GETTING TO KNOW: MIKE VON DEHN HOMES

666666

GETTING TO KNOW:

MIKE VON DEHN HOMES

PREAMBLE & INTERVIEW BY CHRIS TIESSEN; PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN & PAULO LABERGE

YOU'VE EXPANDED YOUR BUSINESS FROM A SINGLE REALTOR PRACTICE TO A TEAM. WHY THE CHANGE?

Mike von Dehn

THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE THAT IF YOU’RE FROM THE GUELPH AREA AND ARE

(IN ALMOST ANY WAY) ENSCONCED IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, YOU’VE HEARD OF, OR COME ACROSS, OR PERSONALLY COME TO KNOW MIKE VON DEHN. AS SOMEONE WHO’S BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ROYAL CITY’S MUSIC AND CYCLING SCENES FOR YEARS, THIS AFFABLE CHARACTER HAS DEFINITELY MADE MORE THAN A FEW FRIENDS. AND AS

A LONG-TIME REALTOR WHO’S KNOWN FOR HIS VAST ‘HOUSE SCIENCE’ KNOWLEDGE, LAID BACK DEMEANOR, AND SOLID PROFESSIONALISM, HE’S MADE EVEN MORE. RECENTLY TOQUE ASKED MIKE A BUNCH OF QUESTIONS WITH SUBJECTS RANGING FROM HIS EXPERTISE IN REAL ESTATE TO HIS PREFERENCES IN BIKE TRAILS. HERE'S

WHAT MIKE HAD TO SAY:

66

After over ten years of working solo, I decided to take my business to the next level. Adding team members and support has improved my ability to balance my work life with my home life – and my mental health has improved as a result. Moreover, the formation of a team gives us the collective ability to combine our skills and experiences, allowing us to work very effectively with a wide range of clients.

WHO ARE YOUR TEAM MEMBERS, AND WHAT DO YOU ALL DO UNDER THE MVD HOMES UMBRELLA?

Our team consists of five team members – myself, Lindsey, Micky, Cory, and Gabrielle. What I bring to the team is what I call ‘house sciences’ – including my interests in the way homes are built and how they run most efficiently. I also bring a large roster of clients with whom I’ve become friends over the years. Lindsey is my licensed assistant which means that she not only helps me behind the scenes but also assists with showings, open houses, offers, listing presentations, and more. Micky and Cory, as the supporting realtors on our team, bring in their own clients as well as help me out when I have multiple active clients and can't make it to all of my appointments. Their combined previous real estate experience, as well as their expertise in carpentry and home renovations, make them invaluable additions to the team. Gabrielle is our administrative assistant. She keeps us organized so that we have more time to focus on our clients.

YOU SEEM TO PRACTICE MOSTLY IN GUELPH. WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT THIS MARKET?

I am a true Guelphite – born and raised in this city. I love it here. It’s a community that’s progressive, values music and the arts, and is full of people who are taking steps towards creating a more sustainable future. I find it easy to share my enthusiasm for this city with clients who are considering moving here from across Ontario and beyond. My personal favorite thing about living in Guelph is that some of Ontario's most amazing mountain biking trails are in and around this city.

AH YES – MOUNTAIN BIKING. AND WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL TRAILS?

My favorites are the GORBA trails at Guelph Lake, the Arkell loops, Twin Ponds in Puslinch, and the Hydrocut in Waterloo. Over the past year or two I’ve also started road riding. I really enjoy riding in groups with the Guelph Cycling Club. They are very organized and a fun, low pressure group. Riding with them is a great way to meet new people and exercise at the same time.

AND WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE SPOTS FOR POST-RIDE FOOD OR DRINKS?

With three young children, I don’t get out much for postride pints. When I mountain bike, it’s usually on my own and, more times than not, it’s after nine o’clock when the kids are in bed. On occasion, when I ride with the Guelph Cycling Club, we stop at Fixed Gear Brewing for an afterride pint. I enjoy the brewery atmosphere, and they’re very accommodating to larger groups of bikers decked out in spandex.

ARE THERE ANY NEIGHBOURHOODS IN GUELPH THAT EXCITE YOU MORE THAN OTHERS?

Although Guelph is full of beautiful little neighbourhoods, in my books there’s a clear winner: ‘The Ward.’ The eclectic mixture of people and architecture and the rich history of the area make it the most interesting place to live, in my opinion. All you have to do is take a stroll down the maze of narrow streets to understand what I mean. It’s fascinating to see the old houses and schools and the long-since-closed Italian grocery store fronts that now function as family homes. I could walk through this neighbourhood every day and notice something new each time. I also believe that ‘The Ward’ is the most undervalued neighbourhood in the city. It remains an affordable hood – but perhaps not for long as new developments continue to pop up. THE REAL ESTATE MARKET HAS BEEN A BIT SILLY FOR YEARS NOW. ANY ADVICE FOR A FIRST-TIME HOME BUYER OR FOR THOSE LOOKING TO SELL?

The last few years have been very difficult for first-time home buyers. My advice is that if they’re in a position to buy, they should keep their expectations realistic. Just getting a foot in the door of the real estate market gets you ahead and buys you time to focus more on your future dream home. The recent hikes in interest rates have given some relief to high prices and bidding wars. I would take advantage of this reprieve as a buyer, but at the same time might advise sellers to hold off until the interest rates have stabilized and buyers get used to them.

LAST QUESTION – WHERE DOES YOUR TEAM GO FOR A FANTASTIC MEAL?

Your question is a good reminder to meet as a team more often. I’m exclusively plant-based and each member of the team is very supportive of my lifestyle. That being said, one of our favorite places to eat in downtown Guelph is The Cornerstone. The new owners have renovated the space beautifully and I have loved the food there for years. It’s a great place to find yummy vegan and vegetarian food.

67

MIKE VON DEHN HOMES

vondehnhomes.com

sparklinghopwater.ca