Marjorie and Doug's Blog: October 2008

I do get tired of reading Realtors marketing material about how they are number one or the top realtor. They sell more houses, they are more ethical than all of the other Realtors, they make more money than all of the other Realtors.  Is that what the public really wants?  We all need to do personal promotion, but there is a better way!

I wrote blog previously about our buying movie rights for our small town library.  I wanted to share with other real estate agents a truly unique way to contribute back to the people who make your business possible. I had no comments, so I take it that I did not get my message across.

Chestermere is a small lake community just outside of Calgary Alberta.  It has grown from 900 people to over 12,000 in the 17 years that we have lived here.  While the population has grown, services have not kept pace with our growth. It is a great place to live and only 5 miles from Calgary, but for the latch key to car key (11- 15 year old) it might as well be 100 miles away as they cannot get out of Chestermere with out a parent to drive them.  With a membership with  Audio Ciné Films Inc. our public library can show any film belonging to any of the studios listed below. 

These include: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Pixar Animation Studios, Alliance Films, New Line Cinema, Fine Line Features, Miramax Films, Focus Features, Odeon Films, USA Films, Artisan Entertainment, MGM Studios, United Artists, Orion Pictures, Universal Studios Canada (MCA), Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Equinoxe Films, TVA Films, Think Films, Warner/Turner/MGM Titles, FunFilms Distributions, Atopia Distribution Inc., Films Séville. 

As there is no theatre in our town we also purchased the rights to show pre-release movies, that is movies that have not hit the video stores yet.  This gives us an opportunity to provide movies before they can rent or buy it. Our first movies in November will be WALL-E and Narnia the Chronicals of Prince Caspian.  So we are able to show great films.

While at first I thought this would just be great for the kids, I have had adults ask if we could do a date night, and women who are looking forward to seeing a movie with their moms, or girlfriends, so we will have a Chik Flik night.  The seniors are interested in their own time....We are going to have a Hannah Montana Pajama Party for the pre-teen girls and more great ideas come in daily. 

This is such a great marketing opportunity.  If your library does not have a theatre, you can buy a reasonable home theatre package that will not set you back that much. Costco.ca had a complete package for $2,700.  The membership and several new releases a month will cost less than $1000 per year.  If you feel this is too much for you to take on alone, why not have your office or a group of local realtors get together to do it.  

We must also say that we in Chestermere are blessed with a great library board and a staff that is enthusiastic although it will make more work for them.  We cannot charge for movies but we ask that they have a library card $25/family per year (which will help bring our fairly new library's numbers up). We are also asking that they bring something for the food bank if they can.   Once again giving us an opportunity to do something for our town.   

We have it set up so that they can go to our website www.chestermererealestate.com  to see what is playing.  We have flyers with our names on them advertising what is coming up.  All the businesses around town are happy to put up the posters. 

So many realtors spend more sending out flyers saying how wonderful they are.  Why not just do something wonderful for your community and then they may understand that you truly appreciate the wonderful opportunity that they have given you to be their local realtor.

Other non-theatrical rights companies are  http://www.criterionpic.com/ and in the US http://www.criterionpicusa.com/

I just got back in from showing homes.  We looked at 7 homes and about 6 of them had liquid plug in the wall "air-fresheners."  We were all getting a headache from these over-strong scents, and then we wondered "what are they hiding?"  These are the questions that these air-fresheners brought to mind. 

• Is there mold in the house?. 
• Was this a grow house?
• Were there animals urinating on the carpets?
• Is the house going to smell of smoke when we buy it?

If there is a bad smell in a house fix the problem, don't cover it up.  If you are only worried about the house smelling stale, don't worry so much, that is better than reeking of some artificial smell.  A simple thing you can do is put a drop of vanilla extract on the light bulbs, when the light is turned on a pleasant homey smell will be gently released.  If you can get white vanilla it does not leave a stain on the bulb.  Another option is an electric air cleaner.  This takes pollen and dust and odor causing particles from the air.  Then the people can concentrate on what is right with the home instead of wondering what problem you are trying to cover up.

Chestermere Will Have Pre-release Movies Starting In November. 

In a partnership with the Chestermere Public Library, Marjorie and Doug McKay are pleased to announce the acquisition of licensing rights through Audio Ciné Films Inc.  

This license will allow Chestermere Library to host public movie presentations.  This license also includes the rights to pre-release films, prior to the films release for public sale.  Marjorie and Doug have also donated a movie projector and screen for the movies to be displayed on.  They will also provide funds to acquire a release weekly as they become available. The multi-purpose room of the library will now be able to be used for a variety of events.  The first movie will be WALL-E on November 7, The Chronicles of Narnia Prince Caspian will be shown the week of November 14.  We are also planning on presenting Bolt, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Momma Mia, High School Musical 3 and many more pre-releases as they become available. 

There will be pre-release movies available Fridays at 2:30  starting November 7.  This presentation time is targeted at the 12 and up age group who are out of school early on Fridays.  Other times and presentations will be announced.  We are thrilled to be working with the Library Board to bring this service to families in Chestermere.  The Library Board and staff have a YES WE CAN attitude that all of us in Chestermere are fortunate to have.  We are excited about the opportunities that this partnership will provide.

Audio Ciné Films Inc. is the exclusive Canadian non-theatrical rights representative for numerous major studios, producers and 1000's of feature length movies.

These include: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, Pixar Animation Studios, Alliance Films, New Line Cinema, Fine Line Features, Miramax Films, Focus Features, Odeon Films, USA Films, Artisan Entertainment, MGM Studios, United Artists, Orion Pictures, Universal Studios Canada (MCA), Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Equinoxe Films, TVA Films, Think Films, Warner/Turner/MGM Titles, FunFilms Distributions, Atopia Distribution Inc., Films Séville.

Composed with the care and skill of a master European craftsman this home was custom built for his daughter. A labor of love built this stunning 2,690 s.f. 2 Storey. Custom crafted cabinets & millwork, gleaming hardwood floors, granite counters, tile floors, central air, in-floor heat in the basement and garage. The residence level has a bonus entertainment room, 3 bedrooms with a 5 piece master bath. The main floor has graceful arched doorways with 2 storey vault in entrance and great room and a sweeping open staircase with duel landings, main floor den, a formal dining room with a Butler's pantry and nook for china cabinet, a gourmet kitchen, an eating nook a generous laundry/mud room and a 2 piece bath. The full walkout has bar with full appliances for entertaining out of the walkout. There are 2 bedrooms & a 4 piece bath on this level. The hot tub is located on the aggregate concrete patio underneath the 24 x 13' deck. All of this on a 57' x 109' lot backing onto a pond. Offered at $989,000.

In this time of negative news with everyone afraid of loosing something, I thought perhaps I would share what I recently read in "Letter to My Daughter" by Maya Angelou.  In Chapter 13 she describes a time where she was in a deep depression and did not know where to turn.  She visited a friend and mentor who after a rest and a cry told her to sit down and count her blessings.  If you can't think of any today, as he reminded her, what about all of the people who cannot hear?  Cannot hear their childs voice, a choir a concert, a bird sing.  What about all of the people who cannot see?  Cannot walk?  I also think about all of the people who cannot read.  And on and on.  Indeed we all have much to be greatful for.

It is indeed a time of great turmoil in the financial and real estate markets.  We cannot change that!  If you are truly depressed please go and see a professional.  If you are just feeling overwhelmed by the bad news, stop and think about all of the things that you have to be greatful for that the market cannot take away.  Step away and take a break from the bad news for a day or two.  I am sure the world will be there when you step back in. 

Take time and read a good book.  Pick up an inspirational one.  We all need all of the help we can get right now. 

 Located in the M.D. of Willow Creek structure plan for the development of the Twin Valley Reservoir. Mountain views, quality building sites.
This is an amazing waterfront property with mountain views, a drilled well, and great for water-skiing, kayaking, fishing in a beautiful setting. This is a brand new reservoir (filled in 2004) and it is unique to find 13 acres of sub-dividable waterfront only 1 hour from Calgary.

·12.9 Acres adjacent to the Twin Valley Reservoir

·Frontage on Reservoir is approx. 1/3 mile

·Excellent for power boating on main reservoir body to the South and canoe/kayak North up the Little Bow river.

·Excellent for boating/water skiing/fishing in summer and snowmobiling, ATVs, ice fishing during the winter.

·Maximum depth - 69ft

·14 kms (8.7 miles) along the Little Bow River basin

·3 kms (1.9 miles) the west along the Mosquito Creek basin

·Total size - 2060 acres

•Completed in 2004

Hike, bike, walk or run. What ever your pleasure you can do it from here. Just across from Fish Creek park it will be so easy to get out and go. And what a great home to come back to! Over sized corner lot big enough for three cars and room to tinker in. The home features 9' ceilings and 8' doors. Need room to entertain, this home has a great room complete with a gas fireplace. The kitchen is beautiful and functional with upgraded stainless steel appliances and is completed with a video monitor for the front door. The master is generous in size and provides your own oasis retreat with a jetted tub and a marble shower. There is a spacious bonus room complete with built in cabinetry and a gas fireplace. The bathroom in the basement is completed with a steam shower and in floor heat. With 2,570 sq. ft. developed this home also features central air, a central vacuum, a high efficiency furnace, underground sprinkler system and gas BBQ hook-ups. Dollars buy more at this address call to view today!