GABRIELA MARCU, BROKER, ROYAL LE PAGE YOUR COMMUNITY REALTOR, RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO
GABRIELA MARCU
“People Before Profits”
A search for a better life led Gabriela Marcu, and her husband, Sam, to our shores. Thirty years ago, when she arrived in Canada, from Romania, Gabriela didn’t speak a word of English. She was also pregnant with the couple’s son.
She learned to speak English by watching soap operas on television. As her language skills increased she discovered a new hobby - visiting sales offices and reading marketing material for new housing developments. “I still love doing this. My guilty pleasure is reworking the floor plans,” the award-winning realtor says with a smile.
Eventually, the couple saved enough money for a down payment on their own semi-detached house and welcomed Gabriela’s parents to Canada. The couple survived because they were willing to take on a series of small jobs that paid the mortgage and put food on the table. But, Gabriela’s Canadian dream was so much more than survival!
“A real estate career allowed me to combine my people skills and passion for design and to be paid for my efforts. It also provided the flexibility I needed to look after my growing family,” she says. “I am also very proud to be associated with Your Community Realty, Canada’s largest, independently owned, Royal Le Page franchise – accounting for roughly 80% of real estate sales within York Region.”
“My boss, Vivian Risi, is a force of nature. Her ‘people first’ focus aligns beautifully with how I think about business and life. I am especially grateful that, ten years ago, she was willing to take a chance on me. Her confidence and support has given me access to an intensely fulfilling career. It has also allowed me to make a difference in so many people’s lives,” Gabriel explains.
Gabriela has her real estate sales and broker’s licenses. The Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist and ASA Accredited Senior Agent has won President’s Gold Award of Excellence (numerous times), Director’s Platinum Award, Rookie of the Year, and Master Sales Awards.
Gabriela’s Philosophy & Approach
“I make it a point to know what is going in the GTA, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Markham, and King. That way I can advise my clients about what to expect in terms of what was sold, current market value, and lifestyle criteria such as neighbourhood amenities, parks, schools and so on.”
Gabriela kick-started her real estate career by buying and selling smaller homes and condominiums for friends and colleagues. “I believe that slow and steady wins the race.” A people-person, Gabriela loves making connections and the intensely personal and human side of the real estate business. “I never hurry a relationship. It could take years before we do business."
“Because I have always focused on people before profits, I’ve never had to door knock or to send out flyers to grow my business,” she says. “People want to deal with me because I focus on them, THEIR hopes and dreams, and ensuring they are consistently delighted with me and my services,” she adds.
“I believe in becoming friends first and spend a lot of time getting to know my clients and potential clients and allowing them to get to know me. By the time we actually do business together, whether it’s buying or selling a family home or purchasing a condominium for their adult children, I know what they are looking for and what is important to them.”
Gabriela offers complimentary Home Evaluations to determine what a home is worth in today’s market. She also makes it a point to clearly explain exactly what she intends to do in terms of marketing, including social media. Even Carriage Trade clients with their own agent often do their initial research online. “This discriminating clientele expects better pictures, virtual tours, and floor plans. I make sure they get it,” she adds.
Clients appreciate Gabriela’s honesty, integrity, and transparency. When asked for advice on how to be successful, Hubert Humphrey, the 38th president of the United States, advised, ‘Just be what you are and speak from your guts and heart.’
“I make it a point to tell people what I think, not just what they want to hear. Having said that, I will never impose my ideas on anyone else. That’s all part of being a respectful, good friend.”
Her clients appreciate her approach. They especially appreciate her focus on satisfying their wants and their needs. One satisfied client needed some advice from Gabriela on his desire to purchase an investment property. Here’s what he said, “…Gabriela helped me along the path with all the information I needed and made my wish come true! Gabriela is very knowledgeable and reliable in every aspect of her work…” Two testimonials from other clients that successfully purchased their dream homes, follow.
Testimonial 1: “I was a first time home buyer…Gabriela did so much more than just show the houses, she helped me understand how the market works and the different formulas and criteria that are used in determining the market value of houses. I ended up with the perfect move-in ready house and paid less than the asking price. Gabriela will work hard on your behalf and has the skills, knowledge and network to make things happen. She goes above and beyond…”
Testimonial 2: “I would like to recommend Gabriela to anybody who needs a professional, attentive, patient and creative real estate agent who keeps her client interest in focus. Gabriela helped us in our long search for our dream house in desired neighborhood and guided us through the entire process, from loan pre-qualification to making the offer and closing the deal. This is our third purchase of a property, and never had we had such a pleasurable experience. Gabriela is savvy, personable and knows the market inside and out. We never could have gotten our dream home without her.”
Up Close & Personal
Gabriela believes in giving back to the community that has been so good to her. She has directed that a fixed percentage of every commission cheque to the Royal Le Page Foundation with a specific focus on women and kids.
Gabriela and Sam have been married for 32 years. The couple has one adult son, Dennis who is married to the beautiful and accomplished, Yasi. Gabriela and Sam also parent King and Shadow, two twin, 120-pound German Sheppard’s. “We live on several acres of land in King. Because I do a lot of my work from home, the dogs ensure I build long walks and play time into my daily schedule.”
As a last word Gabriela says, “Maya Angelou once said, ‘The most called upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear. I’ve learned how to ask good questions and to listen to the good answers. I consider myself incredibly fortunate that I can do what I love to do, for and with people that I love to do it with. In my book, life just doesn’t get any better than that!”
Suzen Fromstein is the author of Suits and Ladders, Ten Proven Ways to Keep Your Job Safe - with a few jokes thrown in. Suits and Ladders was an Amazon Best Selling Book in the Career Guides C
Gabriela Marcu, Broker ASA
Royal LePage Your Community Realty, Brokerage*
8854 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 0T4
Tel:905-731-2000 Cell: 416-568-3912
*Independently Owned and Operated