Why We Show Up at the Spring Cottage Life Show... A Conversation With Jen Scholte

“Jen, why do you guys put so much effort into the Spring Cottage Life Show every year?”

She smiled, because it’s a question she gets a lot.

“Because that’s where our buyers are already thinking the right way.”

"What do you mean by thinking the right way"

“Most of real estate is trying to shift people’s mindset,” Jen explained. “You’re trying to move them from ‘maybe someday’ to ‘let’s actually do this.’”

“But at the Cottage Life Show… they’re already there.”

She went on:

“These are people who have carved time out of their lives to come and explore the cottage lifestyle. They’re not being interrupted by an ad. They’re choosing to be in that environment.”

“And that changes everything.”

“So it’s less about marketing… and more about timing?”

“Exactly.”

“Online, you’re competing for attention. At the show, you’re stepping into attention that already exists.”

Jen leaned into that point.

“They’re walking around picturing their weekends differently. Their summers differently. Even their long-term plans differently.”

“Our job isn’t to convince them. It’s to connect that vision to a real place… and real opportunities.”

“And that’s where your listings come in?”

“Right, but not in the way most people think.”

“We’re not just putting properties in front of people,” she said. “We’re putting context around them.”

“When someone sees a listing online, it’s just a house.”

“When they see it at the Cottage Life Show, it becomes part of a lifestyle they’re actively imagining.”

“You talk a lot about selling the area, not just the home.”

“That’s the whole game.”

Jen didn’t hesitate.

“Anyone can list a property. That’s transactional.”

“But when you can position an area as a place someone wants to build their life around, that’s where real value is created.”

She continued:

“We’re showcasing more than listings. We’re talking about access, community, four-season living, investment potential, and long-term growth.”

“Because buyers don’t just choose a home. They choose where their life is going to happen.”

“Does that impact your sellers as well?”

“It’s one of the biggest advantages we can offer them.”

“When we bring listings to the Cottage Life Show, we’re exposing them to people who aren’t just casually browsing.”

“These are buyers who are: Financially capable, Emotionally engaged and in may cases… already exploring a purchase decision”

“That’s a very different level of exposure than just putting a property online and hoping the right person finds it.”

“So this is really a strategy play.”

“100 percent.”

“This is us going to where demand is being created in real time.”

She paused, then added:

“A lot of agents wait for the market to come to them.”

“We don’t wait.”

“What does that say about your team?”

“It says we’re intentional.”

“We’re not just reacting to opportunities. We’re putting ourselves in the middle of them.”

“And that matters… for buyers, for sellers, and for anyone trying to make a smart move in this market.”

“If someone is thinking about buying or selling, what should they take from this?”

“That where and how your property is marketed matters more than most people realize.”

“And if you’re buying, being connected to the right team gives you access to opportunities before they become obvious.”

Let’s Continue the Conversation

If you’re thinking about making a move… whether it’s buying a cottage, investing, or selling a property, this is exactly the kind of strategy you want working for you.

Connect with the Scholte Real Estate Team to start the conversation.