S1 | Rewind Design | E13 Geoff on Sand Bay
Geoff on Sand Bay
A local Realtor’s experience on moving up North later in life, and enjoying all that Cottage Country has to offer!
Intro
Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of Rewind Design - A Cottage History Podcast. If you are new here, my name is Katy McNabb and I am an Interior Designer here Georgian Bay / Muskoka, and I am on a mission to rediscover the history and design of cottage country in Ontario!
On this week’s episode, we have Geoffrey Hayes, a Sales Representative for All Points North in Parry Sound (See link here - https://allpointsnorth.ca/geoffrey-hayes/)
From his biography on All Points North he describes his journey to Cottage Living.
As a young boy from Waterloo, On, I have fond memories of travelling and fishing throughout northern Ontario with my father and grandfather. To be honest, I’m pretty sure that this is when the love of fishing and Ontario’s back-country planted itself like a seed in my heart. Throughout my entire life, I have done what many people do – spend my holidays and weekends beating the mad rush out of the City to travel to the places where my heart was happiest – where I relaxed and felt free from the corporate life I was living. I spent much of my professional career in Corporate Canada in Customer Service leadership and I’m grateful for the opportunities that I had but when my wife and I became empty nesters, we knew it was time to make a different choice – to live in the place we yearned to be and to do something fun and different. I know how hard it can be to make radical life changes. I understand the challenges of living in a new community and I know how difficult it can be to choose a new path but it’s the best thing I’ve ever done and I’m not looking back. Whether you’re looking for a vacation home or make a permanent move, I’d be honoured to help you be where you want to be.
To contact Geoff, see below info:
705-996-4492
or geoff@allpointsnorth.ca
Instagram: realtor_geoff
Disclaimer - Photos are from realtor.ca listing, furniture from previous owners.
You can listen to Geoff’s episode below where he describes his personal journey to Georgian Bay!
Geographical location of Sand Bay in regards to Parry Sound and the North Channel
Cottage Photos + Description
Cottage Description
The current cottage is extremely warm and inviting, with a large central great room with a prominent stone fireplace with ample seating surrounding it. Adjacent is a dining room with views to the bay. The cottage has rustic hand hewn beams and columns with a pine ceiling and matching hardwood floors. The kitchen has light shaker style cabinets with views to the outside, and an opening through to the dining room. The cottage has 3 generous bedrooms, 2 with pine ceilings and rustic wood flooring. The exterior is clad with a deep blue board and batten, with beautiful layered rock landscaping!
Geoff answers my questions!
Can you introduce yourself to the listeners and tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?
Geoff Hayes, I am a local Realtor in the Parry Sound area. I have been coming to this area my entire life spending summers and cottaging and have developed a real love for this area of the province
As a realtor, you facilitate cottagers in finding their dream location and cottage, how do you assess their needs and find them the perfect place?
This involves a series of questions that I ask that helps me determine where their information gaps are i.e. lakes, shorelines, roads etc,
What their needs are, i.e. Beds Baths Bunkies, privacy lot size etc. When they would like to make a decision. I help them narrow down their search to specific areas if need be. Help them align their wants list with their budget. There is more to it this but that is a synopsis.
Before becoming a realtor, what did you devote your time to?
I spent 25 years in Corporate Canada in IT Helpdesk field. I built and ran Customer Support Centres. Lead highly engaged teams large teams.
How did you end up here - is this a recent purchase or a family generational cottage?
Over the years my wife and I have bought and sold a few homes and in 2020 we right at the beginning of the pandemic we decided to make a move. When we were deciding where we wanted to be there were a few options on the table but she looked at me and said if we are going to move lets go where we want to be. For us that meant the Parry Sound area. We actually missed out on property but then found a beautiful place on Georgian Bay. I have allot more to say on this.
How long have you owned this property and what drew you or your family to the area?
2 years we have friends nearby
How did you land in the Parry Sound area?
I have been coming to the area since a child
What sparked your love of Georgian Bay?
Unesco World Biosphere reserve, windswept pines, the amazing fishing, clean water, lovely breezes.
View to Georgian Bay
The shore road allowance allows Geoff to have a dock right on Georgian Bay!
Original Cottage
The original cottage is an old brick bungalow, 750 sq feet, no porch with cement stairs. The previous owner did the last renovation with a large addition on the back which added a few more bedrooms and much needed storage!
Thank you Geoff + Patty for taking part in this week’s episode!
Visit Rewind Design Instagram below to stay tuned for more cottage stories!
If you would like to support this podcast, please follow along to patreon.com/rewinddesign. If you would like to support the show in other ways or share your own story, please send an email to katy@rewinddesign.ca or give me a call at 416 822 7489. Your donations help to run the podcast and costs associated with recording equipment and travel. 10% of all donations will be donated to the Georgian Bay Land Trust. Thank you so much, your support means everything.
