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Realty Speaking
20 LOW COST WAYS TO SPRUCE UP YOUR HOME | |
| Over my 30 plus years in the real estate business, overseeing 1000’s of sales, I have found that quite often a simple, cost effective action can help make a sale. Here are some of my observations. 1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows reducing light. 2. Buy a new doormat. 3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a ... READ MORE | |
4.5% Mortgage Rates WOW! | |
| In any job / business / profession, it is important to stay on top of or at least attempt to stay even with new trends, ideas, things that work, things that don't. I have always read trade publications, taken seminars, courses etc. and always pick up at least one (usually several) ideas that I try and implement. One of the ... READ MORE | |
A LADY SAYS THANK YOU | |
| Anyone remotely interested in real estate (I realize not EVERYONE has my passion for real estate) is aware of a housing disaster in the United States. Very basically, the banks, in their over exuberance to lend money in a real estate market that saw values dramatically increasing, created lending vehicles to allow people who had no real business of owing ... READ MORE | |
A Start in Sales | |
| A marketing experience I enjoyed this week has caused some great chuckles. On returning from lunch, Tracey reported that her five year old daughter Alyvia (my grand-daughter) had a stand set up at the end of the driveway and was selling leaves. Now, these were not just any leaves, they were “special” maple leaves from her front yard tree ... READ MORE | |
Count Your Blessings | |
| Because of an appointment, I had to journey to Toronto on Thursday. Appointment 2:15. Location - Bloor and Avenue Road area. Left Hamilton at 11:00. Traffic! From Bronte Road to Spadina we were stopped at least five times. On other occasions, traveling at 120km we had aspiring NASCAR drivers parked on our bumper. At the Gardner/Spadina cutoff, there was a ... READ MORE | |
Golfing with Russ Jackson | |
| One of my first days at Caledonia High School, I recall Bill Prince mentioning that he was going to a Hamilton Ticat Football game ... I was awestruck! I couldn't, in my wildest dreams, imagine going to a real football game. A few years later, I too, got to go to "I never win" stadium and witness a live, professional football ... READ MORE | |
Grade 9 SHOP | |
| Another Caithness Street arena memory was the location of SHOP . In grade nine, all boys were required to take INDUSTRIAL ARTS, which became shortened to SHOP. Quite a change from today s grade nine options imagine, our oldest grandkids are off to grade nine next year. Our SHOP class was up above the entrance last used as ... READ MORE | |
Long Distance Information | |
| Needed a phone number the other day, so I dialed 411. A recording asked me to say whether or not I wanted to speak in English or French, what city, what province, the name, the street then I was asked to wait… the a real person came on and asked what city. I knew communications were going to be tested ... READ MORE | |
Lorrie Griffey's 65 | |
| A couple of triggers have caused the reflector to get pulled this week. I noticed a Spectator headline on the dating of young folk it starts with group activities, which then leads to attraction amongst group members to proceed to shows, dances, etc. I also had a call from the infamous Griffey twins informing me of the big 65th ... READ MORE | |
SAPS-A-RUNNING | |
| Boy, it s been quite a winter lots of snow, lots of sub 0 C or 32 for us Older Folk and more winter wind than I can remember. However, it s all but over! A sure sign of spring back on the Second Line was the preparation for Maple Syrup. We had about 40 acres of mixed hardwood bush ... READ MORE | |
The Drive Thru | |
| What would we do without the drive thru? Just this week Richard Anderson and I talked about what seems to be everybody’s favourite coffee shop and its drive thru – probably more profitable for the establishment to have you NOT come in, just drive through and deposit. Quite a phenomenon really – even in Caledonia you can get dairy delights, ... READ MORE | |
The Kiss Goodnight ... PRICELESS! | |
| Back when you and I were young Maggie ... the typical weekend experience went something like this ... Off the school bus at about 4:30, walk a mile - UPHILL - change to work clothes, complete chores, cleanup, supper, then receive your allowance - $10.00 as I remember. Around 7:00, fire up the Studebaker Lark, disconnect the speedometer cable, stop ... READ MORE | |
Time Marches On | |
| One of the first realizations of aging for me, was the election of Bill Clinton as President of the U.S. For the first time in my life, a President was younger than I! As time marches on, other benchmarks or signals or events keep reminding us of the process – reading glasses, hip aches, grandchildren, older friends retiring (Bill & ... READ MORE | |
What's Your Commission Rate? | |
| What’s Your Commission Rate? I find it difficult to while-away the hours while Laurie shops-away the limit on the VISA. When I’m subjected to this painful endurance test, I think of something it would be nice to have but not something I need, and ‘head-out.’ A couple of years back, I thought it would be good to have a ... READ MORE | |
Who's driving your bus? | |
| The decision to use the services of a person/business in an area of need (financial adviser, lawyer, car salesman, realtor etc.) is not always an easy one. A few years back, I was asked to market a home for a young couple who were moving up to a newer larger home. I enjoyed the meetings, the questions, the entire process. When we were completing the paperwork to finalize the transaction, ... READ MORE | |
Your Piece of Pie | |
| Coffee hour at church recently saw an interesting conversation ensue concerning the standard of church suppers. Don Wilson who is an expert on the topic says all church suppers are rated on a scale that sees the "Gore" or Clanbrassil as former councilor Joe Nelles would have it called - the "Gore United Church" is the standard to strive to equal.... ... READ MORE | |