Come From Aways

 "Where are all these people coming from??"

I have been getting a LOT of questions regarding the influx of people to NS recently. Here's whats up. Most of the new people moving to NS are from Ontario, some from BC and other provinces too. Let's unpack this a bit and break down why it's happening and what that means for us locals. 

So people in other provinces haven't fared as well as us (big thanks to Dr Strang for the swift and aggressive approach to how we have dealt with Covid 19 here in Nova Scotia). We have been able to live a relatively 'normal' life here with a few changes, and I am proud of Nova Scotians for stepping up and looking after each other! Because our numbers have been so low, people have taken notice. I always said Nova Scotia was the best kept secret in Canada, and now word has gotten out! It's safe, friendly and the pace of life here has attracted a lot of attention. 

People in other provinces desperately want out, so they search for affordable real estate in Canada, being close to water is another huge draw. Many people have found they can work remotely, but in the future may need to be within a reasonable distance to an International airport (Halifax is the only one in the Maritimes). Then they start to look for things that are appealing like beautiful scenery, space to have a garden and a property with some land... even the wineries are a draw and let's be real, having so many gorgeous vineyards and restaurants has put the Annapolis Valley on the map years before this pandemic. 

Retirees are coming too, and they want to be within 30 minutes of a major medical centre, hello Valley Regional Hospital! So in short, the Annapolis Valley has the space, proximity, beauty and amenities that everyone is looking for. Bonus points for all the locally owned/one of a kind cafes, shops, restaurants and the ability to get responsibly produced food practically outside your door. 

I am finding for the most part that it's the rural Ontarians that are drawn here the most, the city people are moving to the country, and the country people are moving here. Cities aren't fun if they don't work, and just imagine being locked down in a high rise for a minute. You would be searching for alternatives too. 

Yes, our real estate prices are rising, but we have been far below average for a long time, and we are now catching up. What does this mean for local people trying to buy? It's tough... really really tough. I get it. First time buyers don't have the selection or budget reach they used to, and thinking of selling is terrifying if you don't already have an alternative. 

Is this a "Bubble" that's going to burst? Not anytime soon in my opinion. Prices rise and fall, it's inevitable, but I don't think we are going to see a massive crash here or a mass exodus in the future. We are experiencing some pretty significant growing pains right now, but growth is good and we are in it for the long haul. 

If you have questions about the current market, please do reach out. I am happy to discuss your personal situation and I know I can help! 

~Megan

The Wild East

It's been way too long since my last Blog!! I won't go on about 2020 being "unprecedented" again like everyone else... that's old news. Let's get on with it and talk about 2021! 

We are experiencing a serious shortage of available listings in NS, significant inter provincial immigration/influx of out of province buyers has created a Sellers Market and there aren't enough properties to satisfy the demand. What does this mean for you? Let me break it down. 

If you are a Buyer - properties are selling fast, often in competing offer situations, and while we haven't gotten to the point where most buyers are offering without standard conditions like inspections and financing... there have been winning offers that omitted these! You are going to need a proactive agent searching for off market homes and one that is the right mix of aggressive and methodical. Choose wisely, and be ready to jump when you see a spot you like. 

If you are a Seller, be mindful of pricing. While it would seem you can ask whatever you like in this market, buyers are savvy and making sure you price the property just right will often garner a stampede of qualified buyers and more than a few offers to consider! Keep in mind that you may become a buyer very soon after you list and speak to your agent about covering you in case you cannot find something suitable to purchase in the future! 

Strategic planning regarding when you go to market, what (if any) your competition will compare like, and what your next few steps are moving forward is key! 
Need a more specific plan to your exact requirements?

Give me a call, I can help.

Megan

Tales From the Trenches

There are times in your life that can be extra special, the times you will look back on for years to come with vivid memories of how things went down. There are also times that can be extra stressful. Buying and selling real estate is usually a mix of both.

Recent statistics show that Nova Scotia real estate prices have jumped over 13% over this time last year (that's the second highest in Canada). Negotiations, multiple offers, deadlines, high stress and emotions all mix together to make these times really memorable, for better or for worse. As a seasoned agent I have seen a lot over the years and it's my job to keep a level head and keep things on track.

At times there are fierce competitors on both sides of the transaction and I have seen negotiations go sideways more than enough to know that emotions and money don't always mix well. Occasionally both sides get to point where the end goal gets lost amongst the small arguments. A big picture outlook is key, and sometimes difficult to grasp, especially if one side feels that they are getting 'bulldozed' by a particularly aggressive/unreasonable opponent.  

As a professional I always go to bat for my clients, my job is to represent them to the best of my ability with a big picture mentality in order to ensure the end result is as favourable as possible for them. Sometimes this means mediating, sometimes it's allowing extra time for the process to play out, and occasionally it's putting my foot down and saying 'enough is enough'. This week I have played every one of these roles while negotiating over $2,000,000.00 in sales and closings. Some of those deals went as smoothly as I have ever been a part of, and some of those felt like a battle the whole way.

In the end we need to be able to take a step back from the emotions, and really scrutinize what battles to fight in order to win the wars that are important. All of my clients that won their wars this week, and I salute you all for putting your trust in me, realizing not everyone operates on the same ethical scale, and ultimately coming out as the winners once the dust has settled (and the dust is still settling in a few places). I appreciate every single one of the emotions that were and are still being processed, and ultimately will be felt for many years to come. I see you, I know what you are going through, and I am with you every step of the way!! 

How To Get Ahead of The Real Estate Market NOW!

We all know the the real estate market in the Annapolis Valley is hot, it has been for a while with no signs of stopping. That combined with Spring Fever is causing a shortage of properties in the area. Have you noticed properties selling in record time, almost as soon as they are listed? Yup, this isn't an illusion.

I always chat with agents from all the brokerages and what I am hearing is that the larger brokerages like Exit Realty Town & Country are getting the lions share of the listings. Because we collaborate with each other closely, the hot properties are often getting buyer action before they hit MLS. We have the listings and we have the buyers.

As a Seller this is an advantage because it can cut down the 'tire kickers' coming through, we carefully preview buyers before they come to ensure they are ready and able to purchase. Prepping for showings is time consuming and stressful, we can help alleviate this and cut down the showings to high quality, low quantity... perfect!

For a Buyer, you need to be aligned with an agent that is ahead of the curve so that you get a jump start on potential properties to avoid the possibility of missing out on something you have been waiting for. Big Disappointment!

I attended the Kentville Home Show this weekend and was able to chat with a large number of people thinking of buying and selling. I have attended this Show for 7 years now and this one was really outstanding in this regard. There are more people seriously talking about buying & selling than any of the years past that I have gone!

If you are one of these people, get in touch with me! I have the connections you need to get ahead of the game!

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

The Sea Bound Coast

I have always been proud to say I am from the Annapolis Valley, I have travelled extensively all over North & Central America, Europe and Asia and I always appreciate this place more and more every time I return.

There's a change in the air here, and the world is watching this beautiful little corner of Atlantic Canada. I started seeing it about ten years ago when I moved home from Ontario after having lived away for some time. There was a trend at that time that had been brewing for many years prior towards the wine & grape growing industry. I worked as a server/manager at Le Caveau Restaurant (in Grand Pre a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which was named one of the Top 20 Restaurants in a Winery in the World by Wine Access Magazine while I was working there. It was an exciting time and paved the way for the exploding Tidal Bay Wine Region to emerge as an exceptional tourist destination.

Pair this draw for foodies and wine lovers worldwide with the stunning natural beauty and scenery and you've got a pretty awesome recipe for drawing people here to share the enjoyment! An easy jaunt up towards Scots Bay will take you to The Look Off for a breathtaking view of the Valley below (check out the farthest point down to the left that juts into the water, I got married on that bluff overlooking the Minas Basin). Did you know the Cabot Trail is known to be one of the most spectacular scenic drives on the planet? It is often featured in motorcycle and luxury car magazines as a top destination!

All over Nova Scotia you can find fabulous tours and adventures, active adventure seekers love hiking Cape Split. One of my personal favourite things is hopping on a whale watching excursion with Mariner Cruises, they even have a B&B so you can arrange a package getaway deal. I have sailed with this outfit 4-5 times, they always find multiple whales and are very respectful of the marine habitat and environment, which I find exceptionally important. The first time I saw a humpback whale up close I cried, it's a moving experience.

I have said it before and I will continue to be amazed by the number of people coming to Nova Scotia from out of province, there are so many fantastic properties and opportunities here!

If you are thinking of listing, there are buyers out there just waiting for their dream property to come available, I work closely with out of province buyers and have perfected the art of making these big moves as seamless as possible. 

If you are looking for a new opportunity here in NS, I have residential, agricultural, commercial and mixed use properties listed in some of the most fantastic areas of the province! If I don't have it listed, I will find it for you!

Megan White REALTOR®

Exit Realty Town & Country

902-680-2736

House Hunting Etiquette by Guest Blogger Samantha Bell

Hey all you "Keepin it Real Estate" readers! This great blog was written by the fabulous Samantha Bell who is an award winning REALTOR in Fredericton NB. I just loved this information and thought you would too, so rather than trying to recreate this, I asked Samantha to give us a chance to take advantage of her knowledge and learn about her top tips for buyers out shopping for a new home! 

For many, walking into someone’s home when they are not there can be uncomfortable, you suddenly forget what to do with yourself. These Do’s and Don’ts have come from questions I often get when buyers start viewing houses for the first time.

Time to book an appointment 

If you have ever sold a house before you know how much work it can be to prepare for a showing and if the seller has pets or children the workload can double. If possible, try to schedule the showing at least the day before, the more notice the better. Same goes for cancelling, of course emergencies come up out of our control, but if you plan to cancel a showing doing so at least the day before can save the seller a lot of work.

Arrive on time 

I know this becomes even more important when I am showing multiple houses in one day, although you’re viewing many, the seller is only aware of their house being shown and typically they are asked to leave for 30-60mins, if you don’t arrive on time for the first house, this can impact the houses later down the list and now the seller has to stay even longer out of their home.

Watch for furry friends at the door

Always keep an eye out when you’re entering the house for pets that should not be let outside. This is the same for pets outside, don’t let an animal in the house if you don’t know it belongs there.

Shoes off please 

You never know what’s on your shoes, please remove your footwear at the door so you don’t track anything in. If you’re not comfortable going in your sock/bare feet, another option is to bring your own slippers to wear inside the house.

What’s behind door number one? 

You’re there to view the house so absolutely opening kitchen cabinets/drawers, bathroom cabinets and bedroom/storage closets are necessary to see the type of storage the house has. But do not open any furniture doors and drawers or touch any personal items or collectibles.

Kids

Viewing a new house can be very exciting for kids, lots of new things to look at and take in. Have a conversation with your child before entering the house to explain that you’re visiting someone’s home and they cannot touch anything or sit on the furniture. Be sure to bring plenty of things for your child to do, books, games etc. this can give you the freedom to look at the home without distraction. If you think your child would struggle with this, sometimes it’s best to leave them at home for the first viewings and bring them in when it’s time to pick their bedroom.

Photos 

Ask your Realtor® first before you take any photos of the house you’re viewing. The seller may have requested certain items to be out of the photos for the public.

When you gotta go…

Sometimes you can’t avoid it and you find yourself needing to run to the washroom while viewing a house. Be sure to use the guest washroom and leave it how you found it, clean:)

Inspections

Maybe a member of your family came along to help you look for things you wouldn’t know to look for. Please ask them to keep their ladder in the truck. First viewings are not the time to do a full inspection of the house, this should be scheduled at a later time with the seller’s permission.

Samantha Bell | Realtor®

Thanks so much for your insight Samantha! Looking to buy or sell in Fredericton NB? Check out Samantha Bell and tell her you read her guest blog post here! 

Maritime Hospitality

I have had a heartwarming few days, despite the snow and rain plaguing us here on the east coast. I am constantly reminded of the genuine warmness and caring values of people here, and it is one of the most appealing things about living in the Maritimes.

I recently heard a story of several Nova Scotians that were travelling with an upper level show horse from Quebec, they encountered truck trouble in Northern NB trying to stay ahead of the most recent storm and were desperate to find a place that they could stop with their horse, get the truck fixed and bed down for the night to ride out the awful weather. Not an easy task late at night!

The girls put out a plea on social media asking for help and through an outpouring of support, found someone in Edmunston NB that went above & beyond for these total strangers. The homeowners were working at the time but enlisted the help of a nearby neighbour to meet them several kms away and guide them to a place where the horse could rest safely, allowed the girls to their home and a local mechanic even let them bring the truck in at 10pm!

I have travelled quite a bit in my life and I can honestly say that Maritime hospitality is among the warmest anywhere in the world! I am so very proud to be from a place that can extends such genuine caring to anyone and everyone, especially in negative circumstances. Having lived in several provinces and states in my adult life, I have never felt more at home than here in Nova Scotia.

If you are thinking of making a move to Nova Scotia (as an astounding number of people are from many places recently) I would love to help you find a community and property that makes you feel as at home as I do here. You won't find a warmer welcome anywhere else!

Megan

Energy & Carbon

Going in as many homes as I do and talking with both buyers and sellers about home heating is a big part of my day to day routine. You may know that I am a huge fan of heating with wood (full disclosure, my husband owns a Hearth store locally so I know my stuff when it comes to the ins & outs of heating).

Did you know that burning wood is actually the only net zero carbon emissions way to heat your home? There is a lot of false impressions that burning wood is dirty or bad for the environment. Think of it this way, a tree in a forest contains a finite amount of carbon. That carbon will be released into the atmosphere no matter if the tree falls over and rots or if it is burned for home heating in a wood stove. And the sustainable management of woodlots allows smaller trees to absorb more carbon as they grow when older trees are harvested. Oil and coal on the other hand will not release the carbon they contain unless they are extracted from underground. 

Oil pipelines and sustainable energy are hot topics as of late and there can be a lot of misinformation floating around, get educated on what type of heating is going to be the most desirable for your family and energy requirements. Perhaps it is a combination of sources, perhaps a passive solar home design would suit, look into where and how the electricity that a home draws from is produced when considering a property to purchase.
If you are thinking of relocating to Nova Scotia from out of province, you will need to get information on the local trends and costs of heating sources as they can differ significantly from other areas.

Lastly I will touch on efficiency, insulation, windows, doors etc. There isn't much point in talking about heating without talking about heat retention! There are many different programs in NS offering rebates to homeowners to offset the costs of heating and efficiency upgrading. Additionally there are different ways to structure a mortgage to allow extra money to do necessary work up front, so if we find a home that fits your needs but could use some efficiency work, don't cross it off the list before we have a chance to talk about getting these programs and products working for you!

Do you have questions about buying or selling? Get in touch, I am here to help! 902-680-2736

Megan White REALTOR®

Kings County Market Trends

The market in the Valley is bonkers, especially in Kings County. I have been discussing the trends quite a bit lately and I wanted to put it out there in a blog post for everyone. People have been asking what the heck is going on, here's my take on it.

I am seeing a LOT of out of province buyers coming to the area. People from Ontario & BC are selling while the selling is good and bringing their cash here to buy way more that they ever could in other provinces.

This is creating several waves in the market. First of all these buyers see our prices as very reasonable and are willing and happy to pay our prices for what they want. A property is worth what someone is willing to pay for it and these trends are driving the property values up locally.

Secondly these buyers are new to the area, they sold elsewhere and are buying here. This is causing a shortage of available properties - as we all know supply & demand can have massive impact on prices causing them to rise noticeably as well as drastically shortening the average days on the market.

The third trend I am seeing is in the way that these buyers are purchasing. They are coming from extremely hot markets where buyers are making cash offers, no conditions and even bidding at and above list price. Seriously it's like in the real estate shows on HGTV. This aggressive approach is throwing local buyers off as this type of negotiation has not been the norm here.

With these huge changes in the way the property is being bought & sold locally, I can confidently say that buyers and sellers really need an experienced agent on their side. Further to that, the agent needs to be confidently versed in virtual transactions and technologically advanced. The dinosaur days of faxes and handwritten offers are gone, if you want to be competitive in this market you're going to need an up to date professional on your side. 

Falling Into Place

If I have learned anything in this business, it's that there is no such thing as a transaction just falling into place. In my 6 years of selling real estate, I have leaned something new in every deal that I have been a part of.

Buying or selling a property is a complicated process at best and there are always exceptions, those usually end up being on the exceptionally complicated side of the equation.

Recently I have seen several really whacky things that, even my brokers stop to scratch their heads about when I must explain. There's a running joke when I call the main office that I will most often have some sort of zany question, I don't usually end up at the boring end of any story. People ask me how I deal with the constant 'putting out of fires' and daily upheaval, the truth is that I kinda like it. I enjoy problem solving and being able to make things work out for the best when, for others involved, it may seem like insurmountable odds are being faced.

In this business you need to be flexible, keep a level head and most of all be up for a challenge! I seldom back down from anything and I have always taken great joy in making people happy. When I was in a management position in retail and fine dining, when I was a professional athlete competing horses for other people, and now as I simultaneously help multiple clients with their own very specific set of requirements and needs in property sales. When others feel like throwing up their hands in despair I often find myself saying "don't panic yet, we can figure out a solution!"

So what I am getting at here, is that the home buying & selling process is inherently going to throw curve balls. There are just way too many possibilities of how something could go down to be able to predict the outcomes 100%. Things do not just fall into place, it takes careful consideration and staying ahead of the curve to be able to keep things from going off the rails, but it's a challenge that I love to take on every day. Bring it on!

Tub Talks! Episode 3 - Outdoor Living Spaces

Tub Talks - Episode 2 - Closing Day

It Takes a Village

It takes a village to sell a property sometimes, and one of my recent sales was definitely a prime example of that!

The listing came through a referral from past clients, so I went to meet with the sellers to go over the property and make suggestions as to what should be done before listing. Some painting, some tidying and some light landscaping was in order. The listing went up seamlessly once the property was prepped.

We had a few showings right off the bat but no significant interest so I called in the entire sales team at Exit for an agent caravan tour - the agents in these situations are frank and give great feedback suggestions. We decided to do some rearrangement of the furniture and light staging. The next showing brought that serious interest! But here's where it started to get complicated...

The buyers were first timers and when I explained how agency works and my inability to represent them because I was representing the sellers, they felt like they should have an agent on their side. So I called in another REALTOR from Exit to help them out. They wrote the offer, we negotiated and the sale came together swiftly.

Fast forward to Closing day, the sellers have locked the house and left all the keys inside minus the one in the lockbox (which didn't open the knob AND deadbolt unfortunately!!!) The home was empty and and the only way in was through a second storey door that used to lead to a balcony which had been removed several years before. It was a chalet style home and a long way up to the door. Not a ladder in sight anywhere and the clock is ticking to get in there.

My husband owns a hearth store and occasionally drives one of the work vans (which have ladders on the roof!) I frantically called him to see if he was in the area, and driving a van that day... He was only a few minutes away so he zoomed over to save the day like a super hero!! (All the while, I am in a different town negotiating the last bits of another sale with only hours left before the deadline!) He climbed up a long ladder jimmied the door open and crawled in through. I am glad this was at the rear of the house and he did not get arrested for mischief... the situations I ask him to be involved in sometimes... He let the buyers agent in and they completed the final walk through in record time making sure that the Closing timeline was maintained for all parties!

The happy ending is that both buyers and sellers were thrilled that we were able to close on time (early even after all that!) and by working seamlessly together to get to that end goal, everyone is a winner! I just love being able to solve problems for my clients in situations like these! It's what makes my job so fulfilling!

** Shout out to my fabulous husband who has always had my back, you're the best!

Stay Cool, Man.

Buying and selling property can be stressful for everyone involved. Emotions are often running high, everyone has a large stake in the transaction, and timelines can be tight adding to the issues.
Hiring a REALTOR® that keeps a cool head is vital! I can't tell you how many times a listening ear, a calm disposition and an arms length opinion has prevailed over a heated situation. I have a rule that if something makes your blood boil in a transaction, you should take some time to process things before immediately reacting.

When I was riding horses professionally, the great David O'Connor used to tell me to be PROactive rather than REactive. Always act in a positive way in order to have a positive outcome. Don't allow yourself to negatively react to a situation that will further the downward spiral. Horses do not understand the emotional hang ups we have when we are riding and we absolutely must remain rational in order to communicate effectively with them every time we get on.

It is most times impossible to keep emotions out of real estate sales. Your agent needs to understand your feelings and be able to gently guide all parties along so that the end result is well thought out and reasonable. When the agent(s) involved get wound up, things can get heated unnecessarily. As a professional I have been yelled at, threatened, called names, sworn at and had some very unpleasant conversations all due to emotions getting out of control. Less so from clients than other agents to be frank. I totally understand that this is not a reflection of me personally, but of the stress that people are feeling within themselves. It's not pleasant, but it can happen. I previously worked in the retail and service industries and have seen many stressful outbursts in kitchens and such. As a professional athlete I was taught to remove emotion from my job as it does not make for more successful performances. Being able to separate emotions and reality is important, and I have been practicing this for many years prior to becoming a REALTOR. It is my job to lead everyone through these times in a steady, calm fashion. 

Co Worker Woes

How important is it to have co workers that you get along with? Do you feel like office or workplace cohesion is important? Do you like the people you work alongside?

As a REALTOR® how much time I spend in the office is up to me, other than a 'duty shift' once a week or so where I am required to be in the office for walk ins and phone calls. Other than that I can work out of the New Minas/Greenwood offices or from home. So much of my time is spent traveling around that I don't actually spend that much time physically at my desk. When I am in the office though, the people I work with are influential!

Having a positive office vibe is incredibly important to people that work in close proximity to each other, have you ever had to spend 8 hours a day next to a loud mouth or someone who doesn't follow the rules of the space? This can really create an unproductive environment and make it hard to do your job effectively! It's so much more than just getting along or being friends, it's about respecting the people that you work with no matter what position they occupy within your organization.

Having a negative office vibe creates a bad atmosphere and can really bring productivity down quickly! I am always way more excited to go to an office where I feel respected and equal to everyone else there. I see no need for putting some employees on pedestals, this only creates animosity. No matter how much money you make, or what clothes you wear or what you look like, I believe that everyone has something to offer and should be held to the same standard!

Do you feel like you are treated fairly in your workplace? Do you have co workers that you would rather not have to be around? Do you dread spending time at your office?

To Paint Or Not To Paint

The single most cost effective way to prepare your home to list is with a fresh coat of paint. This works for two reasons.
1) A fresh coat of paint covers up the small scratches, dings and wear and tear that occur over the course of a family living in a home, it's natural, but it's not pretty. When you apply new paint, the home now has a fresh, well kept, well cared for appearance. It no longer looks or feels old or worn, and this is ideal.
2) New paint that is neutral and pleasing to most people allows a buyer to picture themselves living in the home. Bright, dark and too trendy colour choices are distracting to most buyers - have you ever noticed one of the most common comments on those real estate shows from buyers is about paint, and specifically, paint that they don't like. 

If you are preparing to sell and you think that it's too much work to paint your home, imagine how the buyers feel... they are contemplating making a huge purchase and right off the bat they see work that needs to be done. Do it for them and I guarantee you will have more successful showings.

If you don't want to paint because you believe that the buyer may not share your tastes in colour selection, pick a colour palette that is generally appealing to the majority of people, believe me, most of these buyers are watching real estate shows and have pinterest boards that are showcasing the relaxing neutrals that are timeless classics. If they have more wild tastes, it's much easier for them to get excited about painting an accent wall than painting the entire home.

Another important thing to consider is continuity through the home, painting each room and hallway a different colour is a poor choice as it makes the home feel broken up and compartmentalized. Buyers want open concept so carry a theme of 2-3 colours through the entire home and if you really want some variation choose another shade on the same chip so that you don't break up the flow.

If you are thinking of listing and want really expert advice I can align you with a local paint guru that will custom match a colour palette for you and your home based on everything from the architectural style to the flooring and even available natural light! I can attest to the prowess of this expert, he helped me choose the paint colours for the entire interior of my home plus the exterior colours as well. He is amazing! 

Holiday Monday in the Office!

I have been having a lot of conversations with people lately that are thinking of getting into the real estate industry. They are asking for my thoughts and ideas on how to make that transition, and if it's a good idea for them.

There are quite a few factors that need to be considered while contemplating making a career change, especially to real estate. The biggest discussion is about income, and yes, this is a commission only career, no salary. The downside to this is you are not guaranteed a minimum paycheque every two weeks. The upside is that you have absolutely no cap on what you can make in a day, week or month. As an example I received the largest single transaction paycheque that my broker had ever issued since becoming a franchise owner ten years ago. And I had only been practicing real estate for just over 3 years at the time. And at Exit there are multiple ways to make money. As a sponsor, by simply introducing a new agent to the broker, you stand to make up to $10,000/year from Exit for this introduction for as long as that agent remains with Exit. And you can sponsor as many agents as you like! (No this is not a pyramid silly, it's only applicable to ONE single level of residuals!)

It is tough to get started, but with the sponsoring program I can help you learn the ropes, and I have a vested interest in making sure that you last and are successful. No other brokerage uses this model. Exit also has the best administrators in the business which in turn makes your job easier. Our admin do all the data input of listings so that you are free to go get more business, you won't be stuck behind a desk all day!

I have discussions with people all the time that have toyed with the idea of getting into this business, it's intriguing and appealing to a lot of different types of people. And it's flexible so that you can tailor the career to how you want it to fit into your life. I went on a 25 day trip to Southern Asia/India this winter because I have the flexibility to make my own schedule and the income to be able to go away and still have my business flourishing when I return!

If you are thinking that this type of lifestyle might suit you, reach out! I would love to get together with you to talk more about it! I haven't once woken up on a Monday morning since starting this career dreading the week ahead. Think about that. Seriously. It's a vibrant holiday Monday and I am writing a blog about how much I love my job. There's something special here.

Feeling HOT! HOT! HOT!

I recently attended the Kentville Home Show as a vendor and got a great chance to speak with people about what’s going on with the local real estate market. It was so nice to connect with people that I wouldn’t normally see and chat about the recent trends. Most people that I come across are noticing a significant upswing in the number of properties getting sold lately, it’s true! Year to date sales in the Annapolis Valley are up almost 23%! In case you don’t have a benchmark of what’s normal in terms of fluctuations in sales, this is AMAZING!!

In the past 5 years since I have been a REALTOR® I have noticed maybe a couple of percentage points difference up or down. The general trend has been that of a Buyers Market. Well as of 2018 that has changed, there are more properties selling each day/week/month than properties getting listed. Get this! There are several shortages of inventory in a few different price ranges too! I have people looking for specific properties to purchase and they are selling almost immediately after coming on the market, we are seeing multiple competing offers on places, homes selling for above list price!

As an example, I recently wrote an offer on a property, we knew we were in a competition when we wrote the offer so we went in significantly above list price with no conditions. Unfortunately, we did not win the bidding war, but I later found out it sold for more than 60% above the list price!! WOWZA!! Obviously, this is an extreme example and the property had some very special circumstances surrounding it to go for such an astounding amount above the listing price!  

The general consensus with the professionals in the industry (and even the public) is that the market here in the Annapolis Valley is HOT! HOT! HOT! If you are thinking of listing, it’s absolutely imperative to get it price correctly and marketed aggressively so that you can get top dollar! If you are thinking of purchasing, get an agent that has their finger on the pulse because you may find you miss out if you’re not completely prepared before making an offer on a popular property!

Need to discuss things? Call me anytime and let’s chat about your needs!

(902) 680-2736

Wrong Place, Wrong Time!

Is there such a thing as being too confident? I recently had a majorly comical moment which was directly correlated to me thinking I was at the right place, at the right time. But I was NOT!

I had negotiated a deal for a client who is a friend of mine, I have known him for a while and he's got a very outgoing, gregarious personality. I had to stop in to see a couple of his family members (who I do not know at all, have never met them). My client gave me directions, I called ahead to book the appointment and arrived feeling like I already knew the people.

I pulled into the driveway and called out to the woman by name, I got a funny look but carried on, unfazed. I got out of the car and followed her into the house, jokingly I asked if I was at the right place. No response. The husband peered around the corner at me quizzically so I thought to myself "my friend certainly doesn't get his jocular personality from his parents, odd bunch".

I took off my shoes and headed into the house with the paperwork, exclaiming that it wouldn't take long, you know, to set their minds at ease because they obviously weren't thrilled that I was there. Finally one of them pipes up "um, what paperwork?" I replied with the clients name, a blank stare was returned. I started to get a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach, and a bit more softly repeated the clients name followed up by a repeat of the question "Am I in the right place?"

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOPE! As it turns out I had gone to the property next door by accident, it's a good thing such mixups don't embarrass me! I promptly put my shoes back on and got out of their home, I can only imagine what kind of questions must have been going through their heads!
"Who is this lunatic in our house? Why is she here?"
"Are we selling our property? She seems to think so..."
"Is this a gag TV show? When is the punch line?"

I thoroughly enjoy a harmless mistake and love to share these hilarious mishaps with others for the purpose of a good laugh! I hope you enjoyed my story! My confidence is a great asset and occasionally a comical liability.

The Goldilocks Photo Syndrome

I am very picky about the photos that I publish online, I always have been, and I am getting worse about it. I encountered a listing today that I have buyers from out of town interested in and guess what... There are ZERO photos of the property online! I contacted the listing agent, who didn't even have any on file!! ABSURD!!

The vast majority of buyers these days are doing a huge amount of preliminary research long before contacting an agent. They are pouring over online information, statistics and photos/videos. The way that your property is being represented online is extremely important, and there is a fine line between photos that are good, and photos that aren't.

There are 3 kinds of photos out there, it's a bit of a Goldilocks syndrome... some photos are really bad with spots on the lens, out of focus, or at worst - taken with a cell phone! UGH! I have even seen cell phone photos, taken in vertical format, where the agent didn't even bother getting out of their car! You can tell because the edge of the car window is in the frame! You should be fired if caught being this lazy!

The other end of the spectrum is where the photos are TOO GOOD. The lighting has been altered and overly processed, angles and creativity in the shots omits very important details of the property, or worst case scenario - the photos have been photoshopped!! There's nothing worse than a buyer being sorely disappointed in seeing a property in person because the photos were not an accurate representation, disappointment is not a good emotion for buyers.

There is a happy medium though! Somewhere in the middle where the photographer has professional equipment, knows how to use it correctly, and has an eye for what needs to be showcased in a real estate photo! Not too hot, not too cold, juuusst riiiight!

Bravo to the agents that can find this subtle middle ground, it takes some time and investment but it's worth it in the end. If you are a buyer looking to purchase, be wary of those super slick photos! If you are a seller, check out prospective agents photo quality, make sure it's happy medium style!