ONTARIO EDITION
Embracing Smart Homes:
Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?
15 MARKETING TIPS for Real Estate Agents
THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD:
How to List High When Neighbors Are a Nuisance COVER STORY
AMANDA MONGRAIN
BROKER, SRES, ABR, CNE
ONTARIO EDITION
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AMANDA MONGRAIN
AMANDA BROKER, SRES, MONGRAIN ABR, CNE
CONTENTS 4) 3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work For You 6) Embracing Smart Homes: Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value?
15) There Goes the Neighborhood: How to List High When Neighbors Are a Nuisance 20) 15 Marketing Tips for Real Estate Agents
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3 Ways to Make Your Workspace Work for You Productivity experts agree that a curated workspace positively impacts productivity and mood, but oftentimes we settle for bland desks and cubicles that lack personalized details or considerations for workflow. Why miss out on the opportunity to optimize your surroundings when it could brighten your day—and boost your performance? Keep in mind some of these tactics to make your workspace your own and reap the benefits along the way. 4
DETERMINE YOUR WORKING STYLE AND DECORATE ACCORDINGLY For the creative set, a colorful and art-filled workspace can inspire fresh ideas and reduce stress. Likewise, casual yet aesthetically pleasing furniture, accessories, and décor set an inviting yet functional mood. A pop of color from an office tool—even something as basic as a stapler—can inject a sense of fun and modernism into your daily tasks. For the more analytical, right-brained worker, clean
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lines and zero clutter go a long way. A few well-chosen personal photos in tasteful, unassuming frames can provide a motivating connection to the world beyond the office, while accessories and supplies that are sleek, monochrome, and contemporary inspire a sense of calm efficiency. BUILD A WORKSPACE WITH YOUR DAILY ROUTINE IN MIND If you find yourself spending hours on the phone per day, or assembling stacks of documents and brochures, or even coming and going from the office with frequency—there are simple adjustments you can make to your workspace that will save you time and energy. If you sit for long hours—responding to e-mails or making calls—try incorporating an ergonomic chair or keyboard wrist-pad to maximize comfort. If you spend a long time assembling presentation materials, then file organizers, trays, and easy-to-pull labels can shave valuable time off your efforts. Lastly, those who step out for frequent meetings can reduce the hassle of being on-the-go by making your space mindfully organized—a coatrack and a dish for your keys by the door, an auto-brew coffeemaker, or an easily edited whiteboard calendar can make jet-setting simpler.
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ADD EASY DETAILS THAT ENRICH YOUR WORKING EXPERIENCE While organization and décor can rally productivity and mood, there are also a few extra details you can introduce to your workspace to improve the quality of your working life. Healthy, easy to grab-and-go snacks—think nuts, homemade trail mix, and fresh fruit— can keep your energy up without the sugar crush or guilt. If there’s a window nearby, a hard-to-kill plant like a philodendron or a fern not only cleanse the air around you, but also provide a welcome connection to the natural world. Being prepared in a pinch is another great way to make your workspace work for you: a spare tie, a tube of lip balm, hand sanitizer, or a box of Band-Aids can save you a trip to the store when an unexpected need arises. While we take great pains to make our homes our sanctuaries—complete with the decorations, furniture, and food we favor—we often overlook our work areas, even though we spend a sizable portion of our week sitting at the same desk. Challenge yourself to add a few of these personalizing, productivity-boosting details to your work area and bring the comfort of home to your working life.
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Embracing Smart Homes:
Does New Technology Really Increase Home Value? Technology and innovation move at a lightning-fast clip, so it can be hard to keep up with all the smart-home trends sweeping the market at a given time. From smart thermostats to security systems accessed through an app on your phone—there are endless options to customize and update your home for the modern era. But which, if any, of these smart home products add 6
value to property in a significant, worthwhile capacity? Especially with new generations of the same products released in quick succession, it can be hard to determine whether it’s worth it to take the plunge. With that in mind, we’ve conducted a deep-dive into the smart home options out there that make the most sense for your bottom line and real estate investments.
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Smart home amenities range in price and return. There are certain smart home products that won’t break the bank while still adding lovely touches and time-saving features to your space. For instance, a smart thermostat may not run more than a few hundred dollars, but it can take so much of the guesswork and analog nuisance out of programming your home’s internal environment. That said, buyers selling properties with mid-range amenities like this can’t expect a windfall in return. While smart home features can certainly lure buyers and give the sense that a home is attractively modern (and thus move-in ready), it doesn’t mean that you’ll be reaping a sizable monetary reward for your foresight. Conversely, this reality doesn’t mean those smart options
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are without value entirely; it just means that the value of smart home options may be apparent in a different capacity, like luring a particular buyer or creating a desirable, sleek image for a property headed to market. On the other hand, larger scale smart home amenities that are being left behind for the buyer—like a smart refrigerator or wired sound throughout the property—may be able to lure particular buyers who value high-end details. While it can be difficult to state definitively the value of smart home options, the rule tends to be that the more you put in, the higher the likelihood you’ll reap the investment you sow. Focus your smart home options on home appliances first, then work your way toward security, thermostat, and entertainment options.
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Smart home amenities capture the attention of buyers
Agents must know how to pitch the value of smart home options
Even if you have mostly opted for small or mid-range smart home options, you can still benefit from their presence in a property—even if they don’t inflate your bottom line as a result. Smart home amenities have the power to focus the attention of buyers, sending a clear signal that the previous owners were tech-forward and made an effort to upgrade the property for the contemporary era. Millennial or Gen Z buyers especially value these up-to-date modifications, and the presence of these desirable gadgets can create added interest and drive up value naturally. Likewise, featuring these options in listing photography can also drive interest from younger or high-end buyers looking for move-in ready spaces.
Remember that smart home features are relatively fresh to the market. While some new construction properties are equipped with these smart amenities, just as many homes on the market don’t offer these upgrades and modern flairs. This means that many buyers, of all ages even, aren’t familiar with the benefits and perks of these options, let alone how they’re operated. Before you can derive value from a smart home or smart home features, you’ll need to understand a product’s proper usage, cost, and benefits. Do your homework regarding what smart home features can offer in terms time or cost savings, and be able to show prospective buyers how easy these objects are to use, as well. Do both, and you’ll be in proper command of what smart home features can offer buyers and pitch them accordingly.
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AMANDA MONGRAIN
BROKER, SRES, ABR, CNE
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Top Agent Amanda Mongrain is at the forefront of an innovative approach in real estate by building a specialized team. Her focus is on assisting seniors with transitions to assisted living or downsizing. Rising from teenage homelessness to become a prominent figure in real estate, Amanda Mongrain’s story demonstrates her resilience. Her personal struggle with homelessness ignited a deep-rooted passion for ensuring others have a secure place to call home. “Due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn’t have a place to call home,” Amanda explains. “So I became determined to have a roof over my head, and that was the catalyst that led me to real estate.” Licensed since 2011, she is not just a real estate agent 10 Copyright Top Agent Magazine
but a visionary, reshaping the industry one home at a time. Currently, Amanda is at the forefront of an innovative approach in real estate by building a specialized team. Her focus is on assisting seniors with transitions to assisted living or downsizing. Amanda’s team, unique in its structure, features experts in different real estate sectors, from buyer representatives to specialists in farmland, reflecting the rural charm of her operational base in Muskoka, Ontario. There, she deals with coveted waterfront properties and rural Top Agent Magazine
estates. Amanda’s ambition doesn’t stop at Muskoka, as she’s eyeing expansion, intending to replicate her successful team model in urban areas. Amanda’s distinction as a REALTOR® lies in her exceptional approach to client satis-
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faction. She explains, “All of my clients have stayed in the homes they purchased with me. I had a real estate agent tell me, ‘Well, you shouldn’t be so good at your job and then you’ll get some repeat clients.’” This jest underscores a deeper truth about her work ethic. Unlike many in the field, Amanda’s
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Unlike many in the field, Amanda’s focus isn’t on quick, repeat transactions. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: “I aim to knock it out of the park every time.” For Amanda, real estate isn’t just a transaction, it’s about making a lasting impact. focus isn’t on quick, repeat transactions. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: “I aim to knock it out of the park every time.” For Amanda, real estate isn’t just a transaction, it’s about making a lasting impact. “Buying a home is a big investment,” she says. “So I take it very seriously.” Her dediCopyright Top Agent Magazine 12
cation to excellence and prioritizing clients’ long-term happiness over short-term gains truly sets her apart in the industry. After working together, clients love to spread the word about Amanda’s work. One recently said, “If you’re looking for a Top Agent Magazine
fantastic real estate agent, then look no further! Amanda Mongrain is everything you could want and more! She’s personable, always gets back to you promptly when you have questions, and has such a solid work ethic. When I sold my home a few years back, I couldn’t have been happier
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with her dedication and professionalism. She really knows her stuff.” Amanda’s community involvement beautifully intertwines with her professional life, as she dedicates her efforts to supporting the senior population. “As an indigenous
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person, in my culture, we really cherish and honor the elders,” she explains. She actively participates in her local seniors’ club. Her commitment extends beyond social interactions, as she is initiating a ‘Soup for Seniors’ program with her friends to assist those who need help with meals.
A bright future awaits Amanda as she builds out a renowned team. Her immediate goal is to establish specialized teams in her area and expand into other regions. “Ultimately, I’d like to have a real estate machine that is working 24/7,” she says. This plan aligns perfectly with her ethos of #ResultsWithIntegrity. “I’m looking to get people the results they want, without cutting any corners.”
For more information about Amanda Mongrain, please call 705-717-0688 or email amongrain@gmail.com
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There Goes the Neighborhood:
How to List High When Neighbors are a Nuisance Troublesome neighbors are a relatively common issue that agents come across. You can control the image of your client’s property and you can control your listing presentation, but you can’t always control what’s happening on your client’s street. How do you diffuse difficult neighbors that could lower your bottom line or embarrass you in front of prospective buyers? Top Agent Magazine
First of all, it takes tact and a gameplan. With that in mind, let’s consider a few ways you can maintain a listing’s viability and competitive edge—even when bothersome neighbors are involved. Here are a few common neighborly scenarios agents encounter and how to diffuse them to your advantage.
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How do you diffuse difficult neighbors that could lower your bottom line or embarrass you in front of prospective buyers? It takes tact and a gameplan.
as a courtesy introduction to the neighborhood. While it may seem like needless busy work, it can dramatically improve prospective buyers’ perceptions of the area. Plus, you may positively ingratiate yourself with neighbors in the area and demonstrate your above-and-beyond service to your clientele in the process.
Is the neighbor’s landscaping an eyesore? Here’s your recourse. Most towns and cities have established ordinances regarding yard upkeep. If any of the properties adjacent to your listing are wildly overgrown, littered with junk, or otherwise in a state of obvious disrepair—take it up with the city. Rather than get directly involved at first glance, you might loop in city officials whose job it is to monitor clean-up efforts on rundown yards and properties. If this doesn’t work, you may have to take a more hands-on approach. Start by thinking small and operating from a place of authenticity and neighborly service. You might explain to the neighboring tenant that you’re listing and offer to mow their lawn 16
Are there foreclosed or abandoned homes on your client’s block? Do your homework. It may take a little research and digging to figure out the banking entity that owns a foreclosed home, but it’s well worth the effort. Banks are typically required to maintain foreclosed homes on at least a basic level. If you’re worried about
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squatters, an unsightly façade, or general disrepair of a neighboring foreclosed property—go to the source. Sometimes banks take their time in hiring a third party to maintain a foreclosed property, but with some proactive prodding on your part, you may be able to speed the process along and resolve eyesores even before prospective buyers come calling. Remember: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. An improved bottom line will be your reward for those few prodding phone calls and emails.
Noisy, nosy, or annoying neighbors? Don’t be discouraged. Obnoxious neighbors can really rain on a seller’s parade, especially the kind of neighbor Top Agent Magazine
that takes their less-than-stellar behavior to their porch, front yard, or sidewalk. While this sensitive issue may seem daunting, there are a few official channels you can utilize to thwart the issue before getting personally involved. If the neighborhood in question is governed by an HOA, you might take it up with them. If the troublesome neighbor is harassing passersby or taking to the sidewalk—in other words, public space—then you may be able to involve local authorities in worst-case scenarios. Of course, it’s always possible to talk to troublesome neighbors faceto-face, but do so with caution and with safety as the priority. Always reason gently and empathetically, utilizing I... phrasing, instead of accusatory You... phrasing. After all, some neighbors are clueless about their impact on the neighborhood and may adjust their behavior after being called out. If the issue persists and no third-party authority can help, then you may have to disclose the neighbor’s issues to prospective buyers, depending on the disclosure laws in your region. While this may seem like a blow, you can at least rest easy knowing you pursued all the potential avenues for resolution available. Likewise, your client will likely appreciate your thorough efforts to resolve the issue. While troublesome neighborhoods can bring down an optimistic mood when listing a property, sometimes being real estate is all about being resourceful. With diligence, digging, and a little follow-up, you just may be able to resolve some of the issues plaguing your neighborly plot.
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Laughs!
Graham Harrop Graham Harrop Cartoons Cartoons
Putting the power of humour to work for you!
Putting the power of humour to work for you! grahamharrop.com
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15 MARKETING TIPS
FOR REAL ESTATE AGENTS Successful marketing is essential for differentiation and drawing in clients in the competitive real estate industry. Here are 20
some quick and easy marketing tips for REALTORS® to enhance their visibility and success in the competitive market:
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1. Create a Professional Website
4. Have Video Marketing
Craft a user-friendly, visually appealing website showcasing your expertise, active listings, and client testimonials, ensuring it’s optimized for search engines to enhance your online visibility.
Create and share video content, including property tours, market updates, and informative pieces about the buying or selling process, to engage audiences across multiple platforms.
2.Have a Strong Social Media Presence
5. Build an Email Marketing Strategy
Establish a solid presence on key platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Post engaging content, property listings, and industry news to connect with potential clients, using high-quality visuals and paid ads to broaden your reach.
Build a comprehensive email list of clients, prospects, and industry contacts. Send regular newsletters featuring market updates, new listings, and useful advice to keep your audience engaged. 6.Keep Engaged in Local Communities
3. Utilize Professional Photography
Prioritize high-quality photography for your listings to attract attention and make a memorable first impression.
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Take an active role in local events, sponsor community initiatives, and participate in neighborhood groups to build a trusted local presence.
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7. Enhance Online Listings
10. Use Online Testimonials
Ensure your property listings on various real estate websites are complete, compelling, and accurate, featuring high-quality images and detailed descriptions to draw in potential buyers.
Encourage satisfied clients to leave positive feedback on platforms like Google and Yelp, leveraging good reviews to build trust and influence prospective clients’ decisions.
8. Network with Peers
11. Remain Consistent with Branding
Attend real estate industry events, join professional networks, and connect with fellow REALTORS®. Networking can lead to referrals and partnerships, and maintaining connections with past clients can open doors to repeat business and referrals.
Keep your branding uniform across all marketing materials, including business cards, social media profiles, and your website, to foster recognition and trust.
9. Share Expert Content
Adapt to the digital trend by organizing virtual open houses, utilizing live streams or prerecorded tours to showcase properties and interact with potential buyers.
Position yourself as an industry expert by distributing valuable content, such as blog posts, infographics, and market reports, to establish credibility and attract potential clients. 22
12. Host Virtual Open Houses
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13. Use Real Estate Apps
15. Implement Google My Business
Make sure your listings are optimized for mobile viewing on popular real estate apps, exploring advertising options to reach a broader audience.
Set up and fine-tune your Google My Business profile to improve your local search presence and provide potential clients with key information about your services.
14. Stay Informed and Educated
Incorporating these quick and easy marketing tips into your real estate strategy can make a significant impact on your visibility and success in the competitive market. Stay agile, adapt to emerging trends, and consistently refine your marketing approach to stay ahead in the dynamic real estate landscape.
Keep abreast of industry trends, market shifts, and emerging technologies to offer valuable insights to clients and remain a knowledgeable resource.
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