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Finding New Purpose for Office Space
Since 2020, numerous office spaces throughout the country have been left empty or at a lower capacity due to many businesses adapting and committing to the work from home lifestyle. While several aspects of life have returned to their pre-pandemic ways, some companies have completely shifted the way they work. Remote and hybrid work has become the new normal, meaning that office spaces have either decreased their occupancy rates or eliminated them altogether.
“Businesses that are trying to attract a younger workforce have recognized that something their employees want is more flexibility, so they don’t need as much office space.”- Penny Gurdstein, professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Community and Regional Planning
In order for office buildings to avoid losing money, their occupancy rate needs to be roughly 80% or higher, however, buildings all over the country are starting to drop below this threshold. As a result, office leases are not being renewed, meaning more and more potential for conversion. Transforming office spaces into apartments or condos has been trending for a while now, but the pandemic easily sped up the process. Since flexible work options have become the norm and residential rental prices surge across the country due to increased demand, there is a much greater need for more office conversions.
Not only will transforming offices spaces help solve some of the housing problems across Canada, but these conversions also offer additional environmental benefits because they save on building materials and create less CO2 emissions. Ken Toews from the Alberta-based Strategic Group estimates that after four conversion projects they will have saved 56,000 tonnes of building materials and 17 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions- the equivalent of taking 37,000 vehicles off the road each year.
Some cities have strict zoning or protection rules for office spaces, making it more difficult for developers to get permission for conversions, while some building conversions just don’t make economic sense. Steven Paynter, principal at Gensler Architecture and Design has studied over 500 buildings across North America and predicts that about 25% would qualify for conversion. Paynter and his team have developed a calculator that compares potential office buildings to their benchmark for residential buildings. In order for buildings to be considered for conversion they are scored based on location, floor plan, size, windows, elevators, parking, and any other electrical or mechanical needs. Then, based on these elements, the building must score at least 80 out of 100 to qualify.
Cities like Toronto are taking a little longer to jump on this trend as they are one of the cities with more strict zoning rules, but cities like Edmonton and Calgary have been trying to expedite the conversion process. The City of Calgary now offers a conversion grant of up to $75 per square foot as an incentive for developers. With the help of this incentive, the Strategic Group has completed three conversions with another one in the works between Edmonton and Calgary. These conversions have created over 200 rental units and counting, with the City of Calgary approving five additional conversion projects. If Calgary can achieve the 25% conversion rate that Paynter has predicted, they could potentially add 3,500 apartments at 1,000 square feet.
These conversion projects have the ability to create sustainable and environmentally friendly housing options in many of Canada’s major cities. Steven Paynter stresses the fact that cities will need to rely on government support and community planning in order to see office conversions be successful.
The next question is if these conversions will solve the housing affordability crisis? Time will tell.
Information referenced from:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/how-canada-s-empty-offices-could-get-a-second-chance-1.6091301
https://financialpost.com/real-estate/mortgages/working-from-home-housing-office-space
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/empty-offices-housing-1.6736171
7 Tips to Help you Fall in Love with your Home Again
Since today is Valentine’s Day, we thought we would highlight some useful tips to help you fall in love with your home again! If you’re starting to feel like your home needs an update or a refresh or maybe you just need some new ideas- we’ve got you covered.
1. Add a fresh coat of paint!
A simple way to learn to love your home again is adding a fresh coat of paint. You can give your walls a pop of colour, paint a new feature wall or even paint the ceiling if you’d like! Painting is such a simple way to breathe life into a space and make it feel new and exciting- without a giant price tag!
2. Refresh your cabinets!
Give them a fresh coat of paint, replace the hardware or both! You’d be surprised how much of an impact can be made by simply adding new cabinet hardware. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, there are plenty of creative DIY cabinet projects out there that can transform your entire kitchen!
3. Declutter and do a deep clean
Spring is coming and that means it’s the perfect time to clean and declutter! Get rid of items that you don’t use or store away items that you only use sometimes. Even if your home is typically very clean and tidy, there are always going to be spaces or areas that don’t get cleaned as often or as deeply as they might need. Once you’re done decluttering, try deep cleaning your mattresses, blinds, shower curtains, underneath appliances, baseboards and railings!
4. Add more storage!
Now that we’ve talked about decluttering and deep cleaning, it’s important to note that having enough storage is the key to keeping your home neat and organized. It’s amazing how adding some storage can make your home feel new and refreshed! Invest in some storage cabinets, baskets or extra shelving and label wherever possible! Once everything has a place, both you and your home will feel more organized, and it will be much easier to keep it that way.
5. Add an outdoor space!
Creating an outdoor oasis is a great way to make you fall in love with your home again! Bringing the indoors outside will make your home feel more comfortable and enjoyable. If the outdoors can act as an extension of your home, it will add to the square footage and make it much easier to entertain friends and family!
6. Thrift some new furniture!
Thrifting new pieces will help freshen up your home without the price tag! And an added bonus- it’s fun!! Maybe you’ll find the perfect vintage piece that’s been missing from your space, or maybe you’ll have the opportunity to upcycle some older furniture and give it new life! If you’re looking for some vintage or antique stores in your area, be sure to check out the list below!
Toronto Distillery District– Blackbird Vintage Finds
Downtown Vancouver– Community Thrift & Vintage
Halifax– Holy Roller Vintage
Calgary– Reclaim Vintage
Regina– Regina Antique Mall
7. Rearrange your furniture!
Sometimes all you need to do to fall in love with your home again is to rearrange a room! This can help to improve the functionality of a room or just make it feel new and exciting. And it’s absolutely free!
How will you fall in love with your home again?
Information referenced from:
https://www.hgtv.ca/simple-ways-to-fall-in-love-with-your-home-again-in-2021/
https://www.hgtv.ca/canadian-vintage-and-antique-shops/
Exciting News! Welcome Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists
COLDWELL BANKER CANADA THRILLED FOR THE OPENING OF THEIR BRAND NEW FRANCHISE, COLDWELL BANKER REALTY SPECIALISTS!
Tom Snow opens new brokerage, Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists, to better serve the town of Milton, Ontario and surrounding communities.
(Milton, ON – February 8, 2023) Coldwell Banker Canada, a growing real estate franchising system in North America, is thrilled to announce the opening of their brand-new franchise, Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists. Tom Snow, previous owner of Tom Snow Realty and current Broker of Record for Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists, is excited to join forces with the Global Brand to best serve his hometown of Milton, Ontario and surrounding communities with his team of experienced real estate professionals.
Tom Snow was born and raised in Milton, which is where he learned the value of hard work at a young age. He’s been in the real estate industry for well over a decade and opened Tom Snow Realty in 2015. By joining forces with Coldwell Banker Canada, Tom and his team gain access to wide-spread international network connections, a world-class technology suite, exceptional training & education, and on-going support from their growing corporate team.
“We are excited to announce that we will be opening the Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists brokerage. We have been in the industry for years and know that Coldwell Banker Canada is the best brand to represent our company. Our team of highly experienced real estate professionals look forward to providing Ultimate Service to our clients and helping them achieve their real estate goals.” – Tom Snow
Tom Snow plans to grow his sales team by recruiting 15 new agents in 2023. His vision is to provide a seamless and stress-free buying/selling experience for all residents in Milton, Ontario and surrounding communities.
“We have big growth goals here in Canada and finding incredible operators like Tom to work with is a huge win for our brand. We are excited to help Tom and his team grow their business and represent the Coldwell Banker name in Milton. We recognize the importance of partnership and support and know this is going to be a big year for our brand in Canada, so we are thrilled to add Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists to our family” – Summer Scott
About Coldwell Banker Canada: Founded in 1906, the Coldwell Banker brand is the most established residential real estate franchise system in North America. Fast forward over 100 years and the Coldwell Banker network is one of the most trusted in the world, with a global presence across over 40 countries and territories worldwide. The Coldwell Banker brand made its way to Canada in 1989 and has since gained a legacy of serving the real estate needs of Canadians from coast to coast for over 30 years. Since being acquired in 2021 by Canadian entrepreneurs Steve Houle and Karim Kennedy, the company strives to grow the brand’s presence on a national level. Coldwell Banker Canada is ready to make their mark in the Canadian Real Estate Market and transform the industry along the way.
For further information about Coldwell Banker Canada, please contact:
Summer Scott
Coldwell Banker Canada
Direct line: (780) 619-0664
summer.scott@coldwellbanker.ca
For further information about Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists, please contact:
Tom Snow
Coldwell Banker Realty Specialists, Broker of Record
(905) 691-4033
tom@tomsnow.ca
We’re Growing! Welcoming Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty
COLDWELL BANKER CANADA ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF ANOTHER FRANCHISE IN ONTARIO, COLDWELL BANKER DAWNFLIGHT REALTY!
Greg Dodds opens new brokerage, Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty, in Exeter Ontario, to better serve the communities from London to Kincardine, Grand Bend to Stratford, and everywhere in between!
(Exeter, ON – February 1, 2023) Coldwell Banker Canada is thrilled to announce the opening of yet another new franchise, Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty. Having been an agent with Coldwell Banker Canada since he first became a licenced realtor, Greg Dodds, Owner and Broker of Record for Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty, couldn’t be more excited to open his very own brokerage with the Global Brand as they continue to expand their presence here in Canada. Greg and his team are already busy selling in Exeter and the many surrounding communities.
Greg Dodds has been a top producing agent for five years, having won the Coldwell Banker International Top 30 Under 30 Award not only once, but twice. He has a significant amount of experience selling all types of property, including residential resale, new build construction, commercial real estate, farms, and leases. Opening a brokerage with Coldwell Banker Canada was an easy decision for Greg, who values the recognition he received throughout his years with the company, the national and global Gen Blue real estate conferences he had the pleasure of attending, the extensive referral network from all Coldwell Banker international affiliates, and the cutting edge back-end software offered through CB Ignite.
“I am extremely excited to finally announce the opening of Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty. Opening a brokerage has been a goal of mine for quite some time and I am happy to finally achieve that goal. It was a great moment seeing the Dawnflight name on our sign for the very first time. When I was younger, my dad ran a small business called Dawnflight Enterprises, so the name is a tribute to him, which makes this even more special.” – Greg Dodds
Dawnflight Realty currently has three additional agents: Pat O’Rourke, Ashlynn Read, and Steve Sararas, all of whom have excellent reputations and who each bring something unique to the table. Another integral member of their team is James Lloyd, their Administrator, who is always taking on new roles to help behind the scenes.
Paul Abbott, Vice President of Franchise Development for the Ontario region, is elated to have been a part of Dawnflight Realty’s onboarding. “I couldn’t be happier to see Greg take this leap and open his own brokerage with Coldwell Banker Canada. He is a powerhouse, and I can’t wait to see what he will accomplish in the years to come.” – Paul Abbott
Greg’s goal for Dawnflight Realty is to grow the brokerage by recruiting a mix of both established agents who know how to do business the right way and new agents who are hungry to learn and succeed. Greg strives to create a culture that promotes collaboration over competition, while always putting the clients’ needs first.
About Coldwell Banker Canada: Founded in 1906, the Coldwell Banker brand is the most established residential real estate franchise system in North America. Fast forward over 100 years and the Coldwell Banker network is one of the most trusted in the world, with a global presence across over 40 countries and territories worldwide. The Coldwell Banker brand made its way to Canada in 1989 and has since gained a legacy of serving the real estate needs of Canadians from coast to coast for over 30 years. Since being acquired in 2021 by Canadian entrepreneurs Steve Houle and Karim Kennedy, the company strives to grow the brand’s presence on a national level. Coldwell Banker Canada is ready to make their mark in the Canadian Real Estate Market and transform the industry along the way.
For further information about Coldwell Banker Canada, please contact:
Summer Scott
Coldwell Banker Canada
Direct line: (780) 619-0664
summer.scott@coldwellbanker.ca
For further information about Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty, please contact:
Greg Dodds
Coldwell Banker Dawnflight Realty, Owner/Broker of Record
(226) 377-2093
gdodds@gregdoddsrealtor.ca
Why is Social Media so Important in Real Estate?
Why is social media so important in real estate? We’ve broken it down into 3 categories to help explain the importance of having an online presence and why social media complements the real estate industry so well.
1. Marketing
Marketing for real estate professionals is essential in order to be successful. From the use of social media to the listing description, marketing a home in the proper way is very important. The wording you choose for a listing description should be based on the type of buyer that you are trying to attract. For example, luxury listing descriptions should be phrased differently than a starter home or fixer-upper listing. This is also known as a ‘positioning tactic’. For example, you can position a home- either as a rental property, family home, vacation home etc. So, how you position a home reflects how you will market it- both online and offline, and shows which type of buyer you are trying to attract.
Facebook and Instagram even give you the option to create ads for your listings. Ads can be targeted to specific cities or locations, and you can include different interests and demographics too! Facebook Marketplace has also become a popular place for listings. Both buyers and sellers start their home search online, whether they are browsing their dream neighbourhood or trying to determine the value of their current home, the process always begins online. As a result, using social media is a great way to have a connection point between buyers and sellers. Social media helps to build a reputation for many real estate agents and numerous deals are even done via social media as a buyer has seen a property advertised on Facebook or Instagram. Having a presence online also helps to boost exposure. Since the pandemic, being present and active on social media is more important than ever because home buyers and sellers are starting the process online. While marketing your listings is obviously highly important, social media acts as a channel where you can market yourself as well and show potential clients your personality. Marketing is going to be the future of real estate, and how you market not only your listings, but yourself, will be highly important.
2. Communication
Online and through social media is a great way to communicate and engage with your clients and customers. Social media can act as the perfect tool to network and gain new clients, customers, and even referral business. Ask your clients to follow you on social media and share testimonials and reviews if they were happy with your service! This will help you grow your network, but also add to your credibility and expertise.
Social media acts as a space where you can be authentic and showcase your personality. Buyers and sellers want to partner with real people, so be sure to let your personality shine through, even if your accounts are more real estate focused. The beauty of having an online presence is that you have complete control over educating your clients and customers. You can warn them about common real estate mistakes and provide insights on how to avoid them or share market insights and predictions. This makes you a trusted real estate professional and helps to prove why you are an expert in your field.
3. Presentation
The presentation of your listing can sometimes be a make or break. While some buyers have the ability to visualize the potential of a listing, most buyers won’t see past the clutter or imperfections- which is why staging and professional photography are so important when it comes to selling homes.
Staging focuses on highlighting the best features of a home and aims to depersonalize the space so that buyers can envision how the home will function. Most buyers already know what they are looking for in a home, so having it staged and presented well will tell buyers if the home lives up to their expectations. Staging also helps to move buyers from looking at the property online to actually booking a showing, and getting the buyers into the home can sometimes be the hardest part!
When it comes to photography, you want to have just enough photos to showcase the property, but not too many so that the potential buyer is getting annoyed. You want to make it easier for buyers to get a feel for the space, without taking too long to get to the next space.
Some best practices for real estate photos include:
- 5 exterior photos- 3 photos of the front of the property and 2 of the back- highlighting the backyard and any other outside structures
- 1 photo per room in the house and 2 photos for the kitchen, living area and master bedroom
- 25-30 photos is a good goal to set, however, this may vary depending on the size of the house or property
Video footage, drone footage, and virtual tours are becoming standard in the real estate world as it gives buyers a better idea of the size and layout of the home. With the number of Canadians that have been moving out of province or across the country- video is taking over the online space. Having video content of your listing, simply talking about your listing, or even just providing tips and tricks can really help to put a face to your name and make you more memorable and relevant. For both Instagram and Facebook, Reels are becoming the new norm- so you should familiarize yourself with how to create this type of content. They even have templates so it can be as easy or unique as you would like!
We know that the online space is everchanging, but so is the real estate industry! If you are able to adapt and pivot within the real estate world, you’ll be able to tackle the world of social media just the same!
Information referenced from:
https://inside.tru.ca/2022/03/07/the-value-of-communication-and-social-media-in-real-estate/
https://realtyna.com/blog/5-real-estate-marketing-ideas-help-increase-brand-awareness/
https://www.wishup.co/blog/using-social-media-to-promote-your-real-estate-business/
https://goiguide.com/blog/real-estate-photography-photos
https://www.moving.com/tips/why-staging-a-home-is-important/
How to Stick to your New Year’s Resolution
2023 has arrived and with a new year usually comes new goals and resolutions! So, let’s talk about how to create realistic goals and how you can stick to them!
1. Define your goal, make it realistic and make it part of your identity
Once you have figured out what your goal is going to be, figure out the best way that you can achieve that goal. For example, if your goal is to run a marathon, your training is going to start small and build up gradually. You’re not going to start Day 1 of your training with a 20km run. If you’re realistic, your goals will be much more sustainable and achievable.
James Clear- entrepreneur and author of the novel ‘Atomic Habits’- says that focusing on the identity that you would like to build is more important than focusing on just the goal itself. So, if you would like to run a marathon, build the identity of a runner. Even if you only run a short distance every day, you are building the identity of a runner, while working towards your goals in a realistic way. This will make it much easier to stick to your goals, but also maintain them even after you have achieved them, as you have now built a new identity and formed new habits.
2. Be mentally tough
Some days, achieving your goals or sticking with your new habits is going to feel too hard or you might experience some setbacks. It is so important to remember that setbacks will occur, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t still moving forward.
James Clear shares his insights about ‘never missing twice’. This means it’s alright to have one slip up or setback but recognize it and don’t let it happen again. If your resolution is to become a runner by running every day, but you miss one day, be mentally strong enough to not miss two days or three days. Making excuses just makes it harder to stick to your resolutions.
3. Think positively
If you can train your brain to think positively, you will learn to stop doubting yourself. James Clear stresses the importance of focusing on the good and ignoring the bad- a habit that can apply to all aspects of life. As humans, we always prefer to be praised and hear good things about ourselves. So, if we start only focusing on the positives when it comes to our family and friends, we’ll start to do this with ourselves as well.
4. Be patient
5. Be a forward thinker
6. Decide that failure is not an option
Sticking to your resolution is entirely up to you, but it’s okay if you need to adjust it or modify it to ensure that it’s still serving you and making you happy. If your resolution was to run a marathon, but your body needs time to adjust to becoming an avid runner, maybe you adjust your goals to run a half-marathon. Rather than failing and giving up on your resolution, allow yourself to learn from your mistakes, take breaks when necessary and prioritize building an identity around the goals that you are trying to achieve. Running a half-marathon still makes you a runner and puts you one step closer to being able to run a full marathon.
So, after all of that, do you finally feel ready to build your new identity and finally stick to your New Year’s resolution?!
Can Corporate Volunteering Elevate Your Business?
Author: Courtney Riley
Published by: Bailey DeRudder
Coldwell Banker Canada recently trialed a new endeavor with our corporate team, and I am thrilled to have now been a part of two successful volunteer days. This is the first time I have ever been a part of corporate volunteering and I now truly recognize the tremendous value that it can bring to a workplace, especially when the causes are so important to us. Our St. Albert office and Burlington office have decided to focus our volunteer efforts on local animal rescues and local food charities to give back to our community in a way that best aligns with our company and our corporate culture.
After these volunteer days, the emotions I had can be described as light and motivated, light because I was just in such a good mood and motivated to work even harder at my job! That’s when I decided to do some research on the topic and wasn’t at all surprised by my findings. There are so many benefits that accompany corporate volunteering both to employees and to the company, all of which I experienced first-hand.
What is Corporate Volunteering?
Corporate volunteering is when businesses encourage and enable their employees to give back by donating their time to community causes together and as a team. This is usually done on company time and/or with company resources.
Corporate volunteering contributes not only to a business’s corporate social responsibility, but also to their employee engagement strategy. It’s all about making the world a better place while building a more engaged team who values their workplace.
What are the benefits of Corporate Volunteering to Employees?
Corporate volunteering provides employees with a tremendous number of benefits which not only translate to the workplace, but also to their everyday life. Corporate volunteering strengthens relationships among colleagues and helps employees develop their soft skills, increases their wellbeing, and improves their mental health.
Relationships Among Colleagues
Although colleagues often socialize at work, on their breaks, or even outside of work, nothing bonds people together the way volunteering does. Volunteering is one of the best ways to form and nurture positive relationships among employees. Working together on something meaningful can foster deeper connections than working together on a work-related project.
Corporate volunteering creates a sense of teamwork and connectivity that causes employees to truly value their workplace. They’ll look forward to coming to work and be excited to work on projects with their team!
Soft Skills
Soft skills are non-technical skills that can make you more successful in the workplace. Some examples include things like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and empathy, among others. To flourish in your career, developing these soft skills is essential.
In the workplace, employees can easily develop their technical and job-specific skills, but sometimes it’s difficult to find opportunities to develop their soft skills. Corporate volunteering provides a solution to this problem by giving employees a way to develop these soft skills outside of the workplace which they can then apply both to their professional and personal lives.
Wellbeing
According to Psychology Today, “wellbeing is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress.”
Giving employees a sense of purpose through corporate volunteering can increase their wellbeing. This can be explained by something referred to as the helpers high – when someone does a good deed, it releases brain chemicals similar to endorphins which gives them a higher sense of wellbeing. Corporate volunteering promotes these positive mindsets which translates into higher employee satisfaction ratings.
Mental Health
There is a popular opinion circulating that businesses are responsible for their employee’s mental health. This makes sense when you consider how much time and energy the average person spends at work and/or thinking about work.
Research also shows that volunteering improves mental health by promoting gratitude, connecting us to others, and giving us a better sense of belonging.
When you think about these two findings simultaneously, it makes sense for employers to initiate corporate volunteering into their business model to help improve their employee’s mental health.
What are the Benefits of Corporate Volunteering for Companies?
The benefits of corporate volunteering experienced by the employees of an organization directly correlates to the benefits experienced by the company in which they are employed. Research shows that companies who participate in corporate volunteering have lower staff turnover, are more successful at recruiting, and obtain higher levels of employee engagement.
Lower Staff Turnover
As noted above, corporate volunteering improves relationships among colleagues, helps them develop their soft skills, and improves their well-being & mental health. This explains exactly why companies with corporate volunteer programs experience lower staff turnover.
Three of the main reasons why employees leave a job are the corporate culture, poor mental health, and being unhappy at work. By incorporating corporate volunteering into your organization, you’re actively working to decrease these feelings within your workforce which will translate into higher retention.
Recruiting Top Talent
Studies show that a larger percentage of employees prefer to work for a company that allows them the opportunity to volunteer and agree that a company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is essential when selecting their employer. Moreover, 73% of adults state they wouldn’t apply to work for a company whose values don’t align with their own. Basically, people want to work for a socially responsible company.
Having a corporate volunteer program can increase your reputation and attract those candidates looking for a company with purposeful values!
High Employee Engagement
Did you know that employees who feel like they have a purpose at work have 4x higher engagement?! When corporate volunteer programs reflect your business’ purpose, they can be highly successful in increasing employee engagement and commitment to the company.
By implementing a corporate volunteer program, employers reap the benefits of a workforce who is more engaged, happier, and more effective, with higher levels of employee morale.
Circling
That brings us back to the initial question: can corporate volunteering elevate your business? In short, absolutely it can. Based on my own personal experience and everything I found in my research, I can confidently say that corporate volunteering can elevate your business in so many ways, and I can’t wait for Coldwell Banker Canada’s next volunteer day!
Information referenced from:
https://alayagood.com/blog/skills-based-volunteering/
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/what-are-soft-skills-2060852
https://volunteer.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=345
https://alayagood.com/blog/what-is-corporate-volunteering-benefits/
https://www.realizedworth.com/2021/03/17/prove-it-the-science-behind-the-helpers-high/
https://www.atmosphereci.com/blog/benefits-incorporating-volunteer-opportunities-workplace/
Christmas Tree Trends 2022
Now that Halloween is behind us, it’s time to start decorating for Christmas (if you haven’t already, that is). If you’re tired of decorating your Christmas tree the same way you always do- we might have some good news for you! In 2022, we are seeing a few fun and different Christmas tree trends that just might be worth a try. You might want to consider the décor that you already have in your home before deciding on a style, but feel free to get as adventurous as you’d like- there’s no judgment here!
Let’s take a look at some Christmas tree trends that we are seeing this season!
1. Blue & gold
You can expect to have a blue Christmas this year, as all shades of blue are trending this holiday season, but with splashes of gold too (obviously). To add more depth to your tree, try using a few different shades of blue or mixing a darker shade and a lighter shade.
2. Frosted trees
‘Neutral and rustic’ has been a trend during 2022, so having a frosted tree fits the vibe perfectly. If you already have a tree, no need to worry! You can create your own frosted tree using snow spray.
3. Pastel colours
From pastel decorations to pastel coloured trees- the possibilities are endless. You can mix a few pastel colours together if you’re feeling adventurous or stick to one colour and incorporate some gold or silver.
4. Don’t be afraid to mix silver and gold
On that note- don’t be afraid to mix silver and gold if you’d like! Anything sparkly will do, after all- it is Christmas!
5. Ombre trees
Grey specifically is the ombre colour of the season! This is truly a statement piece, so it might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely a unique idea.
6. Rainbow colours
If you’re feeling EXTRA adventurous, you could try having a rainbow tree this year. Whether the entire tree is rainbow or just the decorations, take the opportunity to use your tree as a form of self-expression!
7. Natural
The perfect opportunity for a DIY tree! You can make your own simple decorations using natural materials or choose a minimalist theme.
How will you decorate your tree this year?!
Information referenced from:
https://www.womanandhome.com/homes/christmas-tree-color-trends-2022/
Guide to Awesomeness- A Year in the Making
Coldwell Banker Ronan Realty- Guide to Awesomeness
Back in the summer of 2021, an idea was presented. An idea that had been floating around the heads of leadership for a few years but never came to fruition.
To showcase the network, knowledge and community of Coldwell Banker Ronan Realty, Guide to Awesomeness was born. A podcast designed to share the knowledge of industry experts in all aspects of communication. This blogger knows all too well the knowledge shared as he has had the privilege of being the host.
Now rolling out a podcast had its ups and downs, but once we were able to establish the idea of what we wanted it to be, we hit the ground running. Launching a 4 episode introduction with 4 awesome people. An expert in global marketing, a leader in entrepreneurship and business start-up, a coach in peak performance, and a hard-hitting master at his craft and his business.
This value in the knowledge shared was insurmountable. Expertise that you may not find anywhere else. As we continued on our journey, we discovered that there are many different types of awesome. From business, lifestyle and mindset coaches to marketing & social media consultants to real estate and mortgage experts we have so many insights into being awesome at what we do.
We do not know where the Guide to Awesomeness is going to go from here, but I can honestly say that I am excited to continue to learn and can’t wait for our next line up of guests.
I am not going to give away all of the awesomeness so check out the Guide to Awesomeness on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
GUIDE TO AWESOMENESS ON SPOTIFY
GUIDE TO AWESOMENESS ON APPLE PODCASTS
Coldwell Banker Saugeen Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty Join Forces
Coldwell Banker Saugeen Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty join forces
Combined operation now has over 100 sales professionals in 6 offices.
Kitchener – Waterloo, ON- November 1, 2022 – Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty announced today that they have joined forces with Coldwell Banker Saugeen Real Estate in Walkerton, increasing Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty’s presence in Southwestern Ontario. The Brokerage, whose head office is located in Waterloo Region, currently has locations throughout Bruce County including in Kincardine, Port Elgin and Paisley.
Peter Benninger, President & Chief Vision Officer at Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty, grew up in Owen Sound before moving to Waterloo Region to establish his real estate career and spent a great deal of his youth in the communities along the Lake Huron coast.
“We’re very excited about the opportunities further expansion in Bruce County will create for our sales representatives and the consumer,” said Peter Benninger. “My management team and I have strong roots in these markets. I remember many visits to Walkerton as my dad grew up on main street living over my grandfather’s barber shop.”
A highly successful brokerage serving the Grey-Bruce area for more than 35 years, Coldwell Banker Saugeen Real Estate brings 9 additional sales representatives with a variety of experience in Residential, Rural, Agricultural and Cottage Properties. Marlene Voisin, the outgoing Broker of Record, will remain with the operation in a sales capacity and help ensure a smooth transition.
The newly-expanded Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty operation will be led by a Management team consisting of President & Chief Vision Officer Peter Benninger, Realty Broker of Record Peter Kritz and Chief Executive Officer Kerry Hadad, along with a team of Marketing and Social Media specialists. Headquartered in their own multi-storey office building on Riverbend Drive in Kitchener, the award-winning brokerage has Residential, New Homes & Land and Commercial Divisions and has been a cornerstone company in the Coldwell Banker Canada network for almost 30 years.
Coldwell Banker Peter Benninger Realty is a full-service real estate brokerage which serves the area of Waterloo Region. The company was founded by Peter Benninger in 1985 and has become one of the leading real estate brokerage offices in the Coldwell Banker International Network. The brokerage is centrally located in Waterloo Region in a beautiful state-of-the-art building which houses the firm’s innovative Real Estate Consumer Centre. The company has a long history of giving back to the community through many sponsorships and community involvements
Contact Information:
Peter Kritz, Broker Of Record, COLDWELL BANKER PETER BENNINGER REALTY, Brokerage*
519 742 5800 Ext. 2000 pkritz@coldwellbankerpbr.com
*Each office is an independently owned and operated brokerage
