Despite my dismay at being a destitute Vancouver first-time home buyer – we don’t have a choice. We want to start our project and get on the property ladder now, not next year or the year after. (And did I mention no suburbs?)
Today, our salaries and pooled life’s savings might – just might – equate to 900 square feet. (Each of them ugly). Even though we’re sensible little savers, Vancouver’s property prices rise faster than any normal human being can save. We need to find an ugly baby – now.
Step one? Get a realtor. Good friends actually refused to recommend their previous realtor – they had nothing good to say about him. Finally, a word-of-mouth recommendation came good and we’ve found an agent I liked from first meeting. Much like Paolo’s top-secret blog name, our realtor will be known from here on as Agent Awesome.
4 immediate points in his favour:
- He doesn’t have a branded car or plaster his face on bus stops
- No sleazy ingratiation
- No shiny suit
- And – hallelujah – a firm handshake.
He’s a nice guy, no need for sales schtick. I’ve got the feeling we’re in good hands and that he’s well-used to babysitting first-time buyers. Does this mean we’re officially house hunting? Onward!
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Full photo credit to JonoMueller via Flickr Creative Commons. Clock pic found here.
