CANADA 10-4-21

CANADA EDITION

THINKING OF LISTING? NINE WAYS TO GET READY

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TIPS TO MAKE NEW HIRES A LONG-LASTING SUCCESS FEATURED AGENTS

BEN SWEET AUDREY BAILEY RAKESH SAINI

4 WAYS TO WIN THE BATTLE AGAINST PROCRASTINATION COVER STORY

LORRAINE MONDELLO RECONSIDER REFERRAL-ONLY

When Planning For The Future

CANADA EDITION

AUDREY BAILEY

RAKESH SAINI

ar in the business, AudreyRakesh 17 active buy Saini brings knowledge, creRake 7 22 25 ativity, professionalism, and a mortgage estat ident in what she has tobackground to the business of real estate.

Instagram estat years of personal investing allow and ents. Her prior backgroundHis virtual gui him to connect with each client and That or home builders has givenfully understand their feelings and needs it’s beenclien a during this important time in their lives. mak able edge in the industry,Rakesh helps facilitate transactions it seemsthat’ lik British Columbia, specifiabou or interior decorating helpsthroughout on their ow cally focusing on Surrey and Langley. he sa any house into a home. creativeques an With a high standard of service, Rakesh I go LORRAINE MONDELLO BEN SWEET AUDREY BAILEY RAKESH SAINI a boutique size team ofhas been able to build many long lastgive ourgive cl relationships in the business. “Approximately and help them un serves the Burlington anding 80% to 90% of my business comes from repeat and referral clients,” he explains. His approach to build- Outside When he’s not o w in Ontario, Canada.

CONTENTS ing a successful network of repeat and referral clients to causes that ar Team Lorraine Mondello is tuned in to the Caledon, Ontario consists of honesty and good listening skills. When be ities involve he is most area—in 2019, they were ranked #1 by office, and Lorraine working with Rakesh, clients can rest assured that Red Cross and W RECONSIDER was ranked # 28 in all of Canada in Bolton.20) 4 WAYS TO WIN s herself her 4) large network oftheirandbest#1interests promote are being considered every step to he likes to read u REFERRAL-ONLY WHEN THE BATTLE AGAINST of themarket way.area “My clients are always happy with the chess, billiards, a 32 years ago, Lorraine Mondello left her service, extensive knowledge, erral business to theandhigh board of t FOR FUTURE PROCRASTINATION job at a law PLANNING firm to pursue a career in real THE effective communication, led BEN SWEET level of servicesheI has provide, and they trust me to guide estate. Her Realtor at the time noted that her team towards the top of their class in through this complex process and help them Going forward, that provides. note the level Estate Association, and R she had she a lot of knowledge about homes“Clients - Caledon - inthem 2019, they were ranked #1 by theirwas goals.

I’m upfront with OF them, and business. “I’d lik Lorraine was14) drawn to industry,TO got herMAKE office, and achieve Lorraine herself ranked # very 5theTIPS 23) THINKING license, and set to work guiding her com28 in all of Canada and #1 in Bolton. lism that our team gives. they Wecanprovide aon my honesty. she volunteers lo always count I’mWAYS not just to at help the more peo NEW HIRES AtheLONGLISTING? NINE munity in Caledon, Ontario through tryingMondello to makegoes a sale; I’mGET genuinely trying to figure their properties fo challenging LASTING process of buying SUCCESS and selling Team Lorraine above TO READY vice to our buyers and sellers.

We have a busy mom to three ki homes. Lorraine started her own team two and beyondout the whether call of dutythe to guide cli- we’re looking at is the right property years ago, and through excellent customer ents towards the for decisions thatIfwill most them. they mention wanting to do renovaness on creating a familyone environment spending quality family t tions, I get an estimate on how much it’s going to cost and We advise don’t them whether renovating buying will be wise. using on only one transaction. something ar Of course, the final decision is always in their hands, Phone 310-734-1440 | Fax 310-734-1440 transaction and disappear.

Ourappreciate clients time, loves yoga and but people when they can see she that you’re mag@topagentmagazine.com | www.topagentmagazine.com being straightforward and telling them the good as keep in touch them, which I bad.” think is prior consent of the publisher.Top Agent Magazine No portion ofwith this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without well as the is published by Feature Publications GA, Inc. Although precautions are taken to ensure the accuracy of published materials, Top Agent Magazine cannot be held responsible for opinions or facts supplied Going by its authors. forward, Audrey cess in our industry.

We keep ourexpressed clients To subscribe or change address, send inquiry to mag@topagentmagazine.com.

An important key to Rakesh’s success is his online Published conditions, in the U.S. the market with customized provide the best quality marketing strategy. “Social media is key to marketing nowadays, so I definitely put an emphasis on that. My nd do all kinds of fun events throughout expands her business.

“B To learn favorite platform for marketing is Facebook.” Thanks 2 Top Magazine email re his work ethic, he is on pace toworld, complete around 30Agent w them our appreciation.” totransactions I want to explore this year.

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visit rakeshsa www.

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Reconsider Referral-Only When Planning for the Future

A 100% referral rate is a testament of client happiness. But even a 30% referral rate is proof of client satisfaction. It’s all relative, say some agents. One number pays tribute to past success, which is certainly a story worth telling. But the other might better predict the future. Many agents plan for the idea that 4

working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector.

Unless you are clairvoyant enough to flawlessly predict every market change or every

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Many agents plan for the idea that working only on referral may not be sufficient during slower times of the year, in a down market, or when an agent needs to expanding into a new sector. life change that your clients and referral partners may experience, it’s wise to maintain an active marketing presence. The reasons vary, however, depending on the goals and trajectory of each individual’s business.

If long-term success, a growing team, a legacy or expansion into new areas are not priorities, then working a sphere of influence may be enough for some agents, especially those who may be in the industry mostly for the love of the business. But for a majority of agents, no matter how much they love their work, their real estate and mortgage businesses are careers, first and foremost.

Let’s start with the team-builders and mentors. Agents and brokers who are building teams are wise to invest in business marketing, advertising and community outreach. Ty Hutchins, who owns and operates Ty & Company Real Estate in Colorado’s Front Range, says that, while she could personally live off referrals alone, her goal is to build up her agents. “I do the marketing piece for my team, so I can help them succeed,” she says. That marketing includes running commercials on TV and in movies theatres, as well as lead generation that identifies potential buyers, sellers and Top Agent Magazine

investors between the Colorado Springs and Denver markets. Her team’s goal, she adds, is to promote their reputation of being honest, hardworking professionals with the reach of a major brand but the personalized approach of a boutique.

Then there are the growers. Khrista Jarvis and Nicole Jung of The Khrista Jarvis Team in the San Francisco Bay Area, are on a considerable growth track. “We’re the #1 team in our area and the top team in Compass Real Estate nationally,” explains Khrista. While high marks for service on behalf of their clients have led them to these heights, they know that they must continue to evolve and market their brand. “We do a good deal of social media marketing for our listings and for our business,” she says. Their names, therefore, are frequently linked to sentiments of trust, dependability and market knowledge, both in their marketing and in their reviews.

Next, there are those who weathered the worst of times. Susan Roche entered real estate sales in 2003, following several years of property management in North Carolina.

The key to her sustained triumphs through major market swings lies in her long-range planning. “If the market starts to dip or fall,

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I have safety nets in place,” says Susan Roche, team leader of Simply Real Estate, based in Charlotte. “When it’s a seller’s market, I still plan for a buyer’s market and when it’s a buyer’s market I plan for a seller’s market..” In other words, no matter how comfortable her existing work may feel, she networks consistently. She also employs a full-time marketing director who leads several projects including ongoing research, events and social media exposure in addition to listings marketing. By staying ahead of market changes, Susan knows she can unfailingly represent her clients’ best interests while still maintaining a safety net for her business.

Even professionals with more than three decades’ experience and deep referral networks know the importance of business

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marketing. Cathy Richards, co-owner with Nancy Dalaska of Epic-Wasatch Homes in Park City, UT, entered real estate in 1987 and still draws at least a fifth of her business from lead generation, social media marketing and community outreach. Her business partner, Nancy, adds that real estate is about much more than their own business. “We love collaborating and brainstorming with other agents to help them prosper,” says Nancy. “We believe the healthier the market, the better we all are.”

Regardless of market conditions, even the best reputation can’t guarantee long-term success. To sustain and grow, it’s wise to feed your business by increasing exposure, remaining flexible and maintaining systems for customer service, networking, research, marketing and lead-generation.

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LORRAINE MONDELLO

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Team Lorraine Mondello is tuned in to the Caledon, Ontario area—in 2019, they were ranked #1 by office, and Lorraine herself was ranked # 28 in all of Canada and #1 in Bolton.

32 years ago, Lorraine Mondello left her job at a law firm to pursue a career in real estate. Her Realtor at the time noted that she had a lot of knowledge about homes Lorraine was drawn to the industry, got her license, and set to work guiding her community in Caledon, Ontario through the challenging process of buying and selling homes. Lorraine started her own team two years ago, and through excellent customer 8Copyright Top Agent Magazine

service, extensive market area knowledge, and effective communication, she has led her team towards the top of their class in Caledon - in 2019, they were ranked #1 by office, and Lorraine herself was ranked # 28 in all of Canada and #1 in Bolton.

Team Lorraine Mondello goes above and beyond the call of duty to guide clients towards the decisions that will most Top Agent Magazine

benefit themselves and their families.

They are tuned in to the Caledon area where they conduct most of their business - as a primarily rural area, it takes time to fully understand the land, and Top Agent Magazine

patience is incredibly important when navigating transactions with clients. “Our ability to properly direct clients and keep them informed throughout the transaction process is second to none,” Lorraine Copyright Top Agent Magazine9

With more than three decades in the business, Lorraine has an established name and brand, and is able to reach a wide audience of prospective buyers, closing 50-60 transactions per year on average.

Mondello. “We are a team of experienced professionals who love to help people get to the next phase of their life.”

When it comes to communication, Lorraine takes pride in her ability to maintain a persistent line of contact with each client while keeping herself available to field any questions that might come up during the transaction. “I make a point of getting to know my clients and their specific needs, Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

and I never want to leave anyone in the dark,” she says. Because of her consistently exceptional customer service, Lorraine has built an expansive network of past clients, and gets 70% of her business from repeats and referrals.

Lorraine works on a lot of listings and takes her marketing very seriously. She has a full-time in-house social media expert who ensures that listings reach a Top Agent Magazine

vast range of people, and she also markets locally through billboards, magazines, and postcards. With more than three decades in the business, Lorraine has an established name and brand, and is able to reach a wide audience of prospective buyers. She closes 50-60 transactions per year on average, and looks forward to bringing her brand of Top Agent Magazine

personalized service to even more clients in the future.

In her free time, Lorraine loves to cook - in fact, she has a culinary degree and thought she might become a chef until she fell in love with real estate! She is heavily involved with her community, serving as a Copyright Top Agent Magazine 11

member of the local Chamber of Commerce and Luxury Institute of Marketing. She also sponsors many children each year for Christmas, buying toys, boots, and cold weather clothing for them while providing meals for their families. Lorraine takes pride

in giving back to her clients and her community. Her slogan is “Let me show you how my Proven Home Marketing System gets you Top Dollar every time!” and she does everything in her power to make that a reality.

You can contact Lorraine at (647) 922-5309, teamlorrainemondello@gmail.com, or visit teamlorrainemondello.com for more information www.

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5 Tips to Make New Hires

a Long-lasting Success Bringing a new employee into the mix is process commonly known as onboarding. The idea behind onboarding is to make the transition from new hire to team member as efficient and pain-free as possible. However, polling shows that some 31% of entry-level and intermediate level hires leave their new posts within just six months of starting. The question is: why?

The hiring and training process is time-intensive and doesn’t come cheap. This means that making 14

a good match for the long haul requires more than just assessments of skill and personality. To ensure a talented new hire sticks around and is truly positioned for success, the onboarding process must be executed with the same care applied during hiring. For a few ideas on how to make the most of the onboarding process, consider the tenets below as you guide your new hire toward long-lasting success within your company.

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1. Be honest about the scope of the role

2. Build in some perks

Let’s say you’re looking to add a new buyers agent or loan processor to your team. You write up the position’s responsibilities, but neglect to mention that you want the new hire to handle a host of administrative tasks, as well. Maybe it doesn’t seem important enough to outline in detail, as it’s the sort of thing the rest of your does. Miscommunications like these are a leading reason why new hires leave their roles.

If there isn’t clarity and transparency about a position’s true responsibilities, then new hires may become quickly disillusioned and seek out greener pastures.

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While stocking the breakroom with bagels every Friday may seem like a small gesture, it’s often those little morale-boosting moves that build loyalty and comradery among the team. Bike-to-work incentives, subsidized gym memberships, and benefits that match the needs of your employees—all are ways to demonstrate appreciation and investment in your team.

Likewise, the right candidate will return the favor and invest his or her energies into their new role.

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3. Get a sense of big-picture career plans

4. Keep the lines of communication open

Another reason new hires move on may have nothing to do with you or your office. In fact, many hires in entry-level or even intermediate roles have doubts about their long-term vision.

That’s why it’s important to be upfront from the beginning regarding a candidate’s five-year plan and ultimate dream job. Maintain realistic expectations when asking these questions, but use it as an opportunity to gage a candidate’s seriousness about the real estate or mortgage industry. Why this line of work over another?

Emphasizing industry longevity and career growth during the interview process can save you drama down the road.

Take a proactive approach in communicating with your new hire. Take time to check in regularly during the first six months of his or her addition. If you can, make time to train new hires yourself—if only for a part of the onboarding process. You’ll forge a deeper professional bond and create an avenue for further questions. All in all, make it clear that you’re personally invested in their presence and talents, and that you care what they have to say. That way, if any issues or doubts arise, you can stay on top of it and work out a solution, rather than lose a new employee.

5. Give new hires meaningful work to do It’s natural to keep the kid-gloves on with new hires, but don’t let that stop you from giving them a chance to shine. New team members will feel empowered and motivated if given meaningful projects to focus on. Don’t relegate their daily duties to busy work as they build experience.

Instead, task new teammates with something challenging, or that draws on a specific skill you hired them for. You’ll instill confidence, demonstrate your commitment to their growth, and with any luck—keep them around for the long haul.

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BEN SWEET Top Agent Magazine

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BEN SWEET

After spending some time as a young man working in the service industry, Ben Sweet started his real estate career 19 years ago, when he was 27. Now, Ben has been growing his own real estate Team in Calgary and has experienced significant growth in the past few years. While maintaining his own high level of production, Ben has begun to carve a new role as a mentor to the agents on his Team, and through his knowledge and expertise, is fully capable of both providing excellent coaching to his Realtors and phenomenal service to his long list of clients.

focus is really on building a long-term relationship with our clients, we never focus on getting the sale done as quickly as possible,” Ben says.

“We teach all our clients to make decisions during the transaction based on the long-term outlook, and it seems as though clients really take notice of that aspect of our service.” The team’s compassion and attention to detail are major contributing factors to the continued success and growth of the business.

For the last couple of years, Ben’s focus has been on growth in many areas. He has put a lot of resources into pushing his Team’s service to the highest level of quality possible - their hundreds of glowing testimonials speak for themselves, and through a robust marketing strategy, the Team’s business has grown meteorically since its inception. “We really care about ensuring our clients get what they need, and the 18

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With the level of expertise Ben and his partners have, they are more than capable of ensuring a transaction runs as smoothly as it possibly can. The team enjoys using efficient systems to make the transaction run seamlessly, and they are experienced enough to anticipate and avoid pitfalls before they come to light. With the diversity of experiences that the different combinations and permutations in a transaction can offer, the team really relishes the challenge of trying to get the most perfect outcome they can each time for their clients.

In order to maintain the Team’s growth trajectory, they employ a wide array of marketing strategies. They maintain a large social media presence, including paid advertising, and can continually grow their sphere of influence through that and other mediums.

Additionally, they use a great deal of signage and open houses to ensure their listings are offered maximum exposure to local prospective buyers. The Team closed over 70 transactions last year, have already exceeded 100 this year, and are looking at finishing 150-160 by the end of 2021.

In his free time, Ben loves spending time in the mountains with his family, hiking, skiing, climbing and mountain biking. Ben and the team donate to a number of charitable organizations, and Ben himself has routinely made sizable donations to the Children’s Foundation through RE/MAX over the past 15 years. For the future of the business, they hope to continue growing the Team to include around 10 to 12 agents. Then focus more around coaching and mentoring the team to help them truly excel. If you’re looking for a Realtor in Calgary with killer experience, a long list of happy clients and an eye for detail, and a strong work ethic, get in touch with Ben and the team today!

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You can contact Ben and the team by calling (403) 774-7447 or email allcalgarylistings@gmail.com Copyright Top Agent Magazine 19

4 Ways to Win the Battle Against Procrastination One of the most common professional afflictions is procrastination. The funny thing is, everyone knows that procrastination is negative—it’s a waste of time, a creator of stress, and is entirely a problem of our own making.

Still, knowing all of this doesn’t necessarily decrease our odds of procrastination. There are plenty of explanations we give when putting 20

work off until the last minute. Perhaps you convince yourself that you work best under pressure, but it’s truer that you’re used to working under pressure by necessity. Maybe you’re a perfectionist and the fear of getting it all wrong puts you off from the task. Whatever the justification may be, overcoming procrastination requires some willpower and technique. With

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that in mind, take a look at a few tricks below to jumpstart your motivation and nix the lastminute time crunch. After all, you owe it to yourself and your business to operate like a procrastination-free professional.

1. Make Your Intentions Known As realtors and mortgage professionals, you may serve as your own boss. So, when the time comes to complete a task and you put it off—perhaps you’re only disappointing yourself. This is easily remedied by making a new promise to try again tomorrow. On the other hand, it’s much harder to break promises and commitments to others. Try verbalizing your intent and commitment to your team, or to an assistant who can hold you accountable, or better yet—to a business partner or to a client.

Make a hard deadline public and you’re likely to perform for fear of embarrassment or losing face. In a way, this puts the pressure of expectation on you, instead of the pressure of the ticking clock.

2. Take a Baby Step When tasks pile up, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. If you’ve got a number of items on your to-do list, including some heavy hitters that require a lot of attention and time, begin by taking on something simple. Identify an easily completed job that needs attention and put it first in your queue. Duties that are straightforward and aren’t time-intensive can lead you to the rest of your to-do list, fueling you with the satisfaction of a task already complete. Even if it’s as small as returning e-mails, or dropping off your dry-cleaning, one simple thing off your Top Agent Magazine

list can inspire you to continue on to the next item in the spirit of productivity.

3. Work in Windows If work is the last thing you want to do and you can’t seem to self-motivate, make a compromise with yourself. Agree to work just fifteen minutes, and mean it. This tiny window of time is easy enough to complete, isn’t overwhelming, and you’ve already agreed to move on once time is up. The truth? Odds are that just fifteen minutes of active work will inspire you to keep going. After all, the most difficult part of procrastination is getting started. By putting in those fifteen minutes, you’ll trick yourself into diving into the action.

4. Switch Up Your Environment If you’re stuck in rut when it comes to procrastination and productivity, try changing your surroundings. If the office feels stale and stressful, take your work to the nearest coffee shop and try to tackle your tasks there. Perhaps the quiet, studious ambiance of a library can make you focus, or a picnic table outside the office can stimulate the senses. Sometimes changing your scenery can breathe new life into your routine and give you the extra push you need to get work done.

There’s no one way to overcome procrastination.

In fact, it’s likely a lifelong process of building discipline, finding techniques that work for you, and simply prioritizing your time more effectively. Don’t lose hope—remember these tricks and winning the war will be possible, even if you lose a few battles along the way.

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AUDREY BAILEY On her 10th year in the business, Audrey Bailey is confident in what she has to offer to her clients. Her prior background in marketing for home builders has given her an undeniable edge in the industry, and her love for interior decorating helps her transform any house into a home.

Working with a boutique size team of four, Audrey serves the Burlington and Hamilton areas in Ontario, Canada.

Audrey credits her large network of repeat and referral business to the high level of service that she provides. “Clients note the level of professionalism that our team gives. We provide a customized service to our buyers and sellers. We have built our business on creating a family environment rather than focusing on only one transaction. We don’t just finish the transaction and disappear. Our clients value that we keep in touch with them, which I think is the key to success in our industry. We keep our clients up to date with the market conditions, with customized sales reports, and do all kinds of fun events throughout the year to show them our appreciation.”

With a true passion for interior decorating, Audrey is always happy to provide clients with her expertise and help them stage the home they’re selling as well as style the home they move into. “When I started out, I would stage a home and then my clients would jokingly say, ‘I wish I didn’t have to sell my house, I love it this way!’

So now I’ve incorporated my staging services as part of what I do for my clients when they move into their new home. I’ll go in and give them a styling consultation on what they could do to best suit their lifestyle and their space.”

Averaging around 15 to 20 transactions per year, Audrey puts a lot of emphasis on her marketing strategy. “We internally call it our ‘3P’ strategy: Prepare, Price, and Promote. We utilize everything from our staging, professional photography, videos, to communicating with our large network of fellow REALTORS®, pool of 22

active buyers, social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, YouTube, and virtual guided video tours. In the last year, it’s been a very strong seller’s market and it seems like things have just been selling on their own. But we always try to remain creative and think outside of the box to give our clients top results.”

Outside of work, Audrey finds time to be involved in her community. She loves to promote small businesses, sits on the board of the Burlington Hamilton Real Estate Association, and as a bilingual French speaker, she volunteers at the local French school. She’s also a busy mom to three kids. “My husband and I value spending quality family time together, and we’re always renovating something around our house.” In her spare time, she loves yoga and cooking!

Going forward, Audrey is focused on continuing to provide the best quality service for her clients as she expands her business. “Because I came from the builder world, I want to explore that a little bit more in the next few years and do more new home sales. My goal is to bridge the gap between the REALTOR® and the builder.”

To learn more about Audrey Bailey please call (905) 467–2120, email audreyandhomes@gmail.com, visit audreybailey.com www.

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Thinking of Listing?

Nine Ways to Get Ready The less time a home spends on the market, the more likely it is to sell at or above list price. That’s why our Top Agents recommend getting a property ready for marketing well before listing. Anyone who is even just starting to think about listing will benefit from some basic upkeep and pre-staging work. Even if you decide now is not the time to list, you’ll enjoy these simple improvements around the home.

With the right local resources, most pre-listing preparations take less than a week and will make the formal staging process simpler for all involved.

Ask Top Agents in your area for referrals of local pros to hire. Once you’ve selected your Top Agent, keep yourself open to his or her opinion on other TLC to help decrease your home’s market time.

1. Inspection: The last thing a seller or buyer wants is a surprise at

inspection. That’s why a complete inspection before listing is so valuable.

Many necessary fixes, such as minor roof or appliance repairs, can be discovered and repaired in less than a week. If inspection uncovers a major issue, any Top Agent will tell you that this knowledge is power; disclosing and expecting to take responsibility will increase buyers’ trust without affecting market time.

2. De-Clutter: Take a little time to pack away surplus furniture items and

extra knick-knacks, papers, books or occasional-use items throughout your house. Remember this may require boxing away video game supplies or packing up comfy throw pillows and blankets. Move these items temporarily into closets, the garage or attic with the assumption of possibly renting a storage unit just before listing.

3. Paint: Whole-house painting is likely not necessary, but consider touching

up baseboard moldings and doorways and open wall spaces in high-use areas Top Agent Magazine

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such as bathrooms, the office, family room and indoor recreation spaces.

Also consider a little varnish on the front door or banister.

4. Artwork and Decor: Take a neutral look at your décor. Better yet, ask a

Top Agent to do so. Buyers should be able to picture themselves living in your home. While your Top Agent may not advise you to appear generic, you’ll likely need to thin out any shrine-like displays to family, hobbies or cultural interests.

5. Deep-Clean Housekeeping: After you’ve de-cluttered and touched up

the paint, request a deep cleaning from your housekeeping service and weekly cleanings thereafter. Make sure they pay attention to details like dusting or vacuuming window treatments and lampshades or wiping smudges off door jams and baseboard moldings.

6. Carpets and Rugs: Bring in the pros, but don’t just clean the carpets.

Because the cleaners will be moving furniture anyway, ask them stretch and tighten any buckled areas of carpeting. Doing so now saves the trouble of having to credit your buyer for this following final walk-through. Also consider removing small area rugs to let the beauty of your hardwood floors shine.

7. Look at the Loo: Buyers may not notice a brand-new toilet seat, but they

will turn up their noses at the one with the broken hinges. Freshly replaced toilet seats, faucets or doorknobs in heavily trafficked bathrooms can go a long way in first impressions.

8. “Mow & Blow”: Consider buyers as guests you want to feel welcome

as they ascend the front walk. If you don’t already have one, hire a weekly gardening service to keep up with the mowing, weeding, pruning and basic maintenance outside so you can focus on other things.

9. Staging: Once you’ve selected a staging professional for the finishing

touches, ask them and your Top Agent for final recommendations on day-today upkeep, storage options and what-to-do (or what not to do) while your house is on the market.

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RAKESH SAINI Rakesh Saini brings knowledge, creativity, professionalism, and a mortgage background to the business of real estate.

His years of personal investing allow him to connect with each client and fully understand their feelings and needs during this important time in their lives.

Rakesh helps facilitate transactions throughout British Columbia, specifically focusing on Surrey and Langley.

With a high standard of service, Rakesh has been able to build many long lasting relationships in the business. “Approximately 80% to 90% of my business comes from repeat and referral clients,” he explains. His approach to building a successful network of repeat and referral clients consists of honesty and good listening skills. When working with Rakesh, clients can rest assured that their best interests are being considered every step of the way. “My clients are always happy with the level of service I provide, and they trust me to guide them through this complex process and help them achieve their goals. I’m very upfront with them, and they can always count on my honesty. I’m not just trying to make a sale; I’m genuinely trying to figure out whether the property we’re looking at is the right one for them. If they mention wanting to do renovations, I get an estimate on how much it’s going to cost and advise them whether buying will be wise.

Of course, the final decision is always in their hands, but people appreciate when they can see that you’re being straightforward and telling them the good as well as the bad.”

An important key to Rakesh’s success is his online marketing strategy. “Social media is key to marketing nowadays, so I definitely put an emphasis on that. My favorite platform for marketing is Facebook.” Thanks to his work ethic, he is on pace to complete around 30 transactions this year.

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Rakesh’s favorite part about his real estate work is getting to help others. “Real estate can seem like a very complicated and stressful process to many people.

That’s why I really enjoy educating my clients throughout the transaction and making sure they understand everything that’s taking place, and feel confident about the decisions they’re making,” he says, and adds, “If a client asks me a question that I don’t know the answer to, I go and find out. My goal is to always give maximum information to the client and help them understand every step of this journey.”

When he’s not working, Rakesh finds time to donate to causes that are important to him. The two charities he is most passionate about are the Canadian Red Cross and World Wildlife fund. In his free time, he likes to read up on the international market, play chess, billiards, and cricket.

Going forward, Rakesh is focused on expanding his business. “I’d like to form a team so that I’m able to help more people find their dream homes and sell their properties for top price.”

To learn more about Rakesh Saini email realtorwithyou@gmail.com, visit rakeshsaini.ca, or call (778) 882–5851 www.

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