Looking for a Realtor?
It’s no secret that Seattle is a competitive area.
In my decade plus doing this work, I’ve come to realize that the relationship between Realtor and client is a little bit like that of a therapist and client. It’s very intimate. Personality, style, goals, and passions have to align for the relationship to work.
I take time to get to know my clients and for them to get to know me. Essentially, we are about to dive head first into a very hot real estate market. It’s important that we understand each other and work well together so no one gets burned. We can be professional and focused, but sometimes we’ll need to laugh about it too. I will be there to help you through tough times– as well as to celebrate your victories.
My expertise:
First time home buying
Second home buying
Marketing and selling homes
Deep neighborhood insight
Past and current market trend analysis
The Process
If you are Buying…
We Meet
Typically, there’s an introduction either online or phone, and then we set up an appointment to meet. I do an in person meeting and whether or not you’re buying or selling, obviously the questions are going to be very different, but there’s a meeting that is helpful for both of us. So we understand like, “Is our energy going to vibe with? Is this a good fit? Do I understand your goals?”
Let the Search Begin
If you’re buying a home step two is setting you up on some sort of a search, you’re probably on Redfin, I call it the dating app. And so you’re looking on your dating app, and then you’re asking me to help you process the information you’re getting through this app.
Time to Look
We go on a few dates ourselves, out looking at homes until you find THE ONE.
Time to Commit
Once you find and commit to something I’m managing it until it finishes up and we close. I’ll still be here for questions after the close and sending you updates about the value of your new home and the wealth you’re accumulating.
Common buyer questions
What area do you service?
I grew up on the East side, so I definitely service the East side and the Northeast side. And I live in Seattle and so I do most of Seattle. I don’t like to go North of Everett or South of Renton.
Do you have the bandwidth to take on a new client?
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Do you have any lenders we can talk to?
I sure do. I work with three lenders and I’ll give you all three of their names and you can decide who works for you.
Would you be willing to tell us what to do to prepare?
I will go through your house with an eye towards ROI and try to help you figure out how to spend the least amount of money to prepare your house, to get the biggest ROI. And then I also cover staging and landscaping and inspections to make your house super competitive and stand out in the market.
Free Guide
Real Talk about Real Estate: The Seven Steps of the Home Buying Process
The Process
If you are selling…
We Meet
Typically, I’ll meet you at the house that you want to sell, and we do a walkthrough of that. And then I send you an email going over what we talked about, the things that I have expectations around decided for good fits, because we can’t decide right there and I need to do more research usually.
Get Ready to Go On The Market
There’s a lot of things that I take care of. I have someone come in to work with your decor, to get it ready for the market, or if it’s going to be vacant, the we have a stager come in. Landscaping, cleaning, inspections, all of that happens before we list.
Listing the Home
I manage the showings and any multiple offers, I dial for dollars and help get the highest offer I can.
Choosing an Offer
Once you choose an offer, then I manage that through the appraisal. I make sure that everything goes smoothly in terms of value, especially if we’ve gone up high. The goal is to never go back on the market so I’m really hands on through that process.
Common buyer questions
Would you be willing to tell us what to do to prepare?
I will go through your house with an eye towards ROI and try to help you figure out how to spend the least amount of money to prepare your house, to get the biggest ROI. And then I also cover staging and landscaping and inspections to make your house super competitive and stand out in the market.
How can I finance my second home?
This is obviously complicated. Are you going to leverage equity? Does your income stretch to two mortgages? Do you need to sell your existing home to finance another one? Consult a lender who can give you the answers you need. I trust Chelsea Anglin of Guild Mortgage with my clients’ lending questions.
Can I keep my existing home and turn it into a rental, and then buy another house?
The answer is…drumroll….. Maybe. Again, this is a complex question and will depend on the market, your income, your credit, your equity, your existing home’s desirability as a rental property, etc. Lay all the facts out with your lender to understand your options.
If I make a contingent offer, does that make me weaker against my competition?
Not always. Sometimes a contingent offer works out well for the seller as well as the potential buyer. A seller may need a long close, and welcome the time you need to close on your end. A home may have been lingering for a while, or only receiving lowball offers. You could offer full price but contingent on your sale, and the fact that it’s a full price offer is all it takes to win the seller over. Don’t think that just because you have to make a contingent offer, that you can’t compete. If that were true, many people would never be able to step up the property ladder. All you need is strategy, and that’s where I come in.
My Top Tips for sellers
- Understand Seattle’s real estate seasons so that you can plan when to list. There are advantages and disadvantages to every selling season, so we will discuss your needs to plan the best time for you to list.
- There are three factors in what makes a property attractive: location, price, and condition of the home. Even at the multi-million dollar price point, we generally pick only two of those factors to market heavily.
- Staging is important. People need to feel that your house is actually available to be theirs. No one can imagine living in a home that still seems lived in. The more generic your staging, the easier it is for buyers to envision themselves in the house.