tJanuary marks the swearing in of the Victoria Real Estate BoardB次元官网网址檚 new board of directors.
Joining 2015 president Guy Crozier are president-elect Wendy Moreton, with secretary treasurer Ara Balabanian, past-president Tim Ayres, Kyle Kerr, Mike Nugent, Marijane Smith, Tony Wick and Cheryl Woolley.
Black Press engaged current president Guy Crozier on the state of the industry.
Q: How long have you been selling in Greater Victoria and what makes it special for you?
A: IB次元官网网址檝e been selling real estate for 23 years now B次元官网网址� in the Victoria area for my entire career. IB次元官网网址檓 a fifth-generation Victorian, so just getting to know that many more fellow Victorians over the course of all the transactions IB次元官网网址檝e been a part of has been special.
Real estate is the perfect career for me. It lets me leverage my background of management in the service industry and build my own business the way I choose. When you look at the industry, realtors are one of the last bastions of entrepreneurs, we are each small businesses who invest in our own technology, products, marketing and so on. Every realtor out there builds their own brand and makes their own way.
I enjoy that level of responsibility for my business and control over my work. I feel very lucky to get to do what I do every day.
Q: What are your background strengths?
A: I think I have the right kind of work ethic to be an entrepreneur B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 competitive, like to build relationships and hard work doesnB次元官网网址檛 scare me. When I was new to the business I came in with a lot of ambition, which drove me through the tough times when you wonder if youB次元官网网址檒l make it to the next month.
I also feel my experience in the service industry served me well B次元官网网址� no pun intended.
I spent nearly a decade on the management track at a global restaurant chain and I learned so much there that has helped me do my work now. Not just around the value of good customer service, but how to balance the books, manage time, all those skills came from my training in the service industry.
Q: Why take on this role?
A: The more time I spend as a realtor, the more I value organized real estate, of which VREB is an integral part.
IB次元官网网址檝e volunteered on board committees for more than fifteen years, and it seemed like the natural progression to commit five or six years to be on the board of directors after my experience in committees. I felt ready. And my peers did as well, with their support I was voted in as a director and later to the post of president. ItB次元官网网址檚 been an honour.
Q: The traditional process of real estate agents selling homes has been challenged in recent years, do you anticipate any more trends to affect the industry?
A: I think the changing trends have made realtors more important than ever. Twenty or 30 years ago technology wasnB次元官网网址檛 a factor when purchasing or selling property, and there were only one or two ways to market a home.
Negotiations were simpler. Now, technology changes faster than home values and mortgage rates.
There are endless ways to market a property, sales are complex and there are more potential liabilities than before. Historically realtors were keepers of information. Now that information is readily available online, and realtors have become the experts in how to use and interpret information, create the marketing strategy, navigate the complex paperwork, etc. Now, more than ever, you need a professional in a property transaction.
Q: Does the VREB have any initiative new projects in mind?
A: Projects we undertake are focused on helping our (1,200 Victoria region realtors) do their job better. For example, our board launched an online StrataDocs service that helps connect users with strata paperwork and information required when doing due diligence in selling and buying strata units, and thatB次元官网网址檚 a Victoria-born initiative that is now being used across the country at many different real estate boards.
One of our current projects is the strata lockbox program, which provides safe and secure places for realtors to place keys for multi unit buildings. We have also just rolled out a complex mandatory education component through our provincial organization. We manage content and delivery at the local level.
Moving forward the board will continue to look for ways to support members B次元官网网址� that might be in the form of new technology or physical products that help streamline work and keep property safe.
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Greater Victoria market update
Month to date Jan. 19, 2015, courtesy Victoria Real Estate Board
165/342 - Net unconditional sales/Total, Jan. 2014
541/1,090 - New listings / Total, Jan. 2014
3,121/3,489 - Active residential listings / Total, Jan. 2014
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
Interested in increasing your curb appeal on a budget? Here are a few tips that might help you on your way.
One of the first things potential buyers see is the front entrance. Keep the door, entrance, and doorknob clean, and clear of any plants or ratty exterior rugs that can impede the entrance.
Also, people will notice whatever is at eye level, keep it as polished and clean as possible. Replace old hardware. Is your mailbox falling to pieces? Rusted or missing house numbers? These are inexpensive but often-seen elements that can change the look of your home without forcing you to spend any more money than you have to.
Paint your windowsills. The windowsills can be a catchall for dirt, leaves, spider webs and more. If the paint is chipping or it is dirty, consider repainting it so potential buyers looking through your windows into your home see nothing but what you want them to see.
If your windows are old and not energy efficient, consider new windows. They can offer up a new facelift to the outside of your home in addition to energy savings inside your home, all without breaking the bank.
