Working with Me as your Real Estate Advisor
Buying or selling a home is not only a huge financial undertaking; it is a monumental life-changing event – One that I take very seriously! My main objective as your Realtor is to take out as much of the stress as possible and give you all the knowledge and direction you need to make the real estate choices that are right for you. Getting to know my clients and taking their business personnally is the foundation of the way I conduct my real estate business.
Real Estate Investing
One of the best investments available to everyone is Real Estate! There is no more land being made and there are no two properties alike. Determining what your Real Estate investment goals are is your first step. Are you looking at real estate as a rental property, maybe a single detached home or a multi unit property? Can you professionally refurbish an unliveable property to a liveable property? Your next step to ask yourself is, who’s on your team to help you achieve these goals? The professionals that I would recommend when forming your team are as follows: Realtor, Mortgage Specialist, Handyman, Accountant/Tax Specialist and Lawyer. I recommend thinking through your goals and following these steps: be specific with your goals, goals must be measurable, put you goals in writing, your goals must be realistic and with a time frame. Some books I recommend on this topic are as follows:
The ABC's of Real Estate Investing by Ken McElroy
Flipping Confidential by Kirsten Kemp
Prophecy by Robert Kiyosaki & Sharon Lechter
Century 21 Video
Life Changes
Understanding life’s happy times and difficult challenges and knowing the effects they may have on your finances, emotions and home life, I know I can understand your circumstances and effectively assist you when making those exciting and/or difficult real estate decisions.
Some charities that are close to my heart and that I currently support are: Cancer Care Mb, Shelters and Century 21 Kids to camp
Jawaharal Nehru
For every home bought or sold with Karen Girard-Smith, a donation is made to the Century 21, Kids To Camp. Click on the image above to learn more.
A Bit About Me
Moving has been my thing, subconsciously I must love packing, unpacking, painting and decorating. Why else would I have moved 19 times in the past 19 years? My early years were spent growing up on a grain farm west of Elie, Manitoba. Once I graduated from high school, I made the big venture to Winnipeg and started my retail management career, living in several great communities: St James, West End and Downtown. Through a promotion at work, I left Winnipeg for approximately three years, living in both Ontario and Alberta. When the chance came up for me to move back to Winnipeg, I took it! Winnipeg is definitely one great city to live in and I knew that I would eventually get back home. Returning to Winnipeg has given me the chance to experience even more of this city's great communities: Wolseley, West Kildonan, River Heights and presently, Waverly Heights.
Married to an incredible man named Jeff, I have a wonderful daughter named Chloe, and we have a Lab mix dog named Lily. My family is of great importance to me. I love being involved with my daughter's school and all of her activities...kids definitely need their familiy's involvement to help them grow into strong positive young adults. Family favourites include: cycling, spending time at Brereton Lake cottage, water skiing, concerts, and musicals...the list goes on!
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AIR MILES
Ask me how to earn AIR MILES® reward miles when you buy or sell a home through me.
Professional Background
After graduating from high school in 1990, I immediately got into retail sales and management. I absolutely loved it! The customers, the teams, coaching, training, analysis of financials and sales patterns, marketing, event planning… I started out working in clothing, then cosmetics, and lastly at a big box store, with a wide range of sales volumes. I stayed in the retail management field up until the end of 2008, when I decided to make the move into real estate. With my extensive retail management background and my passion to provide superior customer service, I am able to easily adapt to the fast paced business of real estate.
Malcolm Forbes
Accepting 2010 Master Silver Award
Designations
Certified Real Estate Specialist
Languages
English
Education
St Pauls Collegiate, Elie, Mb
Applied Multi Media (AMTC), Winnipeg, Mb
Various training programs through my past employers include:
Various Customer Service Programs
Communications
Friedman Retail Management Training
Payroll Management
Inventory Control
Provincial Health and Safety Programs