George Niblock, Sales Representative with Royal LePage in Oakville
How long have you been working in real estate?
I’ve been in real estate in Oakville for 21 years. I started at age 25 (before I or any of my friends owned houses) by selling my friends’ parents’ southeast Oakville properties as they began to downsize. I really had to learn fast. Luckily I had some great local mentors along the way, Gail Bird and Gillian Cockcroft – both top producing veterans with impeccable reputations.
What do you think is the most important attribute of a successful real estate agent?
I learned that your reputation is the number one thing to protect in real estate. People are looking for a trustworthy, knowledgeable agent with common sense to guide them through one of the most valuable financial transactions in their lives. It is key that you have a long view of your career in real estate. No one deal is ever worth compromising your professional integrity to achieve.
What attracted you to this business?
I love real estate because I get to work with a variety of people every day. I also love houses. I’ve restored my own heritage homes and built new custom homes and I love helping clients envision what a home or property could be. Since I have been through the process myself, I’ve got important knowledge and contacts to help clients have a smooth experience.
In such a competitive market, with so many realtors, what do you offer your clients that you think makes a difference?
When it comes time to sell, I often get called in to advise clients on what they should do to their homes to maximize the value and prepare the home for the market. Unfortunately sometimes we make the house look so good they don’t want to leave anymore! It takes a high comfort level for someone to sign an offer to buy a home. So usually this means a lot of time has gone in to understanding what all the options are. Local knowledge is a key factor here.
Have you found opportunities to give back to the Oakville community?
I joined the board of the Oakville Lakeside Resident’s Association when I bought a house in Old Oakville, and was soon handed the role of President. The role involves a deep understanding of local development issues and matters impacting our town. In my role on the board of We❤️ Oakville (focused on saving the Town from Provincially mandated amalgamation), I was humbled to receive the first ever ‘Key to the Town’ from Mayor Burton.
