February 14th 2023
I remember one particular communications glitch I ran into back in the early 80s shortly after I first launched my career in real estate sales. Back then, working in Eastern Ontario, my specialty was country property. As such, I covered a huge territory. On one occasion I was out in the backcountry miles from my office when I got a page that said ‘Call Carole at the office right away.’ Carole was our receptionist/administrator. I didn’t know what the issue was of course, but I speculated that a client had dropped in unexpectedly and was waiting for me in the lobby. Well, never one to let business slide, I drove like mad cross country for about 20 miles to where I knew there was a phone booth. I rushed in, and called Carole, only to have her tell me ‘You are on duty shortly. Would you mind bringing me a coffee?’ She knew I would be coming in and wanted to catch me before I did. At that point, I decided I needed to beef up communications, so I invested about $6,000 into a mobile phone that took up about 1/2 my trunk space and a large part of my foot well, but at least I was now connected.
Who would have thought that a few short years later, the whole world would be carrying smartphones around in their back pockets? And how did we live without them?
Of course, phones aren’t just for making audio calls. Not anymore. First the internet and on its heels, social media have elevated communications to a new art form.
And in real estate, as is the case with most businesses, we’ve had to adapt. And adapt we have.
Here at RE/MAX Garden City Realty, we have a team of incredible people who make up our social media and marketing resource.
Jim Holiko, our Director of IT, in addition to handling all our technology demands and equipment issues, along with a host of other things, is also the wizard behind the camera, handling our filming for the video, as well as editing, rendering, and posting on YouTube or delivering out through Bomb Bomb. Just myself I rely on him to create a minimum of 3 videos a week, not only filming but also editing and enhancing with script and visuals.
Then there is Joanne O’Keefe. Not only is Joanne our full-time Administrator in Fonthill, but she is also an extremely talented resource when it comes to social media. Whether it be an anniversary announcement of one of our agents or staff, or it’s the recognition of a production award, they magically appear on Facebook, Instagram or on our website complete with script and visuals. Always beautifully rendered.
And most recently, Michelle Bruce-Pepe has been added to our staff. With a solid background both with education and experience in social .jpg)
media, Michelle is available to hold training and ‘how to’ classes, as well as consulting one on one with any of our agents who are looking to launch a social media campaign or move a current one to the next level. She is also a tremendous help in graphic design, guiding our people into some very slick and compelling media pieces.
And speaking of graphic design, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge Megan Beam. Our Director of Marketing. She’s the one who takes concepts, whether they be feature sheets, mail outs, professional brochures, billboards, bus bench backs, on and on the list goes, and magically turns those concepts into works of art. From concept, to visual to final printed product.
While working off-site, but still a very valuable component of the team, is Elijah Allison. He provides an artist’s touch to both our e-newsletter 
that are sent out monthly and also creates the graphic images on our monthly Anniversary and Awards video that go out to our agents.
And lastly, completing the team is Susan Dagenais, who divides her time between mortgage compliance officer, virtually running the back end of our DLC Mortgage Department, to handling our print advertising, proof reading marketing documents, ordering and assuring compliance standards are met in our various advertising vehicles, as well as host of other duties, all designed to make us present at our best.
Never would I have imagined, 40 years ago while I was in search of a phone booth that things would have progressed to this extent. But I’m glad they have. And I’m proud of the people we have on board that make it all look so simple.