Know Your REALTOR®: Mercina Kokkas

Why did you choose to become a REALTOR®?

It was a natural process that evolved. I grew up in business, the family business. Then I had a number of years of experience in marketing and advertising. I did a number of different jobs that kind have led to all the different skills that you need to be a REALTOR®. A good friend of mine really pushed me to get into it. I did, and it’s been decades, and I haven’t looked back!

Why CENTURY 21?

I interviewed a number of companies before choosing CENTURY 21, and CENTURY 21 just stood out for me. CENTURY 21 was committed to the latest technology and ongoing training for anyone that wanted to look into different programs and help them in their particular area of interest. Also, just really great tools that I could pass on to my sellers or my clients that were looking to buy homes by use of technology! I am very happy with the company, and I have never, ever, ever wanted to change.

What is your favourite part about being a REALTOR®?

My favourite part about being a REALTOR® is all the relationships I get to make and keep throughout the years, and all the clients that I meet along the way. It’s just the best! Every day is new, you meet new people all the time, and I love it.

What is something that you think every buyer should know before getting into real estate?

Buyers need to understand, I believe, the importance of resale. It’s not just about getting a roof over your head that you can afford every month. That can be best discussed and explained through consultation with your REALTOR® before you start looking for a home.

What do you think is the most important change coming for real estate?

We’ve seen great leaps with technology, which has improved our communication amongst firms, between agents and with our clientele. We have the resources now with the internet and digital signing so that we can do our work and not inconvenience our clients and also be able to keep up with all the data that needs to be sourced to help our clients either buy a home or sell a home.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Athens, Greece, and we moved to Canada when I was 6 years old. English is my second language, but as a young child, I picked up English very quickly. I am very proud of my Greek heritage, and I enjoy it. I still speak the language and can even read, I found out, thanks to Facebook. Can’t write, though. Not well, anyway. But I am also very happy to have grown up in Canada.

If you could choose 3 words to describe yourself, which would you choose?

I’m optimistic, detail-oriented and empathetic. I can feel what people are sensing. I do notice details—with real estate, I do notice them with properties. So, I‘m a little fussy about stuff like that in my own life, like my garden or, you know, how I paint my house or something like that.

What inspires you?

Positive people inspire me very much. I love being involved in projects where you can put your energy into it and then see a transformation. Doing a landscape or a renovation; that’s very exciting to me.

Why do you love Saskatoon?

Well, I grew up in Saskatoon, and I have many, many wonderful memories here. The city is just the right size for getting around: it’s very convenient, very easy, it’s not stressful. It’s just a pleasant place to live in.

If you could give any seller one piece of advice, what would it be?

I would say prepare your home, obviously, but know that if your home needs repairs, the buyer will have to do it once they buy your home because they can’t be ignored. Know that if the buyer is going to have to pay for those repairs, they’re going to consider the cost and tack on a premium for the inconvenience. So, if you have more time than money, do the repairs yourself. If not, then just know it’s going to cost something.

Is there anything else that you think people should know about you when considering whether or not to work with you?

Aside from all my years of experience, my client’s best interests are what I have in mind and heart!