Coffee with Quincy Vrecko: Meet our Luxury Real Estate Agent
As the selling and listing agent for the kind of luxury real estate Kelowna’s wealthiest covet, Quincy Vrecko spends a lot of time driving to stunning properties. You might be surprised by his vehicle and neighbourhood of choice.
How does a national gymnast become an award-winning Kelowna luxury real estate agent? Where does he live? What does he drive? Find out in this instalment of Coffee with Quincy Vrecko.
Q: I understand you were quite the athlete growing up. What was your sport and how did the life influence you?
A: I was a national level gymnast. I competed nationally. I think it taught me dedication, drive, not taking no for an answer. It’s really influenced who I am today. My father was my coach. He was a national level gymnast too and that was my life growing up because he ran gymnastics clubs.
Q: How did retiring from gymnastics lead you into selling luxury real estate, focusing on that market segment in particular?
A: I’ve always sold high-end things. I understand the buyer and the cycle. While working at the BMW dealership here in Kelowna and I thought there was a need for it. I saw how luxury real estate was being sold and I thought there was an opportunity to provide an elevated experience specifically for that segment.
Q: What is that buyer really like? What stereotypes could we dispel?
A: A lot of times they are Type A and they like to win, and a lot of the time they’ve been working really hard all their lives and this is the big payoff—getting into a luxury home in the Okanagan.
Q: Given your background in luxury auto sales, and that you spend a lot of time driving around to viewings and to meet clients, what do you drive?
A: I drive a Fisker Karma EcoChic (a rare luxury electric vehicle). I wanted something different, but from an environmental aspect, being a realtor, I really enjoy the fact that we are leaving a very small footprint on the environment. This car will travel about 80 kilometres a day on pure electricity. So, it’s a nice thing to have because we do spend a lot of time in our cars. (Other eco-friendly features include reclaimed wood dashboard, man-made suede seats and a solar panel roof).
I’ve driven everything—Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris—and I wouldn’t choose anything else. It’s got great torque
(For all the gearheads out there, the Karma does 60 miles per hour in 7.9 seconds and features a fairly impressive 960 pounds per square foot of torque. The Fisker Karma was designed by Henrik Fisker, the legendary designer of the BMW Z8, and two Aston Martins.)
Q: You and your car pull up regularly to the most beautiful homes in the valley. How did you find your home, and how do you stay there?
A: To me, it’s all about the community and the neighbourhood. And the yard, because we spend a lot of time outside with our kids. We really wanted a pool but the view wasn’t as important. For us, it was really about the neighbourhood. Tracey and I used to move every two years before we had kids. We’ve stayed in the same home in the Lower Mission for eight years now because we think it’s important for the kids to grow up in a family home.
Q: What kinds of things do you and your family do when you’re not at home?
A: We’re pretty outdoorsy people. We like to go camping, snowboarding, wakeboarding. Spending time with our boys. They’re six and eight-year-old so it’s really important to make time for them.
Q: Where do you like to go out for meals in Kelowna?
A: One of my favourite’s is Krafty’s (KRAFTY kitchen + bar). I like the atmosphere and the food. I like BNA (Brewing Co. and Eatery). The El Dorado is nice too. Sometimes I just like going to Creekside for wings with my friends. I’m a big proponent of supporting local businesses.
Q: You’re also a big proponent of giving back to the community. Can you talk a little about that?
A: I help with coaching gymnastics every once in a while when something big is coming up. Last December Tracey and I sponsored Sensitive Santa, which gave kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) a chance to sit on Santa’s knee and have their picture taken when the mall was closed, in a calm environment. We have a six-year-old who is non-verbal autistic so that was really meaningful for us.
Are you in the market for an honest and reliable professional Realtor® who specializes in the Kelowna luxury real estate market? There’s one name, and one number: Quincy Vrecko. 250-863-8810.
