Get To Know Lara

April 20, 2021

Hi! I am so delighted you are here to read my first blog entry. Life is all about pushing our own comfort zones and writing a blog is definitely out of my normal comfort zone 😊. I’m not one for being in the spotlight, I tend to prefer to put the focus on others. Historically, I have not been the most prolific social media poster, preferring to keep my life private, however I know that a big part of me building awareness of my business and building your trust in me, is letting you get to know me! With this in mind, I am free falling out of my comfort zone and talking all about me for the next 500 words! Let’s go back 10 years. I was heading up the marketing team for Disney Home Entertainment Canada and it was a dream job. I loved the strategy, the negotiations and seeing my marketing plans play out. But if I’m being honest, I did spend A LOT of my free time (and maybe some down time on US conference calls) online scouring MLS.ca to see what was happening. I loved nothing more than to see what was available, what was selling and what was sitting. Sometimes I would be looking for myself, other times looking for a friend, colleague or family member. Sometimes I would just look because I found it FUN!. I loved chatting with others (especially those in Real Estate!) about GTA homes that had recently come on the market, or sold. I was one of those people that knew all the details of the latest listings for my neighbourhood when they came up in casual conversations. I spent days visiting open houses, going to showings with friends, assisting people with staging – all because I just loved doing it! My husband and I bought/sold homes a number of times and I was in heaven every time. From the strategizing on timing and price, to the staging, to the marketing and then the negotiations – I loved every minute of it. Unbeknownst to me, somewhere along the way, my passion had developed into a deep knowledge in Real Estate! Marry that up with my love to help people and the deep personal satisfaction I get when I am able to make someone’s life easier, and voila – my new career in Real Estate was born! When I’m not scouring Real Estate listings, running analytics, or meeting with clients I’m an enthusiastic hockey mom to 2 great kids, Ryan and Alexa. I’ve tried my hand at hockey (and I can tell you, those kids make it look way easier than it is!) and realized I am much better suited to stay in the stands! I’m also dog lover and #DoodleMom to Lola. Both Lola and I are super excited about the new off leash dog park coming to Scarlettwood Park! I’m actively involved in the school and church communities in my neighbourhood, and have been known to advocate when needed. In recent years, I was a leader of the community advocacy to bring a new elementary school to Etobicoke Centre (Buttonwood location) and have also been a very vocal advocate for a new secondary school for Ward 2/Etobicoke central. When I was thinking about how I could explain who I am, I came up with EXPECT BETTER. I have had my own very positive realtor experiences but have also heard of many realtor experiences that were disappointing, lacking or even down right horrific. Clients should not settle for good enough (or worse) from their Real Estate partner. They should expect nothing but the best treatment and service! They should always EXPECT BETTER! I know what it takes to deliver outstanding value so that they want to recommend me to their friends: more analytics, better insights and better service that is rooted in what the CLIENT needs and wants, not the other way around. My plan is to not be a volume agent, but to focus on fewer clients whom I can get to know on a deep level. A strong and comfortable working relationship built on trust is the way I like to work. Buying or selling a home is a major life event and we will be working closely together to accomplish this so establishing this bond is always critical for me. My goal is always to have satisfied clients that also become friends. Beyond relationship, results matter and my husband says I’m a dog on a bone when I set a goal and I know he’s right. I’m tenacious and will work tirelessly for you. I believe that where there is a will, there is a way. Hard work pays off and the more effort you put in, the better the results are for clients. Lastly I am a connector. I have lived in the west end of Toronto for practically my entire life and have extensive network of contacts and connections that I am happy to share with my clients. And if by chance I don’t have the perfect solution for you – I WILL find it!! So that’s it about me! Keep checking in on my future blogs will be as I will be sharing market news, home and life tips, community happenings, strategies to help maximize selling and buying and more! 2020 has been a difficult year, and as we get back to a new normal in 2021 and beyond, I can’t wait to meet with potential clients, to see if there is a fit for my services and hopefully add value beyond the average experience! If you are here it means you might be buying, selling or renting soon. Whether we work together or not, I wish you success!!