Real Estate Broker Janet Piotrowski lives, works and plays in Collingwood—and it’s the best move she ever made.
Before setting down roots here, she had lived several places: Port Credit, Florida and Toronto. She did her undergrad at the University of Toronto, continued her education there and ended up staying in the city for nearly 30 years.
It was in 2016 that she moved to Collingwood with her kids.
Years later, this move is still one she would 100% recommend. “Since I came here, I have helped so many others make the same move. I find my story resonates with them,” says the REALTOR®.
She noticed that many of her friends and colleagues or people who had found her story online were intrigued, but some were still a little nervous about making such a big change.
“This has always been a popular place to retire, but Covid changed everything,” she says. “Suddenly people of all ages and stages of life found they could work from anywhere, and they’d rather be here.”
Collingwood has always been a popular destination for recreational enthusiasts, of course, long drawing people from Toronto and elsewhere for the excellent skiing, sailing or hiking in the area.
“Now I think it is a great option for full-time living for all demographics,” says Janet. “People who were accustomed to nice restaurants, entertainment and shopping options can find a lot of that here now, and I would say that wasn’t as much the case before. A lot of great businesses have opened up here since I moved here, and the area just keeps getting better!”
The broker is happy to work with all kinds of buyers, from first-time home buyers to retirees looking to make their last move, as well as people who can’t yet cut ties to the city but want to be able to have a place to escape to. “Unlike other cottage areas, we offer year-round fun!” she says.
Many buyers have already spent some time vacationing here before investing in a property of their own. “Some people rent for a while before deciding if they want to take the leap, and others have spent weekends here and loved it and want to set down roots,” says Janet.
“Some, though, make the jump without really knowing the area very well at all; I’ve had quite a few of those buyers recently. And when I check in on them later, they have no regrets!”
There are so many things she loves about Collingwood.
“I live close to the water, and I love walking my dog along the trails there. I love hiking year-round and cycling to Thornbury or Stayner or to Blue Mountain Village. I’m lucky that I am able to walk to nearly everything in town here, so I get to enjoy all the wonderful shops, cafes, and restaurants without even getting in my car. I enjoy exploring areas like Clarksburg, Kimberley, and Meaford as well. So many great new businesses have opened up in the entire South Georgian Bay area,” says the REALTOR®.
Rather than a salesperson, Janet considers herself more of a real estate matchmaker—always striving to connect buyers and sellers. “There is nothing more professionally rewarding for me than finding the perfect property for my buyer and the right buyer for each of my sellers,” she says.
“I can always tell when I’ve been working with buyers for a while and nothing has really spoken to them, they get this look on their faces when they find ‘the one’ and that is what I want for my clients every time. I talk myself out of business sometimes, but it is more important to me that my clients are thrilled with their decision. I don’t ever want them to feel like they compromised.”
Having worked in the frantic, fast-paced and highly competitive Toronto market for 11 years, she is able to offer a unique perspective and skill set to the increasingly in-demand Collingwood and Blue Mountain market. She is an experienced advocate who is savvy, responsive and committed to providing first-class service.
Looking for the right match in a real estate professional?
Visit Janet Piotrowski at CollingwoodLiving.ca or call her at 705-994-5858. You can also follow her on Facebook, Instagram @Collingwoodliving and LinkedIn.