Tim Collins/Victoria B次元官网网址
Denise Hogue, communications manager for the Victoria Real Estate Board, admits that she doesnB次元官网网址檛 often get asked for positive stories about real estate agents.
Although knowledgeable professionals characterize the profession, the personal stories are often lost. But it didnB次元官网网址檛 take Hogue long to offer examples of agents who have gone above and beyond whatB次元官网网址檚 expected.
When Royal LePage agent Sandy Sauve met an elderly and frail couple while on a walk, she struck up a conversation with them and discovered the couple was contemplating a necessary move to a condo It seemed they had received a purchase offer from a neighbour that was well below the current market value for their long-time family home.
Sauve stepped in to help.
B次元官网网址淭he poor folks really didnB次元官网网址檛 have a clue what to do to sell their house and make a move, so I sat down with them and explained the process and how they would have to get their home ready for sale,B次元官网网址� she said.
That task turned out to be more challenging than anticipated. The coupleB次元官网网址檚 health was not good; the husband was suffering from early dementia and the wife had heart problems. As well, the home was stocked with a lifetime of possessions and, to top it off, the backyard had an aviary with more than 150 tropical birds.
B次元官网网址淭hey even had a parrot in the house, but I managed to find homes for all the birds, hired contractors to help with clean up and gardening, and pitched in to help give the home a good cleaning,B次元官网网址� said Sauve.
The couple sold their home for significantly more than the neighbourB次元官网网址檚 offer and their move to Calgary was made smoother by virtue of SauveB次元官网网址檚 frequent contact with her clientB次元官网网址檚 family there.
Josh Ray with DFH Realty is another Realtor who believes in giving his clients more than just his expertise in real estate.
B次元官网网址淚n this market, with all the construction going on, itB次元官网网址檚 very hard for someone selling their homes to find a tradesman to do the repairs that they need to get their home ready for sale,B次元官网网址� he said.
ThatB次元官网网址檚 where his previous training as a Red Seal qualified carpenter has come in handy, as he frequently volunteers his services to help clients repair their homes in order to get the best purchase price.
B次元官网网址淭here was a case recently where a client needed to get her baseboards and some other work done, but ended up with an infection following surgery that landed her in the hospital. There were no tradesmen available and no way she was going to get the work done, so I did it.B次元官网网址� said Ray.
B次元官网网址淲here I was raised on Haida Gwaii, you helped people. ItB次元官网网址檚 just what you did and what I do.B次元官网网址�
Ray did the renovations, sold the house, and has now been invited to his clientB次元官网网址檚 wedding. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 more than just selling houses. In our business it should be about helping and making friends,B次元官网网址� he said with a chuckle.
Hogue agreed.
B次元官网网址淭here are tons of stories like that out there. ItB次元官网网址檚 part of why IB次元官网网址檓 proud to represent this industry,B次元官网网址� she said.
editor@vicnews.com
