Social Media Virgin

So far I have kept my blogs pretty neutral...staging based or decor based or about the weather (weather is always the topic that comes out when you have hit a wall) - I tried to tie those ones to decor somehow, comparing colour schemes to seasons, etc. but really...it is still the weather... It may have occurred to anyone reading my blog that I didn't really have a direction for it - this is true. I am a social media virgin. It's been a while since I was a virgin ;)...a little exhilarating, a little scary... So here I am, 35 years old and on the cusp of something new, yet again. I have a Twitter account, am on Facebook and LinkedIn. And since I have started these accounts I have blundered my way through it. After all, how much do you say? What type of stuff about you and your business is interesting and which is just stuff to have a presence on these forums because you're told you should? What is too personal? What topics will strike up responses and followers? ("Followers"...sounds like we're recruiting for a new religion...) Well, after much thought on this and debate about this, I have decided to go for broke... I have always kept my professional self and personal self separate. Yes, I said "self", not "career" and "personal life", because really when you are in real estate, and now staging, they tend to intertwine. Friends, former co-workers, family, guys I dated, co-workers of family, friends of friends - you end up working with the people that are part of or connected to your personal life. I say "self" because it was rare that I ever showed people that were clients when I was actually frustrated with a deal, tired from having worked 20 hour days, or in pain because my health was declining rapidly from not looking after myself. I smiled through it, stayed confident and calm as I dealt with any issues that may have arisen during the process, so my clients didn't have to. It became very easy for me to switch my voice to a calmer, sweeter version or hide tears when my phone rang, so as not to worry others. I didn't regale my clients with bad dating stories, or the fact that I was cramping so bad from IBS while I was showing them houses that I had to stop at some gas station nearby... So when I started on social media - I used my "game face", if you will... My blogs going forward are going to be more about me - after all the business is me, really - my ambition, my talents, my plans, my design. My life, my path, my experiences and education, my desires and dreams have all led me to this moment, this business, and anywhere I head in the future will be due to my current state of mind and life situation. So, I welcome you (if you dare) to travel my road with me. I'd like to introduce you to (as my new web designers put it (BTW stay tuned for the unveiling of the new RSDR website))) "the mastermind behind RSDR"...I love that...

Welcome Sunshine!

The sun is out; the grass is green and lush; the air is starting to sweeten with blossoms...the real estate market is busy and staging is taking off once again! Listings in the $200,000 - $300,000 range are going crazy! Above $350,000 seems a little tougher to move. The time frames for selling them are a bit longer and the prices are not reflective of the space offered when compared to the lower price ranges... This means for just a few thousand more - you can get a lot more house!!! A lot of my clients lately are in these higher price ranges - have tried selling without staging, unsuccessfully. They have called for the services of RSDR to assist in attracting their target market and are seeing great results! The realtors I have worked with suggest it may be due to competition with the new home building market - people are opting to build brand new vs. purchasing something that may need a bit of updating. The option of new is definitely appealing - fresh carpet, fresh paint, new appliances, picking your own materials and colour palette, energy efficient options, warranties... I have a couple of friends that will only buy new - they hate the idea that other people lived on their carpet, put knicks in their walls, painted colours they would never have picked, etc. There is something to be said for an older home though! Living in an established neighbourhood with trees and larger yards; decks that have already been built; landscaping that has been completed and has matured; a settled home, with no new cracks and nail holes popping up during the first year you're in it; larger rooms in some cases; no extensive delays with move-in dates; pools and hot tubs already installed; not getting damaged tires from driving through a construction site each day... It may be worth it to look at what it would cost to update an older home to what you would want and compare that with the cost of buying a new lot, building a new home, storing your things while you wait for it to be completed (in some cases), finishing the landscaping, building the deck or patio, and so on. I have always opted for an older home, personally. I love already having the yard, deck, fence, fruit trees, established gardens... I always start the move-in process off much like I would if I was building - I choose a new colour palette, I decide if new appliances are warranted, I typically change the flooring, do a little tiling in the bathrooms to update the look, maybe pick some new lighting fixtures, window coverings, install some dimmers and PRESTO...the house is now my home!

Working with the puppy...

I have had the most fun ever, the last 2 months, getting used to having a puppy in our lives and then creating a work dynamic that doesn't require her being by herself for hours at a time! She just turned 5 months on October 5. She loves people and other dogs, is a very happy girl, and is incredibly smart!!! We had her 2 weeks when she jumped up at the door, put her paws on each side of the round doorknob and tried to turn it one way and then the next! My husband and I just looked at one another and thought "uh oh", imagining all the things she could get into...

She is a surprisingly great puppy! She has always slept through the night (wakes between 6-8am to go out); Every time I think she is up to no good because she has escaped the confines of the kitchen/family room area to sneak upstairs - I have found her laying at the top of the stairs WITH HER OWN TOY; and...We can count on 2 hands how many "mistakes" have been made in the house (and only "#1"s)... She starts to walk to the front door, or if she is in the office with me, she rings a bell I have tied on the doorknob (thanks to a client of mine for this suggestion and teaching me the process of training her to do this!). I then ask her if she has to go outside and if it is a "yes", she shakes a paw, if "no" she just walks by me, grabs her toy and brings it to me to play. (She has figured out she gets my attention this way as well...) Pretty impressive, right??? I mean I have grown up with dogs that ate library books, magnets off the fridge, my new leather boots, tore down all the wall paper in one room and then ate holes through the drywall...so I have been expecting the worst!!! This puppy though...

So, I decided to take her in the car with me if I have errands to run, really short appointments, etc. to see how she does. She did so well in the first couple of weeks that now I manage my time schedule so that on the short appointment/errand days I take her with me, and plan for longer appointments to be scheduled separately or in the evening, so she is not alone too long, or she has "Daddy" with her. I have found through our travels together that she is a fantastic companion and have learned that many places around the city are "pet friendly"! Places you would never expect...the post office, pharmacy, my web-designers' office (Verda Design), and several clients' places! I pack us lunches, we go for walks in between appointments, all is good...

A phenomenally socialized dog, better time management, planned (healthier) meals and daily exercise that I normally wouldn't get! Such a great idea!!!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

It is January 2012! Hard to believe! Last year was rough in some ways (concussion, fertility issues, economic stress from investments going sour...), so I am happy to see it close and am excited about the year to come. Fresh starts - it's funny - we can make them any day of the year, but it seems right at the start of a year - easier to track progress dates, still on a bit of a holiday high, or maybe the holidays weren't what you wanted them to be so the changes are an attempt at better ones to come...it seems there is more hope at this time of the year.

RSDR has seen nothing but positive changes in the past year, I am thrilled to announce! Business increased considerably, social media presence was established, the bright and beautiful Johanna Wood joined the team as Marketing Coordinator in the fall and right at the end of the year, we welcomed an energetic and lovely intern named Rachael...all smiles in this company!

Now in 2012, we introduce a new member again - she may not be doing a lot of the staging work, but is a definite asset to our home and will no doubt become RSDR's new mascot!!! Welcome RUBY! Ruby is a 12 week old Airedale Terrier - she is an absolute joy to have and I am not sure how I lived without the sound of a squeaky toy being squeezed beside me while I work away in my office!

Holiday time is here again...

One of the most enjoyable (and stressful) times of the year is upon us again! Relatives coming in to visit, sharing a bathroom, planning a menu to suit everyone's expectations and dietary needs, decorating, laundry, baking, cooking, visiting, parties, and, of course...the shopping!

I have never known the concept of "last minute shopping" - I am usually finished in October with small treasures found throughout the year when mentioned by someone or came on sale... This year, however I am still battling traffic, crowds and line-ups to find the last few items! Normally, I have our place decorated the first week of November...as soon as Halloween is done - it is Christmas season for me! I love decorating...goes with the territory, I suppose...and I also love baking and cooking - planning an extraordinary menu with surprises and delights throughout, past cherished recipes thought lost suddenly appearing on the table, remembering small details that parents and grandparents once did and incorporating them into your own traditions to put a smile on their faces... I take great pride and pleasure in it and I look forward to finding something new to do each year!

This year I am not hosting the whole Christmas chaos though - my parents have graciously taken that upon themselves, knowing how busy I have been leading up to this week and I thank them! As much as I LOVE hosting...I realize I have overextended myself this year with work and volunteering and am sincerely looking forward to a rest for a couple of days amongst the heavenly aromas of a dinner that I didn't have to prepare myself! This year has been fantastic business-wise and incredibly stressful personally... I am sure a lot of people can relate as we're still dealing with economic issues, etc. My wish for everyone is that you can take some time to rest as well over this holiday time, re-group, and move forward refreshed and ready to take on a new year of opportunities and possibilities! I want to thank you for your business, following or interest in RSDR this past year and look forward to connecting with you in the new year! I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, or Happy Holiday and hope that 2012 is a prosperous, fulfilling and happy year for us all!

Week #1

On my approach to a "minimalist" lifestyle, my husband and I made a list of all the things that we are going to sell or donate throughout our house, garage and storage space. We also decided to give some of the proceeds from these sales to Winnipeg Harvest. Knowing that we are helping to feed families, while creating a more organized and serene living space for ourselves makes the process even better! It has also enabled us to part with things easier - the more we give away, the more food we can provide!

All of the re-usable bags that I have purchased at various stores over the past year (that have been sitting in my kitchen) have all been moved to our vehicles, so there is never an excuse to use a plastic bag again! (I just have to remember to reach for them as I am getting out of the vehicle to go shopping now...)

I found a "carbon footprint" website and entered in all the information of our household energy usage, vehicles usage, as well as flights, eating habits, shopping habits , etc. into a "carbon footprint" calculator and discovered that we output 18.38 metric tonnes of CO2 a year (currently)... The Canadian average is 20 metric tonnes, so we are not too bad, but the website that provides this calculator (you can find the link to it on my Twitter and Facebook) suggests that we should aim for 4-6 metric tonnes a year! The biggest one for our household and RSDR is vehicle usage... My husband commutes and I drive to client's properties, suppliers, distributors, marketing meetings, network events, JCI events and board meetings...the list goes on! So I know now that I need to purchase items that will help to offset the CO2 that is created from our driving, as that is not likely to change anytime soon, due to the nature of our work.

Learning more everyday!

Minimalist Lifestyle???

A minimalist lifestyle sounds great to me - only the bare essentials, a space that is conducive to peace, order, thought and creativity.

The only problem I have is that I love stuff...I love pretty things, comfortable things, entertaining things, "wearing on your feet" things... And I have started a business where I have made it possible to accumulate more things - furniture, art, lamps, cushions, blankets, rugs, vases, bedding sets, beds...the list goes on... Don't get me wrong - it is not all out, cluttering up the place. Everything is neatly organized and incorporated in to actually "stage" the rooms we tend not to use as much.

You see, my husband and I believe in planning for the outcome we want - on this notion, we bought a 4 bedroom home when we moved to Manitoba, as we wanted to start filling these rooms with a couple of children, possibly a dog. Instead, these rooms are now filled with "things". A positive of our "familial delay" is that we haven't had to incur additional storage expenses when RSDR was started!

Along with all the positive aspects of our life - RSDR doing well and growing; my husband and I still laughing, supporting and having fun as we near our 5th anniversary; meeting new friends; being able to visit with "old" ones; getting involved in our new community...we have endured significant stress due to health issues, injuries, finances, fertility issues, and so on. We are at times, overwhelmed - a feeling I am sure that most people can relate to!

I have decided to strive for a more minimalist lifestyle in the upcoming months in order to bring a little more peace to our chaotic lives. Stay tuned as I share with you my plan as it unfolds. By sharing, my hope is that anything that works for me, may work for you as well!

PS - anyone out there that has achieved more peace through "minimalist" changes, please share your tips and experiences as I embark on this journey!