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: André Parisien
Brokerage: Engel & Völkers Tremblant
Personal Channels: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Years of Experience: 24
Areas of focus: Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort
THE INSIGHTS
Where did you grow up?
L’Orignal, Ontario, a small community near Hawkesbury, about an hour from the City of Ottawa.
What neighbourhood do you live in now?
Mont-Tremblant, Quebec, a few minutes away from the ski resort Station Mont Tremblant.
What made you want to become a real estate agent?
I was skiing at Mont Tremblant when Intrawest approached me to join the sales team for new real estate development projects on the resort.
What’s the biggest challenge you see facing the market today?
The current real estate market is facing a significant challenge due to high interest rates, which may lead to an eventual surplus of inventory.
What’s the single best advice you have for sellers?
You need to set a realistic price for your home when it is time to sell it, as well as consider home staging to make the house more appealing to buyers.
What’s the single best advice you have for buyers?
To maximize capital gain, consider investing in a property during the beginning stages of the development of a new project.
What’s the best thing a real estate professionals can invest in for their brand (a bus bench ad, solid Instagram strategy, etc.)?
Building relationships with clients is a priority. I like to get time with my clients outside of the office, getting to know them personally by meeting over dinner or organizing events like ski trips.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
Anthony Hitt, President and CEO of Engel & Völkers Americas. Why? Anthony is a true motivator and a skillful communicator, passionate about everything he does.
Is there anything you wish people knew or understood about real estate professionals that you think they’re constantly getting wrong?
Clients are often trying to negotiate the commission: 1. The commission is included in the sale price, so it is not a cost for them. 2. It's understandable that sometimes clients may not fully appreciate the amount of effort and resources that go into making a sale. However, we believe that our commission accurately reflects the value we bring to the table, and we are committed to providing excellent service and results for our clients.
Tell us about your favourite (or most memorable) sale.
We had a project that was selling by fractional ownership, and the client was buying one tenth of the unit. My client purchased one chapter at a sales price of $246,000. Six months later, they returned to buy the whole project plus the land to build more units for about $36 million in sales. Never judge the impact one sale can make in the long term!
The three words you hope your clients use to describe you.
Honesty, punctuality and efficiency.
What’s your favourite thing to do outside of selling houses?
My favourite thing to do outside of selling houses is skiing and boating.
