My long time friend, Dan Aronchick has been a marketing whiz his entire life.  He did the MBA thing in the 1970's when it really meant something (it seems everyone has an MBA today).  He worked in the corporate world for years, naming products we use every day.  He taught at the MBA program at York.  But most of his brilliant work came to be when he went out on his own and began working on a more exclusive basis.

Dan has been operating OutThink Incfor decades, hosting focus groups, naming products and branding humble Realtors like myself.  The brand you see on this blog was crafted by OutThink and it has served me well.  In fact, I often get complimented on it.  A client, Zoomer Media's McLean M-Greaves is a specialist in these things and he recently mentioned how clever and ingenious my brand is.  Sweet.

Dan has recently launched a new web site and it's a beaut.  Check it out as a model for other sites.  Pleasant to look at.  Easy to navigate.  Informative. 

To see for yourself how important these features are, compare the google site that most of the world has been using to the new Microsoft site, www.bing.com.  I'm finding that I lean towards bing more often these days because it's such a pleasure to see.  The results are much the same but it does have a bit more appeal.

Of the millions of web sites world wide, few stand out.  www.out-think.com is one of them.

Once again, a Duncan Fremlin, Broker listing is featured in the Toronto Star, the newspaper with the largest circulation in Canada.  To read the original online version with photos. click here.  There were four offers and it sold for $381,600.00. 

In the mid 1960's, it became mandatory to have a special license to drive a motorcycle.  There was a grace period to those of us who already had a motorcycle.  All we had to do was drop into the licensing bureau, give them a couple of bucks and they'd assign us a license, no questions asked and no test to pass.

It's been recently legislated that all operators of boats with engines larger than 9.9 HP have to have a license.  The grace period is over and now the applicant must pay a fee and pass a skill testing questionaire.  There will be questions like "on what part of your body must a PFD be attached?".   I must schedule some time to study.

To make this as simple and inexpensive as possible, my boating expert/friend, Charlie Rishor has put this out to any and all who are interested.  Here is what Charlie sent me recently:

"As you may or may not know part of my mandate as a Senior Instructor with the Canadian Yachting Association is to promote the Pleasure Craft Operators Card program.

In my travels as a professional musician, I experienced the Calgary Stampede once.   It has been in the news recently as it always is when the celebration begins.  In that town, it's a VERY BIG DEAL! 

Big as in, they wear big hats, they drink big amounts of booze, they shout big hoots and hollars, they wrestle with big steers, they cheat on their spouses big time (I kid you not) and they eat big meals, and on and on. 

As an eastern city slicker, I felt a bit uncomfortable walking the streets without some cowboy paraphernalia hanging from my belt or head or arm or ..., only because, everyone else is.  The teller at the bank, though she may be from Sri Lanka,  is forced to don a cowboy hat or hang a lassoo from her belt.  The guy who serves gas is a cowboy.  The panhandlers are cowboys for crying out loud.  It's only geeky musicians from the east who aren't cowboys.

In 1986,  Whiskey Jack was hired to perform at a club in the heart of the city.  It was owned by a prominent local  cowboy who took very good care of us.  We'd dine at the club during the day and it was packed to the rafters.  We'd perform there each night and it was packed to the rafters.  My how these people can drink.

They loved our style of country music, filling the dance floor with gusto each night.  We were voted the "best bar of the Stampede" that year and so you'd think I'd want to return.  Not on your life.

Our host gave us a tour of the event and I couldn't appreciate the appeal of watching some guy rope and drag to the ground some unsuspecting cow or calf.  Yup, I'm a city slicker and I just don't get it.

It's a charming but small hospital on an island.  It's called the Matthews Memorial Hospital, Richards Landing Ontario (St. Joseph Island) about 20+ miles east of the Soo, just down the road from Desbarats and a stone's throw from McLennan, just over from Pumpkin Point Road, not too far from Laird. 

On December 27th, 1949, my mother boarded some sort of primitive boat (with me in tow, sort of) and crossed the channel in search of the maternity ward at this hospital.  It had been receiving expectant mothers for many years but it looks like those days are numbered.  My guess is, many aspiring Realtors were born there.

I read on Sootoday.com that the government is planning to close this facility and needless to say, the locals are up in arms.  There's isn't another hospital close by so they have reason to be concerned.  I'd like it to stay open so I can drive by every 10 years or so and reminisce about "the good old days", when I was laying in my crib screaming my lungs out. 

My only other memory of the place was a visit when I was a kid.  I had a cyst removed and I recall my mom doling out $25.00 in cash for the procedure.  That was twenty five bucks she didn't have I'm sure so it must have been quite a cyst.  This was in 1958?  59?   A few years before Tommy Douglas forced the Liberals to pass the Health Act and creat a national health system.

Since then, I've been feeling quite fine, thanks for asking,  and have never returned to visit to the Matthews Memorial Hospital.

Karen and I have been asked to try and market (as in sell) a house in Prime Riverdale here in Toronto.  The Vendor doesn't want to be disturbed unnecessarily hence, we will not put this on the MLS as we normally would.  We will advertise and promote this house via our network of buyers and contacts with a bit of institutional advertising thrown in.

I sent out a message to our contact list this morning and already, I've received over 20 emails or calls inquiring about the details.  We're very encouraged and astounded by that.  The demand for and interest in good houses in downtown Toronto continues.

This particular house is in an excellent school district so therefore will appeal to many families.  It offers many other features that the local buyers are looking for:  three bedrooms, private parking, open concept, renovated, beautiful inside and out, landscaped yard and on and on. 

The price is $575,000.00 but the stickler is, all calls and showings have to be screened by us.  Before I call the Seller to request a showing, I have to know for certain the buyer is qualified and specifically looking for something like this.

While this is unusual, we are convinced we'll find some interested parties and who knows, maybe we'll succeed in receiving an acceptable offer soon.

Can it be true?  Is the venerable Globe and Mail in trouble?  Are they about to go under?  There is a rumour to that effect.  Many of my Toronto Star friends confess that their employer is struggling and that is even more alarming.  For years now, we've been hearing about the demise of books now that you can read them online but that's likely a lot of hooey.

There's also been alot of stories about the newspaper industry not coping well with the new world order of technology and free information.  Being a newspaper junkie since I could read, it's hard to imagine the world without the inky type that stains my white shirts each morning.  I've been trying to read newspapers on-line this summer but I can't do it.  I don't know why.  Is it the layout?  Is it the way it's presented?  It simply doesn't look right or feel right. 

Add to that the shrinking real estate and auto sections.  Very few Realtors rely on the newspapers to advertise these days.   Virtually none of the visitors to my open houses read the newspapers.  This transformation has all occurred within the past three years.  What's the point in spending hundreds of dollars on an ad that no one reads?

I have to specifically look for the sections I like to read and it's just too much trouble.  Apparently, many others don't have the same problem.  Society has taken to reading the newspapers on-line and forgo the pleasure of inserting a loonie in a metal box at the end of the street and hope it opens. 

It hit home the other day when a client, 85+ years old, told me he never uses his dictionary any more.  He goes to one of the search engines and clicks Enter.  Later that day, my friend Murray told me about a website that answers questions on topics that you haven't even thought of.  Check out WolframAlpha.  The rest of us turn to Google or my new favourite, Bing to find out what we don't know but feel we need to know.  

This information isn't free like we think of course.  My monthly high speed bill is over $50.00 and my computer wasn't cheap and it costs a lot to keep it going and my time is valuable and that enters into the equation also.   But it sure is great having this information at my finger tips.  When it's not readily available, the void is palpable and unnerving. 

Soon perhaps I'll pine for the old days when I actually had to wait for things.  Maybe that's why I like reading Alice Munro.  She transports me to a simpler time and that is a good thing.

A loyal client recently asked about buying in Florida so I put him in touch with my colleague, George Coloney from RE/MAX Partners in Fort Lauderdale.  I provide that "find an agent" service to those who ask and from the feedback I get, it's a much better way of getting a qualified Realtor than simply opening up the Yellow Pages, closing your eyes and pointing. 

George doesn't work the Fort Myers area but he made a few calls and put me in touch with his associate there.  After a few weeks of back and forth (emails, not plane rides), a condo townhouse was successfully purchased and check out the details:

Gated community 10 minutes to the beach, golf course, three pools, two restaurants, 1500 square feet, three bedrooms, two baths, parking and all for $120,000.00 U.S.  Maintenance fee?  How about $147.00 inclusive of everything except phone.  It was a foreclosure that sold in 2005 for $265,000.00. 

My client described the Realtor as providing excellent service.  Her name is Jean Harvey at VIP Realty in Fort Myers.  This isn't a RE/MAX affiliate and this is the first time I've not used a RE/MAX agent but I trusted George and it paid off.  I stick to the RE/MAX brand when referring clients because it's more of a sure thing.

How did I end up in this country/bluegrass industry?  Is it me or is it them?   They're an odd bunch.

I really must be patient with this community of music fans.   They don't aspire to be anything more than they are...even though they criticize and despair over their smallness.  Country music will always be a marginal music, loved passionately by a few and tolerated by most.  Some of it mediocre, most of it forgettable.  Bluegrass music is even smaller and more insecure and I'm sorry to say, even more forgettable.

This was all brought on by two events.  This is the weekend of the local bluegrass festival in Tottenham Ontario.  It's billed as three days of bluegrass bliss.  I've been playing this music for most of my life.  I listen to some of it every day, though I would dread the notion of spending three days and evenings listening to the bands they've hired for this event.  I can't take the brand of bluegrass played at most Canadian bluegrass events.  Most of the local variety is performed poorly with little or no regard for the entertainment value.  Showmanship?  Not likely.  They play for themselves and for their like minded friends.  No need to be witty or funny or amusing.   Much of the music is simply un-listenable.  They take three chord repertoires to new levels of banality, one song sounding much like the next. 

Bands are often popular because they're friends with the promoters and the select group of people who attend these events, not because they're any good.  That's a sad state of affairs but it's always been that way, at least in Ontario.  Variety and innovation is discouraged.  In fact, it's scorned and derided by these fans.  I've seen a more openness in the U.S. festivals I've attended and so the quality of music is much higher and the variety and size of the crowds are much more pronounced. 

Canadian country music is not quite as small but it is certainly limited in it's appeal.  The national country music newspaper is Country Music News out of Ottawa.  it's been around for over 30 years and I've read every issue (takes mere minutes).  Here's the second incident that inspired this rant.  Bob Dylan has a new recording, "Together Through Life" and the review in this publication is short and succinct.:  "Icon...schmicon.  I still don't get it!!"  Yet, he devotes pages of information about a young country artist no one has ever, or will ever hear about, Codie Prevost.  You'll be pleased to know his favourite movie is Dumb and Dumber and more pleased to know his favourite colour is blue.

No wonder there's no country radio station in the largest market in Canada.

What in the world is happening?  I call Bell because my Sympaticio is down for 45 seconds the other day and I swear, they would have put me through to the CEO if I had pushed the issue.  They couldn't have been more helpful.  I was even given the direct line of the techie who was in charge of that department!  I repeat:  "I was even given the direct line of the techie who was in charge of that department!"

Then, a day later, I receive a call from a nice young man from Bell named Hassim and he's all over himself offering me high speed memory sticks for $10.00 each month (still too much in my opinion) and suggesting that if I'm willing to switch to Bell to serve my Blackberry, they would help me defer the cost of breaking the Rogers contract. 

I love this!  I love this!  I love this!  Oh Boy!  I'm giddy with delight.  The money I am going to save! 

My plan now is to call the Rogers people (I'll ask for the Cancellation Department) and see how many hoops they can jump through to keep my business. 

This fight reminds me of a famous movie.  That's Bell on the right and Rogers on the left. 

When I sell a condo, one of the first questions to the Vendor is "are there any special assessments planned?".  I need to know if the condo corporation is planning to rebuild the roof or the parking garage or some other major renovation.  These expensive projects often require more money than the corporation has saved so they then have to approach each owner to chip in an extra hundred or three each month for a period of time to help pay for this.

I've noticed in one building recently that this special assessment paid off big time. 

980 Broadview Avenue is an older building, in fact is one of the first condos built in Toronto around 30 years ago.  Consequently, it has older hallways, older infrastructure, older design etc.  Generally, buildings built in the old days feature units with substantial square footage and sometime they even have that elusive third bedroom.  

Maybe that's why this building has been undervalued over the years (at least in my view).  Until now. 

A couple of nights ago, one of the 3 bedroom south facing units sold  for over $500,000.00 and that had never happened before.

Recently, the owners had to endure a special assessment (I think it was $300.00 each unit each month) for a few months to help pay for some garage renovations.  They've also recently began to refurbish the corridors so the building will soon begin to look like it belongs in the 21st century.  This is all very good.  

There's a new Minto high end condo development about to be completed just up the street so the street-scape and the business opportunities will begin to flourish.  All in all, it's been a good year for owners in this building. 

Let's file this under the Real Estate category.  The recent announcement by the Education Minister will contribute nicely to real estate values in this city (not that we need it right now).  Better quality of life = higher house prices.

When I read about this, I let out a whoop.  It's about bloody time.

Not only is this a great city because of the bike lanes, wind turbines and the fact Mel Lastman is NOT the Mayor,  this day care policy will be the cherry on the cake for families eager to come to Canada...or should I say, Toronto.

Many European countries (and the province of Quebec) have been far ahead of us North American egg heads on many of these family issues.  Not to say we don't have many policies they admire.  However,  family friendly institutions, such as good day care and free education etc. contribute greatly to the well being of the citizenry and should be encouraged.  We'll see the benefits of this for generations to come.

Being from the Soo, I never thought Sudbury was the hub of happy times.   I resented their proximity to Toronto and their size.  However, recently I learned this is not true.

My hockey team/variety show gang bused to Sudbury a couple of weeks ago to raise some money for the local food bank (charity hockey game against some of the Sudbury Wolves alumni) and put on one hell of a show at a local theatre. 

The bus ride was great.  The hotel room was fab.  The food was food.  The laughs were aplenty and the fun factor was over the top. 

We're called the Jokers and this group of zany characters are a substantial group of entertainers that will make an impression internationally when we're finished.  Take that to the bank bucko.

I show up on time for an appointment with a client.  I'm about to list herhouse.  The Seller is from out of town and needs some repairs and improvements to make this happen.  They'd like to take it on themselves (thinking they'll save some money) but the prospect of getting on the phone to make it happen is simply too much for her.  She asks me to attend to this.

Within three days, I've had the carpets cleaned, the windows washed (an absolutely excellent job), the furnace repaired, the garbage removed and the house staged for viewing.   Wow.  Even I'm impressed.

This is simply one more reason why Realtors are the hub in the wheel of a real estate transaction. 

As a 25 year old university student at York University, I immersed myself in my studies in a way I never thought possible.  During my high school and community college years, I was a "study only as much as was necessary" kind of student, but my York years were different.  This stuff actually was important, at least I thought so at the time.

I had a few terrific philosophy professors who captured my attention and my mind each time they spoke and I used to think these encounters were life altering.  For crying out loud, I had enough supposed life altering moments during those years to last ten lifetimes.  Sartre, Husserl, Heidegger, Herman Hesse, Nietzsche, Kierkegaard and on and on and on all espoused existentialism.  This became my new religion. 

To me, the meaning of this new way of looking at the world was simple and clear:  "the notion that humans are entirely responsible for their lives"..... end of story. 

That is, until I recently read a passage from one of my favourite fiction writers, Alexander McCall Smith.  In one of his novels, the lead character, Precious Ramotswe ("founder and owner of Botswana's only detective agency for the 'concerns of both ladies and others'") defines existentialism as she sees it and I ask, did it diminish my life altering years at York University those many years ago?  Yes.  Does it speak to society as we know it today?  Yes.

Writes Smith:

"Mma Ramotswe had listened to a [BBC] World Service broadcast on her radio one day which had simply taken her breath away. It was about philosophers who called themselves existentialists and who, as far as Mma Ramotswe could ascertain, lived in France. These French people said that you should live in a way which made you feel real, and that the real thing to do was the right thing too. Mma Ramotswe had listened in astonishment. You did not have to go to France to meet existentialists, she reflected; there were many existentialists right here in Botswana. Note Mokoti, for example." (ex husband) "She had been married to an existentialist herself, without even knowing it. Note, that selfish man who never once put himself out for another -- not even for his wife -- would have approved of existentialists, and they of him. It was very existentialist, perhaps, to go out to bars every night while your pregnant wife stayed at home, and even more existentialist to go off with girls -- young existentialist girls -- you met in bars. It was a good life being an existentialist, although not too good for all the other, nonexistentialist people around one.

Alexander McCall Smith, Morality for Beautiful Girls, Volume 3 of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" series [Anchor Books, 2001, p.78]

It's a handy word, "dated".  It's descriptive and convenient when no other word comes to mind.  What does it mean?  One dictionary I looked at used the phrase "old fashion" to define it. 

I use it when a house hasn't been updated or redecorated for many years.  I also use it when a house is old and in disrepair.  However, the first definition is the most accurate and I just listed a house that fits this definition perfectly.

The first time I walked in the door, it was like I entered a time warp, circa 1965.  The house had been lived in by the same two people since 1960 and it looked to me like they hadn't changed a thing in all that time. 

The furniture was from that period.  As was the broadloom, the light fixtures, the storm windows, the stained glass and on and on.  Normally I'm not a big fan of wall paper but this was different.  These patterns were perfect.  It was obviously quality wall paper and it had been installed expertly with no edges fraying and is generally in excellent condition.

I was told that no cigarette had ever been smoked in this house.  The owners, now quite elderly and no longer living here had made sure of that.  What a difference.  It looked old yes.  But it did not smell old. 

A family member had planted a cedar tree in the back yard when they moved in in 1960 and what a tree is turned out to be in 2009, tall and thick and as healthy as can be.  It offered a lovely view from the rear master bedroom window. 

The owners loved a good party.  Their niece told me they would host a doozy from time to time.  This didn't surprise me as I stepped down the stairs into the basement.  This was a basement I had seen many times as a teenager in the 1960's,  paneled and tiled in a typical style of the era.  Even the light fixtures were corny with bold colours, unlike anything you see today.  I think they're called retro now and probably worth a lot of money. 

There was a bar with plastic finishings, plastic bar stools, built-in storage units covered with cushions so the party visitors would have a place to sit.  All in all, it would be a great place to gather and listen to Glen Miller or Count Basie.  Given the high ceiling, my guess is there was lots of dancing here.

So, for almost 50 years, two lives went about their business in this house.  Edna, the lady of the house won $5000.00 at a bingo game many years ago.  That prize became a new the kitchen it's looking good to this day.  It was built not for a fancy decorating magazine but for Edna to cook for husband George and the extended family. 

The welcome mat made it clear that these folks knew who they were.  It had the bold "IOF" logo welcoming all to the house.  This is the Independant Order of Foresters of course.  On the walls thoughout the house were plaques and noticers declaring allegiance to this fraternity.  Not surprising the house was as inviting as it felt.

The house is at 48 Epsom Avenue in East York and it is for sale at $374,90.00. 

I was going through the stack of newspaper clippings I've collected over the years, each featuring one of my impressive sales.  Even I'm impressed with the number!  That is, I'm impressed by the number as in sale price and number as in the number of newspaper features.  I'm not feeling very humble today. 

Each feature is identified by the area/neighbourhood and as I was leafing through the pile, I couldn't help but notice that mysales are city wide, as in all over the GTA. 

This makes a fiasco of the notion that an agent has to specialize in an area to successfully serve their clients.  I occasionally hear from Sellers that they "perhaps I'd be better off with an agent who works exclusively in myneighbourhood".  Good grief!  Where do they get this notion?  This is like suggesting a heart surgeon will perform better operations in the town he lives in rather than the city 100 miles away.  If he's a heart specialist and he's good, the location he does his work is irrelevant.  

Any agent can perform well in any neighbourhood if they take the time to do their homework.  We have all the information we need to do our job at our computer any time we want.  We just have to make the effort to seek it out.  Add to that the 22 years in the business and I'm fully qualified to represent anyone, anywhere in the city. 

There may be logistical reasons why I might refer a client.  For example, if the client wants to buy in Brampton and their situation is urgent, I'll refer them to my associate there.  Often they'll insist I do the deal and that's fine but the drive to Brampton is substantial and I'll make sure they're aware of the limitations involved.   The point is, I wouldn't necessarily refer a client just because it's not close to my home office.  That is a silly notion.

If you've ever traveled the Interstate Highways in the U.S. you've been served by the people who pour the coffee, hand you the donuts and dish out the chitlins (viscera intestines of a pig) .  They've always impressed me with their excellent service and good cheer, exceptional good cheer given their state in life.  They don't make minimum wage like we know it here in Canada, they make less than minimum wage and rely heavily on the tip jar to make up the difference.  Yes, they're friendly and cheerful but the tip jar must act as the great motivator don't you think?  I often thought the service industry in the U.S. had a lot to teach us here in Canada (and particularly in France).

Is this recession forcing our service industry to wake up and smell the coffee here in Ontario?  Or are the cashiers I'm meeting simply happy and grateful to serve me? 

I began tipping coffee servers at Tim Horton's and the like quite some time ago and they tell me I'm one of the few to make the effort.  They're obviously grateful and would like this to be the norm.  But I've noticed that even Canadian Tire employees, corner store owners, gas station attendants and wouldn't you know it, even Rogers Communications employees are going out of their way to make sure my every need is taken care of. 

I work in one of the most competitive fields in the world of commission sales.  I've always been aware that in order for me to stand "above the crowd" (sorry for the corporate plug) I'd have to make sure my customer/client is awed by the effort I make to take care of their interests and needs.  Given the state of the world, I'm trying even harder and never does a day go by that I don't work on making this part of my business better.  Might other industries finally paying more attention to the needs of the customer rather than their bottom line? 

When I read about a member of the opposition, any member of any opposition, criticizing the government for a patronage controversy, I turn off the radio.  "Disingenuous" comes to mind.  Their words reek of hypocrisy.  The fact is, in politics and in life, patronage makes the world go round.

The CBC has been making a big deal recently out of their so called scoop.  They discovered that a consulting firm, hired by the Provincial Government, has been pork barreling their way through the contract and of course, this doesn't look good.

I'm referring to the EHealth controversy of course.

Sometimes, patronage is not in the best interest of the client or customer.  I've seen clients of mine hire their young nephew to sell their house and live to regret it.  Regardless, this kind of patronage is sometime necessary to keep a family together and so be it.

In government, THEY ALL DO IT!  Mike's Harris' crony, Bob Runciman stands up in the legislature and demands the resignation of the health minister?  Oh PleeZ!  Give me a break.

Besides, tiny amounts are at stake.  What's a million here or a million there?  Chump change and hardly worth the effort.

One of my first jobs in life was as a result of a phone call my mom made to an old boyfriend.  I love patronage.  It works for me.