Drumheller Century 21 associate Gary Chambers was announced as the winner of the “We Work Hard for the Money...” competition recently run by Century 21 for one of his videoblogs.
    Spurred on by a feature on money.ca which listed real estate agent as one of Canada’s most stressful jobs, Century 21 asked their members to submit their stories showing how hard the job really was for the chance of winning 1000 Air Miles.
    Chambers, who keeps a videoblog, was approached by Century 21 to enter one of his entries they had spotted on the Century 21 website.
    The video in question, filmed using his iPhone, shows Chambers working from an auto-drive GPS steer tractor, which enabled him to use his Blackberry and Mac Airbook laptop to manage his real estate business while also working on the farm he and his father own.
    “Ever since I started in real estate, using the latest technology was the only way to maintain both businesses,” explained Chambers, who has been farming for 15 years and entered the real estate world 10 years ago.
    “In the last two years with the GPS steering it has made it significantly easier, that’s for sure.”
    He added the machinery now was so soundproof that it was as quiet as driving in his vehicle so he could even talk to customers while combining.
    “I think the only way to do both jobs properly is to have the technology and use it,” he told The Mail.    
    “Without the technology I don’t think I could do it, but with what’s now available I think it is far easier to make a good job of both.”
    There is still one more innovation Chambers is waiting for in the real estate world, and that is to be able to sign contracts virtually.
    “Probably what is lacking right now is the online signing of contracts with tablets. The technology is there for it but the software isn’t really at a point nor the governing bodies in charge of the industry really in line with saying ‘Yes, it’s ok to sign online’. We still typically have to print things out and have them signed in many circumstances so I think that part of our industry is probably one that will evolve into full virtual signing on tablets, but at this point it’s not at that stage.”
    With his two very demanding jobs, Chambers has decided that the Air Miles earned should benefit Century 21 customers.
    “I think the Air Miles will go back into a promotion to give away to customers and clients, and we’ll try to come up with a creative contest to give them away throughout the summer months.”
    On winning the contest, Chambers told The Mail, “It’s a fun little contest, it’s kind of neat that they identified it [the video]. What I find interesting is the small things that catch on when it comes to the internet.
    I hadn’t thought very much about it other than just doing what I normally would do for my videoblogs from my vehicle, I just did it from the tractor instead, but it really did catch on, so it is interesting how small the world is now that things like these can catch on via the internet.”
   Click on the link to see the entry: winning video.