Ian Hallford is a top real estate agent with Prudential Town Centre Realty who has received numerous awards over his 8 years in the business. He aims to provide the best client service by listening to his clients' needs and giving honest opinions. Ian credits his success to hard work, treating clients well, and using technology and marketing to promote his listings. He emphasizes the importance of balancing work with family and giving back to the community.

1. S UCCESS
Profiles of burlington oakville eDition
®
investigating concepts of success
AIM TO BE
THE BEST

2. “i aim to provide the best service my clients
have ever received from a realtor.”
By Sarah Ennals
P
Prudential Town Centre Realty was
established in 1989. With locations
in Oakville, Milton, Port Credit,
Kingston, Ottawa, Brockville, and
According to Ian, he chose to work for
Prudential because he was impressed
with the personal level of service
and cooperation he had noticed
communications degree,” and learned
to think on his feet during five years
of managing restaurants, followed by
ten years in the corporate world of
Fort Erie, and with more than 250 in his local office during the job investment banking. He had always
agents on the job, it consistently interview. It proved to be the right been curious about real estate, and his
ranks in the top three against its decision. “The in-house training and father, an architect (now retired) had
competition, crediting its success to support I received from the first day a great deal of success with real estate
having “the right people, the right on was outstanding, and definitely investments, which whetted Ian’s
attitude, the right tools.” One of contributed to my fast start in the curiosity about the business.
those people is Ian Hallford, who has business,” he says. “Also, there’s no
received awards from the company backstabbing,” he laughs. “You can “I saw the potential to build my own
each of his 8 years in the business, leave a file on your desk and no one business, which would provide me
including the coveted President’s will try to steal a sale from you.” with the freedom to pursue other
Circle designation twice; placing him ventures. I love having the framework
in the top 3% of Prudential Realtors Ian began with a B.A. in Applied Arts to create my success based on my
in all of Canada. from Ryerson University, “more of a own efforts. Spending time with

3. different people makes each day interesting
and exciting. Seeing the smile on the face of
a client after the successful completion of a
deal is very gratifying.”
Ian’s commitment to professional service
combines the strength of a major corporation
with the individual attention he provides to
each and every one of his clients. On his
website, satisfied customers commend his
‘no pressure’ style and his ability (and efforts)
to understand exactly what each client is
searching for in a house. “Ian really listens
to your needs and preferences. Unlike other
agents we’ve worked with who say what
you want to hear to get a deal to happen,
we asked for, and he gave us, his honest
opinion.”
For Ian, the secret to success is quite simple:
listen to your clients, treat everyone as you
would like to be treated, work honestly
and with determination, and the results
will take care of themselves. The function
of a Realtor is to bring the experience of
many transactions to what for most clients
is unfamiliar territory. “Not only is it very
expensive to ‘learn from your mistakes’ but
very few people move often enough to gain
the needed experience,” he says.
His clients are split “almost exactly 50/50 be expensive, and the pressure is Multiple Listing Service (MLS) at
between buyers and sellers.” Most of often increased due to the stress of www.mls.ca
his business occurs in Oakville and the relocating.
surrounding area, and Ian is up to the “I use all the latest technological
challenge of finding any type of home or For sellers, he has a comprehensive tools that are available to promote
property someone is looking for, or selling marketing program - a broad both my listings and myself. So
any home. With customers ranging from spectrum of advertising media do many of my fellow Realtors,
first time buyers to seniors to investors, he ensures good value for clients naturally. Ultimately, what
deals mainly with residential resale homes; looking to sell: newspaper ads separates a great Realtor from
these can include “anything from condos for – “sellers like to be able to see an average Realtor is service,
$200K to custom-built homes for $1.5 M their home promoted in the local knowledge and attitude,” Ian says.
and higher.” paper” - but also listings in the Real “I aim to provide the best service
Estate Book. Ian has a full page in my clients have ever received from
Also, Prudential provides relocation services every issue and rotates his listings a Realtor.”
to many Fortune 500 Corporations and Ian carefully so that every one of his
has been involved in numerous transactions clients gets maximum exposure for Ian makes it clear, however, that his
in this area. The clients connected to these their home. Of course there’s also first commitment is to his family:
relocations - usually executives - are used to internet-based promotion: virtual “The values I was raised with by
getting top-notch service, and have very high tours and auxiliary pictures for my parents have stayed with me
expectations. The homes involved tend to listings, websites, and the on-line and guided me. Irene, my wife of

4. fifteen years, provides great support I live and work in. It feels great to give any of it personally, but learn from
and encouragement for me. I make something back.” Ian explains. everything that happens, so that you
a point of being home for dinner can grow as an individual and as a
every night, no matter how busy He attends monthly meetings with businessperson. If you have given
I am. I am able to walk my seven- the local chapter of an organization something your best shot, that’s all
year-old daughter, Sandra, to school called Christian Business Ministries you can ask of yourself. The rest is up
each morning, and walk home with of Canada (CBMC), where he to someone else. My best advice is to
her each afternoon. We take regular networks with people from various work hard, do your best, and above
vacations as a family, to get away from businesses. As well, he is involved all, keep smiling!”
the hectic pace of life.” with a networking group of fellow
Christian Realtors who meet regularly
“Our church is a big part of our lives, for breakfast. In both groups, guest Ian Hallford
and I am the Chair of its Finance speakers discuss interesting and diverse Prudential Town Centre Realty Inc.
Board at the moment. My family and business experiences. Brokerage
I support many local charities, and 280 North Service Road West
sponsor two children, one in Africa Ian credits his family, his clients, and Oakville, Ontario L6M 2S2
and one in South America. I have his faith as motivations to work hard Tel: (905) 338-6550
been a member of various committees in a very demanding business. “Don’t Fax: (905) 338-7452
for the Oakville, Milton and District think it’s going to be easy,” he warns Cell: (647) 299-SOLD [7653]
Real Estate Board (OMDREB ) would-be Realtors. “Be prepared E-mail: ianhallford@sympatico.ca
during the years I have been a Realtor, to work long days, odd hours, and www.ianhallford.com
and have been actively involved in especially be prepared to face potential
fundraising to benefit the community rejection on a daily basis! Don’t take
Disclaimer: This document is not intended to solicit already listed properties Photography by Anna Morellato
or buyers under buyer agency contracts.
Copyright held by Profiles of Success