Thinking of Buying or Selling? Think FAST!"

Please read the following feature article written by Molly Harding on Jonathan that ran in June 2002 in The St. Catharines Standard.

“It wasn’t a huge step from financial management to being a realtor,” says Jonathan Fast. Finances, like housing, are about accommodating people, about trust and knowledge and long-term satisfaction. Like the world of finance, the real estate industry is full of challenges. The route to personal achievement is marked with potholes that the uninformed find hard to avoid.

But Jonathan Fast was well prepared to enter the world of assisting clients of buying and selling real estate properties and has quickly made a name for himself in a business that’s both tough and competitive. “That’s because I knew the industry and could see where things could be improved,” he says. “ I knew the product and could look at it like a business.”

And that’s the way he operates, making a name for himself as a dynamic realtor – even advertising he will buy your house, himself, if he can’t sell it within a specified time, under certain conditions.

Jonathan, an associate with Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Center Inc., does not always operate out of the Maywood Avenue corporate headquarters. In his desire for the ultimate personal professionalism and seeking the opportunity for greater and faster client satisfaction, he established his own private offices at 128 Lake Street, St. Catharines, late last year.

Jonathan’s entry into the real estate brokerage field was a natural. His background was in financial management, then in accounting with a couple of housing-related firms. He had plenty of knowledge about the housing construction field. It was knowledge and experience that would be of immense use as a professional realtor. “I realized early on the importance of satisfying a client, and that means giving them not just excellent service but giving them knowledge about the industry and about values,” he says. “My clients understand why values go up and down, for instance. They know why they should sell or buy now or wait till next year."

His clients form a solid base of referrals and his business grows accordingly because Jonathan works with them every step of the way in selling or buying a house, making sure there is complete awareness and communication.

“There are a lot of challenges in time and dealing with people in this business, today more than ever,” he says. “I realized very early that realtors are retailers most of the time. We’ve got to be accountable. People are relying on us to provide a quality product. They need to have confidence in our ability and our integrity.”

He employs experienced, dedicated assistants – a prerequisite for success, he says. Administrative assistant Anne Kelly works in promoting properties aggressively through their extremely informative Internet site. This definitive marketing program offers purchasers a virtual tour of each property -- to view the website, visit www.jonathanfast.com.

Licensed assistant Natalie Reynolds keeps purchasing clients updated on new listings, as they become available, faxing and e-mailing many times a day. A new program for buyers, now being implemented, will update them twice a day about new listings, by automatic e-mail.

“As long as we know our clients’ criteria, we can act quickly, and this is important, especially with properties in very good locations,” emphasized Jonathan. “We are also moving toward a PowerPoint presentation to make buyers and vendors aware of the many services we offer.”

Those services include an in-house mortgage broker, making it almost a one-stop shopping experience. And Jonathan is advocating more home inspections, for complete disclosure to both purchasers and vendors. Real estate transactions can be both stressful and complicated or made easier by the expertise and services of a knowledgeable realtor. It’s an area where Jonathan excels. His experience and expertise make for a stronger negotiating stance when buying or selling, as well as correct and timely handling of necessary terms and conditions within an offer.

After a purchase, Jonathan sends out a second party to conduct a survey, ensuring the transaction went well and to the satisfaction of the client. Elderly clients often need extra sensitivity when negotiating, because their needs are somewhat special. If there are any last-minute hitches in a transaction, they are quickly smoothed out – a learning curve that enables Jonathan to avoid mistakes.

At the close of each purchase, the client receives a housewarming gift.

Current clients are not Jonathan Fast’s only interest. Every year he and his family host an annual Appreciation Picnic for past clients. This year, more than 250 people will gather at Queenston Heights in August to enjoy a feast prepared by Chef Paul Caterers, with the Mad Scientist on hand to entertain the children. There will be appreciation draws for weekend holiday packages at well-known resorts.

“I knew early on that I wanted to keep in touch with past clients,” Jonathan explains. “Buying and selling a home is an emotional experience. I develop a bond with my clients. I enjoy these ties. So once a year I can catch up on families and find out what they’re doing and what things have changed for them.”

Jonathan speaks highly of the brokerage firm for whom he works.

“Margie Spence, (owner of Royal LePage Niagara Real Estate Centre Inc.) is very support of her agents and in her approach to handling the challenges of the industry,” he says, earnestly. “She allows us the use of the area offices, is a great motivator and gives us fantastic technological and service resources.

“All this helps me provide my clients with the very best service and ensure their complete satisfaction.”

And in such a challenging business, that’s no small achievement.