CES Samsung Window Display

For the full list of winners:

http://www.cesweb.org/awards/innovations/2012-innovations-honorees.htm

Farralone Estate

The estate known as “Farralone” was commissioned by Dora Hutchison, the heiress to the Chase Manhattan Bank fortune. It was completed in 1951 by Pereira & Luckman, the architects most famous for building this “trophy” residence, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Kennedy Center, The Transamerica Pyramid building in San Francisco and the master plan for the City of Beverly Hills.

Click to view slideshow.

It has been referred to as “The great glass mansion that perches like a lighted jewel on its own hilltop”. No wonder, with its 16 ft. ceilings the interior is surrounded by glass walls that open seamlessly to the outdoor spaces. Today the property has been painstakingly restored to its pristine original condition and continues to sparkle and amaze.

The parties hosted there between 1951-1954 were legendary and included such guests as Lucille Ball and Ava Gardner. Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli renewed their wedding vows there. Frank Sinatra leased the house for several years. During that time Marilyn Monroe resided in the guesthouse and had her last photo shoot there as well as the infamous rendezvous with Jack Kennedy. The estate NETS between $500,000-$2M per year from movie location filming.

The 10,000 sq. ft. main estate, surrounded by two acres of rolling lawn, is up a long, winding private road on 5.5 acres. It includes 4 bedrooms/5.5 baths, a grand gallery and three lower level private offices complete with a conference room. The one bedroom/1.5 bath guest house is 1,000 sq. ft. with its own pool. A detached gym is located adjacent to the stunning 50 ft. pool.

A 9.5 acre section, out of site from the residence, has a tentative tract map divided into 13 lots and is currently used as a vineyard with horse riding trails. In addition to the large motor court there is parking for 200 cars.

This fine example of mid-century magnificence could not be replicated today. It is beyond a doubt one of the most private, dazzling and important estates in all of southern California.

Offered at $12,000,000

Please read over the attached article and we would love to hear your feedback!

Real Estate Agents to Face Online Ranking in Quebec

In a first for Canada, real estate agents in Quebec are now being ranked online by clients, based on a customer satisfaction rating service.

The new website is being offered by the Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards (FCIQ) at www.certificationqsc.ca.

Visitors to the site can view rankings of individual real estate brokers, or view all profiles alphabetically. Brokers are ranked on a scale of one to five, with one being very dissatisfied and five being very satisfied. Only a scattering of scores are available thus far, however.

Claude Charron, president of the FCIQ, told the Montreal Gazette that the idea mirrored similar sites that rank doctors, dentists, and vets. The idea was to be proactive and thus still control the content. “If we don’t do it, others will,” he said.

The Gazette noted early criticism that the new ranking site allows brokers to choose whether to publish the feedback. But it also pointed out that brokers must choose to have all feedback or none shown – no selective comments can be filtered in or out.

The Gazette said a similar feedback program in the U.S. already exists called the Quality Service Certification program. Brokers with at least five rankings will be required to keep an average score of 3.75 in order to keep their Quality Service standard, which will be monitored by a U.S. research firm.

Another criticism noted in the article is that not all brokers in Quebec are participating – it’s voluntary.

Thus brokers lacking positive reviews could just opt out. Not surprisingly, a review of the 1,248 profiles currently on the Quebec broker ranking website was lacking in rankings below four out of five – the minimum standard for client satisfaction. Only a few brokers scored below that standard, and they still were far from the dissatisfied mark of two out of five.

The Cement Factory Home

In 1973 Ricardo Bofill discovered a cement factory, part of an industrial complex from the turn of the century, comprising over 30 silos, underground galleries and huge engine rooms. He decided to transform it into his head office. Remodelling work lasted two years. The factory, abandoned and partially in ruins, was a compendium of surrealist elements—stairs that climbed up to nowhere, mighty reinforced concrete structures that sustained nothing, pieces of iron hanging in the air; in short, huge empty spaces filled nonetheless with magic.

Amazing vision creates amazing results.

“The factory is a magic place which strange atmosphere is difficult to be perceived by a profane eye. I like the life to be perfectly programmed here, ritualised, in total contrast with my turbulent nomad life.”
Ricardo Bofill

CFIB’s Communities in Boom: Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Cities, compares 100 of Canada’s large and mid-sized municipalities on such measures as the number of small businesses in a community, the degree of business optimism, and on the effectiveness of local and provincial policy on businesses.

Ted Mallett, the Vice-President of CFIB, says small and medium enterprises employ about 52 per-cent of all working individuals in the country.

“There is no single best way to measure the entrepreneurship quotient of cities, so CFIB combines a range of approaches to arrive at a series of scores.”

Mallett explains, a good indicator of an entrepreneurial hot spot is a high concentration of entrepreneurs and a high business start-up rate.

“Good public policy is also critical, so we look at the presence of supportive local government tax and regulatory policies.”

Kelowna was ranked 13th overall in the country and number one in B.C.

Mayor Sharon Shepherd says she is pleased that Kelowna is making its presence known in entrepreneurship, she notes the city has some top notch small business organizers, so she isn’t that surprised.

“Joel Young is with the Okangan Valley Enterprenture Society and he had a vision of being the best entrepreneurial model in the valley. I challenged him to just start with Kelowna and he has excelled in branding enterprises and using the best practices for small businesses.”

Shepherd believes with entrepreneurs like Young it won’t be long before Kelowna is in the top 10 or even number one.

There were 12 core indicators that were measured to arrive at the final score:

Presence:
1. Net business start ups
2. Businesses per capita
3. Self-employement intensity
4. Industry employment diversity

Perspective:
5. Future business performance
6. Future full-time hiring expectations
7. Overall state of business

Policy:
8. Cost of local government
9. Local government sensitivity to local business
10. Local government regulation
11. Local government tax balance
12. Whether local government has subscribed to the ‘bizpal’ program

In the category of ‘presence’ Kelowna was give a score of 74 out of 100, and was considered a strong score by the CIFB.

Kelowna was recognized as a diverse economy with lots of business start-ups and showed an above average growth in the number of business establishments.

Caroline Grover, the CEO of Kelowna’s Chamber of Commerce, says that anytime you have a desirable place to live, like Kelowna, you will attract a level of of entrepreneurs who want to invest in the city.

“This is really exciting, I think people see opportunity here in Kelowna and many of those people have the ability and commitment to build on it and become entrepreneurs, which is great for our city.”

Here are some of the other top B.C. cities:

Prince George placed 26
Penticton 31
Kamloops 35
Vernon 40
Nanaimo 51
Victoria 71
Vancouver 93

The top city in the country with the best entrepreneurial edge was Grand Prairie Alberta with a top score of 74 out of 100.

This is the fourth annual installment of CIFB’s communities in Boom.

Douglas magazine By Brian Hartz | Oct 05, 2011

A 400-square-foot condo is getting a complete makeover this month, thanks to seven local big-hearted businesses.

“This is a renovation unlike any other,” says Taylor Conroy, real estate agent with The Condo Group. “After stripping the unit down to its studs, we’re rebuilding it up as a transforming space, containing a kitchen, dining room, home theatre, bedroom and more. To reveal the different rooms, walls will roll aside, counters will fold away and tables will flip into beds — it’ll really be quite extraordinary.”

But for Conroy and his partners, the best part is the project’s philanthropic ties: after the renovation is complete in November, the Bossi House condo will be put on public display for about a year before being sold. The total proceeds from the condo sale (real estate commission plus the increased value of the unit) will be donated to Free The Children, a charitable organization that works across the globe to improve the lives of youth.

“Our anticipated donation will be between $75,000 and $100,000, with all funds going to benefit the young people of Kenya’s Masai-Mara region,” says Conroy. “This contribution will see to the construction of two schoolhouses, numerous wells and a mobilized healthcare unit and will fund alternative education programs for women as well as teacher salaries. I’m so thankful to our generous partners who have all donated their time, expertize and materials to this cause.”

Partners of the project include The Condo Group (profits from condo sale), CertaPro Painters of Victoria (all flooring and paint), Livtona Interior Design Ltd. (interior design and finishes selections), Elevated Audio Video (a six-foot theatre screen and projector), Resource Furniture BC (two transforming furniture pieces, Ulisse Sofa and Ulisse Dining), Designs 20/20 (the videography of the renovation process) and Swiftsure Woodworkers Ltd. (all kitchen, bathroom and storage cabinets).

“It’s a pleasure to be a part of this project, putting Victoria on the world stage of innovation and philanthropic responsibility,” says Peter McCutcheon, president of Swiftsure Woodworking. “And in a year, one lucky buyer will have the bragging rights of owning one of the world’s most fascinating homes. It’s a great story to tell over the dinner table – which, by the way, seats a whopping 14 people.”

And choosing African youth as the project’s beneficiary was a no-brainer for Conroy, who describes a 2009 trip to Kenya and Uganda as “a turning point.”

“During my time in Africa, I helped fund the construction of two new schools — the delight on the faces of the town’s residents was so rewarding,” says Conroy. “Giving back to the world has always been near and dear to my heart. But being able to use my profession as a vehicle for charity and change? Truly extraordinary.”

For more information about the transforming condo, located in the Bossi House complex at the corner of Johnson and Vancouver Streets in Victoria, contact The Condo Group at 250-382-6636.

Here are the cold hard facts from August.

Property Type:

22.9% by First Time Buyers

17.4% of purchases were by Move-Up Buyers

11.1% buying Revenue/Investment Property

10.4% moving from Single Family Home to Strata Unit

7.6% Recreation Property Buyers

5.6% moving into Retirement Home/Seniors Community

3.5% moving from Strata property to Single Family Home

Moving From:

50% from Within OMREB Board Area

18.8% from Alberta

10.4% from Lower Mainland/Vancouver Island

10.4% from Other Areas in BC

6.3% from Eastern Canada/Maritimes

2.8% from Outside Canada

1.4% from Saskatchewan/Manitoba

Do you remember the good ol’ days? The days when dinner companions would only play with their blackberries if they were part of dessert, when a good navigation system was the friend you begged to come with you, and when you had to put on shorts to go surfing?

There was also a time when husband and wife would await the Sunday paperboy so they could browse for their new home, and successful realtors could sit in their office and wait for buyers to drop in.

Now, welcome to 2011. Attention spans are measured in milliseconds, most surfers have never actually seen the ocean, and blackberries receive more attention than all other fruits, vegetables and children combined.

The last 20 years have seen a massive shift in marketing trends across all industries. Customers have higher standards, are demanding more information and are demanding it instantaneously. Leading service providers have improved their systems, service levels and response times to meet this need. These improvements have raised standards even higher.

The Real Estate Industry is No Different. Today’s home buyers expect instantaneous answers and unparalleled levels of service. After driving by a For Sale sign they won’t wait until business hours to find out the price. Realtors who provide easier and instantaneous access to information sell more homes for their clients, and sell them faster.

There was a time when you’d visit your Realtor Monday morning and view a binder of listings you might be interested in. Today buyers can receive information through MLS.ca, Twitter, Facebook, Realtor Websites and of course, email. Buyers expect to receive information at their convenience through a variety of channels. We use the latest tools including social media, price notification systems and listing search services to give buyers the information they demand when they demand it. For you this means selling your home sooner and at the highest value.

Since Day One at Sherlock and Associates we’ve been leading the industry in service levels, technology and access to information. With all this technology, it’s easy to forget the power of a trusted voice on the phone, a smile and a firm handshake. While technology is important to improve our service, we have never forgotten the foundation that every great service business is built on: Unwavering Service, Trust and Integrity.

“Hi, I’m Dave. Welcome to Valley Pool & Spa.  You’ve been seeking the great truth?”

Yes, I answered, I want to learn the reality of pool ownership.

A short time later, I felt I was finally understood and am now ready to pass on the knowledge. Now, if you are ready, let’s begin your education. The education provided by Dave was extensive and following are the most important parts to remember.

The first thing you need to decide is the kind of pool you wish to create. There are 3 main options: Vinyl liner, fiberglass and custom built, usually from cast in place concrete and finished in tile.

Vinyl is the most common pool type and the least expensive. It’s a great option if budget is a concern with pools costing about $40,000. There are a few downsides to vinyl and as anyone who owned a car in the 70s knows, vinyl does not react well to sunlight. Expect to replace your pool vinyl liner every 7 to 14 years at a cost of between $3,000 and $5,000.

Fiberglass pools are made as one solid mould and this means colours and shapes are more aesthetically pleasing and you can build in some very cool features into your pool, such as bench seating to create a resort style swim up bar. Fiberglass pools start around $50,000 depending on size and features.

Now, for the last option I was introduced to Gene Brown. Gene is Canada’s only Platinum-Level Genesis 3 designer. From Gene I learnt that with custom pool designs the world really is your oyster. Below I’ve included my favourite custom pool options.

-Gene said the most popular feature in the Okanagan is the vanishing edge, also known as the infinity pool, and I know why. Properly designed, one can match the colour of the pool with the lake to give a near seamless transition from pool to lake.

-Another sought after feature is creating a constant overflow by designing the pool to protrude 6 inches higher than deck level and have the water overflow on all 4 sides. If instead you’re you are seeking a little more peacefulness you can add a soothing waterfall or a beach style entry?

-I love the idea of elaborate lighting set-ups that maximize the beauty and aesthetic appeal of the outdoor environment. Fire pits and bowls, reflecting just right on the water, can create an awe-inspiring effect transforming your home into your own resort.

-As someone who likes to keep up with the latest technology, I was fascinated by the automation tools available. Now with your iPhone you can visit your pool from anywhere in the world and adjust temperatures and water chemistry to ensure your water is crystal clear and just the right temperature when you arrive home. You could also check to see how large the “birthday party” your nephew is having really is.

Lastly, I will mention that a properly designed pool can increase your property value by up to 20%, and will usually cost less than 20% of your property’s value to build. This isn’t a universal law, and of course the wrong pool won’t help your value but if you work with the experts to design a pool that compliments your home and lifestyle your property value will increase.

The more I learnt about pools the more I became aware of how much there is to know. It was difficult to condense hours of education into a single article. If building your own pool excites you, I strongly suggest visiting Dave or Gene yourself and he will provide the same education I received. You can find out more at www.valleypoolandspa.com. If you’re considering a move and this article has inspired you to seek out a home with a perfect pool, do give us a call and we can assist you in finding the perfect pool to accompany your perfect home.