Gabe Kadoranian

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BUSINESS BASICS

Started as a Realtor in: 2009

Specialization: Langley, Cloverdale, North Delta, and Surrey

One-piece of advice for your clients: Don’t be afraid to be vocal. I strongly encourage my clients to voice any inquiries, concerns and feedback they may have along the way.

Why Sutton? There is great value in Sutton. There are 19 offices across the Lower Mainland and the Island we were #1 in transactions in 2011. The training and support is great and the company keeps me educated on all industry changes.

"From the initial meeting we had with Gabe we knew he was the one for us. So sure, in fact, we cancelled all other interview appointments with real estate agents that very day. He arrived prepared and really listened to us, and by the end of the meeting we knew he was genuine and sincere in the quest to find us the perfect home for our unique needs. We were most taken back with how honest he seemed and how easily we felt we could trust him. We truly felt supported by his wisdom and knowledge of the housing market. When we started to feel panicked or overwhelmed Gabe was always there to calm us down. I am so glad we had the opportunity to work with Gabe. I don’t know what we would have done without him. We talk often about what a great experience working with him was and how we happily welcomed him into our family. I can’t recommend him highly enough!!” -Erin H. and Matt P, Clients

Q & A

1. What differentiates you from the 11,000 licensed real estate agents in the Greater Vancouver area?

1. Outside the box thinker
2. Stress-free transaction
3. Honest and approachable
4. Innovative and analytical Strategies

2. What has been your favorite client experience? That’s a tough one! Earlier in the year I had clients that were first time buyers. We viewed a variety of townhomes/condos and came across a beautiful 2-bedroom condo with a fantastic view. The property was a court ordered sale (foreclosure), which meant that even after an accepted offer, we may have to compete with another offer on the court date. Additionally, if there was another offer, the amount would not be disclosed.

Prior to the court date I prepared information regarding market activity and recently sold units. From these details, I provided a recommendation on a “ceiling price” in the event they were in a multiple offer situation. On the court date, we anxiously waited at the courthouse to see if another offer was presented. The bad news, there was one. The good news, our offer was just enough, to secure the home. All our preparation and client/Realtor collaboration paid off to get the home they wanted without paying more than they needed. We definitely got the house at the best possible price!

3. What has been your favorite success story? I recently had clients that were relocating from Alberta. They were looking for a long-term family home with a rental suite. After viewing homes in a few different areas, they found the perfect one in Fleetwood. We managed to view the property on the day it was listed. I felt the property was priced well and my clients agreed and we made an offer the same day. After some intense negotiations, an accepted offer was received the following day.

Less than six months later, the same client received a job offer back in Alberta, an offer that she could not refuse. Applying my marketing strategies I was able to sell the property in three days for almost $30,000 over the original purchase price. A happy story times two!

4. What inspired you to be a Realtor? I have a passion for innovation. I like that I have the ability to tap into creative brainstorming and use outside the box concepts to help people with their biggest transactions…and I get to do this on a daily basis.

“He’s Awesome. I find him progressive, professional and I love that he’s very ethical. He’s a really great agent.” -Suzanne Carswell, Broker/Manager at Sutton Group West Coast Realty

PERSONAL SNAP SHOT

About: Gabe grew up in North Delta with his 2 brothers and sister. He now lives in Surrey and enjoys spending his free time playing the guitar, golfing and jet setting around the world.

He’s Unique because…If he weren’t a real estate agent he would be in the entertainment industry; if not that, he thinks he would enjoy saving peoples lives as a paramedic.

Likes (If you had more time, what would you do more of): Gabe likes travelling mostly because he enjoys learning new cultures and meeting all kinds of different people.

Loves (can’t live without): Golf and eating out!

THE EXTRAS

Gabe believes that clients are looking for a Realtor that is knowledgeable; first and foremost they have to know their stuff. “There also has to be chemistry so that they can be open with one another, it’s very important, ” says Gabe. “Being upfront and telling them what they need to know is key.”

The best part of Gabe’s job is meeting and helping new people and getting the opportunity to be creative and activate various ideas to achieve success for his clients.

When Gabe is not thinking of his next client campaign or realtor tour, he is updating his education through the Real Estate Board and Sutton programs and meetings. He says the hardest part of being a Realtor is stepping away. He is constantly thinking about Real Estate for most of the day and it’s hard to turn the switch off, especially when he’s always thinking of new creative business strategies.

Contact Gabe

Jon Samuel

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BUSINESS BASICS

Started as a Realtor in: 2010, but has had previous experience in property management and the banking industry in addition to completing a degree in marketing.

Specialization: Downtown Vancouver, Richmond, Vancouver West

One-piece of advice for your clients: Get a good Realtor. Don’t base your most important purchase with someone just because your neighbour’s husband’s dog walker is a Realtor on the side.

Why Sutton Seafair Realty? Sutton is well known in Canada. They offer an environment that fosters nurturing and support. I work closely with a team that celebrates each other’s strengths rather than competing against one other.

“Jon sold a place I was renting out and he dealt with the tenant and made it easy for me. He hosted open houses every weekend, both days. He sold it for the best prices in that building, even up to now I still got the best price. It was a great experience. Jon later helped me buy a place and fought for a good price. I would deal with Jon again, hands down.” -Serge, Client.

Q & A

1. What was your favorite success story? Winning a multiple offer situation for clients with other higher competing offers. I took the personal approach in speaking with the sellers. I met with them in person and explain why my clients were the right choice for their home. Both of the other offers, although higher, were sent in by email. I was physically there, and got the sellers to meet my clients. I wanted to show the connection and excitement my clients had for wanting to raise their family in the home. I’m about building strong relationships, and not just with my clients, but all parties involved.

2. Do you have an interesting client experience you would like to share? I had the opportunity to learn a lot from my first client. Working with her, I found myself getting frustrated; she was someone you would call “indecisive.” We saw at least 35 places before she was able to be confident in her choice. Going through the process was challenging, but I got to see a lot of product myself and, more importantly, it taught me to be patient and help advise on what is important to my client in finding a home. In the end she was able to get everything she wanted in a brand new home.

3. What do you do to keep yourself educated and informed on the market and regulation changes? I am constantly reading the news, latest market stats, economics, and doing my own critical analysis on Vancouver; it’s a micro-economy not like the rest of the nation, world or the US. I look closely at why we are different. I also attend the board and association educational sessions. I am always reading and I enjoy the investment I put into my career.

4. What differentiates you from the 11,000 licensed real estate agents in the Greater Vancouver area? My value as a consultant comes from combining my background and expertise with my clients’ needs. I wouldn’t recommend something that I wouldn’t do myself; I think of their money as if it were mine. I listen to what they need, give them their options and advise them so that they are confident in their decisions.

I work closely with a successful team of Realtors. We have access to 12 different languages between and we utilize this for communication with clients, language specific negotiation situations (i.e. international buyers) and the people who list their home with us love us for it!

I do what I can do go above and beyond. I had one client that had the installation of new countertops as a part of their conditions. They had a limited timeline and could only picked them up between 9-5pm; within hours and a location they couldn’t get to with their work schedule. It was nothing for me to make the drive to Abbotsford to pick up and deliver so they could be installed before completion. My clients are still so thankful for my little gesture, but its something I would do for any of my family of clients.

"Having had joint meetings with Jon, I am proud to call him one of my colleagues. Jon’s patience and client care shines through with his thoughtful questions and with his discussions with his clients. From my experience, Jon listens to his clients and tries to understand the root of their issues before finding a solution – a practice that provides better results and happier clients. If you speak with Jon just once you will know what I mean." -Eitan Pinsky, RBC Mortgage Specialist

PERSONAL SNAP SHOT

About: Family is the most important thing in Jon’s life. He is thankful for having such a strong foundation and support system. There aren’t too many things he would put in front of his career, but family is one of them

He enjoys the outdoors in both summer and winter and is looking forward to snowboarding. However, he took advantage of the extended summer by filling in activities such as biking along the sea wall. He manages to also fit in wine tastings, art shows and hanging out with friends.

He’s Unique because… 1. If he weren’t a Realtor he would be a therapist. 2. He likes to spend some of his driving time learning new languages or listening to people that inspire him.

Likes (If you had more time, what would you do more of): Expanding his business or coming up with creative ways to help people. Continually improving his level of service.

Loves (can’t live without):  What he does for work and eating out while trying new restaurants. Ideally he loves combining his loves together, like having a business meeting over dinner or talking about investments over a beer or scotch. He likes meeting with his clients in a relaxed atmosphere; it makes it more enjoyable to talk about money, investments and real estate.

THE EXTRAS

Jon loves that he gets to help people write a part of their life story and build relationships that he truly values. Though there can be challenges in working with uncooperative realtors from time to time Jon thinks his clients know how enthusiastic he is about what he does and can easily see how much he cares about their needs, support and efforts to go above and beyond. To do even the small things that can make a big difference to a client’s experience.

Jon’s believes his best feature is his ability to give objective advice based on the client’s needs. He works with a variety of clients, but has typically attracted first time homebuyers (FTHB) or investors. He takes the time needed with FTHB to walk them through the process, nurture their needs and calm their nerves. With investors, Jon has a background in banking and property management that allows him to cut straight to the dollars and cents. He is also able to review the target demographic for rentals and take a holistic perspective on the investment.

He genuinely likes helping other people and, being a real estate agent, he feels he can offer his expertise to family and people he cares about.

Contact Jon (in any of 10 languages)

Michael Tudorie

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BUSINESS BASICS

Started as a Realtor in: Early 2010

Specialization: Vancouver West, Vancouver East, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Richmond.

One-piece of advice for your clients: Hire the right Realtor. Do your due diligence and interview 3 or 4 agents; it will make or break your experience and your bottom line.

Why Dexter Associates Realty? Michael previously worked in the hospitality industry in boutique hotels. Dexter is a boutique brokerage so it was a perfect fit. He doesn’t see himself working for one of the larger companies.

“We had our property listed and went through two different Realtors without any success over an eight month period. Once we met Michael our home sold within a month. We were very impressed. He worked very hard and had a lot of action in a short amount of time.” -Ian Brown, Client

Q & A

1. Do you have a favorite client experience? I met this older couple who never felt comfortable with a realtor, but were considering selling their home. I spent some time with them to talk about it. We ended up listing their home and selling within two weeks. They had purchased their home 25 years ago and are now financially set to live comfortably through retirement. They stayed within their neighborhood, moving to a nearby senior’s home where they have full care services. I still visit them now.

2. What is your favorite success story? A client had their house on the market for the past year and a half with no adjustments or changes to the listing. When I took the listing over, I was able to market it properly, promote it through showings and sold it at their asking price within 45 days.

3. What inspired you to be a Realtor? I was in the hospitality industry and I would have had to move away if I wanted to move up. It seemed like a natural transition to move to real estate; another “people” job. I would have loved to start earlier, however, I feel the background I have has added to my success.

4.What differentiates you from the 11,000 licensed real estate agents in the Greater Vancouver area?

1. Business skills to understand people’s needs and wants.
2. Trust
3. Follow up

I don’t just focus on the client’s immediate real estate needs, but provide solutions for the whole experience. For example, I had a client with lots and lots of stuff. They were very concerned with packing and moving it. I listened to their needs and I recommended a company I knew who could help organize and pack everything. They had no idea these companies existed. They were so happy with the referral. It only took four hours for them to complete; something the clients swore would have taken them a week to do themselves.

I stay in contact with my clients in various ways; this October I partnered with a landscaping company to do a pumpkin delivery – Fun things like that.

I also have a special interest in helping new immigrants, as I have been there myself. I have dealt with various cultures and customs and can help ease any of the challenges that can be experienced during the transition of being new to Canada.

"I have worked together with Michael at Dexter and have found him to be a very sincere honest guy. We worked closely on a specific project and he came across as one of the most hardworking realtors I know. Michael’s philosophy is building long term business relationships with buyers and sellers and making sure that they enjoy the whole experience from beginning to end. He’s a great guy!”-Kathrine Light, Realtor, Dexter Associate

PERSONAL SNAP SHOT

About: Michael is married and has a 5-year-old son. Michael spent nearly 14 years living in Halifax followed by 2 years working on a cruise line as administration staff before he moved to Vancouver. He has bought and sold many of his own properties within the Kits area over the past 17 years.

He volunteers with big brothers in Vancouver and mentors a 10-year-old within the school program. Michael also coaches soccer and has changed this year from his usual 12 to15 year-old team to working with a women’s team, The Westside Wild.

He’s Unique because…

1. If he weren’t a Realtor, he would be playing right wing in the European First division football league.
2. He listens to positive affirmation cd’s in his car, but more commonly has Team 1040 on to listen to the Canucks.

Likes (If you had more time, what would you do more of): Spending time with family and travel

Loves (can’t live without): Tim Horton’s and the Canucks!

THE EXTRAS

Michael loves meeting different people and understanding how he can help meet their needs. He enjoys the challenges each and every client presents. He prides himself on his resourcefulness to help provide options so that clients can make the best decision for themselves.

Beyond the regular real estate educational requirements, Michael is active in marketing; monitoring what has sold or been listed every day. Even though many people in Vancouver think they understand real estate, he cautions people to understand that professionals can help guide and support the process with correct and reliable information.

Michael believes clients are looking for a Realtor to solve their problems, eliminate the worry and to be proactive in the buying or selling process. He listens to clients and wants to ensure they know he has the capabilities and can be trusted to get the job done.

Contact Michael Learn more: Vancouver Sun Interview with Michael  

Shaz Karim

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BUSINESS BASICS

Started as a Realtor in: Late 2008, right when the market took a downturn, he had to work hard to create a unique foundation.

Specialization: Residential detached/attached all Vancouver East & West, downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and Tri-cities.

One-piece of advice for your clients: Take the time to find the right Realtor. When you do, it’s important to listen and have trust in them and ask questions along the way.

Why TRG The Residential Group? It’s a boutique real estate brokerage, which allows Shaz to be Shaz. He can invest in his brand and put efforts to promote him and his services. Six brokers with over 120 years of real estate experience own the business and they provide mentorship to all of their agents. Industry involvement is also important to him and the company, one of the owners was the former president of the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) and the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV).

“Our experience working with Shaz has been a pleasant surprise. His approach is refreshing and holistic. He is the consummate professional with a personalized approach, always reinforcing the feeling that he is on your team. His level of organization, attention to detail and high standard of customer service distinguish him from others. From our perspective, he has set a new standard and we look forward to continuing working with Shaz as our family grows and our real estate needs do too.” Prashant Ohri & Anjana Moitra-Ohri, Clients

Q & A

1. What differentiates you from the 11,000 licensed real estate agents in the Greater Vancouver area? My background. I have work experience in management and strategic marketing, that’s allowed me to develop skill sets, elevating the customer service experience. I’m strategic, detail-orientated, and marketing focused. In particular, when it comes to selling homes, we develop a plan and materials to target a specific demographic that the homes fit. My custom features sheets, targeted email campaigns and single property websites are a few examples of my marketing touch points compared to the cookie-cutter traditional approach.

It’s a competitive environment, which I think is good. It provides an opportunity to push and challenge the boundaries. For me, entering the industry in a down market was a good test, and forced me to show my unique attributes in order to set myself apart.

2. What is your favorite success story? When I started in real estate, my first client was my mom. A couple came in to view the home and didn’t have a Realtor. I spent some time to get to know them and understand their needs. We realized this home wasn’t right for them. After my open house, I took them for a drive around to show them some different neighborhoods. Two weeks later I got a call from them asking me to be their Realtor. They didn’t have a mortgage broker yet, so I set them up with a contact, got them pre-qualified and showed them several homes. We soon found a home put in an offer and purchased. They then referred me to their brother who wanted to sell. My mom’s listing actually resulted in getting me three clients and my business just grew from there.

3. What inspired you to be a Realtor? Three things:

1. My dad was in real estate in the 80’s and it really shaped who I am today.
2. Having had personal experiences with a few different realtors, I felt that the whole process could be done better. I thought that, if I were ever to get into Real Estate, I could change it to be more effective.
3. I have a background that compliments real estate well. My management, marketing and communications experience is something that really sets me apart…there aren’t many real estate agents that have my type of resume.

4. What do you think clients look for in a real estate agent and what do you think clients should look for in a real estate agent? I think clients look for someone that is personal, understands their needs and goals, and someone that is confident.

What they should also consider when seeking a real estate agent is what added value they will bring. Look at the services offered and the type of person they want to work with.

Each buyer has their own individual needs. Whether it be for investment, first time buying, or moving up the property ladder, I’ve developed a unique program to deliver based on their needs.

Sellers, I mentioned, we take the time to develop a plan that specifically targets the demographic we are focusing on. A Realtor should be investing their time and resources to represent the property they are marketing. Out of the 11,000 realtors how many are full-time and make the investment that is needed for their clients.

I do things to help educate my clients. For example, I have a great deal of experience reviewing Strata documentation. Clients may not understand them, so I help to break them down to their simplest form. I let them read first and then we review together and make a summary list of questions we have regarding the documents. The better we understand these documents, the more confident we are in moving forward in purchasing the property.

“Sincere, amazing and thorough Realtor to work with. He is a very thoughtful person. I can always count on him; he has always been there for me. A professional, dynamic and I repeat, amazing person!” Angela Chase, Realtor, TRG The Residential Group

PERSONAL SNAP SHOT

About: Shaz grew up in North Burnaby and lived and went to school there for over 20 years. He now lives in Vancouver and is very familiar with many of the downtown residential buildings. As well his main office is located in downtown at 849 Homer Street. He enjoys running, biking, skiing, travel and generally being outdoors in the summer months. His background is in marketing, sales, and management, which he is actively applying to his real estate career by creating a unique value proposition for his clients.

He’s Unique because…

1. He is a strata guru. Having sat on a number of different councils, Shaz has gained a thorough knowledge of strata process and documents
2. If he weren’t a real estate agent he would be in brand development, strategy and communications.

Likes (If you had more time, what would you do more of): He likes getting up early in the morning and going for a good workout and having a good breakfast. He likes to try to have a balanced day, challenging to do in the real estate industry, but he make sure he takes time out to breathe, de-stress and start fresh.

Loves (can’t live without): Shaz loves food from different cultures, trying diverse and new things as well as exploring anything.

THE EXTRAS

He believes his clients see him as an up front, organized, strategic and strong communicator. He feels that his marketing background is one of his best features. He loves that every day is different and that he can never know what to expect or who is going to call him next. His least favorite part of the job is all the tedious administration. Shaz would much rather be hanging out with his client than managing documents; there’s a lot of paperwork in the job which clients don’t see, but its necessary.

There isn’t one type of clientele that Shaz works with, “Everyone is so different” he says. However, last year most of his clients were first time homebuyers or clients starting a family that needed to upgrade to more space.

He keeps up with his professional development courses and fits in more than the minimum required credits. He attends speaking engagements and industry discussions to learn and understand different opinions being shared within the industry.

Contact Shaz

Ania Boddy

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BUSINESS BASICS

Started as a Realtor in: 2010, but was working in commercial real estate since early 2006.

Specialization: Downtown Vancouver & surrounding areas

One-piece of advice for your clients: Buyers: shop around, feel comfortable & informed. Be confident in the purchase you are making. Sellers: Get educated on your local market; especially with comparable properties and current pricing. In today’s challenging market, a solid marketing plan and fair price will get your home sold.

Why Sotheby’s Canada? Ania took her time to figure out what firm she wanted to work with and represent. Sotheby’s reputation and quality was key. It took three interviews to complete the hiring process and she feels this speaks volumes about her and the company. Sotheby’s and Ania go above and beyond, investing time and the right marketing tools for their clients. Even though Sotheby’s offers high-quality and reputable service it doesn’t come at a higher fee, something she thinks is a common misconception with the brand.

“Working with Ania has truly been remarkable. Her knowledge, experience and uncanny ability to listen and understand her clients, exemplify what the buying and selling of a home should be: excellent and professional.” David Hung, Realtor, Sotheby’s Canada

Q & A

1. What differentiates you from the 11,000 licensed real estate agents in the Greater Vancouver area? I care and take time with my clients. It’s all about finding the right space for them. Most of my business is based in & around downtown and this requires a good eye; the market here is flooded with poorly planned spaces. Whether you are an investor or the space is for you; this is a big investment and it should be done right.

I like to keep things fun. I’m a causal person in general and I spend a lot of time with my clients so it’s important that I build trust, rapport and communication with them.

I love to shop and I always like getting a deal. It’s a trait that fits well with the job. Sometimes making an informed decision requires a good amount of research, viewings & negotiations. It’s an exciting and rewarding experience.

I also try to exceed all required educational components of the job and incorporate social media, real estate blogs and news articles to stay current.

2. Who has been your most interesting client? One of my first clients, was full of surprises. First, it was the type of property she was interested in. She fell in love with the idea of a Gastown loft, not commonly sought after by the 50-60 year-old demographic. Secondly, she really appreciated architecture; it was important to her for her home. Lastly, she was very decisive. She knew exactly what she wanted and was quick to make decisions.

3. What was your favorite success story? My clients were renting a unit Downtown and their landlord decided to sell. They wanted to stay. We were in a multiple offer situation and we lost. But it actually ended up being a huge blessing in disguise. After a number of weeks of viewing properties, we found a fantastic townhouse in Fairview with a roof top deck and amazing city views. They were able to get financing for purchase + improvements and did some fantastic renovations before they moved in. They now have a much larger space that will likely be suitable to them to grow into for a number of years. The value was incredible; I haven’t seen anything like it, at a similar price point, on the market since. They found a much better value per square foot when compared to the multiple offer location and were able to make the place their own with the renovations.

4. What inspired you to be a Realtor? My life coach. I was already four years into the commercial real estate industry and had always considered becoming a commercial broker. Through a series of sessions and reflection we realized that residential real estate would be a better fit for me. I’ve never looked back.

“Ania was a fantastic guide on our journey to our first home–from the late night bids to the final touches on our renovation. We really valued Ania’s advice, support and her great taste! We look forward to working with her again.” Kim and Morgan, Clients

PERSONAL SNAP SHOT

 About: Ania is from the Burnaby/Coquitlam area, but has lived downtown for the past 7 years. She loves the city and the active, outdoor lifestyle that Vancouver offers; it is home to her. Recently married, she hopes to stay and raise her family there if the means allow at that time. Her life is full of social events, friends, and skiing. She and her husband enjoy heading up to Whistler often enough that they now dream of adding a vacation home there one day.

She has a strong background in commercial real estate, but knows that residential homes are her passion.

She’s Unique because…

1. She is trilingual; English, Polish & French

2. If she weren’t a Realtor she would likely be in a specialty sales representative role selling something she knows and enjoys; most likely one of her favorite beauty products. Although she is tech-savvy, she would most definitely not be software sales!

Likes (If you had more time, what would you do more of):  She likes cooking, a new acquired inspiration courtesy of her husband. Her mom was very busy – working full time and raising two kids, so she grew up eating the same dinners all the time. She now has a new appreciation as her husband has opened her eyes to many new foods over the years.

She is getting into golf and plans to take lessons. It’s a challenging sport yet quite peaceful at the same time. Also in the plans this year is more time on the ski hill. She has her eyes set on keeping up with a people (in particular) and this will require more skill and confidence.

Ania also enjoys spending time with her family and cute little nephews! She is excited to start a family of her own one-day… although adamant that it is still a few years away.

Loves (can’t live without): A small latte from JJBean or 49th Parallel. Coffee has a special place in her heart.

She loves getting together with friends and having a great meal out. Preferably at a restaurant that is creating a buzz around town.  Overall she just wants to always be active and refuses to be lazy!

THE EXTRAS

Ania’s favorite part of her job is when it comes time to provide her clients with the keys to their new home or leaving her sellers with a congratulatory parting gift. She knows it’s an exciting time for the client; but she shares in that emotion.

Her clients have typically been first-time homebuyers or people looking to make an upgrade on the home front.

Although there can be challenges in the job, such as dealing with unknowledgeable, unprofessional and disorganized Realtors, she believes that one of her best features is that she is a very positive person and it rubs off on her clients and associates. She’s known as a fun and enjoyable person to spend time with; an attribute that is key when spending many hours together on the hunt for a new space or negotiating the sale of a home.

Contact Ania