Q_01_web-singlepage_Jun15
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What sets you apart from other agents?<br />
My network and my passion for helping my clients get the<br />
best deal with the least amount of stress! Stress reduction<br />
is primarily a result of good communication and taking<br />
care of the little details that make a transaction and a move<br />
as smooth as possible. For example, where possible, I like<br />
to get neighbours to sign a welcome card for my buyers to<br />
introduce them to their neighbourhood and make them feel<br />
at home.<br />
I feel that one of my strongest differentiating factors is my<br />
network of international agents. As I mentioned I do a lot of<br />
relocation business, and during the 2008 US market crash, I<br />
helped many clients invest in the United States. One of the<br />
reasons I joined Keller Williams was to continue to build my<br />
network of agents.<br />
At KW I earned my Global Property Specialist designation,<br />
and I am also really excited by Keller Williams global<br />
expansion and the opportunity I get to meet realtors from<br />
all over the world. Real estate is a local business but I find a<br />
global perspective very helpful! I am able to work with my<br />
clients in Toronto as well as help them if they want to buy<br />
a second home in the sun or relocate to the US, abroad, or<br />
elsewhere in Canada.<br />
What do you think is the biggest barrier to success in<br />
today’s real estate industry? How have you overcome it?<br />
One of the hurdles realtors face today is overcoming the<br />
myth that the market is so strong that the “property will sell<br />
itself”. In reality, a great deal of work goes into ensuring that<br />
the client receives maximum exposure for their property, so<br />
that they get the best possible price with the least amount of<br />
stress. I have a consistent track record of ensuring that for<br />
my clients. It is so much more than just adding a sign to the<br />
lawn and placing the property on the Multiple Listing Service<br />
(MLS). A flurry of activity goes on behind the scenes. I create<br />
a unique marketing campaign for each listing that includes<br />
networking, internet & print exposure, social media and<br />
preparing the house to be competitive.<br />
How would you describe the current market?<br />
In one word—unique! We have had such a long run in our<br />
real estate market that, short of a 6 month dip in 2008, our<br />
prices have continued to climb for my whole career. Most<br />
real estate cycles are about 5-7 years, but we are far past<br />
that and 2<strong>01</strong>5 has been the best year since 2007. Given the<br />
continued demand for real estate in Toronto I don’t see a<br />
large correction unless the interest rates increase rapidly or<br />
there is an unforeseen world event that affects consumer<br />
confidence. Although, given the prices, I have to wonder<br />
about affordability. When I talk to realtors in US they find<br />
our prices unbelievable. Toronto has been the city with most<br />
cranes in America and all the condo units continue to be<br />
absorbed each year, and I don’t foresee a decline in demand<br />
for 2<strong>01</strong>6.<br />
“A flurry of activity goes on<br />
behind the scenes. I create a<br />
unique marketing campaign<br />
for each listing that includes<br />
networking, internet & print<br />
exposure, social media and<br />
preparing the house to be<br />
competitive.”<br />
You made a move and joined Keller Williams<br />
Neighbourhood Realty, how is it different from other<br />
leading real estate brokerage firms?<br />
How do I count the ways? Since I joined Keller Williams, it<br />
has become the largest brokerage in North America by agent<br />
count and was named by Training Magazine, the #1 training<br />
organization across all industries. I made my decision to<br />
move to KW for several reasons, primarily because of their<br />
business models and training programs.<br />
I am always looking to grow my business and improve my<br />
service standards and through KW University & their focused<br />
conferences, I have learned more in the last 3 years than I<br />
learned in the preceding 10! I wanted to specialize further<br />
in international real estate and marketing high end luxury<br />
properties to compliment my existing business and through<br />
the Global Property Specialist designation and the Luxury<br />
designation I’ve been able to put best practices in place that<br />
benefit my clients enormously.<br />
Most importantly though, I love the culture, all the agents<br />
are cooperative and it is an open, supportive learning<br />
environment and that makes it a fun place to work…. And<br />
given that real estate can be a 24/7 career … fun is important!<br />
Keller Williams Neighbourhood Realty · 2968 Dundas St W.<br />
416.236.1392 · ld@lizannedobson.com · www.lizannedobson.com<br />
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