It's one of the things I love about Real Estate. That feeling when you are with a client, and you have helped them find and acquire the home of their dreams. Seeing the smile on their faces, the general warmth in the room. Real Estate Dreams can take many forms, they are as unique as people and families themselves.
For Anya and Chris, prospects who became clients and over the last year, and now are close friends, both with my wife and I, this dream meant a home they could afford, close to the same neighbourhood, a larger, updated home with curb appeal, an ensuite, finished basement, a fair sized private lot ... and to top it all off an in-ground pool would be even more than they could hope for!
This story begins late last spring, and resumes when I met them, much the way I meet many of my clients, via an introduction from other clients of mine. In this particular case, clients, and friends of mine, Mike and Patricia. Patricia in this particular case, called me last year, just after Thanksgiving, and told me that her daughter and son-in-law had had another baby, Charlotte, then seven months old, and were hoping to find a larger home. Patricia asked if I could help them.
I had called Patricia a week earlier and asked about Mike's health as he recuperated from surgery and we ended up talking and laughing for almost an hour. I had met Patricia and Mike earlier that year, late spring, when they dropped in on an Open House in Tecumseth Pines. They were looking for a bungalow in a area more "quiet", possibly with less children then they were currently living in. As we talked further, I realized that I had known their son and a relationship was born.
That summer we looked for bungalows in various adult communities and spread the search further to include two family homes with more land in the rural areas in South Simcoe. They entertained buying a home with their son or daughter. Our search had to come to a close as Mike was experiencing some level of discomfort and needed surgery. We put our search on hold, but not our friendship.
Anya and Chris had very specific requirements. They loved where they lived and wanted a home in a very limited number of streets (sometimes limiting their search to a particular side of a street). We found a home last November, put in an offer, and put their home on the market. Unfortunately, our offer was bumped early in the process and we lost the home we wanted and decided to take their home of the market.
I would periodically keep in touch, Helen and I were invited to their home last New Year's eve and by this time, had become family friends, Chris and Anya's middle son, Nate, is the same age as Alec.
When I would find a listing that I thought might intrigue them, I would e-mail a link to Anya, and they would reply if they were interested. I remember receiving a note from Anya earlier this summer, somewhat despondent, reflecting on her opinion of the market, and feeling that her home had dropped in value, compared to current competition, and that a move would probably not be likely. By this time, I had formed a crystal clear idea of what they love in a home.
Almost a month ago, I saw a new listing in our office. I had known the owners (having worked with the husband years ago) and knew the type of people they were and the way they kept their home. It ticked almost every box that Anya and Chris had dreamed of, including a large in-ground pool. I sent Anya the listing, and she replied that she was not interested. This surprised me, and I insisted that she have a look, that I knew both Chris and her would love this home. They drove by it that night, and let me know that they were interested.
With conflicting schedules, three children, two dogs, two cats and a bird, finding time is not always easy, but we managed to book an appointment late one evening. They both loved certain aspects of the home, but it was dark and we couldn't get a feel of the yard and views. We booked a daytime showing on the weekend, and they were both in love. As agents, we all recognize this.
Now came the fear... they had lost a home before, it was not a "good" time to sell (in their opinion), will we be able to afford it? and other questions...
We formulated a plan, submitted an offer, that was accepted and had about five weeks to sell their home with a quick closing. We listed their home that night, they worked for hours (till midnight) preparing their home for the board tour the next day. Prepared for an Open House that weekend, and the blitz was on... we had nine showings in the first two weeks, procured an offer, and as of yesterday, their home is sold.
This will be a busy Christmas, with packing mixed in with the celebrations, but yesterday, at their home, was some time to savour the feeling of them realizing their Real Estate Dreams were coming true.
This home, had served them well, Nate was seven months old when they moved here, and now will make another young couple very happy. As for them, they have acquired a home on the street they have long wanted to live on, on the side of the street that they wanted to live on, walking distance to their children's school, and also to the high school that their children will probably attend, a home only three blocks from their current home, a home large enough for them now, and in the years to come, with a huge in-ground pool. I am sure Anya and Chris slept very well last night.
I am so happy for them.
SOLD - Home for many years to a Happy Tottenham Family.
Family Sized Sidesplit in Tottenham
Overview
Maps
Photos
Features
Neighborhood
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| $309,000 |
| Single Family Home |
| Main Features |
3 Bedrooms
2 Bathrooms
1 Partial Bathroom
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| Location |
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27 Metcalf Cres
Tottenham, ON L0G 1W0
Canada
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