1. Derek is in a class unto himself. He went aboveand beyond the call of duty for us, and most importantly, he genuinely had our best interests at heart. Derek made the sale of our home seamless; he took our questions and concerns in stride. We sincerely appreciated his patience and reassurance, and the breadth and depth of his knowledge. Derek, you are phenomenal! SJ and CH 

2. Derek, having you as our agent has been the most rewarding experience. As first time homeowners we were lost. Your dedication to our needs and all of the time that you willing spent with us to make sure we found a house to make into our home was greatly appreciated. Derek is more then a realtor, he’s your friend when it comes to finding your new home. He makes the whole process so easy and enjoyable. Going the extra mile would just be an understatement when it comes to Derek Braaten. We will be recommending Derek for years to come and can’t wait to go to him again. Thank you again for finding us a home. Derek Oxtoby & Melissa Kennedy 

3. Our experience on buying our house with Derek was wonderful, his patience and true concern that you are totally satisfied with your purchase is outstanding, we also shared some humourous moments. Thank you Derek. Cheryl and Fred Hayes 

4. Derek is Great! I was new to the real estate industry and had an unfortunate experience my first time in the ring. But when I met Derek he made it simple and helped me find my perfect place. He always has your best interests in mind and understands your fears and concerns when it's time to sign those papers! I would encourage any of my family and friends to meet with Derek and see what he can do for them. They won't regret it. Once you get him he feels like part of your family. Thanks again, Lino Lazaro

5. Derek is an awesome real estate agent. His hand was "not in our pocket". He is honest and professional. A refreshing change from the stereotypical salesperson. He went the distance, literally, to find us a great family home!! Cheryl and Grant Martin

6. Derek Braaten is a realtor whom I have found to be an honest and hard-working guy who "goes that extra mile" I have purchased a home utilizing Derek's services and also sold a property with him as well. The sale of my home required extra special attention from Derek due to difficult and unforseen factors. He rose to the challenge and I appreciated his professional as well as his caring style. I highly recommend Derek for any type of real estate needs. Sincerely, Debra Kerr

7. Very well informed and keeps you up to date..patient & understanding. Can't recommend him enough. MH

8. Derek is the most patient and thoughtful agent I have ever had the opportunity to do business with. He listened to my wants/needs, was very helpful and did not waste my time and enery showing me things that did not fit my style. I would recommend him to anyone who wants an honest and reliable agent. Lynca Bolduc

9. When my husband and I decided to start looking into the purchase of our second home, a friend referred us to Derek. From the initial meeting and throughout the entire process, Derek patiently and diligently guided us toward the eventual purchase of the right home for our family. Derek's knowledge and professionalism as a realtor combined with his fantastic communication and interpersonal skills make him a success in his chosen field. He helped make an otherwise stressful life event exciting and positive and we have already been happy to refer him to several friends. Mike & Kerry Hill

10. Above all, when you work with Derek Braaten, you know that he really cares and has your best interests in mind and at heart. Doug & Jaqui Thompson

11. Derek is highly professional and very willingly goes the extra 10 miles to provide awesome service! KLB 

12. Just wanted to drop you a line to thank you for finding my new home for me! To say I am a satisfied customer would be an understatement! Tahra’s high praise when she recommended you was well deserved. I appreciated so much your compassion and patience with me while I went through all my first time homeowner neuroses”. You always made me feel like it mattered to you that I find the place that felt right for me. I am so excited to begin this new phase of my life; a home of my own and my first grandchild all in the same year. What better place for a new grandma to live than in OakBay - thanks to you! I have no hesitation in recommending you to anyone requiring the services of an outstanding Realtor. Thank you again Derek, it has been a pleasure. Glenda Rae 

13. Derek was incredible in everything that he did with me while I was selling my home. When working with Derek, he made me feel extremely comfortable with every decision that I had to make and he made me feel like I was his most important client. He is kind, understanding and very professional in every aspect of his job. I will have absolutely no problem giving him my whole hearted recommendation to my friends and family, and plan on using Derek again for future purchases and sales. Doug Schlenker

14. Derek, it has been such a pleasure having you as our agent. You are in my mind the best agent we have ever had the opportunity to work with. You listened to what we said, and what wasn't said, and very patiently helped us find our new home. Then, your service got even better when it was time to write up and present the offer. From our initial meet and greet to the present, I know I can trust you. I know you have our best interests at heart. That quality sets you apart from others in your profession. Although I do not anticipate requiring your expertise on another real estate transaction soon, there is no one else I would consider as my Realtor. In the mantime, I hope we can become friends who may do business in the future. I will enjoy the opportunity to recommend you to anyone wishing to buy or sell property. Yours truly, Pam Schlenker

15. Derek, Thank you so very much for working so closely and patiently with us. Your professionalism, attention to detail and concern with our preferences and idiosyncrasies are much appreciated! We are enjoying the house and "nesting". We used your generous gift for those little things that make a house a home. Mostly, we are enjoying the deck, particularly in this heat. Best wishes, Kelly Acker

16. With Derek's help, we're now settling into our "first home", and loving it. He was a great help to us in learning all of the ins and outs of buying and home ownership. We really appreciated how patient he was, and how he helped look out for our best interests, especially when it came time to guide us through a "nail-biting" negotiation with a seller. We'll gladly recommend him whenever we get the chance! Jeremy & Beth Geras

17. As we all know there are many Realtors out there, but not many that are great! Derek Braaten is GREAT. He had the patience and knowledge to help me with my first purchase. I really appreciated his honesty and tireless dedication to my search. Kelly Hayes 

18. I can tell you’ve been the person I was looking for to help me buying. I think honesty and great negotiation skills are the most important qualities you expect from a realtor, and you got it! Jasmin Fredette

19. I moved to Victoria in the spring of 2006 from the prairies and was daunted by home prices. I contacted Derek Braaten of the Sutton Group-Westcan Realty along with two other realtors on a referral. I found Derek to be the one most in synch with my needs and "sticker shock" reaction. He worked hard to find homes in my modest price range, kept in close contact with me but did not apply any pressure, carefully inspected every house I visited pointing out both positive and negative aspects, and was most congenial. I am pleased with my purchase and would trust him again should I decide to purchase in the Victoria area. Thank you, Derek. Mona Acker 

20. Derek’s attention to detail is exceptional as was his devotedness to our cause…buying our first home. He made our goal, his goal. Informed and knowledgable, he provided us with concise, appropriate, and helpful information daily. We heartily recommended him to anyone buying or selling! Stephen & Cara Hunt

21. We have bought a house in Shawnigan Lake with Derek as our Realtor. This is not our first house purchase and Derek by far was the best Realtor we have dealt with! We were moving long distance so there were many extra issues for a Realtor to make this a positive experience. Right from the first E-mail we sent him, we received professional replies and service. Derek went out of his way to make sure that we had all the information necessary to be able to buy the best suitable house available at the time. He was well prepared, never rushed us, got us answers we needed in a timely manner. We highly recommend him and know that he will do whatever possible to serve you well through your home buying or selling experience. Sincerely, Marja Blasé

 22. Hi Derek, Just opened your envelope. Thank you so much for all the information and certificate. You made the process of buying my home such a positive experience. Your knowledge and thoroughness was great and without it I know it would have been much more difficult for me to go through this process. I already have been telling everyone I know what a great realtor I have and would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone. All the hours and patience you put into this one sale made me realize how hard you work and have pride in what you do and it shows. I also forgot to tell you I loved your picture with all your family. That is great! Take care and see you soon. Wendy Fanucchi

23. It's been a pleasure having your professional guidance in selling our home. After interviewing several realtors we knew you would be the one to represent us and we're very glad you were referred to us. It was the human side of our dealing with you that set the whole deal apart. You were patient and thorough, explaining each step of the way in a no pressure, down to earth fashion that made the whole transaction almost fun. You have a personality and demeanor others wish they could emulate in a realtor. You are Market Savvy, with an eye to point out any potential problems well in advance and acts on it appropriately. There is something else that really sets you apart, - Your Client Service Skills are exceptional, you personally dedicated yourself to us well beyond regular hours, adjusting your life to accommodate others, It's been an honor to get to know you and will highly recommend your services to all. Ken Hackshaw & Janette Poulin

24. Derek genuinely had my best interests at heart. As first time homeowners, I was lost. He took time to answer all my questions. I sincerely appreciated his patience and reassurance, and the breadth and depth of his knowledge. Derek, you were great! If I am ever in the market to sell or buy a property, I would not hesitate to have you as my agent again. Thanks for all your help. Gilles Pellerin

25. Derek has once again provided us an excellent experience, this time with selling our home. We really appreciated his well-informed but un-pushy approach to our sale and we were particularly impressed with his ability to guide us to the exact asking price that resulted in a same-day sale. Our subsequent home-buying experience in another city with another realtor just underlined the excellence and integrity of Derek's client-oriented work and we will continue to recommend him to our friends. Thank you, Derek! Judy & Lorne Carruth

26. While looking for a holiday home in Victoria we had the good fortune to have made Derek our first realtor contact there. It was immediately apparent that Derek was most professional while possessing the rare quality of true concern with his clients' best interests. Although we have extensive experience with the purchase and sale of real estate, this was our first venture into strata ownership. Derek's fantastic patience and attention to detail guided us through this and clarified the whole process, resulting in complete satisfaction with our purchase. Working with a realtor of Derek's calibre was truly unique in our experience. Gunter and Sheila Lavallier

27. Thank you so very much for making our "journey to find our home" so easy. You were so flexible and accommodating with all of our "special searches"! Thanks Again! Michelle, Gord, & Katie Thompson

28. There's no way we can thank you enough for all the hard work you put in, looking for the perfect "new" house for us. We are so happy with the condo on Brethour and so grateful to you for making sure that our deal went through before we left Sidney. Thanks Derek!  Jean & Peter Arnold

29. Derek Braaten gave us excellent service as our realtor for selling our house: Derek sat down with us prior to listing to determine our goals, work out appropriate pricing and strategies for advertising. He worked hard to showcase the unique features of our house and gave expert suggestions to prep the house for selling. Derek was very accommodating in being available during irregular hours. He was sensitive to changes in the housing market and gave good advice regarding pricing changes while still respecting our goals. He responded in a timely manner to all of our phone calls, addressed any concerns we had at any time and kept us informed as to the status of offers. He guided us wisely through the process of handling offers until we were able to get as close as possible to our target price. We would like to recommend Derek Braaten to anyone that wants a quick sale, outstanding professionalism and knowledge every step of the way. Thank you so much! Ken Hackshaw and Janette Poulin

30. We are very pleased to recommend Derek Braaten as your Realtor. We started looking at homes in early Spring 2009 on our own but found we lacked direction and weren’t able to keep up with the market. We contacted Derek based upon a recommendation. He understood our urgency to find a home since we were expecting a baby and with his help, we were able to narrow our search and stay on top of things until we found ‘the one’.  Derek was excellent at communicating with us, he promptly returned our emails and phone calls and was always able to answer our questions. He was very quick to arrange viewings that were well planned and for which he was always prepared. His experience was invaluable so in turn, we felt confident about our decisions. We found Derek to be very personable and easy to talk to which lends to his ability in understanding his client’s needs and goals. 

Thanks to Derek and his perseverance, we are happily in our new home, a month ahead of schedule. All the best. Dave and Karolyn

31. Derek Braaten was the consummate professional at all times. Derek's well informed in all aspects of Real Estate buying or selling. He follows your instructions to the letter and is most reliable on all fronts. Looking for a great Real Estate Agent? Derek is the guy. Marian Griffiths

32. Derek worked with us from start to finish through the processes of buying and a home, which was a two year process for us. He was always patient, never trying to rush us just to get a sale. He genuinely cared about us finding the right property for our needs.

Every step of the way, Derek, provided sage advice on: 1)things to watch for when purchasing a home; 2) return on investment; and 3)staging the sale of our current home. We’re convinced that Derek saved us thousands of dollars through 1) his ability to assessment homes’ need for maintenance, steering us away from some properties that charmed us with their floor plans and yards, but in the annual maintenance arena were seriously neglected; 2) choosing a property that met all our needs yet still had room to add value in ways that matched our means and skills; and 3) helping us decide where to spend money on the house we were selling to maximize its market appeal. 

We whole-heartedly recommend Derek to anyone wanting an honest, hard-working realtor who cares about your interests. Doug & Jacqui Thompson

33. This is the first time that we have used Derek Braaten as our realtor. While we were abroad we decided to sell our condo. We found Derek to be friendly, efficient and very knowledgeable. Even though we were out of the country, we felt very reassured that everything had been taken care of. He made sure that we were kept well informed of what was happening with our listing and the current market. We were able to complete a very smooth sale of our home, thanks to Derek and his super real estate skills!! We highly recommend Derek to anyone considering buying or selling their property. Would we use him again? A resounding YES!!!  Bal B.

34. Working with Derek is always a pleasure, he is patient and understanding while you search for the perfect home. His knowledge on the real estate market is fantastic and proves that he really does his homework and is always working for you. We would gladly recommend Derek to anyone looking to buy or sell in Greater Victoria.  Pamela Flower and Lino Lazaro

35. Derek provided us with the most positive realtor experience we have ever had. His limitless patience and his cool head helped us to focus on our priorities and to feel like we were in the driver's seat, but he never hesitated to give gentle advice when asked. We would and do recommend Derek to our friends and we look forward to his excellent customer service for our upcoming move back to Victoria. Judy & Lorne

36. We worked with Derek Braaten for the sale of our home as well as purchasing our new home. I would give the highest recommendation to Derek, for his diligence and his unwaivering standard of service. We got to know Derek quite well through the process, and he is a realtor that actually "cares". We would happily pass his name on to anyone who needs help buying or selling a home. Charles Appleford and Melissa Ollsin

37. Derek is a good friend so we were hesitant about using him as our realtor but we're glad we did. He managed both roles well and kept them separate when it was necessary. His attention to detail and knowledge of the industry were truly impressive. Derek is a straight shooter - he cuts no corners and ensures that everything is done properly and above board. He did a fantastic job for us - and we're still good friends. Dennis & Zandra Johnston

38. Derek Braaten is a truly outstanding estate agent. He was very attentive, honest, forthright in his opinions and always helpful. He worked tirelessly helping us find a property and then when it came time to close the deal he was indispensable in navigating the requirements. I can't stress enough just how attentive he is to his client's requirements. He was always early for appointments and always available to take calls, or if busy, they were returned promptly. If I find myself in the market for property again I would not consider looking for another agent. There simply could not be a better one available. I would not hesitate to recomend his services to anyone. Joel Mullan

39. Derek worked with me for over two years in my search for a new home. Through it all, he maintained his professionalism, he provided sound advice that often meant that satisfaction would have to be delayed yet again, and eventually he sold my house at a good price and ensured that I found a new home to suit the needs of my family. What an adventure! Derek's calm and considered attitude, sound knowledge of house construction and the housing market, and fairness toward me, as well as other buyers, sellers, and realtors, made it as painless as possible. I have never met such an honest and helpful realtor as Derek and have recommended him to many people. I know that he will do well in the future, as his reputation speaks for him. Thank you so much Derek. And all the best to your beautiful family. Kasey Brewer

40. I have known Derek for a few years now, as he helped me and my Sister buy our first condo. That experience was great and when it came time to purchase my first house with my husband, Derek was on it! At first my husband and I had two different wants and needs, but Derek was VERY patient and willing to help us find our new home. We ended up buying a brand new house and with this was a whole new ball park. Derek was wonderful in always being there to help us when questions arised and there were many! Derek is not the typical realtor, not only is he very knowledgable and a true professional in his field, but most important, he is kind, patient and truely cares about you and what you want. Derek will be my realtor until he retires and I recommend him to all my friends and family! Thank you Derek:) Allison Wright

41.   On behalf of Pat Maynell and myself, I would like to thank you for the outstanding and very professional service you provided us during the sale of the house.  Thank you also for the very thoughtful gift of the water colour of the house, which Pat treasures.  You were extremely helpful in taking care of the house in my absence, and for organizing, supervising, and completing the renovations as though it was your own.  I am very grateful as you relieved me from making a couple of trips to Victoria. I will definitely recommend your services to anyone I know in Victoria.  Best Regards, Darrel Carvalho

42.  Just a quick note to thank you so much for all you did for us on the sale of Dad's Condo. The gift certificates you gave were unnecessary but much appreciated, Linda and I will use the Keg one and I am sure we will find something at Chapters for Dad.  Originally dad wanted me to sell it privately. I asked him yesterday, after all was said and done, if he understood why I did not want to sell it privately and why I thought it was so important to have an agent working in our best interest. He certainly does understand now and really does have a better understanding of all the legal ramifications of real estate sales. I thank you for being so patient with him and explaining all the ins and outs in his language!  Joan Chandler

43. Dear Derek, I am writing to thank you for helping us purchase our house in Victoria. We were consistently very impressed with your knowledge of the Victoria market, your faultless honesty, and your above and beyond the call efforts on our behalf. Without your dedication we would surely not have found our new house, which we love. I would enthusiastically and without qualification recommend you to anyone looking to buy or sell real estate, and have already done so several times. Once again: our very sincere thanks. Sincerely, Dr. M. Christopher Auld

44.  Derek is an Excellent Realtor and a Gentleman. He is very up-to-date with the real estate market, and is punctual and always on time with his responsibilities. He is a good listener and at the same time he is open and frank in sharing his ideas and suggestions. I highly recommend him in helping you listing your property when you plan to sell it.  Kabir Quazi & Thamina Yesmin

45. Working with Derek was an unexpected pleasure! He is personable, courteous and professional, and tirelessly represents the interests of his clients. Derek made the sale of our house as painless as possible, and we would highly recommend his services! Katie and Darryl