Nova Scotia REALTOR® Nicole Pittman has a soft spot for furry friends, and she’s found the purrrfect way to incorporate what she loves into what she does. Since starting out with Royal LePage Atlantic in 2015, Nicole has raised $10,000 for the Nova Scotia SPCA through her partnership with Pawsitive Properties, a campaign launched by Jessie Jerxa of Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Pittman got into the real estate business in 2011 when she started working as a property legal assistant for a very busy local law firm. She was quickly drawn to the sales side of the business and decided to pursue her career as a REALTOR® in 2012.
Nicole became involved with Pawsitive Properties when she saw a post on social media by fellow REALTOR® Jessie Yerxa about the campaign. Being an animal lover, she knew this was a cause she wanted to be part of and support, so she reached out and asked if she could bring the project to Halifax. How it works is for every home REALTORS® involved in the program sell or help their buyers purchase, $100 is donated to the local SPCA. “Most of my clients have lived in a home with pets or are planning on getting one in the near future,” she said. “Knowing that [choosing] to work with me is helping animals in need adds to the already exciting experience of buying or selling a home.”
Having recently reached the $10,000 milestone, Nicole talked about her journey with Pawsitive Properties: “[It’s] been incredible. Watching my donations grow every year with my business has been a great motivator for me. Having the opportunity to get to know the wonderful staff at the SPCA, to hear the appreciation they have for the campaign, and to see the impact my support is having on the animals has been truly rewarding.”
Nicole has the following advice for others looking to make a difference: “I think there are a number of ways to make a deeper impact, but one would be to take a cause that they believe in and try to find a creative way to build it into their brand. This could be through charitable donations, volunteering, or simply raising awareness for the cause; every bit helps!”
