5 LESSONS FROM A 10,000KM ROAD TRIP
I’ve been driving a Tesla Model 3 for almost a year now and have been itching to do a road trip. Not a weekend ‘get out of the city’ kind of road trip. I mean a real road trip. A trip starting in Guelph and ending on Vancouver Island. 4,622 km one way.
A number of you are surely wondering what would possess me to travel across the country in the middle of a pandemic – and specifically, alone in a car.
My motive: I needed to get out to see my aging parents and help Dad with some health issues that my Mom was dealing with. I hadn’t visited with them in almost 2 years, and this was certainly overdue. I didn’t want to fly because of COVID, and I needed to take every precaution to protect my folks, and myself. The only way I could see pulling that off was to stay in my own personal “bubble” – the car.
Here are some of my observations and lessons learned over the nearly 3 weeks I spent on the road:
LESSON #1: It’s in the planning
Deliberate thought, about how I could pull this trip off and not expose myself or others to COVID. The shorter US route was not an option, and that meant getting occasionally detailed by Google Maps and the Tesla software to find a suitable route without crossing borders. This also meant being prepared for adverse weather, and packing enough provisions to minimize having to interact with people and places.
The Tesla charging network across Canada meant that I could stop and charge every couple of hours, have access to bathroom facilities and could rest in my car when needed.
The Real Estate Lesson: The best buying or selling experience starts with a well planned and mapped out process. Bumps along the road are inevitable, but having a clear plan before you hit the road will help you navigate whatever terrain you come across.
LESSON #2: Knowing your limits
It took me 86 hours to drive across the country, leaving Guelph on Wednesday at noon and arriving in Vancouver Saturday at 4:00pm. This included 1 overnight stay in Golden, BC: zero COVID cases, and a bottle of sanitizer used on all the hard surfaces of the room. I didn’t want to do the final stretch of the drive – the mountains of BC – being tired, nor during night hours. The rest of the time was spent driving, charging and resting when needed.
The Real Estate Lesson: Sometimes a straightforward task requires additional time and resources to do the job right. While sometimes we want to skip right to the end, we must keep our focus on our goals and achieving quality results, and not be pressed by arbitrary deadlines.
LESSON #3: We’re taking the pandemic seriously, and in stride!
I was worried about being in other provinces with a car tagged from Ontario, and I was worried that perhaps in Alberta and Saskatchewan they would not take masks as seriously as we do in Guelph. People were consistent across the country in wearing masks and being socially distant. Nobody questioned me on the Ontario plates, or seemed to be phased by this. In fact, I met a number of people on this journey, in a safe way, and had some very cool conversations.
The Real Estate Lesson: We’re nearly 8 months into this pandemic. We’ve learned that we can’t bunker down and block out the world – we as a community, a country and a planet need to learn to live with COVID-19. The uncertainty of this past March is behind us, and while we need to prioritize public health, we can’t lose focus of our goals. Our brokerage has been continually adapting as the pandemic surges on, and we’re perfecting new ways to do business that keep our community safe and our clients’ goals on track.
LESSON #4: A house is more than an investment
This country is huge! It’s difficult to truly grasp the size of this great land – but a 5,000 km trek will certainly give you some perspective. One thing I noticed is that real estate markets across the country are still very active, and most markets are suffering from a lack of inventory and high demand. Buyers remain active, and regardless of the return on your investment, owning a home provides something that will always hold its value: shelter. Read more on this topic in last week’s blog: Shelter (Issue 227)
The Real Estate Lesson: Real estate is a tried-and-true investment opportunity, but at the end of the day, owning a home is the best way to secure shelter for your family. It took a pandemic for us to step back and remind ourselves this.
LESSON #5: Energy is critical
There are enough charging stations across the country that most EVs can make this trip. The infrastructure is in place, and still being built out quietly and quickly. This trip has brought into focus just how quickly new ideas and technologies are taking hold. I came home from this trip energized and confident that Canadians and the country will weather this pandemic, and be a better society for it.
The Real Estate Lesson: Working together to solve our challenges brings strength and growth. Healthy homes and homeownership build deep roots and commitments within communities. We may not always agree with each other; however, we are fortunate to be able to work together for the benefit of our community.
In the end, Mom and Dad are settling into new routines at home for the foreseeable future. They’re adapting to having help come in, and know that we are there as a resource for them as well. I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend time with them, as well as with my thoughts during the drive.
Would I do it again? In a heartbeat! I’ve posted a short video of the outbound trip, and am working on the homebound video now. You can check it out below:
THE PAST WEEK IN THE GUELPH REAL ESTATE MARKET
We’re reporting 53 homes sold this past week. That’s up 29% from the 41 sales recorded the same week in 2019.
The median home selling this week was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1,312 sqft home. That home sold for $610,000 or $425.47/sqft and took 10 days to sell. Homeowners achieved 101% of their original list price. 66% of homes selling, 35/53, went at or above list price. 2 homes sold more than 25% above list price. We’ll explore this phenomenon in more detail in the next few weeks. I have a few theories.
Thanks for reading & enjoy the weekend.
FEATURED PROPERTY:
121 Waterloo Avenue
UNIT 102
GUELPH, ON
2 BED / 2.5 BATH / 1,556 SQ FT
Perfect for empty-nesters and downsizers, this 2 storey townhome is impressively spacious. With two bedrooms (each with an ensuite) plus a powder room, and large principle rooms, you can enjoy the benefits of a spacious home without the maintenance. Nestled just outside of Downtown Guelph, this home is just steps to shops, cafes, the Farmer’s Market, and more. Plus, you’ll love the back deck plus balcony right off the bedroom!
Kim Hannah (519) 766-7861
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