Welcome to Meet the Agent, an ongoing series profiling real estate agents from across Canada. With more than 150,000 agents, brokers, and salespeople working in 75 different boards and associations across the country, we thought it was about time they had a place to properly introduce themselves. If you or someone you know deserves the same chance, email agents@storeys.com to apply.
THE DETAILS
Name: David Elliott
Brokerage: Harvey Kalles Real Estate
Brokerage Website: harveykalles.com
Personal Website: davidgelliottrealestate.com
Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
Years of agent experience: 5
Area of focus: Toronto/GTA
THE INSIGHTS
Where did you grow up?
Toronto, born and raised, in the Yonge and Lawrence area.
What neighbourhood do you live in now?
Humber Bay Shores with my longtime girlfriend, Korrie. A move to midtown is likely in our future.
What made you want to become a real estate agent?
I was unhappy in my marketing career, defeated really. I had invested in real estate before, saw the financial promise, and Korrie encouraged me to do what I was interested in and loved – real estate!
What’s the biggest challenge you see facing the market today?
Every market has its challenges. The main issue facing the market today is supply. No, not interest rates – supply. The inability of all levels of government to build housing and build affordable housing has left people in a bind. Throw in the fact that one million people are coming to Canada each year – most will land in the GTA – and we have a massive housing shortfall. Where will they live? Newsflash: they aren’t bringing homes with them.
What’s the single best advice you have for sellers?
Be realistic with your price expectations, be patient, and hire a top professional who you know, like, and trust. A top agent will be able to guide you through the selling process, take stress off your plate, and most importantly sell your home for top dollar in the shortest amount of time.
What’s the single best advice you have for buyers?
If you’re a first-time homebuyer – get in the market by any means possible. You do not need your first purchase to be your dream home. You need to have a long-term investor mindset when it comes to real estate. Also, the beauty of real estate is you don’t need to invest where you live. You can find other markets that may be more affordable.
What’s the best thing a realtor can invest in for their brand (a bus bench ad, a solid Instagram strategy, etc.)?
Your face is your brand. But who you are as a person is what is going to make people want to work with you. In my opinion, the best way for people to get to know, like, and trust you is to be active on social media with video content. People want to see what you’re interested in, as well as what type of person you are. Sharing valuable real estate content is also important. The best part about social media is that it’s free.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
There isn’t one person I would say I look up to, but rather many different people for what they’re known to be the best at. Whether it’s mindset, marketing, communication, professionalism, attention to detail, etc., I try to find people who are better than me in those areas and work towards being the best I can be in each area.
Is there anything you wish people knew or understood about realtors that you think they’re constantly getting wrong?
Great question! Believe it or not, agents don’t dictate/control the market (LOL…I wish). Although it may look like most agents are wealthy, they aren’t. Nearly 65% of all agents sell 0-2 properties a year. Good agents also care about their clients. For me, it isn’t about a sale. It’s about being part of someone’s journey, getting to know them as people and, in most cases, becoming friends with them. There is no better feeling than seeing the joy on my clients' faces after a sale.
Tell us about your favourite (or most memorable) sale.
My most memorable sale was in Leslieville. It wasn’t about the property or price point. It was about the story. I helped these clients lease their first home in Toronto. I showed them the condo over FaceTime while they were on safari in Africa, if you can believe it. They ended up leasing another property with me and then bought their house in Leslieville. We’ve come a long way and now these folks are great friends.
The three words you hope your clients use to describe you
Trustworthy. Dedicated. Caring.
What’s your favourite thing to do outside of selling houses?
Food, travel, sports, and family. I love to cook and try new restaurants, visit new and exciting places around the world, get heartbroken more often than not by my beloved Toronto sports teams (we’ll always have the 2019 Larry OB), and spend time with my family.
This interview may have been edited for both length and clarity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of STOREYS.
