The Growth Of Mobile Phone Searching

Written By: Alykhan Virani

Searching on Your Mobile Phone Is Different From Searching On Your Desktop PC.

By the end of 2013, mobile search will bypass desktop search. To put it another way, by next year, your company will more likely be found on a mobile device than on a desktop or laptop. You need to understand mobile search and prepare for it RIGHT NOW. Why?

1) Mobile searchers are ready to buy.

According to Google, 90% of mobile searches result in action in 1 day. According to Mobile Marketing World 70% of mobile searches result in the prospect taking action within 1 hour. These statistics are stunning!  Mobile searchers are ready to buy. They have done research by the time they conduct a mobile search. They are ready to buy immediately.

2) Mobile searches produce a disproportionate number of phone calls.

Nielsen has reported that 73% of mobile users say they regularly look up and call business numbers. So what happens if your website is not optimized for mobile? You lose out because the person may have a problem finding your phone number.

3) Mobile search is growing and will continue to do so.

The use of smartphones is growing at an exponential rate. More than likely, the rate of mobile search will increase proportionately. When precisely mobile search will bypass desktop search is not known, but this is a fact – beyond 2015 or 2016 mobile search will own 70-80% of the search market.  You had better start figuring out mobile search right now.

The message is clear......Get yourself a mobile website.

 Hi Everyone

Here is a link to our new Video.  This is a fun look at what we are all about at Sutton...

Caution:  There are some funky dance moves here....Just an FYI...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=bx6ZLrn_gK0

if the link doesn't work....go to:  www.suttonlysuccessful.com to view

Have a great long weekend and I hope to see you at our Wine and Cheese Educational night here at the office at 4:30....

Kelly Johnston

 DOES YOUR WEBSITE WORK FOR YOU?  Funny question huh?  

If you are a REALTOR who is serious about his/her business then you should be answering YES to this question and, your should understand the question fully.  Personally, I find myself on this never-ending journey of learning when it comes to the Internet and Websites and Social Media and gadgets iPads etc etc etc....it is moving so fast.  Pay attention.  

Imagine yourself on the beach and you are on a "boogie board" and your paddling out to the waves in the ocean.....You get ready and start paddling to catch the wave and then you easily float towards the shore and it is a lot of fun.  BUT if you miss the wave, then you have more paddling to do.  It is harder to get going.  You could actually end up stranded out there if another wave doesn't come by and it is a lot of extra work to paddle back to shore.

If you think it is a lot of work to keep up with technology then you better understand that it is only going to get tougher.  It is happening my friend and you cannot stop it.  You will actually work a lot harder for the same results unless you embrace the new things that are coming your way.  Ride the Wave Man...

Do you know what SEO is?  Search Enginie Optimization.  How do you get FOUND on the internet?  This has changed.  What worked 6 months ago now doesn't work.  The algorythms have been re-written.  Google and Bing and all of the other search engines out there are looking for you differently now.  Are YOU relevant?  Is your content relvant?  Are you a contributor to your industry?  Why would someone want to go to your website?  To learn about you and your listings and your company?  Why would they care?  What have you got to offer them?  

If if freaks you out to hear this stuff don't worry.  If you are thinking about how much it is going to cost in time and money to make changes to your website....I get it.  I understand and I actullay feel for you.  I was that guy.  It was driving me nuts.  I had a website designed and put together for me 9 years ago.  check it out if you want.... www.happyhomesbc.ca and I spent close to $20,000 on that site. - pause for a second.  Yes.  I am over it now.  But if I need to make any changes to it or add something or even change my picture it costs me money.  Gross.  I know.

This led me to research a whole bunch of website companies who totally focus on the Real Estate Industry.  I went through them all and have now settled on a company that I think is awesome.  So awesome in fact that I am actually bringing them out to Chilliwack to my office on Friday, February 8, 2013 at 4:30 to speak to REALTORs on how important certain elements to a website are and WHY that is so crucial.  You don't want to miss this event.  It is FREE.  AND there will be prizes and Food and Wine and other Beverages...Just show up for the FREE stuff if you want but this is valuable information that could revolutionize your business.  Come hang out with us at our office....9240 Young Road, Chilliwack...It would even be great if you RSVP's to Rabia so that we can get an idea of numbers...604-793-9900.

See my funny VLOG for some laughs....you gotta watch it to the end..

VIDEO INVITE - CLICK HERE

If you are from another Real Estate office and you have recieved this letter be forwarned that this is a major promo piece for Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd.  Some people don't know what they don't know and it is hard to meet every person out there....so this is an FYI for you.  It is absolutely applicable and it is TRUE.  

Value Proposition….it is the most important thing to talk about when promoting your business to anyone. If you are able to provide and communicate the best value proposition then you take yourself out of being a commodity and becoming something of value. However, it cannot be just “words”. It has to be real. EASY comes true. It is easy to get the business once you have taken the time to create the absolute best Value Proposition. Ensuring that your competition is not even close. Ensuring that you make yourself a “no brainer”. The hard part is being creative. The hard part is putting yourself in the shoes of your target market. Giving them what they want. Making it affordable for your business plan, while creating great impact. Making it easier to make a lot of money does not come by accident or happenstance. Do not get complacent. Do not rest until you are fully aware and absolutely certain that you provide the absolute best Value Proposition for your target market. Then you will win every time. And it will be easy.

In order to prove that I lead by example….read the following….ask yourself if I am making it easier for my REALTORs to win in the marketplace….

Our Cottonwood Mall Kiosk – great location and very functional. We are the only office in Chilliwack that has a kiosk in the Mall. In fact, we are the only office in town that actually has two locations….Our Sutton Downtown Business Centre Downtown and our Mall location. We are also the only office that displays all of our listings on TV screens in both locations. We are also the only office that provides a weekly updated catalogue of our clients listings. We are also the only office in town that has leveraged relationships with local business people in order to create win-win bonuses and incentives for our clients, through our amazing VIP Card program.

We are the community Real Estate office here in Chilliwack and no other office can make that claim.

We are also the only office that hosts 2 client appreciation events per year for our clients FOR FREE!. We are the only office that puts together Open House Blitz combo ads and out of town ads to promote our clients listings….We are able to work together for the benefit of everyone and we are able to promote our clients listings to a larger reach of people simply because we understand that working together is more powerful. We are the only office in Chilliwack that is part of our Chilliwack Downtown Business Improvement Association and is active in the events that are available to the people in Chilliwack FOR FREE. We are the only Office in Chilliwack that provides elite Club 100 training for its agents FOR FREE. This is a program that was designed by the owner and created to elevate the REALTOR‘s role in peoples lives. We are the only office that has a Spirit Committee that meets monthly volunteering their time to create great events for the REALTORs, the Community, the Downtown area and for our Clients….they have a budget and they manage that. We are the only Real Estate office that is a major sponsor of the Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre with FREE tickets to our clients. We are the only office that give away FREE tickets to the Chilliwack Chiefs Hockey team to our Clients….We are the only Real Estate office ever to win the Chamber of Commerce Award for Development Excellence for our office.

That is 13 “we are the only’s”!!!!

We stand out. We work hard to make our office great for the REALTORs and the CLIENTS that they represent.

Seriously….why would you want to deal with any other office other than Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd.?

This Value Proposition has been in the works for almost 6 years and now we are here….and we are just going to keep adding to the pile. We offer more to our clients and we do more for our clients to market their homes. It is a fact. Then add to that the fact that Sutton is the largest and most productive Real Estate Company in Western BC and there you have it…no brainer.

I thought that I would simply take the time to put this stuff in writing because it is important….it is the most important.

Make a great Day!

Kelly Johnston

 REALTORs....who do you love?  Who do you really enjoy working with?  Who do you feel really appreciates you and the way you do business?  Who do you love to call and chat with?  Who do you think would become a special friend in your life if you had more time to nurture that?  Who actually thanks you after the transaction?  Who is it, that tells people about you?  Who is your best referral source?  Who are the people that you know who would absolutely, without a doubt call you about anything?  Who is on your A+ list of clients?  What are their personality types?  Who do they like to hang out with?  What are their tastes, in decor, clothing, restaurants, cars, entertainment?  Who are these people.....Who do you love?  

If you have a hard time answering this question then you need to ask these questions over and over again until you know those answers.  THIS IS YOUR TARGET MARKET!  THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD BE 80% OF YOUR BUSINESS AND THE PEOPLE WHO YOU SHOULD BE SPENDING 80% OF YOUR TIME ON....

The Challenge sometimes is that we spend on average 80% of our time on the really hard 20% of our business.  These are the people that drive you nuts.  The people that are not your favorite. The people that give you a knot in your stomach.  The people that you may like and appreciate but don't really get a warm fuzzy from....

Know it....understand it....and make the necessary corrections and you will really enjoy your business a lot more...

Also this is who you should be speaking to in all of your marketing....in everything.  The colors you use...the visual "look" of your marketing, the words that you use....and the type of listings that you should be attracting....

Just a quick one today...

I wish you a nice long weekend

Kelly Johnston

Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. 

 We have a lot of potential in the Chilliwack Real Estate Market.....see article below....

more:http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/Future+sales+look+bright/7480960/story.html#ixzz2AzDitW2G

Good Morning

It is the Fall now.  It is here.  We all have to accept it.  Now is the time to put the work in to make a great Fall and to ensure some success for January and February next year.  Club 100 is starting its next session of 8 weeks where the theme is all about going from "good to GREAT"!  This will be the most powerful session yet!  Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, Tuesday September 25, 2012 at 9:00am in our Boardroom.

Take 5 minutes and read this powerful message:

This week we share an excellent message from our favorite Sales Guru, Jeffrey Gitomer. Jeff's message is a great reminder about what it takes and what kind of attitude we need to build upon for us to accomplish great things in our lives. We all face difficulties and challenges in our lives, it's how think about and deal with those challenges that will set us apart for failure or success.

I tweeted: "Resilience doesn't start with experience - it STARTS with attitude - your attitude."

It got more than 100 "re-tweets." Evidently people understood what I was saying and chose to tell others. But since Twitter only allows 140 characters, I wanted to elaborate on the word resilience because it has a much deeper meaning than I was able to provide in one tweet.

PICTURE THIS: Your boss says, "Make 100 cold calls this week." And the first 20 people you call hang up on you.
PICTURE THIS: You have one prospect left this month and if they don't buy, you don't make your quota. They call you and say, "We've decided to buy from your competition."
PICTURE THIS: You get an email from your boss telling you that they've revised the comp plan and unless you do 20% more you'll earn 20% less.
PICTURE THIS: You finally get an appointment with the biggest prospect you've ever had. They've agreed to see you for one hour. You arrive and the decision maker doesn't show up.

Those are all real-world sales occurrences that every one of you has experienced.

Resilience is how you react, respond, and recover from those situations.

It's important to note that all of these challenges test your mental strength. Resilience starts with your own strength of attitude. If you are easily dismayed, your self-confidence level is low, your self-esteem is lacking, or your self-image is in doubt - each of these PICTURE THIS circumstances is taken as a disaster. Your resilience level (on a 1-100 scale) is under 10.

And the ground between 10 and 100 is where your experience combined with your self-education is called into play. Attitude resilience challenges your thought process to get from a negative response of "woe is me" to a more positive response of "I can deal with this. I can overcome this. Here are a few ideas that I have right now that will help me... Here are the actions that I'm willing to make things better..." and most important, "I'm not going to let these events or situations cause me to think ill of myself, or put myself down."

And keep in mind that this is just the reaction part of resilience.

Once you've processed each one of these circumstances and reacted to them mentally, now it's time to respond to them. Your response is a combination of your attitude, your past experience, and your resilience.

Your inner strength manifesting itself in words and deeds.

Most people fail to understand that response is triggered by thought. If you want to use the term "knee-jerk response," it normally means response without thinking, especially in negative situations.

Each one of you has experienced a dumb response. Something like: "I'm doing the best I can," or "I'm just doing what I've been told," or some response that's excuse based rather than response based. Anyone can make an excuse. It takes a person of character to figure out what they can do, be in control of their own emotions, think quickly on their feet, and come up with something that is forward moving rather than self-defeating.

Something that's on the offense rather than being offensive. Something that states willingness rather than creates a defense. Something that says what you can do, not what you can't do. Something that states what could happen, rather than restates what just happened.

And keep in mind that this is just the response part of resilience.

Now it's time for your resilience to really shine. You've reacted in a positive way, you've responded in a positive way, and now you must recover in a personal way - not just with the people involved, but rather take stock in who you are as a person, and take the lesson in how this will help build you and build your character instead of looking around to see who is to blame, become defensive, or make some lame excuse about it or they - never taking responsibility for you.

Recovery lays the groundwork for the next reaction. Recovery after recovery builds the foundation of your resilience. Positive recovery after positive recovery builds a foundation of cement and concrete reinforced with steel rods.

You build your stature, you build your self-esteem, you build your self-reliance, you build your self-confidence, and you do it with inner strength combined with mental strength. You can call it fortitude or you can call it guts, but I'm challenging you to think of it as resilience - because it's going to happen more than once.

So I've given you react, respond, and recover. Let me add a .5 to this list of three. Integrity. Every time an opportunity arises, every time your character or your attitude is challenged and you react, respond, and recover in a positive way, you build personal integrity for who you are, and you seek to become.

You never have to talk about it. Others will see it and see that strength within you. Others will talk about you in a positive way, admire you in a verbal and silent way - and others will seek to follow you in an exemplary way.

Well, I seem to have used up my 140 characters. On a personal note, I'll confess that my resilience is challenged daily - not just as a salesperson, not just as a businessperson; but also as a father, grandfather, and a friend.

Resilience knows no boundaries. But every time an opportunity arises to build mine, I eagerly welcome it and all the lessons attached thereto.

DECISIONS AND VISION - and Faith.

I know it seems wierd to talk about the Fall coming...but it is. September is arriving in less than 3 weeks and a new energy will flood into the Real Estate business and the question I have for you is....are you going to be ready?

Do you have a Vision for your future? Are you certain that you will achieve that Vision for your life? Do you have Faith in that Vision? Or do you blame all of the other things that are not in your control? Like the Media - the economy in Greece - The U.S. Real Estate Market - The Bubble bursting in Vancouver - We do - - do that. Don't we. We create goals by default....however it is done. Consciously or not, we do that too. Either out of pure survival or intentionally with purpose. Sometimes the goal is simply to get enough to make the next mortgage payment....and other times it is to average 2 deals a month to earn $100,000 per year. You do make goals whether you conciously do it or not. So I ask you this....Why not make concious goals and committ to it? NOW. If you set goals earlier on in the year then RE-COMMITT! If you have surpassed your goals that you set then RE-SET your goals. Why not? Getting to the Goal is important for you...more than you know. The Character and Confidence and Creative muscles that you gain is sooooo valuable for you. Do it. If you are behind on your goals that does not matter.....It is the finish line at the end. Real Estate is your career, right? Well then you have to achieve what you set out to do on an annual basis. If you set a goal to earn $150,000 this year and you are only at $60,000, then you still have a chance to meet that goal. You can do it. There are 4 1/2 months left!!

The person you become when you are challenged and you overcome those challenges is the REWARD. The money and the other deisred results will come but you have to build the character so that you are worthy of the goal. Maybe you are not achieving your Goals because you are not worthy. Tough one to take, huh. Tough reality. Sorry but truth is truth and ..... well the truth will set you free...but you have to accept the truth before it sets you free.

Hebrews 11:1 says: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."...... and then farther down at the end of the passage after the Bible backs up that statement, in verse 40....he says: "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect."

I emplore you to make Goals passionately and powerfully and confidently. No matter what the outcome is you will be better for it. You will learn truths about yourself that may not have learned had you not and you will enjoy the benefits. Focus on what you can control. You are in control.

James 2:22 says: "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did."

Get Ready for the Fall market....Make Goals.....Surround yourself with positive influences that will help you get there. Decide on the actions that you will take over the next 4 months in order to drive your business forward and Take Massive Action with faith and confidence and you will be fine.

Our next Club 100 cycle is starting in the middle of September at Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. in our upper Boardroom on September 10, 2012 at 9:15am. You are invited to attend whether or not you are with our company. My goal is give value to the REALTORS unconditionally. That is my committment and I am happy when I see people from other offices come to join us. It is happening more and more now and I am thankful for that.

Make a great day,

Kelly Johnston

Owner - Sutton Group - Showplace Realty Ltd.

9240 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC, V2P 4R2

Good Morning Everyone,

Just a short read for you to possibly inspire you or start your week off right.  I don't do this every week but when there is a reallly good message, I have to share it.  

Success in Real Estate has everything to do with your heart.  Yes it is a business and you have to be a business person.  But you are dealing with people and they are entrusting you.  How do you deal with that?  

If you are receiving this email, consider this your Open Invitiation to come to Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. up to the upper boardroom and attend our weekly coaching sessions every Tuesday at 9:15 to 10:30am.  You are always welcome.

Kelly Johnston..... read on:

 Much of success is about performance. It’s about what we do and what we are able to inspire others to do. There are some simple performance principles I have learned in my life, and I want to share them with you.  They really bring success, and what it takes to be successful, into sharp focus. They are also the basis for developing and maintaining an expectation of success.

The Five Principles of Performance

1. We generally get from ourselves and others what we expect. It is a huge fact that you will either live up or down to your own expectations. If you expect to lose, you will. If you expect to be average, you will be average. If you expect to feel bad, you probably will. If you expect to feel great, nothing will slow you down. And what is true for you is true for others. Your expectations for others will become what they deliver and achieve. As Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

2. The difference between good and excellent companies is training. The only thing worse than training employees and losing them is to not train them and keep them! A football team would not be very successful if they did not train, practice, and prepare for their opponents. When you think of training as practice and preparation, it makes you wonder how businesses survive that do not make significant training investments in their people.

Actually, companies that do not train their people and invest in their ability don’t last. They operate from a competitive disadvantage and are eventually gobbled up and defeated in the marketplace. If you want to improve and move from good to excellent, a good training strategy will be the key to success.

3. You find what you look for in life. If you look for the good things in life, you will find them. If you look for opportunities to grow and prosper, you will find them. If you look for positive, enthusiastic friends and associates who will support you, you will find them. On the other hand, if you look for ways to cheat, you will cheat. If you look for ways to justify leaving your spouse, you will find them. If you look for justifiable reasons to hold a grudge against another person, you will find those, too.

It is a natural tendency of us all to look for things that will justify what we think we need or want. If you are not living by the foundation stones of honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty, you will be drawn to seeking selfish gratification, and that leads to misery and unfulfilled dreams. Whatever you have will never be enough. Always look for the good and for ways to help others.

4. Never make a promise without a plan. Far too many people make promises they can never keep. They may have the best intentions in the world to keep their promise, but if they have not made a plan to keep it, they will not be able to do it. Business leaders who make promises to their employees will not honor them if they do not create a plan on how the promises will be kept. If you make a future commitment, you must understand and be willing to do whatever it takes to complete that commitment. One of the reasons marriage commitments fail so frequently is because the husband and wife do not understand what it takes to have a great marriage. They do not plan for or understand the sacrifices each must make for the other to enable a long-lasting relationship.

5. Happiness, joy, and gratitude are universal if we know what to look for. I believe you can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want. All people want happiness and joy in their life, but you have to know what produces real happiness and how to do the things that produce it. The moment you begin to worry about the things you want and the things you don’t have in life is the moment you will lose your gratitude for what you actually have. If you are ungrateful, you will never be satisfied or content or joyful about your life. The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times.

The Right Attitude

Obviously, the right attitude to expect the best in your life is a positive attitude. But I want to be very clear that the kind of positive attitude I describe is not one that is contrived or falsely manufactured to impress or manipulate others. The positive attitude I talk about is one that you are filled with, and when you are jostled, it just spills out! What I’m saying is that a genuine positive attitude is part of who you are at your core.

If you have a bad attitude, it is a reflection of who you are, as well. It’s a “heart condition,” and to get rid of that bad attitude, you need a change of heart. I would be remiss if I did not encourage you by saying that God is the most amazing heart surgeon available to us all. He does not just repair a bad heart; He can give you a new one that your body will not reject. The new heart He provides will produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in your life. When you have those characteristics and qualities in your life, you will be rightfully positioned to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are truly born to win.

Have a great week unless you choose otherwise!

Drago

Create New Habits to Succeed

The University of Adversity

Today's message from Harvey Mackay reminds us to keep going through adversity and setbacks because they are often the stepping stones to success.

A man was walking in the park one day when he came upon a cocoon with a small opening. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through the little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It looked like it had gotten as far as it could, so the man decided to help the butterfly. He used his pocketknife and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily, but something was strange. The butterfly had a swollen body and shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected at any moment the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and deformed wings. It was never able to fly.

What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to emerge was natural. It was nature's way of forcing fluid from its body into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives.

If we were allowed to go through life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. And we could never fly.

History has shown us that the most celebrated winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.

My good friend Lou Holtz, football coach of the University of South Carolina, once told me, "Show me someone who has done something worthwhile, and I'll show you someone who has overcome adversity."
Beethoven composed his greatest works after becoming deaf.
George Washington was snowed in through a treacherous winter at Valley Forge.
Abraham Lincoln was raised in poverty.
Albert Einstein was called a slow learner, retarded and ineducable.
If Christopher Columbus had turned back, no one could have blamed him, considering the constant adversity he endured.
As an elementary student, actor James Earl Jones (a.k.a. Darth Vader) stuttered so badly he communicated with friends and teachers using written notes.
Itzhak Perlman, the incomparable concert violinist, was born to parents who survived a Nazi concentration camp and has been paralyzed from the waist down since the age of four.
Chester Carlson, a young inventor, took his idea to 20 big corporations in the 1940s. After seven years of rejections, he was able to persuade Haloid, a small company in Rochester, N.Y., to purchase the rights to his electrostatic paper-copying process. Haloid has since become Xerox Corporation.
Thomas Edison tried over 2,000 experiments before he was able to get his light bulb to work. Upon being asked how he felt about failing so many times, he replied, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2,000-step process."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, elected president of the United States for four terms, had been stricken with polio at the age of 39.
Persistence paid off for General Douglas MacArthur. After applying for admission to West Point twice, he applied a third time and was accepted. The rest is history.
In 1927 the head instructor of the John Murray Anderson Drama School instructed student Lucille Ball to "Try any other profession. Any other."
Buddy Holly was fired from the Decca record label in 1956 by Paul Cohen, Nashville "Artists and Repertoire Man." Cohen called Holly "the biggest no-talent I ever worked with."
Academy Award-winning writer, producer and director Woody Allen failed motion picture production at New York University (NYU) and City College of New York. He also flunked English at NYU.
Helen Keller, the famous blind author and speaker, said: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. Silver is purified in fire and so are we. It is in the most trying times that our real character is shaped and revealed."

Mackay's Moral: There is no education like the university of adversity.

We hope Harvey's message encourages you to keep persisting forward in whatever obstacles you may be facing, victory may be just around the next corner!

Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.

Drago

As human beings we are actually "goal seeking organisms".  It is actually in our nature.  It is in our DNA.  Our species has advance and adapted and grown over the Centuries to what we experience today because of that.  We are truly more happier when we are setting goals and achieving them.  It is true, right?  It is.  Why is that?  Because setting and achieving goals is built into us.  That is why being in the Real Estate business is so awesome.  We get to truly satisfy that part of us. 

Set the Goal or Goals and write them down in a format that is in the first person and in the NOW. 

I achieve....    I earn....    I attract....    I solidify....    I live in .....   I a drive a....    I have a .....

That is the first step on your journey!  That is all but it is definitely a positive step.   and then BAM!

CHALLENGES can jump out at you and take our eyes off of the goal.  Usually when you set good solid goals that stretch your abilities and cause a little bit of discomfort, you will hit a challenge pretty quickly into the journey.  It is up to you whether that goal is a little speed bump or a wall.  Challenges are a guarantee.  They will happen every time.  You will have set backs.  You will have mean people that drive you crazy.  You will have well meaning loved ones say that you can't do it.  You will have your own "self talk" to battle as well.  Your mind will play tricks on you.  Your bank account which is one "measuring stick" will remind you of how you are "failing".  You will have a deal fall apart.  All of that is a guarantee. 

THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE GOALS!!  NOTHING.  The Challenges that occur have nothing to do with the Goals that you set out to achieve.  They will already happen whether you set goals or not and actually once you start putting things in motion and cause a stir, so to speak, they will actually multiply a bit.  Get ready for that.  So are we agreed that Challenges are a guarantee?  Good. 

OK now get over it.  As quick as possible.  Do not dwell on the failed deal.  The collapsed sale.  The mean Seller who is ridiculous.  The market.  The NEWS.  The one listing that you are sitting on like a hen trying to hatch.  NEXT!  is your new saying.  NEXT!  Who is going to be next to replace this.  Replace it.  If you have enough in the hopper ( and I talk about this in Club 100 all the time) then you don't worry so much.  Keep the hopper full and all you say is "NEXT"!

WHATEVER THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE AND BELIEVE, IT CAN ACHIEVE!  That is a fact.  This is true, but people can actually doubt this truth and I will explain why. 

Once you set the goal.  What happens.  You have a belief for a time.  You set the goal and there was this spark of belief there.  You may have actually strarted to picture how it would feel and you could see yourself achieving it.  It was a beautiful moment.  Angelic music was in the background.  And then at the first challenge the sound of a scratching record just kills the moment.  Back to Reality.  "Well I guess I am not supposed to achieve this" .....your self talk starts to kick in from the old playback in your mind from before.  "It is too hard"  "It is impossible"   "I am a failure"   blah blah blah.....You just lost your belief. 

The Belief is the most important part of that statement.  BELIEF! If you don't believe you can then you won't.  That is a fact.  It is written in stone somewhere, I am sure.  Belief!!!  How do you create a concrete belief in what you can achieve?  This is so crucial. 

Here are 10 suggestions that will guarantee solidifying your BELIEF:

1) READ YOUR GOALS OUT LOUD TO YOURSELF EVERY MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP AND EVERY NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.  EVERY DAY.  SOMETIMES REPEAT UNTIL YOU FEEL THE BELIEF.

2) CREATE NEW ACTIONS THAT YOU CAN IMPLEMENT IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.  GET CREATIVE.  DO MORE THAT YOU WERE DOING BEFORE.  IF YOU KEEP DOING THE SAME THING AND EXPECTING DIFFERENT RESULTS THEN YOU ARE INSANE....just joking but it is kind of true.

3) FILL YOUR BRAIN WITH THE RIGHT STUFF.  READ A MOTIVATIONAL BOOK 15 MINUTES A DAY.

4) CLUB 100 - AT SUTTON - EVERYONE IS WELCOME.  Once a week for an hour and a half - 9:00am to 10:30 in our upper boardroom.  It is FREE, FUN and productive.

5) ASSOCIATE WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MOVING AND GROOVING - Don't sit around telling war stories about negative occurances to make your self feel better about your past challenges.  Move on.  Associate with Winners! and talk about successes.

6) TRACK your GOALS - Keep a record that you look at every day as well.  The importance of this is paramount.  IF they never kept score at a hockey game do you think that anyone would care and be as engaged?  Keep score.  If you are behind in your goals then step it up. 

7) SHARE YOUR GOALS - with the right people who will support you and keep you accountable. 

8) YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE - Own it.  It is only you. There is nothing else to point fingers at.  You.  The mean client, or the market, or your unfortunate circumstance, or your challenge is not to blame.  You are always to blame.  No matter what.  You are the end of the line and buck stops at you.  It is you.  Take ownership of that.  The minute you make that paradigm shift your life will change.

9) SET ONE YEAR GOALS - that have monthly measuring sticks to help you get there.  Then figure out an action that you can perform or achieve daily that will get you there.  Work backwards from there.  We will go over this in our Club 100 session on May 29th at 9:00am.

10) KEEP YOUR MIND OPEN - to Opportunities.  This happens when you set goals and start to creatively get your belief instilled into your mind, little things will happen that you really weren't expecting that will help you.  Opportunities will emerge from the most unexpected places.  People will come into your life that will help you.  Words will come out of your mouth differently.  You will need to keep you mind open so that you can recognize these "nudges" and opportunities. 

We are entering a new era in Chilliwack REAL ESTATE and we need to be ready.  It is exciting and I am always here for you at Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. if you want to talk about your goals and how to achieve them. 

All the best and simply......Win the DAY!

Kelly Johnston

Chilliwack BIA best in the West for communication

They were deemed the best in B.C. last week at getting the word out about Chilliwack’s vibrant downtown core.

Local BIA reps brought home the win in the Communication category on April 3 from the British Columbia (BIABC) Best in the West Awards luncheon held in Nanaimo.

They were honoured for their communication plan, which zeroes in on employing local newspapers, radio and TV as a vehicle for a pro-downtown marketing message. It also includes a member newsletter, a new business welcome package and the GETMOR Downtown Reward card, said Kathy Funk, executive director of Downtown Chilliwack Business Improvement Association (BIA).

“Despite this difficult economy, our organization continues to develop innovative ways to improve the area, market our local businesses and communicate special events and new initiatives to the community,” she said.

They’ve wholly embraced social media and the online world. “Our office is able to share news, photos and videos quickly and effectively via our website, blog and many social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Flickr,” said BIA coordinator Desmond Devnich.

Chilliwack BIA was also a finalist in the ‘Public and Private Spaces: Clean and Beautiful’ and ‘Marketing, Promotions, and Special Events’ categories at the 2012 Best in the West Awards.

“It takes teamwork to win such a prestigious award,” noted BIA president Barb Kemp.

The BIABC Best in the West Awards recognizes the excellence of leadership in member organizations that champion strong, vibrant and successful downtowns, main streets, and commercial districts throughout British Columbia.

Sign up and get your FREE GETMOR CARD!!!   www.downtownchilliwack.com/getmor

We are proud to associated with such a great association.  Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. is involved with our Downtown Business Improvement Association and we believe this sets us apart from all other Real Estate firms here in Chilliwack.  We are truly Downtown Proud!

This is a quick video of our Client Appreciation Day on Saturday March 10, 2012.  It was a lot of fun.  Sponsored by Your Community Real Estate office<object style="height: 390px; width: 640px"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FMN4RngP8us?version=3&feature=player_detailpage"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FMN4RngP8us?version=3&feature=player_detailpage" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></object>

 March 1, 2012 marked my 5 YEAR Anniversary as the owner of Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd.  I bought myself a laptop to celebrate.  Wow it has truly been a whirlwind, but through it all the vision and definite purpose that I committed to in the very beginning is coming into reality.  The NEW Sutton (overnight success 5 years in the making) is exciting and REALTORS are coming to our office in bunches because we are both affordable and we offer more than any office offers in the Chilliwack area.  Challenge me on that.  I welcome it.  Interdependance is far more powerful than any other type of group relationship.  It is the third step.  It meets with the higher purpose.  

 When you become part of something you are "dependent" in the begiinning.  You have questions like..."Do you have training?  Do you have a mentor Program?"  Do you offer support to new REALTORS?  We do all of that by the way.  The basic idea is - what are you going to do for me? because I need help.

Then hopefully you move from that stage and become "INdependent".  You are now self sufficient.  You still require support and such but not as much.  You can even move in a direction where you feel that you could practice Real Estate anywhere and maintain success because you know what you are capable of and nothing will stop you.  You don't need anyone.  Well, there is a lot of good in that but also some challenges in that.  Being an island unto yourself can also alienate people from you.  Getting caught up in your own ego and importance based on past successes can get you into other types of challenges that you are not aware of.  Believe me.  Been there done that.  

Some people never move out of the "dependent" stage.  They have some sort of wall holding them back.  Mostly it is their own wall.  My goal through my Coaching and Club 100 training sessions that we will help you get past that wall.  The INdependent people are those that maybe feel that they don't need to come to the Coaching sessions.  That is ok.  Time is valuable. I get it.  However, I believe in the concept of "Constant and Neverending Improvement"  - a term referred to as CANI for its acronym coined by Anthony Robbins.  That, in itself, is a major commitment.  If someoone is truly committed to their craft or their life in general then you need to be FED, so to speak.  We get fed anyway by default.  Through media, well meaning friends, business associates, movies, internet...marketing....etc etc etc....It is happening all the time.  In order to develop a concrete belief in what you are to become and what you are to achieve...that belief needs to be re-enforced over and over again.  That is what Constant and Neverending Improvment is all about and what I am all about and ultimately what Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. is all about.  We offer more.  We do more.  We get involved more.  We have the most complete Value Proposition of any office in Chilliwack and that is totally on purpose.  The biggest reason for that is that we employ the attitude of Interdependence in our office.  The core concept of that is this:

 WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER AS A COHESIVE UNIT THAN WE ARE SEPARATELY AND APART FROM EACH OTHER.  IT IS TRUE.  IT IS A LAW, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT HERE AT SUTTON.....JOIN US.  

Club 100 Coaching is every Tuesday at 4pm in our upstairs boardroom.  You are always Welcome.  

Check out the Video detailing the renovation of our new office - 1 year in the making - it is about 4 minutes long..... www.suttonlysuccessful.com

IMPORTANT!!

Subject:

 DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE RECCOMENDATIONS TO BE PRESENTED AT TUESDAY COUNCIL MEETING

February 17, 2012 For Immediate Release

Chilliwack, BC – Recommendations for speeding up the renewal of Chilliwack’s historic neighborhood will be presented to Council on Tuesday, February 21.

The Downtown Task Force has made twenty recommendations, addressing land development and assembly, social issues, revitalization incentives, marketing, unsightly premises, implementation and monitoring. “The Downtown Task Force recognizes that some of our recommendations are bold and will require further exploration and discussion,” said Task Force Chair, Ken Huttema. “However, we strongly believe we have presented an action guide that could help us realize the vision for this neighborhood sooner than the thirty years suggested in the Downtown Land Use and Development Plan.” At Tuesday’s Council meeting, staff will recommend the Downtown Task Force Report be received for information and that the Task Force be formally disbanded. Council will also be asked to refer the report to staff and the newly formed Implementation Committee, for further analysis of resources, impact, timelines and potential partnerships. Implementation of some of the recommendations will be done incrementally, as market and economic forces dictate. Other recommendations simply expand on the exciting work and improvements that are already happening in this historic neighborhood. Background Council formed the Downtown Task Force in 2009 to address the timing of redevelopment in Chilliwack’s downtown area. Using the 2010 Downtown Land Use Plan as a guide, the Task Force was asked to look at the challenges that are slowing us from achieving the Downtown Vison and make reccomendations that could help us reach it sooner. To achieve their mandate, the Task Force examined relevant past studies, reports and presentations on the downtown and became familiar with the adopted Downtown Land Use Plan. They also looked at best practices from other communities in the region, reviewed applicable Bylaws and re- examined the boundaries of the Revitalization Tax Exemption Zone. The Task Force was comprised of members of Chilliwack Council, representatives from the development and business communites, the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce and Business Improvement Association, as well as Chilliwack Economic Partners and City staff.

Contact: Starlee Renton | Public Relations | Administration P: 604.793.2716 | F: 604.793.2715 | E: renton@chilliwack.com

A REPORT from your “Community Real Estate Office”

Our Club 100 Training Program is well attended in our office and we are witnessing the results as this letter is being written. Sutton REALTORs hold their head up high in this community and they are well trained and ready to help their clients with elevated standards. We have had 6 REALTORS join our office over the last 45 days and we have a couple more inquiries of late. People are catching on that we are different here and the energy is electric. If you want to learn more, check us out at www.suttononline.ca or read our BLOG at www.suttonlysuccessful.com.

2012 is going to be a great year and we are getting revved up here at Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. in our Sutton Downtown Business Centre located in Downtown Chilliwack at 9240 Young Road.

We just secured a lease for our drive thru area with The Canadian Cancer Society adding to the businesses that will be taking advantage of our great office space. We are excited to be able to get involved with them to raise some money to help people whose lives are effected by the horrible disease – Cancer. Renovations are underway and they will moving in on February 25, 2012.

Our tenants to date include: Dominion Lending – The Harmony Mortgage Group; TD Mobile Mortgages; Trace Tech Drafting and Design; RKR Strategy Group; Target Industrial supplies; MAXX Marketing; Community Futures and of course Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. Our Boardroom has been busy already this year with businesses such as: 89.5 The Hawk; The Chilliwack Progress; Investors Group, A meet-up business sharing group and more already taking advantage of our space. 

The Sutton VIP Cards have just arrived!!

We are on the verge of launching The Sutton VIP Loyalty REWARDS Card program where we have partnered with a number of local businesses and have secured some great gifts and offerings for our Sutton VIP Clients worth over $1500. The Business Partnerships that we have established so far include: Décor West Interiors; Classic Deli; Sticky’s Candy; Logans Home Hardware; Bijou Salon; Persona Blinds; Mr. Lube; Simpson’s Auto; Little Mountain Greenhouses; Graham’s Gifts, The Chilliwack Chiefs; Aarch Angel Security; Unika; Wagner Appliances and more are coming on board. Some other businesses are excited but are in the middle of establishing what they would like to offer our clients and we are working through the approval process. This program will grow and grow and we are excited about the advantages that we are giving to our clients for just simply doing business with us.  

Call me anytime if you would like to learn more about how we are fast becoming the best choice for REALTORs to enjoy a successful experience at our office. 

Kelly Johnston - 604-701-9080 cell phone

CMHC backing fewer loans

Garry Marr Jan 30, 2012 – 7:13 PM ET | Last Updated: Jan 30, 2012 7:18 PM ET

Norm Betts/Bloomberg

Financial institutions are required to have mortgage-default insurance when a consumer has less than 20% equity.

Posted in: Mortgages, Personal Finance, Real Estate Tags: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., cmhc, mortgage insurance, mortgage-default insurance, mortgages, portfolio insurance

Garry Marr

gmarr@nationalpost.com

Sutton Group – Showplace Realty Ltd.

OPEN HOUSE CHECKLIST - A beautiful open house is easy to achieve using this handy checklist.

• De-clutter!

This can’t be overemphasized. A cluttered home is a turnoff to most buyers. It’s also potentially dangerous: you don’t want people to be injured as they try to navigate your junk. Remember, it’s not enough to simply stuff everything into cabinets and closets; people will be looking inside these areas to assess storage capacity. Either get rid of it or store it offsite.

• Mr. and Mrs. Clean live here

Clean up! Not just everyday cleaning like dusting, sweeping and scrubbing the bathtub—that should be obvious. You’ve got to deep clean: carpets should be steam cleaned, drapes washed/dry cleaned, upholstery thoroughly vacuumed and shampooed if necessary. Attend to areas that are often ignored—the top of the fridge, cobwebby corners, cabinet interiors, and the oven. The bathroom and kitchen should be spotless. Can’t manage to make your home immaculate? A maid service is a worthy investment in getting the best offer.

• Get a check-up

Consider having a pre-listing home inspection report prepared. Potential buyers can examine it, noting repairs you’ve made since and easing their mind about your property.

• Revive and repair

A fresh coat of light, neutral paint is practically obligatory. If you have decent hardwood under grungy or outdated carpet, consider trashing the carpet and refinishing the floors. Take care of scuffed woodwork, ripped wallpaper, water damage and exposed wiring. Half-finished home improvement projects deter buyers; complete any such projects if at all possible.

• Enhance curb appeal

Most buyers form conclusions about a property from the curb. Cast the same critical eye on your home’s exterior. Does the roofing need repair? Are the gutters overflowing with debris? Does the front lawn look like a missile site? Does the driveway need sealing? Make any necessary exterior improvements. Try buying a fresh new doormat and decorate with some container plants.

• Lawn and order

If you haven’t paid attention to landscaping; it’s too late to start planting trees. Young ones will have no impact and mature ones are expensive. Prune, trim and weed whatever you have. For a few hundred dollars, consider having a professional landscape plan done. An appealing landscape plan may help buyers envision the potential for the home. Don’t forget interior landscaping: if you have no healthy house plants inside your home, buy a few attractive specimens and locate them strategically around the house. Dump any dead or dying plants.

• Depersonalize

Put away family photos, children’s artwork, trophies, pet toys, etc., to help buyers imagine themselves in your home. Clear all the junk off the fridge; the kitchen will look bigger and cleaner. It is ok to have a few things so that the Buyer still feels that this was a “loved” home but thin it out so that their minds are consumed with your life.

• The Odor issue

To check for off-putting odours that can cost you a sale, ask your real estate agent (or a trusted friend or neighbour) to help you identify bad smells in your home. Common culprits include smoking, laundry, bathroom mould and mildew, garbage cans, musty basements, cooking smells, litter boxes and other pet paraphernalia. Don’t attempt to cover bad smells with deodorizers and air fresheners—address the problem.

• Light up your home

Check that every single fixture in the house has a working light bulb of the maximum safe wattage. Clean all the windows so that buyers can appreciate how bright the rooms really are.

• Valuables should be out of sight

Before allowing strangers to tour your home, stash all valuables in safe places. Jewellery, cameras, credit cards, ID, medications and other small, easily pocketed items should be locked away. While you’re at it, remove fragile items from harm’s way. Ensure your insurance policy is up-to-date.

• Music

If it is possible to have some soft music playing that is relaxing for the Buyer’s to listen to while walking through the home that always sets a nice atmosphere.

Remember that these are just simple suggestions. We are all striving to get the best result for you. If you have any questions consult your Sutton Group Showplace Realty Representative who has your best interest in mind.

Thank you for trusting Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. to market your home.

We are your “Community Real Estate office”….

CRITICAL INFORMATION BELOW:

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION THAT WILL MAKE AN ENORMOUS IMPACT IN YOUR REAL ESTATE BUSINESS..

Our office that is made up of wonderful giving people that are heavily involved in our Community right here in Chilliwack and now and to top it all off we have the warmest and friendliest most functional office in Chilliwack that embraces the idea of "Win-Win" relationships...just come on in to see for yourself  BUT we are making it even better......... drum roll please!!!

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF LAUNCHING OUR "SUTTON VIP LOYALTY REWARDS CARD" PROGRAM. We will now be able to give a card to our clients that is registered and immediately enrolled in a program for them to obtain thousands of dollars worth of products and services from our local businesses. FOR FREE.....! As of this date there is over $1500 worth of FREE stuff and ongoing offers; available to our clients...!!  These are products and services that they are already using plus some things that maybe they were afraid to, or never thought to try. Plus in addition to that we are able to keep adding new businesses and offerings. For example.....At Logans Hardware, after our client received their FREE toolbox, they will receive 15% off of their bill every time they shop there just by pulling out their Sutton VIP Card....that's a WOW. Is it not?

Our clients and REALTORs can head over to Bijou Salon downtown and there is $100 loaded onto the card to get hair done etc.  Our clients can have all of their locks changed for their new home up to 5 doors - FOR FREE!! from Aarch Angel Security!!  Just to name a couple.

What is the cost to obtain a customer? If you meet 20 new people per year and spend $20,000 to do that in all that you do with your website; failed deals; paper ads; gas; closing day gifts; dinners and lunches with clients etc etc etc.....that is $1000 Per Client.....right?

How much do we pay for referrals? 25%? 35%? Let's take $5000 - 25% of that is $1250. We pay it already. We pay out money to obtain business right now. Is that a true statement?  What if it cost you as little as $25/m?  Cards are printed like a credit card with you all over it and distributed to your A+ database and then to all of the new people that you meet. Would that be a good investment? Come on...its a "no brainer"!

Now ADD to that.....it also has a built in Newsletter Campaign that will go to your clients on a monthly basis...no extra charge.  Believe me, this is a newsletter that your client will look for every month because it will have new offers, new Vendors....feature Vendors etc. reminding your client how awesome this program is and how it is such an amazing benefit to be working with a Sutton Group Showplace Realty professional.

Wow....Really ....Wow.!!

Call me for more information.......this is the Value Proposition that just took your business to the next level and you won't be able to stop the referrals and the Buzz about you once you give these out.....

Call me  - if you want to get involved in our movement but make it quick....we are launching over the next 30 days!!

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY EXCLUSIVE TO SUTTON GROUP SHOWPLACE REALTY LTD. - CHILLIWACK - no other Agents from any other office will be able to have access to this program...sorry.

Sutton Group is awesome....We are the largest brand in Western Canada. Sutton REALTORS sell more Real Estate in Western BC than any other brand....There are more Sutton signs out there than any other brand. We have the Sutton Member Program where we can get interest rates for our clients that are the lowest in the industry. We have amazing internet based back end support. We have the Sutton Spirit organization that gives back the communities. Here in Chilliwack, we are the only office that has a kiosk in the Cottonwood Mall where over 65,000 people walk through on a weekly basis....and I will continue to improve and make it greater and greater for our REALTORs...that is my mission...

Kelly Johnston - 604-701-9080

It’s not an uncommon challenge faced in Real Estate. Try as you might, once in awhile you have on your hands a property that will not budge. Its heels are firmly stuck in the ground, and despite best efforts and assurances to your client, it stubbornly remains on the market.

What to do? Like many problems, the way to find a solution, is to start backwards and rethink strategy.Where are the weaknesses?

At first glance, what seems to be the underlying problem? Are you able to get people in the door? Do thoughts of offers disappear once prospective buyers are inside? Is there something about the property itself, or where it is situated that may be off-putting?

Think of the buyer’s motivations. Are they there because of the price point? Is the area itself desirable? Is the property unique in some way? You must determine why people would be interested in the property, and than identify what the disconnect is between showing a property and selling a property.

Make Sure Your Clients’ Expectations are Reasonable

The unfortunate truth in Real Estate is that sometimes clients are actively the architects of their own disaster- in that they are not being realistic, either with the price they seek on their property, their rigidness in negotiating, or perhaps something about the property itself which is contributing to the property standing still.

Not easy, and possibly not popular, having this kind of hard conversation with your client to get their property moving can be a difficult one. Remind them that you are after what they are after, and that your experience can possibly help them out of a jam.Also, you must really understand at this point how motivated your sellers are. While you don’t want to turn a client away, if they are waffling, and that is affecting the ability to get a deal done, you may end up sinking much of your own professional time into a dead-end road. While this kind of risk comes with the professional territory, it may be worthwhile- for your own purposes, to gauge the likelihood of this particular scenario.

Price

One of the most obvious barriers to sale is improper pricing. Price the property in line with what the market will offer for it. Be mindful of things like the season, comparable properties, and anything in the market- locally or even on a broader scale that may be affecting buyer’s willingness to pay top dollar.

Change Your Approach

Sometimes the best way to switch the outcome of a situation is not to impose intrinsic change, but to alter the way in which you approach it.What are the best features about the property? Make sure that these are front and centre to buyers- not just physically, but as a matter of marketing as well. Think of this from a product marketing standpoint. Companies do develop new products, but they also work with what they already have, repackaging it and rebranding it to entice new buyers, or spark new interest from current customers. Optics, perception and position have everything to do with moving inventory, no matter what the product.

Restage

There is nothing like a makeover to accentuate the positive! Look at the property through the eyes of the prospective buyer.Is the space, as it appears now, inviting? Does it highlight features appropriately? Are items dated, and doing the property disservice?

Sometimes all that is required, is not a fresh start- but a fresh coat of paint, window dressings and some neutral furniture and art.

This may be one of those times that bringing in outside support is a wise investment. If this is beyond your own area of expertise, suggest to your seller that the services of a professional stager would be a wise investment at this point.

Reassess Curb Appeal

It is a well known fact that a prospective buyer’s mind is mostly made up upon entering the home. Does the appearance of a home from the outside prevent potential buyers from even considering the property?

Make sure that the yard is tidy, snow is removed (depending on season), and that the exterior of the house is in good repair, and is appealing. Perhaps you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but this a well-known fact in Real Estate.

Relist

As you are no doubt well aware, psychology plays a large part in sales. When a property has sat for too long on the market, a perception often emerges that suggests that there is something deficient.Pulling a property off the market, even for a short period, may be all you need to boost interest in the property. It gives the sellers a chance to regroup and to rethink. It gives the public enough time to wipe the property from their buying memory, and to have a fresh start with a new group, and it gives you a chance to catch your breath, before you start with renewed vigour to sell the stubborn property.

In this business we can be very selfish.  We can easily get wrapped up in our own issues or challenges etc and we forget that we are in a people business.  We have to deal with people.  We have to care about other people.  Sometimes people unload their stress on us and we are forced to carry that burden along with them.  It is easy to get to a mindset of "wow, that person has no idea what stress is"; or "they need to just chill" but we have to understand that every single person has their own process.  When you succeed in helping them is that not just purely -  Awesome.  You get to be a hero.  What a boost for your self image.  Oh woops, there we go again.....OUR self image.  I encourage you to keep it outflowing.  Think outside of yourself.  When you have a client and they have entrusted you as a professional.....it stops being about you.  It is about them.  It's about their process.  It's about educating them so that the table is set right for the right circumstances.  Sometimes in order to help people properly we need to be brutally and openly honest.  That is just as giving.  Your "honesty" cannot be about your Agenda it has to be for them......It is my opinion that nothing can be bad when the process is honest.  Just be honest with yourself and others - all the time.

Now take it a step further......What if you could REWARD your clients in such a way that they have never been rewarded before from a REALTOR?  What if you could give them something that kept on giving?  What if you could give them gifts and opportunities and rewards that they would never think of trying?  What if you created a new experience for them that they will never forget?  After you provide excellent service and provide amazing professionalism......you get to give them a major WOW!!!!  Do you think that maybe they would talk about that?  Is there a chance that you could create a "raving fan" for your business?  Then another step further.....It actually saved you money....You create an enormous WOW and it didn't cost you any extra money. 

Here at Sutton we have many things.....We are the largest brand in Western Canada.  Sutton REALTORS sell more Real Estate in Western BC than any other brand....There are more Sutton signs out there from Hope to Vancouver Island, than any other brand.  We have the Sutton Member Program where we can get interest rates for our clients that are the lowest in the industry.  We have amazing back end support.  Our Chilliwack office has the Sutton Spirit organization that gives back the communities.  We are the only office that has a kiosk in the Cottonwood Mall where over 65,000 people walk through on a weekly basis; We have our office that is made up of wonderful giving people that are heavily involved in our Community right here in Chilliwack and now......... drum roll please!!!

WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF LAUNCHING OUR "SUTTON VIP LOYALTY REWARDS CARD" PROGRAM".  We will now be able to give a card to our clients that is registered and immediately enrolled in a program for them to obtain thousands of dollars worth of products and services from our local businesses.  FOR FREE.....!   These are products and services that they are already using plus some things that maybe they were afraid to try or never thought to try.  Plus in addition to that we are able to keep adding things.  That is not including the fact there will be some businesses that just have extra offerings.  For example...Bijou Salon has $100 on the card for your clients; Mr. Lube has a FREE rock chip repair; Little Mountain Green Houses has a bouquet of flowers for our clients to pick up; just to name a few....that's a WOW.  Is it not? 

What is the cost to obtain a customer.  If you meet 20 new people per year and spend $20,000 to do that in all that you do with your website; failed deals; paper ads; gas; closing day gifts; dinners and lunches with clients etc etc etc.....that is $1000 Per Client.....right? 

How much do we pay for referrals?  25%?  35%?  Let's take $5000 - 25% of that is $1250.  We pay it already.  We pay out money to obtain business right now.  Is that a true statement?  What if it cost you less than $50/m  - all in!  Huh?  You say.  That's right.  Cards are printed like a credit card with you all over it and distributed to your A+ database and then to all of the new business that you create.  Would that be a good investment. Plus in addition to that there is a built in email campaign that goes to your clients to keep them updated on the new offerings every month.  It is an email that they will want to receive because there is stuff in it for them....no selling.  Just good old fashioned rewards for your clents!

Our newest addtion is the Chilliwack Arts and Cultural Centre....FREE Tickets to a show of their choice!  Another WOW!

Call me for more information.......this is the Value Proposition that just took your business to the next level and you won't be able to stop the referrals and the Buzz about you once you give these out.....

Call me if you want to get involved in our movement and get ready to get your business sizzling for the Fall!

Kelly Johnston - 604-701-9080

 Are you achieving all you want in your business?  Are you reaching your goals?  Are you making all the money you want to make?  How are things at home?  Are you frustrated?  Do you feel like sometimes every deal feels like the work of 5 deals lately?  Are you feeling like maybe you could do more to take control of your future but are not sure what to do?  How do you "drum up" business?  Or maybe you have too many leads and prospects and need to structure your business better in order to handle it better?  Whatever it is.......it is. 

CLUB 100 at Sutton is starting tomorrow night at 5:30pm at the upper Boardroom and we are going to answer these questions....We are going to overcome obstacles....We are going to band together to help each other be the best they can be....

Enough of that for now.....You have to show up in order to gain the benefits but here is a teaser...........

We all have the desire to get from point A to Point B

A ____________________/////_______________________B - Success - Your Full Potential

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                                     C /////

Remember when you got into Real Estate?  Excited - Enthusiastic - Ready to Take on the World

Then some challenges occured.....some obstacles.......some deals fell apart.......some buyer's decided not to buy.........some buyers went and bought off someone else......Seller's wouldn't listen to you.....The Market CRASHED!!! etc etc etc......blah blah blah blah.....whatever it was .......it was.   We move down to C instead.  Then emergencey kicks in......We better get things going on, so we get our head in the game again and we get back over to A and then re-ignite our passion to get to B again.......

Then what happens....We hit the Wall again and the cycle continues again.  The Viscious Triangle of A-WALL-C and again and again and again. 

I am going to help you break that cycle and get over these perceived obstacles and get you to B.  Most of the time it is some kind of FEAR.  We have to overcome.  In order to do that we need you to be OPEN and willing to listen and absorb other people's ideas and then be WILLING to put those ideas into ACTION and we must be AWARE.  This is the key to keeping it in ACTION.  Awareness is the ability to have conscious thoughts about our unconscious actions.  Once we get to the other side of the WALL then we get to our potential.  Where else are you getting challenged? 

Success is not a destination or a resting place.....It is a journey and it is not about the goal as much as who we become as a person during that journey that is the true gift.  The money and respect and all that will come along the way but those things will never go away as long as we become who we were meant to be and help others along the way....

If that makes sense to you and you would like to join us for 1 hour per week then come on over.  Let me know you are coming so that I can make space for you and have materials available for you. 

All the best to you and yours,

Kelly Johnston - Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd.

$100,000 per Year!!!  Seems like a lot of money if you have never made that much money.  Once you have earned $100,000 then it is extremely achievable in your mind and then you start to condiiton yourself to make more than that.  Gosh, if I can make $100,000 then maybe I can make $150,000....and so on.

You are absolutely right.  Stretch the mind and create new BELIEFS.  What the mind can first conceive and then truly believe, It can achieve.   Where did it start?  The mind.  But then the mind had to believe.  Truly Believe......not wish.....not hope....not get discouraged after the first challenge......Believe.

ARE YOU COMMITTED OR JUST INTERESTED IN MAKING THE MONEY YOU NEED TO MAKE?

A committment is something that people are accountable to.  It is a promise.  To yourself, your family and others.  Claim it.  Verbalize it.  Write it down.  Look at it every day.  Feel it.  Figure out what it will do to change your life to hit that goal; whatever it is.  Committ.  It is a mindset. 

Or .....are you just interested.  It would be nice.  The people that make that kind of money are "lucky".  They have other advantages over you so - why even try.  The first challenge that you face is a nice quick reminder that you were not meant to make that kind of money.  It offers up a great excuse and it fully justifies why you CAN'T make that kind of money.  Great.  Now you are justified.  How is that working out for ya?    It is a mindset.

Wake up people!!!  We can only blaim the market for so long.  We can only blame our lack of experience so long.  We can only blaim the rest of the world around us so long.  Are you waiting for a miracle that will get you out of the negative tail-spin that you have created?  Some sort of glimmer of hope from the heaven's that will give you a spark again.  Guess what....the miracle is you.  Your own belief system.  Your own Self Talk.  Is it God willing?  Guess what, I believe God wants the best for you not the worst, so yes, it has to be God Willing.  You are wasting the gifts that He has given you if you choose not to make the most of your lives. 

I am here to offer you the glimmer of hope.  I am here to offer a space to excel.  I am here to maximize your potential.  I am here to work with you on a weekly basis in order to bring out the best in you.  I am here to hold you accountable.  I am here to help you make $100,000 plus.  I am looking to build a team of people that are COMMITTED to make over $100,000 per year.  I want a team of professionals who take their business seriously and are committed to performing the activities required in order to make the money they need to make. 

Why me?  I can tell you this not to brag or boast but simply to qualify myself, that I have never made less than $100,000 in this business.  I have made a lot more than that.  I can run and office and be a father of 3 and a husband; travel, go through tremendous challenges in my own personal life and I have still made over $100,000 every time.  Does that qualify me to help you?  You be the Judge.  Who is offering this help to you now....who is committing to this for you now.....?  What owner of a Real Estate company is committed to his team to pretty well guarantee success with the team of people that committ with him?  Ask yourself that. It is time to draw a line in the sand and move forward and forget about the past.  The past is gone.  If you drive and car and only look in the rear view mirror then you will crash the car.  Check out the amazing large windshield and look around at what is ahead of you.....there is a bright future with a lot of road ahead for you and I want to help get you there.....

If not, ask yourself this.  Do you have a goal sheet filled out that you look at every day that you wrote in January of 2011 or earlier in order to map your business for 2011?  If you have, how are your tracking it?  What activities are working the best for you?  Where is your business coming from predominently?  What is your target market?  How many A+ clients are in your circle?  Who are your strategic alliances? 

If you have read this far down then I congratulate you....Have I got you thinking?  Good.  Have I possibly Inspired you?  Good.  Have I possibly "ticked" you off?  Good.  At least something will happen then.  Maybe you need to get your blood boiling....my adrenaline is flowing a little more right now just typing this....

If you want to add some passion to your life and get your business rolling with applicable principles then I invite you to join my cause.....Its Called CLUB 100 PLUS -  - -  Exclusive to people that believe that their word is their bond and they are committed to making a difference in their lives....If you have already made a $100,000 then double it or triple it.....The principles still apply.  Lets get ready for an awesome 2012....Together as a supportive team in an safe environment.....

Call me anytime to discuss.......

Yours truly from the Heart,

Kelly Johnston - Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd.

Annual real estate tour brings investors to town

David Coon, executive vice-president of the Property Development Group, talks to real estate and business professionals about the Eagle Landing development during the Chilliwack and DIstrict Real Estate Board’s annual commercial real estate tour on Friday.

Greg Knill/ Progress
 

Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz promised “bold” action for the city’s downtown to a group of real estate and investment professionals during a tour of commercial properties on Friday.  Gaetz, keynote speaker at ninth annual Chilliwack Commercial Real Estate Tour, said the city’s Downtown Revitalization Strategy is almost ready for release. And while not willing to disclose details prematurely, she said with enthusiasm: “I got to tell you, it’s bold.”  The tour was organized by the Chilliwack and District Real Estate Board, with assistance from Chilliwack Economic Partners (CEPCO). It drew real estate and business professionals from throughout the region and as far away as Whistler.   The intent of the tour is to showcase investment opportunities in Chilliwack.  And there are plenty, said Gaetz.  Significantly, the group boarded two large tour buses at the former site of the Empress Hotel. The land is one of several properties in the downtown owned by the city that CEPCO wants to see developed. But there are other private opportunities, like the former Safeway site on Main Street, and the former courthouse site on College Street.  The Downtown Revitalization Strategy is the latest attempt to spur redevelopment in the downtown. Earlier studies estimated it would take 30 years for revitalization plans to come to fruition, Gaetz said. But that would take too long.  “We want to see something in our lifetime,” she said.   Chilliwack remains a good place to invest and do business, Gaetz told the group while it stopped briefly during a tour of the auction facilities at Ritchie Brothers​. The city’s low tax rate and pay-as-you-go philosophy has brought significant amenities, but no debt. Meanwhile, incentives like the Industrial Revitalization Strategy – which provides a tax exemptions for developers willing to commit more than a $1 million – are encouraging investment.  The scale of business investment in the community was evident at the first stop on the tour, Eagle Landing. Because of construction last year the tour buses stopped on the roadside. This year, with construction complete at Walmart and Home Depot​, they pulled into the parking lot of the 30,000 square-foot Galaxy Cineplex Theatre. There, David Coon, executive vice-president of the Property Development Group, announced a few new tenants for the 650,000 square-foot development, like the Bank of Montreal, a Carl’s Jr. restaurant, and a Visions Electronics store.  Change was also evident farther south as the tour passed the future site of the city’s southside library. It stopped at Garrison Crossing, were the group was told about the remaining properties Canada Lands’ hopes to develop as it completes the sale of land formerly held by Canada’s military.The tour concluded back downtown with a tour of the $5 million renovation of the Coast Hotel.This Friday the tour buses will roll again. But this time it will be the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission partnering with CEPCO to highlight the city’s agriculture sector.

We are entering into another phase of the year.....after summer....coming into the Fall.  This is a very active part of the year for Real Estate....it is worth the time to plan to make sure that you hit your goals for the year....remember you have 4 months left!!! 

Tracking and Forecasting for Success

Can you explain your professional success? If you are unable to explain what made your business successful, it reduces the likelihood that your success will continue or certainly that it will increase in the future. Many professionals are successful despite understanding why, but the most successful, in any industry track their business, track their success, track their failures, track everything. Tracking leads to forecasting, and forecasting leads to a realistic assessment of your business as well as the opportunity to create measurable, attainable, motivational goals. Let’s walk through some quick steps you can start today to start tracking and forecasting in your business to be more successful moving forward.

Tracking

Tracking should not be a cumbersome exercise that requires hours of additional responsibility added to your work week. Instead, it is worth taking a bit of time at the outset to develop a tracking system that will be easy to follow and realistic to maintain. Considerations when deciding what and how to track must take into account the purpose of your business, the structure of your business and the goals of your business. If you are a Mortgage Broker with an administrative assistant that works out of an office Monday to Friday, and you want to increase your repeat and referral business, your tracking system must reflect this. If you are increasing your repeat and referral business as a priority, tracking cold call success will not help you reach your goal. Furthermore, if your goal is to build your businessthrough online promotion, tracking your total transactions month over month will not be an indicator to you as to whether your online promotion is driving your success or failure. Big picture calculations such as your number of transactions each month, the average amount per transaction, where your clients are coming from, the types of transactions that you do each month, who on your team completed each transaction, your monthly expenses each month, and so on, all help with your big picture. Everyone should be tracking all of these. The simplest way to do this is to build a spread sheet for this information so it is all in one place that you can add to in 20 minutes each month.  Tracking the details comes from looking back to see where your business has been coming from, considering your skill sets and where you are most likely to grow your business. Setting goals accordingly for your business will help you. If you take the earlier example of wanting to increase your repeat and referral business; tracking the initiatives your business takes to stay in touch with your database would be valuable, as would paying attention to the types of contact you make with your database that generate additional business. This will help you understand where your skills lie, and perhaps more importantly, alert you to the areas where you could use additional training or support.

Forecasting

Forecasting is about anticipating future opportunities and threats to the business, understanding your business’ strengths and weaknesses, and making an educated guess about how your skill sets and opportunities will impact the success of your goals within a set period of time.  Forecasting is in essence projecting how your success will look tangibly. We want to forecast revenue, expenses, size of team, types of products that gain in popularity, time investments and anything else we can anticipate and measure.  In order to forecast effectively we need to track and review our data collected. The forecast should take into account the results of what you have tracked, the improvements you intend to make to the business to improve future results, and the market conditions speculated to be influencers during that time period.  When forecasting, make sure all your forecasted numbers or objectives can work together. For instance, if you are earning revenue of $100,000 a year currently and forecast earning $500,000 next year, make sure you can justify through your tracking, strategy and measurable tactics the changes you will be aggressively implementing in your business to successfully meet your forecasted goals. A forecast should not be a dream, it should be an ambitious, achievable opportunity when optimizing your business strengths and compensating for your business weaknesses.

The following is a story that was published in the Vancovuer Sun recently.  Once again profiling the unique qualities that we sometimes take for granted here.  I feel a wave coming soon to the Chilliwack area. 

Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz says the key to further growth is creating more well-paying jobs.

Photograph by: NICK PROCAYLO, PNG

METRO VANCOUVER - As a high school student in Chilliwack, Brad Miller bought gas for his Ford F100 pickup truck with proceeds from working the 4 p.m. to midnight shift at Ironside’s Machine and Welding, a local equipment manufacturer.

Miller is now president of the fast-growing company with 250 employees which designs, builds and exports compressed natural gas equipment, some of which is shipped to China, Bangladesh, Colombia, Peru and beyond.

Three years ago, Miller relocated the company to a brand-new 55,000-square-foot production facility in an industrial park near Highway 1 in west Chilliwack.

The evolution of IMW from an old-school machinery manufacturer to a green-tech powerhouse is testament to the transformation of Chilliwack’s economy, which used to revolve around agriculture. The city of 82,000 has aggressively expanded its industrial land base and created a low-cost business environment that is enticing companies from across the Lower Mainland.

Miller, who owns businesses elsewhere in the Lower Mainland, said IMW has stayed in Chilliwack because of the city’s low land prices, stable employee base and pro-business local government. The company has now been sold which has spurred a 22,000-square-foot addition.

“When I compare trying to get a development permit or building permit or any of those kinds of things, it seems the further west you get the harder it seems,” Miller said.

Statements like that are music to Mayor Sharon Gaetz’s ears, particularly given Chilliwack’s not-so-distant past.

Gaetz was a school trustee in the mid-1990s when major employer Fraser Valley Foods shut down, part of a shift south by a food-processing industry lured by lower labour costs. That was followed by the “devastating” news — just after Gaetz had been elected as a councillor — that Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack was relocating to Gagetown, N.B.

“The community felt as if it had been kicked in the solar plexus,” she said. “We all felt like, ‘Are you kidding me? How do we recover from this?’”

Both the food-processing industry and CFB Chilliwack were key parts of the city’s identity, she said. Their departure prompted soul-searching in the city, as well as the erection of signs beside Highway 1 proclaiming that Chilliwack was open for business. The signs remain and the mayor’s office still logs the occasional call from motorists.

But it was the creation of the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation, or CEPCO, that spurred development and helped the Fraser Valley city bounce back from the economic body blows. CEPCO operates as the economic development arm of the city but is incorporated as a private company, which gives it the flexibility to buy land and develop industrial parks.

The city of Chilliwack is the sole shareholder, and profits from development and land sales are plowed back into projects that help Chilliwack attract and retain business.

“It’s worked out beautifully for the city of Chilliwack, in that we have this partner now that helps us with things that we probably could not dream of doing,” Gaetz said.

CEPCO’s current focus is the revitalization of downtown Chilliwack. A recent success story is the demolition of the derelict Empress Hotel. The hotel had become a gathering place for sex-trade workers and drug addicts, said Gaetz.

Rather than having taxpayers foot the bill to buy the hotel and tear it down, CEPCO bought and demolished it and then funded soil remediation. It’s now a prime development site, she said.

CEPCO also played a key role in the redevelopment of CFB Chilliwack. The former military base is now Canada Education Park, an 81-hectare site that houses several institutional training facilities and residential and commercial developments.

Agriculture remains a key industry in Chilliwack, accounting for six per cent of its gross domestic product, compared to three per cent provincially. It’s home to 900 farms and a circle farm tour that highlights some of the innovative and niche agri-businesses that are springing up, Gaetz noted.

The food-processing industry has also risen from the ashes of the Fraser Valley Foods closure — Chilliwack has more than 20 food processors and an industrial park devoted to the sector.

Another business incubator has been the province’s immigrant investor program, which requires a $400,000 investment for Metro Vancouver and Abbotsford but only $200,000 for Chilliwack.

Key to the city’s economic development strategy is the creation of jobs with wages that allow a good standard of living, Gaetz said. To attract more of those high-paying jobs, council is finalizing a one-year tax holiday for new businesses that invest more than $1 million in the community.

Average housing prices that are 60-per-cent cheaper than Vancouver and 30-per-cent cheaper than Abbotsford (according to MLS data) increase the city’s appeal, she said.

jkwantes@vancouversun.com

© Copyright (c) The Vancouver Sun
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/business+attitude+keeps+Chilliwack+open+business/5081560/story.html#ixzz1RoMjWnuY

There is a alot to do around Chilliwack this weekend.  There is a Citywide Church service at Prospera Centre at 10am and then we suggest you head over to the downtown area to take in the Classic Car Show with the family.  Look for the Sutton Tent in the heart of the downtown as well.  See you there!!!

Might doesn’t always make right especially when comparing Canadian and U.S. real estate markets 

When sizing up Canadian markets alongside their U.S. counterparts we often hear that what’s happening south of the border is sure to make its way north. Given that approach, there has been a lot of talk lately about the Canadian real estate market heading for an implosion.

Statistics Canada has reported a steady price climb with its new housing price index rising 1.9 per cent since last April. And Scotia Capital reported that Canadian real estate prices had increased five per cent in the first quarter of this year    compared to the same period in 2010.

Taking what may look like healthy growth a step further, CIBC warned last month that 17 per cent of Canadian homes are overvalued. A five to 10 per cent price correction is likely to take place in the next two years, the report added. The report went on to say that homes in B.C. are overvalued by 20 per cent, 17 per cent in Alberta, 13 per cent in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec, 11 per cent in Ontario and 8.6 per cent in Atlantic Canada.

And this week, Bank of Canada chief Mark Carney issued concerns that fear and greed in the Canadian housing industry is driving real estate prices through the roof.

If these predictions suggest the Canadian real estate bubble is about to burst, Toronto broker Peter Powers thinks otherwise.

“People are reading about the U.S. market and thinking this correlates to the Canadian market and nothing could be further from the truth,” says Powers of Royal LePage’s Johnston and Daniel division in Toronto. “The more likely scenario is that home prices will stabilize giving incomes a chance to catch up. The Canadian real estate market is on solid footing.”

Preceded by a boom in the housing market for the past decade, Powers believes the Canadian housing market is at or near the top of a cycle and that it will normalize, not by means of a major correction in house prices, but instead by a softening of the market and more stable prices.

“Generally, Toronto’s housing prices have been increasing at five per cent,” Powers said. “If the market starts increasing at 15 to 20 per cent, I’d be nervous.”

The concept of a Canadian real estate market or an American real estate market is simply too broad to paint with one brush, says Canadian real estate author Don Campbell.

“That is the equivalent to taking the temperature of everyone in the hospital,” says Campbell, “taking the average of those temperatures and using that  ‘average’ to determine the health of one specific patient.”

Investors need to look at specific local markets, he says. For example, hot U.S. markets right now are in the sun-belt states yet they have low economic forces so inevitably those markets cannot be sustained. On the other hand, Houston and Dallas have great job and population growth and as a result will continue to do well as they are supported by healthy economics and job growth. In Canada, the same can be said. In Windsor, for example, the economy struggles and so does its housing market. However, in other cities such as Edmonton, Surrey and Kitchener, where job creation is prompting population growth, increases in real estate prices are being supported.

Interest rates, banking, mortgage styles don’t really matter, says Campbell, if there isn’t some sort of underlying strength to the job market and the population growth. Without these, you only have hope and speculation, he adds.

Campbell also questions why so many are concerned about foreign investment propping up the Canadian housing market while they aren’t at all worried about plunking their cash south of the border in markets that are fully supported by foreign investment.

“There is a lot of hullabaloo and media coverage around the danger of foreign investor funds propping up Vancouver and Toronto – yet zero coverage on the dangers of this occurring in these hot U.S. cities,” says Campbell. “I wonder what the coverage will be when the U.S. dip takes another ride downward, taking Canadian profits with it.”

People need to be reminded that cheap doesn’t mean good when buying real estate. Growth in what you buy only comes from GDP and job growth. With those two factors come population growth, increased rental demand, higher rents, property purchase demand, which eventually leads to a hike in property prices.

“As boring as that may sound, it is the underpinning of all real estate markets,” Campbell says. “By the way, the reverse of the formula is also true – no job growth leads to lack of long term demand on property, so what looks like a deal today will look like an even better deal two years from today - and that is the sad fact we are witnessing come true.”

Before considering investing in foreign markets, do your homework, advises Campbell. Know the economics of the region you are investing in and if you don’t know, learn all you can about it.

Tom Burk helps Canadians buy in the U.S. As a realtor who does business on both sides of the border, Burk, who is president of CanAm Properties in Calgary, says the U.S. market is far from tanking.

“It’s dangerous to say prices are crashing in the U.S.,” Burk says. “Prices are not falling everywhere. In Seattle and better parts of Phoenix and Scottsdale Canadians are paying more. The real premium properties are in high demand and there is much less supply than a few months ago. We’re seeing prices rise.”

Burk also stresses that it’s important to look at the local or regional market you’re interested in. There are still a lot of good U.S. markets and many uncertain ones – ones that have the potential of dipping down further. Canadians should not look at the national U.S. figures, he says, because that simply makes everything look bad, which is unfair and wrong.

Because Burk has been buying U.S. real estate for 25 years for Canadians, he recommends Canadians be vigilant about a number of potentially scary and damaging details when purchasing south of the border.

When it comes to titles, for instance, a good realtor will explain that a title search will not always reflect what’s on a title in the U.S., which is very different from our system in Canada. To protect the buyer from potential liability, title insurance, which is essentially unheard of here, should be purchased.

The other point that throws Canadians off buying in the U.S. is how they handle conditional sales. Often U.S. banks don’t approve or reject funding based on conditions on offers until mere hours before closing which can invariably lead to a postponed closing and much frustration especially for buyers not prepared for that uncertainty.

Another constant problem Burk encounters centres around the way contracts are written. If you have a condition that is contingent on, for instance, a spouse’s approval you have to send a waiver to the listing agent to act on the condition. In the U.S., if the listing agent doesn’t hear from the client, it’s assumed the deal is on.

“People are getting confused and they thought they were killing the contract because they did nothing and, in fact, they were moving it forward,” Burk says. “Americans don’t realize that closing a real estate deal in Canada is a different process. There’s nothing wrong with buying in the U.S. But you need a realtor who understands what you understand about the process.

Often and understandably so, they think you understand the whole process.”

What’s your take on the U.S. market versus the Canadian market? How do you think U.S. real estate differs from Canadian real estate? Do you think your real estate market is a bubble ready to burst?

Below is our monthly newsletter that Rabia distributes to keep us all connected....I love getting it every month.  There are no pictures in this version...but each month Rabia tries to get some funny pictures of our team for a little laugh.

Kelly

SUTTON SPIRIT COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

REALTOR OPEN/GRAND OPENING A ‘GRAND’ SUCCESS

WOW! Yep, that pretty much sums up both events we had on April 29 & 30. We had an incredible turnout at both events and it was truly amazing. The band, Ernie Britton Trio, were great. The food by Karra of Karra’s Kreations was scrumptious. All in All, a great weekend for Sutton.

Huge THANK YOU goes out to Kelly for organizing the Realtor Open, the Sutton Spirit Committee for organizing the Grand Opening and of course to all the Sutton Stars (y’all know who you are) for your participation and representing Sutton.

We truly are an amazing office with a great diverse group of amazing people.

Below are a few pictures from both events.

May Issue, Vol 4

Committee Members

Susan Chamberlain

• suechamberlain@shaw.ca Crystal De Jager

• cdejager@sutton.com Mike DellaFortuna

• mdf@sutton.com Doug Jackson

• djackson@sutton.com Nicole Johnston

•    nicole.happyhomesbc@gmail.com Rabia Shafi

• rshafi@sutton.com Courtney Smith

•    courtneys@sutton.com

MOVIE DAY IN MAY!

We’ve got our 4th annual Client Appreciation Movie Day happening on Saturday May 28th , 10-12pm at the Cottonwood 4 Cinemas. Rio & Hop are 2 movies that will definitely be playing that day. It’s a toss up between Soul Surfer, Fast Five and Hoodwinked for the possible other 2.

You have all been receiving the Client Appreciation Movie Day Flyer each week via email. Flyer should have already been sent out to your clients. If you haven’t done so, please let your clients know about this event and if they can RSVP to the office that would be great.

NEW REALTORS ON BOARD THE SUTTON WAGON!!

In the past 2 months or so, we’ve gained 5 new realtors.

Welcome Constantin Rusu, Shelby & Kelly Mendonca, Martin & Trish Taroni to Sutton. You guys are gonna enjoy working here. We’re a friendly bunch so don’t be afraid to let loose (not too loose) and have fun.

We wish you all great success here at Sutton.

Sutton Spirit Committee Newsletter Page 2

May 26 May 31

Upcoming Events

Sutton Luncheon, 11:30am @ Rendevous Restaurant Tuesday Treat Day

May 5 May 6 May 9 May 28 May 30

MAY BIRTHDAYS

Garry Hovius Doug Jackson Dave Snowdon Jim Schroeder Tamra Ford

--Compliments of the “Paparazzi”

This is a great article.  Got your Attention didn't it.  Read below to find out how to attract people to your ads.

Last week we explored the sense of "white noise" that we create by making boring "brand promises".  Examples are:  "I do great customer service"   or   "I work hard for you"   or "My clients are number 1 to me"   - - That is just ignored by the general public.  What sets you apart?  What makes you different?  What is your value proposition?  And please don't try to market yourself by screaming "PICK ME CAUSE I'M CHEAP"  .... However, maybe something better might be....."THIS IS A LIMITED TIME OFFER"....meaning that this offer is so good that if you had a tiny morsel of interest in utilizing my services.....Now you would be silly not to make a move.  But you have to make a decision sooner than later because after that limited time, it will cost you.  Some of you know what I mean by that. 

But how about this.  These are all the great things that I do.  I actually systemetize my plan for you and no matter what, this is what I do every time.  I am also accountable to this because this is how I report to you after I have completed.  What is the most important thing to you Mr. an Mrs. Consumer?  How can I best achieve that?  Do you know any other high quality people like yourself who are looking for the same great service?  How do you prefer to be communicated to?  How often?  Are you comfortable with how things are going so far?  "Did you know that there are more Sutton Realtors in BC that any other REALTOR franchise?  "Have you heard about our Sutton Member Program ....where you can get discounted rates just for doing business with a Sutton REALTOR?  etc. etc.  Always remember that the person asking the questions is always in control.  The best way to ask questions is to ask things that cause the other party to think...."hmmm, I've never had a REALTOR take time to ask me that before..." 

The next article is about how a headline can grab your attention....

Have a fantastic week.....Kelly Johnston

Does God Love You?
Today we share a message from one of our favorite marketing minds, Roy Williams. Roy's message will give you valuable insite's on how to capture a potential customer's attention and more importantly what to do with it once you have it.

If you’re reading this sentence, it’s because the headline (A.) startled you by its intrusive, personal nature, (B.) irritated you by its assumption that God exists, (C.) intrigued you because you never really thought about it, or (D.) touched a pre-existing suspicion or belief that hides in your heart.
Headlines – including the subject lines of emails and the opening sentences of speeches, sermons and radio ads – are vitally important.
David Ogilvy said it best, “On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”
The headline that pulled you into this story is interesting because it:
1. is taboo, (by virtue of introducing the subject of deity.)
2. is a question for which there is no “obvious” answer.
You realize that I just taught you two techniques for creating good opening lines, right? (1.) Tickle a taboo. (2.) Ask a question with no obvious answer.
Here’s another good headline:

Four Out of Five People Think the Fifth is an Idiot

That one is interesting because it:
3. is funny
4. says far more than it says.
5. reminds you of things you already know about foolish statistics, public opinion polls and prejudices disguised as research, “Me and all my friends…”
Fifteen years ago when I first began writing for Radio Ink magazine, Eric Rhoads said, “Make your readers want to cheer your name or make them want to tear you limb from limb, but never let them be bored.”
That’s another useful tidbit:
6. People would rather be angry than bored.
One last thing about headlines:
7. Never promise something in a headline that you don’t deliver in the story. Readers aren’t quick to forgive a bait-and-switch.
So in the spirit of delivering what I promised in the headline, I’ll share with you the following thoughts:
It is easy to believe God loves us. It is somewhat harder to believe that He likes us.
You have certain people in your life that you love because they are “family.” But do you really like them? Even you-know-who? Would you have chosen that person to be your friend – the loved one you’re seeing in your mind right now – if they had not been thrust upon you by the genetic lottery?
 
Wow. There’s #1 again. Taboo. "Do I really like all the people I love? What a question! How dare you! Have you no sense of propriety?"

Calm down.

Love requires a commitment that runs deeper than your feelings. This irrational, wonderful, life-giving commitment makes it possible for us to love people we don’t really like; people we would never have chosen for rational reasons.
Love isn't a feeling, it's something you do. Love is action. Love rolls up its sleeves and wades into messes it did not make. This is how we can love people we don't like.
But just for the record, God likes you. He actually likes you.
I asked him if he was sure. He said, “Yeah, I’m sure.”
Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.

Drago

REALTOR OPEN HOUSE this afternoon between 3pm to 7pm

We have a catering company providing a wonderful array of food and tasty tid bits; A VQA wine company and a refreshment bar.  We will have a live band for entertainment and a wonderful lobby area to entertain you in.  In addition, there will be some door prizes awarded to the lucky winners.  We promise that you will have a good time and we look forward to spending some casual time together in our new office. 

Vison is now a reality at the new Sutton Downtown Business Centre, housing not only the most progressive Real Estate Office in Chilliwack, but we share our space with Community Futures, Mortgage Brokers, Drafting and Design Specialist, and an Insurance Specialist - and more are on their way to be announced in the near future.

We are under negotiations to open the perfect coffee shop which will have light lunch alternatives offered as well.  The OutDoor Patio is now ready. 

A few touch ups left but we are ready to present to you our new facility.

The vision for this space is to create a number of reasons for the general public to enter our facility.  Whatever reason causes them to enter will hopefully enact them to remember their positive experience and then keep us top of mind for all types fo Real Estate Services.  We want them to feel the warm embrace of our facility and feel good about coming back time and time again.  Even just to come and have a coffee and watch the news in our lobby, or sit in our outdoor patio and watch the traffic go by.  We will be offering public seminars and educational events for FREE for the public in order to become the trusted authority on Buying and Selling Real Estate; Investing; First Time Home Buying; Financial Advice etc etc.....We have a 30 seat Boardroom upstairs for REALTOR training now; 76 plus parking spots; Fantastic State of the Art Phone systems; Amazing Internet Capability and more.  Our Property Management Division has expanded its space as well and is set to handle more business now as well.  All of our Real Estate offices are now occupied as we have had a great response to our new office but we do have an area to expand into to create more offices for newcomers.  That is a high quality problem and one that we have no problem dealing with.  We have found that more and more REALTORS are setting up 'home offices' and are able to be quite productive in that way.  This office is the best office for the "Home Office" REALTOR because we have so many places for them to do business.  People meet in Coffee Shops all the time.  Why not have them meet you here?  Keep them coming back.  They will see our new commercial screen displaying our listings on the wall in HD and all the complimenting businesses surrounding the lobby.  Why would they go anywhere else?  There are a number of work stations but we have wireless internet thoughout the building.  We have printer/fax/scanner machines on both floors.  A closing room for privacy and a 10 seat Boardroom with a 40" monitor screen for presenting to clients.  Use the computer there or hook up your laptop to it to present to them. 

Our kiosk at the Cottonwood Mall has newly installed 46" Commercial grade screens with a newly designed listing display that will absolutely blow your mind the first time you see it. 

This is what we are about here at Sutton.  It is all about the independent contractor REALTOR.  It is all about you.  We will set the stage for you to be able to have all of the tools that are out there to help you succeed in your own business.....the rest is up to you.  I understand that if I want to succeed in my business, I first have to help you succeed....there is no getting around that.  I have made a large committment to this simple mindset 4 years ago and now I am finally able to express this in a much larger way.  Very Exciting! 

If you make a choice sometime in the near future to join us then we are happy to have you come to be part of our team but if you choose to stay where you are  - that is fine - remember that you are always welcome to attend our public events and training sessions....Our door is always open...

Looking forward to spending some time with you today....  Kelly Johnston

For Immediate Release

Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd

WE HAVE MOVED!!  WE ARE HERE!

We are here to contribute to the Chilliwack area.  We are not just here.  But WE ARE HERE!  Our presence will be known.  Our Grand Opening will be April 30, 2011 from 10am to 2pm for the public.  We will have a "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" with our honourable Mayor Gaetz.  

We invite all of the REALTORs to join us the day before on Friday between 3pm and 7pm for a sneak preview and to come by and enjoy some refreshments and take a look at our new facility.  There will be prizes to be won and we look forward to spending some time with you.

Come and See us anytime before that.... we would love to share with you our future plans.  We are excited and we are here to share our resources with you as well. 

See you soon

Sutton Group - showplace Realty Ltd

Located at the new "Sutton Downtown Business Centre" at 9240 Young Road, Chilliwack, BC

We are now 1 week away from moving into our new office at 9240 Young Road.  I have personally moved my office so that I can be fully functional for the next week as I oversee the final touches.  It is very exciting.  Some of the TV screens, technical stuff and furniture will be arriving a week or so after we move the office in but over the next 30 days it will become complete.  Our Property Management Division has been operating out of the building since March 7 and they are enjoying their new space. 

I believe networking is one of the most important parts of building a Real Estate business.  Meet new people, have a value proposition developed that you can talk about and find out how you can help their businesses as well.  Getting in front of some new "un-met friends" consistently is how to build your business.  Our new Business Centre will provide opportunities for that to happen.  People will have a number of reasons to walk through our door increasing the odds for the REALTORS associated with our office to meet new people on a consistent basis.    Kelly Johnston - Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd.

Successful Networking

Always conscious of the need to build new relationships to keep your pipeline full, networking is the “put your feet to the pavement” part of your marketing strategy.  Your plan is the theory, networking, and getting in front of people- whether face to face or virtually, is the execution- and what will eventually bring in business.

The ultimate goal of networking is to establish relationships; any good relationship is built on a foundation of trust. Make sure your contacts know of your value, your integrity and the substance of your promise to deliver.   Establishing that kind of trust is invaluable when building the relationship- and eventually in asking for either a referral, direct business, or both.

Use your professional network

Don’t forget to utilize the other members of your professional network- other Realtors, other mortgage brokers, lawyers, lenders, appraisers, home stagers, home inspectors- and anyone else in your circle whom you feel would be helpful in connecting you with prospects.

Building up and using a network of industry professionals is vital, because their endorsement of you carries more weight from a professional standpoint in soliciting new business. Ensure those with whom you populate your professional network with are people whose work you know and trust so that you can feel confident in recommending them in return.  Always reciprocate and thank them for their business.

Virtual Networking

With the advent of Social Media comes unprecedented opportunity in terms of networking.  The goal of networking is visibility and interaction; social media represents a tremendous wealth of low cost, high volume networking possibility. With tools like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, professionals are able to increase their frequency of contact exponentially as well with prospects- which can go a long way to winning business.

There can be some danger in this flow of networking riches and always remember that quality still trumps quantity. Qualify any leads and to focus on networking only with those prospects that represent the most value- either in direct business, or in referral opportunity.

Consider volunteering, or getting involved in your community

Giving of your own time for a worthy cause is a win-win-win situation for everyone involved. Not only does the organization that receives your help benefit, but you benefit both professionally and personally.

You throw roots down in the community in which you work and/or live- and in essence increase your visibility; You communicate to current and future clients that you are they kind of professional that puts your money where your mouth is, and that you are willing to roll up your sleeves to get the job done- and that you are personally invested in the community.

Additionally, opportunities abound in the possibilities of meeting more people- whether in sitting on a board, or fundraising, or participating in events, your circle of touch points expands – and so does the possibility of getting new business.

Remember your goal and follow through

It is easy to get lost in the sea of networking, if you don’t head in with a clear take away when you come out the other side. Like the rest of your business, set goals and targets for what your expectations are.
Networking is more than a series of hopeful conversations- it is the execution of strategy, with a beginning, middle and an end. Make sure to follow up with contacts made through networking, and to ask for business.

When Larry came to me with this idea I thought it was fantastic.  This is exactly what we are all about here at Sutton.  Creating Win-Win relationships in our businesses......Way to go Larry.

Community

OpenHouse, Open heart

New community space available free to non-profits

Staff/Voice

ast year, realtor Larry Neilson and his wife decided that they wanted to network in the community and brainstormed different ways they could do that. Eventually they came up with what they thought was the perfect way to get to know people in the community—lease a space and let non-profit community groups use it for their meetings. Neilson figured that by using his advertising budget dollars to pay for the lease that would be the best way to accomplish the task.

"My wife and I talked about it and you know there have been some changes to the Cultural Centre and some groups were expressing concerns that they didn't have places to meet and that kind of got it started a little bit in our minds," he said.

One thing led to another and Neilson talked with Kelly Johnston from Sutton Realty and he thought it was a "brilliant idea." to try and reach people.

"It was a way for us to immerse ourselves in the community and meet lots of people and it's doing just that."

Larry Neilson shows the available space.

The Neilson's sold a business in Calgary and had a house built in Courtenay, driving through Chilliwack numerous times on their way there. Once situated on the Island, they didn't even unpack the pictures because they felt that although that city was a very beautiful place, it just wasn't what the wanted and they put the house up for sale not long after they arrived there.

When the house finally sold, about 15-months ago, Neilson and his wife chose Chilliwack as they're home and they've never looked back.

"My wife thinks Chilliwack is the best thing that's ever happened to us," he said with a confident smile.

The 1000 sq. ft. community meeting space is located upstairs at 9369 Mill Street in downtown Chilliwack.

"It's a very modest space," said Neilson. "I did the floors and put the baseboards back on, nothing fancy, just keep it simple."

According to Neilson the room has been vacant for quite a few years.

When local print media ran a story about the OpenHouse last November, Neilson thought that he'd be swamped with calls but he says that just wasn't the case.

"It really surprised me because I thought it would be like a tidal wave with the word 'Free' at the top, and I never got one phone call."

They tried again when a local community service agency sent out e-mails to all their contacts again with the same result.

"Really, it seems to be just getting out there by word-of-mouth."

Undaunted, he pressed on with his ambitious project knowing that sooner or later people would be interested and start calling.

"We have the new Toastmasters come every Monday night and the just move some tables around and get all organized. They have 10 or 12 members right now and they'll take it up to 20," he said.

Neilson says they've had a local theatre company practicing for an upcoming production over the past 2-months.

"They were a lot of fun. A real youthful group of people and they were in here using the space and it was just a pleasure to come in and see."

Slowly but surely the groups are starting to trickle in.

"The Stingray swim club is going to have an executive meeting here once a month and I've got a lady with a new group and she's calling it 'Class Act' and says that once a month, they'll be doing an art show there.

"Sue Larsen is going to bring in some people who are kind of artsy and have a show here each last Saturday of every month, so it's going to start this month. Just local amateur artists and there might a lady to make soap so there might be a few crafty things as well."

"I have a new AA group that's going to start up here one evening a week and it's going to be sort of a family-oriented thing through City Church."

Neilson was particularly impressed with the City Church group.

"I liked their philosophy, and the whole family involved and so that will be another day that's booked every week. I don't want everything to book every week because I would love to see different groups come through too."

He says that the OpenHouse is a good "starting point" for groups before they launch for some other event or move on to a more permanent space of their own.

Nielson says that he's a soft salesman and tries not to pester people about their plans.

"As a realtor, you have to be contacting people all the time and you have to make them aware that you're out there and I think you have to do it without being in their face like calling them up and bothering them or whatever."

Amazingly, Neilson is actually borrowing off his line of credit right now to pay for the OpenHouse's lease which runs through to December.

"I'm meeting lots of people and I've gotten tremendous feedback and my wife and I are immersed in the community so it's already a win-win for us."

Ace Signs made the signs and the Pioneer Building Supplies supplied flooring at a discounted price.

If your group is interested in using this space contact Larry Neilson at: 604-997-0050 or e-mail here.

For more information on homes for sale in the area visit: www.larryneilson.ca 

© Copyright (c) 2011 The Valley Voice

Time Management

There is a bank that credits your account each morning with $86,400.

It carries over no balance from day to day.

Every evening it deletes whatever part of the balance you failed to use during the day.

What would you do?

Draw out ALL OF IT of course!!!

Each of us has such a bank.  Its name is TIME.

Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance.  It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.  Each night it burns the remains of the day.

If you fail to use the day’s deposits, the loss is yours.

There is no going back.  There is no drawing against the ‘tomorrow’.  You must live in the present on today’s deposits.

Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness, and success!  The clock is running.  Make the most of today.

To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who failed a grade to realize the value of ONE MONTH.  Ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby to realize the value of ONE WEEK.  Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper to realize the value of ONE HOUR.  Ask the sweethearts who are waiting to meet to realize the value of ONE MINUTE.  Ask a person who just avoided an accident to realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND.

Ask the person who won a silver medal at the Olympics.

Treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special … special enough to spend your time.  Remember that time waits for no one.

Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift; that’s why it’s called the present.

Unknown.

“Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed.”

Peter F Drucker

Management Author

Time management is the key to accomplishing any complex task.  It puts you in the driver’s seat, giving you control over your life.  People sometimes react negatively to the notion of time management, arguing that it is impossible or even wasteful to try to organize their time, but I am absolutely convinced they are wrong.  Time management is the foundation of self-mastery.  It allows you to live your life “on purpose” by giving you control over your destiny like nothing else can.

Think of a scale.  On one side are the hours you “spend” running your business, and on the other side are the hours you “invest” improving your business.  If you are like most business owners, then right now the scale is probably tipped in favour of your “spent”: time.  Your day is likely spent making sales calls, handling customer complains, and producing products.  Our goal through this program is to slowly but surely, tip the scale in favour of your “invested” time, freeing you to do more valuable work.

“Work smarter, not harder.”

To make this happen, you first need to get a hold of your daily schedule.  If your daily routine varies, depending on whatever seems to be most important at any given time, then setting aside time to invest in your business will remain a low priority for you.   Something else will always take precedent. A customer will need to be called back, your employees will need your help, a package will need to be delivered, and so forth.

The backbone of time management is scheduling. Operating on a schedule forces you to make time for the things you know are important, but have trouble getting around to.  This does not mean you can never break your schedule.  You are in charge, not the schedule.  If something new takes priority then by all means, make an adjustment.  Just don’t make it a habit.  When you adjust your schedule you are making a proactive decision.  This is still a form of time management and is completely different from operating without a schedule.  When you deal with things as they come, you are reacting to, and consequently being controlled by, your environment.

There are plenty of things we have no control over, but one thing we can control is the way we spend our time.  It may seem as if you have little control over this as well some days, but in truth, this is the one place you have ultimate control.  Certainly you will be influenced to spend your time in certain ways, but the final decision to act is always up to you.  Cherish that authority; it is the key to personal and professional success.

Track your time

Before we can begin scheduling any of your time, we first need to find out exactly what you do with your time right now.  No doubt you are busy, but what exactly are you busy doing and when are you busy doing it?  To get clear on this, you will spend the next two weeks tracking your time.  It may take a little work, but it’s only for two weeks and what you will learn will be more than worth the effort.

“The first step towards saving time…is to find out how you’ve been spending it.”

William Ruchti

American Management Association.

The following is an article from the Vancouver Sun that is good for you to send ot your clients....Pass this along to your database.

THE REAL ESTATE WEBSITES YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

 Well it is February 23, 2011 today and we are all very excited about moving into the new building.  We are little behind our target date but we are still on track and it is coming along very well.  This building will be absolutely "state of the art" with all of the modern technology implemented on every level in order to make it easier to do business.  We will bring a positive energy to the Downtown Chilliwack area.  It all started when I walked into a building 7 months ago and as I was walking through, the vision started forming in my mind.  It is so empowering to have a vision come into reality.  The power of the vision is incredibly unstoppable…..Below are some words from James Allen who wrote "As a Man Thinketh" and I hope it inspires you to dream Big Dreams and create a crystal clear vision of what you want your life to be…..Kelly Johnston

I understand that this type of centre is greatly needed.  We know that it is a positive addition to our community.  This is part of the maturity that our community needs to grow into.  This is the type of neighbour that everyone knows is needed but nobody wants to live beside.  We are moving our office to a new location at 9240 Young Road.  The old Envision Building and it will be a wonderful move for our company and all who are effected by it.  We are bringing other businesses with us to formulate a service "cluster" so that everyone has the potential to work with the people that walk in our doors.  It will be a beautiful set up.  The REALTORS will have beautiful offices and there is an abundance of parking available.  We are positioned perfectly for the future growth of the downtown core.  We have always maintained that we are the Cummunity Real Estate office and we are proving that by putting our money "where our mouth is".  We will continue to be Agents for Positive Change in this community and we are growing.  Other REALTORS are coming from other companies to join us in our movement and we are excited.  Our move just happens to be right about the time that this facility is being located right beside our existing office....For the Record: This was not planned as an escape but simply to move to a bigger and better location that will serve the Chilliwack people better.

Click on the Link from The Times to learn about the Supportive Housing and Health Contact Centre

http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/business/official/4264178/story.html

I ran across this short Blog Comment and I thought.....you know...she's right and we are here for the clients that we work for and yes it can seem demanding sometimes but ....that is our job.  We are professionals and we are valuable resources to our clients.  Don't ever forget that.

Kelly Johnston

If real estate was easy, I would be out of a job!

I had an “aha” moment recently. I had been whining to myself (nobody else will listen!) about some of my real estate transactions that seemed to be coming off the rails. Buyers who didn’t know what they wanted…or changed their mind midstream. Properties that had issues. Construction topics that needed extensive – and immediate! – researching. Clients who were unreachable. Home searches that had me feeling like an archaeologist searching for treasure beneath centuries of rock. And showings that required an algorithm to time correctly. You know, the usual stuff. But it was getting to me. And then this thought jumped into my head and stormed its way over everything else that was muddying the waters of my usually focused mind: “If real estate was easy, I’d be out of a job!” If finding the right home or selling one’s property was really and truly easy…well now, why the heck would anybody need me to guide them through it? And with this one fairly key realization (!), all those cluttered thoughts and emotions, the little whines, magically got filed away. Some also got shredded. Others went to the incinerator. None landed in the recycling bin.

Ottawa, January 17, 2011
2011-003

The Harper Government Takes Prudent Action to Support the Long-Term Stability of Canada’s Housing Market

Related Document:

• Backgrounder: Supporting the long-term stability of Canada’s housing market

The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced prudent adjustments to the rules for government-backed insured mortgages to support the long-term stability of Canada’s housing market and support hard-working Canadian families saving through home ownership.

“Canada’s well-regulated housing sector has been an important strength that allowed us to avoid the mistakes of other countries and helped protect us from the worst of the recent global recession,” said Minister Flaherty. “The prudent measures announced today build on that advantage by encouraging hard-working Canadian families to save by investing in their homes and future.”

“The economy continues to be our Government’s top priority,” continued Minister Paradis. “Our Government will continue to take the necessary actions to ensure stability and economic certainty in Canada’s housing market.”

The new measures:

• Reduce the maximum amortization period to 30 years from 35 years for new government-backed insured mortgages with loan-to-value ratios of more than 80 per cent. This will significantly reduce the total interest payments Canadian families make on their mortgages, allow Canadian families to build up equity in their homes more quickly, and help Canadians pay off their mortgages before they retire.
• Lower the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their mortgages to 85 per cent from 90 per cent of the value of their homes. This will promote saving through home ownership and limit the repackaging of consumer debt into mortgages guaranteed by taxpayers.
• Withdraw government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes, such as home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. This will ensure that risks associated with consumer debt products used to borrow funds unrelated to house purchases are managed by the financial institutions and not borne by taxpayers.

Our Government’s ongoing monitoring and sound underlying supervisory regime, along with the traditionally cautious approach taken by Canadian financial institutions to mortgage lending, have allowed Canada to maintain strong and secure housing and mortgage markets.

The adjustments to the mortgage insurance guarantee framework will come into force on March 18, 2011. The withdrawal of government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes will come into force on April 18, 2011.

____________________________________
For further information, media may contact:

Annette Robertson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Finance
613-996-7861

Jack Aubry
Media Relations
Department of Finance
613-996-8080

Friday, November 12, 2010

Planning Tips For Before You Buy

Us Canadians are fine....Just let us buy homes and we will be fine....If Canada and US were like twin brothers - we would be the good twin.  We are conservately agressive and make good decisions on average...See story below:

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

10 Key Home Buying Averages in 2010

It’s that time of year again for Top 10 lists, as we say good-bye to 2010 and welcome a new year. Given that home buying is of particular interest to Zoocasa readers, we just had to share a handful of key home buying averages compiled by industry reporting organizations. Curious as to how you stacked up against the average Canadian home buyer in 2010? Let’s take a look.

1. To start, you can compare the amount you paid, or intend to pay, for your home against the average home price in Canada, which was $344,268 in November 2010, up from $337,392 over the same period in 2009. As an average, there is a wide dispersion amongst major cities, and rural areas. For example, Vancouver reported the highest average home price at $699,009 while the average home price in Fredericton was only $159,192.

2. In general, Canadians haven’t done the best job managing their debts this year, with the ratio of household debt-to-disposable income reaching 148.1% in the third quarter of 2010, the highest it’s ever been and even higher than our American counterparts. Though alarming, if you follow the general affordability rule, as outlined by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), that your monthly housing costs (monthly mortgage principal and interest, taxes and heating expenses) should not exceed 32% of your gross household monthly income, then you will be off to a great start.

3. In terms of saving for a down payment, a 2010 CMHC survey reported that 30% of new home-buyers plan to or have more than a 20% down payment, and 70% are making a down payment of less than 20%.

4. Also according to the CMHC, mortgage brokers represented 39% of total mortgage originations in 2010, up from 27% in 2006, with an even higher usage among first-time buyers (45%).

5.  In line with the higher usage of mortgage brokers, homeowners say, on average, they obtained 1.96 quotes when financing their current mortgages. The increased number of quotes acquired reflects prospective home buyers’ inclination to ‘shop’ around and compare mortgage rates, a role essentially taken on by a mortgage broker.

6.  On to mortgage rates, fixed mortgage rates, at 66% of all mortgages in 2010, were the most common category; however, 29% of mortgages, a significant minority, did have variable rates. Fixed rates were also slightly more popular with younger age groups, while older age groups were more likely to opt for variable rates. The most popular mortgage rate on the whole was the 5-year fixed rate. These trends are in line with historical patterns.

7.  Borrowers who took on the 5-year fixed mortgage rate during the past year realized an averagemortgage interest rate of 4.23%. The average rate advertised over the same period was 5.65%, suggesting borrowers negotiated 1.42 percentage points below posted rates.

8.  Contrary to the reports on high household debt, the vast majority of Canadians felt they could have absorbed higher mortgage payments in 2010. In a survey conducted by the Canadian Association of Mortgage Professionals (CAAMP), 84% of respondents said they could handle increases of $300 or more on monthly payments. In fact, 28% of mortgage holders did make additional payments on their mortgages last year. This includes 16% who increased their monthly payments and 12% who made lump sum payments.

9. Looking at mortgage terms, a 5-year mortgage term, representing 66% of all mortgages in 2010, was by far the most common duration. A further breakdown shows an additional 8% of mortgages had terms exceeding five years, while 26% of mortgages had shorter terms, including 6% with one year or less and 20% with terms from one year to less than four years. Amongst different age groups there was a slight tendency for younger adults to choose mid-length terms (1-3 years), and older age groups were slightly more likely to take longer terms.

10. The most common mortgage amortization period, on the other hand, was 25 years. Still, 42% of new mortgages in 2010 had amortization periods exceeding 25 years. This is interesting, considering there has been industry talk suggesting regulators may soon shorten the maximum amortization period to curb household debt.

So, did you lock in a 4.23% 5-year fixed mortgage rate with an amortization of 25 years through a mortgage broker, on a home in the range of $344,268? Probably not. But it’s still fun to know how you stack up!

This article was provided by RateHub.ca, an independent, impartial mortgage rate comparison platform. We bring the most competitive mortgage rates to one place, so you can make informed and efficient decisions. We believe that finding the best mortgage rate should be straight-forward, and our website has been designed with that in mind. RateHub works with the top mortgage brokers and lenders in Canada to bring you the most competitive mortgage rates. We update our rates on a daily basis with accurate, real-time data. We also provide ongoing mortgage education and resources to assist you in your selection process.

 9240 Young Road

soon to be the Sutton Downtown Business Centre !!  Expected move in date is March 1, 2011.

Renovations are underway.....

The transformation is going to be fantastic.....Wait for it..

If you would like to be part of our movement and be part of the positive change in the Chilliwack area just give us a call at the office...We are always looking to grow our team of great REALTORS and we are also looking for other businesses to join us so that we can all benefit each other in a positive way. 

As we solidify some agreements we will be announcing who will be partnering with us in this location.  We are excited about this project and look forward to hearing your comments...

Kelly Johnston - Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. - 604-793-9900

Good News for Buyers as we all know when we have a slow months and listings start to hit that 90 day mark the sellers are more apt to accept offers that they were not in a mind state to accept a couple months prior.  With mortgage rates at an all time low the opportunity for Buyers is fantastic.  Inventory is shrinking right now bringing things into balance so Buyers need to act now in order to take advantage of opportunity....See recent article below:

GOOD NEWS FROM TD ANALYST!  Get ready for the next wave....the fact that the inventory and the demand is balanced creates a perfect climate for a market increase and increased market activity for the next year.  2011 will be a nice steady growth year as long as the Bank of Canada keeps the mortgage rates in check to allow for the growth to happen...Kelly Johnston

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BC Home Sales Above National Average

Thanks to place like Surrey, BC, in the Greater Vancouver Area, the province of British Columbia has seen an increase in residential home sales for the month of October 2010.

Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. and its team of REALTORS are making a move in hopes of becoming a major catalyst to help in revitalizing the Downtown Core of Chilliwack BC.  Since ownership changed in 2007 Sutton has energized in Chilliwack with a simple mandate - "We have to positively impact the City of Chilliwack and the people within it."  Sutton is quickly becoming known for caring and has positioned themselves as the Community Real Estate Office... Anyone can just be a Real Estate office and "rent" office space to REALTORS.  REALTORs who join our office have to "buy in " to the concept that they have to volunteer their time...they have to show up for fundraisers....they have to look for opportunity to help others....they have to committ to highly ethical business practices....and create positive relationships with whoever they come in contact with....this is really  - who we are.

The plan for the old "Envision Building" is amazing and is sure to raise a few eyebrows as it all comes together over the next 90 days or so.  Watch for it. 

There are over 100 parking spots....there is over 15000 sq ft of office space.  The plan for the lower level of the building will be an in-house coffee shop; an insurance company with a drive thru; a financial services company; a development consultant office; a marketing company; a plan designer drafting company; mortgage reps from TD and a Dominion Lending office in addition to housing the best REALTORS in our City.  The concept of "clustering" and creating "synergy" is not a new concept but it is a concept that has not been implemented and it needs to.  We all need to work together and do business with each other.  We already support all local companies for all of our needs from business cards to signage to supplies etc.  Our Christmas Party this year is booked at The Coast Hotel.  We are committed to supporting the downtown and local businesses.  This is just an extension of that.

More news as things progress....

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHES!!!

Sutton Group Showplace Realty Ltd. is the community Real Estate office that cares and supports the community of Chilliwack.  We have launched a comprehensive website that will grow to be a Resouce for the consumer over time as it develops.  Notice the Banner Ads that are on the site for the local businesses that advertise on our kiosk.  These are our community partners and we want to support these businesses as much as we can.  Most of the services that take care of our businesses are from local companies.  We are an office that is growing and growing.  The people that come on to our team have to buy in to the concept that not only are they are REALTOR who must take care of their clientelle and operate in an efficient, professional and ethical manner but they are also committed to supporting our Client Appreciation Events and Fundraisers that are organized by our wonderful group of caring REALTORS that make up our Sutton Spirit Committee.  We are proud of our City and we are not going anywhere else.