The #1 Team at RE/MAX® Fort McMurray
We helped more people buy or sell than any other team for RE/MAX® Fort McMurray based on MLS® sales in 2018 and 2019.
Our Values
Moving is much more than a transaction. You can count on your experience with us to embody our values:
Being Honest
Whether buying or selling, you want to be sure you’re making the right move. Sometimes this means price advice that’s hard to hear, and rates we can’t control. Sometimes it means not moving at all! Whatever it is, we don’t sugarcoat. You’ll know what we know.
Working Hard
Need to see that dream home late on Saturday? We’ll be there. Real estate is tough, especially in our current market. But that’s not something a little spit and grit can’t handle. You can rest easy knowing we aren’t holding anything back during your move.
Being Kind
No matter the situation, it’s important to uphold the golden rule. Our relationship with you is built to last much longer than a transaction, so we bring our best selves.
Information is Freedom
As you can see in our resources section, we don’t hide anything behind contracts or email opt-in forms. Our duty as agents is to share our wealth of knowledge of the market with you.
Driving Industry Innovation
From sophisticated Facebook campaigns to eye-catching twilight photos, we’ve been at the forefront of changes in the real estate world, and will continue to do so as more exciting technologies pop up.
I'd Like to talk about a home!
"Even though we are living out of town, she helped us throughout the process and made sure everything went proper. " - Hemang Shah
Bringing Our "A" Game. Every Day.
“Anyone would be hard-pressed to find any team that could go beyond the lengths that the A-Team went for us ”.
- Jim Wood
“Extraordinarily professional, thoughtful and helpful.”.
- Ron Saunders
“We had no idea what we were doing and he was always available and took the time to answer our questions. ”.
- Twila Mackenzie
How it all Started
Phase 1: Tom Falls Flat on His Face
It was 2012 and homes were supposed to sell themselves!
We dug out Tom’s old business card so you can see his shortcomings. You see, no matter how hard he tried (and try he did!), he couldn’t sell homes. He tried everything, and almost nothing worked.
People responded well to his honesty, and he built up a happy group of buyer clients who continue to refer him to their close friends.
However well he did helping buyers, though, his ineptitude at helping them sell was a serious gap.
Trying to help both sellers and buyers was a problem for Tom.
Phase 2: Breanna Saves the Day
After a year or so of learning the ropes, Tom went on a routine trip to Calgary that ended up planting the seeds for what would become The A-Team.
Breanna was sitting on a fence, eating a candy apple, when Tom asked for a bite… and they fell in love, got married and are living happily ever after.
Breanna had an amazing position at Imperial Oil which she gave up so she could obtain her real estate licence and move to Fort McMurray. They bought a house, and on April 10th, 2014, they launched their husband and wife team.
Two months later, the oil price began falling.
Phase 3: “You and Me Vs. the World”
The early days were pretty “cowboy”: On the marketing side, Tom & Breanna were some of the first agents in Canada to start using a drone for aerial photography/videography. Enjoy their cheesy first production here.
They came up with some principles to follow when designing how to best help people, and they split the work up.
That became the secret of the A-Team’s future success: recognizing that buying and selling were two completely different real estate experiences, which, in turn, meant the two roles should be split.
Tom’s Master’s in Economics from the University of Oxford, along with Breanna’s Degree in Finance, allowed them to make their buyer and seller clients aware of the seriousness of the oil price collapse on the local real estate market.
Going to most of their appointments together, Breanna and Tom, totally in love, tried to bring smiles and some level of comfort to their clients, despite the tough news they had the responsibility of delivering.
The A-Team Today
Like the Fort McMurray of our future, The A-Team is now BIGGER, BETTER and STRONGER. Still led by Tom & Breanna, the team remains faithful to its early principles, the idea of specialization (2 listing agents, 4 buyer’s agents) and is obsessed with creating mind-blowing client experiences.
Agents are selected for their goodness, their drive, and their teachability (emphasis on goodness). Team members wake up every morning with the goal of delivering service far beyond your expectations, whether your goal is to sell your home for top dollar, in ANY market, or to find your dream home and secure it for the lowest possible price. That’s what we mean when we say: Bringing Our “A” Game. Every Day.
I'd Like to Talk About My Home!
Breanna Albrecht
Helps Sellers
Breanna was the #1 listing agent in Fort McMurray in 2016 (by a wide margin: 33%) and 2018 by number of transactions. She lists properties for sale (and sells them!), but also has an important support role for the other dedicated A-Team listing agents, ensuring that all A-Team seller clients get exactly the same customer service excellence. Breanna co-founded the team with her husband, Tom, in 2014. She is passionate about helping her clients sell their home for top dollar, strong representation/negotiation, synchronized skating, snowboarding and of course, their dog, Matilda, and cat, Edgar. Breanna is from Regina, SK (GO RIDERS!) and holds a Bachelor Degree in Finance from the University of Regina.
Tom Albrecht
Helps Buyers
Tom was the #1 buyer’s agent in Fort McMurray in 2017, by number of transactions. He helps buyers find the best homes, without wasting their time, and making sure that they don’t overpay. He has a support role for the other three buyer’s agents, but he has plenty of time for his primary focus: his many buyer clients. He is passionate about Fort McMurray, soccer, snowboarding, economics, and his wife, Breanna, Tom is originally from Yorkshire in the UK and holds a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Oxford.
Denise Hildebrand
Helps Buyers
Denise Hildebrand: Buyer agent extraordinaire: Cool, calm and unflappable. If you’re looking for someone to help you through a complicated process while ensuring it is 100% stress free, Denise is the agent you want by your side. Denise is all about securing an excellent price, and making sure you buy the right home FOR YOU. She is passionate about family, “Diner en Blanc” (which she brought to Fort McMurray and which continues to thrive) and her lake house. She is a total sweetheart, but she’s all business when the time comes. Denise is originally from Newfoundland, but has spent the majority of her life as a prairie girl in Manitoba.
Aaron Chalmers
Helps Sellers
Aaron is one of the most successful listing agents in Fort McMurray.. Extremely diligent and focused, Aaron has years of experience in Customer Service Management which gives him a powerful edge to use to satisfy his clients. All he does is sell homes. Aaron is extremely capable, but one of his strongest assets is his skill behind the camera. He is passionate about his young family, his future and his clients’ best interests. Aaron is more-or-less born and raised in Fort McMurray, and he has the can-do attitude to prove it. Did we mention his intense work ethic? It’s incredible.
Heather McCandless
Helps Buyers
Heather’s role is is to find you the perfect home. She’s a coach to her clients, and a strong advocate for them – never compromising on what it is they want. She’s obsessed with real estate (actual houses): her fascination qualifies her to be excellent at her job. For Heather, there is nothing more rewarding than giving keys to her clients on possession day, having shepherded them through the whole process and taken away any stress wherever possible. She has seven years of experience and counting! Outside of work, she has an incredible family, and loves being part of the caring community of Fort McMurray.
Rita Sobkowich
Helps Buyers
After a 22-year career in real estate in Vancouver, Calgary and Fort McMurray, Rita found her calling as a specialist buyer’s agent at The A-Team at RE/MAX® Fort McMurray. Rita’s approach to helping clients hinges on two core values: honesty and hard work. Her role is simply to help give potential home buyers the best possible information so that they can make the best decisions for themselves and their families. Working in high-end custom home building, she learned hard work and detail orientation. Rita’s purpose is clear: working to fulfill the needs of her clients and helping them secure the best homes after negotiating the best prices for them. In summary: Rita’s priorities are to look after her clients’ best interests and to ensure they have a stress-free experience.
Eric Dunham
Mortgage Specialist
Eric is not part of The A-Team at RE/MAX® Fort McMurray. He’s a mortgage specialist and has been with RBC since 2006. Originally from Moncton, NB, he has called Fort McMurray home since 2008. He has supported The A-Team through an active partnership. Eric’s pre-approvals process provides buyers with a solid foundation for shopping with confidence and allows them the opportunity to address any potential barriers in their goal of home ownership. Throughout the home buying process, he is efficient, reachable and easy to work with. Eric can be reached at 780-370-6663.
The A-Team Helps Our Community
Free Resouces
What is Diner en Blanc?
By Denise Hildebrand | May 10, 2017
Diner en Blanc is an evening with friends, enjoying a delicious picnic under the stars. Step back in time, put on your most elegant, classy “white” clothes and attend the event of the summer. Diner en Blanc is held in 70 locations around the world, a sought-out event that revolves around a
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A Day We Will Never Forget
By The A-Team | May 03, 2017
May 3. Across Canada, it’s just another day, but not here. Today marks 1 year since we all left with great uncertainty as to what the days would bring. Each of us are forever connected through our joined evacuation experience. We all experienced generosity from strangers and saw the good
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A Special (Olympics) Thank You
By Tom Albrecht | Apr 13, 2017
We’re mailing cards, but I feel like it’s super appropriate to dedicate an early blog post to our clients (and a few strangers) who helped us through random acts of generosity. First thing to know, Breanna is my wifey (she is also #1 listing agent in Fort McMurray, by volume of
Read MoreI'd Like to Talk!
"Even though we are living out of town, she helped us throughout the process and made sure everything went proper. " - Hemang Shah
