Our Mission: To have a positive impact on the lives of our Clients, Tenants and the communities that we serve, by providing high-quality housing and a positive Landlord and Tenant experience.
Our Values: Professionalism, responsiveness, positivity, optimism, empathy, integrity, attention to detail, progressive mindset, constant improvement.
our story
A message from Jeff Chebott
First of all, I love being a Housing Provider and I see it as such an important role in Society. Rental housing is a significant part of day-to-day life for so many and I honestly believe that Housing Providers (aka Landlords) have an opportunity and a responsibility to provide a positive experience for their Tenants. It really can and does have a ripple-effect into the communities that we serve.
I also believe that Housing Providers need to be successful and have the right to earn a profit. Society needs high-quality Housing and that can only be provided if a rental property is financially viable for the Landlord.
I’m honoured that our Clients and Tenants alike trust us with something that is so important to their life.
how i got started
My wife and I bought our first rental property in 2009 and I was terrified as the closing date approached. I remember waking up the morning of the closing and thinking: “What are we doing…this is crazy”. We really had no experience and had a young family to worry about. But I had been reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad books and had come to the realization that we had to take control of our financial future and real estate was the way for us. We jumped in!
We put $32,000 down from a Line of Credit, to buy a 3-bedroom, Semi-Detached property in Oshawa, Ontario for $160,000. That was a big deal for us at the time. The house was old and dated, with green carpet, original kitchen cupboards and a leaky Basement. We renovated that house by ourselves on evenings and weekends, with the kids watching movies on a laptop on the floor in the living room. It was a huge amount of work. Then our first Tenant pretty much wrecked the place (but that’s another story). We’ve bought and sold a few other houses since then, but we still have that original house and it’s been a great investment for us.
From that point on, it was really a trial-and-error process. We grew our portfolio over the coming years and had more than our share of ups and downs. From renovations to wrecked properties, from bad Tenants to foundation leaks and a house fire, it seems like we’ve been through it all.
On the bright side though, it’s been such a great experience and I wouldn’t change it for the world. We’ve met some great people, overcome many challenges and learned a lot about ourselves and the rental business.
starting east vista
My original intent was to go into Real Estate Sales, to help others to invest in Real Estate, but there’s something about the Property Management business that drew me in. As any Housing Provider knows, it can be a challenging business, but it’s also a rewarding one.
I started East Vista Property Management in 2014, more as a side-project to look after our own properties and for friends and family. It quickly became apparent that there was a need for our services in the area and I began to take on more Clients.
Since then, the company has evolved and our portfolio under management has grown significantly. We’ve built a great team (and will continue to do so) and are focused on constantly improving our service offering. This includes implementing systems and technology to enhance our Client and Tenant Experience.
We’re also very selective, in terms of the properties that we take on, as this affects our focus and the quality of our work environment. I’ve learned the hard way that poor-quality properties attract poor-quality Tenants. This can be a huge drain on resources and can draw our focus away from effectively managing the rest of our portfolio.
Our Property Management Philosophy
Experience has taught us that:
The relationship between a Landlord and Tenant does not need to be one of conflict and animosity, but can and should be one of mutual benefit and respect.
We, as Housing Providers, have such an opportunity and obligation to provide a positive environment and experience for our Tenants, as it really does have a ripple-effect into the communities that we serve.
Tenants are Customers and we, as Housing Providers, are providing a valuable Product and ‘After-sales’ Service to them. The Product we provide is a high-quality home Home in a great neighbourhood. ‘After-sales’ Service includes our responsiveness, respectfulness, ethical behaviour and respect for Tenancy Law.
The Housing Provider (aka Landlord) has the right to make a profit and requires it for the investment to be viable. This should be improved over time by achieving market rental rates, minimizing expenses, minimizing vacancies, ensuring on-time and in-full rent payments, preventing property damage and/or degradation.
What does this mean to you?
As a Client:
We strive to provide you with a stable, predictable and profitable rental portfolio and a positive Landlord experience.
We keep things simple and focus on the key elements of success as a real estate investor: on-time and in-full rent collection, controlling and minimizing expenses, achieving market rental rates, reducing vacancies, careful screening and selection of Tenants, preventative Maintenance and Inspections, Tenant Relations and communication.
We use technology to make things easy for you: an online Rent payment system for quick disbursement of funds, automated Income Statements, Credit Card payment for repair expenses, a comprehensive marketing plan for finding great Tenants quickly.
As a Tenant:
We strive to provide a full range of high-quality, legal and safe housing. Whether you’re looking to rent a one-bedroom apartment or a five-bedroom executive home, you can expect that it meets high standards, in terms of Cleanliness, Building Code, Safety and reliability of Mechanical components.
If or when issues do arise, our Team will be responsive and strive to resolve the issue in a timely manner with the help of the property owner.
We use technology to make things easy for you: online Rent payment and Receipts, Maintenance Requests, prompt Messaging and email communications.
The Team at East Vista is committed to providing unmatched responsiveness and personalized service that is unmatched in the industry.
Jeff Chebott
I oversee New Business and the day-to-day Operations, while working to build a great team to serve our Clients and Tenants. A bit about me... : Health and Fitness is such an important part of my life. I quit smoking in 2002, then started Running in 2003 (if you can call it Running, as I could barely run 100m when I first started!). I gradually worked my way up to running my first Half-Marathon in 2008 and have since ran 3 Marathons and countless Half-marathons, 10K’s and Triathlons. I’ve slowed down a bit in recent years, but I started doing Crossfit about 2 years ago and really enjoy it. My wife and I have 3 amazing Daughters and they all have helped out with the business at some point, whether it be cutting grass, cleaning houses or painting.
Ximena Davidson
I oversee the management of the properties from a compliance and administrative standpoint. I’m also responsible for rent collection and reporting and serve as a liaison between our Clients, Tenants and Maintenance Team. A bit about me... : I was born in Chile and my mother tongue is Spanish. I met my husband in 2001, when he was climbing a volcano in the same little town where I was spending my holidays. We decided to move to Canada in the spring of 2002. My husband Rob and his family have lived in Bowmanville all of their lives. We have four children, ages 15 to 9…three daughters and a son. I consider myself lucky, as I was able to stay home and raise our children. They are all very active competitive swimmers. Most weekends, I spend my days at Swim Meets.
Leigh Lothian
I ensure that Tenant and Client requests are addressed in a professional and timely manner, in order to keep the properties in tip top shape. I take great pride in ensuring that the properties managed are well maintained and functioning in a way that satisfies both our Client's and our Tenant’s expectations. A bit about me... : have been an avid horse back rider since the age of 8. I used to show very competitively, even travelling to Florida during the winter to allow for year long showing! While I no longer show I now coach riding to the new up and comers of the sport! I am a farm girl at heart and love spending as much time outside as possible with my husband and our 2 children.
Kim Chebott
I oversee our Tenant Services Team, who are responsible for managing Tenant maintenance requests and Inspections. I’m also responsible for developing East Vista Home Services, which is our Contracting Division, focusing on repairs, maintenance and small-scale renovations for the properties that we manage. A bit about me... : I’m a Health enthusiast who loves Running, Biking and Crossfit. I’m an HCA Registered Health Coach, Certified Primal Health Coach, Certified Personal Training Specialist and a Certified Healthy Eating and Weight Loss Coach. I joined the East Vista Management Team in August 2020, after 25 years in the B2B Office Supply business and it’s been a refreshing change. I’m the proud Mother of 3 Daughters, ages 21, 18 and 15.
Jillian Dennison
I am a Tenant Placement Specialist with East Vista Management. My main focus is showing prospective tenants the units and providing them with a warm welcome. I'm a passionate person who enjoys helping others by connecting them to resources and assisting them in organizing their new beginnings. A bit about me... : I'm am a proud mother of 2 beautiful children; my daughter is 9, my son is 6 years old. I enjoy outdoor activities, and creating memorable moments with my children. I am very involved in my community and I find joy in showing my love for others through food. My passion is cooking, connecting with family and friends, and helping others. I believe that life can sometime get challenging but if we work together and show compassion, it can make a difference to someone.
Barb Chebott
I conduct the Showings for the properties that have available for Rent. I also facilitate the Application process and consult with Clients on final Tenant selection. A bit about me... : I’m originally from the Owen Sound area, where my Husband and I grew up. This is my second time living in the Durham Region, as we travelled with my Husband's job, taking us from Owen Sound to Durham Region then to the Sarnia and then back to the Owen Sound area, where we retired. My husband's illness brought us back to Durham Region in 2016 and I’ve been working with East Vista Management since 2017. My previous career was in Banking with TD. Over my 30+ year career, I held most jobs at the Branch-level at some point. I guess you could say that working with the public is in my blood and I've thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people over the past two and a half years.
Jaime Widawski
I inspect properties for East Vista Property Management to ensure they are maintained, functioning, and safe for the tenants. I inspect the properties as if they were my own and use the preventative maintenance inspection checklists to provide a very thorough service for the Clients and Tenants. A bit about me... : I am a father of two and grandfather of four and currently reside with my partner in the Durham region. These days I enjoy staying active through golf, gardening, home improvements, fishing, hunting and hiking with my partner and dog. I am an avid sports fan being active in baseball, hockey and squash for many years but now enjoy watching just about any type of event either in person or on TV. I spend many weekends at our property up north enjoying nature, the scenery and relaxing with friends and family.
Nicole McNeely
I am the Property Marketing Specialist for East Vista, I list the properties, manage the ads, and then work through the applications process while communicating with our clients and the applicant until completion. A bit about me... : I am originally from Kenora Ontario, but have been in the Durham Region for nearly 15 years. I love the community and all of the beautiful outdoor areas we have here. I own a small bakery that brings me lots of happiness and has definitely increased my multitasking abilities. Between East Vista, the bakery and my 7 year old, the days are busy but also full of magic.
Angela Tasevski
In early 2023, I joined East Vista in the role of Tenant Services Coordinator. My enthusiasm for this position isn't just about professional competence; it's fueled by my passion for crafting positive and supportive environments. Being part of the East Vista team is thrilling, and I'm excited to contribute my skills to enhance the tenant experience and nurture community well-being. A bit about me... : I am a lifelong resident of the Durham Region, and I find immense joy in calling this vibrant community my home. My husband and three daughters also share in this love for our region. My journey commenced with a robust educational foundation; I pursued Business Administration with a specialized focus on Human Resources at Durham College. This educational path opened doors for me, allowing me to garner valuable experience at esteemed local organizations such as the Ministry of Finance, City of Toronto, City of Oshawa, and Lakeridge Health. Following a dedicated period raising my children, I seamlessly transitioned back into the workforce. I assumed the role of Office Manager for a local electrical contractor. Moreover, I revisited my roots in Real Estate, serving as a Virtual Assistant, blending my administrative prowess with over 20 years of experience in the property sector.