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Given a list of questions, serious and not-so-serious, Melva dove right in and had fun with it--the same kind of serious fun she has when she's helping you buy or sell your home.
Q1: Why did you get into real estate?
A1: I worked as a night and weekend receptionist in a real estate office when I was 18 years old and fell in love with the industry and houses. Real estate became my hobby and then my paid career.
Q2: What do you like most about being a real estate agent?
A2: Working with people and helping make their dreams come true.
Q3: What's less-than-perfect about a career in real estate?
A3: The hours are a bit crazy sometimes and juggling a family and a busy career can be hectic, but I deal with it well.
Q4: How long have you been an agent?
A4: I was licensed in July 2004 and I'm doing very well and loving it!
Q5: What are the pluses and minuses of being a relatively new agent?
A5: Establishing your name as a bona fide REALTOR® is a difficult task. The pluses are that I have the knowledge of all the newest real estate rules and tools.
Q6: What other experiences have you had in your life that support your career?
A6: Years in accounting and as an event planner. Accounting gave me the understanding of financial issues and negotiations I needed. Event planning gave me the organizational skills I needed to juggle many different things at once.
Q7: How many years have you lived in the Ottawa area?
A7: I've lived in the Ottawa area since 1999. Having lived in Toronto and London, Ontario, I have developed a love for my new city and everything it has to offer: fresh air, not too large..not too small. I love being surrounded by country side and water!
Q8: How do you juggle such a busy career with other aspects of your life?
A8: My husband has a busy job as a software developer and I only have one 17 year old at home now. The three of us work together to make sure the family runs well. My organizational skills help to make everything fall into place. Life isn't dull, but we're having fun with it.
Q9: What ONE thing should people know before they buy or sell a house?
A9: People should understand what their lifestyle/long term needs are.
Q10: If I wanted to become a real estate agent, how would I do it?
A10: Ontario has one of the more rigid programs to become a REALTOR®. Initial licensing requires 3 courses over a 6 to 12 month period. Phase I is a correspondence/online course taking about 4 weeks. Phase II is a 2 week in class course and Phase III is a 3 week in class course. After you receive your provisional license you then have to take 3 more Articling courses over the next two years. Two mandatory courses, which are Phase III Commercial, Law and a 3rd elective course. I took Real Estate Appraisal as an elective. Once you have completed the articling courses you are a full fledged REALTOR®. Then every two years you have to earn 24 educational credits in order to retain your license. More information about becoming a REALTOR® click here.
Q11: Who are your mentors?
A11: I have many mentors at my company Royal LePage Gale Real Estate and others in other companies throughout Ottawa. I admire REALTOR®s who have an open and honest approach to business and who represent their clients fairly. As a REALTOR® we learn a lot through dealings with other REALTORS® .
Just For Fun...
Q1: Are you married? Have children?
A1: Married to a wonderful Norwegian named Johnny Borjesson. My two lovely daughters are Sandra (22) and Chloe (19) who are both still pursuing their educations.
Q2: Do you have any pets?
A2: Yes... 2 cats... ZeeZee & Veena. We got them both in 1999 after our old cat Moika died (at 17 years old).
Q3: What are your hobbies?
A3: If you can believe it, looking at homes is still one of my hobbies. My husband and I can often be found scouting out houses when on vacation and when I get a weekend off. Otherwise, I love to travel, dine out with my husband and friends and hang with my girls (if they let me). While the girls were growing up I spent most of my evenings and weekends being a sports mom in soccer and basketball (and a few other sports for good measure). Now that the girl's are older my husband and I have become crew on our friend's boat. We are pleasure cruiser's and sail out of the Brittania Yacht Club on the Scot Free. In addition to that I took up golfing in 2008 and joined a women's golf league and am loving every moment of it (don't ask my score). Don't worry, I still have lots of time for selling real estate - the summer months are a bit slower though and since I work most weekends and evenings the rest of the year it's nice to have some relaxation - besides my pager and cell phone still work on the river & on the golf course!
Q4: Any time for volunteer work?
A4: I've done a lot of volunteer work over the years. From PTA/School Council, Political Campaigns, Board of Directors of a Children's Mental Health Centre, Co-Convened basketball for bantam & midget girls for a few years. For the last 5 years I've been involved with my community association. I've was 1st V.P. 2006 to 2008 and now I'm the President. We have a pretty well oiled team and I'm proud of our successes.
Q5: What's your favourite Ottawa museum?
A5: I love the Museum of Civilization. It's such a wonderful trip through Canada. Running a close 2nd is the National Gallery. I love art.
Q6: Your favorite colour is...
A6: Hmmmmmmm... Red.
Q7: Your favorite vacation was...
A7: All vacations are my favourite vacations. When the girls were younger we would go to this Resort on Lake Huron called Wildwood. It was a week-long, all inclusive in a rustic little cabin. Very relaxing, very family-oriented. Update: My husband & I took a 15 day vacation to BC this summer and we absolutely loved Tofino on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Q8: Your favourite movie is...
A8: Harold & Maude--a very off-the-wall movie.
Q9: Your favourite book is...
A9: "The Chrysalids". I read it in high school and still have my tattered copy of it.
Q10: Snow or sand?
A10: Sand.
Q11: Pizza or filet mignon?
A11: Pizza (with shrimp on it)
Q12: George Clooney or George W. Bush?
A12: George Clooney
Q13: Cards or Monopoly?
A13: Cards (euchre)
Q14: Disney World or Tuscany?
A14: Both..I'm flexible that way!
Q15: Comedy, mystery or horror?
A15: Mystery.
Q16: Mittens or gloves?
A16: Gloves.
Q17: Rembrandt or Picasso?
A17: Picasso, by far.
Q18: Planes, trains or automobiles?
A18: Planes & trains.
Q19: Wild horses or wild dolphins?
A19: Horses.
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