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How a Beautiful Outdoor Space Attracts Buyers
First impressions matter a lot when you are selling a house. And what better way to captivate potential buyers than with a stunning yard? The appearance of your outdoor space can work wonders in attracting buyers and adding value to your home. Let’s explore how a beautiful yard can entice potential buyers to fall in love with your home.
Curb Appeal Delight:
A beautiful yard instantly enhances a home’s curb appeal, making it more inviting to passersby and potential buyers. A lush, green lawn, vibrant flowerbeds, and neatly trimmed hedges exude charm and give the impression of a well-cared-for property. Consider adding colourful potted plants near the entrance, hanging flower baskets, or a charming garden bench. These small touches can make a significant impact, enticing buyers to explore the interior of the house with anticipation. Here are some ways to add curb appeal for the best front yard on the block.
Outdoor Living Oasis:
In today’s busy world, homeowners increasingly value outdoor living spaces. An attractive yard that offers relaxation and entertainment can be a significant selling point. Create distinct areas within the yard, such as a cozy patio, a fire pit for gatherings, or a tranquil garden retreat. Highlight the potential of these spaces by staging them with outdoor furniture, comfortable seating, and ambient lighting. By highlighting the versatility of the yard, you appeal to buyers who crave a seamless blend of indoor and outdoor living. If you need inspiration, check out these outdoor oasis ideas here.
Playful Features:
A yard that caters to family fun and outdoor activities can be a magnet for buyers with children or those who love to entertain. You can display the possibilities for outdoor activities by installing a swing set, a trampoline, or a small basketball court. Consider adding a barbecue area, an outdoor kitchen, or a built-in pizza oven for those who enjoy hosting gatherings and cooking alfresco. By highlighting these playful features, you tap into the desires of potential buyers seeking a family-friendly home. Get family-friendly backyard ideas here.
Sustainable Garden:
In an era of increased environmental consciousness, a sustainable and eco-friendly yard can be a major draw for eco-conscious buyers. Highlight your commitment to sustainability by incorporating native plants, water-efficient irrigation systems, and a composting area. Show the possibilities of growing one’s food by growing a small vegetable garden or herb patch. Buyers who value sustainability will appreciate the low environmental impact and potential cost savings associated with a well-designed, eco-friendly yard. If you do not have a green thumb, check out this guide on how to start a vegetable patch.
Serene Retreat:
A peaceful and serene yard can serve as a sanctuary for potential buyers seeking an escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Incorporate elements such as a soothing water feature, a meditation nook, or a secluded reading corner surrounded by lush greenery. Strategically place comfortable seating areas that encourage relaxation and contemplation. You can appeal to buyers who are searching for a peaceful and calming space in the yard by creating a tranquil retreat for them. Here are some ideas to help make your backyard a relaxing retreat.
A beautifully landscaped and thoughtfully designed yard has the power to attract homebuyers, leaving a lasting impression and increasing the appeal of your property. By focusing on curb appeal, creating outdoor living spaces, incorporating playful features, emphasizing sustainability, and nurturing a serene retreat, you set the stage for potential buyers to envision themselves living and thriving in their new home surrounded by natural beauty.
Price Per Square Foot Survey 2023
Interest rate hikes prompt modest decline in Canadian home prices, but no freefall in sight, impact uneven
Vancouver (Aug 2, 2022) – Canadian housing prices have fallen with rising interest rates, but when looking back over even just two years remain on a long-term upward trend. Even then, the situation is uneven. The hot housing markets of the biggest city centres are seeing lower condo prices but smaller markets are seeing price per square foot growth, especially in single-family homes. Alberta bucked the trend and experienced price increases in many markets this year, while other Prairie provinces held steady. BC saw the most significant price declines.
The seventh annual Price per Square Foot survey is being released by CENTURY 21 Canada, comparing the price per square foot of properties sold between January 1 and June 30 this year to the same period of previous years.
Notably, most markets that did experience price declines from last year remained roughly equivalent to their 2021 benchmarks and well above earlier years. This year’s survey offers data going back to 2018 for numerous communities coast-to-coast.
“We knew that the market had to come down from the highs of the last few years, and we’re now fully seeing the effects of the interest rate growth that started last year,” says Todd Shyiak, Executive Vice President of CENTURY 21 Canada. “But we have to look at these numbers within the larger context. The fact that we haven’t dipped to pre-pandemic levels shows that homes are still in demand, and we continue to see growth in smaller markets as more families seek a lower cost of living.”
Prices had reached low points in January but steadily climbed over the spring, though many markets didn’t manage to regain their 2022 levels. Condos in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal all saw declines, while detached homes across small Ontario cities rose, as did those in Atlantic Canada, indicating families seeking space. New Brunswick is emerging as a leader in Atlantic Canadian growth. Results from the 2021 census showed that Moncton, Fredericton and St. John are seen as popular locations for immigrants, and the results from this year’s PPSF survey indicate that trend has continued.
Shyiak says that inventory will play a major factor in prices going forward, as sellers may hold off on putting their homes on the market in response to a hesitant buyer base. “Ultimately, we don’t know what the next six months holds for our housing prices, but it’s important not to get too focused on any single year and look at each data point within the larger context of ever evolving trends. That’s why this survey becomes more valuable year-over-year, because it allows us to see the big picture of Canadian housing.”
Regional highlights:
Atlantic Canada
Prices in Atlantic Canada have continued to rise as Canadians from expensive urban markets seek a lower cost of living. For the first year since this survey started Halifax has lost its crown as the market with the steepest rise as condos in that city saw the smallest increase in the region after a sharp double-digit increase last year. Detached homes in Fredericton, Moncton and St. John’s all saw double-digit increases.
“Families are finding this to be a great place to settle down. We’ve been seeing these trends for years but post-2020 is when it really took off,” says Paul Burns, Manager at CENTURY 21 A&T Countryside Realty. “Interest rates may have slowed the market down slightly, but I’m confident New Brunswick especially will continue to grow.”
British Columbia
The steep prices throughout BC seem to have finally reached their cooling point, with the province seeing the steepest price declines but generally to levels still at or above those from 2021. Even then, Vancouver boasts some of the most expensive price per square foot dwellings in Canada, and prices of both detached houses and condos in the surrounding suburbs remain comparatively high.
Cities farther from the metropolitan core such as Chilliwack and Kelowna have also seen dips, though prices climbed throughout the spring to remain above 2021 levels. The only BC region to see growth was Victoria, possibly indicating more Lower Mainlanders searching across the water for cheaper real estate.
Quebec
Like the other Canadian metropolises, Montreal saw a dip in the price of condos and detached homes, but unlike Vancouver and Toronto the decline was modest and in the single digits. “A lot of young buyers like Montreal, and that’s helped keep the markets here relatively stable,” says Mohamad Al-Hajj, owner of CENTURY 21 Immo-Plus. “We’ll keep an eye on how the rest of the year goes, but it does look like things will remain steady.”
Ontario
Canada’s most populous province saw a wide range of change throughout, from declines to rises all over the map. Toronto condos remain expensive at a PPSF of $1,013, though this is a 16 per cent drop from 2022 to a level roughly in line with 2021 and 2020 prices. However, cities like Niagara Falls and Cambridge saw their family home types gain in the double-digits, and they lead an overall trend of cities farther away from the GTA seeing growth in the price of single-family homes.
“The trend of families looking for space away from the downtown core continues,” says Eryn Richardson, owner of CENTURY 21 Heritage Group. “The changing interest rates definitely had an impact on the prices as buyers are more hesitant, but no single market has fallen dramatically and we’re still seeing a lot of growth.”
Prairies
The Prairies have remained relatively steady with minor gains and losses across the board. Saskatoon detached homes lead the pack at a PPSF of $344, a testament to families who come to the region for space and lower costs. Winnipeg, Brandon and Regina continue the trend, seeing their detached single family homes at $291, $276 and $275 respectively. The most significant decline was in Winnipeg, but even there detached homes fell just 7.62 per cent in price per square foot – the moderate change reflecting the stability of the region.
Alberta
Overall, Alberta has seen the most growth over the past year, with consistent price per square foot gains in most markets. Growth was modest but steady over the first half of 2023, and regions that saw declines dipped no further than 2020 levels. Edmonton condos were among those to decline, a potential sign of younger and newer buyers being affected by rising interest rates.
However, condos in Okotoks rose 14 per cent in price, a good indication that smaller towns still have the potential to grow fast as buyers explore new options. Just north, Calgary saw a rise of 5.81 per cent in single-family homes and 9.82 per cent in condos, while Red Deer was largely unchanged.
“Alberta has really emerged as a viable option for a lot of buyers who are leaving the more expensive areas of BC. Buyers both young and established are finding homes that fit their needs,” says George Bamber, owner of CENTURY 21 Bamber Realty. “Not only are they getting cheaper housing, but they’re also finding vibrant and fast-growing communities that they can make their own.”
CENTURY 21 Canada’s annual survey of data on the price per square foot (PPSF) of properties gathers and compares sales data from its franchises across Canada from January 1 to June 30 of each year. By looking at the price per square foot at the same time each year the firm is able to get a good idea of how prices have changed over time for similar properties. This year’s survey compares 2022 prices with this year’s results.
See the full PPSF study results below.
| ALBERTA | House Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| Calgary | House | $341 | $325 | $320 | $355 | $396 | $419 | 5.81% |
| Calgary | Condo | $329 | $317 | $296 | $303 | $326 | $358 | 9.82% |
| Edmonton | Detached House | $288 | $272 | $268 | $284 | $297 | $309 | 4.04% |
| Edmonton | Duplex | $275 | $256 | $250 | $270 | $287 | $292 | 1.74% |
| Edmonton | Condo | $231 | $220 | $206 | $217 | $222 | $204 | -8.11% |
| High River | Detached House | $193 | $215 | $237 | $271 | $307 | $334 | 8.79% |
| High River | Condo | N/A | $241 | $173 | $176 | $223 | $233 | 4.48% |
| Okotoks | Detached House | N/A | $238 | $254 | $283 | $338 | $362 | 7.10% |
| Okotoks | Condo | N/A | $254 | $211 | $219 | $251 | $288 | 14.74% |
| Red Deer | Detached House | $276 | $262 | $252 | $289 | $293 | $294 | 0.34% |
| Red Deer | Townhouse | N/A | N/A | N/A | $207 | $214 | $226 | 5.61% |
| Red Deer | Condo | N/A | N/A | N/A | $186 | $194 | $196 | 1.03% |
| Red Deer | Duplex | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $269 | $264 | -1.86% |
| St. Albert | Detached House | $287 | $271 | $269 | $289 | $322 | $317 | -1.55% |
| St. Albert | Condo | $239 | $223 | $211 | $251 | $238 | $259 | 8.82% |
| St. Albert | Duplex | $262 | $272 | $278 | $280 | $325 | $347 | 6.77% |
| BRITISH COLUMBIA | House Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| Chilliwack | Detached House | $297 | $294 | $288 | $406 | $515 | $419 | -18.64% |
| Chilliwack | Townhouse | $267 | $249 | $250 | $318 | $425 | $359 | -15.53% |
| Chilliwack | Condo/ Apartment | $283 | $290 | $270 | $351 | $473 | $443 | -6.34% |
| Kelowna | Detached House | $283 | $274 | $280 | $368 | $463 | $413 | -10.80% |
| Kelowna | Half Duplex | $247 | $260 | $263 | $320 | $402 | $362 | -9.95% |
| Kelowna | Townhouse | $292 | $287 | $302 | $365 | $452 | $422 | -6.64% |
| Kelowna | Apartment | $345 | $348 | $334 | $411 | $526 | $491 | -6.65% |
| Vancouver | Detached House | $856 | $769 | $816 | $975 | $1,177 | $978 | -16.91% |
| Vancouver, Downtown | Condo | $856 | $769 | $1,060 | $1,053 | $1,133 | $1,132 | -0.09% |
| Vancouver, East side | Detached House | $721 | $647 | $672 | $877 | $957 | $829 | -13.38% |
| Vancouver, West Side | Detached House | $1,147 | $990 | $1,004 | $1,208 | $1,421 | $1,149 | -19.14% |
| Burnaby | Detached House | $599 | $551 | $579 | $688 | $795 | $725 | -8.81% |
| West Van | Detached House | $899 | $738 | $734 | $971 | $1,038 | $930 | -10.40% |
| Vancouver, Richmond | Detached House | $677 | $598 | $608 | $722 | $831 | $773 | -6.98% |
| Delta North | Detached House | $423 | $400 | $413 | $570 | $716 | $594 | -17.04% |
| North Vancouver | Detached House | $681 | $613 | $690 | $794 | $910 | $817 | -10.22% |
| White Rock/South Surrey | Detached House | $506 | $472 | $435 | $625 | $795 | $627 | -21.13% |
| Victoria | Detached House | N/A | N/A | N/A | $558 | $592 | $602 | 1.69% |
| Victoria | Townhouse | N/A | N/A | N/A | $457 | $583 | $553 | -5.15% |
| Victoria | Condo | N/A | N/A | N/A | $659 | $676 | $723 | 6.95% |
| ATLANTIC | House Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| Charlottetown | Detached House | $147 | $165 | $178 | $211 | $245 | $235 | -4.08% |
| Fredericton | Detached House | N/A | $99 | $123 | $147 | $170 | $196 | 15.29% |
| Halifax | Detached House | $155 | $162 | $170 | $281 | $408 | $398 | -2.45% |
| Halifax | Condo | $228 | $239 | $270 | $291 | $450 | $467 | 3.78% |
| Moncton | Detached House | $101 | $106 | $124 | $142 | $173 | $197 | 13.87% |
| Saint John | Detached House | N/A | $111 | $123 | $134 | $163 | $192 | 17.79% |
| St. John’s | Detached House | N/A | $132 | $135 | $149 | $167 | $167 | 0.00% |
| St. John’s | Condo | N/A | $174 | $116 | $182 | $212 | $205 | -3.30% |
| PRAIRIES | House Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| Regina | Detached House | $254 | $246 | $237 | $250 | $284 | $275 | -3.17% |
| Regina | Condo | $236 | $213 | $205 | $205 | $194 | $189 | -2.58% |
| Saskatoon | Detached House | $270 | $263 | $263 | $314 | $336 | $344 | 2.38% |
| Saskatoon | Condo | $208 | $213 | $217 | $216 | $219 | $226 | 3.20% |
| Winnipeg | Detached House | $282 | $243 | $244 | $293 | $315 | $291 | -7.62% |
| Winnipeg | Condo | $261 | $220 | $223 | $234 | $254 | $249 | -1.97% |
| Winnipeg | Attached | N/A | $202 | $210 | $241 | $269 | $258 | -4.09% |
| Brandon | Detached House | $248 | $246 | $248 | $271 | $276 | $276 | 0.00% |
| Brandon | Condo | $196 | $204 | $204 | $203 | $243 | $236 | -2.88% |
| ONTARIO | House Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| Barrie | Detached House | $283 | $350 | $350 | $378 | $503 | $524 | 4.17% |
| Bradford | Detached House | $286 | $345 | $358 | $410 | $580 | $617 | 6.38% |
| Cambridge | Detached House | $332 | $355 | $388 | $450 | $625 | $670 | 7.20% |
| Cambridge | Duplex | $311 | $331 | $377 | $527 | $656 | $757 | 15.40% |
| Cambridge | Condo | $344 | $347 | $367 | $435 | $716 | $787 | 9.92% |
| Cambridge | Townhouse | $282 | $317 | $341 | $474 | $616 | $575 | -6.66% |
| Grey Bruce | Detached House | $175 | $182 | $195 | $357 | $455 | $434 | -4.62% |
| Guelph | Detached House | $397 | $409 | $443 | $483 | $690 | $527 | -23.62% |
| Guelph | Condo | $374 | $402 | $423 | $511 | $777 | $740 | -4.76% |
| Guelph | Duplex | $348 | $362 | $400 | $451 | $648 | $691 | 6.64% |
| Guelph | Townhouse | $311 | $335 | $364 | $433 | $641 | $605 | -5.62% |
| Hamilton | Detached House | $362 | $378 | $406 | $532 | $553 | $530 | -4.16% |
| Hamilton | Townhouse | $257 | $350 | $343 | $453 | $538 | $482 | -10.41% |
| Kitchener | Detached House | $339 | $359 | $400 | $430 | $618 | $610 | -1.29% |
| Kitchener | Semi-Detached | N/A | $341 | $399 | $460 | $623 | $632 | 1.44% |
| Kitchener | Townhouse | N/A | $323 | $342 | $435 | $576 | $583 | 1.22% |
| Kitchener | Condo | $328 | $362 | $399 | $483 | $800 | $838 | 4.75% |
| London | Detached House | $191 | $237 | $250 | $362 | $466 | $384 | -17.60% |
| Markham | Detached House | N/A | N/A | $485 | $557 | $685 | $753 | 9.93% |
| Niagara Falls | Bungalow | N/A | $336 | $395 | $475 | $630 | $746 | 18.41% |
| Niagara Falls | Detached House | N/A | $275 | $300 | $390 | $531 | $606 | 14.12% |
| Newmarket | Detached House | N/A | $372 | $510 | $505 | $516 | $536 | 3.88% |
| Ottawa | Detached House | $225 | $258 | $313 | $429 | $465 | $502 | 7.96% |
| Ottawa | Townhouse | N/A | N/A | N/A | $392 | $451 | $419 | -7.10% |
| Ottawa | Condo | $442 | $485 | $577 | $479 | $583 | $552 | -5.32% |
| Owen Sound | Detached House | $145 | $158 | $167 | $312 | $380 | $393 | 3.42% |
| Richmond Hill | Detached House | $445 | $465 | $522 | $520 | $665 | $717 | 7.82% |
| St. Catharines | Bungalow | $385 | $367 | $425 | $520 | $589 | $639 | 8.49% |
| St. Catharines | Detached House | $310 | $290 | $330 | $400 | $612 | $636 | 3.92% |
| Toronto, Downtown | Condo | $903 | $994 | $1,083 | $956 | $1,217 | $1,013 | -16.76% |
| Vaughn | Detached House | $434 | $503 | $548 | $612 | $695 | $687 | -1.15% |
| Waterloo | Detached House | N/A | $372 | $407 | $421 | $613 | $520 | -15.17% |
| Waterloo | Semi-detached | N/A | $357 | $399 | $439 | $648 | $663 | 2.31% |
| Waterloo | Townhouse | N/A | $324 | $344 | $408 | $641 | $651 | 1.56% |
| Waterloo | Condo | N/A | $402 | $411 | $503 | $777 | $831 | 6.95% |
| Windsor | Detached House | N/A | $372 | $407 | $295 | $306 | $469 | 53.27% |
| QUEBEC | House Type | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | % Change from 2022 |
| Montreal, Downtown and SW | Condo | $567 | $709 | $805 | $935 | $935 | $879 | -5.99% |
| Montreal, Downtown and SW | Detached House | $603 | $674 | $958 | $1,350 | $1,357 | $1,235 | -8.99% |
CENTURY 21 Refocuses on Growth in Quebec, Names New VP of Operations
Swimming for a Cause: CENTURY 21 United Realty Helps Raise $40,000 for Charity
The Peterborough YMCA pool saw the return of a beloved tradition, with the Carl Oake Rotary Swim taking over for another year. Hosted in Peterborough, Ont. by CENTURY 21 United Realty’s broker Vanessa Oake-Hogan, the event has been a long-standing tradition for the brokerage and her family.
“Honoring my father’s tradition is really important to me personally,” Oake-Hogan says. “The agents themselves that are a part of our brokerage really do appreciate that they’re part of an organization that does support our local community.”
While the event is back at full strength, she is well aware of the lingering effects of the past few years and stresses the importance of continuing with traditions, especially ones that help so many. “We embraced the fact that we could go full-swing this year and be back to normal. It’s ingrained in our culture as a company to be a part of the community, and our communities are definitely in need right now. A lot of cities across Canada are managing rising numbers of addictions and mental health issues, and here in Peterborough, we’re tight-knit. We support the people around us.”
That support manifested in teams of participants coming out to take a dive for the hour-long swim — some of them even had extra flair. “We know that not everyone might want to come out in a bathing suit, so we encourage people to have some fun. Some people jump in wearing their office clothes, some people like to dress up, and my favourite costume from this year was a fluffy unicorn — it added twenty pounds, so I’m not sure how he finished the lap, but he did!”
Overall, the event raised just over $40,000, with proceeds going towards Easter Seals Canada, and local Rotary Club projects, including youth emergency services, a school breakfast program, and a new nursing station at Camp Kawartha.
Oake-Hogan is already looking forward to 2024 and how the event will evolve. “We want to see more teams; we’re going to encourage more groups to come out and bring back everyone who came this year. And more costumes! We just want everyone to feel comfortable being a part of this, and we’re going to try to build on everything we’ve accomplished this year.”
The Carl Oake Rotary Swim was started by Carl Oake in 1987 and has raised over $1.2 million over its history.
82-year-old Franchisee Commits to 5 More Years with CENTURY 21 Canada
The owner of one of CENTURY 21 Canada’s longest-running franchises, Grace Kelleher, is continuing with CENTURY 21 Canada for another five years. Despite being 82 years old, she has no plans to retire from running CENTURY 21 Kelleher Real Estate Inc. Brokerage in Mississauga, ON and is looking forward to continuing to help local home buyers and sellers.
Kelleher began her real estate career in 1969, at a time when men firmly dominated the real estate industry. At the time, Kelleher was a single mother and was determined to break through the glass ceiling and become a successful female real estate broker, which she accomplished! In 1978, Kelleher founded CENTURY 21 Kelleher Real Estate Inc. Brokerage and has been part of the CENTURY 21 family for 45 years. She is a fan of the brand’s evolution, but still recalls the “gold jacket era” when she first started her career with nostalgia. “Back then, everyone assumed you worked in real estate when you wore a gold jacket. By wearing it, you could meet so many potential clients.”
“CENTURY 21 Canada is a very well-known brand; people are more likely to trust us when we display the gold seal on our signs and advertisements. This was a huge factor in me choosing to become a CENTURY 21 Canada franchisee. Being a part of this brand gets you in the door because everyone knows who we are; clients recognize the name and trust it,” says Kelleher.
Kelleher Real Estate Inc.’s office is currently made up of five agents. They are a close-knit group, some of whom have been with the brokerage for 30 years. Outside of work hours, they still meet for coffee and have become a work family over the years. Kelleher has always prioritized giving back to her community and fondly remembers when her brokerage hosted yearly car wash fundraisers to raise money for CENTURY 21’s national charitable partner, Easter Seals Canada. Despite the many changes since the pandemic, Kelleher continues to help others in need by assisting them in purchasing groceries and other necessities in her spare time.
Whenever asked why she still has the drive to work instead of taking a well-earned retirement, Kelleher responds, “working allows me to get out of the house, talk to people, and be a part of the community; I am not the type of person who wants to stay at home all day doing nothing. My biggest high is when I am putting together and presenting an offer. I cannot even sleep on those days because I am so excited; it is such a wonderful feeling.”
With over 45 years of being a CENTURY 21 Canada franchisee, Kelleher has made a remarkable career, and her determination to continue proves that age is only a number. In addition, Kelleher is also a living example of how one can choose how they spend their life, and for her, that means continuing to help people with their real estate needs and remaining an active part of the Mississauga community.
What Makes A Modern Leader
What makes a modern leader
Chiyoko Kakino, Senior Vice President, Brand Growth, CENTURY 21 Canada
The real estate industry sees constant change, from the ups and downs of the market to the constant new faces in brokerages and on bus benches. Since our CENTURY 21 Canada brand has been operating in Canada, one of the most noticeable changes we’ve seen is in the diversity of our brokerage leaders. Over the decades, more and more women have entered leadership positions, and I wanted the chance to learn more from them about what it takes to lead a brokerage today.
Three brokers, Joanne Evans from CENTURY 21 Millennium, Geneva Tetreault from CENTURY 21 Masters and Laurie Brugger in CENTURY 21 Westman all sat down with me to share their perspectives on leadership and what they’ve learned in the course of their distinguished careers.
1. Don’t try to be someone else’s idea of a leader
It can be intimidating to step into a leadership role, and doubly so as a young woman, but all three brokers agreed that they had to find what worked for them. By being their most authentic selves, they were able to discover what worked for each of them and in turn, their agents. “Someone told me I wasn’t cutthroat enough,” shares Geneva. “I went home and really thought about whether or not I was going to make it in this business, I kept rolling it around and I came to the really cool conclusion that I was going to show up and be myself. It was a moment that really challenged me and made me ask myself if I needed to change what I was doing in order to succeed, and 15 years later, I’m really glad I didn’t.”
“You’re not going to be everyone’s favourite person, and that’s okay,” Joanne says. “In the beginning, winning respect was the biggest challenge, and you really have to know your business. But eventually you’ll earn the respect – whether someone gives it to you, that’s their choice. But when you have the confidence to know how far you’ve come, you’ll see how your unique perspective is an asset. I used my communication skills and my ability to listen, and I believe that knowing how to nurture relationships really helped my career”
2. Be ready to change with the industry
I mentioned earlier that real estate is constantly changing and all three brokers agreed that the best leader is adaptable. “You need to be a futurist and you most definitely need to know what trends are coming,” says Laurie. “You need knowledge and the desire to keep learning and pushing forward. I sign up for training courses, leadership courses, I watch the news.
“You need to be dedicated to always learning, accept that we’ve never arrived where we know everything, and be flexible while also standing by your core values.”
“Knowledge is power,” adds Joanne. “You need to know at least twice as much as everyone else to be taken seriously as a leader, and you have to be on your toes.”
3. Always be willing to listen and learn from others
“You need to check your ego at the door,” Joanne continues. “Some of the best ideas that I’ve incorporated into our company have been from our agents and the willingness to listen and to work with them is a real asset when you’re leading.”
If there’s one thing that stood out from me during our conversation, it’s that the best leaders excel in making others feel seen and understood. Laurie knows this well: “A huge part is emotional intelligence. You need to be able to communicate with your people and know exactly how each person ticks and always have an open door for them.”
4. Remember that everyone is human – including yourself
Leaders have to be strong for their agents, but the modern leader isn’t afraid to acknowledge that everyone has challenging days. Agents are human, and a good broker will work with them, not against them. “If someone wants to know an opinion, I will give them the truth quickly, but in a kind way,” Geneva says. “That way we can look for opportunities, and I think that style of elevating and lifting each other up is a big piece of my leadership. I show up for my agents every day, and we’ve created a culture where if you can’t be at your best on a day, we work together and ask how we can help each other get back to that.”
“If you’re having a bad day, you’re having a bad day,” acknowledges Laurie. “You have to keep it in check, but there needs to be humanity involved in leadership and that’s very important. I feel that leadership used to be viewed more as someone being alone at the top, but now I feel that successful leaders are pushing their team up from the bottom.”
There’s a lot that makes a good leader, and every brokerage needs someone a little different to best suit their needs. But I truly believe that the leaders in our CENTURY 21 Canada system are among the best of the best, and I was so grateful to learn from these three remarkable women to see what they’ve brought to their companies to help them thrive. If you’re a broker or in a leadership position in your brokerage, I hope these perspectives have helped you think about how your leadership style can continue to grow and evolve into something that allows you to continue elevating your agents to their fullest potential. And if you’re an agent who finds that this conversation has resonated with you, I hope this helps you open a dialogue with your broker, or possibly even inspires you to seek out a leadership role for yourself.
If you’d like to hear more stories from leaders in our network sharing lessons they’ve learned over their careers, check out episodes of The Real Estate: Real Success Podcast on your preferred podcast platform.
Over $25,000 Raised For Local Food Banks
Kawartha Lakes, ON (May 2023) – The Fourth Annual Jump in the Lake Challenge (JILC) on Saturday, May 6 was an overwhelming success and raised over $25,000 for local foodbanks in Coboconk and Haliburton.
Unlike other organized Polar Bear Dips, participants jumped into the frigid early May waters from their own docks or local piers.
A few hundred generous donors helped 35 participants raise the much-needed funds.
“This year’s Jump in the Lake Challenge will have a significant, positive impact on the Coboconk and Area Foodbank (CAFB) for the next year,” said CAFB chairperson Amy Alfredsson. “With more than $16,000 in cash donations collected and more still coming in, the JILC has provided the funds to pay for all of the food bank’s meat purchases over the next twelve months.”
Alfredsson, who jumped into a frigid Balsam Lake herself, added the foodbank would not exist without generous community support.
“As a privately funded fully volunteer-run food bank, these donations are both welcome and needed at a time when both food insecurity and food costs are at their highest.”
There is still time to donate at www.kawarthalakeside.com and click “Get Involved”
In four years the annual Jump in the Lake Challenge has raised over $150,000 for the local community.
“We continue to be amazed how our community has embraced what has now become a fun, annual event,” said JILC founder Dean Michel. “When you combine brave individuals and generous donors, good things happen to make a difference in people’s lives”
Save the date for the 5th Annual Jump in the Lake Challenge: Saturday, May 4, 2024. It will be out of this world.
Jump in the Lake Challenge
Dean Michel
416-889-2963 / dean@century21granite.com
kawarthalakeside.com
Coboconk and Area Food Bank
Amy Alfredsson
705 344-4807 / coboconkfoodbank@gmail.com
coboconkfoodbank.org
CENTURY 21 Canada Broker Recognized for Decades of Giving Back to His Community
Red Deer, AB (April 2023) – Chosen from thousands of REALTORS® across the country, the 2023 Canadian REALTORS Care® Award has been awarded to Dale Devereux, owner of CENTURY 21 Maximum in Red Deer.
For the past eight years, this award created by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) has recognized REALTORS® that have demonstrated a commitment to bettering their communities and developed a consistent record of giving back. Dale Devereux has gone above and beyond in Red Deer, finding cause after cause to which he has committed his time and effort, and in doing so, has improved his town for the better.
“It began nearly 30 years ago, when I joined what was then called the ‘Friends of Youth’ in Red Deer,” explains Dale of how he got started in community involvement. “We started a lot of programs, we helped build a wing in our Children’s Library, started a ‘Just Say No’ to drugs program that became huge. When I first sold 100 houses as a new agent, I donated 100 turkey dinners to the food bank to feed local families at Christmas. I thought it would only be for one year, but that became five, and the next thing you know, it’s 25 years later.”
Dale’s passion for giving back never let up as his career progressed, finding multiple initiatives to help throughout the years. He considers his involvement in getting a Ronald McDonald House in Red Deer to be a highlight of his philanthropic work. “I was able to find them a piece of land close to the hospital, and now it provides parents who bring their children in for medical treatment a place to stay for only $13 a night. It gives them time with their kids and takes a lot of stress off of them, so it’s a big thing for all of us.”
And although Dale will sometimes gain a new client through his charity work, he’s clear that his reasons for giving back to his community go far beyond business. “It’s really not about gaining more clients for us, that’s not why we do it,” he says. “We took on these projects because it’s what we wanted to do, it’s what’s important to us. Some people may want to work with us because of it, and I believe that good things come to people who do good, but it’s never about business first.”
The REALTORS Care® Award is being awarded to Dale after a nomination from his daughter, Tara, who is also an owner of CENTURY 21 Maximum. Looking ahead, Dale has no plans to stop anytime soon. “There’s a lot more that I would like to do. There’s so many people out there that need help, it’s so critical now that people do what they can. Imagine if none of us did anything, just sat on our hands and watched – that would be terrible.”
Dale will be recognized at CREA’s annual general meeting, where he will receive a $5000 cheque to be given to the charity of his choice on behalf of REALTORS® everywhere. “It’s a huge honour to be chosen out of the whole network of REALTORS® in Canada. It’s a big part of their platform to show people across Canada what our industry can do because it’s massive, and it means a lot to me to be this year’s face of it.”
Dale’s achievement was recognized at the CREA annual general meeting on April 18, 2023.
CENTURY 21 Canada Mourns the Loss of Brian Rushton
CENTURY 21 Canada is mourning the loss of their Chief Operating Officer, Brian Rushton, who passed away recently. Rushton was an integral part of the CENTURY 21 family for 40 years.
He was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, in 1953 and began his career with the company in 1980 as the broker of CENTURY 21 Market Realty and went on to join the corporate team in 1984 for four years.
In 1993, Rushton moved his family to Vancouver, where he remained a beloved figure in the company’s leadership team for the next 30 years.
During his tenure, he worked tirelessly in franchise sales development and later transitioned to his role as Chief Operating Officer; Rushton mentored countless brokers nationwide and drew on his decades of industry experience to help them thrive.
Rushton was dedicated to the success of every broker that joined the CENTURY 21 Canada brand and was never more than a phone call away, ready to provide wise counsel alongside his wry sense of humour.
Many have taken to social media to share their stories and memories of Rushton, noting his generosity of spirit, readiness to listen to their issues, abundance of wit, and strong example of leadership.
In a message to the national network, CENTURY 21 Canada Founder and Executive Chairman U. Gary Charlwood and President and CEO Martin Charlwood shared their memories of the friendships Rushton made and the decades of advice he gave to franchisees.
“It was just a couple of weeks ago that we celebrated his well-deserved upcoming retirement in August and thanked him for the significant contributions he made. We will miss him immensely, as well as his always present sense of humour, and we will lovingly remember all the memories we shared over so very many years.”
Rushton is survived by his wife Kathy, his sons Craig, Gerred and Adam, as well as two granddaughters.
His passing is a significant loss for the CENTURY 21 Canada family, and his legacy will be remembered by those who had the privilege of knowing him.
CENTURY 21 Canada Smashes Fundraising Target In 2022 For The C21 Kids To Camp Program To Help Send Kids With Disabilities To Easter Seals Camps
In many ways, 2022 was a transition year. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have come under control as restrictions were slowly lifted across many jurisdictions in Canada, but there were still many uncertainties as reflected in the state of the economy, continuing supply chain issues, rising prices, hybrid work arrangements, and myriad other factors. Despite these turbulent times, one thing nevertheless remained certain: the unwavering commitment of CENTURY 21 Canada and its Companies and Network members to Easter Seals and the C21 Kids to Camp program, which aims to help kids with disabilities attend Easter Seals’ accessible and inclusive camps across the country.
For over 40 years, CENTURY 21 Canada—its Network members, families, friends and clients—have shown a lot of love for Easter Seals. Since 1979, CENTURY 21 Canada has raised more than $13.4 million for Easter Seals to provide the opportunity for more than 6,400 kids and youth with disabilities to attend and enjoy the transformative experiences and magic of Easter Seals camps over the years. Uncertainties notwithstanding, CENTURY 21 Companies and Network members across Canada proved their mettle yet again in 2022 and demonstrated why they are the gold standard in the real estate industry, raising $945,176 for Easter Seals and the C21 Kids to Camp Program. This incredible amount will give approximately 450 more kids and youth the opportunity to attend Easter Seals camps, bringing the total number of children and youth to have benefitted from CENTURY 21 Canada’s generosity to over 6,900 and increasing the overall total donated by CENTURY 21 to over $14.3M!
While the total raised by CENTURY 21 in 2022 is just shy of the all-time high annual record of $946,044 set in 2019, it still far surpassed the company’s initial 2022 fundraising target of $750,000 – a testament to the overwhelming commitment of CENTURY 21 Companies and Network members to helping boost the well-being and opportunities for children and youth with disabilities, and to promoting strong and inclusive communities.
“We’ve got a really great partner in Easter Seals and I am so proud that our network recognizes how important it is to give back,” says Martin Charlwood, President and CEO of CENTURY 21 Canada. “We’ve been fortunate to have a strong real estate market for the past couple of years, and that’s meant a lot of success for our offices and agents. And with that success comes a responsibility to give back in some way, and Easter Seals is a great cause. We look forward to working with them for many years to come.”
– Martin Charlwood, President and CEO, CENTURY 21 Canada
“We are absolutely astounded by these incredible results. Throughout the years, CENTURY 21 Canada, its Companies and Network members have proven time and again their commitment to Easter Seals and to kids and families with disabilities. As we celebrated Easter Seals’ 100th anniversary in Canada last year and reflected on our organization’s accomplishments and the innumerable lives that have been positively changed in the last century, we are acutely aware that these impacts would not have been possible without the steadfast support of stakeholders, donors, and partners like CENTURY 21 Canada,” says Dave Starrett, President and CEO of Easter Seals Canada. “Support and investments from CENTURY 21 Canada have helped made Easter Seals camps what they are today: the best of their kind in the world. We thank CENTURY 21 Canada, its Companies and Network members for their continued philanthropy and support of Easter Seals, and we look forward to working together for the next 100 years to make a positive difference in the lives of even more children, youth and families living with disabilities.”
Forty-eight CENTURY 21 Companies and hundreds of CENTURY 21 Network members across Canada contributed to the remarkable success of the 2022 C21 Kids to Camp campaign through their donations and fundraising efforts in 2022, and 89 of the CENTURY 21 Network members received the C21 Kids to Camp Club Member Award and Golden Heart Award for 2022 for their outstanding generosity – having each donated and/or raised $2,100 or more for the program. The list of the 10 CENTURY 21 Companies that raised the most funds for the Kids to Camp program in 2022 is as follows:
| Ranking | Name of Company | Province |
| 1 | CENTURY 21 B.J. Roth Realty Ltd | ON |
| 2 | CENTURY 21 Foothills Real Estate | AB |
| 3 | CENTURY 21 Millennium Inc. | ON |
| 4 | CENTURY 21 Fusion | SK |
| 5 | CENTURY 21 Bachman & Associates | MB |
| 6 | CENTURY 21 Heritage Group Ltd. | ON |
| 7 | CENTURY 21 Leading Edge Realty Inc. | ON |
| 8 | CENTURY 21 Assurance Realty Ltd. | BC |
| 9 | CENTURY 21 Green Realty Inc. | ON |
| 10 | CENTURY 21 Bamber Realty Ltd. | AB |
For more information about CENTURY 21 Canada, visit www.C21.ca
For more information about the C21 Kids to Camp Program, visit www.C21KidstoCamp.ca
