperating and it's been hovering around freezing without any "Polar Vortex" weather like in years past.
*It may be that I have turned into a real estate sorcerer and I cannot be stopped. Only time will tell.*
The craziest thing that happened this week though was getting a call from a Buyer that I had shown a property to that was vacant but had a few semi-feral barn cats still hanging out as the owners were not able (through no fault of their own) to take with them when they left. These cats are fat and the neighbours have been supplying them regularly with food & water, they are spayed and vaccinated as well, but just too wild to catch.
The Buyer was losing sleep over the cats, and wanted to go back to the property to fashion some cat forts for them. No problem with me, I do this kind of thing all the time. LOL!
She arrived with a truck full of cardboard boxes, bales of straw, blankets and pet beds!! We lugged the gear up into the hayloft where the cats had been nesting in leftover hay and got to work. A short time later we had fashioned a large cat condo for them to pile into together, it was pretty great I must say! Then we thought that maybe they don't get along so the next project was to construct several smaller, single family homes in various locations around the space so they could have their privacy if need be.
After a while of both of us fluffing blankets, filling beds with straw and finding the ideal location for each abode, we got to laughing about what kind of crazy animal lovers we must be in order to go to such lengths. It was actually a really fun time, and I will for sure be stopping in to see how they are enjoying the cat-forts ASAP.
The buyer though informed me that when I go to check them out - if it looks like the cats have rejected the homes, that I should just tell her the opposite! Felines are fickle as we all know!
There's never a dull day in this line of work! Bring it on!
Tuesday, January 10, 2017
2016 Most Memorable Homents
Welcome to 2017! While many people are bidding 'good riddance' to 2016, I have put together a little list of the years most memorable HOMEnts in real estate!
A bit of a VIP and 'failed it' compilation for your entertainment!
First up I want to shout out to all my clients, buyers and sellers - you guys are the reason I do this job! I love working with people and I appreciate you choosing me!
A stellar moment for me was wrapping up my 25th sale of the year with a first time buyer who chose a home in Coldbrook - I hope you are staying cozy with your woodstove and it's not too long before it's pool season again, she was so much fun to work with and we had a ball finding her the perfect property! 25 sales in a year marks a major milestone and means I achieved the Exit Realty International Bronze Designation!
On that Bronze subject, I got to travel to Nassau Bahamas for the Exit International Convention and Awards. What a stunning part of the world - even though I was there immediately following Hurricane Matthew ripped through the region, the beauty was undeniable! And I could not have been more proud to receive my award and celebrate with my peers and colleagues!
One particular Seller client stands out to me, I was contacted to list a home that had a lot of sentimental value to a family. The Seller, recently widowed, had purchased the home as a newlywed many many years before, raised her family there and was now retired. After much discussion & deliberation I was brought in for a consultation. It was an emotional journey for everyone involved, and I ended up spending considerable time with her going over documents carefully and visiting often (and eating her delicious treats that she would have prepared!) Her home sold almost immediately to a newly engaged couple, although bittersweet - she was able to downsize to a perfect place and I even went to go visit her there and indulge in some wonderful sweets and coffee after she was settled!
As for very special buyers, I had been working with a young couple for a while that had had a very emotional lead up to purchasing their first home. We had seen a place that was absolutely perfect for them, as fate would have it the process was drawn out with much negotiation but finally came together. These buyers were forced to wait and get very creative in structuring the offer. Patience and level headed deliberations won out in the end, only to have a last minute hiccup just as it looked like it was time to celebrate! These buyers were amazingly stoic and it paid off, they now live in their perfect property with their family and animals and have recently gotten engaged! Congratulations to you guys! I am thrilled to have been part of this time in your lives!
Now on the the embarassing parts - my real estate 'failed it!' moments. While attending an Agent Caravan Tour where we visit our offices newly listed properties as a group -the crowd was touring the main level of a property, I headed downstairs. Thinking the property was vacant, I showed myself around and accidentally opened the door to a bedroom with a poor soul just getting out of bed!
On another occasion I was listing a cottage lot and sat down on a picnic table to fill out documents, I immediately heard a loud buzzing to find that there was a GIANT wasps nest under the table that I had disturbed! We all bolted inside and slammed the door and had to wait out the angry swarm huddled inside a camper!
Having made an appearance in my very first blog "Stilettos & Garbage" longtime clients of mine that have seen me at my best & worst had booked an appointment to see a property. I also coach equestrians and my student had taken a spill from her horse during a lesson, I lost track of time making sure she was ok, and relaying appropriate information to her parents and I ended up being almost an hour late to the showing. Luckily these particular clients were amazingly easy going, but what a hideous impression to make, I was frantically apologizing the entire time we looked at the home!
I am looking forward to 2017 with enthusiasm and a desire to be better than I was last year, I strive to provide my clients with professional, ethical and supportive direction in their real estate needs and I would love to help you make the next step in your journey!
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