I’ve always had an entrepreneurial drive. At 13 years old, I discovered the online marketplace eBay. I began scouring my parents’ house for things to sell. I was so happy to show my parents that I could sell anything and everything – online. I loved making a quick buck so much that I started my own auction website. I sold cell phones, mattresses, and even a brand new ford mustang!
The website got a lot of media attention. I was that basement teenager with a money-making tech startup. As I got older, my responsibilities and focus shifted to getting an education. I moved from Calgary to the West Coast in 2010. What a change of scenery and perspective!
While living in Victoria, I noticed real estate was so entrenched into the BC culture. Everyone had an opinion on the real estate market. During my second year of university, I wrote my real estate salesperson exam. I thought of it as a great way to make some money.
I had low overhead, high tech abilities, and lived in one of the most expensive areas of Canada. It was a lot of work to get started. I had to build my skills as a REALTOR® from scratch. I had no family in town nor an established network.
I knew I was entering a difficult business and industry. Real estate is one of the few industries that technology hasn’t yet been able to disrupt. It’s an old-school relationship business. It requires years of networking to establish trust and referrals.
I saw the way deals get done were archaic. Buyers couldn’t find the information they wanted. Sellers struggled with emotions and organization. Agents were still using fax machines. The agencies had poor marketing. The rules and regulations governing how agents operate were antiquated. The service expectation was quite low.
I continued on the real estate pathway, craving to find a solution. I wanted to get deeper into the industry. I started out as a residential Realtor to get a taste for it. Then I got a job as a real estate analyst for one of Canada’s largest institutional owners. Then as a commercial land broker for some of the biggest multinational brokerage houses in Vancouver.
I realized that in order to innovate or make any meaningful change, meant I needed to start my own company. So I worked hard to get my managing broker license. And 8X Real Estate was born. I had the freedom to innovate in an industry that is so reluctant to change.
8X is carefully designed to be different. It is a real estate agency that believes in open data. After all, a more transparent marketplace benefits everyone. 8X is a company that isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Just because it’s the way it’s always been done, doesn’t mean it’s the way it should be done. We use technology in a way that provides value to clients instead of take advantage.
Clients choose to work with me because I’m simple, honest, and reliable. There’s no sleazy sales tactics or surprises. Everyone I come into contact with is treated fairly and with respect. I take the time to listen to your needs. I focus on finding solutions, not on limitations. You can trust that no stone will be left unturned. That’s how real estate should be done.
