Celebrating Passion, Family, and Experience in Real Estate
Passionate About Work and Life
For those of you who know me – especially if we’ve met alongside Steve Benmor – you’re aware of how passionate I am about what I do professionally. I absolutely love my work in real estate, and I’m deeply committed to serving my clients and colleagues. At the same time, I believe in living life fully and finding balance. In fact, authenticity and genuine moments are what truly connect us as professionals; even legal industry experts note that “authenticity will always resonate better with your audience and create lasting impressions” natlawreview.com. That’s why I’ve decided to share something a bit more personal today, to show a little of the life behind the work.
Meet My Mom (and Business Partner), Cheryl
What many of you may not know is that I’ve been in partnership with my mom, Cheryl for 30 years. Together we founded The Graff Group Toronto- Icons of Real Estate in Toronto three decades ago with a mission to make a difference at every stage of our clients’ lives through their home sales and moves. Cheryl isn’t just my mother – she was my first best friend, my mentor, and a true icon of real estate in my eyes. We’ve built a mother-daughter real estate team that thrives on family values and teamwork. (And yes, in 30 years of working side by side, we haven’t had a single fight – a pretty darn good track record! 😉)
Age Is Just a Number (Proof: a Dancing 77-Year-Old!)
I rarely post fun family videos on LinkedIn, but I can’t resist sharing this one: my mom Cheryl at 77, dancing and loving life. She’s still working full-time at an age when many have long since retired, and she does it with an energy and joy that inspire me daily. This little video clip is the perfect example of why I say age is just a number. As author Joyce Meyer (who is also 77) puts it, “Right now, I am 77 years of age, but I don’t feel old and I don’t act old. I live an active, full life” joycemeyer.org. That sentiment shines through in my mom – she approaches each day with enthusiasm, proving that passion doesn’t diminish with years. And a fun fact: the person filming her dancing is my dad, her husband of 56 years. Their long, happy marriage is yet another example of living life with love and dedication. They’ve shown me what it means to treat your spouse well and truly complement your partner through every season of life.
74 Years of Combined Experience and Heart
The only time “years” matter to us is when you add up experience and wisdom. Between my 30 years in real estate and Cheryl’s 44 years, we bring 74 years of combined expertise to the table for our clients. But it’s not just professional experience – it’s life experience and heart. We’ve been through so many stages of life with our clients: upsizing, downsizing, relocating, retiring, and everything in between. We understand the practical challenges and the emotional challenges that can come with these transitions. Our mission from day one has been to guide clients through any challenge and help them get to the other side or next stage with confidence and peace of mind. We like to think of it as extending our family circle to include every client, walking with you through each step of the journey. As another successful mother-daughter realty duo famously said, “We extend our family to each person we work with. That is why we feel it is so important to be with you through each stage of the real estate process” realtyproassured.com. Cheryl and I couldn’t agree more – our clients become part of our family, and we’re with you every step of the way.
What Truly Matters When You Hire a Realtor
At the end of the day, choosing a realtor isn’t just about who has the slickest brochure or the highest sales numbers. It’s about who they are as people and what they will do for you. When you work with us, here’s what you can count on:
- Authenticity and Honesty: We will always be straight with you and put your best interests first. What you see is what you get – no pretenses.
- Deep Care and Support: You’re not just a transaction to us. We genuinely care about your goals and worries, and we’ll support you like we would our own family.
- Experience and Guidance: With our extensive experience, we have the knowledge to navigate any situation. But we also have the empathy to guide you through the emotional aspects of moves and life changes.
- Energy and Passion: We bring a contagious enthusiasm to our work. Whether it’s marketing your home or negotiating on your behalf, we do it with passion and a positive attitude.
- Teamwork for Your Benefit: When you hire one of us, you get us both. We’re a mother-daughter team that functions in perfect sync – leveraging two generations of insight and a lifelong bond to benefit you.
In short, it’s not just about what we do, but who we are. I’m incredibly proud to be able to call Cheryl my mom and business partner. She’s proof that loving what you do and who you do it with keeps you young at heart.
So, here’s to my mom – 77 years young, dancing through life, and showing us all that professional passion and personal joy can go hand-in-hand. I hope this brings a smile to your face today, and maybe even reminds you that a successful career can absolutely coexist with a zest for life.
(And if you ever want to talk real estate – or dancing tips from Cheryl! – you know where to find us. 😉)
The Graff Group Toronto: Icons of Real Estate
Samantha Graff Benmor & Cheryl Graff
Experience. Empathy. Results.
