PEIBlogs.com: the definitive Prince Edward Island blogroll since 2004.: Business Blogging

This weekend's collecting. What wonderful weather we hit on Sunday! Fantastic for walking the beach. We even managed to trek a little further than normal and find some new spots.

And...I had a couple 'firsts'. I found my first piece of red sea glass (very small, beside the marble) and my first sea glass marble. The second picture just shows some really nice pieces I quickly separated. A sea glass marble, a tiny piece of red, a tiny piece of dark purple (looks like a little rock above the red), a couple black pieces, some milk glass, and some very thick, great quality, common colors. I love finding the thick pieces.

Hi 'D'. Here is a pendant, smaller than the white you had before. And a pair of earrings, the usual earring size. But I also thought perhaps, to give you an option, you might like a tiny stack of two.

And think about what style earring, one that is a 'single line' of wire which is the type I make most often, or would you like them to swing a bit more (see EPS1 on my website for an example).

This weekend's collecting. What wonderful weather we hit on Sunday! Fantastic for walking the beach. We even managed to trek a little further than normal and find some new spots.

And...I had a couple 'firsts'. I found my first piece of red sea glass (very small, beside the marble) and my first sea glass marble. The second picture just shows some really nice pieces I quickly separated. A sea glass marble, a tiny piece of red, a tiny piece of dark purple (looks like a little rock above the red), a couple black pieces, some milk glass, and some very thick, great quality, common colors. I love finding the thick pieces.

Hi 'D'. Here is a pendant, smaller than the white you had before. And a pair of earrings, the usual earring size. But I also thought perhaps, to give you an option, you might like a tiny stack of two.

And think about what style earring, one that is a 'single line' of wire which is the type I make most often, or would you like them to swing a bit more (see EPS1 on my website for an example).

Of course I believe in lawn signs that serve a purpose ie selling your property but I always wonder what is the point of election signs- I presume that it is advertising for the politicians running for office and that the more signs of one candidate proves to the undecided that they should choose a winner. I also found it amusing that the news covered a "sandbox fight" on election sign rights.

 I am not going to point out fingers at any one party as I am not a vocal supporter of any party but I have supported more than 1 party over the years.  It seems that we have been in election mode whether provincial or federal every 18 months and I wonder if people would care more if we actually had set election dates.

We at Century 21 Colonial Realty believe that of all the lawn signs being installed- the Century 21 Colonial Realty Inc Gold Post is one that speaks volumes and does work for your best interest for real estate on PEI.

Please exercise your democratic right and make sure you do vote. If you don't vote-you don't get to complain. Make sure you review why you are voting and make your voice heard-It does make a difference.

I'm Joel Ives and I approve this message.

Have you noticed that all parts of the media are always reporting on the prices of real estate across the country and whether they are rising or falling ? They also like to report on the number of sales. The main reason is not to satisfy the public's insatiable need for info about real estate- (I call this the HGTV factor). It may be a factor but it is that the real estate sector and the home construction industry is such a large economic factor. Think about it- when you buy a house- usually a realtor makes money as well as the company they work for and their staff like manager, admin, sign installer also a lawyer gets a fee (who also hires a paralegal). Then there is usually a mortgage so a banker or mortgage broker who will hire an appraiser, and maybe a surveyor. There is usually a home inspector hired by the purchaser, then an insurance policy may require an insurance inspection as well. There is also hook ups for phone, cable and electric. The government will also collect a land transfer tax. Then when you think about what other things occur- realtors use lots of paper for listing sheets, offer paperwork (lots of that) cell phone minutes, dues to associations, advertising, computers etc. Builders hire labourers, plumbers, electricians, roofers, landscapers, carpenters, rent equipment, buy carpet, appliances, etc etc. This is sometimes referred to as a travelling dollar where 1 dollar spent equals 7 to the economy.

Of course many industries do lots to the economy but what is mentioned is the tip of the iceberg and that is why government agencies like CMHC study the market and have qualified economists studying all parts of the real estate sector in all areas of Canada and the media loves to report on it. But please make sure that you look at  your own local market and not just on a regional or provincial report- because what happens in one area may not impact another. Contact any of our agents to ask about how the present market conditions affect your property or the property you would like to buy.

On Friday, September 19th Joel Ives, Owner of Century 21 Colonial Realty will be banished to George's Island in Halifax Harbour. Once there, he will be competing with other "exile tribes", our ticket off the island, to raise enough money so The Children's Wish Foundation can grant a wish for local children, each diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Our challenge is easy in comparison to these ten children who face the real survival challenge every day.

The name of the event is Exile Island and it is in its second year and this is the first year that a team from outside of Nova Scotia will attend. All funds raised by the "The Islanders" tribe will stay with the PEI Chapter. We will be dropped off on the Island with just our clothes on our backs and our mobile phones as we may need to raise more money while being on the Island to gain necessities such as food, water and umbrellas (if needed...I hope not!!)

Although not raising enough money may keep Joel on Exile Island, this is not a reason to not donate.

If you would like to donate to Joel as a tribe member you can go to the main page at www.exileisland.ca or direct to his own page www.exilejoel.ca - once you fill it out a tax receipt will be sent to you.

If you are a Facebook member you can join the group "Help Joel Ives Get Off Exile Island" for more updates, videos and photos when they become available.

Thanks to all who donated and helping us grant a wish !

It is virtually impossible to not hear, read, or see something in the media on a frequent basis with regards to American housing market. I get asked many times if the Canadian and also the PEI market will follow suit. Even though we Canadians are following suit on the election - our campaign will be much shorter and hopefully less painful.

I by no means have a crystal ball but I do know that most markets in Canada have seen a decline in sales and an increase in listings than this time last year. 2007 was a record breaking year and the media was discussing how great it was and of course all of us in the Real Estate Sales were telling people that it was very busy thus some people who were going to buy in 2008 decided to do so in 2007 thus taking them out of the market for this year. When I compare 2008 to 2006 it shows an increase so things are still pretty good. The time to buy is when you feel it is time to buy - emotionally and financially. Make sure you discuss your mortgage options with your lender and find out what mortgage product suits you not only in rate but term, amortization, portability etc.

In the US homeowners are allowed to claim their interest payments on their mortgage when they filed their income taxes so many would continue to borrow against their home to finance their car, boat, vacation and other things. When the value is going up in the house- more money could be borrowed- but when the market cools than they no longer have access to that money that they may have previously been able to access.

There are all other issues of what is occuring in the US housing market and also with affordability factors in Canada in some markets but I am not an economist and this is just my opinions of what I have heard and read about.  We always have to make our own decisions based on what is good for ourselves and our families.

Let's face it.  When you visit a home during a scheduled viewing or open house, you're usually seeing it at its best.   The rooms are tidy. The sinks are clean. The closets are organized and uncluttered. Even the lighting is set to its brightest.

That's just good old-fashioned marketing.

However, not every house you see will actually look this way. For any number of reasons, a house on the market may be less than tidy, poorly decorated, and even in need of minor repairs. You may open the front door in anticipation, only to be immediately turned off by stains on the carpets, faded paint on the walls, cluttered hallways, and more.

First impressions form quickly. It's easy tomake quick judgments and move on. But, you may be passing on what could be a dream home.

Don't make that mistake.  Make your purchase decision based on a carefully considered second impression, not just your first. When viewing a house, imagine how it will look with a fresh coat of paint, some redecorating, the minor repairs completed, and your furniture adorning the rooms. You might just find that a home that doesn't show well is really a diamond in the rough.

(One caveat: Be careful of houses that don't look like they've been well maintained. There could be issues lurking that may require expensive repairs or renovations. Always make a professional home inspection a condition of your offer.)

There are advantages to buying a home that doesn't show well. They attract less interest and, therefore, less competition from other potential buyers.  The listing price may be lower too.

Need more ideas for finding the perfect home? Call Kelly and Charlotte today.

Century 21 Real Estate announced October as National Open House Month. Following its successful Spring open house month promotion in April, CENTURY 21® offices around the country will hold Fall open house events for thousands of property listings throughout the month of October. In April 2008, the number of Century 21 open houses increased four-fold from April 2007.

Charlotte and I will be having open houses at our listings throughout the month - check the Thursday guide for upcoming open houses for the rest of the month.  Judging from the turnout at the open house I had today at 90 Parkside Drive, October will be a busy month!

Since I started working as a Realtor, I have had lots of people asking me questions about my career.  I thought it would be fun to do a FAQ's of the questions that are common:

Q:  Is it OK to call your Realtor on a weekend / evening / holiday?

A:  Absolutely!  I'd say at least 50% of my business is done outside the traditional 9 - 5 work day, and I'm sure it's the same for other agents.  It only makes sense as people who work during the day need to use their time off for the majority of house buying and selling tasks.  (I was showing houses on Good Friday and Easter Sunday this year.  The homeowner was ok with it, so I was too).  Realtors never sleep.  Well, they do with their iPhones tucked under their pillow.  I have lots of clients who send me emails at all hours of the day and night - I do respond to them when I am awake, but I also have a young family and I do schedule time to spend with them as well.   I pride myself on getting back to people in a quick and efficient manner. Go ahead try me at kelly.lantz@century21.ca. 

Q:  How do you get paid?

This is often gently brought up, especially when I offer to work as a 'buyers agent'.  I get paid strictly on commission, not salary.  The commission is paid from the proceeds of the sale from the owner of the property. Quite often, it is shared between a selling agent and the listing agent. After that an office (broker) will usually deduct a portion for the services the office provides and any expenses that are owing.  So, when I act as a buyers agent, the services are provided free of charge to the buyer - you can't beat that fee!

Q:  Can you show me a house listed with another agent / company?

Yes, I sure can.  I can show you any property that is listed within the MLS system.  I can set up the appointment and research the house to give you all of the background information you need to help you make an informed decision (ie. what upgrades have been done, when did it last sell, and for how much etc).  When I was house hunting for my second home, I didn't know Charlotte could show us houses listed with other agents so I was calling the agent who's sign was on the lawn.  She soon set me straight :)

Q:  Do you work full time?

Not in the traditional sense of Monday to Friday, 9 - 5.  But I probably average 30 - 40 hours per week most weeks.  In the summer it was more like 50+ hours - lots of evenings and weekends, but I still manage to get to spend at least part of every day with my boys.  My cell phone hours for July were really high, I think I must have been on the phone most of the month.  In my opinion, it would be difficult to be a part time real estate agent.  The schedule works for me though, as my husband is home on the weekends and he always has a great list of 'boy adventures' lined up for our sons.  And I am able to pick them up after school through the week.

Q:  What is it like working with your Mother in Law? 

It is actually really, really fun working with Charlotte.  I think she was nervous at first at the idea of me coming to work with her, but we get along great.  Not to say there aren't moments of stress of course, but usually if one of us is stressed, the other is calm so we balance each other out.  Charlotte has been an agent for 10 years, so she is a great person to go with for advice and support.  She is also smart and fearless, and more like a friend to me than a mother in law.  Working as a team is perfect  for me, since there are always last minute things that come up, or scheduling conflicts - I can always rely on Charlotte as a back up plan.  Even to go on vacation, it is really a luxury to have someone taking care of my clients for me. 

Q:  Do you like being a Real Estate Agent?

I do.  It feels like a good fit for my past work experience - a combination of sales, marketing, PR, and a degree with a major in Psychology :)  I have met some great people and made some wonderful friends, and I really enjoy working at Century 21.  No two days are never the same, and there is never a dull moment. 

Would you purchase a home online?  Without ever seeing it in person?  Charlotte and I did a final walk through today on a house that will close tomorrow with our clients who were seeing their home "in real life" for the first time.  Our clients were from out of province and relocating back to PEI, so we spent the past few months working with them online to find the right home for them.  Circumstances on their end meant that they couldn't travel to PEI to view the house for themselves, but they wanted to have a house lined up before they arrrived.  They are a young couple with 3 children under the age of 4 (the youngest being just seven weeks, born on the day our offer was presented and accepted!). 

We worked closely with our clients - virtual tours uploaded for them to view, working with home inspectors, electricians, and extended family members on their behalf.  We sent out rough sketched house layouts for them to view and after much searching, we found the perfect house for them.  The minute they saw this house listed, they thought - wow.  The minute Charlotte and I saw it on their behalf, we thought "WOW" - perfect match. 

So after about 6 months of phone calls and emails, we finally met face to face today - to show them their new home for the first time.  And I am so happy to say that they loved it in person as much as they loved it online.  It was so great to meet them in real life for us too, though I certainly felt like we *knew* each other.  I felt a bit like a matchmaker - this time matching the house to the client.  We are so happy for our new friends and the house they chose, and wish them every success here starting their new life in Charlottetown.

Online shopping has so much potential!