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: Eugenia Evans
Brokerage: Evans Real Estate, Brokerage
Personal Channels: LinkedIn | Instagram
Years of Experience: 30
Areas of focus: West End Toronto, Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton
THE INSIGHTS
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Mississauga, in the same house my mother still owns.
What neighbourhood do you live in now?
My husband and I live in Swansea, just west of High Park.
What made you want to become a real estate agent?
Pregnant with first child, decided I didn’t want a traditional 9-5 career, and we had just purchased a waterfront property and enjoyed the process, so decided to look into it as a career where I could have flexibility to raise my family. It was challenging with many ups and downs but with perseverance, a good support network, and three children later, I made it!
What's the biggest challenge you see in the market today?
A large influx of agents getting into the business with very little brokerage supervision and training. This is leading to the general erosion of the public’s trust in the industry.
What's the single best advice you have for sellers?
Do not choose an agent because they tell you what you want to hear! Also, once you decide to sell your home, disassociate yourself from it to make better selling decisions.
What's the single best advice you have for buyers?
Choose your agent wisely and then work closely with them and their team, and have patience.
What's the best thing a realtor can invest in for their brand (a bus bench ad, a solid Instagram strategy, etc.)?
Public speaking training. When managing, I found the most successful agents where ones that could effectively communicate both one-on-one and to a large crowd.
Who do you look up to in the industry and why?
This is not in my DNA.
Is there anything you wish people knew or understood about realtors that you think they're constantly getting wrong?
The perception that it is an ‘easy’ career when in fact the drop-out rate is quite high. We are not all sipping Pina Coladas by the poolside while brokering deals LOL!
Tell us about your favourite (or most memorable) sale.
Many memorable ones, but when our team is able to assist making something happen that a client never expects, it’s the best feeling! I recall a seller who was so excited she almost threw an offer up in the air with glee. A single mom whose ex-husband had really taken advantage of the situation and she was left with little but was not bitter and very positive. The home was not on one of the best streets, the kitchen did not have cupboards, it had two furnaces, and was sloping but we staged it and made the home as inviting as possible. Bottom line, she received a number of offers but the top offer was substantially higher and substantially more than her wildest expectations. I had jokingly suggested that she not say ‘Whoopee’ if there was a really good offer on the table, not wanting to give the buyer agent any clues about their offer. She later told me she was thankful I said this as that was her first instinct. I'm happy when good things happen to good people!
What are the three words you hope your clients use to describe you?
Trustworthy. Knowledgeable. Achiever.
What's your favourite thing to do outside of selling houses?
Travel! Travel! Travel!
