Amanda Panchuk’s Career Story
The Career Stories series features the professional journeys of a wide range of individuals across Canada’s real estate development industry. Often, these stories highlight how rewarding careers in real estate development are the result of following your interests, fostering personal and professional networks, and keeping an open mind about what a career in real estate development might be.
Meet Amanda Panchuk – Real Estate Agent and Property Manager – Panchuk Partners Realty.
How did you get started in your career?
I finished University with a degree in marketing and a minor in entrepreneurship. I started as a remote sales person for a couple of years and that position was no longer available. I started working on my real estate license while working with my dad in his contracting business and doing administrative work for my mom. I finished my course in 3 months and was acting as more of an assistant to my mom in her business. It honestly took me a couple years before I felt I could say I was a full time real estate agent. Life happens and throws curveballs – I was expecting my first child so balancing that with a new career took some time. I did love working and learning from my mom and proud to say that we were a mother-daughter duo in real estate.
What inspired you to pursue this career path?
My parents. My dad had been a courier driver for 25 years and my mom was doing similar work when they decided they wanted to change their career paths. They looked at franchise opportunities and different industries and ultimately fell into real estate. My mom got licensed and they started by buying and flipping houses, investing in properties for rentals. My dad did the contracting work and then my mom built a client base from there. I remember being a kid and helping with demolition of projects on weekends. Watching them completely change their lifestyle and trajectory for our family together was very inspiring. I knew I wanted to be a realtor even while going to University.
Was there ever a moment you almost gave up or switched careers? What kept you going?
There was a time probably during Covid where the financial uncertainty was hard to manage. I started browsing jobs and careers but honestly nothing felt right. The idea of sitting in an office, set hours, set holidays, being restricted within your job, duties or growth outweighed the financial stability I was craving. Instead, I focused back on the basic systems I knew from when I first started. Touching base with people in my network, offering home investment reviews, CMAs, putting myself out there as a trusted advisor in real estate. That’s what works and something you have to continue even when you get busy.
What is one project or achievement you are most proud of?
In addition to being a licensed real estate agent I am also licensed for property management. My experience with property management began through my parents’ rental properties where I would do showings, fill out paperwork, move in and move out inspections. We also worked with a lot of investors so there was some crossover of them needing assistance with those tasks and duties as well. I got to a point where I wanted to be able to advertise and promote myself as a PM and offer the full services on an elevated level. My brokerage had just launched a PM division as well. I have been licensed for property management for 2 years. I currently self manage 36 properties and should finish the year with 50+. I also have a new partnership with a development group who has for-rent only projects between High River, Okotoks, and Strathmore that totals around 600 units and they will be working with me exclusively as their property manager. The property management feels extra special because I have grown that completely on my own and the practices I have in place and the systems I use, the clients I have have been 100% me. I wanted property management to complement my real estate business, and it has but it has also grown into more than I expected and that’s something I am very proud of.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in the field?
There are so many ways to get started in the industry without being just an independent agent and I wish I would have started sooner. Also real estate is not something I would recommend as a side gig. Commit to reaching out to people, commit to learning and being the most trusted advisor for people’s biggest asset. Commit to the evenings and weekends and interruptions during events because of deals coming together. Network with other people in the industry; property inspectors, lawyers, condo document reviewers, lawyers, photographers, etc. The best place to start is with the people you already know.
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