Based at our Tigne branch in Sliema, John Grima (aka Hutch) is a senior property advisor with more than 22 years of hands-on experience in real estate. From here he works mostly on localities in central Malta, such as Attard, Balzan, Birkirkara, Gzira, Msida, and of course Sliema itself, as well as North Malta localities such as Gharghur, Mellieha, Mgarr, Mosta, Naxxar and Rabat.

John is soft spoken by nature and admits he is a “soft seller who would never sell anything I wouldn’t buy for myself”. This means that he may not be as pushy as others, but to him, “above everything else, selling property is based on honesty and trust”. Rather than posting properties incessantly on social media, John’s style is to meet potential leads over a tea or coffee in a village café or out and about here and there.

As if to prove his tactful ability to build trust with everyone he deals with, he recounts experiences he has had with couples going through marital separation. “These cases often require extra attention as there are many more pitfalls to be aware of”, he explains. “It’s happened more than once that I’ve sold the matrimonial home and then a property to each of the separating spouses – we call that a hattrick”. Like everyone else, John appreciates being valued for his dedication to his clients, “It’s not uncommon that we receive small token gifts when we conclude a satisfactory deal, and when that comes from both the buyer and the seller, it’s even more special as I know I’ve done my job well”, he concludes.

In his free time John enjoys swimming and walking or playing snooker or football with friends. Now aged 55, John is a confirmed bachelor who never married. “My career is my life and I never really sought to be in a committed relationship.”, he admits candidly. Now living in Bidnija, John’s first job was that of laundry spotter in an industrial facility. He then worked as a houseman and wine waiter in hospitality, and also did a stint as a driver.

John entered the real estate field around 1998 and learnt everything on the job. “Gordon Valentino, my manager at Tigne branch, has been my trainer for most of my career, my mentor and my muse, who helps me achieve goals that I never thought possible”, he concedes. He explains how he had managed to close his first sale after about a month on the job. “I remember it was a terraced house in Attard, which went for around €84k… You wouldn’t believe today it’s worth something like €800k”, he states with a beaming smile.

John explains “Confidence, experience and morale, are three areas I always hope to grow in. To gain experience, you need to start with confidence in yourself, but you cannot be confident if you have a low morale”, he continues. “There are no shortcuts. When I work hard, I close sales and if I’m in a period of low morale, it’s like I’ve lost my knack completely.”

We couldn’t meet John without asking about his nickname Hutch. So it turns out this name came down from past generations through a family business with that same name in Birkirkara, and there was never a Starsky in that story 🙂

John Grima is based at Alliance Tigne branch in Sliema and may be reached directly on johngrima@alliance.mt or 99422256.