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And if you think that Dawn left her competitive spirit out on the ski slope, think again. “I really enjoy the give and take of negotiating,” Dawn says with a big smile. “It means that I have to know the market and that’s just another reason why I enjoy being a realtor. I’m a news hound when it comes to real estate.”
“My clients expect the best possible price whether they are selling or buying a property, so I make sure that I under-promise and over-deliver,” she says. Over 26 years of customer sales and service has ingrained this service mantra into her consciousness.
Dawn’s property management experience is particularly important when you are considering an investment property. She will guide you through the potential pitfalls of investment properties and help you weigh the merits of investment properties over RSP’s. Are you debating getting a house versus a condo? Do you have enough investment dollars to put into a multi-unit property or are you nervous about real estate in general?
Dawn can walk you through all the scenarios and help you make an informed decision about the real costs and potential earnings of real estate. Dawn’s property-management experience in luxury condos ensures that you’ll receive knowledgeable feedback on investment-property management issues.
With all this talk about condos and corporate experience we overlook yet another advantage that Dawn has to offer clients: acreage living. Yes, it sounds like a dream come true for many folks – a few acres and a quiet life away from the hustle of the city. As Dawn points out, “there are many factors to consider before moving to your own Green Acres. For one thing, you have to be realistic about the amount of work that is involved in maintaining them. Things become a lot more ‘hands-on’ when septic systems and (water) wells enter the picture. Dawn’s experience can help you decide if the lifestyle will suit your temperament.
“Okay,” I asked Dawn, “the real estate market is buzzing these days, but why leave the security of the corporate world for self-employment as a realtor?”
“You’re right to wonder about that,” she said with a smile, “we all know that real estate is hot right now and many people think it’s an easy career choice, but even a cursory look at the dedication required should make most people reevaluate this option. The attrition rate in realtor programs can run pretty high. At every step I had to ask myself just how committed I was to this venture.” Dawn continues, “It was the high standards of the program that convinced me that this was the right career-choice. When I interviewed with John Riseborough, owner of RE/MAX First, I was further convinced that real estate was a logical step for me. He made it clear that there is a more work and commitment involved than the general public realizes. That clinched it for me. Commitment equals outcome for both the customer and for me.”
The strength of being with an international brokerage such as RE/MAX First gives Dawn access to worldwide listings and business experience. Yes, she can locate a home for a client moving to South Africa, but while working on that, Dawn can also take advantage of the talent pool at the brokerage to ensure that a local client’s commercial venture will be worthy of both her and the RE/MAX name.
“It really helps to know that I have access to the depth of knowledge at my brokerage when I’m working on a commercial contract of up to 300 pages,“ Dawn says with a smile.
But Dawn has yet another reason to stay with RE/MAX First. The company shares Dawn’s philosophy that giving is part of life and is the second-largest supporter of the Children’s Miracle Network.
Dawn regularly contributes to the CMN’s affiliate: The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. She’s tickled to read about the many success stories in children’s health and says the foundation provides great perspective on life.
In Dawn’s spare time she “blows off steam” with acting and voice classes. Dawn’s clear enunciation and lively delivery might soon be heard on training videos and commercials. Yet another project for this dynamo’s abundant energy and “can-do” attitude is the assembly of a training program for customer relations.
Dawn is highly aware of the little things that can make a business transaction run smoothly and would love to see more company’s investing in customer relations – something she’s well-qualified to teach.
by Gabriole Wilson |
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