Toronto Real Estate Agents | Julie Kinnear

Jen, Raphael and I were talking last night and we really wanted to let you know how great we think you are! When we are in the bidding wars you are so helpful at letting us know what a good deal is, being aware of how we are feeling about a house, keeping us bidding competitively (but not to a point where you know that we’ll have regrets).

Going through this process with you has been (and will continue to be) wonderful. We really appreciate all of your comments and knowledge and support!

Thank you so much for your ongoing help with the search for our home.

We love our new place and we are looking forward to many years of happiness here. It is everything we were looking for!

We really appreciated your effort, honesty, humour, attention to detail and most of all, your patience!

Thank you so much!

A long overdue Thank you!

Thanks to all of you for your support, guidance, encouragement and enthusiasm during the sale of our beloved home. We couldn't have gotten through without your help, especailly during the stressful times.

Julie-Your professionalism and "cool as a cucumber" approach on offer night made the nerve-wracking experience easy and enjoyable! Please thinks of us as a reference anytime!

You are THE queen of marketing. Between the youtube stuff and the real estate section today, huzzah on going all out...

You are the real estate machine! Puts all the other agents to shame...

And how you use all the new media stuff shows that realtors CAN (but don`t always) add a lot of value. It takes work to put all that together but what a great package compared to the MLS listing alone.

We were so pleased and impressed with how professional & dedicated Julie and her team was throughout the process. The attention to every detail along with their positive attitude made the entire experience such an enjoyable one.

They say buying or selling a home can be one of the most stressful things you can do but thanks to Julie and her team – they made it one the most pleasant experiences.

We really enjoyed working with you, and still in (happy) disbelief about our new home. Thanks again for everything!

Thanks again for the fabulous work you and your team did on selling our house. We couldn’t have asked for better representation.

We really appreciated the warmth and honesty, and realistic outlook of our agent, Julie, as well as her attention to detail. She is a frank, honest, funny, no nonsense kind of agent, and we really loved this about her. She consistently kept us "in the loop" of information. The office staff was also fantastic, and extremely detailed and precise in their dealings.

We were referred by a friend, she raved about the team's professionalism and skill. After initially having our home on the market with an inexperienced, absent realtor, and then trying to go it alone and sell privately, we really needed to have experienced professionals on our side!

Thank goodness I had you all to take care of me, and I'm excited about getting into my new place.

Your level of service exceeded my expectations and was seamless throughout my selling and buying process. Jen, our conversations about our dogs and other important topics put me in a totally relaxed frame of mind and I was able to make decisions faster. It was so much easier with your knowledge and support and expertise with lock boxes (heehee).

You've all ‚touched‘ this file in one way or another, and so I am grateful to you all for making this transition comfortable for me on so many levels.

Just wanted to drop you a quick line as I had the opportunity to watch the live video on the site a few moments ago and it's FANTASTIC.

It was so great to feel like you are actually walking through the unit. Nicole, you are a superstar, your running editorial was packed full of important details and you didn't miss a beat. I know it's a new process for your team and I think it will prove to be another of your very valuable tools!!!

The website is great; it is professional, user friendly and full of great content. Our feature sheet was also very well put together. Given the immense amount of showings, there was definitely a buzz generated by your team's marketing, which is a very strong indication of the effectiveness of the marketing and desireableness of the property.

The Kinnear team's service is excellent. There is nothing more we could ask for!!

Selling our home was interesting. Julie came and helped stage the house it looked great, and she offered great advice. The offer date came and went and we were a wee bit discouraged.

We received an offer when we were least expecting one. The Sunday after Julie got married!!! No one from the team was around but we were put into the hands of Holly. She acted fast and called every agent that came through the house and personally asked them if their clients were interested as there was an offer. There must have been 45 cards on our table. She anticipated that the buyers may bid low and she had decided ahead of time (with KJ) that she should come back over asking price. They accepted. It just felt fair. We were so happy to have such a confident agent who took control and was fun and full of energy. She did a great job.

I also enjoyed buying our house. The situation was quite ridiculous as we had guests from England for dinner whom we never met before. Jen came in and met everyone, helped us put an offer together, gave us advice on bidding and kept in the loop with the agent with regard to the number of bids. When she left we were able to anticipate that we had a chance this time to win the bid and were very excited. (Even if the chicken we were BBQ-ing was rubber in texture from over cooking. After Jen gave her award winning schpeel to the owners, she informed us that 6 offers were in. I thought we had lost-but no it was just an update! During dessert the call came from Jen saying that we won! All our guests were thrilled and the tone was joyous.

Collectively we enjoyed the experience from both the sale and the purchase but it wouldn't have been so easy without the help of Jen and Holly, they were so awesome! I am happy to say that everything was amazing start to finish. During one of the hardest weeks (with regard to our sanity) Julie's team sent us popcorn and a Blockbuster giftcard. It was a nice smile for us. Julie's team came highly recommended by a dear friend of mine whom Julie helped personally to find the right home for her family. Julie's knowledge made her transaction very successful and we felt that we needed that little boost in such a highly competitive market. We decided that Julie could help us sell our home at the best possible price. Her website and her reputation made it quite clear to us that she would be the best for the job. It just felt like the perfect fit.

...Julie, KJ, Jen and Holly are so dedicated and fun to work with, and I know that they have extensive knowledge about Toronto neighbourhoods, house structure, and everything else we`d need to know.

It was great to work with a professional.

The best part of course was the multiple offers even in this economy! Everything was as perfect as it could be.

We used Julie because she came up number one in the google rankings. They have great web marketing and marketing in general.

Well, the search is over and Noelle and I are very happy!

We wanted to thank all of you for all your efforts over the last 4months! The timing on the closure could not be better. It seems like Noelle and I went on the fast track to „domestic bliss“, from downtown socialites, to marriage, pregnancy and now home owners, all in less than 8 months…needless to say 2008 was a big year for us.

KJ we really appreciate your time and patience in dealing with us, I am sure a couple of „real-estate virgins“ are not the easiest of clients. I do not doubt that we will be in contact with you over the coming few months.

It was a pleasure having such a fun and relaxed person to deal with! Once again please accept our thanks and gratitude for everything you all have done!

I appreciated being able to contact Julie at any time to express my concerns or frustration with the difficult time to sell & after speaking to her ending up feeling more positive.

I trust Julie & like to deal with someone that builds relationships with their clients.

I was very happy with your website feature of our house!! Not only did it highlight the positive features of the house, it provided information on the neighbourhood and community so prospective buyers can assess if the whole package would be a good fit for them.

I really can't think of anything that your team hasn't already thought of, and more! Your team was wonderful and provided highly professional and knowledgeable service.

We just wanted to send a quick note to say Thank You to the entire Julie Kinnear team for their help during the buying process.

In particular, we appreciated that KJ was not overbearing like other real estate agents we have worked with and gave us space when we needed it.
We also appreciated and continue to appreciate his background knowledge in construction (Thank you „House Whisperer“!!).
Also many thanks to Nicole – her enthusiasm and attention to detail is FANTASTIC!!
Finally, thank you for all the little extras, gift certificates etc. It is such a nice personal touch. We will definitely refer when we have the opportunity!

PS: Also, we used the services of Carrie Davidson, Mortgage Consultant, at the referral of the JKT and found her most useful. She was very patient and genuinely seemed to have our best interests at heart. We just wanted to let you know that we highly recommend her. Thanks again!

The entire Julie Kinnear team has made the experience of selling a painless and easy one. Tom and were both impressed by how quickly you could turn the process around and get our condo listed on mls. Since we had purchased a house a few weeks ago, it was imperative that we sell our condo as quickly as possible. The thought of carrying two mortgages at the same time was not a welcome one! Julie and team eased this worry from the beginning. From setting up the open house to receiving regular updates regarding potential buyers, we couldn't have asked for a better experience. We ended up selling our place in less than a week. Julie is a fabulous and professional person to work with! The printed and electronic material was done in a quick and professional manner. The virtual tour was a feature we did not expect. It even garnished a potential buyer from the internet! The feature sheet also contained a floor plan to convey the benefits the condo had to offer. You don't see this often.

All correspondence was done quickly and accurately. The team went over the top in making sure we were aware of all upcoming showings. This made it easy for us to adjust our schedules appropriately to ensure maximum viewings. The whole team is very personable making it a joy to work with them all. Julie's research on the area and building was phenomenal in helping us decide on pricing and strategy. She was also great with walking through our place room by room to ensure that the condo showed the best it could.

Combined with our buying experience with KJ, we are/were very happy with the process! We loved working with you guys and would will recommend the team to friends and family who are also looking to buy or sell in the Toronto market. Thank you for all your help!

I most enjoyed spending time with Jen (a.k.a Le Fox).

Receiving the detailed MLS listings via email – very convenient. Touring homes outside of the normal open house hours (easier to ask questions and be honest about likes and dislikes as you are seeing them).

The Julie Kinnear Team’s excellent customer service!

Finding the right house in the area we wanted at the end of it all was obviously the best thing about the whole process. I am also very thankful that Jen has offered to help us with the process of screening potential tenants for the portion of our new home that we are renting out. This is a huge benefit that clearly goes above and beyond our expectations.

I would not hesitate to recommend the Julie Kinnear team. Overall however, Jen did a wonderful job. She was very patient with us as we spent almost a year looking at properties with her. She never pressured us to buy anything and was always upbeat and supportive of us. When we met Julie, it felt like a good personality fit. There are lots of agents in the city, but we wanted to work with a team that we actually liked as we knew it was going to be a long search.

Hillcrest Village Referred by
Ayumi Iizuka and Doug Morency
(Thanks Ayumi and Doug!)

We were very happy and satisfied with the way our home was presented to buyers. We had interviewed several realtors and Julie was a refreshing change from the rest. She treated our family home of 45 years with respect.

We were aware that there was work to be done by the buyers but the home was presented very well and we think that is why it sold so fast. We were very satisfied. The website is great and the marketing plan worked well.

All calls and emails were answered very promptly and Julie was very available when we needed her. The whole team is very professional and approachable which is very important.

Nicole and Paige were both great to deal with. We will definitely recommend your services. Our experience was good even though we had a few bumps on the road. My Mom is extremely happy with the whole process.

We first met Julie and her team early in 2006 when we were returning to Toronto after 8 years on the West coast. We had been referred to her by her aunt (who was our agent as well as our Vancouver neighbour). We were extremely pleased with their efforts and results which got us into our first house – a home that fit our specific needs. No sooner than 18 months later though, we had taken the opportunity to move next door to family west of the city – so suddenly we had to move quickly to get our Weston Village heritage home ready for the market. The pressure was on!

But, not to worry. Julie’s team had always done a great job of keeping in touch and so when we picked up the phone they were very quick to assess a plan for getting the house presented properly and for the current market and area. The first thing to remember is this – they really are a team! Once we had gone over some of the issues we needed to address and set the date for an open house, we received a package of information with tips/advice on the steps and also a timeline. Everything they were involved with, whether it was a floor plan, photographer or recommending a cleaning service was first class and extremely helpful. They helped us prioritize and also would not hesitate to deliver their honest opinions on things, which was a great reality check – they really know how to showcase a home and they helped us make ours shine! Finally, after a short but intense lead up, we had our open house weekend – and it exceeded our expectations! The final steps to receive an offer and come to a deal went smoothly with any small details covered off in a relaxed and respectful fashion that took into consideration that for both the buyer and seller, it is a time of great excitement but can also be very stressful. We’re pleased to tell you that our experiences have been nothing but a pleasure – and from listing to sale it was a grand total of 6 days!

Here’s what we can tell you about Julie, KJ, Jennifer Nicole and Elise:

– it’s personal with them, and by that we mean that they really do care: you feel special and unique when working with them;

– it’s not just a business, they really do take the time, care and attention to make sure you’re happy; and

– their skills and care at presentation, especially on the web site is, in our opinion, second to no one – it’s fantastic!

There is one last thing that we’ll share, because we think it is very telling as to how they view their clients: when you’re talking to real estate agents, or talking to friends, the first thing that is always talked about is the price, such as “what do you think I could get for my place?” Some agents will make you promises to get your listing. With Julie, the listing price was the very last thing we talked about. That should tell you all you need to know about their approach. This is a team that works well together and can get the results you’re looking for but also do it in a way that is a pleasure. We know that Julie doesn’t cover areas outside of Toronto, but if we move back there’s only one team we would entrust with guiding us home!

We really appreciated everyone's responsiveness, and how well you all worked as a team, like when one person wasn't available, another team member stepped in and immediately helped us out (such as Jen, aka "The Closer"!).

We felt very comfortable with Julie and Jen, and were confident in their ability to represent us well. I also really appreciated their input on renovations, and on seeing the potential in a home!

You guys have been so great to work with - we'll not hesitate to recommend your team to friends.

Jen quickly zeroed in on what finishes and floor plans that I preferred and brought the listings to my attention. Replies to phone calls and emails have always been timely, and someone from the team is always available to assist.

All the members of Julie's team have been professional and knowledgeable. The service has been great. I will definitely recommend your services to any friends or family.

The Danforth
Referred by Ayummi Iizuka
(thanks Ayumi!)

We couldn't have asked for a better first-time buying experience.

From our first meeting with Jennifer, everything just seemed right. We were made to feel extremely comfortable and a process that is generally regarded as stressful really seemed to take care of itself. When we called with questions, Nicole was always cheerful and eager to help. Looking at houses with Jennifer felt more like hanging out than conducting business – she really made it fun!

The house we bought met all of our “wish-list” requirements and then some. Just amazing. Even third-parties, like Daniel Horwitz, the lawyer you recommended, were just wonderful people who were genuinely interested in making things run smoothly rather than simply making money.

There are simply not enough words of praise for everyone involved. Suffice it to say that we will share our experience and recommend your services to anyone without hesitation. This is our first home and we could not be more excited. You and your incredible team. You guys are really doing absolutely everything right. Thank you all!

Downtown Toronto

We owe a large measure of our excitement to KJ’s experience and expertise in the contracting and renovation business has been a tremendous help to us. This is a key skill that we would have been in the dark about had it not been for his important advice. The Julie Kinnear team is truly a one-stop shop that anticipates all of your clients’ needs… you have truly thought of everything. I was surprised and delighted to receive your bouquet of cookies in the office today! Mr. Felix is one of our favourites, and they are a huge hit with my team. We are enjoying the still warm and soft cookies as I write this e-mail. As I mentioned to KJ yesterday, it was your experience and effort that made all the difference in our bid being a successful one. I am already spreading the word-of-mouth and I know you will get all of our repeat business. Our sincere thanks for the excellent work you’ve done for us.

Corso Italia
Referred by Sebastien Moise
(Thanks Sebastian!)

We had such a good experience with you guys that it was easy to recommend you to our colleagues and friends over the past two years. Thank you so much for your help. This TO adventure has been really successful for us and we really appreciated working with you guys as you were always there to answer our questions. We were clear since the beginning that buying for 2 years was an investment for us and you clearly helped us achieve this goal. KJ had plenty of good contacts that we used over 2 years to fix and modify some stuff in the house, he also gave us very good advises for us to take the right decisions in our planning to prepare and sell our house. We also had a good time together visiting some scary houses to finally find the good one to buy.

Thank you to Julie for putting together this amazing marketing machine that your team is all about. All aspects to optimize the visibility and the potential of the house we were selling was in place for us and you guys reacted extremely fast as our timelines were short because of our move to Montréal. Thank you also to Nicole for all the follow ups, you were very pro-active on everything. You guys really like what you do and it shows.

The Kingsway
Referred by Giri Logsetty (Thanks Giri!)

Thank you for making our dream a reality! We love our new house and neighbourhood. Your dedication and commitment to your work make you the best in your field.

High Park

We really enjoyed the positive energy and approach to client service of the Julie Kinnear team. We always felt that our best interests were at the forefront – we never felt pressured and the team was always friendly. We really enjoyed meeting and building a relationship with such warm and friendly people and learning from them – if only all teams could work so well! We felt positive about working with Julie and her team right from our very first meeting. Julie's profes­sionalism, integrity, trustworthiness, warm personality and expertise were clear.We appreciated Julie's client-centric approach – her team truly guided us in our first house purchase, answering our many questions and helping us to buy a house in a way that worked for us. We also appreciated the team that Julie has built. Nicole Salter is a superb communicator, expertly dealing with the many facets of buyers needs and KJ is a wealth of information in renovation. As well, the various service providers that Julie recommended demonstrated the same level of integrity and professionlism apparent in this dynamic and friendly team.Our house is perfect for us! We love it – and are thankful that we had such a positive experience during this buying process.

King West Village
Referred by Rachel Brown
Thanks Rachel!

Everyone was available to answer my questions quickly. I'm totally happy with the service I received, and I was immediately comfortable with KJ.

A very happy JK Team repeat seller.

The Julie Kinnear team helped me buy my last two homes and sell the last one. They have an aggressive marketing campaign. For my last home they had a floor plan, virtual tour and professional photographs made up. Above and beyond what most realtors do. Julie also walked through my house and helped with suggestions on how to stage the home so it would sell quickly. After living among my crap for so many years, it was hard to be objective on my own about what looked good or not. The house sold on the day of offers with a bidding war.

As far as buying this home, Julie partners with KJ Duck who specializes in the east end. He used to do alot of reno work and lives in the east end, so it was like having my very own Mike Holmes (Holmes on Homes) guy take me through the homes and point out the good and bad. I think it was his reaction to the bathroom in this home that got my attention mostwell that and the backyard. He was really patient with me throughout the process, especially on the day of purchasing this house. I think we sat in his car for hours while I weighed the pros and cons of spending much more than I had set out to spend.

Anyway, they also have an incredible admin support staff so someone is always ready to help out with questions. Julie specializes in the west-end and KJ shows homes in the east. They have a fancy website at juliekinnear.com . They are also really supportive throughout every aspect of the process, keeping you informed of what's happening and what you should be doing as a seller/buyer since there are alot of details that can get lost among the chaos of buying and selling. I remember getting microwave popcorn and movie rental gift card in the mail one day as part of the processI think we had just completed a guide post and it was her way of saying it was time to put my feet up for a well-deserved rest. It's things like that that really personalized the experience for me.

I have known Julie now for almost 10 years now and trust her and her team implicitly. When shit hit the fan before the move in the spring (my basement had a flood) Julie held my hand through all of thatand I was a bit of a basket case for sure.

The Danforth
Referred by Jessica Grant
(Thanks Jessica!)

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all of your hard work and support. I can't believe I found my dream home so quickly! It means the world to me to now have a beautiful home to share with my family and friends. I honestly can't thank you enough. This has been a wonderful experience for me. I am grateful for your help, guidance and support. I think you and your team are wonderful, and you are all so good at what you do. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Davisville Village, Repeat Clients

An excellent team performance. Why did we choose Julie's Team? In two words: Total Confidence.

High Park

As we were abroad we found the initial online questionnaire an extremely expeditious way of conveying our basic buying needs & requirements. We were amazed at the personal service we got from Julie and Nicole, especially given that we were not planning to buy until January at the earliest. By the time we got to Toronto we were able to make quick decisions because we were well educated about the market, the types of properties and what we needed to do to ensure we got our dream house. Because Julie had taken so much time getting to know us and our needs/wants over a couple of months, she was instinctively able to select houses that would interest us. She's a genius! Her predictions were right about other houses that were for sale and she seemed tounderstand our goals and hopes for the house. We saw the house and bought it inside a week. Julie connected us to our home inspector within two days, referred us to all of our trades people, hooked us up with a local deli and even drove me to the bank to get my deposit. Julie meeting the plumber to get quotes, without us – amazing. Nicole helping us set up our bills, have the meters read, call the city, debate Rogers vs. Sympatico vs. VOIP – really above and beyond the call of duty. The Julie Kinnear team seems not to have forgotten the sense of urgency and the need for prompt communication. We were really grateful for this.

Davisville Village
referred by Sarah Connor
(thanks Sarah!)

I am still so psyched about my little home and am so thankful to you and your awesome team for helping to make it happen!

Bloor West Village
Colleague Referral

KJ's advice on renovation costs was particularly useful.

Leslieville/Moore Park
Repeat Client

I worked with Julie because she is so funny! She knows me and what I like, and is straight forward. The home inspector and lawyer you recommended were great.

Downtown Referred by Alex Long
(Thanks Alex!)

I just wanted to give you all my sincerest thanks for helping me sell my condo so quickly, and getting a price I was happy with. Your marketing strategy was amazing, and the 37 or so (who’s counting?) showings I had in the one week the condo was on the market are a testament to that fact! So many people I know told me how amazing the place looked in the pictures and on the virtual tour. Heck, when I looked at them, I thought “I’d like to live there.”

I also wanted to thank you for the warmth and genuine interest you displayed in all of our dealings. It truly made a difference, and turned what could have been (and often is) a stressful experience into an exciting one. Oh, and let’s not forget the flowers, the cookies, and the movie gift card… thank you!

Little Italy Referred by Tim
McCarthy (Thanks Tim!)

You were very helpful with us. Of course WE confused things by looking quite a bit outside the scope of what we had originally defined as our ideal, but you were extremely patient in bearing with us through that. The degree of assistance we had from all of your staff was impressive; by the time we ended up buying, we had confidence that our decision was sound, and we appreciated help with the details of the inspections, the offer, final acceptance, recommendations for legal representation, trades, as well as your willingness to give your opinion when asked about some issues that are not necessarily black and white. We were consistently impressed with the turnaround time of questions. And everyone’s di­ligence extended to evenings and weekends, which was appreciated enormously. I have worked with other agents in the past who just showed us some homes. Your team gave so much added value to the process as I have never experienced before.

Thanks so much to you and your Colleagues for the cookies. What a delightful surprise when I returned to the office! Great „marketing“.

Lots of written material, making the previous inspection available, advertising in papers etc. all first–rate. Very prompt responses to calls and emails. I wouldn’t hesitate to use your office again.

As I empty my mail box each day I am quite disgusted as to how many flyers are from real estate agents. Today alone we got 5!

I am just writing to thank you & your team for working „by referral only“. I have been so tempted to email these agents & give them a piece of my mind. Your paperless marketing obviously works.

Keep up the excellent work!

By the way, do your colleagues follow your example? Maybe you can encourage them a little if they don't.

Kings Court, Repeat Clients
(Referred by Craig C)

It all ran so smoothly when dealing with the real estate team.

An acquaintance my husband and I were recommended Julie’s team by an acquaintance. We were really happy with the team during our purchasing phase so we didn’t even question using them to sell.

I most enjoyed getting to know neighbourhoods, comparing houses and prices. You are young, dynamic and friendly, with a very good team.

Bloor West Village
Referred by Dean Stoneley
(thanks Dean!)

KJ made our search process and purchase experience so positive. What could have been a disheartening, stressful experience was instead a joyful, hopeful one. We always had the sense that KJ knew he could help us find a great home within our price range and also within our chosen neighbourhood, which was not the sense we got from two other agents whom we interviewed at different agencies early on in the process. All the team members who've helped us – KJ, Julie, Nicole and Jen -have been so interested in us and so kind and caring. KJ's knowledge of home renovations was invaluable. We found it tremendously helpful when Julie sent us an email orienting us to the areas within Bloor West Village where we would find semi-detached homes; we were trying to get a sense of this ourselves while living in the Annex, but found it difficult and overwhelming to do this effectively during our sporadic self-guided Sunday tours of Bloor West Village.

High Park

We liked the team approach. And we liked the team.

Cabbagetown

Julie and her team are first class! Buying and selling in Washington state is very different than in Toronto, now in Montreal it is different yet again. Thanks for taking the time to explain and give me course correction when I do not understand. I have already recommended your services to our Project Manager.

We felt totally comfortable that we were in good hands. Couldn't ask for anything more. You guys do a great job – with all bases covered – a good team! Julie gave us some good ideas about making the house presentable for sale.

Long Branch, Etobicoke

You have been instrumental in helping us figure out which areas are good for us and also what features we should be looking for in a home. Everyone's friendly and approachable,I fe­el like I am working with friends. KJ is great – he's taught us how to judge furnaces, roofs, basements and he's always got ‚guys‘ that can do ‚stuff‘ – we miss his commentary if we're looking by ourselves! I was quite happy with you guys. I wasimpressed with Julie's ideals and the thoroughness of the website. We felt an instant connection.

Without question, the JK Team did a superb job with determining our buying needs. Before joining the JK Team, as first time buyers, we were excited, committed, and confident about entering the housing market. However, our approach was hapharzard, uninformed, and directionless. We quickly found ourselves in the midst of an intense fog, and needed a trusted team of professionals to "guide us home". The moment we met Jennifer Palicios, the fog immediately began to lift. Her approach was professional yet affable. She invested the necessary time and energy to know us as people and then listened to our housing expectations. She was able to strike a fine balance between what we wanted (e.g, square footage, number of rooms) and our values (the unit had to be close to the TTC because of our commitment to the environment).

Most importantly, Jennifer treated us as people with housing needs, not simply clients with housing needs. We believe this key distinction captured the spirit of the JK Team, and greatly contributed to our overall positive experience. We still vividly remember leaving the Royal LePage office that day with our trusted binder in tow, feeling the weight of the housing market off our shoulders, and remarking to each other, "Everything is going to be just fine! We're in good hands now!" We found the on-line daily stratus reports to be effective, timely, and comprehensive. We especially appreciated how the on-line listings were modified during the course of our housing search as our buying needs changed. For example, originally we limited our search to downtown Toronto but with the help of Nicole and Elise additional areas were quickly added.

To us, extra value means all the little things that have made a significant difference. This long list includes but is not limited to:

• during the initial consultation, we were pleasantly welcomed to the JK Team with our respective names printed on the introductory sign;
• we were provided with the '2008 Guide to Buying' binder, which was informative and comprehensive;
• Jennifer took a photo of us which served to remind the JK team that we're real people with real smiles and real hopes;
• we were impressed with the extra attention that the JK team paid to the specifics when visiting an open house, such as wearing appropriate shoes and having a bite beforehand;
• we valued Jennifer's honesty and candid observations whenever we visited property units;
• the team mailed us a thoughtful giftcard and popcorn to remind us to hang in there;
• a delicious bouquet of cookie flowers was delivered to Jenn when we purchased our condo, Yum-O!;
• we were happy to receive the personalized items, e.g., 'We're Moving' postcards and new address labels. all our calls and emails were returned either on the same or following business day.
• We appreciated the speed with which our concerns and questions were considered and answered.

Professionally, the JK Team has demonstrated a clear commitment to customer service (e.g., listening to and meeting client needs); and to sharing their expertise (e.g., clients are empowered with essential housing knowledge). From the Day One, the JK Team has exhibited a courteous, conscientious, and businesslike manner that conforms to the highest standards of customer relations and professionalism. During every phase of the buying process, it was clear that the JK Team possessed not only the necessary expertise and skills required to purchase and sell real estate but also the awareness and famililarity to provide ongoing support to its clients. Buying a home can, and usually, involves a number of emotions, ranging from unbridled enthusaiusm (e.g., Yeah! Our offer was accepted!) to flat out disappointment (e.g., Sorry, the unit has been sold conditionally). The JK Team understands how these emotions unfold like a roller coaster. For example, two months into our housing search we began to feel less optimistic about finding a suitable home. This is when we received a thoughtful Blockbuster Gift Card and popcorn from the JK Team with a much needed note of encouragement and support. With less than a month until our possession date (August 15), we're trying our best 'to get our ducks in row'. We've organized our move by using the 'After the Sale Checklist' and 'Closing Timeline' handouts, which have answered most of our questions. When questions have come up (e.g., utilities), we've emailed the office and continue to receive excellent customer service. We're counting on the JK Team to guide us right up to the day we get the keys!

Bloor West Village Colleague Referral

I've worked in the business world for quite some time, and I've met the gamut. Both Borys and I were very pleased with the professionalism, but also for the down to earth approach- that made a big difference!!! Very friendly too!

Rosedale
Referred by Mike Harris
(Thanks Mike!)

I am new to Toronto, and was very impressed with the fact that within what seemed to be minutes of my colleague contacting Julie, I had received an email asking for information that would help her team to identify suitable properties for my consideration. The use of the online questionnaire I think allowed Julie to focus her efforts on condominiums/town homes that would meet my requirements quite quickly. I am also quite definitive in my likes and dislikes, and I found Julie picked up on this as well, and this enabled her was able to focus her search for suitable properties to prevent me from wasting my time visiting real estate that wouldn’t meet my requirements.

Since a number of listings that I considered required additional services (ie. potential renovations, etc) I was very impressed that Julie’s team could assist in locating contractors, decorators, etc. who could visit the site with me to provide input and preliminary estimates of services that would be required. As we viewed potential properties, she provided useful information about the neighbourhood, and its amenities, which is also important for a “Toronto newbie” like me. When I did buy, she was also able to recommend a lawyer to assist with the review of compliance certificates etc. The “one stop shop” aspect of the services offered are very useful for someone new to the city without all of the knowledge that a local would take for granted. I was quite surprised upon meeting Julie directly when she presented me with a binder that contained everything one needs to know about purchasing real estate in Toronto—it was very useful. I had to laugh, though, about her request to take my photo—she advised it was so that she could put a face to the name and the correspondence that would occur between me with the people behind the scenes! It showed me that she takes her work very personally, which is what purchasing a home is all about. I have also been impressed with the fact that although my transaction has a relatively long close, her team continues to maintain contact, to assist me with getting everything that needs to be done before closing completed—she hasn’t just moved on to the next sale. This is very important to me, because the next stressor is the move in, and I want to be sure that all is ready for that!

Corso Italia

I cannot think of anything that was missed [during the selling process] I would definitely recommend your services. It was such a pleasure to meet and work with your team…My parents would have approved of the way things turned out :) To this point I am most happy with all that I have seen.

Roncesvalles Village

I really want to thank you for being so fun to work with and so great at your jobs. We just couldn’t be happier – we’re so grateful…Team Kinnear rocks!

(Cabbagetown) Personal referral

We had a very short timeline for selling and the whole team was extremely supportive and helped us move through the process very quickly and effectively.

We sold our house with Julie on December 17th…key to our success was pricing our house within a band of the MLS price ranges that we felt would attract the most interest. Given the current economic environment and housing market in Toronto, we went lower than what we initially anticipated, but it generated the activity we were looking for. We did not take the first offer, but finally accepted the fourth offer which was not as big of a low ball offer as the previous 3, and close to our reduced price. Thank you to all the Julie Kinnear team members for helping us through this experience.

The online listings are great. We get a lot of value out of checking the stratus reports every morning. The emails we receive are great reading. They are filled with excellent information.

Cabbagetown

KJ did a great job in helping us with the process. He had done his homework, providing us with comparable homes in the area and what they went for, etc. By the end of our meeting, we felt very good about the offer we were putting in. Your knowledge of the process, and all the steps we need to take care of from the time of purchase to the time of possession has certainly helped make the process go smoothly.

Having Julie and her team manage the sale and purchase of our new home felt like we were being cared for by family. The attention to detail and service was beyond anything we could have expected. Julie was confident, honest, and reassuring, KJ was a blast to work with, and everyone we came into contact with on the team was professional, friendly, and helpful. The idea of selling and buying a new home, while handling our already-busy lives, had always filled me with dread, but it never felt out of control or scary. We sold our home quickly and then found our new home just as quickly and we’ve never been happier! Both Julie and KJ went above and beyond in handling the sale and purchase and we would not hesitate to recommend them! Love you guys!

It was a great experience and I actually had a fun time with both. The level of service, both when buying and selling, was excellent. I also thought the marketing sheet was very unique and I loved the „walking“ video that Julie did of my place. This is a very detail-oriented team and that was very important to me.

Is real estate in Toronto really supposed to be this much fun? Less than 2 months after our first meeting with Julie, with her leading the way we find ourselves anxiously ready to move into our new dream home, and have sold our current home for more than we could have ever expected. And with Julie's cool, calm, always optimistic demeanor, I don't think we went more than 5 minutes without having ourselves a good laugh along the way.

To the whole JKTeam: OUR SINCEREST THANKS for all the hard work we saw, and all the hard work I know you were doing behind the scenes to help ensure that all our expectations were met and exceeded.

I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how amazing Holly is (although I'm sure you know that)! As a single, first time home buyer in this crazy market, I can't tell you how much it meant to me to know I had Holly (and your team) on my side. It made the whole process so much easier to know that I could implicitly trust Holly's advice always knowing that she had my best interests at heart, and that her #1 goal was to find me the perfect home. In the end I've found myself the proud soon-to-be owner of a home that I'd almost given up hope in finding – it has everything I wanted and more, and I know that it is all thanks to Holly's guidance and unwillingness to let me settle!

I could go on and on, but you get the idea. I will happily recommend Holly and the Julie Kinnear team to anyone and everyone; it is clear from all the little touches (I loved the surprise blockbuster gift card, it came at JUST the right time), that your whole team is a step above.

Thank you. Kind regards, Naomi Clement

After meeting with several agents, we knew as soon as we met with Julie that she was for us. Her relaxed yet professional style was a great match with our personalities and she made the whole process of selling our home pretty effortless. We also had lots of good laughs along the way!

Julie's supporting team was also excellent and always at-the-ready to answer any questions and respond to emails.

We would highly recommend Julie and her team to anyone…actually, we already have!

I was referred from someone who I respect who highly recommended Julie. When we met I felt that this was someone who was on the ball, alert, yet calm. I also like the tech. savvy. The selling of my house went very smoothly. It wasn’t fun having to keep everything in perfect order during the week of viewings! The actual fun part was the „offers“ part. (I did not know it at the time because I was so anxious, but it was exciting!)

“Jen, Raphael and I were talking last night and we really wanted to let you know how great we think you are! When we are in the bidding wars you are so helpful at letting us know what a good deal is, being aware of how we are feeling about a house, keeping us bidding competitively (but not to a point where you know that we’ll have regrets). Going through this process with you has been (and will continue to be) wonderful. We really appreciate all of your comments and knowledge and support!” Leigh-Ann and Raphael

Why the Julie Kinnear Team? I had seen the name pop up online in connection with a home in the neighbourhood we ultimately bought in (and others that we love.) I really like the Julie Kinnear Team style: direct, fun and STRONG – the kind of people who can close a deal!

I had a referral from someone who I respect who highly recommended Julie. When we met I felt that this was someone who was on the ball, alert yet calm. I also the tech savvy!

We decided to work with the Julie Kinnear Team again because I was extremely happy with the relationship I established with them, Jen Palacios in particular. I like the philosophy, the level of care, the sense of humour, the professionalism and the complete lack of icky agent „slick-o-city“. (I just coined the term :))

We were in Australia and I stumbled across the website and it drew me in. Then we met Holly Chandler and she was awesome so we knew it was a perfect fit!

Meeting Jen was like recognizing and old friend. INSTANT chemistry, awesome patience and kindess and I love how calm she is and accepted me for exactly who I am. Oh and finding my dream home in a week wasn't too shabby either!

Our loft was well presented in comparison to the one house I saw which had no take-away flier. The flowers were also a nice addition. Lots of good referrals for trades people.

Our sale went smoothly – almost too smoothly! -I was surprised.

Dealing with Julie and her team was a wonderful experience. They have the rare combination of professionalism and personality. They are able to give perfect advice and guidance, superb service and still be friendly and put you at ease. I only wish that Julie had been able to sell our old home in Halifax. Everything was perfectly organized and ran smoothly...This turned out to be one of the most fortunate finds of our life.

Carleton Village, Toronto West

I selected Julie because of the marketing job she does in selling her homes...I found your communication and availability to be top notch...KJ's knowledge of repairs has been invaluable and saved me from making an offer that I would have regretted.

I feel that the website virtual tour contributed both to showing numbers and ultimate sale of my property. The feature sheet was positive in elaborating on benefits and features of my property and neighborhood that as a seller I take for granted.

You have proven to be professional and knowledgable about all stages of the process. Your binder impressed me as an organized and professional approach to the sales process. I appreciated the checklists and referrals as I transition to other stages of my move. The personal touch also differentiates you from other realtors.

Thanks so much for your help and guidance throughout the process!

I think you did an excellent job of presenting my property to buyers. like I mentioned to Julie, I feel like you guys treated my small sale with as much care and attention as you would have for a much higher priced property.

I really believe that Julie did everything possible to sell my house recognizing that my primary goal was to sell fast. I think she gave me honest and professional advice and that she worked on my behalf to meet my objectives. I have nothing but respect for Julie's abilities, knowledge and professionalism. I enjoy all contact with the office and particularly appreciate the friendly relationship I have with Nicole.

My friends and family commented on how nice the feature sheet looked and really liked the creative wording. I like the fact that Julie's web site comes up if you google high park lofts for sale. I really liked that you featured my unit on the web site even though it wasn't as high priced as some of the other properties. I really liked the video too! This seemed to be much more extensive and effective compared to the last real estate transaction that I was involved with where the feature sheet and open house were the main marketing tools. I was really impressed with how promptly my calls and emails were returned and liked the email message that you get if the office is closed. I also appreciate being able to do many of the necessary tasks via fax or email. I felt that I was in good hands and this relieved a lot of my anxiety about selling. It helped that Julie and Nicole looked into many of the background issues, and took care of things so that I didn't have to make the trip into Toronto. I would highly recommend Julie Kinnear to my friends/family.

Boston Terrier Tito
Kensington Market Repeat
Clients referred by Dominic
Atkinson (thanks Dominic!)

We were happy with how our loft was presented. The photographs were amazing and made our loft look great, as did the virtual tour. We thought the inclusion of the mortgage info sheet was a good idea. We were very satisfied with the website, feature sheet, and marketing plan. The write-up on the website and feature sheet were wonderful and made us reflect on everything we were going to miss about the neighbourhood. We did not think things would work out the way they did and questioned the list price, but the JK Team pulled it all together and delivered with the results we were hoping to achieve. Thanks for guiding us home!

We sincerely thank you for the beautiful cookie bouquet that we received yesterday. In addition, we do wish to acknowledge the fine efforts of your team in accomplishing the objective in a short period. The photography, write ups and all tips to make the place well presentable were simply amazing. We would be delighted to refer your services to those known to us.

You did a good job. We saw our home in several newspaper ads promoting the open house and the write-ups were informative. Your team is very good about returning calls and emails. We always felt we could contact someone.

As we were first time homebuyers we know that we were all over the map and very flexable, but most of the houses recommended were in our home-buying needs. The on-line listings are very helpful to weed out the houses not worth seeing on the weekends, and the solds give you an idea of what houses are going for. You have provided good information through your booklets. I think that from what I have seen, you are very good at being the selling agent. Your houses are presented well regardless of the pros and cons of the house.

Thank you for your great work on this sale. It has been a long and sometimes laborious road, but I am thrilled with the final result and want to thank you for your great efforts on our behalf. I will most certainly and readily recommend you to others should I have the occasion.

I want to start off by thanking each and everyone on your team for your professionalism and knowlege of the real estate market in Roncesvalles and most of all for making my selling experience such a positive one! Business aside, I felt you were all genuinely good folks who had my best interests at heart. I felt extremely supported for each step in the process which started with Julie being available to meet with me on such short notice then reassuring me that we could get the house on the market in the short time period that I had. I appreciated the helpful suggestions about what I needed to do to get the house in shape for the market. I appreciated your prompt responses to all my queries as well as all the referrals that were given to me. Julie even dropped off her lawn mower for me to borrow! I felt that the team did an excellent job in presenting the property to buyers. I was thrilled by the feature sheet with the descriptive write up and appealing photos, as well as the marketing plan and the website. I would highly recommend your services to potential sellers. Once again, heartfelt thanks to you all.

The Annex
referred by Jennifer Moorcroft (Thanks Jennifer!)

In the past glory days of customer service your team would still be way out in front of everyone else, let alone in todays climate of dwindling service standards; no one else comes close. It has been a pleasure and should I know anyone looking for a home I will not hesitate to recommend you guys and who knows, in a few years time hopefully we will be in a position to move up.

Downtown
referred by Catherine Chamberlain (Thanks Catherine!)

I just wanted to send along my best to all you guys for all of your help over the last number of months in making this a reality. Everything went very smoothly and I truly am ecstatic with how things turned out. It was a great experience to get to work with all of you in making this happen.

High Park

We were initially very attracted by your website, and on meeting KJ were very happy to continue with you guys. You are very open, accessible, we know we were not the easiest of clients and your communications with us were always excellent. It is nice too that the relationship is not terminated on the succesful sale of the house as you have been wonderful in all your follow-up help.

Referred by Tara Lapstra family & Trevor St. Arnault family (Thanks Tara & Trevor!)

‘You did an exceptional job presenting our home to buyers, the marketing was excellent and Julie provided me with amazing advice in preparing for the open house. We both felt the marketing was amazing. The quality of the photographs, ads in the Star and villager and an amazing description of the property on your web site – couldn’t have been better!

It went extremely smoothly – Julie is a true professional, amazing at her job. We felt 100% confident in her advice and guidance through out the process. We also appreciate her sense of humour, as well as her calm and candid ways. Julie provided excellent advice on the condition and the quality of the houses we saw. Julie also provided us with much needed advice on the price points of the properties and comparisons to others in the area, which was very beneficial in making our decision. The Julie Kinnear team have been exceptional, particularly Julie and Nicole – we have received amazing prompt service and excellent support and advice. I felt completely supported going through the purchase by myself (while my husband was out of the country. The team has been exceptional, extremely professional and knowledgeable. Julie’s advice was fantastic, we both felt completely comfortable and confident in her advice.

We have been blown away by the service of the Julie Kinnear team, not only is the team knowledgable and customer driven but we also felt we were completely guided through the process. I have loved the letters I’ve received telling me what to expect next – the templates, timelines, relevant utilities phone numbers and advice sheets are amazing (especially for a planner or ‘control freak’ like myself). I received the moving cards and address labels today and I’m completely impressed and once again blown away by the service. The Julie Kinnear team has truly thought of everything to make the best possible experience for their clients. I’ve been telling everyone already!’

Midtown

We realized we had specific requests that had to be taken into consideration, and Jen was quick to assess these, and showed us a variety of condos within our price range and the location we wanted. It’s safe to assume that, Martha, Jillian, Howie and I would gladly recommend your services to all, and would not hesitate to use The Julie Kinnear Team in the future.

Downtown

We were extremely impressed with all of the marketing (photos, feature sheets, questions/research from Julie, etc.). The huge response was overwhelming. We were impressed when KJ approached a lawyer about a status certificate for a place we were very interested in, which he did on his own, and presented us the end result. We mention you all the time. Most of our friends are still renters!’ – Robyn & Tyler King, Downtown

Downtown

I enjoyed viewing a wide variety of properties. I found the process far less painful than I thought it would be, considering it was my first home purchase. I enjoyed working with Jen Palacios – her patience, honesty and casual demeanor made the experience seem effortless. On a completely silly note, I liked all the cheerleading – the notes, the Blockbuster gift certificate, the gifts, the attention (Nicole is a total joy!). It’s these small touches that made me feel like I really did have a Team of people who cared standing behind me the whole time, which was particularly helpful considering I was buying my condo on my own.

(High Park), Personal Referral

I most enjoyed getting to spend time with Julie and the fact that the sale was done quickly. I knew Julie was the best!

(Babypoint), Referred by Christine Williams (Thanks Christine!)

I most enjoyed the MLS listings which were personalized. Julie, you were very available. The home inspector and lawyer were both very good. It has been a pleasure to work with you and your staff. I feel that you have become a friend and I look forward to hearing from/seeing you soon. P.S. Thanks for the housewarming gift.

(Seaton Village), Referred by Sarah Connor (Thanks Sarah!)

We were happy with everybody you recommended. The best thing about you, Julie, is that you always kept our needs first & foremost in your mind. You never, ever tried to sell us on anything. You informed us to make our decision.

(Deer Park - Toronto Central), Referred by Sarah Macrae

We most enjoyed working with Julie and knowing that it would be done right. Knowing that life would open up to us after the sale no matter what. You did a wonderful job - nice that we share tastes!Very professional and detailed. We learned a lot about our neighbourhood from our own listing! You werepersonable, professional, competent, fair, calm, an aggressive champion on our behalf without being the dark side' of real estate agents. We have recommended people to you already and will continue to do so. Life is good. Thanks for everything!

(Regal Heights - Toronto Central), Repeat Client

I personally noticed a lot more communication ease with Julie having a team of people to contact. You guys make a great team and all know your stuff and were all very responsive.

(Bloor West Village)

I enjoyed interacting with Julie and the team. I thought they did an excellent job marketing my home, and set realistic expectations.

(The Beach), Referred by Kevin Reid (Thanks Kevin!)

Julie is easy to work with and very accommodating.

(The Kingsway)

I also liked dealing with Julie, she was very positive and upbeat and knew what we liked. The website was great. The marketing was very professional and the virtual tour was great. When we had our first meeting she was very professional, knowledgeable and likable.

(Swansea), Referred by Michelle Warren (Thanks Michelle!)

Julie was responsive to my needs before I even considered selling.

(High Park), Referred by Josee Titley (Thanks Josee!)

It is interesting to note that the house we ultimately bought would not have come up on the MLS based on our buyer profile - the fact that Julie brought this to our attention is exactly what I would expect from a real estate agent.

Hello Julie, Jen, KJ, Nicole and all of the great folks at Julie Kinnear! Lisa and I wanted to thank you once again for all of your help in purchasing our first home at 31 Lawlor Avenue. We could not be more pleased with your help advice and your services and have in fact mentioned your name to friends who are potentially going to be in the market soon as well. We also wanted to thank you for your very generous and sweet Home Depot Gift Card- you folks do indeed understand the moving process!!!

(Etobicoke), Referred by Maria Maida (Thanks Maria!)

Julie did a very professional job and was fun to work with.

(Bloor West Village), Repeat Client

Your sensitivity in dealing with my situation was especially helpful. Everything was handled very professionally and very thoughtfully. Having sold two former homes and bought three homes there is no one else I would rather deal with.

(Downtown Toronto), Repeat Clients

I most enjoyed how organized Julie & Nicole were; prompt feedback and response; Julie delivered what she promised. We also had a special situation where we had an 83 year old neighbour who harassed purchasers. Julie was able to manage the sale in this context. Another realtor might have let it spiral out of control. Julie was great on the purchase side at showing us what we wanted to see. We have both experienced realtors who are lazy and just push properties that don't fit the criteria. Not Julie! She was also critical (in a good way) when a house was a 60% match and had problems. Both negotiations [buy & sell] went off without a hitch.

The Julie Kinnear Team was a great referral from a friend, and we got along well with Holly. We also loved exploring the different neighbourhoods of Toronto. They were excellent at problem solving, and keeping our special needs in mind.

I just received my yummy cookie bouquet (and ate two with my morning coffee). Thank you so much for the gift and all the support through our buying process.

I just wanted to send you a brief note with gratitude and admiration for your skill and expertise in selling our home so quickly and with such a good result! I am impressed with the efficiency, professionalism and thoughtfulness of everyone. The pictures turned out great (I thought the living room one was particularly brilliant). It was very gratifying to see all my hard work show so well. The flowers were amazing and the cookies were delicious too! Thank you so much!

Just getting back from a wonderful week off moving into my new love shack! I AM madly in love with the new house and kiss my walls and floors every day! I just wanted to express my thanks to your very generous gift card from Home Depot (my new favourite store!!!!). You are so incredibly thoughtful!
I couldn't have done this without you Jen! Thanks again for everything! I am over the moon happy!

Anna-Ly of 9 Markburn Court wrote in… "The process was so quick and efficiently executed. The team approach is the best I have seen. Though you were recommended by an east-end Royal Lepage agent, your success rate (as seen on-line) speaks volumes. I cannot think of any defiencies and rate the team an excellent on all levels.

„I didn't have to be in the country to do the sale. Emailing and good communication made sure I didn't have the stress of having been there in person through the process. I was bummed that I had to lower the price. I really thought it would sell for a little more-but when I look at it more objectively, it was the right thing to do and it was gone in no time after that. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and do what needs to be done. I honestly cannot think of anything else. I never felt like I wasn't being thought of or looked after, really it was a very smooth process from my perspective. Back in 2007, before moving to Toronto I happened onto the website as I was browsing for Toronto neighborhoods that would be nice to live in when we did move. The site had very extensive info on neighborhoods with maps and average price stats-all very useful to someone who didn't know the city ‚pockets‘ at all. Then I started noticing how cool the photos and info on the places for sale looked. Very professional, very attractive images. So I started going to the site more often to see what was out there for sale, how much it cost, the photos, etc. I promised myself that if I ever had to sell a property I would try to work with JKT. So when the time came, I contacted them.“

We found a house very quickly. Julie understood my needs and did not waste anytime! Negotiating with Julie and Jen was refereshing. I can't t think of anything that could have been handled better. At first, it was the good website and relevant information that was provided. Julie's knowledge of the neighbourhoods and individual houses, and her approach, and finally you want to work with people you like. Great team and very helpful.