New Guest Blogger! Zev’s Real Estate Story
Back in late November/early December, we had an Ottawa homeowner share his story with our community, with a special focus on a toilet he brought from Germany! Now we are in mid May, with a real estate agent sharing his story with us! Meet Zev Kershman and his very inspiring story about his real estate life.
“My journey into real estate stared when I was young. I remember walking around Sandy Hill with my parents and seeing all of the biggest houses, most of which are embassies today. I was drawn to their sheer size and distinct design. As I grew up, I started to notice these little things called skyscrapers. Imagine an 8-year-old boy standing no more than 3.5 feet tall being towered over by buildings over 100 feet tall. It was at that moment I told myself, “I’m going to own one”. Since then, I’ve done everything in my power to get into the real estate business, including getting my real estate license before my University degree.
Today, I live the dream. Waking up with a sense of purpose and excitement is rare for most people and I’m so grateful to experience it. I get to meet new people, explore different neighbourhoods, research the market, looking at some of the most unique properties, negotiate deals, and move people into their new homes are all apart of my day. Yes, there are early mornings, late nights, difficult clients, tight deadlines, lots of pressure, constant demands, deal falling apart, clients losing their dream home and unrealistic expectations. But, at the end of the day, there is nothing like watching people start the next phase of their lives.
The biggest thing I’ve learned about real estate is, it’s all about LIFESTYLE. People talk about how selling real estate is about “selling the dream”, but the reality is it about finding the lifestyle you want to live. As a big condo fan, every building supports a different lifestyle because of its location, demographics, design, and amenities. When I meet clients for the first time, the first thing I want to know about their lifestyle. What they do when they are not working, their favourite restaurant to eat at, and where they shop. Once we discuss this, it’s so easy to find a condo that fits their lifestyle like a glove.
Real Estate is a 24/7 business. The phone is always ringing, sellers want to know why their place hasn’t sold, buyers want to see a condo from the MLS in 30 minutes, and you have to live your own life. I haven’t figured out this whole work life balance thing. All I know is I’m living my childhood dream and having fun doing it.”