Two nights ago was such a time for me and my wonderful out-of-town buyers, who had driven 2 hours to meet me at the home they thought they might like to purchase.  We met as planned, toured the house and then sat down at the dining room table to discuss the offer.   Although I hadn’t known these folks for very long, they felt like they might become friends – we really seemed to hit it off.  Little did I know, our relationship was about to become far more intimate!

As we pored over the numerous documents involved in making an offer, I began to realize that I was unable to concentrate on what my clients were saying to me.  Why you ask?  The answer is simple:  I was having crushing pain to my chest and back and was finding it hard to breathe, let alone listen!  After trying to abate the problem by standing up and stretching, it became clear to the clients that I needed medical help – despite my protestations to the contrary.  They called 911 after I reluctantly consented.  I wanted to crawl in a hole.

By the time the ambulance got to us, I was starting to feel a little better.  The EMS attendants came in with their equipment and a  STRETCHER!  They opened my blouse (darn-it – why hadn’t I lost weight so that I had the body of a bare super-model, when I had the chance??) to check out the problem.  I was mortified, and frankly, I was not the most co-operative patient, explaining repeatedly that I definitely did not need help to walk.  The attendants were having none of my malarkey.  They tried to tell me that I had had a heart attack after interpreting my ECG. I kept trying to correct them, because I, of course, know more than they do (or so I thought).  They told me I needed an I.V. so that they could easily administer heart medication, and I told them there was a) no need for that, thank you very much,  and b) no way they were putting that needle in my arm !! (I have a needle phobia.)  After many negotiations, I think I exasperated them. They drove me, (and I’m sure I drove them, too) despite my vociferous admonishments not to, with lights and sirens away from the showing property.  It may have been my proudest moment in REAL ESTATE:  bare-chested in front of strangers, strapped to a stretcher, lights and sirens announcing my inability to ambulate, and leaving two very worried clients chasing behind the ambulance through every red light all the way to the hospital in a strange town.  Clearly, no-one understood that all I wanted was to finish the offer!

Fast forward to 9:30 p.m. – after receiving every form of torture-test known to man via needle, I.V. (no, I’m not exaggerating-well, maybe a bit) and having a chest x-ray, it was decided that the early ECG was an anomaly and that I was fit to go home. Thank goodness, because I was STARVING! (See notes above re aforementioned body issues and disregard please.. supermodels don’t get to eat!)

Sleep came easily, but with the first light of dawn, my embarrassment returned.  How would I ever face these clients again?  How would they face me after seeing me ‘au naturel,’ as it were?  I mused that I might suggest that they have to come to our next showing ‘starkers’ but that may be considered in bad taste – or contra my code of ethics.  By early in my workday, I had the pleasure of communicating with these wonderful people, and you’ll be pleased to know, we are going ahead with their offer.  Despite the humiliation of last night, everything seems to be copacetic between us, with almost no after effects of getting so up-close and personal on only our second meeting! After all, they took my breath away, and I bared my soul to them.  How many REALTORS® and clients can say that?

I’ve been thinking about this topic because while I love seeing the holiday displays, I’m also an energy miser and have a bit of a problem with all that electricity being used.  I think there are some compromises we can make and I’m really interested to hear other people’s thoughts on this topic.

First, it now goes without saying that getting rid of the old traditional Christmas lights is long over-due.  LED lights use 90% less energy. 
 
Consider using solar powered Christmas lights outside.  I see Canadian Tire offers a fairly large selection of these but reviews are mixed.  If they work, great but if they don’t, they are simply landfill.  Has anyone used them locally?

Use fewer lights.  There is no need to go over the top unless winning a contest is critically important to you for some reason.  I’ve seen some really nice displays using natural materials illuminated by a single flood lamp.  How about a solar powered flood light?

I’d really appreciate your input, comments and ideas on this.

Last week, I had the opportunity to talk with John Nichols on The Peak 95.1 radio station in Collingwood about Wordstock, an upcoming literary festival here in Collingwood which I co-chair.  It was actually kind of fun and John made it easy.  I didn’t drool on the mic, cough or cry.  One down, two to go.

On Tuesday morning, I’m joining the oh-so-awesome Mariane McLeod,  News Director at 97.7 The Beach radio to talk about cottage country real estate – a sort of overview about the local market and maybe even a quick chat about our home solar project if time permits.  I’m hoping Mariane puts a shot of something in my coffee.  No wait, then I’ll have to go… never mind.

On Tuesday evening, I’ll be on Penny Skelton Live on Rogers TV with some of the Wordstock team to talk about… Wordstock of course.  That one scares the heck out of me.  What do you wear on a TV show?  Do you think a cocktail dress is overdoing it?  Are PJ’s only for high school kids?  What if I get a runny nose?

If you are looking for some comedy, tune in.  Or not.  Maybe, better not.  Thanks and good night.

 Marg and Chris 

THE BLUE MOUNTAINS
 A Vote by Mail ballot kit is mailed to all eligible voters shown on the Voter’s List.  Voters have the option of returning the Ballot Return Envelope containing the sealed Ballot Secrecy Envelope and Voter’s Qualification Form to the Town Office by Canada Post or directly to the Town Office up to the final Voting Day on October 25, 2010, until 8:00 p.m.  There are no voting places in a Vote by Mail election.  To ensure accuracy of the Voter’s List, eligible voters may check the Voter’s List beginning in September and if qualified, will be added to the Voter’s List up to the close of voting on October 25, 2010.   Click here  for election information for The Blue Mountains.

CLEARVIEW TOWNSHIP
The Township of Clearview will be using Mail-In Ballots for voting.  There will be no polling stations or advance polls.  Voting is by mail only.  Ballots were mailed out on September 28, 2010.  Last day to return ballots by mail is October 16, 2010.  Ballots may be hand delivered to the Clearview Township Administration Centre at 217 Gideon Street, Stayner during normal business hours until 8:00 PM on October 25, 2010.  Election Results will be released to the public and will be posted on the Township of Clearview’s website on October 25 after 8:30 pm.

TOWN OF COLLINGWOOD 
Click here  for Town of Collingwood Election 2010 information.  Electors may return their ballot to the Town of Collingwood by the following means:

1. By Mail
Prepaid return envelopes will be provided in the Vote by Mail Kit. The last day to mail your ballot in order to ensure that it is received by the October 25th deadline is October 16th, 2010.
2. Ballot Return Station
Ballot Drop Boxes will be established for those electors wishing to deposit or have deposited their Yellow Return Voting Envelope directly to the Clerk or designated election official at the Town Hall located at 97 Hurontario Street, Collingwood, Ontario during the following dates and times:  Monday to Friday, October 4 to October 22, 2010 from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday, October 9, 2010 form 11:00am to 3:00pm
Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 11:00am to 3:00pm
Monday, October 25, 2010 from 8:30am to 8:00pm
3. Afterhours
Hand delivered completed Yellow Return Voting Envelopes can be deposited in the mail slot located at the front entrance to the Town Hall at 97 Hurontario Street, Ontario prior to 8:00 p.m. on Voting Day, October 25, 2010 and will be considered as having been mailed.

MUNICIPALITY OF MEAFORD
The Municipality of Meaford is using a “vote by mail” method for the 2010 Municipal Election.  Under the voting method, advance voting will be continuous from the day after ballots are mailed until election day, October 25, 2010.  Mail in ballots should be received by voters by the beginning of October 2010.  Voters will have up to 8 p.m. on Election day to submit their ballot to the Municipal Office located at 21 Trowbridge Street West, Meaford on Monday, October 25, 2010.  Click here for the Municipality of Meaford’s election information. 

TOWN OF WASAGA BEACH
Wasaga Beach is not holding mail-in ballots.  Location information for polling stations can be found below.

TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE:
On Voting Day you:
*Reside in Wasaga Beach, or
 *Are the owner or tenant of land in Wasaga Beach or the spouse of such owner or tenant: and are a Canadian Citizen.   (You should be prepared to show proof of citizenship)
*Are at least 18 year years old, and
*Are not prohibited from voting under the Municipal Elections Act or otherwise by law.

IDENTIFICATION: The Province has established specific voter ID requirements for the 2010 Municipal Election.   An original document showing the person’s name, qualifying address (Wasaga Beach) and signature is required.  To view a list of acceptable forms of ID visit www.wasagabeach.com or contact the Clerk’s Office at Town Hall at 705-429-3844.  It is mandatory that all electors are required to provide proof of identification before receiving a ballot. Voting locations’ dates and times can be found here.  Voting location lookup can be found here.

One of the great things about living in the Georgian Triangle is that you are never more than 5 minutes from the peaceful countryside.  Agriculture is alive and well as are fall fairs, 100-mile markets and even a new tour called the Apple Pie Trail.
 
On one of our recent “drive-in-the-blue” adventures, we stopped in at the Ravenna Country Market which is located on Grey Road 2 just south of Thornbury.  We were exploring the store when a woman handed us a sipping cup to taste the soup of the day creation.  Now I’m not much of a soup eater but one sip of the zucchini and aged white cheddar concoction sent me running to the counter to order a bowl.  We also had the amazingly light and delicious bacon, chive and cheese biscuits and, my number one guilty pleasure – a homemade butter-raisin tart.
 
I highly recommend you stop in on your fall colour tour this year.  Pick up some apple crisp, Osso Buco or any of the other entrees-to-go that you can take home and extend the pleasures of your day.

One of my favourite clients invited me out to her cottage just west of Thornbury one sunny afternoon.  We ate freshly picked cherries from Goldsmiths up the road.  I dug my toes in the sand.  The water was as clear as a crystal.  Some days my job is really tough.

Sometimes, nature is right on your own door step.

Last night, this wee baby came knocking on our door.  Really – s/he was literally knocking with it’s two front hooves on our door!  In case you are wondering, we live in-town in a built up nieghbourhood.

Oh, deer

The vast majority of REALTORS® are competent and a pleasure to deal with so this is not intended to slander any of them in any way.   There are a few things though that I would call “areas of concern” and it’s those things that are making me crankier than usual.

In our online word, buyers expect to see photographs and lots of them yet, I come across listing with no photos all the time.  Or listings with pictures of the front door and the driveway.  Worse still, are the  blurred pictures snapped from a cell phone or pictures of the messy kitchen or bathroom showcasing the raised toilet seat.  What are they thinking?

In the last couple of years, I’ve sold a number of income producing properties which are generally part of a rental program.  If the value of a property is tied to its income, you’d think someone would have financial statements, right?  Wrong.  In many cases, we have to chase these down which is incredibly time consuming and really, time wasting. 

Then there are the listings that present incorrect tax information.  There are ones that report the square footage incorrectly.  Frustratingly, many show the number of bedrooms incorrectly.  If there are two bedrooms on the main floor and one in the basement, this is not 3 bedrooms.  It is to be reported as 2+1 bedrooms.  It makes a big difference to buyers.

Recently, I’ve come across two condominium listings that presented a street address but no unit number.  Am I supposed to guess?

Now I wonder, are the Sellers aware of these problems?  Surely they’ve looked up their own listings online.  Do they ask for corrections, changes or improvements?  Are they content to let the agent “do their job” and leave it at that?  For the many of my collegues who work hard to represent their clients fully and professionally, I know it drives them nuts too.
 
In the end, it’s the consumer that needs to do their job in researching and choosing a real estate agent who will fully and professionally do their job.  With hundreds to chose from in any given area, this really isn’t hard.