Monthly Archives: October 2013


Martell Home Builders Gets The Thrill Of A Lifetime: Giving Away 35 Holland!

 

John & The MHB/XL96 Teams

Thanks to our friends at XL96 Country, the generosity of our vendors and tons of hard work and planning, the MHB team got to experience the thrill of a lifetime last Saturday.  This thrill? Giving away a Martell Home- free and clear- to John Baxter & his family, of Lower Coverdale, NB.  Not to mention also pulling off the largest radio giveaway ever, east of Calgary!

Months ago, the idea was born.  It all started with a bet between morning hosts Scotty Horsman & Tony Smith… could Tony quit bacon for a week?  They called it #bacation.  Tension ran deep and stakes were high… things seemed to be getting out of hand when Tony bet his new (under-construction) Martell Home.  Imagine his surprise when he lost the bet!  Some said he was set up but rules are rules and he did consume the bacon.

Construction continued and the MHB team could not believe what legs this contest had developed.  Everywhere we went, people were talking about the home giveaway… including the drive-thru girls at Tim’s.  People were ecstatic and the contest was the talk of the town…

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Fast forward to Saturday, October 26, 2013.  Eligible contestants had been narrowed down to 46 people and they all stood patiently in line, waiting for their chance to insert their key into the door of 35 Holland and see if they had the only key that would open the lock.  They approached the door one-by-one and the suspense was ridiculous.

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And finally, John Baxter and his granddaughter approached the house with Key #17.  And well, you should probably watch it for yourself:

To everyone who helped make this promotion a reality, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.  This was truly the highlight of our year (or more) and we are so grateful that we were able to be a part of this.  To the Baxters, we hope you enjoy the home as much as we loved building it!

 

 

Meet the Team: Jim

Jim

Many of you would’ve met this musical, artistic, well-traveled Beatles fan at our last customer appreciation party at the Chocolate River Station in Riverview. Even though he wasn’t permitted on the bouncy castle, our warranty man rocked your socks off with his music. Although he plays semi-professionally in an Elvis tribute band, it wasn’t the King that sparked Jim’s interest in music. At 16, he decided he wanted to be John Lennon. Lucky for us (and all you new home owners) that didn’t happen!

Jim Ledgerwood is the man who shows up to inspect your house after the 10 month warranty period ends to ensure that your house is still up to our standards. He has a list of areas to inspect, but also reviews everything you are concerned about.

Since finishing up at Queen’s University, Jim has owned 4 homes and has flipped a few houses. He’s seen a wide array of homes–some built correctly, some not. He never planned on being a warranty man, but after seeing so many construction problems, Jim began managing a small construction company contract in Moncton and eventually ended up on our team!  His eye for detail–from guitars to oil painting to car restoration and home building–is invaluable and makes us feel at ease, knowing our projects will stand the test of time.

Jim L.

Fun Facts about Jim Ledgerwood:

1- Jim restores European cars as a hobby. One of his favourite projects was an Original Mini. He’s also restored a 68′ Jaguar and currently drives the Austin Power’s car. He’s very tempted to paint the British Flag on it.

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2-He has travelled to England 6 times. During his first trip, he was trying to nail down a music publisher and met the Beatles first manager, Allan Williams! He hung around Allan for quite awhile. Later on, he returned to England and stayed with the manager for a week to play at a festival. Jim ended up moving to the country for a bit to publish some tracks!

 

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3- Jim Ledgerwood has recorded 4 albums, but nothing lately. However, he is still writing music.

4- He has been married to the same wife for 30 years! They are the parents of two children and 1 dog (so basically 3 kids!).

5- His favourite restaurant in Dieppe is St. James Gate and  he usually orders fish and chips, salad and a side order of escargot.

Ask A Builder: Where Do I Start?

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Starting can sometimes be the most difficult step in home building. It really is hard to know where to start. We recommend starting with a Discovery Session.

Some builders skip this crucial step, and head straight to the draftsman for their blueprints. This can be a huge mistake! Architects and designer are not usually drafting blueprints with your budget and lifestyle in mind. Unfortunately, many people have already paid for the prints and are sitting down with their builder before they discover the design they choose exceeds their budget. The Discovery Session clarifies what you can afford, what upgrades will save you money overtime, and what design will work best with your lifestyle .

In a Discovery Session, you sit down with an expert to create a realistic plan with you and your family in mind!

By the end of a Discovery Session, you will know the size of  home your budget allows for based on price per square foot. In addition, you and your builder will discuss potential upgrades that suit your personal taste and lifestyle, as well as ones that will retain value in your home.

Efficiency is one area that is key to  focus on during a Discovery Session. If efficiency is factored in, it will ensure your home retains its value overtime. Designing a home to live in until your newborn graduates university is very different from building a starter home you intend on selling once you get a big career break. For example, will an energy efficient heating system save you enough money on your electrical bill over 5 years to invest the thousands in now? Will that same heating system increase the resale value enough to install anyways or would a more traditional system appeal more to people in the region? These types of questions will be discussed in the first step to building a home: A Discovery Session.

To book a Discovery Session and start planning your new home, call Natalie today at 506-232-1276 or by email natalie@themartellexperience.com.

Discovery Sessions are one key reason that Martell Home Builders have never gone overtime or over budget!