Can you tell us about your background and experience in real estate?
We have been selling Real Estate for over a decade now. We first started with the Prudential Office at Oakville Towne Centre, which was a lovely “boutique” environment much like the one we have built at our Engel & Völkers office in Downtown Oakville.
What is it that makes you so passionate about what you do?
We take great pride in the relationships we have built over the years with friends, families and clients alike, and we are passionate about helping clients navigate through the journey of selling and/or buying a home which can often be a stressful process. Nothing is more satisfying than hearing clients say they were filled with angst at the outset, and in the end commenting that the professionalism and care given made the experience an enjoyable one.
What was the motivation behind you choosing to open the Engel & Volkers office in Oakville?
Owning a Real Estate Brokerage was not on the radar for either one of us, until we were introduced to Engel & Völkers. After some initial research, we felt compelled to hop on a plane and head to the Americas headquarters on Park Avenue in NYC where we were greeted by no doubt the best in the business worldwide! Meeting Anthony Hitt, our CEO, sealed the deal for us. Anthony credits his business and real estate success to his philosophy of providing exceptionally personal customer care and constantly implementing the most up-to-date systems for efficiency and comprehensive service. The fit was undeniable, we forged ahead and here we are.
As soon as we touched down in Toronto, the first call we made was to Ruthanne Smith. Ruthanne is our Director of Operations and the “Mother Bear” to all of us at Engel & Völkers Oakville!
Does Engel & Volkers offer home sellers and home buyers tools and advantages that other brokerages in this area do not offer?
The team that leads Engel & Völkers is made up of people who have been Realtors and heads of other Real Estate companies in the past, so they know the tools our buyer and seller clients demand and deserve. Some of the tools include GG Magazine, syndication of listings to domestic and global real estate web sites that combined generate approximately 10 billion visitors annually, strong and consistent brand marketing and standards, and a referral network of over 11,000 real estate professionals in over 30 countries around the world.
In such a competitive market, with so many realtors and brokerages, what do you offer your clients that you think makes a difference?
Our advisors dedicate the expertise, time and unmatched marketing resources we possess to help sell homes to the right buyer at the right price. Working with an Engel & Völkers advisor gives sellers the EDGE that affords each listing extensive online exposure – an expectation of today’s savvy consumers and international clientele. With our global network of real estate professionals, we not only reach millions of targeted consumers, but are able to collaborate with our fellow Engel & Völkers advisors world wide to strategically handpick and refer buyers for the specific properties they seek.
