BRITISH COLUMBIA 2-21-22

BRITISH COLUMBIA EDITION

Things You Can Do to

ANTICIPATE YOUR CLIENT’S NEEDS

Welcome Home: WORKING WITH RELOCATORS IN TRANSITION

5 Social Media Mistakes Real Estate Agents Must Avoid

INCORPORATING CHARITABLE GIVING IN YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE

FEATURED AGENTS

COVER STORY

KUL NIJJAR

VJ OCO STEPHANIE OSTASH SIERRA RAUBENHEIMER

BRITISH COLUMBIA EDITION

SIERRA RAUBENHEIM When Sierra Raubenheimer was growing 7 13 21 up, her family moved frequently between Canada and the States, an early experience that piqued her interest in real estate.

“I became familiar with the process and can really relate to my clients,” Sierra says. She bought her first property while NIJJAR was inKUL university, STEPHANIEshe OSTASH KUL NIJJARusing it as an VJ investOCO ment and for rental income. “I saw how it was possible to grow your wealth through real estate, and I’m glad I got involved in that process when ICONTENTS was young,” Sierra says. “I’ve been exposed to it all my life.”

v h p t o p

H t e I a get the who good parts.

4) INCORPORATING 19) THINGS YOU CAN DO TO WhenGIVING Sierra INmoved to her hometown of as a salespe CHARITABLE YOUR back ANTICIPATE YOUR CLIENT’S REAL ESTATE PRACTICE Penticton in 2018, she says, “INEEDS wanted to run my own house that’s business.

I was looking for a job that was challeng- long term.”

11) 5 SOCIAL MEDIA 24) WELCOME HOME: ing.REAL I come from a long lineWORKING of entrepreneurs.

Real MISTAKES ESTATE WITH RELOCATORS AGENTSestate MUST AVOIDlike a good fit, IN seemed and I’m loving it!”

Community TRANSITION she recently Sierra’s referral business is growing steadily, a sign runs busines of the trust |and confidence she inspires in her clients. She has als Phone 310-734-1440 Fax 310-734-1440 “Clients appreciate | that I keep in touch with them,” SPCA, and mag@topagentmagazine.com www.topagentmagazine.com No portion Sierra of this issue explains. may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent ofwhich the publisher.

“Penticton is a small town, isTop Agent called Ugan Magazine is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published nice I get see my past expressed clientsor facts around town. materials, Top Agentbecause Magazine cannot be heldto responsible for opinions supplied by its authors. giving back, To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

I thestop also enjoys Published in U.S. by and drop off little gifts at Christmas time, and I make sure I always keep in touch with my past as well as hi clients in a really personal way.”

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STEPHANIE OSTASH

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SIERRA RAUBENHEIMER

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com http://www.topagentmagazine.com

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Incorporating Charitable Giving in Your Real Estate Practice

As real estate professionals, taking part in the community and serving others is central to a long-lasting practice. After all, agents are in the business of homeownership, building a financial future, and helping their clients begin new and fruitful chapters. With that in 4

mind, how might an agent deliver that spirit of service in a broader sphere?

The truth is, charitable giving offers nothing but upsides. Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it

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Contributing to a worthy cause is a noble and meaningful endeavor, but it also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network.

also presents positive byproducts for the giver: tax write-offs, name recognition in the community, and the ability to expand your network. If charitable giving is an idea you’ve toyed with, or a practice you’ve engaged in only now and again, here are a few ways to make it a foundational element of your business and a win-win for all.

Find causes that speak to you.

Donating funds or resources can feel anonymous if you’re divorced from the organization you’re working with. While national and international charitable organizations are certainly effective and worthwhile, you might consider partnering with local chapters of those organizations, or identifying hyper-local organizations that address need in your state, county, town, or even your own neighborhood. The first step to establishing a charitable relationship is to find a cause that you genuinely care about. For many, animal rescue is a tangible cause where resources and volunteership are always welcome. For others, children’s health and advocacy is a calling. Regardless Top Agent Magazine

of your personal passion, participation can be big or small. From sponsoring a local youth sports league to partnering with an area animal shelter for their annual spay-athon event—there are all sorts of ways to make a difference.

Unite your team for the common good.

One way to make charitable giving a staple is to do it in arm and arm with others. Supporting a local cause is a great way to bring your team together in a unifying capacity. Hosting coat drives in winter, blanket drives for local animal shelters, or backpack drives for needy students at the start of the new school year— all are straightforward and highly useful, direct ways to give to your community as a team. It’s also important to set collective goals as a way of keeping people motivated and accountable over time. Offices are productive, but often hectic spaces.

Injecting a collective goal with a positive, tangible result can create an ambiance of goodwill and generosity—both of which are worthwhile attributes to cultivate as

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the leader of your team. Lastly, consider timely giving as a way of connecting your team to their community. Natural disasters, local fundraising drives, and improvement funds are all direct ways your team can contribute, while they themselves reap the benefit in the community.

Include clients in the process.

You’ve likely heard of charitable donations made in the name of your client as an alternative to the classic closing gift, but there are a few ways you might update this method of giving. For starters, consider including your clients in the selection process. Do they have a special cause that’s close to their hearts? Likewise, you might

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consider making regular, consistent giving a part of your routine post-closing. Instead of following up with your yearly poinsettia plant or pumpkin, you might find a cause in their neighborhood or township that you can support in their name. It’s wise to choose something apolitical, but a cause that’s hyperlocal to their area demonstrates unique thoughtfulness.

There are plenty of ways in which society as a whole can benefit from charitable causes that build goodwill in the world, support those less fortunate, and bolster a positive future. Incorporating charitable giving in your business model is a generous way to make this mentality a central tenet of your team and a defining characteristic for your clients to remember.

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STEPHANIE OSTASH

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STEPHANIE OSTASH

If you had told a young Stephanie Ostash that she would one day be in a career that required her to meet and talk to new people all day long, she would have laughed. Just probably not in front of you.

“I was the world’s shyest person,” Stephanie laughs.

“But I eventually grew out of it, and then becoming a Realtor actually made a lot of sense. My grandfather was a builder and developer here in the Kelowna area, and my parents were always buying, renovating, renting and selling properties. So I’ve been around the industry in one form or another my whole life.”

Her mother was working for a major homebuilding company in Calgary that was looking for young blood, and suggested that she apply. Stephanie was hired on as a sales associate with Jayman Masterbuilt Homes and moved to Calgary. Three years later Sokol Developments made her their sales and marketing manager. In 2007 she returned to Kelowna to work as a mortgage broker, a position she held until 2009 when she was recruited by Castanet—the largest 8

media company in the Okanagan. She quickly rose to become their top marketing consultant. Those years gave her experience in almost every facet of the real estate industry, and in 2015 Stephanie got her Realtor’s license, becoming the top agent for a boutique brokerage in Kelowna. In 2020 she partnered with TJ Dumonceaux to form TJ & Steph Real Estate Group with Royal LePage.

“We believe the small team approach is the future of real estate,” Stephanie explains. “There are plenty of individual agents out there who struggle to grow and provide great service and results because the amount of work involved is just too much to handle alone.

But at the super-brokerages you have too many people, each handling a different part and aspect of a file,

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and things fall through the cracks, often leaving the client feeling more like a number or transaction instead of an actual person. All of our clients at TJ and Steph get the personalized service of a boutique brokerage combined with a systematic approach that ensures no detail of a transaction gets overlooked.”

In their first year, Stephanie and TJ closed over 100 transactions, and are on pace to exceed that in year two. Seventy percent of that business comes from repeat clients or referrals, a loyalty the toprated team has worked hard to earn. “We treat all of our clients like they’re family, and we work seamlessly together,” says Stephanie. The team specializes in investment real estate, a sector with which both TJ and Stephanie have a lot of experience. Stephanie bought her first condo at 19, her first investment property in her early 20s, and has built a fairly substantial portfolio. Her understanding of how to assess a property’s profit potential combined with her strong ability to negotiate a great deal has been invaluable to her investors.

Stephanie and TJ are dedicated to supporting their community, donating $10,000 quarterly to organizations and charities close to their heart.

Recent recipients include the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue and SPCA Animal Rescue.

Giving back is extremely important to Stephanie.

She has also been volunteering at the local Food Bank for the last 6 years, sponsors a child through the Compassion Program, and is a regular donor to the Save the Children program.

Going forward, Stephanie and TJ plan to add one or two more people to their small, tight-knit team to help them keep up with their growing volume and to make sure they continue to exceed their clients’ expectations. But it’s all about being patient and finding the right person who can meet their high standards and fit with the team culture.

“Both of us are very driven,” says Stephanie. “We want to be known for offering the best service in the Okanagan.”

That’s certainly nothing to be shy about!

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Contact Stephanie at 250-801-6467 or email steph@tjsteph.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 9

Alfonso Law Corporation is proud to congratulate

STEPHANIE OSTASH

on being featured for Canada in Top Agent Magazine!

ALFONSO LAW CORPORATION Gregg Alfonso, Barrister and Solicitor (250) 868-6789 | alfonso@lawcorp.ca 201 - 1180 Sunset Drive, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9W6

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SOCIAL MEDIA MISTAKES

Real Estate Agents Must Avoid There is perhaps no greater marketing tool for agents these days than having a large presence on social media, but there is more to social media marketing than just opening an account and gaining followers. A lot of agents forget the social part of social media. It’s all about engagement, but it needs to be the right kind of engagement. This can often be the first impression potential clients or industry peers have of you, so make it count. There is no second chance to make a first impression, and that is especially true for real estate agents. Here’s just a few things you want to avoid.

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1 Using it to Vent

Social Media is a great place to complain and commiserate about things, but save that for your personal page. A real estate transaction is already a stressful ordeal, the last thing anyone wants is someone who seems like they’ll bring a negative energy to the process. Even worse?

Bad mouthing other Realtors® or listings. You’re selling yourself and your skills, so don’t sell anything that shows you in a bad light. Much like marketing a property, everything you put out should be professional and inviting.

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Lack of Consistent Branding

Yes, social media is about social engagement, but it’s also about creating brand recognition. While you don’t want it to be purely promotional, you are running a business, so create a consistent branding across all social media platforms. If you can afford a professional graphic designer to help you out with this, that’s great. But at the very least, have the same profile pic, cover image and highly visible contact information, across the board. And don’t forget to share links to your other accounts, some people prefer different social media applications.

3Not Posting Enough

It’s good to create a schedule of how many times you’ll be posting per day and to pick times when you might have the most engagement.

Don’t over do it, but three posts a day at the right time, tends to be a good goal. There are numerous tools on Facebook, for example, that

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can let you see when interactions are the highest.

Stick to your schedule and adjust accordingly.

It’s also important to not just post your listings.

Be a resource for people who follow your page.

Post community events, or other informative articles that are relevant to home ownership.

Be a page they want to follow even when they aren’t buying or selling a property. They’ll remember you when the time comes.

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Not interacting With Your Followers

It’s called social media for a reason. The more you engage with your followers, the more they see you as a real person, and not just a marketing tool. Not only do you get to know your past clients and potential clients, on Facebook, engagement actually will make your posts seen by more people. So it’s a win/win.

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Not Sharing or Linking to Others

It might not seem like a good idea to not promote the blogs, pages or listings of other people, but it’s not only an excellent way to build goodwill, it will also increase your own presence when they reciprocate. So make a point to share posts and links for local businesses and even the blogs of your peers, if it’s a post that offers valuable insight into an expertise you don’t have. That will encourage them to share your posts and even your listings, which will increase your potential buyer pool. This is another incentive to create your own blog. Unique informative content is always of value, and more likely to be shared than promotional links.

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KUL NIJJAR Top Agent Magazine

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KUL NIJJAR “Buying or selling is a fairly personal and emotional process. It’s either someone has a dream, or something has happened, and they have to make a decision.

So I always aim to make people feel comfortable.”

Putting customers first has been a main priority for Kul Nijjar for most of her career. She started off in hotel management, which she earned her degree in. “I worked for a resort for some time, and when I was ready to have children, we 14

purchased a local cable business,” Kul says. “This allowed me to stay at home and raise my kids while working at the same time.” As TV streaming took off, cable became less desirable, so Kul had to decide what to do next. “I decided Top Agent Magazine

to get my real estate license and began working part-time at first, then slowly became full-time.” Based in the small town of Kaslo, Kul serves southeastern British Columbia. Providing exceptional service to everyone she works with, Kul Top Agent Magazine

is well known in her region. Her keys to success include being herself and always looking out for her clients’ best interests.

“I’m down-to-Earth and approachable,” Kul says. “Buying or selling is a fairly 15

personal and emotional process. It’s either someone has a dream, or something has happened, and they have to make a decision. So I always aim to make people feel comfortable.” Kul gets to know her clients, which allows her to better serve them. Being part of the community for 30+ years, Kul is well-acquainted with the area, and understands all of its intricacies. “I have figured out what makes it easier to move here, and I have established many connections, which helps me spread the word about my listings.” Kul also has a state-of-the-art website, which

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provides all potential clients with a plethora of information about herself and the area. “I put together a really great information package. My approach is to just be upfront and honest, and this always results in appreciative clients.”

Those who work with Kul love telling others about their journey. One recently said, “Professional, generous, knowledgeable and honest. Kul was instrumental to our successful transaction and truly exemplifies the name ‘Fair Realty.’

Just a genuinely good person.” Another Top Agent Magazine

said, “It was a pleasure to work with Kul on the sale of my home. Her depth of experience of the area, current trends and value, and of people, are all assets to her professional yet personable approach.”

Kul plays an active role in her community by volunteering for various different organizations. She’s been part of the local Chamber of Commerce, Langham Cultural Centre, and more.

Kul also loves to enjoy the beauty of British Columbia by hiking and gardening. During any free time, she hangs out 17

with her family, including her husband and their two children.

In the coming years, her focus is set on growth. “I want to keep expanding and establishing my brand while building relationships with other Realtors®, and

staying updated on all the latest tech advances. I recently closed a transaction via Bitcoin, so I’m always open to new things.” It’s clear she will accomplish all of her goals and more, as her passion for what she does is palpable. “I truly love what I do.”

For more information about Kul Nijjar, please call 250-505-4722 or email kul@kootenaybc.com

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Things You Can Do to Anticipate Your Cleint’s Needs First and foremost, the real estate industry is a customer service business. The key to any successful real estate business is one that can build a reputation by providing an unsurpassed level of care. That usually means a transaction that is seamless and stress-free as possible throughout the whole process. Your client’s experience is what keeps them not only coming back, but gets them to recommend you to their friend and family.

tise. By showing you can not only anticipate their needs, but have insight into any potential problems that might arise, they will have complete confidence in you. Achieving that level of trust is the key to a transaction that is as stress-free as possible.

The key to creating a great experience is anticipating your client’s needs. They are relying on your professionalism and exper-

From the moment, you meet a po-tential client, your goal should be to find out not only what they are looking for as far as their real estate

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GET TO KNOW YOUR CLIENTS ON A PERSONAL LEVEL

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goals, but who they are as a person. Listening and asking the right questions from the start is one of the most important aspects of the job.

You almost have to become an amateur psychologist, really honing in on the emotional reasons behind their real estate transaction.

Taking time upfront not only gives you valuable insight into your client, but it is the first impression your clients have that you truly care about them, and that this isn’t just another commission check for you. This goes miles in helping them feel comfortable enough to rely on your guidance.

Knowing who your client is on a deep level will help you navigate the transition ups and downs, allowing you to anticipate the best way to handle it.

SPOT POTENTIAL PROBLEMS AND PROVIDE SOLUTIONS Having insight into your client’s per-sonality type will come in handy when you anticipate an upcoming snag in the transaction. Most people find the process to be stressful even under the best of circumstances. One of the best rules of thumb is to always provide the solutions to anticipated problems when you present them to the client.

This should be the case even when the problem isn’t on you. Anything that can ruin a client’s overall experience can reflect poorly on you, whether you deserve it or not. This is a business philosophy called “zero risk”. You don’t want to take any chances with having an unsatisfied customer.

This is where your experience in the business pays off. You’ve probably seen most things and can easily anticipate problems that are 20

likely to delay the process. Remember you are in charge. You are the expert. And, remember, part of avoiding potential problems is making sure your client knows what to expect upfront, always communicate openly and honestly.

Telling people what they want to hear and knowing you can’t deliver it, is destined to fail, and will always reflect poorly on you.

FIND WAYS TO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS Recognizing ways to exceed a cus-tomer’s needs is just as important as looking out for potential problems, when it comes to creating an exceptional experience. Have a vetted list of trusted service providers. Be hands on.

There are Realtors® who are out there helping clients pack, mowing lawns, and picking kids up from school. They are there for a client in ways that are unexpected. Having one thing taken off your plate during a stressful period in your life can feel like a lifesaver and is not soon forgotten. It is those “little” things that will turn a client into a lifelong advocate for your business.

TAKE IN FEEDBACK A good service provider is always trying to do better. Many Realtors® have clients fill out surveys after the transaction is over. This serves two purposes. It helps you become better at your job and it shows your clients that you care about them and their opinions. You can also use social media to get feedback via analytics and interactions. All of this information can then be used to create better customer experiences in the future. After all, this is a customer service industry. Treat it like one and you’re bound to succeed.

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VJ OCO PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION Top Agent Magazine

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VJ OCO

Throughout his life, VJ Oco has always been drawn to real estate. He began his career as a Senior Project Manager at an analytical laboratory, where he developed the business acumen and managerial framework he would later leverage to excel as an agent. Over time, he found himself seeking a new opportunity that better spoke to his passion for helping others, which inspired him to pursue his real estate license. After his good friends and colleagues Katrina Amurao and Neil Bellosillo established their real estate team, they invited VJ to come aboard. In the years since, their team has grown to include 27 agents and 13 support staff, ranking as the #1 top producing real estate team in the entire Fraser Valley.

a boutique workflow around expertise, integrity, and compassion, meeting the needs of buyers and sellers alike.

When listing a property, VJ equips his clients with a comprehensive strategy. Starting out, he helps them prepare their home for the market, providing professional staging, decluttering, and junk removal services. From there, he utilizes a suite of

Today, VJ is a REALTOR® with Katrina & The Team, powered by RE/MAX 2000 Realty, where he assists clients throughout the suburbs of Vancouver and greater Fraser Valley. With their team having completed over 501 transactions in 2021 alone, he has cultivated 22

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professional resources, including photography and videography, to tell the distinct story of each home. Once the house is ready to list, he shares it over a highly targeted blend of digital and social media campaigns—all in the lead up to the standout open house showing.

But for VJ, the transaction is never over, as he provides his clients with ongoing assistance even after the deals are done, offering moving, storage, and cleaning services so they can fully focus on the transition into their new homes. Beyond that, he enjoys keeping in touch via regular client events; in fact, the team’s yearly outings to their movie events have been known to draw up to one thousand attendees between clients and their families. “For me, it’s never about the transaction,” he says. “Instead, I enjoy creating a long-term relationship with each and every client.”

Elsewhere, VJ is just as attentive when assisting his buyers, leaning on his acute knowledge of the region to uncover the right property for their best interests. Over the years, he and his team have earned a remarkable reputation throughout the Fraser Valley, with the vast majority of their volume coming from repeat clients and referrals.

Outside of real estate, VJ is thoroughly devoted to his community. To go with his team being among the Top donors to the Children’s Miracle Network, the team also contributes to local outreach projects throughout the year, from mail shredding events, to donating to local food banks or pumpkin giveaways in the fall.

Looking ahead, VJ has strong ambitions for the future of his business. As his volume continues its steady growth, he intends on deepening his relationship with his clients while expanding his market-share not only in the Fraser Valley, but also throughout the greater Vancouver area. “Our team can’t wait to grow and help more families in our region,” he says. “After all, we truly love what we do, whether we are providing thoughtful service to past or future clients in our community.”

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To learn more about VJ Oco please call (604) 512-9546, email vj@katrinaandtheteam.com, or visit katrinaandtheteam.com www.

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Welcome Home:

Working with Relocators in Transition People stage moves for all sorts of reasons.

From the joyous and pre-planned, to the unfortunate and unexpected, new chapters begin with the help of an agent. When you’re working with buyers from a different region, state, or country, the typical complications of a transaction can be compounded. So, what’s a savvy agent to do?

For starters, envision the big picture. Relocators have extra obstacles between them and 24

their dream home. They don’t necessarily know which neighborhoods are ideal for their lifestyle, what they should budget for utilities, what type of homeowner’s insurance is ideal, or how they can tour, let alone close, on a house from afar. All in all, it’s a tall order, but if you can manage a relocation transaction successfully, you could tap into a sizable pool of clientele. Think of it this way: if you’re the shining star of a relocator’s moving process, their word-of-mouth praise could be

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exponential. Likewise, a winning reputation within that client’s corporate sphere could lead to lucrative, stable referrals and partnerships for years to come. Here are a few key ways to help clients navigate the relocation process with minimal stress and maximum results.

Create a full-scale timeline for you and your client that makes expectations clear.

Moving is already one of life’s biggest stressors, but relocations have a dozen more moving parts that your average deal. Consider creating a master-plan of sorts to help you and your client visualize the steps required to achieve success in the midst of a relocation.

Even from afar, your client will be able to refer to the roadmap you’ve set. Likewise, this makes sure you and your client are on the same page regarding expectations, timelines, and checklists. Assemble an articulated, overarching gameplan also helps demystify the process and lower stress. Instead of clients wondering what’s next, what’s needed, who to call, and when to be ready—handy guidelines of your own devising will be at their fingertips.

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Attune your communication style so that nothing goes overlooked or miscommunicated.

Establish early on how your client prefers to communicate and which methods should be excluded. Also, make sure to outline what timeframes are ideal to communicate in, and how often they expect to hear from you with status updates or follow-ups. Some clients might prefer a more hands-off approach that lets you manage most details behind the scenes with updates only when progress is made. Most clients in the midst of a serious relocation, however, will prefer to be in touch more frequently. Customizing is key. If they prefer text messages and emails over calls, that’s a helpful detail to know from the outset. If they prefer face-to-face video chats or can only speak after business hours—those are also key parameters to work within. The less mystery and hassle, the better.

Be a local resource with vetted recommendations and vendors on-hand.

Relocating homeowners may not know the best neighborhoods and their amenities, or where the best school districts are, which areas are high-traffic, or where their dollar might stretch a little further. Identifying your clients’ goals can help narrow this field, but you’ll also want to be careful not to overwhelm them with information. After all, they’re taking on a huge life transition and making a move as an outsider. You’ll want to serve as a onestop-shop who can remove some steps and stress from their organizational obligations.

Have a contractor who can get a head-start on home projects while clients make the move?

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Excellent. Or, perhaps you can provide an out-of-state agent referral so that clients can sell their existing property in a timeline that works in conjunction with their new purchase. Make yourself a community expert and a connector, and you’ve won a client— and their referrals—for much longer than a single transaction.

Think outside the box when weighing variables.

Relocations aren’t your typical transaction.

You’ll need to do a bit more planning to avoid pitfalls along the way. For instance, have you considered how you’ll tour homes with clients if they live hundreds of miles away?

Are there time zone differences to factor in?

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If clients are relocating from another country, are there any special visa or naturalization considerations? How will their belongings travel? Are there pets to relocate? There are plenty of questions to ask and plan for, but the key is to be communicative and thorough up front. The more information and planning time you have, the smoother the transition will go.

There are certified real estate agent designations you can pursue that set you apart for your experience when it comes to relocations, but in lieu of those—arm yourself with the planning details and methods that will make your client a raving fan. In the process, you’ll up your game, create a happy client, and hopefully field similar business for years to come.

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SIERRA RAUBENHEIMER When Sierra Raubenheimer was growing up, her family moved frequently between Canada and the States, an early experience that piqued her interest in real estate.

“I became familiar with the process and can really relate to my clients,” Sierra says. She bought her first property while she was in university, using it as an investment and for rental income. “I saw how it was possible to grow your wealth through real estate, and I’m glad I got involved in that process when I was young,” Sierra says. “I’ve been exposed to it all my life.”

video for clients who wanted to see a house, including detailed notes about the property that took into account any potential issues. “That gave my clients a lot of confidence to move forward with the purchase,” Sierra says.

Her clients are at the center of everything Sierra does. “I always tell my clients that I’m not here to sell you a house, I’m here to help you find and purchase a house. I want to make sure my clients get the whole picture of the property, not just the good parts. I don’t like to present myself so much as a salesperson, but as a person to help you find the house that’s going to make you the happiest in the long term.”

When Sierra moved back to her hometown of Penticton in 2018, she says, “I wanted to run my own business. I was looking for a job that was challenging. I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. Real estate seemed like a good fit, and I’m loving it!”

Community involvement is important to Sierra, and she recently joined a business group called JCI that runs business development workshops in Penticton.

She has also participated in fundraising with the SPCA, and she was also involved in an organization called Uganda for Her. When she is not working or giving back, Sierra is a big Formula 1 racing fan. She also enjoys getting together with her local book club, as well as hiking with her two dogs.

Sierra’s referral business is growing steadily, a sign of the trust and confidence she inspires in her clients.

“Clients appreciate that I keep in touch with them,” Sierra explains. “Penticton is a small town, which is nice because I get to see my past clients around town.

I stop by and drop off little gifts at Christmas time, and I make sure I always keep in touch with my past clients in a really personal way.”

Looking toward the future, Sierra says she plans to grow her listing portfolio while continuing to help the buyers who have helped her become so successful. “I’m so grateful for all my clients,” Sierra says.

“I like helping my clients through the process and making it as stress-free as possible for them. I love that real estate allows me to be creative, and that every day is something new.”

Sierra’s tech savviness sets her apart. “During Covid, when people couldn’t travel and wanted to move out here, I sold a few properties just based on the videos I created,” she says. “Listing agents provided virtual walkthroughs, which was helpful but still didn’t give clients eyes on the property.” Sierra took a more individually tailored approach, creating a personal

To find out more about Sierra Raubenheimer, you can call her at 250-490-5499, or email at sierra.r@workingwithsierra.com.

You can find her online at homesforsalepenticton.ca www.

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