When we began this adventure as Rockstar Homes, we knew that local music would play a big role in what we do. When we began filming music videos to promote properties, we discovered the perfect venue to spotlight Saskatchewan music. (Our videos can be seen here)

In the process, we’ve discovered some amazing music. We wanted to share our findings by compiling a list and profiling our favourites. As we all love different types of music, we reached out to several industry folks and asked them to suggest a few names as well.

After three weeks of emails, discussion and research, we’ve somehow managed to trim it down to a list of thirty acts. We put an emphasis on those artists which are currently active, performing and releasing new music. Also, bonus points to those who have music ready to be consumed by fans (ex music available to purchase, videos on youtube and those performing locally on a regular basis). While our province is the home of many great and accomplished acts, this list consists of those acts making noise right now in 2012.

Here is the 2012 version of the Rockstar Homes Top 30 Worthy List: the acts we most deem worthy of your ears this year.

Much of the bio information from each artist was borrowed from their website as listed.

30. Karrnnel (www.karrnnel.com)

Karrnnel Sawitsky is one of our province’s best kept secrets, quietly establishing himself as one of the most energetic and entertaining fiddle players in Canada. Over your stereo or live in person, he’s worth a listen.

Click here to view the embedded video.

29. Val Halla (www.valhallaonline.com)

She’s opened for both Alice Cooper and Burton Cummings. With a sound mixing rock and country, she’s gaining fans in both the US and Canada. Born in Regina, she currently spends her time split between Nashville and the Queen City.

Click here to view the embedded video.

28. Kacy and Clayton (www.kacyandclayton.com)

One of the acts ranked highly by a few of our contributors, Kacy and Clayton are “influenced by the raw, simplicities of roots music”. As simple and down home as music gets, there’s nothing flashy about this duo. Just grab a glass a wine, a porch swing and a starry night and let this album spin.

Listen Here

27. Little Miss Higgins (www.littlemisshiggins.com)

You can’t really say it any better than her website already does: “As if she just drove in off the back-road of another time with gravel dust and a sunset trailing behind her, this pocket-sized powerhouse plays music brewed up in old-time country blues sprinkled with a little jazz and maybe a hint of folk. Whether it’s songs about passion or songs about panties, she writes about real things in a rooted and poetic way.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

26. Foam Lake (www.foamlakeband.com)

A suggestion from most of our contributors, Foam Lake is quickly gaining popularity. Self proclaimed as Neil Young meets the Ramones and My Bloody Valentine, these band mates are veterans in the local music scene and currently remain as active members in other local bands: “the Warbrides”, “Slow Down, Molasses’ and “Chiba”. In their previous band (The Blood Lines), members Barrett and Paul toured across Canada, parts of the US and China, including showcases at the CMJ festival in New York, NXNE in Toronto, and a spot at the Beijing Pop Festival.

Click here to view the embedded video.

25. Jordan Cook (www.jordancook.com)

When it comes to guitar, it doesn’t get much better than Jordan Cook. Also known as ReignWolf, Cook has electrified audiences all over the world, including guest appearances with such legends as Van Morrison, B.B. King, and the Aretha Franklin band. Maclean’s magazine named Cook as one of ‘100 Canadians to Watch’ and guitar guru Jeff Healey stated Jordan Cook as being “the finest player in the world today”.

Click here to view the embedded video.

24. The Steadies

Frontman Earl Pereira got his rock n’ roll pedigree as a founding member of Wide Mouth Mason, who had two gold records, three Juno nominations, and a host of other accolades and awards. Pereira has toured the world, playing over 3000 shows and opening for iconic artists like The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, and Nelly Furtado. The Steadies’ established line up also includes Trinidadian guitar prodigy, Justin ‘Juice’ Lee and talk show host / drummer, Jason Hattie.

Click here to view the embedded video.

23. Zachary Lucky (www.zacharylucky.com)

Zachary Lucky is quite possibly one of the hardest working singer songwriters to come out of Central Canada in the past ten years.  Having four releases under his belt and currently writing a new full length album due out early 2012, and all by the age of 22, Zachary is definitely an artist to watch.  Zachary has found his niche as a touring artist.  Having crossed the country four times in the past eight months, playing to crowds as big as 500 and as small as 10, Zachary does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Click here to view the embedded video.

22. Volcanoless in Canada (www.volcanolessincanada.com)

Alongside an unbroken streak of Saskatchewan sold-out shows, a sold-out debut album and intensely energetic & passionate performances, Volcanoless has completed their sophomore album, The Way Forward. Their sound strives to combine precise rhythms and intricate melodies with the appeal and high-paced energy of rock music.

Click here to view the embedded video.

21. Scott Benson Band (www.scottbensonband.com)

It’s what you’ll come to expect from the Scott Benson Band, pianos leading into rock symphonies with distorted guitars, electric violins, and operatic vocals.  Take it even further when featuring the vocals of hip hop artist Ursa Maja. The video below outlines the recording of their new album at the Mae Wilson Theatre in Moose Jaw.

Click here to view the embedded video.

20. Mark Ceaser (www.markceaser.com)

A great voice and an ability to play a handful of instruments puts Mark Ceaser on our list. A singer/songwriter with a sense of humour, Mark started his music career in the duo, Sexually Attracted to Fire. He’s now released two solo efforts including his albums “Burma Road EP” and “The Strange Case of…”.  Both albums were produced by Ross Nykiforuk (The Northern Pikes, The Deep Dark Woods) and have gained praise from many including Randy Bachman.

Click here to view the embedded video.

19. Andy Shauf (www.andyshauf.com)

Barely past 20 years of age, Andy serves up a collection of new-folk pop songs that begin and end with sincerity and meaning, patiently unwinding a theme of memories and moving on. It is a remarkably mature display of craft by a young man writing beyond his years.

Click here to view the embedded video.

18. Def 3 (www.def3.ca)

Danny Fernandez (DEF 3) is a Regina-based emcee whose work has paved the way for the province’s Hip Hop scene. He has shared the stage with many artists off all genres such as Michael Franti and Spearhead, Great Lake Swimmers, Jack Semple, Corb Lund, Spirit of the West, Nas, Swollen Members, and many more. He also owns and operates his own indie label, Ship Records Inc., partnered with Universal Music’s Fontana North. Whether it’s on Muchmusic or live, he’s one to watch in 2012.

Click here to view the embedded video.

17. WYATT (www.wyattmusic.com)

I remember Daniel Fortier as the quiet singer/songwriter out of Saskatoon. His song “Beautiful” is still one of my favourites. Partnered with singer-guitarist Scott Patrick, drummer Bray Hudson and bassist Cam Ewart, they form the four piece rock country band called WYATT. Since being named the Astral Media 2009 “Next Big Thing”, WYATT has been building a fan base across Canada. They’ve shared the stage with many, including Jason Blaine, Jason Aldean, Emerson Drive and John Rich. Would love to see some official music videos next.

Click here to view the embedded video.

16. Carrie Catherine (www.carriecatherine.com)

Easily one of my favourites, Carrie’s been a mainstay in the Saskatchewan music scene for quite sometime. She’s a prairie chanteuse and award-winning songwriter, but most of all a storyteller. Her soulful songs and brilliant stage presence endears her to audiences. Her new album Wilderness was produced by Colin Linden (Lucinda Williams, Colin James, Bruce Cockburn) and recorded in Nashville with an impressive team of musicians. The album features Emmylou Harris’ rhythm section and Nashville legend Charlie McCoy to achieve a roots sound that is all her own.

Click here to view the embedded video.

15. Slow Down, Mollases (http://slowdownmolasses.blogspot.ca/)

Slow Down, Molasses is a sprawling indie rock collective from Saskatoon. The band brings together a uncountable cast of musicians from across Canada to create their own unique wall-of-sound. Songs that began as sparse, dustcovered arrangements, have developed into full-fledged, lush indie-folk anthems filled with strings, horns and layers of feedback drenched guitars and sweet vocal harmonies. With so many members on stage, the band doesn’t hesitate to incorporate new and sometimes unconventional instrumentation; from toy pianos to typewriters, you never know what you will find.

Click here to view the embedded video.

14. Philly 5 (www.philly5music.com)

In addition to being nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year and Rap/Hip Hop song of the year for the 2010 GMA Canada Covenant awards (Gospel), the Moose Jaw singer/songwriter has made numerous television appearances including 100 Huntley Street and Canada AM and performed at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, BC.

Click here to view the embedded video.

13. Rah Rah (www.rahrahband.com)

The proud prairie rockers sing of the seriousness of art, poetry, love and politics, and contrast it with a stage full of confetti, pinatas, candy, and six friends loving life and having fun. They were crowned “Best New Canadian Band” and “Best New Alternative Band” by iTunes in 2009. The band has also been featured as Itunes Download of the Week and Starbucks Pick of the Week in Canada.

Click here to view the embedded video.

12. Blake Berglund (www.blakeberglund.com)

“I’ve never considered myself an outlaw by any means. As easy as it is to sip on crown and pick a guitar for three days without sleep, I have a need for control and that’s obtained by walking the walk. There is an enormous sense of accomplishment knowing one can sell over 5000 albums in less than two years, saying that I shook the hand of every single buyer…I’d lean more towards accepting the title of hustler than anything.”

He’s a hard working hustler and a clever storyteller in a cowboy hat who has shared the stage with acts such as Theory of a Deadman, Emerson Drive, Days of the New, Trooper and more. If you haven’t already, he’s worth a follow.

Click here to view the embedded video.

11. Chad Kichula and the Douglas Ave Garage Band (www.chadkichula.com)

Working full-time cutting and pruning trees as the owner of a forestry company, it took awhile for Chad to learn to balance his passion with what pays the bills. Having written and recorded music since 1999, it was not until Chad sold his truck in 2005 to pay for his debut album, that he was able to get his music out to the masses. Chad’s self titled debut was an Americana/Roots-Rock album that showcased his development as a songwriter. Often described using the word Springsteen, Chad is quietly building a fan base that is anxious for his new album out next week. His song Another Love from the video below has been stuck in my head all week.

Click here to view the embedded video.

10. JJ Voss (www.jjvoss.com)

Raised on a small farm in rural Saskatchewan during tough economic times, J.J. grew up with heros like Johnny Cash, Steve Earle and John Melancamp. He’s opened up shows for Johnny Reid, The RoadHammers and Raul Malo ( The Mavericks). In April, he released his sophomore album in Nashville with the iconic music city producer Harry Stinson (Steve Earle, Martina McBride, Marty Stuart,Corb Lund). There’s something about his voice that reminds me David Nail (one of my favourites) and has me believing he’s just one great song away from something big.

Click here to view the embedded video.

9. Codie Prevost (www.codieprevost.com)

From Archewill, this cowboy has a knack of catchy songs that flow more mainstream than most. He’s been named the SCMA Entertainer of the Year three times and shared stages with Doc Walker, Emerson Drive, Gord Bamford, Aaron Pritchett, and Deric Ruttan and co-written songs with Jason Blaine, Willie Mack and more. He’s performed at the highly acclaimed SxSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas as well as most country festivals across Canada. At the 2009 Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, Codie and his band accepted 10 awards including the highest accolade, Fans Choice Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year, and Album of the Year.

Click here to view the embedded video.

8. Belle Plaine (www.belleplainemusic.com)

Belle Plaine is a time machine, a time warp so many years back, that you picture her being black and white in real life. Her sound is classic and timeless, but modern and exactly what music needs right now. After years of travelling and working outside the province, jumping in and out of a singing career, she’s returned back to her home province where the arts community welcomed her with open arms. She’s quickly become a name that comes to mind when music and Saskatchewan are the topic of conversation.

Click here to view the embedded video.

7. Alex Runions (www.alexrunions.com)

Add another cowboy to our list, but with a voice like this, there’s always room for one more. In 2009, Runions released his debut, self-titled album which received much recognition for his unique melody-driven songwriting skills that separate him from many artists today, including being named a Radio Star National Songwriting Contest Finalist for his song Rollercoaster. The quality isn’t great, but it’s easy to spot his talent in one of his Basement Sessions videos on youtube, which always seem to include his dog.

Click here to view the embedded video.

In the second listing video we produced, Alex was nice enough to lend us a previously unleased song called Lullaby. I’ve watched this fifty times to just listen to the music.

Click here to view the embedded video.

6. The Sheepdogs (www.thesheepdogs.com)

I know what you’re thinking. Only #6? These guys are so good, but everyone already knows that. With the cover of the Rolling Stone and an international tour, these guys have gone from Saskatoon to big time rockstars. This list wouldn’t be complete without them, but it’s purpose was to spotlight a few acts that maybe you never heard of. So while the Sheepdogs are in steady rotation on my ipod, it’s the next five acts that I think everyone should know just as well.

Click here to view the embedded video.

5. Jess Moskaluke (www.jessmoskaluke.com)

She is Saskatchewan’s next big thing.

In June of 2010, Jess made her first trip to Nashville and was approached by Artist Development Agency and Publishing Company, Identical Entertainment. They took no time in signing her to an artist development/publishing deal. She then managed to join forces with “Youtube Phenom” Tyler Ward, whose online music videos have been viewed over 257 million times. She recently joined him on tour and continues to earn fans of her own. She now has over 1.4 million views on her youtube channel and has recently launched an EP of cover songs called Cover Up. There’s no doubt she’s talented, but it’s been her ability to successfully reach her market that impresses me even more.

Click here to view the embedded video.

4. The Deep Dark Woods (www.thedeepdarkwoods.com)

I’m kinda embarrassed that I had never heard of these guys, but it just took one song to become a fan. I love the Travelling Wilburys and these gentlemen from Saskatoon have brought their sound back to life. The Deep Dark Woods won Best Roots Group at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards, and Ensemble of the Year at the 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards. The band also had the runaway winner in CBC’s Great Canadian Songquest with “Charlie’s (Is Coming Down)”, a song about Good Time Charlie’s in Regina. Easily one of my new favourite bands.

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. Library Voices (www.libraryvoices.ca)

When I finally got the chance to see Library Voices play live, I finally understood why they were popular. However, I fail to understand why they are yet to be a household name. I’ve never seen a band play so tight and together as Library Voices and somehow they do it with what seems to be a dozen people on stage. They are Regina’s favourite band and are currently on tour across Europe. It won’t be long til everyone knows them as well as we do.

Click here to view the embedded video.

2. Jeffery Staker (www.jefferystaker.com)

Six months ago, we sent Jeffery a facebook message asking if he would mind us using one of his songs in a music video to promote, of all things, a house for sale. I wasn’t even expecting to get a response. If we did, I was sure there was going to be a price tag involved. Instead, Jeff wrote back and gave us free reign use any of his songs however we like. He’s a forward thinker that is willing to try something new and it shows off in his music. His songs are innovative and unique and don’t quite fit in to any category, just like the pianist/singer/songwriter himself. The more I listen to his albums, the more his genius stands out. Knowing that his piano teacher-student lineage ties him to both Choplin and Beethovon (seriously, it’s true), I’m not surprised.

Click here to view the embedded video.

1. Jason Plumb (www.jasonplumb.com)

Juno winner Jason Plumb is SaskMusic Royalty. With his band, the Willing, Jason has produced some of the most iconic song’s in Saskatchewan. Whether it’s Wide Open used in a Saskatchewan government promotional campaign or Paint the Whole World Green that we hear after each Roughrider win at Mosaic Stadium, he’s made his mark on this province. With 25 years under his belt, the Regina, Saskatchewan-based singer and songwriter has amassed an impressive body of work that has taken him across Canada and around the world and doing major tours with the Barenaked Ladies and Blue Rodeo. His new album All Is More Than Both is one of the best albums I’ve listened to in a long time. Falling Star is fantastic, but his duet with Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) on What You Leave is unbelievable. When it comes to SaskMusic, he’s done it all, but he tops this list because he’s proven that he’s just getting started. Keep your ears on Jason Plumb.

Click here to view the embedded video.

and my favourite Jason Plumb song featuring Ed Robertson of the Barenaked Ladies

Click here to view the embedded video.

Who to expect on our list in 2013:

Through the process of creating this list, we’ve discovered some artists that we just didn’t know enough about yet to spotlight this year. We’re looking forward to hearing more about Saskatoon’s Jeans Boots, Castle River and Julia and Her Piano and I’ve heard a lot of buzz about Prop Planes, FoxxWorthy, Alexis Normand, Fur Eel, Skoni, Amy Nelson, Indigo Joseph, Cresote and Dan Siljer Band. There will be a few new acts pop up as well. Also, you never know what local veterans Faster Gun, Brad Johnner, Jack Semple and others will be up to next.

Thanks for taking the time to read this blog all week. I’ve really enjoyed going through the process and sharing some of the music I love. The future of Saskatchewan Music is going to be loud.

—

In addition to all those fans who responded through our social media requests, we’d like to thank the following for their suggestions of the acts they deemed worthy of our list.

Taron Cochrane: Former creative marketing & promotions manager for the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Taron has enjoyed an eventful and interesting voyage throughout the music industry. A graphic designer for punk bands around the globe for six plus years, he has also been a music columnist/writer for many notable websites and publications (such as Mutiny Zine, DyingScene.com and AMP Magazine) not to mention his current position as a freelance writer for the Regina Leader-Post and music writer for City Slicker Magazine. Other career highlights include a feature on CBC’s The National in support of Canada’s Polka King, Walter Ostanek, and a John Lennon Songwriting Award for ‘Best Love Song’ for a song he co-wrote for his wife for their 2009 wedding. Music is his passion and his involvement with SaskMusic and Saskatchewan musicians is something he is very proud of.

Rick Krieger: Rick is currently managing partner of McNally’s Tavern, a popular live music venue in Regina, as well as partner in Broken Rack Billiards, Midnight Media, and currently serves on the SaskMusic Board of Directors.

Marian Donnelly: Since managing acts such as Streetheart, Marian’s work has helped to build the foundation of today’s Saskatchewan music industry. Having served as Executive Director of SaskMusic and the General Manager of the Globe Theatre, she’s been heavily involved in the local industry for years. From FACTOR to the Flatlands Music Festival and now the Creative City Centre, Marian’s where you start when you want to talk Saskatchewan music.

Carrie Catherine: Once the host of songwriter open mics in Saskatoon, she sparked my interest in the local music scene. Carrie’s involvement in the industry has grow from a successful career as an artist to a key supporter with her involvement with FACTOR and SaskMusic. Along with husband Curtis Olson, Carrie has also created the Hayloft as venue for local music in Saskatoon.

Carly Gowan: After graduating from Grant MacEwan University in 2007 in Arts and Cultural Management, Carly went to work as the Booking Manager for the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts in Calgary, Alberta. She is also a dedicated volunteer at the Long Days Night Music Festival and Windscape Kite Festival.

In the third post of our Rethink blog series, we tackle one of the simplest, but most important ideas behind the Real Estate Revolution and the concepts we call It’s About You, Not Me.

Sometimes as REALTORS®, we miss the mark in saying “Thank You”…but not like you think.

It’s not that we never say it. It’s that we often say it in ways that can be perceived as self-promotion.

Scroll down your facebook or twitter timeline and you’ll see a REALTOR® say something like: ”Thank you Tom and Lisa! Congrats on your new home!”. Or open a Saturday newspaper in January when we celebrate our achievements and annual awards. It’s not uncommon to see a big colour ad saying “Thank you to all my clients”.

We’ve all done it.

I’m not here to say what’s right and what’s wrong. Each of us work in different ways. However, when I’ve used a public format to say thank you, I’ve often wondered how my clients and the public perceive these messages.  A public thank you seems to be less about my clients and more about me.

By definition, facebook and newspapers are meant to reach large audiences. A personal thank you card is meant to reach just one. It’s easy to see how these public thank yous can be perceived as self promotion.

For now, I’m going to stick with personal notes and phone calls.

Hopefully any public thank yous are those that come from our clients. Something more powerful than any self promotion.

In real estate, there are tons of little things that we do simply because it’s the way we’ve always done it. As part of our Rethink blog series, we are second guessing these little things and suggesting better ways to move forward.

In this post, we rethink Possession Days.

Possession day. That fairytale day where things magically go as planned, the sun always shines, boxes move themselves and the neighbours stop by with cake to welcome you to the neighbourhood. Well, it doesn’t always follow that script.

There are so many factors that cause little wrinkles and/or big waves on possession day. The more we can eliminate these issues, the more we can make this day a lot more stress free for our clients.

We encounter a lot of challenges on possession days.

Often buyers have scheduled movers, utility hook ups and the delivery of their new appliances for the same day they get their keys.  However, standard time for legal possession and the exchange of keys is set for noon, sometimes later if there are any delays. Often, these deliveries are set for the morning and clients are anxiously waiting to access the home. Unfortunately, we are at the mercy of the lawyers to give the green light.

Also, buyers are excited to show off their new home and they often invite their family to tag along. They are excited to see the home for the first time and help with the move. There’s a lot things happening on moving day. Not only does the entourage add to the activity, but Mom and Dad’s lack of  familiarity with the current housing market won’t help either. As it’s been years since they bought their home, they will likely be a little taken back with the price tag and the amount of updates the home may need. Just one more source of stress for the new home owners.

As much as we try to protect our clients, we often walk into homes on possession day that aren’t as clean as we expect them to be. Also, sometimes items that were to be included in the sale have not been left behind. While we can contact the listing agent and help with arrangements to address these issues, having Mom, Dad, the movers and the cable guy all waiting to get into the home gives us very little time to act.

So, how do we address these issues? The best way is to create more time and shift that hollywood, fairytale moment away from the time of legal possession.

We are working with our clients to communicate the difference between Possession Day and Moving Day. We explain the importance of a one day possession buffer. Taking legal possession one day before they plan to move will create a much better, less stressful experience.

A typical possession for our clients may look like this:

Day before moving day: Once legal possession is approved by the lawyers, our team inspects the property without our clients. We ensure all items agreed to be included are at the home and that the home is left in proper condition. If we run into any issues, this gives our team time to shine and make arrangements to fix the problems. This allows many of the issues to be resolved before our clients (and Mom and Dad) see the home.

Evening before moving day: Call it a client walk through if you like, but we call it a Sound Check. This is where our clients meet us at the home, do a walk thru and officially get their keys. Perhaps we even toast to the occasion. We ask our clients to not invite any guests with them and to not make plans to move in that evening. It’s a stress free evening aimed at celebrating their purchase and being new home owners.

Moving Day: Clients have full access to the home all day and can book utility hookups, movers and deliveries all they want. There is no stress of waiting for the lawyers or worrying about delivery times. Just move, celebrate and enjoy their new home.

We are in the business of client service. Our goal as REALTORS® should be to create a great experience for our clients.

While we continue to discuss ways to ensure sellers leave their homes in good condition for it’s new owners, we have yet to find the perfect solution. While we are limited in how we can protect our clients against these situations, the least we can do is create ourselves some time to help resolve them when they happen.

In this post, we are reviewing how REALTORS® and sellers set their asking price.

We’ve always discussed with our clients the importance of understanding the difference between Selling Price and Asking Price.

Selling price is the price we expect a buyer to pay for your home. We base this number on a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) which determines your home’s fair market value based on the prices paid for similar properties in your neighbourhood.

Asking price is simply a marketing tool. We use asking price to attract buyers to your home with an end goal of them purchasing your home at fair market value. Often, asking price is above the estimated selling price, but sometimes it is set at or below the estimated fair market value in order to attract a lot of interest.

Traditionally, we set the asking price of a home to end with those famous 99,900 numbers. We believe that psychologically, a buyer is more attracted to a home if it’s priced at $399,900 instead of $400,000. Car salesmen have been doing this for years.

However, things have changed. The majority of buyers now start their search online. They set their search criteria using pricing parameters such as $300,000 – $400,000. What sellers may not realize is that by pricing at $399,900 their home is only being found by those searching within these fields. What about those searching between $400,000 and $500,000? They are missing your home by $100.

By setting your asking price at a flat number, such at $400,000, we are reaching both those searching between $300,000-$400,000 and those searching $400,000-$500,000. We are now reaching a whole new set of buyers who will find your home the most affordable in their search results. Not a bad place to be.

Coincidentally, as we were working on the draft of this post, our friend Kelley Skar from CIR Realty in Calgary shared the following video on facebook. We think Lindsey Smith does a great job of outlining this concept as well.

Click here to view the embedded video.

They couldn’t be more different. In fact, they were originally created to demonstrate to kids how people so different can still be friends.

Bert is the more serious of the two. He’s organized and professional. You may even remember that he served as the President of the National Association of W Lovers.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Ernie is one of my favourites. In one of the best Sesame Street skits of all time, we see that Ernie is a natural salesman. If business were like fishing, he would call his clients often (and loudly).

Click here to view the embedded video.

We may not be Muppets, but REALTORS® are a lot more like Bert and Ernie than you think. While most of us are a healthy mix of Ernie’s salesmanship and Bert’s professionalism, it’s the message to the public and our client’s where things get to be a little rubber ducky.

This past week, the team at Rockstar Homes presented our concepts on “It’s About You, Not Me” at the Association of Saskatchewan REALTORS® Symposium in Saskatoon.

“It’s About You, Not Me” is the main ingredient in what we are calling the Real Estate Revolution. A big piece of that movement questions how we currently market ourselves to the public and our clients.

One of the most visible marketing efforts we do is something called Top Producers.

Every month, most real estate brokerages in the city publish their list of Top Producers, usually in the form of a large colour ad in the Saturday edition of the Leader Post (our local newspaper). This list of top earning agents is a long standing tradition for our industry, but one of our biggest current mistakes.

Consider the example below of a typical real estate Top Producers ad in Sesame Street.

What is this ad telling the public? I believe these are some of the messages we are sending:

- These REALTORS® made the most money this month

- REALTORS® think of  selling homes as a competition

- Being a successful REALTOR® is about quantity, not quality. And the best agents sell the most.

- If your REALTOR® is not on this list, they are not good at what they do.

- This whole process is more about us than it is about you.

You may be aware that Revenue Canada has recently allowed agents to operate as Professional Corporations. In the eyes of the tax system, this puts us in the same category as doctors, accountants and lawyers. This is a giant leap forward for our industry and identifies us as professional service providers. However, we continue to promote ourselves otherwise.

What if your local law office placed this ad in Saturday’s paper?

Or your local hospital?

The truth is, other than REALTORS®, you may see one other type of Top Producer ad in the paper.

We’ve spent decades trying to distance ourselves from being compared to car salesman, yet we spend each Saturday promoting our similarities.

I’ll be the first to admit that competition breeds success. We just don’t need to broadcast the winners to the public. While promoting ourselves is important, the message needs to change. We should take every opportunity we get to shift the focus to our clients and treat them like rockstars.

When it’s about you, not me, this same ad might look something like this.

Unfortunately, this is a shift that needs to happen as a brokerage. If an individual agent is a top producer but declines to participate in the ad, it will do them more harm than good. Any list that promotes the best also suggests that those not listed are worse and less successful .

Advertise as you wish, but just give this some thought.

If the rest of the fish knew about how many of them you’ve caught, they’ll never come close to your boat. But, if all your clients knew how many other clients you’ve helped, they’ll come walking your way.

“Waffles without W’s are just awfuls”, and the rest is just “fishy, fishy, fishy”.

Car salesmen should be more like REALTORS®.

That’s right. I said it.

I know what you’re thinking. As a REALTOR®, the last thing I should be comparing myself to is a car salesman. History and hollywood have painted us with the same sleazy brush. The truth is, I spend the majority of my day finding ways to shed those old brissles.

However, as my wife and I are currently in the process of shopping for her next vehicle, it occurred to me how much better the car buying experience would be if car salesmen were more like REALTORS®.

Maybe I’m just kicking tires, but I truly think these hybrid ideas could take the top down and grind this industry into the next gear (too many puns to pardon):

An MLS® (Multiple Listing Service) System

A good friend of mine sells cars for a local dealership. He’s the guy I want to work with. Unfortunately, he only sells one brand of car. I am now forced with deciding between buying a car I don’t really want from the guy I like or buying the car I really like from a guy I want to punch in the face.

All available, in stock, new or used vehicles should be listed on an MLS® System. Each vehicle’s price, features, age and description would be available to all dealerships. Each vehicle would have a listing brokerage (the dealership) along with a specific listing agent (the sales person). The agent’s job would be to represent the owner’s interest to sell that vehicle and promote it for sale to fellow WHEELTORS® and the general public. As a member of the general public in the market to purchase a vehicle, I may contact the listing agent directly or I may choose to work with another WHEELTOR® of my choice. Just like shopping for a home, my WHEELTOR® could spend the whole day with me, visiting different dealerships throughout the city to help me find the right car that fits my budget with all the right features I’m looking for, despite the make or model.

My WHEELTOR®’S knowledge of vehicles helps me find the vehicle that’s right for me, without having to do all my own research and be affected by all the various car advertising thrown my way to sway me.

While my WHEELTOR® represents one brand, he’s still able to show me vehicles from other dealerships. This allows me to place my trust in my agent and know that he’s looking after my best interest, not those of the seller. Also, his experience in the process and access to information on recent sales allows me to make sure I’m not over paying for my vehicle, buying a lemon or being tricked into paying some of those mystery charges.

Cars should have a listing and buyer’s brokerage commission

Just like a home, the commission paid on the sale of a vehicle should be split between the listing agent and the agent representing the buyer in the transaction. This allows my agent the comfort of knowing he is being paid for the transaction, no matter which vehicle I purchase.  The focus shifts into what’s important for me, not his pocket.

Also, the listing agent is more than happy to work with a fellow WHEELTOR®. The more agents that bring buyers through his doors, the more cars he’ll sell (and listing commissions he’ll make).

Sometimes, an agent will be working with a buyer who ends up purchasing a vehicle that they have listed for sale. Similar to real estate, this would be a Limited Dual Agency situation that requires the proper disclosures and steps to ensure both parties interests are well represented. In this situation, the agent would earn both commissions in the transaction.

Custom Orders are like Home Builders

I admit, sometimes it is very important to know the various details of a make and model. If I am interested in ordering a brand new vehicle with all the features and specs I want, I am likely going to have to sit down with a specialist of that product. Together, we’ll go through all the details of building a new car. Just like working with a Home Builder, my WHEELTOR® will introduce me to a product specialist at the dealership. My agent is paid a referral commission from the builder. This allows my agent to have a general knowledge of all vehicles, but refer me to a detailed product specialist when custom ordering and more detailed knowledge of a specific brand is required. While my agent may also be a product specialist, he may not be trained or affiliated with the product I am interested in building.

Education should be broad and universal. Certification should be established.

This business model shifts the training focus away from being product specific to a broader knowledge of vehicles and the buying process. Agents are trained to represent buyers and sellers and guide them through the process. Once qualified and properly trained, agents acquire a professional certification (WHEELTOR®).

On going professional development and product education is a part of the ongoing development of the certification. A WHEELTOR® can even specialize in certain types of vehicles such as commercial long haul semis, agricultural machinery, recreational vehicles or even shared ownership leased vehicles.

For Sale by Owner 

Just like home sales, private newspaper ads and for sale by owner websites will always be a part of the model as well. This  for sale by owner (FSBO) market will see great benefits from this model. Just like selling their homes, private vehicle sellers are exposed to the same frustrations as private home sellers (outlined in my blog: A View from the Buyer’s Shoes).

As I work with my agent to find the right car for me, he helps me out by searching through local private sale listings hoping to find the right car for my budget. The private seller welcomes all WHEELTORS® working with buyers and offers a commission. With a professional representing the buyer, the seller knows the proper systems are in place to ensure the transaction goes smoothly. It also saves the seller from having to work directly with all the “tire kickers” out there.

Conditions of my purchase

When I finally find the car I like, I’m going to make an offer. But I’m no fool. I’m going to make my offer conditional on a Professional Mechanical Inspection. Once my offer is accepted, I will have a set period of time where I am able to have the vehicle inspected by my mechanic. If satisfied with the results of the inspection, I will remove  my condition to firm up the sale. I will also be asking the seller to fill out a Vehicle Condition Disclosure Statement (VCDS) outlining any previous problems they’ve had with the vehicle. If any of my conditions fail to be met, my deposit is returned and we continue our search to find another vehicle.

While I would have already been pre-approved, I would likely still include a condition in my offer that allows me to ensure the terms of my financing fit my needs.

The time is now. The place is here.

I know this model seems a little far fetched. The way dealerships sell cars hasn’t changed in several years. It’s a stubborn, traditional industry that may never open their eyes to a better way. However, there’s no better place to try it than in Regina.

Why? Because the majority of Regina’s dealerships are owned by a handful of businesses. The Dilawri Group is Canada’s largest automotive group, operating 12 seperate brands in Regina alone. Taylor Automotive Group manages 6 brands, while others like Capital, Bellamy and others run the rest. While convincing their major brands may be a different story, it would only take changing the minds of a few to get local buy in for the idea.

Together, these brands and dealerships spend millions in Regina alone each year promoting their dealerships and vehicles to the general public, trying to convince them to buy a directly from them. These dealerships could benefit by working together with other co-operative dealerships. They would save money from having to compete with each other and sell more vehicles by opening up their doors to fellow sales people.

Dealerships and agents would be held accountable, having to build relationships built on trust and their reputation.

The constant turnover of sales people would be reduced as the opportunity for good sales people to have successful careers drastically improves. They are no longer reliant on the mass marketing and product development of the specific brand they represent. Even more, this model allows a consumer to have a life long relationship with the same agent, using them to help find different vehicles as their needs change. It’s a shift to doing lots of business with a group of clients who you have a strong relationship with, rather than selling cars to lots of people you barely know.

Best of all, buying a new car could become fun again. Less face punching.

Louis CK is one of those comedians who “looks familiar”. You’re more likely to know him from Parks and Recreation, than his stand up comedy where he has quietly built a huge fan base. However, while I’ve become a fan of the jokes, it’s the business side of Louis CK that got me hooked.

Like any stand up comic, Louis CK has hosted several comedy specials on networks such as HBO, Showtime and Comedy Central. It was his fourth event that changed everything. He decided to produce his own special “Live at the Beacon Theatre” and then offer it on his website at the price of only $5. Typically, these would be sold in stores  for at least $20.

A lot of his friends warned him that the show would become pirated and shared online for free. He told Jimmy Fallon ”People told me everyone’s gonna steal it. So I just wrote a note that said please don’t do that … And they didn’t.”

The result was amazing. In just a matter of days, the sale earned him over a million dollars and that number continues to grow.

Louis figured he had been paid over and above the value he provided. He decided to repay the money he had invested and keep a fair return. He then announced he would donate over $280,000 to various charities, as well as provide over $250,000 to his staff as bonuses.

From a business and marketing perspective, Louis CK has pulled off the nearly impossible.

He’s successfully sold his show, gained a new dedicated fan base, received plenty of exposure and earned the trust and commitment of his staff.

What can we learn from Louis CK?

1. Can you earn more by selling your product/service at a fair price to many, rather than a high price to few?

2. How can you go direct to the consumer and allow them to share in the benefits of doing so?

3. Would a profit sharing business model create a stronger committment, sense of ownership with your employees?

4. Do you trust your customers? Are you spending a lot of effort and money trying to protect yourself just in case? What if you just trusted them?

5. Are you open and honest with your fan base? What if you shared your costs to produce a product? Would it allow your clients to realize that your price is fair?

More and more, consumers are buying products from people they like. People like to buy from good people. If you start there, you might wake up tomorrow with more money that you expected. It worked for what’s-his-name from whatever show that was. You know, the red headed bald guy.

This is where you can buy Louis CK: Live at the Beacon Theatre. It’s only 5 bucks.

I encourage every client to hire a professional home inspector. However, helping to identify any issues with a home helps to narrow our search and helps the buyer to look beyond a home’s cosmetics. It will also allow us to learn how the home was priced or adjust our offer accordingly rather than trying to negotiate later in the transaction after a home inspection.

1. Grading and Driveway
One of the first things I point out as we walk up the driveway is the grading around the front step and up against the home. I always point this out when a concrete driveway runs along the side of the house. These are notorius for slanting toward the home, allowing water to run up against the foundation causing foundation problems and moisture in the basement. Similar problems can occur in flower beds and around the front step when the ground slants towards the house. We also take a quick look at the downspouts to make sure they are running far away from the house. If we notice any issues outside, we will take not to check out the affected basement walls when we make it into the house.

2. Windows
As we make our way throughout the home, I draw attention to windows in each room making note of which are newer or need replacing. Paint and flooring are cheap. Replacing those leaky metal sliding windows (which I call Glencairn Sliders) throughout your home can cost up to $20,000.

3. Bathrooms
In each bathroom, we try to identify any noticiable leaking issues or items that need repair. If the bathroom needs updating, we make a note and try to estimate the approximate investment that will be needed. Using the following numbers will give you a good ballpark. $2000 for bathtubs and surrounds. $200 for toilets. $500 for sinks and vanities, $1000 for single showers and that’s when you do most of the labour yourself.

4. Kitchen
Just like the bathroom, here we try and figure out any required repairs or future investments. A dated or renovated kitchen can swing a home’s value by up to $20-30k. Has the owner’s asking price reflected the state of their kitchen? Are the buyer’s willing to take on the task of updating it with non-mortgage dollars after they move in? This is also where we tend to look back at the listing and note whether or not the appliances are included in the sale. This can also swing the value by at least $2-5k.

5. Furnace
A lot of new home buyers don’t know the difference between a high efficient furnace or a mid efficient furnace. The easiest way to tell the difference is that high efficient furnaces has two plastic tubes coming out to top or side of the unit (typically exiting out to an exterior wall of the home) in lieu of a metal chimney that vents straight up through the ceiling of the home. A high efficient furnace is cheaper to run, but it also means the new home owners won’t need to invest another $5k into their home anytime soon.

6. Water Heaters
In Regina, many homes have rented water heaters. With the rust in our city water, water heaters sometimes have a shorter shelf life. By renting your heater, it becomes the rental company’s responsibility to maintain it and repair it when something goes wrong. The cost is usually around $100-200 per year. Rental units almost always have a big sticker on the heater identifying the rental company.

7. Elecrical Panel
Electrical panels can be scary, but we always check three things. First, does the panel appear to be newer or consist of several smaller panels and some fishy looking wiring. This could be the difference between an older home having updated electricial or old knob and tube wiring. Next we look at the main breaker. Stamped on the end of it will be the amperage of the breaker box. Usually 100amps or higher is what your looking for, depending on the home. Otherwise, you may eventually have to upgrade the service to the home, costing $2-4k. You’ll also want to make sure there are some extra empty slots in the box in case you want to install air conditioning, a new garage or a hot tub down the road.

8. Outside Walls
This is where it gets tricky. Many homes in Regina have foundation damage including cracking and shifting. You’ll need a home inspector or structural engineer to properly indentify the state of a foundation, but there are some signs you can watch out for. If you can find some exposed concrete (usually in the storage or furnace rooms), you can look for any cracking or bowing walls. Horizontal cracks are big signs of a basement requiring repair. If you can’t see the walls, check out the windows to look out for any slanting inward. If a wall has been repaired and braced, they can often be identified by looking at the floor truces up against a wall. If you can see any metal bolted to the floor trusts, the wall has likely been braced. A properly repaired basement (with an engineer’s report) eases the mind of the buyer and the lender. Throughtout the basement, look for any water damage on the bottom of the drywall or any white powder on concrete, both signs of seapage.

9. Shingles
Usually one of the last things we look at is the shingles, usually because we forget to look as we walk up the house. If the shingles are laying flat without the corners curling, they likely don’t need replacing for several years. If possible, try to view the south side of the roof as it gets the most sun.

10. Knowing It’s Your Home
Since I’ve been a REALTOR®, 80% of our clients have known they just found their new home within the first 5 minutes of walking into the home. There’s something about the right home that just hits you in the right spot. Of course, there’s some due diligence needed in order to make sure you haven’t fallen in love with a lemon. However, it just always seems to work that way. We tell our clients that if you go home and you are already starting to plan the layout of your furniture and when you’re going to be hosting your first bbq, you’ve likely found the right home. Call us in the morning.

Justin Bieber’s success has been remarkable, reaching stardom in a short period of time. Blame it on the power of a million screaming girls if you like, but there were some smart business decisions made along the way.

Here’s 5 business lessons I learned from Justin Bieber.

1. “One Less Lonely Girl” – Know Where to Find Your Fans

Justin Bieber’s career began with a video camera and a proud mama. She would record him singing in their Ontario living room and broadcast it to youtube. He quickly became an internet sensation, grabbing the attention of a few record executives along the way.

Once he was signed to a label, they decided to market him like they’ve promoted new artists for the last several decades, by visiting radio stations throughout the country. It came with limited success. While it was slowly building a fan base and momentum, it wasn’t until Justin started using twitter that things really took off. By simply announcing his appearances online, the number of fans in attendance jumped from less than 40 to thousands. Justin Bieber is now one of the most popular twitter users with over 17 million followers.

This doesn’t come as a surprise. His fan base spends their time on cellphones and ipods, not newspapers and radios. Where are your fans?

2. “Can’t Live Without You” – Use Your Buddies

When it comes to building a fan base, more is better. It’s simple. By aligning yourself with other strong brands, you are extending your reach to a whole other fan base. Instead of hosting a client appreciation night on your own, co-host one with a non-competing colleague (ex. mortgage broker). You would then have the opportunity to meet a whole new set of clients who now have a tie to you.

In our property videos, we spotlight a local artist and a local business whenever we can. It serves two purposes. Not only are we providing support and exposure for them, we are reaching a new fan base when they share our videos with their followers as well.

Justin Bieber did this well when he invited Jaden Smith to sing as his concerts and star in his films.

Click here to view the embedded video.

3. “Never Say Never” – Don’t Give Up

It was bound to happen. Some random girl launched a lawsuit against Justin, claiming he was the father of her baby. In the past, celebrities would settle out of court and try and hide it all from the press, whether true or false. Not the Biebs. He addressed the media quickly, making his statement and standing his ground. He used the media to turn the attention onto the plaintiff and falsify the claim, avoiding any damage to his brand. If your business hits the headlines, address it quickly and stand your ground. Take ownership of mistakes and rectify the problem. You’ve got an image to protect.

4. “First Dance” – Find a Mentor

One of the record executives that recruited Justin Bieber happened to be Usher. With his own successful career, he’s acted as a great mentor to Justin. Despite his success, Usher has stayed out of the tabloids and continues to build successful businesses. He’s even taught the Biebs some of those sweet dance moves.

Having a mentor is one of the key factors in having success in any career. Sure you can do it on your own, but it’s a lot easier when you can skip over a lot of those rookie mistakes and steepen your learning curve. It’s your first dance. Find someone who knows the steps.

5. “Never Let Your Go” – Know Who Feeds You

Justin is famous for giving special attention to his fans. Whenever possible, his team organizes Meet and Greets before  shows and tries to surprise fans with free tickets as much as possible. When he came to Regina, we held a contest called “Does your kid rock?”, giving away some VIP passes to kids who stood out in the community. Justin was nice enough to take the time to meet those in attendance and even take a picture. Our contest winners, Alexis and Kassidy, sent me the picture below. Something they’ll remember forever.

Are you investing enough time with your fan base? Don’t spam ‘em. Spoil and surprise ‘em.

If you’re familiar with Jay Leno’s show, you’ll know about one of his most popular skits called Jaywalking. This is where Jay walks the streets of Los Angeles and finds everyday people to ask them some trivia. The whole point of the skit is to poke fun at people who don’t know the answer to simple questions like “What is the capital of Arizona?”.

Well, in the mid 90′s, Jay came across an unusual long-haired kid who claimed he was going to be a rockstar. His style and love of rock and roll seemed to have come a decade too late. At the time, the Billboard Charts were populated with TLC, Seal and Hootie and the Blowfish…a far cry from what we knew as rock and roll.

When asked what he did for a living, his response was simple, “drink a lot and make records”. The answer drew a quick smirk from Leno and a good laugh from the crowd. You could tell in Leno’s tone that he would never believe that the quirky kid who thought the Captain from Moby Dick was “Captain Dick” would be the musical guest on his show just a few years later. (sorry for the bad quality video, only one I could find)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Millions of record sold and 5 grammy nominations later, Kid Rock still has that swagger of confidence. He’s always known that he was going to be a rockstar, no matter how many people questioned him.

While I’m not of fan of over inflating the truth and making false claims, I do admire those who speak with bravado and walk like elephants.

It was a few years ago on St Patrick’s Day. The local evening news was on location at one of Regina’s best Irish pubs, O’Hanlans, to interview patrons about the special occassion. The place was packed, Guiness was on tap and the music was loud. Having to yell her questions to be heard amongst the crowd, the reporter leaned over to the pub’s owner, Niall O’Hanlon, and asked, “Pretty busy in here tonight, isn’t it?”. Niall simply took a sip from his pint and said, “Not really. Pretty typical Wednesday night”.

I’ve been a fan ever since.