My answer is pretty simple: I love it.

Before moving back to Squamish, I had done some work with my dad remotely, but working together in person is obviously different. We’ve always had a really good relationship, so I wasn’t nervous about getting along. I was more nervous about what he would expect me to know.

Sometimes he forgets that I’m still pretty new to all of this. He’ll start explaining something at full speed, usually with about three other thoughts going on at the same time, and I eventually have to stop him and say, “Dad, I actually have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Usually I get an “Oh, right,” and then he slows down and breaks it down for me.

Honestly, I think that’s been good for me. It’s made me more comfortable recognizing what I do and don’t understand and actually speaking up when I need something explained.

He’s also really good at pushing me to do things I might not feel completely ready for, but that he knows I can handle.

The best way I can describe it is that he nudges me into the deep end, but doesn’t throw me in and leave me there.

One time, he was away and I had to do showings at a property I didn’t know that well yet. I was definitely nervous. Being young and starting out in real estate, I put a lot of pressure on myself to know everything because I never want someone to assume that my age means I’m not knowledgeable.

But being put in those situations is also how I’m learning. Every time I do something that makes me a little uncomfortable, I come out of it more confident for the next time.

Of course, working with my dad also comes with some pretty funny moments.

We were on Realtor Tour the other day when he tried to voice-text another agent to ask if her property was open yet. His phone completely butchered the address. He tried to cancel the message. It sent anyway.

Then he tried to fix it manually, autocorrect took over, and somewhere in the chaos he accidentally turned voice-to-text back on and started talking to me while his phone was typing everything into another message to the agent.

I eventually just had to get out of the car because I couldn’t handle watching him fight with his phone anymore.

So while he’s teaching me real estate, I occasionally get to return the favour with phones and social media.

Jokes aside, I think the biggest advantage of learning from my dad is knowing that he genuinely wants me to do well. He’ll teach me everything he knows and doesn’t hold anything back.

I’m also learning from watching how he treats his clients. He’s incredibly giving with them, and when I eventually grow into my own career, that’s something I really want to carry with me.

I still have a lot to learn, but I feel pretty lucky that I get to learn it this way.

So when people ask what it’s like working with my dad, the answer is still pretty simple.

I love it.

Even if I occasionally have to take his phone away.