"They say that client service is everything. You two lead by example.
A little over two years ago Laurel and I were very interested in another property out of town. We needed a quick and dirty property evaluation, real quick. On the Saturday of the May 24th weekend, Laurel reached out to you both - can you come over NOW? Though we were aware of you (power to the advertising), we had never met.
Four hours later you came over, probably thinking 'here we go, more tire kickers, will probably never hear from them again'.
You then spent two hours, on the Saturday of the long weekend, talking to us, going through our house and giving us a list a mile long of things to do here. You were honest, direct, and realistic in what you thought our house was worth at that time.
The fact that you took the time then, on spec, meant a lot to both of us. We knew we were going to be selling relatively soon. We now knew who our listing agents were going to be.
'Relatively soon' turned out to be longer, but two years later the mile long list, plus our own long list, got done.
Your staging and promotion of our house was the best. What else can I say?
It's been a two year journey. Thank you."
Chris and Chris
"Thank you so very much for everything that you have done for us in the sale of our home and the purchase of our new home. When looking for a new house, you guys were relentlessly committed to finding us the right home that reflected everything that we hoped for and needed. When it came time to sell our home , our anxieties were quickly eased by your attention to detail , your impeccable staging work, your keen understanding of the market in our area, and your remarkable marketing strategies. Your confidence was always reassuring, and you didn't let us down! Your dedication to your work and your clients is remarkable, and we are tremendously grateful!"
Kim and Zu
"Hiring Lance and Brenda to sell our home in Leslieville was the best decision we could have made. From the minute they met us for a free consultation, we knew we were in good hands. They were patient, informed about the market and listened carefully to our needs. We were movIng to a new country and had a quick deadline. Lance and Brenda made it work beautifully. They advised us on how to best list our home, they staged it, photographed it and got flyers and brochures out in record time. It's not common for real estate agents to professionally stage and professionally photograph and include it all in the price. The fact that they can do it all as a team and do it well is a huge plus! Not only that, but they are pleasant to work with, conscientious and stay in really good touch so we always knew what was going on. It always felt like they were willing to go the extra mile - They made time for us no matter how busy their schedules were. In the end, we sold for above asking and this duo made the entire process (which can be quite stressful, especially in the dead of winter!) as painless as possible. We would definitely use them again if we move back!
Thanks for everything!"
Brad Oliver
“Lance and Brenda are truly a pleasure to work with and a professional, thorough and incredible real estate team to have working with you. From our initial discussions, we had the utmost confidence and comfort knowing we had their expertise, strategy and market knowledge on our side. Their incredible and creative staging ideas and efforts truly transformed our property; from large “property items” right down to the “ little things”, like reading glasses on a daybed, providing prospective buyers with a “feeling of home”. From a marketing and exposure perspective, Brenda and Lance truly put our property “out there” and ensured we had the highest possible visibility, especially before the listing was even published. Their informed approach to market and local trends, coupled with a well thought-out pricing strategy, maximized our property value and exceeded our expectations.
From staging to closing, Brenda and Lance were simply an awesome team to work with. Their approach, engagement and execution truly made for a business partnership in all aspects of our real estate transaction. We would strongly and without hesitation recommend others to place their sale/purchase and trust in Brenda and Lance.”
Diana and Jean Sargant
"This note is to thank you very much for the exemplary service you provided to my mother and I. You both have been extremely helpful since day 1 with all the questions, decisions and turmoil with selling a home we have owned for 27 years. Everything you advised us on worked out perfectly from the staging of the home, the timing of the listing, the open houses, the offer day and finally the negotiations of the final offer. We are so pleased and couldn't even fathom getting this kind of service from a real estate agent. And with the two of you it was like getting "the best" times two.
Thank you for all your hard work, your patience, your friendly manner and most of all your professional and experienced skills in selling our home. We appreciate it."
Ibrar Akram
"It was a great pleasure of mine to have worked with and met Lance and Brenda. Selling my home seemed like a daunting task but the two of them made the process seamless and easy. They are honest and always have your best interest in mind. I have nothing but praises for the both of them."
Jeff
"Simply put...Fantastic!!! Brenda and Lance went so far beyond what I have experienced from Real Estate agents in the past. In fact, I have never heard anyone ever talk about having an agent go to the level that the Van den Kolks did on my behalf.
From providing gourmet dishes for the open houses (multiple times a week), putting flyers up in all the local businesses, dealing with my tenants to coordinating with contractors to get repairs done in time for closing, they were on top of everything. All this was done with me living in Australia. If it wasn’t for Lance and Brenda this would have been an extremely trying experience. Instead, I woke up each morning to an email with a detailed account of all the things that were accomplished in my absence and barely gave it a second thought.
Prior to receiving an offer, I was blown away with the amount of effort that was shown. There may be others who care as much in getting a deal (not many that I have seen) but what inspired me to write this testimonial (my first ever) was the lengths that Brenda and Lance did to ensure a successful and timely close after an offer was made. They visited my place at least 40 times after the offer to coordinate with contractors and the buyers. Not to mention the numerous phone calls made on my behalf.
It has been a long time since I have been this pleasantly surprised. This brief note doesn’t do my feelings justice.
With any other agents the sale of my place would have been a nightmare but because of Lance and Brenda, I never lost a minute’s sleep. Thanks to you both."
Dorothy Hwang
"Brenda and Lance have consistently proven themselves to be exemplary professionals both in the sale of my previous home, and in the hunt and purchase of my new one. They kept me well-informed and comfortable every step of the way. As a team, they used their considerable design experience and reliable resources to help prepare my property for a timely and successful sale. Thank you, Lance and Brenda, for always going above and beyond the call of duty!"
Krista Marshall
"I can't imagine ever selling or purchasing a house without Lance and Brenda. They listed my house and helped me sell it for well over asking, providing the most amazing support throughout the process. Every step of the way, they offered help and advice, from staging my house (Lance was outside planting flowers in the garden all day) to keeping me calm as the offers came in.
I also purchased a newly-built home with them, a process that took over two years. They remained involved from start to finish, offering tremendous support and counsel throughout what can be a long and taxing process. I've been more than pleased with Lance and Brenda's dedication, knowledge and unfailingly collaborative attitude."
Esther Yu
"With limited funds, trying to buy a house downtown in the crazy Toronto real estate market was a nightmare. We went through a number of agents and failed bidding wars before finally finding our home with Lance. Lance was clearly different from the other agents. He was super fast to move when there was a property of interest, and the only agent who actually took the time and initiative to scout out and "pre-view" houses before us. The other agents usually just waited for us to pick the houses and ask for viewings. Lance thinks creatively to see opportunities where others do not. Without his persistent and proactive ways, I'm sure we would still be house-less. I just wish we had met him earlier. Finally, we got our house with no bidding war. In fact we paid $25,000 under asking. My advice to home buyers trying to find a home under these very challenging housing market conditions is... call Lance and Brenda!"
Terry Berg
"After many years of owning a neighborhood rental property, the idea of selling was foreign and difficult for me; buying is totally more in my comfort zone. I hadn't sold a property in a long time; it’s been many years. I was checking open houses and met Lance and Brenda by chance. They were welcoming in their approach to helping me sell my house, as well as being passionate about making sure that the house showed itself well. Lance and Brenda are highly recommended."
Warren and Inga Foltz
"Lance and Brenda have our full confidence as real estate agents. Lance’s savvy and sense of timing/opportunity helped us to negotiate a house purchase at below list price in a hot market. Brenda beautifully staged our condominium in preparation for its sale. We were very appreciative of the almost immediate feedback to our many emails and phone calls. Their combination of professionalism, experience, efficiency, accessibility, and outgoingness really makes them a pleasure to work with."
Jeremy Schaal and Jennifer Doherty
"Feel free to use this. It’s from the heart and absolutely captures our sentiment. We’re still kind of in disbelief at how well the whole process went!
Lance and Brenda surprised and delighted us with their service and attention to detail, day after day, throughout the entire sales process. First, they advised on renovations that would maximize our investment. Once we were ready, they ensured the house looked its best. We were dazzled. They both intimately understand that in addition to having the requisite features on paper, a house must feel like a home to prospective buyers; it must tell a warm and welcoming story that elicits an emotional response. Then, while the house was (briefly) on the market, Lance and Brenda executed a comprehensive marketing plan, making sure we got lots of attention. And when it comes to working with potential buyers and their agents, we are convinced that no one can better impart the feel of the neighbourhood thanks to their long-standing residency and many local relationships. Needless to say, the end result was much better than we expected. We would wholeheartedly recommend Lance and Brenda!"
Jerron and Christina
"As first time homebuyers we really needed an agent sensitive to our specific needs. We needed someone who would thoroughly explain the entire process of delving into the world of real estate and home ownership. Someone who would not gloss over the fine print or details that we should really understand and appreciate. Brenda and Lance provided us with all of the above and much more. Because they work as a team they were able to provide us with maximum flexibility which fit perfectly with our busy schedules. They both possess the professionalism and experience that made us feel confident in their abilities throughout the often stressful process of looking for a home. Their fun and down-to-earth personalities made the house-hunting process a truly enjoyable experience. They listened to our needs and never pushed their own agenda. Ultimately they helped us to find our dream home. I would recommend Brenda and Lance to anyone who is looking for a home or property and wants a true ally in this adventure. Brenda and Lance do not just care about closing the deal, but they genuinely care about their clients. Thank you again for everything Brenda and Lance!!! It was an unforgettable experience!"
Ryan
“It was a very enjoyable process; Brenda and Lance took care of everything. From staging tips, to arranging the work to be done, to dealing with the tenants I had in the house, it was all taken care of. If you’re looking to create a buzz with your property to get maximum dollars, definitely go with the real-estate power couple!”
Alex & Chantal
“Buying and selling a home has the potential to be a stressful endeavour. Having a young family, (an 8 month old daughter and a son who was just over 2 years old), my husband and I were approaching both of these events with a fair amount of trepidation. Brenda and Lance successfully sold our home, well over-asking, and not only introduced us to our dream home but ensured that we secured it.
Both Brenda and Lance were incredibly skilful in suggesting the improvements we needed to make to our home in order to maximize our selling potential. Not only did they make recommendations but they put us in contact with professionals to assist us and even dedicated countless hours themselves to get our house ready. The fact that we had multiple bids on our home and received a price well over our expectations is a testament to their knowledge and expertise.
Initially, my husband and I both bypassed our dream home. We had viewed it online and were not for some reason drawn to it. Brenda and Lance had viewed the property in-person and booked an appointment for us regardless because they knew that we would love it. As soon as I walked through the front door, I knew that this was the house for our family. I quickly phoned my husband, Brenda arranged for her daughter to babysit our little ones; my husband met us and he immediately agreed that this was the house for us. We put in an offer the next day. So did six other parties. Lance presented our offer and I am convinced that his enthusiasm and powers of persuasion were an integral part of us securing our home.
Brenda and Lance worked tirelessly to help us achieve our goals. Throughout the entire process they were incredibly sensitive and attentive to our needs. They patiently and knowledgeably explained to us all the legalities and details of both selling and buying a home. Because of this we never felt overwhelmed or unsure. They were always available to us when we had questions and concerns and truly offered a degree of assistance that I cannot imagine is made parallel by other agents. I will forever be grateful to them for all that they did for our family.”
Nick & Jennifer
“Lance and Brenda were truly instrumental in helping us find our perfect home! We were quite selective about the properties we considered, but they stuck it out and were able to land us the house when all the chips were down. Great advice, great attitude, great people .. what else can I say!”
Tim
"I have just signed off on the sale of my first house and couldn't be happier to have worked with Lance and Brenda. They came recommended from a colleague and I would now recommend them to anyone. The entire process was enjoyable. Lance took care of everything from finding contractors on short notice to skilled negotiations at the sale. Brenda had exceptional decorating tips to maximize value and advice based on the current local market. Each step of the way they were always available to answer questions, keep me informed on the process, and all the while maintaining a high level of professionalism. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing."
Brooke and Mark
“We found Brenda and Lance to be very efficient, professional and very easy to work with. They laid out a schedule for us, helped stage our home, beautifully photographed it – we almost wanted to stay! – and put it on the market. The schedule – as agreed to with full consultation with us - was completely adhered to, calling for 1 week of showings followed by offers on a specific night in our home. We sold our house that evening for well over the asking price and the deal closed soon thereafter with no problems in the process.
We would, and have, recommended them to anyone looking to sell their home in a quick and professional manner.”
More Testimonials
"We are writing in order to share the wonderful service we experienced in both listing our home and purchasing a new home through Brenda Vanderkolk. Brenda demonstrated her expertise, professionalism and passion in every stage of the process. She was very responsive to all of our questions and needs. We are thrilled with the new home she helped us to find and purchase, and she made the sale of our previous home easy. We would not even consider using another agent for our next move and confidently would recommend her to any of our family, friends and colleagues."
- Nic and Brian
"I am writing to express my satisfaction as a client of Brenda Van der Kolk. I cannot recommend her highly enough. The sale of my house was carried out with a minimum of stress, and was achieved within a week! Throughout the process I was always kept informed of developments. Brenda personally oversaw the details of getting my house together to put on the market, and was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and reliable from beginning to end. Her constant patience, energy and professionalism made working with her easy and enjoyable. My experience working with Brenda taught me that there are still people who will go the extra mile, and I appreciated the "extra effort". I will definitely recommend Brenda to my friends and family."
- Karen Moffat
“Thanks for the exceptional level of service and help that we needed to make this happen.”
- Silvino
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