Melissa has worked and lived in many places in the world but always comes back to her birth place, Vancouver Island. She says it's the fresh air, unparalleled natural beauty, unforgettable skies and genuine people that keep her coming back. With her education in languages and her experiences in residing overseas, Melissa - who is fluent in Spanish - brings a cultural sensitivity to her real estate practice. She understands how one's neighborhood can contribute to a positive lifestyle. Whether you're from another province or another country, Melissa will work closely with you to understand your needs and help you find the ideal home.
Melissa De Cañez, Your REALTOR® for Life.
Melissa De Cañez, award-winning REALTOR®, brings a lifetime of business excellence to her chosen vocation. Inspired in part by her grandmother, Adeline Petersen, who was an award-winning Victoria REALTOR® for twenty years, Melissa is recognized by her clients as genuine, professional and involved.
Melissa views her work as a long-term endeavor. "I want to build a lifetime relationship with my clients," says Melissa. "I take a sincere interest in the needs of the people I work with - the remuneration really is secondary - and I find my practice is growing naturally because of the expertise and service I provide."
It's all about exceptional customer service.
The central theme that runs strongly through Melissa's credentials is exceptional customer service. During her years in business administration, marketing and sales, project development, and VIP tourism, Melissa consistently won the confidence of clients and employers alike. "I really enjoy helping people," Melissa continues, "and I like sharing knowledge and information. I ask my real estate clients a lot of questions because I want to find out what pieces of the puzzle they're missing so I can help them in a meaningful way." Melissa works with both buyers and sellers in a variety of markets-from the luxury home owner and the experienced real estate investor to the first-time home buyer-and she brings the same outstanding customer service to all her clients, regardless of the size of the transaction.
"I contacted Melissa one day, made an appointment for the next day, and the following day she had what I wanted. Melissa was very fast and accurate. I was a first time buyer. Melissa showed me a place that was love at first sight, one of those situations where everything falls into place. I was really impressed with the way she listened and was very efficient. I thought I would be looking for 6 months and then it took 3 days." Guinevere Dubois, Victoria
Melissa matches buyers with the perfect property.
When working with buyers, Melissa wants to understand the kind of community in which the new home buyer wants to live, and she carefully assesses the affordability factor. "The numbers have to work," says Melissa. "I work to keep buyers within their comfort zone, so affordability is important." Melissa is committed to helping buyers find the right property, and she'll show as many properties as are needed to find the perfect match. For out-of-town purchasers, Melissa goes the extra step in providing a complete relocation program to smooth the buyers' transition into their new homes. Real estate investors can also count on extra assistance from Melissa with their property management requirements. As a real estate investor herself, Melissa understands the business from the investment point of view and will support her investors by helping them to get the property ready for rental and establish a relationship with a property management firm.
"Our experience with Melissa was great from the start. The bottom line for us was a fast sale, at a fair price with an intelligent, outgoing, polite realtor, and this is what we got. We requested no open houses and were not in any way pushed. Our home was more than adequately advertised. We would be pleased to use her talents at our next sale and meantime to recommend her to others. Her evaluation of our home was realistic, and Melissa remained in touch whilst the sale went through and for follow-up." Brenda & Malcolm Berry, North Saanich
Sellers can count on top dollar and marketing excellence.
Melissa believes in getting top dollar for her sellers. "I'm patient," says Melissa, "and I'm not afraid of pricing aggressively." First, she does her homework with a complete Competitive Market Analysis to determine the optimum price for your property. Then, she implements an advanced promotional program to advertise your property in the marketplace. Frequent open houses are one of Melissa's hallmarks. Her MLS listings are augmented with compelling descriptions and photographs as well as 360360º Visual Tours. Properties are featured on a rotational basis in the extensive advertising employed by Melissa including the Time Colonist, Real Estate Victoria, and full-color spreads in the Vancouver Island Real Estate Book and Homes and Land Magazine. In addition, Melissa's listings appear on eight web sites and are occasionally featured in the Vancouver Sun, Calgary Herald and the Wall Street Journal.
Melissa complements her rich family and professional life with community service. She is a member of ZONTA, an international executive group that raises money to help underprivileged women reach their professional goals. She has also worked with disabled children and immigrants, and has raised funds for orphans in Latin America.
Melissa brings you a seasoned team of professionals.
Melissa's membership in a business network of property professionals gives you ready access to the specialized skills you may require as you buy or sell a home. The team includes every possible service and trade imaginable: interior designers, renovation experts, movers, home inspectors, lawyers, mortgage brokers, and more.
Melissa continues to hone her impressive real estate skills with ongoing education including luxury homes marketing programs and real estate board courses. She has been a member of the Victoria Real Estate Board's Government Liason Committee which works with municipal governments to keep in touch with the communities and advocate for the homeowner.
Melissa De Cañez and Pemberton Holmes: Integrity and Professionalism.
Melissa De Cañez has chosen to work with Pemberton Holmes because of the company's high level of professionalism and the recognition it enjoys in the real estate industry. "The people I work with are all top-notch," says Melissa. In addition, she notes that, with the four regional Pemberton Holmes offices, she has built-in office support throughout the South Island area, enabling her to "increase the service available to my clients." Extraordinary customer service-this is what you can count on with Melissa De Cañez and why you can entrust her with a lifetime of real estate transactions. Pemberton Holmes Ltd. has been in business serving the Vancouver Island area since 1887. Victoria's first real estate company with over 200 agents.
