How I work

2 Reasons for this blog post today

1) To explain how I work and     2) to tell you about a website I discovered today.

In a few months I will be celebrating 13 years as a REALTOR® here in Campbell River.  The business is always changing, especially so in the last few years.  The changes are actually changes that I embrace and make me love my job even more as I like the direction things are going.
For the past few years I have been working mostly by referral, which means I don't spend my time knocking on strangers doors or calling random numbers trying to pick up buyers.  I hated that part of the job.  I honestly don't want EVERY buyer thats out there.  I really only want the ones that truly want to work with me, the ones that we click right away, not the ones I have to convince to do so. 

Now this is not the way I was trained when I started in Real Estate.  I was trained to appeal to everyone, adjust the way I do things to get along with everyone and to meet the needs of every type of buyer, all personalities, all styles, all ages.   We were and I think are still taught that you have to take alot of listings to suceed.  Working with buyers should not be your main business.  Well many of you know that I used to be alot busier than I am these days, I worked with everyone and anyone that came by and at times I was very drained and tired.  My life has changed, I now have a 2.5 year old who takes up a good chunk of my days.  My priorities have changed.  I now time block.  I make appointments around my husbands work schedule and babysitters and its works, it works really well actually. I dont aim to get  every bit of business out there.  Now more than ever my time is extremely valuable to me.  Every hour at work is an hour away from playing with my little one, so I make it fun, and I make it count.  Working by referral has always felt right to me and now more than ever it just makes so much sense.  Work for me now is more enjoyable than ever.  I work mostly with buyers, Yes I take listings, I just don't take on as many as I used to. 

When I start working with buyers I would by lying to say it isn't nice to have them buy the first house you show them! of course it is, its awesome!  But this is not what I am counting on. The majority of the time new buyers come to me as a referral from someone I already know and have worked with.  Likely someone I will really get along well with as their friends would not have sent them to me if they didnt think we would be a match. 
I am  not looking for the quick sale and wanting to move on to the next client. I strive to build a lasting relationship with these people and then they send their family and friends to me.  They send me people that are similar to them, and likely similar to me too.  After the sale goes thru and the buyers move into their new home, YES if its okay with them I WILL keep sending them real estate info.  Keep them up to date with the real estate market and make sure they have my info readily available for the day that a friend says "hey do you know a realtor I should work with."  I also just come right out and ask for referrals from these people.  Its my business. 

I thought I should write about this today because sometimes I still do hear things like  "we are sorry we are taking so long to pick a house to buy"  or "oh sorry we dont like this house, we wont be buying it today, sorry to waste your time"  and a very common one  "why would you send those people real estate email updates?  they just bought with you, why would they want to move already"

I send them stuff because they want to be kept up to date, and in turn they always have my info when they need to give a family member the contact info of someone they trust to use as a REALTOR®
And spending time building a relationship with people I like and people that trust me is NEVER a waste of time!  that is how I work, that is how I view the process.

I love that these days facebook and twitter are part of my work.  The Naysayers out there have quieted down in the last year.   I now rarely hear Facebook will disappear, or facebook is not an appropriate place to advertise what you do.  I love that in this day of real estate REALTORS®  can do something different if they choose to.  Not everyone has to agree with or like eachothers style.  The old textbook rules of how to list a house, how to advertise a home, how a realtor should dress what we should say is really not relevant anymore.  Not in real estate and not in any business as far as I am concerned.  And I love that.  I don't think every REALTOR® should be on social media.  I think everyone should have their own style.

This brings me to #2.  I came across this website today http://www.bluliving.com/  when it comes to real estate websites I will say this website in one word is "REFRESHING!   Its not like most Real Estate websites I have seen.  I think this is very fun and very inspiring!  The best contact us form I have ever seen under  "contact"   take a look! 
If you or somone you know is in need of a Vancouver REALTOR® I would check them out.

Time for a play break. My little one has been sitting beside me patiently adding up 'cats' on my calculator and I think the novelty has worn off!

I finish up typing here feeling inspired to think outside the box and not necessarily follow the rules.  Make up your own rules as you go! why not.

2012

I am feeling like 2012 has already started out with alot of optimism in the Real Estate Market!
Interest rates have dropped and are once again making history with all time lows.  Forecasts all seem to point in the same direction with most agreeing rates will stay at these all time lows through 2012 and likely into 2013. 
Our Royal Lepage Advance office 2011 statistics are in and we came out on top again with 47% of the sales, the remaining 5 offices in the area sharing the other 53% of sales.  I am very fortunate to work with the people I do, we all work very much as a team and and we offer uncomparable marketing and cooperation of the homes we list for sale. 
In 2012 I am fully available to help you with buying or selling your home.  Don't forget if you know of someone in need of a Realtor I will take great care of your friends and family and make sure you are rewarded for the thought!
I want to wish you all a very exciting and fun filled 2012! 
Here is a quote I love to leave you with   "Don't Look Back, You Are Not Going That Way" - unknown

going through the 'E'motions of buying and selling

Almost everytime I order food in a restaurant as the waitress walks away I get what I call 'Orderer's Remorse".  I think to myself  'why did I order that?  I get that everytime, why didn't I try something new' or if i do order something new, something a little risky I panick and think I should have ordered my usual!

I see the same sort of thing happen when people buy and sell homes. Buyers seem to go from a super high of excitement and as the hours or days go on they may dip right down to a panick about their decision and then they usually come back up to comfortable level where they are maybe just a bit nervous and stressed, but know they are making a good choice.  What I find interesting is alot of these emotions are brought on by outsiders, people not even apart of the transaction.  Friends, relatives and even strangers will for whatever reason put doubt into the buyers heads.  "you are paying to much, its a bad market to buy in, Oh that house has been for sale a long time there must be something wrong with it"  

The same sort of thing often happens when you sell your home, a neighbour or friend will make comments like " Oh you only got that much for your house eh?? hmm I would have thought it was worth more than that" 
I guess its human nature, us humans can be a bit on the negative side at times.  I now make a point of preparing buyers and sellers that this will likely happen.  The more 'emotional' of a person you are the more extreme the highs and lows of buying and selling can be.  Some people need minutes, some hours and some take days or weeks to decide on a home.  Knowing what kind of buyer or seller you are before you get started is helpful and knowing what kind of buyer/seller your husband/wife/partner is can also help with the process.  happy friday and happy halloween weekend everyone!

House for sale house for sale!

Just listed my own house for sale last week at $365,000 and today we have reduced to $349,900. 

You could say we are 'motivated sellers'  We have an offer in to purchase another home and need to sell this one first!     

So here is.....2580 Rainbow Road in Holly Hills .  1/2 acre lot

We have lived here for 7 years and have loved the location and privacy the property offers. 

 

The house is very funky and was custom built by a very creative man who built over a natural ravine. 

The main living area has a wall of south facing windows overlooking mostly deciduous trees that keep the house nice and cool in the summer and in the winter when the leaves fall the living area is flooded with extra light which we all need in the winter! 

The kitchen has teak cabinets and a new coffer ceiling, stainless appliances included a JennAir cooktop. 

There are 2 full bedrooms plus a large den or possible 3rd bedroom. 



built in file cabinets



The backyard is fully fenced and very private and sunny with a large deck, firepit and a hot tub

And probably one of the best features is the huge detached garage and shop.  

Basically a double garage with an attached 24x38 shop with a 3rd garage door. 

The shop has lots of room to build an at home office, gym or maybe a pottery studio!

There is also a hot and sunny garden area beside the workshop. Huge driveway with loads of room for parking.  I will miss this location being just a 2 minute walk to the logging road trails and only a 2 minute drive to downtown.  This subdivision is very quiet, with the houses nicely spaced apart on oversized lots. 

More details here   http://www.realtor.ca/propertyDetails.aspx?propertyId=11215325&PidKey=-740189915

Campbell River Real Estate historical stats

I love Real Estate Statistics especially in the form of an easy to look at graph!

I think this graph speaks for itself showing that Real Estate prices have their ups and downs, but over time values always go up. 

STATISTICS FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND REAL ESTATE BOARD -CAMPBELL RIVER AND NORTH ISLAND

Summertime fun

We have all heard the saying "Be a tourist in your own backyard" before but how many of us actually take the time?  About 10 years ago a wise fellow I work with told me that summer on Vancouver Island is the time to take your holidays, its the time to use up your 'sick days' and 'vacation days.'  He said there are beaches around here just as nice as Maui in the summer and they are only a short drive away.  There are resorts here as nice as a 5 star in Mexico.  Why save up all year long for a 1 week trip away in the winter when you spend 2 days of it travelling when you can have a few mini vacations around here in the summer for a fraction of the cost too.  
I now realize just how correct he was.  Until recent years I had never travelled north of Campbell River, figured there was nothing worth seeing up there.  Little did I know Telegraph cove ttp://www.telegraphcoveresort.com/and its funky cottages would become a favorite getaway destination for me.   A Whale watching trip from the resort there blew me away! Unreal scenery and wildlife like I had never seen before.  Whales, sealions, and literally 100's of eagles swarming over the ocean. 
It wasn't until a few years ago that I also discovered San Joseph Bay on the west side of the Island.  We walked in from the parking area along a trail and came out of the trees to find white sand beaches as far as the eye could see.   We set up a tent and stayed overnight, there were only 2 other people on the entire stretch of beach and they were surfing.  I had no idea there were beaches like this so close to home.

 

We all know Tofino is famous for their beaches but it blows my mind to hear how many people have lived on Vancouver Island all their life and have never been.  The same goes for the Gulf Islands, Saltspring, Saturna, Hornby and Cortes are among my favorites.  I want to spend more time discovering these islands.  I always feel I am thousands of miles from home on a 'real' vacation if a ferry is involved.  Cortes Island is a short trip from Campbell River and the lake and beaches there are unreal!

Another thing that blows my mind is how many people live in the area and have never been out on the water surrouding Campbell River. Some have never even been on our fishing pier!  I got lucky, or maybe it wasn't luck,  maybe I was the girl scouting out my future husband on the docks of Painters Lodge many years ago when I worked on the dock there.  My husband has had a boat of some sort since he was a kid.  Having a boat is not a luxury item for him, its his job.  He has worked as a fishing guide in the summers since he was a kid. https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/BC-Fishing-Charters-Campbell-River/163386570386140.      We have been lucky enough to spend alot of time on the water over the past decade, fishing and touring around.  Just last week we came across 100+ pacific white sided dolphins off the south tip of Quadra Island.  We stopped the boat and they swam and jumped all around the boat.  It was unreal!

It was on this day last week that I started thinking about 'vacation in your own hometown" and I thought to myself  I would rather float in a boat next to wild dolphins over swimming with captive dolphins in a hotel any day!  ( no offense to anyone that has swam with hotel dolphins)!!!  I realize that not everyone has access to a boat, but almost everyone knows someone with a boat.  Why not hire them for the day or offer some sort of swap.. A you take my family out in your boat for the day and I will....... whatever that may be.
So take a mini vacation this summer somewhere around here!
Not everything awesome has to cost alot of money.

Campbell River Listing Stats

When choosing a REALTOR®  to list your home for sale the first question you may want to ask is "What is your office List to Sell Ratio? In other words for every 10 listings taken, how many actually sell?

When selling your home be sure to choose a company that will not only accurately price the home, but will also professionally market it for sale and cooperate with other REALTORS®  in order to get it sold.  After all, SELLING not just listing the home is the goal isn't it?

You may not be in the market to sell right now, but you may know someone that could find this information very helpful.