10 Happy Street

10 Happy St, Guelph
3 Bed | 2 Bathroom
8000 Sqft

About 10 Happy Street:

We have all been taught that one of the best ways to live and conduct business more sustainably is to reduce our carbon footprint.  When you work with me, you may notice that I often show up to meetings and appointments either by electric car or by bicycle in an effort to reduce my reliance on gasoline and reduce my emissions of greenhouse gases.  My partner and I had solar panels installed on our roof in 2016 and I like to think that the sun powers my vehicle, of which I have saved approximately 4,140 Litres in gasoline since purchasing it in 2017.  If weather and time permits, I may show up to meet with you on my bicycle.  In fact I often am mistaken for a client or passerby as most people are not expecting their realtor to be riding a bike!

I do not pass out business cards, flyers, magnets, pens, water bottles or other swag.  I believe these to be an old fashioned, obsolete method of advertising, creating unnecessary waste.  For decades, it has been common practice to drop off business cards on the counter of a home that a realtor is showing to clients. With our new Sentri lockbox security systems on homes that are for sale, we are automatically updated when a realtor enters a home using a code on their mobile phone and this system is very successful. So successful, that I am actively advocating on the Guelph Realtor Board Facebook group that we cease the practice of leaving behind business cards at viewings.

One of the largest contributors to the climate emergency is the fashion industry.  This industry contributes to increasing greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, toxic substances in our land and waterways, microplastics in our oceans, and waste in our landfills.  Not to mention the global social impacts of this industry.  For these reasons, I choose not to buy new, fancy clothes to fit into the perception of how a real estate agent should dress. Instead, I wear out my clothes until they have holes and then I repair those holes (or not) and continue to wear them. If I need something new (to me), I shop second hand at local consignment and thrift stores.  

In my personal life, biking is my passion. I mountain bike, road bike, trail bike and bike pack. I read about biking, I watch biking videos, I research biking. Did I mention I love to bike? This is more than a hobby of mine and is my individual form of meditation. There is no better way to clear your mind than out in nature and when you can connect to nature in this way, it can help you appreciate the beauty of our planet and it motivates me to do what I can to protect it. For this reason, my partner and I have enrolled our children in the Guelph Outdoor School from early ages. As the saying goes, “we do not own this planet, we only borrow it from our children”. I feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that our children grow up with an appreciation for the Earth and I believe that educating and fostering a love for nature in my children is my biggest contribution to sustainability.

Whether it be your first time purchasing a home or if you are a seasoned buyer and seller, von Dehn Homes is here to guide you through the entire process.  Our team is reliable and honest and we work ethically and with integrity.  We practice sustainability in our everyday lives as well as in business.  Additionally, we welcome the opportunity to work with diverse individuals throughout Southern Ontario.

Phone

(226) 821-5033

Scott Lewington
Verified
Mike is a wonderful realtor. As first time home buyers, Mike was very patient and responsive with all of our questions and concerns. I will definitely be recommending Mike to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.
Scott Lewington
2021-10-13
Charlotte Rose
Verified
Mike was really great in helping us buy our first home. He was very responsive and made the whole process stress-free.
Charlotte Rose
2021-10-13
Melanie Berard
Verified
Mike supported us on our house hunt and house sale. He knew when we found 'the one' that we had to act quickly given the current market and he walked us through the process professionally and confidently. When it came time to sell our home, it was a very stressful time personally for us and he was so supportive by checking up on us and offering help where he could with home staging, making recommendations - you name it. There are many reasons Mike has such a solid reputation in his field - he's not only the best real estate agent, he's an all-around good human.
Melanie Berard
2021-05-26
Luke Skinner
Verified
My partner and I found a recommendation for Mike randomly on an online real estate forum and we couldn't be happier that we did! Mike is kind, knowledgable, patient, and hard working. Being a first-time home buyer is scary enough, and in the current market, even scarier. Mike walked us through every step of the process, never pressured us to make any decisions we weren't comfortable with, and helped us purchase our dream home within a couple months of starting our search. Whether it was giving us video tours of houses we couldn't make it to see in person, helping us make well-informed offers, or simply being a text message or phone call away to answer any and all of our questions, big or small, we couldn't have asked for a better partner in our home buying journey. Thanks Mike!
Luke Skinner
2021-05-05
Robert Shirkey
Verified
I 100% recommend Mike von Dehn. I'll be totally candid: Prior to meeting Mike, my experiences with real estate agents have ranged from at best, fine, to at worst, nightmarish. Mike was the first agent I've encountered who truly brought value to our relationship and left me feeling like I netted out much better than I would have if I had chosen a more DIY route. Three things I appreciated about Mike: 1) I reached out to Mike due to common interests and values around sustainability that I gleaned from his social media feed. His compassion in this realm and centering of the interests of others really translated to his real estate practice. Unlike previous real estate transactions, I felt like I was more than simply a means to a commission; he really did put my interests first. 2) Mike kept me in the loop from beginning to end. He shared all his strategy, thought processes, recommendations, etc., all the while emphasizing that I was in the driver's seat when it came to decision-making. It really did feel like a team effort. With other agents, I've often felt like I wasn't a part of the process and was left questioning how much value they truly brought to the table if they weren't being transparent in their work. 3) Most importantly, I'm certain I did much better in the sale of my home with Mike than I would have if I had gone it alone or with another agent. With increasing housing prices, commissions growing in proportion, and the availability of online alternatives, it's hard not to contemplate a DIY approach. In fact, I was originally going to go this route but I'm glad I connected with Mike. He and his photographer colleague really made my place shine. Their work attracted several good offers and the one I ultimately accepted left me confident that reaching out to Mike had been the right decision. I fully recommend Mike von Dehn and will be contacting him again if I ever decide to get back into the market in Guelph or the surrounding area. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Robert Shirkey
2021-02-02
Chris Reaume
Verified
Mike is a consummate professional with incredible local knowledge of the realty landscape. We have worked with Mike on a couple of properties now and we highly recommend him. Mike is friendly, honest, responsive, and knowledgeable. He really understood our needs and was able to find us just what we wanted. Mike can help you find your dream home!
Chris Reaume
2021-01-09
Holly Leeming
Verified
My husband AJ and I have worked with Mike on several occasions, and we have nothing but great things to say about him. He was extremely responsive to our questions and desire to view homes at a moment's notice. He was competitive and worked hard to get us our asking prices and more, and was extremely patient while we worked to find our dream home together. He even helped us move in! We couldn't have asked for a better realtor, who we are also happy to call a friend.
Holly Leeming
2020-12-09
Robin Cherry
Verified
Mike was our agent for the sale of our home and the purchase of our new one. His calm, considered, professional, and friendly approach helped us through the inevitable stresses of the process. I can't image a person more suited to the important role he played in our lives.
Robin Cherry
2020-12-07
Kashan Kazmi
Verified
Big big thank you Mike Von Dehn! When I started my search for my next home, Mike was my first and only phone call. We had the opportunity to work together 6 years ago when I moved to Guelph and I knew he was the only person I wanted to work with again! Mike's friendly demeanour and advice based approach is extremely helpful, whether you are a first time buyer, upsizing or an investor. I am ecstatic with both my purchase and sale. There was a lot of hard work put in by all of us; Mike's advice, planning a great strategy, supported by his strong understanding of current real estate market conditions took us over the top! Inevitably when I'm ready to move on again, I will only connect back with you. Thank you so much for everything!
Kashan Kazmi
2020-12-07
Georgia Black
Verified
We worked with Mike to buy our first house and he was great from start to finish. He knows the market and takes the time to educate you and make sure you feel comfortable with everything. He was patient (definitely not pushy) and is a great person in general which was really important to us for such a big purchase. We're grateful that he was recommended to us!
Georgia Black
2020-12-01
Reviews