In today’s market, buying a home in Toronto can feel overwhelming. Especially if you and your real estate agent don’t click.

Look, you’re about to make one of the biggest purchases of your entire life, so it makes sense that you want to feel like you and your agent are on the same team.

Need help finding a realtor you want to team up with? Here are the 5 winning qualities to look out for…

1. The ability to understand your unique needs.

   While each person’s situation (and needs!) are different, there’s one thing we’ve all got in common: We’re women. And when it comes to finding our future home, a top priority is safety. In this scenario, you absolutely need an agent who understands the woman’s perspective. I’m not saying your realtor must be female, but the shared experience of looking over our shoulders when we walk home at night creates an understanding or bond that certainly helps. Bonus points if your realtor takes the time to check out that home you were eyeing in a less than ideal neighbourhood — and then talks you out of purchasing it.

2. Someone who listens… and cares.
   

   When you’re making an important life decision (like buying a home), you want to be sure your realtor is listening to your questions, your concerns and your dreams. If not, you’re going to be wasting a lot of time visiting places that just aren’t you. Worse, you might feel pressured to buy when your heart isn’t there. This is why you need a realtor that has your best interests at heart, someone you trust to go on this very personal journey with you. So don’t ignore any red flags! (Bad listener? Red flag!)

3. Excellent communication skills.
   

   A winning real estate agent should be actively communicating with you throughout your home-buying journey. It is their job to educate you every step of the way… so that you have the knowledge to make the right decision for you. Want to find out if a potential realtor has these must-have skills? Check out their social media presence. (I’m not kidding!) If it’s non-existent, that’s not necessarily a bad thing (not everyone has the time for Instagram). But if it does exist, it’s the perfect way to get to know them before you commit to using their services. Think about it: This is their opportunity to communicate who they are to the world. You will very quickly learn if they come across as knowledgeable and likeable (see #7) — or just plain arrogant. If they make a bad first impression (or if their writing has one too many spelling mistakes), I say: move on to the next!

4. An eagle eye.

   From scoping out the safety of a neighbourhood to imagining the possibilities on your behalf, you’ll want your agent to have the unique ability of seeing beyond what is presented to you. Sure, everything looks gorgeous in a glossy brochure, but your realtor’s amazing attention to detail should mean she’ll find possible issues that don’t immediately meet the eye. Bonus points if she has an eye for design, and is able to see beauty where others can’t. (Because sometimes beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.)

5. Going above and beyond is the rule — not the exception.
   

   Viewing what may be your future home should never feel like a rush job. You need to know that your realtor will make the time to let you take your time. Buying a new home is a huge decision, and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Your agent should be willing to go the extra mile, do the research, answer your questions (and more).

If you want an agent with all 5 of these winning qualities, look no further! When it comes to understanding your unique needs, I am your (wo)man. Not only did I co-found a successful women’s organization in Canada, I am passionate about empowering women by creating networking opportunities, fostering powerful connections, or by helping them achieve financial independence… through real estate!

And, the truth is, I do this sort of stuff because I care.

I’ve been told I’ve got a special knack for hearing what those around me truly need or want (i.e., I actively listen), so helping you find your dream home (not to be confused with someone else’s dream home!) is something that comes naturally to me.

I’m also pretty great at connecting, communicating and —  yes — even negotiating. (Ask me about the time a connection of mine resulted in some hefty funding that helped get our struggling organization on its feet.) And did I tell you I have a background in design and marketing? Eagle eye — check!

A final thought: When it comes to going above and beyond, know this: I owned a successful digital marketing agency for 15 years. And if you know anything about entrepreneurs, you’ll know that going above and beyond is in our blood.

When it comes to how I go the extra mile with real estate, I’ll leave you with this:

“Despina took the time to know my interests, the areas I was comfortable living in, my budget, and my ‘must-haves.’ What I loved the most about working with Despina was that she never tried to oversell me on a place. She let me speak my mind and talk about what I didn’t like in order to get a better sense of what I was looking for. She showed me countless homes and always kept me up to date on what was available in the market. She even researched specific things about the areas I was looking at to help me make my decision. Despina is the most patient and kind sales representative I have ever worked with.”
–Niki K.

Long story short, I am here to help — no, empower — you. Want a real estate agent who truly gets you, one who cares enough to go the extra mile every time? That’s me.

Reach out anytime.