Rita Alexander, Broker & Managing Partner
Speaks: English, Russian
1-25 Hollinger Road, Toronto, ON M4B 3N4
Raised in a real estate family in Toronto's west end, Rita has seen the real estate industry from all perspectives. Her main goal is to make sure her clients are informed, happy, and stress free when buying or selling in Toronto. She doesn't rest until she knows her clients are making a smart real estate decision.
For years, Rita has been offering informational real estate seminars to members of her community and beyond, ensuring that those who have questions about the industry, can get information in a non-pressure and unique environment.
Rita works with residential and commercial clients, having built a portfolio of sales all over the GTA (and Hamilton) and has a team of professionals behind her to make each transaction as smooth and worry free as possible for all her clients. Each client is unique and needs a different approach: she's there before, during, and after each sale and purchase.
Her goal is to develop life long relationships with her clients and help them buy and sell real estate in Toronto throughout their lifetime. In her spare time, she spends time with her husband, explores new Toronto restaurants, and bikes Toronto's trails – she's a participant and supporter of the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
For years, Rita has been offering informational real estate seminars to members of her community and beyond, ensuring that those who have questions about the industry, can get information in a non-pressure and unique environment.
Rita works with residential and commercial clients, having built a portfolio of sales all over the GTA (and Hamilton) and has a team of professionals behind her to make each transaction as smooth and worry free as possible for all her clients. Each client is unique and needs a different approach: she's there before, during, and after each sale and purchase.
Her goal is to develop life long relationships with her clients and help them buy and sell real estate in Toronto throughout their lifetime. In her spare time, she spends time with her husband, explores new Toronto restaurants, and bikes Toronto's trails – she's a participant and supporter of the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
Chatting With Rita
Why did you get into real estate and what did you do in your
pre-real estate life?
My parents immigrated to
Canada and their psychology degree and construction engineer degree meant
nothing here, so they started purchasing old homes, renovating, and selling. It
was a whole family business and my brother, and I were involved in all the
aspects -renos, cleaning, house prep, etc. Offer negotiations were always done
at our dining table late into the night with our trusted realtor who we used
over the 8 years my parents were in the business. Having grown up in the
business, I figured that it’s just what I am meant to do after I graduated
McGill.
What do you love most above what you do? What is the most
rewarding thing about it? Etc.
I love exceeding expectations
whether that’s purchasing a house for my clients that they have been looking
for or getting more for my seller clients. I also love the listing prep side of
things. I get very excited when I have to arrange trades, stagers (or stage
myself!) photographers, etc. before a listing. I love to see the transformation
from a home to a market-ready property.
What is the best advice someone gave you that you can share
with other agents?
“I have to do x. I don’t want to.
But, that’s not an option right now so I’m going to go ahead and get started.”
There are many things that we do in our daily life that we really don’t want to
do. It’s not an option sometimes, so you just have to get started. Getting
started, is the only way forward.
What is something you know now, that wish you knew when you
first started your career in real estate? This could be a strategy, advice,
anything.
In real estate school,
they don’t teach you how to run your business. They teach you the rules and the
forms but it’s up to you to figure out how to be an entrepreneur. I wish I knew
how to have systems, rules, best practices when I started. As well, one thing
that still remains true about our business is that there is a lot of boasting.
Most of it is fake. I wish I knew that when I first started.
Your best advice for a Toronto home buyer? OR Seller? OR
both?
The best advice I have for
buyers is – not all that shines is gold, and I can guarantee you your brother’s
cousin’s sister-in-law did not get the deal of the century. For sellers it
would be – find an agent you trust, your gut feeling is right. A lot rides on
the experience and integrity of your selling agent, it could literally mean a
successful sale or a bust.
Can you recall one of your proudest/most memorable moments
as an agent?
My proudest moment is always when
the offer is signed, and my client is happy. I feel a huge sense of
accomplishment and I’m excited for the next chapter in my client’s life.
Can you recall the strangest/most bizarre moments or stories
in your time working as an agent?
There are strange and
bizarre things happening literally everyday in real estate. We’ve seen a lot of
strange homes. In fall of 2020 I saw 5 homes in the span of one month (October)
that had weird witch circle insignia in their floors or decks…..for my own
sanity I assumed it was a new TikTok trend.
Your favorite neighbourhood/s in the city and why?
Playter Estates because
the houses are so, so beautiful and St. Clair West because I grew up there and
know all the streets, the businesses, the vibe. I also really like Scarborough
because it is wildly diverse and full of hidden gems.
Your favorite restaurant, café or thing to do in the City?
I know people want to hear
something fancy, but I love Ding Tai Fung in Scarborough. I ALWAYS want to go
there. My favourite things to do is go for walks in different neighbourhoods
(especially if I arrive early for a showing). When you walk, you see all the
things you miss when driving. You truly feel how people live, what’s important
to them and their community. I really enjoy looking at people’s front porches
and their front gardens and imagine what their life is like in that house.
Why did you choose Blue Door and how does BDR support your
business?
We started Blue Door to
work with like minded individuals who were focused on bringing success to their
clients and serving their community. At BDR we try to keep things pretty
seamless and have a very fast turnaround on questions for our agents. We
support them with an open heart and are truly invested in making sure they
succeed.
What do you think sets this brokerage apart and how does
that help your clients?
Since we are family run
and don’t belong to any large franchise, we are free to change and update
ourselves to the times and to what our agents’ needs. We have room to breathe
here, we’re not a dog-eat-dog environment, and we still deliver stellar service
to our clients. Realtors have a lot of negative reputations. We are selective
in who we work with, and we make sure our people are truly good.
Anything else you’d like people to know about you? One
interesting fact about you that you’d like to share?
I really love vintage and old
stuff. “One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure” that’s about me so don’t
be weirded out if you see me on the side of the road checking out an old chair.