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Consulting a REALTOR®

REALTORS® are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association who subscribe to a Code of Ethics and Standards of Business Practice. Members of the Victoria Real Estate Board are members of both the British Columbia and Canadian Real Estate Associations.

• A REALTOR® will fully explain the details of your working relationship (called "agency") so that you are clear as to when a REALTOR® is working for you or for the seller.
• A REALTOR® has access to hundreds of current listings of homes for sale because of a co- operative system called the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®).
• A REALTOR® can provide you with a customized list of homes that best meet your needs -- size, style, features, location, proximity to schools, shopping, etc. - and then make arrangements for you to view those homes that appeal to you the most.
• A REALTOR® will help you determine how big a home you can afford.
REALTORS® are familiar with the local lending market and can offer helpful advice.
• A REALTOR® has no emotional ties to any type or style of home and can be objective in pointing out the merits of one home over another.
• A REALTOR® will have information on zoning changes, taxes, utility costs and school and recreation services that could affect your decision to buy a home in a specific area.
• A REALTOR® will assist you in negotiating the terms of your purchase, which can be a nerve- wracking process for someone who is not experienced in negotiating.
• A REALTOR® will advise you of the legal process required in obtaining title and taking possession of your property; the costs associated with buying a home such as insurance, mortgage registration and legal fees will be explained in detail.

Source: Victoria Real Estate Board 2015

Selling Your Home - Why it Pays to Use a REALTOR®

Before selling your home, you will need a clear understanding of the legal issues and potential pitfalls. One wrong action could result in a lot of cost and frustration, which is why it is essential to have a REALTOR® working with you, as he or she will make the sale of your home a successful and satisfying experience.

REALTORS® use the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) to give your home maximum exposure. MLS® is a computer-based system that relays valuable information about your home to hundreds of REALTORS® and potential homebuyers.

Setting a price for your home is an important but difficult process. Again, this is where the services of a REALTOR® prove invaluable. REALTORS® have the experience to help you understand how the market works and decide upon a realistic price that meets your goals. REALTORS® also pre-screen potential buyers to make sure only those who are serious and financially qualified view your home.

REALTORS® will also develop a marketing plan to help your property receive maximum exposure. This will likely include placing your home on the MLS® system and placing a "For Sale" sign on the front lawn. The plan will likely also include arranging open houses for other REALTORS® and potential buyers, and developing advertisements and feature sheets/mailers to market your home.

Once you have accepted an offer to buy your home, your REALTOR® will help ensure that all the proper paperwork is completed. He or she will also make sure that both parties meet the necessary conditions outlined in the agreement.

When you work with a REALTOR® you will likely get a better price for your home than if you try to sell it yourself. Apart from the financial benefits, however, there is an extra measure of comfort and security that comes from having a REALTOR® on your side. Remember that REALTORS® are governed by a code of ethics and standards of business practice. They have also been trained and licensed under the provincial Real Estate Services Act to assist in transactions involving real property. When it comes to buying or selling property, using a REALTOR® just makes sense.

Source: Victoria Real Estate Board 2015

Alannah Brenan

Local Island Realtor born and raised.

Proudly serving Vancouver Island for over 20 years. 

As a Licensed Realtor and Property Manager I have seen many changes on Vancouver Island over the years. Let me share with you my knowledge and expertise of Island living and the best locations to call "HOME".  Whether you are looking for that “perfect” home to purchase, or you want to sell your home, I can help.  I specialize in Residential Real Estate, and can represent you as either a Buyer's or Sellers' Agent.  

I guarantee honest, enthusiastic, courteous, professional service and proven results - ALWAYS. 

Call or email me today and let's get started!

"Making dreams a Reality"

Testimonials:

In 2020 my husband and I were supposed to go on a trip to Europe for our wedding anniversary, but due to Covid we had to reassess our plans and decided that if we couldn’t go on vacation, we would upgrade our staycation. At the time we owned a lovely condo but had outgrown it and had been looking casually at house listings. When we took the plunge and decided to look seriously, it was an easy decision to pick Alannah Brenan as our Realtor. Not only has she worked on Vancouver Island for 20 years, but her reputation for being hardworking, friendly, and dedicated to finding the best fit for her clients is well known.

Alannah got right to work helping us with all the details we needed to list our condo as it was a first for both of us to sell any real estate. She made the drive from Victoria to Duncan multiple times to help us determine price, staging, and what upgrades such as painting we should do before listing. With her help our condo not only sold within the week but at a higher price than we thought possible!

While she was helping us sell the condo, she was also helping us simultaneously look for a home. Including her drives up for the condo she made separate trips up to show us houses, all while following Covid safety protocols. When we found the perfect once she got right to work for us, answering any questions we had promptly and making sure to go over every legal document with us by phone or in person before we signed anything. She made the process of purchasing such a large investment easier and much less stressful.

Alannah not only did all that, she also connected us to an amazing mortgage broker who got us an amazingly low rate for our mortgage!

Without a doubt if we ever need to sell or buy property again, Alannah Brenan is our go to Realtor.

The Wheelock’s

"You will not regret listing your house with Alannah!  She has access to top-notch marketing tools that exceeded our expectations.  We lived hundreds of kilometers away from our house that was listed with her; she took incredible care of the house, our needs, the needs of realtors showing the home as well as those of the buyer.  She is down-to-earth and a master communicator.  She is an excellent listener who very promptly and methodically addresses any and all needs or concerns that arise.   She is incredibly patient, kind and compassionate.  

 Her decades of experience as a realtor have gifted her with great wisdom.  She provides advice gently and without any expectations.  She is highly considerate of the needs of everyone involved in every single showing, offers that come in but fall through, right down to all that leads up to the exciting date of completion, including the needs of legal parties.  She is a real estate lawyer's dream!  She will get your paperwork to the legal team as soon as she can, well in advance of when they actually require it.  She works FOR you...always."

Laura & Noel 

Alannah is a true professional in her field. Purchasing a house in BC while living in Ontario during a pandemic represents a unique challenge. Her local area and industry knowledge, candid advice and attention to detail thought out the process was invaluable to us.

I would not hesitate to enthusiastically recommend Alannah to anyone contemplating a house sale or purchase in this area.

Keith & Nancy

Alannah made selling our income property as smooth and seamless as possible.  Her professionalism was evident at every point of the sale from listing to close.  She is a fabulous communicator keeping everyone knowledgeable of the process.  It was a pleasure working with Alannah and we would highly recommend her to anyone looking to sell their home.

Ann and Dave