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As some of you know, before I became a REALTOR, the job that brought me back to Oxford County was pub owner. Specifically, I owned "The Innerkip Arms" pub in Innerkip — a small, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it village tucked into the heart of Oxford County. And while slinging pints and real estate might not seem to have much in common, that little pub taught me more about property, community, and the meaning of a “right fit” than almost anything else in my career.
Here are the lessons that stuck with me — and that I carry into every conversation I have with buyers and sellers today.
1. Location Isn’t Just an Address — It’s the People Around It
Nobody drives to Innerkip by accident. When people came through the door of my pub, they came with a purpose — and most of the time, that purpose wasn’t just the beer & wings. It was each other.
I think about Mert’s 80th birthday. The pub was packed wall-to-wall. People came from all over Oxford County to celebrate the woman who had been part of the community for decades. That’s not something you can manufacture — it’s something that grows slowly, in a place where people choose to put down roots. I think about COVID. We had a huge event that brought much of the community in for the St. Patrick's Games Day, and literally 2 days later we were shut down. Take-out only. That's when community really showed up. They ordered take-out intentionally from the local pub in order to help me stay afloat. When I offered frozen meat boxes that they could drop by and pick up instead of having to venture out to a busy supermarket, they showed up. This was community at its best.
Whether it was Milestone Birthday Parties, celebrations for Innerkip Minor Ball Coaches, 40 Creek Whisky Fundraisers, a wake for Mel's Wife, Dart Nights, or the Local Police coming for their Christmas Dinner/Karaoke Party, creating a space for community events meant the world to me.
When I work with buyers today, I know: the house is the easy part. The neighbourhood is what you’ll actually live in. Who are your neighbours? What’s the feel of the street? What are the area schools like? Is this a place where you’ll put down roots — or just an address? Those questions matter more than the granite countertops.
2. You Can’t Fake Local Knowledge
Running a pub in a small town means you learn — fast — what the community actually cares about. What nights are quiet. What events bring people out. Who the regulars are and what they need. You can’t Google your way to that kind of understanding. You have to be there.
I grew up in Woodstock, spent years in the GTA, and then came back to Oxford County — first to Innerkip, and now to real estate. That layered experience means I understand this region in a way that doesn’t come from a market report. I know which streets feel different after dark, which areas are quietly appreciating, and which communities are drawing buyers from the big city who are ready for a slower pace.
When you work with a local realtor, you’re not just getting someone who can open doors. You’re getting someone who knows what’s behind them.
3. Smart Renovations Add Value — Cosmetic Ones Often Don’t
When you own a commercial space, every dollar you spend on it has to earn its keep. I learned quickly that some improvements — better flow, reliable plumbing, practical upgrades — paid back tenfold. Others looked great in the moment and didn’t move the needle at all.
It’s the same in residential real estate. Sellers often want to renovate before they list, and I understand the impulse — you want to present your home at its best. But a $40,000 kitchen refresh rarely adds $40,000 in value. What buyers actually respond to is a home that feels clean, functional, and well-maintained. Fresh paint, a tidy yard, and decluttered rooms often do more work than a full renovation.
I help my sellers figure out where to spend — and just as importantly, where not to.
4. Property Is a Business, Whether You Treat It That Way or Not
Owning a pub is, at its core, owning a property with a business inside it. You think constantly about costs, maintenance, long-term value, and whether the space is working as hard as it could be. That mindset doesn’t go away when you close the lights for the last time.
Our last big event brought the community in for live music, crowds inside and in the expanded outdoor area with picnic tables. It was bittersweet, knowing that it was the last big event before the sale was completed and I handed the reins over to the Wing House franchise.
What selling taught me is that a property always has a next chapter — even when one chapter ends. And whether you’re buying a family home or an investment property, approaching it with a business owner’s mindset — thinking about maintenance costs, market timing, and long-term value — almost always leads to better outcomes.
The Pub Led Me Here
I didn’t plan for the pub to be a chapter in my real estate story. But looking back, it makes perfect sense. It grounded me in this community, taught me the value of a space that truly fits the people inside it, and gave me an instinct for what makes a property more than just square footage.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Oxford County, I’d love to have that conversation. Not a sales pitch — just an honest talk about what’s right for you. That’s what I would have wanted on the other side of the bar.
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