My wife and I used to live in Nanaimo, but that was almost 2 decades ago. The prospect of moving from Calgary to Nanaimo, with a long stint in Vancouver felt a little overwhelming. Would we like small town Nanaimo after living in Vancouver and Calgary? What’s changed since we left? Where are the best places to live and to avoid now? This is now our 6th home we’ve purchased and I can say the experience working with Kiel is by far the best I’ve ever experienced. The level of attentiveness and partnership through the whole process was best in class. He is extremely knowledgeable, not only about the island and all the pros and cons of the various neighborhoods around Nanaimo, but his expertise when it comes to homes is also absolutely excellent. He knows exactly what to look for, is dead honest on what to avoid (even if it might cost him the sale). To me a great realtor is your partner to try and find the home that’s the best fit for you and your family, in the best neighborhood, with the best value. Then I hope that they can come with a lot of expertise on neighborhoods, construction, markets, etc. Some realtors seem to keep that expertise to themselves to avoid influencing you. Some seem to be pushing for a decision quickly. Kiel did the opposite. He shared his expertise without pushing and demonstrated that he really was trying to find the perfect fit for us. He knows the market. He knows the neighborhoods. He knows houses. He got to know our wants and dreams. And ultimately he helped us find our dream home after 6 months and easily more than 20 showings. Kiel will be the best realtor partner you’ll find on the island. Don’t hesitate to reach out to him. He’ll take great care of you. Especially if you’re trying to transition from Calgary, Vancouver, or anywhere else. He’s the island guy who will help you find your way here.