The Duncan Fremlin Blog

As I Begin the Journey from PC to Mac..

I can't recall exactly when I first thought of this but I recall when I first made the decision.  It was probably a long time coming, brought on by wasted time, frustration and unpredictable service.  I'm am going to buy an Apple Mac computer.

This will be a perilous journey at first I'm sure but I anticipate arriving in the glory land within a month or so and my guess is, there will be no turning back.

My techie was trying to explain to me why my screen was occasionally freezing.  We were viewing the long list of viruses that were being quarantined by my Norton Anti Virus.  There must have been 50 that had arrived since last May.  Given than I'm not one to surf the net for extended periods of time, this was alarming.  Apparently, Norton fights the battle against viruses while I'm working on-line and it sucks the processing energy from the system when I need it most.  Also, these viruses will never actually disappear but will remain (hopefully) quarantined indefinitely.

Secondly, the reboot time, even though I have a top notch PC, is a few minutes.  I've done everything possible to keep this time to a minimum but it's still a bloody long time.

Thirdly, it seems there's always something requiring attention, be it Adobe or files that don't get sent or corrupt files and on and on...

So, on a whim, I asked my techie "should I get a Mac?".  Without batting an eye, he replied "yes".

I forgot to mention that my usage includes lots of time on the Toronto Real Estate Board site and my contact data base site.  This means lots of photos and pdf's.  The other major use is music.  I have a program called Band in a Box which allows me to program songs with drums, bass, guitar and anything else I can think of.  I then play these songs back and accompany the music with my banjo.  Very cool.

So, I vowed to myself that I would explore the world of the Mac and tomorrow, I will visit the Mac store in the Toronto Eaton Centre and see what the fuss is all about.  Then, I'll begin speaking to other Realtors who use a Mac and see if this makes sense.  Stay tuned.

Facebook Market Place works for me!

This social media phenomenon is part of everyday conversation for many Realtors.  In fact, last June, there was a conference here in Toronto that was devoted specifically to the many opportunities to communicate on the internet and it was "sold out" soon after it was announced. 

It was popular because most of us have this eery feeling that even though we use the net in our day to day business lives and we think we know what it's about, we're certain there's much more out there we're missing out on and therefore we're losing business as a result. 

Part of our challenge is to communicate to our clients that our business model  encompasses all levels of promotion and that their home will get blanket coverage when they use our services.  So here's a story of what can happen when a Realtor does not use the internet.  This story originated on Facebook and was told by a good friend of mine who lives in a small city in Ontario and who did not call me to recommend a Realtor.

Client is trying to sell his house.  Listed for two weeks and no offers.  Client getting annoyed at having to keep the house looking like Martha Stewart's living room and writes a Facebook comment about this.  Friend of client writes back asking about his house (not really in the market but curious).  Friend in question eventually buys house.  Client wonders if he could have sold house without the agent (not in a million years) and therefore sheds a dim light on my profession.  Finds out agent does not have an on-line presence.

I received lots of "hits" from www.realtor.com when I list a property but many are anonymous.  The "hits" I receive from Facebook Market Place are much more substantial and personal and none are anonymous. 

I Simply Can't Tolerate Intolerance

Somehow, my email address ended up on a list (one of many) where fundamentalist views are spewed forth with abandon and seemingly without any thought.  I know the woman who sends this stuff.  She's small town Ontario, not to say this attitude is not prevalent in the big cities.  All you have to do is read the headlines of the Toronto Sun to know these attitudes are promoted openly.   

Below is the latest diatribe.  I did something today I've never done before.  I drafted a response and "replied to all".  Oh no.  I've been outed.

Here's my response:

"People are driven to extremes when life as they know it becomes unbearable.  I’d like to think I’d have the courage to travel for weeks on a rickety boat in squalid conditions to make a better life for myself.  If your children were starving and forced to drink contaminated water, wouldn’t you do anything possible to take them to a better place?

I commend the Tamils for their determination and I welcome them to make a better life here in Canada.  These are the kind of people, be they Italians, Russians, Haitians, Ghanaians, Brazilians or wherever they are from that make this such a rich country. 

As the underprivileged countries become more destitute (as they most surely will) and desperate to feed their children, there will be many more thousands trying to come here.  We’d be wise to welcome them and help them prepare to make a successful life in Canada."

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Real Estate Predictions, for what it's worth

In the Saturday Globe and Mail, thee was an article on the local real estate fall market written by Jill Ireland.  For the most part, it was informative and slightly misleading (as these articles tend to be).  Her alarming statistics comparing the July 2009 real estate market with the July 2010 market were a distortion of the truth.  This is because the July 2009 market was record breaking and we won't see numbers like that again for a very long time.  Let's not compare anything to that season.

Regardless of what Ms. Ireland says, here's a more likely prediction of what will happen.  I don't offer these thoughts as an economist ( I can balance my check book but that's about it) but as a skilled and highly astute Realtor with almost 25 years under my belt. 

Regardless of where it's located, and regardless of the price range, I will be able to sell all of my listings this fall.  All I need to accomplish this is for the Vendor to list at the price I suggest and make a determined effort the spruce up the property (again, by following my suggestions). 

I follow this formula when I sell my own homes and it's works every time, in all markets.

The number of sales this fall will be down compared to 2009.  That doesn't make it a down market.  It makes it an average market. 

After Labour Day, the number of available properties will increase.  I know this because this has happened every year I've been selling houses.  That's what sellers do.  This too will keep prices from moving up.  As a direct result of the increased supply, some properties that would have been expected to sell for top dollar in the spring will not do so well this fall.  These will be the marginal homes that are a bit quirky.  I'm talking about the renovated bungalow in East York with the master bedroom and bathroom in the basement.  They got a good price in April but in a more average market, this home will sit there like a stunned monkey wondering what the hell happened.

However, this will not apply to the special homes in the special neighbourhoods.  I'm referring to the family homes with street appeal, 3+ bedrooms, 2+ bathrooms, private parking and within a prime school district.  These will still sell like deep fried butter at the Canadian National Exhibition. 

Multi family homes will also sell well and in fact might continue to show an increase in price.  Society is not building apartment buildings, duplexes or triplexes like they once did so when one gets listed, it gets scooped up pretty fast.  Young investors are shrewdly looking to rentals to build their fortune and good on them.  If you have the fortitude to deal with tenants and their issues, this has always been a good way to go.

Condos on the other hand might be hurting a bit this fall.  The best units in the prime buildings won't suffer but again, the quirky units with strange layouts might languish on the market for weeks on end.   Maintenance fees have been on the rise city wide, partially because of the HST but also because condo corporations are beginning to increase their contingency funds as these buildings age and deteriorate.  In my view, this trend will continue for quite some time. 

There you have it.  I don't think I've gone too far out on that frail limb. 

Owe It To My Clients To Practice

I wonder how many sales professionals first of all have a set script and secondly, practice said script.  My guess is, very few.

I once poo poo'd the notion that I should actually memorize a formal presentation.  You see, I am a spontaneous person, therefore it would be dishonest to spew out the same words each time I met a new client.  Let it be said, in hindsight, I was in idiot for thinking that.  I now believe that I do my clients an ill service by not being able to describe my services clearly and succinctly.  Why should anyone hire me to help them with their real estate transaction if they don't know what I can and will do for them?

I practice my banjo to play as best I can.  Why should my real estate presentation be any different?

I created a listing presentation early this year and could recite it with ease and clarity.  I've been holidaying lately and have not practiced my presentation in quite some time.  When called upon to speak with a new client last week, my memory failed me.  I did an ok job but must do better next time.

This presentation by the way is excellent.  I've been working on it again recently and soon will be able to perform the 1 minute version, the 5 minute version and the 15 minute version.  Come to think of it, given my gift of the gab, I could come up with a 60 minute version (not that anyone would want to hear it).

Yes, summer will end soon and I must gear up for the fall market.  Time to fine tune the real estate machine.

Can Forgiveness Lead to Prosperity

Real estate trainers proliferate in good markets and in bad.  There are 3 of them who take turns being on the main stage.  Each has an approach to running a successful business and there is value in each curriculum.

A few years ago I was stunned to see Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl in the must read list of Mike Ferry, one of the real estate bull dog trainers.  He's a no BS kind of guy who likes to surprise his students with blunt talk.  For example, you could audibly hear the gasp in the audience years ago when he told 1000+ Realtors that we're not in the business of making friends.  "Our job is to make money!".  Up until then, it was ok to think that but not to advertise it.

This came about during the "mock the part-time house wife agent who seldom sells anything" portion of the seminar.  He loves picking on these poor ladies.  Granted, they aren't very good agents and don't serve the interests of their clients all that well but they do address a need in the market place and some people actually choose to work with them.  I digress.

My point is that I never thought Mike Ferry gave much thought to his search for meaning.  I thought it was clear that his meaning was money.  What do I know?

Now, there's a new approach by another popular seminar leader, Joe Stumpf.  His latest Newsletter has an article on "What is Forgiveness And How Can It Lead To Prosperity?".  This is brilliant and has much to say about an emotion that interferes with our prosperity in life, and I don't just mean financial.

During negotiations involving estates and divorces, I see a lot of venomous behavior between relatives and loved ones.  Wouldn't a little forgiveness go a long way to putting salve on hostilities that bubble over during these negotiations?  Wouldn't driving be more enjoyable if we habitually forgave the guy who cut us off during our hasty trip to the grocery store?

If you could forgive yourself for past discretions, even that might go along way towards alleviating guilt and depression and the bad things that stem from that.  I'll leave that to the self help gurus and the psychologists.

However, unless you're a business pit bull type like Conrad Black (who doesn't appear to have any conscience to speak of), forgiveness would at the very least transfer nasty destructive emotions and channel them into much more productive states of mind.  There's no doubt this would help lead one to prosperity, however you define it. 

Not Your Typical Real Estate Transaction

It wasn't a typical real estate transaction but then I'm not sure there is such a thing.  Let's just say I haven't negotiated a sale like this in quite some time.  It was reminiscent of the late 1980's when buyers and sellers actually negotiated price and terms.  No bidding war here.

Now that it's over, I'm happy to report the details.  It's one of those deals that make this a very interesting profession. 

It was a great house but in all things real estate, it was the location that was the determining factor.  The neighbourhood is certainly a family area.  The thing is, the citizens are primarily of immigrant stock.  I stood outside the local school one day and watched the families come and go.  Pretty much every family was from Southeast Asia or Africa.  I learned from the web site that 50+ languages are represented at this school.

I needed to know this so I could market it properly.  I knew this wasn't going to be a routine process.  I couldn't use the same marketing plan that I would use in more conventional areas like the Beach or the Annex.  There would be no "bidding war".  There would be no "unconditional" offers.  There would be no "show in the morning and offer in the afternoon".  This would take some time.

I was right. 

We had 6 offers on this house before we achieved a successful sale.  Each negotiation was long and drawn-out.  "Tedious" is how the Vendor described it.  The successful buyer ended up visiting the home 7 times before deciding to offer on it.  Even during the negotiation, the back and forth was exhausting.  The other agent had pretty much given up on his clients.  My heart went out to him.  He had worked so very hard on this.  Then, late one night, my client said "no more" and had gone to bed after countering for the last time.  This was expected to end in yet another failed offer but lo and behold, much to everyone's surprise, the buyer relented and said "yes".

The other agent was so happy (or was that stunned?) he could hardly contain himself.  And just for the record, it sold for a very nice price indeed.

How To Fish For Bass In Ontario

First there was Mozart, who everyone knows was a genius.  The same can be said of Michaelangelo.  Then there is my friend R. Dale Burkholder.

Dale isn't a composer or a great sculptor.  He's a great fisherman.  I've seen Dale pull fish out of a lake that hasn't had a live fish in 20 years.  He's that good.

So, in my quest to catch a bass in my Parry Sound Lake, Oastler Lake, I turned to my buddy Dale.  Dale lives in Chemainus B.C. and has a little row boat that he used in the channel near that town.  No one else has the wherewithal to venture in those waters with a row boat but then no one has the passion for fishing that Dale has.  He's also one of two friends in my life who continue to write letters by hand and I love him for that.  So, let's get down to it and learn how to fish according to R. Dale Burkholder.  Fishing 101 for the complete novice:

"1.  Get some bass hooks,

2. Get some pinch on lead split shot (whatever the hell that is),

3. Get some worms, leeches, crayfish (small ones or what have you.  You can use minnows too.  I always liked leeches but they work best in lakes where there are leeches naturally occurring in the lake and they are therefore part of the fishes regular food supply.),

4.  Tie the hook on the end of the line and bait it,

5.  Squeeze one or two small split shot about 16" above the hook,

6.  Go out in the boat to the area where you seen people catching fish, 

7.  You can either (a) cast away from the boat and slowly retrieve the bait by lifting the rod a couple of feet and therefore lifting the bait and letting it settle.  Retrieve the slack.  Wait a couple of minutes and repeat.  Or, (b)  Drop the bait to the bottom, pick up enough so that the sinker is 6" off the bottom and just drift.  No rod action required.

8.  If you get a bite, let the fish take enough time that you can tell by the pull on the rod tip that he's got the bait in his mouth.  Bass can be aggressive feeders but like all fish, if they're not really hunting for food, they're more wary of any unnatural tension or resistance on the bait.

9.  When you think he's go the bait, strike hard to set the hook.

10.  Buy GAMAKATSU hooks. 

Finally, writes R. Dale, "with this method, you can catch bass, perch, sunfish, catfish and even pickerel.  If you want to try for pike, buy a 2-3" green flatfish and cast it in towards a weed bed.  You'll get a big bass sometimes too, especially if you're casting in the evening.  Get a net."

There you have it.  Free advice from one of the best fisherman in the world.

 

Maury Chaykin, dead at 61

I should have created a Nero Wolfe blog category.

This is a fictional detective, a series of books by the late Rex Stout, all written in the 1940's to the 1960's.  I began reading the books somewhere around 1980 and I haven't stopped.  I read and re-read all of the books continuously.  I've since learned that I'm not the only Nero Wolfe fan who is sort of obsessed with the characters, the language, the politics, the vocabulary, the recipes, the orchids, the story lines, manners, etiquette and the very powerful personalities.  There are thousands of Nero Wolfe fanatics around though I've never actually met one in person.

The books have taught me a great deal.  Some day I'll write extensively about each valuable lesson, be it cooking, negotiating, relating, human nature, history and so on.

There have been many on screen (and radio) interpretations of Nero Wolfe but only one actor really captured the true Nero Wolfe character and his name is Maury Chaykin.  Sadly, he died last week.  I only met him once.

Without any doubt in my mind, he WAS Nero Wolfe.

I was standing in a line for something at the Distillery District years ago and Nero (I mean Maury) appeared, right in front of me. At first I was alarmed because this was my first ever meeting with my hero Nero Wolfe and I know him as a blustery and rude man, larger than life.  I gathered my senses, worked up the courage and blurted out, "as someone who reads a little bit of Nero Wolfe every day, you are Nero Wolfe". He then smiled (sort of) as Nero Wolfe would smile (not that ever did) and said "thank you". I made a hasty exit for fear I'd blather on like a star struck teen.
I still visualize Maury as I'm reading and re-reading my favourite passages - he was that good.

Globe & Mail follow up -difference between good and great!

The response to my essay in the Globe and Mail last Thursday was quite overwhelming.  Not only were there some thoughtful comments posted on the internet version, but many sent me personal emails.

Most notable was Whiskey Jack co-founder, John Hoffman, a mandolin/fiddle player who has gone on to a successful career as a professional writer.  John came to the fiddle (and mandolin if memory serves me right) late in life and I recall quite clearly the long tedious practice sessions, the screeching, the scales and the learning new tunes whenever he could catch a minute,  between shows and while we were on the road.   

I think I met John within a few months of picking up the banjo so he witnessed the first few months and years first hand.  In fact, I'd say we learned our prospective instruments together.  I'm certain I wouldn't be the player I am today if it wasn't for John.

Writes John:

"Hey Dun: Nice little piece in the Globe today. I always read that back page,
though not always the personal story, but the photo of the banjo caught my
eye. Anyway, well done. I suspect it's not easy to get published on that
page. The quality of the writing is usually very good, so they have to print
crap.

You know what your story made me think about? All the guys who are way, way
worse than us, but love the music just as much. What kept them from
improving? I know so many who haven't progressed one iota and you can just
tell they never will. Obviously they didn't have the immersion experience
that we did - playing full time for awhile. But it's interesting that you-
without a musical bone in your body - well, you said yourself you had to
learn everything by rote without really understanding what you were doing -
was able to get to the point where, as I have often said, you were good
enough to fool a lot of people (and make some pretty good music and lots of
people liked). I suspect that some of the people I'm referring to who didn't
get good were like you in some ways, but you got beyond it."

He goes on to write:

"You should also talk about how I taught you baritone parts by rote,
sometimes had to kick you to get you to sing, but eventually you got the the
point where you could sometimes - particularly on straightforward bluegrass
tunes - find them yourself. I know all kinds of decent, musical singers who
couldn't find a baritone part if it was sticking out of their ass.

As for immersion, I've been doing my best attempt at immersion in Irish
fiddle since 2004. I play virtually everyday, for close to an hour usually
and I'm still improving. Sometimes I wonder how long I have before my skills
start on a downward curve due to age. I think I've to a few years yet.

But the biggest insight, which I'm sure you would understand is that the
better I get a doing the ornamentation and the more I understand about what
makes it tick, the more I realize what I can't do quite right (even though
I'm pretty good) and the small, yet huge, gap between my playing and the
really good players.

I was in Ireland a month ago and got to play with two different kickass
young women fiddlers.  The precision, yet feel, they played with is awesome.
The good young players are so good, so much better than anybody was in the
1970s or 80s. How good are they going to be in 20 years?"

We Make Our Own Positive Energy

I spent a bit of time yesterday with a local Realtor, a Broker/Owner with over 35 years experience selling in cottage country.  It wasn't easy.

He's 75, owns a small but dominant operation in a prosperous village but he looked bedraggled and downtrodden (metaphorically speaking).  He wants to continue selling real estate but decrease his work hours.  His spark is gone.    It looked to me like he should just give it up now. 

He complained about the slow market and nothing puts me off more than a successful Realtor who complains about a poor market.  Come to think of it, I don't have much time for any Realtor who complains.  A good Realtor goes to work and does his/her job regardless of what's going on in the world.  Get over it.  Even when this gentleman  was singing the praises of his staff and agents there was no enthusiasm in his voice or on his face.

I began to feel sorry for him.  Then I thought better of it.  After all these years, he should know better.  Our business is what it is.  We therefore go to work and do what we do and it's best  not to read the paper, listen to the news or study sales statistics and trends.  Each of us has to define for ourselves what makes for a successful day.  For some its how much money they make.  For others its how well they've served their clients.  For many, it's simply speaking to one client and not be told to "get lost".  

I hope at 75 this fellow can find his mettle and get back up on his horse.   He's had health issues (yes, he moaned about that also) and wouldn't it be sad if this were to return before he could enjoy the fruits of his successful career.

Things to do before I'm placed in a pine box

My list of things to do before I die is short.  I've lived a blessed life and can't bitch too much about not fulfilling my dreams.  However, there were two fantasies that have been eating at me over the years.  I wanted to be accomplished enough on the 5-string banjo to either record an instrumental CD or at least host a concert featuring the tunes I've learned over the years.  Secondly, I've yearned to have an essay printed in the Facts & Arguments page of the Globe and Mail.  Yesterday, I eliminated both.  I've decided I'll never be good enough on the banjo and the story I wrote about on that topic was published in the Globe and Mail.

While I've written many essays with that in mind, I never submitted any of them.  They either weren't good enough or the subject was weak.  Until last week.

I finally sent in an essay and a very few days later, to my surprise, it was published.  I was very excited to view the illustration that accompanied the piece and I hope the artist, Alexei Vella doesn't mind that I'm showing it here. 

The emails I received from readers were numerous and great fun to read.  I'll publish some of these later.  But the best fun of all was reading the on-line comments by anonymous Globe readers.  Last time I looked, there were 16 opinions on the essay and each was thrilling for me, if for no other reason that they took the time to write them.

If you're curious, check them out here.

September Marks Four Years of Blogging

On September 27, I'll be celebrating four years of blogging.  The first entry was very long and disjointed.  In retrospect, I would do it differently today but then, in 2006, I didn't have my "blogging voice" and was just writing for the sake of writing. 

The subjects I write about haven't changed much.  It's still mostly about real estate with a bit of travel, music and other odd and sod topics like C.G. Jung and hockey thrown in.  But mostly, I'm a Realtor and clients have often told me they read this for an outspoken perspective on the industry.

Here's the first entry from September 27, 2006.  It's still one of my favourite real estate stories.

Buyer Representation Story

Buyers are now encouraged to sign contracts with Realtors to ensure proper representation.  This story best describes the advantages to having a Realtor in your corner working on your behalf.

Gail made an offer of $280,000.00 on a house listed for $289,000.00.  I faxed it to the Listing Agent and he presented it to the Vendor.  The agent told me that the Vendor was signing it back at $285,000.00 and making a change to the closing date.   This was irrevocable until 8:00 pm that night.  He told me there was a lot of interest in the house and he suggested that my client accept the offer.   I couldn't meet my client until 7:30 pm so I picked up the sign-back at the office and race to her house to be there before 8:00 pm.

I arrived, opened the envelope and we discovered that the closing date had been changed but the sale price had not.  What to do?

We had two choices:  we could either accept the Offer before 8:00 pm or we could do nothing in which case the deal would be null and void.  If that happened, then any one of the other so called interested buyers would be able to make their own offer.  We didn't have enough time to get the Vendor to make the change before the expiry of the offer.  My client did not want to risk losing the house so she decided to accept the Offer at the mistaken price. 

As her representative, I could not advise her to do anything else.  I was working exclusively on her behalf.  If I had let the offer die with the intention of correcting the mistake the next day,  there was a very good chance that another buyer would have come forth with a second offer.  After all, I was informed by the Listing Agent that there was a great deal of interest on the property.

Needless to say, the agent was upset.  I did explain the situation to my client and I did ask her to consider the error as an honest mistake and sign an Amendment  with the correction.  However, she chose not to, the deal stood and the agent in question to this day refuses to speak with me. 

Buyers are now encouraged to sign contracts with Realtors to ensure proper representation.  This story best describes the advantages to having a Realtor in your corner working on your behalf.

Gail made an offer of $280,000.00 on a house listed for $289,000.00.  I faxed it to the Listing Agent and he presented it to the Vendor.  The agent told me that the Vendor was signing it back at $285,000.00 and making a change to the closing date.   This was irrevocable until 8:00 pm that night.  He told me there was a lot of interest in the house and he suggested that my client accept the offer.   I couldn't meet my client until 7:30 pm so I picked up the sign-back at the office and race to her house to be there before 8:00 pm.

I arrived, opened the envelope and we discovered that the closing date had been changed but the sale price had not.  What to do?

We had two choices:  we could either accept the Offer before 8:00 pm or we could do nothing in which case the deal would be null and void.  If that happened, then any one of the other so called interested buyers would be able to make their own offer.  We didn't have enough time to get the Vendor to make the change before the expiry of the offer.  My client did not want to risk losing the house so she decided to accept the Offer at the mistaken price. 

As her representative, I could not advise her to do anything else.  I was working exclusively on her behalf.  If I had let the offer die with the intention of correcting the mistake the next day,  there was a very good chance that another buyer would have come forth with a second offer.  After all, I was informed by the Listing Agent that there was a great deal of interest on the property.

Needless to say, the agent was upset.  I did explain the situation to my client and I did ask her to consider the error as an honest mistake and sign an Amendment  with the correction.  However, she chose not to, the deal stood and the agent in question to this day refuses to speak with me. 

Two Men, Two Challenges

I have two very close friends, both male, who are in the middle of a health night mare.

The first, a bit younger than me, has had his cancerous prostate removed within the past 6 months and quite recently survived a triple by-pass surgery.  He's doing very well.  I'll see him later today and enjoy his company like I have never done before.  I'm pretty sure our time together will not be frivolous nor our conversation inane.

It's not just his age that disturbs me.  It's the fact he's a fit and vibrant man living a dream life, a great career that he lives for, a loving family and great friends.  These emergency surgeries are not supposed to happen to those of us who take care of ourselves.  I write this and say these words but I don't believe them.  I think I've left behind the delusional life I once lived.  I've passed this on the to the next generation.

Yesterday, I spent the day with friend number two.  This fellow is slightly older than me, recently retired but has maintained his youthful attitude, full of life and busy as hell.  In a week, he'll have his cancerous bladder removed!  Much in his life will never be remotely the same.  As his friend, I'm frightened by the operation and the dramatic adjustments he and his family will have to endure.

I know it's a cliche, but it's so true.  "I simply cannot imagine what these men, their wives and their kids are going through".

I think often of these pals of mine.  I'll visit them as much as possible.  We'll go fishing, play golf (eventually), share good books, travel, dine and share many laughs. 

I'll make sure we do a lot of those things....and often.

Advice is Free

It's Tuesday and already it's been a busy week.   No, I haven't been  negotiating a transaction.  That could still happen but given the low inventory of good houses to sell, it's not looking like a probability at this point. 

No, I've been busy for other reasons.  I've been doling out advice.  I do this for free and I'm more than happy to do it.

To receive advice from a lawyer or an accountant, you need hard cash.  They charge by the hour.  Realtors on the other hand make their money selling houses, condos and businesses.  I've encouraged and in fact promoted the notion that I am to be considered a resource and should be called upon for information related to houses (and banjos if the notion suits the client. 

So far this week, a client asked if their basement should be dug out before finishing.  I received a call from a client looking for someone who could waterproof a basement.  Given the huge amount of rain that fell the night before the call, I made a house call to have a look at the situation.  I suspected that a plugged downspout might have been the problem, or perhaps a poorly graded landscaping job.  I know first hand that many basement contractors make work for themselves by suggesting expensive but unnecessary water proofing repairs ($17,000.00 in this case).  The latter is likely the problem.

I also received a call from a client about to rewire a part of their house.  They wanted to know how many plugs were needed.  They also wanted to know if they should add overhead lights.  The answer was yes to the overhead and "lots" for the plugs.

There are two members of my Business Network International Cabbagetown group who share the same business model.  Andrew Sheppardis a Financial Adviser with Sun Life Financial and he sees himself as the "go to" guy for anything related to finances.  Andrew only gets paid when he sells a product and the more money his clients make, the more money he makes.  It's a good system.

Kerry McDonaldfrom Aaxel Insurance Brokers sells home and car insurance and he also shares this "client first" philosophy.  They are fellow members of this Cabbagetown BNI.  He'll even help you get another quote because he knows he's different than his competitors in that he offers much more value.

Soo Boy Makes Good

Karen and I had dinner with my friend, Stanley Beck and his family last week.  Stanley's a semi retired law professor, mediator, author and all around good guy.  He's been around a few blocks in his day and knows everybody.

Besides discussing the monarchy (Our Queen was in town) and Ontario Premier Bill Davis' brain cramp in 1984 when he expanded Catholic School Funding, we tried to guess who would be our next GG (Governor General).  My first thought was, "who in their right mind would want this job?".  Perhaps someone with something to prove (like the last two excellent GG's) might find this a useful way to spend a few years of their life.  Otherwise, what's the joy of an endless circuit of eating salty and rubberized seal meat and occasionally cow-towing to the whims of the Prime Minister and rubber stamping his undemocratic whims? 

Then Stanley mused that his friend David Johnston was being considered for the role.  "David who" said I.  Stanley kindly informed us of his past and his academic credentials and at first glance, this didn't seem like a believable  rumor.  How wrong we were.

David Johnston will be our new Governor General in October. 

This appointment continued to be puzzling until I heard an interview with a close friend of Mr. Johnston last night.  He said that David (and his wife) are the kind of people who will remember your name and the topic of your discussion ten years after it occurs.  His sense of community is exemplary.  Now it all makes sense.  This is the perfect role for someone who has dedicated his life to giving back. 

I then watched an interview with him and noted the sparkle in his eye and his kindly manner, particularly as he repeatedly included his wife in the proceedings.  He seems to be a really nice guy, a youthful 69 years of age.  I can only hope that I can make it to 69 and further, that I will embrace new challenges with similar enthusiasm.

It's no surprise he's from the Soo and is a terrific hockey player.

The Riches of BNI

I've written here before about my membership in Business Network International, Cabbagetown Chapter.  I've been a member for a couple of months now and it continues to impress.

Think of it.  A group of 20 or more young and motivated entrepreneurs meeting once every week for 90 minutes and their sole goal is to promote and encourage the success of each other's enterprise!  I genuinely want each of them to be successful.  I'm determined to do what I can to make sure this happens.  As I'm in the community looking for new business each day, I'm  not only looking for myself, but for each of them as well.

There's only one member from each professional so there's none of this "conflict of interest" stuff. 

Each meeting, we're allowed 60 seconds or less to present our services to the group, our sales pitch.  This in itself is a good exercise and I've been able to fine tune my presentations thus making them more effective and dare I say, more playful and entertaining. 

Am I getting business from this group?  Most definitely.   Am I sending referrals to them?  Yes indeed.  This is a very powerful too for driving a business and making a business plan a realty.  We're looking too add to the group so I'm keen to meet motivated business people eager to be successful.  Might you know of anyone?

Retire from Real Estate? How? Why? NEVER!

My little society of friends, clients, associates and family seem to be retiring in droves.  Some are even retiring for the second time.  What's going on?  School teachers at 55 get a full pension and head out into the world to start a new life?  How can this be?    Ombudsmen.  Lawyers, consultants, postal workers and on and on. 

My youthful (but much older) sister just retired from a B.C. school board and I've been hearing the excitement in her voice as the clock ticked away.  It's a momentous shift from her normal day to day grind and I can't imagine what that will mean to her. 

It made me think that I've never been to (or even been invited to) a real estate retirement party.  Realtors just seem to disappear when they stop working.  Now you see them!  Now you don't!  Is their retirement something they don't want to celebrate?  Perhaps not.  Retirement from this business usually means they can't sell squat and so what's to celebrate?

Some Realtors join a real estate company but since they never  sell anything, their absence doesn't even register.  The rest of us?  I've been thinking that maybe we never retire.  There are a few "senior" agents that I know in their 70's or 80's.  They sell something every once in awhile.  Most are behind the times so to speak and don't do a particularly good job for their clients (as in not get as much for the property as they should have) but I doubt the client knows the difference.  Even during the life of a real estate career, some agents will be visible for a year or two (usually when Canada Revenue comes a calling) and then they slip under the radar for a few more years.  It's not that they're not selling.  It's just that they aren't selling as much or perhaps not selling in one particular area. 

I wonder if there'll ever be a retirement home built for Realtors, much like there is for aging actors.  I kind of doubt it.  Fund raising might be a problem.  The public doesn't view us as being a particularly needy profession so people might not be inclined to pony up a few bucks so we can build a retirement home.

July 1st - Big Day

Today is a big day.  I guess.  It's the 133rd birthday of Canada and many will celebrate by driving around with a Canadian flag in the window of their car, going to a community barbecue, buying small explosive devices and setting them off at dusk or simply having a Canadian beer at home.

This national celebration isn't as outrageous or over the top as it is south of the border.  We Canadians are generally a bit more staid in our national glory.  We'll gather on Parliament Hill and listen to Stompin' Tom and Whiskey Jack belt out a rousing rendition of the Hockey Song.  However, when all is said and done, nationalism is nationalism and that usually means our announcement to the world "look at us, aren't we great?".

It strikes me as a bit disingenuous to take personal credit for simply being lucky.  But feeling pride at being a Canadian is very much like that.  Few of us have made an personal sacrifice for the betterment of the country.  We haven't fought in a war.  We haven't run for public office.  Hell, most of us don't even volunteer at the local community centre.  Come to think of it, the vast majority didn't even join the massive protests in Toronto last week, in fact, most sat on their derrieres and criticized those who made the effort to try o change and make better what is not so good about this country.

Let's all assume that Canada is the best country in the world.  There's a tendency to feel "proud" to be a Canadian.  As defined in the Collins Pocket Reference English Dictionary, this means "thinking oneself superior to other people".  Why?  Because we're taller?  Smarter?  Richer?  What makes any Canadian superior to anyone else? 

No, there is nothing any Canadian has or does that makes me think they're superior.  Rather, Canadians are simply lucky.  Some ancestor made a prudent move to this land and we just happened to be born in the right place at the right time.  If you were that ancestor, chances are, you were not so lucky.  Maybe they came before Tommy Douglas gave us the health care system we define ourselves by.  Maybe they came before Pierre Trudeau gave us the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

So wave the flag.  Go crazy.  But don't get all puffed up and superior like thinking you're any better than anyone else on this planet.  You just happen to be born in the right place at the right time.

Salt Intake not in doubt when travelling on the 401

The city of Toronto renewed the contract for the Boardwalk Cafe the other day and lo and behold, it wasn't a McDonald's or a Harvey's or a Kentucky Fried Chicken Food.  These purveyors of lousy food seem to secure many of these contracts, probably by undercutting the independent operators who don't have the cash to compete.  I salute the Boardwalk Cafe and wish them continued success. 

However, the big food suppliers have prevailed on the major highway service centres.  I just read in The Star that the new "tenants will include Quiznos, Casey’s, East Side Mario’s, Extreme Pita, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pizza Pizza, Yogen Fruz, New York Fries, Teriyaki Experience, Starbucks, A & W, Burger King, Brioche Doree, Bento Nouveau and Cold Stone Creamery."

Last time I looked, none of these companies offered anything that can be remotely described as healthy fare.  Come to think of it, my guess is if you ate at these establishments exclusively for most of your life, you'd sacrifice many years of healthy living. 

What they generally do have in common however is dangerously high salt content in pretty much everything they serve.  Good to know.  Next time I need to replenish my daily salt intake, I really must remember to drive to a highway service centre and eat something... ANYTHING!