Darin Germyn officially began his first day as President of the FVREB on March 1, 2019 so we asked him a few questions to get to know him better. Here’s what he had to say:
About being a REALTOR®…
1. How did you begin your career as a REALTOR®?
My dad has been in real estate a few years longer than I have been. I was working a job that involved night shifts at the time and still living at home, when my dad came home for lunch one day. He was on his phone with a client, dressed quite nicely in a suit and clearly had some freedom in his day to choose how he spent it being home for lunch. I thought, ‘Isn’t that cool? A professional job with some freedom of time and he is helping people.’ The rest is history!
2. What has been your most memorable experience in your time as a real estate agent?
When the market was beginning to heat up, I had a young family who was moving out of the lower mainland because they ultimately could not afford to be here. It was sad because they were such a lovely family, yet their children both had health issues, they had jobs they were unhappy with and living expenses just eventually caught up with them. We ended up with multiple offers on their home, 18 I believe, and ended up selling their home that night for almost 25% over asking during the crazy market. These are good people too who really needed a break in life. It was an emotional experience for all of us, and now they have an incredible home in Moncton NB, money in the bank, investments and their kids can go to post secondary school all because of the results that night. That night changed their life and I will never forget it.
3. What key piece of advice would you give to Realtors to stay successful in a changing marketplace?
The truth is not always easy, but that is what your clients deserve. You have to be skilled in this market yet furthermore completely transparent and honest. Doing this will never steer you wrong. Work on your skills, deliver incredible value to your clients, and always tell them the truth, even when it is hard to do.
4. What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you became a REALTOR®?
My social life would go to the pits! I love to work so it is maybe my own fault, yet the nature of our business makes it difficult to live a life similar to that of many of our friends and family who work a 9 to 5 job.
5. What are you most looking forward to in your term as the President of the FVREB?
I really want to leave our board in a better spot than when I found it. That and the fact that we have so many incredible members who I would love to see get more involved in Organized Real Estate. This is a career so many of us are passionate about so let’s take good care of it. If I can help bring that to the table, I will be happy with my year.
Just for fun…
6. As a child, I dreamt I would become a…
Firefighter. Doesn’t everyone?
7. I grew up in…
South Surrey.
8. At Starbucks I order…
The darkest coffee they have, and black! No empty calories that way!
9. The best piece of advice I’ve been given was…
Anything from the book ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People.’ It’s a must read.
10. People would be surprised to learn that…
I can jump really high. It’s weird.
11. I am really inspired by…
My parents, my team at the FVREB, and real estate coaches, George St. Pierre, my wife and son.
Thanks Darin! We’re looking forward to the year ahead.