Nanaimo Real Estate Services | Ryan Coffey, Coast Realty Group

If I could sum up my approach, it's based on me giving the kind of service that I would hope for if I were the client.

I am not impressed by realtors who claim to be great because they sell a lot of places. Sure they make a lot more cash, but I'm willing to bet that quantity and quality don't go together there any better in realty than they do in any other business. 

Think of the biggest company for a product that you know a fair bit about, then think about whether that product is good quality. Do this a few times for different kinds of products. Most of the time the biggest company doesn't have the best product, although there is the odd exception. I don't subscribe to the "McRealestate" way of doing things, I take enough pride in what I do to prefer doing things well.

I think it would be redundant for me say the usual "I'm so great!" kind of slogans you usually see in advertising that imply that said Realtor is a gift from the heavens. I think, or at least I hope that most people see through that sort of thing. Instead of just telling you that I offer "Great Service" and hoping that you accept that at face value, I give you an outline of what I offer in writing.

Like any residential Realtor, my job is to help you sell your current home or buy a new one and make that process as hassle free for you as I can. Working as as a team, the realtor guides the clients towards their realty related goals using his/her experience, knowledge, creativity, good listening skills, diligence and empathy. That's the Coles notes version of what I consider a good realtor to be, although of course describing it with clarity would be lengthy and is beyond the scope of this page. It is however not hard to tell someone what services are offered to them, and what they can expect to see on their end of the real estate transaction. Some of these are what most Realtors offer (or claim to offer) and some are particular to how I do things.

Here it is in brief:

Honest Information and Answers: Yes, this is the law for Realtors, and I take fiduciary duty seriously. I will give you the information you need, want and ask for.

I give back: I give 1% of my entire revenues (not just profits) to environmental causes through a program called one percent for the planet. I am also supporting a young girl in Benin (Africa) through Plan.  Way I see it, we're all on this globe together, we should take care of one another, the world we live in, in addition to ourselves.

Listings:
I'll make sure you get the latest listings on the MLS, but specific to what you're looking for. Just send me your email address and I'll set you up with a self updating list of what's out there that you can login to and be up to date at any time. A lot of people say something to the effect of "Yes, but I can do that on my own at mls.ca." Actually, the tools I have are like that site, but on steroids and they are far more customizable, plus you will be getting my guidance as to where to look to find whatever it is you are looking for. Also, if you're about ready to go out looking and let me know I'll be digging up listings that aren't even on this system yet if that's what you need.

Selling:
I'll do more than just enter your home into the database and put up a sign. I'll hold open houses for you and advertise in print, on the MLS, on my website and above all, show you how to get the best price for your home possible. I offer quite a few things actually, depending on what you're looking for. Everyone wants something that suits their needs, and that's what I strive for. I'm not putting everything I do on this website, because I know my competition is watching, so if you're selling your home let me come by, price it for oyu and tell you in more detail what I offer.

The process of negotiating and taking care of the contract until completion:
This is where a realtor's expertise and that of his supporting brokerage counts most. Once you decide which place you want to buy or someone has decided they want to buy yours, things start to get interesting. I'll be by your side giving you support the whole way through.

Local Knowledge:
I'm not omnipotent, but I do know a lot about life on the island as both someone who was born and raised here, and as someone who has lived out of province and out of country. I am able to give you the information that fits the situation you're coming from, wherever that may be.

I don't "double end". "Double ending" is the term used for when a Realtor lists a seller's property/home and then sells it to a buyer which they find themselves instead of having another Realtor involved. It would more accurately be described as "keeping all the commission" because that's what happens. Which isn't so bad in itself, only I don't think that either client is getting the kind of service they would most like to have. You see, when a Realtor is working for only the seller or only the buyer, the are legally obliged to advise and guide that client as well as advise that client on how to get the best deal possible. However, when a Realtor is double ending a sale, this is no longer the case, they are required to remain neutral and not help either side gain an advantage in the negotiation per se, they are instead placed in a role of helping the process along by being a guide to the property selling process. In my opinion, this a situation where the Realtor is the real winner because they get twice the cash for keeping the deal together, and both clients are left wondering if they won too or not. Yes, this is legal, and yes having a policy against it is quite uncommon among Realtors. (For obivou$ reason$.)

This is why if you were to list a home with me, and I found you a buyer myself, I would pass them on to a different Realtor or complete the sale by offering them "no agency". Only if you, the seller gave me express instructions, would I make an exception to my policy. For the seller, this means that once you hire me to be on your side, I will stay that way all the way through. I'm your hired gun. For my clients who are buyers, this means that they can have confidence that the houses I am taking them to view are chosen because it's what they are looking for, and not what I want them to be looking for.

I Give Free Estimates of the Market Value of Your Home. If you think you might be interested in putting your home on the market, you will of course want to get some idea of what it might sell for. I offer that service for no charge. I will give you only the facts, and not try to entice you into selling your home by telling you that it's worth more than it really is to get you to list your property with me. Sometimes, people chose a Realtor based on how much the Realtor tells them the property is worth. This is unwise. The market decides what a property is worth, not a Realtor. A property that is overpriced is unlikely to sell, and is more likely to be free advertising for the Realtor via the sign on the lawn than a likely sale for the seller.

I Don't Cold Call. I hate telemarketers, and I know that I'm not the only one. Some Realtors make it a standard part of their practice to find new clients by getting out the phone book and going through the numbers. Although, I don't think of this practice as immoral, I think of it as a public annoyance. I'll only call you first if I have reason to believe that you might be in need of my services. (Like someone you know said you were looking for a place, or to sell your place.) I know how annoyed I get when someone interrupts my day to try to sell me something I don't need or want while they pretend to be polite while they are being rude enough to call me at home to try to make money off of me. Why would I inflict that on others?