TORONTO 1-9-23

TORONTO EDITION

Playing the Real Estate Matchmaker

If it’s Good for the Soul,

IT’S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS

THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD: How to List High When Neighbors Are a Nuisance

FEATURED AGENTS

DAWNA BORG JACKIE MAZZE & KRISTIN FLYNN JOE TRIUMBARI SHELLY WILLIAMSON COVER STORY

JOHN REHMAN

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

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There Goes the Neighborhood:

How to List High When Neighbors are a Nuisance Troublesome neighbors are a relatively common issue that agents come across. You can control the image of your client’s property and you can control your listing presentation, but you can’t always control what’s happening on your client’s street. How do you diffuse difficult neighbors that could lower your bottom line or embarrass you in front of prospective buyers?

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First of all, it takes tact and a gameplan. With that in mind, let’s consider a few ways you can maintain a listing’s viability and competitive edge—even when bothersome neighbors are involved. Here are a few common neighborly scenarios agents encounter and how to diffuse them to your advantage.

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How do you diffuse difficult neighbors that could lower your bottom line or embarrass you in front of prospective buyers? It takes tact and a gameplan.

as a courtesy introduction to the neighborhood.

While it may seem like needless busy work, it can dramatically improve prospective buyers’ perceptions of the area. Plus, you may positively ingratiate yourself with neighbors in the area and demonstrate your above-and-beyond service to your clientele in the process.

Is the neighbor’s landscaping an eyesore?

Here’s your recourse.

Most towns and cities have established ordinances regarding yard upkeep. If any of the properties adjacent to your listing are wildly overgrown, littered with junk, or otherwise in a state of obvious disrepair—take it up with the city. Rather than get directly involved at first glance, you might loop in city officials whose job it is to monitor clean-up efforts on rundown yards and properties. If this doesn’t work, you may have to take a more hands-on approach.

Start by thinking small and operating from a place of authenticity and neighborly service.

You might explain to the neighboring tenant that you’re listing and offer to mow their lawn Top Agent Magazine

Are there foreclosed or abandoned homes on your client’s block?

Do your homework.

It may take a little research and digging to figure out the banking entity that owns a foreclosed home, but it’s well worth the effort. Banks are typically required to maintain foreclosed homes on at least a basic level. If you’re worried about

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squatters, an unsightly façade, or general disrepair of a neighboring foreclosed property—go to the source. Sometimes banks take their time in hiring a third party to maintain a foreclosed property, but with some proactive prodding on your part, you may be able to speed the process along and resolve eyesores even before prospective buyers come calling. Remember: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. An improved bottom line will be your reward for those few prodding phone calls and emails.

Noisy, nosy, or annoying neighbors?

Don’t be discouraged.

Obnoxious neighbors can really rain on a seller’s parade, especially the kind of neighbor 6

that takes their less-than-stellar behavior to their porch, front yard, or sidewalk. While this sensitive issue may seem daunting, there are a few official channels you can utilize to thwart the issue before getting personally involved. If the neighborhood in question is governed by an HOA, you might take it up with them. If the troublesome neighbor is harassing passersby or taking to the sidewalk—in other words, public space—then you may be able to involve local authorities in worst-case scenarios. Of course, it’s always possible to talk to troublesome neighbors faceto-face, but do so with caution and with safety as the priority. Always reason gently and empathetically, utilizing I... phrasing, instead of accusatory You... phrasing. After all, some neighbors are clueless about their impact on the neighborhood and may adjust their behavior after being called out. If the issue persists and no third-party authority can help, then you may have to disclose the neighbor’s issues to prospective buyers, depending on the disclosure laws in your region. While this may seem like a blow, you can at least rest easy knowing you pursued all the potential avenues for resolution available. Likewise, your client will likely appreciate your thorough efforts to resolve the issue.

While troublesome neighborhoods can bring down an optimistic mood when listing a property, sometimes being real estate is all about being resourceful. With diligence, digging, and a little follow-up, you just may be able to resolve some of the issues plaguing your neighborly plot.

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JOHN REHMAN

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Top Agent John Rehman leads the 7-member Rehman Real Estate Team where more than ninety percent of their business consists of repeat and referral clients.

John Rehman relies on a combination of sincerity and simplicity to lead the Rehman Real Estate Team. “There’s not much to say in terms of headlines. I’m a guy who cares about doing things ethically, and I carry that into my business.

I know that if you do the right thing and take care of people, the universe will take care of you right back.”

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Originally, John was introduced to the world of real estate by a friend and REALTOR® who was helping him make a private purchase. “I was in the midst of buying a property myself, and my REALTOR® at the time said, ‘John you’ve got to do this. You know more than I do, and I’m fully licensed!’ It was something I always had in the back of my mind so I Top Agent Magazine

looked into it, went through the education, got my license, and never looked back.”

Since becoming fully licensed almost ten years ago, John’s enterprise has grown exponentially. Today in 2022, he leads a team of seven total members, and he’s

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not stopping there. “One of our core tenets, and a big part of our philosophy is that we try to get the right players to slowly but surely grow our business.”

The Rehman Real Estate Team boasts a book of business that is more than ninety percent repeat and referral clients,

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“I’m conscious of the fact that if you grow too big too fast, there’s a lot of growing pains, and I don’t want to risk our client’s satisfaction. I want to continue to grow without clients feeling the impact of our growth.” and John attributes their collective success to a shared dedication to candor and transparency. “Our approach is all about keeping positivity and doing honest business – that’s the core. Genuinely our team philosophy is to put our hearts into the work. There will always be people out there who won’t be appreciative no matter what you do for them, but if Copyright Top Agent Magazine 10

you start with your center of influence and show them you can go above and beyond, people respond to that, and the referrals happen naturally.”

In addition to a robust foundation of interpersonal connections and heartfelt business models, John and the team rely on a broadly cast digital marketing strategy Top Agent Magazine

to fuel their success. “We do social media marketing with Instagram and Facebook mostly, and we find the most successful advertising happens online. On the other end, we’re very diligent about using our CRM software to make sure we’re touching base with all of our clients, no matter

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where they are in the pipeline.” By utilizing every available digital tool, John and his team have systemized the client experience from start to finish, and they are eager to continue expanding and sharing their success. “I’m conscious of the fact that if you grow too big too fast, there’s

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a lot of growing pains, and I don’t want to risk our client’s satisfaction. I want to continue to grow without clients feeling the impact of our growth.”

When he’s not actively expanding his enterprise, John seizes every opportunity to

spend time with his family, play basketball, and enjoy a cigar. “Cigars are an incredible social thing. You can get together with people from all walks of life – different economic factors, different races, different backgrounds, it doesn’t matter – and just talk about anything and everything.”

To learn more about John Rehman, call (647) 370-3935, visit rehmanrealestate.ca or email move@rehmanrealestate.ca www.

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If it’s good for the soul,

IT’S GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS

Visibility, name recognition and knowing you’re supporting the community that makes your success possible are good reasons to take part in community service. But how is it that some people seem to be able to give time to charities while running their own businesses, managing their own families and households, exercising regularly, attending sporting events and concerts, eating well and sleeping seven or eight hours a night?

The truth is, not all agents are able to do everything so easily. But more important is the fact that no one needs to do everything all of the time. The trick is to make sure that, whatever you do holds meaning.

REALTORS® and mortgage professionals who seem the most gregarious in their community outreach are those whose giving seems to fill their own souls. When their Top Agent Magazine

volunteer efforts or donations directly impact causes they or their clients care deeply about, “giving back” becomes energizing.

Jason O’Quinn of Prime Lending in Dallas Texas, for instance, says that his family’s ongoing work building homes for some of the poorest families in Honduras fills him immeasurably. “It rejuvenates me,” he says.

“There’s quite a dichotomy between the houses we build there and the houses we finance here,” he says. “It refocuses me, going from financing $1 million homes in Dallas to physically laying cinderblock for $10,000 homes in Honduras. Everything has more meaning when we sacrificially give of our time, talent and treasure.”

The longtime “big picture” for Colorado REALTOR® and property manager, Linda

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Todd, for instance, has included giving back to the community, whether serving as a lead carpenter for Habitat for Humanity, making deliveries for Meals on Wheels, or pitching in for the sake of baseball. And through her lifelong passion for baseball, she harmoniously blended her personal interests, her work and her community service. For many years, she was so involved Little League the local league named a new field after her. “I cried for 3 days after they told me that!” She and her husband also started a scholarship fund for junior college baseball players and serve as a host family for the rookie league of the Colorado Rockies, putting up newly drafted players in their home.

For Florida REALTOR® and property manager, Mario Gonzalez, neither his business nor his primary community outreach would exist without the other. A retired U.S. Navy pilot, Mario formed his brokerage, Navy to Navy Homes, when he saw a need for military personnel to find affordable homes to purchase. “We got into it to help, but that led to a full-blown real estate business.” Besides providing opportunities for investment and homeownership, the company donates 35% of every commission to Homes for Heroes, veterans’ groups, or organizations benefiting fire, police, medical organizations, churches and homeless shelters. “We’re small, but we give so much back that we were the top Homes for Heroes company in Florida and

top-five nationwide.” But he does none of this for the attention. His friends may call him the “Humble Hero of Heroes,” but helping is Mario’s passion. “To be such a small business and be the top Homes for Heroes affiliate is mind boggling!”

Like Mario, for many, the best service takes place in simple and quiet ways. Illinois REALTOR®, Susie Scheuber, for example, takes a humble approach to giving back. Although she donates a portion of every commission check to the Children’s Miracle Network, she doesn’t discuss this with clients unless they happen to ask. “I do it because I want to and because, to me, giving back is the right thing to do when you’ve been fortunate in business and life,” says Susie.

We all know how inertia works; the more energized we get by certain behaviors, the more likely we are to continue those behaviors. For some top agents, community outreach has become such a natural routine of their daily lives that they never find it burdensome. A good way to add community service into your life, therefore, is through the causes that mean the most to you. For starters, consider giving a small donation after closing to the charity of your client’s choosing. Learning the different causes that they care about just might foster a new mission for you.

If you have a unique story to share about how your community outreach has impacted your life and your business or inspired others, click here for consideration in our magazines: www.topagentmagazine.com/nominate-a-real-estate-agent-to-be-featured 14

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DAWNA BORG Dawna Borg’s journey into the real estate world was full of exciting twists and turns. She originally started her professional career as a paralegal, working freelance with hundreds of lawyers.

Dawna intended to return to school and become a lawyer, but life took a new path as Dawna grew her family. “My fourth child was born with Down’s syndrome, and we met other parents who also had a child with Down’s Syndrome,” she explains. They were looking for new ways to support their families, and decided to venture into a real estate project together. “Between us we had a large family and were able to put funds together, find an interesting property to purchase and flip it for a good profit. We quickly realized that it was hard to get the level of service that we were looking for and decided to earn our real estate licenses to help ease the process for the acquisition of future properties.” It was never her intention to give up her paralegal business, however, it didn’t take long for Dawna to realize she wanted to pursue real estate full time, helping others with their real estate needs as well.

“So I turned over my paralegal business to a colleague, and began working as a REALTOR®,” she says. She hasn’t looked back since, and now 30 plus years later is working towards building her own team.

When it comes to marketing her listings, she also goes the extra mile. Rather than having the same approach for every property, Dawna customizes it to meet the needs of her specific clients and their home. “I don’t work with a cookie cutter model,” she says. “For instance, we just listed a very expensive luxury custom built property, and we worked with a production company to do an eight hour shoot to provide us with the highest level of photography and videos to meet our marketing needs.” The listing is being featured in international luxury magazines, digital marketing sites and social media. “We have also reached out to international agents through private networks that I belong to in order to spread the word.”

Serving the Toronto/ Greater Toronto Area, much of her business is based upon referrals from past clients and the over 500 lawyers that she freelanced many years for. Her vast experience in both law and real estate investing has helped her stand out. “My negotiation skills are very strong, strategic and creative,” she explains. “I’m also very hands on and accessible.” It’s not uncommon for Dawna to work with multiple generations of a family, assisting grandparents, parents, and their kids with their real estate needs. Her caring approach and expertise impresses everyone she serves, as she transforms what can be a stressful experience into an exciting one.

In the next year, Dawna hopes to build a team and mentor more agents. “I love what I do - especially interacting with people. There can be lots of stress and disappointments involved in real estate, so I just love to share experiences, nurture others, calm them down, instill confidence and inspire them to make it positive and memorable for them.”

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During off hours, Dawna attended University for 15 years part time after having her children to complete a B.A.(Hons.) in Sociology and Criminology, is a Chartered Mediator, and has served on the Board of Directors for The Vitanova Foundation (an addiction treatment centre) for the past 13+ years, stays active with Creating Alternatives, an organization for developmentally challenged adults and has been involved in many other volunteer groups and Boards. When she has free time, Dawna loves traveling and relaxing with family and friends.

For more about Dawna Borg, Broker at RE/MAX Premier Inc Brokerage please call 416-987-8000 or email dawna@dawnaborg.com

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JACKIE MAZZE & KRISTIN FLYNN Guided by transparency and integrity, Jackie Mazze and Kristin Flynn go above and beyond to help their clients achieve their real estate goals. With a combined 25 years of experience, Jackie and Kristin joined forces nearly 6 years ago, and in 2021 launched their own boutique brokerage, MazzeFlynn Real Estate Limited, out of a shared passion and commitment to providing the utmost-quality service to their clients.

Predominantly selling luxury rural properties, Jackie and Kristin serve the areas of Caledon, Erin, Dufferin and Grey Counties. An impressive 95% of their business comes from repeat and referral clients, a sure sign of the trust and confidence they instill. “We’ve built our business on customer service and our reputation,” Jackie explains. “Quality over quantity is very important to us. We strive to continually set ourselves apart by upholding the highest standards within the industry and exceeding expectations. As a result, we garner life-long clients who also refer us to their family and friends.”

Kristin agrees, also pointing to the pair’s honesty as a value add for clients. “We operate from a transparent perspective,” she says. “We like to be very open and honest with our clients, and we don’t sugarcoat anything. We provide them with all of the information necessary to make informed decisions up front, and our clients appreciate that.”

When it comes to marketing their listings, Jackie and Kristin customize their approach to each individual home. “One of the main pillars of our business is that we tailor our approach to each home,” Jackie says. “It’s not one-size-fits-all, especially when selling country and rural properties. Since these properties are unique, they deserve individual attention and different marketing

strategies. We tailor everything from start to finish for our clients.”

“We spare no expense for our clients,” Jackie continues. “We aren’t about cutting corners, and we really focus on the presentation of a property. We find that so important, because you only get one chance to make a first impression.” To that end, she and Kristin invest in exceptional photography and videography, visually striking brochures, as well as in-house staging and niche marketing for their listings. “We also make sure it’s positioned on the market as competitively as possible with regard to price and presentation to effect a quick sale while putting as much money as possible in our client’s pocket. Sometimes that involves many months of preparations and we have a plethora of resources and contacts to achieve our vision for a listing”. In addition, their extensive experience has afforded them the ability to tackle issues upfront to mitigate potential problems that may arise during a transaction. All of these factors contribute to their immense success in any real estate climate.

As mothers, Jackie and Kristin strive to maintain a healthy work/life balance while giving back to their communities. Jackie is a self-professed animal lover and is involved in supporting various animal rescue organizations. Kristin runs an annual food drive and sponsors her son’s local sports teams.

As for what the future holds, the pair plans to grow their business in a way that is as exclusive as their business model and reflects their values. “We take a tremendous amount of pride in what we do, and we’d like Realtors® who work for the brokerage to share the same outlook and appreciation in how we help our clients. We love what we do, which is evident in the relationships we build and the success we’ve achieved thus far. We’ve only just begun”.

To find out more about Jackie Mazze and Kristin Flynn, you can call them at (416) 988-9620 or email info@mazzeflynn.com. You can find them online at mazzeflynn.com www.

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Modern Email Etiquette for Today’s Agents In today’s tech-forward culture, consumers are constantly inundated with promotional emails, alerts, invites, and social media blasts. As a real estate agent or a loan officer, how do you stand apart from the noise? What’s more, how do you stay relevant in a digital landscape that’s constantly changing?

For starters, there are a few timeless techniques you can apply to up your skillset when it comes email and digital communication: asking questions that Top Agent Magazine

inspire conversation, politeness, and following up regularly—to name a few. Likewise, there are surely new tricks you can add to your arsenal to stay ahead of the curve. Let’s outline a few ways you can refine and update your email etiquette to compete in today’s virtual marketplace.

Make your subject line count Too often, we labor over the content of our emails without giving much thought to subject lines.

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Though email is no longer a new-fangled invention, there are certainly ways you can modernize its use and take advantage of its ubiquity.

However, these little headlines can go a long way in luring the consumer to open your email and ultimately click through to your website in search for your services. An enticing subject line should be short and sweet, ideally less than fifty characters.

You might also include the name of the recipient, and be up front (though concise) about the subject matter of your message. Remember: the first thing a client will see is your name and subject line—be sure to make this prime real estate shine.

Think mobile Research tells us that 79% of Americans check their phones within fifteen minutes of waking up. In fact, much of modern day correspondence occurs by smartphone. Accordingly, you’ll want to account for email readability on a mobile phone.

For instance, incorporating paragraph breaks for each new thought allows information to be parceled out in a palatable way for readers utilizing small screens. Also, any sort of graphic flair or links within your email should be shortened and streamlined for mobile consumption. Send yourself an email every now and again and access it from your phone—you’ll be able to double-check that all the elements of your emails are working well on a mobile platform.

Incorporate email tools There are excellent tools out there to enhance your email experience. With just a quick download, 18

you can add spellcheck, a URL address shortening feature, or a delay option that holds emails for thirty seconds before they’re sent. Think about the possibilities! Haven’t you sent an email without including the attachment you intended, or realizing you sent correspondence to the wrong client? If that’s the case, a delay feature can help you save face and build in a window for error— just in case. Regardless of which tools speak to your email habits, there are plenty of add-ons out there that can revamp your digital correspondence style.

Use email to maximize your online presence These days, there are plenty of ways to communicate—email, text, phone, apps, and social media.

When you interact through email, consider it an opportunity to invite your client to follow you elsewhere online. Ensure that your email signature includes unobtrusive, streamlined links to your social media accounts, professional website, or review page. This will build in an opportunity for clients to engage with your brand, and you may even add an online follower for the long term.

Though email is no longer a new-fangled invention, there are certainly ways you can modernize its use and take advantage of its ubiquity. Keep these approaches in mind as you reenergize your email technique and fortify your communication in the digital era.

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JOE TRIUMBARI Joe Triumbari is a real estate agent with Intercity Realty Inc. Brokerage serving the Greater Toronto Area that brings a specific virtue to the industry we don’t often see: altruism.

Beginning real estate in 2017, Joe worked with a team. Due to the aggressive commission splits and unkept promises, he took a courageous step and decided to enter the real estate world independently.

While Joe trekked the unknown terrain as a new agent, he worked part-time to help supplement his income. While it took him just over one year to secure his first sale, Joe gained insight from this experience as to how he could grow and increase his repeat and referral business. His strategy entailed using his commissions as leverage while he helped first-time home-buyers not only find their forever dream home but save money on their purchase. By reducing his earned commissions, Joe rapidly established a strong foundation of repeat and referral clients as he helped them save money on one of the most significant investments in their life. As Joe gained the trust and developed genuine relationships with his clients, his business grew substantially, and today 80% of his business are repeat and referral clients.

Today Joe has a partner, and together they represent The JD Team with one shared admin.

As Joe established these relationships, he could shift away from his initial strategy and begin exercising his newly developed skills, including his niche for finding deals, diligence in his work ethic, and strong negotiation skills. Most importantly, Joe shares, “These relationships were all founded on the principle of trust. It has been great ever since.” Differentiating Joe from other agents is his knowledge of land development and his

expertise in discovering future potential uses to improve the land while identifying key natural heritage features. Though residential homes are the bread and butter of his transactions, his unique skillset allows him to provide resources for clients looking in niche markets.

Joe acknowledges the challenges he faced in his first couple of years, but as he secured faith from clients, he also gained confidence in knowing he could achieve helping his clients find their perfect homes while keeping their best interests at heart. Though Toronto is his main service area, he has traveled one to two hours outside the city, where properties are more affordable and suitable for suburban families. Joe utilizes social media, MLS, email lists, Google Adwords and paid promotions to market his listings. While the MLS is most effective for finding genuine buyers, Joe believes social platforms help bring brand awareness and showcase an online presence. As a result of his efforts, Joe is averaging between twenty-five and thirty transactions Annually.

Despite Joe’s success, he loves helping his clients and witnessing the joy they experience after finding the right home. For Joe, it is fulfilling to see his contribution to a monumental moment in their lives and know they have a home to create lifelong memories. When Joe isn’t working, he enjoys sports, golfing, and spending time with his family. Additionally, he enjoys working out, movies, and delicious food. As the future unfolds, Joe is ready to hire two to three agents he can guide and mentor while capitalizing on leads. His longer-term goals include developing land and building real estate in Toronto and the GTA. Joe shares, “I am invested in what I preach,” and looks forward to servicing many more friends and clients.

To learn more about Joe email triumbarijoe@gmail.com , call 647-501-3002 or visit thejdteam.ca, homefinder.ca/agents/328921-joe-triumbari or a1-ws-realtor-pr.realtor.ca/agent/2037338/joe-triumbari-3600-langstaff-rd-ste14-vaughan-ontario-l4l9e7 https://

www.

https://

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Playing the Real Estate Matchmaker –

Follow These 8 Dating Rules to Ensure You Match Your Client with the Perfect Home for Them When you think a bit more about it, the ultimate goal of a real estate agent serving a client is really to match them up with the perfect house for them, almost the way a matchmaker tries to find two people that will fit well together as a couple. When people are looking for a house, they often treat the process as a quest for “the one” house that will fulfill their dreams of living in the house of their dreams. Don’t be fooled. It is always a search for “the one”, at least when it comes to helping a couple or family find a home.

When you look at your client’s search for a home in this manner, then you might begin to notice some pretty obvious similarities

between shopping for a home today and online dating. In this day and age most people live a substantial part entire lives online. People socialize with their friends on Facebook, they meet potential friends in forums and online communities, and we now even search for our perfect mate online. Shopping for a home also happens to usually start online. When they begin this search, make no mistake; they are looking for the “one.” These people then turn to you, the REALTOR® to play matchmaker for them. It is your job to wade through the pool of eligible homes (bachelors) and sort through all the ones that are too expensive, too nerdy, not cute enough, not smart enough, etc. until you find the “one.”

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It makes sense then to consult the tried and true practices in matchmaking that help those professionals find the right people for each other, and see if any of them could also apply for matching your clients with their dream home. You’ll find that these 8 dating rules may just show you the secret to matching your clients with the perfect home.

back to the store if you’re not happy with your new home. It’s best to first help your client get prequalified. This is a tangible step that shows they are ready to move on to a new home. You want to make sure they are completely over their love affair with their previous home. You can even ask them for a sign or proof that they’re ready to move on.

Who Is In and Not In Your Client’s League? Know Your Client’s Price Range:

Be Genuine, Not Superficial

When a person is looking for a mate, it is a waste of time for them to even consider those potential mates that are clearly out of their league. These people won’t even stop to give them the time of day.

In the world of real estate the idea is the same. There is no point showing your clients houses that they can’t afford and will simply lust after without having any real chance of purchasing the house. It is your job to keep your client ground in reality, and help them be realistic in terms of price when choosing their next home.

When trying to manage the many pitfalls of online dating, on inevitably goes on a date where the other person looks nothing like their picture online. That can be just as big of a problem when looking for a house. When clients show you a particular house they want to visit, ask them to name something about the house that they like other than the aesthetics. This way you can see if they are simply infatuated with the way the house looks in those pictures, or if there is a deeper interest in the home that could become a deeper connection between your client and the house.

Never Let Your Client’s First Impression of a Home Rule Their Decisions

Make Sure Your Client is Ready to Move On From Their Last Dream Home You’re job is also to make sure that your client is truly ready to move on from their previous home. This is a long term commitment, and they need to be absolutely sure they actually want to buy a new house. You can’t simply take the receipt

When your client first sees a house they have already been lusting after in their mind, they’re often so excited to finally be looking at it, especially if it does in fact look as good as it did in the pictures.

Make sure to encourage them to take some time before making such a big com-

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mitment, and don’t let their excitement push them into making a rash decision. It is your job to keep them grounded in reality. Push for your clients to do an inspection to make sure the house isn’t hiding any dark secrets. Sometimes the most charming facade can hide tons of slime and deadly mold.

Follow Your Heart (or Gut) People often laugh at and ridicule the idea of love at first sight, but when it comes to homes, the phenomenon can certainly happen. Your client may just find their perfect dream home at the very first place you take them. If you have a client that does insist this is the case, then you don’t want to try and rationalize with them or talk them out of their decision. You do, however, want to make sure you are watching out for their interest and make sure your clients take all the necessary precautions before they jump in headfirst.

See What Other People See in The Home – Do They See What Your Client Sees?

Have you come to the conclusion that your clients are being blinded by all of the twinkling windows and crystal clear water glistening in the backyard pool, and can’t see that the house they’ve fallen in love with is really just a dirty animal (maybe a pig) dressed up in nice clothes and lipstick. Ask your client if they would be willing to look at the house again with

their close friends, family, and anyone else they trust for a second opinion there to see it with them. If the house really is a dud, they’ll be able to see past any personal bias your client might have to the truth. They will be able to help your client see through the shining facade

Celebrate the Happy Union!

When a couple gets married they tend to throw a big party and celebrate their union. The same goes for the closing.

Your clients have just essentially married the house of their dreams, and now it’s time to rejoice. Congratulate them on their new union. Show your support for their new homeowner status by going to their housewarming party.

Help Your Clients Maintain Their Dream Home & Ensure a Lifetime of Happiness You can’t just disappear after the transaction is finished. Become their realtor for life by showing your clients how to maintain their dream home. Act as their resource for other professionals they may need to maintain the house such as handymen, plumbers, electricians, etc. Show them how to keep up with home maintenance so they don’t ignore problems that surface and end up with a much larger issue than they started with. Help them make sure their dream home lasts so they can live happily ever after in their home for a lifetime.

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SHELLY WILLIAMSON It was nearly 20 years ago that Shelly Williamson decided to enter the real estate industry. As a child, she remembers her mom buying homes and always looking for new real estate agents. It intrigued Shelly, and she knew she wanted to be an agent one day. “When I was on maternity leave, a friend called me and suggested we get our license together,” Shelly explains. “And so we did, and I’ve been doing it ever since.” Today Shelly leads her own team, which consists of three members including a buyer’s agent and a marketing coordinator. Serving Georgetown, Ontario and surrounding regions, much of her work consists of repeat clients and referrals. Shelly prioritizes her clients’ needs, only wanting what is best for them.

She goes above and beyond to provide an exceptional experience to everyone she serves.

“I’m always focused on the relationships,” she explains. “I problem solve and provide them with guidance.” When Shelly first begins working with her buyers and sellers, she takes the time to get to know them.

By creating a firm foundation to build relationships upon, she is able to better understand how to help them reach their goals. Ultimately, for her buyers, Shelly wants to find the ideal home at the right price. She searches tirelessly for the perfect property that matches their unique needs, and once it’s found, she negotiates to ensure they’re getting the best deal possible.

When it comes to her listings, she aims to attract as many potential buyers as she can through advertising and marketing strategies. Shelly utilizes social media and real estate websites to showcase her properties.

Belonging to two different real estate boards, she is able to spread the word far and wide.

After working together, Shelly remains in touch, dropping by past clients’ homes to say ‘hello,’ and sending them Christmas calendars. “I reach out frequently, and many of my past clients have become my friends,” she explains. “So they are always top of mind for me.”

Clients continually refer her to their loved ones, as they appreciate Shelly’s hard work and expertise. One past client says, “I requested Shelly’s assistance finding a house, not only was she helpful with the place we wanted to view but she had also researched and had 3 other options in the same area to view the same afternoon.

Very efficient and client-oriented, definitely made the process much less stressful. I would HIGHLY recommend Shelly to anyone.”

When Shelly isn’t working, she’s staying active in the community through volunteer work. She drives cancer patients to their treatments, and is always looking for new ways to give back. During any free time, she loves reading and relaxing with her family.

Soon Shelly will have her own office space and will be able to expand her team to new heights. She can’t wait to see what the future holds. “I just really love what I do. I feel fortunate to be able to meet the people I meet. There is never a dull moment.”

To contact Shelly Williamson, please call 416-878-2235 or email shellybutthomes@yahoo.ca

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