Teri-Lyn Conrad

The Vancouver Province reported on the weekend about the 'Rising Tide of Evictions from BC Trailer Parks' and how many of our seniors in their 'Golden Years' may be rendered homeless.
If any of you have read my blogs before, you'll know this is a subject that I'm passionate about. There are so many people on a fixed income as well as many face health issues and one day it will be YOU!
At least 30 mobile home parks are facing closures the story reports with the land the parks sit on becoming more valuable to sell to developers than to continue to operate as parks.
Many of the residents (as per the Land Transfer Form Act) are being told to vacate and surrender therir home without compensation when the lease expires. Several of these residents have resided in their homes for years and couldn't possibly afford to relocate.
BC Housing Minister Rich Coleman made no comment in regards to this story, but I myself have spoken to him in regards to rental assistance programs and other housing issues. He had very little to say to me as well.

Imagine it's your parent who's worked hard all their life, paid into a pension but by the time they are eligible to collect the rate of inflation and the cost of living has far surpassed their income. Their health is failing and much of their income goes towards drugs and treatments not covered by Heath Care. And now they face eviction from their HOME!
Something must be done! The Government is too 'cookie cutter'/ formula driven/ and disconnected from REALITY! One of these days it's going to touch someone you know!

Contact Teri with any comments or questions!

Affordable housing is a major issue in lower Mainland BC. Carol James - provincial leader of NDP called on the Liberal government to stop spending money on PR ads and put some towards housing. I have to admit, there is a real disconnect here.

I recently heard Honorable Rich Coleman MLA speak at a Chamber of Commerce meeting regarding this initiatives of the Liberal government. As Minister of Housing he was touting his rental assistance subsidy. In theory it's great. All those who make less than $35,000 a year qualify. Who the hell can live on $35,000 a year??? Meanwhile there's a large percentage of people who thankfully make more than that but of course don't qualify.

I have several clients who are just coming through a divorce and after all bills are paid will not be able to afford to remain in the market. One client had to rent at $1700/month which ate up practically all of her earnings!

On the heels of the Supreme Court's decision regarding tent cities and people's right to camp out, it seems insane to me that we haven't yet made homelessness and the cost of housing a major priority here in lower Mainland.

The sun was shining! That's my excuse! And since I live in Langley (Greater Vancouver) and WHO KNOWS when I'll see the sun again, I simply jumped at the opportunity to take this fat ass out for a walk! Had my Ipod blasting - great music and a vision of my slimmer self pushing me forward! The last hill was a killer but I powered through it! By the time I got home, my ass was 'screaming' at me! I told it to relax...we'd go right back to sitting - just the way we both like it!

So Kudos to my new friend Joel McDonald who commented on my screaming ass on Twitter and suggested that it would make for funny blog and also added this funny:

Why don't they allow donkeys in University?

...

...

...because NO ONE likes a SMART ASS!!

Oh Joel - You KILL me!! :)

No kidding! You know that 'obligated by law' social survey Stats Can sent notice about in the mail? Well today they called! It freakin took 45 minutes! I almost bailed but the guy guilted me...and he was sweet too...so my patriotic duty prevailed.

Here's where it gets interesting! Your federal government wants to first understand your social networks....which I found interesting especially since we're all about social networking on here - BUT they want to know the nitty gritties about your family and friends. For instance, when things are bad do you feel that you have a strong support base? Beyond that they want to know how often you connect; by phone; email or other!

I kept thinking about business and how so many of my connections are virtual ones! And like a typical government survey there were no allowances for variables. For instance: on a scale from 1 - 5, 1 being never and 5 being always, do you trust your family? What the heck kind of question is that? Do they mean my kids? my parents? my siblings? My mate? Good grief - and let me tell you - We're ALL OVER THE BOARD on that one!

How about your coworkers? Well geepers - some I would trust completely and others NEVER AGAIN!!!! (don't ask!)

Then there were the really interesting questions about what types of behaviors you can justify. For example:

WOULD YOU LIE?

Again, scale of 1 - 5, 1 being never and 5 being always, would you lie to protect your own interests????

Your Government WANTS TO KNOW!

Tack on to the end that they ask your sexual preference and your household income - I think it's fair to say that Big Brother is Clearly watching!

My advice: Don't answer the phone!!!

oh ya - and Don't LIE!

Cheers!

TLC

This is was the question that came up yesterday at a meeting for the Communications Committee for my Board. We have been mandated to come up with directives that will improve the image of Realtors to the public. You wouldn't believe how difficult this is proving to be.

Through much debate we have concluded that the primary difference between our profession and that of other professional industries such as lawyers or doctors (who carry the same level or less liability) is that matter of taking an oath. What do you think? Could a simple oath be all that separates the degree of professionalism?

Then there's the matter of income. The general public perceives us as money grabbers...however unlike lawyers they feel free to try and negotiate our commission down. We don't ask for a retainer. Hmmmm.

So back to the question. What is your job exactly? When a group of Realtors were asked there were many different answers: I'm a consultant/facilitator; I help my clients buy and sell homes; I'm a marriage counsellor (Holla!!! hehe). All right answers...however my Chair of the committee has concluded that really our job is: To protect the interests of my client. Simple.

So there it is. Now imagine if every Realtor actually wrote that into their listing agreement. I think we'll see a lot of Realtors not want to take on that level of liability but when you think about it, you are anyway. It's stated (here in BC) with our Working with a Realtor® brochure. And if we all presented ourselves with that as our main job, imagine the level of integrity we would earn in the Public's eye?

Food for thought...comments?