Professionalism With A Heart
As Seen In Divorce Magazine. Reprinted with permission
"I would never sell a home I wouldn't buy myself," says Kathy Monahan, a Forest Hill Real Estate Broker. "Divorce can cause emotional turmoil, so it may not be the best time to make important decisions. The best thing I can give my clients is honesty. If I think they should wait, I try to talk him or her out of selling. For me, it's not always about making a sale: it's about doing what I can to help people meet their needs."
With her ten years of real estate experience and a background in therapeutic nursing, Kathy has created what she calls "real estate counselling" to help her clients move on with their lives after a divorce. "Divorce is a fact of life, and something that touches everyone in one way or another," she says. "I've seen how hard it is for my friends and clients to leave a place they love and go through the stress of finding a new home, so I try to be a guiding hand."
Kathy recalls helping one client who was going through a painful divorce and needed to rent a new place quickly. "He made important decisions every day for a living, but when it came to finding a home, he knew he needed help. By working together, we found him a great new home just a few days later."
Specializing in the central Toronto area, Kathy gets most of her business from referrals from her past clients -- probably because she gives them all red-carpet treatment. "I ask each of my clients what I can do for them to make sure buying a new home or selling their home is done the way they'd like it."
If a home is being sold because of divorce, Kathy knows her clients need to feel at ease, the last thing they need is to feel that they're being pushed around or rushed into anything," she says.
"They need to have lots of input. It was their home, where they once felt secure and had good times. There are a lot of feelings attached to home, and people need to be sure they're ready to leave it."
Kathy goes out of her way to show her clients that she'll be there every step of the way: she'll bring a bottle of champagne to celebrate the closing papers, or she'll set up a free interior design consultation for new homebuyers. Her clients all agree they love her personal touch.
"I am dedicated to helping my clients in any way I can," says Kathy of her dedication. "I understand that they may be going through tough times. Being honest and giving clients my opinion is how I can meet my goal: to help my clients to make the best possible choices." |
