Janice Stromar
Personal Real Estate Corporation

Jan and Tom are top notch professionals. Their knowledgeable trustworthy advice ensured success in a very competitive seller's market. Their expert guidance and coaching at every stage of the process was invaluable. They come with the highest of recommendations! - D. Henderson

I have worked with Janice for years, and have enjoyed her professionalism and knowledge every time. She has successfully helped me buy and sell multiple homes. Janice is highly communicative and very easy to work with. Highly Recommended! - Steen

I engaged Jan and Tom to sell my mother's condo who had passed away.  I live in Alberta and had never sold a home before, so I was apprehensive about the process.  Jan and Tom put me at ease with the vast amounts of knowledge they had about the market and the selling process.  As I was new to this process, I had many questions, and Tom and Jan were incredibly responsive to all my queries.  As I live out of town, Tom and Jan were incredibly accommodating.  They took care of all the requirements and would communicate with me regularly for updates on progress.  They staged the home for me, ensured it was tidy and even took care of a needed repair to make it easier for me.  They were also very helpful when it came to pricing the property.  Using their local market knowledge and experience, they had suggested pricing that maximized my return and reduced our time on the market.   I remain in awe of the professionalism, expertise and kindness the Jan and Tom showed me during this process.  I cannot express how thankful I am to them for making this process as easy as possible and removing all the stresses generally associated with selling a property.   Thanks to Jan and Tom, the property sold unbelievably quickly for a price that I would never have imagined.  From a professional standpoint they were amazing.  Beyond that, Jan and Tom are very kind and decent people.   If you are looking for the best results, true professionalism, incredible market knowledge and quality human beings, you have found your agent in Jan and Tom. - Mark Brillantes

Tom helped us with the purchase of a Nanaimo duplex. We don't live in Nanaimo (the duplex is an investment property) so Tom's knowledge of the market was valuable. Tom was very responsive throughout the purchase process. He guided us through all of the steps and ensured that we were informed of covenants on the property related to an easement. Tom and Jan were also helpful after the deal closed by connecting us with a handyman that will take care of small repairs and maintenance tasks. I recommend Tom and Jan to anyone that is looking for a Nanaimo agent to help them with a property purchase. - Harry Henderson

We worked with primarily with Tom with support from Jan while searching for our first home as we relocated to the island. As first-time home-buyers Tom was a fantastic resource who used his years of experience to patiently answer our many questions at every step of the process, in a way that was both balanced and informative. We consistently felt this allowed us to make decisions that in our own time and best interest. All in addition to Tom picking us up at from the ferry when we could get over on a Saturday or Sunday and driving us around to view various listings we had our eyes on, on more a couple occasions. As a team of realtors Jan and Tom together frequently had the answers to our questions before we’d even asked. Once we found the house we knew we wanted Tom and Jan were able to spring into action to help us get all everything we needed in place despite the stress of tight timelines and a competitive market. Tom’s honest, easy nature and good humour brought a lot of relief to an otherwise sometimes stressful process. We can’t recommend Tom and Jan enough, they’re awesome! Dan & Lauren - Dan Greenacre

We couldn’t be happier to write a review for Janice and Tom, as our realtors for the sale of our home . I don’t use the term “remarkable” frivolously, so when talking about Janice and Tom as realtors and now friends, you can be sure they are just that. From the first meet and greet at our door to discover if we were a good match, to the final signing of sale documents, Janice and Tom were exemplary. We found them to be personable, knowledgeable of listings in our area, accurately informative, communicative, fun and openly available for questions and comments whenever they arose. We loved Jan’s care and attention to detail in Janice’s writeup for our home, the many splendid photos we had, her thoughtfulness of our convenience & schedules for the many showings and Toms “stories” and “comparables”, which helped clarify current & potential situations. They made the whole sales experience go fast, smoothly and a much less stressful time then that with previous realtors. We highly recommend Janice and Tom for any of your real estate needs and know you’ll feel lucky to have met them as we do. Sincerely, they are much the best. Makaely Rois & Ralph Noddin - Makaely Rois

I mostly dealt with Tom, with Jan providing additional assistance. I felt most confident with Tom's guidance through the buying process. They were very helpful and responsive when I requested information. I recommend the team. - Todd Duckworth

Both Jan and Tom were extremely professional. As soon as we moved to Nanaimo, we started to look for a house to purchase. We had little knowledge on the area and the market. They helped us finding and choosing the right house within our budget. They always gave us the advice with our interest first. It took us a long time to find the right house, and they were patient through the entire process and offered us the help and support anytime we needed. - Kozue

Jan was extremely responsive and had good advice about both the positives and negatives of homes. She was quick to reply to requests to see homes and always tried to get us in as quickly as possible. Worked with the seller’s realtors to arrange viewings quickly. - Michelle Workun-Hill

We cannot Thank Tom and Janice enough for their professionalism both in selling and finding us the perfect home to move to. they went the extra mile , always available for questions and always prompt in answering emails and texts. I would definitely recommend this team. They stayed with us through this whole journey - Janie MacKay

Working with Janice and Tom Stromar was a truly seamless and amazing experience. Their level of professionalism and teamwork made the selling of our first property and buying of our new home far easier than expected. From advice on stage, market research for pricing, professional photos/advertising and assistance with viewings, they made the sales process smoother than we could ever have imagined. When it came to finding our new home Janice provided daily updates on the market through PCS. Her level of knowledge in the local market and commitment to finding the right location to match our needs helped us find the perfect new home. Janice and Tom were prompt to answer any and all question we might have. They provided detailed steps of what was needed through the entire process. We felt confident and in great hands. We would strongly recommend Janice and Tom Stromar to our friends, family and anyone looking to buy or sell property. They make an amazing team and it was a true pleasure working with them. - Bonnie Hamilton

Janice was great! She has been very responsive, professional and friendly. She quickly understood our needs/wish list and was able to recommend or not recommend properties based on our parameters. - Kate Lancaster

My partner and I found our first home thanks to Janice and Tom. They were easy going, honest, and quick to respond. We definitely recommend them and see ourselves using their service in the future :) - Christina

I had been looking at different real estate investments for some time. I initially contacted Tom Stromar to represent me in an effort to buy a house that was in foreclosure. Tom attended the court hearing on my behalf even though my bid was not likely to succeed (which ultimately proved to be true). My next foray led me to look at a condo that was located in a development that needed a lot of work. Tom ensured that I knew all of the issues before proceeding further. I felt like I had dodged a bullet on that one. Finally, I changed tact and decided to look at homes that had a legal suite. Tom and his wife Jan both became involved and within a day my wife and I were walking through the house that we would ultimately purchase. Complicating the issue was that we were a week away from leaving the country for a month. Within that time, we took their advice on preparing our existing home for sale. We kept in touch through phone calls and emails. Contracts were amended and signed through digital signatures and we were not only successful in purchasing our new home, but also in selling our existing one – all while out of the country. Throughout it all, Tom and Jan were always available (despite the time zone difference) and more than patient with our questions and concerns. Having both of them working for us was an added bonus. Would we use them again? In a heartbeat. - Tom Weinreich

Jan was an excellent agent. She set us up with PCS so we could see what was new on the market. Very helpful as we moved from Kamloops to Nanaimo. She went out of her way to sure we bought exactly what we were looking for. We can thank her enough for the excellent customer service she provided, We will highly recommended Jan to anyone lokking for an agent. - Suzanne Smith

Janice and Tom, a great team. Always ensued they partnered together if the other was not available. Initially we tried another realtor, and could not get a quick or efficient response. When we found a home of interest, Tom was in contact with me with in 24 hours. Both Tom and Janice worked with my husband and I immediately. My husband and I where making a major home life change including moving cities. We looked at many homes. It took no time for Janice to have a sense of what we were looking for, even though she humoured us by looking at homes that where just not right for us. We actually did not have a clear understanding of what we wanted until we found it. Janice and Tom partnered together to make our offer and purchase quick and effective. Our offer turned into a bidding war in the middle of their evening plans and they both set aside their plans to make our purchase happen. Through guidance and suggestions we have found our new home. Perfect for us and our dogs. So much more to share but all in all, Janice and Tom where not just our realtors but people who felt more like friends helping us fine the home we needed after selling our ocean view home of 20 years. - Donna-Marie Lamb

Jan is hands down the best realtor I've ever dealt with. The team provided in depth knowledge of the area, the market, and sales concepts. They were awesome at communicating and providing feedback. The transaction was smooth, and the whole experience was above my expectation - Holmes

When searching for a condo to purchase we just happened to call Jan & Tom. How lucky that was! We have bought and sold many properties over the years and we can say without hesitation that Jan & Tom are the best we have dealt with. Friendly, yes!. Always responsive, yes! Resourceful and helpful,yes! They worked to get us the best condo to meet our needs. They are knowledgeable about the market and thoroughly professional. We highly recommend this team. - Richard & Doreen Hampton

Both Janice and Tom were excellent to deal with. As a very nervous first-time home buyer they were excellent in walking me through the process and calming me down when I felt like things were either moving too quickly, not quickly enough or when I felt like I might never find something I wanted. They did a great job helping to maneuver through a couple last-minute glitches and I was very very thankful to have them as my agents. Would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for real estate agents. - Shelly Bicklmeier-Spence

This is the second home we've purchased with the help of Jan and Tom. They are super knowledgable about the market and the value of homes in our city. I truly appreciated that looking at houses with Jan never felt like a sales pitch. We always felt very comfortable, never any pressure. Jan and Tom knew the right questions to ask and where to find answers. Ex. our property had slightly complicated zoning, but Jan helped us get answers for every single question we had about it! They were super responsive, especially when we were in the offering process and early days of the purchase. The purchasing process was laid out step by step, which relieved a lot of stress. We'd highly recommend, and have recommended, Jan and Tom to many of our friends. - Chrissy and Jamus

Jan and Tom helped us buy a home in Nanaimo. They were a great asset to us in the process. They were knowledgable, responsive and proactive. I would highly recommend Jan and Tom. - Lorne Hill

Janice & Tom are a fantastic team -- two extremely knowledgeable and personable realtors, who genuinely want to help you find your perfect home. - Andie Tomlinson

Janice and Tom were recommended to us by family and with good reason. We were moving from the mainland and they made the move much easier. We received up-to- the- minute listings via email but they added their knowledge regarding the buildings, locations and strata information. They were so good about picking us up at the ferry and showing us condos. They made us feel very comfortable like friends instead of just realtors yet they were always very professional. We would definitely recommend them to others. - Joe and Pam

Jan and Tom did an amazing job helping some first-time buyers finding the perfect place. They quickly and effectively answered all our questions through the whole process, and we had a lot of questions! They answered honestly and made sure that we understood what the answers meant. We now have the perfect little house, in a neighbourhood that suits us. We are so very happy to be there. They went above and beyond and we are so happy that they were referred to us. We don't plan on moving anytime soon, but when/if we do, we will use them again. - Lisa & Darrell

I bought my first home around 4 years ago with Jan and Tom and had a very positive experience although brief as we bought very quickly. This second time around I was going through a separation and selling. Our sale was very quick (about two weeks) even after the downturn in the market with the foreign buyers tax. I think this is because of the high quality 3D layout and professional photos they did. I was also looking to buy on my own after selling my first house. I mostly worked with Tom and each time I was shown a house I got a spec sheet and folder to keep track of what I saw. He was very responsive and thorough in letting me know what issues on properties were and might be. There was absolutely no pressure to buy at all and he let me take the lead on my search, which was perfect for me. I was nervous about purchasing a home by myself and had lots of questions about my rental income unit, all of which were answered. When I moved in I was surprised with a gift from Tom of some of the beautiful furniture that the former owners had! I was so touched. Definitely recommend both Jan and Tom, even without the present! - Darby Love

Janice and Tom made the purchase of our home in Nanaimo a wonderful experience! We are from out of town so their complete knowledgeable of the area, professionalism and going the extra mile really helped us out. They truly care about their clients and really try to do their best to find you the right home. They never pressured us as we searched endlessly and found the perfect home for us. We highly recommend them. - Sean & Margarita

I cannot say enough good things about the service we received but I'll try! Working with Jan was a stress free experience. She is always professional, personable, punctual, and responsive, and we'd highly recommend the Stromars to anyone buying a home in the Nanaimo area! - The Bailey family

When I listed my condo I interviewed several local realtors. Jan and Tom's combination of experience, professionalism and genuine personal touch were all deciding factors. Less than three weeks later my condo sold at asking without conditions. I was out of country, but the sale was smoothly coordinated. Did I mention that Jan and Tom were confident I could realize a 15% higher return than any of the other realtors were willing to work towards? I have recommended them to my family. I recommend them to you. - Brian Pareis

Tom and Janice have been my realtors since 2004. They sold my first home, found my perfect second home and then sold that home for the price I wanted in record time in the worst market in 10 years. They always made me feel like I was more important than the sale which, in my opinion, is rare. The next time I buy a home, I will definitely call Tom and Janice. I give two thumbs up and strongly recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell their home. - Carrie Tuinstra

I have used a few agents in my life, and they by far are the best I have ever used. They really made sure we got the best investment. - Jessica boyd

My husband was an award-winning realtor in Nanaimo for 20 years and during that time, worked with Janice and Tom on the same real estate team. When my husband retired in 2010 and we started selling rental properties, there was no question in our mind that we would go with Jan and Tom. They're the perfect mesh of up-to-date real estate technology and the gift of relating in a personal manner to buyer and seller needs while having a high sense of integrity, attention to detail, and professionalism. We plan to list our other rental properties with them over the next 2 years and we don’t hesitate in recommending them to anyone we talk to who is thinking of buying or selling. They’re not only our realtors, now they’ve become good friends. - P. Weir & S. Whitman

Jan and Tom are hands down, AMAZING! Coming from out of province, with only 3 days to find a house, (and on my own), both Jan and Tom took excellent care of me. Starting with the detailed emails and information sent to me online, phone calls, and then the warm welcome here in Nanaimo, all was superb. The first thing that struck me was Jan’s down to earth honesty and appraisal of each home we were about to visit. Having never been to Nanaimo before, that was exactly what I needed. She gave me valuable advice about properties, lifestyles, and trends for each neighbourhood, including things to look out for, events, and proximity to the places we would frequent on a regular basis. Jan was very familiar with not only the structure of properties, but strata rules, city guidelines, interior design and general “mood” of the homes. Emails, texts, and late night phone calls were all answered quickly and thoroughly. I really felt she made the time to be available for only me during my quick visit. Interactions were always friendly and polite. I never felt rushed or under pressure, and every morning I was picked up at the hotel by either Jan or Tom, on time, and with a smile, which are simple things, but during a stressful time, put me at ease. After my 3-day whirlwind tour, Jan and Tom and I relayed all the property details to my husband, (which means they had to explain everything AGAIN), and we decided on a home that was perfect for our lifestyle and within our budget. But the service didn’t end there. They sent us referrals for lawyers, home builders and contractors for the renovations, and have since been there for us as we navigate our way through a new city finding doctors, places to eat, fitness centres, and interesting things to do. For us Jan and Tom are more than real estate agents. They are good neighbours, friends who take the time to get to know you and your needs. We would highly recommend their services. We couldn’t be more grateful for what they have done for us. If we were to sell or buy any property in the future, the first ones we would call would be Jan and Tom. - Linka van As

Deciding to move from Toronto to BC to be nearer our children and grandchildren in Nanaimo and Vancouver, we found ourselves at the height of the real estate craze in Vancouver that was affecting prices in Nanaimo. As we tried to wrap our heads around the prices, square footage and loss of Ontario home and community, Janice provided answers to many questions, asked significant questions of us and what we wanted, and brightened our days as she accompanied us on the home tours she arranged. She was unfailingly professional and helpful as we considered, offered, changed our minds. We are very grateful for her and for the services she offered as a real estate professional. We highly recommend her and Tom. - A Finney

Janice and Tom were awesome to work with. They coordinated the sale of our home and made finding our new place a stressfree experience. Their pictures and advertising are spectacular and they were very patient helping us find our new home. - Kerri & Sherwin Isaac