CANADA 5-1-23

CANADA EDITION

5 STEPS

4 QUALITIES OF

EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES

TO ACHIEVE LONG TERM SUCCESS AS A REAL ESTATE AGENT

Welcome Home: WORKING WITH RELOCATORS IN TRANSITION

INCORPORATING CHARITABLE GIVING

FEATURED AGENTS

JULIE CURRAN SANDY STINSON

IN YOUR REAL ESTATE PRACTICE

COVER STORY

ERIN E. FIELD

CANADA EDITION

JULIE CURRAN SANDY STINSON

Withjourney over two a once the sale is completed,Sandy is pro Embarking on a remarkable fromdecades of experience andthat they’re still as 7 19 23 passion forreal helping anI met Ecothem.”

REAL stay-at-home mom to a distinguished es- her clients find the home important to me as the day that tate agent, Julie’s story captivates By prioritizing her clients andreached ensuringChairm they that’s and theinspires right fit for them, Sandy Stinson all who learn of her path totruly success.

In 1999, feel valued beyond the sale, Julie hasof notFamer only stands out. She got her start doing Hall she began working in the property real estatemanagement world built a successful career but also established in Lake Cowichan in time Achievem as an assistant to a high-producing agent strong, enduring friendships.

1994, ultimately managing about 100 propestate, Sandy i and learning the ins and outs of the industry. erties. Then in 1999 Sandy started in real church in town Soon, Julie’s passion for real estate led her When it comes to marketing her listings, Julie estate, and the rest is history. she enjoys ga to pursue a career full-time. Today, she is a employs a diverse and strategic approach. She her family Realtor® with a wealth of knowledge gained believes that print advertisingwith still reaches a Two years ago, Sandy moved to Mill Bay from decades of experience. as an select target market, however, she also recogERIN E.Operating FIELD JULIE CURRAN SANDY STINSON and reinvented herself, deciding to put an emphasis on Looking the fut individual agent, Julie ensures her clients receive the pernizes the importance of social media andtoward digital markettiny homes, believesingare a sustainable andplatforms lobby for sonal touch they deserve. When clients which choose she to work in today’s market, way utilizing cate multiple andzonin serwith Julie, they can expectforward unparalleled communication vices potential Julie’s marketing efforts in housing.

“I’ve always hadtoaengage passion for per-buyers. it easier to have multiple and a dedicated one-on-one relationship theneedare supportedSandy by a virtual she utilizesw maculture, andthroughout I see a huge forfurther tiny homes,” “I assistant think aand community entire process. With her says. personable nature and can’t com- afford the aservices a professional to ensure “Young people regularofhouse, and photographer be 5 acres would bethat idea mitment to providing exceptional service, Julie has beher listings are showcased with stunning photos, videos, older people don’t need a regular house, and many of gardens, livestock, big ma CONTENTS come a successful and sought-after real estate agent who drone footage. Moreover, she continues to create custhem can’t afford it either. Tinyand homes are popular with like pools.” truly understands the value of genuine connections and tom feature sheets for all her listings, taking every opporpeople who are concerned about overconsumption of exceeding4) expectations. tunity to 5 provide clients valuable information about INCORPORATING 16) STEPS TOwith ACHIEVE natural resources. They find that it gives you an opporMore than anything, Sand the property and its surrounding community.

By blending CHARITABLEtunity GIVING INaprimarily YOUR LONG TERM SUCCESS AS strategies, to have larger lifefo-rather than justmarketing sitting inside ally love with firs Julie proudly serves the Durham Region, traditional methods with digitalworking Julie ESTATE A REAL AGENT of PRACTICE a Whitby, regular home where all ofensures your resources, money, young people there cusing onREAL Port Perry, Oshawa, and Clarington, that herESTATE listings reach a“With wide audience and targets and energy goLiving into upkeep home.” buyers. them the ins and outs of re along with parts of the Kawartha Lakes. in Porton that all potential Perry her entire life, she understands the area and its I really love the hunt of fi 20) WELCOME HOME: 13) points.

4 QUALITIES OF unique selling JulieSandy shares,serves “It’s my job to be the As a driven and ambitious professional, Julie consistently the Cowichan Valley, which she describes for someone.

If I have an WORKING WITH RELOCATORS EXCEPTIONAL EMPLOYEES local expert.

I’m very involved in the community and sets high expectations for herself, employing goal-setas “A very special, unique area. When I first came here it. I’m really good at conn IN TRANSITION enjoy volunteering at the local hospice.”

Whether she’s ting techniques and vision boards to map out her path to in the mid-1970s, it was very resource-based and the working with waterfront properties and luxury listings or success in every aspect of her life. In October 2020, she loggers only worked about six months of the year. assisting first-time buyers, she always puts her clients’ made her dream of purchasing a waterfront property on They all ended up having a side hustle, many of which needs first. With an impressive 75% of her business comLake Scugog come true and is happy to assist her clients were oriented to food and crafts. really | Faxit’s 310-734-1440 ing fromPhone referrals310-734-1440 and repeat clients, clear that her withThat finding theirappealed perfect home as well. to me.

We have huge farmer’s markets here, along with clients aremag@topagentmagazine.com impressed by her knowledge and professional | www.topagentmagazine.com music, andestate permaculture.”

Sandy also loves the Julie prioritizes her mental approach. “Last year alone,crafts, 90% of my real sales A firm believer in balance, No portion of this issue may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior consent of the publisher. Top Agent water, and she explains. hasGA, become the queen ofare waterfront realknowing came from referrals and repeat clients,” and physical well-being, that self-care is cruMagazine is published

by Feature Publications Inc.Julie Although precautions taken to ensure the accuracy of published works hard to stay withcannot herLake buyers and sellersfor cialato When not busy with real estate on Cowichan.

“Itopinions was bitherofoverall a or hidden gem by its authors. materials, Topconnected Agent Magazine be held responsible expressed factsperformance. supplied or change address, send to mag@topagentmagazine.com. even afterToasubscribe transaction has before, been completed. includes estate community involvement, Julie cherishes time but inquiry nowThis the word is out!” sheorsays.

Published in the U.S. sending out monthly e-newsletters to keep clients apprised with her kids and two grandchildren, enjoys golfing with of current market conditions and hosting special events friends, relishes moments Lake Cowichan is also home to the Hundred Houses,on Lake Scugog, and maintains throughout the year. “I want to make sure my clients know an active lifestyle through biking and yoga.

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small wartime housing from the World War II era. “The Top Agent Magazine Hundred Houses gave me a good appreciation for small To get in touch with Julie calltechnol905-449-4427 houses,” Sandy says.

“WeCurran, have so please much more

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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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ERIN E. FIELD

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Born and raised in Ottawa, Top Agent Erin E. Field works independently with RE/MAX Hallmark, serving throughout the area with a deep understanding of the different communities and resources available.

REALTOR® and Master Certified Negotiation Expert® Erin E. Field has been working in real estate since she graduated high school. Born and raised in Ottawa, she serves clients throughout the area with a deep understanding of the different communities and resources available. She’s worked with RE/MAX since the beginning of her career and recently moved over to RE/MAX Hallmark. While she’s been a part of a team in the past, Erin now does everything independently so that she can be hands-on with every client as she helps them through the complex real estate process.

Around 80-85% of Erin’s business comes from repeat and referral clients, which she attributes to her work ethic and experience. “If you put your clients first, you are skilled at what you do, and you facilitate excellent outcomes, the business just 8 Copyright Top Agent Magazine

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flows,” she says. Erin frequently collaborates with top REALTOR®s across the country to get the best deals for her clients.

She’s known for her expertise in negotiation but is always working on upskilling.

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For example, she just participated in a negotiation simulation facilitated by her business coach, Suze Cumming, that was based on the Project on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. “While a real estate

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Keeping in touch with clients is an ongoing process that goes beyond the closing table. As Erin is very active in her local community, she runs into clients all the time around town. “If I don’t see them regularly, I’ll reach out throughout the year.” transaction can be straightforward, more often than not, there are complexities that arise,” she explains. “I feel I have a responsibility to always serve my clients at the highest level.”

Keeping in touch with clients is an ongoing process that goes beyond the closing 10Copyright Top Agent Magazine

table. As Erin is very active in her local community, she runs into clients all the time around town. “If I don’t see them regularly, I reach out throughout the year to let them know that my door is open should they have any issues arise,” she says. To attract buyers to her listings, Erin employs various marketing strategies that largely Top Agent Magazine

depend on what type of property she is listing. She always works with a home stager and uses a combination of video and drone footage to capture a property’s best features.

Over the years, Erin has made a point of volunteering with charitable organizations, like the Barrhaven Food Cupboard. She also served on the parent’s council at her daughter’s school for over 6 years. In her spare time, Erin enjoys competitive sports.

She is currently on a competitive Dragon Boat team that went to the 2022 Club Crew

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World Championships in Sarasota, Florida last year and won two bronze medals.

Last year, Erin completed $15 million in sales. Now that she is at a larger brokerage, she has more tools and support to better serve her clients. She’s also preparing to get her broker’s license this year. “I’m really passionate about real estate because you get to be a part of an important moment in people’s lives,” she says. “Helping them understand all the options so they can make good decisions for their own unique situations and circumstances is incredibly rewarding.”

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To learn more about Erin E. Field, please call 613-858-9610, email erin@erinfieldhomes.ca, visit ErinFieldHomes.ca, or follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn @erinfieldhomes www.

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4 Qualities of Exceptional Employees Hiring a new employee is one of the more stressful parts of being a business owner. After all, you’re taking someone on and trusting that they’ll not only be a valuable addition to the team, but won’t do anything to hurt your business’s hard earned reputation.

Sometimes a person comes in and you click right away, and other times you might be blown away by an impressive resume. But there are things you should look for that might not be as obvious at first. Employees that have the following qualities are ones you should seek out, because they will definitely be well worth the time and energy you invest in them.

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1. They have the confidence to be innovative There’s a reason people are drawn to those who think outside the box. Not only do innovations often lead to an extremely profitable business, even when that thinking doesn’t pan out, creative thinking is something that will energize your business and will motivate more employees to start taking chances.

Innovative thinkers also usually have great leadership skills. Ironically, you want an employee who isn’t afraid to speak up to authority and is someone who knows how to bend the rules without breaking them. They know that

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the success of the team and business is what’s the success of the team and business is what’s most important, as long as it’s done ethically most important, as long as it’s done ethically and with respect for everyone involved. and with respect for everyone involved.

2.2.

They Theyare areconstantly constantly reviewing reviewingtheir theirpast past performance performance A good employee A good employeelooks looksforward, forward,but butthey they also also look back. look back.They Theyare arealways alwaysevaluating evaluating what what worked andwhat whatdidn’t didn’twork workininpast past perforperforworked and mances andthen thenadjusting adjustingtheir their plans plans going going mances and forward accordingly.IfIfthey theyare arecoming coming off off a forward accordingly. win, theyknow knowhow howtotocapitalize capitalize on on that that bigbig win, they using momentumand andcementing cementing in in evevby by using thethe momentum eryone’s mindsthe thevalue valuethat thatthey theyadd add to to the the eryone’s minds team. team.

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what

If things didn’t go as planned, they assess what they can do better next time, and they don’t they can do better next time, and they don’t get bogged down in insecurity. They take regetsponsibility bogged down insecurity.

They take that reandinthey have confidence sponsibility they confidence that they won’tand repeat pasthave mistakes.

They know they repeat past mistakes. thatwon’t failure is a temporary state, They and areknow able thattofailure is a temporary state, and are able learn lessons from their mistakes, that will to make learn lessons from employee their mistakes, will them a better going that forward. make them better employee going the forward.

While no aone wants to fail, having confiWhile notoone to fail, theone confidence trywants something andhaving fail will day let you strike gold. Someone failure dence to try something and failwho willlets one day to a dead will let shut you them strikedown, gold.leads Someone whoend letsand failure soon make themleads a dead your shut them down, to weight a deadon end andteam. will soon make them a dead weight on your team.

3. They value teamwork

3.Even They value teamwork though an exceptional employee might be a rising star, they realize that success is

Even though an exceptional employee might be 14a rising star, they realize that success is

not an individual endeavor, it relies strong-

not an individual endeavor, it relies strongly on who you’re working with. Exceptional ly on who you’re working with. Exceptional employees make sure that everyone is conemployees make sure that everyone is contributing and valued for their input. They put tributing and valued for their input. They put the interests of the company above their own, the interests of the company above their own, and thrive thriveininan anenvironment environmentwhere where ideas and ideas andand informationare areshared sharedfreely. freely. information Shared success successisisthe theultimate ultimategoal goal every Shared forfor every project.Exceptional Exceptionalemployees employees have conproject. have thethe confidence toto know knowthat thateven evenwhen whenthey’re they’re fidence notnot singled out out for forpraise, praise,they’re they’reananirreplaceirreplacesingled able able component componentofofa alarger largermachine. machine.

4. They They are areself-motivated self-motivated learners learners A expeA key key thing thingtotoremember rememberisisthat thatwhile while experience is a valuable commodity, intelligence rience is a valuable commodity, intelligence and intellectual curiosity is usually someand intellectual curiosity is usually something that can’t be taught. Yes, you might thing that can’t be taught. Yes, you might request employees get additional training or request employees get additional training or attend seminars, but exceptional employees attend seminars, exceptional employees will be seeking outbut educational opportunities will be seeking educational opportunities constantly.

Even out if they don’t have a lot of constantly.

Even if they don’t have lot of money for weekend retreats, they will bea getmoney for from weekend retreats, they will beau-getting books the library, downloading ting booksand from theimportantly, library, downloading diobooks, most taking ad-audiobooks, andtheir mostgreatest importantly, taking vantage of one resources, YOU.ad-

vantage of one their greatest resources, YOU.

Exceptional employees know that the way to stay ahead is employees to always beknow at thethat forefront of to Exceptional the way new systems. don’t see of stay technology ahead is toand always be atThey the forefront educating themselves as a burden, ac-see new technology and systems.

Theythey don’t tually enjoythemselves it. They realize everything educating as a that burden, they acthey take in, will one day make them not only tually enjoy it. They realize that everything an exceptional employee, but an exceptional they take in, will one day make them not only boss as well.

an exceptional employee, but an exceptional boss as well.

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5 Steps to Achieve Long Term Success as a Real Estate Agent Real Estate can have a reputation as an industry with a high turnover as far as agents go. Being a ‘people person’ with an entrepreneurial spirit is a great start, but what some fail to realize when starting out is that this is a business.

So if you’re in it for the long haul, you need to treat it that way. Here are some key steps you need to take to have your own successful real estate business.

1

FIND A MENTOR

Once you get your license and hang your sign at a Brokerage, you’ll find that you’re pretty much on your own. That’s why it’s a good idea for new agents to find a large Brokerage that offers in-house training and mentorship or a boutique brokerage that has more seasoned agents who are eager to take a new agent under their wing. Being able to shadow a more experienced agent is invaluable and allows you to mirror what you’ve seen and run through the numerous scenarios that will arise when you are representing a client.

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CONTINUOUS TRAINING

This is a business that is constantly changing, so it’s smart to always stay ahead of the curve when it comes to new technological innovations and systems. There are even numerous online resources, where you can keep up on your trade, such as blogs by top producing agents that are a treasure trove of information. A confident agent with an in-depth knowledge of the business is one that easily earns the trust of their client, leading to repeat and referral business, which will be the bread and butter of your business.

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BUILD A STRONG ONLINE PRESENCE

Yes, referrals are the basis of your business, but building a strong online presence and marketing yourself to new clients is also important, especially before you’ve built up a strong referral base. Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media tools are great way to get leads both for your listings and for yourself. It’s even a good idea to buy several domain names when you start, so that when you’re ready to build a website, you can ensure you have the names you want. Obviously the internet is also a great resource to find leads. Before you find a niche for yourself, it’s important to take advantage of every avenue there is. A lot of successful agents started off doing things no one else wanted to take on like foreclosures, expired listings or lower priced homes. But as you’ll find out, helping those who need it most is a great way to build a loyal client base, that will not only come back to you when they are ready to sell or buy again, but will be your biggest cheerleaders when it comes to referring you to friends and family.

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BUILD A SOLID FOUNDATION

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SET GOALS

One thing you’ll find in this business is that doing a lot of work up top, will lead to a more successful outcome down the road. That goes for marketing plans for your listings, as well as your business as a whole. It might not be the fun part, but it will allow you to one day focus on what you do best, dealing with your clients. Set up your CRM and the other systems you want to use from the get go. Getting these things established before you’re hopefully a busy agent is the best time to really learn them and decide what’s best for you.

Once you build a strong foundation and are establishing your client base, it’s important to continually set goals that help you implement your business strategy.

You can even invest in a real estate coach if you need someone to hold you accountable. It’s also important to constantly reevaluate what you’re doing. Set up a monthly audit, where you go over what is and what isn’t working. As we mentioned above, this is a fluid business and things are constantly changing, the same can be said of your business. What worked a year ago, might be losing you money as your business grows.

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Laughs!

Graham Harrop Graham Harrop Cartoons Cartoons

Putting the power of humour to work for you!

Putting the power of humour to work for you! grahamharrop.com

grahamharrop.com 18

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JULIE CURRAN Embarking on a remarkable journey from stay-at-home mom to a distinguished real estate agent, Julie’s story captivates and inspires all who learn of her path to success. In 1999, she began working in the real estate world as an assistant to a high-producing agent and learning the ins and outs of the industry.

Soon, Julie’s passion for real estate led her to pursue a career full-time. Today, she is a Realtor® with a wealth of knowledge gained from decades of experience. Operating as an individual agent, Julie ensures her clients receive the personal touch they deserve. When clients choose to work with Julie, they can expect unparalleled communication and a dedicated one-on-one relationship throughout the entire process. With her personable nature and commitment to providing exceptional service, Julie has become a successful and sought-after real estate agent who truly understands the value of genuine connections and exceeding expectations.

Julie proudly serves the Durham Region, primarily focusing on Port Perry, Oshawa, Whitby, and Clarington, along with parts of the Kawartha Lakes. Living in Port Perry her entire life, she understands the area and its unique selling points. Julie shares, “It’s my job to be the local expert. I’m very involved in the community and enjoy volunteering at the local hospice.” Whether she’s working with waterfront properties and luxury listings or assisting first-time buyers, she always puts her clients’ needs first. With an impressive 75% of her business coming from referrals and repeat clients, it’s clear that her clients are impressed by her knowledge and professional approach. “Last year alone, 90% of my real estate sales came from referrals and repeat clients,” she explains. Julie works hard to stay connected with her buyers and sellers even after a transaction has been completed. This includes sending out monthly e-newsletters to keep clients apprised of current market conditions and hosting special events throughout the year. “I want to make sure my clients know

that once the sale is completed, they’re still as important to me as the day that I met them.”

By prioritizing her clients and ensuring they feel valued beyond the sale, Julie has not only built a successful career but also established strong, enduring friendships.

When it comes to marketing her listings, Julie employs a diverse and strategic approach. She believes that print advertising still reaches a select target market, however, she also recognizes the importance of social media and digital marketing in today’s market, utilizing multiple platforms and services to engage potential buyers. Julie’s marketing efforts are further supported by a virtual assistant and she utilizes the services of a professional photographer to ensure that her listings are showcased with stunning photos, videos, and drone footage. Moreover, she continues to create custom feature sheets for all her listings, taking every opportunity to provide clients with valuable information about the property and its surrounding community. By blending traditional marketing methods with digital strategies, Julie ensures that her listings reach a wide audience and targets all potential buyers.

As a driven and ambitious professional, Julie consistently sets high expectations for herself, employing goal-setting techniques and vision boards to map out her path to success in every aspect of her life. In October 2020, she made her dream of purchasing a waterfront property on Lake Scugog come true and is happy to assist her clients with finding their perfect home as well.

A firm believer in balance, Julie prioritizes her mental and physical well-being, knowing that self-care is crucial to her overall performance. When not busy with real estate or community involvement, Julie cherishes time with her kids and two grandchildren, enjoys golfing with friends, relishes moments on Lake Scugog, and maintains an active lifestyle through biking and yoga.

To get in touch with Julie Curran, please call 905-449-4427 or email julie@movingwithjulie.com Top Agent Magazine

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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 20

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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SANDY STINSON With over two decades of experience and a passion for helping her clients find the home that’s the right fit for them, Sandy Stinson truly stands out. She got her start doing property management in Lake Cowichan in 1994, ultimately managing about 100 properties. Then in 1999 Sandy started in real estate, and the rest is history.

Two years ago, Sandy moved to Mill Bay and reinvented herself, deciding to put an emphasis on tiny homes, which she believes are a sustainable way forward in housing. “I’ve always had a passion for permaculture, and I see a huge need for tiny homes,” Sandy says. “Young people can’t afford a regular house, and older people don’t need a regular house, and many of them can’t afford it either. Tiny homes are popular with people who are concerned about overconsumption of natural resources. They find that it gives you an opportunity to have a larger life rather than just sitting inside of a regular home where all of your resources, money, and energy go into upkeep on that home.”

Sandy serves the Cowichan Valley, which she describes as “A very special, unique area. When I first came here in the mid-1970s, it was very resource-based and the loggers only worked about six months of the year.

They all ended up having a side hustle, many of which were oriented to food and crafts. That really appealed to me. We have huge farmer’s markets here, along with crafts, music, and permaculture.” Sandy also loves the water, and she has become the queen of waterfront real estate on Lake Cowichan. “It was a bit of a hidden gem before, but now the word is out!” she says.

Lake Cowichan is also home to the Hundred Houses, small wartime housing from the World War II era. “The Hundred Houses gave me a good appreciation for small houses,” Sandy says. “We have so much more technology these days to make tiny home living comfortable.

We know how to make multi-use furniture, moving walls, and more. Slowly, governments are also getting on board, making it easier to live off grid.”

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Sandy is proud of her designation as an Eco REALTOR®, as well as having reached Chairman’s Club status. She is a Hall of Famer and has received the Lifetime Achievement award. Outside of real estate, Sandy is the People’s Warden at the church in town. When she’s not working, she enjoys gardening and spending time with her family.

Looking toward the future, Sandy hopes to advocate and lobby for zoning changes that would make it easier to have multiple small houses on a property.

“I think a community with 6 to 12 houses on maybe 5 acres would be ideal,” she says. “You can share gardens, livestock, big machinery, and even fun things like pools.”

More than anything, Sandy loves helping people. “I really love working with first-time homebuyers,” she says.

“With young people there’s a special aspect of teaching them the ins and outs of real estate that I find rewarding.

I really love the hunt of finding the house that’s right for someone. If I have any superpower, that would be it. I’m really good at connecting people and homes.”

To find out more about Sandy Stinson, please call (250) 710-0040 email sandy@sandystinson.com or visit sandystinson.com/ www.

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