ASSINIBOIA - “Giving the keys to a first time home-owner or seeing a client’s face when they finally sign the papers for their dream home – those are the times that keep me going,” said Dionne Tjeltveit, realtor, broker, and owner of Century 21 Insight Realty Limited, Moose Jaw, and owner of the franchise in Assiniboia. “Or when you sell a house that a client has been wanting to sell for a long time – that is really gratifying too.”
Selling a house is like building a house – it starts with a foundation. Dionne’s successes are built on the bedrock of banking. “I used to work at CIBC. I managed mortgages, personal loans, and worked with real estate agents. Bev Chubb, previous real estate agent, approached me to come and do MLS computer listings. Then with his encouragement I went on to get my real estate license in 2003. I learned a lot from the people in the business. I would follow the home inspectors and appraisers and ask a lot of questions.”
Her curiosity and determination led her to ownership. “In 2005 I became the broker with my broker license. Then in 2016 I bought the franchise for both Moose Jaw and Assiniboia. I supervise seven employees between Moose Jaw, Gravelbourg, and Assiniboia, as well as my daughter Cassie McCann. Now when I counsel people towards saving and qualifying for a mortgage, it goes back to my experience in banking. It’s the best – seeing people succeed at getting a loan and then going on to buy a home.”
As in all home purchases, walls and ceilings can hold something unexpected. Dionne was in for a huge surprise a month after she became a business owner. “I bought the franchise on May 1st, 2016, and a month later on June 2nd, I was diagnosed with cancer. I went through surgery, chemo, and radiation, but I worked the whole year. I had to. I had just bought a business and if I didn’t work I would have lost it.” Dionne pushed through and like every year since she’s had her broker license in 2003, she won an award from Century 21.
“I was 43rd in Canada that year for selling the most units. There were other years I did better. One year I was 7th in Canada, but I was most proud of that award for 2016 because of the struggle I had to go through to achieve it. I took 10 days off and then worked right through radiation. My success that year was the most satisfying.”
If those walls could talk, they would say that the agent is on call 24/7. “Technology has changed everything. We used to have office hours from 9-5. But now with cell phones, people message you and they expect a reply immediately. My workday never really ends and even on a weekend, it starts with the first text that comes in.”
But Dionne enjoys how each day is different. “I sell residential, commercial, acreages, farms, and multi-family properties. Being able to sell everything is more convenient and makes it more interesting for me. You don’t see the burnout that you do in other careers.”
Real estate sales are 90-per-cent Internet driven now, as compared to before when clients would view listings at the brick-and-mortar business downtown.
“They go online and see what’s for sale,” said Dionne. “Younger people have a different mindset than we did,” she adds. “They are buying the house that the bank tells them they can afford. On the other hand, we bought small houses to start, and once we could afford to move on, we sold them, and bought bigger. There are pros and cons on each side.”
Another secret those walls would tell is how challenging it is to sell real estate in an agricultural area where property values fluctuate.
“Here we deal with farm prices and drought and so on. Ups and downs in the market. With modern medicine, people are able to independently live in their farm house much longer. Often the kids take a career in the city instead. This affects the real estate market here in town as well.
Finally, there’s the rooftop high of selling a home. “Being an owner has pushed me to be the best that I can be. I have a good reputation so that helps, and now I have to work hard to keep that reputation. People are happy with my work so they refer their friends to me as well.”
Dionne plans to work long enough for her daughter Cassie to take over. “She’s been accompanying me since she could sit up in the car. I am teaching her to be patient, because in real estate, you front load a lot of work and time, and after all that, a property might not sell, but eventually you will be compensated for all the effort. You just have to be patient.”
Meanwhile, Dionne has a full house at home. “Owning the business can be stressful, but I relax by spending time with our 10 grandchildren. We watch a lot of hockey!”
During a time of shifting sands with economy highs and lows, a technology revolution, and health challenges, Dionne has built her house on a rock with a firm foundation in banking. The people of Assiniboia and district know they can count on her to deliver, because she knows, as always, there’s no place like home.
