My husband and I are from Toronto and we were looking to purchase our first cottage in Muskoka. Being very ‘green’ to Muskoka, we needed an agent who was experienced and knew the area well. We searched ‘best Muskoka real estate agents’ and Jack’s name was one of the ones that turned up. We ended up contacting the top two agents but only Jack responded promptly. Our experience with Jack and his wife Carrie (also a RE agent) was nothing short of phenomenal. Right from the start, Jack listened intently to what we were looking for and proposed a few cottages that fit our wish list and budget. We were also seriously blown away by the abundance of knowledge Jack possessed in the Muskoka region. He grew up in the region and still lives there so he was able to share with us a local’s perspective on perspective properties. From how the sun hits the dock during certain times of the day to how ofte…
My husband and I are from Toronto and we were looking to purchase our first cottage in Muskoka. Being very ‘green’ to Muskoka, we needed an agent who was experienced and knew the area well. We searched ‘best Muskoka real estate agents’ and Jack’s name was one of the ones that turned up. We ended up contacting the top two agents but only Jack responded promptly. Our experience with Jack and his wife Carrie (also a RE agent) was nothing short of phenomenal. Right from the start, Jack listened intently to what we were looking for and proposed a few cottages that fit our wish list and budget. We were also seriously blown away by the abundance of knowledge Jack possessed in the Muskoka region. He grew up in the region and still lives there so he was able to share with us a local’s perspective on perspective properties. From how the sun hits the dock during certain times of the day to how often the water turns in a specific area on Lake Muskoka. Jack honestly told us the pros but more importantly, the cons of each property, saving us from some not-so-great properties. Some of those properties were more expensive which means he forgone a higher commission to put us first. He always stayed true to finding something that was a good fit for us and never tried to “sell” us on anything. Most importantly, Jack helped us outbid two buyers on our perfect cottage and we learned afterwards that we only won marginally which means we didn’t overpay. I won’t divulge the strategies he used but it is because of Jack that we won the cottage in such a competitive market. Throughout the entire process, Jack made us feel at ease and at times, we almost forgot he was our agent. He is like that awesome friend who just happens to be a RE agent. He is 100% on your side and he will take care of you. His lovely wife, Carrie, was also involved in the entire process, and she keeps in touch with us to make sure she is there for any questions. They make a kick-butt team! We seldom leave reviews but we are so grateful to Jack and Carrie that we felt compelled to write this review before closing. Thank you so much Jack and Carrie, we appreciate you!
Tracy Zander made buying our dream cottage on Skeleton Lake an effortless and enjoyable experience, even from four hours away. Her expertise in lakefront properties, attention to detail, and proactive communication ensured every step went smoothly. Tracy's professionalism and reliable network of local contacts were invaluable, and her personable approach made the process stress-free. We highly recommend her to anyone seeking a knowledgeable and dedicated realtor.
After spending some time with Jack, he dialed in on my wants and needs in a cottage and determined the location where I could find what I was looking for was the Haliburton area. Jack referred me to his colleagues Drew and Kristin Bishop with The Janssen Group and in no time at all Drew helped me find the perfect cottage. Drew and Kristin are very knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and great to work with. Thanks!!
Thank you to both of you for doing such a great job of getting the cottage closed. I am sure this was one of your toughest transactions but you persevered and stick handled the whole way through in marvellous fashion and dexterity! We are so appreciative of the work and effort that you both put in and the results bore it out. Closed on time and all permits successfully administered. Whoever would have thought it especially dealing with the municipality. Hope we get a chance to thank you in person but for the time being know that we are deeply impressed and appreciative of all of your efforts.
Jack and Carrie represented us in the purchase of a waterfront property on Lake Rosseau in Summer 2023. Having a clear and comprehensive understanding of our requirements, they flagged this unique opportunity to us in a timely manner. We were in a competitive situation and had resigned ourselves to loosing the property to another buyer. However, Jack demonstrated his deep knowledge and experience, putting forward a thoughtful strategic approach to ensure a "win/win" outcome for both ourselves and the sellers. We were delighted to close on the transaction, which Carrie facilitated flawlessly for us. We highly recommend Jack and Carrie and we are in fact preparing to undertake another transaction with them.
Jack is honestly the best real estate agent in Muskoka. We bought our cottage over 20 years ago from him yet he kept in touch and was always helpful when we needed help in zoning, finding an architect, new cottage rules, etc. buying a cottage is different than a house in the city as there are so many details to focus on. Jack is the expert, he lives there and is in the know. My husband and I would not hesitate to recommend him to our friends and family.
A big thank you for your commitment to us over the past two years. You made our move into the Muskoka cottage market seamless and easy. Your knowledge about the cottage real estate market is evident and we appreciate your patience and guidance.
Andrew provided our family excellent, prompt real estate services to facilitate the sale of our family cottage in excess of our price expectations and in a very tight time line.
We listed our Muskoka cottage for sale on Mirror Lake with Andrew Ramsay as he was referred to us by Jack Janssen. We were very happy with Andrew's above and beyond approach, he took care of everything and no detail was overlooked. Jack also provided insight into the market and I was impressed with the level of communication from Carrie. We are very happy with the exceptional service provided by The Janssen Group.
Having the assistance of a real estate agent who has local market experience and knowledge is key to an enjoyable selling experience. I tip my hat to Rebecca for that and more. Professional, personable, honest, and motivated to see her clients succeed, I recommend her as the real estate agent of choice. She has assisted us with the sale of estate properties and helped us with the purchase of a cottage house. Her support and confidence throughout those processes made each one easy and stress-free. Thank you, Rebecca, for going the extra mile.
Rebecca as our agent made our entire selling process stress free. She is right on top of things and efficient. Not to mention Rebecca is very personable but not pushy. We enjoyed her and we are so happy with her professional qualities. Definitely be using her for future sales and purchase.
Drew and Kristin were amazing to work with. The entire experience of selling and buying went very smoothly. Professional and honest, I truly felt that they genuinely had my best interests at heart. Their vast knowledge of the area and the surrounding lakes was invaluable in my search and they never hesitated to share concerns about a listing. They consistently went the extra mile and exceeded my expectations. From helping with last minute home repairs before selling, to hauling junk away that my sellers left behind, they were there every step of the way. My home sold in one day for above asking and I couldn’t be happier with my beautiful waterfront home in Minden. I highly recommend Drew and Kristin for all your real estate needs.
Jack and Carrie were awesome to work with. Selling our multi generational cottage was a difficult decision. Jack and Carrie walked us through the process and were in constant communication helping and advising us of the best way’s to maximize our property’s value. We are very appreciative of the time and energy Jack and Carrie spent looking after our best interests. We cannot express our appreciation of their efforts and highly recommend their experience to anyone looking to buy or sell a Muskoka property.
Jack worked patiently with us for several years educating us on Muskoka and the market. We were very happy with the great service and with our purchase of our property on Lake Joseph. We used him again when selling our property and again enjoyed excellent results. I heartily recommend him.
Thank you for all your help in closing the sale of our cottage on Clear Lake. We have had several real estate dealings in Australia, England, the United States and Canada so we are familiar with the fact that problems often arise during sales. We have never received such willing, helpful service in closing purchases than we enjoyed from you. Your tireless efforts in overcoming obstacles showed a most intelligent approach in supplying answers to diverse questions posed by our lawyer.
We first met Jack during the showing of a property he had listed in Muskoka. As it turned out, that property was not for us but we started a dialogue with Jack about our situation and the nature of the property we were looking for. We had enjoyed many summers in a family compound on Lake Rosseau, so had the benefit of knowing the lakes fairly well and had a sense of property values in Muskoka - we knew it was going to take some time to find a place that we really liked and could afford to make our own. Jack was very patient with us – he kept us up to date and showed us numerous properties we might be interested in for over five years. Throughout that time Jack was thoughtful, informative and resourceful – even though we were slow to ‘pull the trigger’ on a purchase. Ultimately, Jack’s diligence resulted in an early ‘alert’ concerning a new listing on a Thursday afternoon, followed by a …
We first met Jack during the showing of a property he had listed in Muskoka. As it turned out, that property was not for us but we started a dialogue with Jack about our situation and the nature of the property we were looking for. We had enjoyed many summers in a family compound on Lake Rosseau, so had the benefit of knowing the lakes fairly well and had a sense of property values in Muskoka - we knew it was going to take some time to find a place that we really liked and could afford to make our own. Jack was very patient with us – he kept us up to date and showed us numerous properties we might be interested in for over five years. Throughout that time Jack was thoughtful, informative and resourceful – even though we were slow to ‘pull the trigger’ on a purchase. Ultimately, Jack’s diligence resulted in an early ‘alert’ concerning a new listing on a Thursday afternoon, followed by a viewing the next day and a competitive offer from us which was accepted on the Saturday. Jack had found us a property that was exactly what we were looking for and he put us in a position to be able to get it in a competitive situation! Thanks Jack!
Jack is an expert at what he does! His knowledge and experience are incredibly valuable when it comes to real estate transactions in Muskoka! Jack helped us (very patiently) search for our property over a two year span. As someone who works in real estate every day, I can tell you that Jack is very good at being creative and providing valuable advice when trying to make what can be an emotional decision especially when it comes to cottage properties. I highly recommend him for your real estate needs.
Not only have we used Jack for our own RE transactions, we have recommended him to many friends. Not once have we been disappointed in any way. He is exceedingly knowledgeable and works hard both before and after the sale to ensure you are happy with all aspects of your purchase. He is very personable and warm, and has earned our trust on many occasions.
Our family recently undertook the daunting task of selling our parent’s cherished home on Gull Lake. Though it was an emotionally challenging venture, Drew and Kristin made our comfort with the process their highest priority. With their vast knowledge and experience in Haliburton Recreational Real Estate properties they were able to realistically assess our asset. Their thoughtful marketing plan and scheduling aligned with the current market conditions that resulted in an expedient sale with exceptional results. Despite handing over our family lake home to the new owners, we were jubilant with the outcome and their professional handling of the transaction.
Jack is one of the most experienced agents in Muskoka. His honesty and knowledge of the area will keep buyers from purchasing a property that he knows would be a mistake for them. He can pretty much provide a cottage inspection for you while walking a property and can point out issues that a purchaser may not have even thought about. He is realistic about market conditions and works hard to put together deals that both the purchaser and vendor can feel happy about. Highly recommended. Thanks Jack!
As we near the completion of our cottage, I can’t begin to tell you how pleased we are with the entire process. Your patience (7 years) with us on educating ourselves to find the right property paid off! I must add that the full service that you provided from dealing with the municipality, septic and fishery approvals as well as helping us find the right builder was a huge bonus for me and something I quite frankly did not expect. Please feel free to have anyone contact me should they like to discuss your services and how you made the entire process easy and enjoyable. Thanks for making our entry into Muskoka such a pleasant experience.
Excellent efforts and results in selling our Lake Joseph cottage. You did a great job researching and marketing the property, and then continued this professionalism by continually updating us with status reports and efficiently coordinating visits by prospective purchasers. Thanks again for a job well done. You really earned your commission on this sale.
It was great to see you both - and finally meet you Carrie! Thank you both for coming by and taking time for a visit. We’re delighted to be able to enjoy our place now, and will always remember the part you played, Jack, in demonstrating “the art of the possible”. You both clearly know your business and we felt very well guided throughout the process of acquisition and beyond. Thank you both for your very professional care and interest!
We had a great experience with the Janssen Group (Tracy Zander). In particular, the follow-up professionalism (i.e. Tracy’s care and attention after closing) has been phenomenal.
I sincerely want to thank you for your patience and guidance during the purchase of our property. We had been searching for almost five years and had worked with three different agents before working with you. At a time when road access to the property we ultimately purchased was not even close to being complete, you took the time to hike the 40+ acres multiple times so that my entire extended family could be included. The purchase involved severances, road agreements, easements, etc. and because it was ‘land only’ the transaction was complex, to say the least. I am certain that this purchase would not have been finalized without the knowledge and professionalism you displayed throughout the entire process. You are a true statesman. Mayor of Muskoka is a befitting title. We look forward to building our family compound, raising our children and ultimately retiring there. It’s the perfect …
I sincerely want to thank you for your patience and guidance during the purchase of our property. We had been searching for almost five years and had worked with three different agents before working with you. At a time when road access to the property we ultimately purchased was not even close to being complete, you took the time to hike the 40+ acres multiple times so that my entire extended family could be included. The purchase involved severances, road agreements, easements, etc. and because it was ‘land only’ the transaction was complex, to say the least. I am certain that this purchase would not have been finalized without the knowledge and professionalism you displayed throughout the entire process. You are a true statesman. Mayor of Muskoka is a befitting title. We look forward to building our family compound, raising our children and ultimately retiring there. It’s the perfect property for us now and for future generations to enjoy. We are genuinely grateful for everything you have done. Thank you, Jack.
Just a quick note to say thank you for all of your efforts and help in selling our cottage. In the 14 odd years that we have known and dealt with you, we have always regarded you as being totally professional. We appreciate that you have always indicated that you are prepared to go above and beyond simply being a real estate agent interested in making a sale. We appreciate that over the years you have always been helpful in providing clear, unambiguous advice regarding any number of issues which, we as cottage owners, had to address, and in recommending trades people, legal advisors, etc. You have always been very diligent in keeping us up to date, both with respect to the progress of our initial purchase back in 1998, and with respect to our subsequent sale this year. We would not hesitate to recommend you to any of our friends and colleagues that might be looking to buy or sell propert…
Just a quick note to say thank you for all of your efforts and help in selling our cottage. In the 14 odd years that we have known and dealt with you, we have always regarded you as being totally professional. We appreciate that you have always indicated that you are prepared to go above and beyond simply being a real estate agent interested in making a sale. We appreciate that over the years you have always been helpful in providing clear, unambiguous advice regarding any number of issues which, we as cottage owners, had to address, and in recommending trades people, legal advisors, etc. You have always been very diligent in keeping us up to date, both with respect to the progress of our initial purchase back in 1998, and with respect to our subsequent sale this year. We would not hesitate to recommend you to any of our friends and colleagues that might be looking to buy or sell property in Muskoka.
Jack is unique among real estate agents. Most agents who show clients properties will initially follow up with them but then let go. Jack always remembered who we were and what we were looking for. He would send e-mails a couple of times a year only with properties that he thought suited our specific needs. One day 3 years after we first met, he sent an e-mail with exactly the cottage we were looking and we became grateful owners 2 days later. We were owners on the evening of the day we visited the property with him! He is the best real estate agent I have ever encountered.
I have worked with Jack for over 8 years. We selected Jack to represent us for the sale of our old Cottage and the purchase of a replacement cottage. Jack was selected because of his extensive knowledge of Muskoka properties. We had a challenging sale and Jack worked hard for over three years to help us through the challenge. He never gave up and we are now the proud owners of an Olde Muskoka cottage on Lake Rosseau. We highly recommend Jack for any of your Real Estate needs. He knows the Muskoka market intimately and will always steer you in the right direction.
Jack's service was second to none! While the buying process was great and all information was readily available to get us comfortable; it didn't stop once we had a firm deal. Jack continued to provide exceptional service and chase down information for us: everything from barges for moving to an island, marina account set up, parking, best internet to get, the list went on and on! Even after we closed and were settled Jack was checking in to see if we had any questions, how the sunsets were, and if we needed anything. Jack and Carrie were exceptional!
We were referred to Jack by our close friends who had worked with him to buy their cottage on Lake Rosseau. Jack worked with us patiently for several years until we found our perfect island on Lake Rosseau this summer. He is honest, has a vast knowledge of Muskoka, and is passionate about helping his clients find their perfect retreat. I have worked with many agents over the years, both personally and professionally, Jack is simply outstanding. Both he and Carrie were a pleasure to work with, we highly recommend Jack.
Jack is a very knowledgeable real estate agent in his field and has demonstrated his talents and skills time and time again with every experience I have had in dealing with Muskoka real estate. An agent who truly cares about your prospective purchase or sale like Jack does is a rare find. I would highly recommend Jack if you have any real estate interests up in the Muskoka area and need a high quality dependable real estate agent.
Jack, I wanted to send you a brief email to thank you for your excellent service and salesmanship in selling our cottage. It was a pleasure finally dealing with an agent who knows what they are doing and is extremely knowledgeable in the Muskoka region. Your ongoing commitment, perseverance, and friendship were greatly appreciated and now someone else has a beautiful cottage to enjoy. We hope to deal with you again soon.