Q_01_web-singlepage_Jun15

“Toronto’s West end has so many things going for it—it’s a
short drive or subway ride to downtown, home to fantastic
schools & some of the city’s best golf, close to the airports &
major highways, and there is a great sense of community.”
Connie, what role is the young generation playing in
today’s real estate market?
We all know how competitive the Toronto market is, so
young buyers are having to be a bit more creative. They are
priced out of many areas so they buy in “up and coming”
neighbourhoods. Over time, as trendy restaurants and shops
pop up and the area becomes very popular, other young
buyers are now priced out and are forced to gentrify a new
part of the city. It’s fun to follow Toronto neighbourhoods.
Young buyers are also key to the successful condo market.
The number of young professionals and young families
living in condos is significantly increasing. We’re used
to living in smaller spaces, and happy to sacrifice size for
location and lifestyle.
Linda, what is your working relationship like with your
daughter?
I think one of the most important points is that I can be
myself with her, which lends to the ease of getting things
done. This is a fast moving business. Connie is very positive
and genuine, so it’s easy to transition her into working with
my clients. They enjoy her company and they trust that she
will do her best for them. She has many calming qualities,
organizational skills and marketing skills—it was a perfect
fit. She always seems to have the right words, and has a great
real estate sense, so she is good at sales in a natural way.
Connie, what prompted you to follow in your mother’s
footsteps?
It was an obvious choice. The timing was perfect, as my mom
had taken her business to a new level while I was away at
university. Real estate suits my personality- I’m ambitious
and you get out of it what you put in. Linda has spent the last
35 years building up a fantastic reputation and loyal client
base. She is a true professional and I’m very fortunate to get
to learn under her.
I admire that she has everyone’s best interests at heart. She
has great problem solving skills, and uses those to get the
best results for her clients. Work is almost always on her
mind; she loves thinking of how to get a deal put together.
It’s great that we can bounce ideas off of each other.
Connie, what do you bring to the real estate table?
A strong work ethic and competitive spirit. I grew up an
elite athlete, ski racing on the Ontario team and then
earning a division 1 golf scholarship. My scholarship gave
me the opportunity to earn a degree in journalism and
communications while traveling the U.S. playing golf. I have
always been very disciplined, and want to be the best at what
I do. The same goes for real estate, I believe in providing the
best service possible.
Linda, Connie, what is your take on the current market?
Toronto is one of the fastest growing cities in the world, and
is gaining more and more international presence.
The market is always good, the popular neighbourhoods are
very competitive. Because of this, it isn’t as seasonal as it was
in the past. Buyers are always on the lookout for the right
property. It is definitely a seller’s market, but it’s an exciting
time for buyers. Toronto is a great city to invest in.
Linda, Connie, how important is online marketing in
today’s real estate business? What other steps do you
recommend for selling a home?
Staging and photography are key. With so many buyers
starting their search from the comfort of their couch, your
property has to look amazing online in order to stand out. I
have worked hard to put together a really top quality team of
experts to prepare a property for sale; they are very talented.
This is clear when you see my property photos.
I also spend a lot of time writing catchy property
descriptions. I feel it’s an important part of my job to
really hook the curiosity & interest of potential buyers.
Once all of this is ready to go, Connie helps with property
websites, social media target marketing, search engine
optimization, etc.
Linda, what role do you play in giving back to the
community?
I’m sure everyone gives back where they can. I’m so grateful
for the success I’ve had, and giving back to the community is
one way to show my appreciation. There are so many people
in need, but to name a few causes close to my heart: Sick
Kids Hospital, homeless organizations, health research and
local charities. I do have to say kids are a real soft spot for
me. I’m in a position to help others, and really try to make
a difference where I can. Just being kind to people is an
everyday way of making the community a better place.
Connie, where do you see yourself in five years?
The experience I’ve had over the last four years has given
me a lot of confidence. We have come across pretty much
any scenario you can imagine, so again I’m very lucky to
be able to learn this quickly. I imagine that after another 5
years working with Linda, I will feel like that much more of a
professional.
In this business, things change so fast, you always have to
be able to adapt and more importantly foresee the changes.
One thing I’ve learned from seeing my mom in the business
all these years is that good service will always be the most
important to people.
Sutton Old Mill Realty, Inc. · 416.574.8822
tickins@gmail.com · www.lindatickins.com
33