uncommon for a veteran like myself, with close to four decades in this business, to sell to three or four generations in the same family.”
Andrade emphasized the importance of regular communication and personal touches. “I am a big and strong proponent of the personal touch. I love handwritten notes, telephone calls, and visits to past and current clients,” he said. “This keeps us in touch; it makes us good human beings and professionals. It makes so much sense.”
Being active in all aspects of your community
Tim Somerville, a REALTOR® with Royal LePage Atlantic in Saint John, New Brunswick, believes that REALTORS® should show their communities that they are people too. His team is working on bringing the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event to Saint John this year after participating last year in Fredericton. They also sponsor movie nights at local theaters and participate actively in community events.
“We put everything into it,” said Somerville. “I’m constantly involved in the community. When they see me, it’s not just because of real estate—if they see we are putting everything into our community efforts, then they know we’ll do the same when selling their home.”
Mike Heddle, a broker with Royal LePage State Realty in Hamilton, Ontario, noted that top-performing REALTORS® share this mindset.
He takes more of a consultative approach rather than just being a salesperson by building long-term relationships with clients through various services such as renting out movie theaters for screenings or sending home equity reports around tax time.
“We’re primarily referral-based—we don’t spend much on billboards or traditional marketing,” he explained. “It’s about delivering value and checking-in regularly so that when someone thinks about real estate transactions, my name is at the forefront.”
If you have tips on how to build lasting relationships with clients or want to share your experiences as an agent staying connected over time, feel free to leave your thoughts below!
The article highlights the impactful community efforts of various REALTORS® across Canada, showcasing how they have stepped up during challenging times and built lasting relationships with their clients.
- Community Support During Crisis: Phil Moore, a broker in Burnaby, BC, collaborated with local REALTORS® to organize helicopter runs delivering food and supplies to over 1,200 people cut off by flooding in 2021. This initiative demonstrated the commitment of real estate professionals to their communities beyond transactions.
- Personal Connections: Laura Keller from Carleton Place emphasizes maintaining personal connections with clients over the years through thoughtful gestures like birthday messages and hosting events such as family portrait sessions and Thanksgiving parties. Her approach has fostered friendships that extend beyond business.
- Emotional Engagement: Manny Andrade from Toronto focuses on the emotional aspects of real estate transactions, recognizing them as significant life events for clients. He advocates for regular communication through handwritten notes and phone calls to strengthen relationships.
- Active Community Involvement: Tim Somerville from Saint John is involved in various community activities including sponsoring local events and coaching sports teams, which helps him connect with residents on a personal level rather than just as a REALTOR®.
- Consultative Approach: Mike Heddle from Hamilton takes a consultative approach by offering services that add value beyond traditional sales tactics—like renting movie theaters for client screenings—fostering long-term relationships based on trust and support.
these REALTORS® illustrate that being active in their communities and nurturing personal connections can lead to successful careers built on referrals rather than conventional marketing strategies. The emphasis is placed not only on selling homes but also on making meaningful contributions to society while building lasting client relationships.
