Turns out REALTORS® are good with Allen keys.
During the Canadian Real Estate Association’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) Summit in Ottawa last month, more than 40 REALTORS® took part in an IKEA build challenge benefiting Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa.
The challenge was organized by CREA with the intent being to give back to the community. In the end, about $1,000 worth of Kallax bookcases and Gulliver baby change tables were donated to the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The ReStores sell new and gently used building materials, home décor and furniture—items you’d find at any hardware store—for a discounted price. Funds generated support the work of Habitat GO while keeping products out of landfills.
“We wanted to do something different at this year’s summit. Giving back to the community is such a huge part of what REALTORS® do, so this was a perfect fit,” said CREA’s Lizzie Lennox, who helped organize the event.
The premise was simple: teams gathered together to build IKEA furniture as fast as possible. Items that usually take about an hour were completed in less than 20 minutes.
Building furniture relay style for The @Habitat_org Restore as part of our #REALTORypn with @CREA_ACI. Go team 6! @TMBrealestate pic.twitter.com/SEFfG0x2Md
— James Mabey (@MabeyAHome) April 14, 2018
“It was amazing to watch,” said Myrna Beattie of Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa. “I was supposed to be a cheerleader, but they didn’t need any extra motivation. The REALTORS® worked hard, but it also looked like a ton of fun.”
James Mabey, a REALTOR® with Century 21 Masters in Alberta, said he enjoyed the challenge, especially considering his competitive nature.
“It was a cool opportunity to engage with a charitable enterprise with so many similar principles associated with our industry,” he said. “I love the whole notion of Habitat for Humanity, so I had no problem with rolling up my sleeves and helping out.”
Following the IKEA build off, the furniture was loaded into a truck and taken to a ReStore.
“I think they were all sold within two days. We were very happy to participate in this and definitely would again,” Beattie said.
