As first-time home buyers we weren't sure what to expect from a real estate agent, but Bill was extremely professional, patient, and open-minded with us. We knew our budget and what we were looking for in a home and Bill did his best to show us everything he could in a very competitive market. We appreciated the continuity in his communication - responding to our emails, texts, and phone calls very quickly and keeping us in the loop every step of the way. We highly recommend Bill, especially to first-time home buyers, as he made a very challenging process manageable. We plan to use him again for our next real estate adventure!

We arrived to Vancouver Island on a mission – to find a house in one week so that we could start our new lives in Canada as soon as possible. We had contacted several brokers from the MLS system and we had no idea which broker or agency would be able to help. Our initial viewings with another broker proved unproductive; the broker was not really paying attention to our needs and we arrived to Osborne Realty on a Saturday afternoon quite discouraged. Bill originally showed us the listings we had asked him to show and while they were interesting, they really were not for us. We did look at one property that was already under offer and it had several positives, but by the following Tuesday, the subject conditions had been removed and we had nothing. We asked Bill to think about our needs and our desires and by Wednesday Bill had found something that was not yet on the market, but was due to be listed within the next 30-45 days. We fell in love with the waterfront home immediately, but (and there are usually those buts) the price was above our budget and as a non-resident I knew we would have difficulty securing a mortgage.  I have been in the real estate business for more than 25 years as a developer and a broker myself and it is rare that you find a broker as responsive as Bill. The negotiation took some six weeks and throughout the process, Bill was able to find the answer to every question we had. Sometimes he found the answer in the municipality, other times he prevailed upon his private contacts to find us answers to important questions. Finally, we signed an agreement but we still needed third-party financing and Bill came up with several alternatives and we were able to obtain a mortgage with a local credit union at a favorable rate. There may be other fine brokers in Duncan or in the Cowichan Valley but we would only use Bill again because of his professionalism and frankly, because of his willingness to take the extra step on behalf of his clients. If you want to be sure you are getting the best real estate brokerage service, we would use Bill McGowan every time.

My husband and I have been working with Bill McGowan on selling our home since September. I have been very impressed with Bill’s work as a realtor. He is very knowledgeable about local real estate matters. Bill knows the Cowichan Valley really well, both the properties and the people. He has also developed a group of real estate peers with whom he can consult for even more information and ideas. One of Bill’s best qualities is his steady, sensible nature. He considers his/our actions carefully with an eye to what is the best for all concerned. Real estate transactions can be quite emotional for both buyer and seller. Bill is always ready with sound advice about the best way to handle those tricky communications with the “other side”.  Bill is also not afraid to get his hands dirty. He has gone into our woods in the rain looking for property-line pins. He has offered to help me make property improvements on several occasions.  Additionally, Bill unfailingly communicates with us. He follows up on any questions or suggestions that we make; we always know where we stand. I believe him to be completely honest and straightforward – a man you can trust. I am completely comfortable in recommending Bill McGowan as a realtor. I don’t think you could do any better.

Ben and I wanted to let you know how much we appreciate all that you have done for us. You did such a wonderful job helping us find our first home 4 ½ years ago that we knew we didn’t  want anyone else but you to help us find our second home. Your dedication to us was wonderful. You were always there when we needed you to answer questions or to show us homes during times that were convenient for us. You were always just a phone call away. We love our new home and we are so glad that you were there to share this with us. We probably won’t be moving for a very long time, but if it comes about that we do, we will settle for no one other than you to help us. Thank you!

Sorry this is so long in coming but as you can imagine we have been busy moving. John and I wanted to give you a BIG Thank You for all your hard work. You found us the perfect house. We love it. You did not just wait for houses to come on the market. No, you actually went out looking for us. You worked really hard and because of YOU we found OUR house. It has everything on our wish list and more. Thanks again Bill and we will certainly make sure anyone we speak to will know what kind of agent you are. You WORK for your clients. We know you are busy helping other clients but come by and visit sometime.

Although there are many Realtors around, there are few that go above and beyond the way Bill has done for us. Bill represented our interests solidly and advised us honestly throughout our search. Once we had found the house we wanted, he did not push or rush us into buying, as has been the experience of some of our acquaintances. Bill pulled together all the papers necessary, followed through on our sometimes unusual requests for information and made solid recommendations for supporting us on many fronts as we closed on the house we knew we wanted.  Thank you Bill, for your services and your friendship. Your name came to us from friends and we send that recommendation out to the world.

We are so happy that we had Bill represent us as our real estate agent. He understood what we were looking for and was always very understanding and patient in what can be a very stressful time especially moving from Nova Scotia. He explained things very well and guided us along the way. He kept us well informed throughout the process and overall we are very pleased with his work. Thank you Bill!

A few years ago we had the pleasure of working with Bill McGowan as the realtor selling our waterfront acreage in Mill Bay. It was a complicated listing, with covenants and restrictions that made it a challenging project for us and him. Throughout the process Bill was patient and professional, provided creative ideas for improving our chance of selling, reviewed our listing information when needed and provided timely feedback on any inquiries or showings. He was successful in negotiating and completing our sale involving parties in three different locations. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Bill McGowan to my friends and would refer any real estate questions to him.