Why You Should Enrol Under the Current ENERGY STAR for New Homes Standard

Energy Star building

It pays to get there soon.

I recently received a reminder that this is the final week to enrol under the current ENERGY STAR for New Homes (ESNH) Standard.

Specifically, the email stated that the deadline to enrol under the current ENERGY STAR “Common Spec” is this Friday, November 30th.

Having blogged about this before, I’ll just reiterate it’s a very good idea to enrol in the ESNH Standard by the deadline. Here’s why: ENERGY STAR homes are typically more expensive to build, yet if you enrol right now, any home you close by November 30th, 2014 can be built according to the current specifications. And since the current rules are very similar to the Ontario Building Code, you’ll be able to label these homes as ENERGY STAR-compliant, all for little to no cost.

In other words, you get to put the a blue sticker on your home for near free.

eBAM Looking for an Intern

Being firm believers in online marketing, we’ve recently hired more staff for our eBAM department. We’re busy enough, however, to need yet another extra pair of hands. That’s where our new Social Media and Marketing Intern comes in.  It’s also nice to help a young, ambitious, hardworking student or recent grad get their feet wet in the world of online marketing. So if you know a good candidate, please let me know or send an email our Social Media Manager Alain Latour at alain@callbam.net.

Start building your future with BAM’s Internship Program

About BAM

We are a dynamic, hands-on marketing and advertising agency with a focus on the new homes industry. Our knowledge and experience allow us to integrate our turnkey approach with clients’ current and future objectives, executing every aspect of their marketing, from initial strategy development to completion.

eBAM, our in-house digital marketing department, leads our clients’ online efforts, encompassing everything from Google Ads to Facebook pages, blogs and Twitter accounts. This is where you will work.

About You

  • Solid copywriting / writing skills and strong written online communications skills
  • Personal and professional passion for social media and marketing is a must. In other words, you have top-notch social skills and a strong awareness of utilizing multiple channels (ideally also those outside of Twitter and Facebook)
  • Education in marketing, communications, business, journalism or similar
  • Able to work with our team to do creative and quality work while meeting deadlines
  • A strong desire to learn, grow and be part of a great team of digital marketers
  • Willing to take an idea and run with it without micro-managing
  • Enthusiasm!

Compensation & School Credit

This is an unpaid internship position that lasts 4 months (January 2013 – April 2013, with the possibility of an extension). BAM is pleased to support internships as credit for completion of post-secondary education. Candidates for internship where school credit is needed must make their own arrangements regarding requirements for credit known at time of application.

Why You Should Do Your Internship With eBAM

  • Great work environment — fast-paced, yet fun, this is real-world advertising/marketing at its best
  • Real learning opportunity – work directly with experts and decision makers
  • TTC Monthly Metropass
  • Walking distance from subway and next to 401 highway
  • BAM team lunch 1x week
  • Great coffee machine + free candies + free pop
  • A cash reward proportional to your great (or super great) work!

Intern Tasks & Activities

  • Support the tactical execution of client Social Media programs and campaigns (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Foursquare, etc.)
  • Copywriting for Social Media, Blogging, etc
  • Search Engine Marketing (SEO) activities
  • Social Media Monitoring
  • Social Media Advocacy and PR
  • Participate in brainstorm activities
  • Ongoing research and competitive analysis
  • Daily time tracking
  • Other related duties as required
  • Learn while having a good time is a must ;-)

Ready to Apply?

Please submit your application by email to alain@callbam.net, including:

  • Your cover letter and résumé
  • Links to your anything online that you find relevant to this position, such as work samples, social media profiles, websites, blog, etc.

Next Steps

  • We appreciate the time you have taken to apply. In the interest of saving time, we can only contact those candidates who qualify for an interview.
  • As part of the selection process, we may ask that you take a writing skills test following your interview at BAM.

Good luck!

Bringing the Outdoors In: A Good Way to Sell Homes

Brookfield Homes' new Panorama View Window was a selling feature at the Fieldstone community.

The Panorama View Window: Let the sunshine in to new homes in Ontario.

People are often surprised by the British fondness for convertible cars. In a country with such cloudy, rainy weather, why on earth would you get a convertible car?

I disagree. If you have few sunny days throughout the year, there is no better way to make the most of them than to drive a convertible, the sun on your face, the wind on your hair.

By the same token, I’ve long thought Ontario homes would benefit from blurring the separation between the outdoors and the indoors, and that the first builder to do so on a mass scale would stand to make a handsome profit.

Luckily, our longstanding client Brookfield Homes agreed. And in their Fieldstone community, which had a very successful preview opening last weekend, Brookfield launched the Panorama View Window.

Running along the rear wall in the kitchen, the Panorama View Window affords an excellent view and lets in plenty of light, effectively bringing the outdoors in.

I haven’t see many homes around with such an expansive window — definitely none in Fieldstone’s price range. I’m positive they played a big part in helping sell as many homes as we did during the opening weekend.

Victory Demands Risks

As I said in my previous blog post, BAM and Empire Communities were about to have a baby. The baby is called Victory, and it was born this weekend as we opened by preview appointment only.

Empire's new kitchen

Empire’s new Live-in Kitchen looks rather like a kitchen you’d find in a condo, not a low-rise community. And that’s precisely why it aroused so much interest.

victory's touchscreen displays

We used touchscreen displays throughout the Sales Office.

In my last post I also asked whether Ontario homeowners were ready for homes that are a tad fresher than your average new home. I’m glad to report the numbers back this belief, as we sold quite a few homes this weekend — more than we’d anticipated.

Could this be the beginning of an era where Ontario homebuyers demand modern homes? Is it possible we’re witnessing the birth of a trend where people want to live in designer homes, not in downtown Toronto but in the outskirts as well?

While we’re probably not there yet, one thing is certain — given the somewhat pessimistic forecasts for the national real estate market, builders could use a fresh outlook if they are to continue to sell homes.

BAM’s Latest Project Coming to Fruition Soon

We’re having a baby.

Well, not really. But that’s the way we feel every time we launch a new community. And soon we’ll launch Victory, a new home community by Empire Communities which I blogged about a few weeks ago.

One of the most exciting things about Victory is the Live Your Style Facebook poll we ran until September 30th. We asked people to vote on a selection of features and finishes, which they did — after the poll closed with hundreds of votes, fans had chosen, not surprisingly, the most modern choices, including laminate flooring, frameless glass showers, 12” X 24” tiles, straight-cut pickets and rails, and much more.

As I’ve long argued, Ontario homebuyers are shopping for homes that are a little fresher, a little more innovative. After all, it’s no secret that most homes in the province look almost alike. The trick is to come up with a design that isn’t radical to the point of throwing people off. It’s a fine balance, and I’m pleased to say, I think we’ve struck that balance with Victory.

Find out more about the community on its website and check out its Facebook page and blog.

Do you think Ontario homebuyers are ready for fresh features and finishes? Do you think there’s a market for innovative design in the low-rise industry?

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