Bright idea nets hospital $7,910 Darryl Lambert of Georgetown, Ontario has been declared Canada’s Most Outrageous Holiday Home Decorator after a nation-wide search by website OutrageousLights.ca.Lambert’s home, located at 14 Johnson Crescent in Georgetown, 20 minutes west of Toronto, features more than 45,000 lights intricately choreographed to festive music with a techno beat. The display uses nearly 1,000 meters of extension cord, 230 dimmer channels, 26,000 LEDs and more than 10,000 mini lights. Visitors are able to tune their car radios to an FM radio signal to hear the synchronized music. Check out there website: http://www.lambertslights.com   Bright idea nets hospital $7,910. Ted Brown   As a result of their month-long holiday light display, the Lambert family on Johnson Crescent... 12/24/2011

Hey Folks, Can you believe how quickly the holiday season has come upon us? I know I can't. I wanted to send out a quick message to let you know of our last minute special. If you still haven't gotten your Christmas mass mailing out - don't fret! Shoot us over a quick email and we will have it done for you in a jiffy. 24 to 48 hour turn-around within the Halton Hills area. Christmas Mail Outs Complete within 24-48 hours! You still have lots of time to get your calendars, cards and newsletters to your clients before Christmas.   12/06/2011

This is just a quick note to introduce myself. My name is Jerri-Ellen Fraser and I am your neighbourhood real estate specialist.I would very much like for you to consider me your real estate resource. I can provide you with valuable information about recent sales, tax assessments and other information about your neighbourhood you may not have known. I'm even able to tell you what buyers are currently looking for in homes around your area.Don't be shy! If you have any questions at all, I'd be more than happy to answer them for you. Just drop me a line or send me an email. I'm committed to being your neighbourhood real estate specialist. 08/26/2009

Home staging in Georgetown and Halton has become quite an essential strategy to selling homes today in the area. Many Home owners and Realtors are seeking the professional advise of a home stager prior to listing a home because statistics have proved year over year that staged homes sell faster and for more money than comparable homes not staged. I recently received a call from home owners that lived on Chester Street in Georgetown South.  Their home had been on the market for over 7 months and it had been reduced significantly over this period of time. The home was listed by their agent as the best value per square foot in the Georgetown South area for sale.  Still, buyers could not appreciate and see the value in this wonderful home.  I was hired to conduct a home staging consultation... 07/07/2009

"You don't have to be everything to everyone; you just have to be something to someone." Don't you think this quote speaks volumes? Seriously though, let's embrace this profound statement for a moment... (Embracing) So, here's the thing...I've quickly discovered as a business owner; I've strived to market myself to a large group of people, I also had a desire to "please" everyone. Here's the problem: I simply couldn't! I couldn't possibly please everyone, it's just not possible.  When I created my marketing material with promises to my prospects that I was the best; and in turn prospects just had to do business with me, I was falsely advertising myself and my core values of my business. Why you ask? Because I couldn't possibly be everything to everyone! Kicking it old school - Take it b... 03/17/2009

When conducting an open house, it is important to gather feedback from people viewing the property in order to assist the seller in making their home more marketable. A great way to capture the feedback is to provide a type of guestbook for people to sign and leave their comments.   Provide a feedback System Make it easy for people to leave their comments by providing simple statements that can be checked off.  Leave space for additional comments and don't forget to ask for their contact information.  Supply a check mark box indicating if they wish to be contacted. Kill Two Birds with One Stone By providing a chance for people to leave their feedback, you will help your clients make their home memorable as well as; give you an opportunity to follow-up with those that wish to be contact... 12/17/2008

If you haven't tried to market your business with your cards - you should.  Business cards are a great cost-effective marketing tool. Stand out and be noticed Your cards should be eye-appealing and memorable.  You want your cards to stand out and encourage people to contact you when they are in need of your services.  Each and every aspect of your card should be strategically planned and have meaning. A design that makes sense Your business cards must include your company name, contact information, state what you do and why people should do business with you.  Did I mention they should be visually appealing? Marketing yourself for all your worth Design your cards to conveniently fit in a wallet. If it's too big and bulky, people are likely to throw them away or bury them in paperwork. ... 12/17/2008

I thought I would reiterate the importance of having a branded identity.  For some, you may be thinking, "OK I've hear of branding but, what does that actually mean"? A branded identity is your opportunity to shine.  To put together a logo, colour scheme and design for your business that will allow you to successfully stand out about your competition. You want your identity to be eye appealing, catchy and memorable.  With successful branding, prospective clients will remember your name and be more willing to seek your services when needed. Be sure to carry your branded image across all marketing material.  Prospective clients need to see your name at least 7 times before they actually begin to remember you. For help or suggestions with your business branding, contact Ness Lindsay today!... 12/17/2008

I have been a stay-at-home mom since my daughter was born.  It's hard to believe that was eight years ago! Throughout this time, I had done small jobs for family and friends but for the most part, I was devoted 100% to my children and family. After the birth of my son in 2003, my husband and I began to talk about my returning to work once my son started school.  I looked forward to the idea as I thought it would be nice to get back into the workforce and socialize with adults again.  However, as my son got older, I began to have second thoughts.  I couldn't fathom the idea of my children going to daycare.  The thought of another person seeing a new milestone before I did was heart wrenching! I had to come up with an idea that would allow me to work from home.  This I thought was my only... 12/17/2008

I am sure some agents have already thought of and practised this; I would be naive to think otherwise. However, I personally have never seen it done in my community and therefore, I feel it is noteworthy. Most people want/need recognition. As humans, we love the idea of receiving tangible items for free and relish the idea of someone making an effort to appreciate us. So, with that said, my proposal to you is to hold an annual client appreciation day.  Your first thought may be ‘But I'm just a small company, I couldn't afford this'.  BUT WAIT...here me out! As a small business owner or a large company, you could easily pull this off with little to no cost to you.  How? Simple...INVOLVE YOUR COMMUNITY! That's right. Contact local businesses in the area (be sure to give them enough time t... 12/17/2008

Have you ever wished you had more hours in a day? Or thought time sure flies fast? When was the last time you left the office at 5 o'clock? Why not commit this week to simplifying your life? Give yourself the opportunity to stop being so caught up in everyday activities. Start taking time to truly enjoy life, your spouse and your children. Designate a family day or ‘it's all about me' day.  Make time to enjoy Mother Nature, the laughter of a child or perhaps give back to your community. It's so easy to get wrapped up in your everyday life and before you know it - life has quickly passed you by.  Try to delegate your extra work load, clear your desk and your schedule.  If you don't wish to delegate work long-term, at least plan to delegate your extra work for this week or next.  You'll ... 12/17/2008

In 2007, the National Association of Realtors released a survey that revealed 73% of prospective buyers that saw a home on the internet drove by/viewed the home of interest.  57% of people who viewed a home on-line completed a walk through of the home. It goes without saying, being in the Real Estate industry, it is imperative to have a solid business foundation in all areas.  43% of buyers who found an agent were referred to by a friend while 11% used an agent they worked with previously and 8% found an agent via the internet. With today's technology, the importance of having a presence in your local community as well as on the internet is so vital, especially when 89% of agents have a website! Can you really afford not to have a website? To Your Success, Ness Lindsay http://www.nessli... 12/17/2008

Good Morning Everyone, I just have a quick question and I hoping someone could share their two cents. I currently have an active blog that I use regularly on Wordpress.com.  As a Real Estate Professional Assistant (REPA), I am considering transferring all my posts on wordpress to active rain.  I believe in being consistent in one location opposed to trying to maintain several networking sites. I would like to make more of a contribution to active rain considering this is where my prospective clients are at. :) Here is my question: Do you think it would be beneficial for me to transfer my currently blog from wordpress.com to active rain and continue to use *just* my active rain blog account from now on? Your opinion in this matter would be greatly appreciated. To Your Success, Vanessa Li... 12/16/2008

When you dream of your dream home, what do you see? Each of us has a vision of what it will be, but getting as close to that vision as possible is a practical, step-by-step process that begins with finding a REALTOR®. A REALTOR® is your best ally throughout the home buying process. He or she can provide expert advice and help you determine how much you can afford, what kind of home you can buy in that price range, and where it may be located.     You've no doubt heard the phrase: location, location, location. That's because it's the most important factor in making any real estate purchase. To find the right location you must think of where you want to live both in broader terms and in more detail. First of all what type of area do you want to live in? Urban: Urban communities offer the ... 12/02/2008

A lack of storage space is a common concern for many homeowners. Although a bigger problem for older homes, even new homes with all their closets and cupboards can seem cramped and cluttered. There is a difference between not enough space and an ineffective use of space. The solution is to maximize all the space you have available. Most closets can hold much more than they do if they are properly organized. Not to mention all the valuable storage space lurking in nooks and crannies throughout your home. Getting organized has become big business these days as busy people try to cram as much as possible into their lives - and their closets. A number of "organizer" stores have opened up dedicated entirely to storage solutions. The Ontario Real Estate Association and your local REALTOR®  of... 11/26/2008

Just like you take a car for regular tune ups to ensure it continues to run smoothly, your home also needs some special attention. There's a lot more to keeping up a house than cutting the grass and clearing snow from the driveway. Ensuring your home "looks" good and is in proper working order, not only makes it more attractive and comfortable, but it can also increase the market value of the property. Homeowners who plan to move within a few years are often reluctant to invest time and money on improvement projects that may not pay them back. But unless these improvements are very specialized, any project you choose - from fixing leaky faucets to installing new energy efficient windows - will start to pay you back in energy savings and comfort long before you sell. The wisest improveme... 11/26/2008

Moms, Dads and Grandparents of Halton Hills! Here Some Halloween tips and a joke or two. I found over the years that treating your kids to a spooky and fun Halloween dinner by black candle light for example made them less likely to eat tooo many candy on Halloween night. Just food for thought,LOL. Keep walkways lit to your home and please make sure that your candle lit pumpkins are away from where costumes may catch the flame. Make sure you review the basic everyday saftey tips on traffic and talking to strangers. It is best to send an adult or older teenager with them so you know they will be OK. Secure emergency identification discreetly within Halloween attire. Openly discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior at Halloween time.  Kids may know what is right and wrong on their own... 10/20/2008

OK, so you're an agent who sells homes. Fantastic! So, are a thousand other agents within your area! What makes you stand out from your competition? Do you have a compelling website? How about your top notch customer service? What about something as simple as the feature brochures you use to help market your listings? Do prospective buyers open your feature brochure and say "Wow! This house is beautiful" Or "I love the design and how you highlight the key features of this home"? If you can't honestly say yes to these questions, you're probably in need of a minor face-lift that will do wonders for your business. Your feature brochure should include the following: 1.      Your branded identity 2.      A simple but eye catching design 3.      High resolution pictures of the home for sale 4... 10/08/2008

If you're like most agents, you probably manage every aspect of your business by yourself.  If you haven't mastered your multi-tasking skills, you are probably bombarded with paperwork and a to-do list that is longer than your arm.  OR, you may have mastered your multi-tasking skills but haven't made it out of the office by 5 o'clock in a while. If you can relate to these scenarios - YOU NEED AN ASSISTANT! A virtual assistant can help you maintain efficiency and ease your stress.  Delegating to an assistant will help create a balance and save you time.  Thus, giving you an opportunity to do what you do best - SELLING HOMES! If you're considering using an assistant, don't be afraid to admit you need help.  In 2007, the National Association of REALTORS ® released these statistics: ·      ... 10/08/2008

As a real estate professional, you rely on your reputation and word of mouth from clients. I am confident you strive to provide the best possible service for your clients.  Keep in mind, once the sold sign in hammered into the lawn, your job should not stop there. You should continue to keep in contact with your clients for years to come.  A great way to continue your rapport is to offer a house warming gift. Your clients are probably over the moon with their new purchase and perhaps their most important investment.  Receiving a little token of appreciation from their agent would likely be a welcoming blessing. It isn't necessary to spend a large amount of money, a simple center piece for their dining room table, or a package of popcorn and free movie rental would be sufficient enough. ... 10/08/2008